System and method for flexible translation of wireless special dialing strings and mobile feature codes

• US 6,122,501 A
• Filed: 06/28/1996
• Issued: 09/19/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: MCI Communications Corporation (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Gallant, John K.
• Primary Examiner(s): TROST IV, WILLIAM GEORGE
• Application Number:
  US08/672,810
• Time in Patent Office: 1,544 Days
• Field of Search: 455/403, 455/414, 455/415, 455/416, 455/417, 455/432, 455/433, 455/445, 455/461, 455/550, 455/560, 455/564
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/02 Processing of mobility data, e.g. registration information at HLR [Home Location Register] or VLR [Visitor Location Register]; Transfer of mobility data, e.g. between HLR, VLR or external networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data

Abstract

A system and method for translating special dialing strings and/or mobile feature codes in a wireless telecommunications network. Upon receipt of a special dialing string ("SDS") or mobile feature code ("MFC"), a mobile switching center passes the SDS or MFC to a centralized processing center. The centralized processing center includes a home location register (HLR) containing an SDS lookup table and/or an MFC lookup table. The SDS lookup table includes information pertaining to the dialed string, a subscriber group number, the mobile switching center group number, and a number to be dialed (translated number). The MFC lookup tables include information pertaining to the dialed string, the subscriber group number, and feature action to be invoked. Using the SDS lookup table in the HLR, an SDS can be translated into a number to be dialed. Using the MFC lookup table, an MFC can be processed to change the mobile subscriber'"'"'s profile. By using a centralized translation table, SDSs/MFCs originating in a variety of geographic locations can be translated consistently. Additionally, SDS translation can be customized for any particular subscriber, geographic area, or a combination of both. After SDS translation, the number to be dialed may be returned to the mobile switching center. After MFC translation, the appropriate change to the subscriber'"'"'s profile is made.

Claims

1. A method for handling special dialing strings in a wireless telecommunications system, comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving a special dialed string in a mobile switching center;

(b) passing said special dialed string from said mobile switching center to a home location register including a special dialing string lookup translation table; and

(c) translating said special dialed string to a number to be dialed using said translation table at said home location register, including the steps of;

(1) performing a dialed string lookup on said dialed string;

(2) performing a subscriber group number lookup on said dialed string; and

(3) performing a mobile switching group number lookup on said special dialed string, wherein said number to be dialed is derived from said dialed string lookup, said subscriber group number lookup and said mobile switching group number lookup.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

(d) returning said number to be dialed to said mobile switching center.

3. A wireless telecommunications system including at least one mobile switching center for handling subscriber calls and a centralized processing center for translating a special dialing string received by said mobile switching center from a mobile subscriber, wherein said centralized processing center comprises:

a home location register containing;

subscriber profile information,

mobility management information for the mobile subscriber, and

a special dialing string lookup table containing a dialed string, a subscriber group number and a mobile switching center group number,

whereby said special dialing string is translated iteratively within said home location resister using said subscriber profile information, said mobility management information, and said information stored in said lookup table.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said special dialing string lookup table further includes a translated number.

5. A wireless telecommunications system including at least one mobile switching center for handling subscriber calls and a centralized processing center for translating a special dialing string (SDS) received by said mobile switching center, wherein said centralized processing center comprises:

means for receiving an SDS from a mobile switching center;

means for translating said received SDS into a number to be dialed; and

means for returning said number to be dialed to said mobile switching center,

wherein said means for translating includes;

means for performing a dialed string lookup on said SDS; and

means for performing a subscriber group lookup on said SDS; and

means for performing a mobile switching group number lookup on said SDS, wherein said number to be dialed is derived from said dialed string lookup, said subscriber group number lookup, and said mobile switching group number lookup.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said translating means includes a home location register.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein said home location register includes an SDS lookup table.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein said SDS lookup table includes subscriber group number information and mobile switching center group number information.

9. A method for handling dialing strings in a wireless telecommunications system, comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving a dialed string in a mobile switching center;

(b) passing said dialed string from said mobile switching center to a home location register having a dialing string lookup translation table including dialed strings, subscriber group numbers, and mobile switching group numbers; and

(c) translating said dialed string, at said home location register, using said translation table, wherein said translating step includes;

(1) performing a dialed string lookup, a subscriber group number lookup, and a mobile switching group number lookup on said dialed string;

(2) performing a dialed string lookup and a mobile switching group number lookup on said dialed string;

(3) performing a dialed string lookup and a subscriber group number lookup on said dialed string; and

(4) performing a dialed string lookup on said dialed string,

wherein steps (c)(1)-(c)(4) occur in a predefined priority order, and

wherein when a first match for said dialed string is found in said translation table then said dialed string is translated based on said first match.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of:

(d) returning a number to be dialed to said mobile switching center if said dialed string is a special dialing string, wherein said number to be dialed is derived from a result of said translating step.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of:

(d) changing a mobile subscriber profile if said dialed string is a mobile feature code, wherein said change in said mobile subscriber profile is derived from a result of said translating step.