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Mobile Phone Patent Abstract
The present invention is directed to a method for providing a service
provider number portability of a mobile phone number in which it
is possible to change a mobile phone service provider without changing
a mobile directory number (MDN) in a communication environment where
the phone service providers use different intelligent network protocols.
In the present invention, the intelligent network calls which uses
different protocols are processed using a number portability database
which supports the multi-protocols in order to change the service
provider between the mobile phone service providers in which the
mobile phone subscribers use different intelligent protocols. Therefore,
since the mobile phone number portability providing method according
to the present invention is capable of processing all intelligent
network calls transferred from the service providers which use different
protocols, it is possible to overcome the problems such as, building
additional number portability database in the case that the intelligent
network protocols are different, and installing a plurality of protocols
in all service switching point in the service provider network.
In this way, it becomes possible to decrease the cost of the number
portability, and the network operation gets easier if all service
providers co-use the number portability database of the mobile phone.
Mobile Phone Patent Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A umber portability providing method of a mobile phone, comprising:
a first step for transferring an enquiry message to a number portability
database which supports a multi-protocol using an intelligent network
protocol used in a dialing network when a mobile phone of a called
subscriber connected with a gateway switch of a dialing network
is a number portability service destination; a second step for recognizing
the kind of an intelligent protocol of an enquiry message and calling
a number portability service logic which supports a corresponding
protocol in the number portability database, a third step for searching
a number portability routing table based on the called number portability
service, obtaining a routing information of a mobile phone of the
called subscriber, processing a response message including the routing
information based on the same protocol as the protocol of the dialing
network and transferring to a gateway switch of the dialing network;
and a fourth step in which the gateway switch of the dialing network
analyzes a routing number from the routing information and at the
same time forms an ISUP message for setting a call, and transfers
a corresponding ISUP message to the gateway switch of the mobile
phone network of the other mobile phone service provider so that
the call may be transferred to the mobile phone of the called subscriber
subscribed to the mobile phone network of the other mobile phone
service provider.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein said routing number is a business
identification address which represents the other mobile phone service
provider.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein said number portability service
logic is directed to searching the number portability routing table
based on the called subscriber mobile phone number.
4. The method of claim 2, wherein said first step, the called mobile
phone is determined as a destination of the number portability service
when the service provider identification number included in the
called subscriber mobile phone number is registered to provide the
number portability service.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein said number portability routing
table is built with respect to all supportable intelligent network
protocols.
Mobile Phone Patent Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for providing a number
portability of a mobile phone, and in particular to a method for
providing a number portability of a mobile phone, in which a mobile
phone subscriber is capable of freely changing a mobile phone service
provider without changing a mobile directory number (MDN) using
a number portability database which supports a multi-protocol.
2. Description of the Background Art
When a subscriber receives a mobile communication service from
a mobile phone service provider for the first time, the mobile phone
service provider designates a MSIN (Mobile Station Identification
Number) and a MDN (Mobile Directory Number).
Here, the MSIN is a number used by the mobile phone service provider
for inherently identifying a subscriber/terminal, and the MDN is
a mobile directory number of a mobile phone subscriber.
If the subscriber wants to change to a new mobile phone service
provider, the subscriber has to discard the MDN provided by the
old mobile phone service provider and receive a new MDN from a new
mobile phone service provider.
However, it is not that easy to change the MDN. In addition, the
subscriber has to inform the change of MDN to the people around
him, thereby causing much inconvenience.
Therefore, if the old MDN could be directly used without changing
to a new MDN, it would save much trouble when the subscriber changes
a mobile phone service from provider.
The method for exchanging the MDN between the mobile phone service
providers consists of a number portability providing method of a
mobile phone which uses an ANSI-41 protocol and a number portability
providing method of a mobile phone which uses a GSM protocol.
The number portability providing method is used between the service
providers which use the same core network protocol, so that it is
possible to provide a number portability service to the mobile phone
subscriber. However, in this case, it is impossible to provide a
number portability service for the mobile phone service providers
having different protocols.
The above problem may be overcome by building the number portability
database by the kinds of the protocol although it is difficult to
maintain the consistency of the data between the number portability
databases. In addition, it is too expensive to implement the above
matters.
The technique for providing the service provider number portability
of a local phone is mainly divided into a technique implemented
based on a switch and a technique implemented based on an intelligent
network. The switch-based method is classified again into an onward
routing method and drop-back method. Also, the intelligent network
method is classified into a query on release method for inquiring
to the database concerning the moved call and an all call query
method for inquiring to the database concerning all calls made.
