JP5606288B2 - Short message service system, node having gateway function, node having routing function, and SMS message transfer method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a short message service system that implements a short message service (SMS) between networks operated by different communication carriers, a node having a gateway function, a node having a routing function, and an SMS message. It relates to the transfer method.

  In general, in the implementation of a short message service between a plurality of different telecommunications carriers, there is no environment in which the transmitting telecommunications carrier can effectively use the user information held by the receiving telecommunications carrier. This is due to the fact that the user profile of the receiver must be protected by the receiving carrier, so that details of user information cannot be inadvertently provided to the transmitting carrier. ing.

  Conventionally, in general, what is known in advance as information related to the receiving terminal device by the transmission side communication carrier is the location information, the availability of the short message service, and the receiving terminal device subscribes. Limited to telecommunications carriers. In other words, the sender's telecommunications carrier issues a signal SRI for SM (Send Routing Information) in response to an inquiry about information about the terminal device on the receiver side, and the response to this is the location information, country code, operator There was no way to get more information, limited to numbers.

In this way, in situations where the user information held by the receiving carrier is not effectively used, this can be achieved when the sender wants to perform broadcast communication using the short message service from the sending side to the receiving side. However, it is very inconvenient for the user.
Note that a system that enables broadcast communication using a short message service to a receiving terminal device belonging to a preset group has already been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  Patent Document 1 proposes a system and method for facilitating group communication using short message service text messaging and multiple short message service based commands. This proposal discloses that a communication server determines a receiving group by analyzing a message and broadcasts a short message to members of the corresponding group in real time. In this case, the group can be defined by the user, but it has been described that a method of determining a default group that is not necessarily defined by the user may be adopted.

In addition, an apparatus and a method for mapping information related to a short message service from a first communication system to a second other portable system have been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 2).
In the technique disclosed in Patent Document 2, protocol data that enables communication with a node of another network called “mapper” is prepared in advance, and as long as the “mapper” can cope with the other network. Short message service is enabled between them.
Furthermore, there is a proposal to define a mobile communication subscriber group, assign a group identifier to each member of the group, and link each member of the group to an established service (see, for example, Patent Document 3). ).
Patent Document 3 describes that a short message service can be included as the service.

JP 2005-278146 A JP 2006-512789 A Special table 2001-517044 gazette

However, in any of the above-mentioned patent documents, communication by the short message service is performed from the transmission side to the reception side without giving detailed information held by the reception side communication carrier to the transmission side communication carrier. There is no recognition of the technical problem to be made possible, and therefore no way has been proposed.
The present invention has been made in view of the situation as described above, and is held by the receiving communication carrier without providing detailed information held by the receiving communication carrier to the transmitting communication carrier. A short message service system and a gateway function that enable communication by a short message service from a transmitting user terminal device to a specific receiving terminal device that satisfies a certain condition using the corresponding detailed information It is an object to provide a node having a routing function, a node having a routing function, and an SMS message transfer method.

In order to solve the above problems, the present application proposes the following technologies.
Note that the term “routing information” in this specification and the corresponding claims is information relating to routing to a destination. In other words, this term is an example of required parameters for realizing routing in mobile communication, such as IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber Identity) and location information. Therefore, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, various specific values or events are represented according to the types as parameters according to the routing processing process, the corresponding timing, and the like.

(1) Forwarding an SMS message transmitted from a transmitting user terminal device and held in an SMSC (short message service center) in a transmitting carrier network toward a receiving user terminal device in a receiving carrier network A node having a function of enabling a gateway function provided in the transmission side carrier network,
Routing information such as information on the subscriber including the IMSI corresponding to the routing inquiry signal issued from the node having the gateway function toward the HLR in the receiving side communication carrier network to the HLR and location information is acquired from the HLR. And assigning an identifier of a predetermined format in association with the acquired routing information, supplying the assigned identifier and the routing information to the node having the gateway function, and returning from the node having the gateway function in response to the supply Provided in the receiving-side communication carrier network having a function of receiving the SMS message accompanied by the identifier and the routing information and delivering the received SMS message to the corresponding receiving-side user terminal device A node having a specified routing function;
A short message service system configured to include:
The node having the gateway function, when the identifier is supplied from the node having the routing function, sets a distribution method code for designating a distribution method in a predetermined part of the identifier, and is for an instruction that is an aspect of the identifier An identifier is formed, and the formed instruction identifier is attached to the SMS message accompanied by the routing information and is supplied to the node having the routing function.
The node having the routing function acquires, from the HLR, receiving-side user terminal device data representing each receiving-side user terminal device corresponding to each distribution method specified by the distribution method code included in the instruction identifier. Receiving-side user terminal device data acquisition unit, and each receiving-side user terminal device corresponding to the distribution method specified by the distribution method code included in the instruction identifier supplied from the node having the gateway function A determination is made with reference to the receiving-side user terminal device data acquired by the receiving-side user terminal device data acquisition unit, and the SMS message is distributed to each receiving-side user terminal device corresponding to the determined receiving-side user terminal device A short message service system configured as described above.

  In the short message service system of the above (1), the node having the routing function that has received the SMS message from the node having the gateway function, uses the instruction identifier attached to the routing information accompanying the SMS message from the receiving side. With reference to the user terminal device data, a group of receiving-side user terminal devices is determined, and the SMS message is distributed to each receiving-side user terminal device corresponding to the determined receiving-side user terminal device.

(2) The node having the gateway function is
A communication unit that communicates with an HLR in the receiving-side communication carrier network and an associated node including a node having the routing function in the receiving-side communication carrier network;
When the identifier is supplied from the node having the routing function through the communication unit, a distribution method code for designating a distribution method is set in a predetermined part of the supplied identifier, and an instruction identifier which is an aspect of the identifier An instruction identifier formation processing unit for forming
An SMS message supply unit that attaches the instruction identifier formed by the instruction identifier formation processing unit to the SMS message accompanied by the routing information and supplies the SMS message to a node having the routing function;
(1) The short message service system characterized by comprising.

