Server-Based Cellular Communication Redirection via Data Network
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face challenges in maintaining their mobile identity and receiving cellular communications, such as calls and SMS, when using applications outside their home network, leading to costly roaming charges and complex network registrations.
Innovation Solution
A system that allows mobile devices to register with a server for packet-switched network communication, using a novel Visitor Location Register (nVLR) to notify the home location register of roaming status, enabling forwarding of communications over a data network and reducing the need for traditional cellular connections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If users register with traditional cellular networks outside their home network, then they can receive cellular communications, but they incur costly roaming charges and face complex network registration procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a server as an intermediary between the mobile device and the cellular network. The server handles network registration and communication forwarding, allowing the mobile device to maintain its home network registration while receiving communications through the server over data networks. This intermediary approach eliminates the need for complex roaming registrations and avoids roaming charges.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional cellular radio communication mechanism with data network communication. Instead of using cellular towers and radio waves for all communications, the system uses internet data networks (WiFi, mobile data) to transmit communications to and from the server, which then forwards them to the mobile device. This substitution eliminates roaming charges and simplifies network registration.
2Loss of energy
If users use applications over data networks, then roaming charges are reduced, but maintaining mobile identity and receiving cellular communications becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The server acts as an intermediary that maintains the connection between the mobile device's cellular identity (MSISDN) and the data network communication channel. The server receives cellular communications intended for the user's phone number and forwards them through the data network to the application on the mobile device, ensuring reliable delivery while using cost-effective data networks.
Solution Approach 2:
The server provides multiple functions: it maintains the mobile device's registration in the cellular network, receives incoming cellular communications, initiates outgoing calls, and forwards all communications over data networks. This multi-functional approach ensures that mobile identity is maintained while enabling flexible data network communication.
3Reliability
If traditional cellular connections are used, then reliable communication is ensured, but network complexity and registration requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex network registration and communication forwarding functions from the mobile device itself and places them on a remote server. The mobile device only needs to maintain a simple data network connection and communicate with the server, while the server handles all the complex interactions with the cellular network, including registration, authentication, and communication routing.
Solution Approach 2:
The server serves as an intermediary that manages the complexity of cellular network registration and communication protocols. It handles the interaction with the cellular network on behalf of the mobile device, translating between cellular network protocols and data network protocols, thereby shielding the user from complexity while ensuring reliable communication delivery.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, system, and apparatus, including a program encoded on computer-readable medium, for routing communications to a mobile device includes registering a cellular telephone identifier with a visitor location register associated with a bridge mobile switching center adapted to receive communication through a cellular backbone network and route communications over a packet-switched network and determining that cellular communications using the cellular telephone identifier are disabled. A home location register associated with the cellular telephone is notified that the cellular telephone is roaming in a network served by the visitor location register. A communication directed to the cellular telephone is received at the bridge mobile switching center. The received communication is routed to the cellular telephone.