Method for implementing mobile number portability

• US 20030181206A1
• Filed: 12/17/2002
• Published: 09/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (Huawei Investment & Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (Huawei Investment & Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Luo, Jian, Zhang, Zhijun, Zhou, Yabin
• Granted Patent: US 7,082,307 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/432.3
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/28 Number portability ; Network address portability

Abstract

A scheme is provided for realizing Mobile Number Portability (MNP) by utilizing a signaling flow of prior mobile network standards such that no modification to the main apparatuses, such as VMSC, GMSC, and HLR, and the like, of the prior networks is required; only a NPDB+ apparatus is required and added, that is, a combination of NPDB and NPHLR. A user of Number portability from an original or home network to a second or other network will be a user of Number Portability out (NP out) among the users of the second network. The number section of the user belongs in the network, and it is able to assign a virtual roaming number to identify the situation of Number Portability (NP) of the user. A user of Number Portability from the second network to the home network is a user of Number Portability in (NP in) among the users of the home network. The NPDB+ apparatus is newly built to store the data of MNP mobile users who enter the home network and to accomplish the associated functions without any modification to the structure of the network. The distribution technology is used for storing the data of the NPDB+. The database is of high reliability such that the circuitous voice circuits do not existed, and the metering between the networks is easy. The newly added apparatus NPDB+ is superimposed on the prior networks, when there are less users during an early period, and only small amount of construction is required. The expansion of the capacity of the networks can be completed by adding portions of an apparatus based on the development condition of MNP services. The expansiveness of the networks is excellent, particularly, it is suitable for the mobile operating agents who have very large scale prior networks.

Claims

1. A method of carrying a Directory Number of a home network to a second network, comprising the steps of:

calling a user by a caller of the home network, a Directory Number of the home network of the user being carried to the second network;

routing the call to VMSCA;

transmitting a SRI REQ message for retrieving a roaming number by the VMSCA to HLR of the user, the Directory Number of the home network of the user being carried to the second network;

transmitting a PRN REQ message to GMSCA by the HLR of the user, the Directory Number of the home network of the user being carried to the second network;

determining the received PRN RFQ message by the GMSCA to trigger an intelligent service to NPDB+;

deciding the user, of whom the Directory Number of the home network is carried to the second network, by the NPDB+, to determine whether the user is really a user, of whom the home network Directory Number being carried to the second network, or not, if the decision is Yes, then a virtual roaming number is assigned, and returned back to the GMSCA in a CONNECT message;

if the decision is No, then an error code is returned back to the GMSCA;

returning the virtual roaming number to the HLR by the GMSCA in a PRN RSP message;

returning the virtual roaming number to the GMSCA by the HLR in a SRI ACK message;

analyzing the virtual roaming number by the VMSCA, and routing the call to a prior gateway MSCB of the home network;

routing the call to a gateway MSCC by the gateway MSCB based on a routed number; and

determining a current subscribed network by the home network for the user, of whom the home networks Directory Number is carried to the second network.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the caller of the home network is a mobile user of the home network, and the caller performs an operation of retrieving a roaming number for a NP out user at a caller terminal center.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the caller of the home network is a fixed user of the home network, and the caller performs an operation of retrieving a roaming number for a NP out user at the gateway of the home network.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the virtual roaming number is in a form of RN+MSISDN.

5. A method of carrying a Directory Number of a second network to a home network, comprises the steps of:

calling a user by a caller of the home network, a Directory Number of the second network being carried to the home network;

transmitting a SRI REQ message for retrieving a roaming number by the VMSCA to NPDB+ for all of the users of the second network;

routing the call by BMSCA;

transmitting a SRI RFQ message of retrieving a roaming number by the GMSCA to the NPDB+ for the user of the second network;

relaying the message to an internal NPHLR function module via an internal interface, after the NPDB+ receiving the SRI REQ message;

transmitting the operation of retrieving the roaming number by the internal NPHLR function module to VMSC of the home network, and returning a result of the operation back to the GMSCA by a normal SRI ACK message; and

routing the call to VMSCB/GMSCB by the GMSCA based on the returned roaming number/routing number.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein after the NPHLR function module transmits the PRN REQ operation for retrieving a roaming number to BMSC of the home network, the method further comprises the steps of:

indicating that the user is a user of whom the Directory Number of the home network is carried to the second network, if the operation is assertive; and

indicating that the user is a user of the second network if the operation is unassertive, and transmitting a query by the NPHLR to the NPDB via an internal interface;

deciding a current subscribed network of the user by the NPDB, and returning the routing number to the NPHLR, thereby obtaining the roaming number of the assertive operation or the routing number of the unassertive operation.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the query transmitted by the NPHLR to the NPDB may be performed via the internal interface of the NPDB and the NPHLR.