U.S. patent application number 11/531885 was filed with the patent office on 2008-03-20 for method and a system for minimizing roaming cost in a mobile communication network.
Invention is credited to Sunil Chandra, Pankaj Kankar, Sougata Mukherjea.
Application Number | 20080070579 11/531885 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39189243 |
Filed Date | 2008-03-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080070579 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kankar; Pankaj ; et
al. |
March 20, 2008 |
METHOD AND A SYSTEM FOR MINIMIZING ROAMING COST IN A MOBILE
COMMUNICATION NETWORK
Abstract
The present invention deals with a method and system for routing
a call in a mobile communication network. The method comprises
receiving a message by a caller prevailing network corresponding to
a caller from a callee home network corresponding to a callee, if
the callee is roaming. The message is received in response to the
call being initiated by the caller for the callee. The message can
comprise a redirection information corresponding to the callee in
roaming. The method further comprises solving a predefined
criterion for routing the call based on the redirection information
in the message and connecting the call based on solution of the
predefined criterion.
Inventors: |
Kankar; Pankaj; (New Delhi,
IN) ; Chandra; Sunil; (Bangalore, IN) ;
Mukherjea; Sougata; (New Delhi, IN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FREDERICK W. GIBB, III;Gibb & Rahman, LLC
2568-A RIVA ROAD, SUITE 304
ANNAPOLIS
MD
21401
US
|
Family ID: |
39189243 |
Appl. No.: |
11/531885 |
Filed: |
September 14, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
455/445 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04W 88/14 20130101;
H04W 92/02 20130101; H04W 4/16 20130101; H04W 88/16 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
455/445 |
International
Class: |
H04Q 7/20 20060101
H04Q007/20 |
Claims
1. A method for routing a call in a mobile communication network,
the method comprising: receiving a message by a caller prevailing
network corresponding to a caller from a callee home network
corresponding to a callee, if the callee is roaming, wherein the
message is received in response to the call initiated by the caller
for the callee, wherein the message comprises a redirection
information corresponding to the callee in roaming; solving a
predefined criterion for routing the call, wherein the predefined
criterion is solved based on the redirection information in the
message; and connecting the call based on solution of the
predefined criterion.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising initiating the call by
the caller for the callee.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the predefined criterion
comprises comparing a first cost and a second cost, wherein the
first cost corresponds to routing the call to a callee visited
network of the callee from the caller prevailing network based on
the redirection information in the message, the second cost
corresponds to routing the call to the callee visited network from
the caller prevailing network through the callee home network.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the call is directly connected to
the callee, if the first cost is less than the second cost, wherein
the call is routed to the callee visited network from the caller
prevailing network based on the redirection information in the
message.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the redirection information
comprises a temporary number corresponding to the callee, the
temporary number is assigned to the callee by the callee visited
network, wherein the call is directly connected using the temporary
number.
6. The method of claim 4, wherein the redirection information
comprises an address of a Mobile Switch Centre (MSC) of the callee
visited network, the call is routed to the callee visited network
based on the address of the MSC.
7. The method of claim 3, wherein the call is connected to the
callee by routing the call to the callee visited network from the
caller prevailing network through the callee home network, if the
second cost is less than the first cost.
8. The method of claim 3, wherein the solving step comprises
providing at least one of a first-routing-option and a
second-routing-option to the caller, the first-routing-option
corresponding to the first cost, the second-routing-option
corresponding to the second cost.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the predefined criterion
comprises the caller selecting one of a first-routing-option and a
second-routing-option.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein connecting the call comprise
alerting the callee that the call is direct to the callee visited
network from the caller prevailing network.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the callee is alerted by
flashing an alert message on an electronic device used by the
callee to receive the call.
12. A method for minimizing cost of a call in roaming in a mobile
communication network, the method comprising: receiving a message
by a caller prevailing network corresponding to a caller from a
callee home network corresponding to a callee, if the callee is
roaming, wherein the message is received in response to the call
initiated by the caller for the callee, wherein the message
comprises redirection information corresponding to the callee in
roaming; calculating a first cost and a second cost, wherein the
first cost corresponds to routing the call to the callee visited
network from the caller prevailing network based on the information
in the message, the second cost corresponds to routing the call to
the callee visited network from the caller prevailing network
through the callee home network; comparing the first cost with the
second cost; and connecting the call based on comparison of the
first cost and the second cost.