When adapting the provider number portability service to a local
phone service, the most appropriate method for the local country
communication environment is selected as a local country standard
method.
Meanwhile, when the number portability service is provided between
the local phone service providers, it affects other network service
providers. In other words, in case a dialing network is a mobile
phone network, not a local phone network. Therefore, the dialing
network service provider may process the number portability in accordance
with the all call query method. Here, in order to provide a service
provider number portability of the local phone number, the mobile
phone service provider must build a number portability database.
As another example, in the case that the number portability is
provided based on the intelligent network method, since different
intelligent network protocols (INAP, CAP/WIN) are used between the
local phone network and the mobile phone network, the number portability
database built in the local phone network is not used in the mobile
phone network. In order to provide a service provider number portability
of a local phone, the number portability database must be built
for the local phone service provider, and the mobile phone service
provider must additionally build the number portability database
as well.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide
a method for providing a number portability of a mobile phone which
is capable of providing a number portability service between mobile
phone service provider networks having different protocols using
a number portability database which supports a multi-protocol.
To achieve the above object, there is provided a method for providing
a number portability of a mobile phone which includes a first step
for transferring an enquiry message to a number portability database
which supports a multi-protocol using an intelligent network protocol
in a dialing network when a mobile phone of a called subscriber
connected is identified as a number portability service destination
at a gateway switch of a dialing network, a second step in which
the number portability database recognizes the kind of an intelligent
protocol of an enquiry message and calls a number portability service
logic which supports a corresponding protocol, a third step for
searching a number portability routing table based on the called
number portability service logic, obtaining a routing information
of the mobile phone of the called subscriber, processing a response
message including the routing information based on the same protocol
as the protocol of the dialing network and transferring to a gateway
switch of the dialing network analyzes a routing number from the
routing information forms an ISUP message for analyzing a routing
number from the routing information and setting a call, and transfers
a corresponding ISUP message to the gateway switch of the mobile
phone network of the other mobile phone service provider so that
the call may be transferred to the transfers a call to the mobile
phone of the called subscriber subscribed to the mobile phone network
of the other mobile phone service provider.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention will become better understood with reference
to the accompanying drawings which are given only by way of illustration
and thus are not limitative of the present invention, wherein;
FIG. 1 is a view illustrating the construction of a communication
network and a number portability of a mobile phone according to
the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a view illustrating the construction of a number portability
providing apparatus of a mobile phone according to the present invention;
and
FIG. 3 is a flow chart of a method for providing a number portability
of a mobile phone according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The embodiments of the present invention will be explained with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a view illustrating the construction of a communication
network and a mobile phone number portability. In the drawings,
reference numeral 101 represents a local phone network (PSTN), 102
represents a local phone subscriber, 103 represents a PSTN single
station switch, 104 represents a PSTN service controller, 105 represents
a PSTN gateway switch, 106 represents a NPDB (Number Portability
Database) which supports a multi-protocol, 107 represents a 3.sup.rd
generation mobile phone network (IMT-2000), 108 represents a 3.sup.rd
mobile phone subscriber (IMT-2000 subscriber), 109 represents a
3.sup.rd generation MSC, 110 represents a 3.sup.rd generation HLR,
111 represents a 3.sup.rd generation SCP, 112 represents a 3.sup.rd
generation GMSC, 113 represents a 2.sup.nd generation phone network
(2G PLMN), 114 represents a 2.sup.nd generation mobile phone subscriber,
115 represents a 2.sup.nd generation MSC, 116 represents a 2.sup.nd
generation HLR, 117 represents a 2.sup.nd generation SCP, 118 represents
a 2.sup.nd generation GMSC, 201 represents a 2.sup.nd generation
SCP, 207 represents a PSTN SCP, and 211 represents a 3.sup.rd SCP.
The SSP 201, 207, 211 implement a communication through the NPDB
106 a STP (Signaling Transfer Point) (not shown), and the SCP 117,
104, 111 implement a communication through the STP.
In FIG. 1, a signal line indicated by the dotted line represents
a signal line through the STP.
The SSP 201, 207 and 211 shown in FIG. 1 triggers an intelligent
network service or a number portability service by recognizing a
DP (Detection Point) from a called number inputted by a subscriber
when a call is made from each communication network.
In addition, the signal relay switch (STP) processes a message
for a call process transferred from the SSP 201, 207 and 211 based
on a GTT (Global Title Translation) and transfers the message to
the SCP 117, 104 and 111 or to the NPDB 106.
