WO2000056111A1

WO2000056111A1 - System and method for enabling subscriber control of services between differing technology networks

Info

Publication number: WO2000056111A1
Application number: PCT/SE2000/000327
Authority: WO
Inventors: Steven Rochefort; Harald Werner Richter
Original assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson (Publ)
Priority date: 1999-03-17
Filing date: 2000-02-18
Publication date: 2000-09-21
Also published as: AR022875A1; AU3848800A

Abstract

An apparatus and method enabling a subscriber to control subscriber services in a first network (10) while roaming within a second network (15) is disclosed. A subscriber service control message (65) formatted according to a first protocol of a first network (10) is received at a mobility gateway (20) interconnecting the first and second networks. A functionality (25) within the mobility gateway (20) converts the subscriber service control message (65) from a first protocol utilized by the first network (10) to a second protocol utilized by the second network (15). The converted subscriber service control message (75) formatted according to the second protocol is transmitted to the second network (15) from the mobility gateway (20).

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ENABLING

SUBSCRIBER CONTROL OF SERVICES BETWEEN

DIFFERING TECHNOLOGY NETWORKS

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from and incorporates herein by reference the entire disclosure of U.S. Patent Serial No. 60/124,918, filed March 17, 1999.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Technical Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to subscriber control of services provided by a wireless communication system, and more particularly, to the subscriber control of services within a home network when the subscriber is roaming within a visiting network utilizing a differing technology. Description of Related Art

Within cellular networks, a mobile subscriber may roam between service areas of different networks. Various techniques have been developed to enable a mobile subscriber to continue being provided with mobile telephone services once they have left their home service area. In a first alternative, once a mobile subscriber travels into a new mobile switching center (MSC) coverage area and turns on their mobile station for the first time, the mobile station attempts to register with the servicing MSC for the area by transmitting an associated identification number known as the international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) number or mobile identification number (MIN). The serving MSC communicates with the home location register associated with the mobile station using the received SI/MIN. This communication is to inform the

HLR of the mobile station's new location and to receive requisite subscriber information from the HLR necessary to provide mobile services to the newly registering mobile station.

However, when mobile subscribers move between networks utilizing different technologies, for example, a GSM system utilizing a GSM MAP protocol and a TDMA system using a ANSI-41 protocol, the various information required to be transmitted between the networks creates problems in converting information between the protocols useable by each system.

One of the problems involves the ability of a subscriber to control services they are normally able to control in their home network (e.g., activate call waiting) while they are roaming within a network using a differing technology. Since the signaling technologies utilized within, for example, GSM and TDMA networks are different, the user is unable to control their services within the home network because there presently exists no defined mechanism to allow the subscriber to have this type of control while roaming. Thus, some method and system enabling a subscriber to control their home network subscriber services while roaming in networks using a different technology would be greatly desirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention overcomes the foregoing and other problems with an apparatus and method for controlling subscriber services within GSM and TDMA networks by subscribers roaming outside of their home technology network. A subscriber service control message formatted according to a first protocol is received at a mobility gateway interconnecting a GSM and TDMA networks via an interface with one of the networks. In response to the received subscriber service control message, a mapping table associated with a subscriber service control functionality of the mobility gateway is accessed. The mapping table contains subscriber service control messages formatted in the first protocol and have associated therewith the subscriber service control messages formatted in a second protocol. The subscriber service control message in the first protocol is mapped to the second protocol using the accessed mapping table.

If necessary, a password response to the second network also may be provided. In the case of a GSM subscriber within a TDMA network, the password is extracted from the subscriber service control message. In the case of a TDMA subscriber roaming within a GSM network, the mobility gateway queries the GSM network for the password and formats the received password into the subscriber service control message formatted according to the second protocol. The subscriber service control message in the second format is transmitted to the HLR of the subscriber in the second network via an interface between the mobility gateway and the second network. The second network then alters the subscriber services of the second network according to the subscriber service control message.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a functional block diagram illustrating a mobility gateway including the functionality of the present invention between a GSM network and a TDMA network;

FIGURE 2 is an example of a table used for mapping the subscriber service control messages between TDMA and GSM networks according to the subscriber service control functionality module of the present invention;

FIGURE 3 is a signaling diagram illustrating a GSM subscriber roaming within a TDMA network and controlling subscriber services within its home GSM network; and FIGURE 4 is a signaling diagram illustrating a TDMA subscriber roaming within a GSM network and controlling its subscriber services within a home TDMA network.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the Drawings, and more particularly to FIGURE 1, there is illustrated a block diagram of a GSM network 10 utilizing a GSM MAP protocol interconnected with a TDMA network 15 using a ANSI-41 protocol through a mobility gateway 20. The GSM network 10 enables subscribers to access telecommunications functionalities utilizing GSM technologies. The TDMA network enables mobile subscribers to access telecommunications functionalities using TDMA technologies. The mobility gateway 20 enables mobile subscribers from the GSM network 20 to roam within the TDMA network 15 and mobile subscribers from the TDMA network to roam within the GSM network 10 while maintaining access to substantially all of the services and functionalities provided to them- within their home network. While the present system is described with respect to interconnections between a

