Method of Enabling a Wireless Device to Make a Network Connection Without Using a Network Operator's Home Location Register

• US 20090303942A1
• Filed: 03/07/2007
• Published: 12/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Coretek Licensing LLC (IP Edge LLC)
• Original Assignee: Ghost Telecom Limited
• Inventors: Merino Gonzalez, Jose Luis, Camilleri, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,861,512 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/329
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1096 Supplementary features, e.g. call forwarding or call holding systems providing special services or facilities to telephony subscribers H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/02 Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/20 based on geographic position or location
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/04 Registration at HLR or HSS [Home Subscriber Server]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/082 for traffic bypassing of mobility servers, e.g. location registers, home PLMNs or home agents
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/12 between location registers or mobility servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]

Abstract

A wireless device can initiate a network connection without using a network operator'"'"'s home location register. The wireless device sends data to a server that defines a call request; and the server decides on the appropriate routing over all available networks for that call request. But, unlike a conventional HLR, the server can receive communications from the device using any one of several different protocols, and is not limited to the MAP (mobile application part) protocol. For example, the wireless device can use SMS or HTTP over the internet to communicate with the server. The server then determines the appropriate least cost routing.

Claims

1. A method of enabling a wireless device to initiate a network connection without using a network operator'"'"'s home location register, comprising the steps of:

(a) the wireless device communicating with a server over a wireless link;

(b) the wireless device sending, over the wireless link, data to the server that defines a call request;

(c) the server deciding on the appropriate routing over all available networks for that call request.

2. The method of claim 1 in which the server can receive communications from the device using any one of several different protocols, and is not limited to the MAP (mobile application part) protocol.

3. The method of claim 1 in which the wireless device uses SMS to communicate with the server.

4. The method of claim 1, in which the wireless device uses HTTP over the internet to communicate with the server.

5. The device of claim 4 in which the user has to enter any data required by the server manually into the device.

6. The method of claim 1, in which the server enables the connection by conferencing the device and recipient into a single call.

7. The method of claim 1, in which the server receives and detects incoming communications/calls, by monitoring all the available external interfaces to the server.

8. The method of claim 1, in which the server also acts as a media server so that the network connection is not limited to a voice connection, but includes also the transfer of any media asset, including data, video, and audio files, web pages and data, video and audio streaming.

9. The method of claim 1, in which the server initiates a local call to the device, using the information on the server'"'"'s location data base and services data base to correctly re-route a calling party to the device.

10. The method of claim 1, in which the server maintains a database of location updates provided by the device.

11. The method of claim 1, in which the server also acts as a VOIP server.

12. The method of claim 1, in which the device includes a module that is responsible for contacting the server.

13. The method of claim 12, in which the module is implemented as software that is downloadable to the device.

14. The method of claim 12 in which the module establishes and controls communication between the device and the server.

15. The method of claim 12 in which the module provides location updates to the server.

16. The method of claim 12 in which the module monitors the wireless network name and country code associated with the device.

17. The method of claim 16 in which the module sends a change in the wireless network name or country code to the server.

18. The method of claim 12 in which the module sends real time clock data with each message to the server, defining the time at which the message was sent according to the real time clock the module has access to.

19. The method of claim 12 in which the module monitors the device for an international call request, incoming call signalling, and caller ID.

20. The method of claim 12 in which the module notifies the user if a connection has been made by the server to the required recipient.

21. The method of claim 12 in which the module notifies the user if no connection has been made and the attempt has timed-out.

32. The method of claim 1 in which the server decides on the lowest cost routing for the connection.

22-31. -31. (canceled)

33. (canceled)