Patent ID: 8184621

Claim:
In a short messaging communication system where multiple paths exist for routing a plurality of short messages, an apparatus for short message routing control and routing decision processing, the apparatus comprising: a memory unit for storing routing decision information used in determining one or more routing decisions for one or more short messages; and a routing decision control entity coupled to the memory unit and configured to retrieve the stored routing decision information or use in determining the routing decision of the one or more short messages by first determining when multiple IP connections in an IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) domain are activated, wherein when multiple IP connections in the IMS domain are activated: determining a priority of routes within the IMS domain, and a policy for selecting another of the multiple IP connections upon failing to send the one or more short messages via a first IP connection from the multiple IP connections, otherwise, routing the one or more short messages to a circuit switched (CS) domain upon failing to send the one or more short messages in the IMS domain.