CN1335034A

CN1335034A - Optimized routing of mobile calls within telecommunicaltions network

Info

Publication number: CN1335034A
Application number: CN99816030A
Authority: CN
Inventors: L·托范德
Original assignee: Ericsson Inc
Current assignee: Ericsson Inc
Priority date: 1998-12-03
Filing date: 1999-12-02
Publication date: 2002-02-06
Also published as: AU2038700A; EP1135954A1; WO2000033600A1

Abstract

A system, method, and apparatus for routing an incoming call to a roaming mobile station are presented. An incoming call terminating at a roaming mobile station is received at a redirecting node. The redirecting node then determines the location of the mobile switching center serving the mobile station. After determining the location of the mobile station, the redirecting node routes the call to the serving mobile switching center, thereby bypassing unnecessary trunk connections from the redirecting node to the network to which the mobile station subscribes, and from the network to which the mobile station subscribes to the serving mobile switching center.

Description

The optimization route of mobile calls in the telecommunications network

Background of invention

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to telecommunications network, particularly relate to the optimization route of the calling that is terminated to roaming mobile subscribers in those telecommunications networks.

Description of related art

Along with the appearance and the development of mobile communication system, telecommunication user no longer is subject to catv terminal physically or the communication of telecommunications network is carried out in the fixed position.Use extra roaming and inter-office switchover technology, the mobile subscriber can use same telephone number and same travelling carriage to move to initiate outside calling and receipt of incoming calls between a plurality of Public Land Mobile Nerwork (PLMN).Therefore, the mobile subscriber can use a plurality of service providers to be linked into telecommunication service from a plurality of positions, and any expense that produces is all collected single reservation.In addition, the calling party need be in order not set up the calling connection and to know where the mobile subscriber is physically located at.Data-signal between visitor location register (VLR) and the attaching position register (HLR) upgrades and storing subscriber information automatically, user position information particularly, this makes network to re-route the suitable mobile switching centre (MSC) that is currently serviced in roaming mobile subscribers with going into to call out.In addition, no matter current which MSC serves this roaming mobile stations, the VLR relevant with the MSC of this service communicates to regain essential user data with the HLR that distributes to this travelling carriage, comprises user characteristic data and metering data, and provides unified mobile service for travelling carriage.

By convention, if just (L.A.) moves a travelling carriage that is associated with the mobile telecom network of New York (N.Y.) in Los Angeles, then the calling of going into to roaming mobile stations at first is routed to the GMSC (gateway mobile switching center) (GMSC) of serving Public Land Mobile Nerwork (PLMN) New York, that be associated with this mobile subscriber.Then, the attaching position register (HLR) that is associated with travelling carriage of the GMSC in New York inquiry is determined the position that roaming mobile stations is current.In case determined the current sign of just serving the mobile switching centre (MSC) of New York travelling carriage in Los Angeles, the MSC that is re-routed to Los Angeles and provide service by the GMSC in New York that just go into to call out that receives starts calling party's terminal and is connected with voice between the roaming mobile stations.

Correspondingly, if the calling party makes a call from Los Angeles and sets up signal, then at first set up first main line and call out and is connected between Los Angeles communication network and the GMSC that serves Home PLMN, second main line setting up then from this GMSC to Los Angeles MSC that is currently serviced in travelling carriage called out connection.Like this, connect, just finish by the main line in New York and call out " long line connects " that connects in order all to set up between the telecommunication user in Los Angeles to call out at two.

It is disadvantageous that the main line calling connection of multiple reason proof such " long line connects " is arranged.The first, must set up and safeguard that unnecessary main line connects so that make two user's mutual communication that are positioned at same region, and this causes unnecessarily taking valuable Internet resources.In addition, although callee's travelling carriage is from being positioned at the same local calling party's terminal receipt of incoming calls that inserts transmission region (LATA) (for example Los Angeles), but long-distance cost also can take place in callee's travelling carriage, promptly is used for transmitting the expense of getting back to accessed PLMN calling out to connect from his or her Home PLMN.And caller calls is positioned at same zone with it travelling carriage also can occur to the long-distance cost in New York.

