• 专利附录
  • 专利说明
  • 权利要求
  • 类似技术
  • 同族专利
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    • 专利摘要:
    A memory unit 100 comprises a first memory location 110 with a plurality of country-specific communication data and possible to provide data from country-specific databases CDB-1, CDB-2. The memory unit 100 further comprises a second memory position 120 with a plurality of operator-specific communication data and possible to provide data from communication providers. A method and a system for routing a message between different such communication networks are also described.
    公开号:SE1251138A1
    申请号:SE1251138
    申请日:2011-03-07
    公开日:2012-10-08
    发明作者:Thorsten Trapp
    申请人:Tyntec Ltd；
    IPC主号:
    专利说明:

    [5] It is possible for the service subscriber to change subscriptions and thus also the home network is changed from a first network operator OP1 to a second operator OP2. A telephone service for number portability allows the service subscriber to keep his old telephone number when switching from a first network operator, referred to as the "transferring" operator, to the second operator (so-called the "receiving" operator). This telecommunications service is called landline portability for the fixed network and mobile number portability for the mobile network. In some countries, for example, in the field of mobile telecommunications, more than 25% of all telephone numbers (technically called MSISDN - Mobile Station Integrated Services Digital Network) are "ported" using the mobile number portability telecommunications service.
    [6] The telephone number has previously been used to uniquely determine the service subscriber's home communication network based on the knowledge of his / her telephone number structure. In the fixed communication network, different network operators were assigned the telephone numbers in blocks. In the mobile communications network, a network operator prefix (called "national destination code" in the GSM protocol or "number planning area" in North America's PCS1900 protocol) has previously been used to uniquely determine the service subscriber's home communication network based on the knowledge of his / her telephone number. because the network operator would only issue an MSISDN with its own network prefix. For example, in Germany, network operator prefix 0172 was allocated to Vodafone Germany.
    [7] Whenever the number portability telecommunication service is available, it is not sufficient to know the telephone number or the service subscriber's MSISDN, to know which home network the service subscriber belongs to. An important issue associated with the number portability of telecommunications services is the routing of a communication message to the correct communication network for a message whose telephone number has been ported.
    [8] A number of different solutions have been implemented in the prior art to achieve the correct routing of communication messages, such as, but not limited to, voice calls and SMS messages.
    [9] One solution that has been widely adopted is the use of a central database for the ported numbers. The central database includes all information related to the ported numbers for a country or region. An example of a central database is the Number Portability Administration Center (wwwnpaczcom), which is the central main database maintained in North America by the company NeuStar for the US numbering plan. Whenever the service subscriber ports the mobile number from one mobile telecommunications operator to another mobile telecommunications operator, the central database is updated with changed information. The change (update) is also distributed to the service providers and network operators of the mobile telecommunications networks. The changed data can be downloaded to their own local databases for updating the routing information.
    [10] Network operators that need to route voice calls or SMS messages can either review the central database to obtain the relevant routing information or access it through their own local databases.
    [11] Patent application CA 2 232 772 discloses a system for number portability in a network environment comprising local exchange operators and operators exchanging data with each other (interexchange carriers). The local exchange operators have access to a local database. The operators that exchange data with each other (interexchange carriers) gain access to a national database. The local database includes a list of all numbers for a given region, and the national database is accessible depending on the type of call.
    [12] Another example of a method and system that provides a central database is described in patent application US 5,764745. The patent application describes a method and apparatus for offering service provider portability, position portability and service portability. A subscriber is assigned a non-geographic number. The non-geographic numbers are managed centrally, providing a central database that includes the relevant redirected information associated with the non-geographic numbers.
    [13] Patent publication US 7, 623, 533 describes another system and method for effecting the porting of local telephone numbers from one service provider to another service provider. An administration center for number portability and a service management system are described here. The service management system receives and stores updated customer routing information_ The service management system is accessible to service providers for the purpose of determining the routing information associated with a given number.
