Optimisation method and device in communication networks

• US 9,226,132 B2
• Filed: 10/28/2008
• Issued: 12/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Teliasonera AB
• Original Assignee: Teliasonera AB
• Inventors: Korhonen, Jouni, Jalkanen, Tero
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Dustin
• Application Number:
  US12/734,210
• Publication Number:
  US 20100235540A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,618 Days
• Field of Search: 370/328, 370/231, 370/352, 455/445, 455/432.1, 455/435.1, 455/433, 709/204, 709/245
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/10 between location register and external networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/10 adapted for application session management, e.g. SIP [Session Initiation Protocol] connection management H04W76/00; arrangements for session management H04L67/14

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for optimizing routing to a first user equipment (T1, T2) roaming in a visited network (OP B, OP C) in a communications system comprising at least a home network (OP A), a visited network (OP B, OP C) and a relaying network (IPX, IPX1, IPX2, IPX3, IPX4). The method of the invention comprises storing (2-4, 3-2, 3-4, 3-6) a location information of a first user equipment (T1, T2) to a database (DB) external to the home network (OP A) and the visited network (OP B, OP C), the location information being associated with an identification information of the first user equipment (T1, T2); receiving (2-6, 3-10) a message from a second user equipment (T1, T2); recognizing (3-12) at least one identification information of the first user equipment (T1, T2) in the message; comparing (3-14, 3-16) the identification information stored in the database (DB) with the identification information received in the message; and if the both identification information matches, routing (2-8, 3-26) a communication according to the location information of the first user equipment (T1, T2).

Claims

1. A method for optimizing signalling and routing to a first user equipment roaming in a visited network in a packet data communications system comprising at least a home network, the visited network and a relaying network arranged between operators, the relaying network being in common use with multiple operators, the method comprising:

providing a routing address to the home network via identification information of the first user equipment;

storing location information of the first user equipment to a database external to the home network and to the visited network, the location information being associated with the identification information of the first user equipment and including information relating only to the location information of the user equipment;

receiving a message from a second user equipment;

recognizing the identification information of the first user equipment in the received message;

comparing stored identification information stored in the database with the recognized identification information received in the message; and

in an event said comparing determines a match of the stored identification information and the recognized identification information, routing the communication according to the stored location information of the first user equipment directly from the relaying network to the visited network instead of using the routing address obtained by the identification information of the first user equipment.

2. The optimization method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the location information is stored at least one of during a setup phase and during a registering phase of the first user equipment.

3. The optimization method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the message is one of a session control message and an INVITE message.

4. The optimization method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the message is one of a session control message and an INVITE message.

5. The optimization method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising checking the stored location information when the relaying network receives the message transferring one of from the first user equipment to the second user equipment and from the second user equipment to the first user equipment.

6. The optimization method as claimed in claim 2, further comprising checking the stored location information when the relaying network receives the message transferring one of from the first user equipment to the second user equipment and from the second user equipment to the first user equipment.

7. The optimization method as claimed in claim 3, further comprising checking the stored location information when the relaying network receives the message transferring one of from the first user equipment to the second user equipment and from the second user equipment to the first user equipment.

8. A computer program product for relaying of communications and comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium bearing computer program code embodied therein for use with a computer, the computer program code, when executed by at least one processor, causing operations comprising:

providing a routing address to a home network from which a communication is received via identification information of a first user equipment of the home network;

storing location information of the first user equipment to a database external to the home network and to a visited network to which the communication is directed, the location information being associated with the identification information of the first user equipment and including information relating only to the location information of the user equipment;

wherein the device is not a part of the home network and the visiting network;

receiving a message from a second user equipment of the visited network;

recognizing the identification information of the first user equipment in the received message;

comparing stored identification information stored in the database with the recognized identification information received in the message; and

in an event said comparing determines a match of the stored identification information and the recognized identification information, routing the communication according to the stored location information of the first user equipment directly to the visited network instead of using the routing address obtained by the identification information of the first user equipment.

9. A device for relaying of communications, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code being configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the device to;

provide a routing address to a home network from which a communication is received via identification information of a first user equipment of the home network;

store location information of the first user equipment to a database external to the home network and to a visited network to which the communication is directed, the location information being associated with the identification information of the first user equipment and including information relating only to the location information of the user equipment;

wherein the device is not a part of the home network and the visited network;

receive a message from a second user equipment of the visited network;

recognize the identification information of the first user equipment in the received message;

compare stored identification information stored in the database with the recognized identification information received in the message; and

in an event said comparing determines a match of the stored identification information and the recognized identification information, route the communication according to the stored location information of the first user equipment directly to the visited network instead of using the routing address obtained by the identification information of the first user equipment.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the device is a proxy.