  In the short message service system of (2), particularly in the short message service system of (1), when the node having the gateway function is supplied with the identifier from the node having the routing function, the supplied identifier An instruction identifier which is an identifier of a mode including a distribution method code for specifying a distribution method is formed in a predetermined part of the message, which is attached to the SMS message and supplied to the node having the routing function.

(3) The node having the routing function is
Receiving-side user terminal device data acquisition for acquiring receiving-side user terminal device data representing each receiving-side user terminal device respectively corresponding to each distribution method specified by the distribution method code included in the instruction identifier from the HLR And
A communication unit that performs communication with an HLR in the reception side communication carrier network and an associated node including a node having the gateway function in the transmission side communication carrier network;
Obtain each receiving user terminal device data corresponding to the delivery method specified by the delivery method code included in the instruction identifier supplied from the node having the gateway function through the communication unit. A receiving-side user terminal device determination unit that makes a determination based on the receiving-side user terminal device data acquired by the unit;
The SMS message supplied from the node having the gateway function through the communication unit is distributed to each receiving user terminal device corresponding to the receiving user terminal device determined by the receiving user terminal device determination unit through the communication unit. A delivery processing unit;
(1) The short message service system characterized by comprising.

  In the short message service system of (3) above, particularly in the short message service system of (1), the node having the routing function is an instruction attached to the routing information accompanying the SMS message supplied from the node having the gateway function. A group of receiving user terminal devices is determined by referring to the receiving user terminal device data from an identifier for use, and the SMS message is distributed to each receiving user terminal device corresponding to the determined receiving user terminal device To do.

(4) Forwarding the SMS message transmitted from the transmission side user terminal device and held in the SMSC (short message service center) in the transmission side communication carrier network toward the reception side user terminal device in the reception side communication carrier network A node having a function of enabling a gateway function provided in the transmission side carrier network,
Routing information such as information on the subscriber including the IMSI corresponding to the routing inquiry signal issued from the node having the gateway function toward the HLR in the receiving side communication carrier network to the HLR and location information is acquired from the HLR. And assigning an identifier of a predetermined format in association with the acquired routing information, supplying the assigned identifier and the routing information to the node having the gateway function, and returning from the node having the gateway function in response to the supply Provided in the receiving-side communication carrier network having a function of receiving the SMS message accompanied by the identifier and the routing information and delivering the received SMS message to the corresponding receiving-side user terminal device A node having a specified routing function;
A node having a gateway function suitable for a short message service system configured to include:
A communication unit that communicates with an HLR in the receiving-side communication carrier network and an associated node including a node having the routing function in the receiving-side communication carrier network;
When the identifier is supplied from the node having the routing function through the communication unit, a distribution method code for designating a distribution method is set in a predetermined part of the identifier to form an instruction identifier which is an aspect of the identifier An instruction identifier formation processing unit;
An SMS message supply unit that attaches the instruction identifier formed by the instruction identifier formation processing unit to the SMS message accompanied by the routing information and supplies the SMS message to a node having the routing function;
A node having a gateway function.

  The node having the gateway function of (4), when the identifier is supplied from the node having the routing function, sets a delivery method code for designating a delivery method in a predetermined part of the identifier, An instruction identifier is formed, attached to the SMS message, and supplied to the node having the routing function.

( 5 ) Forwarding the SMS message transmitted from the transmission side user terminal device and held in the SMSC (short message service center) in the transmission side communication carrier network toward the reception side user terminal device in the reception side communication carrier network A node having a function of enabling a gateway function provided in the transmission side carrier network,
Routing information such as information on the subscriber including the IMSI corresponding to the routing inquiry signal issued from the node having the gateway function toward the HLR in the receiving side communication carrier network to the HLR and location information is acquired from the HLR. And assigning an identifier of a predetermined format in association with the acquired routing information, supplying the assigned identifier and the routing information to the node having the gateway function, and returning from the node having the gateway function in response to the supply Provided in the receiving-side communication carrier network having a function of receiving the SMS message accompanied by the identifier and the routing information and delivering the received SMS message to the corresponding receiving-side user terminal device A node having a specified routing function;
A node having a routing function suitable for a short message service system configured to include:
Receiving-side user terminal device representing each receiving-side user terminal device corresponding to each of the distribution methods specified by the distribution method code in the instruction identifier in a mode including a distribution method code designating a distribution method in a predetermined part of the identifier A receiving-side user terminal device data acquisition unit that acquires data from the HLR;
A communication unit that performs communication with an HLR in the reception side communication carrier network and an associated node including a node having the gateway function in the transmission side communication carrier network;
Obtain each receiving user terminal device data corresponding to the delivery method specified by the delivery method code included in the instruction identifier supplied from the node having the gateway function through the communication unit. A receiving-side user terminal device determination unit that makes a determination based on the receiving-side user terminal device data acquired by the unit;
The SMS message supplied from the node having the gateway function through the communication unit is distributed to each receiving user terminal device corresponding to the receiving user terminal device determined by the receiving user terminal device determination unit through the communication unit. A delivery processing unit;
A node having a routing function.

The node having the routing function of ( 5 ) refers to the receiving-side user terminal device data from the instruction identifier attached to the routing information accompanying the SMS message supplied from the node having the gateway function, A group of user terminal devices is determined, and the SMS message is distributed to each receiving user terminal device corresponding to the determined receiving user terminal device.

( 6 ) The node having a routing function according to ( 5 ), further comprising a distribution method designation information requesting unit that requests information designating the distribution method from a node having the gateway function through the communication unit.
The node having the routing function of ( 6 ), particularly in the node having the routing function of ( 5 ), sends information specifying the delivery method by the delivery method designation information request unit to the node having the gateway function. Request to have node.

