SMS with GPRS

Siemens

SMS with GPRS

Contents
1
2

Generalities
Message Flows

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Siemens

Generalities

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SMS with GPRS

For a GPRS attached MS, it is possible to send and receive short messages via
GPRS radio channels. An MS that is GPRS attached and not IMSI attached transfers
SMs via GPRS channels. MSs that are both GPRS attached and IMSI attached
transfer SMs via GPRS channels or via non-GPRS control channels (if non-GPRS
control channels are used, then paging for MT SMS may run via the SGSN).
Short

Message Service (SMS) via GPRS

An SMS transmission via SGSN (packet switched operation) is normally more radio
efficient than via MSC, i.e. via circuit switched connections. Therefore, the SMS
capability of SGSN is realized to provide the possibility to transfer short messages
between GPRS MS and SMS center via an SGSN.
To support short message transfer across the GSM radio interface the short
message control (SM-C) as well as the short message relay (SM-R) function are
implemented in the SGSN according to GSM standards. The communication and
transport, respectively, of short messages between SM-C and SM-R function that is
based on corresponding peer protocols.
The figure on the right reflects:
l

the SM control protocol (SM-CP) between SM-C function as well as

the SM relay protocol (SM-RP) between SM-R function on the MS and SGSN site.

Related to the SM-C and SM-R functionality the SGSN supplies the relay function
which delivers/receives short message user information elements (transfer protocol
data unit (TPDU)) and handles as well the notification to/from MAP/TCAP. The SMRP and SM-CP are necessary for the transmission of short message TPDUs. The
short message TPDUs will be put into SM-RP messages, which will be transmitted
with SM-CP messages to the peer entity. The LLC entity put the SM-CP messages
into unconfirmed information (UI) frames for the transmission to the peer entity.

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SI E
M EN
S
NIXDOR
F

BSS

SMS

SMS

SMS-RP

SMS-RP

SMS-CP

SMS-CP

LLC

LLC

Relay

RLC

RLC

BSSGP

BSSGP

MAC

MAC

Network
Service

Network
Service

GSM RF

Frame
Relay

GSM RF

MS

Um

BSS

MAP

MAP

TCAP

TCAP

SCCP

SCCP

MTP

MTP

Frame
Relay

Gb

SGSN

SMS-SC
Gd

SMS GMSC
/IW-MSC

Fig. 1 GPRS protocol stack for SMS

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To meet the capability of SMS service by the SGSN the following interfaces are
introduced:
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Gd-interface: the interface between SGSN and SMS Gateway MSC (SMSGMSC)/SMS Interworking MSC (SMS-IWMSC) The SMS GMSC/IWMSC supports
the SMS MAP services.

Gr-interface: the interface between SGSN and HLR is extended by a special MAP
service (MAP v3 is needed).

Both interfaces are CCS7 - interfaces, except the interface between SC and SMS
GMSC, which is not defined by the standardization.

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HLR
Gr
C
s
Um
Gb

specified
by
operator

Gd

BSS
MS

BSS

SGSN

SMS GMSC
SMS IWMSC

SM SC

Fig. 2 Interfaces used for GPRS SMS transfer

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With short message service mobile originated, the MS wants to send a short
message (SM), and transfers the SM to the SGSN via RP, CP, and LLC. The SGSN
checks the MS subscription data, and determines that the MS is allowed to originate
a SMS. Now, SGSN forwards the SM to a SMS interworking MSC (SMS IWMSC).
SMS IWMSC passes the SM to the addressed SM-SC. After sending the SM, the SM
SC returns a Delivery Report to the SMS IWMSC indicating successful delivery of the
SM. SMS IWMSC returns a Forward Short Message Result message to the SGSN
indicating successful delivery of the SM. Then, the SGSN returns a Delivery Report
to the MS indicating successful delivery of the SM.
For short message service mobile terminated, the Short Message Service Center
(SM SC) determines, it has to send a SM to a MS. Therefore, the SM SC forwards
the SM to a SMS gateway MSC (SMS GMSC). The SMS GMSC examines the
destination MS address, and sends a Send Routing Info For Short Message to the
relevant HLR. The HLR returns with Send Routing Info For Short Message Result to
the SMS GMSC. The result may contain the MS's current SGSN Number, the MSC
Number, or both. If the result does not contain an SGSN Number (i.e., the HLR
knows that the MS is not reachable via an SGSN), and if the result does contain an
MSC Number, then non-GPRS SMS delivery procedures are followed. If the result
contains an SGSN Number, the SMS transfer proceeds according to the following
events. The SMS-GMSC forwards the SM to the SGSN. The SGSN transfers the SM
to the MS on the RP, CP, LLC layers, as defined in GSM 04.11 and GSM 04.64. After
successful delivery, the SGSN returns a Forward Short Message Result message to
the SMS GMSC indicating successful delivery of the SM. As a result, the SMSGMSC returns a Delivery Report to the SM SC indicating successful delivery of the
SM.
NOTE: SMS delivery via the SGSN is normally more radio resource efficient than
SMS delivery via the MSC/VLR. The preferred delivery path is selected by SMSGMSC operator-specific action.

