HK1085075A - International dialing for wireless networks - Google Patents

Description

International dialing for wireless networks

Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to communications, and more specifically to systems and techniques for supporting international dialing while roaming across multiple network platforms in a wireless system.

Background

Roaming is the ability to make and receive calls outside of a user's home network. More specifically, international roaming is the ability to make and receive calls from a foreign country using the user's own handset and the wireless network of the foreign country. International roaming typically requires a subscriber to dial an international access code to access a telephone number outside the country in which the subscriber is located. The international access code is specific to each country and, in some cases, to the telecommunications carrier for which the network supports calls. For example, to set up an international call using the international roaming feature, a user in the united states must dial "011" on their handset. In order to place an international call from france, a subscriber in france must dial "00", "40" or "70", or other international access code, depending on the telecommunications carrier selected for use by the subscriber. Thus, a user who travels frequently must remember various international access codes in order to use their handset to talk in different countries. Since many countries have different international access codes and since the international access codes within a country may vary according to the telecommunications operator, knowing exactly these access codes may be a great burden for travelers.

Many european countries use the global system for mobile communications (GSM) standard for wireless networks. GSM supports an international dialing feature in which a user can dial the (+) key on their handset instead of dialing an international access code. Dialing the (+) key causes the call to be an international call instructing the local switching system to send the call to the international switch. Unfortunately, however, users whose handsets include a GSM-enabled (ten) key cannot use this functionality in areas not covered by the GSM network. For example, Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) systems do not recognize or support the flag accompanying a call with the (+) key already set and therefore cannot send it to an international exchange. In order to transmit an international call, the CDMA system requires an appropriate international access code to accompany the call.

With the tremendous increase in wireless communication over the last few years, there is a demand for more simplified access methods in international roaming. However, there is no automatic international dialing feature available in the prior art that enables a subscriber to roam internationally without knowing or entering the appropriate international access code, regardless of the network supporting the call.

Disclosure of Invention

In one embodiment of the invention, a method of communication includes retrieving information from a network, identifying an international access code associated with the retrieved information, and placing an international call over the network using the international access code.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a method of communication includes retrieving an international access code from a network and placing an international call over the network using the international access code retrieved from the network.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention, a computer readable medium embodying a program of instructions executable by a computer program performs a method of communication including retrieving information from a network, identifying an international access code associated with the retrieved information, and placing an international call over the network using the international access code.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention, a computer readable medium embodying a program of instructions executable by a computer program performs a method of communication including retrieving an international access code from a network and placing an international call over the network using the international access code retrieved from the network.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a communication device includes an acquisition device for acquiring information from a network, an identification device for identifying an international access code associated with the acquired information, and a device for placing an international call over the network using the international access code.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a communication device includes an obtaining device for obtaining an international access code from a network, and a device for setting up an international call over the network using the international access code obtained from the network.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention, a communications apparatus includes a processor configured to retrieve information from a network, identify an international access code associated with the retrieved information, and set up an international call over the network using the international access code.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention, a communications apparatus includes a processor configured to retrieve an international access code from a network and set up an international call over the network using the international access code retrieved from the network.

It is understood that other embodiments of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, wherein it is shown and described only embodiments of the invention by way of illustration. It is to be understood that the invention is capable of other and different embodiments and its several details are capable of modification in various other respects, all without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the drawings and detailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.

Drawings

Embodiments of the present invention are illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings. Wherein:

fig. 1 is a conceptual block diagram of a CDMA communication system;

figure 2 is a simplified functional diagram showing software components in a subscriber station arranged to determine an international access code during registration;

figure 3 is a simplified functional diagram showing optional software components in a subscriber station arranged to determine an international access code during registration;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are simplified functional block diagrams illustrating components of the software application described in relation to FIGS. 3 and 4, respectively;

figure 5 shows one embodiment of a subscriber station arranged to identify an international access code during registration of the subscriber station with a local network.

Detailed Description

The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of embodiments of the present invention and is not intended to limit the invention thereto. The term "exemplary" as used in this specification means "serving as an example, instance, or illustration," and should not be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. The detailed description includes specific details for the purpose of providing a thorough understanding of the invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring the concepts of the present invention.

In the following detailed description, various techniques will be described in the context of a CDMA communication system. Although these techniques may be well suited for use in this environment, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that these techniques may also be applicable to other wireless networks. Accordingly, any reference to a CDMA communications system is intended only to illustrate the various inventive aspects of the present invention, and it is to be understood that these inventive aspects have a wide range of applications.

