Method and system for providing roaming intelligence (RI) to a host network operator for its roaming traffic
First Claim
1. A method for determining a roaming arrangement of a host network with a non-host network, the host network having an associated gateway and a roaming agreement with a home network, wherein multiple sets of home network subscribers are located in the host network and the non-host network, the method comprising:
- obtaining, via the associated gateway, signaling messages of one or more roamers, wherein the one or more roamers comprise failed-to-register roamers or registered roamers, each roamer being a subscriber of the multiple sets of subscribers, wherein obtaining the signaling messages comprises passive monitoring and active inward and outward interfacing at the associated gateway; and
determining, via the associated gateway, the host network'"'"'s roaming arrangement with the non-host network, based on an analysis of one or more additional signaling messages from the obtained signaling messages,wherein the host network is different from a home network of the one or more roamers, and the host network does not have a roaming agreement with the non-host network,wherein determining the host network'"'"'s roaming arrangement comprises determining an inbound roaming market share of the host network, andwherein determining an inbound roaming market share of the host network comprises;
calculating, via the associated gateway, a number of samples necessary for determining the inbound roaming market share;
selecting, via the associated gateway, the roamers of the one or more roamers that have earlier roamed in the host network, wherein a number of the selected roamers is equal to the calculated number of samples;
obtaining, through a polling via the associated gateway to a home location register (HLR) associated with the selected roamer'"'"'s home network, current locations of the selected roamers from the obtained signaling messages;
determining, via the associated gateway, a distribution of the selected roamers across different operators within the host network'"'"'s country, wherein the determination is based on the obtained locations;
issuing, via the associated gateway, a blank Short Message Service (SMS) to each of the selected roamers when the obtained current location of the selected roamer indicates the selected roamer'"'"'s home network location such that the home network of the selected roamer does not identify the polling, in connection with obtaining the current locations, as an SMS faking procedure; and
issuing, via the associated gateway, at least one of;
a routing request for a short message, a routing request for a short message with General Packet Radio Services (GPRS) support indication, an interrogation message, a routing request message and a routing request message for GPRs to the HLR, wherein the selected roamer'"'"'s home network is the non-host network.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a method for facilitating roaming management of a host network. The method includes obtaining at a gateway associated with the host network, signaling messages of one or more roamers. The roamers are subscribers of either the host network or one or more non-host networks. The method further includes determining by the gateway, the host network'"'"'s roaming arrangement with the non-host networks, based on analysis of one or more signaling messages from the obtained signaling messages.
8 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method for determining a roaming arrangement of a host network with a non-host network, the host network having an associated gateway and a roaming agreement with a home network, wherein multiple sets of home network subscribers are located in the host network and the non-host network, the method comprising:
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obtaining, via the associated gateway, signaling messages of one or more roamers, wherein the one or more roamers comprise failed-to-register roamers or registered roamers, each roamer being a subscriber of the multiple sets of subscribers, wherein obtaining the signaling messages comprises passive monitoring and active inward and outward interfacing at the associated gateway; and determining, via the associated gateway, the host network'"'"'s roaming arrangement with the non-host network, based on an analysis of one or more additional signaling messages from the obtained signaling messages, wherein the host network is different from a home network of the one or more roamers, and the host network does not have a roaming agreement with the non-host network, wherein determining the host network'"'"'s roaming arrangement comprises determining an inbound roaming market share of the host network, and wherein determining an inbound roaming market share of the host network comprises; calculating, via the associated gateway, a number of samples necessary for determining the inbound roaming market share; selecting, via the associated gateway, the roamers of the one or more roamers that have earlier roamed in the host network, wherein a number of the selected roamers is equal to the calculated number of samples; obtaining, through a polling via the associated gateway to a home location register (HLR) associated with the selected roamer'"'"'s home network, current locations of the selected roamers from the obtained signaling messages; determining, via the associated gateway, a distribution of the selected roamers across different operators within the host network'"'"'s country, wherein the determination is based on the obtained locations; issuing, via the associated gateway, a blank Short Message Service (SMS) to each of the selected roamers when the obtained current location of the selected roamer indicates the selected roamer'"'"'s home network location such that the home network of the selected roamer does not identify the polling, in connection with obtaining the current locations, as an SMS faking procedure; and issuing, via the associated gateway, at least one of;
a routing request for a short message, a routing request for a short message with General Packet Radio Services (GPRS) support indication, an interrogation message, a routing request message and a routing request message for GPRs to the HLR, wherein the selected roamer'"'"'s home network is the non-host network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13)
