CN1328760A - SMS initiation of data calls - Google Patents

Abstract

The host (106) is to transmit non-voice data to the wireless terminal (102). It does so by sending a Short Message Service (SMS) message through the signaling network (302) to the wireless terminal (102) that requires a callback. In response to the SMS message, the wireless terminal (102) loops the non-voice data back to the wireless infrastructure (104) and calls the host (106) back.

Description

SMS initiation of data calls

technical field

This invention relates to wireless digital telephones, and more particularly to establishing non-voice data communications with wireless terminals.

Background technique

As shown in FIG. 1, a conventional network 100 can connect a wireless terminal 102 to a host 106 through a wireless infrastructure (base station, etc.) 104 using one of two paths. In both paths, the wireless terminal makes a non-voice digital wireless connection with the wireless infrastructure 108 . The differences in paths arise from the processing of non-voice signals by the wireless infrastructure 108 .

"Non-voice" identification is important. As mentioned above, wireless telephone systems are digital. Thus, both voice and non-voice data are carried in digital format, although of course the two digital formats are different. Voiced formats allow for greater error to minimize delay, while non-voiced formats allow for greater delay to minimize error.

In a first path, wireless infrastructure 104 applies the signal as circuit-switched data to first modem 108, which modulates the signal as it enters circuit-switched network 110, typically the public switched telephone network, or PSTN. PSTN 110 applies the modulated signal to second modem 112 which demodulates the signal as it leaves PSTN 110 and applies the demodulated signal to host 106 .

In a second path, the wireless infrastructure applies the signal as packet data to the interworking function 114, which applies the interworking data to the Internet 116, which applies the data to the host 106.

Since the host has a fixed electronic address on both the PSTN 110 and the Internet 116, when the wireless terminal 102 wants to initiate a data connection with the host 106, both paths can be used.

As shown in Figure 2, when the network works in reverse 200, neither path works well. Now it is the host computer 106 to initiate the data connection, which does not know the location of the wireless terminal 102, ie which base station or other part of the wireless infrastructure is directly connected to the wireless terminal 102. Thus it does not have the electronic address of the wireless terminal 102 . Although various protocols for the mobile Internet have been proposed, it will take a long time for the Internet to be transformed to solve this situation. The telecommunications industry cannot afford to wait so long and demands that it be resolved now.

Summary of the invention

Figure 3 shows the weaknesses of the prior art solution, which has been used by the Applicant to solve the above-mentioned problems without requiring expensive updates to the infrastructure. The applicant points out that the PSTN 110 has a signaling network 302 (usually signaling system 7, ie SS7) and a traffic network 304 . SS7 302 locates the two ends of the call (in this case, the two modems 108 and 112), and can secure these connections over the communication network 304 before attempting to establish circuit switched connections. Since the bandwidth required by SS7 302 is much smaller than that of communication network 304, the work efficiency of the entire PSTN 110 is very high.

With the development of network technology, SS7 302 has been forced into other applications, including mobility management through mobile application parts (MAP) such as IS-41. In addition to its original application, these applications are implemented in fixed wired lines and tandem networks. In fact, the conventional SS7 signal tells the receiving signaling point, "Please alarm this terminal; as long as your mobile phone As soon as the phone goes off-hook, the communication network is ready to complete the call".

One of these value-added additional applications introduced into the network by MAP is the Short Message System (SMS). In fact, SMS locates a mobile terminal and sends a message to it, which is similar to a pager, such as "Please warn the user; show the following n characters on your display unit, ready for your customers to check when they have the next opportunity ". Short messages have always been considered acceptable to be carried over SS7 302, both avoiding full bandwidth phone calls and generating revenue for the operating company. It thus occupies a valuable middle ground between unanswered calls (no revenue) and calls answered by an answering machine (full revenue, but reduced service to the customer).

The applicant pointed out that the MAP of SS7 302 is completely mobile, so that the host can easily send SMS messages to the wireless terminal. The SMS message may state, "Call host back in non-voice format (specify host's PSTN number or Internet address)", ie, the host does not initiate a non-voice data connection. Instead, the wireless terminal's ability to initiate a non-voice data connection is utilized and the wireless terminal is requested to do so via an SMS message.

Brief description of the drawings

FIG. 1 is a block diagram 100 of a wireless terminal 102 conventionally in successful communication with a host 106 .

FIG. 2 is a block diagram 200 of a host 106 conventionally attempting (and failing) to communicate with a wireless terminal 102 .

FIG. 3 shows the internal structure of the conventional public switched telephone network 110. As shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram 400 of a wireless terminal 404 including a novel SMS callback element 410 .