The NPDB 106 includes a number portability service logic which
supports a multi-protocol and a number portability routing table
with respect to each service logic. When a certain query message
is inputted through the signal relay switch (STP), the protocol
adapted to the query message is analyzed, and the number portability
service logic corresponding to the protocol is called. The number
portability service logic obtains a routing information with respect
to the called subscriber using the called number as a keyword.
Next, the NPDB 106 transfers a corresponding routing information
to the SSP 201, 207 and 211 which transferred the query message
using the same protocol as the query message.
The method for providing a number portability of a mobile phone
according to the present invention will be explained.
When mobile phone subscribers 114 and 108 want to change a service
provider, the mobile phone subscribers 114 and 108 request a number
portable service to a new mobile phone service provider 107.
At this time, the mobile phone subscribers 114 and 108 maintain
an old mobile directory number (MDN) and receive a new mobile terminal
identification number (MSIN) from the new mobile phone service provider
107. The information with respect to the mobile phone subscribers
114 and 108 who changed the service provider is stored into the
NPDB 106.
In this state, when a local phone subscriber 102 (hereinafter called
a dialing subscriber) dials to call the called mobile subscriber
108 who changed a service provider, the call is transferred to the
gateway switch 105 through the single station switch 103 of the
dialing network 101. The SSP 207 of the gateway switch 105 of the
dialing network 101 determines whether a number portability service
is supposed to be provided to the called mobile subscriber number
based on the service provider identification number of the called
mobile subscriber number inputted from the dialing subscriber 102.
In case that the called mobile subscriber number is supposed to
be provided the number portability service, the SSP 207 of the gateway
switch 105 transmits a query message having the called mobile subscriber
number as a keyword to the NPDB 106 in order to obtain a routing
number with respect to the called subscriber.
In the present invention, the SSP 207 of the gateway switch 105
transmits a query message to the NPDB 106. According to the circumference,
the service provider may selectively inquiry from the number portability
database in the dialing MSC.
In particular, the gateway switch which is connected with other
service provider inquires the NPDB 106 for the reason that a local
characteristic of each service provider network is maintained in
maximum.
The NPDB 106 analyzes the kind of an intelligent network protocol
of the inquiry message received and calls a number portability service
logic which supports a corresponding protocol. Then the NPDB 106
searches a number portability routing table using the number of
the called mobile subscriber based on the number portability mobile
service logic and obtains a routing information with respect to
the called mobile subscriber.
The NPDB 106 which obtained the routing information with respect
to the called mobile subscriber based on the number portability
service logic transfers a response message including the routing
information to the gateway switch 105 of the dialing network 101
using the same protocol as the kinds of the protocol of the received
query message.
The SSP 207 of the gateway switch 105 of the dialing network 101
which received the response message analyzes a routing number from
the received routing information and forms an ISUP message and transfers
it to the GMSC 112 of the new mobile phone service provider 107.
Here, the routing number is a service provider identification address
which represents a new mobile phone service provider.
The GMSC 112 which received the ISUP message requests a routing
information to the HLR 110 for receiving a current location information
of an called mobile phone subscriber. The HLR 110 transfers a routing
number capable of transferring the call to the MSC switch 109 in
which the subscriber receives a service at present to the GSMC 112.
The GSMC 112 transfers the call to the MSC 109 in which the called
mobile phone subscriber receives the present service in accordance
with the routing number. Therefore, the call is connected with the
mobile called subscriber 108 based on the MSC 109.
The called mobile subscriber number corresponds to the MDN obtained
from the previous mobile phone service provider.
In the present invention, when a routing number is obtained which
represents an identification address of a new mobile phone service
provider from the NPDB 106, the routing number is analyzed, and
a call is transferred to the corresponding new mobile phone service
provider, and the call is connected with the called mobile phone
subscriber in such mobile phone network.
FIG. 2 is a view illustrating the construction of a number portability
providing apparatus of a mobile phone according to the present invention,
and FIG. 3 is a flow chart of a method for providing a number portability
of a mobile phone according to the present invention.
The same elements of FIG. 2 as the elements of FIG. 1 are given
the same numeral references. In addition, the description thereof
will be omitted.
When a call is generated from the dialing subscriber 114 who subscribed
the 2.sup.nd generation mobile phone network 113 (S2), the SSP 201
recognizes a detection point from the called mobile subscriber number
inputted from the dialing subscriber 114 and analyzes the kind of
a call (for example, a number portability call/intelligent network
service/common call).