    [14] In some countries, such as the United Kingdom, there is no central database. A network operator that needs to route communication messages can send a request to a database belonging to the transferring operator. The transmitting operator's database stores the information that the telephone number has been ported and to which of the network operators.
    [15] Suppose now that another user on an original network wishes to make a voice call to the mobile station for which the telephone number (MSISDN) has been ported from the transmitting operator to another telecommunication network. The voice call may first be routed to the transferring operator. The transferring operator goes through a mapping database and determines that MSISDN has been ported. There are two options. In the first option, the transferring operator provides new redirection data (also called routing information) back to the network operator for the original network.
    [16] Both patent publications WO 99/11087 and WO 97/47153 describe a method and a system for providing number portability. Each provider has a database of ported numbers. No central database is consulted.
    [17] The choice to have a central database or a plurality of local mapping databases managed by one or more network operators depends on a number of factors, including cost and efficiency. By having different mapping services for each communication network, a faster service can be made possible.
    [18] On the other hand, a central database can enable significant simultaneous access to data portability services for all mobile telecommunications operators and other interested parties.
    [19] An important point concerning the reliability of the routing of communication messages to the ported number is a requirement to accurately update all data and other parameters to the central database.
    [20] Another important point is the quality of service (QoS). Depending on the architecture of the communication network, the original operator wishing to route the communication message may have access to the central database or it will have to request several mapping databases in different communication networks until the original operator finally finds the correct routing information.
    [21] It is known that service subscribers have become more demanding. In particular, the time it takes to connect a voice call, the number of failed voice calls and prices, are parameters that must be taken into account when subscribing with the network operator.
    [22] These important points also occur in an international environment, where some countries have implemented central databases for number portability, while in other countries the network operators use their own local databases.
    [23] A memory device is described. The memory unit comprises a first memory location with a number of country-specific communication data, in which data can be entered from country-specific databases. The memory unit also has a second memory position with a plurality of operator-specific communication data in which data can be entered from communication providers.
    [24] By providing such a memory unit with a first memory location and a second memory location, the retrieval of routing information or of redirection data for the ported numbers is simplified. Relevant data is organized in a single memory location, as opposed to prior art databases that are organized locally and nationally. This is interesting in an international environment, as different solutions for tracking number portability are implemented. A request can be made to the single memory unit instead of making a number of different requests to either country-specific databases or to individual databases owned by network operators, communication providers or other database providers.
    [25] The memory unit in an aspect of the invention further comprises a third memory location, connectable to individual communication providers, for receiving individual communication data on request. In cases where the routing information cannot be found stored in the first memory location or the second memory location, a third memory location connectable to the individual communication providers can thus obtain the latest routing information from the individual communication provider or network operator.
    [26] It is intended that the first and second memory locations be updated regularly, such as, but not limited to, daily. This update period should be sufficient to ensure data accuracy as users do not change their communication providers as often.
    [27] The memory unit in one aspect of the invention further comprises a search engine (query engine) for accepting a communication request request and returning redirection communication data.
    [28] In a further aspect of the invention, the memory unit comprises a cache memory for temporarily storing a subset of redirection data; a memory connection between the cache and at least one of the plurality of first memory positions, second memory positions, the connection enabling the retrieval of redirection data and a retrieval connection for providing a requesting station with the redirection data.
    [29] The cache can be used as a fast access memory. The most recent redirection data associated with the most recent requests is stored.
    [30] A method for routing a message between different communication networks is described. The method comprises extracting an initial destination identifier from the message, forwarding that initial destination identifier to a query engine, interrogating a memory unit having a plurality of communication data from a plurality of communication networks in different countries, returning of a redirection identifier if a match with the initial destination identifier is found in the memory device, routing of the message using the returned redirection identifier or, if no match is found, using the initial destination identifier.
    [31] Thus, the method enables the hearing of a memory unit where communication data from a plurality of communication networks in different countries are stored.
    [32] The method further comprises in one aspect interrogating an operator-specific database if no matching with the initial destination identifier is found in the memory unit and returning the redirection identifier from the operator-specific database.