Therefore, the mobile telecom network that also needs a kind of mechanism to make service is provided can carry out optimum route to those mobile calls at roaming mobile stations.

Therefore, the purpose of this invention is to provide system, the method and apparatus that to eliminate or to reduce long line connection.

Another object of the present invention is to be optimized to mobile phone, particularly roams the route of going into to call out of mobile phone.

Summary of the invention

The objective of the invention is to design a kind of system, method and apparatus, for best route is carried out in the call from the calling party phone terminal to roaming mobile stations.The calling that comes from the calling party phone terminal is routed to a redirection node.In one embodiment, redirection node routes calls to the Home Public Land Mobile Network (H-PLMN) into the travelling carriage service.In H-PLMN, determine the position of travelling carriage and be travelling carriage serving mobile switching center (MSC) by inquiry attaching position register (HLR).Foregoing information is transmitted gets back to redirection node, and this node uses this information to determine optional route.Redirection node routes calls to current MSC and the connection of release from the redirection node to H-PLMN that service is provided.In another embodiment, redirection node inquiry HLR, the MSC that determines the position and serve for travelling carriage, and route calls to the MSC of this service.

The accompanying drawing summary

In conjunction with the drawings with reference to the detailed description of back to figure, just can understand method and apparatus of the present invention more completely, wherein:

Fig. 1 is the block diagram of mobile communications network;

Fig. 2 is the block diagram of illustrating going into to call out the mobile telecom network that is routed to the purpose travelling carriage;

Fig. 3 is the communication network block diagram, and it is illustrated and carries out long line that main line connects and connect with foundation calling between callee's travelling carriage of calling party phone terminal and roaming and be connected.

Fig. 4 is the communication network block diagram of the configuration according to the present invention; And

Fig. 5 is a signal flow graph of describing the communication network operation of first embodiment according to the present invention, and this communication network is described in Fig. 4; And

Fig. 6 is a signal flow graph of describing the communication network operation of second embodiment according to the present invention, and this communication network is described in Fig. 4.

Accompanying drawing describes in detail

A lot of innovation teachings of the application will specifically be described with reference to currently most preferred exemplary embodiment.Yet, it should be noted that this class specific embodiment only provides the part example of a lot of favourable uses of the innovation teaching.In general, be not the invention that must limit any prescription for the statement of being done in the present specification.And some statements are applicable to some creationary characteristics and can not be applied to other.

Referring now to Fig. 1, show a plurality of exemplary wireless network here, public land mobile network (PLMN) 105 for example is as PLMN105a, 105b.The concrete PLMN105 that utilizes may comprise for example AMPSAdvanced Mobile Phone Service (AMPS) network, digital AMPSAdvanced Mobile Phone Service (D-AMPS) network, perhaps global system for mobile communications (GSM).In this area, understood, concrete PLMN105 is made up of a plurality of mobile switching centre/visitor location registers (MSC/VLR) zone 115, as MSC/

VLR zone

115a and 115b, they have a mobile switching centre (MSC) 120 separately respectively, just MSC120a and 120b, and a visitor location register (VLR) 121 is respectively arranged, as VLR121a and 121b.Each MSC120 is connected on the gateway MSC (GMSC) 127, and GMSC is connected to public switch telephone network/integrated services digital network (PSTN/ISDN) 129 with PLMN105.

MSC/VLR zone 115 is the zones that defined, and mobile station MS 135 (terminal) is free to move and does not need to send location updating message to the MSC120 in control MSC/VLR zone 115 therein.Travelling carriage (MS) the 135th, the mobile subscriber be used for cellular network 105 and subscribe outside the network, can be the physical equipment that wired and wireless user intercoms mutually, for example car phone or other portable phone.Each MSC/VLR zone 115 all is divided into a plurality of sub-districts 138.MSC120 can communicate by letter with at least one base station 150.Base station 150 is physical equipments, and it simply is depicted as the wireless transmission tower, and it provides wireless coverage to the geographic area of the sub-district 138 that it is responsible for.

