GB2489027A

GB2489027A - A network sub-system for providing localised services to roaming subscriber untits

Info

Publication number: GB2489027A
Application number: GB1104468.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Patson Norbert Anius
Original assignee: MJEANIUS Ltd
Current assignee: MJEANIUS Ltd
Priority date: 2011-03-17
Filing date: 2011-03-17
Publication date: 2012-09-19
Also published as: GB201104468D0

Abstract

A method for providing localised services to roaming subscriber units within a communication system is provided. At least one local telephone number is allocated for providing localised services. This number is assigned to the subscriber unit. When a call is made to the local telephone number, it is routed via a local PSTN 345 to a local GMSC 335. The GMSC sends a request for routing information for the local telephone number to a network sub-system 200 which translates the local telephone number into subscriber information, for example â homeâ telephone number (MSISDN) for the subscriber unit. The network sub-system obtains routing information from the home network HLR using the subscriber information and returns the obtained routing information back to the local network. Use of the network sub-system to obtain routing information enables a call to the roaming subscriber unit to be completed without being routed via the home network. This reduces resource usage and calls will incur local charges only. A plurality of local numbers may be assigned for different regions or countries.

Description

METHOD FOR PROVIDING LOCALISED SERVICES AND NETWORK SUB-SYSTEM

THEREFOR

Field of the invention

The field of this invention relates to a method for providing localised services, and in particular to a method for providing localised services to roaming subscriber units within a communication system, and a network sub-system therefor.

Background of the Invention

In the field of wireless telecommunications, roaming' is a general term referring to the extension of connectivity service to a location outside of the home' location in which the service and/or a subscriber unit is registered. The term roaming' is typically used to refer to the extension of connectivity service when a subscriber unit is outside of the coverage area of their home network, such as when a subscriber is travelling abroad. Traditional GSM (Global System for 1 5 Mobile communications) roaming is defined as the ability for a cellular customer (subscriber) to automatically make and receive calls, send and receive data, or access other services, including home data services, when travelling outside the geographical coverage area of the home network, by means of using a visited network, and is equally applicable for all second generation (2G), third generation (3G) wireless communication technologies and fourth generation (4G) technologies, including code division multiple access (CDMA) technologies. Roaming is technically supported by mobility management, authentication, authorisation and billing procedures.

FIG. I illustrates a known example of a roaming subscriber unit 110, or user equipment (UE) in 3GPPTM (3 Generation Partnership Project) parlance, connected to a visited network 100 in order to access services whilst outside the geographical coverage area of its home network 105.

When a UE 110 initially registers with a visited network 100, the visited network 100 contacts the home network 105 and requests service information for the UE 110 (including whether or not the UE 110 should be allowed to roam). If successful, the visited network 100 begins to maintain a temporary record for the UE 110, within its visitor location register (VLR), which for the illustrated example forms a part of a gateway mobile switching centre (GMSC) 120. The home network 105 also updates its information within its home location register (HLR) 130 to indicate that the UE 110 is temporarily operating on the visited network 100.

When a call is made to the UE 110, the "Mobile Subscriber Integrated Services Digital Network Number" (MSISDN) is used, or dialled, to establish a connection with the UE 110. For example, FIG. I illustrates a call being made to the UE 110 from, for the illustrated example, the visited country within which the visited network 100 is located. The call, illustrated at (1), is routed (2) using the dialled MSISDN for the UE 110 by a PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) 140, via international switching centres 150, 155 for the respective countries to a GMSC 125 for the home network 105. The GMSC 125 of the home network 105 requests routing information (3) for the UE 110 corresponding to the received MSISDN from the HLR 130 of the home network 105.

Information within the HLR 130 indicates that the UE 110 is currently roaming and located within the visited network 100. Accordingly, the HLR 130 sends a request (4) to the visited network 100 to provide a mobile subscriber roaming number (MSRN) for the UE 110. Upon receipt of the request for a MSRN for the UE 110 (5) by the GMSC 120 of the visited network 100, the GMSC 120 assigns an MSRN to the UE 110, and provides it back (6) to the HLR 130 of the home network.

Upon receipt of the MSRN (7), the HLR 130 of the home network provides the MSRN to the GMSC of the home network 105 (5), which then routes the received call to the UE 110 via the visited network 100.

Although the known system for enabling roaming with such a wireless communication system is adequate to achieve the underlying goals of enabling a cellular customer (subscriber) to automatically make and receive calls, send and receive data, or access other services, including home data services, when travelling outside the geographical coverage area of the home network, it suffers from a number of problems. First, as can be seen from the illustrated example, the need for routing calls back to the home network, before subsequently routing them to the roaming UE via 1 5 the visited network, is often an inefficient use of network resources. This is particularly true when a call being routed to a roaming UE is initiated within the same geographical location (e.g. the same country) in which the UE is located, such as illustrated in FIG. 1. A further problem with the known system for enabling roaming is that typically the subscriber of a roaming UE is required to pay for received calls, etc. to be routed from, and for calls being made to be routed to, their home network.

As will be appreciated, such roaming' costs soon mount up to considerable amounts.

Typically roaming occurs when a subscriber travels abroad, whereby such travel may be for a variety of purposes and with a variety of requirements and implications. For example, in one scenario a group of friends and/or family may travel abroad on holiday. Accordingly, the group members may wish to be able to communicate with one another using their mobile phones. With the current system for routing and charging for calls made whilst roaming, even though the members of the group may be situated close to one another in the same geographical location, calls between themselves will still be required to be routed from the local (visited) network, to their home network(s) and then back to a local (visited) network in order for the connections to be established, even if the members of the group were subscribers for the same home network. Not only is the routing of such local' calls back to the home network(s) of the family members wasteful of increasingly valuable network resources, but also can become expensive from the point of view of the family members paying for the calls (i.e. the subscribers). In addition, any calls that they receive whilst abroad from, for example, friends and family back home, would also incur relatively expensive roaming charges.

In another scenario, corporate travellers are often required to travel abroad, and often to many different countries. In a similar manner to that for a group of friends and/or family travelling abroad, if a team or group of corporate travellers is working in the same country, for example on a joint project, calls made between them on their mobile phones will result in such local' calls being routed via their home networks. In addition, calls to such corporate travellers from, say, a head office in their home country, clients (whether in their home country or abroad), etc. would require roaming charges to be incurred by the subscribers. Furthermore, in order for clients located abroad in countries other than their home' country to contact them, those clients are required to make international' calls to their home network. Not only can this be expensive, but also it is sometimes the case that corporate telephone systems/handsets are not permitted to make international calls, potentially preventing some clients from being able to contact these corporate travellers.

In a still further scenario, migrant workers working in a foreign country often have family and friends living in their country of birth with whom they require/desire regular contact. However, currently in order for a migrant worker to contact, or be contacted by, family and/or friends in their home country, an international call is required, along with the associated charges. For many migrant workers, the cost of such international calls is prohibitive for the family and friends.

Summary of the Invention

Accordingly, the invention seeks to mitigate, alleviate or eliminate one or more of the abovementioned disadvantages, singly or in any combination.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for providing localised services to roaming subscriber units within a communication system. The method comprises allocating at least one local telephone number for providing localised services, assigning the at least one local telephone number to at least one subscriber unit upon receipt of a request for routing information for the at least one local telephone number, translating the at least one local telephone number into subscriber information for the at least one subscriber unit to which the at least one local telephone number is assigned, obtaining routing information using the subscriber information for the at least one subscriber unit, and returning the obtained routing information for the at least one subscriber unit to which the at least one local telephone number is assigned.

