(12) United States Patent
`Allison et al.
`
`(10) Patent N0.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 6,819,932 B2
`Nov. 16, 2004
`
`US006819932B2
`
`(54) METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR
`PREVENTING DELIVERY OF UNWANTED
`SHORT MESSAGE SERVICE (SMS)
`MESSAGES
`
`(75) Inventors: Rick L. Allison, Apex, NC (US); Peter
`J. Marsico, Carrboro, NC (US)
`
`(73) Assignee: Tekelec, Calabasas, CA (US)
`
`* N '
`ot1ce:
`
`s bj
`yd' 1 '
`h
`r h'
`u ect to an 1sc a1mer, t e term 0 t is
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 69 days.
`
`(21) Appl. N0.: 09/915,968
`(22) Filed:
`Jul. 26, 2001
`(65)
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2003/0083078 A1 May 1, 2003
`
`Related US. Application Data
`(60) Provisional application No. 60/273,439, ?led on Mar. 5,
`2001.
`
`(51) Int. Cl.7 ................................................ .. H04Q 7/20
`
`(52) US. Cl. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
`
`. . . . .. 455/466; 455/414.1
`
`(58) Field of Search ............................... .. 455/466, 405,
`455/406, 411, 410, 414.1, 418, 567, 433
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`5,742,905 A * 4/1998 Pepe et al. ................ .. 455/461
`5,768,509 A
`6/1998 Gunluk
`5,903,726 A
`5/1999 Donovan et a1.
`6,101,393 A
`8/2000 Alperovich et a1.
`6,108,559 A
`8/2000 Astrom et a1.
`6,175,743 B1
`1/2001 Alperovich et a1.
`6,223,045 B1
`4/2001 Valentine et a1.
`6,289,223
`9/2001 Mukherjee et a1.
`B1
`6,418,305 B1 * 7/2002 Neustein ................... .. 455/406
`2001/0005678 A1
`6/2001 Lee
`2001/0006897 A1
`7/2001 Kang et a1.
`2001/0041579 A1 11/2001 Smith et a1.
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`Primary Examiner—Erika Gary
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Jenkins, Wilson & Taylor,
`PA.
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A signaling message processing and routing node transmits
`and receives short message service (SMS) data packets via
`a communications network. The routing node includes an
`SMS message discrimination module that determines
`whether an unwanted or spam SMS message is being sent to
`a receiving or called party. Unwanted SMS messages are
`discarded and consequently not delivered to their intended
`recipient. As a result, mobile subscribers and network nodes
`are shielded from unwanted SMS traf?c. The SMS message
`discrimination module also includes a provisioning interface
`that allows end users and network operators to control SMS
`message discrimination criteria.
`
`5,701,301 A * 12/1997 Weisser, Jr. ............... .. 370/428
`
`52 Claims, 9 Drawing Sheets
`
`600
`
`MSCNLR
`
`MSCN LR
`
`Exhibit 1036
`IPR2015-01219
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 16, 2004
`
`Sheet 1 0f 9
`
`US 6,819,932 B2
`
`100
`
`2
`
`128
`
`Receiving
`MS
`
`MSCNLR
`
`MSCNLR
`
`STP
`
`STP
`
`(PRIOR ART)
`
`Figure 1
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 16, 2004
`
`Sheet 2 0f 9
`
`US 6,819,932 B2
`
`150
`
`Receiving
`MS
`
`MSCNLR
`
`email Server
`
`(PRIOR ART‘)
`
`Figure 2
`
`

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`U.S. Patent
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`Nov. 16, 2004
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`Nov. 16, 2004
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`Nov. 16, 2004
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`Nov. 16, 2004
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`Sheet 7 0f 9
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`US 6,819,932 B2
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`400
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`Nov. 16, 2004
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`U.S. Patent
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`Nov. 16, 2004
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`Sheet 9 0f 9
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`US 6,819,932 B2
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`600
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`
`

`
`US 6,819,932 B2
`
`1
`METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR
`PREVENTING DELIVERY OF UNWANTED
`SHORT MESSAGE SERVICE (SMS)
`MESSAGES
`
`RELATED APPLICATIONS
`This application claims the bene?t of US. provisional
`patent application No. 60/273,439 ?led Mar. 5, 2001, the
`disclosure of Which is incorporated herein by reference in its
`entirety.