Fig. 1 is a conceptual block diagram of a CDMA communication system. A CDMA communication system is shown with multiple networks 101 a-f. The movement of the subscriber station 102 through different networks is shown in dashed lines. Subscriber station 102 is initially shown in its home network 101 a. Home network 101a may include one or more radio controllers for establishing and maintaining wireless connections with all subscriber stations in home network 101 a. A wireless network may be defined as a set of base stations and one or more base station controllers. For ease of illustration, only one wireless network 110 is shown. Home network 101a may also include a Mobile Telephone Switching Office (MTSO)106 that connects a wireless network 110 to a Wide Area Network (WAN)108, such as a land-based Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) and/or a packet data-based network.

User station 102 may communicate with other user stations (not shown) or access WAN 108 via wireless network 110 while moving through home network 101 a. This may be accomplished through a registration process by establishing a radio link between subscriber station 102 and wireless network 110. The registration process includes transmitting a system identification code (SID) from the wireless network 110 to the subscriber station 102 on an overhead channel. When the subscriber station receives the SID, the subscriber station compares it to the SID encoded into the subscriber station 102. If the SIDs match, user station 102 knows that it is communicating with wireless network 110 from its home network 101 a.

Subscriber station 102, upon receiving the SID, transmits a registration request to wireless network 110. The registration request may be used to report the location of the user station 102 in the home network 101a to the MTSO 106. MTSO 106 stores this information in a database. The database enables the MTSO to intelligently route calls to subscriber stations 102 without having to page subscriber stations 102 throughout home network 101 a. In response to the registration request, various system parameters may be sent back from MTSO 106 to subscriber station 102 via wireless network 110.

When a subscriber station 102 moves out of its home network 104, it typically needs to register with a new network. In the embodiment shown in fig. 1, subscriber station 102 is shown moving from its home network 101a into foreign network 101 b. The foreign network 101b is referred to as a home network as long as the user station 102 remains in the foreign network. During the registration process, the subscriber station 102 receives a SID from the wireless network 118 of the foreign network 101 b. However, unlike the registration process in the subscriber station's home network 101a, the SID from the wireless network 118 does not match the SID programmed into the subscriber station 102. Because of the mismatch, the subscriber station 102 realizes that it is outside its home network 101a, and that it is therefore roaming. User station 102 then transmits a registration request to MTSO114 in local network 101b via wireless network 118. The registration request includes the SID encoded into the subscriber station 102. The SID provides an indication to MTSO114 in local network 101b that subscriber station 102 is roaming. MTSO114 uses the SID to identify home network 101a of subscriber station 102. MTSO114 may then contact MTSO 106 in subscriber station's home network 101a to authenticate subscriber station 102. Once verified, various system parameters may be sent back from MTSO114 to subscriber station 102 via wireless network 118, completing the registration process.

In at least one embodiment, the system parameter may include an international access code of the local network. By including the international access code in the system parameters obtained during registration, a user at a subscriber station in a foreign network can place an international call without having to know the international access code of the network. For example, when the user station 102 travels into a foreign network 101b having a different international access code than the user's home network 101a, the user may still place an international call from the foreign network 101b by merely activating an international call key on the user station 102. In response, subscriber station 102 may add the international access code obtained during registration to the telephone number dialed by the subscriber before transmitting to wireless network 118 for appropriate transmission. Alternatively, the subscriber station 102 may be arranged to derive the international access code from information received from the MTSO114 in the local network 101b during registration. The information may be location information, such as a SID or a country code, identifying the geographical location of the local network 101 b.

Figure 2 is a simplified functional diagram showing software components in a subscriber station that determines an international access code when arranged to register with a foreign network. As described above, various parameters may be obtained during the registration process. In one embodiment, one such parameter may include the geographic location of the local network 205. When the user station 102 registers with the MTSO 204, the geographic location of the local network 205 may be transmitted to the user station 102 via the wireless network 206, where the software application 210 uses the location information to generate an international access code.

The subscriber station 102 may include a processor 211 including a general or special purpose processor 213 supporting a software platform 212 such as, for example, BREW (r) developed by Qualcomm corporation^And (4) operating the system. A software platform 212 may be used to run the software application 210. Processor with a memory having a plurality of memory cellsThe particular software platform 212 used in 211 may depend on factors such as the hardware in the subscriber station, the requirements of the software application to be used by the subscriber station, and/or various other options of the subscriber station manufacturer. In alternative embodiments, the processor 213 may be implemented by an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gates, transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any other equivalent or non-equivalent structure that may perform one or more of the functions described above.

The software application 210 may be configured to access a look-up table 214 to identify the international access code based on location information retrieved from the wireless network 206 during registration. The look-up table 214, for example, may be a translation table, a text file, a data matrix, or other data structure or software file that may be utilized by the software application 210. The lookup table 214 may be arranged to correlate location information with international access codes. Thus, when location information for the local network 205 is retrieved from the MTSO 204, a software application 210 present at or in contact with the subscriber station 102 may use the location information to determine the appropriate international access code for placing an international telephone call. The software application 210 is then operable to add the received international access code to the international telephone number dialed by its user at the subscriber station 102.

