Method and communication network for administering subscriber data, particularly service data

• US 6,600,923 B1
• Filed: 10/28/1999
• Issued: 07/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nokia Solutions and Networks GmbH & Co. KG (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Dzuban, Stanislav
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne
• Assistant Examiner(s): Trinh, Sonny
• Application Number:
  US09/423,020
• Time in Patent Office: 1,370 Days
• Field of Search: 455/433, 455/435, 455/437, 455/414, 455/415, 455/417, 455/445, 455/432, 455/461, 455/412, 455/403, 455/550, 455/560
• US Class Current: 455/433
• 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

The method and the communication network according to the subject matter of the invention for administering subscriber data provides that an interface (HaHb-IF) via which information (FM, B#) for selecting outside subscriber data can be transmitted is respectively established between one'"'"'s own memory unit (HLRa) responsible for a subscriber (A) and another memory unit (HLRb). The interface implemented between one'"'"'s own memory unit and another memory unit not only enables a communication connection to one'"'"'s own memory unit for the subscriber in a simple way but also enables a communication connection therefrom to another, central data base having outside subscriber data. Thus, the information—in a container message on the basis of a subscriber self-input for a specific service (follow me)—can thus be forwarded to the outside memory unit in order to select the subscriber data of the other subscriber—to have the service data of this service registered for the other subscriber in his memory unit.

Claims

1. A method for administering subscriber data for network subscribers of a first communication network, comprising:

providing network switching equipment accessible by a plurality of network subscribers via communication terminal equipment and communicable with a second network;

storing network subscriber data of said network subscribers in the first network in a first memory unit of a first central database accessible by said network switching equipment and by said network subscribers via said network switching equipment;

storing network subscriber data of second network subscribers in a second memory unit of a second central database accessible by said network switching equipment and by said second network subscribers via said network switching equipment; and

establishing, upon a self-entered request to said communication terminal equipment from said network subscriber in the first network, an interface between said first memory unit and said second memory unit via which information for selecting said second network subscriber data are transmitted.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting said information for selecting subscriber data in the second network in a container message between said first memory unit and said second memory unit.

3. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a message by said first memory unit; and

recognizing from said message, by said first memory unit, said interface via which said information are to be transmitted to said second memory unit.

4. A method according to claim 3, further comprising:

forwarding said received message unmodifies in a container message.

5. A method according to claim 3, further comprising:

modifying said received message by said first memory unit, wherein said modifying encompasses complete replacement; and

transmitting said modified received message in a container message.

6. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting synchronization information about the synchronization of said network subscriber data in the first network from said first memory unit to said second memory unit on said interface.

7. A method according to claim 6, further comprising:

administering service data of a service relating to a plurality of subscribers in a plurality of memory units; and

synchronizing said plurality of memory units with one another by information transmitted on said respective interfaces.

8. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

co-transmitting an access authorization for the access of said first memory unit to said subscriber data of said second memory unit.

9. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

identifying reachable subscribers by interrogating said network subscriber data of the first network and said network subscriber data of the second network in said first memory unit and said second memory unit via said interfaces; and

forwarding an incoming call in said first network that is directed to a group of subscribers to said identified reachable subscribers.

10. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

selecting a service by said subscriber by subscriber self-input;

sending selected service information to said first memory unit, which signals that communication connections relating to said subscriber of the second network are to be forwarded to said subscriber;

determining by said first memory unit, that said subscriber in the second network is registered in said second memory unit;

sending selected service information via said interface; and

registering said selected service information in said second memory unit for said subscriber in the second network.

11. A method according to claim 10, further comprising:

transmitting said selected service information for identifying said second memory unit responsible for said subscriber in the second network, by said communication terminal equipment to said first network.

12. A method according to claim 10, further comprising:

transmitting said selected service information in said first network together with both

an other identification information for identifying said second memory unit responsible for said subscriber in the second network and,

an identification information for identifying said first memory unit responsible for said subscriber effecting said subscriber self-input.

13. A method according to claim 11, whereby a subscriber telephone number of a subscriber is sent as identification information.

14. A method according to claim 10, further comprising:

sending, by a switching equipment at which a call intended for said subscriber of the second network arrives, a connection setup request message to said second memory unit; and

receiving, as a response message said selected service information about said registered service together with an identification information for identifying said subscriber to whom said call is to be forwarded.

15. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

forming said first memory unit and said second memory unit respectively by a first home register and a second home register for administering first subscriber data of a first mobile subscriber, and second subscriber data of an second mobile subscriber, respectively, of a mobile radio telephone network.

16. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

forming said first memory unit and said second memory unit respectively by a service control point for administering said first subscriber data and said second subscriber data of a communication network supporting the structure of an intelligent network.

17. A method according to claim 16, further comprising:

requesting, by said service control point, said second memory unit to communication routing information that identifies an other service control point to which selected service information and both identification information and other identification for a selection of said second subscriber data are to be sent.

18. A first communication network for administering subscriber data for registered subscribers, comprising:

network switching equipment accessible by a plurality of network subscribers via communication terminal equipment and communicable with a second network;

a first memory unit of a first central database for registering and storing first network subscriber data accessible by said network switching equipment and by first network subscribers via said network switching equipment;

a second memory unit of a second central database for registering and storing second network subscriber data accessible by said network switching equipment and by second network subscribers via said network switching equipment;

self-entered request data, entered by said first subscriber to said first memory unit via said communication terminal equipment, which allows administration of said first subscriber data; and

an interface established between said first memory unit and said second memory unit via which information for selecting said second network subscriber data are transmitted.

19. A first communication network according to claim 18, comprising:

a controller is said first memory unit for sending information for a synchronization of said first subscriber data to said second memory unit via said interface.

20. A first communication network according to claim 18, comprising:

a transmitter used for sending subscriber service information about a service for a subscriber to said first memory unit that is selected by said first subscriber by said self-entered request data and that signals that the communication connections relating to said second subscriber are to be forwarded to said first subscriber;

a controller in said first memory unit used for determining that said second subscriber is registered in said second memory unit;

a memory store in said second memory unit used for registering a second subscriber service information about a service for said second subscriber received via said interface.

21. A first communication network according to claim 18, comprising:

home registers as memory units for the administration of mobile subscribers of a mobile radio telephone network.

22. A first communication network according to claim 18, comprising:

service control points as memory units for administering said first subscriber data of said first subscribers of a second communication network supporting the structure of an intelligent network.