In this manner, calls to a roaming subscriber unit may be completed without the need for the call to be routed via the home network of the subscriber unit. As a result, increasingly valuable network resources may be used more efficiently. Furthermore, local numbers may be assigned to subscriber units, independently of the current location (e.g. country) of the subscriber units and the home network for the subscriber unit. In this manner, a call may be made to a subscriber unit using a local number, irrespective of the geographical location or the hosting network operator of the subscriber unit and independently of the home network for the subscriber unit.

In one optional embodiment of the invention, the method may further comprise, upon receipt of a request for routing information for the at least one local telephone number, translating the at least one local telephone number into a home telephone number of the at least one subscriber unit to which the at least one local telephone number is assigned, sending a request for routing information for the home telephone number of the at least one subscriber unit to a home network of the at least one subscriber unit, and upon receipt of routing information for the home telephone number of the at least one subscriber unit from the home network thereof, returning the home telephone number routing information for the at least one subscriber unit.

In one optional embodiment of the invention, the method may comprise, upon allocation of at least one local telephone number for providing localised services, configuring, within a local network responsible for the at least one local telephone number, triggers for requesting routing information for the at least one local telephone number from at least one network sub-system arranged to provide localised services to roaming subscriber units. The method may further comprise, at the at least one network sub-system arranged to provide localised services to roaming subscriber units, assigning the at least one local telephone number to at least one subscriber unit, upon receipt of a request for routing information for the at least one local telephone number, translating the at least one local telephone number to a home telephone number of the at least one subscriber unit to which the at least one local telephone number is assigned, obtaining routing information for the home telephone number of the at least one subscriber unit, and returning the obtained routing information for the at least one subscriber unit.

In one optional embodiment of the invention, the method may further comprise, upon at least one subscriber registering at least one subscriber unit with the at least one network sub-system arranged to provide localised services to roaming subscriber units, assigning at least one of the allocated local telephone number(s) to the at least one registered subscriber/subscriber unit.

in one optional embodiment of the invention, the method may further comprise, at the at least one network sub-system arranged to provide localised services to roaming subscriber units, receiving a request for routing information for a short message service (SMS) message intended for the at least one local telephone number, and returning routing information directed to the at least one network sub-system arranged to provide localised services to roaming subscriber units.

In one optional embodiment of the invention, the method may further comprise, at the at least one network sub-system arranged to provide localised services to roaming subscriber units, receiving an SMS message intended for the at least one local telephone number, translating the at least one local telephone number to a home telephone number of the at least one subscriber unit to which the at least one local telephone number is assigned, and forwarding the SMS message to a home network of the at least one subscriber unit.

In one optional embodiment of the invention, the method may further comprise receiving billing information relating to the at least one local telephone number from at least one from a group of: a network operator responsible for the at least one local telephone number; and a home network operator of the at least one subscriber unit, and performing reconciliation and settlement of received billing information.

In one optional embodiment of the invention, the step of sending a request for routing information for the at least one subscriber unit to a home network of the at least one subscriber unit may further comprise suppressing charging within the home network for a service relating to the routing information request.

In one optional embodiment of the invention, the method may further comprise, upon receipt of a request for routing information for the at least one local telephone number, initiating a credit check for the at least one subscriber unit to which the at least one local telephone number has been assigned to determine if the at least one subscriber has at least a minimum amount of credit, and if it is determined that the at least one subscriber has at least the minimum amount of credit, returning the routing information therefor.

In one optional embodiment of the invention, the step of allocating at least one local telephone number for providing localised services may comprise allocating at least one Mobile Subscriber Integrated Services Digital Network Number (MSISDN).

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a network sub-system for providing localised services to roaming subscriber units within a communication system. The network sub-system is arranged to assign at least one local telephone number allocated for providing localised services to at least one subscriber unit, upon receipt of a request for routing information for the at least one local telephone number, translate the at least one local telephone number to a home telephone number of the at least one subscriber unit to which the at least one local telephone number is assigned, obtain routing information for the home telephone number of the at least one subscriber unit, and return the obtained routing information for the at least one subscriber unit to which the at least one local telephone number is assigned.

According to third aspect of the invention, there is provided a communication system comprising a network sub-system for providing localised services to roaming subscriber units within the communication system. The network sub-system is arranged to assign at least one local telephone number allocated for providing localised services to at least one subscriber unit, upon receipt of a request for routing information for the at least one local telephone number, translate the at least one local telephone number to a home telephone number of the at least one subscriber unit to which the at least one local telephone number is assigned, obtain routing information for the home telephone number of the at least one subscriber unit, and return the obtained routing information for the at least one subscriber unit to which the at least one local telephone number is assigned.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a tangible computer program product having executable program code stored therein for providing localised services to roaming subscriber units within a communication system. The executable program code is operable for allocating at least one local telephone number for providing localised services, assigning the at least one local telephone number to at least one subscriber unit, upon receipt of a request for routing information for the at least one local telephone number, translating the at least one local telephone number to a home telephone number of the at least one subscriber unit to which the at least one local telephone number is assigned, obtaining routing information for the home telephone number of the at least one subscriber unit, and returning the obtained routing information for the at least one subscriber unit to which the at least one local telephone number is assigned.

These and other aspects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from, and elucidated with reference to, the embodiments described hereinafter.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Embodiments of the invention will be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 illustrates a known example of a roaming subscriber unit.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a network sub-system for providing localised services to roaming subscriber units.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of the network sub-system of FIG. 2 operably coupled to a wireless communication system.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a simplified message sequence for the establishment of a call.

FIG's 5 and 6 illustrate simplified flowcharts of examples of a method for providing 1 5 localised services to roaming subscriber units.

FIG. 7 illustrates a simplified flowchart of an example of settlement and reconciliation of billing across different network operators.

FIG. 8 illustrates an example of a simplified message sequence for the routing of messages.

FIG. 9 illustrates a typical computing system that may be employed to implement signal processing functionality in embodiments of the invention.

Detailed Description of Embodiments of the Invention Embodiments of the invention described herein find particular applicability in wireless communication systems, such as those conforming to GSM (second generation) and the 3rd Generation (3G) of mobile telephone standards and technology. An example of such GSM/3G standards and technology is the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS)TM, developed by the 3 Generation Partnership Project (3GPP'M) (www.3cipp.org). Those skilled in the art, however, will recognize and appreciate that the specifics of this example are merely illustrative of some embodiments, and that the teachings set forth herein are applicable in a variety of alternative wireless communication systems and with a variety of alternative technologies.

Referring now to the drawings, and in particular FIG. 2, an example of a network sub-system 200 for providing localised services to roaming subscriber units within a communication system, according to some example embodiments of the present invention. For the illustrated example, the network sub-system 200 comprises various components that might typically be associated with, say, a network switching sub-system (NSS) within a UMTSTM network. In particular for the illustrated example, the network sub-system 200 of FIG. 2 comprises: -a mobile switching centre (MSC) component (M-MSC) 210 comprising at least a subset of, and functional and process modification of, a standard 3G MSC; -a visitor location register (VLR) component (M-VLR) 212 comprising at least a subset of, and functional and process modification of, a standard 3G VLR; -a home location register (HLR) component (M-HLR) 214 comprising at least a subset of, and functional and process modification of, a standard 3G HLR; -an intelligent network (IN) component (M-IN) 216 comprising at least a subset of, and functional and process modification of, a standard 3G IN; and -a short message service centre (SMSC) component (M-SMSC) 218 comprising at least a subset of, and functional and process modification of, a standard 3G S-MSC.