13. A system for routing a call in a mobile communication network,
the system comprising: a messaging sub-module, wherein the
messaging sub-module sends a message from a callee home network
corresponding to the callee, if the callee is roaming, the message
is sent in response to the call initiated by a caller, wherein the
message comprises redirection information corresponding to the
callee in roaming; and a routing-rule module, wherein the
routing-rule module solves a predefined criterion for routing the
call, the predefined criterion is solved based on the redirection
information in the message.
14. The system of claim 13, wherein the predefined criterion
comprises comparing a first cost and a second cost, wherein the
first cost corresponds to routing the call to a callee visited
network from a caller prevailing network corresponding to the
caller based on the redirection information in the message, the
second cost corresponds to routing the call to the callee visited
network from the caller home network through the callee home
network.
15. The system of claim 14, wherein the call is connected directly
to the callee, if the first cost is less than the second cost,
wherein the call is routed to the callee visited network from the
caller prevailing network based on the redirection information in
the message.
16. The system of claim 14, wherein the call is connected to the
callee by routing the call to the callee visited network from the
caller prevailing network through the callee home network, if the
second cost is less than the first cost.
17. The system of claim 14, wherein the routing-rule module
comprises an option-providing module, the option-providing module
configured for: providing at least one of a first-routing-option
and a second-routing-option to the caller, the first-routing-option
corresponding to the first cost, the second-routing-option
corresponding to the second cost.
18. The system of claim 17, wherein the predefined criterion
comprises the caller selecting one of a first-routing-option and a
second-routing-option.
19. The system of claim 13 comprising: an alerting module, wherein
the alerting module alerting the callee if the call is routed to
the callee visited network from the caller prevailing network based
on the redirection information in the message.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to mobile
communications and more specifically, to a method and system for
minimizing roaming costs in a mobile communication network.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] In a mobile communication network a subscriber gets
registered with a network for accessing various communication
services. The network can be a home network or a visited network
for a subscriber based on the registration of the subscriber with
the network. A home network is a network with which a subscriber
has subscribed for accessing various communication services.
However, a visited network is a network with which a subscriber,
while roaming, registers temporarily for availing various
communication services. The various communication services can be
for example, initiating a call or receiving a call. Generally, a
subscriber initiating a call in a mobile communication network is
referred as a caller and a subscriber receiving a call in a mobile
communication network is referred as a callee.
[0003] Conventionally, when a call is initiated by a caller for a
callee present in a callee home network corresponding to the
callee, caller prevailing network corresponding to the caller
routes the call to the callee home network. In this case the call
routed from the caller prevailing network to the callee home
network is charged to the caller. The caller prevailing network is
a network in which the caller is currently registered to access the
wireless telecommunication services. The caller prevailing network
can be for example a home network for the caller or a visited
network for the caller.
[0004] Further, in a scenario when the callee is roaming in a
callee visited network, then the callee home network routes the
call to the callee visited network in which the callee is roaming.
In this case, the originating leg, i.e., from caller prevailing
network to the callee home network, is charged to the caller.
However, the terminating leg, i.e., the call routed from the callee
home network to the callee visited network, is charged to the
callee. Therefore, a roaming charge is levied on the callee for
receiving the call.
[0005] The US patent application US20050164702A1, titled, "Call
Handling Scheme to reduce Roaming Charges" assigned to Carlson,
Steven I.; et al., proposes a scheme for forwarding the call made
to a subscriber who is roaming such that it results in cost savings
for the roaming subscriber. In this patent application, a second
switch receives an indication from a roaming network that a call
forwarded by the roaming network has been dropped by the roaming
network, and in response to receiving the indication, forwards the
call from a first switch.
[0006] Another method as disclosed in the US patent application
US20030092440A1, titled, "System and Method For Minimizing
International Roaming Costs", assigned to Warrier, Unnikrishnan S.;
et al., deals with minimizing international roaming costs that
leverages an existing communication network to convert roaming
communication sent to and from a mobile telephone into a series of
local telephone calls to and from the communication network. Using
a universal address, subscribers of the communication system can
initiate or participate in real-time communication through the
network while roaming outside of a home system, without incurring
roaming charges.
