LTE SMS Routing via Mobility Management Entity
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Solution Overview
Problem
LTE networks face challenges in handling SMS messages due to the lack of support for legacy Core Network protocols, leading to complex and costly solutions like Circuit Switched Fall Back, which requires expensive MSC/VLR equipment and increased signalling load.
Innovation Solution
A method for routing legacy messages between a message centre and a mobile device using a legacy message interworking function that communicates with mobility management entities via a legacy protocol, allowing direct routing without involving the legacy network, utilizing the SGs Interface protocol and modifying 3GPP Release 8 protocols.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If Circuit Switched Fall Back mechanism is used to handle SMS messages in LTE networks, then SMS compatibility with legacy networks is improved, but device complexity and network cost increase due to requiring MSC/VLR equipment and full legacy network integration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the SMS handling functionality from the full legacy network infrastructure and implements it through a simplified MME-based approach. The mobility management entity directly handles SMS messages using modified 3GPP Release 8 protocols, eliminating the need for MSC/VLR equipment and full circuit switched network integration while maintaining SMS compatibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where the MME acts as a mediator between the legacy SMS system and the LTE packet switched network. This intermediary approach allows SMS messages to be routed through the MME using SGs Interface protocol, enabling legacy protocol compatibility without requiring direct integration with the full legacy network infrastructure.
2Reliability
If full MSC/VLR functionality is deployed to support legacy SMS routing, then SMS message delivery reliability is improved, but network cost and resource consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive, complex MSC/VLR equipment with a more economical MME-based solution. The mobility management entity uses simplified protocol modifications and existing network resources to handle SMS messaging, reducing the need for dedicated legacy network infrastructure while maintaining reliable message delivery.
3Adaptability or versatility
If Circuit Switched Fall Back is implemented for SMS handling, then legacy network protocol compatibility is improved, but signalling load and network traffic increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the protocol parameters and message formats used in 3GPP Release 8 to optimize SMS handling in the packet switched domain. By changing the protocol implementation details and using efficient message routing through the MME, the system maintains protocol compatibility while reducing unnecessary signalling overhead and network traffic.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of routing legacy messages between a message center and a mobile telecommunications device registered with a mobile telecommunications network, which mobile telecommunications network includes a plurality of base stations each serving a plurality of mobile telecommunications devices, and a plurality of mobility management entities, each serving a plurality of said base stations, the mobility management entities (being adapted to communicate using a legacy protocol with a legacy network for routing the legacy messages between the message center and the mobile telecommunications device via the legacy network. A legacy message interworking function communicates with the mobility management entities using the legacy protocol and directly routes messages between the mobility management entities and the message center without routing the messages via the legacy network.