CAMEL Adaptation System for Roaming Protocol Translation

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing technologies face challenges in facilitating seamless roaming services for both inbound and outbound roamers due to mismatches in CAMEL phases and non-standard implementations among different operators, leading to high costs and complexities in conducting CAMEL roaming tests and adaptations.

Innovation Solution

A CAMEL Adaptation System (CAS) is deployed to interface and adapt messages between Home Public Mobile Networks (HPMNs) and Visited Public Mobile Networks (VPMNs), enabling roaming by performing SCP, location, CAMEL phase, billing, and other necessary adaptations, thereby facilitating both inbound and outbound roaming services.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If CAMEL roaming services are provided between different operators with mismatched CAMEL phases and non-standard implementations, then roaming services can be enabled, but the complexity and cost of conducting CAMEL roaming tests and adaptations increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveroaming service compatibilityVSAvoidCAMEL adaptation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a CAMEL Hub acting as an intermediary between operators with different CAMEL phases. The hub performs protocol translation and adaptation, converting CAMEL phase 1 messages to phase 2/3 and vice versa, thereby enabling roaming services without requiring direct complex adaptations between mismatched operators

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The CAMEL Hub provides universal adaptation capabilities supporting multiple CAMEL phases (phase 1, 2, and 3) and various roaming scenarios (inbound, outbound, prepaid, postpaid) within a single system, eliminating the need for separate adaptation mechanisms for each operator combination

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If comprehensive CAMEL roaming tests are conducted to ensure service quality between different operators, then roaming reliability improves, but the time and cost required for testing and deployment increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveroaming service reliabilityVSAvoidtesting and deployment time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary CAMEL phase adaptation and protocol translation at the CAMEL Hub before actual roaming traffic flows. By pre-configuring adaptation rules and performing tests in a controlled hub environment, the system ensures roaming reliability while reducing on-field testing time and deployment complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If operators implement multiple CAMEL phase support to accommodate different roaming partners, then adaptability improves, but system complexity and resource requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveCAMEL phase compatibilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple CAMEL phase support capabilities into a single CAMEL Hub system. Instead of each operator implementing separate support for multiple CAMEL phases, the hub consolidates all phase 1, 2, and 3 adaptation functionalities in one location, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining full adaptability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP2514221B1Method, apparatus and computer program product for providing camel roaming adaptations
Publication Date: 2020.06.17 MOBILEUM INC
  • EP2514221B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2514221B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2514221B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention is directed towards a method for facilitating roaming tests for a club network. The method includes simulating a roamer' s profile by a signaling gateway and associating with either a club network or a roaming partner network of the club network. The club network and the roaming partner network correspond to a Home Public Mobile Network (HPMN) and a Visited PMN, respectively, in case the roamer is an outbound roamer. In case the roamer is an inbound roamer, the club network corresponds to the VPMN and roaming partner network corresponds to the HPMN. The method further includes performing by the signaling gateway, one or more CAMEL capability tests on the roamer. The roaming subscriber is associated with either the club network or the roaming partner network.