System and method for implementing multiple home location registers for a single mobile station in a cellular telecommunications network

Claim 2

In a radio telecommunication system having a home network associated with a mobile station, a foreign network, and a plurality of home location registers, wherein each HLR has a database for storing information relating to assigned mobile stations, a method of completing a call to said mobile station while said mobile station operates in said foreign network without incurring long distance charges, said method comprising the steps of: assigning a single mobile subscriber number (MSNB) which is a member of a MSNB series and a first subscriber number (SNB) to the mobile station; defining the MSNB series and first SNB in the database of a first HLR, wherein the first HLR is associated with the home network, said home network having a mobile switching center (MSC); assigning a second SNB to the mobile station; defining the single MSNB and the second SNB in the database of a second HLR, wherein the second HLR is associated with a first visited foreign network, said first visited foreign network having a visited mobile switching center (V-MSC); receiving an incoming call for the mobile station, said incoming call utilizing the second SNB; interrogating the second HLR for database information related to said mobile station; and routing the incoming call to the mobile station.

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 wherein the step of assigning a second SNB to the mobile station includes creating a database entry in the V-MSC which associates the single MSNB and the second SNB of the mobile station with the second HLR.

Claim 4

The method of claim 1 wherein the step of defining the single MSNB and second SNB in the database of the second HLR includes making a temporary database entry.

Claim 5

The method of claim 1 wherein the step of defining the single MSNB and second SNB in the database of the second HLR includes making a permanent database entry.

Claim 6

In a radio telecommunication system having a home network associated with a mobile station, a foreign network, and a plurality of home location registers, wherein each HLR has a database for storing information relating to assigned mobile stations, a method of completing a call to said mobile station while said mobile station operates in said foreign network without incurring long distance charges, said method comprising the steps of: assigning a single mobile subscriber number (MSNB) which is a member of a MSNB series and a first subscriber number (SNB) to the mobile station; defining the MSNB series and first SNB in the database of a first HLR, wherein the first HLR is associated with the home network, said home network having a mobile switching center (MSC); assigning a second SNB to the mobile station; defining the single MSNB and the second SNB in the database of a second HLR, wherein the second HLR is associated with a first visited foreign network, said first visited foreign network having a visited mobile switching center (V-MSC); receiving an incoming call for the mobile station; determining whether said incoming call is on the first SNB or the second SNB; establishing the incoming call to a MSC in the home network and interrogating the first HLR for information regarding said mobile station upon determining that said incoming call is on the first SNB; utilizing the V-MSC to interrogate the second HLR for information regarding said mobile station upon determining that said incoming call is on the second SNB; and routing the incoming call to the mobile station.

Claim 7

In a radio telecommunication system having a home network associated with a mobile station, a foreign network, and a plurality of home location registers, wherein each HLR has a database for storing information relating to assigned mobile stations, a method of completing a call to said mobile station while said mobile station operates in said foreign network without incurring long distance charges, said method comprising the steps of: assigning a single mobile subscriber number (MSNB) which is a member of a MSNB series and a first subscriber number (SNB) to the mobile station; defining the MSNB series and first SNB in the database of a first HLR, wherein the first HLR is associated with the home network, said home network having a mobile switching center (MSC); assigning a second SNB to the mobile station; defining the single MSNB and the second SNB in the database of a second HLR, wherein the second HLR is associated with a first visited foreign network, said first visited foreign network having a visited mobile switching center (V-MSC); receiving an incoming call for the mobile station; determining whether said incoming call is on the first SNB or the second SNB; establishing the incoming call to a MSC in the home network and interrogating the first HLR for information regarding said mobile station upon determining that said incoming call is on the first SNB; utilizing the V-MSC to interrogate the second HLR for information regarding said mobile station upon determining that said incoming call is on the second SNB; and routing the incoming call to the mobile station.

Claim 8

In a radio telecommunications network, a system for completing an incoming call to a mobile station operating in a visited foreign network without incurring long distance charges, said system comprising: a mobile station having a mobile subscriber number (MSNB) and a first subscriber number (SNB), said MSNB being one of a plurality of MSNBs associated with a mobile subscriber number series (MSNB series); a home network associated with said mobile station, said home network having a mobile switching center (MSC) and a first home location register (HLR), wherein said first HLR is assigned the MSNB series and maintains database information relating to said mobile station; a visited mobile switching center (V-MSC) located in a first visited foreign network, said V-MSC being associated with a second HLR; means for loading database information relating to said mobile station in said second HLR; means for directing said V-MSC to access said second HLR for said database information relating to said mobile station; and means for completing said call locally within said visited foreign network.

