Short Message Delivery in Packet Switched Networks

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Solution Overview

Problem

In scenarios where only a packet switched network is deployed, existing technologies cannot provide short message services due to the lack of circuit switching network coverage, resulting in increased operation costs for telecommunication operators and denial of short message services to users.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that enables short message sending by determining terminal reachability through failure reports and waiting data, allowing the Short Messaging Service Centre (SMS-SC) to resend messages when the terminal becomes reachable again, utilizing a detection module in the Mobile Management Entity (MME) to detect unreachable terminals and notify the Home Subscriber Server (HSS), which then alerts the SMS-SC, ensuring message delivery even without a circuit switching network.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a circuit switching network is deployed alongside an EPS network to provide short message service, then users can receive short messages, but the operation cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshort message service availabilityVSAvoidoperation cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the short message routing function from the traditional circuit switching network requirement and implements it within the packet switched EPS network using the MME's paging capability and the proposed failure report mechanism. This separates the short message delivery function from the circuit switching infrastructure, allowing short message service to be provided using only the packet switched network.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The MME is given additional functionality to handle short message routing and terminal reachability detection beyond its traditional mobility management role. By making the MME multi-functional, the patent eliminates the need for separate circuit switching network infrastructure while maintaining short message service capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Loss of energy

If only a packet switched network is deployed to reduce operation cost, then operation cost decreases, but short message service cannot be provided

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperation costVSAvoidshort message service availability
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the MME monitors terminal reachability through paging responses and sends failure reports to the SMS-GMSC when terminals are unreachable. The SMS-GMSC then notifies the HSS, which maintains waiting data and triggers message resending when terminals become reachable again. This feedback loop ensures reliable short message delivery using only packet switched network infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The HSS pre-stores waiting data including terminal identities and SMS-SC information when failure reports are received. This preliminary action allows the system to quickly resume message delivery when terminals become reachable without needing to re-establish routing information, improving the reliability of short message service in packet switched-only networks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2811766B1Method and system for sending short message
Publication Date: 2019.06.19 ZTE CORP
  • EP2811766B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2811766B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention provides a method and system for sending a short message. The method includes: an SMS-SC sending a short message to an SMS-GMSC, and after the SMS-GMSC sends the short message to an MME, the MME sending a failure report to the SMS-GMSC when the MME detects that a terminal is unreachable (S202); the SMS-GMSC receiving the sent failure report and sending a short-message sending status message to an HSS, and the HSS setting waiting data according to the short-message sending status message (S204); upon detecting that the terminal switches from unreachable to reachable, the MME notifying the HSS that the terminal is reachable (S206); upon learning that the terminal is reachable, the HSS sending, according to the waiting data, a warning message to notify the SMS-SC that the terminal is reachable, and upon learning that the terminal is reachable again, the SMS-SC sending the short message again (S208). By means of the solution, a short message service can also be received in an area covered only by a packet switched network.