Method and system for providing prepaid roaming support at a visited network that otherwise does not provide it

• US 20080102829A1
• Filed: 07/30/2007
• Published: 05/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mobileum, Incorporated fka Roamware
• Original Assignee: Mobileum, Incorporated fka Roamware
• Inventors: Jiang, John Yue
• Application Number:
  US11/882,087
• Publication Number:
  US 20080102829A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/433
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/55 for hybrid networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8038 Roaming or handoff
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/00 Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems using a coded card to authorise calls from a telephone set H04M1/675
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2026 Wireless network, e.g. GSM, PCS, TACS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2046 Hybrid network
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2053 In based PPS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7442 Roaming
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing

Abstract

The present invention provides a method for providing wireless services to a prepaid subscriber of an HPMN in a VPMN when the prepaid subscriber attempts to register at the VPMN having a non-WIN phase 2 support. The method includes detecting at a Signal Gateway (SG) coupled to the VPMN, a registration attempt by the prepaid subscriber at the VPMN. The method further includes causing by the SG, an HLR associated with the HPMN to send a trigger profile information in a registration acknowledgement message to the SG in response to a modified registration message, sent by the SG, so as to imitate the VPMN'"'"'s roaming support for WIN phase 2 at the HLR having a WIN phase 2 support. Finally, the method includes sending a modified registration acknowledgement message by the SG, to a VMSC/VLR associated with the VPMN to facilitate the prepaid subscriber'"'"'s mobile communication in the VPMN.

Claims

1. A system for providing wireless services to a prepaid subscriber of a Home Public Mobile Network (HPMN) in a Visited Public Mobile Network (VPMN), the HPMN having Wireless Intelligent Network (WIN) phase 2 capability and an associated Home Location Register (HLR), the VPMN having non-WIN phase 2 capability and an associated Visited Mobile Switching Center/Visited Location Register (VMSC/VLR), the system comprising:

a Signal Gateway (SG) coupled to the VPMN for detecting a registration attempt by the prepaid subscriber at the VPMN;

circuitry for sending a modified registration message to imitate the VPMN'"'"'s roaming support for WIN phase 2 capability at the HLR;

circuitry for causing the HLR to send a registration acknowledgement message with trigger profile information to the first SG in response to the first modified registration message; and

circuitry for sending a modified registration acknowledgement message to the VMSC/VLR to facilitate the prepaid subscriber'"'"'s mobile communication in the VPMN.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the prepaid subscriber has a Mobile Directory Number (MDN);

wherein the trigger profile information is stored at the SG; and

wherein the SG modifies the registration acknowledgement message based on the trigger profile by adding a configurable prefix to the MDN to facilitate the prepaid subscriber'"'"'s mobile communication.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the VPMN has a VPMN Global Title (VPMN GT);

and

wherein the SG updates the HLR by modifying an address of the VMSC/VLR in the registration message with the VPMN GT.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein VMSC/VLR sends a TRANSCAP parameter, which is received by the SG;

and

wherein the TRANSCAP parameter is replaced with a modified TRANSCAP parameter indicating the VPMN'"'"'s support for the trigger profile information to the HLR.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the SG modifies the registration message by adding a WIN Capability (WINCAP) parameter to indicate the VPMN'"'"'s prepaid roaming support for WIN phase 2 at the HLR.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the VPMN has an associated roaming Signaling Transfer Point (STP) configured to redirect all signaling messages corresponding to the prepaid subscriber, destined for the HPMN, to the SG.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the VMSC/VLR is configured to establish a connection from one selected from a group consisting of an ISDN User Part (ISUP) voice trunk loopback and an ISUP signaling, to the SG to route all signaling messages corresponding to the prepaid subscriber.

8. A method of providing wireless services to a prepaid subscriber of a Home Public Mobile Network (HPMN) in a Visited Public Mobile Network (VPMN), the HPMN having Wireless Intelligent Network (WIN) phase 2 capability and an associated Home Location Register (HLR), the VPMN having non-WIN phase 2 capability and an associated Visited Mobile Switching Center/Visited Location Register (VMSC/VLR), the method comprising:

detecting a registration attempt by the prepaid subscriber at the VPMN via a Signal Gateway (SG);

sending a first modified registration message to imitate the VPMN'"'"'s roaming support for WIN phase 2 capability at the HLR;

sending, via the HLR, a registration acknowledgement message with trigger profile information to the SG in response to the first modified registration message; and

sending a second modified registration acknowledgement message to the VMSC/VLR to facilitate the prepaid subscriber'"'"'s mobile communication in the VPMN.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the prepaid subscriber has a Mobile Identification Number (MIN) and a MDN, wherein the HLR has a HLR address, and wherein the VMSC/VLR has a VMSC/VLR address, the method further comprising:

storing, at the SG, at least one selected from a group consisting of the trigger profile information, the MIN, the MDN the HLR address, and the VMSC/VLR address.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the VPMN has a VPMN GT and the VMSC/VLR has a VMSC/VLR address;

and

wherein the SG updates the HLR by modifying the VMSC/VLR address in the registration message with the VPMN GT.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the VMSC/VLR sends a TRANSCAP parameter, which is received at the SG;

and

wherein the TRANSCAP parameter is replaced with a modified TRANSCAP parameter indicating the VPMN'"'"'s support for the trigger profile information.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the SG modifies the registration message by adding a WINCAP parameter to indicate the VPMN'"'"'s prepaid roaming support for WIN phase 2 at the HLR.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein a roaming STP associated with the VPMN is configured to redirect all signaling messages corresponding to the prepaid subscriber, destined for the HPMN, to the SG.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the VMSC/VLR is configured to establish a connection from one selected from a group consisting of an ISDN User Part (ISUP) voice trunk loopback and an ISUP signaling, to the SG to route all signaling messages corresponding to the prepaid subscriber.

15. A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium including a computer usable program code stored thereon for providing wireless services to a prepaid subscriber of a Home Public Mobile Network (HPMN) in a Visited Public Mobile Network (VPMN), the HPMN having Wireless Intelligent Network (WIN) phase 2 capability and an associated Home Location Register (HLR), the VPMN having non-WIN phase 2 capability and an associated Visited Mobile Switching Center/Visited Location Register (VMSC/VLR), the computer program product comprising:

first computer useable program code means for detecting a registration attempt by the prepaid subscriber at the VPMN via a SG;

second computer useable program code means for sending a first modified registration message to imitate the VPMN'"'"'s roaming support for WIN phase 2 capability at the HLR;

third computer useable program code means for sending, via the HLR, a registration acknowledgement message with trigger profile information to the SG in response to the first modified registration message; and

fourth computer useable program code means for sending a second modified registration acknowledgement message to the VMSC/VLR to facilitate the prepaid subscriber'"'"'s mobile communication in the VPMN.