Downloading of routing numbers to donor switches within a telecommunications network

• US 5,890,063 A
• Filed: 06/03/1996
• Issued: 03/30/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Original Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Inventors: Mills, James L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Urban, Edward F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gesesse, Tilahun
• Application Number:
  US08/657,403
• Time in Patent Office: 1,030 Days
• Field of Search: 455/432, 455/433, 455/435, 455/404, 455/445, 455/466
• US Class Current: 455/433
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13097 Numbering, addressing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13098 Mobile subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13102 Common translator
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13106 Microprocessor, CPU
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13141 Hunting for free outlet, circuit or channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/005 Personal communication services, e.g. provisions for portability of subscriber numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/28 Number portability ; Network address portability

Abstract

A centralized database within a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) interfacing with a donor Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) stores correlation data correlating a network address representing the new home location register (HLR) associated with a ported mobile station'"'"'s identification number. As the centralized database is updated, such correlation data are further downloaded to the donor HLR. Thereinafter, in situations where the GMSC associated with the donor PLMN receives an incoming signal where no centralized database query has yet been performed, the donor HLR accordingly retrieves the stored network address correlated with the ported mobile station and forwards the incoming signal using the retrieved network address as the Called Party Number. The original mobile station identification number is also included into the Generic Address Parameter (GAP) of the routed IAM signal. The modified IAM signal is then routed to the proper Gateway Mobile Switching Center (GMSC) and accordingly forwarded to a mobile switching center (MSC) currently serving the ported mobile station.

Claims

1. A system for assisting in routing an incoming call dialed to a ported mobile station having a directory number, said system comprising:

a donor home location register (HLR) within a donor public land mobile network (PLMN), wherein a subscription for said ported mobile station has been ported from and is no longer stored by said donor HLR;

a recipient HLR within a recipient PLMN, wherein said subscription for the ported mobile station has ported to and is currently stored by said recipient HLR;

a register within said donor HLR;

a centralized database storing data correlating said directory number for said ported mobile station with a network address representing said recipient HLR now storing the subscription for said ported mobile station;

a signal link connecting said donor HLR with said centralized database; and

a first application module associated with said centralized database for transmitting a copy of said correlating data over the signal link from said centralized database to said donor HLR for storage in said register and for subsequent use in responding to and properly routing ported mobile station subscription related queries received at the donor HLR to the recipient HLR for handling.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said directory number comprises a Mobile Station Integrated Services Digital Network (MSISDN) number.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said centralized database comprises a Signal Control Point (SCP).

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a Gateway Mobile Switching Center (GMSC) associated with said donor PLMN; and

a second application module associated with said donor HLR for retrieving said correlated network address representing said recipient HLR from said register and for transmitting said retrieved network address to said GMSC in response to a receipt of a query requesting routing instruction sent from said GMSC.

5. A method for storing data correlating directory number for a ported mobile station with a network address representing a recipient home location register (HLR) currently storing a subscription for said ported mobile station, wherein said ported mobile station has been ported from a donor HLR not currently storing the subscription to said recipient HLR, said method comprising the steps of:

updating a centralized database with said data correlating said directory number of the ported mobile station with said network address representing said recipient HLR which is storing the subscription for said ported mobile station;

updating said donor HLR which is not storing the subscription for the ported mobile station with said data correlating said directory number of the ported mobile station with said network address representing said recipient HLR which is storing the subscription for said ported mobile station; and

wherein the correlating data stored in the donor HLR is useful in responding to and properly routing ported mobile station subscription related queries received at the donor HLR to the recipient HLR for handling.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising the steps of:

receiving a routing request by said donor HLR, said routing request including said ported mobile station directory number as a called party number;

retrieving said network address representing said recipient HLR correlated with said received ported mobile station directory number; and

transmitting said retrieved network address representing said recipient HLR to a Gateway Mobile Switching Center (GMSC) associated with said donor HLR.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said routing request is sent by said GMSC in response to a receipt of an incoming call with said directory number as a called party number, said method further comprising the steps of:

receiving said transmitted network address representing said recipient HLR by said GMSC; and

rerouting said received incoming call to a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) associated with said recipient HLR by utilizing said received network address representing said recipient HLR as said called party number.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said incoming call comprises a plurality of parameters and wherein said step of rerouting said incoming call further comprises the step of incorporating said directory number into one of said plurality of parameters.

