KR100850109B1 - System and method for roaming bidirectionally - Google Patents

Abstract

A bidirectional roaming system and a method thereof are provided to enable a user to roam calls received at a telephone number of the first country, to a roaming number of the second country, as roaming calls received at the roaming number of the second country, to the telephone number of the first country, thus the user can inexpensively use a roaming service. A main server(110) is installed in the first country, determines a main temporary number corresponding to a telephone number of a subscriber of the first country, and connects local roaming numbers equivalent to the main temporary number when call forwarding time comes, then transceives data through a communication line(120) equivalent to the local roaming number. Local servers(130-1~130-N) are installed in the second countries, determine local temporary numbers equivalent to the local roaming numbers, forward calls to the local temporary numbers from the local roaming numbers when reverse call forwarding time comes, and connect telephone numbers corresponding to the local temporary numbers to transceive data through the communication line.

Description

System and method for roaming bidirectionally}

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order to better understand the drawings cited in the detailed description of the invention, a brief description of each drawing is provided.

1 is a block diagram of a bidirectional roaming system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a flowchart of a bidirectional roaming method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The present invention relates to a two-way roaming system and method, and in particular, a call that is received by the first station phone number can not only roam to the second station roaming number, but also a call that is received by the second station roaming number to the first station telephone. A bidirectional roaming system and a bidirectional roaming method capable of roaming by numbers.

Recently, with the rapid increase in the demand for mobile communication, the demand for global roaming that can be called with a single number anywhere in the world is increasing. The domestic mobile communication network adopts a code division multiplex access (CDMA) method which is a synchronous method.

However, the part that CDMA users feel uncomfortable is the lack of services that allow subscribers to continue to receive mobile communication services on their terminals in other countries. Global System for Mobil communication (GSM), which accounts for 80% of the total mobile market, has been designed and constructed in Europe, taking into account smooth communication between countries. The requirements for cross-border mobile communication services were not well reflected.

In CDMA mobile communication, only one mobile subscriber identification number (MIN) can be used for one terminal electronic serial number (ESN). Therefore, one mobile communication terminal is used in principle. It is not possible to subscribe to a plurality of mobile communication services using a plurality of subscribers or to use a single mobile communication terminal together.

In contrast, GSM-type mobile communication uses a Subscriber Identify Module (SIM) card with a semiconductor integrated circuit. The SIM card records authentication information about each user. Even if only the terminal is used, a GSM mobile communication service of a corresponding country can be used in various countries by simply inserting different SIM cards according to each carrier.

As such, the CDMA ESN and MIN 1: 1 correspondence communication standards make it impossible to use a mobile communication service using a single mobile communication terminal in a plurality of countries. Mobile communication service has been used.

That is, international roaming service. Roaming service means that the subscriber can continue to receive the mobile communication service in the mobile communication terminal with the same phone number in other countries. There are automatic roaming services and semi-automatic roaming services.

The automatic roaming service uses a dedicated mobile communication terminal that can correspond to the frequency band and communication method of each country that the user wants to use so that the user can receive mobile communication service in various countries using only his mobile communication terminal. to be.

Semi-automatic roaming service is a service that receives a mobile communication service in another country by using a rental terminal to allow incoming calls to their phone number as contracted in advance at the airport.

However, this roaming service has the following problems. First, the fee is very expensive. For example, if the caller of the first station calls the user while the user of the first station is in the second station, it must pass through both the first carrier and the second carrier and The contract between the two must pay a high fee.

As another example, when a user of a first station uses a roaming service and uses a mobile phone in a second station, if another person in the second station calls the user in the second station, the call is sent to the second station. International call from the first country to the first country, through the mobile telecommunication service network subscribed to by the user in the first country, and then again by the international call from the first country to the second country to cooperate with the mobile communication service of the first country. It is then connected to the mobile communication network of the second station which it concludes, and then only to the corresponding user in the second station via the mobile communication network of the second station. Therefore, despite the second domestic currency, it must pay twice the rate of international calls.

On the other hand, since the roaming service is terminated when the user of the first station returns from the second station to the first station, there is a problem that the incoming call to the roaming number used in the second station cannot be received.

