U.S. patent application number 10/884986 was filed with the patent office on 2005-01-06 for method for providing alternative network-associated service address mobile registration.
Invention is credited to Zaffino, Richard.
Application Number | 20050003805 10/884986 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33554711 |
Filed Date | 2005-01-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050003805 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Zaffino, Richard |
January 6, 2005 |
Method for providing alternative network-associated service address
mobile registration
Abstract
A method provides for utilizing a packet-switched network to
support services provisioned to mobile station subscribers. Address
information is exchanged with a mobile switching center that
services the subscriber so as to be able to identify data port
addresses to be utilized to support the services via transmissions
over a packet-switched network.
Inventors: |
Zaffino, Richard; (Kirkland,
WA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KENYON & KENYON
1500 K STREET, N.W., SUITE 700
WASHINGTON
DC
20005
US
|
Family ID: |
33554711 |
Appl. No.: |
10/884986 |
Filed: |
July 7, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10884986 |
Jul 7, 2004 |
|
|
|
09330272 |
Jun 11, 1999 |
|
|
|
60113928 |
Dec 24, 1998 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
455/414.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04L 67/14 20130101;
H04W 8/26 20130101; H04L 29/06 20130101; H04L 61/35 20130101; H04L
29/12009 20130101; H04W 60/00 20130101; H04L 69/329 20130101; H04W
4/00 20130101; H04L 29/12783 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
455/414.1 |
International
Class: |
H04M 003/42 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method comprising: responsive to a registration of a mobile
station of a subscriber to wireless services, sending an IP network
address to a subscriber service node that provides a subscriber
service, wherein the IP network address is capable of receiving
information to support providing of the subscriber service to the
mobile station; and processing information sent by the subscriber
service node and received at the IP network address, to support
providing of the subscriber service to the mobile station.
2. A method comprising: contacting a network node pursuant to the
providing of a subscriber service to a mobile station of a
subscriber to wireless services; receiving from the network node an
IP network address capable of supporting the subscriber service;
and using the IP network address to support providing the
subscriber service to the mobile station.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the network node is a home
location register.
4. A method comprising: from a first network node, contacting a
second network node pursuant to the providing of a subscriber
service to a mobile station of a subscriber to wireless services;
and sending the second network node an IP network address
identifying for the second network node a location to find services
supported by the first network node.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the first network node is a
mobile switching center.
6. The method of claim 4, wherein the second network node is a home
location register.
7. A network device configured to: responsive to a registration of
a mobile station of a subscriber to wireless services, send an IP
network address to a subscriber service node that provides a
subscriber service, wherein the IP network address is capable of
receiving information to support providing of the subscriber
service to the mobile station; and process information sent by the
subscriber service node and received at the IP network address, to
support providing of the subscriber service to the mobile
station.
8. A network device configured to: contact a network node pursuant
to the providing of a subscriber service to a mobile station of a
subscriber to wireless services; receive from the network node an
IP network address capable of supporting the subscriber service;
and use the IP network address to support providing the subscriber
service to the mobile station.
9. The network device of claim 8, wherein the network node is an
HLR.
10. A network device configured to: contact a network node pursuant
to the providing of a subscriber service to a mobile station of a
subscriber to wireless services; and send the network node an IP
network address identifying for the network node a location to find
services supported by the network device.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/330,272
filed 11 Jun. 1999, the content of which is incorporated herein by
reference in its entirety. Application Ser. No. 09/330,272 claims
priority to provisional application Ser. No. 60/113,928 filed 24
Dec. 1998 entitled "Method For Providing IP-Associated Mobile
Registration", the entire disclosure of which is hereby
incorporated by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus
for permitting a mobile device to register for services. More
particularly, the present invention is directed to a method and
apparatus for shifting communication service registration from a
dedicated signaling network to a general purpose data network.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Wireless services have become more and more popular. Such
wireless services provide subscribers with mobility while still
maintaining the ability to communicate either by voice or by data
with others. As the number of wireless subscribers has increased,
there has been a strain placed both on the communication networks
themselves as well as the signaling networks which have been
utilized for call setup, call control, and mobility management,
such as the SS7 signaling network. As more sophisticated services
have developed for the mobile subscriber, these services have grown
to rely heavily upon available SS7 signaling network bandwidth. The
combination of this increase of services and an increase in
subscriber base threatens to place undue strain on the signaling
system (SS7) network.