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HLR
Gr
C
s
Msg Transfer

Forward SM

Message Transfer
Um
Gb

specified
by
operator

Gd

BSS

Fig. 3 Mobile-originated SMS transfer via GPRS

Gr
C

SRI for SM

HLR

s
Forward SM

Message Transfer

Msg Transfer

Um
Gb

specified
by
operator

Gd

BSS

MS

BSS

SGSN

SMS GMSC
SMS IWMSC

SM SC

Fig. 4 Mobile-terminated SMS transfer via GPRS

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Message Flows

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Mobile originated Short Message Transfer at Gb interface

The short message is transmitted by the LLC frame Unnumbered Information (UI)
with SAPI=7 towards the network. Within the UI frame the short message itself is
reflected by the TP-USERDATA of the SMS-SUBMIT message, which is the user
data of RP-DATA in a CP-DATA. The following addresses are contained:
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The Origination Address indicating the sending Mobile Station.

The TP-Destination Address indicating the Mobile Station to which the SM is sent.

The RP-Destination Address as the Service Center Address to which the message
is forwarded by the SGSN.

The SGSN sends a CP-Ack back to the MS indicating the successful receipt of the
CP-Data message.
After receiving a SMS-SUBMIT-REPORT from the SC, the SGSN sends this report to
the MS in a RP-Ack within a CP-Data. The SMS-SUBMIT-REPORT may contain the
SM in the TP-User Data.
In case of an error a SMS-SUBMIT REPORT for RP-Error is sent back to the MS in a
RP-Error contained in a CP-Data.
Finally a CP-Ack is sent from MS to SGSN.
NOTE: An active PDP Context is not affected or disturbed in any way by the SMSSubmission.

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Subscriber attached

MS

SM

SGSN

UI(CP-DATA(RP-DATA(SMS-SUBMIT(TP-USERDATA))))

to SC

UI(CP-ACK)
UI(CP-DATA(RP-ACK(SMS-SUBMIT-REPORT)))

from SC

UI(CP-ACK)

Fig. 5 MO-SMS at the Gb-interface

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The mobile originating short message service procedure is used to forward a

short message from a mobile subscriber to a Service Center.
When receiving the short message from the Gb-interface, the SGSN checks in its
subscriber database if the subscriber have SMS subscribed. If this check ends
successfully the SGSN transmits the short message towards the IW MSC by using
the MAP message MO_FORWARD_SHORT_MESSAGE. If this check ends
unsuccessfully, the SGSN sends to the MS an RP-ERROR.
In case of successful delivery of the SM to the Service Center, the acknowledge
message from the Service Center is forwarded to the mobile station. In case of an
operation failure in MAP, the RP_ERROR cause network out of order is forwarded
by the SGSN to the mobile station.
Remarks: The IWMSC-SC Interface is not defined by standards.

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MS

SMS IWMSC

SGSN

SM

MO_FORWARD_SM

SM SC

SM
SM ACK

MO_FORWARD_SM_ACK
SM ACK

Fig. 6 Mobile originating short message service

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The mobile terminated short message transfer procedure is used for forwarding a
short message or several short messages from a Service Center to a mobile
subscriber. The short message handling function of the SMS GMSC will request
routing information when a mobile terminated short message is received from a
Service Center. The GMSC sends the SEND_ROUTING_INFO_FOR_SM request to
the HLR containing the subscriber data of the mobile subscriber. As a result, the HLR
supports the SMS GMSC with the actual SGSN address for the mobile station.
When initiating the dialogue with the SGSN, the SMS Gateway MSC must provide
the IMSI of the subscriber to whom the short message is directed. The IMSI is
included in the MAP message MT_FORWARD_SHORT_MESSAGE. When receiving
the MT_FORWARD_SHORT_MESSAGE from the SMS GMSC, the SGSN requests
its subscriber database to find out where the subscriber have to be paged or if the
subscriber has an active context.
If forwarding of the short message to the MS is initiated, the SGSN awaits the result
before one of the following responses is sent back to the GMSC. This could be either
an acknowledge if the short message has been successfully delivered to the mobile
subscriber or an SM delivery failure error containing a parameter indicating the
error: e.g. there is a MS protocol error or the MS memory capacity is exceeded.

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MS

SGSN

SMS GMSC

HLR

SM SC
SM

SRI_FOR_SM
SRI_FOR_SM_ACK
MO_FORWARD_SM
PAGE PS
PAGE Resp.
SM
SM ACK
MO_FORWARD_SM_ACK
SM ACK

Fig. 7 Mobile terminating short message service

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The sending of a mobile terminated short message on the Gb-interface is submitted

by the network to the mobile station as unnumbered information frame (UI) containing
a CP-DATA, in which a RP-DATA is inserted. Within the RP-DATA the SMSDELIVER message is inside, containing the TP-USERDATA as the short message.
Included, there is the destination address for the receiving mobile station, the TP
Origination Address indicating the mobile station, which has sent the short message
and the RP Origination Address, which is the address of the service center (SC).
The CP-DATA is immediately acknowledged by the mobile station, sending a CPACK back to the SGSN.
As a positive confirmation to the delivery of the short message, the MS sends a SMSDELIVER-REPORT back to the SGSN in a RP-ACK contained in a CP-DATA. The
SMS-DELIVER-REPORT may contain the short message in the TP-USERDATA.In
case of an Error a SMS-DELIVER-REPORT inside a RP-ERROR is sent back to the
SGSN contained in a CP-DATA.
Finally a CP-ACK is sent from SGSN to MS.
NOTE: An active PDP context is not affected or disturbed in any way by the SMSSubmission.

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Subscriber attached

MS

SM

SGSN

UI(CP-DATA(RP-DATA(SMS-DELIVER(TP-USERDATA))))

from SC

UI(CP-ACK)
UI(CP-DATA(RP-ACK(SMS-DELIVER-REPORT)))

to SC

UI(CP-ACK)

Fig. 8 MT-SMS at the Gb-interface

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