RESTful API to Signaling Protocol Translation Layer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current RESTful APIs for web services lack flexibility to accommodate the evolving nature of modern packet-switched networks, limiting their effectiveness in implementing text messaging services.
Innovation Solution
A system that translates RESTful operations into signaling protocols used in packet-switched networks, such as SIP, SMPP, or MAP, enabling direct communication between web applications and packet-switched networks for SMS/MMS messaging, and vice versa.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If RESTful APIs are used for web services, then ease of operation is improved, but adaptability to evolving packet-switched networks deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary translation layer that converts between RESTful API operations and packet-switched network signaling protocols (such as SIP, SMPP, or MAP). This mediator enables web applications using standard RESTful APIs to communicate with evolving packet-switched networks without requiring changes to the RESTful interface, thus maintaining ease of operation while adapting to network evolution.
2Adaptability or versatility
If direct translation between RESTful operations and signaling protocols is implemented, then adaptability to evolving networks is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The translation functionality is implemented as a separate intermediary component rather than embedding complex protocol conversion logic within existing web application servers or network elements. This modular approach isolates the complexity in a dedicated translation layer that can be independently managed and configured, reducing the complexity burden on other system components.
3Device complexity
If RESTful APIs are used without translation layer, then device complexity is reduced, but message delivery reliability in packet-switched networks deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The translation layer acts as a reliability bridge between the simple RESTful web service interface and the complex packet-switched network protocols. It ensures proper protocol formatting, message routing, and delivery confirmation mechanisms are applied, thereby maintaining message delivery reliability without exposing the complexity of these mechanisms to the web application layer.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are disclosed for interfacing RESTful web applications with packet-switched networks for text messaging. One embodiment comprises a system that handles a Mobile Terminated (MT) text message from a web application to a packet-switched network. The system receives a RESTful send operation for sending the MT text message from the web application. The system converts the RESTful send operation for the MT text message to a send request that is based on a signaling protocol used by the packet switched network, such as SIP, SMPP, or MAP. The system then transmits the send request for the MT text message to the packet-switched network for delivery of the MT text message to a recipient.