CN100349494C - Method for trans-region roaming for mobile users - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention discloses a method for the trans-region roaming for mobile users. The present invention comprises the following steps that one mobile communication user is set with unique IMSI and a plurality of mobile numbers distributed to multiple contract signing regions; a virtual HLR stores the unique IMSI, the mobile numbers of the contract signing regions and other kinds of contract signing selection information; when updating a location, the user sends a location update request to the local MSC/VLR; the MSC/VLR analyzes the virtual HLR address of the user according to the IMSI in the request, sends the location update request to the virtual HLR, etc. When the technical scheme of the present invention is adopted, the user can roam in trans-region by using one SIM card; when roaming to some region, the user uses the mobile number in the region, even other people dial the mobile number of the user in other regions, the call can also be linked; in this way, the present invention provides rapid, convenient and cheap service for the user.

Description

Method for mobile users roaming across domains

technical field

The invention relates to the field of mobile communication, in particular to cross-regional roaming of mobile users.

Background technique

When a mobile user opens an account, the operator assigns a user identifier IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber Identity International Mobile Subscriber Identity Code) to the user, and the SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card stores IMSI, encryption and other data, and then in the HLR (HomeLocation Open an account for the user in the Register user's home location register), that is, record all relevant data such as the user's IMSI, mobile number, and subscription service in the HLR. In the existing mobile network, the data stored in the HLR is generally only in the local area, that is, the IMSI and the mobile number are in the local area.

With the global economic integration, the connection and communication between different regions in the world are constantly strengthening. Mobile communication, as an important means of mutual communication, is more convenient and practical in daily practical use. Mobile users grow and develop in the process of continuous network use. Mature, so that this type of users put forward new requirements for mobile communication networks, while facilitating the mobile users themselves, it also facilitates users in other regions (including domestic and foreign) who are in contact with them without being restricted by international call rights, and also It can communicate with them conveniently to achieve a perfect network without boundaries and people-oriented personalized services.

Currently, there are generally two cross-domain roaming methods for these mobile users who often roam across regions and countries:

The first method is to sign up for international roaming, that is, mobile users sign up for international roaming capabilities at the HLR.

When the user roams to other countries, turn on the phone, the mobile phone location will be updated automatically, and the mobile number used by the user after successful login is the number when the user opened an account in the above-mentioned countries. Therefore, when a user roams across domains, the user will use an international number for the region where the user is roaming, and there will be high international roaming charges. The advantage of this solution is that the user does not need to change the SIM card when roaming across the country, and it is convenient to use; the disadvantage is that the international roaming fee for the roaming call is too high, which may not be affordable for ordinary users.

The second method is to carry multiple SIM cards with you, and the user roams across regions. Due to the high call charges, the high call charges will make most users forget, so for users who often travel to and from certain regions Generally speaking, they generally sell and buy multiple SIM cards, and roam to a certain area to use the SIM cards in this area, but because these SIM cards are not connected with each other, it also brings communication restrictions, such as: X area and Region Y is more and more closely connected. There are many users between these two places have two SIM cards, one corresponding to the mobile number of X region and the other corresponding to the mobile number of Y region. When the user roams to X region, use If the SIM card of X area is used, the number in Y area is turned off, and the call to the user's number in Y area will not be connected, which will bring inconvenience to the user. The advantage of this solution is that due to the use of local numbers, the call cost is low when roaming across domains; the disadvantage is that the user needs to replace the SIM card when roaming across domains, which is inconvenient to use.

Contents of the invention

The technical problem to be solved by the invention is to overcome the technical problem that existing mobile users need to carry and replace multiple SIM cards when roaming across domains.

Furthermore, the technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to overcome the technical problem that the international roaming charges of existing mobile users are too high.

The technical scheme that realizes the technical problem to be solved by the present invention and takes is summarized as follows:

A method for a mobile user to roam across domains, comprising the following steps:

A) A mobile communication user is set to have a unique IMSI and multiple mobile numbers assigned by multiple contract areas;

B) setting one of the HLRs in the multiple contracting areas as the virtual HLR of the mobile user, the virtual HLR stores the unique IMSI of each user, the mobile number of multiple contracting areas and other subscription option information;

c) When the user performs location update, a location update request is initiated to the local MSC/VLR, and the MSC/VLR analyzes the user's virtual HLR address according to the IMSI in the request, and initiates a location update request to the virtual HLR;

D) virtual HLR judges whether the user is the above-mentioned local subscription number, if not, then returns a location update rejection response to the above-mentioned local MSC/VLR, otherwise,

E) The virtual HLR inserts the user's local contracted mobile number and subscription information to the local MSC/VLR, and returns a successful location update response. The virtual HLR records the currently activated mobile number and user location information.

