WO2006058462A1

WO2006058462A1 - Method of allowing the mobile user equipment to roam in heterogeneous mobile communication networks and the gateway for the same

Info

Publication number: WO2006058462A1
Application number: PCT/CN2004/001404
Authority: WO
Inventors: Weiqing Zhang; Bing Zhang
Original assignee: Zte Corporation
Priority date: 2004-12-02
Filing date: 2004-12-02
Publication date: 2006-06-08

Abstract

A method that allows a mobile user equipment to roam among heterogeneous mobile communication networks, which includes: storing the number for the home network and the number for the outside network in a gateway between the home network of the mobile user equipment and the outside network; when the mobile user equipment implementing communication by means of the number for the said outside network, the said gateway converts the number for the home network to that for the outside network, whereby it is possible and simple for user equipment with different numbers to roam among different networks. In addition, the present invention also discloses a gateway for implementing the above method.

Description

Method for roaming mobile user equipment between different standard mobile communication networks

And a gateway implementing the method

The present invention relates to the field of mobile communications, and more particularly to a method for roaming mobile subscriber equipment between networks of different standards, in particular between a GSM network and a CDMA network, and a corresponding gateway. Background technique

Mobile communication networks mainly include GSM networks (frequency division multiple access), CDMA networks (code division multiple access), and third generation (3G) networks due to different technologies. At present, the main applications are GSM networks and CDMA networks. The following mainly describes the networks of these two systems.

In order to realize that mobile user equipment roams between the GSM network and the CDMA network, it is necessary to add a device between the two networks to be responsible for the conversion of signaling, parameters and services between the two networks. This device is called the Interworking and Interoperation Function (IIF) in the 3GPP2 (Third Generation Partnership Project 2) standard. Hereinafter also referred to as a gateway. The gateway between the GSM network and the CDMA network is a prior art, and the specific details can be referred to the N.S0028 protocol of 3GPP2.

The Chinese patent application No. 02104295.0 "a method for realizing the interworking between GSM and CDMA networks" provides a method for implementing signaling interworking between a GSM network and a CDMA network, the basic idea of which is to pass the CDMA network and The home location register HLR of the GSM network stores user data and establishes a network connection between the HLRs of the two networks, thereby realizing roaming of the users in the two networks. Although this technical solution realizes the inter-network roaming of different user numbers, the relationship between the two user numbers must be stored in the HLRs of the two networks.

Chinese Patent Application No. 02104296.9 "A method for realizing GSM and CDMA networks (the method of interoperability) also provides a method for implementing signaling interworking between a GSM network and a CDMA network. The basic idea is that One storage in the HLR of the CDMA network and the GSM network User data, enabling users to roam in two networks using the same user number. However, in practical applications, the GSM network and the CDMA network applied in some areas have the following characteristics: One of the standard networks is a local network, and only the users of the network are allowed to use the user number of the network to be limited in a small range. Roaming does not allow for unrestricted roaming over a wide range; while another type of network is a mobile network, users of the network can achieve unlimited roaming over a wide range. This will happen when a user on the local network roams into the mobile network for unrestricted roaming, the original local network user number cannot be used, and the user number of the mobile network needs to be replaced, that is, the request Users use different directory numbers in different networks. However, in the prior art, the method for implementing inter-network roaming between the GSM network and the CDMA network by using the gateway is to keep the user's directory number constant, so that the same user cannot be roamed between the GSM network and the CDMA network by using different numbers. . Summary of the invention

The present invention is directed to the above problems in the prior art, and an object thereof is to provide a method for a mobile user equipment to roam between mobile communication networks of different standards, and the mobile user equipment can be implemented in different standards by using different numbers. Roaming between networks.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a gateway for implementing the above method for mobile user equipment to roam between networks of different formats.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a method for roaming mobile subscriber equipment between different types of mobile communication networks is provided, including: storing a home network subscriber number and an external on a gateway between a home network of the mobile user equipment and an external network a network user number; when the mobile user equipment uses the external network subscriber number to perform a communication service, the gateway performs a conversion between the home network subscriber number and the external network subscriber number.

Preferably, the communication service includes a voice service and a short message service.

