Alphanumeric address mapping for non-homogeneous short message networks
View Patent ↗Text messages with alphanumeric addresses are delivered to mobiles and external short message entities (ESMEs) which do not support alphanumeric addressing, providing meaningful fallback handling. Additionally, the invention enables delivery of SMPP messages from ESME or SMPP networks which can only originate numeric addresses, yet provide for mapping to alphanumeric addresses for delivery to the mobile. A two-way mapping is provided between alphanumeric addresses and SMS short-codes to enable delivery of text messages with alphanumeric addressing in networks which contain mobiles and/or ESME's that lack support of alphanumeric addressing. An ESME can send a text message using an alphanumeric origination address, without knowing which handsets support the capability, and which do not, or whether handsets are on CDMA, or GSM, or UMTS, or networks, or can continue to send using a numeric origination address. The SMSC provides conversions to alphanumeric addresses on behalf of the ESME and the mobile.
1. A method of providing two-way alphanumeric address mapping for a non-homogeneous short message network, comprising:
receiving a text message including an alphanumeric origination address including at least one non-numeric character identifying a terminating external short message entity (ESME), said alphanumeric origination address including at least one non-numeric character;
mapping, prior to a first attempt to deliver said text message to said terminating mobile device, said alphanumeric origination address including said at least one non-numeric character identifying said unique origination source, to a numeric digit-only short code associated with said terminating mobile device;
routing said text message with said numeric digit-only short code addressing to said terminating mobile device;
receiving a return text message including a numeric digit-only short code address from said ESME;
mapping said numeric digit-only short code address of said return text message to an alphanumeric destination address including at least one non-numeric character corresponding to said terminating mobile device; and
routing said return text message to said terminating mobile device.
2. The method of providing two-way alphanumeric address mapping for a non-homogeneous short message network according to claim 1 , further comprising:
configuring an air interface to said terminating mobile device not to support alphanumeric addressing, causing said text message's alphanumeric origination address to be mapped to said numeric digit-only short code prior to said first attempt to deliver said text message to said terminating mobile device.
3. The method of providing two-way alphanumeric address mapping for a non-homogeneous short message network according to claim 1 , whereby:
said ESME is configured to send a text message using an alphanumeric origination address, irrespective of a capability of said terminating mobile device to support alphanumeric addressing, and irrespective of a network type of said terminating mobile device.
4. The method of providing two-way alphanumeric address mapping for a non-homogeneous short message network according to claim 3 , further comprising:
configuring an air interface to said terminating mobile device not to support alphanumeric addressing, causing said text message's alphanumeric origination address including at least one non-numeric character to be mapped to said numeric digit-only short code address prior to said first attempt to deliver said text message to said terminating mobile device.
5. A method of providing two-way alphanumeric address mapping for a non-homogeneous short message network, comprising:
receiving a text message including an alphanumeric origination address including at least one non-numeric character identifying a terminating external short message entity (ESME), said alphanumeric origination address including at least one non-numeric character;
routing said text message to said terminating mobile device with said alphanumeric origination address including at least one non-numeric character;
receiving a failed delivery message relating to failure of delivery of said text message;
mapping said alphanumeric origination address including at least one non-numeric character identifying said unique origination source, to a numeric digit-only short code string identifying said ESME; and
routing said text message with said numeric digit-only short code string addressing to said terminating mobile device.
6. The method of providing two-way alphanumeric address mapping for a non-homogeneous short message network according to claim 5 , whereby:
said ESME is configured to send a text message using an alphanumeric origination address, irrespective of a capability of said terminating mobile device to support alphanumeric addressing, and irrespective of a network type of said terminating mobile device.
7. A method of providing two-way alphanumeric address mapping for a non-homogeneous short message network, comprising:
receiving, from a mobile device, a text message including an alphanumeric destination address including at least one non-numeric character identifying a terminating external short message entity (ESME);
mapping said alphanumeric destination address including at least one non-numeric character to a numeric digit-only short code address;
routing said text message with said numeric digit-only short code address to said terminating external short message entity (ESME);
receiving a return text message including a numeric digit-only short code address from said ESME;
mapping said numeric digit-only short code address of said return text message to an alphanumeric destination address including at least one non-numeric character corresponding to said mobile device; and
routing said return text message to said mobile device.
8. The method of providing two-way alphanumeric address mapping for a non-homogeneous short message network according to claim 7 , wherein:
a Short Message Servicing Center (SMSC) provides conversions of numeric-only addresses to alphanumeric addresses including alpha characters on behalf of said terminating external short message entity (ESME).