Method of registering and controlling registration data for new and roaming pagers in a paging system

• US 6,173,157 B1
• Filed: 07/11/1997
• Issued: 01/09/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Glenayre Electronics Incorporated (EDCI Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Glenayre Electronics Incorporated (EDCI Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Godoroja, Andrei, Fawcett, Glenn S.
• Primary Examiner(s): MAUNG, NAY AUNG
• Application Number:
  US08/893,528
• Time in Patent Office: 1,278 Days
• Field of Search: 455/31.2, 455/31.3, 455/432, 455/433, 455/435, 455/456, 455/458, 455/461, 340/825.44, 380/23, 380/247, 380/248, 380/271
• US Class Current: 340/7.41
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/606 by securing the transmission between two devices or processes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/082 the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0853 by actively collecting configuration information or by backing up configuration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0856 by backing up or archiving configuration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0896 Bandwidth or capacity management, i.e. automatically increasing or decreasing capacities flow or congestion control using dynamic resource allocation, e.g. in-call renegotiation, H04L47/76
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/02 Topology update or discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/16 Multipoint routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/10 Flow control; Congestion control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/12 Avoiding congestion; Recovering from congestion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/263 Rate modification at the source after receiving feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/28 in relation to timing considerations
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/37 Slow start
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0442 wherein the sending and receiving network entities apply asymmetric encryption, i.e. different keys for encryption and decryption cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for public-key encryption H04L9/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0807 using tickets, e.g. Kerberos cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using tickets or tokens H04L9/3213
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/123 received data contents, e.g. message integrity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/62 Establishing a time schedule for servicing the requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/61 : Time-dependent
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/04 : Arrangements for maintaining operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/02 : Traffic management, e.g. flow control or congestion control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/10 : Flow control between communication endpoints
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/12 : using signalling between network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/14 : using intermediate storage
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 : Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/30 : Resource management for broadcast services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/04 : Registration at HLR or HSS [Home Subscriber Server]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/08 : Mobility data transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/06 : Transport layer protocols, e.g. TCP [Transport Control Protocol] over wireless transmission control protocol/Internet protocol [TCP/IP] or user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/022 : One-way selective calling networks, e.g. wide area paging
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/027 : providing paging services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/16 : Interfaces between hierarchically similar devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/24 : between backbone network devices

Abstract

A method for registering and controlling registration data for new and roaming pagers in a paging system. Messages for the pagers pass through an input messaging switch to the pager'"'"'s home messaging switch, from which the messages are sent to an output messaging switch to be transmitted to the pagers. When a pager roams into and area, it sends out a registration message that is received by an output messaging switch. The output messaging switch then contacts the home messaging switch for the pager. The pagers are programmed with a home identifier, which they transmit as part of their registration message. The home identifier can be converted to the address of the pager'"'"'s home node in home messaging switch. In this way, an output messaging switch knows which home messaging switch to contact when it receives a registration message from the pager. The home identifier in a pager can be reprogrammed through an over-the-air procedure. The home identifier in a pager can be reprogrammed through an over-the-air procedure. The home messaging switches an output messaging switches are able to send messages to one another in order to update and synchronize registration data. When a messaging switch is searching for a pager or a pager record, it can send a request message to multiple other messaging switches and will receive a response from only the messaging switch that has the required data. A special home node may be designated for the registration of new pagers.

Claims

1. In a paging system having a plurality of messaging switches through which messages are sent to pagers, the messaging switches comprising home and output messaging switches, a subset of the messaging switches having registration databases, the home messaging switches having pager records in their registration databases, the pager records being entered and modified by service providers, a method of registering and controlling registration data for a pager in the paging system, comprising the steps of:

(a) storing a home identifier in said pager;

(b) having said pager broadcast a registration message that includes the home identifier;

(c) receiving at an output messaging switch the registration message and using the home identifier to determine the home messaging switch or possible set of home messaging switches that has the record for the pager;

(d) sending a register location message from the output messaging switch to the home messaging switch or possible set of home messaging switches to register the current location of the pager,

(e) having the home messaging switch respond to the register location message by sending a register location reply to the output messaging switch, which indicates whether or not the home messaging switch has a record for the pager and whether or not the pager is designated to receive service in the output messaging switch'"'"'s area; and

(f) having the output messaging switch respond to a register location reply message that indicated the home messaging switch did not have a record for the pager by sending a find home messaging switch with pager message to a group of home messaging switches to search for a home messaging switch that has a record for the pager.