[0007] However, reducing roaming cost for the callee might result
in an increased cost for the caller which is an undesirable
situation for the caller. Also using temporary numbers for reducing
roaming cost for the callee requires a universal database
accessible to each of the networks in the mobile communication
network.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] An aspect of the invention is to provide a method and a
system for minimizing cost of receiving a call while roaming in a
communication network, which is not home network.
[0009] In order to fulfill above aspect, the method comprises
receiving a message by a caller prevailing network corresponding to
a caller from a callee home network corresponding to a callee. The
message is received in response to the call being initiated by the
caller for the callee. The message can comprise redirection
information corresponding to the callee in roaming. The redirection
information can be a temporary number assigned to the callee in a
callee visited network or can be an address of a Mobile Switch
Center (MSC) of the callee visited network.
[0010] Thereafter, the caller prevailing network solves a
predefined criterion for routing the call based on the redirection
information in the message. The predefined criterion can be
comparing costs of routing the call to the callee through different
routes.
[0011] The call is then connected based on solution of the
predefined criterion. For example, the call is routed so as to
minimize the cost of routing the call to the callee.
[0012] A system is also proposed for minimizing the cost of routing
the call. The system comprises a messaging sub-module residing at
the callee home network and a routing-rule module residing at the
caller prevailing network. The messaging sub-module sends the
message to the caller prevailing network and the routing-rule
module solves the predefined criteria based on the redirection
information received in the message and routes the call based on
the solution of predefined criterion.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] The foregoing objects and advantages of the present
invention for a method and a system for routing a call in a
communication network may be more readily understood by one skilled
in the art with reference being had to the following detailed
description of several preferred embodiments thereof, taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like elements
are designated by identical reference numerals throughout the
several views, and in which:
[0014] FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary
embodiment depicting a caller and a callee in a communication
network in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0015] FIG. 2 illustrates a flow diagram of a method for routing a
call in a communication network in accordance with an embodiment of
the present invention.
[0016] FIG. 3 illustrates a flow diagram of a method for minimizing
cost of receiving a call in roaming in a communication network in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 4 illustrates a block diagram of a system for routing a
call in a communication network in accordance with an embodiment of
the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0018] Before describing in detail embodiments that are in
accordance with the present invention, it should be observed that
the embodiments reside primarily in combinations of method steps
and apparatus components related to a method and apparatus for
routing a call in a communication network. Accordingly, the
apparatus components and method steps have been represented where
appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only
those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the
embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the
disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of
ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description
herein. Thus, it will be appreciated that for simplicity and
clarity of illustration, common and well-understood elements that
are useful or necessary in a commercially feasible embodiment may
not be depicted in order to facilitate a less obstructed view of
these various embodiments.
[0019] In this document, relational terms such as first and second,
top and bottom, and the like may be used solely to distinguish one
entity or action from another entity or action without necessarily
requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between
such entities or actions. The terms "comprises," "comprising,"
"has", "having," "includes", "including," "contains", "containing"
or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a
non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or
apparatus that comprises, has, includes, contains a list of
elements does not include only those elements but may include other
elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method,
article, or apparatus. An element proceeded by "comprises . . . a",
"has . . . a", "includes . . . a", "contains . . . a" does not,
without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional
identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus
that comprises, has, includes, contains the element. The terms "a"
and "an" are defined as one or more unless explicitly stated
otherwise herein. The terms "substantially", "essentially",
"approximately", "about" or any other version thereof, are defined
as being close to as understood by one of ordinary skill in the
art.