The M-MSC component 210 and M-VLR component 212 perform basic MSCNLR signalling functions in terminating or originating call roaming and short message service (SMS) scenarios. The M-HLR component 214 holds home and local' telephone numbers (e.g. MSISDN numbers) for subscriber units registered therewith. The M-IN component 216 supports charging/billing functions. The M-SMSC component 218 supports short message services, such as capturing SMS messages for delivery to destination subscriber units. For The illustrated example, the M-MSC component 210, M-VLR component 212, M-HLR component 214, M-IN component 216 and M-SMSC component 218 are each arranged to be operably coupled to a signal transfer point (STP) component 220, which provides routing functionality for, in the illustrated example, Signalling System No. 7 (SS7) messages. For completeness, SS7 is a set of telephony signalling protocols which are used to set up public switched telephone network telephone calls. The network sub-system 200 of FIG. 2 further comprises a translation component 230 and a packet switched interface 250 for providing access to, for example, one or more databases 260 and/or packet switched networks, such as the Internet 270. The network sub-system 200 may also comprise a system management component 240 and a customer services component 280.

In accordance with some example embodiments of the present invention, the network sub-system 200 is arranged to assign at least one local telephone number allocated for providing localised services to at least one subscriber unit, and upon receipt of a request for routing information for the at least one local telephone number, translate the at least one local telephone number into subscriber information for the at least one subscriber unit (for example a home telephone number of the subscriber unit) to which the at least one local telephone number is assigned, obtain routing information subscriber information for the at least one subscriber unit, and return the obtained routing information for the at least one subscriber unit.

For example, FIG. 3 illustrates an example of the network sub-system 200 of FIG. 2 forming a part of, or at least operably coupled to, a wireless communication system 300. The wireless communication system comprises a plurality of wireless communication networks 310, 320, 330, which for the illustrated example may be deployed in different countries. STPs 305 and gateways 307 enable the wireless communication networks 310, 320, 330, and the network sub-system 200, to communicate with one another, for example using SS7 messages. For the illustrated example, the network sub-system 200 comprises a standalone network sub-system substantially independent from an active wireless communication network. As such, the network sub-system 200 may be considered as a virtual' network sub-system. However, in one example, the network sub-system 200 may alternatively be implemented within, and form an integrated part of, a wireless communication network. A subscriber unit (UE) 315 is registered within a home location register (HLR) 317 of a first network 310 and, as such, this first network 310 is the home' network for the UE 315.

In the scenario illustrated in FIG. 3, the UE 315 is located within a second, visited network 320. Accordingly, a temporary record for the UE 315 is maintained within a visitor location register (VLR) of a gateway mobile switching centre (GMSC) 325, and the home network 310 also updates its information within its HLR 317 to indicate that the UE 315 is roaming within the visited network 320.

As mentioned above, the network sub-system 200 is arranged to assign one or more local telephone numbers allocated for providing localised services to subscriber units. In one example, that such a local telephone number is associated with at least one geographical location, and in particular may be associated with at least one wireless communication network, such as one of the wireless communication networks 310, 320, 330 illustrated in FIG. 3.

For example, an operator of a third wireless communication network 330 may allocate a range of telephone numbers (e.g. MSISDN5) available to it for use by the network sub-system 200 for providing localised services to subscriber units within the geographical coverage area of the third wireless communication network 330. As described in greater detail below, the network sub-system 200 may then assign one or more of these allocated telephone numbers to one or more subscriber units, such as UE 315. When such a local' telephone number is assigned to, say, UE 315, the network sub-system 200 may be arranged to indicate to the local network responsible for the local telephone number, for example the third network 330 illustrated in FIG. 3, to configure one or more triggers for requesting routing information for the subscriber unit to which the local telephone number is assigned from the network sub-system 200.

Alternatively, the local network 330 may be arranged, upon allocation of local telephone numbers for providing localised services, to configure one or more triggers for requesting routing information for subscriber units to which local telephone numbers have been assigned from the network sub-system 200. In this manner, when a telephone call is made to the local telephone number, the network 330 responsible for the local telephone number is triggered to request routing information for the local number from the network sub-system 200.

By way of example, and as illustrated in FIG. 3, a caller 340 dials a local telephone number (MSISDN) assigned to UE 315 as described above, and in greater detail below. The call is routed via a local PSTN (public switched telephone network) 345 to a GMSC 335 of the local wireless communication network 330 that is responsible for the local telephone number. Upon receipt of the call, the GMSC 335 of the local network 330 is triggered, for example by way of one or more triggers set within a VLR thereof, to request routing information for the local telephone number from the network sub-system 200. Upon receipt of a request for routing information for a local telephone number, the translation component 230 of the network sub-system 200 translates the local telephone number into, for example, a home' telephone number (MSISDN) of the UE 315 to which the local telephone number is assigned. The network sub-system 200 is then arranged to obtain routing information for the UE 315 from the home network 310. Upon receipt of such routing information from the home network 310, the network sub-system 200 then provides the routing information back to the local network 330, which is then able to route the call to the UE 315.

For the example illustrated in FIG. 3, the UE 315 is located within visited network 320.

Accordingly, upon receipt of the request for routing information from the network sub-system 200, the home network 310 will identify from information within the HLR 317 that the UE 315 is within visited network 320, and will request a roaming number, for example a Mobile Subscriber Roaming Number (MSRN) in 3GPPTM parlance, for the UE 315 from the visited network 320. Upon receipt of the roaming number from the visited network 320, the home network 310 passes roaming number back to the network sub-system 200, which in turn provides the roaming number for the UE 315 to the local network 330. The local network is then able to complete the call by diverting it to the roaming number received from the network sub-system 200.

Significantly, the use of network sub-system 200 to obtain routing information in this manner enables a call to the roaming UE 315 to be completed without a need for the call to be routed via the home network of the UE 315, but rather for the illustrated example directly from the local network 330 to the visited network 320. It will also be appreciated that, had the UE 315 been located within the local network 330, the call could have been completed without the need for it to have been routed outside of the local network 330. In this manner, increasingly valuable network resources may be used more efficiently.

Furthermore, the network sub-system 200 enables local numbers to be assigned to subscriber units, such as UE 315, independently of the current location of the UE 315 and the home network for the UE 315. In this manner, a call may be made to a subscriber unit such as UE 315 using a local number, irrespective of the geographical location of the UE 315 and independently of the home network for the UE 315. Accordingly, a person making such a call will only be charged for a local call, and will be able to call a UE 315 registered with a foreign network even if they are restricted from making calls to foreign telephone numbers.

Referring now to FIG. 4, there is illustrated an example of a simplified message sequence chart 400 for the establishment of a call within the wireless communication system 300. In particular, FIG. 4 illustrates a simplified message sequence chart 400 for establishing a call to UE 315 using a local telephone number allocated by local network 330 for providing localised services and assigned to UE 315. A call is originated locally within local network 330 by, say, handset 340 sending dialled digits to the PSTN Switch 345 (FIG. 3), and the PSTN Switch 345 sending an initial address message (lAM) or an Initial and Final Address Message (IFAM) 405 to the GMSC/VLR 335 of the local network 330. The lAM message 405 contains a dialled local telephone number (ni) for the local network 330 assigned to, for the illustrated example, UE 315. Upon receipt of the lAM message 405, the GMSC 335 of the local network 330 is triggered, for example by way of one or more triggers set within a VLR thereof for the dialled local telephone number (ni), to request routing information for the dialled local telephone number (ni) from the network sub-system 200.

Accordingly, the GMSC 335 of the local network 330 sends a Send Routing Information' (SRI) message 410 for the dialled local telephone number (ni) to the network sub-system 200, which is received by the M-HLR component 214 thereof. SRI (Send Routing Information) is a standard GSM function used to locate a called party.

