Short Message Service Center (SMSC) is the central text messaging server in the telecommunication network which provides usually the functions such as Storing, transferring and resending short text messages, Monitoring junk short messages, Virtual SC functions and provides a unified access platform for various ESME. SMSC server are expensive and are usually owned by Telecommunication Operator and/or Mobile Operator. Text messaging has become very popular and this article describes SMSC server in terms of where it is located within the core telecommunication network, SMSC hardware architecture and SMSC software architecture. Mobile marketing, sending text message to staffs by companies are some of the best used example of SMS uses. Any company/organization may be given private SMS short code which they can use for their own business such as sending text message to its employees, or using it for color tunes(CRBT) or marketing products/services through mobile (mobile marketing). The company which want this SMS feature has to apply for short code to the Telecommunication/Mobile Operator, and after it is approved the Company is given short code. The SMS short code is used for interconnection between Telecommunication/ Mobile Operator SMSC server and the Company's server. This is explained in details below.
To understand how SMSC works, one needs to understand where it is located in PLMN. The figure below illustrates this:

Fig: Short Message Service Center (SMSC)
Where:
BSS:Â Base Station Sub-System
MSC:Â Mobile services Switching Center
VLR : Visitor Location Register
HLR : Home Location Register
OMC : Operation and Maintenance Center
SGSN:Â Serving GPRS Support Note
GGSN:Â Gateway GPRS Support Note
AUC : Authentication Centre
EIR:Â Equipment Identification Register
PSPDN:Â Public Switched Data Network
PLMN:Â Public Land and Mobile Network
The SM-SC (Short Message Center) exists as an independent network element in PLMN, and occupies one signaling point in the SS7 network. In PLMN, it is connected to MSC, HLR, and SGSN via the SS7 network as shown in above picture.
The SMSC is mostly integrated with the IW/GMSC, that is, it has the functions of IW/GMSC to connect the SC with PLMN. Here, the GMSC receives short messages from the SMSC, requests routing information from the HLR, and forwards the short messages to the VMSC/SGSN of the mobile stations, while IWMSC receives short messages from PLMN and sends them to the receiving SMSC.
The functions of short message gateway are located inside the SC entity to connect PLMN via the standard MAP signaling
Architecture of single SMSC
A single SMSC usually consists of two major parts: SC and the External Short Message Entity (ESME). The former integrates both IW/GMSC and the short message service processing center with an internal interface in between. Between ESME and SC, the SMPP protocol interface is adopted. Standard SS7 links are employed for communications between the SC and the PLMN using a standard service interface in compliance with MAP protocol standards. The structure of the system is shown in the figure below:

Fig: SMSC Architecture
The SC comprises the service processing module, the Operation & Maintenance Module (OMM), the Billing Module (BM), SMPP agent module (SMEA module), junk short message monitoring module, and short message query module. Multi-level modularized design is adopted inside each of the modules. Short message entities (SMEs) are value added service platforms like the information station, manual station and automatic station.
Hardware Architecture

