Methods and apparatus for accessing subscriber information in interconnected wireless telecommunications networks

Claim 5

A method as defined in claim 2, further comprising: starting a timer upon broadcasting the subscriber data request; stopping the timer when subscriber data corresponding to the identifier is received at the visited wireless network; and initiating refusal of the registration request when the timer exceeds a predetermined time and no subscriber data corresponding to the identifier has been received at the visited wireless network.

Claim 6

A method as defined in claim 2, further comprising, upon receiving subscriber data corresponding to the identifier at the visited wireless network, temporarily storing the subscriber data at the VLR of the visited wireless network, and storing an address corresponding to the identifier at the ISR database.

Claim 7

A method as defined in claim 4, further comprising: time stamping the subscriber data stored at the VLR; and deleting the subscriber data from the VLR when the subscriber data has been stored for a predetermined duration.

Claim 8

A method as defined in claim 4 further comprising: receiving plural files of subscriber data at the visited wireless network, each file corresponding to a respective identifier; storing each file of subscriber data at the VLR; when an occupancy of the VLR exceeds a predetermined threshold, selecting a file of subscriber data; and deleting the selected file of subscriber data at the VLR.

Claim 9

A method as defined in claim 6, further comprising time stamping each file of subscriber data stored at the VLR, wherein the step of selecting the file of subscriber data comprises selecting the file based on a value of its respective time stamp.

Claim 10

A method as defined in claim 4, further comprising: time stamping the address stored at the ISR database; and deleting the address from the ISR database when the address has been stored for a predetermined duration.

Claim 11

A method as defined in claim 8, further comprising updating the time stamp each time the address is read at the ISR database.

Claim 12

A method as defined in claim 4 further comprising: receiving plural addresses at the visited wireless network, each address corresponding to a respective identifier; storing each address with its respective identifier at the ISR database; when an occupancy of the ISR database exceeds a predetermined threshold, selecting an address and its respective identifier; and deleting the selected address and its respective identifier at the ISR database.

Claim 13

A method as defined in claim 10, further comprising time stamping each address stored at the ISR database, wherein the step of selecting the address comprises selecting the address based on a value of its respective time stamp.

Claim 14

A method as defined in claim 11, further comprising updating a respective time stamp each time an address is read at the ISR database.

Claim 15

A wireless system for providing service to a mobile terminal roaming into a service area of the wireless system, the wireless system comprising: a Home Location Register (HLR) for storing subscriber data for mobile terminals provisioned on the wireless network; a Visitor Location Register (VLR) for temporarily storing subscriber data for mobile terminals provisioned on other wireless networks; an Intersystem Roaming (ISR) database for storing addresses in association with identifiers; search means responsive to a registration request specifying a particular identifier for searching the HLR for subscriber data associated with the particular identifier, the search means being responsive to failure to find subscriber data associated with the particular identifier in the HLR to search the VLR for subscriber data associated with the particular identifier, and the search means being responsive to failure to find subscriber data associated with the particular identifier in the VLR to search the ISR database for an address associated with the particular identifier; and transmission means responsive to location of an address associated with the particular identifier in the ISR database to transmit a subscriber data request comprising the particular identifier to the address.

Claim 16

A wireless system for providing service to a mobile terminal roaming into a service area of the wireless system, the wireless system comprising: a Home Location Register (HLR) for storing subscriber data for mobile terminals provisioned on the wireless network; a Visitor Location Register (VLR) for temporarily storing subscriber data for mobile terminals provisioned on other wireless networks; an Intersystem Roaming (ISR) database for storing addresses in association with identifiers; search means responsive to a registration request specifying a particular identifier for searching the HLR for subscriber data associated with the particular identifier, the search means being responsive to failure to find subscriber data associated with the particular identifier in the HLR to search the VLR for subscriber data associated with the particular identifier, and the search means being responsive to failure to find subscriber data associated with the particular identifier in the VLR to search the ISR database for an address associated with the particular identifier; and transmission means responsive to location of an address associated with the particular identifier in the ISR database to transmit a subscriber data request comprising the particular identifier to the address.

Claim 17

A wireless system for providing service to a mobile terminal roaming into a service area of the wireless system, the wireless system comprising: a Home Location Register (HLR) for storing subscriber data for mobile terminals provisioned on the wireless network; a Visitor Location Register (VLR) for temporarily storing subscriber data for mobile terminals provisioned on other wireless networks; an Intersystem Roaming (ISR) database for storing addresses in association with identifiers; search means responsive to a registration request specifying a particular identifier for searching the HLR for subscriber data associated with the particular identifier, the search means being responsive to failure to find subscriber data associated with the particular identifier in the HLR to search the VLR for subscriber data associated with the particular identifier, and the search means being responsive to failure to find subscriber data associated with the Particular identifier in the VLR to search the ISR database for an address associated with the particular identifier; and transmission means responsive to location of an address associated with the particular identifier in the ISR database to transmit a subscriber data request comprising the particular identifier to the address; wherein the transmission means is responsive to failure to locate an address associated with the particular identifier in the ISR database to broadcast a subscriber data request to plural other wireless systems.

Claim 18

A wireless system for providing service to a mobile terminal roaming into a service area of the wireless system, the wireless system comprising: a Home Location Register (HLR) for storing subscriber data for mobile terminals provisioned on the wireless network; a Visitor Location Register (VLR) for temporarily storing subscriber data for mobile terminals provisioned on other wireless networks; an Intersystem Roaming (ISR) database for storing addresses in association with identifiers; search means responsive to a registration request specifying a particular identifier for searching the HLR for subscriber data associated with the particular identifier, the search means being responsive to failure to find subscriber data associated with the particular identifier in the HLR to search the VLR for subscriber data associated with the particular identifier, and the search means being responsive to failure to find subscriber data associated with the Particular identifier in the VLR to search the ISR database for an address associated with the particular identifier; and transmission means responsive to location of an address associated with the particular identifier in the ISR database to transmit a subscriber data request comprising the particular identifier to the address; wherein the transmission means is responsive to failure to locate an address associated with the particular identifier in the ISR database to broadcast a subscriber data request to plural other wireless systems.

Claim 19

A system as defined in claim 14, further comprising storage means responsive to receipt of subscriber data from other wireless systems to temporarily store the received subscriber data at the VLR and to store an address corresponding to the particular identifier at the ISR database.

Claim 20

A system as defined in claim 14, further comprising timing means for starting a timer in response to broadcast of a subscriber data request and for stopping the timer in response to receipt of the requested subscriber data, the timing means being operable to initiate refusal of the registration request when the timer exceeds a predetermined time and no subscriber data corresponding to the identifier has been received.

Claim 25

A system as defined in claim 18, further comprising storage means responsive to receipt of subscriber data from other wireless systems to temporarily store the received subscriber data at the VLR and to store an address corresponding to the particular identifier at the ISR database.

Claim 26

A system as defined in claim 18, further comprising timing means for starting a timer in response to broadcast of a subscriber data request and for stopping the timer in response to receipt of the requested subscriber data, the timing means being operable to initiate refusal of the registration request when the timer exceeds a predetermined time and no subscriber data corresponding to the identifier has been received.