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9. A system for determining a roaming agreement of a host network, with a non-host network, the host network having an associated gateway and a roaming agreement with a home network, wherein multiple sets of home network subscribers, are located in the host network and the non-host network, the system comprising:
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an obtaining module for obtaining, via the associated gateway, signaling messages of one or more roamers, wherein the one or more roamers comprise failed-to-register roamers or registered roamers, each roamer being a subscriber of the multiple set of subscribers, and wherein obtaining the signaling messages comprises passive monitoring and active inward and outward interfacing at the associated gateway; and a determining module for determining, via the associated gateway, the host network'"'"'s roaming arrangement with non-host network, based on an analysis of one or more additional signaling messages from the obtained signaling messages, wherein the host network is different from a home network of the one or more roamers, and the host network does not have a roaming agreement with the non-host network, wherein the determining module is further configured to determine an inbound roaming market share of the host network, and wherein the determination of the inbound roaming market share of the host network comprises; calculating, via the associated gateway, a number of samples necessary for determining the inbound roaming market share; selecting, via the associated gateway, the roamers of the one or more roamers that have earlier roamed in the host network, wherein a number of the selected roamers is equal to the calculated number of samples; obtaining, through a polling via the associated gateway to a home location register (HLR) associated with the selected roamer'"'"'s home network, current locations of the selected roamers from the obtained signaling messages; determining, via the associated gateway, a distribution of the selected roamers across different operators within the host network'"'"'s country, wherein the determination is based on the obtained location; issuing, via the associated gateway, a blank Short Message Service (SMS) to each of the selected roamers when the obtained current location of the selected roamer indicates the selected roamer'"'"'s home network location such that the home network of the selected roamer does not identify the polling, in connection with obtaining the current locations, as an SMS faking procedure; and issuing, via the associated gateway, at least one of;
a routing request for a short message, a routing request for a short message with General Packet Radio Services (GPRS) support indication, an interrogation message, a routing request message and a routing request message for GPRS to the HLR, wherein the selected roamer'"'"'s home network is the non-host network.
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10. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium having control logic stored therein for causing a processor of a computer to determine a roaming agreement of a host network, with a non-host network, the host network having an associated gateway and a roaming arrangement with a home network, wherein multiple sets of home network subscribers, are located in the host network and the non-host network, the control logic comprising:
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a first set of code for obtaining, via the associated gateway, signaling messages of one or more roamers, wherein the one or more roamer comprise failed-to-register roamers, each roamer being a subscriber of the multiple set of subscribers, wherein obtaining the signaling messages comprises passive monitoring and active inward and outward interfacing at the associated gateway; and a second set of code for determining, via the associated gateway, the host network'"'"'s roaming arrangement with non-host network, based on an analysis of one or more additional signaling messages from the obtained signaling messages, wherein the host network is different from a home network of the one or more roamers, and the host network does not have a roaming agreement with the non-host network, wherein determining the host network'"'"'s roaming arrangement comprises determining an inbound roaming market share of the host network, and wherein determining an inbound roaming market share of the host network comprises; calculating, via the associated gateway, a number of samples necessary for determining the inbound roaming market share; selecting, via the associated gateway, the roamers of the one or more roamers that have earlier roamed in the host network, wherein a number of the selected roamers is equal to the calculated number of samples; obtaining, through a polling via the associated gateway to a home location register (HLR) associated with the selected subscriber'"'"'s home network, current locations of the selected roamers from the obtained signaling messages; determining, via the associated gateway, a distribution of the selected roamers across different operators within the host network'"'"'s country, wherein the determination is based on the obtained locations; issuing, via the associated gateway, a blank Short Message Service (SMS) to each of the selected roamers when the obtained current location of the selected roamer indicates the selected roamer'"'"'s home network location such that the home network of the selected roamer does not identify the polling, in connection with obtaining the current locations, as an SMS faking procedure; and issuing, via the associated gateway, at least one of;
a routing request for a short message, a routing request for a short message with General Packet Radio Services (GPRS) support indication, an interrogation message, a routing request message and a routing request message for GPRS to the HLR, wherein the selected roamers'"'"' home network is the non-host network.
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Specification