SMSC Message Prioritization and Masking for Emergency Delivery
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional Short Message Service Centers (SMSCs) lack the ability to prioritize messages based on their nature, leading to delays in transmitting emergency messages during emergencies, and they cannot mask text messages to hidden intended recipients.
Innovation Solution
The system prioritizes messages by modifying their rank in the message queue based on prioritization indicators and allows users to send masked messages by modifying the message transmission request according to predetermined criteria.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If messages are transmitted in order of receipt at the SMSC, then the message queue operates simply and reliably, but emergency messages experience delays during network congestion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of message prioritization by introducing a priority indicator that can be set by the sender. Messages are assigned different priority levels (e.g., normal, high, urgent) and the SMSC processes messages according to their priority rather than strictly in receipt order. This allows emergency messages to be delivered promptly while maintaining reliable delivery for all messages.
2Device complexity
If the SMSC processes all messages equally, then the system operates with simple logic, but important messages cannot be delivered promptly during emergencies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by allowing different processing treatments for different messages based on their priority level. Instead of uniform processing, the SMSC selectively prioritizes certain messages (e.g., emergency or high-priority messages) while maintaining standard processing for normal messages. This enables important messages to be transmitted faster without significantly complicating the overall system logic.
3Ease of operation
If messages are sent to apparent recipients as requested, then user control is maintained, but users cannot discreetly request help from hidden recipients
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where the SMSC acts as a mediator between the sender and the actual recipient. The sender specifies an apparent recipient in the message, but the SMSC intercepts the message, checks for priority indicators or special conditions, and if applicable, redirects it to a different actual recipient. This allows users to discreetly request help by masking the true recipient while maintaining ease of operation through the standard message sending interface.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems are disclosed herein for reprioritizing messages received at a short message service center (SMSC). The system maintains a queue of messages with prioritization. The system receives a first message transmission request. The system determines that the message transmission request contains a prioritization indicator. When the first message transmission request contains the first prioritization indicator, the system adds the first message to the queue at a higher rank than at least a subset of other messages in the queue that were received at the SMSC before the first message.