Again with further reference to Fig. 1, each PLMN105 comprises an attaching position register (HLR) 126, as HLR126a among the PLMN105 and the HLR126b among the PLMN105b, it is to safeguard and storing subscriber information, for example user's profile, current position information, international mobile subscriber identifier (IMSI) number, and the database of other management information.The user service relevant with travelling carriage 135 is by the user profiles definition that is stored among the HLR126.HLR126 may be positioned at a place with given MSC120, may integrate with MSC120, perhaps can be a plurality of MSC120 services alternatively, and this situation of back is shown in Figure 1.

VLR121 is a database, and it has comprised the information of all MS135 in the relevant MSC/VLR of the being currently located at zone 115.If MS135 moves to new MSC/VLR zone from MSC/VLR zone 115a, as regional 115b, VLR121b among the 115b of MSC/VLR zone will ask the data (notifying the current location of HLR126 mobile station MS 135 simultaneously) of relevant MS135 from HLR database 126 as HLR126b.Correspondingly, if the user of MS135 wants to call out, the addressable essential service profile information of VLR121b among the 115b of MSC/VLR zone, and do not need to inquire about again HLR126.With the describing mode of front, VLR comprises the different user information relevant with given MS135 separately with

HLR database

121 and 126.

To the significant advantage of subscribing such as the cellular network of PLMN is the mobility of communication service.The user who subscribes to specific PLMN such as PLMN105a just can be from the geographic area of PLMN105a, carries out call Anywhere as zone 115 and regional 115a.Therefore the general major part that covers a metropolitan metropolitan area or a state or province in geographic area by specific PLMN105a covers has just given the user mobility significantly.Yet the user who navigates to different countries or pass the U.S. just often exceeds the scope of their PLMN105a.In order to provide service to the user, the geographic area of serving the current place of user is the operator of the PLMN105b of regional 115b (PLMN or the V-PLMN that are called visit now), allow the user to use resource and the infrastructure of V-PLMN105b, the Home PLMN 105a that just likes them is the same.Support roaming in this way.

Fig. 2 is the block diagram of telecommunications network, and it has explained how mobile telecom network is routed to purpose travelling carriage 135 going into to call out.No matter when telecommunication user (mobile or wired) is by dialing in the address book number relevant with travelling carriage 135 (as mobile user comprehensive service digital net (MSISDN) number, connection makes a call, provide the GMSC (gateway mobile switching center) (GMSC) 127 of service just to receive call set-up signal 220 to the public land mobile network (PLMN) 105 relevant, as initial address message (IAM) with purpose travelling carriage 135.When specific telecommunication node (as GMSC127) receives IAM signal 220, just will set up corresponding call between the telecommunication node and be connected (connection of main line calling just) with receiving at initial telecommunication node.

Because travelling carriage 135 is not limited to a certain location or PLMN105, need inquiry again and travelling carriage 135 relevant attaching position registers (HLR) 126 to determine the current location of travelling carriage 135 so receive the GMSC127 of IAM signal.Correspondingly, the signal 260 of request route indication is routed to HLR126 by GMSC127.HLR126 and then to determine current again just be the sign of travelling carriage 135 serving mobile switching center (MSC) 120, and to the signal 280 of the MSC120 route requests roaming number that has identified.In coupled visitor location register (VLR) 121 under the help of storage user data, provide the MSC120 of service to identify the called mobile station 135 that in its overlay area, moves, return the roaming number (signal 200) of the called mobile station of the MSC120 that represents the service that is positioned at like this to HLR126.HLR126 just transmits back GMSC127 (signal 205) to the roaming number that receives.Use the roaming number that is used to identify the MSC120 that service is provided that receives, GMSC127 re-routes the call set-up signal 220 that receives the MSC120 of service.Correspondingly, the MSC120 from GMSC127 to service sets up to call out and connects 210, and for example main line connects.In case the call set-up signal that provides the MSC120 of service to receive rerouting with regard to mobile paging station 135, and is set up to call out on the wireless channel between the MSC120 of travelling carriage 135 and service and is connected 221.

