CA2184808A1 - A method and arrangement relating to telecommunications systems - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a roaming arrangement. The arrangement enables roaming between different types of networks in a telecommunications system (TS, TSX). The telecommunications system (TS) comprises a first standardized type of mobile network in the telecommunication system (TS), a so-called home network (PDC) . The telecommunication system (TS) also comprises a second standardized type of mobile network, a so-called guest network (GSM). A subscriber (A) have an identity that is common for both the home net (PDC) and the guest net (GSM). The roaming arrangement comprises a signal handling arrangement (ILR,IMSC). The roaming arrangement also comprises at least one home interface towards the home net (PDC) and at least one guest interface towards the guest net (GSM). A first signalling format between the arrangement and the home net (PDC) is thereby of the same type as corresponding format in the home net (PDC). A second signalling format between the arrangement and the guest net (GSM) is thereby also of the same type as a corresponding format in the guest net (GSM).

Description

Wo 9S/27382 2 1 8 4 8 a 8 r~
. ~ 1 -A MET}IOD AND llT~T~ T T~T.'-- TO 'I'T~T.~ 'I'TI 8Y8-TEC_NICA~ FIE},D
The present invention relates to an arrangement for hAn~91 in T
5 a mobile telephone sub6criber which is administered in at least two different standardized mobile telephone ne~ rk:~
with a call number which is common to both of the at least two networks. The invention also relates to methods of procedure when handl~ng the subscriber.
10 DE8CRIPTION OF T_~ R~ ART
It has long been known in mobile telephony to register the position of a mobile subscriber automatically when the mobile has moved between different mobile telephone networks. This type of automatic mobile registration is called roaming. For 15 instance, it is pos6ible within a GSM system extending over several European countries to use a mobile unit while moving from one country to another, without needing to register the new positions of the mobile manually. When the mobile is switched on after having m~ved from one place to another, the 20 position of the mobile is registered automatically. Once the position of the mobile has been registered, it is again possible to receive calls and to call other subscribers. A
mobile telephone system which includes different subsystems is known, for instance, from International Patent Application 25 WO 89/07380. The system includes a main computer which is able to communicate with different local computers, each of which is located in one of the subsystems. The main computer therewith obtains information as to where mobile units are located in the total system. Calls can be set-up to the mobile 30 units, with the aid of the information contained in the main computer. One serious drawback with present-day techniques, is that automatic updating of the position of a mobile unit 8~
Wo 9~l273~2 . ~I/a~7' - /
after the unit has moved to another location requires the move to be made within the same type of standardized mobile tele~ ; cations system, for instance GSM. It is not possible in present-day techniques to transport information 5 automatically from one type of mobile tele- i cations system, for instance GSN, to another type of mobile telecom-munications system, for instance the Japanese PDC system. A
decisive factor is that different types of mobile telecom-munications systems c~ n; r~te internally through the medium 10 of different types of standardized ~i~n:~ll;nq procedures. A
Global System for Mobile _ ; c~tion (GSM) and Personal Digital Cellular (PDC) are examples of mobile telecom-munications systems in which roaming within the system is available. Roaming in the GSM system is described in European 15 Digital Cellular ~ ~;cation System; Network architecture GS~ 03 . 02 and Mobile application part GSM 09 . 02 . Roaming in the PDC system is described in the standard TTC JJ/70.10, Ver 3.
8~M~RY OF q~ElE INVEN~ION
20 The present invention is concerned with the problem of handling a mobile subscriber which is administered with the same call number or some other identification sign in at least two different standardized types of mobile tele_ ication networks. For instance, a calling subscriber wishes to be able 25 to call a mobile with the same call number irrespective of the network in which the mobile is located.
This is made possible in accordance with the invention in that the different networks are mutually connected via a roaming arrangement which is able to communicate with several dif-30 ferent standardized types of network.
The above problem is also solved in accordance with theinvention by means of the inventive procedural methods, such 2 ~ 848~8 that after moving between the networks, the subscri}~ will have access to the same services as those that were avallable prior to making the move.
Thus, one object of the present invention is to enable a 5 subscriber to obtain the same type of services in at least two different standardized types of network. Another object of the invention is to register the position of a subscriber who has moved from a first type of network to a second type of network. Still another object is to again request position lO registration in the event of an error which results in the erasure of earlier obtained information. Yet another object of the invention is to enable calls to be made to a subscriber who has moved from the first type o~ network to the other type of network. Still another object of the invention is to handle 15 subscriber supplementary services, for instance ~y initiating a call transfer service after the subscriber has moved between said networks. Yet another object of the invention is to de-register a subscriber who has returned from the second type of network to the first type of network.
20 The roaming arrangement includes signal interfaces towards at least one first standardized type of network, these interfaces being such that the roaming arrangement will be recognized as being a part of the first network, in ac_ordance with the invention. The roaming arrAT~, L also includes interfaces 25 towards at least one second standardized type of network, these interfaces being such thal the roaming arrangement will be recognized as being a part of the second network, in accor-dance with the invention. The inventive methods of procedure include reading information into and out of t~s roaming 30 arrangement from/to both the first and the second standardized types of networks. The procedures also include the transfer of data between the networks involved.

WO9~l27382 21 8 ~ 8~ r~
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The invention enables registration of the position of a subscriber after the subscriber has moved from the first standardized type of network to the second standardized type of network. This is a significant advantage over earlier known 5 techniques, which solely enable the position of a subscriber to be registered after the subscriber has moved within one standardized type of mobile tele: ; cations network.
Another advantage afforded by the invention is that the same types of service can be obtained both before and after moving 10 between different standardized types of network.
The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to preferred 'i- ts thereof and also with reference to the ~ -nying drawings.
~3RIEF DE8CRIPTION OF THE DRawING8 15 Figure 1 illustrates in perspective a telen~- ln;cations system which includes a first type of standardized network and a second type of standardized network.
Figure 2 illustrates 6chematically a tel~nmm-ln;cations system which includes an inventive roaming arrangement, a 20 first type of standardized network, and a second type of standardized network.
Figure 3 illustrates schematically a tel e ; cations system which includes an inventive roaming arrangement, a f irst type of standardized network and a second type of 25 standardized network.
Figure 4 illustrates schematically a tele~nm~ n; cations system which includes an inventive roaming arrangement, a first type of standardized network, and a second type o~
standardized network. The Figure illustrates the signalling - W095/27382 2 1 848C8 P~

procedure that is carried out in accordance with one regiq-tr2tion procedure.
Figure 5 is a flow sheet which illustrates the registration ~Lo~eduLe shown in Figure 4.
5 Figure 6 illustrates schematically a tele~ i ~ ations system which includes an inventive roaming arrangement, a first type of standardized network and a second type of standardized network. The Figure also shows the signalling procedure that is carried out when making a call.
10 Figure 7 is a flow sheet which illustrates the call pLo~e~u~:
shown in Figure 6.
Figure 8 illustrates schematically a teler ; ~tions system which includes an inventive roaming arrangement, a first type of standardized network, and a second type of 15 standardized network. The Figure also illustrates the signalling }~LO. edu,~: that is carried out when handlLng a supplementary service.
Figure 9 illustrates schematically a tele !~ i cations system which includes an inventive roaming arrange~ment, a 20 first type of standardized network and a second type of standardized network. The Figure also illustrates the signalling procedure that is carried out when informing the system of suppl~ L~ry service changes.
Figure lO illustrates schematically a tel~ tions 25 system which includes an inventive roaming arrangement, a first type o~ standardized network and a second type of standardized network. The Figure also illustrates the signal-ling procedure that is carried out when h~n-ll ing errors.

