Method and system for transferring subscriber information in a radio telecommunications network

• US 5,905,954 A
• Filed: 01/14/1997
• Issued: 05/18/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Nguyen, Viet Anh
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Thanh Cong
• Assistant Examiner(s): Aoki, Makoto
• Application Number:
  US08/783,222
• Time in Patent Office: 854 Days
• Field of Search: 455/413, 455/433, 455/560, 455/445, 455/422
• US Class Current: 455/433
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/20 Manipulation of established connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/20 Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/24 between backbone network devices

Abstract

A method and system for transferring subscriber information required for implementing an intelligent network (IN) service in a radio telecommunications network. The method begins by a G-MSC sending a signaling message requesting a location of the subscriber to a HLR. The HLR then recognizes that the subscriber has requested an IN service. Next, the HLR sends an indication that the subscriber has the requested IN service to the G-MSC. The next step includes sending a signaling message from the G-MSC to a service control point (SCP) identifying the IN service requested. Subsequently, the SCP requests from the HLR the subscriber information required for implementing the requested IN service. The HLR then sends a data message containing the requested subscriber information to the SCP. If the HLR does not have the requested information, but the information is available in a visited mobile switching center (V-MSC) where the subscriber is operating, the HLR requests and obtains the information from the V-MSC, and then forwards the information to the SCP.

Claims

1. In a radio telecommunication system having a gateway mobile switching center (G-MSC), a home location register (HLR), and a service control point (SCP), a method of conveying required information about a subscriber to said SCP for implementing a requested intelligent network (IN) service in a radio telecommunications network, said method comprising the steps of:

sending a first signaling message requesting a location of said subscriber from said G-MSC to said HLR;

recognizing that said subscriber has said IN service by said HLR;

communicating an indication that said subscriber has said IN service from said HLR to said G-MSC;

sending a second signaling message from said G-MSC to said SCP informing said SCP of said requested IN service;

transmitting a data request message from said SCP to said HLR requesting said required subscriber information; and

sending a data message from said HLR to said SCP containing said required subscriber information.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of sending a first signaling message includes sending a first unmodified industry standard message requesting said location of said subscriber.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said step of sending a second signaling message includes sending a second unmodified industry standard message containing said location of said subscriber.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said step of communicating an indication that said subscriber has said IN service includes communicating said location of said subscriber.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of transmitting a data request message includes transmitting a generic signaling message having a data identifier.

6. In a radio telecommunication system having a gateway mobile switching center (G-MSC), a home location register (HLR), a visited mobile switching center (V-MSC), and a service control point (SCP), a method of conveying required information about a subscriber to said SCP for implementing a requested intelligent network (IN) service in a radio telecommunications network, said method comprising the steps of:

sending a first signaling message requesting a location of said subscriber from said G-MSC to said HLR;

recognizing that said subscriber has said IN service by said HLR;

communicating an indication that said subscriber has said IN service from said HLR to said G-MSC;

sending a second signaling message from said G-MSC to said SCP informing said SCP of said requested IN service;

sending a first data request message from said SCP to said HLR requesting said required subscriber information;

determining whether said requested subscriber information is available in said HLR;

determining whether said subscribers location is known, upon determining that said requested subscriber information is not available in said HLR;

sending a second data request message from said HLR to said V-MSC requesting said required subscriber information, upon determining that said subscriber'"'"'s location is known;

determining whether said requested subscriber information is available in said V-MSC;

sending a first data message from said V-MSC to said HLR containing said required subscriber information; and

sending a second data message from said HLR to said SCP containing said required subscriber information.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said step of sending a first signaling message includes sending a first unmodified industry standard message requesting said location of said subscriber.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said step of sending a second signaling message includes sending a second unmodified industry standard message containing said location of said subscriber.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said step of communicating an indication that said subscriber has said IN service includes communicating said location of said subscriber.

10. The method of claim 6 wherein said steps of sending a first data request message from the SCP to the HLR, and sending a second data request message from the HLR to the V-MSC include sending a generic signaling message having a data identifier.

11. A radio telecommunication system that obtains and utilizes subscriber information stored in a home location register (HLR) to implement a requested intelligent network (IN) service, said system comprising:

a gateway mobile switching center (G-MSC) for receiving an incoming call for a subscriber, said incoming call requesting said IN service;

a service control point (SCP) for implementing said requested IN service in said radio telecommunication system, said SCP including means for identifying subscriber information stored in said HLR required to implement said requested IN service;

means for notifying said SCP of the requested IN service;

means for sending a request for said required subscriber information from said SCP to said HLR; and

means for sending said requested required subscriber information from said HLR to said SCP in response to a request from said SCP.

12. The radio telecommunication system of claim 11 wherein said means for notifying said SCP of the requested IN service is an unmodified TERMREQ signaling message sent from said G-MSC.

13. The radio telecommunication system of claim 12 wherein said means for sending a request for said required subscriber information is a data request message.

14. The radio telecommunication system of claim 11 wherein said means for sending said requested required subscriber information is a data message containing said requested required subscriber information.

15. The radio telecommunication system of claim 11 further comprising:

a V-MSC having said subscriber information;

a means for sending a request for said required subscriber information from said HLR to said V-MSC; and

a means for sending said requested required subscriber information from said V-MSC to said HLR.

16. The radio telecommunication system of claim 15 wherein said means for sending a request for said required subscriber information from said HLR to said V-MSC is a second data request message.

17. The radio telecommunication system of claim 16 wherein said means for sending said requested required subscriber information from said V-MSC to said HLR is a first data message containing said requested required subscriber information.