Communication system for the centralized management, via a virtual operator, of calls of subscriber terminals connected to host communication networks

• US 20100189019A1
• Filed: 06/14/2007
• Published: 07/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WSOU Investments, LLC (WSOU Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Queau, Guylaine, Belfort, Véronique
• Granted Patent: US 9,237,436 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/310
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/02 Processing of mobility data, e.g. registration information at HLR [Home Location Register] or VLR [Visitor Location Register]; Transfer of mobility data, e.g. between HLR, VLR or external networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/18 Service support devices; Network management devices

Abstract

A communication system (SC) comprises i) a centralized piatform (PC) that can be used by at teast one virtual operator and that comprises at least equipment and services management means (EG1), subscriber/subscription data management means (EG2) and a call server (SA), responsible for jointly managing the controi plan layer, and it) at least one distributed media gateway (PMi) connected to the centralized piatform (PC) via a backbone network (RF)I and responsible for the interconnection between the centralized piatform (PC) and a routing center (Ai), of a communication network (RMf) of an associated network operator, responsible for routing calls concerning communication terminals (UE) connected to its communication network (RMi) and managed by the centralized piatform (PC) and for controlling a user plan layer of the environment of the system (SC).

Claims

1. Communication system (SC), characterized in that it comprises i) a centralized platform (PC) suitable for being used by at least one virtual operator and comprising at least equipment and services management means (EG1), subscriber/subscription data management means (EG2) and a call server (SA), arranged to manage jointly a control plan layer, and ii) at least one distributed media gateway (PMi) connected to said centralized platform (PC) via a backbone network (RF), and responsible for the interconnection between said centralized platform (PC) and a routing center (Ai), of a communication network (RMi) of an associated network operator, responsible for routing calls concerning communication terminals (UE) connected to its communication network (RMi) and managed by said centralized platform (PC) and for controlling a user plan layer of the environment of said system (SC).

2. System according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises storage means (HC, HDi) arranged to store information relating, on the one hand, to the location of the communication terminals (UE) of the users who have taken out a subscription with said virtual operator, and, on the other hand, at least to services corresponding to said subscriptions.

3. System according to claim 2, characterized in that at least a portion of said storage means (HC) is installed in said centralized platform (PC).

4. System according to one of claims 2 and 3, characterized in that at least a portion of said storage means (HDi) is installed in at least one platform of a host communication network (RMi).

5. System according to claim 2, characterized in that said storage means (HDi) are installed in each of said host communication networks (RMi) according to inter-operator agreements.

6. System according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said centralized platform (PC) comprises means for providing centralized services (SS1-SS3) arranged to provide said communication terminals (UE) of subscribed users with chosen centralized services, and a centralized media gateway (PMC) connected to said backbone network (RF) and to said means for providing centralized services (SS1-SS3) and arranged, in case of transmission of a user plan layer by a distributed media gateway (PMi), to manage this user plan layer in order to provide at least certain of said centralized services to the communication terminals (UE) of the users who have subscribed to these centralized services.

7. System according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said centralized platform (PC) is coupled to means for providing distributed services of at least one of said host communication networks (RMi), via at least one of its SGSN-type nodes, and is arranged to manage the user plan and control layers in order to provide, through at least one GGSN-type node, at least certain of said distributed services to the communication terminals (UE) of the users who are subscribed thereto.

8. System according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said backbone network (RF) is arranged to provide at least a quality of service and a traffic classification at its ends.

9. System according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that said backbone network (RF) is of the IP and/or ATM and/or TDM type.

10. System according to claim 9, characterized in that said backbone network (RF) is of the IP type and arranged to provide the transport of voice and signaling under IP.