System and method for providing local IP connectivity for a roaming mobile subscriber

• US 20080280605A1
• Filed: 04/04/2008
• Published: 11/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Starhome GmbH
• Original Assignee: Starhome GmbH
• Inventors: Elkarat, Shany, Raviv, Li-On, Ophir, Shai, Biran, Ory
• Granted Patent: US 8,792,450 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/433
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/065 involving selection of the user mobility server

Abstract

A system installed at a roaming mobile network, comprises: a signaling relay enabled to monitor, intercept and modify mobile network signaling messages between the roaming network and the home network, a controller application for the signaling relay, said controller configured to instruct the signaling relay to replace an identity of a roaming user with a local network subscriber identity, thereby to enable registration of the roaming user with the local network for receiving at least one local mobile service as a local user, the roamer retaining a pre-existing registration with a respective home mobile network for receiving at least one other roaming mobile service, wherein authentication of the mobile device with the roaming network uses authentication data of the home network registration.

Claims

1. A system installed at a roaming mobile network, comprising:

a signaling relay enabled to monitor, intercept and modify mobile network signaling messages between the roaming network and the home network,

a controller application for the signaling relay, said controller configured to instruct the signaling relay to replace an identity of a roaming user with a local network subscriber identity, thereby to enable registration of the roaming user with the local network for receiving at least one local mobile service as a local user, the roamer retaining a pre-existing registration with a respective home mobile network for receiving at least one other roaming mobile service, wherein authentication of the mobile device with the roaming network uses authentication data of the home network registration.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the local mobile service comprises a local GPRS connection to the internet.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the roaming mobile service provided by the roaming network comprises GSM connectivity for placing and receiving voice calls.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said local network subscriber identity comprises an IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber Identity) of the roaming network, replacing the IMSI of the home network.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said authentication data form from the home network authentication comprises the information received by an HLR MAP-Authenticate query.

6. The system of claim 1, configured to support a roaming mobile device, such that the device when switched on is substantially always connected to the roaming mobile network as a local (non-roaming) subscriber, for at least one member of the group comprising:

IP-based services, running a Voice-over-IP client to enable the placing and receipt of voice calls, SMS, MMS, and WAP services.