Direct NEF to SMSF Interface for 5G Message Routing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current SMS message transmission in 5G telecommunications systems is convoluted, leading to excessive status messages and increased complexity in identifying error origination points, affecting latency and quality of service due to the need for messages to be routed through multiple network devices and systems.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a network exposure device that enables direct communication between the network exposure function (NEF) and the short message service function (SMSF) within the 5G system, bypassing external short message service centers, allowing messages to be processed and routed directly, reducing the number of status messages and optimizing resource usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If messages are routed through multiple network devices and systems (including external short message service centers), then message transmission can be achieved with existing infrastructure, but the routing becomes convoluted, increasing complexity in identifying error origination points and affecting latency

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemessage transmission reliabilityVSAvoidmessage routing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the SMSF from the conventional routing path that goes through external SMSCs and multiple intermediaries. By establishing a direct interface between NEF and SMSF, the invention removes unnecessary network elements from the message transmission path, thereby reducing routing complexity while maintaining message delivery reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The NEF acts as an intermediary that enables direct communication between the 5G core network and SMSF. This intermediary function allows messages to be routed directly within the 5G system without requiring external SMSCs, simplifying the routing path while ensuring reliable message transmission through standardized interfaces

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If messages are routed through multiple network devices, then existing network infrastructure can be utilized, but the number of status messages increases excessively, consuming more resources and affecting quality of service

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork infrastructure compatibilityVSAvoidnetwork resource consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the essential message transmission function from the complex multi-device routing path. By creating a direct NEF-SMSF interface, it removes intermediate devices that generate excessive status messages, thereby reducing network resource consumption while maintaining compatibility with existing 5G infrastructure through standardized service-based interfaces

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The 5G core network performs message transmission services itself through the direct NEF-SMSF interface, rather than relying on external SMSCs. This self-service approach reduces the number of inter-system communications and associated status messages, optimizing resource usage while maintaining infrastructure compatibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If messages are routed through external short message service centers, then interoperability with legacy systems is maintained, but latency increases and quality of service is affected

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelegacy system interoperabilityVSAvoidmessage transmission latency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts message transmission from external SMSCs and performs it directly within the 5G core network through the NEF-SMSF interface. This eliminates the time-consuming external routing while maintaining legacy system interoperability through standardized interfaces that can still communicate with external systems when needed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention establishes the direct NEF-SMSF communication path in advance as part of the 5G core network architecture. This preliminary setup enables messages to be transmitted directly without requiring external SMSC involvement, reducing latency while preserving the capability to interface with legacy systems through the standardized NEF

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11671799B2Method and device for communicating messages within a 5G network

Publication Date: 2023.06.06 VERIZON PATENT & LICENSING INC

AI summary

A device may receive, from an application function device (AF), a message intended for a destination user device, wherein the message conforms to a first format. The device may obtain, from a unified data management device (UDM), information indicating that the destination user device is capable of receiving messages that conform to a second format. The device may convert, based on the information indicating that the destination user device is capable of receiving messages that conform to the second format, the message from the first format to the second format. The device may send, after converting the message from the first format to the second format, the message to a short message service function device (SMSF) via a direct connection between the device and the SMSF, wherein the SMSF sends the message to the destination user device.