System and method for communicating a message using a cellular telephone network

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A system for communicating a message to a messaging unit using a cellular telephone network, comprising:

a messaging unit;

a serving mobile switching center providing service to the messaging unit, wherein the serving mobile switching center comprises a portion of the cellular telephone network;

a network central controller coupled to the serving mobile switching center, the network central controller having a first database that identifies the serving mobile switching center providing service to the messaging unit;

a device external to the cellular telephone network and coupled to the network central controller by a communication network, wherein the device generates a message for delivery to the messaging unit using the network central controller and the serving mobile switching center of the cellular telephone network; and,

a second database of the network central controller to store messages for delivery to the messaging unit.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the cellular telephone network comprises an analog cellular telephone network.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the serving mobile switching center receives the message from the network central controller and transmits the message in an overhead message stream to the messaging unit.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the serving mobile switching center receives the message from the network central controller and transmits the message in an overhead message stream of a plurality of selected cell sites to the messaging unit.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising an adjunct processor at the serving mobile switching center to format the message as an extended protocol message for transmission in the forward control channel to the messaging unit.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the network central controller comprises a home mobile switching center of the messaging unit.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication network comprises a public switched telephone network.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication network comprises a global computer network.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the message comprises message data not associated with the operation of the cellular telephone network.

10. A method for communicating a message to a messaging unit using a cellular telephone network, comprising:

generating a first message at a device external to the cellular telephone network;

receiving the first message at a network central controller;

generating a second message at the network central controller using the first message;

receiving the second message at a serving mobile switching center;

generating a third message at the serving mobile switching center using the second message; and

receiving the third message at the messaging unit.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of generating the second message comprises:

extracting a first address identifying the messaging unit from the first message;

retrieving a second address identifying the serving mobile switching center from a database that associates the messaging unit to the serving mobile switching center; and

addressing the second message with the second address.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of generating the third message comprises:

extracting a first address identifying the messaging unit from the second message; and

addressing the third message with the first address.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of transmitting the third message in an overhead message stream.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of transmitting the third message in an overhead message stream of a plurality of selected cell sites defining a paging sector that includes the messaging unit.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of transmitting the third message as an extended protocol message in a forward control channel.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the device external to the cellular telephone network comprises a computer coupled to the network central controller using the public switched telephone network.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the first message, the second message, and the third message comprise message data not associated with the operation of the cellular telephone network.

18. A system for communicating messages containing user data between messaging units using a cellular telephone network, comprising:

a first messaging unit;

a second messaging unit; and

a plurality of mobile switching centers of the cellular telephone network, each mobile switching center having a first mode to generate a remote message for delivery to another mobile switching center and a second mode to generate a local message for delivery to the second messaging unit, the remote message and the local message containing user data for delivery from the first messaging unit to the second messaging unit and wherein the remote message comprises an inbound indicator that specifies the progress of the remote message communicated through the mobile switching centers.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the cellular telephone network comprises an analog cellular telephone network.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the local message comprises an extended protocol message for transmission in a forward control channel to the second messaging unit.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein the local message comprises an extended protocol message for transmission in a forward control channel of a plurality of selected cell sites defining a paging sector that includes the second messaging unit.

22. The system of claim 18, wherein the mobile switching centers comprise:

a serving mobile switching center of the first messaging unit; and

a serving mobile switching center of the second messaging unit.

23. The system of claim 18, wherein the mobile switching centers comprise:

a serving mobile switching center of the first messaging unit;

a home mobile switching center of the first messaging unit;

a home mobile switching center of the second messaging unit; and

a serving mobile switching center of the second messaging unit.

24. The system of claim 18, wherein the user data is not associated with the operation of the cellular telephone network.

25. A method for communicating a message containing user data between messaging units using a cellular telephone network, comprising:

communicating a first local message containing user data from a first messaging unit;

communicating a remote message containing the user data through a plurality of mobile switching centers in the cellular telephone network;

communicating a second local message containing the user data to a second messaging unit; and,

wherein the remote message comprises an inbound indicator that specifies the progress of the remote message communicated through the mobile switching centers.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the cellular telephone network comprises an analog cellular telephone network.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the second local message comprises an extended protocol message for transmission in a forward control channel to the second messaging unit.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein the second local message comprises an extended protocol message for transmission in a forward control channel of a plurality of selected cell sites defining a paging sector that includes the second messaging unit.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein the step of communicating a remote message comprises communicating a remote message from a serving switching center of the first messaging unit to a serving switching center of the second messaging unit.