[0020] It will be appreciated that embodiments of the invention
described herein may be comprised of one or more conventional
processors and unique stored program instructions that control the
one or more processors to implement, in conjunction with certain
non-processor circuits, some, most, or all of the functions of the
method and apparatus for facilitating speech classification. The
non-processor circuits may include, but are not limited to, a radio
receiver, a radio transmitter, signal drivers, clock circuits,
power source circuits, and user input devices. As such, these
functions may be interpreted as steps of a method for routing a
call in a communication network. Alternatively, some or all
functions could be implemented by a state machine that has no
stored program instructions, or in one or more application specific
integrated circuits (ASICs), in which each function or some
combinations of certain of the functions are implemented as custom
logic. Of course, a combination of the two approaches could be
used. Thus, methods and means for these functions have been
described herein. Further, it is expected that one of ordinary
skill, notwithstanding possibly significant effort and many design
choices motivated by, for example, available time, current
technology, and economic considerations, when guided by the
concepts and principles disclosed herein will be readily capable of
generating such software instructions and programs and ICs with
minimal experimentation.
[0021] Generally speaking, pursuant to the various embodiments, the
present invention deals with minimizing roaming costs when a caller
calls a callee who is roaming outside of a callee home network. The
roaming cost is reduced by removing an incoming call charges from
the callee. A user who initiates a call is known as the caller and
a user who the caller calls is known as the callee. The callee home
network is a network with which the callee has subscribed for
accessing various communication services. When the callee roams out
of the callee home network, the callee can temporarily register
with a callee visited network. A callee visited network is a
network with which a callee, while roaming, is registered
temporarily for availing various communication services. Those
skilled in the art will realize that the callee may not always be
assigned a temporary address in the callee visited network.
[0022] Referring now to FIG. 1, a block diagram of an exemplary
embodiment depicting a caller and a callee in a wireless
communication network is shown in accordance with an embodiment of
the present invention. A caller 105 can be in a caller prevailing
network 110 at a given point of time. Caller prevailing network 110
can be a home network of caller 105 or a visited network that
caller 105 roams into. Those skilled in the art will realize that
caller prevailing network 110 is the home network of caller 105 if
caller has subscribed to the caller prevailing network 110 for
accessing various communication services. The home network of the
caller maintains specific-information corresponding to caller 105
in a home location register (HLR). In an embodiment of the
invention the specific-information corresponding to caller 105 can
be for example, a unique subscriber identity of caller 105, mobile
number associated with caller 105, service preferences and charging
plans corresponding to caller 105. Further, caller prevailing
network 110 can be a visited network of caller 105 with which
caller 105 is registered temporarily to access various
communication services. However, various embodiments of the present
invention are independent of whether caller prevailing network 110
is a caller home network or caller visited network. Those skilled
in the art will recognize and appreciate that the specifics of this
illustrative example are not specifics of the invention itself and
that the teachings set forth herein are applicable in a variety of
alternative settings.
[0023] Caller 105 may wish to call a callee 115. Callee 115 can be
in callee visited network 125 and can be registered temporarily
with callee visited network 125. In an embodiment of the present
invention, like in a standard Internet Protocol (IP) routing
mechanism, caller prevailing network 110 can route calls that are
destined for callee 115 to callee home network 120. The call can be
routed over a backbone network 130. Callee home network 120 can,
then, forward the call to callee visited network 125 over backbone
network 130. Backbone network 130 acts primarily as a conduit for
call traffic to and from other networks such as caller prevailing
network 110, callee home network 120 and callee visited network
125.
[0024] In an embodiment of the present invention, callee home
network 120 can comprise a signaling module 135. Signaling module
135 can be configured for receiving an addressing information of
callee 115 from callee visited network 125. When caller 105
initiates a call to callee 115, callee home network 120 realizes
that callee 115 is roaming in callee visited network 125 and sends
the addressing information to caller prevailing network 110. The
addressing information can be a message comprising an identity of
callee visited network 125 and identity of callee 115 in callee
visited network 125.
[0025] Depending on the addressing information of callee 115 and on
a predefined criterion, caller prevailing network 110 can either
route the call, which is destined for callee 115, to callee home
network 120 or directly to callee visited network 125. If the call
is routed to callee home network 120, callee home network 120 can
forward the call to callee visited network 125. The predefined
criterion is described in detail in conjunction with FIG. 3.
[0026] Those skilled in the art will realize that if caller
prevailing network 110 routes the call directly to callee visited
network 125, callee 115 may not need to pay for receiving the call.
