Predictive intelligence

• US 20090061860A1
• Filed: 07/24/2008
• Published: 03/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mobileum, Incorporated fka Roamware
• Original Assignee: Mobileum, Incorporated fka Roamware
• Inventors: Jiang, John Yue Jun
• Granted Patent: US 8,238,905 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/433
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2281 Call monitoring, e.g. for law enforcement purposes; Call tracing; Detection or prevention of malicious calls
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/128 Anti-malware arrangements, e.g. protection against SMS fraud or mobile malware
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/06 Testing, supervising or monitoring using simulated traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/06 Registration at serving network Location Register, VLR or user mobility server
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements

Abstract

The present invention provides a method for facilitating roaming tests for a host network. The method includes creating a fake profile via a gateway associated with the host network for a roaming subscriber at a Mobile Switching Center (MSC)/Visiting Location Register (VLR). The MSC/VLR is associated with at least one of the host network and a roaming partner network of the host network. The roaming subscriber is associated with both the host network and the roaming partner network. The method further includes simulating via the gateway, transactions with a first network element associated with at least one of the host network and the roaming partner network to test at least one of the first network element'"'"'s response for the simulated transactions, and network routing on the roaming subscriber to a second network element associated with at least one of the host network and the roaming partner network.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating roaming tests for a host network having an associated gateway and a roaming partner network, wherein the host network and the roaming partner network respectively correspond to a Home Public Mobile Network (HPMN) and a Visited Public Mobile Network (VPMN), and wherein a Mobile Switching Center/Visiting Location Register (MSC/VLR), a first network element and a second network element are each associated with at least one of the host network and the roaming partner network, the method comprising:

creating, via the gateway, a fake profile for a roaming subscriber at the MSC/VLR, the roaming subscriber being associated with the host network and the roaming partner network;

simulating, via the gateway, a transaction with the first network element; and

testing, via the gateway, one of the first element'"'"'s response to the simulated transaction, and network routing of the roaming subscriber from the first network element to the second network element.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein creating the fake profile further comprises:

exchanging, via the gateway, one or more signaling messages with at least one of a Home Location Register (HLR) and the MSC/VLR.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

modifying the fake profile at the MSC/VLR.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the fake profile is one selected from the group consisting of Supplementary Services (SS) profile, Operator Determined Barring (ODB) profile, Customized Application for Mobile Enhancement Logic (CAMEL) profile and General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) profile.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the roaming subscriber is one of an outbound roaming subscriber and an inbound roaming subscriber, each having a test International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) associated with one of the host network and the roaming partner network.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the simulated transaction is one selected from a group consisting of ISDN User Part (ISUP) traffic, Transaction Capabilities (TCAP) traffic and packet data traffic.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the roaming tests include at least one selected from a group consisting of a Mobile Terminated (MT) call, a Mobile Originated (MO) call, termination of an on-going call, MO call barring, an MT Short Message Service (SMS), an MO SMS, SMS interworking, authentication for the roaming subscriber, an Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) service, a GPRS service, a CAMEL MO call, a CAMEL MT call, CAMEL default handling, Provide Subscriber Information (PSI) and Provide Subscriber Location (PSL) paging support, route testing, voice quality, location management, call setup duration, Originally Called Number (OCN)/Redirecting Number (RDN) transparency, last leg of international carrier used for MT calls from the roaming partner network, fake answer fraud, Dual Tone Multi-Frequency (DTMF) transparency and Voice Quality of Service (QoS), detecting SIMBox fraud, detecting Off-net SIMBox, detecting On-net SIMBox, detecting a Gateway Location Register (GLR), detecting inbound roaming traffic management, detecting an optimal routing service, detecting Steering of Roaming (SoR) mechanism, detecting optimal routing of late call forwarding, detecting roaming agreements, detecting roaming service extension, detecting a Dual IMSI service, detecting a Short Code (SC)/Smart Call Assistant (SCA) service, detecting a node, detecting restricted international dialing, detecting home routing, and detecting a Very Important Person (VIP) service.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein testing of the MT call further comprises:

obtaining, via the gateway, one of the roaming subscriber'"'"'s Mobile Station Routing Number (MSRN) and the roaming subscriber'"'"'s Mobile Station International Subscriber Directory Number (MSISDN);

initiating, via the gateway, the MT call to one of the first network element and the MSC/VLR; and

detecting, at the gateway, a release message in response to the initiated MT call, wherein detection of the release message indicates successful testing of the MT call.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein testing of the MO call further comprises:

obtaining, via the gateway, one of the roaming subscriber'"'"'s MSRN and the roaming subscriber'"'"'s MSISDN;

initiating, via the gateway, the MT call to one of the MSC/VLR and the first network element; and

detecting, at the gateway, one of a forwarded call and an answer message in response to the initiated MT call, wherein detection of the forwarded call and the answer message indicate successful testing of the MO call.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein testing of the termination of the on-going call further comprises:

obtaining, via the gateway, one of the roaming subscriber'"'"'s MSISDN and the roaming subscriber'"'"'s MSRN;

initiating, via the gateway, the MT call to one of the MSC/VLR and the first network element;

detecting, at the gateway, a forwarded call in response to the initiated MT call;

answering the forwarded call via the gateway; and

terminating, via the gateway, the answered forwarded call by exchanging one selected from a group consisting of a Cancel-Location message, an ISD message, a DSD message and an Immediate Service Termination (IST) message with the MSC/VLR.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein testing barring of the MO call further comprises:

obtaining, via the gateway, one of the roaming subscriber'"'"'s MSRN and the roaming subscriber'"'"'s MSISDN;

initiating, via the gateway, the MT call to one of the first network element and the MSC/VLR; and

detecting, at the gateway, one selected from a group consisting of a release message, a forwarded call and an answer message, wherein detection of the release message, the forwarded call and the answer message indicate successful testing of the MO call barring.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein testing of the MT SMS further comprises:

obtaining, via the gateway, at least one of the roaming subscriber'"'"'s MSRN and the roaming subscriber'"'"'s MSISDN;

initiating, via the gateway, the MT SMS to one of the MSC/VLR and the first network element; and

detecting, at the gateway, an error message indicating absence of the roaming subscriber in response to the MT SMS, wherein detection of the error message indicates successful testing of the MT SMS.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein testing of the MO SMS and the SMS interworking further comprises:

obtaining, via the gateway, at least one of the roaming subscriber'"'"'s MSRN and the roaming subscriber'"'"'s MSISDN;

initiating, via the gateway, the MT SMS to one of the MSC/VLR and the first network element; and

detecting, at the gateway, one of an error message and a success message in response to the initiated MT SMS, wherein detection of the error message and the success message indicate successful testing of the MO SMS and the SMS interworking.

14. The method of claim 7, wherein testing the authentication for the roaming subscriber further comprises:

detecting, at the gateway, exchange of one or more authentication messages between the MSC/VLR and the first network element, wherein detection of the authentication messages indicate successful testing of the authentication for the roaming subscriber.

15. The method of claim 7, wherein testing of the USSD service further comprises:

obtaining, via the gateway, one of the roaming subscriber'"'"'s MSRN and the roaming subscriber'"'"'s MSISDN;

initiating, via the gateway, one of an USSD request and an USSD notification to the MSCNVLR; and

detecting, at the gateway, one of an USSD acknowledgement message in response to the USSD request and USSD data in response to the USSD notification, wherein detection of the USSD acknowledgement message and the USSD data indicate successful testing of the USSD service.

16. The method of claim 7, wherein testing of the GPRS service further comprises:

testing of an MT SMS over GPRS;

testing of an MO SMS over GPRS;

testing GPRS-based Signalling Connection Control Part (SCCP) routing; and

testing Internet Protocol (IP) routing.

17. The method of claim 7, wherein testing of the CAMEL MO call further comprises:

obtaining, via the gateway, one of the roaming subscriber'"'"'s MSRN and the roaming subscriber'"'"'s MSISDN;

initiating, via the gateway, the MT call to one of the MSC/VLR and the first network element; and

detecting a forwarded call at the gateway, wherein detection of the forwarded call indicates successful testing of the CAMEL MO call.

18. The method of claim 7, wherein testing of the CAMEL MT call further comprises:

obtaining, via the gateway, one of the roaming subscriber'"'"'s MSRN and the roaming subscriber'"'"'s MSISDN;

initiating, via the gateway, the MT call to one of the first network element and the MSC/VLR; and

detecting, at the gateway, a release message in response to the initiated MT call, wherein detection of the release message indicates successful testing of the CAMEL MT call.

19. The method of claim 7, wherein the testing of the default call handling further comprises:

initiating, via the gateway, the MT SMS to the MSC/VLR;

initiating, via the gateway, a continue SMS upon receiving an IDP message from the MSC/VLR; and

detecting, at the gateway, an indication of absence of the roaming subscriber in an acknowledgement message for the MT SMS, wherein detection of the absent roaming subscriber indicates successful testing of the CAMEL default handling.

20. The method of claim 7, wherein testing the PSI and the PSL paging support further comprises:

issuing, via the gateway, one of a PSI message and a PSL message to the MSC/VLR; and

detecting, at the gateway, an indication of absence of the roaming subscriber in response to one of the PSI message and the PSL message, wherein detection of the absent roaming subscriber indicates a successful testing of the PSI and the PSL paging support.

21. The method of claim 7, wherein route testing further comprises:

initiating, via the gateway, a call to the first network element using one of a carrier selection parameter in the call and a special prefix.

22. The method of claim 7, wherein testing of the voice quality further comprises:

receiving, at the gateway, one or more samples of the MT call on a first port;

playing, via the gateway, an original sample of the MO call on a second port; and

comparing, at the gateway, the original sample with the one or more samples of the MT call so as to test the voice quality.

23. The method of claim 7, wherein testing of the location management for the roaming subscriber further comprises:

sending, via the gateway, a LUP message to the first network element with a CgPA as one of;

an address of the gateway and an address of the MSC/VLR; and

detecting, at the gateway, an ISD message in response to the LUP message, wherein detection of the ISD message indicates successful testing of the location management.

