MTC-IWF Bypassing SMSC for IoT SMS Triggering
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Solution Overview
Problem
The use of an SMSC for IoT device triggering is costly, bandwidth-intensive, and vulnerable to security attacks, especially as the number of IoT devices increases, due to the need for additional messaging and latency in transactions.
Innovation Solution
The method involves the MTC-IWF generating and transmitting SMS messages directly to a serving node, such as a mobile switching center or mobility management entity, bypassing the SMSC, and includes buffering and re-attempting delivery when the IoT device is unavailable, using Diameter or MAP messages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If SMSC is used for IoT device triggering, then SMS message delivery is achieved, but operational cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the SMS message forwarding function from the SMSC and implements it directly in the MTC-IWF. The MTC-IWF generates SMS messages locally and forwards them directly to the serving node (MSC/MME) without involving the SMSC, thereby eliminating the need for expensive SMSC operations while maintaining reliable SMS delivery to IoT devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces the MTC-IWF as an intermediary between the triggering system and the serving node. The MTC-IWF performs the SMS message generation and forwarding functions that previously required SMSC involvement, acting as a dedicated mediator for IoT device triggering while bypassing the general-purpose SMSC infrastructure.
2Reliability
If SMSC is used for IoT device triggering, then SMS message delivery is achieved, but bandwidth consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the SMS forwarding function from the SMSC and implements it in the MTC-IWF, eliminating the need for multiple messaging rounds between MTC-IWF and SMSC. This direct generation and forwarding approach at MTC-IWF significantly reduces bandwidth consumption in the network.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent skips the intermediate SMSC node in the SMS message delivery path. By having MTC-IWF generate SMS messages and forward them directly to the serving node in a single step, the patent rushes through the message delivery process without the extra messaging hops that would consume additional bandwidth.
3Reliability
If SMSC is used for IoT device triggering, then SMS message delivery is achieved, but triggering latency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the SMS generation and forwarding functions from the SMSC and implements them in the MTC-IWF. This local implementation eliminates the need for round-trip messaging to the SMSC, significantly reducing triggering latency while maintaining reliable SMS delivery to IoT devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent skips the SMSC node in the SMS delivery path, allowing MTC-IWF to generate and forward SMS messages directly to the serving node in a single operational step. This eliminates the time-consuming intermediate messaging rounds that cause triggering latency.
4Reliability
If SMSC is used for IoT device triggering, then SMS forwarding is achieved, but security vulnerability increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the SMS forwarding function from the general-purpose SMSC and implements it in the dedicated MTC-IWF. This specialization isolates the IoT triggering function from the broader SMSC infrastructure, reducing the attack surface and security vulnerabilities associated with handling both IoT and non-IoT SMS traffic in a single system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the SMS handling functionality by creating a dedicated MTC-IWF for IoT device triggering separate from the general SMSC. This segmentation isolates the IoT triggering path from potential security attacks on the broader SMS infrastructure, allowing independent security management and reducing cross-contamination of vulnerabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for optimized short message service (SMS)-based Internet of things (IoT) device triggering. One method includes receiving, at a machine type communications interworking function (MTC-IWF), a request for sending a trigger message to an IoT device. The method further includes generating, at the MTC-IWF, an SMS message for triggering the IoT device. The method further includes identifying a serving node for the IoT device. The method further includes transmitting, by the MTC-IWF, the SMS message to the serving node for the IoT device and thereby bypassing an SMS-service center. The method further includes receiving, by the MTC-IWF, from the serving node, and in response to successful delivery of the SMS message to the IoT device, confirmation of delivery of the SMS message.