Cellular telephone network routing method and apparatus for internationally roaming mobile stations
First Claim
1. A method for delivering a call to an internationally roaming mobile station, comprising the steps of:
- storing in connection with a prior registration of the internationally roaming mobile station an identification of a switching node in a visited cellular system that is currently serving the internationally roaming mobile station, the identification being stored in a home location register for the internationally roaming mobile station in a home cellular system;
responsive to home cellular system receipt of an incoming call dialed to a home directory number for the internationally roaming mobile station, processing the home location register stored switching node identification by the home cellular system to identify the currently serving switching node location;
transmitting a routing request signal from the home cellular system through an international gateway to the identified currently serving switching node in the visited cellular system;
responsive to the currently serving switching node'"'"'s receipt of the routing request signal, assigning a temporary local directory number to the internationally roaming mobile station;
transmitting the assigned temporary local directory number from the visited cellular system back through the international gateway to the home location register of the home cellular system;
processing of the stored switching node identification in the home location register of the home cellular system to identify international dialing digits for calling the country where the currently serving switching node is located;
appending the received temporary local directory number to the identified international dialing digits to form an international telephone number; and
using the international telephone number to route the incoming call from the home cellular system through the international gateway to the currently serving switching node in the visited cellular system for delivery to the called internationally roaming mobile station.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The registration notification signal sent to the home cellular system when an internationally roaming cellular mobile station registers in a foreign cellular system includes an identification of the currently serving switching node. Upon subsequent receipt of an incoming call dialed to the roaming mobile station home directory number, the home cellular system signals the serving cellular system and a temporary local directory number is assigned and returned to the home cellular system. The switching node identification is then processed to identify the proper international dialing digits for calling the country where the serving switching node is located. The returned temporary local directory number is then appended to the identified international dialing digits to form an international telephone number which is used by the home cellular system to route the received call to the currently serving cellular system for delivery to the called internationally roaming mobile station.
135 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method for delivering a call to an internationally roaming mobile station, comprising the steps of:
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storing in connection with a prior registration of the internationally roaming mobile station an identification of a switching node in a visited cellular system that is currently serving the internationally roaming mobile station, the identification being stored in a home location register for the internationally roaming mobile station in a home cellular system; responsive to home cellular system receipt of an incoming call dialed to a home directory number for the internationally roaming mobile station, processing the home location register stored switching node identification by the home cellular system to identify the currently serving switching node location; transmitting a routing request signal from the home cellular system through an international gateway to the identified currently serving switching node in the visited cellular system; responsive to the currently serving switching node'"'"'s receipt of the routing request signal, assigning a temporary local directory number to the internationally roaming mobile station; transmitting the assigned temporary local directory number from the visited cellular system back through the international gateway to the home location register of the home cellular system; processing of the stored switching node identification in the home location register of the home cellular system to identify international dialing digits for calling the country where the currently serving switching node is located; appending the received temporary local directory number to the identified international dialing digits to form an international telephone number; and using the international telephone number to route the incoming call from the home cellular system through the international gateway to the currently serving switching node in the visited cellular system for delivery to the called internationally roaming mobile station. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A home location register supporting delivery of incoming calls to assigned mobile stations currently engaged in international roaming, comprising:
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means for storing an identification of a switching node currently serving each internationally roaming mobile station assigned to the home location register; means responsive to an incoming call dialed to a home directory number of a certain internationally roaming mobile station for transmitting an international routing request to the currently serving switching node; and means responsive to receipt of a temporary local directory number assigned by the currently serving switching node to that certain internationally roaming mobile station for; processing the stored identification of the currently serving switching node to identify international dialing digits for calling the country where the currently serving switching node is located; and appending the received temporary local directory number to the identified international dialing digits to form an international telephone number useful in internationally routing the incoming call to the currently serving switching node. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification