Providing multiple MSISDN numbers in a mobile device with a single IMSI

• US 7,912,464 B2
• Filed: 08/05/2009
• Issued: 03/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GlobeTouch Inc
• Original Assignee: Mobileum, Incorporated fka Roamware
• Inventors: Jiang, John Yue Jun
• Primary Examiner(s): Taylor; Barry W
• Application Number:
  US12/536,261
• Publication Number:
  US 20100048197A1
• Time in Patent Office: 594 Days
• Field of Search: 455/432.1, 455/433, 455/435.1, 455/558, 455/445
• US Class Current: 455/432.1
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support

Abstract

A SIMM System and method is provided that supports many Mobile Subscriber Integrated Service Digital Network (MSISDN) numbers on a mobile device. The mobile device includes one Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) and one International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI). The SIMM system includes at least one signal gateway that supports the use of numerous MSISDN numbers by the mobile device. The signal gateway couples among components of the public mobile networks to which the MSISDN numbers correspond. The signal gateway connects calls between the mobile device and a first public mobile network using a first MSISDN where, for example, the first public mobile network is in a first country. Likewise, the signal gateway connects calls between the mobile device and a second public mobile network using a second MSISDN where, for example, the second public mobile network is in a second country.

Claims

1. A communication system comprising:

a mobile device of a first public mobile network, the mobile device including a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM), the SIM having a single International Mobile Subscriber Identity in the first public mobile network (IMSI-H), wherein the first public mobile network has a Home Location Register (HLR) including a single HLR profile corresponding to the IMSI-H;

a first Mobile Subscriber Integrated Service Digital Network (MSISDN) number for use in the first public mobile network, the first MSISDN corresponding to the single HLR profile;

a second MSISDN number for use in a second public mobile network belonging to a network operator different from that of the first public mobile network, the second MSISDN corresponding to the single HLR profile; and

at least one signal gateway routing a first communication between the mobile device and the first public mobile network using the first MSISDN, and routing a second communication between the mobile device and the second public mobile network using the second MSISDN,

wherein the at least one signal gateway routes the first and second communications using the single IMSI-H, and

wherein the first public mobile network and the second public mobile network have a roaming agreement.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first MSISDN number and the second MSISDN number is permanently assigned to the SIM.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first MSISDN number and the second MSISDN number is temporarily assigned to the SIM.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one signal gateway is coupled to at least one first mobile switching center of the first public mobile network and is coupled to provide signal loop-back at the first mobile switching center, wherein the at least one signal gateway couples to at least one component of the second public mobile network via the first mobile switching center.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the second public mobile network includes third and fourth mobile switching centers, wherein the at least one signal gateway includes third and fourth signal gateways coupled among the third and fourth mobile switching centers via couplings that support Signaling System Number 7 (SS7) protocols.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile device includes at least one of cellular telephones, personal computers, portable computing devices, portable telephones, portable communication devices, subscriber devices or units, and personal digital assistants.

7. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the first public mobile network is a Home Public Mobile Network (HPMN) and the second public mobile network is a Foreign Public Mobile Network (FPMN).

8. A communication system comprising:

means for wireless communications;

means for associating a single subscriber identity with the means for wireless communications; and

means for routing communication among the means for wireless communications and a first public mobile network using a first telephone number and for routing communication among the means for wireless communications and a second public mobile network using a second telephone number, wherein the communication is routed using a single subscriber identity;

wherein the single subscriber identity comprises a single International Mobile Subscriber Identity in the first public mobile network (IMSI-H),

wherein the first public mobile network has a Home Location Register (HLR) including a single HLR profile corresponding to the IMSI-H,

wherein the first telephone number and the second telephone number correspond to the single HLR profile,

wherein the second public mobile network belongs to a network operator different from that of the first public mobile network, and

wherein the first public mobile network and the second public mobile network have a roaming agreement.

9. A system comprising a wireless client device that includes:

one Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) having one assigned International Mobile Subscriber Identity in a first public mobile network (IMSI-H), and

at least one signal gateway that supports use of two or more Mobile Subscriber Integrated Service Digital Network (MSISDN) numbers by the client device,

wherein the at least one signal gateway couples among at least one of first and second mobile switching centers that correspond to the first public mobile network and a second public mobile network, respectively,

wherein the at least one signal gateway routes communication between the client device and the first mobile switching center using a first MSISDN and routes communication between the client device and a second mobile switching center using a second MSISDN,

wherein the communication is routed using the one IMSI-H,

wherein the first public mobile network has a Home Location Register (HLR) including a single HLR profile corresponding to the IMSI-H,

wherein the two or more MSISDN numbers correspond to the single HLR profile,

wherein the second public mobile network belongs to a network operator different from that of the first public mobile network, and

wherein the first public mobile network and the second public mobile network have a roaming agreement.

10. A device comprising:

at least one signal gateway coupled among components of a first public mobile network and a second public mobile network,

wherein the at least one signal gateway routes communication between a mobile device and the first public mobile network using a first Mobile Subscriber Integrated Service Digital Network (MSISDN) number,

wherein the at least one signal gateway routes communication between the mobile device and the second public mobile network using a second MSISDN,

wherein the mobile device includes a single Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) and a single International Mobile Subscriber Identity in the first public mobile network (IMSI-H),

wherein the first public mobile network has a Home Location Register (HLR) including a single HLR profile corresponding to the IMSI-H,

wherein the first MSISDN and the second MSISDN correspond to the single HLR profile,

wherein the second public mobile network belongs to a network operator different from that of the first public mobile network, and

wherein the first public mobile network and the second public mobile network have a roaming agreement.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the first MSISDN number is a telephone number of the mobile device that is local to the first public mobile network and the second MSISDN number is a telephone number of the mobile device that is local to the second public mobile network.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein the at least one signal gateway maps the first MSISDN number to the second MSISDN number.