Further, the above-mentioned method for cross-domain roaming of a mobile user, wherein in the step of setting a mobile communication user to have a unique IMSI and multiple mobile numbers assigned by multiple contracting areas, further includes the following steps:

Designate one of the plurality of mobile numbers as the basic number for international roaming.

By adopting the technical scheme of the present invention, a user can roam across multiple regions by using a SIM card, and when the user roams to a certain region, the mobile number of the region is used, and other people dial the mobile number of the user in other regions, and the call can also be received. Connected, so as to provide users with fast, convenient and cheap services. Further, since the basic number for international roaming is specified for the user, on the one hand, when the user signs up for international roaming (that is, when roaming out of the area where the mobile number is signed), the basic number is used; on the other hand, the area where the mobile number is signed can be Save high international roaming charges for international roaming users.

Description of drawings

FIG. 1 shows a flow chart of location updating when a user roams across domains using the method provided by the present invention.

Detailed ways

The specific implementation manner of the present invention will be illustrated below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the present invention, when a user opens an account in the HLR according to the IMSI, the user is assigned mobile numbers in multiple contracted areas according to the user's subscription status, that is, one IMSI corresponds to mobile numbers in multiple areas, but there is only one HLR for the user. Said that the home HLR is a virtual HLR, and said mobile subscriber is an all-in-one card user.

The user's IMSI and mobile number in the virtual HLR can be number segments in multiple regions, and the virtual HLR can be placed anywhere in these regions. For example, a virtual HLR is set up in area X to serve users who frequently travel to area Y, area X, and area Z. In this virtual HLR, the user IMSI number segment can be the number segment of the mobile operator in these areas. All-in-one card users sign up for area Y Mobile Number, Mobile Number in Region X and Mobile Number in Region Z. When the user uses the number resources in the Y area, theoretically the virtual HLR should be a network element of the mobile network in the Y area.

In the virtual HLR, each user has only one IMSI, which corresponds to the SIM card identification in the user's mobile phone, but each user has mobile numbers in multiple regions. Insert the user's mobile number in this area into the Location Register (Visit Location Register). In this way, when the user roams across regions, the local number resource can be used without changing the SIM card.

Simultaneously, because the numbers of other regions of the user also exist in the HLR, when dialing the numbers of other regions of the user, the GMSC (Gateway Mobile Switch Center) in the region where the called number is located will initiate a routing request to the virtual HLR according to the number analysis , the virtual HLR records the currently activated mobile number and user location information, so the call can be transferred to the user's current number, and the user can make a call without changing the SIM card.

Since there are multiple mobile networks in each region, in order to facilitate user roaming, each mobile number of one-card users has its own corresponding roaming plan. At the same time, in order to facilitate the international roaming of all-in-one card users, when the user opens an account, he can specify a mobile number in any area as the basic number.

Said method is applicable to multiple mobile communication networks, such as GSM (Global system for Mobile Communications) network and CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) network.

The following is the specific application of the technical solution provided by the present invention for the one-card mobile user:

1) Account opening:

According to the subscription situation of the one-card user, the virtual HLR records the user's IMSI, mobile numbers in multiple regions, basic mobile numbers, and other subscription data in the database.

A work IMSI of the one-card user and mobile numbers corresponding to multiple regions are recorded in the virtual HLR like this.

2) Location update process:

When a one-card user roams to a certain area, the mobile phone selects the local mobile wireless network to initiate a location update request to MSC/VLR (Mobile Switch Center/Visit Location Register), and MSC/VLR analyzes the user's virtual location based on the IMSI in the request. HLR address, initiate a location update request to the virtual HLR, and the request includes the IMSI and the current MSC/VLR address.

With reference to accompanying drawing 1, the process that virtual HLR receives this location update process is as follows:

First, the virtual HLR judges whether the one-card user subscribes to the local number of the country according to the country code (CountryCode) in the MSC/VLR number that initiated the location update. If the user subscribes to the local number, it judges whether the MSC/VLR Allow card users to roam. If roaming is not allowed, it will directly respond to location update rejection, and let the mobile phone re-select the GSM network to initiate location update. If roaming is allowed, insert the mobile number and subscription data of the place where the card user subscribes to the current roaming location, and then return a location update success response.

On the other hand, if the one-card user has not subscribed to the roaming location number, it will be processed according to the roaming plan configured by the user's basic number. If international roaming is not allowed, it will return a location update rejection. If international roaming of the basic number is allowed, insert the basic number and the data signed by the user, and then return a location update success response.

3) Call process:

Since the user has successfully logged in the MSC/VLR and has the data of the user's subscription, the call has nothing to do with the virtual HLR. Since the one-card user registers a local number in the VLR, the local number is used when making a call.

