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ROLE OF NETWORK ELEMENTS IN THE SHORT MESSAGE SERVICE

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CONTENTS

ROLE OF NETWORK ELEMENTS IN THE SHORT MESSAGE SERVICE. 4

1.1 1.2 Introduction to the service...............................................................................4 Network architecture.......................................................................................5
1.2.1 Network architecture for the SMS_MO service .................................................. 5 1.2.2 Network architecture for the SMS_MT service ................................................... 7

1.3

Protocols used................................................................................................9

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1.4

1 1.1

ROLE OF NETWORK ELEMENTS IN THE SHORT MESSAGE SERVICE Introduction to the service

1.1 Introduction to the service

TWO TYPES OF SHORT MESSAGE SERVICE:

w SMS_MO

w SMS_MT

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With the short message service, subscribers can: Send messages from their mobile to a short message server; this is SMSMO. Receive messages on their mobile from a short message server; this is SMS_MT. Messages are limited to 140 bytes or 160 characters with 7 bits.

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1.2 1.2.1

Network architecture Network architecture for the SMS_MO service

1.2.1 Network architecture for the SMS_MO service

SME

SC VMSC or SGSN

PLMN

RCF SMS-IWMSC
or SGSN

HLR

VLR

SCP

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Dialogue between network elements and transactions for sending short messages: MS/RCF: The mobile station sends a network access request to send a short message via the TPDU frame to the SME via the SC. Following this request, the RCF carries out the authentication and ciphering procedures and is ready to receive the short message from the mobile. A network access request may also be sent to notify the HLR that the mobile has sufficient memory to receive short messages (see note on next page). RCF/VLR: The RCF must then: Call the translator to check that calls to the short message server (SC) are not barred. Ask the VLR whether the subscriber has subscribed to the SMS_MO service and whether restrictions on short message transmission or operator determined call barring (ODB) apply.

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If a barring condition exists, the VLR responds with a message containing an error report which will be sent to the subscriber. Otherwise, the VLR sends a message to the RCF indicating that the service can be offered to the subscriber. RCF/SMS-IWMSC: In this case, the RCF sends the short message to the SMS-IWMSC specifying the SC's address and the subscriber's MS_ISDN. SMS-IWMSC/SC: The short message is forwarded to the SC using the SMSAP protocol. VLR/HLR: The HLR is notified that the mobile's memory is available (see note). HLR/SMS-IWMSC: The alert procedure is triggered to notify the SC that the mobile's memory is again available to receive messages (see note). Note: These message interchanges originated by the mobile are necessary for the SMS_MT service, so they will be examined in chapter 3 covering the delivery of short messages to a mobile. The SMO function in the SGSN, Serving GPRS Support Node, is not covered in this document.

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1.2.2

Network architecture for the SMS_MT service

1.2.2 Network architecture for the SMS_MT service

SME

SC VMSC or SGSN

PLMN

IWF-SMS SMS-GMSC

RCF
or SGSN

SMS-IWMSC

HLR

VLR

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Note: In some networks, the SC, SMS-GMSC and SMS-IWMSC functions are located in the same machine called the SMSC. In the Alcatel 900 NSS solution, the SMS-GMSC and SMS-IWMSC functions are available in the RCP. Dialogue between network elements and transactions for receiving short messages: SC/PLMN: Transfer of one or more messages in a TPDU frame from the SC to the PLMN (SMS-GMSC). A TPDU may contain: One or more short messages. A status report. SMS-GMSC/HLR: The SMS-GMSC asks the HLR for the routing information needed to transfer the messages. The HLR responds to the SMS-GMSC by sending the requested information or an error report.

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SMS-IWMSC/HLR: The HLR asks the SMS-IWMSC to inform the SC that the mobile station's memory is again available or that a message has been correctly received. SMS-GMSC/VMSC: The SMS-GMSC asks the VMSC to deliver a short message to the mobile station. The execution report is transmitted to the SMS-GMSC. VLR/HLR: The VLR informs the HLR that the mobile station is again available to receive calls or that its memory is available to receive messages. MSC/MS: Transmission of messages concerning: the authentication and ciphering procedure, the mobile station's memory state. Short message transmission. Note: The SMT function in the SGSN, Serving GPRS Support Node, is not covered in this document.

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1.3

Protocols used The following slide maps the different layers of the protocols used.

1.3 Protocol architecture 1/2

TL_PDU : short message + time indications or SIM data SM_TL SM_RP SM_CP SM_RP MAP SM_CP MAP SMSAP SMSAP SM_TL

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The protocols and protocol layers specific to the NEs involved in sending and receiving short messages are defined below.

1.3 Protocols used 2/2

SC

SM-TL SMSAP MAP/C SMSAP MAP/C MAP/C

SM-RP

SM-CP
MAP/E BSSAP/DTAP MAP/D

MSC/VLR HLR SMSGMSC SMSIWMSC

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The protocol specified between the mobile station and the short message server, SM-TL, is used to transfer the short messages between the two equipments. The MAP/C protocol used between the SMS-GMSC and the HLR is used by the SMS-GMSC to interrogate the HLR to ascertain the subscriber's location. The MAP/D protocol used between the VMSC and HLR and the MAP/C protocol are used to notify the SC that a subscriber who has missed a message can now be reached again. The protocol between the PLMN and the SC is not specified in the GSM standards. The one defined by Alcatel is called SMAP. It is based on the N 7 signalling system (MTP, SCCP). SM-CP: The protocol specifying the dialogue over the interface. Three types of messages have been defined: CP-DATA, CP-ACK, CP-ERROR. SM-RP: Message address management.

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