CN1671166A - A method for implementing local pre-paid charging service for international roaming subscriber - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention discloses a method for realizing local prepaid services of international roaming users, which is applied to a mobile intelligent network including at least a mobile switching service center and a service control point; the method includes the steps: the local mobile service switching center triggers the prepaid service The detection mechanism sends an IDP message to trigger the local service control point; the local service control point starts the prepaid service logic according to the aforementioned IDP message; the local service control point establishes a prepaid account corresponding to the roaming user; the local service control point monitors the prepaid service in real time account, and contact the local mobile service switching center to handle the call process.

Description

A Method for Realizing Local Prepaid Service for International Roaming Users

technical field

The invention relates to wireless communication technology, in particular to a method for realizing roaming call in mobile intelligent network.

Background technique

Roaming services can be provided for users based on the mobile network, including domestic roaming and international roaming. Among them, the international roaming service refers to users registered in the mobile network (HPLMN, public land mobile communication network in the home area) of a certain country or region. When they arrive in another country or region, they can still move in the region. network (VPLMN, public land mobile communication network of the visiting area) to obtain the same telecommunication services as he has in the HPLMN (public land mobile communication network of the home area).

Because the international roaming service enables mobile users to roam between countries or regions without changing their numbers, it brings convenience to the users and increases the business volume of the operators. According to the statistics of the GSM MoU organization (GSM Memorandum of Understanding, composed of GSM network operators in various countries), most of the mobile networks officially put into commercial operation around the world have carried out international roaming services between them.

Please refer to FIG. 1 , which is a schematic diagram of a prior art network structure for implementing international roaming services based on a mobile network. Taking mobile terminal b (MSb) as an international roaming user and Msa as an example for domestic users, the roaming call process in the prior art includes steps: MSa calls MSb, and calls the mobile switching service center a (MSCa) that accesses the VPLMN; Analyze the called number, and forward the call to the VPLMN International Gateway Office (GMSC/ISC) of MSb through the IAM message; the VPLMNGMSC/ISC of MSb analyzes the called number, determine the international route, and forward the call to MSb through the IAM message The HPLMN International Gateway Office (GMSC/ISC) of MSb; the HPLMN GMSC/ISC of MSb analyzes the called party, and sends an SRI query to the Home Location Register b (HLRb) of MSb to inquire about the called routing information; HLRb registers according to the VPLMN Land Visit Location Register ( VLR) address, query the called roaming number (MSRN) to MSC/VLRb of VPLMN; MSC/VLRb returns MSRN of MSb to HLRb; HLRb returns SRI_ACK, and passes the found MSRN to HPLMN GMSC/ISC of MSb; HPLMN of MSb GMSC/ISC connects according to MSRN and connects to VPLMN GMSC/ISC of MSb; VPLMN GMSC/ISC of MSb connects the call to MSC/VLRb; MSC/VLRb connects to MSb to complete the call connection.

In the international roaming service of the prior art, the billing information of the VPLMN will be transmitted to the national billing center of the VPLMN for processing, and then periodically sent to the national billing center of the HPLMN for charging and settlement.

Wherein, the charging of the calling party (Msa) is completed at the GMSC/ISC of the VPLMN of MSCa and MSb, and the GMSC/ISC of the HPLMN of MSb. The called party (MSb) charges at the MSC/VLRb, the GMSC/ISC of MSb's HPLMN, and the GMSC/ISC of MSb's VPLMN. That is to say, the two international operators make settlement according to the bills in VPLMN, GMSC/ISC and HPLMN.

Although the existing technology can realize international roaming, it has some defects: First, the visited network (VPLMN) cannot charge the called user in real time, but settles it through two international charging centers, which increases the operating cost. Secondly, the post-payment method is adopted for the settlement of the international roaming user's call fee, which cannot effectively control the high international long-distance call fee of the user, which may cause the situation that the high call fee cannot be recovered, and bring inconvenience to the user. Again, when getting the roaming information of the called party (MSb), the signaling needs to detour to the HLRb of its home country to get the roaming number, and the process of voice connection is very complicated, wasting a lot of valuable signaling and voice resources.

