Silent SMS Message Management for IMS Network Reliability
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Solution Overview
Problem
In IMS networks, the assumption that recipient devices are always established and available leads to erroneous retransmissions of SMS messages when acknowledgments are not received, resulting in duplicate messages being delivered to users without the network realizing the messages were properly received and processed.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that manage SMS messages by adding a first SMS message to a transmission queue with an acknowledgement request and a content processing request, and if no acknowledgement is received within a predetermined time, a second 'silent' SMS message with an acknowledgement request but a content non-processing request is sent, allowing retransmission of the original message once an acknowledgement is received.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the network immediately transfers SMS messages to MT UEs in IMS without paging requests, then message delivery speed is improved, but duplicate messages are delivered when acknowledgments are not received
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by sending a silent SMS (acknowledgment request only) before the actual message content. This preliminary acknowledgment request verifies device availability and establishes a reliable communication channel, preventing duplicate message delivery while maintaining fast message transfer speeds.
Solution Approach 2:
The silent SMS acts as an intermediary between the network and the MT UE. It serves as a verification mechanism that mediates whether the actual message should be delivered, ensuring reliability without compromising the speed of message delivery when the device is confirmed available.
2Reliability
If the network sends retransmission requests when acknowledgments are not received, then message delivery reliability is improved, but unnecessary device notifications occur when messages were already processed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the SMS delivery process into two distinct parts: an acknowledgment request (silent SMS) and the actual message content. By separating these functions, the system can verify device availability and message processing status without triggering unnecessary notifications, thus improving reliability while eliminating harmful duplicate notifications.
Solution Approach 2:
The acknowledgment request functionality is extracted from the full SMS message structure. By taking out the acknowledgment request as a separate silent SMS, the system can independently verify message receipt status without including the message content that would trigger device notifications, thereby preventing unnecessary notifications while maintaining reliability.
3Reliability
If the network waits for acknowledgments before retransmitting messages, then duplicate message delivery is prevented, but message delivery time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by sending silent acknowledgment requests at regular intervals before actual message delivery. This periodic verification ensures duplicate message prevention while maintaining efficient message delivery timing, as the system only waits for acknowledgments when necessary and uses the periodic silent SMS to verify device availability.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method of managing messages in a telecommunications network comprises: transmitting the first SMS message to a wireless device, the first SMS message including a first acknowledgement request and a content processing request; determining whether a first acknowledgement has been received from the wireless device in response to the first acknowledgement request within a first predetermined time period; in response to a determination that the first acknowledgement has not been received within the first predetermined time period: transmitting a second SMS message to the wireless device, the second SMS message including a second acknowledgement request and a content non-processing request; determining whether a second acknowledgement has been received from the wireless device in response to the second acknowledgement request; and in response to a determination that the second acknowledgement has been received within a second predetermined time period, retransmitting the first SMS message to the wireless device.