External Short Messaging Entity Explained

An External Short Messaging Entity (ESME) is a type of entity that allows for the exchange of short messages between two external applications.

ESMEs are used in various industries, including healthcare and finance, where secure and reliable messaging is crucial.

The key benefit of ESMEs is that they enable the exchange of short messages between external applications without requiring them to be integrated into a single system.

ESME, or External Short Messaging Entity, is a communication system that enables the exchange of short text messages between entities.

It's used for two-way messaging services, such as SMS, MMS, and instant messaging.

Businesses, governments, and individuals use ESMEs to communicate with customers, employees, or each other.

The use of ESMEs has become increasingly popular due to the widespread use of mobile devices.

Mobile devices have made it possible for people to communicate quickly and efficiently, no matter where they are.

An ESME is a server that communicates with other entities, such as mobile devices, using messaging protocols like SMS or MMS.

It processes messages and routes them to their destination, often through a Short Message Service Center (SMSC).

In the case of MMS, the ESME converts multimedia content into a format like JPEG, GIF, or MP3 that can be delivered to the recipient's device.

ESMEs are designed to be highly scalable and can handle a large volume of messages.

They provide a reliable and secure messaging service, equipped with features like message queuing, routing, and delivery receipts.

These features ensure that messages are delivered in a timely and efficient manner, even during periods of high demand.

ESMEs use messaging protocols like SMPP to communicate with SMSCs and other entities.

They can bind for receiving, transmitting, or both services from the SMSC, depending on the SMPP version used.

In a master-slave relation, SMSC provides services to ESME, which uses these services to store and forward messages.

ESME can also send messages to multiple destinations, which are handled by the SMSC.

The SMPP protocol is designed to connect a small end of the SMS network (ESME) to the entire SMS network through the SMSC.

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In business, ESMEs play a vital role in communication and customer engagement. Companies use ESMEs to send marketing messages, alerts, notifications, and customer service messages to their customers, reaching a large audience in a short amount of time at a low cost.

ESMEs can be integrated into other business systems, such as customer relationship management (CRM) systems, to automate the process of sending messages, saving companies time and resources while improving the efficiency and effectiveness of their communication efforts.

Banks use ESMEs to send alerts to customers about their account balances, transactions, and security notifications, helping to keep customers informed and prevent fraud.

ESMEs are also used in the healthcare industry to send appointment reminders, test results, and other important messages to patients, improving patient engagement and satisfaction while reducing the administrative burden on healthcare providers.

Government agencies use ESMEs to send important notifications and alerts to citizens, such as emergency alerts, weather warnings, and traffic updates, keeping citizens informed and prepared while improving public safety.

By using ESMEs, companies can provide a reliable and secure messaging service, equipped with features such as message queuing, routing, and delivery receipts, ensuring that messages are delivered in a timely and efficient manner, even during periods of high demand.

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The relationship between SMSC and ESME is a crucial aspect of how ESMEs function. SMSC stands for Short Message Service Center, and it's the core of the SMS network.

SMSC is responsible for storing and forwarding messages, while ESME is a termination point of the SMS network. ESMEs are designed to connect to SMSC using protocols like TCP/IP, X.25, or SMPP.

In a master-slave relationship, SMSC provides services to ESME, which uses these services to send and receive messages. ESME doesn't have the function of storing and forwarding messages, unlike SMSC.

SMPP protocol is designed to connect the small end of the SMS network (ESME) to the entire SMS network (SMSC). ESME submits MTs (messages) to SMSC, while SMSC delivers MOs (messages) to ESME.

SMSC uses a unique short code to identify ESMEs, and it has a list of all ESME addresses and active connections. When a message is sent to a short code, SMSC decodes it and routes it to the correct ESME using the SMPP server.

Communication between SMSC and ESME can be on either SMPP or HTTP, depending on the service agreement.

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SMSC routing for ESME is a critical process that determines how messages are delivered to the intended recipient. SMSC stands for Short Message Service Center, which acts as the core of the SMS network.

During the service agreement between ESME and the service provider, a unique short code is allocated to the ESME. This short code is used to identify the ESME and route messages to it.