30. The method of claim 25, wherein the step of communicating a remote message comprises:

communicating a first remote message from a serving mobile switching center of the first messaging unit to a home mobile switching center of the first messaging unit;

communicating a second remote message from the home mobile switching center of the first messaging unit to a home mobile switching center of the second messaging unit; and

communicating a third remote message from the home mobile switching center of the second messaging unit to a serving mobile switching center of the second messaging unit.

31. The method of claim 25, wherein the user data is not associated with the operation of the cellular telephone network.

32. A method for processing a message received at a mobile switching center of a cellular telephone network, comprising:

receiving a message at a mobile switching center, the message having an originating address, destination address, and message data;

generating a remote message that addresses another mobile switching center if the mobile switching center does not serve the destination address; and

generating a local message that addresses the destination address if the mobile switching center serves the destination address.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the step of generating a local message comprises generating an extended protocol message for transmission in a forward control channel to a messaging unit identified by the destination address.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein the step of generating a local message comprises:

generating an extended protocol message containing the destination address and the user data;

selecting a plurality of cell sites associated with a sector containing a messaging unit identified by the destination address;

transmitting the extended protocol message in a forward control channel of the selected cell sites.

35. The method of claim 32, wherein the step of generating a remote message further comprises generating a remote message that addresses a serving mobile switching center of the destination address.

36. The method of claim 32, wherein the step of generating a remote message further comprises:

generating a first remote message that addresses a home mobile switching center of the originating address if the mobile switching center is a serving mobile switching center of the originating address; and

generating a second remote message that addresses a serving mobile switching center of the destination address if the mobile switching center is a home mobile switching center of the destination address.

37. The method of claim 32, wherein the step of generating a remote message further comprises:

generating a first remote message that addresses a home mobile switching center of the originating address if the mobile switching center is a serving mobile switching center of the originating address;

generating a second remote message that addresses a home mobile switching center of the destination address if the mobile switching center is a home mobile switching center of the originating address; and

generating a third remote message that addresses a serving mobile switching center of the destination address if the mobile switching center is a home mobile switching center of the destination address.

38. The method of claim 32, wherein the mobile switching center comprises a portion of an analog cellular telephone network.

39. The method of claim 32, wherein the message further comprises an inbound indicator that specifies whether the mobile switching center is associated with the originating address.

40. The method of claim 32, wherein the user data is not associated with the operation of the cellular telephone network.

41. A system for communicating a message to a messaging unit using a cellular telephone network, comprising:

a messaging unit;

a serving mobile switching center providing service to the messaging unit, wherein the serving mobile switching center comprises a portion of the cellular telephone network;

a network central controller coupled to the serving mobile switching center, the network central controller having a first database that identifies the serving mobile switching center providing service to the messaging unit; and,

a device external to the cellular telephone network and coupled to the network central controller by a communication network, wherein the device generates a message for delivery to the messaging unit using the network central controller and the serving mobile switching center of the cellular telephone network and wherein the communication network comprises a global computer network.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein the cellular telephone network comprises an analog cellular telephone network.

43. The system of claim 41, wherein the serving mobile switching center receives the message from the network central controller and transmits the message in an overhead message stream to the messaging unit.

44. The system of claim 41, wherein the serving mobile switching center receives the message from the network central controller and transmits the message in an overhead message stream of a plurality of selected cell sites to the messaging unit.

45. The system of claim 41, further comprising an adjunct processor at the serving mobile switching center to format the message as an extended protocol message for transmission in the forward control channel to the messaging unit.

46. The system of claim 41, further comprising a second database of the network central controller to store messages for delivery to the messaging unit.

47. The system of claim 41, wherein the network central controller comprises a home mobile switching center of the messaging unit.

48. The system of claim 41, wherein the communication network comprises a public switched telephone network.

49. The system of claim 41, wherein the message comprises message data not associated with the operation of the cellular telephone network.

50. A system for communicating messages containing user data between messaging units using a cellular telephone network, comprising:

a first messaging unit;

a second messaging unit; and

a plurality of mobile switching centers of the cellular telephone network, each mobile switching center having a first mode to generate a remote message for delivery to another mobile switching center and a second mode to generate a local message for delivery to the second messaging unit, the remote message and the local message containing user data for delivery from the first messaging unit to the second messaging unit and wherein the mobile switching centers comprise:

a serving mobile switching center of the first messaging unit; and

a serving mobile switching center of the second messaging unit.