Preferably, when the mobile user equipment uses the external network user number to perform voice service, the gateway performs conversion of the home network user number and the external network user number of the mobile user equipment, and visits the external network. The register transmits an external network user number of the mobile user equipment, including: When the mobile user equipment performs the voice originating service on the external network, the visited location register of the external network completes the voice originating service according to the prior art call flow;

When the mobile user equipment performs the voice termination service, the gateway returns the routing information of the mobile user equipment to the originating office; and completes the subsequent call according to the routing information.

Preferably, when the mobile user equipment performs the short message service by using the external network user number, the gateway performs conversion of the home network user number and the external network user number of the mobile user, and sends the information to the external network. The short message center transmits the external network subscriber number of the mobile user equipment; the short message center configures the number segment where the external network subscriber number of the mobile subscriber equipment is located to the local number segment;

When the mobile user equipment performs a short message start call on the external network, the short message is sent to the short message center of the external network; the short message center completes the short message start call service according to the prior art process;

When the mobile user equipment performs a short message termination call, the short message is sent to the short message center of the external network; the gateway returns the short message routing information and the mobile user to the short message center of the external network. The external network user identifier is prepared; after receiving the short message, the gateway performs conversion of the external network user number/identification of the mobile user equipment and the home network user number/identification; the gateway forwards the short message to the mobile The short message center of the user equipment home network.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a gateway for implementing a method for roaming between mobile networks of different types of networks is provided, including: a home network subscriber number for storing a mobile user equipment, an external network subscriber number, and a Means for describing an association between two subscriber numbers, and means for performing a conversion of the home network subscriber number and the external network subscriber number.

The invention realizes the inter-network roaming of the mobile user equipment by storing the user number of a mobile user equipment in different standard networks in the gateway, and only needs to be on the cornerstone of the prior art, and modify the processing flow of the gateway and the short message center. And the corresponding data configuration can be performed in the mobile switching center/mobile switching gateway MSC/GMSC and the short message center SMSC of the network, and the implementation is simple. DRAWINGS

1 is a flow chart of a method for a mobile user equipment to roam between different standards networks in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

1 is a schematic flow chart of a mobile user equipment using an external network number to perform a voice terminating service according to an embodiment of the present invention;

3 is a schematic flow chart of a mobile user equipment using an external network number to perform a voice terminating service according to another embodiment of the present invention;

4 is a schematic flow chart of a mobile user equipment using an external network number to perform a voice terminating service according to still another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of a mobile user equipment using an external network number for a short message terminating service according to an embodiment of the present invention. detailed description

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more <RTIgt;

For the purpose of the description, the technical terms appearing in the present invention are first explained as follows: "Home network" refers to a network in which a mobile user equipment opens an account and signs a contract information.

The "home network subscriber number" refers to the subscriber directory number assigned to the home network of the mobile user equipment.

"Home network user identity" refers to the international mobile subscriber identity IMSI or mobile subscriber identity MIN assigned to the home network of the mobile user equipment.

"External network, refers to the network where mobile user equipment is not open but can be visited.

"External network subscriber number" refers to the subscriber directory number assigned by the external network to non-local mobile subscriber equipment that may be visited on the local network.

The "external network user ID" refers to the international mobile subscriber identity IMSI or mobile subscriber identity number MIN assigned by the external network to the non-local mobile subscriber equipment that may be visited on the local network.

In the embodiments of the present invention described below, mobile communication networks of different standards employ a GSM network and a CDMA network, and thus one of the home network and the external network is The GSM network, the other is the CDMA network.

1 is a flow chart of a method for a mobile user equipment to roam between a GSM network and a CDMA network, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. In step 105, on the G&C gateway between the GSM network and the CDMA network, in addition to storing the existing home network user identity, the external network user identity, and the authentication information of the external network, two sets of different user numbers are also stored. They are the home network user number and the external network user number, respectively, and associate the two. When the G&C gateway performs signaling interaction with the network entity in the home network, the user number in the message body adopts the home network user number; when signaling interaction with the network entity in the external network, the user number in the message body is external. Network user number. In step 110, the mobile user equipment uses the external network subscriber number for communication service, and the G&C gateway performs conversion between the home network subscriber number of the mobile subscriber equipment and the external network subscriber number to complete the communication service.

When the mobile user equipment visits the external network, the G&C gateway acts as the home location register HLR/authentication center AUC of the external network, and the mobile switching center MSC/visit location register VLR of the external network routes the signaling to the G&C gateway, so the G&C gateway Basic information about the mobile user equipment needs to be stored, which is an existing technology.

The communication service mainly includes two types of voice service and short message service. For the case where the mobile user equipment visits the home network or uses the home network user number to perform the terminating service (including the short message termination call and the voice service termination call), the processing manner is The consistency in the prior art is not described here. Here are a few other situations:

1. The mobile user equipment uses the external network subscriber number for voice service: When the mobile user equipment visits the external network through the G&C gateway, the G&C gateway converts the home network subscriber number and the external network subscriber number, and sends the external to the external network VLR. The network subscriber number, that is, the external network subscriber number stored in the VLR of the external network.

1) Voice originating service: When the mobile user equipment initiates a voice call on the external network, it initiates a request to the VLR of the external network, and the VLR of the external network processes according to the same process as the prior art, and displays the external network to the called user. User number;

2) Voice terminating service: When a voice call is initiated to the user by using the external network user number of the mobile user equipment, the G&C gateway returns the route to the requesting party (originating office) of the voice terminating route. The information, where the routing number is the home network user number of the mobile user equipment, or the routing number assigned by the network that the mobile user equipment currently visits; and then the subsequent call is continued, and the processing manner is the same as that in the prior art.

2. The mobile user equipment uses the external network subscriber number for the short message service: the G&C gateway performs the conversion of the home network subscriber number of the mobile subscriber equipment and the external network subscriber number, and transmits the external network subscriber number of the mobile subscriber equipment to the SMSC of the external network. The SMSC of the external network then configures the number segment in which the external network subscriber number of the mobile user equipment is located to the local number segment.

1) Short message originating service: When the mobile user equipment sends a short message on the external network, the short message is sent to the SMSC of the external network, and then the SMSC completes the short message originating service according to the prior art process;

2) Short message terminating service: When the short message is sent to the user by using the external network number of the mobile user equipment, the short message is first sent to the SMSC of the external network, and then the G&C gateway routes the short message to the requesting party (the short of the external network) The message center returns the routing information and the external network user identifier of the user, where the routing information is the address of the MSC of the external network by the G&C gateway; after receiving the short message, the G&C gateway queries the external network number or identifier of the user. To the corresponding home network number or identity, the destination number in the short message is replaced with the home network number or identity, and then the short message is forwarded to the SMSC of the user's home network.

As can be seen from the above description, with this embodiment, a mobile user equipment can use two different user numbers to roam between networks of different standards, and can complete voice service and short message service.

The roaming of the mobile user equipment between the GSM network and the CDMA network includes two situations: First, when the home network is a CDMA network and the external network is a GSM network, the CDMA users use different numbers to implement roaming to the GSM network; When the network is a GSM network and the external network is a CDMA network, GSM users use different numbers to implement roaming to the CDMA network.

The following describes a specific embodiment of the present invention by taking a roaming of a CDMA subscriber to a GSM network as an example. In this case, the home network of the mobile user equipment is a CDMA network, the user equipment has already opened an account in the CDMA network, and the home network subscriber number, that is, the CDMA network subscriber number is obtained; and the external network subscriber number, that is, the GSM network, is also obtained. The user number, and both numbers are stored in the G&C gateway. The SMSC in the GSM network can process the short message that the calling number is the home user equipment of the local network but the called number is the user equipment of the local network, and the corresponding entities of the GSM network and the CDMA network have also configured corresponding data.

When the CDMA user equipment visits on the external network (GSM network), the G&C gateway performs the conversion of the CDMA network subscriber number of the user equipment and the GSM network subscriber number, and transmits the GSM network subscriber number of the subscriber equipment to the VLR of the GSM network.

When the CDMA user equipment performs the voice originating service, the mobile terminal initiates a call request to the VLR of the GSM network, and the VLR of the GSM network performs call processing in the same manner as the prior art processing manner, and can display the CDMA user equipment to the called user equipment. GSM network subscriber number.

Referring to FIG. 2, a flow diagram of a mobile user equipment using an external network number for voice terminating service according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown, that is, a CDMA network subscriber number of a CDMA user equipment is used to call the CDMA subscriber.

In step 201, after receiving the call request, the GMSC/MSC of the GSM network queries the G&C gateway to which the called user equipment belongs according to the GSM network user number to query the location information of the user equipment. In step 202, the G&C gateway returns the location information of the user equipment to the GMSC/MSC of the GSM network, where the CDMA network subscriber number of the user equipment is used as the routing number. In step 203, after receiving the location information, the GMSC/MSC of the GSM network, according to the initial address message of the returned route, the called number is the routing number returned by the G&C gateway, that is, the CDMA network subscriber number. At step 204, the GMSC/MSC of the CDMA network completes a normal incoming call to the CDMA user equipment having the CDMA network subscriber number.

