Telecommunications – Radiotelephone system – Zoned or cellular telephone system
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-18
2001-10-02
Bost, Dwayne (Department: 2681)
Telecommunications
Radiotelephone system
Zoned or cellular telephone system
C455S433000, C370S400000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06298234
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to telecommunication systems and, more particularly, to a system and method for providing access to the Internet via a radio telecommunications network for a mobile subscriber while roaming in a visited service area.
2. Description of Related Art
Due to the phenomenal growth of the popularity of the Internet as the world's largest public data network, providing on-demand access to it has become a significant concern. Entities such as Internet Service Providers (ISPs) have become prominent in providing inexpensive access to the Internet via conventional wireline Public Switched Telephone Networks (PSTNs). Traditionally, such Internet access has been confined to connecting subscribers'home or office computers to an ISP server that is located in a geographic region that is typically near their homes or offices.
Recently, because of the growth of the ISPs in terms of their geographic coverage, subscribers who are away from their homes or offices have also been able to access the Internet. Typically, obtaining this “remote site” access involves calling a 1-800 number to connect to the computer user's ISP. At times, it may be necessary to call the ISP's sales department or customer service department to request a telephone number associated with a server location (“local” server) of that ISP which is located nearest to the subscriber's present location. Once the “local” server's telephone number is obtained, the subscriber's computer may then be connected thereto for accessing the Internet. It should be appreciated, therefore, that it is typically quite inconvenient for users to access the Internet while located away from their homes/offices.
Current improvements in computer and radio telecommunications technologies have now made it feasible to access the Internet using computers interfaced with mobile phones. Because of this development, Internet access is available even in areas without any landline connections. However, when mobile subscribers attempt to access the Internet while roaming, they experience inconvenient situations similar to those encountered by the wireline users described above. Moreover, if the “local” ISP server is located in a calling area that is different from where the roaming mobile subscriber is located, the mobile subscriber may typically incur additional tolls and charges in relation to its wireless Internet access.
A current solution for providing Internet access to roaming mobile subscribers involves incorporating or interfacing a device known as a Direct Access Unit (DAU) with a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) that serves the visiting mobile subscriber. The DAU device routes an Internet access call (data call) originated by the visiting mobile subscriber to an ISP server location determined by the MSC operator. There are several shortcomings in this approach. First, the interfacing devices are typically operable only with digital mobile phones, thereby precluding the use of widely used analog or dual-mode mobile phones for accessing the Internet. Second, the ISP server location to which the roaming mobile subscriber's data call is routed is controlled by the operator of the serving MSC, thereby precluding the mobile subscriber from selecting a preferred ISP server location. Also, the routing path to the ISP server location may not be the most economical call path available to the mobile subscriber. Further, if the operator-controlled ISP location is in a different calling area, the mobile subscriber's Internet access is subject to additional charges as well.
Accordingly, based upon the foregoing discussion, it should be readily appreciated that there exists a need for a solution which overcomes the deficiencies and shortcomings of current technologies and advantageously provides Internet access to roaming mobile subscribers in a radio telecommunications network. The present invention provides such a method and system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a method of providing Internet access to a roaming mobile subscriber operating a mobile station in a visited service area served by a serving Mobile Switching Center (MSC). The serving MSC is disposed in a radio telecommunications network system which includes a home service node having a Home Location Register (HLR) and a Service Control Point (SCP). In accordance with the method of the present invention, the home service node stores a subscriber service category associated with the mobile station for identifying an Internet Service Provider (ISP). At least one routing number for the identified ISP is stored in an ISP database. When the roaming mobile station initiates an Internet access service while located in the visited service area, the serving MSC determines that the mobile station has initiated the Internet access service and sends a message to the home service node in response. The message includes a service trigger for the mobile subscriber, a plurality of digits dialed or effectuated by the mobile subscriber, and a location information portion relating to the location of the mobile subscriber and the serving MSC's location.
Upon receiving the message, the home service node determines the identity of the ISP for the mobile station based on the contents of the message. Thereafter, it interrogates the ISP database associated with the identified ISP to determine a routing number for an ISP server location that is local to the location of the mobile subscriber. In response, an appropriate routing number is returned to the serving MSC for establishing a trunk connection to the ISP server location.
In a further aspect, the present invention is directed to an Internet access system disposed in a radio telecommunications network, for providing Internet access to a roaming mobile subscriber located in a visited service area served by a serving Mobile Switching Center (MSC). The Internet access system comprises access means, available to the roaming mobile subscriber, for initiating an Internet access service. Also included in the network system is a home service node which comprises a Home Location Register (HLR) and an associated Service Control Point (SCP). The HLR includes a subscriber service category for identifying an Internet Service Provider (ISP) preferred by the roaming mobile subscriber. An ISP database is coupled to the home service node via a standard or proprietary interface. When the serving MSC sends a message to the home service node responsive to an actuation of the access means by the roaming mobile subscriber, the home service node determines the identity of the preferred ISP based on the message and interrogates the ISP database for a routing number associated with an ISP server. Based on the location of the mobile subscriber and/or the serving MSC's location, a routing number associated with an ISP server location that is most proximately local to the mobile subscriber's location and/or the serving MSC's location is returned. The serving MSC of the radio telecommunications network then establishes a trunk connection to the ISP location associated with the returned routing number.
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Tamara {haeck over (Z)}vela, HPT, Croatian Post and Telecommunication; “Global Internet Roaming”; 1998; pp. 95-103.
Jari Hämäläinen and Timo Jokiaho; “GSM Access to Internet”; Mar. 1994; pp. 37-42.
Bost Dwayne
Gelin Jean A
Smith ,Danamraj & Youst, P.C.
Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (publ)
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