In accordance with some example embodiments of the invention, upon receipt of the SRI (ni) message 410, the M-HLR component 214 of network sub-system 200 may, for example in a case of a prepaid subscription, initiate a credit check for the subscriber unit to which the local telephone number has been assigned, in order to determine if the subscriber has at least a minimum amount of credit before returning routing information therefor. Thus, for the illustrated example, upon receipt of the SRI (ni) message 410, the M-HLR component 214 of network sub-system 200 returns subscription information for UE 315 and an address for the M-IN component 216 of the network sub-system 200 to enable the local network 330 to obtain confirmation from the M-1N component 216 that the UE 315 has sufficient credit associated with it to complete the call (as described in greater detail below). Accordingly, for the illustrated example, upon receipt of the SRI (ni) message 410, the M-HLR component 214 transmits a T-CSI (Termination -CAMEL Subscription Information) message 415 for the UE 315 back to the GMSC 335 of the local network 330, with the address for the M-IN component 216 of the network sub-system 200. Upon receipt of the T-CSI message 415, the GMSC 335 of the local network 330 sends an IDP (Initial Detection Point) message 420 to the M-IN component 216 comprising parameters for the dialled local number (ni) received within the T-CSI message from the M-HLR component 214 of the network sub-system 200. The IDP message may comprise various parameters such as, by way of example only, a called party number (ni), an IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber Identification) number, a visited MSCNLR Global Title (E.164 format), etc. Upon receipt of IDP message 420, the M-IN component 216 identifies the UE 315 to which the local number (ni) has been allocated, and determines whether sufficient credit is available for the UE 315 to allow the call to be established. For the illustrated example, the M-IN component 216 determines that the UE 315 does have sufficient credit for the call to be established, and returns a continue' (CONT) message 425 back to the GMSC 335 of the local network 330. It will be appreciated that message 415, 420, 425 may be omitted, for example in the case of a post-paid subscription.

Upon receipt of the CONT message 425, the GMSC 335 of the local network 330 sends another Send Routing Information' (SRI) message 430 for the dialled local telephone number (ni) to the M-HLR component 214 of the network sub-system 200. However, this time, the SRI message 430 comprises a Suppressed T-CSI' parameter. Upon receipt of this SRI (ni) message 430, because the message comprises a suppressed T-CSI parameter, the M-HLR component 214 of the network sub-system 200 suppresses the transmission of a T-CSI message back to the GMSC 335 of the local network 330, and sends a Provide Roaming Number' (PRN) message 435 to the M-MSC component 210 of the network sub-system 200 comprising the dialled local telephone number (ni). Upon receipt of the PRN message 435, the M-MSC component 210 sends a "Supply SIM Number (SSN) message 440 to the translation component 230 of the network sub-system 200 comprising the dialled local telephone number (ni). As will be appreciated by a skilled artisan, the SSN message 440 is not part of the GSM/3G standards, and for the illustrated examples comprises an internal message of the network sub-system 200 between the M-MSC componenent 210 and the translation component 230. Upon receipt of the SSN message 440, the translation component 230 translates, for example by performing a lookup function within the database 260, the dialled local telephone number (ni) into information relating to a subscriber unit to which the dialled local telephone number (ni) has been allocated, which for the illustrated example comprises UE 315. Such information may comprise a home telephone number (MSISDN), IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber Identification) number, etc. for the UE 315. The translation component 230 then returns 445 the subscriber information (n2) to the M-MSC component 210 of the network sub-system 200. For the example illustrated in FIG. 2, the database 260 comprises a standalone database. However, it will be appreciated that a look-up database may alternatively be implemented as an integral part of the translation component 230, for

example.

Upon receipt of the subscriber information (n2) from the translation component 230, the M-MSC component 210 of the network sub-system 200 sends an SRI message 450 comprising the subscriber information (n2) (e.g. a home telephone number, MSISDN or IMSI for UE 315) to the HLR 317 of the home network 310 of UE 315 (the SRI message 450 comprising a Suppressed T-CSI' parameter to prevent the HLR 317 of the home network 310 triggering charging, since for the illustrated example this has already been triggered within the M-IN component 216 of the network sub-system 200).

Upon receipt of this SRI (n2) message 450, information stored in the HLR 317 of the home network 310 indicates that the UE 315 is allowed to roam in visited network 320. Accordingly, the HLR 317 of the home network 310 sends a PRN (n2) message 455 to the GMSC 325 of the visited network 320. The GMSC 325 of the visited network 320 generates a Mobile Subscriber Roaming Number (MSRN), which is then temporarily associated with the received subscriber information (n2) from the VLR thereof. The GMSC 325 returns 460 the MSRN for the subscriber information (n2) to the HLR 317 of the home network 310 of the UE 315, which in turn provides 465 the MSRN for the subscriber information (n2) back to the M-MSC component 210 of the network sub-system 200.

Upon receipt of the MSRN for the subscriber information (n2), the M-MSC component 210 of the network sub-system 200 translates the received (n2) back to (nI) and returns 475, 480 the MSRN for the dialled local telephone number (ni) to the GMSC 335 of the local network 330 via the M-HLR component 214 of the network sub-system 200. Upon receipt of the MSRN for the dialled local telephone number (ni), the GMSC 335 of the local network 330 is able to use the received MSRN to establish a call 485 with the UE 315 directly via the GMSC 325 of the visited network 320, without the need for such a call to be routed via the home network 310 of the UE 315.

For the illustrated example, upon receipt of the MSRN for the subscriber information (n2), the M-MSC component 210 of the network sub-system 200 is further arranged to provide 470 the MSRN to the M-IN component 216 of the network sub-system 200, for the purpose of performing a tariff switch, as described in greater detail below.

For the illustrated examples hereinbefore described, the function of the M-HLR component 214 forms an integral part of the network sub-system 200, separate from the home or visited networks 310, 320. By providing the M-HLR component 214 within the network sub-system 200 in this manner, additional functionality over and above those of a standard GSM/3G HLR may be provided to the M-HLR component 214, enabling additional services to be made available, such as, say, mass advertising, gaming, location based services, (including proximity services), market intelligence, etc. Furthermore, by providing the M-HLR component 214 within the network sub-system 200, the M-HLR component 214 is able to store information about the location of participating UEs across all participating partner operator networks, as opposed to only those of one specific network.

However, in other examples, the functionality of the M-HLR component may equally be performed by an HLR within a partner operator network, such as the home or visited network 310, 320. Such an implementation may be accomplished without significant changes to a standard HLR of the partner operator network other than a parameter change to enable that HLR to contact the M-VLR component 212 of the network sub-system 200 using the Provide Roaming Number' (PRN) message 435 for the location of the UE 315. On receipt of the returned MSRN message 465, the M-VLR component 212 of the network sub-system 200 will return the message 475 to the respective partner operator network HLR. This HLR will then forward the MSRN as message 480 to the partner operator network MSC to then complete the call.

In the case where the M-HLR component functionality is provided within a partner operator HLR, once a UE is registered on the network sub-system 200, network sub-system 200 may send a Location Update message to the Home Network HLR of the UE to inform it that the UE has "roamed" to the network sub-system 200. In this manner, when a call is made to a local telephone number of the (visited) partner operator assigned to the UE, the VLR of the (visited) partner operator may send a SRI message to the (visited) partner operator HLR (message 430 in Fig 4), and the HLR may then send a PRN message (435) to the M-VLR component 212 of the network sub-system 200.

