Data handling system

• US 6,968,188 B2
• Filed: 02/08/2001
• Issued: 11/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Orange S.A.
• Original Assignee: Orange Personal Communications Services Limited (BT Group PLC)
• Inventors: Eales, Michael David, O'Neill, Dominic Desmond Phelim
• Primary Examiner(s): D AGOSTA, STEPHEN M
• Application Number:
  US10/182,510
• Publication Number:
  US 20030083065A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,748 Days
• Field of Search: 455/433, 455/445, 455/424, 455/560, 709/208, 709/223, 714/13, 714/2
• US Class Current: 455/433
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/04 Arrangements for maintaining operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/04 Registration at HLR or HSS [Home Subscriber Server]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/24 between backbone network devices

Abstract

In order to store data in a mobile telecommunications system, a data storage unit (HLR) has data functions (72, 74) providing data redundancy therebetween, control functions (79, 80) and signalling point (30, 31, 32) to enable the data storage unit to pass data to and from a mobile telecommunications network under the control of the control function. The control functions are physically separate from the data functions. The data functions (72, 74) may operate on the basis that one has a primary data function, a second has a primary standby function to achieve synchronised updating. The use of separate and hence distributed functions enables greater flexibility in the retrieval of data from the data storage unit (HLR).

Claims

1. A data storage unit for a mobile telecommunications system comprising at least two data functions, providing data redundancy therebetween, at least two control functions, and transfer means for enabling the data storage unit to pass data to and from a mobile telecommunications network, the at least two control functions each having arranged to control the passing of data between both of said at least two data functions and said transfer means and to control updating of at least one of the data functions, wherein the at least two control functions are physically separate from the at least two data functions;

wherein;

said at least two data functions comprise a first data function being a primary data function, and a second data function having a primary standby data function, the primary data function being arranged to generate signals under control of either of said two control functions for synchronized updating of all of said data functions, and the primary standby data function being arranged to generate signals under control of either of said two control functions for synchronized updating of all of said data functions in the event of a failure to said primary data function; and

each of said at least two control functions comprises a first sub-function linking to said transfer means and a second sub-function linking to said at least two data functions and to said first sub-function.

2. A data storage unit according to claim 1, further including at least two further data functions providing data redundancy therebetween, the at least two control functions each being arranged to control the passing of data between both of said at least two data functions and said transfer means.

3. A data storage unit according to claim 1, wherein said transfer means comprises a plurality of transfer points each connected to each of said at least two control functions, each of said transfer points being able to pass data to and from unit mobile telecommunications network.

4. A data storage unit according to claim 1 having a home location register.

5. A mobile telecommunications system comprising a mobile telecommunications network and a data storage unit according to claim 1 linked to said mobile communications network by said transfer means.

6. A data storage unit for a mobile telecommunications system comprising at least two data functions, providing data redundancy therebetween, at least two control functions, and transfer means for enabling the data storage unit to pass data to and from a mobile telecommunications network, the at least two control functions each having arranged to control the passing of data between both of said at least two data functions and said transfer means and to control updating of at least one of the data functions, wherein the at least two control functions are physically separate from the at least two data functions, functions;

wherein;

said at least two data functions comprise a first data function being a primary data function, and a second data function having a primary standby data function, the primary data function being arranged to generate signals under control of either of said two control functions for synchronized updating of all of said data functions, and the primary standby data function being arranged to generate signals under control of either of said two control functions for synchronized updating of all of said data functions in the event of a failure to said primary data function; and

said transfer means comprises a plurality of transfer points each connected to each of said at least two control functions, each of said transfer points being able to pass data to and from unit mobile telecommunications network.

7. A data storage unit according to claim 6, further including at least two further data functions providing data redundancy therebetween, the at least two control functions each being arranged to control the passing of data between both of said at least two data functions and said transfer means.

8. A data storage unit according to claim 6, wherein each of said at least two control functions comprises a first sub-function linking to said transfer means and a second sub-function linking to said at least two data functions and to said first sub-function.

9. A data storage unit according to claim 6 having a home location register.

10. A mobile telecommunications system comprising a mobile telecommunications network and a data storage unit according to claim 6 linked to said mobile communications network by said transfer means.