WO2004008646A2

WO2004008646A2 - Short message communication system and method with combination function using standby time over broadcast

Info

Publication number: WO2004008646A2
Application number: PCT/KR2003/001376
Authority: WO
Inventors: Byung Ik Ahn; Chanmin Park; Yenjung Kim
Original assignee: Ktfreetel Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2002-07-10
Filing date: 2003-07-10
Publication date: 2004-01-22
Also published as: AU2003281137A8; KR20020065439A; CN1669342A; KR100541880B1; CN1306833C; AU2003281137A1; WO2004008646A3

Abstract

Disclosed is an SM (short message) transmitter and receiver with a message combination function using an external standby time. An SM is generated, it is split according to its size, a standby time for standing by for receipt of the split SMs is generated, and the split messages are transmitted to terminals through an SM channel. The terminal receives the split messages during the receipt standby time, stores them in a temporary memory, and when all the split SMs are received, the terminal combines them into a single message and displays the complete message. Therefore, message discard rates decrease and message receiving rates increase.

Description

Short Message Communication System and Method with Combination Function Using Standby Time over Broadcast

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based on Korea Patent Application No. 2002-

39995 filed on July 10, 2002 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(a) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a mobile communication device and method. More specifically, the present invention relates to an SM (short message) transmitter and receiver for transmitting and receiving SMs through a mobile network, and combining segmented broadcast messages using external standby time, and a method thereof.

(b) Description of the Related Art

The evolution of mobile communication technology has seen a

change to 2^nd generation digital methods from analog methods, and voice- centered mobile communication services have developed to data

communication and further to high-speed multimedia services.

Mobile communication will continue to evolve into the third generation from the second generation, and it currently provides high-speed

multimedia services with 3^rd generation mobile communication techniques. The current commercial SMs include SMs and point-to-point SMs. For an SM, a user makes a message and sends it to a terminal in a predetermined area or in all areas through a paging channel or a broadcast control channel. The point-to-point message is a one-to-one message, and the user specifies an addressee and sends an SM thereto, the message being transmitted though a paging channel or a traffic channel.

However, the SM has low receipt completion rates, differing from the point-to-point message, because it is transmitted through unidirectional communication for transmitting messages from a network to a terminal, differing from the point-to-point method that adopts bidirectional communication. Also, the length of the message transmitted from a base station (BS) to a terminal is restricted.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an advantage of the present invention to provide an SM transmitter and receiver for splitting an SM into shorter ones if the SM is long, and assigning a message standby time to the split messages to improve receipt completion rates of the SM, and a method thereof.

In one aspect of the present invention, an SM transmitter for generating an SM, converting the SM into a service frequency signal, and transmitting the signal to a plurality of terminals, comprises: an SMBC (short message broadcast center) for splitting the SM into a predetermined number of messages according to its size when needed, providing a standby time for receiving the split messages, and transmitting them; a PCX (personal

communications exchange) for converting the SMs generated by the SMBC

into a predetermined protocol, and transmitting the protocol; and a BS (base

station) for converting the signals transmitted by the PCX into radio signals,

and transmitting the radio signals to the terminals.

The SMBC comprises: a broadcast message generator for generating an SM and a standby time; a broadcast message splitter for

determining the size of the generated message, and when the message is

larger than a predetermined size, splitting the message and transmitting the split message; an interface linker for linking with a server of an SP (service provider), the server requesting transmission of an SM; a broadcast message transmitter for transmitting the generated SM through a broadcast channel; and a protocol linker for converting the transmitted message into a protocol appropriate for a public network. The broadcast message generator comprises: a broadcast control message generator for generating an SM of a broadcast control layer; a

broadcast teleservice message generator for generating an SM of a broadcast teleservice layer; and a standby time generator for generating a standby time for receiving a different message of the SM.

In another aspect of the present invention, in a terminal for

receiving an SM in a service frequency signal from a BS through an SM

channel and processing the SM, an SM receiver comprises: a message

receiver for receiving an SM from the BS; a temporary memory for temporarily storing received split messages per message ID; a combiner for combining the split messages of the same message ID stored in the temporary memory and making them into a complete message, when receiving all the split messages within a predetermined standby time; a display for displaying the complete message; a timer for checking time; and a controller for controlling the combiner to combine the split messages received by the message receiver in the order of the serial numbers according to time check results by the timer, and displaying the completed message. In still another aspect of the present invention, a method for generating an SM, converting the same into a service frequency signal, and transmitting the signal to a plurality of terminals comprises: generating an SM; splitting the SM according to its size; and generating a standby time for standing by for receipt thereof, providing the standby time to the split messages, converting them into radio signals, and transmitting the radio signals to the terminals.

