KR20040050152A - Method of Providing Number Portability Service between the Heterogeneous Networks - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A number portability service method between heterogeneous networks is provided to carry out number portability inquiry and answer processes between an asynchronous network and a wired communication network or between a synchronous network and an asynchronous network, to supply a number portability service between heterogeneous networks, so that an NPDB(Number Portability Database) operator can supply information on the number portability service to an existing communication provider. CONSTITUTION: An NPGW(Number Portability Gateway) confirms whether a number portability request invoke message is received(S1). If so, the NPGW converts an initial invoke message into the number portability request invoke message(S2), and transmits the converted request invoke message to an NPDB(S3). The NPGW confirms whether a number portability request return result is received(S4). If so, the NPGW converts the return result into a connect invoke message(S5). The NPGW transmits the connect invoke message to MSCs(S6).

Description

{Method of Providing Number Portability Service between the Heterogeneous Networks}

The present invention relates to a number portability service method between heterogeneous networks, and more particularly, to a number portability service method between heterogeneous networks for interworking between heterogeneous protocols generated when the number portability service is introduced in a heterogeneous network.

In general, the number portability service in the communication network provides the service based on the ITU-T standard Q.1200 intelligent network series in the case of a wired carrier based on the operator's existing protocol, and moves the ANSI / 3GPP2 based synchronization standard. For service providers, the service is based on the ANSI standard IS-756 TR-45.2, "Enhancements for Wireless Number Portability Phase-2".

And, in the case of a mobile communication service provider based on ETSI / 3GPP, GSM standard 3G TS23.066 V3.3.0: 2000-06, "Support of Mobile Number Portability (MNP); Step 2 (Stage 2) "Based on that service.

However, among these protocols, the interworking between the number portability service based on wired communication or asynchronous standard based on ETSI / 3GPP and the number portability service based on mobile communication based on ANSI / 3GPP2 is not possible.

On the other hand, when a wireline carrier or a mobile carrier provides number portability services, three methods are largely used.

First, when a number portability service is provided using a wired network, the subscriber is provided with an intelligent network-based number portability service, which is based on the ITU-T standard Q.1200 intelligent network series, and the SSP and SCP (or NPDB). Provides service through INAP operation between.

When the MSC provides the called service for the ported number, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 1, the MSC transmits an initial call message (InitialDP Invoke) with the called party number as a parameter to the NPDB.

Accordingly, the NPDB receives an initial call message (InitialDP Invoke) from the MSC, searches for a number shifted using a called subscriber number among parameters in the message, and connects a message (Connect Invoke) using the shifted number as a parameter. ) Is transmitted to the MSC.

Accordingly, the MSC receives a Connect Invoke from the NPDB, checks the shifted number from the message, and connects the call to the number.

Secondly, when the number portability service using the mobile communication base of the ANSI / 3GPP2 based synchronization standard is provided, the subscriber is provided the number portability service based on the Mobile Application Part (MAP), which is an ANSI standard IS-756 TR-. It is based on 45.2, "Extension-2 for TIA / EIA-41D Radio Number Portability Phase" and provides service through MAP operation between MSC and NPDB.

When the MSC provides the incoming service for the ported number, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 2, the MSC transmits a Number Portability Request Invoke with the called party number as a parameter to the NPDB. At the same time, it registers a timer to wait for the result.

Accordingly, the NPDB receives a Number Portability Request Invoke message from the MSC, searches for a ported number using a called subscriber number among parameters in the message, and uses ported number as a parameter. A Number Portability Request Return Result is transmitted to the MSC.

Accordingly, the MSC receives a number portability request return result from the NPDB, checks the ported number from the message, and then connects the call to the number.

Third, when the number portability service using the ETSI / 3GPP based asynchronous standard mobile communication base is provided, the subscriber is provided with the intelligent network based number portability service, which is a GSM standard 3G TS23.066 V3.3.0: 2000- 06, based on "MNP Support; Phase 2" and provides services through INAP operations between the MSC and NPDB.

When the MSC provides the incoming service for the ported number, the service is provided in the same manner as the number portability service method in the wired communication network as described in the first case.

