Method and system to enable mobile roaming over ip networks and local number portability
First Claim
1. A method for authenticating and connecting a softphone to a mobile telephone communications network, using an account associated with a mobile device registered to a mobile telephone communications operator providing service over the mobile telephone communications network, comprising the steps of:
- (a) connecting the softphone to a smart card bearing a serial number associated with the account;
(b) connecting the softphone to an IP network,(c) computer instructions causing the softphone to transmit the serial number and a current network location to a virtual mobile network (VMN) having an IP server and being connected to the IP network;
(d) the VMN storing the serial number and current network location in a virtual visitor location register (vVLR) and identifying the mobile telephone communications operator to which the account is registered based on the serial number;
(e) the VMN communicating authentication instructions compatible with the mobile telephone communications network via a mobile to internet gateway (MIG) having an internet protocol enabled server, an secondary protocol for translating communication between the IP network and an administration layer of the mobile telephone communications network, and a MIG address on the mobile telephone communications network;
(f) the MIG receiving an authorization record for the account from a home location register controlled by the mobile telephone communications operator and sending the authorization record to the VMN for storage in the virtual location register in association with the serial number;
(g) the VMN communicating either an authorization signal or a refusal to the softphone over the packet-switched network based on rules associated with the authorization record;
(h) where the authorization signal is to be communicated to the softphone, the VMN assigning a virtual roaming number and storing the virtual roaming number in the virtual location register in association with the serial number;
(i) notifying the home location register of the virtual roaming number and the MIG address;
(j) the home location register, in response to a request to connect a call destined for a dialable number associated with the serial number, providing the virtual roaming number and the MIG address.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for creating a virtual roaming solution for a MSISDN using a softphone over an IP network. The system involves (i) implementation of a novel virtual mobile network (VMN) comprising virtual visitor location register (vVLR), virtual home location register (vHLR) and virtual multiple switching centre (vMSC) on an IP server responsible for managing IP call traffic administration, and (ii) implementation of a novel mobile to internet gateway (MIG) comprising an VoIP gateway for diverting call traffic from the mobile network to the IP network, and an IP server with vMSC functionality to translate routing information from the VMN to GSM network so as to appear to the GSM network as a traditional mobile operator. The system dynamically registers the subscriber to the IP network, and provides valid routing information to the MSC (Mobile Switching Centre) or public telephone switch to route the call over to the NGN (next generation network) operator in the IP space.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method for authenticating and connecting a softphone to a mobile telephone communications network, using an account associated with a mobile device registered to a mobile telephone communications operator providing service over the mobile telephone communications network, comprising the steps of:
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(a) connecting the softphone to a smart card bearing a serial number associated with the account; (b) connecting the softphone to an IP network, (c) computer instructions causing the softphone to transmit the serial number and a current network location to a virtual mobile network (VMN) having an IP server and being connected to the IP network; (d) the VMN storing the serial number and current network location in a virtual visitor location register (vVLR) and identifying the mobile telephone communications operator to which the account is registered based on the serial number; (e) the VMN communicating authentication instructions compatible with the mobile telephone communications network via a mobile to internet gateway (MIG) having an internet protocol enabled server, an secondary protocol for translating communication between the IP network and an administration layer of the mobile telephone communications network, and a MIG address on the mobile telephone communications network; (f) the MIG receiving an authorization record for the account from a home location register controlled by the mobile telephone communications operator and sending the authorization record to the VMN for storage in the virtual location register in association with the serial number; (g) the VMN communicating either an authorization signal or a refusal to the softphone over the packet-switched network based on rules associated with the authorization record; (h) where the authorization signal is to be communicated to the softphone, the VMN assigning a virtual roaming number and storing the virtual roaming number in the virtual location register in association with the serial number; (i) notifying the home location register of the virtual roaming number and the MIG address; (j) the home location register, in response to a request to connect a call destined for a dialable number associated with the serial number, providing the virtual roaming number and the MIG address. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 6, 8)