The SMSC decodes the message according to the GSM 3.4 spec and then checks the destination address. If the destination address is a short code, the SMSC routes the message to the SMPP server part of the SMSC.

The SMPP server then selects the ESME-SMPP server connection object based on the destination address and encodes the message according to the SMPP protocol. The encoded message is then forwarded to the ESME.

Communication between SMSC and ESME can be done using either SMPP or HTTP. If SMPP is used, the SMPP server pushes MOs to the ESME on the SMPP connection, and the ESME pushes MTs on the same connection in reverse.

A unique short code is allocated to each ESME during the service agreement with the service provider. This short code is used to identify the ESME and route messages to it.

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Error Handling is crucial when dealing with External Short Messaging Entities. Select the checkbox to specify error codes from your vendor that prevent SMS messages from being resent.

To do this, you'll need to specify the error codes in a hexadecimal format. This can be a simple code like 58, or a more complex one like 00000058, or even 0x58.

In my experience, it's essential to get this right, as incorrect error codes can lead to further issues.

To address an External Short Message Entity (ESME), you'll need to specify a single address or a range of addresses using UNIX regular expression format. This is done by selecting the checkbox for the Address range attribute.

To specify a single address, simply select the checkbox for the Address range attribute. You can then enter the single ESME address in the specified format.

The Source address NPI is also an important consideration when addressing an ESME. You'll need to select the checkbox and then choose the NPI (numbering plan indicator) for the SME (Short Message Entity) address where the message originated from. Here are the available NPI indicators:

When specifying an address range, you have the option to select a single External Short Message Entity (ESME) address or a range of ESME addresses.

This can be done via a UNIX regular expression format, which is a powerful tool for matching patterns in text.

Selecting a checkbox is necessary to apply this attribute to a connection.

This allows for more flexibility in managing ESME addresses, making it easier to handle multiple addresses at once.

The Source Address TON is an optional attribute that allows you to specify the type of number for the source address of the SME. This parameter is not always required by SMSCs, so it's essential to check if it's mandatory in your specific case.

You can choose from several types of numbers, including ISDN, Data, Telex, National, Private, ERMES, Internet, and WAP Client ID. Each of these types has its own specific use case, so it's crucial to select the correct one for your message.

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The type of number you select will depend on the source of the message. For example, if the message originated from an ISDN line, you would select ISDN as the TON. If the message came from the internet, you would select Internet as the TON.

Here are the types of numbers you can choose from:

When setting up an External Short Messaging Entity (ESME), it's essential to understand the transport protocols involved.

The transport protocol determines how messages are delivered to the recipient. You can choose from SIP and SMPP protocols.

To deliver messages to both on-net and off-net recipients, SIP is the way to go. It's the default protocol specified in most cases.

For off-net message delivery only, you can opt for SMPP, which is a suitable choice for such scenarios.

Here's a brief summary of the available transport protocols:

Receipts and Notifications are crucial for ensuring that messages are successfully delivered to their intended recipients.

You can set up send receipts, which are acknowledgements that the network node has received the short message from the application by Services Gatekeeper. These receipts are returned synchronously in the response message to the sendBinarySms operation.

Delivery receipts, on the other hand, can be set up using the sendBinarySms operation, but the actual asynchronous delivery of receipts is accomplished using the Parlay X 2.1 Short Messaging interface.

Registered delivery is another option, where you can specify the NPI (numbering plan indicator) for the SME (Short Message Entity) address where the message originated from.

Here are the possible values for NPI:

Connection and Event Management is a crucial aspect of the External Short Messaging Entity. The EWS Binary SMS/SMPP communication service generates Event Data Records (EDRs) and Charging Data Records (CDRs) to assist system administrators and developers in monitoring the service.

The Extended Web Services Binary SMS/SMPP communication service generates EDRs for various events, including sending binary SMS, starting binary SMS notification, and stopping binary SMS notification. These events are listed in Table 22-1, which includes EDR IDs and the corresponding methods called.