For the number portability service as described above, in the prior art, ETSI / 3GPP based asynchronous standard mobile communication network (i.e., asynchronous network) or wired communication network and ANSI / 3GPP2 based synchronization standard mobile communication network (i.e., synchronous network). Since there is no interworking standard between the asynchronous standards, the asynchronous standard mobile operator uses NPDB in a synchronous mobile communication network (i.e., a synchronous network), or the synchronous mobile communication provider uses an asynchronous standard mobile communication network (i.e., asynchronous). In the case of using NPDB in a network) or a wired communication network, there is a problem in that mutual services cannot be provided because there is no compatibility between the two protocols.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is to provide a number portability service method between heterogeneous networks to perform interworking between heterogeneous protocols occurring when the number portability service is introduced in a heterogeneous network.

In addition, the present invention provides the interworking of the number portability service between the wired communication network based on the intelligent network and the mobile communication network (that is, the synchronous network) based on ANSI / 3GPP2 and the mobile communication network based on the ETSI / 3GPP based asynchronous standard (that is, asynchronous network). ) And interworking of number portability service between mobile communication network (i.e., synchronous network) of ANSI / 3GPP2 based synchronization standard.

In addition, the present invention performs number portability query and response between ETSI / 3GPP based asynchronous standard mobile communication network (i.e., asynchronous network) or wired communication network and ANSI / 3GPP2 based synchronous standard mobile communication network (i.e., synchronous network). By providing number portability services between heterogeneous networks, regardless of the type of services provided to small businesses or providers entrusting NPDB operations in areas where protocols of synchronous network operators, asynchronous network operators or wired network operators are mixed. To provide a service, which has a purpose.

In addition, the present invention provides a number portability service between heterogeneous networks by performing a number portability query and response between an asynchronous network or a wired network and a synchronous network through a protocol conversion equipment, so that an additional NPDB may be operated even in the case of an operator operating an NPDB. It is possible to provide information of the corresponding number portability service to the existing telecommunications service provider without management, and to reduce the risk that can come from the cost reduction and operation management of the mobile number data to the service providers of wired and wireless services.

1 is a flowchart illustrating a number portability service method in a conventional wired communication network.

2 is a flowchart illustrating a number portability service method in a conventional synchronization network.

3 is a simplified block diagram of a configuration for number portability service between heterogeneous networks according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a number portability service method between heterogeneous networks according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining an operation of requesting a mobile number from a wired communication network or an asynchronous network to a synchronous network in FIG. 4; FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining an operation in requesting a mobile number from a synchronous network to a wired communication network or an asynchronous network in FIG. 4; FIG.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

10: wired communication network 20: synchronization network

30: asynchronous network 11, 21, 31: MSC (Mobile Switching Center)

12, 22, 32: NPDB (Number Portability Database)

40: NPGW (Number Portability Gateway)

Number portability service method between heterogeneous networks according to an embodiment of the present invention for achieving the object as described above receives a number portability query from any first network to receive a message protocol for the number portability query of a second model of another model Transmitting the protocol-converted query to the corresponding second network by converting the network appropriately; Receiving a number portability response from the second network, converting a message protocol for the number portability response accordingly to the second network, and transmitting the corresponding protocol converted response to the first network. .

Preferably, when the query transmission process receives an initial call message from the first network in a protocol conversion equipment, the initial call message is converted into a number portability request call message and transmitted to the second network, or When the number portability request call message is received from the second network, the number portability request call message is converted into an initial call message and transmitted to the first network.

Preferably, the response transmission process converts the number portability request return result message into a connection call message and transmits the number portability request return result message to the first network when the protocol conversion equipment receives the number portability request return result message from the second network. Or, when the access call message is received from the first network, convert the access call message into a number portability request return result message and transmit the converted call message to the second network.

On the other hand, the number portability service method between heterogeneous networks according to another embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above object is a model that the request is different when the mobile number request from any first network in the protocol conversion equipment Checking whether the initial call message is transmitted to the second network of the second network, and converting the number portability request call message to the second network; Searching for a ported number using a called party number in the number portability request call message in the second network and generating a number portability request return result message having the ported number as a parameter; Receiving the number portability request return result message by the protocol conversion device, converting the number portability request return result message into a connection call message, and transmitting the same to the first network; And receiving the connection call message from the first network, checking the moved number, and connecting a call to the corresponding number.