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5. The method of claim 5 further comprising steps between steps (e) and (f) of
i. receiving at the MIG a random number challenge for the smart card from an authentication center (AUC) of the GSM network; -
ii. the MIG communicating the random number challenge to the softphone at the current network location; and iii. the softphone causing the smart card to return a signature response (SRES) on the basis of the random number challenge and a Ki stored on the smart card and an implementation of the A3 algorithm; wherein the communication between the MIG and the softphone is encrypted using IP based encryption to avoid the need for cipher key (Kc) based encryption. - View Dependent Claims (7)
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9. A system for authorizing a softphone over a GSM mobile telephone communications network operated by a home operator, and for connecting and billing calls between the GSM network and the softphone, the system comprising:
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(a) a virtual mobile network (VMN) having i. a VMN internet protocol server to receive, process and store packet-switched data from the softphone, and ii. an emulation of a visitor location register (vVLR) to store a softphone location record, (b) a mobile to internet gateway (MIG) having i. a voice over IP session initiated protocol (SIP) to signaling system number seven (SS7) gateway (SIP-SS7 server), and ii. a MIG internet protocol server to receive and translate GSM instructions between a mobile switching centre (MSC) and a home location register (HLR) of the home operator from an SS7 channel and the VMN from the IP network, (c) an emulation of a GSM mobile switching centre (vMSC) resident on the MIG and the VMN, and (d) a first computer implemented rule on the VMN to effect the following authorization protocol; i. receive an authorization request from the softphone, the authorization request containing a serial number from a SIM associated with the mobile account at a home operator; ii. store at least part of the authorization request in the softphone location record; iii. determine the HLR from the serial number; iv. communicate a GSM roaming authorization request to the HLR via the MIG; v. receive and store a reply signal containing either an authorization record or a refusal from the HLR via the MIG at the vVLR; vi. a decision to allow the softphone request if the reply signal contains the authorization record with a permission for roaming; and - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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16. A global local number portability system for use between GSM operators over a packet-switched network comprising:
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(a) an IP server having an IP address; (b) computer implemented instructions within the IP server to emulate commands and responses of a home location register (vHLR); (c) computer implemented instructions within the IP server to emulate commands and responses of a visitor location register (vVLR); (d) a local number portability database containing mappings between a set of possible subscriber location numbers, a set of active subscriber location numbers and a set of subscriber access numbers, on one or more GSM networks; (e) computer implemented instruction to receive authorization requests for a subscriber as the vHLR, to refer such requests to an actual HLR as a vVLR, and to respond to the original requester as the vHLR; and (f) computer implemented instructions to receive call termination requests to a subscriber from a gateway mobile switching centre (G-MSC) as the vVLR and to respond with a with a virtual location register number representing a most preferred active location.
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21. A combination mobile to internet gateway virtual mobile network device for authorizing a softphone over a GSM mobile telephone communications network operated by a home operator and for connecting calls between the GSM network and the softphone, the device comprising:
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(a) a voice over IP session initiated protocol (SIP) to signaling system number seven (SS7) gateway (SIP-SS7 server) to route voice and data traffic to the softphone, (b) an internet protocol server to receive, process and store packet-switched data from the softphone, (c) an emulation of a visitor location register (vVLR) to store a softphone location record, (d) an emulation of a GSM mobile switching centre (vMSC), and (e) a first computer implemented rule to effect the following authorization protocol; i. receive an authorization request from the softphone, the authorization request containing a serial number from a SIM associated with the mobile account at a home operator; ii. store at least part of the authorization request in the softphone location record; iii. determine the HLR from the serial number; iv. communicate a GSM roaming authorization request to the HLR; v. receive and store a reply signal containing either an authorization record or a refusal from the HLR in the vVLR; and vi. a decision to allow the softphone request if the reply signal contains the authorization record with a permission for roaming. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification