METHOD AND SYSTEM TO ENABLE MULTIPLE VIRTUAL NUMBERS ACROSS DIFFERENT MOBILE NETWORKS

• US 20110059738A1
• Filed: 09/08/2009
• Published: 03/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Movirtu Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: WALLER, Nigel
• Granted Patent: US 8,725,139 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/433
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/20 Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/14 Backbone network devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/24 between backbone network devices

Abstract

Disclosed is a system and method for enabling a subscriber who has multiple virtual or physical SIM identities across several networks to make and receive calls and messages on a single handset at the same time. Key features of the disclosure is the setup and management of multiple virtual IMSIs and MSISDNs, from different networks, or from the same network but different countries or regions, which exist in one or more servers which are able to manage inbound and outbound calls and messages enabling a subscriber to manage multiple identities without the need to swap or replace SIM cards.

Claims

1. A method of enabling multiple numbers across multiple networks, comprising the steps of:

owner of handset owns a number of MSISDN subscriptions to different networks in different countries owned by the same operator;

the MSISDNs in each network are related in a system server acting as an HLR to a virtual IMSI;

each of the system servers are connected by a network;

all in bound calls and messages from any MSISDN are routed through the local MSC to the current location of the subscriber;

all outbound calls, messages and data usage are sent from the active network but the CLIs are changed by the system server to represent either a local number of home number as requested.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the networks are located in the same country.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the remote network in connected by a server located outside the operator'"'"'s network.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the remote network in connected by a server located outside the operator'"'"'s network.

5. A server comprising:

a network interface for communication with at least one switching;

a controller to enable calls to be made from a handset as per claim 1;

6. A server comprising:

a network interface for communication with at least one switching;

a controller to enable calls to be made from a handset as per claim 2;

7. A computer readable-medium for storing a plurality of programming instructions for a multiple virtual number system, said programming instructions for rendering a network interface in said server operable for communication with at least two switching centres and enabling calls to be made as per claim 1.

8. A computer readable-medium for storing a plurality of programming instructions for a multiple virtual number system, said programming instructions for rendering a network interface in said server operable for communication with at least two switching centres and enabling calls to be made as per claim 2.