WO 95/27382 ~ ~ 8 ~ r~

Figure 11 illustrates schematically a t~l r ~ i t-ations system which includes an inventive roaming arrangement, a f irst type of standardized network and a second type of standardized network. The Figure also illustrates the 5 signalling ~LuceduL~ that is carried out in a de-registration operation .
BEgT ~ODE8 OF CAR~YING OIIT T3~ lh V15~ ON
Figure l illustrates a PDC-type mobile tele- i cations network (Personal Digital Cellular) . The mobile tele~
10 cations network PDC, hereinafter referred to as the home network PDC, includes a plurality of mobile telephone swit-ching centres NSCl. Each switching centre is connected to a plurality of base stations BSl, each of which monitors a geographic area that includes one or more cells Cl. One o~ the 15 switching centres is called the call switching centre GMSCl.
The term call switching centre will be ~ in-~cl further on.
In the ~-rho-lir-nt shown in Figure l, the home network PDC also includes a central database, a so-called home location register HLRl, which in this case is connected to all switches 20 GMSCl and MSCl within the home network PDC.
Figure l also shows a GSM-type mobile tele ications network (Giobal System for Mobile ~_ ication) . The mobile telec ications network GSM, which is hereinafter called the guest network GSM, includes a plurality o~ mobile tele-25 phone switching centres MSC2, similar to the home network PDC.In the Figure l illustration, each switching centre is connected to a plurality of base control units BSC2, each of which is connected to base stations B52 which monitor a geographic area that includes one or more ceils C2. Similar to 30 the home network PDC, the guest network GSM includes a call switching centre GMSC2 and a central database, a so-called home location register HIR2, which in this case is connected W09S/27382 PC.

-to all switching centres GMSC2 and MSC2 in the guest network GSM. It will be understood that the units shown in the home network PDC and in the guest network GSM in Figure 1 are merely a few of the total number of units that are normally 5 included in such networks. CorrP~pont9;n~1y, only a part of the total nu3ber of connections that normally exist in the n~L~.JLk:~ PDC and GSM have been marked in Figure 1. Figure 1 merely shows the units in the home network PDC and in the guest network GSM that are n~PrPCS~ry to obtain an understan-10 ding of the invention. The multiples of units that exist in acomplete tP~ P ; cations system havP been PYrlllAP~ from the Figure for reasons of clarity. The PDC network is well specified in the standard TTC JJ/70.10, Ver 3, while the GSN
network is specified in European Digital Cellular Com-15 munication System; Network architecture GSM 03 . 02 . Figure 1also shows an inventive roaming arrangement 100 whose function will be described in more detail with reference to Figure 2.
Figure 2 illustrates schematically a telP~ ; cations system TS which ; nC'lll~lP5 both the home network PDC and the 20 guest network GSM. The home network PDC includes the mobile telephone switching centre MSCl, w..ich is 21so referred to as a PDC local switching centre. The PDC local switching centre handles sign~l 1 ;n~ to and from mobile units MS1 that are located temporarily in one of the cells handled by the PDC
25 local switching centre MSCl. The home network PDC includes the call switching centre GMSCl, which is also referred to as a PDC call switching centre. The call switching centre GNSCl is the same type of switching centre as the earlier mentioned PDC
local switching centre MSCl. The local switching centre MSCl 30 temporarily obtains the designation PDC call switching centre GMSCl when the local switching centre receives as the rst switching centre in the network a call from a calling su~
ber CS to a called subscriber, for instance the subscri ~ A
in the mobile MSl. The calling subscriber CS is only formally 35 marked in Fi~ure 2, without the Figure showing all of the 2 1 8~808 tel~e- ~cation unit5 that are n~r~cc~ry for the call. The term "call switching centre" in distinction to the term "local switching centre" a5 used here is only meant to provide assistance in clarifying the following description. The home 5 register HLRl, which is also referred to as a PDC home register, is connected to both the mobile telephone switching centres MSCl and GMSCl in the home network PDC. All subscri-bers that have their home subscription in the home network are registered in the PDC home register, i.e. those subscribers 10 that have subscribed to the network operator that handles the home network, and who therewith have the right to use the network .
The guest network GSM also includes the mobile telephone switching centre MSC2, which i8 also referred to AS a GSM
15 local switching centre MSC2. The switching centre MSC2 handles, via the base control unit BSC2, signalling to and from mobile units MS2 which are located temporarily in one of the cells handled by the GSM local switching centre ~SC2. A
subscriber using the mobile unit MS2 is registered temporarily 2 o in a guest register in the GSM local switching centre MSC2 whilst the mobile unit MS2 is located in the cell area handled by the GSM switching centre MSC2. The guest network GSM also includes the call switching centre GMSC2, which is also referred to as a GSM call switching centre, the function of 25 which in the guest network GSM is the same as the function of the earlier mentioned PDC call switching centre in the home network PDC. The home register, a so-called GSM home register HLR2, is connected to both of the mobile telephone switching centres MSC2 and GMSC2 in the guest network GSM. All subscri-3 0 bers that have their home subscription in the guest networkare registered in the GSM home register, i.e. those subscri-bers who have subscribed to the operator that handles the guest network and who therewith have the right to use the network .

~ Wo ~5127382 2 1 8 4 8 0 8 r ~ ~ , -Respective home registers HIiE:~ and IILR2 in the home network PDC and the guest network GSM obtain from respective local switching centres NSC1 and M'iC2 information relating to subscribers ~o are temporarily located in the cell areas of 5 respective ~ ~tching centres. The signalling procedure applied between the PDC home register H~Rl and the PDC local switching centre rlSC1 to transp~-t data betwee n the PDC home register HL~ l and the PDC local switching centre MSC1 is defined in the stan~rd Internode Specification for Digital 10 Mobile C ications Network - Ver. 4Ø This si~nAll;n~
~oce~ULI: will be used further on in the text as a comparison when ~lA~n~n~ the siqn~ procedure between the roaming arrangement and the home network PDC. The signalling procedure applied between the GSM home register and the GSM local 15 switc:~ing centre MSC2 to transport data between the GSM home regis_er HLR2 and the GS~ local switching centre MSC2 is defined in GSM l. ~n~i~tion 09 . 02 . This signalling proce-dure will be used further on in the text as a comparison when explaining the ~ nAll;n~ procedure between the roaming 2 0 arrangement and the guest network GSM . A brief explanation will now be given of the signalling procedure that takes place when a call is made to a PDC subscriber, for instance the subscriber A located within the PDC network, in the ~1-lustrated case the mobile MSl. When a call frc~ the call_l~g 25 subscriber CS to the subscriber A who is registered as a home subscriber in the PDC network arrives at the call switching centre GNSC1 of the PDC network, the PDC call switching centre GMSCl asks the PDC home register HLRl for information relating to the PDC local switching centre NSCl in which the callea 30 subscriber is registered at that moment in time. Upon receipt of an answer to this query, the call is directed from the PDC
call switching centre GMSC1 to the PDC local switching centre MSCl given by the PDC home register in reply to the ~uery. The si~nAll in~ procedure used between the PDC call switching 35 centre GMSCl and the PDC local switching centre MSCl when directing the call from the PDC call switching centre GMSCl to WO 95/27382 2 l ~ ~ g Q 8 p~" j~