    [33] It will be appreciated that the term "operator-specific database" includes individual databases which may be provided with data by network operators or communication providers. Communication providers include communication providers for communication over fixed networks, mobile networks, as well as alternative communication providers such as VOIP networks.
    [34] In a further aspect, the method thus intends to first interrogate the memory unit to obtain redirection data, and only if no match is found, interrogate the operator-specific database.
    [35] In a further aspect, the method comprises storing a correlation between the initial destination identifier and the returned redirection identifier in the memory unit.
    [36] In yet another aspect, the method further comprises storing a correlation between the destination identifier and the redirection identifier in a quick access memory. The Quick Access Memory can store the latest requests, and keep the Quick Access Memory updated with the latest redirection identifiers.
    [37] A system for routing a message between different communication networks is described. The system includes: a requesting station for forwarding a message to a destination station using a destination identifier; a search engine for interrogating a memory device as shown in the description for determining a redirection identifier and a connection device for forwarding a message to a destination station using the redirection identifier.
    [38] The message can be an SMS, an MMS, a voice call, a VoIP call, or an instant message.
    [39] For a complete understanding of what is described and its advantages, reference is now made to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the figures.
    [40] It should be understood that various aspects of the described memory unit, method and system for routing a message discussed herein are merely illustrative of the specific ways in which to perform and use the method and system for marking goods and services, and therefore, what is described does not limit the scope of the claims or the following detailed description.
    [41] Figure 1 shows a network deployment in an international environment where the contribution of the present description can be used.
    [42] A first set of network operators is put into operation in a first country.
    [43] A second set of network operators is put into operation in another country.
    [44] A third number of network operators are put into operation in yet another country. Each of the network operators OP3-1.0P2-2.0P3-3 has its own database which is displayed as DB3-1, DB3-2, DB3-3. The network operators OP3-1.0P2-2.0P3-3 may be located in Germany, for example. These operators can share the routing information for ported numbers in a second country-specific database CDB2. Each of the network operators OP3-1.0P3-2, OP3-3 has a local copy of the central database in its own local database.
    [45] It should be noted that the examples given in the United Kingdom, Belgium and Germany are only typical and the description contribution in the application is not limited to these countries.
    [46] The international network environment 1 is shown in Fig. 1 with three countries and a maximum of three network operators per country, for simplicity only. The number of countries and network operators in each country is therefore not limited to this number.
    [47] A system according to the invention that can be used for routing within the international network environment 1 is shown in Figure 2. The system comprises a requesting station 20 for forwarding a message 10 to a destination station 25 by using a destination identifier 1005; an 11 search engine 30 for interrogating a memory unit 100 to determine a redirection identifier; a connection unit 40 for forwarding the message 10 to a destination station 25 using the redirection identifier_
    [48] The memory unit 100 comprises a first memory location 110 with a plurality of country-specific communication data which can be provided with data from country-specific databases. The memory unit 100 comprises a second memory position 120 with a plurality of operator-specific communication data, which can be provided with data from communication providers.
    [49] In the example of the commissioning of the communication network in the international environment 1, the first memory location 110 is provided with redirection data from country-specific databases CDB1 and CDB2, while the second memory location 120 is provided with information from different operator-specific databases DB1-1, DB1-2, DB1 -3 to the respective operators OP1-1, OP1-2 and OP1-3. The second memory location 120 may also be provided with data from various operator-specific databases DB2-1, DB2-2 and DB3-1, DB3-2 and DB3-3, respectively, although the two country-specific databases CDB1 and CDB2 exist with redirection data already entered into the first memory location 110.
    [50] The memory unit 100 further includes a third memory location 130 connectable to individual network operators to receive individual communication data and redirection data upon request.
    [51] The memory unit 100 further includes a cache 140 for temporarily storing a subset of redirection data 1010; a memory connection 150 between the cache 140 and at least one of the plurality of first memory positions 110, second memory positions 120 and third memory positions 130, the connection 150 enabling the retrieval of the redirection data 1010.