Referring now to FIG. 5, there is illustrated a simplified flowchart 500 of an example of a method for providing localised services to roaming subscriber units within a communication system according to some example embodiments of the present invention. The method starts at step 510, and moves on to step 520 where one or more Network Operators (such as the operator of local network 330 in FIG. 3) allocate local' telephone numbers (e.g. MSISDNs) to a network sub-system, such as network sub-system 200 of FIG's 2 and 3) for providing localised services. Next, at step 530, both an IN component of the network sub-system 200 as well as HLR of the network subsystem 200 and triggers within the MSC/VLR of the local networks are configured for the allocated local telephone numbers. For example, the MSCNLR of the local network 330 should be configured to trigger the M-HLR component 214 of the network sub-system 200 for those local telephone numbers that have been allocated for providing localisation services.

Furthermore, in one example, the MSC/VLR of the local network 330 may have an IN trigger profile defined for each of the allocated local telephone numbers, in order to trigger a sending of an IDP message 420 to the M-IN component 216 of the network sub-system 200 upon receipt of a T-CSI message 415 from the M-HLR 214 component of the network sub-system 200.

One or more subscriber units (UE5) are then registered with the network sub-system at 540, for example an MSISDN and/or IMSI for each subscriber unit may be defined within the M-HLR component 214 of the network sub-system 200, and one or more of the allocated local telephone numbers is then assigned to each registered subscriber unit at 550.

Subsequently, upon receipt of a request for routing information for a local telephone number allocated from providing localised services at step 560, the method moves on to step 570 where the local telephone number for which routing information has been requested is translated into subscriber information, such as a home network telephone number of IMSI of the subscriber unit to which that number has been assigned. Next, at step 580, routing information is obtained for the subscriber unit to which the local number has been assigned using the subscriber information therefor. The obtained routing information is then returned for the local telephone number at step 590, and the method ends at step 595.

Referring now to FIG. 6, there is illustrated an example of a simplified flowchart 600 of part of a method for providing localised services to roaming subscriber units within a communication system, such as may be implemented within the M-HLR component 214 of the network sub-system of FIG's 2 and 3, according to some example embodiments of the present invention. The method starts at step 605 and moves on to step 610 with a receipt of an SRI message from an MSC of a local network, such as the GMSC 335 of the local network 330 in FIG. 3. If the received SRI message is incorrect, at step 615, the method moves to step 620, where an error message is sent back to the GMSC of the local network from which the message was received, and the method ends. However, if the received SRI message is correct, the method moves on to step 625, where an internal database may be queried to retrieve data corresponding to a local' MSISDN provided within the received SRI message. If the local MSISDN provided within the received SRI message does not correspond to an MSISDN that has been assigned to a registered subscriber unit, at step 630, the method moves to step 620, where an error message is sent back to the GMSC of the local network from which the message was received, and the method ends.

However, if the local MSISDN provided within the received SRI message does correspond to an MSISDN that has been assigned to a registered subscriber unit, at step 630, the method moves on to step 635 where it is determined whether or not the registered subscriber unit to which the local MSISDN has been assigned is a post-paid' subscriber unit (e.g. where the subscriber is billed, say, monthly for calls, etc. that have already been made). If the registered subscriber unit to which the local MSISDN has been assigned is a post-paid subscriber unit, the method moves on to step 650, where the local MSISDN is translated to a home' MSISDN and/or an IMSI for the subscriber unit.

Conversely, if the registered subscriber unit to which the local MSISDN has been assigned in not a post-paid subscriber unit, the method moves to step 640, where it is determined whether the T-CSI is suppressed within the received SRI message. If the T-csi has not been suppressed, the method moves to step 645, where a SRI response is sent back to the GMSC of the local network with T-CSI, together with the address for the IN component of the network sub-system.

The method then ends. However, if the T-CSI has been suppressed within the received SRI message, the method moves on to step 650, where the local MSISDN is translated to a home' MS1SDN and/or 1MSI for the subscriber unit.

Having translated the local MSISDN, which was provided within the received SRI message, to a home MSISDN and/or IMSI for the subscriber unit to which the local MSISDN has been assigned at step 650, the method moves on to step 655. In step 655, the home MSISDN and/or IMSI of the subscriber unit is/are provided to an MSC component of the network sub-system, which is instructed to send an SRI message to the home network of the subscriber unit that comprises the MSISDN and/or IMSI therefor. If a response is not received from the MSC component of the network sub-system at step 660, for example within a predetermined period of time, the method moves to step 620, where an error message is sent back to the MSC of the local network from which the message was received, and the method ends.

However, if a response is received from the MSC component of the network sub-system at step 660, the method moves on to step 665, where it is determined whether (or not) the response received from the MSC component of the network sub-system is or comprises an error message. If the response is, or comprises, an error message, the method moves to step 620, where an error message is sent back to the MSC of the local network from which the message was received, and the method ends. Conversely, if the response received from the MSC component of the network sub-system is not an error message, the method moves on to step 670, where it is determined whether or not the response from the MSC component of the network sub-system comprises call forwarding information for the subscriber unit. If the response does comprise call forwarding information, the method may optionally move on to step 680, where appropriate call forwarding actions may be taken in accordance with the received information. The method then moves on to step 675, where a response is sent back to the MSC of the local network from which the initial SRI message was received. The response comprises routing information for the subscriber unit that was received from the MSC component of the network sub-system (or from the call forwarding actions in step 680). The method then ends.

Thus, an improved method for providing localised services to roaming subscriber units within a communication system, and network sub-system therefor, have been described that enable increasingly valuable network resources to be used more efficiently. Furthermore, example embodiments of the present invention enable local numbers to be assigned to subscriber units, independently of the current location of the subscriber unit and the home network for the subscriber unit. In this manner, a call may be made to a subscriber unit using a local number, irrespective of the geographical location of, and independently of the home network for, the subscriber unit.

Accordingly, a person making such a call may only be charged for a local call, and will be able to call a subscriber unit registered with a foreign network, even if they are typically restricted from making calls to foreign telephone numbers.

It is contemplated in one example embodiment that the network sub-system 200 of FIG's 2 and 3 may be arranged to act as a clearing house for settlement and reconciliation with respect to billing matters. in particular, it is contemplated that the network sub-system 200 may be arranged to receive billing information relating to a local telephone number from a Network Operator that is responsible for the local telephone number, and a visited Network Operator of the at least one subscriber unit, and to perform reconciliation and settlement of received billing information. As previously mentioned, the network sub-system may be arranged, upon sending a request for routing information for a subscriber unit to a home network of the subscriber unit, to suppress charging within the home network for a service relating to the routing information request. In this manner, billing of the subscriber will not be duplicated by the home network.

FIG. 7 illustrates a simplified flow chart 700 of an example of settlement and reconciliation of billing across different Network Operators, such as may be implemented within the network sub-system 200. For the illustrated example, when a call is made from an originating handset, such as the handset 340 illustrated in FIG. 3, to a roaming subscriber unit registered with the network sub-system 200, such as UE 315, the call is routed from the originating handset 340, via a local fixed line switch 710 for the local handset, to the MSC 335 of the local network 330 that is responsible for the local telephone number dialled by the originating handset 340. The call is then routed from the MSC 335 of the local network 330 to the MSC 325 of the visited network 320 for the UE 315, and from there to the UE 315. The fixed line switch 710, through which the call is routed from the local telephone handset 340 to the MSC 335 of the local network 330, is operably coupled to a fixed line billing system. When a call is made by the local telephone handset 340, the fixed line switch 710 sends a Call Detail Record (CDR) to a fixed billing system 715, providing details of the call in order for the caller to be billed appropriately. For the illustrated example, the telephone handset 340 has been used to make a call to a local telephone number of the local network 330.

Accordingly, upon receipt of the CDR 712, the fixed line billing system 715 will arrange for the owner of the local telephone handset 340 to be billed for a local call.

