The evolution of Short Message Service (SMS) from the Circuit Switched domain to the Packet Switched domain has added to network complexity, increasing the challenges of managing network reliability and performance. With the dsTest® SMS application, UMTS and LTE network equipment manufacturers and service providers are able to reduce time to market of new services while ensuring that the quality and performance requirements are not compromised.
A rich set of operational measurements is collected at specified intervals and stored in an SQLite database on the dsTest server. Real-time measurements may be retrieved through the command interface or sampled during an automated test.
Implementation
The dsTest suite of interfaces can be combined to test SMS applications in a variety of configurations. Three major network types are supported:
- UMTS Networks;
- Circuit Switched Fallback (CSFB) in Evolved Packet System (EPS);
- Generic IP Connectivity Access Networks (IP-CAN).
Our emulators and simulator applications support all of the Mobile Application, Diameter, BSSAP+ and SGs procedures necessary to implement SMS in any of the supported configurations.
- Routing Information Retrieval
- Message Forwarding
- Delivery and UE Status Reporting
- Subscriber Location Tracking
- Failure Recovery
The scenarios depicted below represent just a small sample of the capabilities of the system. Additional interface points and/or network elements can be developed upon request. dsTest is very flexible and can easily be extended to accommodate almost any testing need.
Network Element Emulation
In addition to providing full network interface implementation, dsTest emulators often incorporate the functionality of more than one ne-work element, similar to a deployed network.
- The SMS-GMSC Emulator includes the functionality of an Interworking Mobile Services Switching Center (IWMSC) and an SMS Service Center (SC)
- The VLR Emulator includes the functionality of a Message Service Center (MSC)
In any of our emulators you can execute timed chains of test events to initiate procedures with a run-time command or during an automated test. Emulators that generate subscriber-initiated traffic do so at the rate you specify, allowing you to shape the load targeted for the device under test.
One dsTest server can emulate up to 1000 connections across multiple support nodes, enabling you to simulate mobility and ensure that subscriber repositories retain accurate location and routing information.
SMS in UMTS Networks
Test Mobile Originated (SM MO) and Mobile Terminated (SM MT) processing in a 3G network. Service Center (SC) to Mobile Station (MS) upper layer testing is supported. Emulated interfaces are compliant with 3GPP TS 23.040.
- Gd interface – SMS-GMSC to SGSN used to deliver MT short messages
- Gr interface – SGSN to HLR
- Gs interface – SGSN to MSC/VLR
- C interface – SMS-GMSC/SMC-IWMSC to HLR
- E interface -SMS-GMSC to MSC
Circuit-Switched Fall Back (CSFB) SMS in Evolved Packet System
Test SM MO and SM MT procedures in a 4G network as defined by 3GPP TS 23.272 and TS 29.118.
- SGs interface – based on Gs and used for mobility management and paging procedures between EPS and CS domain and to deliver MO and MT short messages
- Add the Gs interface to support 4G SGSN testing or MME-SGSN mobility
- S6 interfaces – MME to HSS (S6a) and SGSN to HSS (S6d) for subscriber data and routing services
- CSFB-enabled MME and MSC/VLR functionality supported
SMS in Generic IP Connectivity Access Networks
Support capability of sending traditional short messages over IMS network as defined by 3GPP TS 23.204 and TS 24.341.
- Gd interface – IP-Short Message-Gateway (IP-SM-GW) to the SMS-GMSC, appearing to the SMS-GMSC as an SGSN
- C interface – SMS-GMSC/SMC-IWMSC to HSS
- Sh and J interfaces – between the IP-SM-GW and the HSS
- E interface – IP-SM-GW to the SMS-GMSC, appearing to the SMS-GMSC as an MSC
- Cx interface – between the I-CSCF/S-CSCF (IMS Core) and the HSS
Read more about our dsTest Emulators.