System and method for allowing subscribers to make internal calls while roaming to other networks

• US 20040180664A1
• Filed: 03/30/2004
• Published: 09/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Networks (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Numminen, Raili, Rissanen, Pekka, Narvanen, Kai
• Granted Patent: US 7,171,209 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/445
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/12 between location registers or mobility servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

An access control system for a wireless telecommunications system comprising: a first base station serving a first site and operable as part of a first wireless telecommunications network; a second base station serving a second site and operable as part of a second wireless telecommunications network; the first and second telephone networks being connected together, whereby a call can be connected between the first base station and the second base station via the first wireless telecommunications network and the second wireless telecommunications network; and the access control system comprising: a data link of which use is restricted between the first network and the second network, whereby a call may be connected between the first network and the second network; and a first site link access control unit comprising a database for storing identities of wireless terminals at the second site for permitting calls to such terminals made at the first site to be routed from the first site to the second site over the data link.

Claims

1. An access control system for a wireless telecommunications system comprising:

a first base station serving a first site and operable as part of a first wireless telecommunications network;

a second base station serving a second site and operable as part of a second wireless telecommunications network;

the first and second telephone networks being connected together, whereby a call can be connected between the first base station and the second base station via the first wireless telecommunications network and the second wireless telecommunications network; and

the access control system comprising;

a data link of which use is restricted between the first network and the second network, whereby a call may be connected between the first network and the second network; and

a first site link access control unit comprising a database for storing identities of wireless terminals at the second site for permitting calls to such terminals made at the first site to be routed from the first site to the second site over the data link.

2. An access control system according to claim 1, wherein the identities of the wireless terminals each comprise a number identifying a terminal and a corresponding second site link access control unit address.

3. An access control system according to claim 1, comprising a database for storing identities of wireless terminals at the first site for permitting calls to such terminals made at the second site to be routed from the second site to the first site over the data link.

9. An access control system according to claim 1, wherein the access control unit is operable to control network access for one or more wireless telecommunications networks.

10. An access control system according to claim 1, wherein if a call made at the first or second site is not made to a wireless terminal of either the first or second site, the call is routed via an external wireless telecommunications network.

11. An access control system according to claim 1, wherein the external wireless telecommunications network is a GSM network.

13. An access control system according to claim 1, in which each site falls within the coverage area of a different GSM network

14. An access control system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the GSM networks permit roaming of terminals therebetween.

4. An access control system for a wireless telecommunications system comprising:

a first base station and a first site access control unit for storing access information for wireless terminals permitting such terminals to make calls at the first site by means of the first base station, serving a first site and operable as part of a first wireless telecommunications network;

a second base station and a second site access control unit for storing access information for wireless terminals permitting such terminals to make calls at the second site by means of the second base station, serving a second site and operable as part of a second wireless telecommunications network;

a data link of which use is restricted between the first site access control unit and the second site access control unit, whereby data may be transferred between the first site access control unit and the second site access control unit; and

the first site access control unit comprising a database for storing information for identifying the identities of wireless terminals whose access information is stored by the second site access control unit, whereby the first site access control unit can access the second site access control unit by means of the data link in order to permit such terminals to make calls at the first site by means of the first base station.

5. An access control system according to claim 4, wherein the database is in the form of a look-up table.

6. An access control system according to claim 4, in which the access information for wireless terminals is in the form of an International Mobile Station Identity Code.

7. An access control system according to claim 4, in which the access information for wireless terminals is in the form of a Temporary Mobile Station Identity Code for allowing the first site access control unit to access the International Mobile Station Identity Code.

8. An access control system according to claim 4, in which the access information is temporarily stored at the first site for enabling the said terminals to make calls at the first site by means of the first base station.

12. An access control system according to claim 8, wherein following the said temporary storage of access information, a cancellation procedure is performed to prevent calls to the said terminals being routed to the second site.