As will be appreciated by a skilled artisan, whilst the owner of the local telephone handset 340 will be billed for the local call between the local telephone handset 340 and the local network 330, the subsequent routing of the call from the local network 330 to the UE 315 within the visited network 320 is typically required to be billed to, in this example, the owner of the UE 315. Since the call is not routed via the home network 310 of the UE 315, some form of settlement and reconciliation is required in order for the owner of UE 315 to be billed for the routing of the call from the local network 330 to the visited network 320. To achieve this, in one example, the MSC 335 of the local network 330, and the MSC 325 of the visited network 320, are each operably coupled to respective billing systems 735, 725 for their respective networks 330, 320, and arranged to provide CDRs 732, 722 to their respective billing systems 735, 725 for calls routed there through. The billing system 725 for the visited network 320 is operably coupled to a conventional clearing house service 760. Because the MSC 325 of the visited network 320 maintains details about the UE 315 within its VLR, it is able to provide details within the CDR 722 of the UE 315 and its home network 310 to the billing system 725. In this manner, the billing system 725 of the visited network is able to provide billing information for the routing of the call through the visited network to the UE 315 to the conventional clearing house 760, such billing information may include details about the UE 315 and the home network for the UE 315. Such billing information may be in a form of TAP (Transferred Account Procedure) or CIBER (Cellular Inter-carrier Billing Exchange Record) files, etc. Accordingly, the conventional clearing house is then able to perform conventional settlement and reconciliation between a billing system 750 of the home network 310 for the UE 315 and the billing system 725 of the visited network 320. The home network billing system 750 is then able to invoice the owner of the UE 315.

However, because the MSC 335 of the local network 330 does not have details of the UE 315, it is unable to provide the required information to a conventional clearing house 760 in order for settlement and reconciliation to be performed with the home billing system 750 for the UE 315.

Accordingly, for the illustrated example, the network sub-system 200 further comprises a local network clearing house component 740 arranged to receive billing from, for the illustrated example, the local billing system 735 of the local network 330, for example in the form of TAP or CIBER files.

The received billing information may comprise the local telephone number to which the call was originally made. The local network clearing house component 740 of the network sub-system 200 may then identify the subscriber unit to which the local number was assigned, for example with the help of the translation component 230. Having identified the appropriate subscriber unit, which for the illustrated example comprises UE 315, the local network clearing house component 740 may then perform settlement and reconciliation between the billing system 750 of the home network 310 for the UE 315 and the billing system 735 of the local network 330. The home network billing system 750 is then able to invoice the owner of the UE 315.

Example embodiments of the present invention have been hereinbefore described with reference to assigning local telephone numbers to subscriber units, in order to enable localised services to be provided to roaming subscriber units in the form of local telephone calls. However, it will be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to such localised service of local telephone calls alone, and it is contemplated that the use of such local telephone numbers may extend to the localised provision of any suitable service. For example, one such alternative service may comprise a transmission of messages, such as short message service (SMS) messages to a subscriber unit. FIG. 8 illustrates an example of a simplified message sequence for the routing of an SMS message within the wireless communication system 300 of FIG. 3. An SMS message is originated locally within a local network, say local network 330 of FIG. 3 by, say, handset 340 of FIG. 3 sending an SMS message to the SMSC 830 in Figure 8, of the local network 330. Upon receipt of the SMS message, the SMSC 830 of the local network 330 sends an SRI (Send Routing Information) message 802 for the local telephone number (ni) to the network sub-system 200 of FIG. 2, which is received by the M-HLR component 214 thereof. The SRI message 802 may identify that the purpose for the request is for routing a message (as opposed to a call). Upon receipt of the SR1 message 802, the M-HLR component 214 identifies that the request is for a message, and sends a response 804 back to the SMSC 830 of the local network 330, the response comprising routing information directed to the SMSC 218 of the network sub-system 200. The SMSC 830 of the local network subsequently forwards the SMS message 806 addressed to the local telephone number (ni) to the SMSC 218 of the network sub-system 200. Upon receipt of the SMS message addressed to the local telephone number (ni), the M-SMSC component 218 translates the local telephone number (ni) to a home telephone number (MSISDN), IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber Identification) number, etc. for the UE 315 to which the local number has been assigned. Such a translation may be performed by the translation component 230 on behalf of the M-SMSC component 218. The SMSG 218 of the network sub-system 200 then updates the SMS message to be addressed to the UE 315 and forwards the message 808 to an SMSC 820 of the home network 310 for the UE 315. Upon receipt of a response from the SMSC 820 of the home network 310, the SMSC 218 of the network sub-system 200 sends a corresponding response (relating to the local telephone number (ni)) back to the SMSC 830 of the local network 330.

It is contemplated that a subscriber unit, such as the UE 315 of FIG. 3, may be registered with the network sub-system 200 of FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, and has one or more local telephone numbers assigned thereto, in any suitable manner. For example, the network sub-system 200 of FIG's 2 and 3 may support a web-based activation platform, accessible to subscribers via, for example, the Internet 270. From this platform, subscribers may be able to access subscriber unit registration and activation applications that enable a subscriber to register one or more subscriber units, for example using the MSISDN and/or IMSI for each subscriber unit. The subscriber may then be able to select one or more countries/geographical regions or Network Operators for which the subscriber requires one or more local telephone numbers to be assigned to the, or each, subscriber unit. One or more local numbers, for example allocated for providing localised services by local Network Operators corresponding to the selected country(ies)/geographical region(s), may then be assigned to the one or more registered subscriber units.

It is contemplated that more than one local telephone number may be assigned to a single subscriber unit, said local telephone numbers being local with respect to one or more countries and/or Network Operators. In this manner, a subscriber unit may have a plurality of local telephone numbers for a plurality of countries/geographical regions assigned thereto, enabling the subscriber unit to be called locally' in each of those countries/geographical regions, irrespective of the actual location of the subscriber unit. Additionally/alternatively, it is contemplated that a subscriber unit may have a plurality of local telephone numbers for a single country/geographical region assigned 1 5 thereto, thereby enabling the subscriber unit to be called locally' within that country/geographical region by way of a plurality of different local numbers. In this manner, each of the local telephone numbers assigned thereto may be used by the owner of the subscriber unit for different purposes; for example for different business interests or the like.

it is further contemplated that a local telephone number may be assigned to a plurality of subscriber units. For example, a local telephone number may be assigned to a group of subscriber units, and to a specific one of the subscriber units within the group at any one time based on, for example, the current time/date according to some schedule that may be configured by the subscribers responsible for the subscriber units. In this manner, calls to that local telephone number may be routed to one subscriber unit during certain days of the week, and routed to one or more other subscriber unit(s) during other days of the week, etc. Because the illustrated embodiments of the present invention may, for the most part, be implemented using network elements and electronic components and circuits known to those skilled in the art, details will not be explained in any greater extent than that considered necessary as illustrated above, for the understanding and appreciation of the underlying concepts of the present invention and in order not to obfuscate or distract from the teachings of the present invention.

The various example embodiments of the invention may also be implemented in one or more computer program(s) for running on a computer system, at least including code portions for performing steps of a method according to the invention when run on a programmable apparatus, such as a computer system or enabling a programmable apparatus to perform functions of a device or system according to the invention.

A computer program is a list of instructions, such as a particular application program and/or an operating system. The computer program may, for instance, include one or more of: a subroutine, a function, a procedure, an object method, an object implementation, an executable application, an applet, a servlet, a source code, an object code, a shared library/dynamic load library and/or other sequence of instructions designed for execution on a computer system.

