System and method for controlling and monitoring a wireless roaming call

• US 7,079,849 B2
• Filed: 12/09/2002
• Issued: 07/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/29/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Freedom Wireless Incorporated (Freedom Wireless)
• Original Assignee: VeriSign, Inc.
• Inventors: Hanson, Daniel A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cumming, William D.
• Application Number:
  US10/314,386
• Publication Number:
  US 20030083067A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,317 Days
• Field of Search: 455/433, 455/406, 455/405, 455/408, 455/432, 455/456.1
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/31 Distributed metering or calculation of charges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8038 Roaming or handoff
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/88 Provision for limiting connection, or expenditure
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0116 Provision for limiting expenditure, e.g. limit on call expenses or account
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/34 Roaming
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7442 Roaming
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/96 Distributed calculation of charges, e.g. in different nodes like for mobiles between HLR and VLR, or between the terminal and the billing function
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• 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 8/12 between location registers or mobility servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/18 Service support devices; Network management devices

Abstract

A Roaming Solution network system may include a Roaming Server, a National Location Register, and an 800 number Remote Switching Unit. The system is integrated with a standard SS7 type telecommunications network and further coupled to an account based billing and call control platform that allows registered wireless credit limited subscribers to place and receive calls when roaming outside of their Home Provider'"'"'s network. The system verifies that the wireless subscriber'"'"'s account balance is sufficient to place or receive the call, translates the account balance into talk minutes, and monitors the call for talk duration. The Roaming Solution network system is further operable such that if the wireless subscriber exceeds the available account balance, the system tears down the call in the first negative minute and immediately decrements the wireless subscriber'"'"'s account. If the call is disconnected prior to the account balance being depleted, the system immediately decrements the wireless subscriber'"'"'s account and releases the trunks. This Roaming Solution network system is designed to mitigate a Home Provider'"'"'s exposure to credit risk when providing roaming services to credit limited subscribers.

Claims

1. A wireless telecommunication network roaming method, comprising:

receiving an incoming roaming call at a home mobile switching center;

verifying that an account balance associated with a roaming subscriber is sufficient to receive the roaming call;

delivering the roaming call to the roaming subscriber, including;

receiving a temporary local dialed number associated with the roaming subscriber from a roaming server,

extending the roaming call from the home mobile switching center to a serving mobile switching center using the temporary local dialed number,

receiving the extended roaming call at the serving mobile switching center and,

routing the roaming call from the serving mobile switching center to the roaming subscriber;

translating the account balance into a maximum call duration;

while monitoring the roaming call;

timing the roaming call to create a call duration, and

disconnecting the roaming call if the call duration exceeds the maximum call duration; and

after the roaming call is disconnected, decrementing the account balance based on the call duration.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said decrementing the account balance based on the call duration includes:

translating the call duration into a call amount; and

subtracting the call amount from the account balance.

3. A wireless telecommunication network roaming method, comprising:

receiving a roaming call origination request at a serving mobile switch center, the roaming call origination request including a called party and a mobile identification number;

verifying that an account balance associated with a roaming subscriber is sufficient to place a roaming call;

placing the roaming call, including;

receiving a dialed number associated with a call origination switch from a roaming server,

extending the roaming call to the call origination switch using the dialed number and,

setting up the roaming call to the called party at the call origination switch;

translating the account balance into a maximum call duration;

while monitoring the roaming call;

timing the roaming call to create a call duration, and

disconnecting the roaming call if the call duration exceeds the maximum call duration; and

after the roaming call is disconnected, decrementing the account balance based on the call duration.

13. The method of claim 3, wherein said decrementing the account balance based on the call duration includes:

translating the call duration into a call amount; and

subtracting the call amount from the account balance.

4. A wireless telecommunications system, comprising:

a billing switch, coupled to a home mobile switching center having a home location register, adaptively configured to disconnect a roaming call if a call duration exceeds a maximum call duration;

a call origination switch, coupled to a serving mobile switching center having a visitor location register, adaptively configured to disconnect the roaming call if the call duration exceeds the maximum call duration;

a national location register, coupled to the home location register and the visitor location register, adaptively configured to;

intercept messages exchanged between the home location register and the visitor location register,

provide subscriber location information to the home location register, and

provide subscriber profile information to the visitor location register; and

a roaming server, coupled to the billing switch, the call origination switch and the national location register, adaptively configured to;

provide a temporary local dialed number associated with a roaming subscriber to the billing switch;

provide a dialed number associated with the call origination switch to the serving mobile switching center;

provide a called party number associated with the roaming call and a mobile identification number associated with the roaming subscriber to the call origination switch.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the billing switch is coupled to the market server.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein:

the national location register is coupled to the visitor location register via a first SS7 link; and

the national location register is coupled to the home location register via a second SS7 link.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the intercepted messages includes subscriber location messages sent from the visitor location register over the first SS7 link.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the intercepted messages includes subscriber profile information sent from the home location register over the second SS7 link.

9. The system of claim 4, wherein the subscriber location information includes a mobile switching center identification.

10. The system of claim 4, wherein the subscriber location information includes a location area identification.

11. The system of claim 4, wherein the subscriber profile information includes a roaming authorization.

12. The system of claim 4, wherein the subscriber profile information includes roaming cost information.