( 7 ) The reception-side user terminal device data acquisition unit includes the distribution method code, each distribution method specified by the distribution method code, and each reception-side user corresponding to the reception-side user terminal device corresponding to each distribution method. The node having the routing function according to ( 5 ), wherein the receiving-side user terminal device data is acquired as data associated with MSISDN or IMSI of the terminal device.
The node having the routing function of ( 7 ) is based on the acquired reception-side user terminal device data, particularly in the node having the routing function of ( 5 ), and each reception side corresponding to the reception-side user terminal device Deliver SMS messages to user terminal devices.

( 8 ) Forwarding the SMS message transmitted from the transmission side user terminal device and held in the SMSC (short message service center) in the transmission side communication carrier network toward the reception side user terminal device in the reception side communication carrier network A node having a function of enabling a gateway function provided in the transmission side carrier network,
Routing information such as information on the subscriber including the IMSI corresponding to the routing inquiry signal issued from the node having the gateway function toward the HLR in the receiving side communication carrier network to the HLR and location information is acquired from the HLR. And assigning an identifier of a predetermined format in association with the acquired routing information, supplying the assigned identifier and the routing information to the node having the gateway function, and returning from the node having the gateway function in response to the supply Provided in the receiving-side communication carrier network having a function of receiving the SMS message accompanied by the identifier and the routing information and delivering the received SMS message to the corresponding receiving-side user terminal device A node having a specified routing function;
An SMS message transfer method in a short message service system configured to include:
The node having the gateway function sets a distribution method code for designating a distribution method in a predetermined part of the identifier supplied from the node having the routing function to form an instruction identifier that is an aspect of the identifier, A delivery method designating step of supplying the formed instruction identifier to the node having the routing function by attaching to the SMS message accompanied by the routing information;
Each receiving-side user terminal device corresponding to the distribution method specified by the distribution method code included in the instruction identifier supplied from the node having the gateway function by the node having the routing function, A receiving-side user terminal device group determining step for determining based on receiving-side user terminal device data representing a correspondence relationship between each distribution method provided and a group of receiving-side user terminal devices;
An SMS message delivery step of delivering the SMS message to each receiving user terminal device corresponding to the receiving user terminal device determined in the receiving user terminal device group determining step;
An SMS message transfer method comprising:
In the SMS message transfer method of ( 8 ) above, the group information held by the receiving communication carrier is used without giving detailed information held by the receiving communication carrier to the transmitting communication carrier. Thus, it is possible to perform broadcast communication by a short message service from the transmission side to the reception side.

  Without providing detailed information held by the receiving carrier to the transmitting carrier, using the corresponding detailed information held by the receiving carrier, from the sending user terminal device A short message service system, a node having a gateway function, a node having a routing function, and an SMS message transfer method capable of performing communication by a short message service to a specific receiving terminal device satisfying a certain condition Realized.

It is a functional block diagram showing the short message service system as one embodiment of this invention. It is a conceptual diagram which illustrates the format of the identifier applied in the short message service system of FIG. It is a conceptual diagram which illustrates the node which has a routing function as one embodiment of this invention. It is a conceptual diagram which illustrates the node which has a gateway function as one embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be clarified by describing embodiments of the present invention in detail with reference to the drawings.
(Overview of system configuration)
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a short message service system as one embodiment of the present invention.
In FIG. 1, the network operated by the communication carrier on the reception side is the home network 100, the network operated by the communication carrier on the transmission side is another network (indicated as “transmission side network” in FIG. 1) 200, and other than the above Each network is shown separately from the viewpoint that the network operated by the third party is the third-party network 300.
It is assumed that both the transmission side communication carrier and the reception side communication carrier are home routing compatible carriers.

In addition, the home network 100, the other network 200, and the third party network 300 may be configured to include nodes and servers having similar functions in the three parties, but in FIG. There is a limited notation regarding the nodes and servers to be described when sending SMS messages.
The home network 100 includes an HLR (Home Location Register) 110, a node having a routing function (hereinafter, SMS-Router) 120, and an exchange / packet transmission function node (MSC / SGSN) 130. The MSC / SGSN 130 To the receiving-side user terminal device 140.

In the other network 200, a short message service center (SMSC) 210, a node having a gateway function (hereinafter referred to as GMSC) 220, and an HLR 230 are installed, and the GMSC 220 communicates with the HLR 110 and the SMS-Router 120 of the home network 100. .
MSC / SGSN 310 is also installed in third party network 300. Then, the SMS message is transmitted from the MSC / SGSN 310 to the receiving-side user terminal device 320.
(Transmission procedure of SMS message in the system)
An SMS message transmitted from a transmission-side user terminal device (not shown) in the other network 200 is temporarily held in the SMSC 210.

The SMSC 210 issues a transmission command to the GMSC 220 to transmit the SMS message once held as described above to the receiving-side user terminal device 140... P1: MT.
The GMSC 220 that has received the transmission command at P1 from the SMSC 210 identifies the receiving user terminal device by MSISDN toward the HLR 110 of the home network 100 and issues a routing inquiry signal (hereinafter, SRI for SM) .... P2: SRI for SM (MSISDN).

The HLR 110 that receives (SRI for SM) at P2 confirms that the communication carrier to which the receiving user terminal device belongs is a Home Routing compatible operator, and then sends the information received at P2 to the SMS-Router 120. Forward P3: SRI for SM (MSISDN).
The SMS-Router 120 that has received the transfer of SRI for SM (MSISDN) at P3 above specifies the receiving user terminal device by MSISDN toward the HLR 110 and issues a routing inquiry signal (hereinafter referred to as SRI for SM). As a response (SRI for SM.ack) from the HLR 110, routing information, which is relevant information in this type of communication, such as IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber Identity) and location information related to the receiving-side user terminal device is acquired. The acquired routing information is temporarily stored in the storage unit... P4: SRI for SM (MSISDN) ⇒SRI for SM.ack.

