Roaming in wireless networks with dynamic modification of subscriber identification

• US 20020197991A1
• Filed: 06/22/2001
• Published: 12/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Level Z LLC
• Original Assignee: Level Z LLC
• Inventors: Mathur, Abhinav, Velide, Phani Kumar, Anvekar, Dinesh Kashinath, Mangla, Rajiv, Gopinath, Bhaskarpillai, Gupta, Rajendra
• Granted Patent: US 6,603,968 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/432.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/12 between location registers or mobility servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/183 Processing at user equipment or user record carrier

Abstract

A technique to register a roaming cell-phone in a visiting location as a local phone. The technique involves identifying roaming-related information from the roaming cell-phone in the visiting location, and then dynamically configuring the roaming cell-phone to operate as a local cell-phone in the visiting location.

Claims

1. A method for operating a roaming cell-phone comprising

determining roaming-related information from the roaming cell-phone in a roaming area, and

dynamically configuring the roaming cell-phone to operate as a local cell-phone in the roaming area with reference to the roaming-related information.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the determining includes transmitting cell-phone identification information from the roaming cell-phone to a visiting location switching center over a wireless channel.

3. The method as recited in claim 2 wherein the determining includes enabling the roaming cell-phone to communicate with the visiting location switching center by entering the roaming cell-phone identification information in a visiting location register of the switching center.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the dynamically configuring includes identifying a roaming service provider node serving the visiting location switching center with reference to the roaming cell-phone identification information.

5. The method as recited in claim 4 which further comprises, after the identifying, sending to the roaming service provider node from the roaming phone a message containing the roaming cell-phone identification information.

6. The method as recited in claim 5 which further comprises, after the sending, transmitting to the roaming phone from the roaming service provider node a response message containing at least one local number for establishing a call between the roaming phone and the visiting location switching center.

7. The method as recited in claim 6 which further comprises, after the transmitting, communicating the local number to the visiting location switching center from the roaming phone.

8. The method as recited in claim 7 which further comprises, after the communicating, enabling the roaming phone to operate as a local cell-phone in the visiting location with the local number.

9. The method as recited in claim 8 which further comprises, after the enabling, sending a message to the roaming service provider node to inform the roaming service provider node that the roaming phone is registered as a local cell-phone.

10. The method as recited in claim 9 which further comprises, after the second sending, updating the roaming service provider node with a connection number corresponding to the local number.

11. The method as recited in claim 10 which further comprises, after the updating, sending the connection number to the home location of the roaming phone via a global roaming data network.

12. The method as recited in claim 11 which further comprises, after the third sending, storing the connection number in the home location for accessing the roaming phone.

14. The method as recited in claim 13 wherein the dynamically configuring includes identifying a roaming service provider node serving the visiting location with reference to the roaming-related information.

15. The method as recited in claim 14 which further comprises, after the identifying, sending to the roaming service provider node from the roaming phone a message containing the roaming-related information.

16. The method as recited in claim 15 which further comprises, after the sending, transmitting to the roaming phone for the roaming service provider node a response message containing a local number for establishing a call between the roaming phone and the visiting location switching center.

17. The method as recited in claim 16 which further comprises, after the transmitting, communicating the local number to the visiting location switching center from the roaming phone.

18. The method as recited in claim 17 which further comprises, after the communicating, enabling the roaming phone to operate as a local cell-phone in the visiting location with the local number.

19. The method as recited in claim 18 which further comprises, after the enabling, sending a message to the roaming service provider node to inform the roaming service provider node that the roaming phone is registered as a local cell-phone.

20. The method as recited in claim 19 which further comprises, after the second sending, updating the roaming service provider node with a connection number corresponding to the local number.

21. The method as recited in claim 20 which further comprises, after the updating, sending the connection number to the home location of the roaming phone via a global roaming data network.

22. The method as recited in claim 21 which further comprises, after the third sending, storing the connection number in the home location for accessing the roaming phone.

24. The method as recited in claim 23 wherein the dynamically re-registering includes identifying a visiting location roaming service provider node with reference to the home roaming-related information.

