Network Server IMSI Country Code Extraction for Call Routing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Mobile communication devices without country code information encoded in their SIM cards cannot make or receive international calls, as the enterprise network server cannot construct the required dialing code without this information, leading to call failures when the device is outside its service area.

Innovation Solution

A communication network server transforms the International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) value from the SIM card into a country code value, constructing a dialing sequence to enable calls to the mobile device by extracting the Mobile Country Code (MCC) from the IMSI and using it to derive the necessary country code, which is then stored and inserted into the SIM data for use in constructing dialing sequences.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the SIM card does not encode country code information, then the mobile device can be issued a SIM card in certain regions (e.g., Hong Kong, Canada), but the enterprise network server cannot construct the required dialing code for international calls

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveSIM card compatibility with local networksVSAvoidcountry code information
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a database as an intermediary component that stores country code information. When the server needs to make an international call, it queries this database to retrieve the missing country code information, allowing the call to be constructed successfully without the SIM card containing the country code.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary action by pre-storing country code information in the database before calls are made. This allows the server to retrieve the necessary country code data in advance when needed for constructing dialing codes, ensuring calls can be made even when the SIM card lacks this information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If the enterprise network server constructs dialing codes without country code information from the SIM card, then calls can be made to devices with local SIM cards, but the dialing sequence cannot be properly constructed for international calls

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecall initiation capabilityVSAvoiddialing sequence accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The database serves as an intermediary that provides accurate country code information to the server. This ensures that when the server constructs dialing sequences, it receives precise country code data from the database, maintaining dialing sequence accuracy while enabling call initiation to devices with local SIM cards.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If the SIM card includes country code information, then international calls can be made directly, but the SIM card structure becomes more complex and cannot be used in certain regions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinternational call capabilityVSAvoidSIM card structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a database as an intermediary to store country code information externally. This allows the SIM card to remain simple and region-compliant while the database provides the necessary country code data to the server, maintaining reliable international call capability without increasing SIM card complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2493227B1Using the IMSI value from the sim card data to make an external call
Publication Date: 2016.10.19 BLACKBERRY LTD
  • EP2493227B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2493227B1 patent drawingFigure 2~4
  • EP2493227B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

A method and apparatus are disclosed for a network node which processes a call request from an enterprise user's mobile device to initiate origination of an outgoing cellular call to a called party by making an external call to the mobile device which does not have a country code encoded in its SIM card by transforming an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) value from the SIM card into a country code value, and then using the country code value to construct a dialing sequence for calling the mobile device.