9. The method of claim 5 wherein said directory number comprises a Mobile Station Integrated Services Digital Network (MSISDN) number associated with said ported mobile station.

10. The method of claim 5 wherein said centralized database comprises a Service Control Point (SCP).

11. A method for transmitting a signal requesting routing information towards a recipient home location register (HLR) currently storing a subscription for a ported mobile station having an assigned directory number, said mobile station having been ported from an area served by a donor HLR not currently storing the subscription for said ported mobile station to an area served by said recipient HLR without changing said directory number, said method comprising the steps of:

storing correlating data in said donor HLR correlating said directory number for the ported mobile station with said network address representing said recipient HLR;

receiving an incoming signal identified with said directory number by a first Gateway Mobile Switching Center (GMSC) associated with said donor HLR;

retrieving by the first GMSC of said network address representing said recipient HLR from said donor HLR in response to said incoming signal;

rerouting said incoming signal to a second Gateway Mobile Switching Center (GMSC) associated with said recipient HLR by utilizing said retrieved recipient HLR network address as a called party number; and

transmitting a signal requesting subscription related information from said second GMSC to said recipient HLR.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said directory number comprises a Mobile Station Integrated Services Digital Network (MSISDN) number.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein said incoming signal comprises an Initial Address Message (IAM).

14. The method of claim 11 wherein said incoming signal comprises a plurality of parameters and wherein said step of rerouting said incoming signal to said second GMSC further comprises the step of incorporating said directory number into one of said parameters.

15. The method of claim 11 further comprising the steps of:

storing said correlation data in a centralized database correlating said directory number with said network address representing said recipient HLR; and

copying said correlation data to said donor HLR.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said centralized database comprises a Service Control Point (SCP) connected to a Service Switching Point (SSP) for routing incoming calls.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein said step of retrieving said network address is performed only if said network address has not been retrieved from said centralized database before said incoming signal is received by said first GMSC.

18. A system for transmitting a signal requesting routing information towards a recipient home location register (HLR) currently storing a subscription for a ported mobile station having an assigned directory number, said mobile station having been ported from an area served by a donor HLR not currently storing the subscription for said ported mobile station to an area served by said recipient HLR without changing said directory number, said system comprising:

means for storing correlating data in said donor HLR correlating said directory number for the ported mobile station with said network address representing said recipient HLR;

means for receiving an incoming signal identified with said directory number by a first Gateway Mobile Switching Center (GMSC) associated with said donor HLR;

means for retrieving by said first GMSC of said network address representing said recipient HLR from said donor HLR in response to said incoming signal;

means for rerouting said incoming signal to a second Gateway Mobile Switching Center (GMSC) associated with said recipient HLR by utilizing said retrieved recipient HLR network address as a called party number; and

means for transmitting a signal requesting subscription related information from said second GMSC to said recipient HLR.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein said directory number comprises a Mobile Station Integrated Services Digital Network (MSISDN) number.

20. The system of claim 18 wherein said incoming signal comprises a plurality of parameters and wherein said step of rerouting said incoming signal to said second GMSC further comprises the step of incorporating said directory number into one of said parameters.

21. The system of claim 18 further comprising:

a centralized database;

means for storing said correlation data in said centralized database correlating said directory number with said network address representing said recipient HLR; and

means for copying said correlation data to said donor HLR.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein said centralized database comprises a Service Control Point (SCP) connected to a Service Switching Point (SSP) for routing incoming calls.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein said means for retrieving said network address is performed only if said network address has not been retrieved from said centralized database before said incoming signal is received by said first GMSC.