Therefore, there is a need for a new roaming method that can use a roaming service at a low cost and receive a call to a roaming number used abroad after returning home.

The technical problem to be achieved by the present invention is to not only roam the call to the first country's phone number to the roaming number of the second country, but also to roam the call to the second country's roaming number to the first country's phone number. To provide a two-way roaming system.

Another technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to not only roam a call to a first country telephone number to a roaming number of a second country, but also to roam a call to a second country roaming number to a first country telephone number. To provide a two-way roaming method that can be done.

The bidirectional roaming system according to an embodiment of the present invention for achieving the technical problem performs a two-way roaming service between a first station and at least one second station other than the first station, the main server and at least one local server It includes. The main server is installed in the first station, and determines a main temporary number corresponding to the telephone number of the subscriber of the first station, and when the call forwarding time arrives, the local number corresponding to the main temporary number to which the telephone number is forwarded. It connects to a roaming number and transmits and receives data through a communication line corresponding to the local roaming number. The local server is installed in the second station to determine a local temporary number corresponding to the local roaming number, and when the reverse call forwarding time arrives, the local temporary number to which the local roaming number is forwarded is transferred to the corresponding telephone number. And transmit and receive data through the communication line.

In this case, the main server includes a transceiver, a main connection processor, a main communication controller, and an information storage unit. The transceiver receives subscriber information including the telephone number, the call forwarding time, and the reverse call forwarding time. The main connection processor determines the main temporary number corresponding to the subscriber information, requests the phone number to be forwarded to the main temporary number when the call forwarding time arrives, and connects the main temporary number to the local roaming number. . The main communication control unit transmits and receives data to and from the local server through the communication line. An information storage unit stores the subscriber information, local information including the local roaming number and the local temporary number, and line information of the communication line.

On the other hand, it is preferable that the transceiver receives the subscriber information using the Internet or a wired / wireless telephone and transmits the local roaming number corresponding to the telephone number to the subscriber.

The main communication controller may include a main gateway and a main gate keeper. The main gateway transmits and receives data to and from the local server through the communication line. The main gatekeeper performs number management of the main gateway.

The main communication controller may further include a reception gateway and a reception gatekeeper. The reception gateway receives data input from the outside. The receiving gatekeeper performs number management of the receiving gateway.

Meanwhile, the local server includes a local connection processor and a local communication controller. The local connection processor determines the local temporary number corresponding to the local roaming number, and when the reverse call forwarding time arrives, requests for forwarding the local roaming number to the local temporary number and the phone corresponding to the local temporary number. Connect to the number. The local communication control unit transmits and receives data to and from the main server through the communication line.

In this case, the local communication controller includes a local gateway and a local gate keeper. The local gateway transmits and receives data with the main server through the communication line. The local gatekeeper performs number management of the local gateway.

Meanwhile, the main temporary number and / or the local temporary number may preferably use direct inward dialing (DID).

In addition, the communication line is preferably any one of an Internet line (VOIP), an international telephone line, or a direct outward dialing (DOD) line.

The bidirectional roaming method according to an embodiment of the present invention for achieving the another technical problem is to perform a two-way roaming service between a first station and at least one second station other than the first station, the phone number, call forwarding time, And receiving subscriber information of a subscriber of a first station including a reverse call forwarding time, determining a main temporary number corresponding to the subscriber information, and when the call forwarding time arrives, the main phone number is forwarded. Connecting a temporary number to a corresponding local roaming number, transmitting and receiving data through a communication line corresponding to the local roaming number, and determining a local temporary number corresponding to the local roaming number when a call forwarding time arrives; The local roaming number to which the local roaming number is forwarded is connected to the corresponding telephone number through the communication line. And a step of transmitting and receiving data.

In this case, receiving the subscriber information includes receiving the subscriber information using the Internet or a wired / wireless telephone, and transmitting the local roaming number corresponding to the telephone number to the subscriber.

On the other hand, when the call forwarding time arrives, the step of transmitting and receiving data includes the step of requesting the call forwarding to the main temporary number and connecting the main temporary number to the local roaming number, and through the communication line. Sending and receiving data to and from a local server.

