MOBILITY MANAGEMENT ENTITY HAVING MOBILE SWITCHING CENTER FUNCTIONALITY

摘要

A Mobility Management Entity (MME) comprises at least one entity or layer having Mobile Switching Center (MSC) functionality to support a Short Messaging Service (SMS) between a network and a mobile station by employing Machine-to-Machine (M2M) or Machine Type Communication (MTC) protocols. A first state machine entity or layer that supports relay functions to perform forwarding of SMS messages to the mobile station. A second state machine entity or layer that supports connection functions with at least an HSS/HLR (Home Subscriber Server/Home Location Register), and with an SMS-SC (Short Messaging Service -Service Center) or GMSC/IWMSC (Gateway MSC/Interworking MSC).

主权项

1. A method of handling signals to register a Mobility Management Entity (MME) for Short Messaging Service (SMS) between a wireless network and a mobile station (MS), the wireless network including a Home Subscriber Server/Home Location Register (HSS/HLR), the method comprising:
receiving, at the MME having Mobile Switching Center (MSC) functionality supporting the SMS, request to enable location update from the MS; and sending, to the HSS/HLR from the MME, a Packet Switched (PS) and Circuit Switched (CS) combined location update request, which indicates the MME supports the SMS, over an interface between the MME and the HSS/HLR as part of a combined Tracking Area (TA) and Location Area (LA) update procedure.