KR100839796B1 - Roaming service system and method to use payment in prepaid card - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a roaming service system and a method using a prepaid card, and provides a subscriber of a second mobile communication network, which is provided by a second network operator that is not roaming agreement with a first network provider providing a first mobile communication network. Automatically roaming subscribers to a prepaid roaming service by automatically registering subscriber information by roaming HLR when inbound roaming to a first mobile communication network using a terminal; Sending, by the roaming HLR, the subscriber's profile data to the MSC of the first mobile communication network, and sending a short or voice message informing the terminal of the subscription of the prepaid roaming service; Identifying, by the roaming SCP, the subscriber's prepaid charge balance when the subscriber attempts to make a call through the first mobile communication network using the terminal; When there is no prepaid charge balance of the subscriber, by roaming SCP, connecting the call of the terminal to the IP to induce charging of the prepaid charge balance according to the voice guidance; When there is a subscriber's prepaid charge balance, connecting, by the roaming SCP, the call of the terminal to the called number by the prepaid charge balance; When the call connection between the terminal and the called number is released, real-time billing of the prepaid fee balance corresponding to the call connection time by the roaming SCP, and releasing the call related resource; Assigning, by the roaming HLR, a called party number to the terminal; And when the call arrives at a callable number, the roaming HLR obtains the original number of the terminal and connects the call.

Description

Roaming service system using prepaid card and method thereof {Roaming service system and method to use payment in prepaid card}

1 is a configuration diagram schematically showing the overall configuration of an intelligent network system in a mobile communication network to which the prepaid roaming system according to the present invention is applied.

2 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of a prepaid roaming system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a detailed flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a location registration procedure of an inbound roaming user in a prepaid roaming service method according to the present invention;

Figure 4 is a detailed flow diagram of an embodiment of the process of the first inbound roaming user subscribed to the prepaid roaming service in the prepaid roaming service method according to the present invention attempts to send.

5 is a detailed flowchart of an embodiment of a balance filling process when using SMS in a prepaid roaming service method according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a detailed flowchart illustrating an example of a process of calling a desired number by an inbound roaming user who has completed a balance charge in a prepaid roaming service method according to the present invention; FIG.

7 is a detailed flowchart illustrating a process for receiving an incoming call to a newly assigned destination number by an inbound roaming user in a prepaid roaming service method according to the present invention;

<Code Description of Main Parts of Drawing>

10: MSC (Exchange) 20: HLR (Home Location Register)

30: SCP (Service Controller) 40: Roaming System

41: Roaming HLR 42: Roaming SCP

43: MAP / SS7 processing unit 50: SS7 network

60: IP 100: outgoing terminal

The present invention relates to a roaming service system using a prepaid card and a method thereof. In particular, when a subscriber belonging to an operator who does not provide automatic roaming service roams into the network, a new called number is automatically assigned and a prepaid card is used. A system and method for enabling roaming services are provided.

In general, in a plurality of networks operated by different providers, a visitor network (home network) is a place where a mobile device owner is located when roaming occurs. Roaming service that allows the visitor network to obtain location information of the mobile terminal from the home network and to perform a call service for the terminal based on the acquired information. Is being provided.

However, in the conventional roaming service, the home location register (HLR) and the visitor location register (VLR) interworking are performed through the SS7 (Signaling System 7) signaling network in order for a user to receive roaming service between network operators. For this reason, roaming service is expensive and requires a lot of cost investment because it is necessary to do so through inter-entry agreements such as roaming agreements or international signal network relay providers. In addition, when a mobile phone user roams to a network other than the service provider to which he / she subscribes, there is a problem in that a roaming service cannot be provided when the service provider of the home network to which the mobile phone user does not interwork with the service providers of the roaming network.

Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a telephone service by automatically registering in the operator's HLR when the user of the network operator does not roam agreement wants inbound roaming, In addition, the present invention provides a roaming service system and method using a prepaid card that allows a user to control a call usage without requiring a separate postpaid settlement using a prepaid card service.