[0004] FIG. 1 illustrates a system in which the SS7 network is
utilized for providing certain registration and services to a
mobile subscriber. In this system a plurality of mobile switching
centers (MSC) 10, 20, 30 are all coupled to a signaling transfer
point (STP) 40 via the SS7 signaling network which is represented
by the dashed lines. Each MSC has one or more base stations (BS),
shown as elements 11, 12, 21, 22 and 31. The system also includes a
service control point (SCP) and home location register (HLR) here
shown as combined element 50. This element keeps track of
information related to subscribers that are given wireless service.
For example, as shown in the figure, the HLR maintains information
about a number of mobile stations here shown as MS.sub.1, MS.sub.2,
and MS.sub.X. The HLR keeps profile information in a database
regarding various mobile subscribers. As an example, each profile
can indicate information about the mobile identification number
(MIN), the electronic serial number (ESN), information about where
the mobile station is currently registered (that is, with which MSC
the mobile station last registered), as well as a list of services
for which the mobile subscriber has subscribed. Examples of
services which may be available include: call waiting, caller ID,
four digit dialing, and other services which might be available to
wireless users provided by various wireless service carriers.
[0005] Another element in the system is a Message Center (MC) 60.
Such a Message Center, typically employed in wireless systems which
provide a service known as Short Messaging Service (SMS) to
subscribers, contains text messages which are to be provided to
mobile stations. The messages typically are transported from MC 60
to the appropriate MSC via the SS7 network and are subsequently
forwarded to the intended recipient mobile station MS.
[0006] Another element shown in the system is the Wireless Gateway
Manager (WGM) 70 which can couple a plurality of wireless office
systems (WOS) 71, 72 and 73 to the STP via, for example, a frame
relay network 75. As is shown in the figure, at least one of the
wireless office systems may include a voice mail system (VM)
76.
[0007] In the system of FIG. 1, presume that MS.sub.x 83 is one of
the subscribers to the wireless service and has an affiliation with
the voice mail system 76 and desires to receive a message waiting
indicator (MWI) from that voice mail system even when away from the
wireless office system 73. To accomplish that end in the prior art,
the MS.sub.x registers with the MSC 10 via the base station 12 with
which it is operating. MSC 10 then becomes the serving MSC (S-MSC)
and sends a registration notification to SCP/HLR 50. This
registration notification is transported via the SS7 network and
through the signal transfer point 40. The SCP/HLR 50 in turn
signals the VM 76 via the SS7 network, the STP 40, the WGM 70, the
frame relay 75 and its associated WOS 73 so as to advise the VM as
to where the MS.sub.x resides. If the VM has a message about which
it desires to advise the MS.sub.x, then further signaling is
transported via the SS7 network to the S-MSC 10 and a message
waiting indication is sent out to the mobile station MS.sub.x 83.
Alternatively, the HLR could have updated its own MWI information
sometime prior to the registration by MS.sub.x and in such
circumstance the HLR sends MWI information to the S-MSC. As can be
seen, the signaling to provide this one service alone entails a not
insignificant usage of the SS7 network. Other services, such as
providing short messages from the message center via SS7 to the
serving MSC, further burden the signaling network. Another service
that consumes signaling network resources relates to voice
messaging systems connected to MSCs whereby the SCP/HLR 50 updates
its subscriber records concerning such messages and uses the
signaling network to do so. Moreover, the very notion of carrying
user data, rather than conventional signaling data such as call
control, may itself be a burden on the signaling network. It would
be beneficial if a technique could be provided for off-loading some
of the subscriber services' demand from the SS7.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention provides a method by which certain
functionality that supports services to be offered to wireless
subscribers is off-loaded from the signaling system network and is
instead provided by an alternative network. The present invention
accomplishes this method, in part, by utilizing communication
between a service node (e.g., MSC) and a service control point
(SCP) (e.g., HLR).
[0009] For purposes of the present invention, an alternative
network encompasses both connection oriented and connectionless
(e.g., packet) networks. In addition a connection oriented network
may include both circuit and packet (e.g., ATM) switching.
[0010] In one embodiment of the present invention, the registration
process by which a S-MSC notifies the subscriber's HLR includes a
transfer of information sufficient to enable subsequent data
communication via a packet network (e.g., Internet Protocol (IP)
network). For example, the S-MSC may notify the HLR of a packet
network address at which it can be contacted to provide a given
service to the mobile station in question. Alternatively, the HLR
can advise the S-MSC of a packet network address which it can
utilize to provide a given service to be made available to the
mobile station subscriber.
[0011] In this arrangement, data communications necessary to
support providing of the services provided to wireless subscribers
is carried in a network separate from the signaling network
normally utilized for call control and call management.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art system.
[0013] FIG. 2 illustrates a system in accordance with an embodiment
of the present invention.
[0014] FIG. 3 illustrates a signal flow in connection with an
embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] In accordance with the present invention, data transfers to
be used to support services for a wireless subscriber can be
shifted from the SS7 network to a alternative network, including,
but not limited to, connection oriented networks and connectionless
networks. For example, at registration time the S-MSC and the
subscriber's HLR can exchange sufficient information so as to
enable service support information to be transferred to and from
the S-MSC via an alternative network such as a packet network
(e.g., the Internet). In such a circumstance, the S-MSC can then
provide the HLR with one or more packet network addresses that will
support various services available to the mobile stations
registered with that S-MSC. Alternatively, the HLR can forward
packet network address information with regard to those system
elements which will support services to be provided to the S-MSC
and on to the mobile subscriber registered therewith.
[0016] The illustrative embodiments below speak in terms of an IP
network, however it should be understood that any alternative
network could be used. The illustrative embodiments below also
speak in terms of a HLR, however it should be understood that any
SCP could be used, including, but not limited to a HLR, an
Authentication Center (AC), a VM, a Digit Translation Application
(DTA), or a MC. In addition, the illustrative embodiments below
speak in terms of a S-MSC, however, it should be understood that
any service node could be used.
[0017] FIG. 2 illustrates, in block diagram form, a system in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Elements in
FIG. 2 which are the same as those in FIG. 1 are shown with the
same reference symbols. The modifications to the various network
elements include the capability of communicating via the IP network
200. While only MSC 100 is shown to be connected to the IP network,
the other MSCs 20 and 30 could be modified to be so coupled or be
capable of coupling to the IP network. Similarly, the WGM 70 may be
coupled to the IP network as well, although in the example shown in
FIG. 2 it is not. By providing elements such as MSC 100, message
center 600, SCP/HLR 500 and VM 760 with the ability to communicate
over the IP network 200, it presents an opportunity for shifting
certain data communications which would otherwise occur in support
of services for a subscriber from the SS7 network to the IP
network. For example, rather than, as in the prior art, carrying
the message waiting indicator information or the short messages via
the SS7 network to the serving MSC 10 for mobile station MS.sub.x,
that service information could instead be carried via the IP
network 200 to an IP address for MSC 100. The packet message would
include information identifying the mobile station for which the
service is to be rendered, here MS.sub.x. The processing
capabilities in the MSC would then take the received packet data
information and provide the appropriate service to the mobile
station. For example, the voice mail system 760 may transfer its
message waiting indication via the IP network 200 to MSC 100 which
in turn would understand that such an indication should be
transmitted to MS.sub.x 83 via typical message waiting indication
signaling from base station 12.
[0018] FIG. 3 illustrates a process flow which may occur in
connection with an embodiment of the present invention. Here,
MS.sub.x may register via an over the air interface with MSC 100
which becomes S-MSC. This registration may take place via a
standard registration signal in the IS-136 protocol. The S-MSC then
sends a registration notification signal (REGNOT) via SS7 to the
HLR 500. This notification signal is found in the ANSI-41 protocol
or in the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM). If the
S-MSC supports the service of Message Waiting Indication (MWI), via
for example an IP network, then it can so notify the HLR along with
the registration signal and can designate to the HLR a IP network
address, herein IP address, at which the serving MSC can receive
information to support the providing of this service to any mobile
station with which it is in communication. The HLR can then, in
turn, send a message via the SS7 network to the voice mail system
760. The information can include an address update with respect to
the particular mobile station MS.sub.x. The HLR knows to signal
this particular voice mail system 760 based on the subscriber
profile which it stores regarding MS.sub.x. It then can notify the
voice mail system that when the voice mail system 760 wishes to
send an MWI to MS.sub.x, it should send it to the IP address
corresponding to the serving MSC. When the voice mail system
subsequently has a message waiting indication update for MS.sub.x,
it can send such an update via the IP network 200 to IP address
.varies.. Upon receipt of this update, the S-MSC 100 processes the
packet data information and generates the message waiting
indication information which must be sent over the air via, for
example, IS-136 standards to the MS.sub.x.