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Here are the EDR IDs and methods called:

The SMPP Server Service also generates EDRs, which can be found in Table 26-2. Connection handling and provisioning for the EWS Binary SMS/SMPP communication service is managed by the Services Gatekeeper SMPP Server Service, which establishes and manages southbound connections between Services Gatekeeper and Short Message Service Centers (SMSCs).

The reconnect interval is a crucial setting for your SMPP connection. You can specify it by selecting a checkbox, which will determine the time it takes for your connection to attempt to reconnect in case of a failure.

This reconnect interval setting is especially important for outgoing SMPP connections. If your connection fails, you'll want to set a reasonable interval for it to try and reconnect, so you don't miss any important messages.

The type of External Short Message Entity (ESME) system is also relevant when setting the reconnect interval. By selecting the type of ESME system, you're essentially telling the SMSC what kind of system is binding to it and requesting receiver binding.

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Connection handling is a crucial aspect of managing connections and events. The EWS Binary SMS/SMPP communication service relies on the Services Gatekeeper SMPP Server Service to establish and manage southbound connections between Services Gatekeeper and Short Message Service Centers (SMSCs).

The SMPP Server Service is deployed as an Oracle WebLogic Server Service. It provides services for the Parlay X 2.1 Short Messaging and Native SMPP plug-ins, as well as for EWS Binary SMS/SMPP.

The client connection ID is created on a successful bind with the SMSC, and it changes on a successful rebind. For more information on configuration options, see the "System Properties for SMPP Server Service" and "Reference: Attributes and Operations for SMPP Server Service" sections.

Multiple connections and multiple plug-in instances can be managed using the SMPP Server Service. Windowing and load balancing/high availability are also supported.

Here are some key points to consider when managing connections:

The reconnect interval can be specified in case of a connection failure. This allows the system to automatically reconnect to the SMSC after a specified interval.

Event Data is crucial for understanding how the EWS Binary SMS/SMPP communication service operates. It generates Event Data Records (EDRs) that provide valuable insights into system performance.

EDRs are created for various events, such as sending binary SMS messages. Specifically, EDRs are generated for the following events: sending binary SMS messages (EDRID 7101), starting binary SMS notifications (EDRID 7201), stopping binary SMS notifications (EDRID 7202), notifying binary SMS delivery receipts (EDRID 7204), and notifying binary SMS receptions (EDRID 7205).

Here are the EDR IDs and corresponding events in a concise table:

For a complete list of EDRs generated by the SMPP Server Service, refer to Table 26-2 in Appendix A.

Statistics play a crucial role in monitoring the External Short Messaging Entity (ESME) service. This information helps system administrators and developers identify potential issues and optimize the service for better performance.

The ESME service generates various records, including Event Data Records (EDRs) and Charging Data Records (CDRs), which provide valuable insights into the service's activity. These records are essential for understanding how the service is being used.

Table 22-2 is a helpful reference for mapping methods invoked by the application or network to the corresponding transaction types collected by the Services Gatekeeper statistics counters. This information is crucial for identifying specific transactions and understanding how they affect the service.

The table shows that the sendBinarySMS method is associated with the TRANSACTION_TYPE_MESSAGING_SEND transaction type, while the receivedMobileOriginatedBinarySMS method is associated with the TRANSACTION_TYPE_MESSAGING_RECEIVE transaction type. These associations are essential for monitoring the service's activity and identifying potential issues.

Here's a summary of the transaction types and methods:

This information is essential for understanding how the ESME service is being used and for identifying potential issues that may affect its performance.

Managing EWS Binary SMS/SMPP is a breeze, thanks to its identical properties, workflow, and management operations to the Parlay X 2.1 Short Messaging/SMPP communication service.

You can manage both services using the same properties, which include configuration workflow, tunneled parameters, and management operations in the SMPP server service.

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The configuration workflow for both services is the same, making it easy to set up and manage your EWS Binary SMS/SMPP communication service.

You can access the properties for both services, including attributes and operations, in the Reference section.

Here's a summary of the management operations for EWS Binary SMS/SMPP:

The Reference section provides detailed information on attributes and operations for both services, including tunneled parameters for Parlay X 2.1 Short Messaging/SMPP.