`
`TECHNICAL FIELD
`The present invention relates to methods and systems for
`preventing the delivery of unWanted short message service
`(SMS) messages to a subscriber in a mobile communications
`netWork. More particularly, the present invention relates to
`methods and systems for intercepting and discarding
`unWanted SMS messages at an SMS message routing node,
`thereby preventing the delivery of unWanted SMS messages
`to an SMS subscriber.
`
`BACKGROUND ART
`Short message service, Which Was ?rst introduced by
`European Wireless netWork operators in 1991, enables
`mobile subscribers to easily send and receive teXt messages
`via a Wireless handset. As the convergence of Wireless
`communication netWorks and Internet data netWorks has
`increased, the sending and receiving of SMS messages via
`computer terminals has also become commonplace.
`Although speci?cations and industry standards related to
`SMS are constantly evolving and being modi?ed, SMS
`messages have traditionally been used to convey readable
`teXt information, Where the teXt can include any combina
`tion of alphanumeric characters. After the initial teXt mes
`saging application, service providers began focusing on
`using SMS as a means of eliminating alphanumeric pagers
`by permitting tWo-Way, general-purpose, messaging and
`noti?cation services. One service that Was provided Was
`voice mail noti?cation. As technology and netWorks contin
`ued to mature, a variety of services Were introduced, includ
`ing electronic mail (email) and faX integration, paging
`integration, interactive banking, and information services,
`such as stock quotes, neWs highlights, etc.
`SMS delivery service provides a mechanism for trans
`mitting “short” messages to and from SMS-capable termi
`nals (e.g., Wireless handsets, personal computers, etc.) via
`the signaling component of the Wireless communication
`netWork. With particular regard to the sending and receiving
`of SMS messages by a Wireless handset, a Wireless netWork
`provides the transport facilities necessary to communicate
`short messages betWeen a short message service center
`(SMSC) and a Wireless handset. A short message service
`center functions as a store and forWard platform for short
`messages. In contrast to earlier teXt message transmission
`services, such as alphanumeric paging, SMS technology is
`designed to provide guaranteed delivery of an SMS message
`to a destination. That is, if a temporary netWork failure
`prohibits the immediate delivery of an SMS message, then
`the short message is stored in the netWork (i.e., at an SMSC)
`until the destination becomes available. Another of the key
`and distinguishing characteristics of SMS service With
`respect to previously available message communication
`services is that an active mobile handset is able to receive or
`transmit a short message at any time, regardless of Whether
`or not a voice or data call is in progress.
`SMS can be characteriZed as an out-of-band packet deliv
`ery technique With loW per-message bandWidth require
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`ments. Hence, SMS services are appealing to netWork
`oWners and operators. FIG. 1 is a netWork diagram illus
`trating an SMS implementation in a global system for
`mobile communications (GSM) Wireless netWork. It Will be
`appreciated that a functionally similar SMS architecture
`could also be employed in non-GSM Wireless netWorks. In
`any event, FIG. 1 includes a Wireless communication
`netWork, generally indicated by reference numeral 100.
`Wireless netWork 100 includes a sending mobile terminal
`110 that formulates and sends an SMS message and a base
`station system 112 that manages the netWork-to-air interface
`and reliably transmits the SMS message into the core
`Wireless netWork. In this particular eXample, the receiving
`end of the netWork includes a base station system 126 and
`a receiving mobile terminal 128. Wireless netWork 100 also
`includes a pair of mobile sWitching centers (MSCs) 114 and
`124, a pair of signal transfer points (STPs) 116 and 122, a
`short message service center (SMSC) 118 and a home
`location register (HLR) 120.
