Signaling and packet relay method and system including general packet radio service (“GPRS”)

• US 7,664,494 B2
• Filed: 02/13/2004
• Issued: 02/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mobileum, Incorporated fka Roamware
• Original Assignee: Mobileum, Incorporated fka Roamware
• Inventors: Jiang, Yue Jun
• Primary Examiner(s): Eng; George
• Assistant Examiner(s): MANOHARAN, MUTHUSWAMY GANAPATHY
• Application Number:
  US10/778,861
• Publication Number:
  US 20040224680A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,195 Days
• Field of Search: 455/433, 455/432.2, 455/435.1, 455/432.1, 370/338, 370/331
• US Class Current: 455/432.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/12 Setup of transport tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/20 Manipulation of established connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/08 Mobility data transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/14 Backbone network devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/184 Messaging devices, e.g. message centre
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

A method and system for roaming mobile communications between networks is described. One embodiment includes a plurality of messages from a home network subscriber device that is device is roaming outside the home network. A communications link is established with a destination network, including modifying at least one of the messages such that the message appears to the destination network to originate from a partner network of the destination network. Both voice and data are transmitted via the communications link.

Claims

1. A method for inbound roaming wireless communication from a home network to a destination network related to a sponsoring network, comprising:

receiving a plurality of messages at the destination network from a home network subscriber device, wherein the device is roaming into the destination network;

establishing a communications link with the destination network;

modifying at least one of the plurality of messages, wherein the modifying includes using a signal gateway to trap at least one of the plurality of messages and modify a parameter associated with the at least one of the plurality of messages so that the modified message appears to the home network as originating from a sponsoring network based on the at least one modified parameter; and

transmitting over the communications link at feast one selected from a group consisting of voice and data;

wherein the modifying further comprises encapsulating the at least one of the plurality of messages in a forward short message service (FSMS) message at a first signaling and packet relay system (SPRS) node and transmitting the encapsulated message to a second SPRS node, different from the first SPRS node,

wherein the destination network is a sponsored network of the sponsoring network to support inbound roaming, and

wherein the modification of parameters include at least one of mapping of visit addresses in the sponsored network and sponsoring network addresses, and mapping of home addresses in other operator networks and sponsoring network addresses.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of messages include a GPRS session message.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising routing the plurality of messages to at least one signaling and packet relay system (SPRS) node.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the modification of parameters include at least one of mapping of a home network international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) and a sponsoring network IMSI, mapping of visit addresses in the destination network and sponsoring network addresses, mapping of home addresses in the home network and sponsoring network addresses, and mapping of customized applications for mobile enhanced logic (CAMEL) service control point (SCP) addresses of the home network and sponsoring network addresses.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the sponsoring network routing messages from the home network to a signaling and packet relay system (SPRS) node.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the home network routing messages from the home network to a signaling and packet relay system (SPRS) node.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the home network is a sponsored network of the sponsoring network to support outbound roaming.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the home subscriber device comprises a modified single IMSI SIM.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the home subscriber device comprises a dual international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) subscriber identity module (SIM).

10. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the plurality of messages further comprises using a designated translation type.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising using a private connection to receive the plurality of messages.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the plurality of messages further comprises modification of a global title.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the plurality of messages further comprises prefixing a called address with a designated routing number.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving the plurality of messages further comprises prefixing a calling address with a designated routing number.

15. A mobile communications system for transmitting voice and data, the system comprising:

a sponsored network;

a sponsoring network;

a plurality of other operator networks, which have no direct roaming agreements with the sponsored network; and

at least one signaling packet relay system (SPRS) node coupled to the sponsored network and the sponsoring network, wherein messages between the plurality of other operator networks and the sponsored network are routed to the SPRS node, wherein the SPRS node traps the messages and modifies a parameter associated with each message to obtain modified messages that appear to originate from the sponsoring network based on the modified parameter of each message,

wherein the at least one SPRS node includes;

a first SPRS node coupled to a GMSC of the sponsored network; and

a second SPRS node coupled to a GMSC of the sponsoring network,

wherein the first SPRS node encapsulates the at least one of the plurality of messages in a forward short message service (FSMS) message and transmits the encapsulated message to a second SPRS node,

wherein the first SPRS node is different from the second SPRS node,

wherein the SPRS node is coupled to the sponsored network through a first packet data relay (PDP) tunnel, and coupled to the plurality of other operator networks through a second PDP tunnel, which is different from the first PDP tunnel, and

wherein the first PDP tunnel, and the second PDP tunnel each comprise a general packet radio service (GPRS) roaming exchange (GRX), and

wherein one of the GRXs is coupled to an SGSN at the partner network, and another one of the GRXs is coupled to a GGSN at the sponsored network.