The roaming service system using the prepaid card of the present invention for achieving the above object, includes a MSC (Exchange), HLR (Home Location Register), SCP (Service Controller), and IP (Intelligent Network Peripherals), the first An intelligent network system in a first mobile communication network using a signaling system 7 (SS7) protocol provided by a network operator, the roaming HLR, roaming SCP, and SS7 (signaling system 7) / MAP (mobile application part) processing unit A prepaid roaming system. The roaming HLR is inbound roaming when the subscriber of the second mobile communication network inbound roams to the first mobile communication network using a terminal provided by the second network operator that is not roaming agreement with the first network operator. By automatically registering subscriber information of one terminal, the subscriber is automatically subscribed to the prepaid roaming service. The roaming HLR also transmits the subscriber's profile data to the MSC and sends a short or voice message informing the terminal of the subscription of the prepaid roaming service. Roaming HLR manages location information of the terminal. The roaming SCP, when the subscriber attempts to make a call through the first mobile network using the terminal, finds the subscriber's account in the subscriber DB or does not have the subscriber's account when there is a service control request from the MSC by the intelligent network trigger. When creating a subscriber account in the subscriber DB, and check the prepaid charge balance of the subscriber account. When roaming SCPs do not have a prepaid charge balance in their subscriber accounts, the call from the terminal is connected to the IP to induce charge of the prepaid charge balance according to the voice guidance. The roaming SCP will also connect the terminal's call to the called number when there is a prepaid charge balance in the subscriber's account, and charge the call in real time if the call to the called number is lost. SS7 / MAP processing unit interlocks roaming HLR and roaming SCP to SS7 network. In addition, the roaming HLR combines the original number of the terminal and the number of the first network operator, or one of the station number not used by the first network operator, to provide an incoming service to a subscriber who has subscribed to the prepaid roaming service. The generated number is given as a callable number.

The roaming service method using the prepaid card of the present invention for achieving the above object is provided by a second network operator that is not roaming agreement with the first network provider providing a first mobile communication network of the second mobile communication network When the subscriber roams inbound to the first mobile communication network using the terminal, automatically registering the subscriber with the prepaid roaming service by automatically registering the subscriber information with the roaming HLR; Sending, by the roaming HLR, the subscriber's profile data to an MSC (exchange) of the first mobile communication network, and sending a short or voice message informing the terminal of the subscription of the prepaid roaming service; Identifying, by the roaming SCP, the subscriber's prepaid charge balance when the subscriber attempts to make a call through the first mobile communication network using the terminal; When there is no prepaid charge balance of the subscriber, by roaming SCP, connecting the call of the terminal to an IP (intelligent network peripheral device) to induce charge of the prepaid charge balance according to the voice guidance; When there is a subscriber's prepaid charge balance, connecting, by the roaming SCP, the call of the terminal to the called number by the prepaid charge balance; When the call connection between the terminal and the called number is released, real-time billing of the prepaid fee balance corresponding to the call connection time by the roaming SCP, and releasing the call related resource; Assigning, by the roaming HLR, a called party number to the terminal; And when the call arrives at a callable number, the roaming HLR obtains the original number of the terminal and connects the call.

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Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that in the following description, only parts necessary for understanding the operation according to the present invention will be described, and descriptions of other parts will be omitted so as not to deviate from the gist of the present invention.

1 is a configuration diagram schematically showing the overall configuration of an intelligent network system in a mobile communication network to which the prepaid roaming system according to the present invention is applied.

Referring to FIG. 1, an intelligent network system in a mobile communication network to which the present invention is applied may include a mobile switching center (hereinafter referred to as "MSC") 10 and a home location register (hereinafter referred to as "HLR"). 20, Service Control Point (SCP) 30, Intelligent Peripheral (IP) 60, and prepaid roaming in accordance with the present invention. System 40 is configured.

The MSC 10 includes a visitor location register (VLR) and processes mobile communication subscriber calls in conjunction with the HLR 20 and the SCP 30.

The HLR 20 is a database connected to the MSC 10 and the SCP 30 to manage various types of information of mobile subscribers. The HLR 20 works with a plurality of MSCs 10 to perform a function such as registration of a subscriber's location and performs mobile communication. Permanent information and location information of the terminal and subscriber are stored, and interacts with the SCP 30 to support various functions related to call processing and additional services. In particular, the HLR 20 stores triggering information according to a service used by a subscriber.

SCP 30 is a device for service control in a mobile communication network, and manages a profile and a related DB of a mobile communication network subscriber to perform call processing and service logic, and performs service logic according to a service scenario.

