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).