2. In a paging system having a plurality of messaging switches through which messages are sent to pagers, the messaging switches comprising home and output messaging switches, a subset of the messaging switches having registration databases, the home messaging switches having pager records in their registration databases, the pager records being entered and modified by service providers, a method of registering and controlling registration data for a pager in the paging system, comprising the steps of:

(a) storing a home identifier in said pager;

(b) having said pager broadcast a registration message that includes the home identifier;

(c) receiving at an output messaging switch the registration message and using the home identifier to determine the home messaging switch or possible set of home messaging switches that has the record for the pager;

(d) sending a register location message from the output messaging switch to the home messaging switch or possible set of home messaging switches to register the current location of the pager, and

(e) having the output messaging switch determine if the home identifier corresponded to a valid home messaging switch and, if not, sending a find home messaging switch with pager message to a group of home messaging switches to search for a home messaging switch that has a record for the pager.

3. In a paging system having a plurality of messaging switches through which messages are sent to pagers, the messaging switches comprising home and output messaging switches, a subset of the messaging switches having registration databases, the home messaging switches having pager records in their registration databases, the pager records being entered and modified by service providers, a method of registering and controlling registration data for a pager in the paging system, comprising the steps of:

(a) storing a home identifier in said pager;

(b) having said pager broadcast a registration message that includes the home identifier;

(c) receiving at an output messaging switch the registration message and using the home identifier to determine the home messaging switch or possible set of home messaging switches that has the record for the pager;

(d) sending a register location message from the output messaging switch to the home messaging switch or possible set of home messaging switches to register the current location of the pager,

(e) having the output messaging switch synchronize its registration database with the home messaging switch'"'"'s registration database by sending a confirm registration message to the home messaging switch, the home messaging switch in response sending a confirm registration reply that states whether its registration database indicates that the pager is registered in the output messaging switch'"'"'s area and, if so, whether the pager is believed to be available and whether the pager is supposed to be receiving service in the output messaging switch'"'"'s area; and

(f) having the output messaging switch respond to a confirm registration reply that states the pager is not registered at the output messaging switch'"'"'s area by performing a test to verify that the pager is still in the output messaging switch'"'"'s area and, if it is, re-registering the pager'"'"'s output messaging switch location with the home messaging switch and, if it is not, correcting its own registration database.

4. In a paging system having a plurality of messaging switches through which messages are sent to pagers, the messaging switches comprising home and output messaging switches, a subset of the messaging switches having registration databases, the home messaging switches having pager records in their registration databases, the pager records being entered and modified by service providers, a method of registering and controlling registration data for a pager in the paging system, comprising the steps of:

(a) storing a home identifier in said pager;

(b) having said pager broadcast a registration message that includes the home identifier;

(c) receiving at an output messaging switch the registration message and using the home identifier to determine the home messaging switch or possible set of home messaging switches that has the record for the pager;

(d) sending a register location message from the output messaging switch to the home messaging switch or possible set of home messaging switches to register the current location of the pager,

(e) having the output messaging switch synchronize its registration database with the home messaging switch'"'"'s registration database by sending a confirm registration message to the home messaging switch, the home messaging switch in response sending a confirm registration reply that states whether its registration database indicates that the pager is registered in the output messaging switch'"'"'s area and, if so, whether the pager is believed to be available and whether the pager is supposed to be receiving service in the output messaging switch'"'"'s area; and

(f) having the output messaging switch respond to a confirm registration reply that indicates that the availability status of the pager is different from the availability status indicated by the output messaging switch'"'"'s registration database by performing a test to verify the availability status of the pager and, if the test indicates that the output messaging switch'"'"'s database is in error, correcting it; and

if the test indicates that the home messaging switch'"'"'s registration database is in error, correcting it by sending a message indicating the true pager availability status to the home messaging switch.

5. In a paging system having a plurality of nodes and messaging switches, said nodes comprising home and output nodes, said messaging switches comprising home and output messaging switches, said nodes being located in said messaging switches, a subset of said output nodes representing base stations that can send and receive messages to and from pagers, a subset of said messaging switches having registration databases, said home messaging switches that have registration databases having pager records in their registration databases, a method of registering and controlling registration data for a pager in the paging system, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) programming a home identifier in said pager that can be converted into a home node address;

(b) sending a registration message from the pager that includes all or part of the home identifier to a base station;

(c) relaying from the base station the registration message to the output messaging switch that controls the base station;

(d) recording the pager in the registration database of the output messaging switch for the output node that represents the base station;

(e) verifying at the output messaging switch that the home node address or addresses that were converted in whole or in part from the home identifier are valid home node addresses and, if they are, sending a register location message to at least one of the home node addresses;

(f) receiving the register location message at the home messaging switch that includes the home node;

(g) verifying at the home messaging switch that a record for the pager exists in the home node'"'"'s registration database and, if it does, recording the present output node location of the pager; and

(h) having the output messaging switch respond to the home node address being invalid by sending a find home node with pager message to a set of home nodes in an attempt to find the home node for the pager.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of having a home messaging switch that has the home node for the pager respond to the find home messaging switch with pager message by sending a set home identifier message that instructs the output messaging switch to reprogram the home identifier in the pager to correspond to the home node address.