Because such HLR inquiry and the rerouting of GMSC that service is provided, therefore often to set up the calling connection of the not high and waste of several times efficient to roaming mobile stations to going into to call out.For example, if travelling carriage 135 is subscribed and is roamed into PLMN105b and served by MSC120b to PLMN105a, then at first be routed to the GMSC127 of PLMN105a, and then be re-routed to travelling carriage 135 MSC120b among the PLMN105b of service is provided to go into calling out of travelling carriage 135.The above is exactly known in the art " long line connects ".

Come now with reference to Fig. 3, it has explained that carrying out long line that main line connects in the communication network connects to be connected in foundation calling between calling party's terminal 305 and the roaming callee travelling carriage 135.Callee's travelling carriage 135 is associated with PLMN105a (claiming H-PLMN now), and current roaming in PLMN105b (claiming V-PLMN now).When at a distance of nearer telephone terminal (no matter be wireless or wired, shown wired situation) 305 sending call out when connecting, set up signal for the telecommunications switch 310 of calling party phone terminal 305 services makes a call to callee's travelling carriage 135 with V-PLMN105b.The call set-up signal of initiating is as the IAM signal, by the PSTN/ISDN129 route that links to each other and be passed to GMSC127 for the H-PLMN105a service.Correspondingly, between telecommunications switch 310 and GMSC127, just set up first main line and call out and be connected, represent with solid line 320 in the drawings.As before describe in conjunction with Fig. 2, GMSC127 carries out the inquiry of HLR by transmit connectionless signal 360 to HLR126 then.Can be used for re-routing network number into calling in order to retrieve GMSC127, HLR126 is to the MSC for the MS135 service, as roaming number of MSC120b request.Because for the MSC120b of callee's travelling carriage 135 service is positioned at V-PLMN105b, so be routed to MSC120b from HLR126 based on the signal 380 of MAP (MAP).MSC120b returns roaming number based on the signal 300 of MAP to HLR126 by another one then.After this by signal 305 signal based on MAP that receives is sent it back GMSC127.The roaming number that MSC120b is designated the MSC that is currently serviced in travelling carriage 135 that utilization receives, GMSC127 re-routes MSC120b to call set-up signal.Such rerouting is just set up the second main line and is called out and be connected 311 between GMSC127 and MSC120b.

If H-PLMN105a is positioned at New York, and V-PLMN105b is positioned at Los Angeles, then use article one to call out connection 320 and be connected 311 with the second calling, via the GMSC127 that is positioned at New York, connect between the calling party phone terminal 305 in Los Angeles and same callee's travelling carriage 135, setting up speech in Los Angeles.Because callee's travelling carriage 135 current positions be can not determine before call set-up signal arrives GMSC127, conventionally were unescapable so such main line is called out the long line connection that connects.Unfortunately, the long line connection of main line calling connection is waste and poor efficiency.It also forces the mobile subscriber to be necessary for to re-route V-PLMN105b and other expense takes place from its H-PLMN105a go into calling out.And it also forces the calling party that unnecessary long-distance cost takes place.

Referring now to Fig. 4, it be can concrete manifestation demonstration telecommunication system 400 of the present invention block diagram.Telecommunication system 400 comprises H-PLMN105a, V-PLMN105b, PSTN/ISDN129 and calling party's network 460.Calling party's network 460 may comprise a part or the wireless network of PSTN/ISDN129, as PLMN105.

In order better the call from calling party phone terminal 305 to be routed to callee's travelling carriage 135, the present invention advises using redirection node 405.Redirection node 405 can integrate with the switch 310 of serving calling party phone terminal 305, and is integrated in the repeater exchanger 410 among the PSTN/ISDN129, and last case illustrates at this.During travelling carriage 135 telephone calling, redirection node 405 has judged whether that optional route can connect this calling in calling party phone terminal 305.