The SMS-Router 120 that has obtained the routing information at P4 assigns an identifier (hereinafter referred to as Correlation-ID) in the home routing in association with the routing information acquired at P4 (particularly, Correlation-ID1-a in FIG. 1). And the routing information attached to the assigned Correlation-ID1-a is supplied to the GMSC 220. At the same time, the GMSC 220 is requested for information specifying the distribution method .... P5: SRI for SM.ack (Correlation-ID1-a).
Here, Correlation-ID is an identifier used only when the SMS-Router is installed in the network (home network 100) of the receiving-side user terminal device, and the SMS message transfer signal and the immediately preceding inquiry signal. Is used to associate

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing the format of Correlation-ID which is such an identifier.
As shown in the figure, out of 15 digits in total, MCC (Mobile Country Code) representing the country to which the first 3 digits belong, MNC (Mobile Netwok Code) representing the carrier to which the next 3 digits belong, and The subsequent 9 digits are Sender IDs representing individual users (subscribers).

Arbitrary values can be assigned to the Sender ID. In the embodiment of the present invention, focusing on this point, a group representing a distribution method for broadcast distribution to the beginning of 9 digits assigned as Sender ID, for example, toward a predetermined receiving user terminal device group An instruction identifier in a form including a code (a distribution method code expressed as Group ID) is defined.
A data table representing the correspondence relationship between the group ID, which is the instruction identifier as described above, and the broadcast distribution processing mode is illustrated in the lower left in FIG.

  In this example, the group code ID1 is a short message service broadcast delivery process addressed to a family member (in FIG. 1, expressed as SMS addressed to a family member), and ID2 is a short message service broadcast delivery process addressed to a friend member (FIG. 1). Is a short message service broadcast delivery process (shown as SMS addressed to the company in FIG. 1), and ID4 is a short message service addressed to the class. This is a broadcast delivery process (in FIG. 1, written as SMS addressed to class).

  In the GMSC 220 that has received the routing information associated with the Correlation-ID in P5, the Correlation-ID is based on the data table that represents the correspondence between the group ID that is the instruction identifier as described above and the broadcast distribution processing mode. A distribution method code for designating a distribution method is set in a predetermined part of the message to form an instruction identifier (particularly represented as Correlation-ID1-b in FIG. 1), which is an aspect of the identifier. An SMS message with routing information is attached to the SMS message and supplied to the SMS-Router 120. P6: MT for SM (Correlation-ID1-b).

The SMS-Router 120 broadcasts the converted SMS message received in P6 to each receiving-side user terminal device in the corresponding group.
When executing this broadcast distribution, the SMS-Router 120 needs to determine each receiving-side user terminal device to be distributed. This determination is performed by comparing the delivery method code included in the instruction identifier received in P6 with the receiving-side user terminal device data held in advance in the HLR 110 and supplied to the SMS-Router 120 at a predetermined timing. Made on the basis.

That is, the HLR 110 has receiving-side user terminal device data representing each receiving-side user terminal device corresponding to each distribution method specified by the distribution method code included in the instruction identifier. In the upper right of FIG. 1, the contents of the receiving-side user terminal device data are illustrated in a table format.
In this example, ID1 as a delivery method code specifies a short message service broadcast delivery process for a family member, and each delivery target person's phone number is listed in the delivery target member list column. Is. Similarly, ID2 designates a short message service broadcast delivery process addressed to a friend member, and the telephone number of each individual delivery target person is described in the column of the delivery target member list.

Then, the SMS-Router 120 makes an inquiry about the receiving-side user terminal device data to the HLR 110 at a predetermined timing after receiving the above-described instruction identifier (P6), and the HLR 110 holds a reply to this inquiry. The corresponding receiving-side user terminal device data is individually acquired from the data indicating the status of the receiving-side user terminal device. P7: SRI for SM (MSISDN) ⇒SRI for SM.ack.
The SMS-Router 120 determines each receiving-side user terminal device to be distributed based on the information of each corresponding receiving-side user terminal device acquired as described above .... P8 (previous stage): MT (IMSI).

Then, the SMS-Router 120 broadcast-distributes the converted SMS message received in P6 to each receiving-side user terminal device to be determined as described above.
When distributing from the SMS-Router 120 to each corresponding receiving-side user terminal device, this distribution is performed not by the Correlation-ID but by the regular IMSI acquired at P4 and held in the storage unit. This distribution can also be performed through the MSC / SGSN 310 to the receiving-side user terminal device residing in the third party network 300... P8 (second stage): MT (IMSI).

When the delivery at P8 is completed, the SMS-Router 120 returns a response indicating completion to the GMSC 220. Then, the routing information temporarily stored in the storage unit is deleted .... P9: MT for SM.ack.
The instruction identifier in the above description is not limited to an aspect including a group code indicating a distribution method for broadcast distribution as described above.
That is, one or a plurality of receiving-side user terminal devices to be distributed are determined by a relatively higher-level concept while maintaining a state in which individual detailed specific states or attributes cannot be recognized on the transmitting side. A mode including a group code that is generally specified may be adopted.

  For example, in the case of being in the Kansai area, the transmitting side transmits SMS in the case of being in the Kanto area while maintaining a state where it is not possible to recognize individual detailed area information of the receiving side user terminal device. One condition for sending SMS is that the receiving user terminal device is in the domestic area, such as sending SMS or sending SMS when in a specific prefecture. In the case of roaming out to overseas, the distribution method is generally specified under the condition that it is handled separately from these (this is the case with the group ID 5 in the data table illustrated in the lower left in FIG. 1). ~ As group ID6, abbreviations for the case of being in the Kanto region and the case of being in the Kansai region).