`As mentioned previously, SMSC 118 is responsible for
`relaying, storing, and forWarding short messages betWeen
`sending and receiving SMS terminals. HLR 120 is a data
`base platform used for permanent storage and management
`of mobile service subscriptions, mobile subscriber pro?les,
`and mobile subscriber location information. HLR databases
`permanently store information about subscribers that belong
`to the same netWork as the HLR. Adatabase element, knoWn
`as a visitor location register (VLR), is used to temporarily
`store information about subscribers Who are currently
`“roaming” in the area serviced by that VLR. The VLR may
`belong to the subscriber’s home netWork or to a non-home
`netWork. Typically, VLR databases are integrated Within
`MSC netWork elements, and, as such, an explicit VLR node
`is not shoWn in FIG. 1. The HLR and VLR store information
`needed to correctly route voice calls or data communications
`to the mobile subscriber. This may include international
`mobile station identi?cation (IMSI), mobile identi?cation
`number (MIN), mobile directory number (MDN), and
`mobile station international ISDN number (MSISDN), as
`Well as the IDs of the VLR and MSC With Which the
`subscriber is currently associated.
`With particular regard to short message service
`operations, HLR 120 provides SMSC 118 With netWork
`routing information for the receiving mobile subscriber or
`mobile terminal 128. In certain cases, HLR 120 may also
`inform SMSC 118, Which has previously initiated unsuc
`cessful short message delivery attempts to a speci?c mobile
`station, that the mobile station is noW recogniZed by the
`mobile netWork to be accessible.
`MSC 114 is sometimes referred to as an SMS interWork
`ing MSC (SMS-IWMSC) because it is capable of receiving
`a short message from a Wireless netWork and submitting it
`to the appropriate SMSC. In practice, SMS-IWMSC nodes
`are typically integrated With an MSC in the netWork but may
`also be integrated With the SMSC. In a similar manner, MSC
`124 is sometimes referred to as an SMS gateWay MSC
`(SMS-GMSC) because it is capable of receiving a short
`message from an SMSC, interrogating a home location
`register for routing information, and delivering the short
`message to the “visited” MSC of the recipient mobile
`station.
`FIG. 2 illustrates a communications netWork 150, Which
`is a variation of the Wireless netWork 100 described above.
`In place of a sending base station system and sending
`Wireless terminal, netWork 150 contains a sending email
`client 152 and an email server 154. Email server 154
`formulates SMS messages based on email messages and
`
`

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`US 6,819,932 B2
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`forwards the SMS messages to SMSC 118. As such, an email
`message may be generated by a Wireline computer terminal
`residing Within a data network (e. g., the Internet) and sent to
`a mobile terminal Within a Wireless netWork as a SMS
`message.
`The signaling infrastructure of Wireless netWork 100
`illustrated in FIG. 1 is based on signaling system no. 7 (SS7),
`a telecommunications industry standard signaling protocol.
`SMS service makes use of the SS7 mobile application part
`(MAP), Which de?nes the methods and mechanisms of
`signaling communication in mobile or Wireless netWorks.
`The MAP protocol utiliZes the transaction capabilities appli
`cation part (TCAP) component of the SS7 protocol. Both
`North American and international standards bodies have
`de?ned a MAP layer using the services of the SS7 TCAP
`component. The North American standard is published by
`Telecommunication Industry Association and is referred to
`as IS-41 MAP, While the international standard is de?ned by
`the European Telecommunication Standards Institute and is
`referred to as GSM MAP.
`FIG. 3 is a sample message How diagram associated With
`the delivery of a short message (SM) to a mobile subscriber
`or terminal in GSM Wireless netWork. This diagram assumes
`the IWMSC and the GMSC node are both integrated into the
`SMSC node. The messages illustrated in FIG. 3 are GSM
`MAP protocol messages. HoWever, a similar call How is
`25
`used for the IS-41 MAP protocol. In step 1, a short message,
`such as a teXt message, is formulated by a sending mobile
`terminal and transmitted via a signaling netWork to an MSC
`node. In response to receiving the SM, the MSC formulates
`a MAP-SEND-INFO-FOR-MO-SMS query message and
`transmits the query message to the VLR node With Which the
`MS is currently registered (step 2). The VLR responds to the
`query and, if the receiving mobile subscriber (MS) is
`registered, provides the MSISDN corresponding to the IMSI
`to the MSC. Upon receiving the MS information, the MSC
`35
`transmits the short message in a MAP-MO-FORWARD
`SHORT-MESSAGE message to the SMSC (step 3). The
`SMSC sends a MAP-SEND-ROUTING-INFO message to
`the HLR of the SMS recipient using the recipient’s MSISDN
`(step 4). The HLR responds With the IMSI of the recipient
`and the MSC With Which the IMSI is currently registered.
