ZA200906505B

ZA200906505B - Method,system,and apparatus for implementing simm service

Info

Publication number: ZA200906505B
Application number: ZA2009/06505A
Authority: ZA
Inventors: Hong Wong Tang; Jianbo Liu
Original assignee: Huawei Tech Co Ltd
Priority date: 2008-09-17
Filing date: 2009-09-17
Publication date: 2011-10-26
Also published as: CN101677474B; CN101677474A

Description

) MII p000/06s0s

METHOD, SYSTEM, AND APPARATUS FOR IMPLEMENTING SIMM SERVICE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of mobile communications, and more particularly, to a method, system, and apparatus for implementing a Single IMSI

Multiple MSISDN (SIMM) service.

BACKGROUND

[0002] In a Single IMSI Multiple MSISDN (SIMM) service, when a user roams, his/her original Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card may be used to provide services for the original number and a local number at a visited place, with no need to replace the original

SIM card or add a new one.

[0003] An outbound SIMM service may be provided by a home network operator, in which a user requests the home network operator in advance for a telephone number to be used at a visited place. The number is provided by an operator at the visited place cooperating with the home network operator. Thus, the user may use the SIMM service when he/she roams.

[0004] During implementation of the present invention, the inventors have found at least the following problems existing in the related arts.

[0005] The related arts have not yet provided an implementation for the outbound SIMM service. When a terminal roams to a visited network, it still uses the original telephone number associated with its home place for calling or transmission and reception of short messages. The roaming fees are high, which increases the communication costs to the user.

SUMMARY

[0006] The present invention provides a method, system, and apparatus for implementing a Single IMSI Multiple MSISDN (SIMM) service according to various embodiments, so as to avoid high roaming fees of user terminals.

[0007] A method is provided for implementing a Single IMSI Multiple MSISDN (SIMM) service, including: acquiring, by an application server, signaling transferred between a home network and a visited network associated with a terminal subscribing to the SIMM service; and

PY 2 converting the terminal’s telephone number based on the signaling so that the terminal uses the converted telephone number for communication.

[0008] A system is provided for implementing a Single IMSI Multiple MSISDN (SIMM) service, including a home network device, a visited network device, and an application server.

[0009] The home network device and the visited network device are configured to exchange signaling.

[0010] The application server is configured to acquire signaling transferred between a home network and a visited network associated with a terminal subscribing to the SIMM service, and to convert the terminal’s telephone number based on the signaling so that the terminal uses the converted telephone number for communication.

[0011] An application server is provided, including: a signaling acquiring module, configured to acquire signaling transferred between a home network and a visited network associated with a terminal subscribing to a Single IMSI

Multiple MSISDN (SIMM) service; and an information processing module, configured to convert the terminal’s telephone number based on the signaling so that the terminal uses the converted telephone number for communication.

[0012] From the above technical solutions according to the embodiments of the present invention, it can be seen that an application server is introduced, which monitors signaling between the terminal's home network and visited network, and converts the terminal's telephone number, so as to implement the SIMM service. Accordingly, the user may use a local number in the visited place for communication at the local communication fee, which reduces the communication costs for the user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] FIG.1 illustrates a networking structure provided according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0014] FIG.2 illustrates a process provided according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0015] FIG.3 illustrates a process provided according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[0016] FIG.4 illustrates a process provided according to yet another embodiment of the present invention;

[0017] FIG.5 illustrates a process provided according to yet another embodiment of the present invention;

[0018] FIG.6 illustrates a process provided according to yet another embodiment of the present invention;

[0019] FIG.7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a system provided according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

[0020] FIG.8 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an apparatus provided according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] In the embodiments of the present invention, an application server (referred to as

International Service Gateway (ISG) in the embodiments of the present invention) acquires signaling transferred between a home network and a visited network associated with a terminal subscribing to a Single IMSI Multiple MSISDN (SIMM) service, and converts the terminal’s telephone number based on the signaling so that the terminal uses the converted telephone number for communication. Specifically, the ISG acquires the signaling transferred between the home network and the visited network associated with the terminal subscribing to the SIMM service by the following steps: monitoring a location update message sent from a Visitor Location Register (VLR) associated with the terminal to a Home Location Register (HLR) associated with the terminal and a user data message sent from the HLR to the VLR, and extracting network information from the location update message (information about the terminal's home network and visited network may be determined from the network information). Specifically, the step of converting the terminal’s telephone number based on the signaling so that the terminal uses the converted telephone number for communication includes: acquiring, from the signaling, user data of the terminal roaming from the home network to the visited network, the user data containing the terminal’s primary number; acquiring the secondary number corresponding to the primary number; and sending the user data containing the secondary number to a Visitor Location Register (VLR) associated with the terminal so that the VLR sets the secondary number as the terminal’s primary number at the visited network and the terminal communicates in the visited network by using the primary number at the visited network. As a node, the ISG is added at the side of a Signal

° + 42009706505

Transfer Point (STP) in the terminal's home network. Further, in order to make the SIMM service available when the terminal roams across different countries, the ISG may be added at the side of an International STP (ISTP) in the terminal's home network. The primary number refers to an MSISDN number of the terminal in the home network, and the secondary number refers to an MSISDN number of the terminal in the visited network.