FIG. 5 is a flowchart 500 illustrating the operation of the apparatus of FIG. 4. Referring to FIG.

Detailed description of the drawings

Figures 1-3 illustrate the prior art, discussed above.

In FIG. 4 , the legacy wireless terminal 102 has been changed to a new wireless terminal 402 . The terminal 402 receives wireless signals via an antenna 404 which applies the signals to a receiver 406 which passes these signals on to an SMS callback element 408 .

The SMS callback element 408 is so called because it looks for a control signal from the signaling network 302 . As mentioned above, generally speaking, such a signaling network 302 is part of a mobile application transported over signaling system #7. If so, one possible MAP control signal is a message in Short Message Service (SMS) format. Such messages could be securely encoded (using teleservice identities or some other new encoding format) to indicate that it is a callback message, and include specifying the host 106 to call back. Callback component 408 may pass this information to processor 410 either automatically or under end-user control. The processor 410 causes a transmitter 412 to place a data call through the antenna 404 . The receive and transmit antennas can be separated if desired.

Other control signals may be used instead of SMS messages if desired. But try not to substitute. If SMS messages are used, only the host 106 and wireless terminal 102 need to be updated to send and process callback signals. This update is only a software change, and the infrastructure 104 and networks 110 and 116 remain unchanged. If new control signals are used, expensive changes may be required.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart 500 illustrating the operation of the apparatus of FIG. 4. Referring to FIG. Wireless terminal 102 receives an SMS message at 502 . It then determines at 504 whether the message includes a callback request. If included, the host 106 is called back at 506 with a non-voice data format;

industrial application

The invention can be applied in the industrial field if it is desired that the host computer establishes non-voice data communication with the wireless terminal. The elements of the apparatus and methods shown herein (discrete and separate from each other) may be conventional, and this is what the present invention is claimed to be.

While various modes of apparatus and methods have been described, the true spirit and scope of the invention should not be limited to these modes, but only by the following claims and their equivalents.

Claims (21)

1. In a network comprising the following components: a) Host; b) wireless terminals; c) a signaling network adapted to connect said host with said wireless terminal; and d) a traffic network adapted to connect said host with said wireless terminal; The improvement includes a method for a host to establish non-voice data communication with the wireless terminal, wherein the method includes the steps of: e) the host sends a callback message to the wireless terminal via the signaling network; and f) In response to said callback message, said wireless terminal initiates a data callback to said host in a non-voice data communication mode over said traffic network. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the signaling network comprises a signaling system #7. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the callback message comprises a Short Message Service (SMS) message. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein: a) said traffic network includes a circuit switched network; and b) said method further comprises the step of modulating a data call when it enters said traffic network and demodulating a data call when it leaves said traffic network. 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the circuit switched network comprises a public switched telephone network. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the traffic network comprises a packet switched network. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the packet switched network comprises the Internet. 8. In a network comprising the following components: a) Host; b) wireless terminals; c) a signaling network adapted to connect said host with said wireless terminal; and d) a traffic network adapted to connect said host with said wireless terminal; The improvement includes a device for a host to establish non-voice data communication with a wireless terminal, wherein the device includes: e) means for the host to send a callback message to the wireless terminal over the signaling network; and f) means for, in response to said callback message, said wireless terminal initiating a data callback to said host in a non-voice data communication mode via said traffic network. 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the signaling network comprises a signaling system #7. 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the callback message comprises a Short Message Service (SMS) message. 11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein: a) said traffic network includes a circuit switched network; and b) said apparatus further comprises first and second modems connected, the former modulating data calls entering said communication network and the latter demodulating data calls leaving said communication network. 12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the circuit switched network comprises a public switched telephone network. 13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the traffic network comprises a packet switched network. 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the packet switched network comprises the Internet. 15. A wireless terminal, further comprising: a) means for receiving a callback message from a host to said wireless terminal over a signaling network; and b) means for initiating a data callback to said host in a non-voice data communication mode over a communication network in response to said callback message. 16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the signaling network comprises a signaling system #7. 17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the callback message comprises a Short Message Service (SMS) message. 18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein: a) said traffic network includes a circuit switched network; and b) said apparatus further comprises first and second modems connected, the former modulating data calls entering said communication network and the latter demodulating data calls leaving said communication network. 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the circuit switched network comprises a public switched telephone network. 20. The method of claim 15, wherein the traffic network comprises a packet switched network. 21. The method of claim 20, wherein the packet switched network comprises the Internet.

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