Local subscriber number and services for non-local wireless subscribers

• US 20030064723A1
• Filed: 10/02/2001
• Published: 04/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Original Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Inventors: Thakker, Kaushal
• Granted Patent: US 6,907,242 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/06 Registration at serving network Location Register, VLR or user mobility server
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support

Abstract

Disclosed are systems and methods for providing local service to non-local subscribers in a telecommunications network. The systems and methods employ mapping of a subscriber IMSI with a unique local identifier for use by the local system for locally originating and terminating calls.

Claims

1. A method of providing local wireless telecommunication service to a non-local subscriber comprising the steps of:

a non-local operator requesting from a local operator a unique visitor identifier for the use by the non-local subscriber;

the local operator associating a unique visitor identifier with the non-local subscriber;

the non-local subscriber performing a location update with the local operator; and

the local operator providing local service to the non-local subscriber via the unique visitor identifier.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of assigning a unique visitor identifier further comprises assigning a Local MSISDN (LMSISDN).

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of the local operator using the LMSISDN as a global title for the non-local subscriber.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of mapping the unique visitor identifier to the IMSI of the non-local subscriber.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of a local Home Location Register (HLR) associating the non-local subscriber IMSI with the unique visitor identifier.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of a local Mobile Switching Center (MSC) using the unique visitor identifier for a local call originating from the non-local subscriber.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of a local Gateway MSC using the unique visitor identifier for a local call terminating with the non-local subscriber.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of a local MSC using the non-unique visitor identifier for a non-local call originating from the non-local subscriber.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of a local GMSC using the non-local MSISDN for a non-local call terminating with the non-local subscriber.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of dissociating the unique visitor identifier from the non-local subscriber.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of dissociating the unique visitor identifier from the non-local subscriber on the basis of elapsed time.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of dissociating the unique visitor identifier from the non-local subscriber on the basis of air-time minute count.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of providing local services to the non-local subscriber mirroring the non-local subscriber'"'"'s home services.

14. A system for providing local wireless telecommunications services to a non-local subscriber comprising:

a non-local network having a non-local home location register;

a local network having a local home location register;

means for providing a non-local subscriber with a unique visitor identifier in the local home location register; and

a local mobile switching center having means for distinguishing between a non-local subscriber entitled to local services and other non-local subscribers such that an authorized non-local subscriber is provided local wireless services via a unique visitor identifier.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the local and non-local networks comprise GSM networks.

16. The system of claim 14 further comprising means for mapping the unique visitor identifier to the IMSI of the non-local subscriber.

17. The system of claim 14 further comprising means for dissociating the unique visitor identifier from the non-local subscriber.

18. The system of claim 14 further comprising means for dissociating the unique visitor identifier from the non-local subscriber on the basis of elapsed time.

19. The system of claim 14 further comprising means for dissociating the unique visitor identifier from the non-local subscriber on the basis of air-time minute count.

20. A method of providing local GSM wireless telecommunication service to a non-local subscriber comprising the steps of:

a non-local GSM operator requesting from a local GSM operator a Local MSISDN for the use by the non-local subscriber;

the local operator associating a Local MSISDN with the non-local subscriber;

the non-local subscriber performing a location update with the local GSM operator; and

the local GSM operator providing local service to the non-local subscriber via the Local MSISDN.