System and method for providing information services to cellular roamers

• US 20020151305A1
• Filed: 03/14/2002
• Published: 10/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Richard J. Tett, Stephen L. Ward
• Original Assignee: Richard J. Tett, Stephen L. Ward
• Inventors: Ward, Stephen L., Tett, Richard J.
• Granted Patent: US 6,922,562 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/436
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/10 between location register and external networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/12 between location registers or mobility servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/184 Messaging devices, e.g. message centre
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/24 between backbone network devices

Abstract

A method for providing information services to a wireless device roaming in a wireless system is disclosed. Normal network message traffic information is obtained from a wireless system. The normal network message traffic information is transmitted to a protocol converter. In the protocol converter, roamer information is extracted from the normal network message traffic information and converted into a protocol analyzer format. A query is transmitted to a Mobile Switching Center requesting information regarding the wireless device'"'"'s serving cell or location. Information regarding the wireless device'"'"'s serving cell or location is received and combined with the converted roamer information to form a roamer trigger. The roamer trigger is transmitted to a protocol analyzer. In the protocol analyzer, specific information pieces regarding the wireless device are extracted. The extracted specific information pieces are transmitted to a data interpreter. In the data interpreter, the specific information pieces are translated into the format needed by a message selection function. The specific information pieces are transmitted to the selection and message delivery function. The message delivery function may then transmit messages, such as local travel information, to the wireless device.

Claims

1. A method for providing information services to a wireless device roaming in a wireless system, comprising the steps of:

receiving normal network message traffic information;

extracting roamer information from the normal network message traffic information; and

selecting a message to be transmitted to the wireless device based on the extracted roamer information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving normal network message traffic information comprises tapping a connection between a Visitors'"'"' Location Register and a Mobile Switching Center in the wireless system.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving normal network message traffic information comprises receiving a copy of messages transmitted between a Visitors'"'"' Location Register and a Mobile Switching Center.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving normal network message traffic information comprises obtaining the normal network message traffic information in messages received from a Visitors'"'"' Location Register and responses made to inquiries directed to a Mobile Switching Center and the Visitors'"'"' Location Register.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving normal network message traffic information comprises using an IS-41 monitoring device to monitor IS-41 traffic and extracting roamer information messages.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the extracted roamer information comprises an ESN, MIN 1, MIN 2, and an SID of the wireless device'"'"'s home network.

7. A method for providing information services to a wireless device roaming in a wireless system, comprising the steps of:

obtaining normal network message traffic information from the wireless system, and transmitting the normal network message traffic information to a protocol converter;

in the protocol converter, extracting roamer information from the normal network message traffic information, and

converting the roamer information into a protocol analyzer format;

transmitting a query to a Mobile Switching Center requesting information regarding the wireless device'"'"'s serving cell;

receiving information regarding the wireless device'"'"'s serving cell;

combining the information regarding the wireless device'"'"'s serving cell with the converted roamer information to form a roamer trigger;

transmitting the roamer trigger to a protocol analyzer;

in the protocol analyzer, extracting specific information pieces regarding the wireless device;

transmitting the extracted specific information pieces to a data interpreter;

in the data interpreter, translating the specific information pieces into format needed to determine a message to be sent to the wireless device; and

transmitting the specific information pieces to the message selection and delivery system.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of obtaining normal network message traffic information comprises tapping a connection between a Visitors'"'"' Location Register and a Mobile Switching Center in the wireless system.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of obtaining normal network message traffic information comprises receiving a copy of messages transmitted between a Visitors'"'"' Location Register and a Mobile Switching Center.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of obtaining normal network message traffic information comprises obtaining the normal network message traffic information in messages received from a Visitors'"'"' Location Register and responses made to inquiries directed to a Mobile Switching Center and the Visitors'"'"' Location Register.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of obtaining normal network message traffic information comprises using an IS-41 monitoring device to monitor IS-41 traffic and extracting roamer information messages.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the wireless device is a cellular telephone.

13. The method of claim 7 further comprising causing the system to choose a message to transmit to the wireless device based on the specific information pieces and transmitting the message to the wireless device.