Method for routing messages in a telecommunications network

• US 6,987,969 B1
• Filed: 10/18/1999
• Issued: 01/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: E-Plus Service GmbH (Telefonica SA)
• Original Assignee: E-Plus Service GmbH (Telefonica SA)
• Inventors: Müller, Christian, Reich, Michael, Hüwels, Armin, Brünig, Roger, Sundermann, Ulrich, Dierkes, Katharina
• Primary Examiner(s): APPIAH, CHARLES NANA
• Application Number:
  US09/868,746
• Time in Patent Office: 2,283 Days
• Field of Search: 455/466, 455/435.1, 455/435.2, 455/433, 4554321-4323, 455/445, 455/412.1, 455/412.2, 455/413
• US Class Current: 455/433
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/005 Personal communication services, e.g. provisions for portability of subscriber numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/12 between location registers or mobility servers
• 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

A Network Address Register (NAR) is a routing device for use in a GSM telephone system. The NAR receives network messages and determines the network address of the appropriate network elements (network items) that is the destination of the message. The NAR allows subscribers and network elements of the GSM telephone system to be assigned independently. Existing methods of assigning subscribers and network elements using fixed association, such as telephone number blocks, are eliminated.

Claims

1. A network address register for use in a telephone switching network to route messages, comprising:

a database comprising subscriber-specific data and network item addresses; and

a network address register that receives from a first network item a network message, determines a network item address for the network message as a function of the subscriber-specific data in the message using the database, and transmits the network message to a network address of a second network item, wherein the network address register transmits the network address of the second network item to the first network item and establishes a traffic channel with the second network item, wherein the first network item comprises a mobile services switching center, the second network item comprises a voice mail service center, and the subscriber-specific data comprises an mobile station ISDN number, wherein the traffic channel comprises a voice channel to a voice mailbox, and wherein the network address register receives the mobile station ISDN number from the voice mail service center and determines a network address of the second network item as a function of the mobile station ISDN number, wherein the second network item comprises a home location register.

2. The network address register of claim 1, wherein the network address register is capable of being used in a Global System for Mobile Communications network.

3. The network address register of claim 2, wherein the subscriber-specific data further comprises one or more elements selected from the group consisting of:

international mobile subscriber identity, and international mobile equipment identity.

4. The network address register of claim 2, wherein the second network item further comprises one or more elements selected from the group consisting of:

an authentication center, equipment identity register, and service control point.

5. The network address register of claims 2, wherein the network address register returns routing information to a network item that sent the network message.

6. The network address register of claim 2, wherein the database comprises an association between the subscriber-specific data and network item addresses such that the network item addresses are independent of block numbering ranges.

7. The network address register of claim 6, wherein the association between the subscriber-specific data and network item addresses is configurable.

8. A method of routing messages in a Global System for Mobile Communications switching network, comprising:

receiving a network message having subscriber-specific data at a network address register from a first network item;

determining at the network address register a network address of a second network item as a function of the subscriber-specific data, wherein the second network item replies directly to the first network item; and

transmitting the network message to the network address of a second network item, and further comprising;

transmitting the network address of the second network item to the first network item;

establishing a traffic channel with the second network item, wherein the first network item comprises a mobile services switching center, the second network item comprises a voice mail service center, and the subscriber-specific data comprises an mobile station ISDN number, wherein the traffic channel comprises a voice channel to a voice mailbox;

transmitting the mobile station ISDN number from the voice mail service center to the network address register; and

determining in the network address register a network address of the second network item as a function of the mobile station ISDN number, wherein the second network item comprises a home location register.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first network item comprises a mobile services switching center, and the subscriber-specific data comprises an international mobile subscriber identity.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the subscriber-specific data further comprises a mobile station ISDN number.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

transmitting an international mobile equipment identity of a portable radio device from the mobile services switching center to the network address register; and

determining in the network address register the address of the service control point as a function of the international mobile equipment identity.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving an international mobile subscriber identity from the mobile services switching center at the network address register;

determining in the network address register the address of the authentication center as a function of the international mobile subscriber identity; and

providing authentication of the international mobile subscriber identity to the mobile services switching center.