As a result of the analysis, when the call is determined to be
a number portability call, the SSP 201 triggers the number portability
service (S8). At this time, the query message having a message for
the number portability call process, namely the called mobile subscriber
number is transferred to the STP 202, and is GTT-processed and then
transferred to the NPDB 106. At this time, the CAP or WIN protocol
is used (S10, S12).
The NPDB 106 analyzes the protocol of the query message and calls
a number portability service logic corresponding to the protocol.
Then the NPDB 106 searches the number portability routing table
using the called mobile subscriber number as a keyword based on
the number portability service logic and obtains a routing information
with respect to the called subscriber (S14).
The NPDB 106 processes the response message including the routing
information based on the same protocol as the query message and
transfers the response message to the SSP 201 through the STP 202
(S16).
The SSP 201 analyzes the routing number based on the routing information
included in the response message and transfers the call to the mobile
phone network of a newly changed mobile phone service provider using
a mobile phone number corresponding to the routing number, namely,
the number portability service of the called subscriber, so that
the call connection is processed based on the switch of the mobile
phone network.
As a result of the analysis of the step S4, if the call is considered
to be the intelligent network service call, the SSP 201 triggers
the intelligent network service (S22). At this time, the message
for the intelligent network call process is transferred to the STP
202 and is GTT-processed and is transferred to the SCP 117. At this
time, the CAP or WIN protocol is used (S24, S26).
An intelligent network service request corresponding to the called
mobile subscriber number is processed based on the message transferred
by the SCP 117 (S28). When a response message including a result
of the process is transferred to the SSP 201 through the STP 202,
the SSP 201 processes an intelligent network call based on a result
of the intelligent network service process included in the response
message (S32).
When a service provider number portability call of the mobile phone
is made in the local phone network, the SSP 207 of the local phone
recognizes the detection point DP through the steps S8 through S18
and triggers the number portability service and requests a routing
information to the NPDB 106 with respect to the called subscriber
through the STP 208 and the STP 202 of the mobile phone network
113.
At this time, the SSP 207 transmits an enquiry message which transmits
the called mobile subscriber number to the NPDB 106, and the NPDB
106 searches the routing information with respect to the called
mobile subscriber, transmits the response message including a corresponding
routing information to the SSP 207, obtains a routing number of
the called subscriber based on the routing information contained
in the response message, forms an ISUP message for setting a call
to the switch of the mobile communication network corresponding
to the routing number and transfer a call.
In addition, when an intelligent network service call is made in
the local phone network 101, the detection point DP is recognized
by the SSP 207 of the local phone network through the steps S22
through S32, and the intelligent network service is triggered. When
a message for the intelligent network call process is transferred
to the STP 208, the STP 208 processes the GTT and transfers to the
SCP 104.
An intelligent network service request corresponding to the called
subscriber number is processed based on the message transferred
by the SCP 104 (S28), and the response message including a result
of the process is transferred to the SSP 207 through the STP 202.
The SSP 207 processes an intelligent network call based on a result
of the intelligent network service process included in the response
message (S32).
At this time, the INAP protocol is used as an intelligent network
protocol.
When a mobile phone user wants to change the mobile phone service
provider, it is possible to change the old mobile phone service
provider using the MDN provided by the old mobile phone service
provider without receiving a new MDN from a new mobile phone service
provider.
The present invention is directed to a method for providing a service
provider number portability of a mobile phone number in which it
is possible to change a mobile phone service provider without changing
a mobile directory number (MDN) in a communication environment in
which the phone service providers use different intelligent network
protocols. In the present invention, the intelligent network calls
transferred from the mobile phone service provider network which
uses different protocols are processed using a number portability
database which supports the multi-protocols in order to change the
service provider without changing the mobile directory number between
the mobile phone service providers in which the mobile phone subscribers
use different intelligent protocols. In the present invention, it
is possible to decrease the cost for building different number portability
database in the case that the intelligent network protocols are
different. In addition, since the protocols used inside of the service
providers are supported by the number portability database, it is
possible to minimize any side effects of the conventional service
provider network.
As the present invention may be embodied in several forms without
departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof,
it should also be understood that the above-described embodiments
are not limited by any of the details of the foregoing description,
unless otherwise specified, but rather should be construed broadly
within its spirit and scope as defined in the appended claims, and
therefore all changes and modifications that fall within the meets
and bounds of the claims, or equivalences of such meets and bounds
are therefore intended to be embraced by the appended claims. |