Alphanumeric Address Mapping for Non-Homogeneous Short Message Networks

Abstract

Text messages with alphanumeric addresses are delivered to mobiles and external short message entities (ESMEs) which do not support alphanumeric addressing, providing meaningful fallback handling. Additionally, the invention enables delivery of SMPP messages from ESME or SMPP networks which can only originate numeric addresses, yet provide for mapping to alphanumeric addresses for delivery to the mobile. A two-way mapping is provided between alphanumeric addresses and SMS short-codes to enable delivery of text messages with alphanumeric addressing in networks which contain mobiles and/or ESME's that lack support of alphanumeric addressing. An ESME can send a text message using an alphanumeric origination address, without knowing which handsets support the capability, and which do not, or whether handsets are on CDMA, or GSM, or UMTS, or long term evolution (LTE) networks, or can continue to send using a numeric origination address. The SMSC provides conversions to alphanumeric addresses on behalf of the ESME and the mobile.

1 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A method of providing two-way alphanumeric address mapping for a non-homogeneous text message network, comprising:
 receiving a text message including an alphanumeric destination address including at least one non-numeric character, said alphanumeric destination address identifying a destination mobile device;   mapping, prior to a first attempt to deliver said text message to said destination mobile device, said alphanumeric destination address including said at least one non-numeric character, to a numeric digit-only short code associated with said destination mobile device;   routing said text message with said numeric digit-only short code addressing to said destination mobile device;   receiving from said destination mobile device, a return text message including a numeric digit-only short code address identifying an originating mobile device;   mapping said numeric digit-only short code address of said return text message to an alphanumeric originating address including at least one non-numeric character corresponding to said originating mobile device; and   routing said return text message to said originating mobile device.   
     
     
         12 . A method of providing two-way alphanumeric address mapping for a non-homogeneous text message network according to  claim 11 , wherein said destination mobile device comprises:
 an external short message entity (ESME).   
     
     
         13 . A method of providing two-way alphanumeric address mapping for a non-homogeneous text message network according to  claim 12 , wherein said text message comprises:
 a short message system (SMS) text message.   
     
     
         14 . A method of providing two-way alphanumeric address mapping for a non-homogeneous text message network according to  claim 11 , wherein said originating mobile device comprises:
 an external short message entity (ESME).   
     
     
         15 . A method of providing two-way alphanumeric address mapping for a non-homogeneous text message network according to  claim 14 , wherein said text message comprises:
 a short message system (SMS) text message.   
     
     
         16 . A method of providing two-way alphanumeric address mapping for a non-homogeneous text message network according to  claim 11 , wherein said text message comprises:
 a short message system (SMS) text message.   
     
     
         17 . The method of providing two-way alphanumeric address mapping for a non-homogeneous text message network according to  claim 11 , wherein:
 said originating mobile device is configured to send a text message using an alphanumeric address, irrespective of a capability of said destination mobile device to support alphanumeric addressing, and irrespective of a network type of said destination mobile device.   
     
     
         18 . A method of providing two-way alphanumeric address mapping for a non-homogeneous text message network, comprising:
 receiving a text message including an alphanumeric destination address including at least one non-numeric character, said alphanumeric destination address identifying a destination mobile device;   routing said text message to said destination mobile device with said alphanumeric origination address including at least one non-numeric character;   receiving a failed delivery message relating to failure of delivery of said text message to said destination mobile device;   mapping said alphanumeric destination address including at least one non-numeric character, to a numeric digit-only short code string associated with said destination mobile device; and   routing said text message with said numeric digit-only short code addressing to said destination mobile device.   
     
     
         19 . A method of providing two-way alphanumeric address mapping for a non-homogeneous text message network according to  claim 18 , wherein said destination mobile device comprises:
 an external short message entity (ESME).   
     
     
         20 . A method of providing two-way alphanumeric address mapping for a non-homogeneous text message network according to  claim 19 , wherein said text message comprises:
 a short message system (SMS) text message.   
     
     
         21 . A method of providing two-way alphanumeric address mapping for a non-homogeneous text message network according to  claim 18 , wherein said text message comprises:
 a short message system (SMS) text message.   
     
     
         22 . The method of providing two-way alphanumeric address mapping for a non-homogeneous text message network according to  claim 16 , wherein:
 said text message is originated by an originating mobile device; and   said originating mobile device is configured to send text messages using an alphanumeric origination address, irrespective of a capability of said destination mobile device to support alphanumeric addressing, and irrespective of a network type of said destination mobile device.