[0022] Specifically, the user data according to the embodiments of the present invention may include the International Mobile Station Identity (IMSI), the MSISDN number of the terminal, etc. Specifically, the network information may include the VLR number, the MSC address, etc.

[0023] When a terminal has a plurality of secondary numbers, the ISG may search for a secondary number assigned by the visited network corresponding to the primary number, based on the primary number included in the acquired user data of the terminal and the VLR number extracted from the location update message, or any other information that may be used to identify the visited network. While the primary and secondary numbers and their corresponding relationship are stored, information about the visited network and the corresponding relationship between the secondary number and the visited network are also stored. Moreover, information about the home network and the corresponding relationship between the primary number and the home network may be stored. The above information may be stored in a database of the ISG or a storage device in the network. The ISG may invoke the information stored in the storage device by sending lookup information to the storage device.

[0024] In the above process, the VLR associated with the terminal has stored the secondary number as the terminal's primary number at the visited network. When the terminal is to switch between the primary and secondary numbers, a process may include the following steps.

[0025] The ISG acquires switch request information sent from the visited network (the visited network acquires the switch request information from the terminal or in other manners, the switch request information used to request switching between the primary and secondary numbers, including indication information for switching between the primary and secondary numbers, or information about the destination MSISDN number). Based on the acquired switch request information, the ISG sends the user data to the VLR associated with the terminal (The user data includes the destination MSISDN number, which is the terminal's primary number because the MSISDN number previously stored in the VLR has been the

£9009/06505 ® oo secondary number already) so that the VLR sets the primary number contained in the user data as the terminal’s primary number at the visited network. The terminal’s primary number at the visited network is used to initiate a communication service when the terminal intends to place a call or send a short message. The switching operation may be repeated. In other words, a request may be made to set a secondary number as the terminal's primary number at the visited network via the switch request information, the operation of which is the same as the above switching operation. Specifically, the switch request information may be contained in a short message sent by the terminal or an Unstructured Supplementary Services Data (USSD) message sent by the terminal. Alternatively, the switch request information may be obtained via an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) or a customer service call dialed by the terminal.

[0026] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the terminal may be not located in the visited network corresponding to the secondary number, that is, the terminal may be located in the home network or any network other than the visited network. In this case, the default calling number is the terminal’s primary number. If the secondary number is used for a call procedure, the related process may include the following steps.

[0027] The Visited Mobile Switching Center (VMSC) associated with the terminal may acquire call request information including information for requesting to switch the calling number. For example, the request information may be achieved by adding a prefix before the called number, adding a postfix after the called number, etc. Based on the information for requesting to switch the calling number, the VMSC sends a message to the ISG for requesting to acquire the secondary number. Upon receipt of the message for requesting to acquire the secondary number, the ISG searches for the secondary number at the visited network corresponding to the terminal's primary number, and sends the secondary number to the

VMSC (specifically, the secondary number at the visited network may be sent when the ISG delivers a connection message to the VMSC). When the VMSC sends the connection message, the secondary number is set as the calling number.

[0028] In the above embodiments of the present invention, the secondary number at the visited network may be an MSISDN number assigned by the visited network associated with the terminal, or an MSISDN number registered in the visited network associated with the terminal.

[0029] (I). When the secondary number at the visited network is an MSISDN number assigned by the visited network associated with the terminal, the process may further include a step in which the visited network associated with the terminal takes the address of the ISG as the HLR address for the MSISDN number assigned by the visited network associated with the terminal.

[0030] When the terminal requests to take the MSISDN number assigned by the visited network as the secondary number, the process may further include: storing the primary and secondary numbers of the terminal and their corresponding relationship. Accordingly, the corresponding relationship between the secondary number and the visited network, the corresponding relationship between the primary number and the home network, and similar information, may be stored. The above information may be stored in a database of the ISG or a network storage device.

[0031] When the secondary number of the terminal subscribing to the SIMM service is used as the called number to place a call, the address of the ISG is used as the HLR address for the secondary number of the terminal. Accordingly, the ISG acquires the signaling transferred between the home network and the visited network associated with the terminal by the following operations, including: acquiring first route lookup information sent from the visited network associated with the terminal subscribing to the SIMM service. The operation of converting the terminal’s telephone number based on the signaling so that the terminal uses the converted telephone number for communication may include: searching for the primary number corresponding to the secondary number of the terminal based on the first route lookup information (specifically, searching for the primary number corresponding to the secondary number associated with the visited network based on the first route lookup information, then sending second route lookup information to the home network corresponding to the primary number, acquiring a Mobile Station Roaming Number (MSRN) fed back from the home network, and forwarding the MSRN to the visited network); and using the primary number as the called number to connect the call to the visited network associated with the terminal via the application server.