    [52] The memory unit 100 includes a retrieval connection 160 for providing the requesting station 20 with the redirection data 1010. 12
    [53] Fig. 3 shows a workflow for a method for routing a communication message 10 between different communication networks according to the invention.
    [54] At step S1, the requesting station receives a message 10 for forwarding to a recipient. The message includes a first destination identifier 1005 extracted by the requesting station 20.
    [55] The requesting station 20 forwards the initial destination identifier 1005 to the search engine 30 at step S2.
    [56] The search engine 30 sends an inquiry request to the memory unit 100 (step S3). The memory unit 100 has a plurality of communication data from a plurality of communication networks from different countries. This communication data includes redirection data but may also include additional data without limitation. In particular, the memory unit 100 includes communication data from the country-specific databases CDB1 and CDB2, in a first memory location, and communication data from the operator-specific databases DB1-1, DB1-2 and DB1-3.
    [57] If a match is found in the memory unit 100 with the initial destination identifier 1005, a redirection identifier 1010 is returned by the search engine 30 to the subsequent station 20 at step S4. The match can be found in either one of the caches 140, the first memory position 110 or the second memory positions 120.
    [58] If no match with the initial destination identifier was found in the memory unit 100, the search engine 30 sends the request request directly to the operator-specific databases DB1-1, ..., DB3-3 to which the initial destination identifier 1005 belongs, at step S5. The operator-specific database identified by the initial destination identifier 1005, for example, the operator-specific database DB1-2, returns the redirection identifier 1010, at step S6. 13
    [59] The correlation between the initial destination identifier 1005 and the returned redirection identifier 1010 is stored in the third memory position 130 of the memory unit 100.
    [60] The correlation between the destination identifier 1005 and the redirection identifier 1010 is also stored in the cache memory 140, which is a quick access memory.
    [61] The requesting station 20 routes the message using the returned redirection identifier 1010 or, if no match is found, using the initial destination identifier 1005, at step S8.
    [62] The routing method is transparent to the user.
    [63] This routing method and system offers a flexibility in the choice of routing depending on user requirements. A compromise can be made between the quality of service and the desired response time for the connection.
    [64] The routing system is therefore configured to determine the user requirements. The user requirements can be entered by service providers.
    [65] The routing system is further configured to select the most appropriate query method based on the determination of user preferences, as described below. The search engine is configured to interrogate at least one of the first memory location (110), the second memory location (120), the cache memory (140) or the third memory locations (130) based on said user requirement.
    [66] For example, a first user may wish to have a fast routing response with a good accuracy of redirection data.
    [67] On the other hand, a second user, regardless of the response time required to obtain the relevant information, may wish to have a 100% accuracy of the redirection data. In this particular case, the system can be configured to send a direct request to the individual network-specific databases, and thus be able to obtain the most current redirection data.
