Communication system architecture and method of routing therefor
First Claim
1. A communication system having a range of Mobile Subscriber Integrated Service Digital Network (MSISDN) addresses and a range of International Mobile Subscriber Identities (IMSIs) assigned thereto for storing subscription information, the communication system comprising at least two distinct databases having a different format and content and separated from one another and indexed in terms of said ranges of MSISDN addresses and said ranges of IMSIs, wherein a cross-reference is both stored within a particular MSISDN and a particular IMSI to maintain an association therebetween, thereby allowing access to subscription information stored in at least one of the particular MSISDN and the particular IMSI.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
To alleviate the constraints imposed on communication system management by the assignment of dedicated ranges of MSISDNs and IMSIs to each particular home location register (HLR1, HLR2, HLRN), the present invention provides an ability to separate IMSIs and MSISDNs between HLR platforms by providing at least two databases (80-90) separated from one another and indexed in terms of ranges of MSISDNs and ranges of IMSIs, as illustrated in FIG. 5. A cross-reference (92, 95) is both stored within a particular MSISDN and a particular IMSI to maintain an association therebetween, thereby allowing access to subscription information stored in at least one of the particular MSISDN and the particular IMSI.
161 Citations
20 Claims
- 1. A communication system having a range of Mobile Subscriber Integrated Service Digital Network (MSISDN) addresses and a range of International Mobile Subscriber Identities (IMSIs) assigned thereto for storing subscription information, the communication system comprising at least two distinct databases having a different format and content and separated from one another and indexed in terms of said ranges of MSISDN addresses and said ranges of IMSIs, wherein a cross-reference is both stored within a particular MSISDN and a particular IMSI to maintain an association therebetween, thereby allowing access to subscription information stored in at least one of the particular MSISDN and the particular IMSI.
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6. A routing terminal, arranged to receive a Mobile Subscriber Integrated Service Digital Networks (MSISDN) including a directory number originating from an external network, for routing a call to a subscriber unit having that directory number, the routing terminal arranged to be coupled to at least one home location register (HLR) of a communication system, the routing terminal comprising:
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a range of directory numbers (MSISDNs) and a range of intermediate addresses (RN-MSISDNs), each intermediate address (RN-MSISDN) associated with at least one directory number to convert a received directory number to an intermediate address; wherein the routing terminal is responsive to a processing unit that directs the intermediate address to a HLR having that intermediate address contained within a range of intermediate addresses, the HLR further comprising a range of International Mobile Subscriber Identities (IMSIs) for storing information, wherein each IMSI in the range of IMSIs is responsive to at least one intermediate address of the range of intermediate addresses such that information relevant to the directory number that originated from the external network is recovered from a mapping of the intermediate address with an IMSI associated therewith. - View Dependent Claims (7)
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8. A home location register for a cellular communication system having a range of Mobile Subscriber Integrated Service Digital Networks (MSISDNs) and a range of International Mobile Subscriber Identities (IMSIs) assigned thereto, the home location register comprising at least two databases separated from one another and indexed in terms of a specific proportion of the range of MSISDNs and a specific proportion of the range of IMSIs, wherein a cross-reference is both stored within a particular MSISDN and a particular IMSI to maintain an association therebetween and such that the cross-reference may identify one of the particular MSISDN and the particular IMSI as falling outside the proportion of the range of each respective database, thereby allowing access to subscription information stored in at least one of the particular MSISDN and the particular IMSI.
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9. A communication system for establishing a call from an external network to a subscriber unit having a Mobile Subscriber Integrated Service Digital Network (MSISDN) address including a directory number identified in the call, the communication system comprising:
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a primary HLR coupled to the external communication network, the primary HLR having a range of directory numbers and a range of international mobile station identification (IMSI) numbers; a secondary HLR, distinct from the primary HLR and arranged in a different format and to include different content than the primary HLR and coupled to the primary HLR and the external network, the secondary HLR having a range of IMSIs, the range of IMSIs including the IMSI identified in the call, wherein each IMSI is arranged to store information pertaining to a subscriber unit; and a processing unit, coupled to the primary HLR, for controlling routing of the IMSI identified in the call to the secondary HLR such that the secondary HLR establishes the call to the subscriber unit. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of establishing a call from an external network to a subscriber unit of a communication system coupled to the external network, the subscriber unit having a Mobile Subscriber Integrated Service Digital Networks (MSISDN) including a directory number identified in the call, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving, in a first home location register (HLR), the directory number from the external network; translating the directory number to an international mobile station identification (IMSI) number associated with the directory number; intelligently forwarding the IMSI to a second HLR, coupled to the first HLR, containing the IMSI identified in the call; and establishing the call from the external network to the subscriber unit via the second HLR based on the IMSI identified in the call. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A communication system for establishing a call from an external network to a subscriber unit of a cellular communication system coupled to the external network, the subscriber unit having a Mobile Subscriber Integrated Service Digital Networks (MSISDN) including a directory number identified in the call, the communication system comprising:
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a switch, having a relationship between directory numbers (MSISDNs) and home location registers (HLRs), for routing the call to a particular HLR; a first HLR, coupled to the switch and having a range of directory numbers (MSISDNs), for establishing the call with the external network if the directory number (MSISDN) identified in the call is in the range of directory numbers (MSISDNs) associated with the first HLR; and a second HLR, coupled to both the first HLR and the external network, for accepting information from the first HLR to establish the call to the subscriber unit when the call is not established by the first HLR. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification