SMS

SMS

Contents
What

is SMS

How it Works
Infrastructure Required

SMS
Short

Also

Messaging Service (SMS)

known as Simple Message Service

Intention

Designed

as a replacement for the Pager

The pager allows text messages to be sent to the device

To respond you must get to a phone
Still widely used, in

Hospitals
Military
Police
Industry

SMS

SMS allowed

Two way communications of the text messages

Maximum character length of 160 characters

Character sets supported are

ASCII + additional European characters

Unicode

First Text

Was sent in December 1992, to a Vodafone device

This can change though depending on the operator or the character set used

Sent by Neil Papworth, saying Merry Christmas

Standard

Defined by ETSI and is known as GSM 03.40

SMS
GSM
At

a defined time interval in GSM all devices will listen

to a transmission.

This is when a Digital Control Channel (DCCH) packet of

information is being sent across the network.

These DCCH packets are used to transfer essential information into the
devices.
Information like a call is in coming
Paging signals from the Base stations, to work out if a handover is
needed
One of these packet formats is called SMS point to point messaging,
Paging, access control channel (SPACH)
This message type can be used to carry a text message.
Advantage of this method is a text message can still be delivered during
a phone conversation.

SMS
SMS
All

Packet format

data is transferred in a single DCCH SPACH

packet

SCA

Service Centre
Address

MR

Message Reference

PID

Protocol Identifier

PDU Type

Protocol Data Unit

Type

DA

Destination Address

DCS

Data Coding Scheme

VP

Validity Period

UDL

User Data Length

UD

User Data

SMS
SMS

What

a packet looks like

Example SMS transmission packet saying Hello

(www.spallared.com/nokia/smspdu/smspdu.htm#_Toc485435709, 2003)

SMS OVERVIEW

MS stands for Short Message Service

SMS was first introduced in 1991 in Europe as a text messaging service
based on European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI)
standards for mobile networks
SMS is currently supported on the major mobile network technologies
including:

GSM (Global System for Mobile communications)

GPRS (General Packet Radio Service)
CDMA (Carrier Division Multiplex Access)

SMS supports the sending and receiving of text, images, animation and
sound
SMS messages are originated and received by Short Messaging Entities
(SME). Examples of SMEs are: mobile phones; servers; personal computers

BASIC NETWORK ARCHITECTURE

SME

SMSC

SMS-GMSC/
SMS-IWMSC

MSC/SGSN

HLR

VLR

MS

Outside the scope

of GSM specifications

1.
2.
3.

Short Message Entity (SME) sends or receives short messages

Short Message Service Centre (SC) stores-and-forwards messages between the SME and the MS
Gateway MSC For Short Message Service (SMS-GMSC) - receives messages from the SC,
interrogates the HLR for routing information and forward the messages to the MSC or SGSN

Home Location Register (HLR) - a database used for permanent storage and management
of user/subscriber profiles
4. Inter-Working MSC For Short Message Service (SMS-IWMSC) - receives messages from the MSC or
SGSN and forwards them to the SC
5. Mobile Service Centre (MSC) performs switching functions for mobile stations in a geographical area

Visitor Location Register (VLR) - a database that contains temporary information about
roaming subscribers. The MSC and the VLR are always on the same platform.
6. Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN) performs packet switching functions for mobile stations in a
geographical area. The SGSN is used instead of the MSC when SMS info is transferred over GPRS.
7. Mobile Station (MS) a device on the mobile network capable of receiving and sending
short messages

SMS PROTOCOL SERVICES AND

FEATURES

SMS is a point-to-point store and forward technology with 2 basic services:

Short Message Mobile Terminated (SM-MT) - to transmit a message from the short
message service centre to the mobile station. SMS-DELIVER PDU (Protocol Data Unit)

Short Message Mobile Originated (SM-MO) to transmit a message from mobile station to
service centre SMS-SUBMIT PDU
SMS allows message delivery to handsets either active/in-use or powered of

Mobile stations receive transport data protocol units (TPDU) denoted as SMS-Deliver

Mobile stations send transport data protocol units (TPDU) denoted as SMS-Submit

Note: the TPDU contains the user data (the short message)
SMS protocol permits request of message delivery confirmation report
SMS messages contain up to 140 octets which is equivalent to:

160 Latin characters (7 Bit Coding) Text Mode

70 Unicode characters (double byte) e.g. Arabic Characters, Chinese Characters

SMS messages can also contain up to 140 octets of binary information

SMS messages are transported in the core network using SS7 (Signaling System 7

SMS SERVICE ELEMENTS

Validity Period is the service element that indicates the time period for which the SMSC
will guarantee the existence of the short message when attempting to deliver it
Service Centre Time Stamp is the service element that indicates the time stamp of
message arrival at the SMSC
Protocol Identifier is the service element in to indicate higher layer protocol or indicates
inter-working with certain types of telemetic services (e.g. paging, email)
More Messages to Send is the service element by which a SMSC informs the MS that there
is one or more messages waiting in the SC to be sent to the MS
Priority is the service element indicating that delivery of the message will be attempted
regardless of the MS being temporarily absent or having no free memory
Message Waiting is the service element that enables the mobile network to provide the HLR,
SGSN and VLR with the information that there is a message waiting in the originating SMSC
for a MS
Alert Service Centre is the service element used by mobile networks to inform an SMSC
that a previously unreachable MS (temporarily absent or no memory) is ready to receive
messages

THE BENEFITS OF SMS TO THE

SERVICE PROVIDER ARE AS FOLLOWS:

Increased call completion on wireless and wireline networks by leveraging

the notification capabilities of SMS

An alternative to alphanumeric paging services

Enabling wireless data access for corporate users

Provision of value-added services such as e-mail, voice mail, and fax mail
integration,reminder service, stock and currency quotes, and airline
schedules. Provision of key administrative services such as advice of
charge, over-the-air downloading, and service provisioning

PARAMETERS IN HLR PROFILE

TS21-MT SMS
TS 22 MO SMS

SM-MT (T21)

SC

GSM Network
MS

SM-MO (T22)

SC

GSM Network
MS

VAS NETWORK DIAGRAM

Mail Server

Billing

Firewa
ll
SMTP

Firewa
ll

FTP
MA
P

HTTP

Content provider

Messaging
platform
SMPP
MM7
SMSC

MMSC

MSC
MA
P
HLR
USER

INTERFACES
e-mail systems
External
applicatio
n
Billing
system

VMS
NMS

Subscribe
r
database

MESSAGE TYPES
The

SMS Center acts as a store and forward center for Short

Messages (SM) in a cellular network
MT
Cellular
network
MO
AO
MT

MO

SMS Center

AT

SMSC

SHORT MESSAGE SERVICE CENTRE Short Message service Centre plays a central role in the management of SMS message
SMSC
origination and SMS message deliveryThe SMS message will be stored at this location on a

FIFO basis .If the device is turned on, the message will be forwarded to that location

Interestingly, detailed functionality of SMSC is outside the scope of standardization, hence

several vendor specific products and protocols:
EMI (External Machine Interface) CMG, now LogicaCMG
UCP (Universal Computer Protocol) Logica, now LogicaCMG
CIMD (Computer Interface to Message Distribution) Nokia
OIS (Open Interface Specification) SEMA Group, now Airwide Solutions
Computer Access Service and Protocol Ericsson
SMS Forum is an industry initiative to create a common standard SMPP (Short Message
Peer-to-Peer) using Internet as the transport network
The ETSI/GSM standard does specify minimum mandatory SMSC requirements:

Each SMS-Deliver to a MS must have unique time stamp with one second accuracy

Only one outstanding SMS-Deliver (i.e. message for which a report not yet received)

If requested by MS or SME, initiate overwriting of previously received short messages

ADDITIONAL FEATURES AND

ISSUES

SMS standard allows concatenation of messages to enable transmission of longer messages (i.e.
messages longer than 140 octets)
Short Messages may be compressed with algorithms described in GSM 03.42

Compression only applies to user-data and excludes user-data-header

If compressed message are greater than 140 octets, then the messages can be concatenated
In North America wireless subscribers can address text messages using 5-digit numbers (short
codes)

An example of the use of short codes is for SMS voting

One objective of short codes is to reduce or minimize Spam

Short codes are being used to price and market services (e.g charge back to application provider)
Service gateway products are available that address multi-network (GSM/CDMA) and multi-protocol
(e.g. EMI/OIS) inter-working
Security is an emerging concern similar to that with e-mail, for example:

SPAM sending of unsolicited messages and ads via SMS (e.g. to entice users to call numbers
that have a high per minute charge)

Virus - resend of message to all numbers in the phones address book (e.g. via a Trojan Horse)

Identity Theft - retrieval of personal information from a SIM (Subscriber Interface Module) card

SMSC GLOBAL FUNCTIONALITIES

Intelligent Retry Schedules

Priority Queuing
Acknowledgement Response
Delivery Notification
Validity Period
Message Expiration
Country Prefixing
Deferred Delivery
Blacklisting/White listing
Message Query
Alert Notifications
Message Concatenation
Anti Spoofing

SMS POLICY
Send the first message in queue
Send the first message in queue to the same
destination address as the new message
Do not send if messages exist to the same
destination address as the new message.
Use only the retry table
Do not send anything, use only retry table

DELIVERY MECHANISM
Store and Forward
Transaction Mode
Message Throttling in case of SMPP
Message Cancellation
Message Replacement

SMS CALL FLOWS

MOBILE ORIGINATED SMS FLOW

FORWARD MO MESSAGE (SCCP

FIELD)
Protocol

Info

CALG

CALD

CALG

CALD

GSM SMS

invoke mo-forward SM

MSC GT(PJB)

SMSC GT PJB

919815053505

919815051921

GSM SMS

invoke mo-forward SM

MSC GT(PJB)

SMSC GT PJB

919815053505

919815051921

GSM MAP

returnResultLast

SMSC GT PJB

MSC GT(PJB)

919815051921

919815053505

GSM MAP

returnResultLast

SMSC GT PJB

MSC GT(PJB)

919815051921

919815053505

E:\S tudy\S MS \MO

Forward S MS _MS C_S MS C.txt

MO- FORWARD SM (MAP PART)

Invoke id:
MO forward SM: ID=46
SM RP DA: Destination address::Service Centre address
SM RP OA: Originator Address ::MS-ISDN ( A-Party Number)
The MSISDN received from the VLR or from the SGSN is inserted in
this parameter in the mobile originated SM
transfer.

MOBILE-TERMINATED SHORT
MESSAGE

APPLICATIONTO- MOBILE
MESSAGING

SMPP(SHORT MESSAGE PEER TO PEER

PROTOCOL
Short Message Peer to Peer (SMPP) protocol is an open message-transfer protocol that enables short message entities
(SMEs) outside the mobile network to interface with an SMSC.

Nonmobile entities that submit messages to, or receive messages from an SMSC are known asExternal Short Message
Entities (ESMEs).

The SMPP protocol defines a set of operations for the exchange of short messages between an ESME and an SMSC the
data that an ESME application must exchange with an SMSC during SMPP operations.

Subscribers to an SMS-capable Cellular Network may receive short messages on a Mobile Station (MS) from one or
more ESMEs. The means whereby these messages arrive at the ESME via an interface other than SMPP is beyond the
scope of this document. However, examples such ESME applications include:Voicemail alerts originating from a VPS (Voice Processing System), indicating voice
messages at a customers mailbox.
Numeric and alphanumeric paging services
Information services. For example, an application that enables mobile subscribers to query
currency rates or share-price information from a database or the WWW and have it
displayed as a short message on the handsets.
Calls directly dialled or diverted to a message-bureau operator, who forwards the message
to the SMSC, for onward delivery to a subscribers handset.
A fleet management application that enables a central station to use the SMSC to
determine the location of its service vehicles and notify the closest vehicle of a service
request in their area.
Telemetry applications. For example, a house-hold meter that transmits a short message to
a utility companys billing system to automatically record customer usage.
WAP Proxy Server. A WAP Proxy Server acts as the WAP gateway for wireless internet
applications. A WAP Proxy Server may select an SMS or USSD bearer for sending WDP
datagrams to and receiving WDP datagrams from a mobile station.