[0032] When the secondary number of the terminal subscribing to the SIMM service is used as the called number for receiving a short message, the address of the ISG is used as the

HLR address for the secondary number of the terminal. Accordingly, the ISG acquires the signaling transferred between the home network and the visited network associated with the terminal by the following steps, including: acquiring route lookup information sent from the visited network associated with the terminal subscribing to the SIMM service. The operation of converting the terminal’s telephone number based on the signaling so that the terminal o , #009/06505 uses the converted telephone number for communication may include: searching for the primary number corresponding to the secondary number of the terminal based on the route lookup information (specifically, feeding a response message back to the visited network, the

MSC address included in the response message being the ISG address; receiving a to-be-sent short message sent from the visited network; modifying the called number of the to-be-sent short message as the primary number; and forwarding the to-be-sent short message to the home network), and using the primary number as the called number to connect the short message to the visited network associated with the terminal via the application server.

[0033] (II). When the secondary number at the visited network is an MSISDN registered in the visited network associated with the terminal, the MSISDN corresponds to its HLR in the visited network. Accordingly, the process may further include: configuring, by the HLR associated with the terminal, CAMEL Subscription Information (T-CSI) for the secondary number, and using the address of the ISG as the address of a service control point (SCP).

When the secondary number is used as the called number for calling, the operation of acquiring the signaling transferred between the home network and the visited network associated with the terminal may include: acquiring, by the application server, call request information initiated towards the secondary number and forwarded by the visited network.

The operation of converting the terminal’s telephone number based on the signaling so that the terminal uses the converted telephone number for communication may include: searching for a primary number corresponding to the secondary number, and sending a response message to the visited network for connection, the called number contained in the response message being the primary number. Moreover, the HLR associated with the terminal sets the

VMSC address for the secondary number as the address of the application server. When the secondary number is used as the called number for receiving a short message, the operation of acquiring the signaling transferred between the home network and the visited network associated with the terminal may include: acquiring, by the ISG, a to-be-sent short message sent from the visited network. The operation of converting the terminal’s telephone number } based on the signaling so that the terminal uses the converted telephone number for communication may include: sending the to-be-sent short message to the home network for connection after modifying the called number in the to-be-sent short message as the primary number.

[0034] In the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present invention, if

T-CSI is configured for an MSISDN already registered in the visited network, the visited

PY * 79009/06503 network should support a CAMEL function. But in practical applications, there are many networks having no support for CAMEL. Accordingly, in the practical applications, if a terminal has several secondary numbers, the HLR address for some of the secondary numbers may be configured as the ISG address, and T-CSI may be configured for the secondary numbers associated with CAMEL-enabled networks.

[0035] Detailed descriptions will be made below to the implementations according to various embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0036] To implement an outbound SIMM service, an application server (ISG) may be added to the home network associated with the terminal, as shown in FIG.1. Specifically, the

ISG may be added at the side of an STP in the home network associated with the terminal so that signaling between the home network and the visited network may be monitored and a corresponding process may be performed to implement the SIMM service. In order that the

SIMM service is available even when the terminal roams to a foreign country, the ISG may further be deployed at the side of an ISTP in the home network associated with the terminal.

In the following embodiments of the present invention, for example, the ISG is deployed at the side of an ISTP in the home network associated with the terminal.

[0037] In an embodiment of the present invention, the ISG monitors the signaling of the international gateway. When the terminal roams to a foreign country (the terminal has a secondary number at the visited place), the ISG may perform a location update process as shown in FIG.2. Specifically, the process may include operations as follows.

[0038] 11. The VLR associated with the terminal sends a location update message to the

HLR associated with the terminal, the location update message including a VLR number, an

MSC address, etc.

[0039] 12. The HLR associated with the terminal sends user data to the VLR associated with the terminal, the user data including an IMSI, an MSISDN, or other information about the terminal.

[0040] 13. The ISG monitors and acquires the location update message and the user data.

[0041] 14. Based on the primary number included in the user information, the ISG searches for a secondary number corresponding to the primary number.

[0042] 15. The ISG sends user data to the VLR associated with the terminal, the

MSISDN in the user data sent by the ISG being the secondary number.

o : ©9009/065085

[0043] 16. Upon receipt of the user data sent by the ISG, the VLR associated with the terminal sets the secondary number therein as the terminal’s primary number at the visited network (that is, the MSISDN number stored in the VLR is the secondary number).

[0044] After the above operations, when the terminal places a call or sends a short message at the visited place, the MSISDN number stored in the VLR is the secondary number.

During the process of placing a call or sending a short message, the calling number in the signaling will be written as the secondary number, and thus the secondary number will be displayed to the called party or the party receiving the short message.