Fig: SMSC Hardware Architecture
The SC consists of the IW/GMSC, service processing module, OMM, BM, SMEA, junk short message monitoring module and short query module. Each module inside adopts multi-level modularized design. Various components are connected via the Fast Ethernet (FE) and communicate through TCP/IP. Dual networks are used to ensure the reliability of connections.
The functional structure of these modules is described briefly as follows:
1.   IW/GMSC module
Comprised of one or multiple modules to process the SS7 signaling, it is the interface between the SC and such functional entities as HLR/AUC, MSC/VLR and SGSN. The hardware is based on the ZXJ10 switching platform and the number of modules can be configured flexibly according to practical requirements.
2.   Service processing module
The service processing module is comprised of one or multiple service processing sub-modules in the mode of multi-module load sharing. Each module adopts the structure of dual-system server plus disk array as well as the Cluster technology to enhance the reliability of the system.
The service processing module is the short message service processing center. It is responsible for receiving the short messages submitted by SME and MS, storing and forwarding short messages, and attempting to forward again the short messages failed in forwarding. A high-performance industrial server is used. This module exchanges information with other network functional entities through the IW/GMSC.
The service processing module consists of the service processing server and the database system.
3.   Database module
To gain higher short message processing capability, the DB module can be separated from the service processing module so that an independent service DB module can be used to conduct operations such as storage and query of short messages.
4.   O&M module
The operation and maintenance module consists of OMM Server, and the Agent station and the maintenance station connected to the OMM server. The Agent station and the maintenance station provide the man-machine operation platform. Operators can find out the running state of the system, detect and remove faults via the maintenance console, and manage users via the Agent. In addition, the operator can also implement remote services handling, operation and maintenance via routers.
5.   SMPP Agent module
The SMPP Agent module provides the standard external SMPP protocol interface for the SC and implements the function of conversion between internal messages and standard messages. Each ESME accesses the SC just via this module.
6.   Charging module
The billing module is responsible for generating short message charging bills. For facilitating the charging settlement by operators, the SMSC system will generate three kinds of bills, that is, MO, MT and ACK bills.
The BM adopts Cluster technology and shared disk array mode, is connected to the SC via DDN/X.25 network, and complies with FTP/FTAM protocol.
7.   Junk SM monitoring module
The junk SM monitoring module is designed in client/server structure to separate its monitoring and management functions. The server monitors and collects the suspected short messages, while the client provides the function for the system administrator to query, analyze and handle the suspected short messages and suspected subscribers, thus implementing the centralized monitoring of multiple SCs.
The rack-mounted universal server is used as server of the junk SM monitoring module, which consists of the analysis agent module and the management server module.
8.   SM query module
The SM query module is designed in a client/server structure. The server receives the SMSC-originated short messages and sets up index information for them. Also, as the module to process query requests from the client, the server searches the short message index database for short message flags of calling and called subscribers and further for the detailed information of short messages.
The rack-mounted universal server and disk array equipment are used for the server of the SM query module.
Software Architecture of SMSC

Fig: SMSC Software Architecture
Functions of these modules are described as follows:
1.   Operation support module
The operation support module, located in the real time operating system, provides the development platform and the unified operation interface for the upper layer service so that the upper layer need not care about the specific structure of the lower layer hardware platform and the operating system.
2.   SS7 module
For receiving and transmitting SS7 signaling, the SS7 module (that is, the IW/GMSC part) exchanges information with the service processing module, supports OMM, and provides the SMSC system with the signaling transfer function.
3.   SMPP access module
The SMPP Agent module is responsible for the communication between the SC and ESMEs, converts SMPP standard messages into internal messages and vice versa, provides open interfaces for ESMEs to access the SC system, and provides TCP/IP based and X.25 based access modes.
4.   Database module
The database module in the IW/GMSC is for loading and accessing the system configuration information in the SMSC system.
The database module in the service processing module stores basic subscriber information, subscriber service information, short message information and SC configuration information in the system, providing the data management function and the loading of various configuration information.
The SMSC system adopts the memory database technology that greatly reduces the times of operating the physical database and immensely improves the processing capability of the system.
5.   Service processing module
The service processing module is the core component of the whole SMSC system. It is for MAP access processing, SMPP access processing, and short message service processing.
MAP access is used to exchange signaling between the SC and the GSM network, providing a short message receiving and transmitting channel for MSs.
SMPP access is used to connect ESMEs and SC, providing manual and auto stations with a channel for receiving and transmitting short messages.
Short message service processing refers to such functions as receiving, storing, forwarding short messages and repeated attempts to forward short messages.
6.   O&M module
The SMSC system provides such operation and maintenance functions as subscriber data management, short message data management, system configuration, system monitoring, authority management, fault management, diagnosis test, subscriber equipment tracing, signaling tracing, security management, file management, clock management, service observation, version management, operation log and performance statistics. It also provides an interface with the Operation and Maintenance Center (OMC) for the whole GSM network system.
7.   Junk SM monitoring module
To prevent some mobile subscribers from sending illegal advertising short messages and spreading retroactive information via the short message service system, the junk SM monitoring module monitors the frequency and keywords of mobile short messages. It provides the function of adding the suspected subscribers in the blacklist, so that they are restricted from sending short messages.
8.   SM query module
As a complement to the short message probe module, the SM query module provides new functions such as querying and deleting short messages according to calling subscribers and called subscribers, based on the original function of querying the destination subscriber information.