Handling of mobile originated intelligent network calls from a non-intelligent capable mobile switching center

• US 6,044,274 A
• Filed: 02/13/1997
• Issued: 03/28/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Nguyen, Vu, Vo, Kim Phuong
• Primary Examiner(s): Urban, Edward F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gesesse, Tilahun
• Application Number:
  US08/800,014
• Time in Patent Office: 1,139 Days
• Field of Search: 455/461, 455/433, 455/445, 455/435, 455/448, 432/432
• US Class Current: 455/461
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements

Abstract

In a cellular mobile telecommunication system, an intelligent network service subscriber can place an originating intelligent network (IN) service call from an area that is not supported by an IN capable mobile switching center. After determining that the call is an IN service call, the non-IN capable mobile switching center will forward the call to a specially configured IN gateway which is programmed to notify the IN subscriber'"'"'s home location register and service control point. The home location register and service control point then return the appropriate routing instructions to the IN gateway, which in turn forwards the originating IN service call to the intended party.

Claims

1. A cellular mobile telecommunication system comprising:

a non-intelligent network (non-IN) capable mobile switching center (MSC);

an intelligent network (IN) gateway connected to said non-IN capable MSC;

a home location register (HLR) connected to said IN gateway; and

a service control point, connected to said HLR, for storing and transferring IN service call routing instructions to said IN gateway, for an IN subscriber assigned to said HLR,

wherein said IN gateway forwards an originating IN service call from an IN subscriber being serviced by said non-IN capable MSC in accordance with the call routing instructions transferred from said service control point, and

wherein the connection between said IN gateway and said non-IN capable MSC comprises a communication trunk for transmitting both originating IN service calls and non-IN service calls, and wherein the IN service calls include a special code that identifies them as IN calls.

2. A cellular telecommunication system comprising:

an intelligent network (IN) capable mobile switching center (MSC);

a home location register (HLR) connected to said IN capable MSC;

a service control point (SCP), connected to said HLR, for storing IN service call routing instructions for IN subscribers assigned to said HLR;

a non-intelligent network (non-IN) capable MSC; and

IN gateway means for routing originating IN service calls for IN subscribers being serviced by said non-IN capable MSC, based on the IN service call instructions received from said SCP, wherein said IN gateway means is connected to said non-IN capable MSC and said HLR, and wherein said IN gateway means comprises interrogation means for notifying said HLR and said SCP that an originating IN call has been placed by an IN subscriber assigned to said HLR, and

wherein said connection between said IN gateway means and said non-IN capable MSC is a non-dedicated communication trunk for transmitting both originating IN service calls and non-IN service calls generated from within a the geographic region serviced by said non-IN capable MSC, and wherein the originating IN service calls are appended with a special code that identifies them as IN calls.

3. The system in accordance with claim 2, wherein said system further comprises a visiting location register connected to said non-IN capable MSC, wherein said VLR maintains user records for visiting IN subscribers.

4. The system in accordance with claim 2, wherein said IN gateway means is located in a geographical region serviced by said non-IN capable MSC.

5. The system in accordance with claim 2, wherein said IN gateway means is located outside a geographical region serviced by said non-IN capable MSC.

6. A method for routing an originating intelligent network (IN) service call from a geographic region of a cellular mobile telecommunication system that is supported by a non-IN capable mobile switching center (MSC), said method comprising the steps of:

routing the call from the non-intelligent network (non-IN) capable MSC to an IN gateway, wherein said step of routing the call from the non-IN capable MSC to the TN gateway comprises the steps of;

appending a special code to a B-number in the originating IN service call; and

transmitting the originating IN service call over a non-dedicated communication trunk,

wherein the special code identifies the call as an IN calls;

in the IN gateway, receiving call routing instructions from a service control point; and

forwarding the originating IN call through the IN gateway in accordance with the routing instructions received from the service control point.

7. In a cellular mobile telecommunication system, a method for routing an originating intelligent network (IN) service call to a desired party comprising the steps of:

generating an originating IN service call for a calling party located in a geographic region that is serviced by a non-intelligent network (non-IN) capable mobile switching center (MSC);

identifying a home location register (HLR) to which the calling party is assigned;

routing the IN service call to an IN gateway, wherein the step of routing the IN service call to the IN gateway comprises the steps of;

generating a special code;

transmitting the special code, a subscriber identification number and the originating IN service call from the non-TN capable MSC to the TN gateway over a non-dedicated communication trunk,

wherein the special code identifies the call as an IN call;

transmitting an originating IN service call access message from the IN gateway to a service control point (SCP) associated with the HLR;

in the IN gateway, receiving a result from the SCP in response to the IN service call access message; and

routing the originating IN service call from the IN gateway to the desired party in accordance with the result.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of:

determining whether the calling party is an IN subscriber in accordance with a user record stored in a visiting location register.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the IN gateway is located in the same geographic region that the non-IN capable MSC is located.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the IN gateway is located in a geographic region other than the geographic region in which the non-IN capable MSC is located.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the IN gateway services a plurality of non-IN capable MSCs.