[0019] In the embodiment that has just been described, the HLR can
signal the voice mail system via the SS7 network. To further reduce
the load on the SS7 network, it is possible that the HLR will
maintain information in its subscriber profile regarding the IP
address of the VM 760. Since this information is not likely to
change often, it can be utilized frequently without needing to
transfer information to the VM via SS7. Therefore, the method
described above could be modified such that the address update is
transmitted to the VM at its IP address which has been stored in
the HLR.
[0020] Also shown in FIG. 3 is an alternative technique for
exchanging packet network address information. Rather than the
S-MSC assuming the responsibility for defining its own IP address
to support a particular service, it is possible that the HLR in
either its acceptance of the registration, here shown as the ACCEPT
message, or in some other subsequent message exchange with the
S-MSC, could transfer information to the MSC identifying a given
service (for example service ABC) and an IP address that the S-MSC
should utilize to support the service (here IP address .beta.).
Thus, the S-MSC can define its IP address, or it can receive an IP
address necessary to support a service, or there could be some
combination of exchanges. Furthermore, with regard to the
transmissions between the HLR and the VM described above, it is
conceivable that the very first transmission between the S-MSC and
the HLR could include an IP address from the S-MSC which defines a
location by which the HLR and S-MSC can communicate to establish
all of the remaining information necessary to support the services
between the MSC and the HLR. That is, rather than the MSC
specifically identifying individual services that it supports via
the SS7 network, it could simply send an IP address notifying the
HLR where to go to find out the services that the S-MSC supports
and to communicate with that S-MSC to exchange data necessary to
support a full range of services to be made available to a mobile
station MS.sub.x.
[0021] Furthermore variations on the S-MSC/HLR exchange are
considered as well. For instance, the S-MSC could send a list of
services (list X), the list including service identifiers and an IP
address for each service which may or may not be unique to a given
service. The services need not be limited to data services, but can
relate to voice services as well. Alternatively the HLR could send
a list of services (list Y), including service identifiers and an
IP address for each service which may or may not be unique to a
given service. The services identified in the lists may or may not
overlap. Also the lists may be dynamic, that is, subject to change.
In another variation the S-MSC and HLR can exchange list X and list
Y.
[0022] After the REGNOT/ACCEPT exchange, the use of the
service/address pairs can vary, as follows. Referring to the first
exchange, where the S-MSC sends list X, the HLR might store the
Service List for its own sole use. That is, as information intended
for an MS reaches the HLR (by conventional or IP associated
mechanisms), the HLR would use the alternate means afforded by the
service/address pair to convey information to the S-MSC and,
therefore, to the MS. Alternatively, the HLR might forward some of
the service/address pairs to the node(s) associated with the
indicated service. In these cases when the node receiving the new
address information has new data for an MS, it would communicate
with S-MSC directly and not via the HLR.
[0023] Referring to the second exchange, where the HLR sends list
Y, the HLR is providing S-MSC with current service/address pairs
for static or quasi static node addresses stored at the HLR. The
transfer of these service/address pairs to the S-MSC would
typically be based on the HLR having prior knowledge of the S-MSC's
transport capabilities. Note that the information in "Service List
Y" is conveyed as part of the REGNOT/ACCEPT exchange but
service/address pairs exchanged in this direction need not be
limited to a registration sequence. For example, events external to
the S-MSC and the HLR might occur that would cause a service node
to convey to the HLR a new service/address pair for a MS. The HLR
would convey this to the S-MSC independent of registration
sequences--so that the S-MSC has the correct current address for
the associated service.
[0024] While the invention has been described with regard to a
voice mail service, it is equally applicable to other services
available to the mobile station subscriber. For example, the SMS
information can be transferred from the message center to the
serving MSC via the IP network as is suggested by the connections
shown in FIG. 2. Alternatively, other services which rely upon data
transmission to and from the serving MSC could rely on an IP
network as a transport mechanism once IP addresses have been
exchanged. This means that, as services increase and the number of
subscribers increase, the additional load of data exchanges is
passed off to the IP network rather than taxing the already heavily
utilized signaling network. Furthermore, while the present
invention has been described with reference to utilizing, for
example, the Internet, to carry this additional information to and
from the serving MSC, it should be recognized that other data
networks might be employed as well; it is just that the Internet at
this time has provided an opportunity for relatively ubiquitous
communication services.
[0025] While the present invention is described with respect to
specific embodiments, these embodiments are not intended to limit
the scope of the invention, which is defined by the appended
claims.
* * * * *