25. The method as recited in claim 24 which further comprises, after the identifying, sending to the roaming service provider node from the roaming phone a message containing the home roaming-related information.

26. The method as recited in claim 25 which further comprises, after the sending, transmitting to roaming phone from the roaming service provider node a response message containing a local number for establishing a call between the roaming phone and a visiting location switching center.

27. The method as recited in claim 26 which further comprises, after the transmitting, communicating the local number to the visiting location switching center from the roaming phone.

28. The method as recited in claim 27 which further comprises, after the communicating, enabling the roaming phone to operate as a local cell-phone with the visiting location switching center using the local number.

29. The method as recited in claim 28 which further comprises, after the enabling, sending a message to the roaming service provider node to inform the roaming service provider node that the roaming phone is registered as a local cell-phone.

30. The method as recited in claim 29 which further comprises, after the second sending, updating the roaming service provider node with a connection number corresponding to the local number.

31. The method as recited in claim 30 which further comprises, after the updating, sending the connection number to the home location of the roaming phone via a global roaming data network.

32. The method as recited in claim 31 which further comprises, after the third sending, storing the connection number in the home location for accessing the roaming phone.

13. A method for minimizing costs of a call involving a roaming cell-phone in a roaming area comprising

identifying roaming-related information from the roaming cell-phone in the roaming area, and

dynamically configuring the roaming cell-phone to operate as a local cell-phone in the roaming area with reference to the roaming-related information.

23. A method for operating a roaming cell-phone comprising

registering the phone using home roaming-related information about the cell-phone in a roaming area, and

dynamically re-registering the phone using local roaming-related information for the cell-phone in the roaming area with reference to the home roaming-related information.

33. A method for operating a roaming cell-phone comprising the steps of

determining roaming-related information from the roaming cell-phone in a roaming area, and

dynamically configuring the roaming cell-phone to operate as a local cell-phone in the roaming area with reference to the roaming-related information.

39. The method as recited in claim 38 further including, after the second receiving, storing the local number and other secure information in a temporary storage area.

34. A method for registering a roaming cell-phone as a local cell-phone comprising

identifying a roaming service provider node serving the roaming cell-phone,

sending to the roaming service provider node from the roaming phone a message containing cell-phone identification information about the roaming phone,

transmitting to the roaming phone from the roaming service provider node a response message containing a local number for establishing a call between the roaming phone and a visiting location mobile switching center,

communicating the local number to the visiting location mobile switching center from the roaming phone, and

enabling the roaming phone to operate as a local cell-phone in the visiting location with the local number.

35. A method for registering a roaming cell-phone as a local cell-phone comprising

transmitting cell-phone identification information from the roaming phone to a visiting location mobile switching center over a wireless channel,

enabling the roaming phone to communicate with the visiting location mobile switching center,

identifying a roaming service provider node serving the visiting location mobile switching center,

sending to the roaming service provider node from the roaming phone a message containing cell-phone identification information about the roaming phone,

transmitting to the roaming phone from the roaming service provider node a response message containing a local number for establishing a call between the roaming phone and the visiting location mobile switching center,

communicating the local number to the visiting location mobile switching center from the roaming phone,

enabling the roaming phone to operate as a local cell-phone in the visiting location with the local number,

sending a message to the roaming service provider node to inform the roaming service provider node that the roaming phone is registered as a local cell-phone,

updating the roaming service provider node with a connection number corresponding to the local number,

sending the connection number to the home location of the roaming phone via a global roaming data network, and

storing the connection number in the home location for accessing the roaming phone.

36. A method for registering a roaming cell-phone as a local cell-phone comprising the steps of

transmitting cell-phone identification information from the roaming phone to a visiting location mobile switching center over a wireless channel,

enabling the roaming phone to communicate with the visiting location mobile switching center,

identifying a roaming service provider node serving the visiting location mobile switching center,

sending to the roaming service provider node from the roaming phone a message containing cell-phone identification information about the roaming phone,

transmitting to the roaming phone from the roaming service provider node a response message containing a local number for establishing a call between the roaming phone and the visiting location mobile switching center,

communicating the local number to the visiting location mobile switching center from the roaming phone,

enabling the roaming phone to operate as a local cell-phone in the visiting location with the local number,

sending a message to the roaming service provider node to inform the roaming service provider node that the roaming phone is registered as a local cell-phone,

updating the roaming service provider node with a connection number corresponding to the local number,

sending the connection number to the home location of the roaming phone via a global roaming data network, and

storing the connection number in the home location for accessing the roaming phone.