In one embodiment, redirection node 405 is set up a GMSC127 who calls out among the H-PLMN105a, and the node that designator indication foundation is called out in this calls out is exactly a redirection node.When GMSC127 determines to serve the MSC of callee's travelling carriage 135 by inquiry HLR126, during as the position of MSC120b, information can be transmitted back redirection node 405.Redirection node 405 uses this information to determine better optional route in the place of travelling carriage 135 roamings.After redirection node 405 was determined better optional route, redirection node 405 was redirected to calling the MSC120b that service is provided.When redirection node 405 redirected calls, redirection node 405 can discharge this calling, thereby eliminates the unnecessary connection of H-PLMN105a.

In second embodiment, redirection node 405 is determined the H-PLMN105a that MS135 subscribes, the HLR126 that is associated with H-PLMN105a of inquiry determines to serve the position of the MSC120b of MS135, and in the place of travelling carriage 135 roamings, redirection node 405 uses these information to determine better optional route.After redirection node 405 was determined better optional route, redirection node 405 was redirected to calling the MSC120b that service is provided.When the redirection node redirected call, therefore GMSC127 has been reduced the unnecessary connection to H-PLMN105a by bypass.

Referring now to Fig. 5, show signal flow graph here, it has illustrated according to operation first kind of embodiment of the present invention, the described telecommunication system of Fig. 4.Calling party phone terminal 305 is initiated to the call (signal 505) of callee's travelling carriage 135.Call is received by the telecommunications switch 310 of serving calling party phone terminal 305.Telecommunications switch 310 uses PSTN/ISDN129 to continue to GMSC127 routing call (signal 510).Call is received by redirection node 405, and it continues to be directed to GMSC127 (signal 515) among the H-PLMN105a to calling.

GMSC127 inquiry HLR126 determines the geographical position (signal 520) of callee's travelling carriage 135.Because callee's travelling carriage 135 is roamed out H-PLMN105a, thus indicated callee's travelling carriage 135 to roam out H-PLMN105a from HLR126 reply (signal 525), and currently provide service by MSC120b.GMSC127 sends it back redirection node 405 (signal 530) to the information that receives from HLR126.Redirection node 405 uses these information to determine optional route.After determining optional route, redirection node 405 is directed to calling the MSC120b (signal 535) that service is provided.When redirection node 405 when the MSC120b directed call of service is provided, redirection node 405 also discharges call (signal 515), and also therefore is disconnected connection from the branch road that is pre-existing in of redirection node 405 to GMSC127.Provide the MSC120b of service to be accomplished to the calling (signal 545) of callee's travelling carriage 135.

Referring now to Fig. 6, show signal flow graph here, it has illustrated the operation according to telecommunication system second kind of embodiment of the present invention, that Fig. 4 describes.Calling party phone terminal 305 is initiated a call (signal 605) to callee's travelling carriage 135.Call is received by the telecommunications switch 310 of serving calling party phone terminal 305.Telecommunications switch 310 uses PSTN/ISDN129 to continue to GMSC127 routing call (signal 610).Call is received by redirection node 405, and it continues the geographical position (signal 615) that inquiry HLR126 determines callee's travelling carriage 135.Because callee's travelling carriage 135 roams out H-PLMN105a, thus indicated callee's travelling carriage 135 to roam out H-PLMN105a from HLR126 reply (signal 620), and currently provide service by MSC120b.Redirection node 405 is used from the information of HLR126 reception and is determined optional route.After determining optional route, redirection node 405 is directed to the MSC120b (signal 625) that service is provided to calling, is accomplished to the calling (signal 630) of travelling carriage 135 by MSC120b.

Although the preferred embodiment of method and apparatus of the present invention is explanation in the accompanying drawings, and also set forth in the detailed description in front, but it should be understood that the present invention is not limited only to these disclosed embodiments, and a lot of rearranging, revise and substitute can be arranged under the premise without departing from the spirit of the present invention.Therefore, the present invention only be subject to following claim with and content of equal value.