The IP 60 performs functions such as recording guidance and communication with a user using DTMF (Dual Tone Multi Frequency) for performing prepaid amount management, real-time billing, and the like during the prepaid roaming service according to the present invention.

Prepaid roaming system 40 according to the present invention is largely composed of roaming HLR 41 to register the roaming user, and manages the location information of the roaming user (subscriber), roaming SCP 42 to provide a prepaid card service, The roaming HLR 41 and roaming SCP 42 are connected to an intelligent network system in the existing mobile communication network including the MSC 10, the HLR 20, and the SCP 30 by the SS7 protocol. In particular, roaming SCP 42 may have a separate interface for prepaid card data sharing with existing SCP 30 providing prepaid services to regular subscribers.

2 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of a prepaid roaming system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2, the prepaid roaming system 40 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an HLR function 41-1 and a roaming subscriber DB 41-2 for performing location registration and call processing functions. A roaming SCP 42 including a roaming HLR 41, an SCP function 42-1 for performing a prepaid card service and a charging function, and an interface 42-2 for providing a prepaid card sharing function; It is composed of SS7 / MAP processing unit 43 for interworking with the common SS7 network.

The prepaid roaming service method according to an embodiment of the present invention configured as described above will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3 to 7.

3 is a detailed flowchart illustrating a location registration procedure when an inbound roaming user turns on a terminal in a prepaid roaming service method according to the present invention.

First, when the power of the user terminal 100 is turned on (S301), the MSC 10 checks that the corresponding station number belongs to the roaming HLR 41, and then sends a location registration message (RegNot) to the roaming HLR 41 (S302). The roaming HLR 41 looks up the location registration message and searches the subscriber DB to find the subscriber's mobile station identification number (MIN) and device serial number (ESN). (S303) At this time, the inbound roaming user (i.e. Since a subscriber of a second mobile communication network using a second mobile communication network provided by a second network operator who is not roaming agreement with the first network operator is not registered with the HLR, in the conventional general case, it is treated as a registration failure. Although the telephone could not be used, according to the present invention, if there is no subscriber in the DB, the roaming HLR (ie, roaming HLR of the first mobile communication network provided by the first network operator) 41 automatically registers the subscriber information in the DB. Add roaming service It is a ball.

In this step, the roaming HLR 41 registers the subscriber with the DB and sends a location registration success message (RegNot ACK). (S304) At this time, the roaming HLR 41 automatically subscribes the subscriber to the prepaid service and triggers the appropriate intelligent network. In this case, the subscriber profile data is transmitted to the MSC 10 (S305). If the mobile communication network is a CDMA network, the intelligent network WIN call trigger is applicable, and in the case of the GSM network, the CAMEL O-CSI may be applicable. have.

Subsequently, the roaming HLR 41 sends a roaming congratulatory message (eg, “Welcome to Korea. You can use Prepaid Roaming Service. Please call to 114 to use.”, Etc.) to the subscriber station 100 (S306). At this time, the roaming congratulatory message may be sent as a short message or a voice message. Accordingly, the user can receive the short message or the voice message and can know that he or she is subscribed to the prepaid roaming service.

FIG. 4 is a detailed flowchart illustrating a process in which an inbound roaming user who subscribes to a prepaid roaming service attempts to make an initial call in the prepaid roaming service method according to the present invention.

First, when a user first makes a call (S401), the MSC 10 requests roaming SCP 42 for service control by an intelligent network trigger. (S402) In this case, in a CDMA network, such as Analyzed Information, Origination Request, etc. Operation is used, and in GSM network, InitialDP operation is used.

Subsequently, roaming SCP (42) will search the subscriber DB to find an account, and if there is no account, create a new one. (S403) When the first call is made, the user does not have a prepaid charge balance yet. The balance must be filled using. Therefore, roaming SCP (42), if there is no balance, all calls to the IP (60) regardless of the subscriber originating number to induce charging (S404), the user charges according to the voice guidance. (S405 ~ S406 In the charging process, if a prepaid card is used, the roaming SCP 42 may interoperate with the existing SCP 30 to inquire the card information and then charge it. At this time, the balance payment process using a prepaid card or a credit card as described above is a well-known technology, and thus description of the detailed operation process will be omitted.

In addition, according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the charging may use a method other than ARS, for example, a short message (SMS) or the Internet. Detailed description with reference to the following.