In addition, when the reverse call forwarding time arrives, the step of transmitting and receiving data includes: forwarding the local roaming number to the local temporary number and connecting the local temporary number to the corresponding telephone number, and the communication line. And transmitting and receiving data to and from the main server.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In order to fully understand the present invention, the operational advantages of the present invention, and the objects achieved by the practice of the present invention, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention and the contents described in the drawings.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Like reference numerals in the drawings denote like elements.

In general, the subscriber is provided with a telephone number by joining a telecommunication company in a first country (home country), and is continuously provided with a communication service through the assigned telephone number. Bidirectional roaming system according to an embodiment of the present invention, the subscriber is to receive a call to the phone number of the first station through the roaming number in the second station while leaving the country after leaving the second station (landing station) In addition to the services that can be provided, the subscriber can receive a call to the roaming number used in the second country to the phone number of the first country even after returning to the first country.

Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of the bidirectional roaming system 100 for providing such a service will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

1 is a block diagram of a bidirectional roaming system according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 is a flow chart of a bidirectional roaming method according to an embodiment of the present invention. The bidirectional roaming system 100 performs a bidirectional roaming service in a first station and at least one second station other than the first station, the main server 110, and at least one local server 130_1 to 130_N, 130. ). In order to more easily describe the operation of the bidirectional roaming system 100, in addition to the main server 110 and local servers 130_1 to 130_N, 130, subscribers 190 and 190 ': 190 if there is one, 190 'if there is a second station), the caller 170, 180, the first station communication network 140, the second station communication network 160, and the communication line 120 are further included. Is shown.

In this case, the main server 110 is preferably installed in the first station, and the local servers 130_1 to 130_N and 130 are preferably installed in the second station. In addition, for convenience of description, only the configuration related to the local server 130 is illustrated in FIG. 1, but a configuration related to the other local servers 130_1 to 130_N may be similarly implemented.

Referring to FIG. 1, the main server 110 includes a transceiver 111, a main connection processor 113, a main communication controller 115, and an information storage unit 119, and further includes a charge processor 117. It may include. The subscriber 190 wishing to receive the roaming service may access the bidirectional roaming system 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention through the first station communication network 140 to apply for the service.

In this case, the first station communication network 140 may use any communication network available in the first station such as a wired / wireless telephone network as well as an internet network. The subscriber 190 may access the main server 110 through the internet network and input subscriber information according to the guide screen. The subscriber 190 may access the main server 110 through a wired or wireless telephone and receive the subscriber information according to the voice guidance of the ARS service. You can also type.

The transmitter / receiver 111 receives the subscriber information input by the subscriber 190 when the subscriber 190 requests a service (S201). The subscriber information includes information about roaming, as well as information for roaming such as the telephone number of the subscriber 190 in the first station, the main temporary number, the call forwarding time, and the reverse call forwarding time, the country and city name of the second country to be visited. General information such as the personal information of (190).

The telephone number may be a landline telephone number as well as a wireless telephone number in the first country. Therefore, in the embodiment of the present invention, the subscriber 190 can use the roaming service for not only wireless telephones but also wired telephones.

On the other hand, the call forwarding time is the time when the subscriber 190 'is provided with the roaming service in the second station, and the reverse call forwarding time is the time when the subscriber 190 is provided with the reverse roaming service in the first station. In this specification, the reverse roaming service is defined as a service that allows a subscriber 190 to receive a call to a roaming number from a second station after returning from a second station to the first station. .

Meanwhile, although the subscriber 190 has been described as inputting subscriber information online using the first station communication network 140, the subscriber 190 may input subscriber information offline. That is, the subscriber 190 may input subscriber information offline at a company, a branch of a company, or a sales office operating the bidirectional roaming system 100.

For example, subscriber 190 may enter subscriber information at a branch or branch office located in the airport of the first country before leaving for the second country, and at a branch or branch office located in the second country after arriving in the second country. Subscriber information may also be entered.