  In the case of this aspect, (P6) after receiving the above-described instruction identifier, the HLR 110 is inquired about the receiving-side user terminal device data at a predetermined timing, and the HLR 110 has a reply as a response thereto. Corresponding receiving user terminal device data is individually acquired from the data representing the status of the receiving user terminal device (in the table on the upper right of FIG. 1, group ID 5 “located in Kanto” and group ID 6 “Kansai”). Corresponding to “Nation Area”, examples of “terminal devices in Yokohama, terminal devices in Yokosuka” and “terminal devices in Osaka, terminal devices in Neyagawa” are shown. )

As described above, in the aspect illustrated with respect to group ID 5 to group ID 6, the true (specific) location information of the reception-side terminal device is kept secret from the transmission side, while the transmission side is general. The delivery method can be specified.
Furthermore, the mode of the group ID 7 to group ID 8 in each table abbreviated in the lower left and upper right of FIG. 1 is specific contract information (gender, generation, residence, etc.) related to the receiving side terminal device. Is a case where attention is paid to the “generation”), and the transmission method can be generally specified from the transmission side while being kept secret from the transmission side. In the case shown in the figure, the distribution method is not specified to the receiving terminal device contracted by the “actual generation”, but is distributed to the receiving terminal device contracted by the 21-year-old subscriber corresponding to the “other generation”. Will be.

(One aspect of SMS message transfer method as embodiment)
As described above, the processing steps (specific portions thereof) from P1 to P9 constitute one aspect of the invention of the following SMS message transfer method.
(System in which SMS message transfer method as one aspect is executed)
First, this SMS message transfer method is an SMS message transfer method in a short message service system configured to include the GMSC 220 and the SMS-Router 120. The GMSC 220 and the SMS-Router 120 are assumed to be the following nodes.
That is, the GMSC 220 transfers the SMS message transmitted from the transmission-side user terminal device and held in the SMSC 210 in the transmission-side communication carrier network 200 toward the reception-side user terminal device in the reception-side communication carrier network (home network) 100. This is a node provided in the transmission side communication carrier network 200 having a function that enables the transmission side.

  Further, the SMS-Router 120 receives routing information such as information related to the subscriber including IMSI corresponding to SRI for SM (P2) issued from the GMSC 220 to the HLR 110 in the receiving-side communication carrier network 100, and location information. Acquired from the HLR 110 (P3, P4), assigns a Correlation-ID in association with the acquired routing information, and supplies the routing information attached to the assigned Correlation-ID to the GMSC 220 (P5). An SMS message with routing information attached with the Correlation-ID returned from the GMSC 220 is received (P6), and the received SMS message depends on the information (P7) of the corresponding receiving user terminal device acquired from the HLR 110. It has a function that enables distribution (P8) to the receiving user terminal device Is a node that is provided on the side carrier network 100.

(Delivery method specification step)
Then, the process P6 by the GMSC 220 is summarized as the following distribution method designation step.
That is, when routing information accompanied by Correlation-ID is supplied from the SMS-Router 120 in the process step P5, a distribution method code (group ID) for specifying a distribution method is set in a predetermined part of the Correlation-ID, and an identifier is set. This is a step of forming an instruction identifier, which is an aspect, and attaching the formed instruction identifier to an SMS message accompanied by routing information and supplying it to the SMS-Router 120.

(Receiving-side user terminal device group determination step)
Moreover, the process P7-P8 (the front part) by the SMS-Router 120 is summarized as the following receiving-side user terminal device group determination step. That is, the receiving user terminal device corresponding to the distribution method specified by the distribution method code included in the instruction identifier supplied from the GMSC 220 is stored in the information (P7) of the corresponding receiving user terminal device acquired from the HLR 110. It is a step of relying on and determining.
(SMS message delivery step)
Then, the process P8 (the latter part) by the SMS-Router 120 is summarized as the following SMS message delivery step. That is, this is a step of delivering the SMS message to each receiving-side user terminal device corresponding to the receiving-side user terminal device determined in receiving-side user terminal device group determination step P8 (previous stage).

(Other aspects regarding SMS message transfer method)
In the above-described processing steps P6 and P7, the group ID information representing the distribution method in the processing step P6 is supplied from the GMSC 220 to the SMS-Router 120, and the distribution method corresponding to the group ID is obtained from the HLR 110 in the SMS-Router 120. The case where it is recognized based on the information (P7) of the receiving-side user terminal device has been described. It is also possible to construct a short message service system so that the procedure of supplying SMS message data with a group ID representing such a delivery method from the GMSC 220 to the SMS-Router 120 is more reliably executed.

  That is, the short message service protocol is set so as to request information indicating the delivery method from the SMS-Router 120 side to the GMSC 220 side. Based on such a short message service protocol, information indicating a delivery method is supplied from the GMSC 220 side to the SMS-Router 120 side, and the SMS-Router 120 side requests the user's desired information based on the supplied information indicating the delivery method. It makes it possible to perform distribution that is well adapted to where you want to.

(Technical idea of SMS message transfer method)
Furthermore, if the processing from P1 to P8 is spread, it can be said that the technical idea is as follows.
The SMS message held in the SMSC (short message service center 210) in the transmission side carrier network (200) is received from the node (GMSC 220) having a gateway function in the transmission side carrier network (200). An SMS message transfer method for transferring to a receiving-side user terminal device via a node (SMS-Router 120) having a routing function in (100),
A distribution method specifying step (P6) of supplying distribution method specifying information for specifying a distribution method related to the receiving-side user terminal device from a node having a gateway function (GMSC 220) to a node having a routing function (SMS-Router 120);
Receiving-side user terminal device data representing the correspondence between each distribution method and a group of receiving-side user terminal devices based on the distribution method specifying information supplied by the node (SMS-Router 120) in the distribution method specifying step (P6). Receiving-side user terminal device group determination step for determining each receiving-side user terminal device corresponding to the distribution method based on the information (P7) of the corresponding receiving-side user terminal device acquired from the HLR 110 When,
An SMS message delivery step (following P7) for delivering an SMS message to each receiving-side user terminal device corresponding to the receiving-side user terminal device determined in the receiving-side user terminal device group determining step (upstream of P7);
An SMS message transfer method comprising:
According to the SMS message transfer method as described above, the group information held by the receiving telecommunications carrier is used without providing the transmitting telecommunications carrier with detailed information held by the receiving telecommunications carrier. Thus, it is possible to perform broadcast communication by the short message service from the transmission side to the reception side.