TDMA system using the ANSI-41 protocol and a GSM system utilizing a GSM MAP protocol, it should be realized that the mobility gateway 20 and discussions with respect thereto may be extended to include other mobile protocols and networks such that the described system is not limited to use between GSM and TDMA networks. As described previously, a user from a network utilizing a first technology such as GSM or TDMA which roams into a second network utilizing a differing technology is unable to control the subscriber services which are provided within the home network. The mobility gateway 20 of the present invention includes a subscriber service control functionality 25 that enables a roaming subscriber to maintain control of the subscriber services within its home network when the subscriber has roamed into a second network that utilizes a different technology. The subscriber services control functionality 25 uses a defined mapping table 30 capable of converting a GSM MAP signal message from a TDMA subscriber roaming in a GSM network into related subscriber service control information formatted for ANSI-41 messages within a TDMA network and for converting ANSI-41 message data from a GSM subscriber roaming in a TDMA network into related GSM MAP signal information for a GSM network.

One example of a mapping table 30 for assisting the subscriber service control functionality 25 is more fully illustrated in FIGURE 2. While the present mapping table 30 is described with respect to conversions between TDMA and GSM systems, conversion between other types of differing technologies may also be performed. The mapping table 30 includes a section 35 describing the TDMA subscriber service control message, a section 40 describing the GSM equivalent subscriber service control message and a section 45 having a general description of the service being controlled or provided. Referring now to FIGURE 3, there is illustrated a signaling diagram describing the process by which a GSM subscriber roaming within a TDMA network controls the services provided within its home GSM network utilizing the subscriber service control functionality 25 of the present invention. A GSM subscriber 50 initiates the process by generating a supplementary service operation message 55 to an MSC/VLR

60 of the TDMA system in which the subscriber is presently located. The MSC/VLR 60 generates a feature request message 65 which is transmitted to the mobility gateway 70. The mobility gateway 70 performs like a VLR with respect to the GSM network and an HLR with respect to the TDMA network. Information may be transmitted from the MSC/VLR 125 within the GSM network to a mobility gateway 70 in two fashions.

The messages can be passed as part of a specific GSM MAP subscriber services message for services that are similarly defined in GSM and ANSI, or they may be passed in a more general manner using unstructured supplementary services messages for services that are unique to ANSI. Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) is amechanism that allows user interaction between GSM PLMN applications and an MS in a transparent way through the network. Within the mobility gateway 70, the subscriber service control functionality 25 analyzes the dialed feature code within the feature request message 65 and utilizes the mapping table 30 to convert message 65 to the corresponding supplementary services message 75 for transmission to the GSM HLR 80. The supplementary services message 75 transmitted to the HLR 80 will comprise either a: 1) activate supplementary services message; 2) deactivate supplementary services message; 3) interrogate supplementary services message; 4) register supplementary services message; or 5) erase supplementary services message.

A password entered by the GSM subscriber 50 may be removed from the feature request message 65 for use in response to a get password message 85 that may be received from the GSM HLR 80. In response to the supplementary services message 75, the GSM HLR 80 may transmit a get password message 85 to the mobility gateway 70. In response to the get password message 85, the subscriber services control functionality 25 transmits the extracted password within a subscriber password result message 90 back to the GSM HLR 80. The GSM HLR 80 next updates, at 95, a user profile associated with the subscriber at the HLR according to the received supplementary services message 75.

The HLR 80 next transmits a supplementary services result message 100 back to the mobility gateway 70 wherein the subscriber services control functionality 25 converts the result message into a feature request return result message 105, using the mapping table 30. The feature request return result message 105 is transmitted back to the TDMA MSC/VLR 60. The GSM subscriber 50 is notified of the results of the update via a supplementary service operation result message 110.

Referring now to FIGURE 4, there is illustrated a signaling diagram describing the process by which a TDMA subscriber 115 roaming in a GSM network may control services within a home TDMA network. The TDMA subscriber 115 transmits a profile change message 120 to a GSM MSC/VLR 125. The MSC/VLR 125 transmits a supplementary services invoke message 130 that comprises either a A) activate supplementary services message; 2) deactivate supplementary services message; 3) interrogate supplementary services message; 4) register supplementary services message; or 5) erase supplementary services message to a mobility gateway 135. The mobility gateway 135 performs like an HLR with respect to the GSM network and a VLR with respect to the TDMA network. Within the mobility gateway 135, the subscriber services control functionality 25 uses the mapping table 30 to convert the supplementary services message 130 to a corresponding message formatted for use within the TDMA network as a feature request message 150.