`If the information received from the HLR indicates that
`the recipient is available (i.e., currently registered With an
`MSC and turned on With suf?cient memory), the SMSC then
`transmits the short message to the MSC in a MAP-MT
`FORWARD-SHORT-MESSAGE (step 5) and transmits a
`delivery report to the sending MSC (step 6). An SMSC
`attempts to deliver a short message to a receiving MS
`Whenever the MS is registered and available (i.e., turned on
`With suf?cient memory), even When the MS is engaged in a
`voice or data call. Such service is referred to as point-to
`point delivery service and is accomplished via the use of the
`Short Message Delivery-Point-to-Point (SMD-PP) and For
`WardShortMessage mechanisms in IS-41 and GSM, respecf
`tively.
`In step 7, the MSC queries the VLR With Which the
`recipient is currently registered With a MAP-SEND-INFO
`FOR-MT-SMS message. The VLR returns location infor
`mation associated With the intended recipient (e.g., the
`MSISDN number for the intended recipient). Using the
`information obtained from the VLR database, paging and
`authentication operations are initiated betWeen the MS and
`the base station. Once the receiving MS has been authenti
`cated and located, the MSC transmits the short message to
`the mobile (step 8). In step 9, information associated With
`the disposition or status of the SMS delivery attempt is
`returned to the SMSC.
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`It Will be appreciated that such delivery status information
`may be used by the SMSC to ensure or guarantee the
`delivery of a particular message. That is, When a short
`message delivery attempt by the SMSC fails due to a
`temporary netWork failure, the SMSC requests that it be
`noti?ed by the HLR When the indicated mobile subscriber
`becomes accessible. Such message Waiting functionality is
`achieved via the use of the SMS noti?cation indicator and
`set message Waiting data mechanisms in IS-41 and GSM,
`respectively.
`From the discussion of SMS operation fundamentals
`presented above, it Will be appreciated that the SMS com
`ponents of a Wireless communication netWork Will diligently
`attempt to deliver every SMS message that is received by the
`netWork. While such guaranteed delivery service is an
`attractive feature or attribute of SMS system operation, the
`delivery of each and every SMS message addressed to a
`particular subscriber may not alWays be desirable. As the
`popularity of portable Wireless communication devices (e. g.,
`mobile telephones, hand-held computing devices, etc.) con
`tinues to rise, it is anticipated that SMS messaging may
`become Widely used as a retail advertising medium. As such,
`SMS subscribers may ?nd themselves the constant target of
`unWanted SMS messages, often referred to as “spam” or
`“junk” messages. Spam SMS messages may be annoying to
`mobile subscribers. In addition, from a netWork operations
`perspective, large volumes of spam SMS messaging traf?c
`has the potential to severely impact overall netWork perfor
`mance. In any event, there exists a need for novel methods
`and systems for preventing the delivery of unWanted SMS
`messages to a mobile subscriber and also to eliminate such
`unWanted SMS message traf?c from an operator’s netWork
`so that valuable netWork resources (e.g., SMSCs, HLRs,
`VLRs, etc.) are not burdened by spam SMS message traf?c.
`DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
`According to one aspect, the present invention includes a
`signaling message routing node that transmits and receives
`short message service (SMS) data packets via a communi
`cations netWork. The routing node includes an SMS message
`discriminator (MD) database that contains information used
`to determine Whether a received SMS message is Wanted by
`a called or receiving party. The MD database includes data
`used to identify a sending and/or receiving party attribute of
`an SMS message, as Well as discrimination processing
`instructions. Such discrimination processing instructions
`may include an indicator that directs an SMS message to be
`discarded (i.e., not delivered to the intended addressee) or an
`indicator that directs an SMS message to be routed normally
`(i.e., delivered to the intended addressee). An SMS message
`generation module may generate a neW SMS message
`addressed to the sending or calling party associated With a
`discarded message. This neW SMS message may notify the
`sending or calling party that delivery of the discarded SMS
`message Was unsuccessful.
