Signaling Gateway with Multiple Imsi with Multiple Msisdn (Mimm
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(19) & (11) EP 1 665 838 B1 (12) EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION (45) Date of publication and mention (51) Int Cl.: of the grant of the patent: H04W 8/18 (2009.01) 10.03.2010 Bulletin 2010/10 (86) International application number: (21) Application number: 04781142.7 PCT/US2004/026410 (22) Date of filing: 13.08.2004 (87) International publication number: WO 2005/018245 (24.02.2005 Gazette 2005/08) (54) Signaling gateway with multiple imsi with multiple msisdn (mimm) service in a single sim for multiple roaming partners Signalisierungs-Gateway mit einem Mehrfach-Imsi-Mit-Mehrfach-MSISDN (MIMM) Dienst in einem einzigen SIM für mehrere Roaming-Partner Passerelle de signalisation àa imsi multiples et services multiples msisdn (mimm) dans un seul sim pour multiples partenaires itinerants (84) Designated Contracting States: (72) Inventor: JIANG, Yue, Jun AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR San Jose, CA 95128 (US) HU IE IT LI LU MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR (74) Representative: Wallis, Helen Frances Mary et al (30) Priority: 13.08.2003 US 495202 P Olswang LLP 90 High Holborn (43) Date of publication of application: London WC1V 6XX (GB) 07.06.2006 Bulletin 2006/23 (56) References cited: (73) Proprietor: Roamware, Inc. WO-A-00/79761 WO-A-01/65884 San Jose, CA 95128 (US) WO-A-03/019969 WO-A2-02/41641 US-A- 5 930 701 US-A- 5 943 620 US-A- 6 014 561 US-A1- 2003 064 723 Note: Within nine months of the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent in the European Patent Bulletin, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to that patent, in accordance with the Implementing Regulations. Notice of opposition shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention). EP 1 665 838 B1 Printed by Jouve, 75001 PARIS (FR) EP 1 665 838 B1 Description TECHNICAL FIELD 5 [0001] The disclosed embodiments relate to mobile communications networks and devices, and more particularly to providing services for roaming mobile communications device users. RELATED APPLICATIONS 10 [0002] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent application serial no. 60/495,202, filed August 13, 2003. BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 15 [0003] Mobile communications device users are increasing dependent on the ability to use their mobile communications devices all over the world. Mobile users who travel out of their "home network" are called roamers. There are many different mobile communications network operators throughout the world, each having its own territories, technical systems, and business systems. Currently, roamers are typically not able to travel freely and have a seamless experience in any operator’s network. There are currently disadvantages for both the roaming user and the network operator. 20 [0004] For example, roamers who roam frequently between two countries often have a need for a local phone number in each network; either to enable local users to call them at a cheap rate without worrying about international direct dial (IDD) calls, or to present a multi-national appearance. Such roamers typically buy a local pre-paid subscription from the local network operator and use the local phone number to make outgoing calls. However, if the roamer has a single phone and has swapped out the HPMN SIM card, the roamer will not be able to receive HPMN calls and SMS messages. 25 Also, when the roamer is back in his HPMN, he may not be able to receive calls on their FPMN number. Such roamers must also change the SIM in their mobile handset each time they roam in the local network, which is not convenient. The home network operator is also disadvantaged because the home network operator is not receiving the roaming revenue. It is thus desirable to facilitate roaming, even international roaming with minimum effort on the part of the roaming user, such as eliminating the requirement for different SIMs. 30 [0005] Mobile communications network operators face tremendous challenges in growing their revenue streams in the face of increasing competition and pricing pressures. Roamers are an attractive source of revenue for operators sometimes constituting as much as 8% to 40% of an operator’s total revenue. It is thus desirable to be able to influence or control the roamer’s network choices in order to maximize the benefits to the operator and to the subscriber user. [0006] US patent application number 09/969,253 describes systems and methods for providing local service to non- 35 local subscribers in a telecommunications network. The systems and methods employ mapping of a subscriber IMSI with a unique local identifier for use by the local system for locally originating and terminating calls. [0007] US