7. In a paging system having a plurality of nodes and messaging switches, said nodes comprising home and output nodes, said messaging switches comprising home and output messaging switches, said nodes being located in said messaging switches, a subset of said output nodes representing base stations that can send and receive messages to and from pagers, a subset of said messaging switches having registration databases, said home messaging switches that have registration databases having pager records in their registration databases, a method of registering and controlling registration data for a pager in the paging system, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) programming a home identifier in said pager that can be converted into a home node address;

(b) sending a registration message from the pager that includes all or part of the home identifier to a base station;

(c) relaying from the base station the registration message to the output messaging switch that controls the base station;

(d) recording the pager in the registration database of the output messaging switch for the output node that represents the base station;

(e) verifying at the output messaging switch that the home node address or addresses that were converted in whole or in part from the home identifier are valid home node addresses and, if they are, sending a register location message to at least one of the home node addresses;

(f) receiving the register location message at the home messaging switch that includes the home node;

(g) verifying at the home messaging switch that a record for the pager exists in the home node'"'"'s registration database and, if it does, recording the present output node location of the pager; and

(h) having the home messaging switch send a register location reply to the output messaging switch that indicates if the registration database for the home node has a record for the pager and whether the pager should receive service in the output node area.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of having the output messaging switch respond to a register location reply that indicates that the registration database for the home node does not have a record for the pager by sending a find home node with pager message to a set of home nodes in an attempt to find the home node for the pager.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of having a home messaging switch that has the home node for the pager respond to the find home node with pager message by sending a set home identifier message that instructs the output messaging switch to reprogram the home identifier in the pager to convert to the home node address.

10. In a paging system having a plurality of nodes and messaging switches, said nodes comprising home and output nodes, said messaging switches comprising home and output messaging switches, said nodes being located in said messaging switches, a subset of said output nodes representing base stations that can send and receive messages to and from pagers, a subset of said messaging switches having registration databases, said home messaging switches that have registration databases having pager records in their registration databases, a method of registering and controlling registration data for a pager in the paging system, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) programming a home identifier in said pager that can be converted into a home node address;

(b) sending a registration message from the pager that includes all or part of the home identifier to a base station;

(c) relaying from the base station the registration message to the output messaging switch that controls the base station;

(d) recording the pager in the registration database of the output messaging switch for the output node that represents the base station;

(e) verifying at the output messaging switch that the home node address or addresses that were converted in whole or in part from the home identifier are valid home node addresses and, if they are, sending a register location message to at least one of the home node addresses;

(f) receiving the register location message at the home messaging switch that includes the home node;

(g) verifying at the home messaging switch that a record for the pager exists in the home node'"'"'s registration database and, if it does, recording the present output node location of the pager;

(h) having the output messaging switch synchronize its registration database for an output node with a home messaging switch'"'"'s registration database for a home node, by sending a confirm registration message to the home messaging switch, which in response sends a confirm registration reply that states whether its registration database indicates that the pager is registered in the output node'"'"'s area and, if so, whether the pager is believed to be available and whether the pager should receive service in the output node'"'"'s area; and

(i) having the output messaging switch respond to a confirm registration reply that states the pager is not registered at the output node'"'"'s area by performing a test to verify that the pager is still in the output node'"'"'s area and, if it is, re-registering the pager'"'"'s output node location with the home node and, if it is not, correcting the registration database for the output node.

11. In a paging system having a plurality of nodes and messaging switches, said nodes comprising home and output nodes, said messaging switches comprising home and output messaging switches, said nodes being located in said messaging switches, a subset of said output nodes representing base stations that can send and receive messages to and from pagers, a subset of said messaging switches having registration databases, said home messaging switches that have registration databases having pager records in their registration databases, a method of registering and controlling registration data for a pager in the paging system, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) programming a home identifier in said pager that can be converted into a home node address;

(b) sending a registration message from the pager that includes all or part of the home identifier to a base station;

(c) relaying from the base station the registration message to the output messaging switch that controls the base station;

(d) recording the pager in the registration database of the output messaging switch for the output node that represents the base station;

(e) verifying at the output messaging switch that the home node address or addresses that were converted in whole or in part from the home identifier are valid home node addresses and, if they are, sending a register location message to at least one of the home node addresses;

(f) receiving the register location message at the home messaging switch that includes the home node;

(g) verifying at the home messaging switch that a record for the pager exists in the home node'"'"'s registration database and, if it does, recording the present output node location of the pager;

(h) having the output messaging switch synchronize its registration database for an output node with a home messaging switch'"'"'s registration database for a home node, by sending a confirm registration message to the home messaging switch, which in response sends a confirm registration reply that states whether its registration database indicates that the pager is registered in the output node'"'"'s area and, if so, whether the pager is believed to be available and whether the pager should receive service in the output node'"'"'s area; and

(i) having the output messaging switch respond to a confirm registration reply that indicates that the availability status of the pager is different from the availability status indicated by the output messaging switch'"'"'s registration database for the output node, by performing a test to verify the availability status of the pager, and if the test indicates that the output messaging switch'"'"'s database for the output node is in error, correcting it, and if the test indicates that the home messaging switch'"'"'s registration database for the home node is in error, correcting it by sending a message to the home messaging switch'"'"'s registration database for the home node that indicates the pager'"'"'s availability status.