Preferably, the conversion from the initial paging message to the number portability request paging message is that the called party number in an internal parameter is converted from the called number to digit, and the conversion from the number portability request return result message to the connection paging message is performed. The destination routing address in the internal parameter is converted from the routing digit to the destination routing address.

Alternatively, the number portability service method between heterogeneous networks according to another embodiment of the present invention is a number portability request in which the request is transmitted to the first network when the protocol conversion equipment receives the mobile number request from the second network. Checking whether the message is a call message, and converting the call message into an initial call message and transmitting the same to the first network; Searching for the ported number using the called party number in the initial call message in the first network and generating a connection page message having the ported number as a parameter; Receiving, by the protocol conversion equipment, the connection call message, converting it into a number portability request return result message, and transmitting it to the second network; And receiving the number portability request return result message in the second network, checking the moved number, and connecting the call to the corresponding number.

Preferably, the conversion from the number portability request call message to the initial call message is such that the called party number in an internal parameter is converted from a digit to a called number, and the conversion from the access call message to the number portability request return result message is performed. The destination routing address in the internal parameter is converted from the destination routing address to the routing digit. Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in FIG. 3, the configuration for number portability service between heterogeneous networks according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a wired communication network 10, a synchronization network 20, an asynchronous network 30, and an NPGW 40. It is made, including.

Here, the wired communication network 10 is, for example, the same as the wired network based on the ITU-T standard Q.1200 intelligent network series, the corresponding synchronization network 20 is, for example, of the ANSI / 3GPP2 based synchronization standard The same as the mobile communication network, the asynchronous network 30 is, for example, the same as the mobile communication network of the asynchronous standard based on ETSI / 3GPP. The wired communication network 10, the synchronization network 20, and the asynchronous network 30 each include the MSCs 11, 21, and 31, and the NPDBs 12, 22, and 32, respectively.

In addition, the NPGW 40 is a gateway (ie, protocol conversion equipment) that performs a conversion function for heterogeneous protocols between each other for interworking between the wired communication network 10 or the asynchronous network 30 and the synchronization network 20. MAP operations based on ANSI specification IS-756 TR-45.2, "Extension-2 for TIA / EIA-41D radio number portability phase", are described in GSM specification 3G TS23.066 V3.3.0: 2000-06, It performs a function of converting an INAP operation based on "support of MNP; step 2", and vice versa, converting the corresponding INAP operation into a corresponding MAP operation.

The number portability service method between heterogeneous networks according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 4.

First, the NPGW 40 has received a mobile number request from any wired communication network 10 or any asynchronous network 30 to the synchronization network 20 in the idle state or wired from any synchronization network 20. Check whether a mobile number request to the communication network 10 or the asynchronous network 30 has been received, that is, the MSC in the corresponding synchronization network 20 from the MSCs 11 and 31 in the wired communication network 10 or the asynchronous network 30. Received an initial DP message (InitialDP Invoke) that is an INAP message to be transmitted to (21) or MSC (11, in the wired network 10 or asynchronous network 30 from the MSC 21 in the synchronous network 20) 31, it is checked whether a Number Portability Request Invoke, which is a MAP message to be transmitted, has been received (step S1).

If the initial call message InitialDP Invoke, which is an INAP message, is received in the first step S1, the NPGW 40 sends the initial call message InitialDPInvoke to the number portability request invoke message. (Step S2), the converted number portability request invoke message (Number Portability Request Invoke) is transmitted to the NPDB 22 in the synchronization network 20 (step S3).

Then, the NPGW 40 checks whether a Number Portability Request Return Result message, which is a MAP message, has been received from the NPDB 22 (step S4), thereby receiving the received number portability request return result. The message (Number Portability Request Return Result) is converted into a connect invoke message which is an INAP message (step S5).

The NPGW 40 transmits the connection call message (Connect Invoke) to the MSC (11, 31) in the wired communication network (10) or the asynchronous network (30) that sent the initial initial call message (InitialDP Invoke). (Step S6).

On the other hand, when the Number Portability Request Invoke, which is a MAP message, is received in the first step S1, the NPGW 40 receives the Number Portability Request Invoke. After converting to the initial call message (InitialDP Invoke) (step S7), the converted initial call message (InitialDP Invoke) is transmitted to the NPDB (12, 32) in the wired network 10 or asynchronous network (30) (Step S8).

