Service network

• US 7,835,737 B2
• Filed: 05/29/2002
• Issued: 11/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Argus IP Management LLC
• Original Assignee: Marchfun International N.V.
• Inventors: Beere, Edgar Jozef
• Primary Examiner(s): Appiah; Charles N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vu; Michael T
• Application Number:
  US10/479,269
• Publication Number:
  US 20040185846A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,093 Days
• Field of Search: 455/410, 455/559, 455/432, 455/433, 455/558, 455/414, 455/517, 455/426, 455/437, 455/439, 370/331, 370/338
• US Class Current: 455/433
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/06 Registration at serving network Location Register, VLR or user mobility server
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/10 between location register and external networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for transfer of (voice) data of users of a service network for the purpose of communication over mobile networks, comprising the steps of: storing data about mobile devices of users and/or data about users in one or more first data files of the service network; transfer coordinated by the service network and/or by the service network itself of (voice) data which users wish to have transferred and/or data used to route and/or store the data; using one or more mobile networks to provide mobile network facilities for connecting the mobile devices of the users to the first service network, wherein the mobile devices, when they sign on to a mobile network, are signed on to each of the telephony networks as local devices for the network in question.

Claims

1. A method for transfer of (voice) data of users of a hierarchically superior service network for the purpose of communication over mobile networks, comprising the steps of:

storing data about mobile devices of users and/or data about users in one or more first data files of the hierarchically superior service network;

transfer coordinated by the hierarchically superior service network and/or by the hierarchically superior service network itself of (voice) data which users wish to have transferred and/or data used to route and/or store the data; and

providing the capability for several mobile networks to provide mobile network facilities for connecting the mobile devices of the users to the first hierarchically superior service network, wherein each of the mobile devices, when connected to a mobile network, is connected to the mobile network as a local device for the mobile network,

the method further comprising one or more steps for;

using one or more identification modules for signing a mobile device on to a mobile network using identification means present on an identification module, and a separate identification module is arranged in the mobile device per type of mobile network, wherein the user of the device selects which module can be used as local identification module for an available mobile network,

wherein a user of the hierarchically superior service network gains access to the hierarchically superior service network via one of the mobile networks regardless of the coverage area in which the user is situated.

2. The method according to claim 1, in which the mobile network for providing mobile network facilities comprises a telephony network.

3. The method according to claim 2, in which the telephony network comprises a GSM or UMTS network.

4. The method according to claim 1, in which the mobile network for providing mobile network facilities comprises a wireless computer network.

5. The method according to claim 4, in which the computer network comprises a wireless LAN network.

6. The method according to claim 1, in which identification of mobile devices is carried out by means of at least one of IMSI, phone number, network card identification number, and IP address.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

using one or more data files of local users (HIR) of each of several mobile networks for signing a mobile device of a user on to each of these mobile networks, wherein identification data relating to mobile devices of network users and/or relating to network users is stored in data files of local users of each of the mobile networks of which the user can make use.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

using one or more first databanks to sign the mobile device of the user on to the service network.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the identification means for each mobile network are provided with one or more identification codes and an algorithm for selecting the correct one thereof, which is recognized by a mobile network as a local identification code.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising the step of:

using one or more first databanks for signing the mobile device of the user on to the service network.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the identification means comprise an algorithm for generating an identification code which is recognized by a mobile network as a local identification code.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising the step of:

using one or more first databanks for signing the mobile device of the user on to the service network.

13. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

using one or more first databanks for signing the mobile device of the user on to the service network.

14. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the data file of local users of the service network is placed distributed per mobile switching centre (MSC) in the mobile networks so as to reduce network traffic in respect of this data.

15. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the distributed data files are incorporated in a mobile network as Signalling Points (SPs) with their own address in accordance with a communication protocol.

16. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein mobile switching centres (MSCs) are connected to the service network by means of one or more networks.

17. A system for transferring (voice) data of users of a hierarchically superior service network, comprising:

a hierarchically superior service network comprising one or more databanks for storing data about mobile devices of users and/or about users, and means for coordinating and/or transferring (voice) data which users wish to have transferred and/or data used to route and/or store the data, and

several mobile networks for connecting each mobile device of the subscribers to the hierarchically superior service network, wherein each of the mobile devices, when connected to each of the mobile networks, is connected to the mobile network as a local device for the mobile network,

using one or more identification modules for signing a mobile device on to a mobile network using identification means present on an identification module, and a separate identification module is provided per type of mobile network for arranging thereof in the mobile device, wherein the user of the device selects a module for local identification for an available mobile network,

wherein a user of the hierarchically superior service network gains access to the hierarchically superior service network via one of the mobile networks regardless of the coverage area in which the user is situated.

18. The system as claimed in claim 17, further comprising:

one or more data files of local users of a mobile network for signing a mobile device of a user on to the mobile network, wherein the identification data relating to mobile devices of network users and/or relating to network users is stored in data files of local users of each mobile network of which the user can make use.

19. The system as claimed in claim 17, further comprising:

one or more first databanks for signing the mobile device of the user on to the service network.

20. The system as claimed in claim 17, wherein the identification means for each mobile network are provided with one or more identification codes and an algorithm for selecting the correct one thereof, which is recognized by a mobile network as a local identification code.

21. The system as claimed in claim 20, further comprising:

one or more first databanks for signing the mobile device of the user on to the service network.

22. The system as claimed in claim 17, wherein the identification means comprise an algorithm for generating an identification code which is recognized by a mobile network as a local identification code.

23. The system as claimed in claim 22, further comprising:

one or more first databanks for signing the mobile device of the user on to the service network.

24. The system as claimed in claim 17, further comprising:

one or more first databanks for signing the mobile device of the user on to the service network.

25. The system as claimed in claim 17, wherein the data file of local users of the service network is placed distributed per mobile switching centre (MSC) in the mobile networks so as to reduce network traffic in respect of this data.

26. The system as claimed in claim 25, wherein the distributed data files are incorporated in a mobile network as Signalling Points (SPs) with their own address in accordance with a communication protocol.

27. The system as claimed in claim 17, wherein mobile switching centres (MSCs) are connected to the service network by means of one or more networks.