Inbound roamer call control system

• US 20060240820A1
• Filed: 03/02/2006
• Published: 10/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mobileum, Incorporated fka Roamware
• Original Assignee: Mobileum, Incorporated fka Roamware
• Inventors: Jiang, John Yue Jun
• Granted Patent: US 7,660,580 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/432.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13098 Mobile subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13109 Initializing, personal profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13141 Hunting for free outlet, circuit or channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13176 Common channel signaling, CCS7
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13282 Call forward, follow-me, call diversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13331 Abbreviated dialling
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/06 Registration at serving network Location Register, VLR or user mobility server
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/12 between location registers or mobility servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/28 Number portability ; Network address portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/18 Service support devices; Network management devices

Abstract

A system for implementing call control services for an inbound roamer is provided. The system includes a control node to implement the call control services in response to an initiation request. The system further includes a service node to send a terminating customized applications for mobile network enhanced logic subscription information (T-CSI) for a called number in response to a routing request for the called number. The T-CSI contains an address pointing to the control node. The system further includes a switching center to send the routing request for the called number. The called number is present in a call received from the inbound roamer.

Claims

1. A system for implementing call control services for an inbound roamer, the system comprising:

a control node to implement the call control services in response to an initiation request;

a service node to send a terminating customized applications for mobile network enhanced logic subscription information (T-CSI) for a called number in response to a routing request for the called number, wherein the T-CSI contains an address pointing to the control node; and

a switching center to send the routing request for the called number and the initiation request, wherein the called number is present in a call received from the inbound roamer and the called number satisfies pre-determined criteria.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the switching center is one of a gateway mobile switching center (GMSC) and a mobile switching center (MSC) configured to send the routing request for the called number to the service node.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the switching center is a global system for mobile communication service switching function (GSM SSF) configured to send the routing request for the called number to the service node.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the service node sends an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) associated with the called number to the switching center.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the service node is a visited public land mobile network (VPLMN) value added service (VAS) node.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the control node is a global system for mobile communication service control function (GSM SCF) for implementing the call control services for the inbound roamer.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the control node is a global system for mobile communication service control function (GSM SCF) integrated with the service node for implementing the call control services for the inbound roamer.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the T-CSI comprises a service key identifying an application to be used by the control node.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the initiation request contains an initial detection point (IDP).

10. The system of claim 1 further comprises a tracking unit for creating a roamer database for the inbound roamer by monitoring transactions of the inbound roamer between a visited public land mobile network visited location register (VPLMN VLR) and a home public land mobile network home location register (HPLMN HLR), wherein the transactions are concurring to a mobile application part (MAP) protocol.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the tracking unit creates the roamer database including one or more fields for the inbound roamer selected from a group comprising a Mobile Station International Subscriber Directory Number (MSISDN), an inbound roamer international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI), an Originating Customized Applications for Mobile Network Enhanced Logic Subscription Information (O-CSI) for the inbound roamer, Call forwarding information, a Visiting Mobile Switching Centre (VMSC), Operator Determined Barring (ODB), Supplementary Services (SS), visited mobile switching center (VMSC) and a Visiting Location Register (VLR).

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the control node uses the inbound roamer IMSI to generate billing information for the call.

13. A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium including a computer usable program code for implementing call control services for an inbound roamer, the computer program product comprising:

computer usable program code for receiving a routing request for a called number at a service node, wherein the called number is present in a call from the inbound roamer and the called number satisfies pre-determined criteria;

computer usable program code for sending a terminating customized applications for mobile network enhanced logic subscription information (T-CSI) for the called number by the service node to a switching center, wherein the T-CSI contains an address pointing to a control node; and

computer usable program code for passing control of the call to the control node to implement the call control services for the inbound roamer.

14. The computer program product of claim 13 further comprises computer usable program code for sending an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) associated with the called number, wherein the IMSI is sent by the service node.

15. The computer program product of claim 13 further comprises computer usable program code for configuring the switching center to send the routing request for the called number to the service node when the called number satisfies the pre-determined criteria.

16. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the call is received at the switching center, wherein the switching center is a Global System for Mobile communication Service Switching Function (GSM SSF) node.

17. The computer program product of claim 13 further comprises computer usable program code for using a service key included in the T-CSI to identify an application to be used by the control node.

18. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein passing the control of the call to the control node comprises sending an IDP for implementing the call control services for the inbound roamer by the switching center.

19. The computer program product of claim 13 further comprises computer usable program code for creating a roamer database for the inbound roamer by monitoring transactions of the inbound roamer between a visited public land mobile network visited location register (VPLMN VLR) and a home public land mobile network home location register (HPLMN HLR), wherein the transactions are concurring to a mobile application part (MAP) protocol.

20. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the control node uses the roamer database to generate billing information for the call.

21. A method for implementing call control services for an inbound roamer, the method comprising:

receiving a routing request for a called number at a service node, wherein the called number is present in a call from the inbound roamer and the called number satisfies pre-determined criteria;

sending a terminating customized applications for mobile network enhanced logic subscription information (T-CSI) for the called number by the service node to a switching center, wherein the T-CSI contains an address pointing to a control node; and

passing control of the call to the control node to implement the call control services for the inbound roamer.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprises sending an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) associated with the called number to the switching center, wherein the IMSI is sent by the service node.

23. The method of claim 21 further comprises configuring the switching center to send the routing request for the called number to the service node when the called number satisfies the pre-determined criteria.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the call is received at the switching center, wherein the switching center is a Global System for Mobile communication Service Switching Function (GSM SSF) node.

25. The method of claim 21 further comprises using a service key included in the T-CSI to identify an application to be used by the control node.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein passing control of the call to the control node comprises sending an IDP for implementing the call control services for the inbound roamer by the switching center.

27. The method of claim 21 further comprises creating a roamer database for the inbound roamer by monitoring transactions of the inbound roamer between a visited public land mobile network visited location register (VPLMN VLR) and a home public land mobile network home location register (HPLMN HLR), wherein the transactions are concurring to a mobile application part (MAP) protocol.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the control node uses the roamer database to generate billing information for the call.

29. The method of claim 21 further comprises issuing a long number translation when the called number from the inbound roamer is a short-code, wherein the issuing is performed by the control node.

30. The method of claim 21 further comprises issuing a corrected number translation when the called number from the inbound roamer is an invalid number, wherein the issuing is performed by the control node.

31. The method of claim 21 further comprises issuing a Mobile Subscriber Roaming Number (MSRN) to the switching center for optimally routing the call from the inbound roamer, wherein the issuing is performed by the control node.

32. The method of claim 21 further comprises issuing a Request Basic Call State Model (RRB) to the switching center when a tBusy, a tNoAnswer, a tAnswer and a tDisconnected occur as events, wherein the issuing is performed by the control node.

33. The method of claim 21 further comprises issuing a routing number to the switching center, wherein the issuing is performed by the control node.