51. The system of claim 50, wherein the cellular telephone network comprises an analog cellular telephone network.

52. The system of claim 50, wherein the remote message comprises an inbound indicator that specifies the progress of the remote message communicated through the mobile switching centers.

53. The system of claim 50, wherein the local message comprises an extended protocol message for transmission in a forward control channel to the second messaging unit.

54. The system of claim 50, wherein the local message comprises an extended protocol message for transmission in a forward control channel of a plurality of selected cell sites defining a paging sector that includes the second messaging unit.

55. The system of claim 50, wherein the user data is not associated with the operation of the cellular telephone network.

56. The system of claim 50, wherein the mobile switching centers further comprising:

a home mobile switching center of the first messaging unit; and

a home mobile switching center of the second messaging unit.

57. A method for communicating a message containing user data between messaging units using a cellular telephone network, comprising:

communicating a first local message containing user data from a first messaging unit;

communicating a remote message containing the user data through a plurality of mobile switching centers in the cellular telephone network;

communicating a second local message containing the user data to a second messaging unit; and,

wherein the step of communicating a remote message comprises communicating a remote message from a serving switching center of the first messaging unit to a serving switching center of the second messaging unit.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein the cellular telephone network comprises an analog cellular telephone network.

59. The method of claim 57, wherein the remote message comprises an inbound indicator that specifies the progress of the remote message communicated through the mobile switching centers.

60. The method of claim 57, wherein the second local message comprises an extended protocol message for transmission in a forward control channel to the second messaging unit.

61. The method of claim 57, wherein the step of communicating a remote message further comprises:

communicating a second remote message from the home mobile switching center of the first messaging unit to a home mobile switching center of the second messaging unit; and

communicating a third remote message from the home mobile switching center of the second messaging unit to a serving mobile switching center of the second messaging unit.

62. The method of claim 57, wherein the user data is not associated with the operation of the cellular telephone network.

63. A system for communicating messages containing user data between messaging units using a cellular telephone network, comprising:

a first messaging unit;

a second messaging unit; and

a plurality of mobile switching centers of the cellular telephone network, each mobile switching center having a first mode to generate a remote message for delivery to another mobile switching center and a second mode to generate a local message for delivery to the second messaging unit, the remote message and the local message containing user data for delivery from the first messaging unit to the second messaging unit and wherein the mobile switching centers comprise:

a serving mobile switching center of the first messaging unit;

a home mobile switching center of the first messaging unit;

a home mobile switching center enter of the second messaging unit.

64. A method for communicating a message containing user data between messaging units using a cellular telephone network, comprising:

communicating a first local message containing user data from a first messaging unit;

communicating a remote message containing the user data through a plurality of mobile switching centers in the cellular telephone network;

communicating a second local message containing the user data to a second messaging unit,

wherein the step of communicating a remote message comprises:

communicating a first remote message from a serving mobile switching center of the first messaging unit to a home mobile switching center of the first messaging unit;

communicating a second remote message from the home mobile switching center of the first messaging unit to a home mobile switching center of the second messaging unit; and

communicating a third remote message from the home mobile switching center of the second messaging unit to a serving mobile switching center of the second messaging unit.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the field of communications, and more particularly to a system and method for communicating a message using a cellular telephone network.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A mobile voice communication system, such as a cellular telephone system, provides communication services to a subscriber. A typical cellular telephone system includes a collection of interconnected cell sites and mobile switching centers that perform call setup, processing, and hand-off techniques to provide uninterrupted voice service to the subscriber. A modicum of cooperation among cellular telephone systems provide a roaming capability where subscribers may receive voice services in a variety of cellular telephone systems that collectively form a cellular telephone network.

As a result, the cellular telephone network provides voice services to customers over a broad geographic area. Unfortunately, the cellular telephone network design and infrastructure primarily supports voice services, with little or no capabilities to communicate message data. Most of the data handled by the cellular telephone network relates to the operation of the cellular telephone network, such as information to provide cellular registrations, call processing, and hand-off procedures.