The subscriber services control functionality 25 also determines whether a password is necessary for the service change requested by the subscriber 115. If so, a get password message 140 is transmitted back to the MSC/VLR 125 to obtain a password for the requested supplementary service change. Once retrieved, the password is forwarded back to the mobility gateway 135 via a get password result message 145. The subscriber services control functionality 25 formats the password into a feature request message 150, and the feature request message is transmitted to the TDMA HLR 155. At 160, the profile for the subscriber 115 is updated within the TDMA HLR, and a feature request return result message 165 is transmitted back to the mobility gateway 135. The subscriber services functionality 30 converts the message 170 into a supplementary services result message 175 for transmission back to the MSC/NLR 125.

Although a preferred embodiment of the method and apparatus of the present invention has been illustrated in the accompanying Drawings and described in the foregoing Detailed Description, it is understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiment disclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications, and substitutions without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth and defined by the following claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. An apparatus enabling a subscriber to control subscriber services in a first network while roaming within a second network, comprising: a first interface for interconnecting the apparatus with the first network; a second interface for interconnecting the apparatus with the second network; and a module for converting subscriber service control messages between different protocols used within the first network and the second network.

2. The apparatus of Claim 1 , further comprising a table for mapping the subscriber service control messages between protocols used by the first network and the second network.

3. The apparatus of Claim 1, wherein the module further provides password responses associated with subscriber service control messages.

4. The apparatus of Claim 1, wherein the first network comprises a TDMA network and the second network comprises a GSM network.

5. The apparatus of Claim 4, wherein the module extracts a password from a TDMA subscriber service control message and transmits the password to the GSM network in response to a password request message.

6. The apparatus of Claim 4, wherein the module requests a password from the GSM network and formats a received password into a TDMA subscriber service control message.

7. A method for controlling subscriber services in a first network by a subscriber roaming in a second network, comprising the steps of: receiving a subscriber service control message formatted according to a first protocol of the first network; converting the subscriber service control message from the first protocol of the first network to a second protocol of the second network; and transmitting the subscriber service control message formatted in the second protocol to the HLR of the subscriber in the second network.

8. The method of Claim 7 further comprising the step of altering a subscriber service in the second network in response to the subscriber service control message formatted in the second protocol.

9. The method of Claim 7, wherein the step of converting further comprises the steps of: accessing a mapping table containing subscriber service control messages formatted in both the first protocol and the second protocol; and mapping the service control message from the first protocol to the second protocol using the mapping table.

10. The method of Claim 7, wherein the step of converting further comprises the step of providing a password response to the second network.

11. The method of Claim 10, wherein the step of providing further comprises the steps of: extracting a password provided in the subscriber service control message formatted in the first protocol; and transmitting the extracted password to the second network formatted according to the second protocol.

12. The method of Claim 10, wherein the step of providing further comprises the steps of: querying the first network for the password; receiving the password from the first network formatted according to the first protocol; and formatting the password within the subscriber service control message according to the second protocol.

13. The apparatus of Claim 7, wherein the first network comprises a TDMA network and the second network comprises a GSM network.

14. The method of Claim 7 , wherein the step of receiving further comprises receiving a GSM MAP subscriber service message.

15. The method of Claim 7, wherein the step of receiving further comprises receiving an unstructured supplementary service message.

16. A method for controlling subscriber services within GSM and TDMA networks by subscribers roaming outside of their home network, comprising the steps of: receiving a subscriber service control message formatted according to a first protocol at a mobility gateway interconnecting the GSM and TDMA networks; accessing a mapping table containing the subscriber service control message in the first protocol and having associated therewith the subscriber service control message formatted in a second protocol; mapping the subscriber service control message from the first protocol to the second protocol using the mapping table; and transmitting the subscriber service control message formatted in the second protocol to an HLR of the subscriber.

17. The method of Claim 16 further comprising the step of altering a subscriber service in response to the subscriber service control message formatted in the second protocol after the subscriber service request has been processed by the HLR.

18. The method of Claim 16 further comprising the step of providing a password response.

19. The method of Claim 18, wherein the step of providing further comprises the steps of : extracting a password provided in the subscriber service control message formatted in the first protocol; and transmitting the extracted password to the GSM network formatted according to the second protocol.

20. The method of Claim 18, wherein the step of providing further comprises the steps of: querying the GSM network for the password; receiving the password from the GSM network formatted according to the first protocol; and formatting the password within the subscriber service control message according to the second protocol.

21. The method of Claim 16, wherein the step of receiving further comprises receiving a GSM MAP subscriber service message.

22. The method of Claim 16, wherein the step of receiving further comprises receiving an unstructured supplementary service message.