Abstract - Using GIS to Provide the GSM VAS Service: Cell Broadcast Service (CBS)

Track: Telecommunications

Antonio Amodio
Italtel
Castelletto di Settimo Milanese
Via
Milan, 20019
ITALY

Telephone: 011-39-1-438-87053
Fax: 011-39-2-438-87464

Using GIS to Provide the GSM VAS Service: Cell Broadcast Service (CBS)

Defining Issue: A GSM mobile network can offer a lot of very interesting VAS services. A peculiar GSM VAS service category is "short messaging." This category consists of two VAS services: (1) short message service-cell broadcast or cell broadcast service (CBS) and (2) short message service - point to point (SMS). The network context of short messaging services is depicted by Figure 1, attached to the paper. The CBS service is analogous to the teletex service offered on TV. It permits broadcasting a number of unacknowledged general short messages to all receivers (MS) within a defined geographical area known as cell broadcast area (CBS area). The Network Context of CBS is depicted by Figure 2, attached to the paper. To manage geographical aspects of CBS can be very complicated, especially when the CBS area is huge: nationwide or worldwide areas. The Network architecture of worldwide CBS area is depicted by Figure 3 attached to the paper.GIS Solution: Italtel in agreement with CSELT and Esri-Italia has designed a PC/WK/Server application to allow mobile network operators to provide CBS service. The functional architecture of the above mentioned GIS-based application is depicted by Figure 4 attached to the paper. Time to market of this application is the end of 1997. However, Italtel is designing different GIS-based applications to provide all GSM VAS services. To begin Italtel is going to develop a GIS-based application to provide GSM VAS service "SMS."Methodology: The application mentioned above allows the information provider and Mobile Network Operator to manage the CBS area using ArcView/MapObjects/SDE capabilities. (1) Information Provider can specify the CBS area using the ArcView/MapObjects capabilities to access SDE. (2) Mobile Network Operator can do all operations about CBS area using SDE capabilities.Software: To be defined later.