POSITION IN NETWORK -

SMSC
Air
SDCCH
SS7
A or
Ater

SS7
GMSC

MSC

Abis
BSC

BTS

SUCCESSFUL DELIVERY - GSM

HLR

MSC

SMSC

VMS

Request
SMS-GMSC
Send Routing Information for SM
to HLR which includes the MSISDN

MCA

SRI_SM MESSAGE (SCCP FIELD)

OPC

DPC

Protocol

Info

CALG

CALD

221

777

GSM MAP

invoke send routing info for SM

PJB SMSC SUBMISN GT B-MSISDN

770

761

GSM MAP

invoke send routing info for SM

PJB SMSC SUBMISN GT B-MSISDN

761

770

GSM MAP

return result last sendrouting info for SM

PB HLR GT

PJB SMSC GT

770

221

GSM MAP

return result last sendrouting info for SM

PB HLR GT

PJB SMSC GT

OPC

DPC

CALG

CALD

CALG

CALD

221

777

PJB SMSC SUBMISN GT

B-MSISDN

919815051921

919878580007

770

761

PJB SMSC SUBMISN GT

B-MSISDN

919815051921

919878580007

761

770

PB HLR GT

PJB SMSC GT

919815051923

919815051921

770

221

PB HLR GT

PJB SMSC GT

919815051923

919815051921

SRI_SM MESSAGE (MAP FILED)

SRI_SM_& RESP_B_Number_919878580007.TXT
SRI_SM Trace_9878580007.txt

FEILDS
Invoke id:

MSISDN:
SM-RP-PRI:
This parameter is used to indicate whether or not delivery of the short message shall be attempted when a
service centre
address is already contained in the Message Waiting Data file.
This parameter refers to the MSISDN stored in a Message Waiting Data File in the HLR. It is used to alert
the Service
Centre when the MS is again attainable.
Service Centre Address:
SMSC center GT
SM-RP-MTI:
This parameter shall be present when the feature SM filtering by the HPLMN is
supported by the SMS-GMSC and when the equivalent parameter is received from the short message
service relay sublayer
protocol.
7.6.8.17 SM-RP-SMEA
This parameter represents the RP-Originating SME-address of the Short Message Entity that has
originated the SM.
This parameter is used by the short message service relay sub-layer protocol and is formatted

SM-RP-MTI:
protocol.

SUCCESSFUL DELIVERY - GSM

HLR

MSC

SMSC

VMS

Confirmation
Routing Information for SM
including the IMSI and GT /MSC address

MCA

MT-FORWARD-SHORT-MESSAGE

MT-FORWARD-SHORT-MESSAGE(SCCP FIELD)
OPC

DPC

CALG

CALD

CALG

CALD

221

777

SMSC GT

invoke mo-forward SM

919815051921

919815053500

771

2001

SMSC GT

invoke mo-forward SM

919815051921

919815053500

2001

770

MSC GT (B_Party)

returnResultLast

919815053500

919815051921

770

2001

MSC GT (B_Party)

returnResultLast

919815053500

919815051921

E:\S tudy\S MS \MT

E:\S tudy\S MS \S MS
ward S M_S MS C to B_par
MT trace_S MS C to B-part

SM RP DA:
This parameter can contain either an IMSI or a TMSIThe TMSI can be provided if it is received from the HLR. The IMSI is
used if the use of the LMSI is not available.
This parameter is omitted in the mobile terminated subsequent SM transfers.
SM RP OA:Service Centre address received from the originating Service Centre is inserted in
SM RP UI:
The short message transfer protocol data unit received from the Service Centre is inserted in this parameter. A short
message transfer protocol data unit may also be inserted in this parameter in the
message delivery acknowledgement from the MSC or from the SGSN to the Service Centre.
More Messages To Send:
The information from the MMS indication received from the Service Centre is inserted in this parameter.
To avoid the need for a mobile to be paged, authenticated etc. for each message waiting in the Service Centre, the SC
may indicate to the SMS-GMSC that there are more messages to send
User error:
- Unidentified subscriber;
- Absent Subscriber_SM;

SUCCESSFUL DELIVERY - GSM

HLR

MSC

SMSC

VMS

Forward SM request
Contains MSC Address GT
IMSI
User Data (GSM 03.40)