the PDC local switching centre MSCl i5 defined in the standard Internode Spet~ifit Ation for Digital ~obile C it Ations Network - Ver. 4Ø This sitJn:~ll in7 ~-.,cedul~ will be used further on a6 a comparison when explaining the signalling 5 ~locedu-~ carried out between the roaming arrangement 100 and the home network PDC . The t i gnA 11 i n~ procedure described with reference to the PDC network also applies when a call is made in the GSM network. The sitJnAl 1 intJ pL"ce-lu-tct which is then used between the GSM call switching centre GMSC2 and the GSM
10 local switching centre MSC2 is def ined in European Digital Cellular C i cation System; Routing of calls to mobile subscriber GSM 03.04. This sit3nAllintJ prOc;t2~uL~ will be used further on in the text as a comparison when explaining the signalling procedure carried out between the roaming arran-15 gement and the guest network GSM.
The telPt it Ations system TS also includes the inventiveroaming arrangement 100, which has been described above with reference to Figure 1. The roaming arrangement lOo includes a roaming register ILR and a roaming switching centre IMSC. The 20 roaming arrangement 100 is connected to the home network through the medium of a home interface Sl, S3, and also to the guest network through the medium of a guest interface S2, S4.
These interfaces will be described in more detail below. All roaming subscribers, for instance the subscriber A, who have 25 their roaming subscription in the guest network are ad-ministered in the Roaming register ILR, i . e. those subscribers who already have a home subscription in the home network PDC
and who have subscribed to a roaming subscription with the operator that handles the guest network GSM. These roaming 3 o subscribers therewith have the right to use both the home network PDC and the guest network GSM. In the case of the illustrated ~ '~'ir- 1,, the roaming arrangement is ad-ministered by the operator which handles the guest network GSM, although it is, of course, also feasible for the roaming 35 arrangement to be administered by the networkoperator which Wogs/27382 21848~8 r~ ~n~
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handles the home network. It is also conceivable for the roaming arrAn~ ~ to be administered by an independent network operator a so-called roaming operator. The roaming subscriber A ls admini~tcred with the cal_ number in both 5 networks, i.e. according to one inventive method, the calling subscriber CS is able to call the roaming subscriber A on the same tolFrhon~ number i~Lesye~;live of whether the subscriber A i~ located in the home network or in the guest network. This will be ~11A;nF~d in more detail bel~.w. The roaming register 10 IIF~ is c~nne~f~cl to both the home network PDC and to the guest network GSM. That part of the roa3ning register ILR which handles ~jgnAllinq between the roaming register IIFc and the hone register HLRl in the home network PDC is named a rirSt lnterface Sl in the home interface, while that part of the 15 roaming register ILR which handles si~nAl 1 in~ between the roaming register ILR and .he local switching centre IISC2 in the guest network GSM is named a second interface S2 in the guest interface. According to the invention, the ~;~nAll;nq ~uc~duL e used via the first interrace Sl between the PDC home 20 register }~LRl and the roaming register ILR is the same type of si~nA~l;n~ procedure as that used between the PDC home register HLR1 and the PDC local switching centre MSC1, this si~nAl 1 in~ pLUUt:dUle having been r- ,', i~ n~ earlier on in the text. The PDC home register HIR1 herewith recognizes the 25 roaming aLL~lllg. ~ 100 as being a local switching centre in the home network. According to the in~ention, the F:iqnAl 1 in~
procedure used via the second interface S2 between the GSM
local switching centre MSC2 and the roaming register ILP~ is the same type of siqnAl 1 inq ~:vce-lu~.3 as that used between the 3 0 GSM local switching centre ~SC2 and the GSM home register HLR2, this si~nAl 1 i n~ ~luc~u~e having been mentioned earlier on in the text. The GS~l local switching centre MSC2 herewith recognizes the roaming arrangement 100 as being a home register in the guest network GSM. According to the invention, 35 the roaming register ILR can therewith be handled from both the home network PDC and the guest network GSM, and is . .

2 1 848~
3 S~ P2~a~ Ot,i~,~ PCT/ SE 9 5 / 0 0 3 S 7 PCI ~ ;on ~ ion ¦ 3 D ~~

recognized as a part of the own network by the PDC and GSM
networks. The advantage gained in this respect will be made apparent further on, when describing the inventive methods of procedure. In addition to being connected to the roaming 5 register ILR, the roaming switching centre IMSC is also connected to the home network PDC and to the guest network GSM. That part of the roaming switching centre IMSC which handles signalling between the roaming switching centre IMSC
and the call switching centre GMSC1 in the home network PDC is 10 named a third interface S3 in the home interface, while that part of the roaming switching centre IMSC which handles signalling between the roaming switching centre IMSC and the local switching centre MSC2 in the guest network GSM is named a fourth interface S4 in the guest interface. According to the 15 invention, the signalling procedure used via the third interface S3 between the PDC call switching centre GMSC1 and the roaming switching centre IMSC is of the same type of signalling procedure as that used between the call switching centre GMSC1 and the PDC local switching centre MSC1, this 20 siqnAll ;n~ procedure having been mentioned earlier on in the text. The PDC call switching centre GMSC1 herewith recognizes the roaming arrangement 100 as being a local switching centre MSC1 in the home network PDC. According to the invention, the signalling procedure used via the fourth interface S4 between 25 the GSM local switching centre MSC2 and the roaming switching centre IMSC is the same type of procedure as that used between the GSM local switching centre MSC2 and the GSM call switching centre GMSC2, this signalling procedure having been mentioned earlier on in the text. The GSM local switching centre MSC2 30 herewith recognizes the roaming arrangement 100 as being a call switching centre in the guest network GSM. According to the invention, the roaming switching centre IMSC can therewith be handled from both the home network PDC and the guest network GSM and is recognized by both networks PDC and GSM as 35 a part of the own network. The advantage gained by this will AMEI~IDED SHEET

WO 95/27382 2 1 8 4 ~ a 8 r~
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be made apparent further on in the description, when descri-bing the inventive methods of pro,eduL~:.
It will be understood that those connections illustrated in the exemplifying embodiment between the roaming arrange~ent 5 lO0 and the two respective networks PDC and GSM are only examples of such conn~ct;nnC. Of course, one skilled in this art will readily understand that the roaming arrangement lO0 will also function in the case illustrated in Figure 3, in which the home network GSMX is a GSM-type network and the lO guest network PDCX is a PDC-type network, or in those cases where the mixed networks are of a standardized type other than those described above. It should be pointed out that some standardized networks may have a configuration that differs slightly from the illustrated case. For instance, a PDC-type 15 mobile telephone networ}. may be configured in various ways, depending on the PDC standard that has been usad when imple-menting the network. An example of one configuration of a PDC-type mobile telephone network is when a PDC local switching centre MSCX communicates with the PDC home register HLR1 via 20 a guest location register GLR. Another example of a PDC
network configuration is when the PDC local switching centre PDCX communicates directly with the PDC home register HLR1 without using an int~ te guest location register. It will be evident to one of normal skill in this art that a roaming 25 arrangement lO0 which borders a standardized PDC-type network will include an interface which is adapted to the standard applicable to the network. When a PDC-_ype mobile telephone network acts as a guest network PDCX, as in the case il-lustrated in Figure 3, and includes local switching centres of 30 the fir~t type, the guest register GLR will communicate in .
PDC network with the roaming arrangement 100. When a PDC-t mobile telephone network acts as a guest network PDCX O
includes local switching centres of the second type, as is also marked in Figure 3, the local switching centre MSCX in 35 the PDC network will, on the other hlnd, communicate directly .... ...

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with the roaming aLL,l.-, L 100. On the other hand, when a PDC-type mobile telephone network acts as a home network and includes local switching centres of the first type, the roaming arrangement 100 will be recognized by a PDC home 5 register ~LRl as a guest register. When a PDC-type mobile telephone network acts as a home network and includes local switching centres of the second type, ~IS shown in Figure 2, the PDC register will recs~Jni 7e the roaming arrAnS ~ 100 as being a loc21 switching centre. The various network standards 10 that can arise when practicing the invention shall be seen solely as different: ` ir ts of the invention. These configurations are not conGi~ red to have a limiting effect on how the invention can be practiced and do not detract from the inventive concept in any way.
15 Figure 4 illustrates schematically those units which have earlier been described with reference to Figure 2 and which are significant to an inventive method which will now be described. All fixed connections between the earlier enumer-ated siqn;-1 1;n~ nodes, i.e. base stations, base control unit, 20 local switching centres, home register and roaming register have been illustrated in thick full lines in Figure 4.
Naturally, si~nAl 1 ing between the nodes, which will be described in detail further on, takes place over the fixed connections, but has been shown in the Figure on one side of 25 these connections for the sake of clarity. Signalling is indicated by thin full arrows which show the signalling direc-tions. The siqnAl 1 in~J illustrated in the Figure and n~c~csAry to the invention does not claim to be thQ full si~nAl 1 inrJ
procedure that is carried out when handling a subscriber 30 registered in two different types of standardized network.
Si~nAll;n~J that is considered to form part of well known techniques is not described in the text nor shown in detail in the Figure. The localizing procedure described in the fol-lowing illustrates the procedure taken to register the 35 location of the roaming subscriber A after the subscriber has wo 9~l2~382 2 ~ 8 ~ & ~ 8 r."~