Claim 9

In a radio telecommunications network, a system for completing an incoming call to a mobile station operating in a visited foreign network without incurring long distance charges, said system comprising: a mobile station having a mobile subscriber number (MSNB) and a first subscriber number (SNB), said MSNB being one of a plurality of MSNBs associated with a mobile subscriber number series (MSNB series); a home network associated with said mobile station, said home network having a mobile switching center (MSC) and a first home location register (HLR), wherein said first HLR is assigned the MSNB series and maintains database information relating to said mobile station; a visited mobile switching center (V-MSC) located in a first visited foreign network, said V-MSC being associated with a second HLR; means for loading database information relating to said mobile station in said second HLR; means for directing said V-MSC to access said second HLR for said database information relating to said mobile station; and means for completing said call locally within said visited foreign network.

Claim 10

The system of claim 6 wherein said means for loading database information relating to said first mobile station in said second HLR includes a means for assigning a second SNB to said MSNB of the mobile station.

Claim 11

The system of claim 6 wherein said means for directing said V-MSC to access said second HLR for said loaded database information relating to said first mobile station includes a database entry in said V-MSC directing said V-MSC to interrogate the second HLR whenever said incoming call is on the second SNB.

Claim 12

In a radio telecommunications network, a system for completing an incoming call to a mobile station operating in a visited foreign network without incurring long distance charges, said system comprising: a mobile station having a mobile subscriber number (MSNB) and a first subscriber number (SNB), said MSNB being one of a plurality of MSNBs associated with a mobile subscriber number series (MSNB series); a home network associated with said mobile station, said home network having a mobile switching center (MSC) and a first home location register (HLR), wherein said first HLR is assigned the MSNB series and maintains database information for said mobile station; a plurality of visited foreign networks, each of said foreign networks having a visited mobile switching center (V-MSC) and an associated visited HLR; means for loading database information relating to said mobile station in each said visited HLR; means for directing the V-MSC of each said visited foreign network to access its associated visited HLR for said database information relating to the mobile station; and means for completing said call locally within said visited foreign network.

Claim 13

In a radio telecommunications network, a system for completing an incoming call to a mobile station operating in a visited foreign network without incurring long distance charges, said system comprising: a mobile station having a mobile subscriber number (MSNB) and a first subscriber number (SNB), said MSNB being one of a plurality of MSNBs associated with a mobile subscriber number series (MSNB series); a home network associated with said mobile station, said home network having a mobile switching center (MSC) and a first home location register (HLR), wherein said first HLR is assigned the MSNB series and maintains database information for said mobile station; a plurality of visited foreign networks, each of said foreign networks having a visited mobile switching center (V-MSC) and an associated visited HLR; means for loading database information relating to said mobile station in each said visited HLR; means for directing the V-MSC of each said visited foreign network to access its associated visited HLR for said database information relating to the mobile station; and means for completing said call locally within said visited foreign network.

Claim 14

The system of claim 9 wherein said means for loading database information relating to said mobile station in each said visited HLR includes a means for associating a different one of a plurality of SNBs with the MSNB in each said visited HLR.

Claim 15

The system of claim 10 wherein said means for directing each said V-MSC to access its associated visited HLR for said loaded database information relating to said mobile station includes a database entry in each of said V-MSCs directing each V-MSC to interrogate its associated HLR whenever said incoming call is on the SNB associated with its associated HLR.

Claim 16

In a radio telecommunication system, a method of originating a call from a mobile station roaming in a foreign network, and completing said call to a local number in said foreign network without incurring long distance charges, said radio telecommunication system having a home network associated with said mobile station, and a plurality of home location registers, wherein each HLR has a database for storing information relating to assigned mobile stations, said method comprising the steps of: assigning a single mobile subscriber number (MSNB) which is a member of a MSNB series and a first subscriber number (SNB) to the mobile station; defining the MSNB series and first SNB in the database of a first HLR, wherein the first HLR is associated with the home network, said home network having a mobile switching center (MSC); assigning a second SNB to the mobile station; defining the single MSNB and the second SNB in the database of a second HLR, wherein the second HLR is associated with a first visited foreign network, said first visited foreign network having a visited mobile switching center (V-MSC); originating a call from the mobile station to a local telephone number in the V-MSC, said call utilizing the second SNB; and routing the call to the local telephone number.

Claim 17

In a radio telecommunication system, a method of originating a call from a mobile station roaming in a foreign network, and completing said call to a local number in said foreign network without incurring long distance charges, said radio telecommunication system having a home network associated with said mobile station, and a plurality of home location registers, wherein each HLR has a database for storing information relating to assigned mobile stations, said method comprising the steps of: assigning a single mobile subscriber number (MSNB) which is a member of a MSNB series and a first subscriber number (SNB) to the mobile station; defining the MSNB series and first SNB in the database of a first HLR, wherein the first HLR is associated with the home network, said home network having a mobile switching center (MSC); assigning a second SNB to the mobile station; defining the single MSNB and the second SNB in the database of a second HLR, wherein the second HLR is associated with a first visited foreign network, said first visited foreign network having a visited mobile switching center (V-MSC); originating a call from the mobile station to a local telephone number in the V-MSC, said call utilizing the second SNB; and routing the call to the local telephone number.