Multi-Level Proxy Routing for Virtual Roaming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for number portability and virtual roaming in mobile networks face challenges in efficiently routing SMS messages and ensuring optimal routing across different operators without international roaming agreements, particularly due to limitations in MTP and SCCP protocols, which hinder the transmission of necessary information for complete number portability and are not scalable for international porting.
Innovation Solution
A transmission system with multiple proxies that cooperate to provide virtual roaming, using a standardized SS7 network, where each proxy has a numbering plan and roaming agreements list, determines the nominal network and associated proxies to route signaling messages efficiently, even across different countries, by using the 'Destination Reference' field to handle intermediate agents and retry algorithms to find the correct final proxy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If MTP and SCCP protocols are used for routing at the Semaphore Bridge level, then routing can be performed, but they cannot transmit enough information to ensure complete number portability service and are not scalable for international porting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a new dimension to the routing architecture by implementing multi-level proxies (L1, L2, L3) that operate at different hierarchical levels. This dimensional expansion allows the system to transmit complete number portability information across international boundaries without modifying the fundamental MTP/SCCP protocols, thereby resolving the information transmission limitation while maintaining protocol compatibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediate proxies as mediators between originating and destination networks. These proxies (particularly L2 and L3 proxies) act as intermediaries that carry additional routing information through existing protocol fields, enabling complete number portability service without requiring protocol modifications. The intermediaries resolve the contradiction by bridging the information gap while maintaining standard protocol compatibility.
2Adaptability or versatility
If chains of multiple proxies C1 -> C2 -> ... -> Cn are created using GT addressing, then routing flexibility is improved, but it becomes very difficult to create such chains in the Semaphore network due to MTP route requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the proxy chain into distinct hierarchical levels (L1, L2, L3 proxies) with specific functions at each level. L1 proxies handle local routing, L2 proxies handle international routing, and L3 proxies handle destination-specific routing. This segmentation allows flexible multi-proxy chains to be created without requiring complex end-to-end MTP route configurations, as each level operates semi-independently within its scope.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediate proxies at different hierarchical levels that mediate between originating and destination networks. These intermediate proxies (L2 and L3) simplify chain creation by handling MTP route requirements locally, allowing GT addressing chains to be established without requiring complex direct MTP routes between all proxy pairs. The intermediaries absorb the routing complexity while maintaining simplicity at the endpoints.
3Adaptability or versatility
If all MTP, SCCP, TCAP, MAP and CAMEL layers remain strictly standard to ensure interoperability, then interoperability between different Roaming Hub manufacturers is ensured, but it is not possible to apply number portability process to porting in networks of countries other than the country of the original network
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements universal proxies that can handle multiple functions across different countries and networks while maintaining standard protocol compatibility. The proxies are designed to work with any HLR in any country by using standardized information elements that can carry country-specific numbering plan information. This universality enables number portability service to be applied internationally while maintaining interoperability through standard protocols.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes within standard protocol fields to enable international number portability. By dynamically adjusting the content and interpretation of standard information elements (such as using different Type of Number and Numbering Plan Indicator values), the system can adapt to different country-specific numbering plans while maintaining the same standard protocol structure. This allows reliable number portability service across borders without sacrificing interoperability.
4Measurement precision
If querying all HRLs in the country is performed to determine which one the porting subscriber belongs to, then number portability can be achieved, but the process takes a relatively long time to implement and is not optimal, and the difficulty increases with the multiplication of portability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring proxies with information about HLRs in different countries and their supported numbering plans. The L2 and L3 proxies maintain databases of HLR locations and capabilities in advance. When a number portability query is received, the system can quickly route to the appropriate HLR using pre-computed routing information, avoiding the need to query all HLRs in the country and significantly reducing query time while maintaining accurate subscriber location identification.
Data Source
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AI summary
The system has a group of operators (Oa-Of, O1i) connected to agents (C1-C4), each server has application software for processing a signal transmitted by an operator towards a receiver and for determining a nominal network by a number of a receiver mobile telephone. The software executes an algorithm to determine an associated agent and writes an address of a final agent in a destination address and destination reference fields. The software extracts the number of the nominal network at the final agent and executes a new algorithm with another final agent, during a failure of the attempt.