Method and System for Implementing Data Routing of Roaming User

• US 20100046438A1
• Filed: 11/06/2009
• Published: 02/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (Huawei Investment & Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (Huawei Investment & Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Hu, Weihua
• Granted Patent: US 8,891,443 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4588 containing mobile subscriber information, e.g. home subscriber server [HSS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5007 Internet protocol [IP] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/24 Negotiation of communication capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/04 Registration at HLR or HSS [Home Subscriber Server]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/12 between location registers or mobility servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]

Abstract

A method and system for implementing data routing of a roaming user are disclosed. The method comprises: configuring a roaming protocol between the home network and the roaming network; during the registering process of the user in the roaming network, performing an interactive negotiation between the home network and the roaming network, so as to determine one of the home network and the roaming network to allocate IP address according to the roaming protocol between the home network and the roaming network; and establishing the IP access bearer based on the IP address. A corresponding system is also provided. The routing of the roaming user data plane could be optimized under the control of the home network operator, and the IP address of the default IP bearer for the roaming user could be allocated by the roaming network as much as possible, while guaranteeing of the home network operator'"'"'s interest and dominant position, so as to optimize the routing of the data plane for the roaming user, improve the performance of the data service and bring a better service experience to the roaming user.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

determining whether a roaming network is allowed to allocate an Internet Protocol (IP) address according to a roaming agreement between the roaming network and a home network; and

sending an indication to a network entity according to the determination,

wherein the indication comprises information regarding whether the roaming network is allowed to allocate an IP address.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein determining whether a roaming network is allowed to allocate an Internet Protocol (IP) address according to a roaming agreement between the roaming network and a home network comprises:

determining whether the roaming network is allowed to allocate an IP address according to a user identifier, an identifier of the roaming network, and the roaming agreement between the roaming network and the home network.

3. The method according to claim 2 further comprising:

receiving the user identifier, the identifier of the roaming network.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method is implemented by a Home Subscriber Server (HSS) during a user attachment procedure.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the indication comprises an information element of Visited Public Land Mobile Network (VPLMN) IP Address Allowed, a value of the information element is TRUE representing the roaming network is allowed to allocate the IP address, and a value of the information element is FALSE representing the roaming network is not allowed to allocate the IP address.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the IP address is a default IP bearer, and further comprising:

receiving a service list based on the default IP bearer requested by a user equipment, wherein services in the service list are supported by the roaming network; and

determining which services are allowed according to a network strategy

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the indication further comprises which services based on the default IP bearer are allowed.

8. An apparatus, comprising:

a determining unit configured to determine whether a roaming network is allowed to allocate an Internet Protocol (IP) address according to a roaming agreement between the roaming network and a home network;

a sending unit configured to send an indication to a Mobility Management Entity (MME) according to the determination,

wherein the indication comprises information regarding whether the roaming network is allowed to allocate an IP address.

9. The apparatus according to 8, wherein the apparatus is a Home Subscriber Server (HSS).

10. The apparatus according to 8, wherein the determining unit configured to determine whether a roaming network is allowed to allocate an Internet Protocol (IP) address according to a roaming agreement between the roaming network and a home network comprises:

the determining unit configured to determine whether the roaming network is allowed to allocate the IP address according to a user identifier, an identifier of the roaming network, and the roaming agreement between the roaming network and the home network.

11. A method, comprising:

performing an interactive negotiation between a home network and a roaming network during a registering process in the roaming network;

determining whether a roaming network is allowed to allocate an Internet Protocol (IP) address according to a user identifier, an identifier of the roaming network, and the roaming agreement between the roaming network and the home network; and

sending an indication to a network entity according to the determination, wherein the indication comprises information regarding whether the roaming network is allowed to allocate an IP address.

12. The method according to claim 11 further comprising:

receiving the user identifier, the identifier of the roaming network.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the method is implemented by a Home Subscriber Server (HSS) during a user attachment procedure.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the indication comprises an information element of Visited Public Land Mobile Network (VPLMN) IP Address Allowed, a value of the information element is TRUE representing the roaming network is allowed to allocate the IP address, and a value of the information element is FALSE representing the roaming network is not allowed to allocate the IP address.