The computer program may be stored internally on computer readable storage medium or transmitted to the computer system via a computer readable transmission medium. All or some of the computer program may be provided on computer readable media permanently, removably or remotely coupled to an information processing system. The computer readable media may include, for example and without limitation, any number of the following: magnetic storage media including disk and tape storage media; optical storage media such as compact disk media (e.g., CD-ROM, CD-R, etc.) and digital video disk storage media; non-volatile memory storage media including semiconductor-based memory units such as FLASH memory, EEPROM, EPROM, ROM; ferromagnetic digital memories; MRAM; volatile storage media including registers, buffers or caches, main memory, RAM, etc.; and data transmission media including computer networks, point-to-point telecommunication equipment, and carrier wave transmission media, just to name a few.

A computer process typically includes an executing (running) program or portion of a program, current program values and state information, and the resources used by the operating system to manage the execution of the process. An operating system (OS) is the software that manages the sharing of the resources of a computer and provides programmers with an interface used to access those resources. An operating system processes system data and user input, and responds by allocating and managing tasks and internal system resources as a service to users and programs of the system.

The computer system may for instance include at least one processing unit, associated memory and a number of input/output (I/O) devices. When executing the computer program, the computer system processes information according to the computer program and produces resultant output information via input/output (I/O) devices.

In the foregoing specification, the example embodiments of the invention have been described. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made therein without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that the boundaries between logic blocks are merely illustrative and that alternative embodiments may merge logic blocks or circuit elements or impose an alternate decomposition of functionality upon various logic blocks or circuit elements. Thus, it is to be understood that the architectures depicted herein are merely exemplary, and that in fact many other architectures can be implemented that achieve the same functionality. For example, for the example illustrated in FIG. 2, the various components of the network sub-system 200 are illustrated as comprising separate logical units. However, it is contemplated that two or more of the components, for example the MSC and VLR components 210, 212, may equally be provided within a single, multi-functional server unit.

Any arrangement of components to achieve the same functionality is effectively "associated" such that the desired functionality is achieved. Hence, any two components herein combined to achieve a particular functionality can be seen as "associated with" each other such that the desired functionality is achieved, irrespective of architectures or intermediary components.

Likewise, any two components so associated can also be viewed as being "operably connected", or "operably coupled", to each other to achieve the desired functionality.

Furthermore, those skilled in the art will recognize that boundaries between the above described operations merely illustrative. The multiple operations may be combined into a single operation, a single operation may be distributed in additional operations and operations may be executed at least partially overlapping in time. Moreover, alternative embodiments may include multiple instances of a particular operation, and the order of operations may be altered in various other embodiments.

Also for example, the examples, or portions thereof, may be implemented as soft or code representations of physical circuitry or of logical representations convertible into physical circuitry, such as in a hardware description language of any appropriate type.

Also, the invention is not limited to physical devices or units implemented in non-programmable hardware but can also be applied in programmable devices or units able to perform the desired device functions by operating in accordance with suitable program code, such as mainframes, minicomputers, servers, workstations, personal com puters, notepads, personal digital assistants, electronic games, automotive and other embedded systems, cell phones and various other wireless devices, commonly denoted in this application as computer systems'.

However, other modifications, variations and alternatives are also possible. The specifications and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than in a restrictive sense.

Referring now to FIG. 9, there is illustrated a typical computing system 900 that may be employed to implement signal processing functionality in embodiments of the invention, such as signal processing functionality within the network sub-system of FIG's 2 and 3. Computing systems of this type may be used in core network elements, access points, base transceiver stations and the like. Those skilled in the relevant art will also recognize how to implement the invention using other computer systems or architectures. Computing system 900 may represent, for example, a desktop, laptop or notebook computer, hand-held computing device (PDA, cell phone, palmtop, etc.), mainframe, server, client, or any other type of special or general purpose computing device as may be desirable or appropriate for a given application or environment.

Computing system 900 can include one or more processors, such as a processor 904. Processor 904 can be implemented using a general or special-purpose processing engine such as, for example, a microprocessor, microcontroller or other control module. In this example, processor 904 is connected to a bus 902 or other communications medium.

Computing system 900 can also include a main memory 908, such as random access memory (RAM) or other dynamic memory, for storing information and instructions to be executed by processor 904. Main memory 908 also may be used for storing temporary variables or other intermediate information during execution of instructions to be executed by processor 904.

Computing system 900 may likewise include a read only memory (ROM) or other static storage device coupled to bus 902 for storing static information and instructions for processor 904.

The computing system 900 may also include information storage system 910, which may include, for example, a media drive 912 and a removable storage interface 920. The media drive 912 may include a drive or other mechanism to support fixed or removable storage media, such as a hard disk drive, a floppy disk drive, a magnetic tape drive, an optical disk drive, a compact disc (CD) or digital video drive (DVD) read or write drive (R or RW), or other removable or fixed media drive. Storage media 918 may include, for example, a hard disk, floppy disk, magnetic tape, optical disk, CD or DVD, or other fixed or removable medium that is read by and written to by media drive 912. As these examples illustrate, the storage media 918 may include a computer-readable storage medium having particular computer software or data stored therein.

In alternative embodiments, information storage system 910 may include other similar components for allowing computer programs or other instructions or data to be loaded into computing system 900. Such components may include, for example, a removable storage unit 922 and an interface 920, such as a program cartridge and cartridge interface, a removable memory (for example, a flash memory or other removable memory module) and memory slot, and other removable storage units 922 and interfaces 920 that allow software and data to be transferred from the removable storage unit 918 to computing system 900.

Computing system 900 can also include a communications interface 924. Communications interface 924 can be used to allow software and data to be transferred between computing system 900 and external devices. Examples of communications interface 924 can include a modem, a network interface (such as an Ethernet or other NIC card), a communications port (such as for example, a universal serial bus (USB) port), a PCMCIA slot and card, etc. Software and data transferred via communications interface 924 are in the form of signals which can be electronic, electromagnetic, and optical or other signals capable of being received by communications interface 924. These signals are provided to communications interface 924 via a channel 928.

This channel 928 may carry signals and may be implemented using a wireless medium, wire or cable, fibre optics, or other communications medium. Some examples of a channel include a phone line, a cellular phone link, an RF link, a network interface, a local or wide area network, and other communications channels.

In this document, the terms computer program product' computer-readable medium' and the like may be used generally to refer to tangible media such as, for example, memory 908, storage device 918, or storage unit 922. These and other forms of computer-readable media may store one or more instructions for use by processor 904, to cause the processor to perform specified operations. Such instructions, generally referred to as computer program code' (which may be grouped in the form of computer programs or other groupings), when executed, enable the computing system 900 to perform functions of embodiments of the present invention. Note that the code may directly cause the processor to perform specified operations, be compiled to do so, and/or be combined with other software, hardware, and/or firmware elements (e.g., libraries for performing standard functions) to do so.

In an embodiment where the elements are implemented using software, the software may be stored in a computer-readable medium and loaded into computing system 900 using, for example, removable storage drive 922, drive 912 or communications interface 924. The control module (in this example, software instructions or executable computer program code), when executed by the processor 904, causes the processor 904 to perform the functions of the invention as described herein.

Furthermore, the inventive concept can be applied to any circuit for performing signal processing functionality within a network element. It is further envisaged that, for example, a semiconductor manufacturer may employ the inventive concept in a design of a stand-alone device, such as a microcontroller of a digital signal processor (DSP), or application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) and/or any other sub-system element.