(Specific scene where the SMS message transfer method of the present invention is used)
Next, a specific scene where the SMS message transfer method of the present invention is utilized will be exemplified.
(1) One example is the case of using the class communication network.
Here, it is assumed that the transmission side user is the athletic meet executive chairperson and the reception side user is a class teacher. In this case, it is assumed that the user terminal devices used by both users belong to networks managed by different telecommunications carriers.
Assume that the SMS message transfer method of the present invention is executed under the above-described conditions. In this case, in the SMS-Router 120 in the network on the receiving side, the telephone number of the member of the class that only the teacher in charge of the class knows about the class specified by the ID as the distribution method code is registered.

When the executive committee of the athletic meet, who is the sending user, sends an SMS message with a specific operation that specifies the broadcast communication as described above, the class of the class teacher will be in the sending network to which the athletic meet executive chairperson belongs. Without needing information about class members that only the teacher knows, SMS messages are broadcast to each class member based solely on the status of the receiving network (the SMS-Router 120). Done.
In other words, it does not provide information on group members held by its own network (reception side network) to a network (transmission side network) managed by a different carrier, and the objective is to maintain security related to personal information. The convenience of broadcasting SMS messages will be provided. In the embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned group members include not only members belonging to the own network but also members under the control of other operators with which an SMS interconnection contract is concluded. It can be set.

(2) The next example is a case of using in a communication network between companies.
Here, it is assumed that the transmitting user is the director of the US headquarters and the receiving user is the sales manager of the Japanese branch. Also in this case, the user terminal devices used by both users belong to networks managed by different telecommunications carriers.
Assume that the SMS message transfer method of the present invention is executed under the above-described conditions. In this case, in the SMS-Router 120 in the receiving side network, the telephone number of each member belonging to the sales department that is known only by the sales department manager of the Japanese branch identified by the ID as the distribution method code is registered.
Then, it is assumed that the director of the US head office, which is a transmission side user, intends to deliver an SMS message directly to each member of the sales department as an emergency contact.

In such a case, the director of the US headquarters sends an SMS message to the sales manager of the Japanese branch office with a specific instruction for designating broadcast communication as described above.
When such a transmission operation is performed, the transmission side network to which the director of the US headquarters belongs does not need information on each member belonging to the sales department of the Japanese branch office, and exclusively the reception side network (the SMS-Router 120). ) Is broadcast to each member belonging to the corresponding sales department.
That is, as in the case of the class communication network, the security related to the personal information without providing the group member's information held by the own network (reception side network) to the network (transmission side network) managed by different carriers. Thus, the convenience of broadcasting the target SMS message is provided.

(Configuration of node (SMS-Router) with routing function)
Next, the configuration of the SMS-Router 120 will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a node (SMS-Router) having a routing function as one embodiment of the present invention.
This SMS-Router 120 basically conforms to the short message service system shown in FIG. The SMS-Router 120 includes a receiving-side user terminal device data acquisition unit 121, a communication unit 122, a receiving-side user terminal device determination unit 123, a distribution processing unit 124, a storage unit 125, and a routing information supply and distribution method designation information request. Section (hereinafter referred to as information supply and request section) 126.

  The receiving-side user terminal device data acquisition unit 121 receives receiving-side user terminal device data representing each receiving-side user terminal device respectively corresponding to each distribution method specified by the distribution method code included in the above-described instruction identifier. Acquired from the HLR 110. That is, after receiving the above-described instruction identifier (P6), the HLR 110 is inquired about the receiving-side user terminal device data at a predetermined timing, and the receiving-side user terminal held by the HLR 110 is returned as a response thereto. The corresponding receiving-side user terminal device data is individually acquired from the data representing the device status.

The communication unit 122 performs communication with the HLR in the reception side communication carrier network 100 and related nodes including the GMSC 220 in the transmission side communication carrier network 200.
The reception-side user terminal device determination unit 123 receives each reception-side user terminal device corresponding to the distribution method specified by the distribution method code included in the above-described instruction identifier supplied from the GMSC 220 through the communication unit 122. The determination is made based on the receiving-side user terminal device data acquired by the user terminal device data acquisition unit 121.

Note that the instruction identifier is as described above with reference to FIG. 2, in which an instruction identifier is formed by writing a group code in the Sender ID constituting the Correlation-ID portion.
The distribution processing unit 124 distributes the SMS message supplied from the GMSC 220 through the communication unit 122 to each reception-side user terminal device corresponding to the reception-side user terminal device determined by the reception-side user terminal device determination unit 123 through the communication unit 122. .
The storage unit 125 temporarily holds the routing information acquired from the HLR 110 in the above process P4.

Further, the information supply and request unit 126 supplies the routing information to the GMSC 220 and requests information specifying the distribution method through the communication unit 122 in the above-described processing step P5. Then, as a response to this request, a message with an instruction identifier including the above distribution method code is returned. That is, the information supply and request unit 126 is a functional unit that supplies routing information, and also functions as a distribution method designation information request unit that requests information for designating a distribution method from the GMSC 220.
The SMS-Router 120 as described above can be configured to be adapted as an SMS-Router that is a specification of SMS Home Routing defined in 3GPP (The 3rd Generation Partnership Project).