However, if the call is routed through callee home network 120,
callee 115 may need to pay for the forwarding of call from callee
home network 120 to callee visited network 125.
[0027] Turning now to FIG. 2, a flow diagram of a method for
routing a call in a wireless communication network is shown in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. A caller,
who is in a caller prevailing network, may wish to call a callee,
who may be roaming. As mentioned earlier, the caller prevailing
network can be the caller's home network or the caller's visited
network. While roaming, the callee may have roamed out of a callee
home network and roamed into a callee visited network.
[0028] The caller initiates the call from the caller prevailing
network for the callee, who is in the callee visited network, at
step 205. When the caller initiates the call, the callee home
network determines that the callee is in the callee visited
network, at step 210. The caller prevailing network can, then,
receive a message from the callee home network at step 215. The
message can be sent over an underlying signaling infrastructure,
also known a backbone network. The message can comprise redirection
information corresponding to the callee in roaming. Those skilled
in the art will realize that the redirection information can be a
temporary number assigned to the callee by the callee visited
network or an address of a Mobile Switch Centre (MSC) of the callee
visited network.
[0029] In an embodiment of the present invention, where the
redirection information is the temporary number assigned to the
callee, the caller prevailing network can directly connect the call
to the callee using the temporary number. In another embodiment of
the present invention, where the redirection information is the
address of the MSC of the callee visited network, the call can be
routed to the callee visited network using the address of the
MSC.
[0030] Now, based on the redirection information in the message,
the caller prevailing network solves a predefined criterion for
routing the call at step 220. In an embodiment of the present
invention, the predefined criterion can be a cost of routing the
call. The caller prevailing network can determine a route such that
if the call is forwarded via that route to the callee, the cost of
routing the call is minimized for the callee while making sure that
the cost of routing the call for the caller does not increases. The
predefined criterion is described in detail in FIG. 3.
[0031] In another embodiment of the present invention, the solving
step 220 can comprise providing the caller with a
first-routing-option and a second-routing-option. The
first-routing-option can correspond to the first cost and the
second-routing-option can correspond to the second cost. The
first-routing-option can be a route corresponding to the first
cost, for instance, a route where the call is routed directly to
the callee visited network. The second-routing-option can be a
route corresponding to the second cost, for instance, a route where
the call is routed to the callee visited network through the callee
home network. The predefined criterion, in this embodiment, can be
the caller selecting one of the first-routing-option or the
second-routing-option.
[0032] The call is, then, connected to the callee at step 225 based
on solution of the predefined criterion. The solution of the
predefined criterion is essentially a route via which the call can
be made to the callee. The route can be, for example, a direct
route from the caller prevailing network to the callee visited
network, or the route can be from the caller prevailing network to
the callee visited network through the callee home network.
[0033] Turning now to FIG. 3, a flow diagram of a method for
minimizing cost of receiving a call in roaming in a wireless
communication network is shown in accordance with an embodiment of
the present invention. A caller in a caller prevailing network
initiates a call for a callee who is outside the callee home
network. In accordance with the present invention, the callee can
roam into a callee visited network. Upon initiating the call for
the callee, the caller prevailing network can receive a message
from the callee home network at step 305. As mention earlier, the
message can comprise redirection information corresponding to the
callee in roaming. The redirection information can be, for
instance, a temporary number assigned to the callee by the callee
visited network or an address of a Mobile Switch Centre (MSC) of
the callee visited network.
[0034] The redirection information can enable the caller prevailing
network to directly connect to the callee in the callee visited
network. As mentioned in FIG. 2, a predefined criterion for routing
the call is solved based on the redirection information in the
message. The predefined criterion can comprise comparing two costs.
The caller prevailing network can calculate the two costs at step
310 for routing the call. The two costs, herein, are referred to as
a first cost and a second cost. The first cost can correspond to
cost of the call born by caller while routing the call to the
callee visited network from the caller prevailing network directly
based on the redirection information. The second cost can
correspond to cost of the call born by caller while routing the
call to the callee visited network from the caller prevailing
network through the callee home network.
[0035] The caller prevailing network routes the call in such a way,
so as to minimize the cost of the call for the callee while making
sure that the cost of the call born by the caller is not increased.