13. A method for supporting multiple Mobile Subscriber Integrated Service Digital Network (MSISDN) numbers in a mobile device, comprising:

routing communication between the mobile device and a first public mobile network using a first MSISDN that is associated with the first public mobile network, wherein the mobile device includes a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) with a single International Mobile Subscriber Identity in the first public mobile network (IMSI-H);

mapping the first MSISDN number to a second MSISDN number that is associated with a second public mobile network; and

routing communication between the client device and the second public mobile network using the second MSISDN via a coupling through the first public mobile network using the single IMSI-H,

wherein the first public mobile network has a Home Location Register (HLR) including a single HLR profile corresponding to the IMSI-H,

wherein the first MSISDN and the second MSISDN correspond to the single HLR profile,

wherein the second public mobile network belongs to a network operator different from that of the first public mobile network, and

wherein the first public mobile network and the second public mobile network have a roaming agreement.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the IMSI is associated with the first public mobile network.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein routing communication between the mobile device and the first public mobile network comprises routing communication between the first public mobile network and the SIM via at least one signal gateway, wherein the signal gateway is coupled among components of the first public mobile network and the second public mobile network.

16. A computer program readable storage medium including executable instructions encoded therein, which, when executed, provide numerous Mobile Subscriber Integrated Service Digital Network (MSISDN) numbers in a mobile device, by:

routing communication between the mobile device and a first public mobile network using a first MSISDN that is associated with the first public mobile network, wherein the mobile device includes a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) with a single International Mobile Subscriber Identity in the first public mobile network (IMSI-H);

mapping the first MSISDN number to a second MSISDN number that is associated with a second public mobile network; and

connecting calls between the client device and the second public mobile network using the second MSISDN via a coupling through the first public mobile network using the single IMSI-H;

wherein the first public mobile network has a Home Location Register (HLR) including a single HLR profile corresponding to the IMSI-H,

wherein the first MSISDN and the second MSISDN correspond to the single HLR profile,

wherein the second public mobile network belongs to a network operator different from that of the first public mobile network, and

wherein the first public mobile network and the second public mobile network have a roaming agreement.

17. A communication system comprising:

a mobile device including a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) and a single International Mobile Subscriber Identity in a first public mobile network (IMSI-H);

a first Mobile Subscriber Integrated Service Digital Network (MSISDN) number for use in the first public mobile network;

a plurality of second MSISDN numbers for use in at least one second public mobile network; and

at least one signal gateway coupled among components of the first public mobile network and the second public mobile network, wherein the at least one signal gateway routes communication between the SIM and the first public mobile network using the first MSISDN, wherein the at least one signal gateway automatically routes communication between the SIM and the second public mobile network using one of the plurality of second MSISDNs using the single IMSI-H,

wherein the first public mobile network has a Home Location Register (HLR) including a single HLR profile corresponding to the IMSI-H,

wherein the first MSISDN and the plurality of second MSISDNs correspond to the single HLR profile,

wherein the second public mobile network belongs to a network operator different from that of the first public mobile network, and

wherein the first public mobile network and the second public mobile network have a roaming agreement.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein at least one of the first MSISDN number and one of the plurality of second MSISDN numbers is permanently assigned to the SIM.

19. A method for supporting multiple Mobile Subscriber Integrated Service Digital Network (MSISDN) numbers in a mobile device, comprising:

routing communication between the mobile device and a first public mobile network using a first MSISDN number that is associated with the first public mobile network, wherein the mobile device includes a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) with single International Mobile Subscriber Identity in the first public mobile network (IMSI-H);

mapping the first MSISDN number to one of a plurality of second MSISDN numbers that are associated with a second public mobile network; and

automatically routing communication between the client device and the second public mobile network using one of the plurality of second MSISDN numbers via a coupling through the first public mobile network using the single IMSI-H;

wherein the first public mobile network has a Home Location Register (HLR) including a single HLR profile corresponding to the IMSI-H,

wherein the first MSISDN and the plurality of second MSISDNs correspond to the single HLR profile,

wherein the second public mobile network belongs to a network operator different from that of the first public mobile network, and

wherein the first public mobile network and the second public mobile network have a roaming agreement.

20. A method for routing communication, the method comprising:

assigning a first Mobile Subscriber Integrated Service Digital Network (MSISDN) number to a mobile device for use in a first public mobile network, the mobile device having a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) and a single International Mobile Subscriber Identity in the first public mobile network (IMSI-H), wherein the first public mobile network has a Home Location Register (HLR) including a single HLR profile corresponding to the IMSI-H;

assigning a second MSISDN number to the mobile device for use in a second public mobile network; and

optimally routing communication between the SIM and the second public mobile network using the second MSISDN and the single IMSI-H via a signal gateway, wherein the signal gateway is coupled among components of the first public mobile network and the second public mobile network;

wherein the first MSISDN number and the second MSISDN number correspond to the single HLR profile,

wherein the first MSISDN number is a telephone number of the mobile device that is local to the first public mobile network,

wherein the second MSISDN number is a telephone number of the mobile device that is local to the second public mobile network,

wherein the mobile device is roaming in the second public mobile network,

wherein the second public mobile network belongs to a network operator different from that of the first public mobile network, and

wherein the first public mobile network and the second public mobile network have a roaming agreement.