Figure 3 is a simplified functional diagram showing optional software components in a subscriber station arranged to determine an international access code during registration with a foreign network. In this alternative embodiment, an international access code may be provided to the subscriber station 102 over the wireless network 306 when the subscriber station 102 registers with the MTSO 304. For example, if a particular international access code is the only code used by the local network 305, the international access code may be transmitted back to the subscriber station 102 during registration because the local network 305 only extends to the geographical area where the international access code is used. The processor 311 may then be operable to add the received international access code to the international telephone number dialed by its user at the subscriber station 102. The processor 311 may be implemented by a software application 312 residing on a software platform 310 supported by a general or special purpose processor 313 or operable on the software platform 310. Alternatively, the processor 311 may be implemented by an ASIC, FPGA, or other programmable logic device, discrete gate, transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any other equivalent or non-equivalent structure that performs one or more of the functions described above.

Fig. 4A is a simplified functional block diagram illustrating components of the software application 210 described in conjunction with fig. 2. During registration of the subscriber station with the local network, location information relating to the local network may be transferred to the subscriber station and read into the software application 210, as shown at block 420. Next, at block 404, a lookup table may be accessed. As mentioned above, the lookup table may take many different forms and includes location information and a corresponding international access code. Using the received location information to reference a lookup table, the corresponding international access code may be identified at block 406. The identified international access code may then be added to the telephone number dialed by the user at step 498 so that it is properly identified as an international call so that it may be transmitted and directed accordingly.

Fig. 4B is a simplified functional block diagram illustrating components of the software application 312 described with reference to fig. 3. At block 410, the international access code specific to the local network with which the subscriber station is registered may be transmitted to the subscriber station and received by the software application 312. The received international access code may then be added to the telephone number dialed by the user, whereupon it is appropriately identified as an international call so that it is transmitted and directed accordingly.

Figure 5 is one embodiment of a subscriber station that may be configured to implement the above-described systems and methods. The subscriber station 102 may be a handset, or other similar device, and may include, among other things, an antenna 504 for performing information retrieval and other functions during registration, a display 506 for displaying information to the user, a keypad 508 including numeric keys for enabling the user to dial telephone numbers, and a key 510 for activating the international access code determination method described above. By activating key 510, the user signals that he is making an international telephone call but does not enter an international access code. This signals the subscriber station to apply the international access code determination method described above so that the appropriate international access code can be added to the telephone number entered by the subscriber. The synthesized telephone number may then be appropriately identified and transmitted in a CDMA communication system. Note that in an alternative embodiment, the key 510 may be part of the keyboard 508, such as an existing key. For example, the key 510 may be an (#) key.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the mobile device initiates an international call by dialing a national international dialing code. For example, for a mobile subscriber with a home agent in the united states, the subscriber dials the united states code, i.e., 011. When a national international dialing code is received, the mobile device verifies the current location of the mobile device based on information in the system parameter message. If the location information identifies that the mobile device is outside the United states, the mobile device determines a local international dialing code for the foreign agent and replaces the national international dialing code with the code. In this way, the user can always use the home code for international dialing regardless of the location of the device. Alternative embodiments may implement other triggering methods and means for initiating retrieval of international dialing code information from the system. In an alternative embodiment, the international dialing may be voice activated, wherein the user gives the system a voice prompt and the system responds to access the international access code.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the two embodiments described above, as well as others, enable a user to place an international call from a foreign country without having to dial an international access code. And the subscriber station determines its location (e.g., in a foreign country) during registration with the home network and identifies the corresponding international access code using a software application or retrieves the appropriate international access code from the home network itself during registration. The software application used by the subscriber station then adds the international access code to the digits of the telephone number entered by the subscriber and the resulting string of digits, including the international access code, is identified as an international call so that it can be supported in a CDMA communications system.

The logic blocks, modules, and circuits described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented or performed with a general purpose processor, a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. A general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but in the alternative, the processor may be any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other such configuration.

The methods and algorithms described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be embodied directly in hardware, in a software module executed by a processor, or in a combination of the two. A software module may reside in RAM memory, flash memory, ROM memory, EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, registers, hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, or any other form of storage medium known in the art. A storage medium is coupled to the processor such that the processor can read information from, and write information to, the storage medium. In the alternative, the storage medium may be integral to the processor. The processor and the storage medium may reside in an ASIC. The ASIC may reside in a user terminal. In alternative embodiments, the processor and the storage medium may reside as discrete components in a user terminal.