For this purpose, the caller prevailing network determines if the
first cost is lower than the second cost, at step 315. If it is
determined that the first cost is lower than or equal to the second
cost, the call can be connected directly to the callee by routing
the call to the callee visited network from the caller prevailing
network, at step 320. For example, the callee can roam into the
caller prevailing network. In this situation, the caller prevailing
network and the callee visited network is the same. Thus, the cost
of routing the call directly to the callee visited network, the
first cost, can be cheaper than routing the call through the callee
home network, the second cost. The caller prevailing network can,
then, choose to route the call directly to the callee visited
network.
[0036] The caller prevailing network can directly route the call to
the callee visited network by using the redirection information
that the caller prevailing network receives from the callee home
network at step 305. The caller prevailing network can extract
information regarding the addressing of the callee from the
redirection information. The addressing information can be a
temporary number assigned to the callee by the callee visited
network or an address of a MSC of the callee visited network. Those
skilled in the art will realize that in an embodiment, where the
redirection information comprises the temporary number assigned to
the callee, the call can be directly connected to the callee using
the temporary information. In another embodiment, where the
redirection information comprises the address of the MSC of the
callee visited network, the call can be routed to the callee
visited network of the callee based on the address of the MSC.
[0037] If it is determined that the second cost is lower than the
first cost, the call can be routed from the caller prevailing
network to the callee visited network through the callee home
network, at step 325. Those skilled in the art will realize that
this can be done in the conventional manner. For example, the
caller prevailing network and the callee home network can have
certain agreements and low interconnect charges resulting in
reduction of cost for the calls made between the caller prevailing
network and the callee home network. Whereas, the caller prevailing
network and the callee visited network might have high interconnect
charges. In this case, the cost of routing the call to the callee
visited network through the callee home network, second cost, can
be cheaper for the caller than the cost of routing the call
directly to the callee visited network, the first cost. The caller
prevailing network can, then, choose to route the call to the
callee visited network through the callee home network.
[0038] Additionally, in an embodiment of the present invention, the
caller prevailing network provides the caller with a
first-routing-option and a second-routing-option. The
first-routing-option can correspond to the first cost and the
second-routing-option can correspond to the second cost. The
first-routing-option can be a route corresponding to the first
cost, for instance, a route where the call is routed directly to
the callee visited network. The second-routing-option can be a
route corresponding to the second cost, for instance, a route where
the call is routed to the callee visited network through the callee
home network. The predefined criterion, in this case, can be the
caller selecting one of the first-routing-option or the
second-routing-option. If the caller selects the
first-routing-option, the call is routed directly to the callee
visited network. If the caller selects the second-routing-option,
the call is routed to the callee visited network through the callee
home network. For instance, there can be situations where the
caller can choose a route that is cheaper for the callee but is
costlier for the caller. For example, in case the call is routed
directly to the callee visited network from the caller prevailing
network, the callee may not have to pay for receiving the call.
However, the caller may have to pay more to route the call directly
to the callee visited network than to route the call through the
callee home network. The caller prevailing network can inform the
caller about the cost. The caller can, still, route the call
directly to the callee visited network in interest of the callee,
even if the caller has to pay more.
[0039] In an embodiment of the present invention, the callee can be
alerted that the call is direct to the callee visited network from
the caller prevailing network. The callee can be alerted by
flashing an alert message on an electronic device used by the
callee to receive the call. The callee can either accept or decline
the call upon receiving the alert. For example, if the call is
direct to the callee visited network, the callee may not have to
pay for the call. In this case, the callee may accept the call.
However, if the call is routed to the callee visited network
through the callee home network, the callee may have to pay for the
forwarding of call from the callee home network to the callee
visited network. In this case the callee may not want to pay for
the call and can decline the call.
[0040] Referring now to FIG. 4, a block diagram of a system 400 for
routing a call in a wireless communication network is shown in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. A caller in
a caller prevailing network may wish to call a callee. The callee
may roam out of a callee home network and roam into a callee
visited network. The callee home network can comprise a signaling
module 135 as shown in FIG. 1. Signaling module 135 is configured
to receive an addressing information of the callee from the callee
visited network. The addressing information can be an identity of
the callee visited network or an identity of the callee in the
callee visited network, for example a temporary identity of the
callee in the callee visited network.