moved from the home network PDC to the gu-~i netw-;_k GSM. The roaming subscriber A is administered with the same call number in both networks, i . e. the roaming subscriber A can be reached by the aforesaid calling subscriber Cs on one and the sar,e 5 telephone number, irrespective of the network in which the roaming subscriber A is located. The roaming subscriber A is herewith registered pP~-n~ntly in the home register E~I~l as b-aing domestic in the home network PDC. The roaming subscriber A is also registered perr-nPntly in the roaming register ILR
10 as a conceivable guest in the guest network GSM. In the illustrated case, the roaming subscriber A has access to two different mobile tele ;cation6 ~lnits, wherein the first mobile lS located in the home network PDC and is designated a PDC mobile MSl. The second unit is located in the guest 15 network GSM and is designated a GSM mobile MS2. The PDC mobile MSl is adapted to the home network PDC, i.e. adapted to , ; rate with base stations in the home network through the medium of an air interface. The air interface is marked in Figure 1 by a lightning symbol between the PDC mobile MSl and 2 o a base station. The GSM mobile MS2 is adapted to the gueçt network in the same way. Both mobile units MSl and MS2 include a subscriber module read means. The subscriber module, whic~
is often referred to as a SIM card, is a card about the size o a standard credit card for instance, and contains information 25 relating to the owner of the card, i.e. the roaming subscriber A in the case of the illustrated Pr~o~l;r ~. When the SIN card is inserted into the mobile unit MSl in the home network PDC, there is initiated a registration process whose purpose is to confirm the authority of the subscriber in the home network 30 and to register the location of the subscriber in the network.
This process is well known to the person skilled in this art and has not therefore been shown in Figure 4 or described in detail in the text. Briefly, the process comprises the following two steps, of which the first step shows the 35 authority check and the second check shows the registration:

W0 95/27382 ~ l 8 ~ ~ ~ 8 - The PDC local switching centre MCSl in whose cell area the mobile telephone subscriber A is located asks the PDC home register HLRl for information on which it can carry out an authority check. The PDC home register HLR1 collects authority 5 information from an authorization register in the home network PDC. The PDC home register iILRl forwards the information to the PDC local switching centre, which then carries out an authorization check.
- When the check h2s been accepted, the PDC home register 10 HLRl is informed by the PDC local switching centre NSCl that the mobile telephone subscriber A is located within the cell area of the PDC local switching centre and that the subscriber is authorized. The location of the subscriber is then registe-red in the PDC home register HLRl.
15 The inventive method of plucedu~e: which will now be described with reference to Figure 4 is concerned with a localizing procedure that is undertaken when the aforesaid roaming subscriber A has moved and is located in the guest network GSM
in a cell handled by the GSM local switching centre MSC2. The 20 subscriber A uses the GSM mobile MS2. The method includes the following steps:
- The reader in the GSN mobile MS2 reads the SIM card.
- An updating request 1 is sent from the GSM mobile MS2 to the GSM local switching centre ~SC2, via the base control unit 25 BSC2.
- The updating reguest 1 includes the identity of the subscriber A. With the aid of the identity of the roaming subscriber A, the GSM local switching centre MSC2 establishes that the subscriber is registered permanently in the roaming 30 register ILR.
- The GSM local switching centre MSC2 sends to the roaming register ILR an information reguest 2, in which information needed to check the authorization of the subscriber is re~uested by the GSM local switching centre MSC2.

- WO 9S/27382 ~ ~ 8 ~ 5 - An information response 3 is sent from the roaming register ILR to the GSN local switching centre MSC2, wherewith the nPcess~ry inforration is sent to the GSM local switching centre MSC2.
5 - The authorization of the subscriber A as a guest in the guest network is checked in the GSN local switching centre MSC2 .
This rh~clrin~ ~Lu~duLd is less important to the invention and has not therefore been described in detail. The ~LoceduLt is 10 the same as the rhP-~kin~ procedure that is normally carried out in a GSM network in order to check subscriber authoriza-tion and is ~ nci~pred to be well known to one skilled in this art .
- The roaming subscriber A is accepted as a guest in the guest 15 network GSM.
- The GSM local switching centre MSC2 sends an initiation message 4 to the roaming register ILR, this message containing information of the whereabouts of the roaming subscriber A in a cell area handled by the GSM local switching centre MSC2.
20 - The new position of the subscriber A is registered in the roaming register ILR, i.e. the GSM local switching centre MSC2 in the guest network GSM.
- A registration message 5 is sent from the roaming register ILR to the PDC home register ~}LRl in the home network PDC, 25 this message 5 containing an address to the roaming register ILR. This information can be later used when connecting a call for instance, as will be made apparent further on.
- Subscriber data relating to the roaming subscriber A is updated in the PDC home register (i~LRl), the address of the 30 roaming register ILR being included in the subscriber data.
As before mentioned, the aforedescribed signAl 1 in~
is not the full signalling procedure that is carried out when registering a roaDling subscriber A who has moved from a home _ _ _ _ . , . .... _ .. .. _ _ _ _ _ Wo 9S/27382 ~ t 8 ~ 8 ~ ~ PCT~c~

network to a guest network. Only signalling that is essential to the invention has been described, while other signalling is considered to be well known to one of normal skill in this art .
5 Figure 5 is a flow sheet which illustrates the aforedescribed method. The flow sheet also shows the steps that are most essential to the inventive concept. The abbreviations used in the Figure text have been earlier ~ n~d with reference to Figure 4. The yruce~uL is carried out in accordance with 10 Figure 5 and comprises the following steps:
- The SIM card is read in the GSM mobile ~IS2, in accordance with block 101.
- An updating request 1 is sent to the GSM local switching centre MSC2, in accordance with block 102.
15 - The GSM local switching centre MSC2 establishes that the subscriber is registered permanently in the roaming register ILR, in accordance with block 103.
- Authorization information concerning the 8ubscriber A is requested from the roaming register IIR through the authori-20 zation reguest 2, in accordance with block 104.
- Authorization information is sent from the roaming register II,R to the GSM local switching centre MSC2 through the information response 3, in accordance with block 105.
- The GSM local switching centre MSC2 checks the authoriza-25 tion of the subscriber A as a guest in the guest network, in accordance with block 106.
- The roaming subscriber A is accepted, in accordance with block 107.
- The GSM local switching centre MSC2 informs the roaming 30 register ILR that the roaming subscriber A is located within a cell area handled by the GS15 local switching centre MSC2 through the medium of the initiation message 4, in accordance with block 108.

