WO2011073580A1

WO2011073580A1 - Call set-up between a calling platform and a terminal in a mobile telecommunications network

Info

Publication number: WO2011073580A1
Application number: PCT/FR2010/052760
Authority: WO
Inventors: Benoît Fourestie; Philippe Fouquart
Original assignee: France Telecom
Priority date: 2009-12-17
Filing date: 2010-12-16
Publication date: 2011-06-23
Also published as: FR2954647A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for setting up a call between a calling platform and a terminal having a telephone number in a mobile telecommunications network comprising a mobile switching centre (GMSC), characterised in that said method comprises the steps of: the mobile switching centre (GMSC) receiving (21) a first signalling message sent by the calling platform and comprising the telephone number as well as location information for the terminal, and the mobile switching centre (GMSC) querying (22) a home location register (HLR) by means of a second signalling message and according to the telephone number and the location information of the terminal.

Description

Establishment of communication between a calling platform and a terminal in a mobile telecommunications network

The present invention relates to a mechanism for establishing communication between a calling platform and a terminal in a mobile telecommunications network, such as the GSM network or the UMTS network. The invention applies more particularly to machine-to-machine applications, called "machine to machine" or "M2M".

Indeed, many applications are developing, aiming to dialogue machines with each other or with network entities, to exchange information. The use of a mobile network, for example the GSM network, involves the implementation of SIM cards in machines to enable these machines to be contacted using mobile networks. For example, electrical meters in homes could be equipped with SIM cards to perform automatic readings, by telephone connection (call or more generally sending data by SMS, MMS or data link).

For each of these machines, a telephone number must be associated with this SIM card, according to the GSM standard and is used by associated mechanisms (call or message routing). In metropolitan France for example, it is typically a 10-digit number, type 0612345678, or its equivalent +33612345678 if it is expressed in international format. Numbering resources are public and managed by public, regulatory or administrative bodies according to the numbering plans. These resources are mainly intended for use by humans, ie for so-called "interpersonal" services, such as telephony, for which numbers as short as possible are preferred (10). figures in France) for ergonomic reasons. These resources are by nature finite and often described as rare.

The increase in the number of M2M applications poses the problem of over-consumption and consequently, over time, a depletion of numbering plan numbering resources for all the applications that use it: these services "machines to machines "as well as interpersonal services.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art by providing a method of establishing a call between a calling platform and a terminal having a telephone number, in a mobile telecommunications network having an exchange switch. mobile service, characterized in that it comprises the steps of:

reception by the mobile service switch of a first signaling message transmitted by the calling platform and comprising the telephone number and location information of the terminal,

interrogating a nominal location base by the mobile service switch by means of a second signaling message and according to the telephone number and the location information of the terminal.

Thanks to the invention, a communication can be established between the calling platform and the mobile terminal without using only the mobile terminal subscriber's (MSISDN) telephone number, but also by using location information. This helps to save resources in phone numbers. Indeed, the same phone number can be assigned to two terminals provided they do not have the same location information.

This feature is particularly interesting for M2M applications, since in this case, the terminal has a fixed location and therefore a location information can be assigned to it in a stable manner.

According to a preferred characteristic, the method comprises determining an international mobile subscriber identity by the nominal location base according to the telephone number and the location information of the terminal. Thus, a single terminal is identified, since the international mobile subscriber identity is an identifier uniquely assigned to a terminal.

According to a preferred characteristic, the location information comprises a location area code.

According to a preferred characteristic, the location information comprises an identifier of a cell in which the terminal is located.

According to a preferred characteristic, the location information comprises a routing area code.

The choice of the type of location information depends on the scale at which one wishes to use the same telephone numbers for different terminals.

According to alternative preferred features, the communication is a call or a sending of a short message. These types of communication allow an easy exchange of information from machine to machine.

The invention also relates to a calling platform in a system for establishing a communication between the calling platform and a terminal having a telephone number, in a mobile telecommunications network, characterized in that it is adapted to transmit to a mobile service switch a first message from signaling including the telephone number and location information of the terminal.

The invention also relates to a mobile service switch in a system for establishing a call between a calling platform and a terminal having a telephone number, in a mobile telecommunications network, characterized in that it is adapted for interrogating a nominal location base by means of a second signaling message and according to the telephone number and location information of the terminal.

The invention also relates to a nominal localization base characterized in that it is adapted to translate a telephone number and location information of a terminal into an international mobile subscriber identity.

The invention also relates to a system for establishing a communication between a calling platform and a terminal having a telephone number, in a mobile telecommunications network, characterized in that it comprises a calling platform, a switch of mobile service and a nominal location base as previously presented.

These different devices have advantages similar to those of the previously presented process.

In a particular embodiment, the various steps of the method according to the invention are determined by instructions of computer programs.

Consequently, the invention also relates to a computer program on an information medium, this program being capable of being implemented in a computer, this program comprising instructions adapted to the implementation of the steps of a process as described above. This program can use any programming language, and be in the form of source code, object code, or intermediate code between source code and object code, such as in a partially compiled form, or in any other form desirable shape.