(Configuration of node (GMSC) having gateway function)
Next, the configuration of the GMSC 220 will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a node (GMSC) having a gateway function as one embodiment of the present invention.
This GMSC 220 basically conforms to the short message service system shown in FIG. The communication unit 221 includes an instruction identifier formation processing unit 222 and an SMS message supply unit 223.
The communication unit 221 performs communication with the HLR 110 in the reception side communication carrier network 100 and related nodes including the SMS-Router 120 in the reception side communication carrier network 100.

When an identifier is supplied from the SMS-Router 120, the instruction identifier formation processing unit 222 sets a distribution method code for specifying a distribution method in a predetermined part of the supplied identifier, and is an instruction identifier that is an aspect of the identifier Form.
The SMS message supply unit 223 attaches the instruction identifier formed by the instruction identifier formation processing unit 222 to the SMS message with the routing information described above and supplies the SMS message to the SMS-Router 120.
The GMSC 220 as described above can be configured as a GMSC (Gateway Mobile Switching Center) defined in 3GPP (The 3rd Generation Partnership Project).

(Specifying the other party to be broadcast by the sending user)
The method of designating the other party in the broadcast communication as described above may take the following input operation form, for example.
That is, in one example, when an SMS message is transmitted, an operation of adding a specific prefix number to the front of the telephone number is performed. In particular,
This is an operation of sequentially inputting each digit such as “* 9102 * 090xxxxxxxx”. In this case, “* 91” at the beginning is an input digit indicating the type of service, and corresponds to, for example, a broadcast communication instruction. To do. The subsequent “02” is an input digit representing the above-described group ID.

In another example, an interface capable of acquiring group information of a transmission destination in advance when an SMS message is transmitted using a Web service is provided. The transmission-side user holds the transmission destination group information acquired in advance as described above and uses it as needed. Further, the profile related to the group information may be set using the above interface.
Further, in another example, information is registered in advance in the profile of the transmission side user, and when making a call to a specific transmission destination, a specific group ID is designated for transmission.

100 ……………… Home network 110 ……………… HLR (Home Location Register)
120 ……………… Node with routing function (SMS-Router)
121 ……………… Receiving-side user terminal device data acquisition unit 122 ……………… Communication unit 123 ……………… Receiving-side user terminal device determination unit 124 ……………… Distribution processing unit 125… ... ………… Storage unit 126 ……………… Information supply and request unit 130 ……………… Switch / packet transmission function node (MSC / SGSN)
140 ……………… Receiving-side user terminal device 200 ……………… Other network (transmitting-side network)
210 ……………… Short Message Service Center (SMSC)
220 ……………… Node with gateway function (GMSC)
221 …… Communication unit 222 ………… Instruction identifier formation processing unit 223 ……………… SMS message supply unit 230 ……………… HLR
300 ……………… Third-party network 310 ……………… Exchange / packet transmission function node MSC / SGSN
320 ……………… Receiving-side user terminal device

Claims (8)