37. A method for establishing a call connection to a roaming cell-phone in a visiting location comprising

transmitting cell-phone identification information from the roaming phone to a visiting location mobile switching center over a wireless channel,

enabling the roaming phone to communicate with the visiting location mobile switching center,

identifying a roaming service provider node serving the visiting location mobile switching center,

sending to the roaming service provider node from the roaming phone a message containing cell-phone identification information about the roaming phone,

transmitting to the roaming phone from the roaming service provider node a response message containing a local number for establishing a call between the roaming phone and the visiting location mobile switching center,

communicating the local number to the visiting location mobile switching center from the roaming phone,

enabling the roaming phone to operate as a local cell-phone in the visiting location with the local number,

sending a message to the roaming service provider node to inform the roaming service provider node that the roaming phone is registered as a local cell-phone,

updating the roaming service provider node with a connection number corresponding to the local number,

sending the connection number to the home location of the roaming phone via a global roaming data network,

storing the connection number in the home location for accessing the roaming phone, and

establishing the call connection using the connection number.

38. A method for registering a roaming phone as a local phone in a roaming area comprising

sending identification information about the roaming phone from the roaming phone to a visiting mobile switching center to register the roaming phone,

receiving from the visiting mobile switching center a communication containing an acknowledgement of registration with the visiting mobile switching center and location information about the roaming area,

determining a roaming service provider node from the location information,

sending a request message to the roaming service provider node with the identification information about the roaming phone,

receiving a response message containing a local number to re-register the roaming phone as a local cell-phone and storing the local number,

sending the local number to the visiting mobile switching center to reregister the roaming phone as a local cell-phone,

receiving a re-registration acknowledgement from the visiting mobile switching center, and

sending an information message to the roaming service provider node informing the roaming service provider node of successful registration of the roaming phone as a local phone with the local number.

40. A method for managing the registration of a roaming phone as a local phone in a roaming area by a roaming service provider node comprising

detecting a request message from the roaming phone containing identification information,

determining a local connection number and a local number to re-register the roaming phone as a local phone,

sending a response message to the roaming phone with the local number,

receiving a return message from the roaming phone containing notification of successful re-registration of the roaming phone as a local cell-phone with the local number,

marking the local connection number and local number as allocated, and

sending the local connection number, the identification information, and an identifier of the roaming service provider node to the home location of the roaming phone.

41. A method for registering a roaming cell-phone as a local cell-phone in a second roaming area upon the roaming phone moving from a first roaming area to the second roaming area wherein the roaming phone is registered as a local phone in a first roaming area and the roaming phone is initially engaged in an ongoing call which, the method comprising

determining roaming-related information from the roaming cell-phone in the second roaming area, and

upon completion of the ongoing call, dynamically configuring the roaming cell-phone to operate as a local cell-phone in the second roaming area with reference to the roaming-related information.

42. A method for registering a roaming cell-phone as a local phone and for monitoring call connection time of an outgoing call placed from the roaming cell-phone against prepaid account information for the roaming cell-phone, the method comprising

determining roaming-related information from the roaming cell-phone in a roaming area,

dynamically configuring the roaming cell-phone to operate as a local cell-phone in the roaming area with reference to the roaming-related information,

servicing an outgoing call from the roaming cell-phone to a destination phone number,

storing the prepaid account information for the roaming cell-phone, and

metering the outgoing call for its duration against the prepaid account information.

