SGsAP Gateway for LTE SMS Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional SMS over SGs solutions require legacy 2G/3G circuit-switched networks to support a new SGs interface and involve complex home public land mobile network (HPLMN) routing and stream control transmission protocol (SCTP) associations, leading to service delays and increased complexity.
Innovation Solution
An SGs application part (SGsAP) gateway is positioned between the LTE network and the circuit-switched (CS) domain, enabling protocol conversion and centralized routing, eliminating the need for circuit-switched fallback and reducing the number of SCTP associations required, thus simplifying signaling and leveraging existing infrastructure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional SMS over SGs solutions are implemented, then SMS services can be provided between LTE and CS domains, but the legacy CS network must be updated to support the new SGs interface and complex HPLMN routing and SCTP associations are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an SGs Application Part (SgsAP) Gateway as an intermediary component that sits between the LTE network and the legacy CS network. This gateway translates and adapts signaling messages between the SGs interface protocol and the legacy MAP protocol, enabling SMS services without requiring modifications to the legacy CS network infrastructure. The gateway acts as a mediator that handles protocol conversion and routing, thereby reducing the complexity burden on existing network elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the SMS service functionality by separating the SGs interface management from the legacy CS network core. Instead of integrating SGs support directly into legacy MSC servers and requiring complex end-to-end routing, the solution divides the system into distinct functional blocks: the SgsAP Gateway handling SGs protocol operations, and the legacy CS network elements operating with their existing protocols. This segmentation allows independent operation and reduces overall system complexity.
2Productivity
If MME performs complex HPLMN routing and manages SCTP associations to every MSC server, then SMS messages can be routed between domains, but service delays occur and management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The SgsAP Gateway serves as an intermediary that centralizes routing intelligence and SCTP association management. Instead of requiring the MME to perform complex HPLMN routing and maintain SCTP associations with every MSC server, the gateway assumes these responsibilities. The MME only needs to communicate with the gateway through simplified interfaces, significantly reducing signaling processing time and eliminating the need for multiple SCTP associations at the MME level.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple routing and association management functions into a single SgsAP Gateway component. The gateway consolidates HPLMN routing logic, SCTP association management, and message forwarding capabilities in one location. This merging eliminates the need for distributed routing decisions across multiple network elements, thereby reducing service delays and simplifying MME operations.
3Adaptability or versatility
If circuit-switched fallback is implemented, then CS services can be provided to LTE UE, but considerable service delays are caused
Solution Approach 1:
The SgsAP Gateway acts as an intermediary that enables direct SMS messaging over the SGs interface without requiring UE to perform circuit-switched fallback to 3G networks. The gateway translates SMS messages between the LTE domain and the legacy CS network core, allowing LTE UEs to send and receive SMS while remaining connected to the LTE network, thereby eliminating the time-consuming fallback process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical circuit-switched fallback mechanism with an electronic signaling solution. Instead of physically switching the UE connection from LTE to 3G radio access networks, the solution uses the SgsAP Gateway to substitute and translate messages electronically over the SGs interface, maintaining LTE connectivity while providing CS service capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A short message service (SMS) over SGs solution comprising an SGs application part (SGsAP) gateway. The SGsAP gateway is positioned between a mobile management entity (MME) on a long term evolution (LTE) network and a short message service center (SMSC)/home location register (HLR) on a circuit-switched (CS) network to permit SMS messages to be passed between the two domains. The SGsAP gateway performs centralized routing to home public land mobile networks (HPLMN) on the circuit-switched (CS) domain. An SGs interface is used to route messages between an SGsAP gateway and a mobile management entity (MME) on a long term evolution (LTE) network. The inventive solution does not require CS networks to support an SGs interface. In accordance with the principles of the present invention, a mobile management entity (MME) need only maintain a single SCTP association to a SGsAP gateway.