In still yet another aspect of the present invention, a method for receiving an SM including a broadcast control layer and a teleservice layer from a BS (base station) comprises: (a) receiving split messages from a broadcast SM channel during a receipt standby time, and storing the split messages in a temporary memory; and (b) when receiving all the split SMs, combining the received messages to form a single message, and displaying the message. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and

constitute a part of the specification, illustrate an embodiment of the

invention, and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention:

FIG. 1 shows a broadcast short message (SM) transmitter according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a protocol layer of the SM transmitter according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows a detailed SM broadcast center; FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of an SM receiver according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 shows an operation flowchart of the SM receiver according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 shows a transmitted combined message.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the following detailed description, only the preferred embodiment

of the invention has been shown and described, simply by way of illustration

of the best mode contemplated by the inventor(s) of carrying out the invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable of modification in

various obvious respects, all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in

nature, and not restrictive.

FIG. 1 shows a broadcast short message (SM) transmitter according

to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows a

protocol layer of the SM transmitter according to a preferred embodiment of

the present invention.

Referring to FIGs. 1 and 2, the SM transmitter comprises an MS

(mobile station) 100, a BS (base station) 200, a PCX 300, a PSTN (public switched telephone network) 400, an SMBC (short message broadcast center) 500, an SMC (short message center) 700, an HLR (home location

register) 800, and an SP 600.

The SMBC 500 generates an SM, and sends it to the PCX 300. The PCX 300 converts the SM generated by the SMBC 500 into a predetermined protocol, and transmits the protocol to the BS 200. The BS 200 converts the

signal transmitted by the PCX 300 into a radio signal, and sends the radio signal to a plurality of terminals. The HLR 800 stores subscribers' locations

and information. The SMC 700 generates a general SM. The SP 600 provides contents of the message, converts the provided contents into an

SM, and requests transmission of the SM through a broadcast channel.

Referring to FIG. 2, data are transmitted and received through a

teleservice layer, a transport layer, a broadcast control layer, a relay layer,

and a link layer in the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The

present invention is characterized in that the broadcast control layer is added to provide standby time to the split messages and combine them in a

predetermined time frame. The link layer includes inter-system link protocols

including IS-95, IS634, IS41 C, MTP/L1 , L2, and TCAP/SCCP, and no

detailed descriptions on these layers will be provided since they are known to

skilled persons.

FIG. 3 shows a detailed SM broadcast center.

Referring to FIG. 3, the SMBC 500 comprises a broadcast message generator 530, a broadcast message splitter 540, an interface linker 550, a broadcast message transmitter 520, and a protocol linker 510. The

broadcast message generator 530 generates an SM and standby time. The broadcast message splitter 540 determines the size of the generated message, and splits and transmits the message when it is larger than a predetermined size. The interface linker 550 is linked with a server of the SP 600 that requests transmission of an SM. The broadcast message

transmitter 520 transmits the generated SM through a broadcast channel.

The protocol linker 510 converts the transmitted message into a protocol suitable for a public network.

The broadcast message generator 530 comprises: a broadcast teleservice layer message generator 531 for generating an SM of the

broadcast teleservice layer; a broadcast control layer message generator

532 for generating an SM of the broadcast control layer; a standby time

generator 533 for generating a standby time for the split messages for

combination of the SM split messages; and an additional broadcast message generator 534 for generating an SM of additional layers.

FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of an SM receiver according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, the SM receiver comprises a message receiver 120, a controller 130, a memory 140, a display 150, a combiner 160, a temporary memory 170, a broadcast teleservice applier 190, and a timer 180.