As can be seen from the above description, when the voice termination is performed in this embodiment, the G&C gateway directly returns the CDMA network subscriber number corresponding to the GSM network subscriber number as the routing number, and then completes the subsequent call. Referring to FIG. 3, a flow diagram of a mobile user equipment using an external network number for voice terminating service according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown, wherein the CDMA user equipment is currently visited on its home network (CDMA network).

In step 301, after receiving the call request for the GSM network subscriber number, the GMSC/MSC of the GSM network queries the G&C gateway to which the user equipment belongs according to the GSM network subscriber number to query the location information of the user equipment. In step 302, the G&C gateway queries its own database, obtains the CDMA network subscriber number of the user equipment, and then queries the HLR of the CDMA network to which the user equipment belongs to the location information of the user equipment. In the request message, the identifier of the originating MSC is sent. It is the identity of the G&C gateway as the GMSC of the CDMA network. In step 303, after receiving the HLR of the CDMA network, the HLR sends a routing request message to the MSC/VLR of the CDMA network according to the user location information stored therein, requesting the roaming number of the user equipment. In step 304, the MSC/VLR of the CDMA network returns a route request response message containing the roaming number assigned by the user equipment to the current visited network. In step 305, the HLR of the CDMA network returns a location information request response message to the G&C gateway, which contains the roaming number assigned by the user equipment to the current visited network. In step 306, the G&C gateway to the GSM network

The GMSC/MSC returns a Location Information Request Response message containing the roaming number assigned by the user equipment to the current visited network. In step 307, the GSM GMSC/MSC analyzes the roaming number and completes the call connection to the roaming number.

It can be seen from the above description that, in this embodiment, the G&C gateway does not directly return the CDMA network subscriber number of the called user equipment, but queries and obtains the roaming number of the visited network of the user equipment, and then completes the subsequent call.

Referring to FIG. 4, a flow diagram of a mobile user equipment using an external network number for voice terminating service according to still another embodiment of the present invention is shown. The network currently visited by the CDMA user equipment is a GSM network.

In step 401, after receiving the call request, the GMSC/MSC of the GSM network queries the G&C gateway to which the user equipment belongs according to the GSM network user number to query the location information of the user equipment. In step 402, the G&C gateway queries its own database, obtains the CDMA network subscriber number of the user equipment, and then logs the HLR of the home CDMA network to the subscriber i. The location information of the user is queried. In the request message, the originating MSC identity is the identity of the G&C gateway as the GMSC of the CDMA network. In step 403, the HLR of the CDMA network finds that the calling and called user equipments are visited within the same MSC/VLR according to the user location information stored by the user, and returns a location information request response message to the G&C gateway, where the primary called user equipment is indicated. Visited within the same MSC/VLR. In step 404, after receiving the response message, the G&C gateway requests a routing number from the MSC/VLR of the GSM network currently visited by the called user equipment; in step 405, the MSC/VLR of the GSM network returns a response message to the G&C gateway, which contains The roaming number of the user device. At step 406, the G&C gateway returns a location information request response message to the GMSC/MSC of the GSM network, which contains the roaming number of the user equipment. At step 407, the GMSC/MSC of the GSM network analyzes the roaming number and completes the call connection to the roaming number.

As can be seen from the above description, this embodiment describes the situation in which the calling and called user equipments are in the same network. At this time, the G&C gateway can directly communicate with the MSC/VLR of the GSM network to perform message transmission.

In order to implement the short message service, the SMSC of the GSM network needs to configure the number segment where the GSM network subscriber number of the mobile subscriber is located to be a local number segment.

When the CDMA user equipment performs the short message originating service on the GSM network, the short message is sent to the SMSC of the GSM network, and then the subsequent processing is performed by the SMSC in the same manner as in the prior art.

Referring to FIG. 5, a flow diagram of a mobile user equipment using an external network number for short message terminating service according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown, that is, a GSM network subscriber number of a user equipment belonging to a CDMA network is used to the CDMA user. Send a short message.