Thereafter, the NPGW 40 checks whether it receives an INAP message, a connect invoke message (Connect Invoke) from the NPDB (12, 32) (step S9), and MAP the received connect invoke message (Connect Invoke). The message is converted into a number portability request return result message which is a message (step S10).

The NPGW 40 then sends the Number Portability Request Return Result message to the MSC 21 in the synchronization network 20 that has sent the Number Portability Request Invoke. (S11).

On the other hand, the number portability service method between heterogeneous networks according to an embodiment of the present invention when a mobile number is requested from the wired communication network 10 or any asynchronous network 30 to the synchronization network 20 or any synchronization network When the mobile number is requested from the wired communication network 10 or the asynchronous network 30 to 20, the following description will be given.

First, the operation in the case of requesting a mobile number from any wired communication network 10 or any asynchronous network 30 to the synchronization network 20 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 5.

First, the MSCs 11 and 31 in the wired communication network 10 or the asynchronous network 30 generate an initial call message (InitialDP Invoke) using the called party number as a parameter and transmit the same to the NPGW 40. Wait for the reception of the Connect Invoke message.

Accordingly, the NPGW 40 converts an Initial Call Message (InitialDP Invoke), which is an INAP message received from the MSCs 11 and 31, into a Number Portability Request Invoke, which is a MAP message.

At this time, the conversion from the initial call message (InitialDP Invoke) to the Number Portability Request Invoke (Table Portability Request Invoke) is shown in Table 1 below. Here, the called party number is mandatory and the calling party number is optional. In addition, the called party number is converted from the called party number (Called Party Number) to the digits (Digits), the corresponding calling party number is converted from the calling number (Calling Part Number) to the calling party number (Calling Party Number Digits1).

Message parameter Initial Call Message Number portability request message Remarks Called party number CalledPartyNumber Digits (Dialed) necessary Calling party number CallingPartNumber CallingPartyNumberDigits1 option

As such, the NPGW 40 transmits the converted Number Portability Request Invoke message to the NPDB 22 in the synchronization network 20 as shown in Table 1 above.

Accordingly, the NPDB 22 receives a Number Portability Request Invoke from the NPGW 40, searches for a number shifted using a called subscriber number among parameters in the message, and moves the corresponding number. A number portability request return result message having a number as a parameter is generated and transmitted to the NPGW 40.

Then, the NPGW 40 converts the Number Portability Request Return Result, which is the MAP message received from the NPDB 22, into a Connect Invoke, which is an INAP message, and converts the corresponding. Connected call message (Connect Invoke) is transmitted to the MSC (11, 31) in the wired communication network (10) or asynchronous network (30) that sent the initial initial call message (InitialDP Invoke).

At this time, the conversion from the Number Portability Request Return Result message to the Connect Invoke is shown in Table 2 below. Here, the incoming routing address is converted from a routing digit to a destination routing address.

Message parameter Number portability request return message Calling Message Remarks Call routing address RoutingDigits DestinationRoutingAddress necessary

Accordingly, the MSCs 11 and 31 receive a connection invoke message from the NPGW 40 and confirm the shifted number from the message, and then connect the call to the number.

Secondly, the operation in the case of requesting a mobile number from any synchronous network 20 to the wired communication network 10 or the asynchronous network 30 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 6.

First, the MSC 21 in the synchronization network 20 generates a Number Portability Request Invoke using the called subscriber number as a parameter, transmits it to the NPGW 40, and waits for a result thereof. Register a timer for that.

Accordingly, the NPGW 40 converts the Number Portability Request Invoke, which is the MAP message received from the MSC 21, into an InitialDP Invoke, which is an INAP message.

At this time, the conversion from the number portability request invoke message (Number Portability Request Invoke) to the initial call message (InitialDP Invoke) is shown in Table 3 below. Here, the called party number is mandatory and the calling party number is optional. In addition, the called party number is converted from the digit to the called number, and the calling party number is converted from the calling number digit to the calling number.

Message parameter Number portability request message Initial Call Message Remarks Called party number Digits (Dialed) CalledPartyNumber necessary Calling party number CallingPartyNumberDigits1 CallingPartNumber option

In this way, the NPGW 40 transmits the converted initial call message (InitialDP Invoke) as shown in Table 3 to the NPDB 12, 32 in the wired communication network 10 or the asynchronous network 30.

