IMSI MCC-MNC BEST MATCHING SEARCHING
Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method of matching a user roaming request with the users home network, the method comprising: receiving a user request that includes an international mobile subscriber identification (IMSI); extracting mobile country code (MCC) from the IMSI; extracting the next M digits from the IMSI as the mobile network code (MNC); searching a MCC-MNC database for the extracted MCC-MNC; if the extracted MCC-MNC is found in the MCC-MNC database, then associate the user request with an identified roaming partner.
1 . A method of matching a user roaming request with the users home network, the method comprising:
receiving a user request that includes an international mobile subscriber identification (IMSI);
extracting mobile country code (MCC) from the IMSI;
extracting the next M digits from the IMSI as the mobile network code (MNC);
searching a MCC-MNC database for the extracted MCC-MNC;
if the extracted MCC-MNC is found in the MCC-MNC database, then associate the user request with an identified roaming partner.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein M is three.
3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
if the extracted MCC-MNC is not found in the MCC-MNC database, then setting a new MNC to the first N digits of the extracted MNC, wherein N is less than M;
searching the MCC-MNC database for the new MCC-MNC;
if the new MCC-MNC is found in the MCC-MNC database, then associate the user request with an identified roaming partner.
4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein M is three and N is two.
5 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising if the extracted MCC-MNC and the new MCC-MNC are not found in the MCC-MNC database, then associate the user request with an unidentified roaming partner.
6 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising if the extracted MCC-MNC and the new MCC-MNC are not found in the MCC-MNC database, then reject the user request.
7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a new or updated subscriber agreement;
extracting MCC-MNC values for roaming partners in the subscriber agreement;
storing the extracted MCC-MNC values in the MCC-MNC database.
8 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising:
receiving a new or updated subscriber agreement;
extracting MCC-MNC values for roaming partners in the subscriber agreement;
storing the extracted MCC-MNC values in the MCC-MNC database.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the MCC is the first three digits of the IMSI.
10 . A tangible and non-transitory machine-readable storage medium encoded with instructions for execution by a network device for matching a user roaming request with the users home network, the tangible and non-transitory machine-readable storage medium comprising:
instructions for receiving a user request that includes an international mobile subscriber identification (IMSI);
instructions for extracting mobile country code (MCC) from the IMSI;
instructions for extracting the next M digits from the IMSI as the mobile network code (MNC);
instructions for searching a MCC-MNC database for the extracted MCC-MNC;
instructions for if the extracted MCC-MNC is found in the MCC-MNC database, then associate the user request with an identified roaming partner.
11 . The tangible and non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein M is three.
12 . The tangible and non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 10 , further comprising:
instructions for if the extracted MCC-MNC is not found in the MCC-MNC database, then setting a new MNC to the first N digits of the extracted MNC, wherein N is less than M;
instructions for searching the MCC-MNC database for the new MCC-MNC;
instructions for if the new MCC-MNC is found in the MCC-MNC database, then associate the user request with an identified roaming partner.
13 . The tangible and non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 12 , wherein M is three and N is two.
14 . The tangible and non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 12 , further comprising instructions for if the extracted MCC-MNC and the new MCC-MNC are not found in the MCC-MNC database, then associate the user request with an unidentified roaming partner.
15 . The tangible and non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 12 , further comprising instructions for if the extracted MCC-MNC and the new MCC-MNC are not found in the MCC-MNC database, then reject the user request.
16 . The tangible and non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 10 , further comprising:
instructions for receiving a new or updated subscriber agreement;
instructions for extracting MCC-MNC values for roaming partners in the subscriber agreement;
instructions for storing the extracted MCC-MNC values in the MCC-MNC database.
17 . The tangible and non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 12 , further comprising:
instructions for receiving a new or updated subscriber agreement;
instructions for extracting MCC-MNC values for roaming partners in the subscriber agreement;
instructions for storing the extracted MCC-MNC values in the MCC-MNC database.
18 . The tangible and non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the MCC is the first three digits of the IMSI.