2 1 84~08 Wo 95/27382 1 - The roaming register IIR registers the new position of the subscriber A, in accordance with block 109.
- The address of the roaming register ILR is sent to the PDC
home register HLR1 in the home network PDC through the medium 5 of the registration message 5, in accordance with bloc}: 110.
- The address of the roaming register ILR is insert~d into the roaming subscriber data in the PDC home register HIR1, in accordance with block 111.
Another method of ploce.lu~ e: will now be described with 10 reference to Figure 6, in which a call is c~nn~ct~d to the guest network GSM. Figure 6 illustr2tes schematically some of the units earlier described with reference to Figure 2 and having si~ni fic Inre to the inventive ~ethod that will now be described in more detail. In the case of this ~ho~l; t, the 15 tele~ ;cations system TS includes a public switched telephone network which includes a public exchange LE which is connected to the PDC call switching centre GMSCl in the home network PDC. The PDC call switching centre G~SCl co~n~cte~ to the PDC home register has earlier been described with refe-20 rence to Figure 2 and is shown in said Figure. The callingsubscriber CS uses a public switched telephone network unit PSTNA connected to the publis ~xchange LE. The Figure illustration includes the roammg switching centre IMSC
earlier described with reference to Figure 2 and shown in said 25 Figure. The roaming switching centre I~ISC is connected to the roaming register ILR and also to both the PDC call switching centre GMSCl and to the GS~ local switching centre MSC2 in the guest network GSI~. All fixed connections between the earlier enumeratedsi~n~11in~nodes, i.e. basestations, basecontrol 30 units, local switching centres, home register, roaming register, rc~mling switchinS centre, call switching centre, public exchange and calling subscriber have been shown in thick full lines in Figure 6. The si~nAllin~ is shown in Figure 6 with the aid of thin full arrows which indicate 35 signalling directions. The sign;~ll;n~ illustrated in the _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ . . _ .... _ , . . . . . _ _ _ _ _ .

w0 95r27382 2 1 8 4 8 0 8 r~

Figure and n~c~ ry to the invention does not claim to be the full signalling procedure that i8 carried out when handling a subscriber who is registered in two different types of 6tandard networks. The signalling that is considered to be 5 well known is not described in the text nor shown in detail in the Figure. The method that will now be described is a so-called call p~,ce-lu~e in which the calling subscriber in the public switched telephone network PSTN calls the roaming subscriber A, who is a guest in the guest network GSM and who 10 uses the GSM mobile NS2. The method includes the following steps:
- The calling subscriber CS calls the roaming subscriber A by keying-in the roaming subscriber call number with the aid of the button pad on the public switched telephone network unit 15 PSTNA.
- A call signal 21 i5 sent from the public switched telephone unit PSTNA to the PDC call switching centre GMSCl, through the public exchange LE.
- The PDC call switching centre G~SCl sends to the PDC home 20 register HI,R1 a first query 22 concerning the location of the subscriber A.
- The home register HLR1 sends to the PDC call switching centre GMSCl a first reply 23 which includes an address to the roaming register ILR. The address of the roaming register ILR
25 has already been mentioned in the description of the locali-zing procedure.
- The PDC call switching centre G~5SCl analyzes the address of the roaming register ILR and extracts from this address an address to the roaming switching centre IMSC. This analysis of 30 the address to the roaming register ILR is not important to an understanding of the invention and is considered well known to one skilled in this art and has not therefore been described in detail.
- The call is forwarded from the PDC call switching centre 35 GMSCl to the roaming switching centre IMSC with the aid of a 2 1 8~8~8 WO95127382 P~ . 5.

first routing message 24, which inrlu~lPc the address of the roaming switching centre IMSC.
- The roaming switching centre IMSC sends to the roaming register ILR a second query 25 concerning the location of the 5 roaming subscriber A.
- The roaming register collects a so-called roaming number which is used temporarily in rr~nnPct i n~ the call . This collection is r~r~nci~pred to be well known to a person skilled in this art and bas not tberefore been described in detail.
10 - The roaming register IIR sends to the roaming switching centre INSC a second response 26 which includes tbe roaming number and an address to the GSM local switching centre MSC2 in the guest network GSM.
- The call is forwarded from the roaming switching centre 15 IMSC to the GSM local switching centre MSC2 with the aid of a second ro~ting message 27 which includes the address of the GSM local switching centre MSC2.
- The call from the public switched telephone network unit PSTNA is connected to the roaming subscriber A by setting up 20 a connection 28 between the GSM local switching centre MSC2 and the mobile MS2.
The aforedescribed signalling procedure does not claim to be the full signalling that is carried out when a call is made to the roaming subscriber A. Only sign:~l 1 ing that is essential to 25 the invention has been described above, while other cignAl l inrJ
is considered to be well known to the person skilled in this art. It is again pointed out that the fact that the il-lustrated home network is a PDC-type network and that the illustrated guest network is a GSM-type network shall be seen 3 0 only as an example of a c ~ncei rable configuration . The reversed may also be true, in which case the home network is a GSM-type network and the guest network is a PDC-type networlc. In this latter case in which the guest network is a PDC-type network, the collection of a roaming number is 35 omitted. Similar minor differences in the s;~nAllin~ proce-_ _ _ _ _ _ _ . . .. . .. _ _ . . . _ . . .. _ _ _ _ wo s~l27382 2 t 8 4 8 ~ ~ r~
dure carried out in different types of network are notsignificant to an understanding the invention. The person who is skilled in this art will be aware of such signalling di f f erences .
5 Figure 7 is a flow sheet describing the aforesaid method. The flow sheet illustrates the steps that are most essential to the inventive concept. Abbreviations used in the Figure text 21re cnn~id~red to have been explained earlier with reference to Figure 6. The method is carried out in accordance with 10 Figure 7 in the following manner:
- The calling subscriber CS calls the roaming subscriber A, in accordance with block 201.
- The called signal 21 is sent from the public switched tell~ ~ cations network unit PSTNA to the PDC call swit-15 ching centre GMSCl, in accordance with block 202.
- The first localizing query 22 is sent to the PDC home register ~IRl asking for the location of the subscriber A, in accordance with block 203.
- The first localization response 23 containing the address 20 of the roaming register ILR is sent to the PDC call switching centre GMSCl, in accordance with block 204.
- The PDC call switching centre GMSCl analyzes the address of the roaming register IIR and extracts from this address the address of the roaming switching centre I~SC, in accordance 25 with block 205.
- The call is forwarded to the roaming switching centre I~SSC, in accordance with block 206.
- The second localizing query 25 is sent to the roaming register ILR, asking for the 1 nn~t; nn of the roaming subscrib-30 er A, in accordance with block 207.
- The second loc~l i 7in~ response 26 is sent to the roaming switching centre INSC, in accordance with b~ock 20Z.

-~ W095/~7382 ~ 813~ r~

- The response is forwarded to the GS~I local switching centre MSC2 with the aid of the response 26, in accordance with block 209 .
- The call set-up is f ;nAl i 79tl, in accGrdance with block 210.
5 Pigure 8 illustrates the 6ame tel~ ; cations system TS as that earlier described with reference to Figure 4. The units included in the system TS, i.e. the mobile units MSl and MS2, the base stations, the base control unit BSC2, the local switching centres MSCl and ~SC2, the home registers HLR1 and 10 HLR2, and the roaming register ILR have earlier been descri-bed. The PDC home recister HL~l in the home network PDC
contains information c ~erning supplementary services, other subscriber data, and orher standard base services for those subscribers, for instance the roaming subscriber A, who are 15 domicile in the network. A supplementary service may be a "call transfer", for instance. There will now be described an inventive method of ~ocedu~: for handling a supplementary service in the PDC home register HLR1 on the part of the roaming subscriber A, after this subscriber has moved from the 2 0 home network PDC to the guest network GSM . The procedure includes the following steps:
- A first hAnr?lin~ request 31a is sent from the mobile unit MS2 to the roaming register ILR, via the GSM local switching centre MSC2. The request 31a includes information that the 25 subscriber A wishes to handle the supplementary service "call transfer" and the type of handling that the subscriber wishes to perform.
- The roaming register ILR receives the first hAn~l in~
request 31a and the request i5 transformed to a second 30 hAn~l ;n~ request 31b which is sent from the roaming register ILR to the PDC home register HLRl in the home network PDC.
- The speciried supplementary service is handled in the PDC
ho-e register HLRl in accordance with the wishes of subscriber A.