First, when the user enters a prepaid card or credit card number and password in the SMS and sends it to the SMSC 70 (Short Message Service Center) (S501), the roaming SCP 42 receives the message through the SMSC 70. (S502) Then, the roaming SCP 42 checks the card number and processes the charging (S503). As a result, that is, the SMS including the successful charging message is sent via the SMSC 70 to the user terminal 100. (S504 ~ S505).

FIG. 6 is a detailed flowchart illustrating a process of calling a desired number by an inbound roaming user who completes a balance charge in a prepaid roaming service method according to the present invention.

First, when the user calls the desired number after the balance is completed (S601), the MSC 10 requests the roaming SCP 42 to control by the intelligent network trigger (S602).

Then, the roaming SCP 42 checks the balance in the subscriber account and connects the call to the called number as much as the balance (S603), and when the call ends, the roaming SCP 42 charges the call charge in real time. )

Meanwhile, since the prepaid roaming service according to the present invention uses a user's telephone number as it is, a new number must be assigned to provide an incoming service, and this number utilizes a difference between the home operator and the roaming operator number system of the user. Is defined.

In the present invention, a method of assigning a new number may be used to allocate a station number not used by a roaming service provider or to use a combination of an original number and a roaming service number. In the case of using the method of allocating a station number which is not used by the roaming service provider, the roaming service provider manages a number which is not used by the roaming HLR 41 and allocates one of the numbers. For example, a roaming operator having a 99 identifier may allocate 9910 station number for prepaid roaming service, manage the station number in roaming HLR 41 and automatically assign the number to the service user. In the case of a subscriber having the number 200-1234 ', the number' 9910-1234 'may be assigned. In the case of assigning numbers in this way, the actual phone number and the assigned number are stored in separate databases.

In addition, in the case of using the combination of the original number and the roaming operator number among the methods for assigning the new number, if the home operator's identification number is '010' and the roaming operator's identification number is '99', the prepaid roaming service may be used. The called number may consist of <country number> + <roaming operator identification number> + <10 + user number>. For example, a subscriber having a number '010-200-1234' becomes '99 + 10 + 200 + 1234 '.

7 is a detailed flowchart illustrating a process for receiving a call with a called number assigned by a method of assigning a new called number in the prepaid roaming service method according to the present invention.

First, when the caller of the external network makes a call to the called number assigned to the service user (S701), the external network exchanger checks the <roaming operator identification number> of the called number and connects the call to the corresponding roaming provider network.

Subsequently, when the MSC 10 of the roaming operator checks the user number and sends a call attempt message to the roaming HLR 41 (S702), the roaming HLR 41 removes the <roaming operator identification number> from the called number. After obtaining the number, the subscriber information is searched using the number. (S703) In the preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 7, since '96' is an identification number of the roaming service provider, the remaining numbers other than the number, ie, '112001234' 'Is used. In addition, the above embodiment has been described on the assumption that an incoming number created by combining the original number and the roaming operator's number has been described. However, in another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the called number automatically assigned by the roaming HLR 41 is described. It will be used to find the actual number of the service subscriber by searching the database stored the allocation number and the actual number.

Following step S703, the roaming HLR 41 requests a temporary local directory number (TLDN) or mobile subscriber roaming number (MSRN) for specifying a destination route for the call to a registered VLR. At this time, the VLR can use a variety of techniques in the terminal paging process, MIN paging, IMSI paging is a representative method, respectively, the mobile station identification number (MIN) or international mobile station identification number (IMSI) number of the terminal Is to use

Then, the roaming HLR 41 returns the TLDN or the MSRN received from the VLR to the MSC 10 (S705 to S706), and the MSC 10 connects a call between the calling terminal and the service subscriber terminal of the external network. S707)

What has been described above is just one embodiment for implementing the prepaid roaming service system and method according to the present invention, various substitutions, modifications, and changes are possible within the scope without departing from the spirit of the present invention described above It is not limited to an example and an accompanying drawing.

As described above, the present invention can provide a roaming service in the form of prepaid service even if operators who are not roaming interlocked, and the user can control the call usage intentionally without the need for a separate postpaid settlement using the prepaid card service. By doing so, it is possible to receive a call service at a lower cost than the existing post-paid roaming service.