It is possible to transfer an SMS message transmitted from a user terminal device on the transmission side and held in an SMSC (Short Message Service Center) in the transmission side communication carrier network toward the reception side user terminal device in the reception side communication carrier network. A node having a gateway function provided in the transmission side carrier network,
Routing information such as information on the subscriber including the IMSI corresponding to the routing inquiry signal issued from the node having the gateway function toward the HLR in the receiving side communication carrier network to the HLR and location information is acquired from the HLR. And assigning an identifier of a predetermined format in association with the acquired routing information, supplying the assigned identifier and the routing information to the node having the gateway function, and returning from the node having the gateway function in response to the supply Provided in the receiving-side communication carrier network having a function of receiving the SMS message accompanied by the identifier and the routing information and delivering the received SMS message to the corresponding receiving-side user terminal device A node having a specified routing function;
A short message service system configured to include:
The node having the gateway function, when the identifier is supplied from the node having the routing function, sets a distribution method code for designating a distribution method in a predetermined part of the identifier, and is for an instruction that is an aspect of the identifier An identifier is formed, and the formed instruction identifier is attached to the SMS message accompanied by the routing information and is supplied to the node having the routing function.
The node having the routing function acquires, from the HLR, receiving-side user terminal device data representing each receiving-side user terminal device corresponding to each distribution method specified by the distribution method code included in the instruction identifier. Receiving-side user terminal device data acquisition unit, and each receiving-side user terminal device corresponding to the distribution method specified by the distribution method code included in the instruction identifier supplied from the node having the gateway function, Determination is made with reference to the receiving-side user terminal device data acquired by the receiving-side user terminal device data acquisition unit, and the SMS message is distributed to each receiving-side user terminal device corresponding to the determined receiving-side user terminal device A short message service system characterized by being configured to do so. The node having the gateway function is:
A communication unit that communicates with an HLR in the receiving-side communication carrier network and an associated node including a node having the routing function in the receiving-side communication carrier network;
When the identifier is supplied from the node having the routing function through the communication unit, a distribution method code for designating a distribution method is set in a predetermined part of the supplied identifier, and an instruction identifier which is an aspect of the identifier An instruction identifier formation processing unit for forming
An SMS message supply unit that attaches the instruction identifier formed by the instruction identifier formation processing unit to the SMS message accompanied by the routing information and supplies the SMS message to a node having the routing function;
The short message service system according to claim 1, further comprising: The node having the routing function is:
Receiving-side user terminal device data acquisition for acquiring receiving-side user terminal device data representing each receiving-side user terminal device respectively corresponding to each distribution method specified by the distribution method code included in the instruction identifier from the HLR And
A communication unit that performs communication with an HLR in the reception side communication carrier network and an associated node including a node having the gateway function in the transmission side communication carrier network;
Obtain each receiving user terminal device data corresponding to the delivery method specified by the delivery method code included in the instruction identifier supplied from the node having the gateway function through the communication unit. A receiving-side user terminal device determination unit that makes a determination based on the receiving-side user terminal device data acquired by the unit;
The SMS message supplied from the node having the gateway function through the communication unit is distributed to each receiving user terminal device corresponding to the receiving user terminal device determined by the receiving user terminal device determination unit through the communication unit. A delivery processing unit;
The short message service system according to claim 1, further comprising: It is possible to transfer an SMS message transmitted from a user terminal device on the transmission side and held in an SMSC (Short Message Service Center) in the transmission side communication carrier network toward the reception side user terminal device in the reception side communication carrier network. A node having a gateway function provided in the transmission side carrier network,
Routing information such as information on the subscriber including the IMSI corresponding to the routing inquiry signal issued from the node having the gateway function toward the HLR in the receiving side communication carrier network to the HLR and location information is acquired from the HLR. And assigning an identifier of a predetermined format in association with the acquired routing information, supplying the assigned identifier and the routing information to the node having the gateway function, and returning from the node having the gateway function in response to the supply Provided in the receiving-side communication carrier network having a function of receiving the SMS message accompanied by the identifier and the routing information and delivering the received SMS message to the corresponding receiving-side user terminal device A node having a specified routing function;
A node having a gateway function suitable for a short message service system configured to include:
A communication unit that communicates with an HLR in the receiving-side communication carrier network and an associated node including a node having the routing function in the receiving-side communication carrier network;
When the identifier is supplied from the node having the routing function through the communication unit, a distribution method code for designating a distribution method is set in a predetermined part of the identifier to form an instruction identifier which is an aspect of the identifier An instruction identifier formation processing unit;
An SMS message supply unit that attaches the instruction identifier formed by the instruction identifier formation processing unit to the SMS message accompanied by the routing information and supplies the SMS message to a node having the routing function;
A node having a gateway function. It is possible to transfer an SMS message transmitted from a user terminal device on the transmission side and held in an SMSC (Short Message Service Center) in the transmission side communication carrier network toward the reception side user terminal device in the reception side communication carrier network. A node having a gateway function provided in the transmission side carrier network,
Routing information such as information on the subscriber including the IMSI corresponding to the routing inquiry signal issued from the node having the gateway function toward the HLR in the receiving side communication carrier network to the HLR and location information is acquired from the HLR. And assigning an identifier of a predetermined format in association with the acquired routing information, supplying the assigned identifier and the routing information to the node having the gateway function, and returning from the node having the gateway function in response to the supply Provided in the receiving-side communication carrier network having a function of receiving the SMS message accompanied by the identifier and the routing information and delivering the received SMS message to the corresponding receiving-side user terminal device A node having a specified routing function;
A node having a routing function suitable for a short message service system configured to include:
Receiving-side user terminal device representing each receiving-side user terminal device corresponding to each of the distribution methods specified by the distribution method code in the instruction identifier in a mode including a distribution method code designating a distribution method in a predetermined part of the identifier A receiving-side user terminal device data acquisition unit that acquires data from the HLR;
A communication unit that performs communication with an HLR in the reception side communication carrier network and an associated node including a node having the gateway function in the transmission side communication carrier network;
Obtain each receiving user terminal device data corresponding to the delivery method specified by the delivery method code included in the instruction identifier supplied from the node having the gateway function through the communication unit. A receiving-side user terminal device determination unit that makes a determination based on the receiving-side user terminal device data acquired by the unit;
The SMS message supplied from the node having the gateway function through the communication unit is distributed to each receiving user terminal device corresponding to the receiving user terminal device determined by the receiving user terminal device determination unit through the communication unit. A delivery processing unit;
A node having a routing function. 6. The node having a routing function according to claim 5 , further comprising a distribution method designation information requesting unit for requesting information for designating the distribution method to a node having the gateway function through the communication unit. The reception-side user terminal device data acquisition unit includes the distribution method code, each distribution method specified thereby, and each reception-side user terminal device corresponding to the reception-side user terminal device corresponding to each distribution method. The node having a routing function according to claim 5 , wherein the receiving-side user terminal device data is acquired as data associated with MSISDN or IMSI. It is possible to transfer an SMS message transmitted from a user terminal device on the transmission side and held in an SMSC (Short Message Service Center) in the transmission side communication carrier network toward the reception side user terminal device in the reception side communication carrier network. A node having a gateway function provided in the transmission side carrier network,
Routing information such as information on the subscriber including the IMSI corresponding to the routing inquiry signal issued from the node having the gateway function toward the HLR in the receiving side communication carrier network to the HLR and location information is acquired from the HLR. And assigning an identifier of a predetermined format in association with the acquired routing information, supplying the assigned identifier and the routing information to the node having the gateway function, and returning from the node having the gateway function in response to the supply Provided in the receiving-side communication carrier network having a function of receiving the SMS message accompanied by the identifier and the routing information and delivering the received SMS message to the corresponding receiving-side user terminal device A node having a specified routing function;
An SMS message transfer method in a short message service system configured to include:
The node having the gateway function sets a distribution method code for designating a distribution method in a predetermined part of the identifier supplied from the node having the routing function to form an instruction identifier that is an aspect of the identifier, A delivery method designating step of supplying the formed instruction identifier to the node having the routing function by attaching to the SMS message accompanied by the routing information;
Each receiving-side user terminal device corresponding to the distribution method specified by the distribution method code included in the instruction identifier supplied from the node having the gateway function by the node having the routing function, A receiving-side user terminal device group determining step for determining based on receiving-side user terminal device data representing a correspondence relationship between each distribution method provided and a group of receiving-side user terminal devices;
An SMS message delivery step of delivering the SMS message to each receiving user terminal device corresponding to the receiving user terminal device determined in the receiving user terminal device group determining step;
An SMS message transfer method comprising:

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