Controlling mobile-device roaming
View Patent ↗Media and systems for controlling roaming of a mobile device on a wireless-communications network are described. Wireless-communications systems along a coverage area border are designated as roaming border systems. A parameter value is communicated from wireless-communications systems of a home network to a mobile device. The parameter takes on a value indicating whether a mobile device is permitted to initiate a connection to a roaming network. A mobile device is restricted to use of home-network systems when a first parameter value is received. The mobile device is permitted to use home-network and roaming-network systems when a second parameter value is received. Thus, the mobile device can only roam when the second parameter value has been communicated thereto.
1. A system for controlling a way that a mobile device selectively initiates communications with one of a home network versus a second network, the system comprising:
a parameter-receiving component configured to receive a parameter value from a home-network system, wherein the parameter takes on a first value that indicates that the mobile device is not permitted to roam on the second network or a second value that indicates that the mobile device is permitted to roam on the second network;
a system-identifying component configured to receive identification data communicated from the home network and the second network, and also configured to compare the received identification data to known identification data to identify a communicating system;
a connection-enabling component configured to prevent communicating with the second network when the first parameter value is received and to enable communicating with the second network when the second parameter value is received,
wherein at least one parameter value is received including a voice parameter value and a data parameter value, and wherein:
the voice parameter has a first voice-parameter value that indicates that said mobile device is not permitted to roam on said second network for voice communications, or a second voice-parameter value that indicates that said mobile device is permitted to roam on said second network for voice communications, and
the data parameter has a first data-parameter value that indicates that said mobile device is not permitted to roam on said second network for data communications, or a second data-parameter value that indicates that said mobile device is permitted to roam on said second network for data communications.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the received identification data includes a system identification, a network identification, and a channel indicator, and wherein the known identification data includes a system identification, a network identification, and a channel indicator for each of a plurality of home-network systems and second-network systems.
3. The system of claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of home-network systems and second-network systems is prioritized, and wherein the home-network systems are given the highest priority.
4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the known identification data is included in a database and, wherein the database is a preferred roaming list.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein said home-network system and system of said second-network are one of a cell sector, a cell tower, an antenna, and a base station.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein each of said home-network system and system of said second-network broadcast a system-parameters message on a paging channel.
7. The system of claim 6 , wherein said home-network system broadcast at least one parameter value within the system-parameters message.
8. The system of claim 6 , wherein said system of said second-network do not broadcast at least one parameter value.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein said mobile device receives at least one parameter value each time it initiates communication with a different home-network system.
10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the mobile device is in an idle mode.
11. The system of claim 1 , wherein said second parameter value is received from a roaming-border system, wherein a roaming-border system provides signal coverage along a boundary of said home network.