Direct SMS message delivery over broadband data networks through an SMS-C
View Patent ↗SMS-C's and associated methods are disclosed that attempt to deliver SMS messages over a broadband data network as opposed to a voice network. An SMS-C described herein stores session information for a mobile device that has established a data session over the broadband data network. When the SMS-C receives a Mobile Terminated (MT) SMS message destined for the mobile device, the SMS-C stores the SMS message for delivery. The SMS-C then identifies a routing address for the mobile device over the broadband data network based on the stored session information, and forwards the SMS message to the mobile device directly over the broadband data network based on the routing address.
1. An apparatus comprising:
a text message server configured to handle text messages using a store-and-forward mechanism, the text message server including a processor and a memory unit associated with the processor;
the processor configured to receive a text message destined for a dual mode device, to determine that the dual mode device is registered with a data network, and to forward the text message as Mobile Terminated (MT) to the dual mode device over the data network instead of over a voice network;
the processor is further configured to identify a failed delivery attempt of the MT text message over the data network, and to forward the MT text message to the dual mode device over the voice network responsive to the failed delivery attempt.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:
the processor is further configured to store information for a session established by the dual mode device over the data network prior to receiving the text message.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein:
the session information for the dual mode device includes a Mobile Internet Protocol (MIP) address for the dual mode device.
4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein:
the processor is further configured to query a subscriber database in the voice network to acquire the session information for the dual mode device.
5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein:
the processor is further configured to query a session database in the data network to acquire the session information for the dual mode device.
6. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein:
the processor is further configured to receive a Mobile Originated (MO) text message from the dual mode device, to verify that the MO text message is valid by comparing header information of the MO text message with the session information for the dual mode device, and to forward the MO text message to a destination when the MO text message is valid.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein:
the processor is further configured to send an error message to the dual mode device when the MO text message is invalid to instruct the dual mode device to attempt to send the MO text message over a voice network as a fail over.
8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein:
the processor is further configured to validate the MO text message by comparing a Mobile Internet Protocol (MIP) address in a header of the MO text message with a MIP address of the dual mode device.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:
the data network comprises an Evolution-Data Optimized (EVDO) network.
10. A method comprising:
receiving, in a text message server configured to handle text messages using a store-and-forward mechanism, a text message destined for a dual mode device;
determining that the dual mode device is registered with a data network;
forwarding the text message as a Mobile Terminated (MT) to the dual mode device over the data network instead of over a voice network;
identifying a failed delivery attempt of the MT text message over the data network; and
forwarding the MT text message to the dual mode device over the voice network responsive to the failed delivery attempt.
11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:
storing, in the text message server, information for a session established by the dual mode device over the data network prior to receiving the text message.
12. The method of claim 11 wherein:
the session information for the dual mode device comprises a Mobile Internet Protocol (MIP) address for the dual mode device.
13. The method of claim 11 further comprising:
querying a subscriber database in the voice network to acquire the session information for the dual mode device.
14. The method of claim 11 further comprising:
querying a session database in the data network to acquire the session information for the dual mode device.
15. The method of claim 11 further comprising:
receiving a Mobile Originated (MO) text message from the dual mode device;
verifying that the MO text message is valid by comparing header information of the MO text message with the session information for the dual mode device; and
forwarding the MO text message to a destination when the MO text message is valid.
16. The method of claim 15 further comprising:
sending an error message to the dual mode device when the MO text message is invalid to instruct the dual mode device to attempt to send the MO text message over a voice network as a fail over.
17. The method of claim 15 further comprising:
validating the MO text message by comparing a Mobile Internet Protocol (MIP) address in a header of the MO text message with a MIP address of the dual mode device.
18. The method of claim 10 wherein:
the data network comprises an Evolution-Data Optimized (EVDO) network.