[0045] It can be seen that the secondary number has become the terminal’s primary number in the visited network. In this case, if the terminal wants to use the primary number to make a call or send a short message, the terminal may send a short message or a USSD message, or the terminal may dial an IVR or a customer service call, requesting to switch between the primary and secondary numbers. Upon receipt of the switch request from the terminal, the visited network sends switch request information to the ISG. Based on the switch request information, the ISG sends user information to the VLR in which the

MSISDN is the primary number. Upon receipt of the user information sent from the ISG, the

VLR changes the terminal’s primary number at the visited network to the terminal’s primary number. After the above operations, the terminal may use the primary number to place a call or send a short message. Of course, the above switching process may be repeated. In other words, with the information included in the switch request information indicating to switch to the destination MSISDN, the ISG sends user information including the destination MSISDN to the VLR, and the VLR changes its stored MSISDN number to the destination MSISDN.

[0046] From the description to the above described embodiments, it can be seen that the

ISG monitors network signaling and performs corresponding operations to implement the

SIMM service. In this manner, even if the ISG fails or is unavailable, it has no influence on the normal operation of the original network though it might produce an influence on the

SIMM service, which guarantees the operational stability of the original network.

[0047] In another embodiment of the present invention, in order to use the secondary number as the called number to communicate in the visited network, a configuration may be made in advance. Specifically, the process may include a step in which the visited network assigns some MSISDNs in advance as the secondary numbers to be assigned, and sets the

HLR address for these MSISDNs as the ISG address. In other words, the ISG is virtualized to be the HLR for these MSISDNs. When the terminal requests to use these MSISDNs as the

® 10 Co secondary numbers, the corresponding relationship between the terminal’s primary number (that is, the MSISDN of the terminal in the home network) and the secondary numbers will be stored. Moreover, other related information may be stored, for example, such as the corresponding relationship between the primary number and the home network or the corresponding relationship between the secondary number and the visited network.

Specifically, the above information may be stored in a database of the ISG or a storage device in the home network. When some information is desired, the ISG may invoke the information stored in the storage device by sending lookup request information to the storage device.

[0048] After the above process, communication services may be provided by using the secondary number as the called number. When a calling terminal initiates a call to a called terminal B by dialing the secondary number, the call is routed first to MSCa or GMSC at the calling side. As shown in FIG.3, the process may include operations as follows.

[0049] 41. MSCa or GMSC at the calling party sends an SRI (Send Routing Information) message to the ISG to search for the called party routing information. The SRI message includes information about the called number, that is, information about the secondary number.

[0050] 42. Based on the secondary number information in the SRI message, the ISG searches for the primary number corresponding to the secondary number. }

[0051] 43. The ISG sends the SRI message to HLR-B in the home network associated with the primary number of the called terminal, to search for the routing information. The

SRI message includes information about the primary number.

[0052] 44. According to a conventional signaling flow during the call procedure, HLR-B in the home network associated with the primary number of the called terminal sends a PRN (Provide Roaming Number) message to MSCb/VLR at the visited network associated with the called terminal, the PRN message carrying the IMSI number of the terminal.

[0053] 45. MSCb/VLR at the visited network associated with the called terminal returns a

PRN_ACK message to HLR-B in the home network associated with the primary number of the called terminal, the PRN ACK message carrying the roaming number MSRN of the called user.

[0054] 46. HLR-B in the home network associated with the primary number of the called terminal sends the acquired MSRN to the ISG via an SRI_ACK message.

[0055] 47. The ISG sends the MSRN to MSCa at the calling party via an SRI_ACK message.

® 11 .

[0056] 48. MSCa proceeds with the subsequent call procedure, and the call is connected to MSCb/VLR.

[0057] In the process according to the above embodiments of the present invention, when the secondary number is used as the called number, the ISG performs a number conversion, and searches for the routing information of the terminal, which ensures that the terminal may be called. Additionally, the process is transparent to the switch, and thus there is no need to provide special processes to the existing call flow.

[0058] In another embodiment of the present invention, in order to implement Short

Message Service (SMS) by using the secondary number as the called number, a configuration may be made in advance. Specifically, the process may include: the visited network assigns some MSISDNs in advance as the secondary numbers to be assigned, and sets the HLR address for these MSISDNs as the ISG address. In other words, the ISG is virtualized to be the HLR for these MSISDNs. When the terminal requests to use these MSISDNs as the secondary numbers, the corresponding relationship between the terminal’s primary number (that is, the MSISDN in the home network associated with the terminal) and the secondary numbers will be stored. Moreover, other related information may be stored, such as the corresponding relationship between the primary number and the home network, or the corresponding relationship between the secondary number and the visited network, etc. The above information may be stored in a database of the ISG or a storage device in the home network. When some information is to be searched for, the ISG may invoke the information stored in the storage device by sending a lookup request message to the storage device.

[0059] After the above process, the SMS service may be provided by using the secondary number as the called number. When a calling terminal sends a short message to a called terminal B, the process may include operations shown in FIG.4.

