System and method for providing access to value added services for roaming users of mobile telephones

• US 6,925,299 B1
• Filed: 05/05/1999
• Issued: 08/02/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Starhome GmbH
• Original Assignee: Starhome GmbH
• Inventors: Wolfman, Shlomo, Sofer, Carmel
• Primary Examiner(s): EWART, JAMES D
• Application Number:
  US09/674,639
• Time in Patent Office: 2,281 Days
• Field of Search: 455/411, 455413-417, 455432-433, 455/435, 455/445, 455/412.1, 455/412.2, 455/426, 379/67.1, 379/88.18, 379/88.22, 379/219, 379229-230
• US Class Current: 455/414.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements

Abstract

A system for providing a roaming subscriber with access to services available in a first telephone network, when the subscriber is roaming in a second telephone network, includes a packet-switched network connecting the first telephone network with the second telephone network. Signals required for the services are transmitted between the first telephone network and the second telephone network via the packet-switched network.

Claims

1. A system for providing a roaming subscriber with access to services available in a first telephone network via a voice connection, said subscriber roaming in a second telephone network, the system comprising:

a first service node for association with said first mobile telephone network,

a second service node for association with said second mobile telephone network,

a packet-switch network for connecting said first service node with said second service node,

said first and said second service nodes being configured to establish a signaling connection from said roaming mobile subscriber to a requested one of said services in said first mobile telephone network and to exchange signals required for said services between said first mobile network and said second telephone network via said packet switch network thereby to support said substantially seamless access, said signals comprising at least a subscriber identification signal to be transferred from said first telephone network to said second telephone network via said packet-switch network for reassociation with said voice connection whilst said voice connection is live.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein said first telephone network is one of a group including:

a mobile telephone network, a fixed telephone network, a Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) network, a Time Divisions Multiple Access (TDMA) network, a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) network, an IS-41 network, and a private branch exchange (PBX).

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein said second telephone network is one of a group including:

a mobile telephone network, a fixed telephone network, a Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) network, a Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) network, a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) network, an IS-41 network, and a private branch exchange (PBX).

4. A system according to claim 1, further comprising a passive System Signaling Number 7 (SS7) monitor for monitoring SS7 signals and triggering the provision of access to at least one of said services when one of a group of predetermined SS7 signals has been detected.

5. A system according to claim 4, wherein said predetermined SS7 signals are Mobile Application Part (MAP) messages.

6. A system according to claim 5, wherein said messages are from a group including:

short messages and location updates.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein:

said first service node is configured for transmitting said signals between said first telephone network and said packet-switch network; and

said second service node is configured for transmitting said signals between said packet-switch network and said second telephone network.

8. A system according to claim 7, wherein said second service node transmits dial tone multi-frequency (DTMF) signals substantially concurrently with the creation of a voice path connecting said first telephone network with said second telephone network, and said first service node synchronizes said DTMF signals with said voice path.

9. A system according to claim 7, wherein said subscriber uses a short code dependent upon the location of said subscriber to access said second service node.

10. A system according to claim 7, wherein said first service node instructs said second service node via said packet-switch network to generate and send a short message.

11. A system according to claim 7, further comprising:

a user profile of said subscriber, said user profile comprising at least a subscriber calling line identification (CLI),

wherein said subscriber CLI is required for access to said services.

12. A system according to claim 11, wherein said second service node receives said subscriber CLI from DTMF signals sent by said subscriber.

13. A system according to claim 11, wherein said second service node receives a second CLI from said second telephone network and said second CLI is associated with said subscriber CLI.

14. A system according to claim 11, wherein said second service node creates a voice path connecting said second telephone network with said first telephone network using a second CLI of said second service node, and wherein said first service node replaces with second CLI with said subscriber CLI when accessing one of said services.

15. A system according to claim 1, wherein said services include voice message notification.

16. A system according to claim 1, wherein said services include voice message retrieval.

17. A system according to claim 14, wherein said subscriber is enabled to use a short code dependent on the location of said subscriber to access said second service node.

18. A system according to claim 14, wherein said first service node is operable to instruct said second service node via said packet-switch network to generate and send a short message.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein said first mobile telephone network comprises any one of a group comprising a global system for mobile communications (GSM) network, a time division multiple access (TDMA) network, a code division multiple access (CDMA) network, an IS-41 network and a private branch exchange (PBX), and said second mobile telephone network comprises any other of said group.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein:

said first mobile telephone network comprises any one of a group comprising a global system for mobile communications (GSM) network, a time division multiple access (TDMA) network, a code division multiple access (CDMA) network, an IS-41 network and a private branch exchange (PBX),

said second mobile telephone network comprises any one of said group, but either one of said first mobile telephone network and said second mobile telephone network is not a GSM network.

21. A method for providing a roaming subscriber at a remote telephone network with access to services available in a first telephone network, the method comprising the steps of:

attaching a first node to said first telephone network, wherein a second node is connected to said remote telephone network, and

making a live voice connection between said roaming subscriber and a requested one of said services located in said first telephone network, and a signaling connection between said first and said second node using a packet-switch network, thereby to support transfer of a subscriber identifying signal between said roaming subscriber and said requested service via said packet-switch network for reassociation with said live voice connection to said services, thereby to render said at least one of said services available with voice operation to said roaming subscriber.

22. A method according to claim 21, wherein said first telephone network is one of a group including:

a mobile telephone network, a fixed telephone network, a Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) network, a Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) network, a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) network, an IS-41 network, and a private branch exchange (PBX).

23. A method according to claim 21, wherein said second telephone network is one of a group including:

a mobile telephone network, a fixed telephone network, a Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) network, a Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) network, a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) network, an IS-41 network, and a private branch exchange (PBX).

24. A method according to claim 21, further comprising the steps of:

monitoring SS7 signals; and

upon detection of one of a group of predetermined SS7 signals, triggering the provision of access to at least one of said services.

25. A method according to claim 24, wherein said predetermined SS7 signals are Mobile Application Part (MAP) messages.

26. A method according to claim 25, wherein said messages are from a group including:

short messages and location updates.

27. A method according to claim 21, further comprising the steps of:

transferring dial tone multi-frequency (DTMF) signals over said packet-switch network;

substantially concurrently with said step of transferring, creating a voice path connecting said first telephone network with said second telephone network; and

synchronizing said DTMF signals with said voice path.

28. A method according to claim 21, further comprising the step of:

using a short code dependent upon the location of said subscriber to access one of said services.

29. A method according to claim 21, further comprising the step of:

accessing said services using a subscriber calling line identification (CLI) stored in a user profile of said subscriber.

30. A method according to claim 29;

further comprising the step of receiving said subscriber CLI from DTMF signals sent by said subscriber.

31. A method according to claim 29, further comprising the step of receiving a second CLI from said second telephone network, wherein said second CLI is associated with said subscriber CLI.

32. A method according to claim 29, further comprising the steps of:

creating a voice path connecting said second telephone network with said first telephone network using a second CLI; and

replacing said second CLI with said subscriber CLI when accessing one of said services.

33. A method according to claim 21, wherein said services include voice message notification.

34. A method according to claim 21, wherein said services include voice message retrieval.

35. The method of claim 21, wherein said first mobile telephone network comprises any one of a group comprising a global system for mobile communications (GSM) network, a time division multiple access (TDMA) network, a code division multiple access (CDMA) network, an IS-41 network and a private branch exchange (PBX), and said second mobile telephone network comprises any other of said group.