[0041] Signaling module 135 comprises a messaging sub-module 405.
When the caller initiates a call for the callee, messaging
sub-module 405 can send a message from the callee home network to
the caller prevailing network. The message can comprise redirection
information corresponding to the callee in roaming. As mentioned
earlier, the redirection information can be, for instance, a
temporary number assigned to the callee by the callee visited
network or an address of a Mobile Switch Centre (MSC) of the callee
visited network or any other relevant information.
[0042] Based on the redirection information and a predefined
criterion, a routing-rule module 410, residing on the caller
prevailing network, can route the call. Routing-rule module 410
solves the predefined criterion for routing the call. In an
embodiment of the invention, the predefined criterion can be
comparing two costs such that a cost for routing the call for the
callee is minimized while making sure that the cost of the call
born by the caller is not increased. A first cost can be a cost
corresponding to the call being routed directly to the callee
visited network and a second cost can be the call being routed to
the callee visited network through the callee home network. If the
first cost is lesser than the second cost, routing-rule module 410
connects the call directly to the callee, based on the redirection
information, by routing the call to the callee visited network.
Routing-rule module 410 obtains the redirection information of the
callee from the message received at the caller prevailing network
from the callee home network. If the second cost is lesser than the
first cost, routing-rule module 410 routes the call to the callee
visited network through the callee home network. For example, the
caller prevailing network makes call to the callee home network and
the callee home network forwards the call in turn to the callee
visited network.
[0043] In an embodiment of the present invention, routing-rule
module 410 comprises an option-providing module 415.
Option-providing module 415 provides a first-routing-option and a
second-routing-option to the caller. The first-routing-option can
be a route corresponding to the first cost, for instance, a route
where the call is routed directly to the callee visited network.
The second-routing-option can be a route corresponding to the
second cost, for instance, a route where the call is routed to the
callee visited network through the callee home network. The
predefined criterion, in this case, can be the caller selecting one
of the first-routing-option or the second-routing-option. If the
caller selects the first-routing-option, routing-rule module 410
routes the call directly to the callee visited network. If the
caller selects the second-routing-option, routing-rule module 410
routes the call to the callee visited network through the callee
home network.
[0044] For instance, there can be situations where the caller can
choose a route that is cheaper for the callee but is costlier for
the caller. For example, in case the call is routed directly to the
callee visited network from the caller prevailing network, the
callee may not have to pay for receiving the call. However, the
caller may have to pay more to route the call directly to the
callee visited network than to route the call through the callee
home network. The caller prevailing network can inform the caller
about the cost. The caller can, still, route the call directly to
the callee visited network in interest of the callee, even if the
caller has to pay more.
[0045] System 400 further comprises an alerting module 420,
alerting module 420 alerts the callee in a different fashion, in
case the call is connected directly from the caller prevailing
network to the callee visited network.
[0046] Various embodiments of the present invention provide a
method and a system for minimizing a cost of routing calls when a
callee is roaming, without adversely affecting the caller. The
method and the system proposed in the present invention can be
easily incorporated in conventional communication networks and may
not require additional hardware. Moreover, a caller may not be
required to have an additional device or perform additional
actions. The present invention can also work with next generation
backbone networks and protocols. For example, in case of Session
Initiation Protocol (SIP), the present invention can use a REDIRECT
signaling message provided by the SIP protocol if the caller
decides to reroute the call.
[0047] Also, the present invention is not dependent on underlying
signaling network and protocols, for example the present invention
can be deployed in Signaling System 7 protocol (SS7), Channel
Associated Signaling, Signaling System 5 (CAS-SS5) or SIP.
[0048] In the foregoing specification, specific embodiments of the
present invention have been described. However, one of ordinary
skilled in the art appreciates that various modifications and
changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present
invention as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly, the
specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative
rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are
intended to be included within the scope of the present invention.
The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s)
that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or
become more pronounced are not to be construed as critical,
required, or essential features or elements of any or all the
claims.
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