[0060] 51. SMSCa at the calling party sends an SRI-FOR-SM message to the ISG to search for the called party routing information, with the called number as the secondary number. Accordingly, the SRI-FOR-SM message includes information about the secondary number.

[0061] 52. The ISG sends a response message to SMSCa. Due to the fact that the ISG has been set as the HLR associated with the secondary number, the ISG address as the MSC address at the visited place associated with the called party is included in the response message returned to SMSCa in this step.

® 12

[0062] 53. SMSCa at the calling party forwards the to-be-sent short message to the ISG based on the ISG address.

[0063] 54. The ISG receives the short message, and returns a response message to

SMSCa, indicating receipt of the short message.

[0064] 55. The ISG modifies the called number of the short message as the primary number, and sends the to-be-sent short message to the SMSC in the home network associated with the primary number of the called terminal via an SMPP interface or an interface of any other form.

[0065] 56. Upon receiving the to-be-sent short message, the SMSC in the home network associated with the primary number of the called terminal sends a response message to the

ISG, indicating receipt of the short message.

[0066] 57. The SMSC associated with the primary number of the called terminal sends an

SRI SM message to the HLR associated with the primary number of the called party, requesting to acquire the address of the visited switch center associated with the primary number of the called terminal, i.c., the address of MSCb.

[0067] 58. The HLR associated with the primary number of the called terminal returns an

SRI_SM_ACK message to the SMSC, the SRI_SM_ACK message including the address of the visited switch center associated with the primary number of the called terminal.

[0068] 59. The SMSC associated with the primary number of the called terminal forwards the to-be-sent short message to MSCb, which pages the terminal and sends the to-be-sent short message to the terminal.

[0069] In the process according to the above embodiments of the present invention, when the secondary number is used as the called number, the ISG performs a number conversion, and searches for the routing information of the terminal, which ensures that the to-be-sent short message may be sent to the terminal successfully. Additionally, the process is transparent to the SMSC at the calling side, and thus there is no need to provide special processes to the existing short message transmission flow.

[0070] In another embodiment of the present invention, the user may want to use his owned MSISDN number registered in the visited network as the secondary number. In order to provide a communication service by using the secondary number at the visited network as the called number, a configuration may be made in advance. Specifically, the process may include: configuring T-CSI for the secondary number on the HLR-b associated with the secondary number, and writing the SCP address as the ISG address.

[0071] According to the above process, communication services may be provided by using the secondary number at the visited network as the called number. When a calling terminal initiates a call to the secondary number via MSCa or GMSC at the calling party, the process may include operations as shown in FIG.5.

[0072] 61. MSCa or GMSC at the calling party sends an SRI message to HLR-b associated with the secondary number, to search for the called party routing information, the

SRI message including the secondary number information.

[0073] 62. HLR-b returns T-CSI to MSCa or GMSC.

[0074] 63. Due to the fact that the ISG address is set as the SCP address in T-CSI, MSCa triggers the call to the ISG, and sends an IDP (Initial Detect Point) message to the ISG, the called number in the IDP message being the secondary number.

[0075] 64. Based on the called number information included in the call (i.e., the secondary number information), the ISG searches for the terminal’s primary number, and modifies the called number in the connection message sent to MSCa as the primary number.

[0076] 65. Based on the primary number information, MSCa sends an IAM (Initial

Address Message) message to GMSC associated with the primary number of the called terminal.

[0077] 66. GMSC associated with the primary number of the called terminal sends routing information for acquiring the primary number of the called terminal to the HLR in the home network associated with the primary number of the called terminal.

[0078] 67. The HLR associated with the primary number of the called terminal sends a

PRN message to MSCb/VLR associated with the called terminal, requesting the MSRN number of the called terminal, the PRN message carrying the IMSI number of the called terminal.

[0079] 68. MSCb/VLR associated with the called terminal returns a PRN ACK message to the HLR, the message carrying the MSRN number of the called terminal.

[0080] 69. The HLR associated with the primary number of the called terminal returns a response message to the GMSC in the home network associated with the primary number of the called terminal, the response message including the MSRN number of the called terminal.

[0081] 70. Based on the acquired routing information, the GMSC in the home network associated with the primary number of the called terminal proceeds with the call procedure, and routes the call to MSCb. Eventually, the call reaches the terminal.

PS 14

[0082] In the above embodiment of the present invention, the SIMM service is provided by using the registered MSISDN at the visited network as the secondary number.

Additionally, T-CSI is configured for the secondary number so that the ISG performs number conversion during the call procedure and the terminal may be called successfully.

[0083] In another embodiment of the present invention, the user may want to use his owned MSISDN number registered in the visited network as the secondary number. In order to provide the SMS service by using the secondary number at the visited network as the called number, a configuration may be made in advance. Specifically, the process may include: in the HLR-b associated with the secondary number, the VMSC address of the terminal is written as the ISG address. Due to the fact that no location update message for the secondary number is sent to the HLR associated with the secondary number, the VMSC address for the secondary number will remain unchanged.