Wo ss/27382 ~ 8 0 ~

- A first hAn~ll in~ acknowledS ~ 32a is 6ent from the PDC
home register HI;R1 to the roaming register tILR), this message confirming that the specified service has been handled in the PDC home register HLRl in accordance with the wishes of 5 subscriber (A).
- The first hAn~l in~ acknowledgement 32a is received in the roaming register II~ and the message is transformed to a second hAn~lin~ acknowlevg ~ 32b, which is sent from the roaming register II,R to the mobile unit MSC2, via the local 10 switching centre MS2.
Figure 9 illustrates the same tele i cations system T5 as that described in the aforegoing with reference to Figure 4.
The units included in the system TS, i.e. the mobile units MS1 and MS2, the base stations, the base control unit BSC2, the 15 local switching centres MSC1 and MSC2, the home registers HLR1 and HLR2, and the roaming register ILE~ have been well descri-bed in the aforegoing. The PDC home register HLRl in the home network PDC contains information cnncPrnin~ supplementary services for those 6ubscribers that are domicile in the 20 network, for instance the roaming subscriber A. In conjunction with the localizing pLvce-luLe earlier described, the GSM local switching centre MSC2 in whose cell area the roaming subscri-ber A is located obtains information cnnr~rni n~ those services that are available to the roaming subscriber A. An inventive 25 method of ~LuceduLe:, which will now be described, informs the local switching centre, in this case the GSM local switching centre, that a supplementary service has been changed, for instance to the service "block on outgoing calls". The change in service may have been ordered, for instance, by the 30 networkoperator who handles the supplementary services available to the roaming subscriber A. The method includes the following steps:
- Sending a first change message 41a from the PDC home register HLR1 in the home network PDC to the roaming register Wo 95f27382 2 1 8 ~ 8 0 8 P~

ILR, this mes6age 41a informing ,.hat a change of supplementary service has taken place. The first change message 41a is received in the roaming register ILR and is transformed to a second change mes6age 41b, whirh is sent from the roaming 5 register ILR to the GSM local witching centre MSC2 in the guest network GSM.
- The change of supplementary--service is noted in the local switching centre MSC2 in the guest network GSM.
- A first change acknowle~' L 42a is sent from the local 10 switching centre MSC2 in the guest network GSM to the roaming register ILR, this message 42a c~nfirm;n~ that the change has been implemented.
- The first change confirmation 42a is received in the roaming register II.R and is transformed to a second change 15 acknowledgement 42b which is sent from the roaming register ILR to the home register HLRl in the home network PDC.
Figure 10 illustrates the same tel~- ; cations system TS
as that described with reference to Figure 4. The units included in the system TS, i.e. the mobile units NSl and MS2, 2 0 the base stations, the base control unit BSC2, the local switching centres MSCl and MSC2, the home registers HLR1 and HLR2, and the roaming rcgister ILR have been well described in the aforegoing. The aforementioned roaming subscriber A is found in the GSM local switching centre MSC.. The PDC home 25 register HLRl in the home network PDC contains information relating to the position of the roaming subscriber A in the GSM local switching centre MSC2. The method now described illustrates the signAl 1 in~ pL~,ceduL-~ that is followed when an error has oc._uLL~d in the home register HLRl. The method 30 includes the following steps:
- An error occurs in the PDC home register HI,Rl and informa-tion contained in the register HLRl concerning the position of subscribers, for instance the roaming subscriber A, has been erased .

wo 9s/27382 2 ~ 8 ~ 8 0 8 - A first error message 51a is 6ent to the roaming register IIR from the PDC home register H~R1 in the home network PDC, this message 51a informing that an error has occurred in tl~e PDC home register HI,R1. The error message is also sent to 5 other units to which the PDC home register is connected, for instance to the PDC local switching centre MSCl, and which may have provided the PDC home register with information concer-ning subscriber positions.
- The first error message Sla is received in the roaming 10 register ILR and is transformed to a second error message 51b which is sent rrom the roaming register I~R to the GSM local switching centre MSC2 in the guest network GSM.
- A notation is made in the local switching centre MSC2, wherein this notation can be used later to initiate a new 15 updating of the position of the roaming subscriber when the subscriber next signals to the local switching centre MSC2.
The following two steps can be omitted in certain cases, dPpPn~l;ng on the configuration of the guest network.
- A first error acknowledyement 52a is sent to the roaming 20 register ILR rrom the GSN local switching centre MSC2 in the guest network GSM, this message 52a acknowledging the receipt of the error message.
- The first error acknowled~ ~ ~ 52a is received in the roaming register ILR and is transformed to a second error 25 acknowledgement 52b, which is sent from the roaming register ILR to the home register HLR1 in the home network PDC.
Figure 11 illustrates the same tel~nnmm~ln; cations system TS
as that described in the aforegoing with reference to Figure 4. The units included in the system TS, i.e. the mobile units 30 ~Sl and MS2, the base stations, the base control unit BSC2, the local switching centres MSCl and MSC2, the home registers HLRl and HLR2, and the roaming register ILF~, have been well described in the aforegoing with reference to Figure 4. The 2 ~ 8~
WO 95/27382 1 ~ 75, roaming subscriber A has been registered in the PDC home register HLRl as a guest in the guest network GSM, with the aid of the earlier described localizing method. The PDC home register therewith contains information to the effect that the 5 roaming subscriber A is found in the GSM local switching centre MSC2. There will now be d~5cribed a de-registering procedure which i.- carried out after the subscriber A has move~ from the GSM mobile in the guest network GSN to the home network PDC. The method includes the following steps, of which 10 the first five are considered to be well known to the skilled person and havc not therefore been shown in Figure 11:
- The roaming 6ubscriber A moves to the PDC mobile MSl in the home network PDC.
- The reader in the PDC mobile MSl read6 the SIM card.
15 - An updating request is sent from the PDC mobile MSl to the PDC local switching centre MSCl. This updating request includes the identity of the subscriber A.
- The authorization of subscriber A in the home network is checked and accepted in the PDC local switching centre MSCl.
20 - The PI~C local switching centre MSCl sends to the PDC home register ~LRl an initiation message which includes informa-tion to the.effect that the roaming subscriber A is located within a cell area that is handled by the PDC local switching centre MSCl.
25 The above method steps are considered to be well known to the skilled person and have not there~ore been shown in Figure 9.
The following steps are relevant to the inventive method:
- A first deactivating message 61 is sent to the roas.
register ILR fr~m the PDC home register ~LRl in the ho~e 30 network PDC, thi:, message 61a informing that the subscriber A
is no longer found in the guest network GSM.

WO ss/2738~ r~
2 t 8~808 28 - The roaming register ILPc is updated with respect to the fact that the subscriber i5 no longer located in the guest network GSX.
- The first deactivating message 61a is transformed to a 5 6econd deactivating message 61b which is sent from the roaming register ILR to the PDC local switching centre MSC2 in the gUQst network GSM.
- Subscriber data relating to the El~hs~r~ hPr A is deactivated in the local 6witching centre MSC2.
10 - A first deactivating acknowledgement 62a i6 sent from the GSM local switching centre MSC2 to the roaming register ILR.
- The first deactivating acknowledgement 62a is transformed to a second deactivating acknowlcd~c t 62b which is sent from the roaming register ILR to the PDC home register IILRl.
15 It will be understood that the aforedescribed exemplifying pmhS)~l;r- L.s may be modified in several ways within the scope of the present invention. For instance, the tele~- ;ca-tions 6ystem may conceivably have a different structure to that described. An example of such a tele ~; cations system 20 is a GSM network which includQs satellite-based air interfaces which are connected to a PDC network of the type earlier described, through the medium of ground-based GSM equipment and through the medium of the roaming arrA- -- L. Since the satellite-based GSM system handles signalling in the same way 25 as the totally ground-based GSM system described in the previous embodiments, there will be no difficulty in using the roaming arrangement in a satellite-based system. An exercise of this nature may find application in future telecom-munications systems in which a PDC subscriber moves outside 3 o the area covered by the subscriber ' s network, f or instance leaves Japan, to a geographic area which is not covered by the PDC system but which is covered by the second telecom-munications system which has a different net signalling standard, for instance a GSM-type signalling standard, 35 through the medium of the satellite-based air interface.