patent no. 5,943,620 describes a method for associating one directory number with two mobile stations within a mobile telecommunications network such that when an incoming call connection is received towards the directory number the HLR makes a determination as to which one of the two mobile stations is active and the incoming call 40 connection is then forwarded to the active mobile station. [0008] International patent application number PCT/EP99/03107 describes a mobile radio system having a plurality of mobile terminals where the mobile terminals have a subscriber identity module which contains a calculation rule for calculating from a stored identity at least one further identity. [0009] The International Patent Applications WO98/10614 and WO99/55107 disclose a system and a method for 45 enabling a subscriber to roam in a network which does not have a roaming agreement with the home network of the subscriber, by using the roaming agreements and local IMSIs of a foreign network having roaming agreements with both said home network and said network in which said subscriber is roaming. Summary of invention 50 [0010] The present application is defined by the appended independent claims 1, 20, 35 and 36. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 55 [0011] Embodiments of the invention are described with the aid of the drawings, which are not intended to be limiting. In the drawings, similar reference numbers identify similar elements or acts. Figure 1 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a Signaling Gateway. 2 EP 1 665 838 B1 Figure 2 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a Signaling Gateway for supporting a MIMM service, including a connection to GMSC-H for signaling with Voice loop-back at the GMSC-H. Figure 3 is block diagram of an embodiment of a Signaling Gateway that consists of two or more Signaling Gateways. Figure 4 is a diagram showing various persistent data and transient data. 5 Figure 5 is an illustration of transaction mapping according to one embodiment. Figure 6 is an illustration of one embodiment of a link configuration of GT and SPC. Figure 7 is a block diagram of an alterative non-cross-connect configuration of one embodiment of a Signaling Gateway. Figure 8 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a routing configuration including multiple ISC SCCP gateways. 10 Figure 9 is a block diagram illustrating GMSC-F configuration of ISUP trunk routing tables in one embodiment. Figure 10 is a block diagram illustrating the construction of ISUP loopback circuits at GMSC-H with two El ports configured as loopback circuits in one embodiment. Figure 10 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a Signaling Gateway including an IN interface. Figure 12 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a Signaling Gateway including two Signaling Gateway servers 15 performing the Signaling Gateway function. Figure 13 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a configuration of databases in relation to Signal Gateways in one embodiment. Figure 14 is an illustration of connect time failover using multiple addresses in a TNSNAMES.ORA configuration according to an embodiment. 20 Figure 15 is an illustration of load balancing and active/active fail-over according to an embodiment. Figure 16 is an illustration of each Signaling Gateway opening a DB connection with the primary DB server which replicates data to the standby DB server according to an embodiment. Figure 17 is a diagram of the configuration of one embodiment in which multiple Signaling Gateways can be connected to one GMSC-H. 25 Figure 18 is a block diagram of a configuration showing Update Location Transaction flow upon SG1 failure. Figure 19 is a block diagram of a Signaling Gateway embodiment including two Ethernet buses. Figure 20 is a block diagram of a configuration showing the flow of Update Location Transaction without SG failure. Figure 21 is an illustration of an Update Location flow of one embodiment. Figure 22 is an illustration of message flow in the event of SG1 failure in one embodiment. 30 Figure 23 is a signaling flow for the case of a location update (MIMM subscriber in XPMN with IMSI-F) with the Signaling Gateway being hosted at FPMN. Figure 24 is a signaling flow for the case of a location update (MIMM subscriber in XPMN with IMSI-F) with the Signaling Gateway being hosted at HPMN. Figures 25 and 26 show a signaling trace for a mobile terminated call (MIMM subscriber in HPMN) for a call involving 35 a normal flow of SRI. Figures 27 and 28 show a SRI flow when SG1 breaks down after SRI-ACK is issued from HLR-H in the case of a mobile terminated call (MIMM subscriber in HPMN). Figure 29 shows a SRI flow when SG1 breaks down (partial fail-over) after SRI-ACK is issued from HLR-H in the case of a mobile terminated call (MIMM subscriber in HPMN).