Claims

1. one kind is used to set up the method that the calling to the travelling carriage of having subscribed to Home Public Land Mobile Network network (H-PLMN) initiated from the caller phone terminal connects, and above-mentioned travelling carriage is roamed in the PLMN (V-PLMN) of visit, and this method comprises the steps:

Foundation article one from the caller phone terminal to redirection node connects;

The second of foundation from this redirection node to this H-PLMN connects;

Its attached location storage apparatus of inquiry in this H-PLMN, this location storage apparatus has been stored the designator that identifies above-mentioned V-PLMN;

This designator is sent to this redirection node; And

Three connection of foundation from this redirection node to this V-PLMN.

2. according to the method for claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

The second of release from the redirection node to H-PLMN connects.

3. according to the process of claim 1 wherein that said caller phone terminal comprises second travelling carriage.

4. according to the process of claim 1 wherein that said caller phone terminal comprises a telephone.

5. according to the process of claim 1 wherein that redirection node also comprises a repeater exchanger.

6. according to the method for claim 5, wherein article one connects the connection that comprises from the caller phone terminal to the telecommunications switch of serving this telephone terminal and the connection from the telecommunications switch of serving this caller phone terminal to redirection node.

7. according to the process of claim 1 wherein that redirection node is positioned at public switch telephone network.

8. according to the process of claim 1 wherein that above-mentioned location storage apparatus comprises attaching position register.

9. a telecommunication system is used for call is routed to the travelling carriage of having subscribed and having roamed to Home Public Land Mobile Network network (H-PLMN) from the caller phone terminal in the PLMN (V-PLMN) of visit, and this telecommunication system comprises:

A telecommunications switch is used to receive the request of the call of foundation from the caller phone terminal to travelling carriage;

A redirection node, it is connected to this telecommunications switch, from the telecommunications switch to the redirection node, set up article one branch road, set up the second branch road from the redirection node to H-PLMN, redirection node receives designator from H-PLMN, and this designator has identified V-PLMN, and to its response, from the redirection node to V-PLMN, set up the 3rd branch road, thus, be connected to travelling carriage by telecommunications switch, redirection node and V-PLMN from the call of caller phone terminal.

10. according to the telecommunication system of claim 9, wherein redirection node is positioned at public switch telephone network.

11. according to the telecommunication system of claim 9, wherein redirection node comprises repeater exchanger.

12. according to the telecommunication system of claim 9, wherein redirection node is made response and the second branch road of release from the redirection node to PLMN to receiving from the designator of H-PLMN.

13. a redirection node, the calling that is used for setting up from the caller phone terminal to the travelling carriage of having subscribed to Home Public Land Mobile Network network (H-PLMN) connects, and this travelling carriage is roamed in the PLMN (V-PLMN) of visit, and this redirection node comprises:

Be used to set up the first connection apparatus for establishing that the article one from the caller phone terminal to redirection node connects;

The inquiry unit that is used for the inquiring position storage arrangement, this inquiry unit is connected to H-PLMN;

Respond this inquiry unit and receive the receiving system of designator, this designator sign V-PLMN from the location storage apparatus; And

Be used to set up the second connection apparatus for establishing that the second from the redirection node to V-PLMN connects.

14. also be included as the switch of caller phone Terminal Service according to the redirection node of claim 13.

15. the redirection node according to claim 13 also comprises:

Serve the telecommunications switch of caller phone terminal, this telecommunications switch is forwarded to redirection node calling out to connect from the caller phone terminal.

16. according to the redirection node of claim 13, wherein the location storage apparatus also comprises attaching position register.

17. a redirection node, the calling that is used for setting up from the caller phone terminal to the travelling carriage of having subscribed to Home Public Land Mobile Network network (H-PLMN) connects, and this travelling carriage roves in the PLMN (V-PLMN) of visit, and this redirection node comprises:

Be used to set up the second connection apparatus for establishing that the second from the redirection node to H-PLMN connects;

Be used for receiving the receiving system of designator, this designator sign V-PLMN from H-PLMN; And

Be used to set up the 3rd connection apparatus for establishing of the 3rd connection from the redirection node to V-PLMN.

18. the redirection node according to claim 17 also comprises:

Be used to discharge the releasing device that the second from the redirection node to H-PLMH connects.