Virtual Mobile Number Routing via Value-Added Service Server
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mobile communication systems face issues with increased load on home location registers when assigning two phone numbers to a single terminal, leading to privacy invasions from telemarketing calls and spam messages, and limitations in numeric resources.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for providing virtual mobile phone numbers that allow the use of actual phone numbers assigned to general terminals without overloading mobile communication network resources, involving a value-added service server, message service center, and home location register to route messages using virtual phone numbers, with the server altering message signals to indicate virtual phone number services.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If two phone numbers are assigned to a single terminal to protect privacy, then privacy protection is improved, but load on home location register increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a virtual phone number as an intermediary between the user's actual phone number and external communicators. The virtual number is assigned specifically for message services, allowing users to protect their actual phone number from disclosure while enabling message reception. This intermediary approach prevents direct exposure of the actual number to potential spammers or telemarketers, thereby reducing privacy invasion without requiring the home location register to handle additional routing complexity for voice calls.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the phone number functionality by creating a virtual phone number specifically dedicated to message services, separate from the actual phone number used for voice calls and other services. This segmentation allows the message service center to route messages to the actual number without requiring the home location register to manage multiple numbers for different service types, thus reducing the load on the home location register while still providing privacy protection.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If specialized numbers are assigned for virtual phone number service, then privacy protection is improved, but numeric resource limitation is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the virtual phone number system universal by allowing it to be implemented within the existing mobile communication network infrastructure using existing number ranges. Rather than requiring a separate specialized numbering plan, the system can utilize available message service center numbers or existing virtual number assignments that already exist in the network. This multi-functional approach allows the same numbering resources to serve both traditional messaging purposes and privacy-protecting virtual number functions, thereby not exacerbating numeric resource limitations.
3Manufacturing precision
If message service center queries home location register for routing information, then message delivery accuracy is improved, but network resource load increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by having the message service center query the home location register for routing information related to virtual phone numbers before message delivery attempts. By obtaining the mapping between virtual numbers and actual phone numbers in advance, the system ensures accurate message routing while avoiding repeated queries during message transmission. This preliminary query approach maintains high delivery accuracy for messages sent to virtual numbers while minimizing the overall load on the home location register compared to real-time or repeated querying.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates generally to a method and apparatus for providing a virtual mobile phone number, and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for requesting routing information, such as an actual phone number from a home location register storing the actual phone number corresponding to a virtual phone number transmitted from an originating terminal and transmitting a short message, a long message or a multimedia message to a terminating terminal corresponding to the actual phone number.