[0084] After the above process, the SMS service may be implemented by using the secondary number at the visited network as the called number. When the calling terminal sends a short message to the secondary number of the called terminal, the process for receiving the short message may include operations as shown in FIG.6.

[0085] 71. SMSCa at the calling party sends an SRI-SM message to HLR-b associated with the secondary number, to search for the called party routing information, the SRI-SM message including the secondary number information.

[0086] 72. HLR-b returns a response message SRI SM ACK to SMSCa at the calling party, the response message including the address of the VMSC where the called terminal resides. In this embodiment, the ISG address is used as the address of the VMSC where the called terminal resides.

[0087] 73. SMSCa at the calling party forwards the to-be-sent short message to the ISG based on the address of the VMSC where the called terminal resides.

[0088] 74. The ISG receives the short message, and returns a response message to

SMSCa at the calling party, indicating receipt of the short message.

[0089] 75. The ISG sends the to-be-sent short message to the SMSC in the home network associated with the primary number of the called terminal via an SMPP interface or an interface of any other form. In the to-be-sent short message, the calling number keeps unchanged, and the called number has been modified as the primary number.

Py 15

[0090] 76. The SMSC associated with the primary number of the called terminal receives the to-be-sent short message, and sends a response message to the ISG, indicating receipt of the to-be-sent short message.

[0091] 77. The SMSC in the home network associated with the primary number of the called terminal sends an SRI SM message to the HLR associated with the primary number of the called terminal, requesting to acquire the address of the visited switching center associated with the primary number of the called terminal.

[0092] 78. The HLR associated with the primary number of the called terminal returns an

SRI SM ACK message to the SMSC, the SRI SM_ACK message including the address of the visited switching center associated with the primary number of the called terminal.

[0093] 79. The SMSC associated with the primary number of the called terminal forwards the to-be-sent short message to MSCb, which pages the terminal and sends the to-be-sent short message to the called terminal.

[0094] In an embodiment of the present invention, the SIMM service is implemented by using the registered MSISDN at the visited network as the secondary number. All or some of the steps of the method for implementing the embodiment may be implemented in the associated hardware instructed by a program, which is stored in a computer readable storage media. When being executed, the program may perform the steps of the method for implementing the embodiment. The storage media may include ROM, RAM, diskette, optical disc, or various media that may store program codes.

[0095] An embodiment of the present invention further provides a system for implementing the SIMM service, the configuration of which is shown in FIG.7. Specifically, the system may include a home network device 710, a visited network device 720, and an application server ISG 730.

[0096] The home network device 710 and the visited network device 720 are configured to exchange signaling.

[0097] The application server ISG 730 is configured to acquire signaling transferred between a home network and a visited network associated with a terminal subscribing to the

SIMM service, and to convert the terminal’s telephone number based on the signaling so that the terminal uses the converted telephone number for communication.

[0098] The visited network device 720 may be a Visitor Location Register (VLR). The

ISG converts the terminal’s telephone number based on the signaling so that the terminal uses the converted telephone number for communication by the steps of: acquiring, from the

® 16 } signaling, user data of the terminal roaming from the home network to the visited network, the user data containing the terminal’s primary number; acquiring the secondary number corresponding to the primary number; and sending the user data containing the secondary number to the VLR associated with the terminal. Accordingly, the VLR is configured to set the secondary number as the terminal’s primary number at the visited network so that the terminal communicates in the visited network by using the primary number at the visited network.

[0099] According to the embodiments of the present invention, the user data may include the IMSI, the MSISDN number, or other information of the terminal.

[0100] In the system provided according to an embodiment of the present invention, when the terminal is to switch between the primary and secondary numbers, the application server 730 is further configured to: acquire switch request information forwarded from the visited network device 720; and send the user data to the VLR associated with the terminal.

The VLR is further configured to set the primary or secondary number of the terminal contained in the user data as the terminal’s primary number at the visited network. The switching operation may be repeated. The switch request information may be included in a short message sent from the terminal, or included in an Unstructured Supplementary Services

Data (USSD) message sent from the terminal. Alternatively, the switch request information may be obtained via an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) or a customer service call dialed by the terminal.

[0101] In the system provided according to an embodiment of the present invention, the

ISG is located at the side of a Signal Transfer Point (STP) in the terminal's home network.

Further, in order to make the SIMM service available when the terminal roams across countries, the ISG may be added at the side of an International STP (ISTP) in the terminal's home network. The primary number refers to an MSISDN number of the terminal in the home network, and the secondary number refers to an MSISDN number of the terminal in the visited network.

[0102] Another embodiment of the present invention provides an application server, the configuration of which is shown in FIG.8. The server may include the following components.

[0103] A signaling acquiring module 810 is configured to acquire signaling transferred between a home network and a visited network associated with a terminal subscribing to a

Single IMSI Multiple MSISDN (SIMM) service.