43. A method for registering a roaming cell-phone as a local phone and for monitoring call connection time of an incoming call placed to the roaming cell-phone against prepaid account information for the roaming cell-phone, the method comprising

determining roaming-related information from the roaming cell-phone in a roaming area covered by the node,

dynamically configuring the roaming cell-phone to operate as a local cell-phone in the roaming area with reference to the roaming-related information,

servicing an incoming call to the roaming cell-phone,

storing the prepaid account information for the roaming cell-phone, and

metering the incoming call for its duration against the prepaid account information.

44. A system for operating a roaming cell-phone comprising

means for determining roaming-related information from the roaming cell-phone in a roaming area, and

means for dynamically configuring the roaming cell-phone to operate as a local cell-phone in the roaming area with reference to the roaming-related information.

45. A system for registering a roaming phone as a local phone in a visiting location comprising

a plurality of roaming service provider nodes, and

a global roaming data network coupled to each of the service provider nodes,

wherein each of the service provider nodes includes

a component for detecting a request message from the roaming phone containing roaming phone identification information,

a component for determining a local connection number and a local number to re-register the roaming phone as a local phone,

a component for sending a response message to the roaming phone with the local number,

a component for receiving a return message from the roaming phone containing notification of successful re-registration of the roaming phone as a local cell-phone with the local number,

a component for marking the local connection number and local number as allocated, and

a component for sending, via the global roaming data network, the local connection number, the roaming phone identification information, and an identifier of the one of the service provider nodes serving the roaming phone in the visiting location to another of the service provider nodes in the home location of the roaming phone.

46. A roaming cell-phone capable of being registered as a local phone in a visiting location served by a visiting mobile switching center and a visiting service provider node, the roaming cell-phone comprising

a component for sending identification information about the roaming phone from the roaming phone to the visiting mobile switching center to register the roaming phone,

a component for receiving from the visiting mobile switching center a communication containing an acknowledgement of registration with the visiting mobile switching center and location information about the roaming area,

a component for determining the visiting roaming service provider node from the location information,

a component for sending a request message to the roaming service provider node with the identification information about the roaming phone,

a component for receiving a response message containing a local number to re-register the roaming phone as a local cell-phone,

a component for sending the local number to the visiting mobile switching center to re-register the roaming phone as a local cell-phone,

a component for receiving a re-registration acknowledgement from the visiting mobile switching center, and

a component for sending an information message to the roaming service provider node informing the visiting roaming service provider node of successful registration of the roaming phone as a local phone with the local number.

47. A system, in combination with a plurality of mobile switching centers coupled via a communication node composed of a public switched telephone network and wireless cellular networks, for registering a roaming cell-phone as a local cell-phone in a roaming area, the system comprising

a plurality of roaming service provider nodes, and

a global roaming data network coupled to each of the service provider nodes,

wherein the service provider nodes and the global roaming data network are cooperatively operative with the mobile switching centers and the communication node to determine roaming-related information from the roaming cell-phone in the roaming area, and then to dynamically configure the roaming cell-phone to operate as a local cell-phone in the roaming area with reference to the roaming-related information.

48. A roaming service provider node for registering a roaming cell-phone as a local phone and for monitoring call connection time of an outgoing call placed from the roaming cell-phone against prepaid account information for the roaming cell-phone, the node comprising

a component for determining roaming-related information from the roaming cell-phone in a roaming area covered by the node,

a component for dynamically configuring the roaming cell-phone to operate as a local cell-phone in the roaming area with reference to the roaming-related information,

a component for servicing an outgoing call from the roaming cell-phone to a destination phone number,

a component for storing the prepaid account information for the roaming cell-phone, and

a component for metering the outgoing call for its duration against the prepaid account information.

49. A roaming service provider node for registering a roaming cell-phone as a local phone and for monitoring call connection time of an incoming call placed to the roaming cell-phone against prepaid account information for the roaming cell-phone, the node comprising

a component for determining roaming-related information from the roaming cell-phone in a roaming area covered by the node,

a component for dynamically configuring the roaming cell-phone to operate as a local cell-phone in the roaming area with reference to the roaming-related information,

a component for servicing an incoming call to the roaming cell-phone,

a component for storing the prepaid account information for the roaming cell-phone, and

a component for metering the incoming call for its duration against the prepaid account information.