4) Called routing process: According to different user needs, we divide the one-card users into three categories: the first category is high-end users, who are connected at any time, and we call it FollowMe (follow) users; the second category For middle-end users, when the called is connected with international roaming charges, it will be connected to the local call center to provide manual services; the third type is ordinary users, when the called is connected with international roaming charges, it will not be connected. Reject directly. Correspondingly, the above-mentioned subscription options are added to each user in the virtual HLR.

When an all-in-one card user is called, because the best route is not supported, the call is first connected to the GMSC of the country where the called number belongs, and it initiates a routing request to the virtual HLR. The called process is described as follows:

(1) The card user is called, and the call is connected to the contracted GMSC of the called mobile number;

(2) GMSC sends a routing request to the user's home virtual HLR according to the called number;

(3) The virtual HLR judges whether the GMSC where the user initiates the routing request is in the same area as the visited MSC where the user is currently logging in. If they are in the same area, then:

The virtual HLR initiates a roaming number request to the VLR where the user is roaming; after the request for the roaming number is successful, it directly returns a response to the GMSC circuit, including MSRN (Mobile Subscriber Roaming Number) in the response, and the GMsC connects the call according to the MSRN;

If it is not in the same area, since the user has international long-distance charges for connecting the call card, the virtual HLR judges whether the user subscribes to the FollowMe (follow) function. The loop route responds, and then the GMSC connects the call to the VMSC where the one-card roaming is located; if FolfowMe (Follow) has not made a reservation, it is judged whether to reserve the call center service, if the call center service is reserved, then according to the GMSC location and the HLR system configuration, the route GMSC The number of the call center at the location, HLR returns a routing success response to the GMSC, and the forwarding address is included in the response as the address of the call center at the location of the GMSC, and the call is forwarded to the call center by the GMSC; other situations (such as FollowMe (following) without reservation, call center service), then: HLR directly returns routing failure to GMSC, the failure reason is system failure, GMSC decides whether to play the tone to the calling party according to the failure reason, "The user is temporarily unavailable, please dial later ".

5) Short message terminal call processing process:

When the short message center initiates a short message termination call to the mobile phone, it first sends a short message routing request to the HLR according to the called mobile number, and the HLR returns a short message routing response to the short message center after processing according to the user record, which includes: user The visiting MSC address and the user's IMSI that are currently roaming to.

After receiving the response, the short message center sends a short message end call to the visited MSC. In the short message end call request, the user ID uses IMSI instead of a mobile number. Therefore, the short message end call is the same as that of a normal user.

Although the disclosed method involving cross-domain roaming of a mobile user has been specifically described with reference to embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. Various obvious modifications. Therefore, the embodiments described above are illustrative rather than restrictive, and all changes and modifications are within the scope of the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims (4)

1. A method for a mobile user to roam across domains, comprising the following steps: A) A mobile communication user is set to have a unique IMSI and multiple mobile numbers assigned by multiple contract areas; B) setting one of the HLRs in the multiple contracting areas as the virtual HLR of the mobile user, the virtual HLR stores the unique IMSI of each user, the mobile number of multiple contracting areas and other subscription option information; C) When the user performs location update, a location update request is initiated to the local MSC/VLR, and the MSC/VLR analyzes the user's virtual HLR address according to the IMSI in the request, and initiates a location update request to the virtual HLR; D) virtual HLR judges whether the user is the above-mentioned local subscription number, if not, then returns a location update rejection response to the above-mentioned local MSC/VLR, otherwise, E) The virtual HLR judges whether the user allows roaming in the local area according to the subscription attribute of the local MSC/VLR local user number. If roaming is not allowed, the above-mentioned local MSC/VLR returns a location update rejection response, otherwise inserts the user's The local contracted mobile number and its subscription information return a location update success response, and the virtual HLR records the currently activated mobile number and user location information. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said one mobile communication user is set to have a unique IMSI and a plurality of mobile numbers assigned by a plurality of subscription areas, further comprising the following steps: Designate one of the plurality of mobile numbers as the basic number for international roaming. 3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that said other subscription option information includes user category information. 4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the called routing process of the user comprises the following steps; (1) The mobile user is called, and the call is connected to the contracted GMSC of the called mobile number; (2) GMSC sends a routing request to the user's virtual HLR according to the called number; (3) The virtual HLR judges whether the GMSC where the user initiates the routing request is in the same area as the visited MSC where the user is currently logging in. If it is the same area, the virtual HLR initiates a roaming number request to the VLR where the user is roaming, and the VLR returns a routing response to the GMSC ;otherwise (4) Determine the type of user, and the virtual HLR returns a routing response according to the type of user.

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