A few techniques attempt to provide data messaging in a cellular telephone network, but suffer from an overly complicated implementation or modification of cellular telephone infrastructure. Other techniques primarily support one-way communications, while still other techniques suffer from limited capacity or reduced geographic coverage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, a communication system and method are provided that substantially eliminate or reduce disadvantages or problems associated with previously developed communication systems and methods. In particular, the present invention provides a system and method for communicating a message using a cellular telephone network.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a system for communicating a message to a messaging unit using a cellular telephone network includes a messaging unit. A serving mobile switching center is a portion of the cellular telephone network and provides service to the messaging unit. A network central controller is coupled to the serving mobile switching center and includes a first database that identifies the serving mobile switching center that provides service to the messaging unit. A device external to the cellular telephone network is coupled to the network central controller by a communication network. The device generates a message for delivery to the messaging unit using the network central controller and the serving mobile switching center of the cellular telephone network.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a system for communicating messages containing user data between messaging units using a cellular telephone network includes a first messaging unit and a second messaging unit. Mobile switching centers of the cellular telephone network have a first mode to generate a remote message for delivery to another mobile switching center and a second mode to generate a local message for delivery to the second messaging unit. The remote message and the local message contain user data for delivery from the first messaging unit to the second messaging unit.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention, a method for processing a message received at a mobile switching center of a cellular telephone network includes: receiving a message at a mobile switching center, the message having an originating address, destination address, and message data; generating a remote message that addresses another mobile switching center if the mobile switching center does not serve the destination address; and generating a local message that addresses the destination address if the mobile switching center serves the destination address.

Technical advantages of the present invention include an extension of the capabilities of a cellular telephone network to include flexible and reliable bidirectional message delivery in a cellular telephone network without a significant modification of equipment or processing techniques. In one embodiment, an originating messaging unit communicates the message to a destination messaging unit, where both the origination and destination messaging units receive communication service from the cellular telephone network. In another embodiment, the message originates from or terminates into a device external to the cellular telephone network, such as a paging terminal, computer, telephone, or other communication device coupled to the cellular telephone network using the public switched telephone network or a global computer network such as the Internet. Messages communicated among messaging units and external devices may include user data that is not associated with the operation of the cellular telephone network.

Another important technical advantage of the present invention is the use of the cellular telephone infrastructure to support a variety of messaging capabilities between messaging units and other external devices. For example, the present invention may utilize an analog cellular telephone network and its associated mobile switching centers, cell sites, and software to provide extended messaging capabilities. One technique uses the extended protocol message in both the forward and reverse control channels to communicate messages to and from the messaging units. The present invention also incorporates other data messaging techniques, such as mobile identification number (MIN) statusing and feature code request messaging.

Still another technical advantage of the present invention is the provisioning of messaging services over a wide coverage area supported by a network of cellular telephone systems. In a particular embodiment, the present invention includes a network central controller (NCC) that facilitates communications among messaging units serviced by the cellular telephone network and external devices that are not part of the cellular telephone network. The NCC maintains registration, identification, and location information for messaging units and external devices. The NCC also manages and controls the messaging functions through a store and forward operation.

Still another technical advantage of the present invention includes a common processing technique employed by mobile switching centers to support the transmission of messages through the cellular telephone network. This technique employs both local messages for delivery between mobile switching centers and messaging units, as well as remote messages for delivery between mobile switching centers. This processing and addressing technique may be extended to include messaging with devices external to the cellular telephone network. Other technical advantages are readily apparent from one skilled in the art from the following figures, descriptions, and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention, and for further features and advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a communication system that includes a cellular telephone network with access to external devices;

FIG. 2 illustrates another embodiment of a communication system that includes a cellular telephone network with access to external devices;

FIG. 3 illustrates exemplary message formats used in the communication system;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of a method for communicating a message from an external device to a messaging unit;

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of a method for communicating a message from a messaging unit to an external device;

FIG. 6 is a flow chart of a method for communicating a message between messaging units; and

FIG. 7 is a flow chart of a method for processing a message received at a mobile switching center.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a communication system 10 that includes components of a cellular telephone network 12, messaging units 14, a network central controller (NCC) 16, and a variety of external devices 18. Generally, communication system 10 provides messaging service between messaging units 14 or between messaging units 14 and external devices 18. For purposes of description, components of communication system 10 may be referred to generally with a reference numeral (e.g., MSC 20, messaging unit 14) or specifically with a combined reference number and letter (e.g., MSC 20a, messaging unit 14a).

Components of cellular telephone network 12 provide communication service to messaging units 14. Generally, messaging units 14 may be a cellular telephone that supports voice service, a pager unit that supports data service, a hybrid device that supports both voice and data service, or another device or component that can communicate information with cellula