Contents of the invention

The technical problem solved by the present invention is to provide a method for realizing local prepaid services for international roaming users, which can not only simplify the settlement process to save costs, but also facilitate the control of telephone charges and facilitate use.

For this reason, the technical scheme that the present invention solves technical problem is: provide a kind of method that realizes the local prepaid service of international roaming user, be applied to the mobile intelligent network that at least comprises mobile switching service center and service control point; Said mobile service switching center It has a prepaid service trigger detection mechanism, and the service control point has a prepaid service logic and a prepaid account database; the method includes the steps of:

1) When the local mobile service switching center receives a call involving a roaming user, it sends an IDP message through a prepaid service trigger detection mechanism to trigger the local service control point;

2) The local service control point starts the prepaid service logic according to the aforementioned IDP message, queries the prepaid account database, and judges whether there is a prepaid account corresponding to the aforementioned roaming user, if not, then enters step 3); if yes, then enters step 4 );

3) The local service control point establishes a prepaid account corresponding to the roaming user;

4) The local service control point monitors the prepaid account in real time, and contacts the local mobile service switching center to handle the calling process.

Wherein, in the step 1), when the roaming user makes a call, the local mobile service switching center triggers an IDP message according to the roaming user's MSISDN, IMSI and/or subscription information.

Wherein, in the step 1), when the roaming user is called, the local mobile service switching center triggers an IDP message according to the roaming information of the roaming user.

Wherein, before the step 1), the local service control point also includes establishing a prepaid account for the roaming user.

Wherein, it also includes that the local service control point inquires about the prepaid account, and controls the local mobile switching service center to broadcast call charge and/or balance information to roaming users.

Wherein, in the step 4), when the local service control point detects that the prepaid account is zero, the call is rejected; when the local service control point detects that the prepaid account is not zero, the call is connected.

Wherein, in the step 3), the local service control point stores the credit of the roaming user in the balance of the prepaid account.

Wherein, in said step 4), when the local service control point detects that the prepaid account balance is less than the reminder balance, it controls the local mobile switching service center to play a voice prompt to the roaming user.

Wherein, in the step 4), the local service control point charges in real time and deducts the amount of the prepaid account.

Wherein, in step 4), the call is terminated when the local service control point detects that the balance of the prepaid account is zero.

Wherein, in the step 4), the local service control point records the call situation, and generates a bill when the call ends.

Wherein, in the step 3), the local service control point stores the call authority in the prepaid account; in the step 4), the local service control point decides to accept or reject the call according to the aforementioned call authority.

Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are: firstly, because the present invention sets the prepaid account for the roaming user at the local service control point of the visited network, and monitors the balance of the account during the call, so that the operator can control the account balance in real time. The user's call charges, and the user can also monitor the charges used. Secondly, according to the agreement between operators, the local service control point can carry out real-time deduction, thereby reducing the settlement process between operators and saving operating costs. Thirdly, when a roaming user is calling or called, the voice path does not need to be detoured to the home network, which saves expensive voice path resources.

Description of drawings

Fig. 1 is a kind of flow chart that realizes roaming call in prior art;

Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of the networking structure of the mobile intelligent network;

Fig. 3 is the flow chart that the roaming user makes calling among the present invention;

Fig. 4 is the flow chart that the roaming user is called in the present invention;

Fig. 5 is a flow chart of a roaming user making a calling in an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 6 is a signaling flow chart of a roaming user making a calling call in an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 7 is the flowchart of the roaming user being called in the embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 8 is a signaling flowchart of a roaming user making a call in the embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed ways

The present invention is a method for providing local prepaid services for international roaming users based on the mobile intelligent network, and can establish prepaid accounts for roaming users in the visited network, thereby simplifying the settlement process, saving operating costs, conveniently controlling telephone charges, and saving voice channel resources .