The message receiver 120 receives messages from the BS 200 through an antenna 110. The display 150 displays the combined messages. The memory 140 stores messages. The temporary memory 170 temporarily stores received split messages. The combiner 160 combines the messages stored in the temporary memory 170 into a complete message. The controller 130 controls combination of the messages according to serial numbers MESSAGE_SEQ of message IDs MESSAGEJD received from the message receiver 120 through a broadcast message path, and controls display of the completed message. The broadcast teleservice applier 190 processes the combined SM and displays it to the display 150.

An operation of the SM transmitter and receiver will now be described in detail.

First, the SP 600 of a service provider provides contents, and requests the SMBC 500 to generate the provided contents as an SM and transmit the SM through a broadcast channel.

The interface linker 550 of the SMBC 500 transmits the requested contents to the broadcast message generator 530. The broadcast message generator 530 receives the SM and

generates a standby time, and here, the broadcast teleservice layer

message generator 531 generates an SM of the broadcast teleservice layer,

the broadcast control layer message generator 532 generates an SM of the

broadcast control layer, and the additional broadcast message generator 534

generates an SM of additional layers. In this instance, the additional layers include a relay layer, a link layer, and a transport layer, and no further

detailed description will be provided since the layers are known to skilled

persons. The generated messages of many layers are transmitted to the broadcast message splitter 540 together with the standby time, and the broadcast message splitter 540 determines the size of the generated

message, and when it is larger than a predetermined size, it splits the message into a predetermined number of messages and transmits them. When the broadcast message is split, the standby time generator 533 generates a standby time for standing by until all the SMs of the broadcast

control layer are received. The standby time is loaded on all the split messages, and it is variable if needed. The broadcast message transmitter

520 transmits the generated SMs through the broadcast channel.

The messages are then converted into a protocol appropriate for the public network through the protocol linker 510, and the messages are

transmitted through the broadcast message channel of the PCX 300 and the

BS 200. A plurality of terminals receive the radio signals converted by the BS 200. A receiving operation in this instance will now be described.

First, the message receiver 120 receives through the antenna 110 signals of the message transmitted from the BS 200 through the broadcast message channel in step S501. In this instance, the broadcast channel includes a paging channel and a broadcast control channel.

The controller 130 determines whether the messages received from the message receiver 120 through the broadcast message channel include a combination message indicator in step S502. When the combination message indicator is provided therein, since it is a split message, the controller 130 controls the combiner 160 to determine whether a stored same message ID is provided in step S503.

When the stored same message ID is found, the combiner 160 determines whether additional broadcast control subparameters are provided in step S504, and when they are found, it distinguishes the message ID and stores the corresponding control subparameters in step S505.

The combiner 160 distinguishes the message ID, and stores bearer data according to the message serial numbers MESSAGE_SEQ in step S506. In this instance, the bearer data refer to data of the corresponding serial number.

After this, when all the split messages are provided within a given standby time in step S507, the combiner 160 combines all the messages and transmits them to the broadcast teleservice applier 190 in step S508, and the broadcast teleservice applier 190 processes the combined messages and displays the processed messages to the display 150. FIG. 6 shows a structure of the combined messages.

Referring to FIG. 6, the split message comprises a message ID, bearer data, standby time, a serial number, and subparameters which include a combination message indicator. When all the split messages of the serial numbers having the same message ID are combined, a single completed message is provided. In this instance, the standby time is a time for standing by until all the split messages of the corresponding messagejd are provided, and when all the message are not provided after the standby time expires, the split messages are discarded. The above-noted structure of the split messages is only a single example, and further modified cases are possible. That is, by setting the combination message indicator only using the standby time, the combination message state can be determined according to existence of the standby time.

When no stored same message ID is found in the previous step S503, the corresponding control subparameters are stored by distinguishing the message IDs in step S509.

The combiner 160 distinguishes the message IDs to store the split data in the temporary memory 170 according to the message serial numbers in step S510, and distinguishes the message IDs to operate the timer 180 according to standby time values in step S520.

After this, it is determined whether the SMs are received in step S530, and when they are received, it starts from the step S510, and when

the standby time WAIT_TIME is finished in step S540, the messages having

the corresponding message ID are discarded in step S550.

As described above, the rates of discarding the SMs reduce since

the standby time is provided.

When no combination message indicator is found in the previous step S502, they are found to be non-split messages, and the controller 130

outputs data from the broadcast control layer in step S560, and transmits the data to the broadcast teleservice applier 190 in step S570.