It will be appreciated that, for clarity purposes, the above description has described embodiments of the invention with reference to a single signal processing module. However, the inventive concept may equally be implemented by way of a plurality of different functional units and processors to provide the signal processing functionality. Accordingly, it will be understood that the term signal processing module' used herein is intended to encompass one or more signal processing functional units, circuits and/or processors. Thus, references to specific functional units are only to be seen as references to suitable means for providing the described functionality, rather than indicative of a strict logical or physical structure or organization.

Aspects of the invention may be implemented in any suitable form including hardware, software, firmware or any combination of these. The invention may optionally be implemented, at least partly, as computer software running on one or more data processors and/or digital signal processors or configurable module components such as FPGA devices. Thus, the elements and components of an embodiment of the invention may be physically, functionally and logically implemented in any suitable way. Indeed, the functionality may be implemented in a single unit, in a plurality of units or as part of other functional units.

Although the present invention has been described in connection with some embodiments, it is not intended to be limited to the specific form set forth herein. Rather, the scope of the present invention is limited only by the accompanying claims. Additionally, although a feature may appear to be described in connection with particular embodiments, one skilled in the art would recognize that various features of the described embodiments may be combined in accordance with the invention. In the claims, the term comprising' does not exclude the presence of other elements or steps.

Furthermore, although individually listed, a plurality of means, elements or method steps may be implemented by, for example, a single unit or processor. Additionally, although individual features may be included in different claims, these may possibly be advantageously combined, and the inclusion in different claims does not imply that a combination of features is not feasible and/or advantageous. Also, the inclusion of a feature in one category of claims does not imply a limitation to this category, but rather indicates that the feature is equally applicable to other claim categories, as appropriate.

Furthermore, the order of features in the claims does not imply any specific order in which the features must be performed and in particular the order of individual steps in a method claim does not imply that the steps must be performed in this order. Rather, the steps may be performed in any suitable order. In addition, singular references do not exclude a plurality. Thus, references to a', an', first', second', etc. do not preclude a plurality.

Thus, an improved method and apparatus for providing localised services to roaming subscriber units within a communication system have been described, wherein the aforementioned disadvantages with prior art arrangements have been substantially alleviated.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A method for providing localised services to roaming subscriber units within a communication system, the method comprising: allocating at least one local telephone number for providing localised services; assigning the at least one local telephone number to at least one subscriber unit; upon receipt of a request for routing information for the at least one local telephone number, translating the at least one local telephone number into subscriber information for the at least one subscriber unit to which the at least one local telephone number is assigned; obtaining routing information using the subscriber information for the at least one subscriber unit; and returning the obtained routing information for the at least one subscriber unit to which the at least one local telephone number is assigned.
2. The method of Claim I wherein the method further comprises, upon receipt of the request for routing information for the at least one local telephone number: translating the at least one local telephone number into a home telephone number of the at least one subscriber unit to which the at least one local telephone number is assigned; sending a request for routing information for the home telephone number of the at least one subscriber unit to a home network of the at least one subscriber unit; and upon receipt of routing information for the home telephone number of the at least one subscriber unit from the home network thereof, returning the home telephone number routing information for the at least one subscriber unit.
3. The method of Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the method further comprises, upon allocation of at least one local telephone number for providing localised services, configuring, within a local network that is responsible for the at least one local telephone number, a requesting of routing information for at least one subscriber unit to which the at least one local telephone number has been assigned from at least one network sub-system arranged to provide localised services to roaming subscriber units.
4. The method of Claim 3 wherein the method further comprises, upon at least one subscriber registering at least one subscriber unit with the at least one network sub-system arranged to provide localised services to roaming subscriber units, assigning at least one of the allocated local telephone number(s) to the at least one registered subscriber unit.
5. The method of Claim 3 or Claim 4 wherein the method further comprises, at the at least one network sub-system arranged to provide localised services to roaming subscriber units: receiving a request for routing information for a short message service (SMS) message or voice call intended for the at least one local telephone number; and returning routing information directed to the at least one network sub-system arranged to provide localised services to roaming subscriber units.
6. The method of Claim 5 wherein the method further comprises, at the at least one network sub-system arranged to provide localised services to roaming subscriber units: receiving an SMS message intended for the at least one local telephone number; translating the at least one local telephone number to a home telephone number of the at least one subscriber unit to which the at least one local telephone number is assigned; and forwarding the SMS message to a home network of the at least one subscriber unit.
7. The method of any preceding Claim wherein the method further comprises: receiving billing information relating to the at least one local telephone number from at least one from a group of: a Network Operator responsible for the at least one local telephone number; and/or a visited Network Operator of the at least one subscriber unit; and performing reconciliation and settlement of received billing information.
8. The method of Claim 7 wherein sending a request for routing information for the at least one subscriber unit to a home network of the at least one subscriber unit further comprises suppressing charging within the home network for a service relating to the routing information request.
9. The method of any preceding Claim wherein the method further comprises: upon receipt of a request for routing information for the at least one local telephone number, initiating a credit check for the at least one subscriber unit to which the at least one local telephone number has been assigned to determine if the at least one subscriber has at least a minimum amount of credit; and if it is determined that the at least one subscriber has at least the minimum amount of credit, returning the routing information therefor.
10. The method of any preceding Claim wherein allocating at least one local telephone number for providing localised services comprises allocating at least one Mobile Subscriber Integrated Services Digital Network Number (MSISDN).
11. A network sub-system for providing localised services to roaming subscriber units within a communication system, the network sub-system being arranged to: assign at least one local telephone number allocated for providing localised services to at least one subscriber unit; upon receipt of a request for routing information for the at least one local telephone number, translate the at least one local telephone number to subscriber information such as a home telephone number of the at least one subscriber unit to which the at least one local telephone number is assigned; obtain routing information using the subscriber information of the at least one subscriber unit; and return the obtained routing information for the at least one subscriber unit to which the at least one local telephone number is assigned.
12. An integrated circuit for a network sub-system for providing localised services to roaming subscriber units within a communication system, the integrated circuit comprising: logic for assigning at least one local telephone number allocated for providing localised services to at least one subscriber unit; upon receipt of a request for routing information for the at least one local telephone number, logic for translating the at least one local telephone number to a home telephone number of the at least one subscriber unit to which the at least one local telephone number is assigned; logic for obtaining routing information for the at least one subscriber unit to which the at least one local telephone number is assigned; and logic for returning the obtained routing information for the at least one subscriber unit to which the at least one local telephone number is assigned.
13. A communication system comprising a network sub-system for providing localised services to roaming subscriber units within the communication system, the network sub-system being arranged to: assign at least one local telephone number allocated for providing localised services to at least one subscriber unit; upon receipt of a request for routing information for the at least one local telephone number, translate the at least one local telephone number to a home telephone number of the at least one subscriber unit to which the at least one local telephone number is assigned; obtain routing information for the home telephone number of the at least one subscriber unit; and return the obtained routing information for the at least one subscriber unit to which the at least one local telephone number is assigned.
14. A tangible computer program product having executable program code stored therein for providing localised services to roaming subscriber units within a communication system, the program code operable for: allocating at least one local telephone number for providing localised services; assigning the at least one local telephone number to at least one subscriber unit; upon receipt of a request for routing information for the at least one local telephone number, translating the at least one local telephone number to a home telephone number of the at least one subscriber unit to which the at least one local telephone number is assigned; obtaining routing information for the home telephone number of the at least one subscriber unit; and returning the obtained routing information for the at least one subscriber unit to which the at least one local telephone number is assigned.
15. The tangible computer program product of Claim 14 wherein the tangible computer program product comprises at least one from a group consisting of: a hard disk, a CD-ROM, an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, a Read Only Memory, ROM, a Programmable Read Only Memory, PROM, an Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory, EPROM, an Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory, EEPROM, and a Flash memory.