24. The method of claim 7, wherein detecting the GLR further comprises:

sending, via the gateway, a PRN message to the MSC/VLR of the roaming subscriber;

recording, at the gateway, a CgPA of a PRN-ACK message received from the MSC/VLR; and

correlating, at the gateway, a CgPA of a received RestoreData message and the CgPA of the PRN-ACK message, wherein a difference in the CgPAs indicates presence of the GLR in the roaming partner network.

25. The method of claim 7, wherein detecting the GLR further comprises:

sending, via the gateway, a PRN message to the MSC/VLR of the roaming subscriber;

receiving a PRN-ACK message from the MSC/VLR at the gateway; and

determining, via the gateway, presence of the GLR in the roaming partner network, upon a failure to detect a RestoreData message at the gateway after a pre-defined time interval.

26. The method of claim 7, wherein detecting the inbound roaming traffic management further comprises:

initiating, via the gateway, a cancel-location message for the roaming subscriber to the MSC/VLR, wherein the roaming subscriber is a subscriber of the host network and is registered with the roaming partner network;

detecting, at the gateway, a LUP attempt from the roaming subscriber, wherein the LUP attempt indicates steering of the roaming subscriber'"'"'s traffic towards the roaming partner network; and

rejecting the roaming subscriber'"'"'s LUP attempt so as to restrict the roaming subscriber from registering with the roaming partner network.

27. The method of claim 7, wherein detecting the SoR mechanism further comprises:

initiating, via the gateway, a fake Location Update (LUP) of the roaming subscriber at the first network element; and

determining, at the gateway, the SoR by the roaming partner network in response to the fake LUP based on a LUP rejection message.

28. The method of claim 7, wherein detecting the roaming agreements further comprises:

issuing, via the gateway, a LUP message to the first network element for determining support of one of;

a CAMEL service, a 3G roaming service, a GSM roaming service and a GPRS roaming service between the host network and the roaming partner network; and

detecting, at the gateway, a receipt of profile in response to the LUP message, the profile is one of;

CAMEL profile, 3G profile, GSM profile and GPRS profile, wherein detection of the profile receipt indicates detection of existing roaming agreements between the host network and the roaming partner network.

29. The method of claim 7, wherein detecting the restricted international dialing further comprises:

initiating, via the gateway, a call to the MSC/VLR where a simulated outbound roaming profile is created with an IRS fraud number; and

detecting, at the gateway, one of a release message indicating presence of an IRS service, and an ACM/ANM message indicating absence of the IRS service

30. A method for facilitating roaming tests for a host network having an associated gateway, a Mobile Switching Center/Visiting Location Register (MSC/VLR), a first network element and a second network element, wherein the host network corresponds to one of a Home Public Mobile Network (HPMN) and a Visited Public Mobile Network (VPMN), the method comprising:

creating, via the gateway, a fake profile for a roaming subscriber at the MSC/VLR, the roaming subscriber being associated with the host network;

simulating, via the gateway, a transaction with the first network element; and

testing, via the gateway, one of the first element'"'"'s response to the simulated transaction, and network routing of the roaming subscriber from the first network element to the second network element.

31. A system for facilitating roaming tests for a host network having a roaming partner network, wherein the host network and the roaming partner network respectively correspond to a Home Public Mobile Network (HPMN) and a Visited Public Mobile Network (VPMN), and wherein a Mobile Switching Center/Visiting Location Register (MSC/VLR), a first network element and a second network element are each associated with at least one of the host network and the roaming partner network, the system comprising:

a gateway associated with the host network for creating a fake profile of a roaming subscriber at the MSC/VLR, the roaming subscriber being associated with the host network and the roaming partner network;

a simulation module for simulating a transaction with the first network element; and

a testing module for testing one of the first element'"'"'s response to the simulated transaction, and network routing of the roaming subscriber from the first network element to the second network element.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the gateway further comprises:

a monitoring module for monitoring roaming signaling and IP links.

33. The system of claim 31, wherein the gateway further comprises an active signaling module for exchanging all signaling messages with at least one selected from of the first network element, the second network element and the MSC/VLR.

34. A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code stored thereon for facilitating roaming tests for a host network having an associated gateway and a roaming partner network, wherein the host network and the roaming partner network respectively correspond to a Home Public Mobile Network (HPMN) and a Visited Public Mobile Network (VPMN), and wherein a Mobile Switching Center/Visiting Location Register (MSC/VLR), a first network element and a second network element are each associated with at least one of the host network and the roaming partner network, computer program product comprising:

first computer readable program code means for creating, via the gateway, a fake profile for a roaming subscriber at the MSC/VLR, the roaming subscriber being associated with the host network and the roaming partner network;

second computer readable program code means for simulating, via the gateway, a transaction with the first network element; and

third computer readable program code means for testing, via the gateway, one of the first element'"'"'s response to the simulated transaction, and network routing of the roaming subscriber from the first network element to the second network element.