The invention also relates to a computer readable information medium, and comprising instructions of the computer programs as mentioned above.

The information carrier may be any entity or device capable of storing the program. For example, the medium may comprise storage means, such as a ROM, for example a CD ROM or a microelectronic circuit ROM, or a magnetic recording medium, for example a floppy disk or a disk. hard.

On the other hand, the information medium may be a transmissible medium such as an electrical or optical signal, which may be conveyed via an electrical or optical cable, by radio or by other means. The program according to the invention can be downloaded in particular on an Internet type network.

Alternatively, the information carrier may be an integrated circuit in which the program is incorporated, the circuit being adapted to execute or to be used in the execution of the method in question.

Other features and advantages will appear on reading preferred embodiments described with reference to the figures in which:

FIG. 1 schematically represents a diagram of the signaling flows exchanged between a service center and a user terminal, according to the prior art,

FIG. 2 represents the establishment of a communication between a calling platform and a terminal, via a mobile telecommunications network, according to the invention,

FIG. 3 schematically represents a diagram of the signaling flows exchanged from the calling platform to the user terminal, according to the invention, FIG. 4 schematically represents a diagram of the signaling flows exchanged during the attachment to the network of the user terminal.

First of all, the prior art relating to the exchange of signaling messages when sending a short SMS message (Short Message Service) between a service center and a user terminal, via a GSM network, is recalled. UMTS. These exchanges are illustrated in Figure 1.

An MS user terminal, for example a GSM terminal, is a mobile device into which a SIM card is inserted. This SIM card is associated with:

- one or more (MSISDN - Mobile Subscriber ISDN) telephone numbers forming part of the E.164 international numbering plan,

- a unique identifier, or International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI), which is part of the E.212 international plan and uniquely identifies the customer or subscriber.

The sending of a short message by a service center SC to the user terminal MS is described by the specification 3GPP TS 23.040. The procedure for transmitting the short message across the network to the visited switch (MSC) is described in the 3GPP specification TS 29.002 (Mobile Application Part (MAP) specification).

These exchanges are known per se and will not be detailed here. It will be noted simply that the message 1 between the service center SC and a gateway mobile service switch called "Gateway MSC", the messages 2 and 3 between this gateway switch and a base, or recorder, of location HLR (Home Location Register) and the message 14 between the gateway switch and the service center uses the MSISDN telephone number of the terminal MS to which the short message is destined to identify that terminal.

The so-called "abstract" (ASN.1) syntax of the MAP operation corresponding to messages 2 and 3 is as follows;

The concept of operation has been defined in the ISO9072-2 standard and provides a formalism to describe an action that one wishes to execute remotely: type of parameters, result, other possibly associated operations.

The parameters of the operation are defined by the following structure:

Only the parameter "telephone number of the customer requested" (msisdn), italic, is conveyed in the signaling of messages 2 and 3. According to one embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 2, a communication is established from a center SC service, or calling platform, to a mobile terminal MS, through a GSM network for example. Signaling information is transmitted between the calling platform and the mobile terminal via different network entities. The communication is for example a call or sending a short message type SMS (Short Message Service). It is more particularly in the case of machine-to-machine applications.

The mobile terminal MS typically has a SISDN telephone number.

On the other hand, the network is a radio network comprising a plurality of cells. An LA area is a group of cells formed to optimize signaling. Such a zone may comprise, for example, between 10 and 100 cells.

The terminal is thus situated geographically in a cell C to which is assigned a Cell ID cell identifier, this cell being itself in a LA location zone to which is assigned a LAC location code (in English: Location Area Code).

It should be noted that a location area is divided into Routing Areas (RA). A routing area is identified by Routing Area Code (RAC).

According to the invention, the calling platform SC has an output interface for transmitting a first signaling message to a GMSC mobile service switch according to the telephone number and location information of the terminal. The telephone number is the MSISDN number and the location information is the LAC location code.

The GMSC mobile service switch has an input interface for receiving this first message and an output interface for interrogating a base, or register, of nominal location HLR by means of a second signaling message and according to the telephone number. and location information of the terminal.

The nominal location base includes an input interface for receiving this second message.

The operation of these equipment is detailed in the following. With reference to FIG. 3, the case of establishing a call is more particularly considered. The message exchanges are referenced 21 to 27.

The calling platform SC transmits 21 a signaling message to a mobile service switch, called MSC (Mobile Switching Center). This is the nearest switch, which then acts as a gateway switch, called Gateway-Mobile Switching Center (GMSC). This signaling message is routed according to the telephone number and location information LAC of the mobile terminal called MS.

The GMSC switch then queries a Home Location Register (HLR) based on the telephone number and the LAC location information of the mobile terminal called MS for the VMSC switch to which the signaling message is to be sent. road. In one embodiment, the telephone number and location information is concatenated to form a single entry in the HLR.

The HLR database translates the telephone number and the LAC location information of the terminal by identifying IMSI. In other words, the base HLR has in memory the correspondence between the pair (telephone number, location information) and identifier, or international mobile subscriber identity, IMSI. The base HLR interrogates the base 23 VLR (Visitor Location Register), or home location recorder, the mobile terminal called MS, according to the IMSI identifier of the latter.