`The SMS message discrimination module of the present
`invention may also examine sending party, calling party,
`and/or routing information contained in an SMS message
`received to determine the source of a repeat SMS spam
`originator. As such, it may be possible for an SMS message
`discrimination module of the present invention to identify
`the particular netWork, netWork elements, or communication
`terminal(s) from Which spam SMS messages are being
`originated or staged. If the origin of such spam SMS
`messaging can be determined, a neW SMS message can be
`generated to notify one or more netWork operators of the
`incident so that appropriate steps can be taken to eliminate
`
`

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`US 6,819,932 B2
`
`5
`the spam SMS originator’s access to an operator’s network
`and network resources (e.g., SMSCs, HLRs, VLRs, MSCs,
`etc.).
`Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to
`allow a short message service subscriber to specify from
`which calling or sending parties SMS messages will be
`received.
`It is another object of the present invention to allow a
`short message service subscriber to specify from which
`calling or sending parties SMS messages will not be
`received.
`It is another object of the present invention to prevent a
`short message service subscriber from receiving unwanted
`or spam type SMS messages.
`It is another object of the present invention to provide a
`network routing node that facilitates the enforcement of
`spam SMS message elimination measures.
`lt is another object of the present invention to provide a
`network routing node that prevents wireless network
`resources (e.g., SMSCs, HLRs, VLRs, MSCs, etc.) from
`being burdened with the processing of spam SMS messages.
`It is another object of the present invention to notify the
`sending or calling party of an SMS message associated with
`an SMS spam message that the offending spam SMS mes
`sage has been discarded.
`It is another object of the present invention to notify a
`network operator of the occurrence of a spam SMS message
`so that steps may be taken by the operator to prevent further
`spam SMS message traffic from the spam SMS message
`originator.
`Some of the objects of the invention having been stated
`hereinabove, other objects will be evident as the description
`proceeds, when taken in connection with the accompanying
`drawings as best described hereinbelow.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`A description of the present invention will now proceed
`with reference to the accompanying drawings of which:
`FIG. 1 is a network diagram illustrating mobile commu
`nications network elements associated with sending SMS
`messages originating from a mobile subscriber;
`FIG. 2 is a network diagram illustrating network elements
`associated with sending an SMS message originating from
`an email client;
`FIG. 3 is a message ?ow diagram illustrating messages
`transmitted between mobile communications network ele
`ments associated with originator and delivery of an SMS
`message;
`FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a signaling gateway routing
`node having an underlying hardware platform suitable for
`use with embodiments of the present invention;
`FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a signaling gateway
`routing node including an SMS message discrimination
`module (MDM) according to an embodiment of the present
`invention;
`FIG. 6 is a ?ow chart illustrating exemplary steps per
`formed by a routing node including an SMS message
`discrimination module according to an embodiment of the
`present invention;
`FIG. 7 is a network diagram is a network diagram
`including a routing node having an SMS message discrimi
`nation module according to an embodiment of the present
`invention;
`FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a stand-alone
`message processing platform (MPP) including an SMS
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`message discrimination module according to an embodi
`ment of the present invention; and
`FIG. 9 is a network diagram including a stand-alone
`message processing platform having an SMS message dis
`crimination module according to an embodiment of the
`present invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`INVENTION
`
`According to one embodiment, the present invention
`includes a routing node having an SMS message discrimi
`nation module. Such a routing node may include an internal
`architecture similar to that of high performance signal
`transfer point and SG products marketed by Tekelec of
`Calabasas, California as the EAGLE® STP and IP7TM
`SECURE GATEWAY, respectively. A block diagram that
`generally illustrates the base internal architecture of the
`IP7TM SECURE GATEWAY product is shown in FIG. 4. In
`FIG. 4, a signaling gateway 250 includes the following
`subsystems: a maintenance and administration subsystem
`(MAS) 252, a communication subsystem 254 and an appli
`cation subsystem 256. MAS 252 provides maintenance
`communications, initial program load, peripheral services,
`alarm processing and system disks. Communication sub
`system 254 includes an interprocessor message transport
`(IMT) bus that is the main communication bus among all
`subsystems in signaling gateway 250. This high-speed com
`munications system includes two 125 Mbps counter-rotating
`serial rings.