The mobile intelligent network is a network architecture that provides new services quickly, effectively, economically and conveniently in the mobile network. The service capabilities of the mobile intelligent network are closely related to its application protocols to a large extent. As early as 1997, the European Telecommunications Standardization Organization ETSI launched the CAMEL specification in order to solve the interconnection problem between the GSM mobile communication network and the intelligent network. The full name of CAMEL is Customized Applications for Mobile Network EnhancedLogic (Customized Applications for Mobile Network EnhancedLogic). The development of CAMEL specification has gone through CAMEL1, CAMEL2, CAMEL3 to the current CAMEL4 proposal draft.

The mobile intelligent network is the combination of the existing mobile network and the intelligent network. Some network functional units are added to the existing mobile network, such as: service control point (SCP), service switching point (SSP), service management point (SMP), service Management access part (SMAP), service generation environment (SCE), service charging point (SDP), etc., separate the service control function from the traditional switching function, so that the network can flexibly and conveniently provide new services to meet the needs of users need.

Please refer to FIG. 2, which is a schematic diagram of a mobile intelligent network realizing the method of the present invention, at least including a local service control point SCP, a local mobile switching service center MSC/SSP and a home location register HLR for realizing calls between mobile terminals MS.

Wherein, the local service control point SCP is the center of the mobile intelligent network and the core of implementing services, including a prepaid account database storing user information and prepaid service logic. Its main function is to receive and analyze the message sent by the local mobile switching service center MSC/VLR, and query the database; at the same time, trigger the prepaid service logic according to the message reported by the local mobile switching service center MSC/SSP, and report to the corresponding local mobile switching service center MSC/SSP issues call control commands to realize prepaid services.

Please refer to Table 1, the user information stored in the prepaid account database includes Balance, CreditLimit, State, ChargeFlag, Warningbalance, RoamFlag, CallFlag and so on. Among them, Balance is used to record the balance in the user's prepaid account; CreditLimit is used to record the credit provided by the operator for the user; State is used to record whether the user's status is normal; ChargeFlag is used to record the charging method, configure the user in Whether to use the prepaid account to deduct fees when visiting the network to make calls or receive incoming calls, that is, SCP will deduct fees from users in real time, or SCP will not deduct fees in real time. The operators in the two countries settle according to the bills, so that Billing is more flexible; Warningbalance is used to record the reminder balance. When the user's prepaid account balance is close to the reminder balance, a voice will be played to the user to remind the user to recharge in time; RoamFlag is used to configure the user's roaming authority; CallFlag is used to record the user's call authority According to the value of CallFlag, it is determined whether the user has the right to make international toll calls and/or domestic long-distance calls. When the user makes a call, the SCP can determine whether the user is allowed to call according to the type of the called number and this flag bit, and the following types of calls Whether the call fee is deducted from the prepaid account, or only the bill is recorded, and the operators make settlements based on the bill: accept calls from domestic phone users in the visiting country; accept calls from phone users in countries other than the visiting country; dial calls National telephone subscribers; visiting national telephone subscribers outside the home country.

Table 1 information describe balance Indicates the user's balance Credit Limit Indicates the user's credit State Indicates whether the user is in a normal state ChargeFlag Indicates the billing method:

1--Billed by the SCP; 2--SCP does not charge, but the call bill is calculated between the two operators Warning balance When the user balance is less than warningbalance, play a voice prompt to the user RoamFlag Indicates whether the user has roaming rights CallFlag Indicates the call-out authority of the user

In the intelligent network, the prepaid service logic is generally defined by the service generation environment, and loaded to the local service control point SCP through the service management system.

The local mobile switching service center MSC/SSP has a signaling switching function, and is provided with a prepaid service trigger detection mechanism, which can be triggered according to the MSISDN number, ISMI number or subscription information of the mobile terminal MS.

