Decode USSD request

Decode USSD request SearchSearch
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KKW
New member
Username: Kkw

Post Number: 15
Registered: 01-2009
Posted on Tuesday, June 02, 2009 - 11:27 am:   

we connected mobile operator via SMPP to receive USSD request from our user and pass to our application by 2-way sms, however the message received by the application become ????, any idea how to decode the USSD request ? smppdebug log and network capture attached.

thx
kk
application/octet-streamsmpp capture for ussd request
CMP-USSD-20090602-1810.cap (5.1 k)
application/octet-streamussd quest smppdebug log
CMP-USSD-SMPPDEBUG-20090602-1810.LOG (5.7 k)
Des - NowSMS Support
Board Administrator
Username: Desosms

Post Number: 883
Registered: 08-2008
Posted on Tuesday, June 02, 2009 - 03:43 pm:   

Hi kk,

I think NowSMS is getting confused by the data_coding value in the message.

The value that you're receiving (0x0F) is actually a reserved value. However, when NowSMS parses it, it is ignoring the reserved bit, and decides that the Unicode bit is set. That's what is causing the message to be interpreted incorrectly.

Technically, any message with a reserved value should be interpreted as text. So NowSMS is wrong to be trying to decode it as Unicode.

I'm going to have to refer this back to engineering to get a fix.

--
Des
NowSMS Support
Des - NowSMS Support
Board Administrator
Username: Desosms

Post Number: 888
Registered: 08-2008
Posted on Tuesday, June 02, 2009 - 07:42 pm:   

Hi kk,

I wanted to give you a follow-up. Engineering agrees with my diagnosis, we've just got to make and test a change to treat messages with the reserved bits set as text messages instead of binary or Unicode. We should have a patch for you in about 24-36 hours. I'll post a reply here when it is ready.

--
Des
NowSMS Support
Darius
New member
Username: Darius

Post Number: 7
Registered: 05-2009
Posted on Wednesday, June 03, 2009 - 10:53 am:   

Hi Des,

I am looking for solution, how to emulate USSD Gateway, as I am running demo USSD short codes - based application.

Please let me know what is a way to have your NowSMS app to act as USSD Gateway , to let me integrate USSD Gateway with SMS Gateway and MySQL Database Sedrver.
Darius
New member
Username: Darius

Post Number: 8
Registered: 05-2009
Posted on Wednesday, June 03, 2009 - 11:01 am:   

Hi Kkw,

in the meantime I read more about SMPP Protocol from
Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Short_message_peer-to-peer_protocol

Could you kindly let me know how to start tests of USSD based application (one sending short codes and receiving reponses) ?
Ok.
I wrote basic Linux shell script to send short codes for balance check and more,
and I can receive USSD Gateway menu responses.

The issue is I want to set up USSD Gateway for tests, on my own and have it connected to MySQL Database running server.

What I see, your approach is to have USSD reponse replaced by 2-way SMS service.

I plan to test mobile banking application with
USSD menu interface.
Des - NowSMS Support
Board Administrator
Username: Desosms

Post Number: 889
Registered: 08-2008
Posted on Thursday, June 04, 2009 - 03:28 pm:   

Hi kk,

It took a little longer than I thought it would.

But I've posted an update at http://www.nowsms.com/download/nowsms20090604.zip. This update treats data_coding value 0x0F (or any other value that has the reserved bits set) as a text encoded message.

--
Des
NowSMS Support
KKW
New member
Username: Kkw

Post Number: 16
Registered: 01-2009
Posted on Friday, June 05, 2009 - 04:48 am:   

Hi Des,

just download the update, will test and let u know.

thx a lot for yr help
KKW
New member
Username: Kkw

Post Number: 17
Registered: 01-2009
Posted on Friday, June 05, 2009 - 04:51 am:   

Hi Darius,

if u need to setup ussd gatway first u need to connect to mobile operator and get a dedicate ussd prefix assigned to u

kk
KKW
New member
Username: Kkw

Post Number: 18
Registered: 01-2009
Posted on Friday, June 05, 2009 - 05:13 am:   

Hi Des,

seems still problem, attached pls found the log for yr ref.

thx
kk
application/octet-stream
nowsms20090604-test-SMPPDEBUG.LOG (1.1 k)
application/octet-stream
nowsms20090604-test-SMSDEBUG.LOG (0.3 k)
application/octet-stream
nowsms20090604-test-SMSIN-20090605.LOG (0.1 k)
Des - NowSMS Support
Board Administrator
Username: Desosms

Post Number: 902
Registered: 08-2008
Posted on Friday, June 05, 2009 - 04:08 pm:   

Hi kk,

Oops ... sorry ... I forgot to update one of the DLLs when building the install. An updated SMSSMPP.DLL was supposed to be included in the install, but it looks like the install I uploaded only includes a 2009.03.20 version.

I've updated the previous link (http://www.nowsms.com/download/nowsms20090604.zip) with the proper version. You might need to clear your browser cache to re-download the correct version. (When you download the ZIP, the installer EXE should now have a 2009-06-05 date on it, but all of the version info in the software says 2009.06.04.)

--
Des
NowSMS Support
KKW
New member
Username: Kkw

Post Number: 19
Registered: 01-2009
Posted on Saturday, June 06, 2009 - 04:53 am:   

Hi Des,

tested still problem, already double confirm the installer is dated 5-Jun-2009 size 7,943,974 bytes

kk
application/octet-stream
CMP-USSD-SMPPDEBUG-20090606-1140.LOG (2.0 k)
application/octet-stream
CMP-USSD-SMSDEBUG-20090606-1140.LOG (0.9 k)
Darius
New member
Username: Darius

Post Number: 10
Registered: 05-2009
Posted on Saturday, June 06, 2009 - 11:34 pm:   

Hi kk,

I just need to test USSD menus.
What prefix do you mean and how to get connected for USSD Gateway as add-on service provider ?
Are you aware of any USSD emulation application,
generating and opening interactive USSD menus on LCD of cell phone ?

I am afraid, we live in last days of old USSD system, as more and more USIM and RAM applications
come to market, which replace USSD on-line interaction.

Mobile banking, balance check employs real applications.


---
Hi Darius,

if u need to setup ussd gatway first u need to connect to mobile operator and get a dedicate ussd prefix assigned to u

kk
Des - NowSMS Support
Board Administrator
Username: Desosms

Post Number: 915
Registered: 08-2008
Posted on Monday, June 08, 2009 - 05:13 pm:   

Sorry kk ...

This time I tested with a real message having those attributes, so I could see the problem for myself.

There are multiple places that we test this value, and one of these tests was still treating that value as a Unicode DCS.

Here's another update. This one worked with my test message, whereas the earlier update did not:

http://www.nowsms.com/download/nowsms20090608.zip

--
Des
NowSMS Support
KKW
New member
Username: Kkw

Post Number: 20
Registered: 01-2009
Posted on Tuesday, June 09, 2009 - 11:14 am:   

hi des,

tested ok, thx a lot for yr help.

kk