`Application subsystem 256 includes application cards or
`printed circuit boards that are capable of communicating
`with the other cards through the IMT bus. Numerous types
`of application cards can be incorporated into SG 250,
`including: a link interface module (LIM) 258 that commu
`nicates with eXternal SS7 links and X25 links, a data
`communication module (DCM) 260 that provides an Inter
`net protocol (IP) interface using transmission control pro
`tocol (TCP), and a translation services module (TSM) 262
`that provides global title translation, gateway screening and
`other services. A database services module (DSM) 264 is
`also provided to support triggered local number portability
`service as well as advanced database services, such as the
`SMS spam control application described herein.
`
`SMS Message Discrimination and Routing Node
`Architecture
`
`FIG. 5 illustrates a signaling gateway 300 including an
`SMS message discrimination module according to an
`embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 5, SG 300
`includes an interprocessor message transport bus 304 that is
`the main communication bus among all internal subsystems
`within switch or routing node. As stated above, IMT bus 304
`may include two 125 Mbps counter-rotating serial rings. A
`number of cards or processing modules may be coupled to
`IMT bus 304. These cards or processing modules include a
`pair of maintenance and administration subsystem proces
`sors (MASPs) 306, an SS7-capable link Interface module
`308, an lP-capable data communication module 330, and an
`SMS message discrimination module (MDM) 340. These
`modules may be physically connected to IMT bus 304 such
`that signaling and other type messages may be routed
`internally between all active cards or modules. As used
`herein the term “module” can include a hardware
`component, a software component, or a combination of
`hardware and software components. For eXample, a module
`may be a chip, such as an ASIC, designed to perform a
`
`

`
`US 6,819,932 B2
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`7
`speci?c function. Alternatively, a module may be a part of a
`computer program that performs a speci?c function. In yet
`another alternative, a module may be a microprocessor
`programmed to perform a speci?c function.
`For simplicity of illustration, only single LIM, DCM, and
`MDM cards are included in FIG. 5. HoWever, it should be
`appreciated that the distributed, multi-processor architecture
`of the SG node 300 facilitates the deployment of multiple
`LIM, DCM, MDM and other cards, all of Which could be
`simultaneously connected to and communicating via IMT
`bus 304.
`MASP pair 306 provide maintenance communications,
`initial program load, peripheral services, alarm processing
`and system disks. As the MASP pair are not particularly
`relevant to a discussion of SMS message discrimination
`application functionality, a detailed discussion of their
`design and operation is not provided herein.
`Focusing noW on LIM card functionality, in the illustrated
`embodiment LIM 308 is comprised of a number of sub
`components including: an SS7 MTP level 1 and 2 process
`310, an I/ O buffer or queue 312, a gateWay screening (GWS)
`process 314, an SS7 MTP level 3 discrimination process
`316, and a distribution process 318. MTP level 1 and 2
`process 310 provides the facilities necessary to send and
`25
`receive digital data over a particular physical medium. MTP
`level 1 and 2 process 310 also performs error detection, error
`correction and sequenced delivery of SS7 message packets.
`I/O queue 312 provides for temporary buffering of incoming
`and outgoing signaling message packets. GWS process 314
`examines received message packets and determines Whether
`the messages should be alloWed into the sWitch for process
`ing and/or routing. Discrimination process 316 performs a
`discrimination function, effectively determining Whether an
`incoming SS7 message packet requires internal processing
`or is simply to be through-sWitched, i.e., routed to another
`node. In one embodiment, discrimination process 316 exam
`ines a service indicator octet (SIO) value in the received
`message packet in order to determine Whether internal
`SCCP-type processing is required. Distribution process 318
`handles the internal routing of SS7 message packets that
`require additional processing prior to ?nal routing.
`DCM 330 shoWn in FIG. 5 includes an SS7/1P converter
`332 that converts betWeen SS7 and IP protocol stacks. An
`I/O queue 334 buffers inbound and outbound messages.
`Outgoing SS7 message packets routed through DCM 330
`Will be transmitted from SG node 302 and into an IP
`netWork. The message packets received and transmitted by
`a DCM card may include messages formatted according to
`the transport adapter layer interface (TALI), session initia
`tion protocol (SIP), M2UA, M3UA, SUA, SCTP, H.323 or
`other signaling protocols that utiliZe TCP/IP, UDP/IP, or IP.
