Method and configuration for monitoring communications links in a mobile radio system

• US 6,226,498 B1
• Filed: 03/20/2000
• Issued: 05/01/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cinterion Wireless Modules GmbH (Thales SA)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Gabe, Axel, Tschorn, Hans-Jurgen, Grohs, Jurgen, Iberl, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Trost, William G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): VU, QUANG D
• Application Number:
  US09/531,192
• Time in Patent Office: 407 Days
• Field of Search: 455/12.1, 455/427, 455/428, 455/429, 455/430, 455/450, 455/452, 455/410, 455/411, 455/560, 455/565, 455/423, 455/425, 455/67.1, 380/247
• US Class Current: 455/67.11
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/1408 by monitoring network traffic monitoring network traffic per se H04L43/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/30 for supporting lawful interception, monitoring or retaining of communications or communication related information circuit switched telephony call monitoring H04M3/2281
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/12 Detection or prevention of fraud

Abstract

A correspondence table is stored in a mobile switching center. In the correspondence table, at least one local area code for a geographical subarea is assigned to each authorization organization number of an authorization organization. Furthermore, a supervision file is stored in which a mobile subscriber number is entered for a mobile subscriber who is to be monitored. When an attempt is made to set up a connection from/to the mobile subscriber, the correspondence table is used to determine whether respective authorization organizations are authorized to monitor the communications link in the geographical subarea in which the mobile subscriber is located. A configuration for monitoring communications links is also provided.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring communications links, the method which comprises:

providing, in a mobile radio system, a mobile switching center connected to at least one of a further mobile switching center and a communications network;

assigning, with a radio network management device, radio resources to a communications link within a geographical subarea, the radio network management device being connected to a base station for transmitting and receiving information via the communications link to/from a mobile station of a mobile subscriber located in the geographical subarea;

storing a correspondence table in an interception unit of the mobile switching center, and assigning, in the correspondence table, a local area code of the geographical subarea to an authorization organization number of an authorization organization, the authorization organization being one of a regional, a national and an international authorization organization;

storing a supervision file in the interception unit, and entering, into the supervision file, an international mobile subscriber number for the mobile subscriber to be monitored by the authorization organization;

using the correspondence table for determining whether the authorization organization is authorized to monitor the communications link in the geographical subarea identified by the local area code, if an attempt to set up a connection from/to the mobile station of the mobile subscriber is made;

assigning the authorization organization number to the international mobile subscriber number in the supervision file when an authorization for monitoring exists; and

recording one of information transmitted from the mobile station and information received by the mobile station via the communications link.

2. The method according to claim 1, which comprises using an MC-LAC table as the correspondence table.

3. The method according to claim 1, which comprises switching and transmitting information recorded in the mobile switching center to the authorization organization identified by the authorization organization number when the communications link has been cleared.

4. The method according to claim 1, which comprises:

diverting information from the mobile switching center to the authorization organization identified by the authorization organization number; and

recording the information in a monitoring device in the authorization organization.

5. The method according to claim 1, which comprises initializing and administering parameters in the correspondence table and in the supervision file by an interception control center connected to the mobile switching center.

6. The method according to claim 1, which comprises determining the authorization for monitoring information on the communications link when the mobile subscriber enters a further geographical subarea.

7. The method according to claim 1, which comprises determining the authorization for monitoring information on the communications link periodically at given time intervals.

8. The method according to claim 1, which comprises storing, in the interception unit, at least one supervision report with subscriber-relevant and connection-relevant information for the international mobile subscriber number entered in the supervision file.

9. The method according to claim 1, which comprises:

transmitting a supervision report to the authorization organization; and

storing the supervision report in a storage device of the authorization organization.

10. The method according to claim 1, which comprises:

transmitting a supervision report to an interception control center; and

storing the supervision report in a storage device of the interception control center.

11. The method according to claim 1, which comprises determining the authorization for monitoring the communications link for a most recently known local area code when no local area code can be assigned to the mobile subscriber.

12. The method according to claim 1, which comprises:

using a satellite-based mobile radio system as the mobile radio system;

using a satellite mobile switching center as the mobile switching center;

transmitting and receiving radio signals to/from a satellite via an earth terminal controller; and

supplying, with the satellite, a geographical area with the radio resources.

13. The method according to claim 1, which comprises:

assigning, in the correspondence table, a plurality of local area codes of the geographical subarea to respective authorization organization numbers of the authorization organization; and

assigning given ones of the authorization organization numbers to the international mobile subscriber number in the supervision file when the authorization for monitoring exists.

14. A configuration for monitoring communications links in a mobile radio system, comprising:

a mobile switching center to be connected to at least one of a further mobile switching center and a communications network;

a radio network management device connected to said mobile switching center, said radio network management device assigning radio resources to a communications link within a geographical subarea;

a base station to be connected to a base station controller for transmitting and receiving information via the communications link to/from a mobile station of a mobile subscriber;

an interception unit associated with said mobile switching center;

said interception unit having a correspondence table storage for storing a correspondence table, said correspondence table assigning a local area code of the geographical subarea to an authorization organization number of an authorization organization;

said interception unit having a supervision file storage for storing a supervision file containing an international mobile subscriber number entered for the mobile subscriber to be monitored by the authorization organization; and

a monitoring device, connected to said mobile switching center, for recording one of information transmitted from the mobile station and information received by the mobile station via the communications link.

15. The configuration according to claim 14, including an interception control center connected to said mobile switching center and to be connected to the authorization organization, said interception control center initializing and administering parameters in said correspondence table and in said supervision file.

16. The configuration according to claim 14, wherein said monitoring device is provided in said mobile switching center.

17. The configuration according to claim 14, wherein said monitoring device is to be provided in the authorization organization, the authorization organization being one of a regional, national and international authorization organization.

18. The configuration according to claim 14, wherein said interception unit stores a supervision report having subscriber-relevant and connection-relevant information for the international mobile subscriber number entered in said supervision file.

19. The configuration according to claim 18, including a storage device to be provided in the authorization organization, said interception unit transmitting the supervision report to said storage device for storing the supervision report in said storage device.

20. The configuration according to claim 15, including a storage device provided said interception control center for storing a supervision report having subscriber-relevant and connection-relevant information for the international mobile subscriber number.

21. The configuration according to claim 14, including a data base subscriber connected to said mobile switching center, said data base subscriber storing the local area code of the geographical subarea of the mobile station.

22. In a satellite-based mobile radio system having a satellite for supplying a geographical area with radio resources and an earth terminal controller, a configuration for monitoring communications links, comprising:

a satellite mobile switching center for transmitting and receiving radio signals to/from the satellite via the earth terminal controller, said satellite mobile switching center to be connected to at least one of a further satellite mobile switching center and a communications networks;

an interception unit associated with said satellite mobile switching center;

said interception unit having a correspondence table storage for storing a correspondence table, said correspondence table assigning a local area code of a geographical subarea to an authorization organization number of an authorization organization;

said interception unit having a supervision file storage for storing a supervision file containing an international mobile subscriber number entered for a mobile subscriber to be monitored by the authorization organization; and

a monitoring device, connected to said satellite mobile switching center, for recording one of information transmitted from the mobile station and information received by the mobile station via the communications link.