Method and system for connecting subscribers participating in several telecommunication networks under one telephone number

• US 7,184,782 B1
• Filed: 06/09/1998
• Issued: 02/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile Deutschland GmbH (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: T-Mobile Deutschland GmbH (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Gottschalk, Hubertus, Ljungstrom, Patrik
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild; Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): Doan; Phuoc
• Application Number:
  US09/445,665
• Time in Patent Office: 3,185 Days
• Field of Search: 455/414.1, 455/417, 455/426.1, 455/432.1, 455/432.3, 455/433, 455/435.1, 455/445, 455/461, 455/414, 379/201.01, 379/201.02, 379/211.02, 379/211.01, 379/212.01, 379/219, 379/220.01, 379/221.02, 379/221.01, 37922108-22111, 379/221.12, 379/221.13
• US Class Current: 455/461
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/005 Personal communication services, e.g. provisions for portability of subscriber numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/28 Number portability ; Network address portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and system for connecting subscribers participating in several telecommunication networks under one telephone number. The invention is characterized in that the subscriber data are stored in at least one telecommunication network and made available to the other telecommunication networks on request. To this end the invention provides for at least one of the telecommunication networks to have a data bank shared by all participating telecommunication networks.

Claims

1. A method for connecting subscribers in a plurality of telecommunication networks under one dial number, wherein at least one of the telecommunication networks is a mobile radio communication network and at least one additional telecommunication network is a digital intelligent wireline network, comprising the steps of

storing and administering the subscriber data in a home database (HDB) of at least one of the telecommunication networks;

and

making the subscriber data available to the other telecommunication networks upon request, and wherein the home database (HDB) assumes the tasks of a home location register (HLR) and an intelligent network system (INS);

wherein the home location register (HLR) and the intelligent network system (INS) are not coupled with each other and assume separate functions.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein both the home location register (HLR) and the intelligent network system (INS) communicate with exchanges of the mobile radio telecommunication network as well as with the exchanges of the wireline network via a MAP interface.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein a subscriber profile of the home location register (HLR) and the visitor location register (VLR) of the mobile radio telecommunication network is expanded in such a way that the existing services of the wireline network can be mapped.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein signaling between terminals and the exchanges of the wireline network is performed via a control channel (D-channel) augmented by mobility functions (α

-interface).

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the functions of the mobility management of the mobile radio communication network are extended to the wireline network.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein a MAP implementation with interworking to the α

-interface is performed in the exchanges (M-TVSt) of the wireline network.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the terminal of the subscriber is connected to the wireline network via the home base station (HBS).

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the terminal of the subscriber is connected to the wireline network via cordless base stations (DECT).

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein with inscription over the wireline network, the location of the subscriber is transmitted through MAP signaling to the home database (HDB) and registered therein.

16. The method according to claim 1, wherein the mobile radio communication network is a GSM mobile radio communication network.

10. A method for connecting subscribers in a plurality of telecommunication networks under one dial number, wherein at least one of the telecommunication networks is a mobile radio communication network and at least one additional telecommunication network is a digital intelligent wireline network, comprising the steps of

storing and administering the subscriber data in a home database (HDB) of at least one of the telecommunication networks;

and

making the subscriber data available to the other telecommunication networks upon request, wherein the home database (HDB) is implemented as a Service Data Point (SDP) which assumes the tasks of a HOME Location Register (HLR) and a Service Control Function (SCF), wherein the Home Location Register (HLR) and the Service Control Function (SCF) are not coupled with each other and assume separate functions.

17. The method according to claim 10, wherein the mobile radio communication network is a GSM mobile radio communication network.

11. A system for connecting subscribers in a plurality of telecommunication networks under one dial number, wherein at least one of the telecommunication networks is a mobile radio communication network and at least one additional telecommunication network is a digital intelligent wireline network, wherein for the plurality of telecommunication network there is provided at least one common Home Database (HDB) in at least one of the telecommunication networks, wherein the Home Database (HDB) comprises two separate data points, the home location register (HLR) of the mobile network and an intelligent network system (INS), wherein the home location register (HLR) and the intelligent network system (INS) are not coupled with each other and assume separate functions.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein a respective visitor data base (VDB) is arranged in an exchange of the telephone network and wherein the visitor data base (VDB) communicates with the home data base (HDB) and relevant portions of the subscriber data are temporarily administered in the visitor database.

15. The system according to claim 11, wherein the mobile radio communication network is a GSM mobile radio communication network.

13. A system for connecting subscribers in a plurality of telecommunication networks under one dial number, wherein at least one of the telecommunication networks is a mobile radio communication network and at least one additional telecommunication network is a digital intelligent wireline network, and wherein for the plurality of telecommunication network there is provided at least one common Home Database (HDB) in at least one of the telecommunication networks, wherein the Home Database (HDB) is implemented as a Service Data Point (SDP) which comprises a Home Location Function (HLF) and a Service Control Function (SCF), wherein the Home Location Function (HLF) and the Service Control function (SCF) are not coupled with each other and assume separate functions.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein a telecommunication terminal is a mobile terminal which supports at least one of a GSM standard and a DECT standard.

18. The system according to claim 13, wherein the mobile radio communication network is a GSM mobile radio communication network.