12. In a paging system having a plurality of messaging switches through which messages are sent to pagers, the messaging switches comprising home and output messaging switches, some of the messaging switches having registration databases, the home messaging switches having pager records in their registration databases, a method of controlling registration data for new and roaming pagers in the paging system, comprising the steps of:

(a) a messaging switch of a first type sending a find messaging switch of a second type with pager message to a group of messaging switches of a second type; and

(b) a messaging switch of the second type that has a record of the pager in its registration database responding to the find messaging switch of a second type with pager message;

wherein the first type of messaging switch is a home messaging switch and the second type of messaging switch is an output messaging switch and the response of the output messaging switch to the find output messaging switch with pager message is a find output messaging switch with pager response message that is sent to the home messaging switch and reveals the present output messaging switch location of the pager.

13. In a paging system having a plurality of messaging switches through which messages are sent to pagers, the messaging switches comprising home and output messaging switches, some of the messaging switches having registration databases, the home messaging switches having pager records in their registration databases, a method of controlling registration data for new and roaming pagers in the paging system, comprising the steps of:

(a) a messaging switch of a first type sending a find messaging switch of a second type with pager message to a group of messaging switches of a second type;

(b) a messaging switch of the second type that has a record of the pager in its registration database responding to the find messaging switch of a second type with pager message;

(c) having an output messaging switch synchronize its registration database with a home messaging switch'"'"'s registration database by sending a confirm registration message to the home messaging switch, the home messaging switch in response sending a confirm registration reply that includes information regarding the pager that is stored in the home messaging switch'"'"'s registration database; and

(d) having the output messaging switch determine whether the information from the home messaging switch'"'"'s registration database is the same as the information in the output messaging switch'"'"'s registration database and, if it is not, then confirming the information with the pager and correcting whichever registration database is in error.

14. In a paging system having a plurality of components through which messages are sent to pagers, some of the components having circuitry for transmitting signals to the pagers and some of the components having circuitry for receiving signals from the pagers, a method for determining a home component to send information to when a signal is received from a pager, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) storing a home identifier in the pager;

(b) having the pager transmit the home identifier to a component that receives signals from the pager;

(c) converting the home identifier into an address for the home component and sending information to the home component when signals are received from the pager; and

wherein the home component whose address is converted from the home identifier receives information as to the location of the pager when the home component is contacted; and

wherein the home component whose address is converted from the home identifier stores the information as to the location of the pager and uses the information to route future messages to the pager.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the home component is able to reprogram the home identifier that is stored in the pager by sending a set home identifier message to the component that receives signals from the pager, which instructs the component to reprogram the home identifier.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein a home component is specifically reserved for new pagers, and further comprising the step of programming a new pager'"'"'s home identifier to correspond to the home component that is specifically reserved for new pagers.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of having the home component that is specifically reserved for new pagers respond to a pager registering by sending a set home identifier message to the component that receives signals from the pager, which instructs the component to reprogram the home identifier so that it corresponds to another home component that will then service the pager.

18. In a paging system having a plurality of components through which messages are sent to pagers, some of the components having circuitry for transmitting signals to the pagers and some of the components having circuitry for receiving signals from the pagers, a method for determining a home component to send information to when a signal is received from a pager, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) storing a home identifier in the pager;

(b) having the pager transmit the whole home identifier or a part thereof to a component that receives signals from the pager;

(c) converting the whole or partial home identifier into one or several addresses for home components and searching the home components to determine the correct home component for the pager; and

(d) sending information regarding the pager to the correct home component for the pager when signals are received from the pager;

wherein the correct home component is sent information as to the location of the pager once the home identifier is transmitted from the pager; and

wherein the home component stores the information as to the location of the pager and uses the information to route future messages to the pager.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the home component is able to reprogram the home identifier that is stored in the pager by sending a set home identifier message to the component that receives signals from the pager, which instructs the component to reprogram the home identifier.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein a home component is specifically reserved for new pagers, and further comprising the step of programming a new pager'"'"'s home identifier to correspond to the home component that is specifically reserved for new pagers.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising the step of having the home component that is specifically reserved for new pagers respond to a pager registering by sending a set home identifier message to the component that receives signals from the pager, which instructs the component to reprogram the home identifier so that it corresponds to another home component that will then service the pager.