The previous description of the disclosed embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the present invention. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made to these embodiments, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments, without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Claims (51)

1. A method of communication, comprising:

obtaining information from a network;

identifying an international access code associated with the retrieved information; and

and using the international access code to carry out international call through the network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the information relates to a location of the network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the information is retrieved during registration with the network.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein initiating the international call comprises activating a key on a handset.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the information is retrieved in response to activation of the key.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the international access code is identified in response to activation of the key.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the international access code comprises mapping the information to the international access code.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the network comprises a CDMA network.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the information comprises a system parameters message.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the information comprises a System Identifier (SID).

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises:

comparing the received SID with a stored System Identifier (SID) of a home network;

if the received SID is different from the home network SID, performing international call by the network by using the international access code; and

and if the received SID is the home network SID, performing international calling by using a domestic international access code through the network.

12. A method of communication, comprising:

obtaining an international access code from a network; and

making an international call over the network using the international access code retrieved from the network.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising initiating the international call prior to retrieving the international access code.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein initiating the international call comprises activating a key on a handset.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the international access code is retrieved in response to activation of the key.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the network comprises a CDMA network.

17. A computer readable medium embodying a program of instructions executable by a computer program to perform a method of communication, the method comprising:

obtaining information from a network;

identifying an international access code associated with the retrieved information; and

making an international call over the network using the international access code.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the information relates to a location of the network.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the information is retrieved during registration with the network.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 17 wherein said information is retrieved in response to activation of a key on the handset.

21. The computer readable medium of claim 17 wherein the international access code is identified in response to activation of a key on a handset.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein identifying the international access code comprises mapping the information to the international access code.

23. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the network comprises a CDMA network.

24. Computer readable media embodying a program of instructions executable by a computer program performs a method of communication, the method comprising

Obtaining an international access code from a network; and

making an international call over the network using the international access code retrieved from the network.

25. The computer readable medium of claim 24 wherein said international access code is retrieved in response to activation of the key on the handset.

26. The computer-readable medium of claim 24, wherein the network comprises a CDMA network.

27. A communication device, comprising:

an acquisition means for acquiring information from a network;

identifying means for identifying an international access code associated with the acquired information; and

means for making an international call over the network using the international access code.

28. The communications apparatus of claim 27 wherein the information relates to a location of the network.

29. A communications device as claimed in claim 27, wherein the retrieving means is arranged to retrieve the information during registration with the network.

30. The communications apparatus of claim 27 further comprising means for initiating the international call, the retrieving means being arranged to retrieve the information in response to initiation of the international call.

31. The communications apparatus of claim 30 wherein the means for initiating the international call comprises a key.

32. The communications apparatus of claim 30 wherein the identifying means is arranged to identify the international access code in response to the start of the international call.

33. The communications device of claim 30 wherein the identifying means comprises a look-up table having information with an associated international access code.

34. The communications apparatus of claim 27 wherein the means for identifying comprises means for mapping the information to the international access code.

35. The communications apparatus of claim 27 wherein the network comprises a CDMA network.

36. A communication device, comprising:

obtaining means for obtaining an international access code from a network; and

means for making an international call over the network using the international access code retrieved from the network.

37. The communications apparatus of claim 36 further comprising means for initiating the international call, the retrieving means being arranged to retrieve the international access information in response to initiation of the international call.

38. The communications apparatus of claim 37 wherein the means for initiating the international call comprises a key.

39. The communications apparatus of claim 36 wherein the network comprises a CDMA network.

40. A communications device comprising a processor arranged to retrieve information from a network, to identify an international access code associated with the retrieved information, and to make an international call over the network using the international access code.

41. The communications apparatus of claim 40 wherein the correlation relates to a location of the network.

42. The communication device of claim 40, wherein the processor is further configured to retrieve the information during registration with the network.

43. The communications device of claim 40 further comprising a key arranged to initiate the international call, the processor being responsive to activation of the key.

44. The communication device of claim 43, wherein the processor is further configured to retrieve the information in response to activation of the key.

45. The communication device of claim 43, wherein the processor is further configured to identify the international access code in response to activation of the key.

46. The communications apparatus of claim 40 wherein the processor is further configured to identify the international access code by mapping the information to the international access code.

47. The communications apparatus of claim 40 wherein the network comprises a CDMA network.

48. A communications apparatus comprising a processor arranged to retrieve an international access code from a network and to conduct an international call over the network using the international access code retrieved from the network.

49. The communications device of claim 48 further comprising a key arranged to initiate the international call, the processor being responsive to activation of the key.

50. The communications device of claim 49, wherein the processor is further configured to retrieve the international access code in response to activation of the key.

51. The communications apparatus of claim 48 wherein the network comprises a CDMA network.