Claims (6)

First move using Signaling System 7 (SS7) protocol, provided by the first network operator, including MSC (Exchange), Home Location Register (HLR), Service Controller (SCP), and IP (Intellectual Network Peripherals) In the intelligent network system in the communication network, When a subscriber of a second mobile communication network provided by a second network operator that is not roaming agreement with the first network operator inbound roams to the first mobile communication network using a terminal, the inbound roaming is performed. By automatically registering subscriber information of the terminal, the subscriber is automatically subscribed to the prepaid roaming service, the profile data of the subscriber is transmitted to the MSC, and a short or voice message informing the terminal of the subscription of the prepaid roaming service. A roaming HLR that transmits and manages location information of the terminal; As the subscriber attempts to make a call through the first mobile communication network using the terminal, when the service control request is triggered by the intelligent network trigger from the MSC, the subscriber DB finds the subscriber's account or the subscriber's account. When there is no account, the subscriber's account is created in the subscriber DB, the prepaid charge balance of the subscriber account is checked, and when there is no prepaid charge balance, the call of the terminal is connected to the IP to prepaid charge according to voice guidance. A roaming SCP that induces charging of the balance, connects the call of the terminal to the called number when there is a prepaid charge balance, and processes the call charge in real time when the call to the called number is released; And And a prepaid roaming system including an SS7 (Signaling System 7) / MAP (Mobile Application Part) processing unit for interworking the roaming HLR and the roaming SCP with an SS7 network, The roaming HLR is one of a number of station numbers not used by the first network operator or the original number of the terminal and the first network operator to provide an incoming service to the subscriber subscribed to the prepaid roaming service. A roaming service system using a prepaid card, characterized in that a number generated by combining the numbers is assigned as a callable number. The method of claim 1, The roaming HLR includes an HLR function unit and a roaming subscriber DB, and when one of the station number not used by the first network operator is assigned as the forwardable number, the rotatable number and the original number of the terminal. Stores the number of and retrieves the original number of the terminal corresponding to the callable number when receiving a call attempt message for the terminal to which the callable number is assigned from the MSC, or the callable number. Roaming service system using a prepaid card, characterized in that to obtain the original number of the terminal by removing the number of the first network operator. The method of claim 1, The roaming SCP includes a SCP function unit for performing a prepaid card service and a charging function, an interface unit for providing a prepaid card sharing function, and receives a short message including a prepaid card or credit card number and a password of the subscriber. When the number of the prepaid card or the credit card is confirmed, the subscriber's prepaid charge balance is charged, and a short message including a successful charging message is transmitted to the terminal. system. Roaming HLR when the subscriber of the second mobile communication network inbound roams to the first mobile communication network using a terminal provided by a second network operator that is not roaming agreement with the first network provider providing the first mobile communication network. Automatically subscribing the subscriber information, thereby automatically subscribing the subscriber to the prepaid roaming service; Transmitting, by the roaming HLR, profile data of the subscriber to an MSC (exchange) of the first mobile communication network, and transmitting a short or voice message informing the terminal of subscription of a prepaid roaming service; Confirming, by the roaming SCP, the prepaid charge balance of the subscriber when the subscriber attempts to make a call through the first mobile communication network using the terminal; When there is no prepaid charge balance of the subscriber, by the roaming SCP, connecting the call of the terminal to an IP (intelligent network peripheral device) to induce charge of the prepaid charge balance according to the voice guidance; When there is a prepaid charge balance of the subscriber, connecting, by the roaming SCP, a call of the terminal to a called number by the prepaid charge balance; When the call connection between the terminal and the called number is released, real-time charging of the prepaid fee balance corresponding to the call connection time by the roaming SCP, and releasing a call related resource; Assigning, by the roaming HLR, a callable number to the terminal; And And when the call arrives at the callable number, connecting the call by obtaining the original number of the terminal by the roaming HLR. delete The method of claim 4, wherein In the step of assigning the callable number, the roaming HLR is generated by combining one of station numbers not used by the first network operator or the original number of the terminal and the number of the first network operator. Give one number as said callable number, In the step of connecting the call, the roaming HLR retrieves the original number of the terminal stored in advance corresponding to the called number, or removes the number of the first network operator from the called number, thereby reducing the number of the terminal. Roaming service method using a prepaid card, characterized in that obtaining the original number.

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