Meanwhile, the subscriber 190 uses a roaming service in a second country through a terminal corresponding to a local roaming number, and the company (branch or branch) operating the bidirectional roaming system 100 before leaving the second country. The terminal may be rented or sold to the subscriber 190 in the first country or after arriving in the second country.

In this case, the terminal used by the subscriber 190 ′ in the second station is a terminal suitable for the communication network 160 of the second station, but is preferably a wireless terminal, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Accordingly, the subscriber 190 'may be provided with a roaming service in the second station by using the landline telephone of the second station.

The information storage unit 119 stores information necessary for providing a bidirectional roaming service, such as subscriber information, local information, line information, and fee information received by the transceiver 111. The local information includes a local roaming number, a local temporary number, and the like, and the line information is line information of a communication line corresponding to an overseas roaming number, and includes IP, status information, and the like of the communication line. Local information, line information, charge information, and the like will be described later.

The main connection processor 113 determines the main temporary number corresponding to the subscriber information, that is, the telephone number (S203). In the embodiment of the present invention, the main temporary number is preferably using direct inward dialing (DID). For example, when using the E1 line, the temporary number can be given 300 telephone numbers, in which case 30 people can talk simultaneously. On the other hand, those skilled in the art will understand that the temporary number may be assigned by a communication method other than the DID.

In addition, the main connection processor 113 determines whether the call forwarding time has arrived (S205) and when the call forwarding time arrives, requests the first country network operator to forward the domestic phone number to the main temporary number (S207). , Connect the main temporary number to the local roaming number. After the call forwarding is made, the incoming call to the phone number is automatically forwarded to the main temporary number, which is connected to the roaming local number associated with the main temporary number.

Meanwhile, in the embodiment of the present invention, when the subscriber 190 inputs the subscriber information, it is preferable to inform the subscriber of the local roaming number. Therefore, when the subscriber 190 inputs subscriber information online, the transceiver 111 preferably transmits a local roaming number corresponding to the telephone number to the subscriber 190.

Here, the local roaming number is a telephone number that the subscriber will use in the second station to receive roaming service. In the embodiment of the present invention, after the incoming call forwarding time arrives, the overseas roaming number is always set in a set with a corresponding main temporary number.

On the other hand, the above has been described as a temporary number is determined before the arrival of the call forwarding time, the temporary number may be determined after the arrival of the call forwarding time. In this case, the main connection processor 113 determines the main temporary number when the incoming call transfer time arrives, and then requests a call forwarding request and connects the main temporary number to the local roaming number.

The main communication control unit 115 transmits and receives data to the local server 130 through the communication line 120. In an embodiment of the present invention, after the call forwarding time arrives, the temporary telephone number remains connected to the local roaming number. Therefore, the caller 180 calls the phone number is forwarded to the main temporary number is automatically connected to the local roaming number, and thus data is transmitted and received between the caller 180 and the subscriber 190 'in the second station. (S209).

Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of the main communication control unit 115 will be described with reference to FIG. 1. The main communication control unit 115 transmits and receives data through an IP (internet protocol) of a communication line corresponding to a local roaming number. In general, the main communication controller 115 transmits and receives voice data through an IP corresponding to a local roaming number, but may also transmit and receive other data such as an image and an SMS in addition to the voice data.

Referring back to FIG. 1, the main communication controller 115 may include a main gateway 1151 and a main gate keeper 1153, and may further include a reception gateway 1155 and a reception gate keeper. The main gateway 1151 exchanges data with the local server 130 through the communication line 120. The main gatekeeper 1153 performs number management of the main gateway 1151.

On the other hand, in the embodiment of the present invention, it is also possible to directly receive data input from the outside. The reception gateway 1155 receives data input from the outside, and the reception gatekeeper 1157 performs number management of the reception gateway 1155.

For example, when the subscriber 190 'stays in the second station and makes an international call to the first station by using a terminal corresponding to the local roaming number, the reception gateway 1155 is an international call made from the terminal. Is connected to the communication line 120 to send to the receiving telephone number of the first station, through which an international telephone call can be made to the first station.

In addition, in the embodiment of the present invention, the communication line may be any line that can be used for communication between countries, and may be one of a voice over internet protocol (VOIP), an international telephone line, or a direct outward dialing (DOD) line. It is preferable that it is either.