`An SMS message discrimination module according to an
`embodiment of the present invention may include an SMS
`message discrimination application and an SMS message
`discrimination database for processing unWanted SMS mes
`sages. In FIG. 5 MDM 340 includes a signaling connection
`control part (SCCP) sub-module 342. SCCP sub-module 342
`includes an SMS message discrimination application sub
`system controller knoWn as a signaling connection routing
`controller (SCRC) 344. Responsibilities of the SCRC 344
`include directing incoming SS7 messages to an SMS mes
`sage discrimination application 346 and creating neW mes
`sage packets in response to information returned by the
`discrimination application 346. SS7 message packets leav
`ing SCRC 344 are received and further processed by a
`routing application 350. Routing application 350 is respon
`
`8
`sible for the external routing of SS7 message packets that
`have been processed by the MD application 346 and/or do
`not require additional processing by signaling gateWay rout
`ing node 300. That is, routing application 350 determines to
`Which LIM or DCM card an SS7 message packet should be
`routed for subsequent outbound transmission from the SG
`node. It Will also be appreciated from FIG. 5 that in one
`embodiment MDM 340 is coupled to and serviced by an
`external provisioning application platform (EPAP) sub
`system 352 via an Ethernet connection. EPAP subsystem
`352 is responsible for administration and maintenance of
`MDA data resident on MDM 340.
`
`Exemplary SMS Message Discrimination Module
`Architecture
`
`As discussed previously, a signi?cant problem associated
`With currently offered SMS type services involves an SMS
`recipient’s inability to control the How of SMS messages to
`his or her communication terminal. This shortcoming has the
`potential of becoming greatly ampli?ed as the generation of
`SMS type message traf?c outside of the traditional PSTN
`netWork environment continues to increase. As such, one
`object of a routing node including an SMS message dis
`crimination module according to an embodiment of the
`present invention is to provide a method by Which a netWork
`operator can quickly and easily control Which SMS type
`messages are delivered to an SMS service subscriber. It Will
`be further appreciated that a netWork operator may also
`provide an individual SMS subscriber With the ability to
`directly control Which SMS type messages are delivered to
`his or her communication terminal by granting the SMS
`subscriber indirect access to the MDA data.
`
`In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, SMS message
`discrimination application 346 includes a provisioning inter
`face 353 that alloWs external access to SMS message
`discrimination data. Provisioning interface 353 may be any
`type of interface suitable for altering SMS message discrimi
`nation data. Examples of such interfaces may include text
`based interfaces, graphical interfaces, or interfaces that
`include both textual and graphical components. Interface
`353 may be accessed using any suitable means, such as
`using HTTP or FTP via the Internet.
`
`MDM 340 includes one or more data tables that contain
`information used to implement the SMS message discrimi
`nation functionality described above. Table 1 shoWn beloW
`illustrates exemplary information that may be used for spam
`SMS message discrimination in a communications netWork
`according to an embodiment of the present invention. The
`message discrimination table structure depicted in Table 1 is
`presented for purposes of illustration. Apractical implemen
`tation of a message discrimination application of the present
`invention may include a more complex data structure than a
`simple table, such as a tree structure.
`
`TABLE 1
`
`SMS Message Discrimination Data
`
`KEY (s)
`
`DATA
`
`Rcvg Pty
`
`Sending Pty OPC DPC CID Disc. Action
`
`9194605500
`
`9194691300
`9193802000
`snd@aol.com
`
`*
`
`*
`9194690000
`9194605500
`
`*
`
`*
`*
`*
`
`*
`
`*
`*
`1-1-1
`
`*
`
`*
`321
`*
`
`Reject
`
`Allow
`Reject
`Reject
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`

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`US 6,819,932 B2
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`TABLE 1-continued
`
`SMS Message Discrimination Data
`
`KEY (s)
`
`DATA
`
`Rcvg Pty
`
`Sending Pty OPC DPC CID Disc. Action
`
`*
`
`spam@aol.com
`
`*
`
`2-2-2 221
`
`Allow
`
`In any event, the sample data structure shown in Table 1
`contains a number of key or index ?elds including: a
`receiving or called party identi?cation ?eld, a sending or
`calling party identi?cation ?eld, an originating point code
`?eld, a destination point code ?eld, and a carrier identi?ca
`tion ?eld. In a signaling system 7 signaling environment,
`SMS message discrimination data that may be stored in the
`sending or calling party identi?er ?eld includes a calling
`party