wo9s~7382 2 ~ 84 8 08 r~ t There will now be briefly desc- ibed a further exemplifying . ` o~l;r-~t of the inventive concept with reference to Figure 12 . Figure 12 illustrates a telF~ ; c~tions system TSY
which include~ a PDC-type home network PDC1 and a PDC-type 5 guest networ~ ?DC2. The PDC networks, PDCl and PDC2, of the illustrated P~hQ~l; -nt do not enable international roaming.
The tele~ ; c~tions system TSY includes an int~ te telP~ ; cations network which, in the illu5trated case, is a GSM-type network. Figure 12 illustrates an inventive roaming 10 arrargement 200 which is slightly different to the roaming arrangements illustrated and described above. The roaming arrangement 200 of this emb~lir L includes a first signal-hAn~l in~ means ILRl ~nd INSC1 between the home network PDCl and GSM network. Th~ ~oaming arrangement 200 also inclu--~ a 15 second signal-handl~ing means ILR2, IMSC2 between t~ ~M
network lnd the g~- ~c network PDC2. The home network ~Cl rPco~rli 7eC the fir3~ 6ignal-handling means ILRl, IMSCl as a si~nA11;n~ node in the home network, i.e. in the same manner as in the earlier described ~ '- '; r ^nts . The guest network 20 PDC2 recognizes the sacond signal-h~ntll ;n~ means ILR2, IMSC2 as a sign~11;n~ node in the guest network, i.e. in the same way as that earlier described. Similar to the earlier descri-bed roaming arrangement 100~, the roaming arrangement 200 of this embodiment also includes a home interface S5, S7 towards 25 the home network PDCl, and a guest interface S6, S8 towards the guest network PDC2. Signals are moved through the GSM
network within the roaming arrangement 200, betwe~3n the st signal-handling arrangement ILRl, IMSCl and the second signal-h~n-ll;n~ arrangement ILR2, IMSC2, with the aid of a 30 signal transport -h;~n; ~ which, in the case of the il-lustrated Prholl;r nt, is of the we~l-known type CCITT No. 7.
The home network PDCl and the gue~ -ietwork PDC2 ~ill be seen only as examples of such networks. Naturally, other types of networks are conceivable instead of the two PDC-type networks.

WO95/27382 2 1 8~ 8~J8 It will be understood that the aforedescribed and illustrated exemplifying embodiments may include a number of variations without deviating from the scope of the invention. For instance, the roaming register ILR may include more than one 5 guest interface. It is conceivable to use an ADC-type home network and two different guest networks, of which one is a PDC-type network and the other is an analog NNT-type network, for instance. It is also conceivable for the subscriber A to use one mobile telephone in one type of network and then use lO a mobile computer unit in another type of networX, for instance a ~S09ITEX-type network. There are, of course, many types of different traffic cases in which the invention can be used. For instance, the calling subscriber CS may use a mobile unit instead of the public switched telephone network unit 15 PSTNA shown in the F'YPmrl jfying Prho~;r -~s. The SIN card described in Prhf ~ nts above is not nPc~cs~ry when carrying out the invention. It is also conceivable that the subscriber A will indicate his absence or presence by switching on or off those mobile units which he has at his ~l i cpOc~ he design of 20 the mobile telephone unit is not significant to the concept on which the invention is based. For instance, a mobile tPl Prh~nP
unit having a double radio interface, one for the hoD~e network and one for the guest network, is also conceivable. It has already been shown that the si~n~l l inq procedure can be varied 25 in certain ways. For instance, the procedure followed to check whether or not the subscriber is authorized can be carried out in a telephone network unit other than the local switching centre. Neither need the ~LLU~:LULt~ of the tele~ lications syctem be the aforedescribed and illustrated ~LLUULUL~. For 30 instance, it is also conceivable to use satellite based base stations. It is also conceivable to use base stations that are wireless-connected or cordless-connected to local switching centres or base control units.
It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the 35 aforedescribed and illustrated exemplifying ' orli--nts 2 ~ ~8Q~
W0 9s/2738z r~
r 31 thereof and that modifications can be made within the ~;cope of the following Claims.
. .

Claims (19)

1. A telecommunications system (TS, TSX) comprising a roaming arrangement (100) for handling a mobile telephone subscriber (A), wherein the system (TS) includes a first standardized type of mobile telephone network in the telecommunications system (TS), a so-called home network (PDC), and at least one second standardized type of mobile telephone network, a so-called guest network (GSM); wherein the subscriber (A) has a call number which is common to both the home network (PDC) and the guest network (GSM) and which subscriber (A) is registered in the roaming arrangement (100) as a conceivable guest in the guest network (GSM); wherein the roaming arrangement includes a signal handling means (ILR, IMSC) having at least one home interface (S1, S3) towards the home network (PDC) and at least one guest interface (S2, S4) towards the guest network (GSM), wherein the home interface (S1, S3) is arranged to receive signals from the home network (PDC) and to transmit signals to the home network (PDC), wherein the format of the signals is the same as a signal format that occurs in the home network (PDC), and wherein the guest interface (S2, S4) is arranged to receive signals from the guest network (GSM) and to transmit signals to the guest network (GSM), the format of said signals being the same as a signal format that occurs in the guest network (GSM); wherein the signal handling means (ILR, IMSC) is arranged to transmit information between the home network and the guest network via said transmitted signals during roaming between the networks (PDC, GSM).

2. A telecommunications system (TS) according to Claim 1, wherein the home network (PDC) and the guest network (GSM) each include a home register (HLR1, HLR2) and a local switching centre (MSC1, MSC2); wherein the roaming arrangement (100) includes a roaming register (ILR) which is connected to the home network (PDC) via a first signalling interface (S1) in the home interface, this first signalling interface being located between the home register (HLR1) in the home network (PDC) and the roaming register (ILR), and which is also connected to the guest network (GSM) via a second signalling interface (S2) in the guest interface, this second signalling interface being located between the local switching centre (MSC2) in the guest network (GSM) and the roaming register (ILR); wherein the first interface (S1) is of the same type as a standardized interface between the home register (HLR1) and the local switching centre (MSC1) in the home network (PDC); and wherein the second interface (S2) is of the same type as a standardized interface between the local switching centre (MSC2) and the home register (HLR2) in the guest network (GSM).

3. A telecommunications system (TS) according to Claim 1, wherein the home network (PDC) and the guest network (GSM) each include a home register (HLR1, HLR2) and a local switching centre (MSC1, MSC2); wherein the home network (PDC) also includes a guest register in which subscribers visiting the local switching centre (MSC1) are registered; wherein the roaming arrangement (100) includes a roaming register (ILR) which is connected to the home network (PDC) via a first signalling interface (S1) in the home interface, this first signalling interface being located between the home register (HLR1) in the home network (PDC) and the roaming register (ILR), and which register (ILR) is also connected to the guest network (GSM) via a second signalling interface (S2) in the guest interface, this second signalling interface being located between the local switching centre (MSC2) in the guest network (GSM) and the roaming register (ILR); and wherein the first interface (S1) is of the same type as a standardized interface between the home register (HLR1) and the guest register, and the second interface (S2) is of the same type as a standardized interface between the local switching centre (MSC2) and the home register (HLR2) in the guest network (GSM).

4. A telecommunications system (TSX) in accordance with Claim 1; wherein the home network (GSMX) and the guest network (PDCX) each include a home register (HLR2, HLR1) and a local switching centre (MSC2, MSC1) and the guest network (PDCX) also includes a guest register (GLR) in which subscribers visiting the local switching centre (MSC1) are registered; wherein the roaming arrangement (100) includes a roaming register (ILR) which is connected to the home network (GSMX) via a first signalling interface (S1) in the home interface, this first signalling interface being located between the home register (HLR2) in the home network (GSMX) and the roaming register (ILR), and which register (ILR) is also connected to the guest network (PDCX) via a second signalling interface (S2) in the guest interface; wherein the second signalling interface is located between the guest register (GLR) in the guest network (PDCX) and the roaming register (ILR); wherein the first interface (S1) is of the same type as a standardized interface between the home register (HLR2) and the local switching centre (MSC2) in the home network (GSMX); and wherein the second interface (S2) is of the same type as a standardized interface between the guest register (GLR) and the home register (HLR1) in the guest network (PDCX).