For example, when the Internet line is used as the communication line, the Internet IP corresponding to the local roaming number is stored in the information storage unit 119. When a call connection is requested by the caller 180 after the call forwarding time arrives, the main communication controller 115 uses the main gateway 1151 and the local gateway 1331 corresponding to the Internet IP using the Internet network 120. To connect. Thereafter, the local gateway 1331 transmits and receives data to and from the subscriber 190 'using the second station communication network 160.

In the above description, a configuration in which the subscriber 190 of the first station departs to the second station and receives roaming service from the second station has been described. In the roaming service of the second station, the local gateway of the local server 130 is provided. 1133 is used.

Meanwhile, when the subscriber 190 'returns from the second station to the first station, a call may be made to the local roaming number used in the second station. According to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the roaming service may be provided even for a call made to the local roaming number after the subscriber 190 returns to the first station by using the local server 130.

Referring back to FIG. 1, the local server 130 includes a local connection processor 133 and a local communication controller 131. Hereinafter, an operation of receiving a roaming service with respect to a call made to a local roaming number after returning to the first station will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

First, the local connection processor 133 determines whether the reverse call forwarding time arrives (S211), and when the reverse call forwarding time arrives, determines the local temporary number corresponding to the local roaming number (S213), and the local roaming number is the local temporary Request the second station network operator to forward to the number (S215), and connects the local temporary number to the telephone number of the first station. After the call forwarding is made, calls to the local roaming number are automatically forwarded to the local temporary number, which is connected to the phone number associated with the local temporary number.

On the other hand, the above has been described that the local temporary number is determined after the arrival of the reverse call forwarding time, the local temporary number may be determined before the arrival of the reverse call forwarding time. For example, the main server 110 provides the local server 130 with information that the subscriber 190 also wants to receive the reverse roaming service, and the local connection processor 113 receives the local temporary number after receiving this information. You can decide.

The local communication control unit 131 transmits and receives data to and from the main server 110 through the communication line 120. In the embodiment of the present invention, after the arrival of the reverse call forwarding time, the local temporary number remains connected with the phone number. Therefore, the caller 190 calls to the local roaming number is forwarded to the local temporary number is automatically connected to the phone number, accordingly the data transmission and reception between the caller 190 and the subscriber 190 in the first station ( S217). In general, the local communication controller 131 transmits and receives voice data through the communication line 120, but may also transmit and receive other data such as an image and an SMS in addition to the voice data.

Referring back to FIG. 1, the local communication controller 131 includes a local gateway 1311 and a local gate keeper 1313. The local gateway 1311 transmits and receives data with the main server 110 through the communication line 120. The local gatekeeper 1153 performs number management of the local gateway 1151.

Meanwhile, the main server 110 of the bidirectional roaming system 100 further includes a charge processing unit 117 for billing for the bidirectional roaming service provided by the subscribers 190 and 910 ′. The charge processing unit 117 calculates the charge according to the talk time in real time. In this case, charge information such as a call time and a charge according to the call time are stored in the information storage unit 119. Meanwhile, the fee processing unit 117 charges the settled fee to the subscriber 190. The fee may be charged for each period or may be charged at the time of termination of the two-way roaming service.

On the other hand, when the roaming service no longer needs to be provided, the subscriber 190 may terminate the roaming service in a similar manner as when applying for roaming service. That is, the subscriber 190 may terminate the service according to the guide screen or the voice announcement using the ARS by accessing the main server 110 online through the first station communication network 140. When the terminal is rented for roaming service, the subscriber should return the loaned terminal to the company (branch or branch) operating the bidirectional roaming system 100 upon termination.

As described above, optimal embodiments have been disclosed in the drawings and the specification. Although specific terms have been used herein, they are used only for the purpose of describing the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention as defined in the claims or the claims. Therefore, those skilled in the art will understand that various modifications and equivalent other embodiments are possible therefrom. Therefore, the true technical protection scope of the present invention will be defined by the technical spirit of the appended claims.