Accordingly, the NPDB 12, 32 receives an initial call message (InitialDP Invoke) from the NPGW 40, searches for a number shifted using a called subscriber number among parameters in the message, and searches for the shifted number. A connection invoke message (Connect Invoke) is generated as a parameter and transmitted to the NPGW 40.

Then, the NPGW 40 converts a Connect Invoke, which is an INAP message received from the NPDB 12, 32, into a Number Portability Request Return Result, which is a MAP message. The converted number portability request return result is transmitted to the MSC 21 in the synchronization network 20 which has transmitted the first number portability request invoke message.

At this time, the conversion from the connect call message (Connect Invoke) to the number portability request return result (Table Portability Request Return Result) is shown in Table 4 below. Here, the called routing address is converted from the called routing address to the routing digit.

Message parameter Calling Message Number portability request return message Remarks Call routing address DestinationRoutingAddress RoutingDigits necessary

Accordingly, the MSC 21 receives a number portability request return result from the NPGW 40, checks the ported number from the message, and connects the call to the number. .

As described above, the present invention provides a number portability service between heterogeneous networks by performing a number portability query and response between an asynchronous network or a wired communication network and a synchronous network using the protocol conversion equipment, thereby providing a synchronization network operator and an asynchronous network operator. Alternatively, the service provider can provide the number portability service regardless of the type of service provided to small businesses or operators entrusting NPDB in the region (or country) where the protocols of the wireline network operators are mixed. It can reduce costs and reduce the risks that can come from operational management of mobile number data.

Claims (7)

Receiving a number portability query from an arbitrary first network, converting a message protocol for the number portability query according to a second network of another type, and transmitting the protocol converted query to the second network; Receiving a number portability response from the second network, converting a message protocol for the number portability response accordingly to the second network, and transmitting the corresponding protocol converted response to the first network. Number portability service method between heterogeneous networks. The method of claim 1, In the query transmission process, when the protocol conversion equipment receives the initial call message from the first network, the initial call message is converted into a number portability request call message and transmitted to the second network, or the number is transmitted from the second network. The number portability service method between heterogeneous networks, wherein the number portability request call message is converted into an initial call message and transmitted to the first network when the mobility request call message is received. The method of claim 1, The response transmission process converts the number portability request return result message into a connection call message and transmits the number portability request return result message to the first network when the protocol conversion equipment receives the number portability request return result message from the second network. And when the access call message is received from one network, converts the access call message into a number portability request return result message and transmits the converted call message to the second network. When the protocol conversion equipment receives the mobile number request from any first network, after confirming that the request is an initial call message transmitted to a second network of another model, the protocol conversion equipment converts the number portability request call message to the second network. Transmitting to; Searching for a ported number using a called party number in the number portability request call message in the second network and generating a number portability request return result message having the ported number as a parameter; Receiving the number portability request return result message by the protocol conversion device, converting the number portability request return result message into a connection call message, and transmitting the same to the first network; And receiving the access call message from the first network, checking the moved number, and connecting a call to the corresponding number. The method of claim 4, wherein In the initial call message to the number portability request call message, the called party number in the internal parameter is converted from the called number to the digit, and the conversion from the number portability request return result message to the access call message is the call in the internal parameter. A method for number portability service between heterogeneous networks, wherein a routing address is converted from a routing digit to a destination routing address. The method of claim 4, wherein When the protocol conversion equipment receives the mobile number request from the second network, after confirming whether the request is a number portability request call message transmitted to the first network, converts the initial call message to the first network. Process of doing; Searching for the ported number using the called party number in the initial call message in the first network and generating a connection page message having the ported number as a parameter; Receiving, by the protocol conversion equipment, the connection call message, converting it into a number portability request return result message, and transmitting it to the second network; And receiving the number portability request return result message from the second network, checking the ported number, and connecting a call to the number. The method of claim 6, The conversion from the number portability request call message to the initial call message is a destination subscriber number in internal parameters is converted from a digit to a destination number, and the conversion from the access call message to the number portability request return result message is a call in an internal parameter. A method for number portability service between heterogeneous networks, wherein a routing address is converted from a destination routing address to a routing digit.