Inter-carrier short messaging service providing phone number only experience

Abstract

A phone number only messaging experience is provided in an Inter-Carrier Short Messaging System (IC-SMS) service. Subscriber to subscriber messages are routed between carrier's networks using an Inter-Carrier messaging module with appropriate MIN/carrier/carrier routing look-up capabilities. Short messages may be sent to a subscriber in another carrier's network addressed only with a phone number. If the recipient is outside of the sender's carrier network, the Inter-Carrier messaging module of the Inter-Carrier service provider (ICSP) determines the appropriate carrier for the recipient, appends the appropriate syntax to the short message to allow internet protocol (IP) or other standardized communication techniques between SMSCs of the two carriers, and routes the short message to the destination carrier. The recipient in the other carrier's network may reply back to the ICSP's sender using only the subscriber's directory number.

1. In a message distribution center, a system for processing a short message addressed with a phone number only experience provided by , comprising:
 a database associating subscriber MIN numbers with servicing carriers;  
 a database associating carriers with routing syntax; and  
 an inter-carrier messaging module to receive a short message addressed with only a MIN number, to perform a lookup in said database associating subscriber MIN numbers and in said database associating carriers with routing syntax, and to add routing syntax determined from said lookup to said MIN number.  
 
     
     
       2. In a message distribution center according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said database associating subscriber MIN numbers with servicing carriers and said database associating carriers with routing syntax are in a common database.  
 
     
     
       3. In a message distribution center according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said MIN is a phone number.  
 
     
     
       4. In a message distribution center according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said message distribution center forms a store and forward short messaging platform.  
 
     
     
       5. A method of providing  for processing a short message addressed with a phone number only experience to a subscriber , comprising the steps of:
 receiving from a first carrier an initial short message addressed to a MIN only;  
 associating a different carrier providing service to said MIN;  
 formulating a new short message including a body of said initial short message and newly addressed to said MIN with a syntax associated with said different carrier providing service to said MIN; and  
 routing said new short message.  
 
     
     
       6. The method of providing  for processing a short message addressed with a phone number only experience to a subscriber  according to  claim 5 , wherein:
 said phone number only addressed short message is received at, and said new short message is routed from, a service bureau.  
 
     
     
       7. The method of providing  for processing a short message addressed with a phone number only experience to a subscriber  according to  claim 5 , wherein:
 said MIN is a phone number.  
 
     
     
       8. The method of providing  for processing a short message addressed with a phone number only experience to a subscriber  according to  claim 5 , wherein:
 said MIN with said added syntax associated with said carrier providing service to said MIN forms a routable address.  
 
     
     
       9. The method of providing  for processing a short message addressed with a phone number only experience to a subscriber  according to  claim 8 , wherein:
 said routable address is an e-mail address.  
 
     
     
       10. Apparatus for providing a short message addressed with a phone number only experience to a subscriber , comprising:
 means for receiving from a first carrier an initial short message addressed to a MIN only;  
 means for associating a different carrier providing service to said MIN;  
 means for formulating a new short message including a body of said initial short message and newly addressed to said MIN with a syntax associated with said different carrier providing service to said MIN; and  
 means for routing said new short message.  
 
     
     
       11. The apparatus for providing a short message addressed with a phone number only experience to a subscriber  according to  claim 10 , wherein:
 said phone number only addressed short message is received at, and said new short message is routed from, a service bureau.  
 
     
     
       12. The apparatus for providing a short message addressed with a phone number only experience to a subscriber  according to  claim 10 , wherein:
 said MIN is a phone number.  
 
     
     
       13. The apparatus for providing a short message addressed with a phone number only experience to a subscriber  according to  claim 10 , wherein:
 said MIN with said added syntax associated with said carrier providing service to said MIN forms a routable address.  
 
     
     
       14. The apparatus for providing a short message addressed with a phone number only experience to a subscriber  according to  claim 13 , wherein:
 said routable address is an e-mail address.