Wireless telecommunication network registration roaming call origination, and roaming call delivery methods

• US 20060223531A1
• Filed: 06/05/2006
• Published: 10/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/29/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Freedom Wireless Incorporated (Freedom Wireless)
• Original Assignee: Daniel A. Hanson
• Inventors: Hanson, Daniel A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,260,409 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/435.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/31 Distributed metering or calculation of charges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8038 Roaming or handoff
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/88 Provision for limiting connection, or expenditure
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0116 Provision for limiting expenditure, e.g. limit on call expenses or account
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/34 Roaming
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7442 Roaming
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/96 Distributed calculation of charges, e.g. in different nodes like for mobiles between HLR and VLR, or between the terminal and the billing function
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/02 Processing of mobility data, e.g. registration information at HLR [Home Location Register] or VLR [Visitor Location Register]; Transfer of mobility data, e.g. between HLR, VLR or external networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/12 between location registers or mobility servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/18 Service support devices; Network management devices

Abstract

This invention regards wireless telecommunication network registration, roaming call origination, and roaming call delivery methods. The telecommunications network includes a Roaming Solution network, the network including a Roaming Server, a National Location Register, and an 800 number Remote Switching Unit. The network may be integrated with a standard SS7 type telecommunications network and further coupled to an account based billing and call control platform that allows registered wireless credit limited subscribers to place and receive calls when roaming outside of their Home Provider'"'"'s network. The network may verify that the wireless subscriber'"'"'s account balance is sufficient to place or receive the call, translates the account balance into talk minutes, and monitors the call for talk duration. The Roaming Solution network is further operable to disconnect the call in the first negative minute and immediately decrements the wireless subscriber'"'"'s account.

Claims

1. A wireless telecommunication network registration method, comprising:

receiving a registration notification message including a mobile identification number associated with a roaming subscriber and a first mobile switching center identification associated with a serving mobile switching center;

replacing the first mobile switching center identification with a second mobile switching center identification associated with a national location register;

sending the registration notification to a home mobile switching center;

receiving a registration notification return message, including a third mobile switching center identification associated with the home mobile switching center, an origination indicator and a dialed number;

replacing the third mobile switching center identification with the second mobile switching center identification;

setting the dialed number to a number associated with a call origination switch;

setting the origination indicator to route all call originations to the call origination switch; and

sending the registration notification return message to the serving mobile switching center.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the dialed number is a 1-800 dialed number identification services number.

3. A wireless telecommunication network roaming call origination method, comprising:

at a call origination switch;

receiving a roaming call via a dialed number identification services number from a serving mobile switching center;

querying a roaming server to validate the dialed number identification services number;

receiving a dialed number and a mobile subscriber number from the roaming server;

querying a market server to validate the dialed number and the mobile subscriber number;

receiving a maximum call duration from the market server;

connecting the roaming call to the dialed number; and

while monitoring the roaming call;

timing the roaming call to create a call duration, and

disconnecting the call if the call duration exceeds the maximum call duration.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

at a national location register;

receiving a call origination request message associated with the roaming call from the serving mobile switching center;

sending a call message, including the dialed number and the mobile subscriber number associated with a roaming subscriber, to the roaming server;

receiving the dialed number identification services number associated with a call origination switch from the roaming server; and

sending an origination return result message, including the dialed number identification services number, to the serving mobile switching center.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

at the roaming server;

receiving the call message from the national location register;

sending the dialed number identification services number to the national location register;

receiving the dialed number identification services number query from the call origination switch;

validating the dialed number identification services number; and

sending the dialed number and the mobile subscriber number to the call origination switch.

6. A wireless telecommunication network roaming call delivery method, comprising:

at a billing switch;

receiving a roaming call from a home mobile switching center via a dialed number;

querying a market server to validate the roaming call;

receiving a maximum call duration from the market server;

sending a temporary local dialed number request associated with the roaming call to a roaming server;

receiving the temporary local dialed number associated with the incoming roaming call from the roaming server;

extending the roaming call to a serving mobile switching center via the temporary local dialed number; and

while monitoring the roaming call;

timing the roaming call to create a call duration, and

disconnecting the call if the call duration exceeds the maximum call duration.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

at a national location register;

receiving the temporary local dialed number request from the roaming server;

sending a roaming call enable message and the temporary local dialed number request to the serving mobile switching center;

receiving the temporary local dialed number request from the serving mobile switching center; and

sending the temporary local dialed number request to the roaming server.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

at the roaming server;

receiving the temporary local dialed number request associated with the roaming call from the billing switch;

sending the temporary local dialed number request to the national location register;

receiving the temporary local dialed number request from the national location register; and

sending the temporary local dialed number associated with the incoming roaming call to the billing switch.