Method for interactive mobile network selection

• US 8,391,857 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2005
• Issued: 03/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telecom Italia S.p.A.
• Original Assignee: Telecom Italia S.p.A.
• Inventors: Catalano, Giuseppe, Mamino, Davide, Marchisio, Marco
• Primary Examiner(s): Karikari, Kwasi
• Application Number:
  US11/918,748
• Publication Number:
  US 20090215447A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,878 Days
• Field of Search: 455/432.1, 455/422.1, 455/433, 455/437, 455/552.1, 455/436
• US Class Current: 455/432.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service

Abstract

A method allows the selection of a user-preferred visited mobile network for a roaming mobile terminal of a subscriber of a home network. The method includes, at the home network, the steps of receiving information on the location of the roaming mobile terminal, and receiving from the roaming mobile terminal service information including at least a choice of a service and controlling the selection of the visited mobile network for the roaming mobile terminal on the basis of the received service information and location information.

Claims

1. A method for allowing selection of a visited mobile network for a roaming mobile terminal of a subscriber of a home network, comprising, at the home network:

a. receiving information on the location of the roaming mobile terminal;

b. sending to the roaming mobile terminal a request for service information, requesting from the user of said mobile terminal a choice of a service profile;

c. receiving from the roaming mobile terminal service information comprising-a user-preferred service profile chosen by said user; and

d. controlling the selection of the visited mobile network for the roaming mobile terminal on the basis of received service information and location information, wherein the controlling the selection includes creating a prioritized list of visited mobile networks on the basis of the received service information, location information, and information on said visited mobile networks possessed by the home network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, in the step of controlling the selection of the visited mobile network, the home network sends at least a portion of said prioritized list to the roaming mobile terminal.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said portion of the prioritized list is suitable for use by the roaming mobile terminal for selecting said visited mobile network.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said portion of the prioritized list is made available to a user of the roaming mobile terminal for selecting said visited mobile network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein, in the step of controlling the selection of the visited mobile network, the home network sends to the roaming mobile terminal command information suitable for the registration of the roaming mobile terminal to the visited mobile network.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the command information comprises a refresh command for the mobile terminal.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said service information further comprises at least a choice of a criterion for preference of the visited mobile network.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the received service information comprises a service profile chosen by a user of the roaming mobile terminal from a list of predefined service profiles, said list being previously sent by the home network to the roaming mobile terminal.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the received service information comprises a service profile created by a user of said roaming mobile terminal in interaction with the home network.

10. A method for selecting a visited mobile network for a roaming mobile terminal of a subscriber of a home network, comprising:

a. receiving at the roaming mobile terminal a request for service information requesting from the user of said mobile terminal a choice of a service profile;

b. sending from the roaming mobile terminal to the home network service information comprising a user-preferred service profile chosen by said user;

c. receiving at the roaming mobile terminal from the home network command information depending on the service information and on information on the location of the roaming mobile terminal, wherein the command information comprises a prioritized list of visited mobile networks created by the home network on the basis of the service information, the location information, and information on said visited mobile networks possessed by the home network; and

d. using said command information at the roaming mobile terminal for selecting the visited mobile network.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said service information further comprises at least a choice of a criterion for preference of the visited mobile network.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein said service information comprises a service profile chosen by a user of the roaming mobile terminal from a list of predefined service profiles, said list being previously received at the roaming mobile terminal from the home network.

13. A mobile network comprising:

a unit, wherein said unit monitors a signaling network connecting the mobile network to a roaming environment and to control the selection of a visited mobile network for a mobile terminal in said roaming environment;

a database comprising data on mobile networks within said roaming environment; and

an application server operatively connected to the database and to the unit, wherein said application server;

a. receives information on the location of the mobile terminal in the roaming environment,

b. sends to the mobile terminal a request for service information, requesting from the user of said mobile terminal a choice of a service profile;

c. receives from the mobile terminal in said roaming environment service information comprising a user-preferred service profile chosen by said user, wherein the application server creates a prioritized list of the mobile networks within said roaming environment, on the basis of the received location information and service information, and of the data in the database; and

d. instructs the unit to control the selection of the visited mobile network on the basis of the received location information and service information and of the data in the database.

14. The network of claim 13, wherein the unit sends at least a portion of said prioritized list to the mobile terminal.

15. The network of claim 14, wherein said portion of the prioritized list is suitable for use by the mobile terminal for selecting said visited mobile network.

16. The network of claim 13, wherein the sends to the mobile terminal command information suitable for the registration of the mobile terminal to the visited mobile network.

17. The network of claim 13, wherein said service information further comprises at least a choice of a criterion for preference of the visited mobile network.

18. The network of claim 13, wherein the application server sends to the mobile terminal a list of predefined service profiles suitable for a choice by a user of the mobile terminal.

19. The network of claim 13, wherein the application server sends to the mobile terminal one or more templates suitable for the creation by a user of the mobile terminal of a service profile.

20. The network of claim 13, wherein the mobile network comprises GSM or GPRS or UMTS networks.