Py 17 ,

[0104] An information processing module 820 is configured to convert the terminal’s telephone number based on the signaling so that the terminal uses the converted telephone number for communication.

[0105] Specifically, the information processing module 820 may include an information acquiring submodule 8210, a number acquiring submodule 8220, and an information sending submodule 8230. The information acquiring submodule 8210 is configured to acquire from the signaling acquired by the signaling acquiring module 810, user data of the terminal roaming from the home network to the visited network, the user data containing the terminal’s primary number. The number acquiring submodule 8220 is configured to acquire the secondary number corresponding to the primary number. The information sending submodule 8230 is configured to send the user data containing the secondary number to a

Visitor Location Register (VLR) associated with the terminal so that the VLR sets the secondary number as the terminal’s primary number at the visited network and the terminal communicates in the visited network by using the primary number at the visited network.

[0106] In the application server provided according to an embodiment of the present invention, the signaling acquiring module 810 is configured to monitor a location update message sent from a VLR to a Home Location Register (HLR) associated with the terminal and a user data message sent from the HLR to the VLR.

[0107] When the terminal is to switch between the primary and secondary numbers, the signaling acquiring module 810 is further configured to acquire switch request information sent from the visited network, and the information processing module 820 is further configured to send the user data to the VLR associated with the terminal based on the switch request information so that the VLR sets the primary or secondary number of the terminal contained in the user data as the terminal’s primary number at the visited network.

[0108] In the apparatus provided according to the embodiment of the present invention, the user data may include the International Mobile Station Identity (IMSI), the MSISDN number of the terminal, etc. Specifically, the network information may include the VLR number, the MSC address, etc.

[0109] As a node, the ISG is added at the side of a Signal Transfer Point (STP) in the terminal's home network. Further, in order to make the SIMM service available when the terminal roams across countries, the ISG may be added at the side of an International STP (ISTP) in the terminal's home network. The primary number refers to an MSISDN number of

® 18 the terminal in the home network, and the secondary number refers to an MSISDN number of the terminal in the visited network.

[0110] The embodiments described above merely represent some preferred embodiments of the present invention and the scope of the present invention is not limited to these specific embodiments. Modifications or replacements easily conceivable to persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the disclosure shall fall within the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of the present invention shall be defined only by the appended claims.

Claims

° ig _ CL CLAIMS T= What is claimed is:

1. A method for implementing a Single IMSI Multiple MSISDN (SIMM) service, comprising: acquiring, by an application server, signaling transferred between a home network and a visited network associated with a terminal subscribing to the SIMM service; and converting the terminal’s telephone number based on the signaling so that the terminal uses the converted telephone number for communication.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of converting the terminal’s telephone number based on the signaling so that the terminal uses the converted telephone number for communication further comprises: acquiring, from the signaling, user data of the terminal roaming from the home network to the visited network, the user data containing the terminal’s primary number; and acquiring a secondary number corresponding to the primary number, and sending the user data containing the secondary number to a Visitor Location Register (VLR) associated with the terminal so that the VLR sets the secondary number as the terminal’s primary number at the visited network and the terminal communicates in the visited network by using the primary number at the visited network.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the step of acquiring the signaling transferred between the home network and the visited network associated with the terminal subscribing to the SIMM service comprises: _ monitoring a location update message sent from the VLR to a Home Location Register (HLR) associated with the terminal and a user data message sent from the HLR to the VLR. 4, The method according to claim 2, wherein when the terminal is to switch between the primary and secondary numbers, the method further comprises: acquiring switch request information sent from the visited network; and

- ® 20 sending the user data to the VLR associated with the terminal based on the acquired switch request information so that the VLR sets the primary or secondary number of the terminal contained in the user data as the terminal’s primary number at the visited network.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the secondary number of the terminal is an MSISDN number assigned by the visited network associated with the terminal, the method further comprising: using, by the visited network associated with the terminal, the address of the application server as the HLR address associated with the secondary number.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein when the secondary number of the terminal subscribing to the SIMM service is used as the called number for placing a call, the step of acquiring the signaling transferred between the home network and the visited network associated with the terminal comprises: acquiring first route lookup information sent from the visited network associated with the terminal subscribing to the SIMM service; and wherein the step of converting the terminal’s telephone number based on the signaling so that the terminal uses the converted telephone number for communication comprises: searching for the primary number corresponding to the secondary number of the terminal based on the first route lookup information, and using the primary number as the called number to connect the call to the visited network associated with the terminal via the application server.

