Method and system for cellular network traffic redirection

• US 20060286978A1
• Filed: 08/23/2006
• Published: 12/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: John Yue Jun Jiang
• Original Assignee: John Yue Jun Jiang
• Inventors: Jiang, John Yue Jun
• Application Number:
  US11/508,194
• Publication Number:
  US 20060286978A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/432.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/10 Flow control between communication endpoints
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/04 using triggered events
• 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 8/18 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 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems

Abstract

A method and system for countering anti-traffic redirection of a roaming mobile station is provided. Observing registration messages exchanged between the visiting network and the home network, the disclosed invention detects if the visiting network has deployed an anti-traffic-redirection mechanism as aimed at fooling the home network into permitting connection with a non-preferred network. The invention also provides for a way to steer the roamer to reattempt connection with a preferred network.

Claims

1-50. -50. (canceled)

51. A method for controlling wireless network traffic, the method comprising:

determining when a roaming mobile station initiates a registration attempt with a non-preferred network, wherein initiating comprises the mobile station sending a message to a Home Public Mobile Network (HPMN) to update its location; and

receiving a response at the mobile station indicating that the registration attempt is terminated, wherein the response comprises an error message.

52. The method of claim 51, wherein determining when a roaming mobile station initiates a registration attempt with a non-preferred network comprises reading a location update request from the mobile station.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein the error message comprises a message that an update location transaction is aborted.

54. The method of claim 52, wherein the error message comprises timing out a response to the location update request.

55. The method of claim 51, wherein determining when a roaming mobile station initiates a registration attempt with a non-preferred network comprises sending an authentication request from a visited network.

56. The method of claim 55, wherein the error message comprises a message that a send authentication information transaction is aborted.

57. The method of claim 55, wherein the error message comprises timing out a response to the authentication request.

58. The method of claim 52, wherein the error message comprises a message that roaming is restricted.

59. The method of claim 51, further comprising:

the mobile station sending a subsequent registration attempt with a subsequent network;

if the subsequent network is determined to be a non-preferred network, receiving the response at the mobile station indicating that the registration attempt is terminated; and

if the subsequent network is determined to be a preferred network, proceeding with the registration attempt, wherein the mobile station is not otherwise aware of which networks are preferred and which networks are non-preferred.

60. A system for directing roaming network traffic, the system comprising:

a communications relationship with Home Public Mobile Network (HPMN) that is a home network of a mobile station;

a Visiting Public Mobile Network (VPMN) configured to communicate with the HPMN via a signaling network, wherein the mobile station is roaming when in the VPMN; and

a traffic redirection node configured to monitor signaling between the HPMN and the VPMN, including determining when the mobile station is roaming in the VPMN and whether the VPMN is a preferred network, wherein if the VPMN is not a preferred network, receiving a message from the HPMN at the mobile station to terminate a current transaction between the VPMN and the HPMN.

61. The system of claim 60, wherein the transaction is selected from a group consisting of

an update location transaction;

a request for authentication information; and

a message indicating that the current transaction is timed out.

62. The system of claim 60, wherein:

the mobile station is configured to receive the message and in response, attempt to register with a subsequent VPMN, wherein the mobile station is not aware of which networks are preferred and which networks are non-preferred; and

the traffic redirection node is further configured to monitor signaling between the HPMN and the subsequent VPMN, including determining whether the subsequent VPMN is a preferred network, wherein if the subsequent VPMN is not a preferred network, the HPMN sends a message to the mobile station to terminate a current transaction between the subsequent VPMN and the HPMN.

63. A method for directing a network entity to a particular network, the method comprising:

detecting a roaming network entity is registering with a visited network;

detecting the visited network is a non-preferred network; and

initiating a redirection message to the network entity that causes the network entity to search for a preferred network.

64. The method of claim 63, wherein detecting the roaming network entity is registering with a visited network includes tapping a message and determining at least a Mobile Country Code (MCC) and a Mobile Network Code (MNC).

65. The method of claim 64, wherein the message is an Update Location message.

66. The method of claim 63, further comprising:

receiving the redirection message at an over-the-air (OTA) server;

encrypting the message; and

forwarding the message to a short message service center (SMSC)>

67. The method of claim 63, further comprising:

determining whether the network entity includes a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) toolkit application (STK); and

if the network identity includes an STK, initiating redirection with the STK.

68. The method of claim 63, further comprising:

if the network identity includes an STK, determining whether a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) list is on the SIM; and

if not, forwarding a PLMN list to the SIM.

69. The method of claim 63, further comprising:

in response to the message, initiating redirection procedures; and

updating information on the SIM, including;

a home PLMN search time period;

a PLMN selector file; and

a location information file.

70. The method of claim 63, further comprising:

in response to the message, issuing a RUN AT+COPS command to select a specific network.

71. A system for directing wireless network traffic, the system comprising:

a network operator backend, including an OTA interface; and

a traffic redirection network entity, wherein the traffic redirection network entity communicates with a mobile station to direct registration with a particular network when the mobile station attempts registration with a non-preferred network.

72. The system of claim 71, wherein the traffic redirection network entity comprises a traffic redirection node, a traffic redirection roaming probe, and a traffic redirection application.

73. The system of claim 72, wherein, in a passive mode, the traffic redirection network entity monitors a signaling link between a home network and an SS7 signaling network to determine a network the mobile station is currently registered with.

74. The system of claim 72, wherein, in an active mode, the traffic redirection node is in a signaling path between a visited location register in a visited network and a home location register in a home network that determines a network the mobile station is currently registered with.

75. The system of claim 72, wherein, in an active mode, the traffic redirection node is in a signaling path between a visited location register in a visited network and a home location register in a home network.