    [68] The above description of the illustrated embodiments of the invention is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms described. While specific embodiments of, and examples of, the invention are described herein for purposes of illustration, those skilled in the art will recognize that various equivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the invention. 15 List of reference numbers: (First) operators first country OPi-i, OPi-2, OPi-S Databases in (first operators) DBi-i, DBi-2, DBi-3 (Other) operators other | and OP2-i and OP2-2 Databases in (other) operators DB2-i, DB2-2 Centers | database CDB2 (Third) operators third countries OPß-i, OP3-2, OP3-3 Database in (third) operator DB3-i, DB3-2 , DB3-3 Central database CDB2 iO message 20 delay station 25 destination station 30 search engine 40 search unit iOO memory unit iO first memory unit 120 second memory unit 130 third memory unit 140 cache memory 150 160 1 005 1010 16 memory connection hömfningsons | ufning iden in fíerore för | destination redirection dof
    权利要求:
    Claims (13)
    [1] 1. GB12l4l45390824G BZ (QZ) Claims A memory device (100) comprising: - a first memory location (110) With a plurality of country-specificcommunications data and feedable from country-specific databases (CDB-1,CDB-2); - a second memory location (120) With a plurality of operator-specificcommunications data and feedable from communications providers (DBl-1,DB1-2, DB1-3), - a cache memory (140) for temporarily storing a subset of redirection data(1010):) - a memory connection (150) between the cache memory (140) and at least oneof the plurality of first memory locations (110), second memory locations(120), Wherein the connection enables the retrieval of redirection data (1010),and - a retrieval connection (160) for supplying a requesting station (20) With the redirection data. The memory device of claim 1, further comprising:- a third memory location (130) connectable to individual ones of thecommunications providers for receiving individual communications data on request. The memory device of claim 1 or 2, further comprising:- a query engine (30) for accepting a communications query request and returning redirection data (1010) The memory device of claims 1 to 3, Wherein the query engine is configured forinterrogating at least one of the first memory location (110), the second memory location (120), the cache memory (140) or the third memory locations (130). GB12l4l45390824G BZ (QZ) The memory device of claim 4, wherein the query engine is configured for determining a user requirement, and wherein the query engine is configured for interrogating at least one of the first memory location (110), the second memory location (120), the cache memory (140) or the third memory locations (130) based on said user requirement. A method for routing a message between different ones of communications networks comprising: extracting from the message (10) an initial destination identifier (1005),passing the initial destination identifier (1005) to a query engine (30)interrogating a memory device (100) having a plurality of communicationsdata from a plurality of communications networks from different countries,wherein the memory device comprises a first memory location (110) with aplurality of country-specific communications data and feedable from country-specific databases (CDB-1, CDB-Z), a second memory location (120) with aplurality of operator-specific communications data and feedable fromcommunications providers (DBl-l, DBl-2, DBl-3), a cache memory (140) fortemporarily storing a subset of redirection data (1010), a memory connection(150) between the cache memory (140) and at least one of the plurality of firstmemory locations (110), second memory locations (120), retuming a redirection identifier (1010) if a match is found in the memorydevice with the initial destination identifier routing the message using the returned redirection identifier (1010) or, if nomatch found, using the initial destination identifier (1005), storing a correlation between the destination identifier (1005) and the redirection identifier (1010) in the cache memory (1040). The method of claim 6, further comprising interrogating a operator-specific database (DB1-1, DBl-2, DB1-3) if no match is found in the memory device (100) with the initial destination identifier and retuming the redirection identifier from the operator-specific database. GB1214145390824G BZ (QZ) 10. ll. The method of claim 7, further comprising storing a correlation between the initialdestination identifier (1005) and the retumed redirection identifier (1010) in the memory device (100). The method of any one of claims 6 to 8, further comprising:- determining a user requirement, and- based on said user requirement, interrogating at least one of the memory device (100) or of a operator-specific database (DB1-1, DB1-2, DB1-3) A system comprising: - a requesting station (20) for passing a message to a destination station (25)using a destination identifier (1005); - a query engine (30) for interrogating a memory device (100) according to oneof claims 1 to 4 to determine a redirection identifier (1010); - a connection device (160) for passing the message to a destination station using the redirection identifier. The system of claim 10, Wherein the message (10) is one of an SMS, MMS, voice call or instant message.
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    同族专利:
    公开号 | 公开日
    GB2478525A|2011-09-14|
    WO2011110520A1|2011-09-15|
    GB201214145D0|2012-09-19|
    GB2490284B|2015-06-10|
    GB2490284A|2012-10-24|
    GB201003740D0|2010-04-21|
    DE112011100837T5|2013-01-17|
    DE112011100837B4|2017-10-05|
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    法律状态:
    2019-01-22| NAV| Patent application has lapsed|
    优先权:
    申请号 | 申请日 | 专利标题
    GB201003740A|GB2478525A|2010-03-08|2010-03-08|Memory device for providing message redirection data|
    PCT/EP2011/053379|WO2011110520A1|2010-03-08|2011-03-07|A memory device and a method and system for the routing of a message between different communication networks|
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