The continuation of the exchanges is classic.

The VLR base assigns a temporary MSRN routing number (Mobile

Subscriber Routing Number) to the mobile terminal and transmits 24 this number to the HLR base.

The HLR receives the temporary MSRN routing number and forwards it to the GMSC switch.

The switch GMSC establishes 26, 27 the call to the current VMSC switch of the mobile terminal, as a conventional telephone call to a terminal whose number is the temporary routing number MSRN. The VMSC switch calls the mobile terminal using the IMSI identifier or, if applicable, a Temporary Mobile Station Identifier (TMSI), assigned to the mobile terminal during a location update or when registering the mobile.

As a variant, the location information of the called mobile terminal includes the Cell ID of the cell C in which the terminal MS is located. In this variant, the Cell ID code replaces the LAC location area code.

According to another variant, the location information of the called mobile terminal includes the routing area code RAC. A terminal is identified by a triplet (RAC, LAC, MSISDN).

It should be noted that in the case of an M2M application or a home installation hosting multiple endpoints, the use of sub-addresses in the "SETUP" message sent by the VMSC switch to the mobile terminal is possible (see Table 9.70 / 3GPP). TS 24.008: SETUP message content) provided that the calling platform has access to upgrade this type of sub-address (ISDN).

It should also be noted that in the case of sending an SMS, the operations are similar, especially for operations 21 and 22. The main difference is that the temporary routing number is not useful in this case.

Consider again the case where the calling platform establishes a call to the mobile terminal. The syntax of the calls for the MAP messages corresponding to the step 22 (MAP_SEND_ROUTING_INFORMATION) is modified according to the invention, by the addition of an optional parameter LAC, as shown in italics in the following table:

The meaning of the codes M, 0, U, C and = is the following - M; mandatory parameter, - O: optional parameter, at the choice of the service provider,

- U: optional parameter, at the choice of the user,

- C: conditional parameter,

- =: parameter taking the same value as the one on the left.

The routing information request operation of the GMSC switch to the HLR base is defined as follows by the standard:

According to the invention, the syntax of the parameters of the request for the routing information is modified by adding an optional "lac" parameter, as shown in italics in the following table (the scheduling of the parameters is illustrative):

We now consider the case where the calling platform sends a short message to the mobile terminal.

To route a SMS short message based on a mobile client identifier, the syntax of the messages MAP_SEND_ROUTING_INFO_FOR_SM (step 22) changes, to add a new parameter to address a short message not only on a telephone number but also on the location area code (LAC).

The MAP-SEND-ROUTING-INFO-FOR-SM short message routing primitives evolve by adding the optional LAC parameter:

The attachment procedure to the network of the terminal MS according to the invention is now described with reference to FIG. 4.

The mobile terminal MS sends a location update request to the base VLR.

The base VLR transmits 31 a message comprising the international mobile subscriber identity IMSI and the location information of the terminal MS to the base HLR. As before, the location information is the LAC code, or alternatively the Cell ID code, or the RAC code. Thus, the base HLR stores the location information of the terminal MS, in association with its international mobile subscriber identity IMSI and its telephone number.

The base HLR transmits an acknowledgment to the base VLR, which itself transmits an acknowledgment to the terminal MS.

Claims

A method of establishing a communication between a calling platform and a terminal having a telephone number, in a mobile telecommunications network comprising a mobile service switch (GMSC), characterized in that it comprises the steps from:

- reception (21) by the mobile service switch (GMSC) of a first signaling message transmitted by the calling platform and including the telephone number and location information of the terminal,

- interrogating (22) a nominal location base (HLR) by the mobile service switch (GMSC) by means of a second signaling message and according to the telephone number and location information of the terminal.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises the determination of an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) by the nominal location base (HLR) according to the telephone number and the information of terminal location.

3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the location information comprises a location area code (LAC).

4. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the location information comprises an identifier (Cell ID) of a cell (C) in which the terminal (MS) is located.

5. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the location information comprises a routing area code (RAC).

6. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the communication is a call.

7. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the communication is a sending of a short message.

8. Calling platform in a system for establishing a communication between the calling platform and a terminal having a telephone number, in a mobile telecommunications network, characterized in that it is adapted to transmit to a switch of mobile service (GMSC) a first signaling message including the telephone number and location information of the terminal.

Mobile service switch (GMSC) in a system for establishing a communication between a calling platform and a terminal having a telephone number, in a mobile telecommunications network, characterized in that it is adapted for interrogating a nominal location base (HLR) by means of a second signaling message and according to the telephone number and location information of the terminal.

10. The nominal location base (HLR) characterized in that it is adapted to translate a telephone number and location information of a terminal into an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI).

11. System for establishing a communication between a calling platform and a terminal having a telephone number, in a mobile telecommunications network, characterized in that it comprises a calling platform according to claim 8, a switch of mobile service (GMSC) according to claim 9 and a nominal location base (HLR) according to claim 10.

Computer program comprising instructions for performing the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7 when said program is executed by a computer.

A computer-readable recording medium on which a computer program is recorded including instructions for performing the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7.