As described above, the two-way roaming system according to an embodiment of the present invention can not only enable a user to use a roaming service at a low cost, but also make a call to a roaming number used abroad even after the user returns home from abroad. There is an advantage to being able to receive.

Claims (15)

A system for performing a bidirectional roaming service between a first station and at least one second station other than the first station, A main temporary number installed in the first station and determining a main temporary number corresponding to the telephone number of the subscriber of the first station, and when the call forwarding time arrives, the main temporary number to which the telephone number is forwarded is transferred to the corresponding local roaming number. A main server connected to and transmitting data through a communication line corresponding to the local roaming number; And Installed in the second station, determining a local temporary number corresponding to the local roaming number, and when the reverse call forwarding time arrives, the local roaming number is forwarded to the local temporary number, and the local temporary number corresponds to the local temporary number. And a local server connected to a telephone number to transmit and receive data through the communication line. The method of claim 1, wherein the main server, A transceiver for receiving subscriber information including the telephone number, the call forwarding time, and the reverse call forwarding time; A main connection processor for determining the main temporary number corresponding to the subscriber information, requesting the call number to be transferred to the main temporary number when the call forwarding time arrives, and connecting the main temporary number to the local roaming number; A main communication control unit for transmitting and receiving data to and from the local server through the communication line; And And an information storage unit for storing the subscriber information, the local information including the local roaming number and the local temporary number, and the line information of the communication line. The method of claim 2, And the transmission / reception unit receives the subscriber information by using the Internet or a wired / wireless telephone, and transmits the local roaming number corresponding to the telephone number to the subscriber. The method of claim 2, wherein the main communication control unit, A main gateway for transmitting and receiving data to and from the local server through the communication line; And And a main gatekeeper for number management of the main gateway. The method of claim 4, wherein the main communication control unit, A reception gateway for receiving data input from the outside; And And a receiving gatekeeper for performing number management of the receiving gateway. The method of claim 1, wherein the local server, Determine the local temporary number corresponding to the local roaming number, request for forwarding the local roaming number to the local temporary number when the reverse call forwarding time arrives, and connect the local temporary number to the corresponding telephone number; A local connection processor; And And a local communication control unit for transmitting and receiving data to and from the main server through the communication line. The method of claim 6, wherein the local communication control unit, A local gateway for transmitting and receiving data to and from the main server through the communication line; And And a local gatekeeper for number management of the local gateway. The method of claim 1, And the main temporary number and / or the local temporary number use direct inward dialing (DID). The method of claim 1, And the communication line is any one of an Internet line (VOIP), an international telephone line, and a direct outward dialing (DOD) line. A method for performing a bidirectional roaming service between a first station and at least one second station other than the first station, Receiving subscriber information of the subscriber of the first station, including the telephone number, the call forwarding time, and the reverse call forwarding time; Determining a main temporary number corresponding to the subscriber information; When the incoming call forward time arrives, connecting the main temporary number to which the telephone number is forwarded to a corresponding local roaming number to transmit and receive data through a communication line corresponding to the local roaming number; And When the reverse call forwarding time arrives, a local temporary number corresponding to the local roaming number is determined, and the local roaming number to which the local roaming number is forwarded is connected to the corresponding telephone number to transmit and receive data through the communication line. Bidirectional roaming method comprising the step of. The method of claim 10, wherein receiving the subscriber information, Receiving the subscriber information using the Internet or a wired / wireless telephone; And And transmitting the local roaming number corresponding to the telephone number to the subscriber. The method of claim 10, wherein when the call forwarding time arrives, transmitting and receiving data comprises: Requesting forwarding of the telephone number to the main temporary number and connecting the main temporary number to the local roaming number; And And transmitting and receiving data to and from the local server through the communication line. The method of claim 10, wherein the transmitting and receiving of the data when the call forwarding time arrives, Requesting forwarding of the local roaming number to the local temporary number and connecting the local temporary number to the corresponding telephone number; And And transmitting and receiving data to and from the main server through the communication line. The method of claim 10, And the main temporary number and / or the local temporary number use direct inward dialing (DID). The method of claim 10, And the communication line is one of an Internet line (VOIP), an international telephone line, and a direct outward dialing (DOD) line.

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