Please refer to Figure 3, which shows the flow when the roaming user is the calling party. When a roaming user makes a call in the visited network, the local mobile switching service center starts the prepaid service trigger detection mechanism, and sends an IDP message to trigger the local service control point according to the calling MSISDN number, IMSI number and/or calling user's subscription information; The service control point starts the prepaid service logic, establishes a prepaid account for the roaming user when calling for the first time; and judges whether the roaming user has the corresponding call authority, and does not allow the roaming user to call beyond the authority; monitors the balance of the prepaid account during the call, When the balance is less than the reminder balance, instruct the local mobile switching service center to play a reminder to the roaming user; when the balance is zero, cut off the call; the local service control point performs real-time deduction according to the configuration of the prepaid account or only issues a bill, and the operator The merchant makes the settlement. Certainly, the visiting network mobile operator can give the user a certain amount of credit, for example, the user credit CreditLimit=1000 yuan, which means that the user's balance can be -1000 yuan, that is to say, the roaming user can owe the operator 1000 yuan at most. If CreditLimit+Balance<=0 in the prepaid account, the call will be cut off immediately to ensure that the roaming user can only owe 1,000 yuan at most.

Please refer to Figure 4, which shows the flow when the roaming user is called. When a roaming user is called on the visited network, the procedure is roughly similar to that of when the roaming user is the calling party. The difference is that the local mobile switching service center inquires the roaming user's called roaming number and activates the prepaid service trigger detection mechanism. The called roaming information (such as the called roaming number and the called number) sends an IDP message to trigger the local service control point.

In order to facilitate the understanding of the method of the present invention for realizing the local prepaid service for international roaming users, the present invention will be further described below in conjunction with the embodiments.

Referring to Fig. 5 and Fig. 6, roaming user MSa is called, and when local user MSb is called, the method of the present invention comprises steps:

1) MSa initiates a call.

2) MSC/SSPa starts the prepaid service trigger detection mechanism, and judges whether it is a roaming user according to the calling MSISDN number, IMSI number or calling user's subscription information, and if so, MSC/SSPa then sends an IDP message to trigger the SCP, and the IDP The message contains the calling number; if not, it is processed according to the normal call flow.

3) The SCP queries the prepaid account database and starts the prepaid service logic, judges whether there is a prepaid account corresponding to the calling number in the database, and performs corresponding processing.

If yes, then further judge whether the balance or credit of the account is sufficient, if sufficient, then query the call rate, and send RRBE, AC, Continue to MSC/SSPa; if insufficient, then cut off the call.

If not, a prepaid account is automatically established for the mobile phone number, the primary key is the mobile phone number, and then a certain amount of credit is provided for the roaming user, and the call rate is checked, and RRBE, AC, and Continue are sent to MSC/SSPa. Of course, it is also possible not to provide credit as required, but to notify the MSC/SSPa to play a voice prompting the roaming user to pay the fee, and then cut off the call.

4) MSC/SSPa inquires the home location register HLRb of called MSb and sends SRI to inquire about the called roaming number, and obtains the roaming number of called MSb according to the SRI-res from HLRb, and connects the call to MSC/SSP/VLRb.

5) Realize the call between MSa and MSb.

After the call ends, the user releases the call, and MSC/SSPa reports ACR (Apply Charging Report) to SCP, and SCP charges MSa directly and deducts it from the prepaid account. Disconnect the call at the same time.

Please refer to Fig. 7 to Fig. 8, when the local subscriber MSa is called, and the roaming subscriber MSb is called, the method of the present invention comprises steps:

1) MSa calls and roams to MSb in its home country.

2) MSC/SSPa sends SRI to HLRb to query the called roaming number, and HLRb returns SRI-res carrying MSRN roaming number information.

3) The MSC/SSPa uses the called number and the called roaming number in this embodiment to trigger an IDP message to the SCP according to the roaming information.

4) The SCP queries the prepaid account database and starts the prepaid service logic, judges whether there is a prepaid account corresponding to the called number in the database, and performs corresponding processing.

If yes, then further judge whether the balance or credit of the account is sufficient, if sufficient, then query the call rate, and send RRBE, AC, Continue to MSC/SSPa; if insufficient, then cut off the call.

If not, a prepaid account is automatically established for the mobile phone number, the primary key is the mobile phone number, and then a certain amount of credit is provided for the user, and the call rate is checked, and RRBE, AC, and Continue are sent to MSC/SSPa. Of course, it is also possible not to provide credit as required, but to notify the MSC/SSPa to play a voice to prompt the user to pay the fee, and then cut off the call.

5) MSC/SSPa connects the call to MSC/SSP/VLRb.

