Methods and systems for allowing global roaming between devices supported by different protocols
View Patent ↗Techniques are provided to allow global roaming between different devices in different networks, using different protocols. A system may contain one or more protocol dependent logic servers (PDLSs), in which each PDLS is associated with a particular network/network protocol. The networks may comprise one or more wired telecommunications networks, wireless communications networks, or Internet-based networks. When a first PDLS receives an incoming, protocol-dependent message comprising a first protocol from a first network intended for a user currently registered on another network, the first PDLS converts the protocol-dependent message into an incoming, protocol-independent message and forwards it to another network element, such as a core logic server (CLS). The CLS processes the incoming, protocol-independent message, generates an appropriate outgoing protocol-independent message and forwards this message to a second PDLS. The second PDLS converts the outgoing, protocol-independent message to an appropriate outgoing, protocol-dependent message and forwards it to a second network operating using a second protocol. The conversion of incoming, protocol-independent messages into outgoing, protocol-independent messages eventually enables a link to be established between the two networks operating using different protocols.
1. A system for allowing global roaming between devices in wired and wireless networks, comprising a first protocol dependent logic server (PDLS) associated with each network, operable to:
receive a first, incoming protocol-dependent message in a first mobility management protocol originating from a first network;
convert the first, incoming protocol-dependent message to a first, incoming protocol-independent message which includes a value that indicates tasks to be performed within the system;
forward the first, incoming protocol-independent message to a first network module;
receive a first, outgoing protocol-independent message that includes routing information for a mobile user;
convert the first, outgoing protocol-independent message into an appropriate, outgoing protocol-dependent message in the first mobility management protocol; and
forward the appropriate, outgoing protocol dependent message to the first network.
2. The system as in claim 1 further comprising a second PDLS operable to:
receive a second, outgoing protocol-independent message which includes a value that indicates tasks to be performed within the system;
convert the second, outgoing protocol-independent message into an appropriate, outgoing protocol-dependent message in a second mobility management protocol; and
forward the appropriate, outgoing protocol-dependent message in the second mobility management protocol to a second network.
3. The system as in claim 1 further comprising a second PDLS operable to:
receive a second, incoming protocol-dependent message in a second mobility management protocol originating from a second network;
convert the second, incoming protocol-dependent message into a second, incoming protocol-independent message which includes a value that indicates tasks to be performed within the system; and
forward the second, incoming protocol-independent message to a second network module.
4. The system as in claim 1 further comprising:
a core logic server (CLS) operable to:
receive one or more incoming, protocol-independent messages; and
convert each received incoming, protocol-independent message into at least one outgoing, protocol-independent message,
wherein the conversion of an incoming, protocol-independent message into an outgoing, protocol-independent message eventually enables a link to be established between networks operating using different mobility management protocols.
5. The system as in claim 1 further comprising an interface for transferring an outgoing or incoming protocol-independent message between the first PDLS and a CLS.
6. The system as in claim 2 further comprising an interface for transferring an outgoing or incoming protocol-independent message between the second PDLS and a CLS.
7. The system as in claim 1 further comprising a core database server (CDS) operable to manage a plurality of a user's profiles.
8. The system as in claim 1 further comprising a user database for storing a user's profiles for each network associated with the user.
9. The system as in claim 4 , wherein the CLS is further operable to request user location information from a core database server (CDS), wherein the user location information comprises information used to determine where to route a protocol-independent message.
10. The system as in claim 4 , wherein the CLS is further operable to use operational profiles to determine where to route a protocol-independent message.
11. The system as in claim 9 wherein the user location information comprises user preferences.
12. The system as in claim 1 , wherein each of the protocol-independent messages comprises at least one message selected from a group consisting of a terminal registration message, a call routing and delivery message, and a short message service message.
13. The system as in claim 1 wherein the first PDLS is further operable to exchange user location information or profiles with a user database.
14. The system as in claim 1 wherein the first network comprises a network selected from the group consisting of a wired, wireless and Internet network.
15. The system as in claim 2 wherein the second network comprises a network selected from the group consisting of a wired, wireless and Internet network.
16. The system as in claim 3 wherein the second network comprises a network selected from the group consisting of a wired, wireless and Internet network.
17. A method for allowing global roaming between devices in wired and wireless networks comprising:
receiving a first, incoming protocol-dependent message in a first mobility management protocol originating from a first network at a first protocol dependent logic server (PDLS) associated with said first network;
converting the first, incoming protocol-dependent message to a first, incoming protocol-independent message which includes a value that indicates tasks to be performed by one or more of the devices within the networks at the first PDLS;
forwarding the first, incoming protocol-independent message to a first network module;
receiving a first, outgoing protocol-independent message that includes routing information for a mobile user;
converting the first, outgoing protocol-independent message into an appropriate, outgoing protocol-dependent message in the first mobility management protocol; and
forwarding the appropriate, outgoing protocol dependent message to the first network.
18. The method as in claim 17 further comprising:
receiving a second, outgoing protocol-independent message which includes a value that indicates tasks to be performed by one or more of the devices within the networks at a second PDLS;
converting the second, outgoing protocol-independent message into an appropriate, outgoing protocol-dependent message in a second mobility management protocol at the second PDLS; and
forwarding the appropriate, outgoing protocol-dependent message in the second mobility management protocol to a second network.
19. The method as in claim 17 further comprising:
receiving a second, incoming protocol-dependent message in a second mobility management protocol originating from a second network which includes a value that indicates tasks to be performed by one or more of the devices within the networks at a second PDLS;
converting the second, incoming protocol-dependent message into a second, incoming protocol-independent message at the second PDLS; and
forwarding the second, incoming protocol-independent message to a second network module.
20. The method as in claim 17 further comprising:
receiving one or more incoming, protocol-independent messages; and
converting each received incoming, protocol-independent message into at least one outgoing, protocol-independent message,
wherein the conversion of an incoming, protocol-independent message into an outgoing, protocol-independent message eventually enables a link to be established between networks operating using different mobility management protocols.
21. The method as in claim 17 further comprising transferring an outgoing or incoming protocol-independent message between the first protocol-dependent logic server (PDLS) and a core logic server (CLS).
22. The method as in claim 18 further comprising transferring an outgoing or incoming protocol-independent message between the second PDLS and a CLS.
23. The method as in claim 19 further comprising transferring an outgoing or incoming protocol-independent message between the second PDLS and a CLS.
24. The method as in claim 17 further comprising managing a plurality of a user's profiles.
25. The method as in claim 17 further comprising storing a user's profiles for each network associated with the user.
26. The method as in claim 20 further comprising requesting user location information from a core database server (CDS), wherein the user location information comprises information used to determine where to route a protocol-independent message.
27. The method as in claim 20 further comprising using operational profiles to determine where to route a protocol-independent message.
28. The method as in claim 26 wherein the user location information comprises user preferences.
29. The method as in claim 17 , wherein each of the protocol-independent messages comprises at least one message selected from a group consisting of a terminal registration message, a call routing and delivery message, and a short message service message.
30. The method as in claim 17 wherein further comprising exchanging user location information or profiles with a user database.
31. The method as in claim 17 wherein the first network comprises a network selected from the group consisting of a wired, wireless and Internet network.
32. The method as in claim 18 wherein the second network comprises a network selected from the group consisting of a wired, wireless and Internet network.
33. The method as in claim 19 wherein the second network comprises a network selected from the group consisting of a wired, wireless and Internet network.
34. A system for allowing global roaming between devices in wired and wireless networks comprising:
a first protocol dependent logic server (PDLS) associated with each network operable to;
receive a first, incoming protocol-dependent message in a first mobility management protocol originating from a first network,
convert the first, incoming protocol-dependent message to a first, incoming protocol-independent message which includes a value that indicates tasks to be performed by one or more of the devices within the networks,
forward the first, incoming protocol-independent message to a first network module,
receive a first, outgoing protocol-independent message which also includes a value that indicates tasks to be performed by one or more of the devices and routing information for a mobile user,
convert the first, outgoing protocol-independent message into an appropriate, outgoing protocol-dependent message in the first mobility management protocol, and
forward the appropriate, outgoing protocol dependent message to the first network; and
a second PDLS operable to;
receive a second, incoming protocol-dependent message in a second mobility management protocol originating from a second network,
convert the second, incoming protocol-dependent message into a second, incoming protocol-independent message which also includes a value that indicates tasks to be performed by one or more of the devices, and
forward the second, incoming protocol-independent message to a second network module.