7. The method according to claim 5, wherein when the secondary number of the terminal subscribing to the SIMM service is used as the called number for receiving a short message, the step of acquiring the signaling transferred between the home network and the visited network associated with the terminal comprises: acquiring route lookup information sent from the visited network associated with the terminal subscribing to the SIMM service; and wherein the step of converting the terminal’s telephone number based on the signaling so that the terminal uses the converted telephone number for communication comprises: searching for the primary number corresponding to the secondary number of the terminal based on the route lookup information, and using the primary number as the called

® 21 a number to connect the short message to the visited network associated with the terminal via ! the application server.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the secondary number at the visited network is an MSISDN number registered in the visited network associated with the terminal, the method further comprising: configuring, by the HLR in the visited network associated with the terminal, Terminated CAMEL Subscription Information (T-CSI) for the secondary number, and using the address of the application server as the address of a service control point (SCP); and wherein when the secondary number is used as the called number for a call service, the step of acquiring the signaling transferred between the home network and the visited network associated with the terminal subscribing to the SIMM service comprises: acquiring, by the application server, call request information initiated towards the secondary number and forwarded by the visited network; and the step of converting the terminal’s telephone number based on the signaling so that the terminal uses the converted telephone number for communication comprises: searching for the primary number corresponding to the secondary number, and sending a response message to the visited network for connection, the called number contained in the response message being the primary number.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the secondary number of the terminal is an MSISDN number registered in the visited network associated with the terminal, the method further comprising: using, by the HLR in the visited network associated with the terminal, the address of the application server as the VMSC address associated with the secondary number; when the secondary number is used as the called number for receiving a short message, the step of acquiring the signaling transferred between the home network and the visited network associated with the terminal subscribing to the SIMM service comprises: acquiring, by the application server, a to-be-sent short message sent from the visited network; and the step of converting the terminal’s telephone number based on the signaling so that the terminal uses the converted telephone number for communication comprises:

® 22 sending the to-be-sent short message to the home network for connection after modifying the called number in the to-be-sent short message as the primary number.

10. A system for implementing a Single IMSI Multiple MSISDN (SIMM) service, comprising a home network device, a visited network device, and an application server, wherein: the home network device and the visited network device are configured to exchange signaling; and the application server is configured to acquire the signaling transferred between a home network and a visited network associated with a terminal subscribing to the SIMM service, and to convert the terminal’s telephone number based on the signaling so that the terminal uses the converted telephone number for communication.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the visited network device is a Visitor Location Register (VLR), and the step that the application server converts the terminal’s telephone number based on the signaling so that the terminal uses the converted telephone number for communication, comprises: acquiring, from the signaling, user data of the terminal roaming from the home network to the visited network, the user data containing the terminal’s primary number; acquiring the secondary number corresponding to the primary number; and sending the user data containing the secondary number to the VLR associated with the terminal; and the VLR is configured to set the secondary number as the terminal’s primary number at the visited network so that the terminal communicates in the visited network by using the primary number at the visited network.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein when the terminal is to switch between the primary and secondary numbers, the application server is further configured to acquire switch request information forwarded from the visited network device, and to send the user data to the VLR associated with the terminal; and wherein the VLR is further configured to set the primary or secondary number of the terminal contained in the user data as the terminal’s calling number at the visited network.

® 23 }

13. The system according to claim 10, wherein the application server is located at the side of an International Signaling Transfer Point (ISTP) in the home network associated with the terminal.

14. An application server, comprising: a signaling acquiring module, configured to acquire signaling transferred between a home network and a visited network associated with a terminal subscribing to a Single IMSI Multiple MSISDN (SIMM) service; and an information processing module, configured to convert the terminal’s telephone number based on the signaling so that the terminal uses the converted telephone number for communication.

15. The application server according to claim 14, wherein the information processing module comprises an information acquiring submodule, a number acquiring submodule, and an information sending submodule, and wherein: the information acquiring submodule is configured to acquire, from the signaling acquired by the signaling acquiring module, user data of the terminal roaming from the home network to the visited network, the user data containing the terminal’s primary number, the number acquiring submodule is configured to acquire a secondary number corresponding to the primary number; and the information sending submodule is configured to send the user data containing the secondary number to a Visitor Location Register (VLR) associated with the terminal so that the VLR sets the secondary number as the terminal’s primary number at the visited network and the terminal communicates in the visited network by using the primary number at the visited network.

16. The application server according to claim 15, wherein the signaling acquiring module is further configured to monitor a location update message sent from the VLR to a Home Location Register (HLR) associated with the terminal and a user data message sent from the HLR to the VLR.

17. The application server according to claim 15, wherein when the terminal is to switch between the primary and secondary numbers, the signaling acquiring module is further

” configured to acquire switch request information sent from the visited network, and the information processing module is further configured to send the user data to the VLR associated with the terminal based on the switch request information so that the VLR sets the primary or secondary number of the terminal contained in the user data as the terminal’s primary number at the visited network.

18. The method according to claim 1, substantially as herein described with reference to and/or as illustrated by any of the accompanying figures.

19. The system according to claim 10, substantially as herein described with reference to and/or as illustrated by any of the accompanying figures.

20. The application server according to claim 14, substantially as herein described with reference to and/or as illustrated by any of the accompanying figures. Dated this 17" day of SEPTEMBER 2009 Adams & Adams Applicants Patent Attorneys