In step 501, after the SMSC of the GSM network receives the short message, the called number in the short message is the GSM network user number of the CDMA user equipment; and the short message routing information is requested from the G&C gateway according to the GSM network user number. In step 502, the G&C gateway returns the short message routing information and the GSM network user identifier of the CDMA user equipment to the SMSC of the GSM network, where the short message routing information is: the address of the MSC of the G&C gateway as the external network (GSM network). In step 503, the SMSC of the GSM network returns according to the path of the G&C gateway. The short message delivery message is sent by the information to the G&C gateway, wherein the called number is a GSM network subscriber number or identifier of the CDMA user equipment. In step 504, the G&C gateway returns a delivery success response message, and in step 505, the G&C gateway replaces the destination number in the short message with the CDMA network user number or identity of the CDMA user equipment, and then forwards the short message to the CDMA user equipment. The SMSC of the CDMA network is finally completed by the SMSC of the CDMA network to the short message delivery of the called CDMA user equipment.

It can be seen from the above description that, by using the embodiment, the short message terminating service performed by the CDMA (home network) user equipment by using the GSM network (external network) user number can be implemented, wherein the G&C gateway performs the home network subscriber number of the user equipment and the external Conversion of network user numbers.

For the roaming of the GSM user to the CDMA network, there are basically the same processes as the above-mentioned CDMA user equipment to the GSM network roaming, such as the voice originating service, the short message originating service, and the short message terminating service. The only difference is that this time The home network is a GSM network and the external network is a CDMA network. However, for the voice terminating service, no matter which network the GSM user equipment is currently visiting, the processing flow is basically the same as the process shown in FIG.

In the present invention, a gateway for implementing the method for roaming between different mobile networks of the mobile device is provided. In addition to the existing basic module, the method further includes: a home network for storing the mobile user equipment. Means for the association between the subscriber number, the external network subscriber number and the two subscriber numbers, and means for performing the conversion of the home network subscriber number and the external network subscriber number.

The detailed description of the specific embodiments of the present invention is intended to be illustrative and not restrictive.

Claims

Claim

A method for roaming mobile subscriber equipment between different types of mobile communication networks, comprising: storing a home network subscriber number and an external network subscriber on a gateway between a home network of the mobile user equipment and an external network a number; when the mobile user equipment uses the external network subscriber number to perform a communication service, the gateway performs a conversion between the home network subscriber number and the external network subscriber number.

2. The method for roaming between mobile communication networks of different standards according to claim 1, wherein the communication service comprises a voice service and a short message service.

The method for roaming between mobile communication networks of different systems according to claim 2, wherein when the mobile user equipment uses the external network user number to perform voice services, the gateway performs the The conversion of the home network subscriber number of the mobile user equipment and the external network subscriber number, and the external network subscriber number of the mobile subscriber equipment is transmitted to the visitor location register of the external network, the method further comprising:

When the mobile user equipment performs the voice originating service on the external network, the visited location register of the external network completes the voice originating service according to the call flow of the prior art;

The method for roaming between different mobile communication networks of the mobile device according to claim 3, wherein the routing number in the routing information is a home network user number of the mobile user equipment or The routing number assigned by the mobile user equipment to the current visited network.

The method for roaming between mobile communication networks of different systems according to claim 2, wherein when the mobile user equipment uses the external network user number to perform short message service, the gateway performs Converting the home network subscriber number of the mobile user equipment and the external network subscriber number, and transmitting the external network subscriber number of the mobile user equipment to the short message center of the external network; the short message center will be the mobile subscriber The number segment in which the external network user number of the device is located is configured with a cost number segment; the method further includes:

When the mobile user equipment performs a short message termination call, the short message is sent to the short message center of the external network; the gateway returns the short message routing information and the mobile user equipment to the short message center of the evening network The external network user identifier; after receiving the short message, the gateway performs conversion of the external network user number/identification of the mobile user equipment and the home network user number/identification; the gateway forwards the short message to the mobile user equipment The short message center of the home network.

The method for roaming between different mobile communication networks of a mobile device according to claim 5, wherein the routing information returned by the gateway is the gateway as the mobile switching center of the external network. address.

The method for roaming between mobile communication networks of different standards according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein one of the home network and the external network is a GSM network. The other is a CDMA network.

A gateway for implementing the method for roaming between different mobile communication networks of the mobile device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising: a home network user number for storing the mobile user equipment, And an apparatus for correlating an external network subscriber number and the two subscriber numbers, and means for performing a conversion of the home network subscriber number and the external network subscriber number.