6) MSa and MSb start talking.

After the call ends, the user releases the call, and MSC/SSPa reports ACR (Apply Charging Report) to SCP, and SCP directly charges MSb and deducts it from the prepaid account. Disconnect the call at the same time.

The method for realizing the local prepaid service of the roaming user in the present invention also includes the step of providing the user with the call fee or the balance. After receiving the user's request, the SCP inquires the user's prepaid account, sends PA signaling and the inquired data, and instructs the MSC to play to the user.

In addition, in the method of this invention, the user's prepaid account information can also be entered through the service management access point, and uploaded to the service control point through the service management system.

The above is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it should be pointed out that for those of ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the principle of the present invention, some improvements and modifications can also be made, and these improvements and modifications should also be It is regarded as the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims (12)

1, a kind of method that realizes international roaming subscriber's local prepayment service is applied to comprise at least the mobile intelligent net of mobile ESC exchange servicing center and service control point; It is characterized in that described mobile services switching centre has prepayment service detection trigger mechanism, described service control point has prepayment service logic and prepaid account database; Described method comprises step:

When 1) local mobile service switching center receives the calling that relates to the roamer, send IDP message trigger local service control point by prepayment service detection trigger mechanism;

2) the prepaid account database is inquired about according to the message initiated prepayment service logic of aforementioned IDP in the local service control point, judges whether to exist the prepaid account of aforementioned roamer's correspondence, if not, then enters step 3); If then enter step 4);

3) prepaid account corresponding with this roamer set up at the local service control point;

4) described prepaid account is monitored at the local service control point in real time, and gets in touch with local mobile service switching center, handles calling procedure.

2, the method for realization international roaming subscriber's local prepayment service according to claim 1, it is characterized in that: in the described step 1), when the roamer did caller, local mobile service switching center triggered IDP message according to roamer's MSISDN, IMSI and/or CAMEL-Subscription-Information.

3, the method for realization international roaming subscriber's local prepayment service according to claim 1 is characterized in that: in the described step 1), when the roamer does when called, local mobile service switching center triggers IDP message according to roamer's roaming information.

4, the method for realization international roaming subscriber's local prepayment service according to claim 1 is characterized in that: comprised also that before described step 1) the local service control point sets up prepaid account for the roamer.

5, the method for realization international roaming subscriber's local prepayment service according to claim 1, it is characterized in that: also comprise described local service control point inquiry prepaid account, control local mobile ESC exchange servicing center and play telephone expenses and/or balance amount information to the roamer.

6, according to the method for each described realization international roaming subscriber's local prepayment service of claim 1 to 5, it is characterized in that: in the described step 4), when the local service control point detected prepaid account and is zero, refusal was called out; When the local service control point detects prepaid account when non-vanishing, call establishment.

7, according to the method for each described realization international roaming subscriber's local prepayment service of claim 1 to 5, it is characterized in that: in the described step 3), roamer's credit rating is stored at the local service control point in prepaid account balance.

8, according to the method for each described realization international roaming subscriber's local prepayment service of claim 1 to 5, it is characterized in that: in the described step 4), when the local service control point detects prepaid account balance less than the prompting remaining sum, control local mobile ESC exchange servicing center and play voice suggestion to the roamer.

9, according to the method for each described realization international roaming subscriber's local prepayment service of claim 1 to 5, it is characterized in that: in the described step 4), the real time billing of local service control point is also deducted the amount of money of prepaid account.

10, the method for realization international roaming subscriber's local prepayment service according to claim 9 is characterized in that: in the described step 4), and end call when the local service control point detects prepaid account balance and is zero.

11, according to the method for each described realization international roaming subscriber's local prepayment service of claim 1 to 5, it is characterized in that: in the described step 4), ticketed call situation in local service control point generates ticket during end of conversation.

12, according to the method for each described realization international roaming subscriber's local prepayment service of claim 1 to 5, it is characterized in that: in the described step 3), the local service control point is the stored calls authority in prepaid account; In the described step 4), the local service control point accepts according to aforementioned calling authority decision or refusal is called out.

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