SMS Routing via Non-Native Provider to Cut Roaming Costs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile users incur exorbitant roaming charges when sending and receiving Short Message Service (SMS) communications while outside their native service area due to the high costs negotiated between carriers for international and domestic roaming.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for routing non-native SMS messages through a non-native communication service provider's network, using a processor to determine routing instructions based on the native network identifier or IP address, allowing SMS messages to be directed to a forwarding identifier assigned by the non-native provider, thereby avoiding traditional carrier routing and reducing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If SMS messages are routed through the native carrier's equipment using traditional carrier routing, then message delivery reliability is ensured, but roaming charges increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a non-native communication service provider as an intermediary to route SMS messages. Instead of routing through the native carrier's equipment (which incurs roaming charges), messages are redirected through a third-party service provider's SMS server that acts as a mediator between the sender and receiver, thereby avoiding expensive carrier-to-carrier roaming fees while maintaining delivery reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the traditional carrier routing path into separate components: the native carrier identifies the message, redirects it to the non-native service provider, which then delivers it to the destination. This segmentation allows the message to bypass the expensive native carrier routing infrastructure for international/roaming messages while still ensuring reliable delivery through the alternative provider's network
2Loss of energy
If SMS messages are routed through a non-native communication service provider's network, then roaming charges are reduced, but routing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by having the non-native communication service provider pre-establish routing rules, cost databases, and message forwarding infrastructure before messages need to be routed. The system pre-configures the redirection paths and maintains ready-to-use SMS servers, so when a roaming message needs to be sent, the complex routing logic is already in place and executed automatically without real-time decision complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs self-service mechanisms where the non-native service provider's infrastructure automatically handles message routing decisions, cost calculations, and forwarding without requiring manual intervention or complex real-time negotiations between carriers. The routing complexity is managed autonomously by the service provider's systems using pre-established rules and automated protocols
Data Source
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AI summary
Methods and apparatus for routing non-native Short Message Service (SMS) messages to a first device, the first device being assigned a native identifier and being associated with a native telephony service provider, are provided herein. In some embodiments, the method includes receiving an SMS message directed to the native identifier of the first device, determining routing instructions for the SMS message based on the native network identifier associated with the first device, and routing the SMS message to the first device based on the determined routing instructions, wherein the act of routing results in SMS messages directed to the native identifier of the first device being directed to a forwarding identifier assigned to the first device by a first non-native communication service provider.