The broadcast teleservice applier 190 processes the transmitted messages and displays them to the display 150.

The preferred embodiment can be varied in various ways when necessary, and the broadcast message generator 530, the broadcast message splitter 540, the interface linker 550, the broadcast message transmitter 520, the protocol linker 510, the message receiver 120, the controller 130, and the combiner 160 can be realized in a software manner,

and they are selectively implemented if needed.

As described above, by generating and providing standby time for standing by for split messages of the split SMs, and retransmitting the

messages on the network, the terminal combines the messages within the

standby time to reduce message discarding rates and increase message

receiving rates.

While this invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1 . A short message (SM) transmitter for generating an SM,

converting the SM into a service frequency signal, and transmitting the signal

to a plurality of terminals, comprising:

an SMBC (short message broadcast center) for splitting the SM into a predetermined number of messages according to its size when

needed, providing a standby time for receiving the split messages, and

transmitting them; a PCX (personal communications exchange) for converting the

SMs generated by the SMBC into a predetermined protocol, and transmitting the protocol; and a BS (base station) for converting the signals transmitted by the PCX into radio signals, and transmitting the radio signals to the terminals.

2. The SM transmitter of claim 1 , wherein the SMBC comprises: a broadcast message generator for generating an SM and a standby time;

a broadcast message splitter for determining the size of the

generated message, and when the message is larger than a predetermined size, splitting the message and transmitting the split message;

an interface linker for linking with a server of an SP (service

provider), the server requesting transmission of an SM;

a broadcast message transmitter for transmitting the generated

SM through a broadcast channel; and a protocol linker for converting the transmitted message into a protocol appropriate for a public network.

3. The SM transmitter of claim 1 , wherein the broadcast message generator comprises: a broadcast control message generator for generating an SM of a broadcast control layer; a broadcast teleservice message generator for generating an SM of a broadcast teleservice layer; and a standby time generator for generating a standby time for receiving a different message of the SM.

4. The SM transmitter of one of claims 1 through 3, wherein the split messages include a message ID, a standby time, and serial numbers, and the serial numbers are sequentially provided to each of the messages.

5. In a terminal for receiving an SM (short message) in a service frequency signal from a BS (base station) through an SM channel and processing the SM, an SM receiver comprising: a message receiver for receiving an SM from the BS; a temporary memory for temporarily storing received split messages per message ID; a combiner for combining the split messages of the same message ID stored in the temporary memory and making them into a complete message, when receiving all the split messages within a predetermined standby time; a display for displaying the complete message; a timer for checking time; and a controller for controlling the combiner to combine the split messages received by the message receiver in the order of the serial numbers according to time check results by the timer, and for displaying the completed message.

6. The SM receiver of claim 5, wherein the controller distinguishes the split SMs when a combination message indicator included in the messages is provided in a broadcast control layer.

7. The SM receiver of claim 5 or 6, wherein the combiner combines the split SMs according to an ID and serial numbers of the split SMs to form a single SM.

8. The SM receiver of claim 7, wherein the combiner discards the split SMs when all the split messages having an allocated message ID are not received during a receiving standby time.

9. A method for generating an SM (short message), converting the same into a service frequency signal, and transmitting the signal to a plurality of terminals, comprising: generating an SM; splitting the SM according to its size; and generating a standby time for standing by for receipt thereof, providing the standby time to the split messages, converting them into radio signals, and transmitting the radio signals to the terminals.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the SM including the standby

time further comprises a combination message indicator for notifying of split

messages.

1 1 . A method for receiving an SM (short message) including a

broadcast control layer and a teleservice layer from a BS (base station),

comprising:

(a) receiving split messages from a broadcast SM channel during receipt standby time, and storing the split messages in a temporary memory;

and (b) when receiving all the split SMs, combining the received

messages to form a single message, and displaying the message.

12. The method of claim 1 1 , wherein (a) comprises: determining whether the messages received through the broadcast message channel include a combination message indicator; and when the combination message indicator exists, the combiner storing the messages according to the stored same message ID since they are split messages.

13. The method of claim 1 1 , further comprising: discarding the split messages having the corresponding message ID when all the split

messages having the corresponding message ID are not received within the

receipt standby time.