SMPP

SUCCESSFUL DELIVERY - GSM

HLR

MSC

SMSC

VMS

Forward SM confirmation
Indicating message delivery

MCA

DELIVERY STATUS MESSAGE

Short message transfer protocol data unit informing the
receiving MS of the status of a mobile originated short
message previously submitted by the MS, i.e. whether
the SC was able to forward the message or not, or
whether the message was stored in the SC for later
delivery.
TP Data: Short message transaction completed,
Short message received by the SME

E:\S tudy\S MS \
Delivery Report_ S MS _ s tatus

DELIVERY
FAILURE MSC DUE
TO TEMPORARY
ERROR
GSM

ALERT-SC-MSISDN- ALERT
The Alert-SC is the service element, which may be provided by some GSM PLMNs, to
inform the SC that an MS
1) to which a delivery attempt has failed because the MS is not reachable or because the
MS memory capacity was exceeded;
2) which is now recognized by the PLMN:
a) to have resumed operation (e.g. to have responded to a paging request); or
b) to have memory newly available (which implies that the mobile is reachable).
is again ready to receive one or more short messages. T
The SC may - on reception of an Alert-SC - initiate the delivery

The Alert flag in the HLR is set in 2 cases:

1.SC sends an SRI message and the HLR replies with the information that the
subscriber is out of memory or not reachable.

2.The HLR is not aware that the subscriber is not reachable (this can happen if we
dont shut down the phone properly and just disconnect the battery), in that case
the HLR will reply with IMSI number and MSC address and when the MSC will
try to deliver the message it will fail. After that the SC will send an Inform
message to the HLR indicating that his record about the MS is incorrect.
Command: hgmwp:msisdn=XXXXXXX

DELIVERY FAILURE TEMPORARY

ERROR GSM
HLR

MSC

SMSC

VMS

Request
SMS-GMSC
Send Routing Information for SM
to HLR which includes the MSISDN

MCA

DELIVERY FAILURE TEMPORARY

ERROR GSM
HLR

MSC

SMSC

VMS

Confirmation
Routing Information for SM
including the IMSI and GT /MSC address

MCA

DELIVERY FAILURE TEMPORARY

ERROR GSM
HLR

MSC

Forward SM request
Contains MSC GT
IMSI
User Data

SMSC

VMS

MCA

DELIVERY FAILURE TEMPORARY

ERROR GSM
HLR

MSC

SMSC

VMS

MSC responds with temporary

error e.g. absent subscriber
Then message will go in retry
Schedule for delivery at later time

MCA

HLR TEMPORARY FAILURE- GSM

HLR

MSC

SMSC

VMS

SMSC sets an Flag in HLR

Which contains the GT of the
SMSC
and MSISDN

MCA

ALERT FOLLOWED BY A SUCCESSFUL

DELIVERY GSM
HLR

MSC

HLR sends an SC alert message

to the SMSC to notify
that the MS is now available
SMSC

VMS

MCA

ALERT FOLLOWED BY A SUCCESSFUL

DELIVERY GSM
HLR

MSC

SMSC

VMS

SMSC sends any pending messages

In Db

MCA

DELIVERY
FAILURE MSC DUE
TO PERMANENT
ERROR
GSM

MSC PERMANENT ERROR GSM

HLR

MSC

SMSC

VMS

Request
SMS-GMSC
Send Routing Information for SM
to HLR which includes the MSISDN

MCA

DELIVERY FAILURE TEMPORARY

ERROR GSM
HLR

MSC

SMSC

VMS

Confirmation
Routing Information for SM
including the IMSI and GT /MSC address

MCA

MSC PERMANENT ERROR GSM

HLR

MSC

Forward SM request
Contains MSC GT
IMSI
User Data

SMSC

VMS

MCA

MSC PERMANENT ERROR GSM

HLR

MSC

SMSC

VMS

Forward SM confirmation
With permanent error like
MT message not allowed ,SMSC
Doesnt try to deliver again
SM is deleted from Db

MCA

QUERIES
Mail : Khem.kashyap@aricent.com
Or call Me : 91 9878580007