16. The mobile communications system of claim 15, wherein the SPRS node is further coupled to the sponsored network and to the roaming partner network through at least one SS7 node.

17. The mobile communications system of claim 15, wherein the messages are routed using a designated translation type.

18. The mobile communications system of claim 17, the system further comprising:

at least one signal transfer point (STP) coupled to the sponsoring network GMSC; and

a GMSC of the sponsored network coupled to the at least one STP.

19. The mobile communications system of claim 15, wherein the messages are routed using a private connection.

20. The mobile communications system of claim 19, the system further comprising:

at least one signal transfer point (ST P) coupled between the sponsoring network GMSC and the sponsored network GMSC.

21. The mobile communications system of claim 15, wherein routing the messages includes modifying a global title.

22. The mobile communications system of claim 21, the system further comprising:

at least one signal transfer point (STP) coupled between the sponsoring network GMSC and the sponsored network GMSC.

23. The method of claim 15, wherein the sponsoring network has a roaming agreement with at least one of the plurality of other operator networks.

24. The method of claim 15, wherein the sponsoring network has a roaming agreement with the sponsored network.

25. The method of claim 15, wherein the sponsoring network has no roaming agreement with the sponsored network.

26. The method of claim 15, wherein the sponsoring network is a hub network operator.

27. The method of claim 15, wherein at least one of the plurality of messages routed to the SPRS node includes a customized applications for mobile enhanced logic (CAMEL) message.

28. A computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions executed in a mobile communications system for:

receiving a plurality of messages at a destination network from a subscriber device of a home network, wherein the subscriber device is roaming into the destination network;

establishing a communications link with a destination network;

modifying at least one of the first-plurality of messages, wherein the modifying includes using a signal gateway to trap at least one of the plurality of messages and modify a parameter associated with the at least one of the plurality of messages so that the modified message appears to the home network as originating from the sponsoring network based on the modified parameter; and

transmitting over the communications link at least one selected from the group consisting of voice and data,

wherein the modifying further comprises encapsulating the at least one of the plurality of messages in a forward short message service (FSMS) message at a first signaling and packet relay system (SPRS) node and transmitting the encapsulated message to a second SPRS node, different from the first SPRS node,

wherein the destination network is a sponsored network of the sponsoring network to support inbound roaming, and

wherein the modification of parameters include at least one of mapping of visit addresses in the sponsored network and sponsoring network addresses, and mapping of home addresses in other operator networks and sponsoring network addresses.

29. The computer readable medium of claim 28, wherein the plurality of messages include a GPRS session message.

30. The computer readable medium of claim 28, wherein the instructions are further executed in the mobile communications system for routing the plurality of messages to at least one signaling and packet relay system (SPRS) node.

31. The computer readable medium of claim 28, wherein the plurality of messages include messages from networks who are not roaming partners of the home network.

32. The computer readable medium of claim 28, wherein the instructions are further executed in the mobile communications system for causing the sponsoring network routing messages from the home network to a signaling and packet relay system (SPRS) node.

33. The computer readable medium of claim 28, wherein the instructions are further executed in the mobile communications system for causing the home network routing messages from the home network to a signaling and packet relay system (SPRS) node.

34. The computer readable medium of claim 28, wherein the instructions are further executed in the mobile communications system for transmitting modified messages through a GMSC.

35. The computer readable medium of claim 28, wherein the home network is a sponsored network of the sponsoring network to support outbound roaming.

36. The computer readable medium of claim 35, wherein the home subscriber device comprises a dual IMSI SIM.

37. The computer readable medium of claim 35, wherein the home subscriber device comprises a modified single IMSI SIM.

38. The computer readable medium of claim 28, wherein receiving the plurality of messages further comprises using a designated translation type.

39. The computer readable medium of claim 28, wherein the instructions are further executed in the mobile communications system for using a private connection to receive the plurality of messages.

40. The computer readable medium of claim 28, wherein receiving the plurality of messages further comprises modification of a global title.

41. The computer readable medium of claim 28, wherein receiving the plurality of messages further comprises prefixing a called address with a designated routing number.

42. The computer readable medium of claim 28, where the destination network is a sponsored network of the sponsoring network to support inbound roaming.