5. A telecommunications system (TS) according to Claim 1;
wherein the home network (PDC) and the guest network (GSM) each include a home register (HLR1, HLR2), a local switching centre (MSC1, MSC2) and a guest register in which subscribers visiting the local switching centre (MSC2) are registered;
wherein the roaming arrangement (100) includes a roaming register (ILR) which is connected to the home network via a first signalling interface (S1) in the home interface, said first signalling interface being located between the home register (HLR1) in the home network (PDC) and the roaming register (ILR), and which roaming register (ILR) is also connected to the guest network (GSM) via a second signalling interface (S2) in the guest interface, this second signalling interface being located between the local switching centre (MSC2) in the guest network (GSM) and the roaming register (ILR); and wherein the first interface (S1) is of the same type as a standardized interface between the home register (HLR1) and the guest register, and the second interface (S2) is of the same type as a standardized interface between the guest register and the home register (HLR2) in the guest network (GSM).

6. A telecommunications system (TS) according to any one of Claims 2, 3, 4 or 5; wherein the home network (PDC) includes at least one first call switching centre (GMSC1);
wherein the call switching centre is intended to receive a call from a calling subscriber (CS) to the mobile telephone subscriber (A); wherein the roaming arrangement (100) includes a roaming switching centre (IMSC) which is connected to the home network (PDC) via a third signalling interface (S3) in the home interface between the roaming switching centre (IMSC) and the call switching centre (GMSC1) in the home network (PDC); wherein the roaming switching centre (IMSC) is also connected to the guest network (GSM) via a fourth signalling interface (S4) in the guest interface between the roaming switching centre (IMSC) and the local switching centre (MSC2) in the guest network (GSM); wherein the third interface (S3) is of the same type as a standardized interface between the first call switching centre (GSMC1) and the local switching centre (MSC1) in the home network (PDC); and in that the fourth interface (S4) is of the same type as a standardized interface between the local switching centre (MSC2) and a second call switching centre (GMSC2) in the guest network (GSM).

7. A telecommunications system (TSY) comprising a roaming arrangement (200) for handling a mobile telephone subscriber, wherein the telecommunications system (TSY) includes a first standardized type of mobile telephone network in the telecommunications system (TSY), a so-called home network (PDC1) and at least one second standardized type of mobile telephone network, a so-called guest network (PDC2), wherein the subscriber has a call number which is common to both the home network (PDC1) and the guest network (PDC2), and the roaming arrangement (200) includes a first signal-handling means (ILR1, IMSC1) and a second signal-handling means (ILR2, IMSC2) and at least one home interface (S5, S7) towards the home network (PDC1) and at least one guest interface (S6, S8) towards the guest network (PDC2), wherein the home interface (S5, S7) is arranged to receive signals from the home network (PDC1) and to transmit signals to the home network (PDC1), wherein the format of the signals is the same as a signal format that occurs in the home network (PDC1), and wherein the guest interface (S6, S8) is arranged to receive signals from the guest network (PDC2) and to transmit signals to the guest network (PDC2), the format of said signals being the same as a signal format that occurs in the guest network (PDC2).

8. A telecommunications system (TS) comprising a roaming arrangement (100, 200) relating to a telecommunications system (TS) according to any one of Claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8, wherein at least one of the mobile telephone networks (PDC, GSM, PDC1, PDC2) includes at least one satellite-based air interface.

9. A method relating to a telecommunications cations system (TS) for handling a mobile telephone subscriber (A) which is administered with a call number which is common to both a first standardized type of mobile telephone network, a so-called home network (PDC) in the telecommunications system (TS) and to a second standardized type of mobile telephone network, a so-called guest network (GSM) in the telecommuni-cations system (TS); wherein the home network (PDC) includes a home register (HLR1) in which the subscriber (A) is registered permanently as being domestic in the home network (PDC); wherein the guest network (GSM) includes a local switching centre (MSC2) which handles signalling to and from mobile units (MS2) that are located in a cell area handled by the local switching centre (MSC2); wherein the telecommu-nications system (TS) includes a roaming arrangement (100) which includes a roaming register (ILR) in which the sub-scriber (A) is permanently registered as a conceivable guest in the guest network (GSM); and wherein the roaming register (ILR) is connected to the local switching centre (MSC) in the guest network (GSM) and also to the home register (HLR1) in the home network (PDC); wherein the method comprises the steps of - activating a mobile unit (MS2) located in the guest network in the cell area of the local switching centre (MSC2), this activation being effected by the subscriber (A);
- sending from the mobile (MS2) to the local switching centre (MSC2) an updating request (1) which includes the identity of the subscriber (A);
- establishing in the local switching centre (MSC2) in the guest network (GSM) that the subscriber is permanently registered in the roaming register (ILR), with the aid of the identity of the roaming subscriber (A);
- checking the authorization of the subscriber (A) as a guest in the guest network (GSM);
- accepting the authorization of the subscriber (A) as a guest in the guest network (GSM);
- sending from the local switching centre (MSC2) to the roaming register (ILR) an initiation message (4) which includes information to the effect that the subscriber (A) is found in the local switching centre (MSC2);
- updating the roaming register (ILR) with the new position of the subscriber (A), i.e. the local switching centre (MSC2) in the guest network (GSM);
- sending from the roaming register (ILR) to the home register (HLR1) in the home network (PDC) an updating message (5) which includes information to the effect that the subscriber (A) is found in the roaming register (ILR); and - updating the home register (HLR1) in the home network (PDC) with subscriber-relevant information.

10. A method relating to a telecommunications system (TS) according to Claim 7; wherein the method includes the steps of - sending from the local switching centre (MSC2) to the roaming register (ILR) an information request (2), this information being required to check subscriber authorization;
and - sending from the roaming register (ILR) to the local switching centre (MSC2) an information response (3) which contains the information required to check subscriber authorization.

11. A method relating to a telecommunications system (TS) according to Claim 7 or Claim 8; wherein the home network (PDC) includes a call switching centre (GMSC1) which is connected to the home register (HLR1) and to the roaming arrangement (100); wherein the roaming arrangement includes a roaming switching centre (IMSC) which is connected to the roaming register (ILR); wherein the method comprises the steps of - a calling subscriber (CS) calls the subscriber (A) from a public switched telephone network unit (PSTNA) in the telecommunications system (TS), wherewith a call signal (21) is sent from the public switched telephone network unit (PSTNA) to the call switching centre (GMSC1) in the home network (PDC);
- sending from the call switching centre (GMSC1) to the home register (HLR1) a first query (22) enquiring of the location of the subscriber (A);
- sending from the home register (HLR1) to the call switching centre (GMSC) a first response (23) which includes a first address to the roaming switching centre (IMSC);
- forwarding the call from the call switching centre (GMSC) to the roaming switching centre (IMSC) with the aid of a first routing message (24) which includes the first address;

- sending from the roaming switching centre (IMSC) to the roaming register (ILR) a second query (25) asking for the location of the subscriber (A);
- sending from the roaming register (ILR) to the roaming switching centre (IMSC) a second response (26) which includes a second address to the local switching centre (MSC2) in the guest network (GSM);
- forwarding the call from the roaming switching centre (IMSC) to the local switching centre (MSC2) with the aid of a second routing message (27) which includes the second address; and - finalizing the call from the public switched telephone network unit (PSTNA) to the mobile (MS2), by establishing a connection (28) between the local switching centre (MSC2) and the mobile (MS2).

12. A method relating to a telecommunications system (TS) according to Claim 9, said method comprising - collecting from the roaming arrangement (100) a roaming number to the home register in the home network.

13. A method relating to a telecommunications system (TS) according to Claim 9 or Claim 10; wherein the method compris-es the further step of - collecting from the local switching centre (MSC2) in the guest network (GSM) a roaming number to the roaming arrange-ment (100).

14. A method relating to a telecommunications system (TS) according to Claim 7 or Claim 8, wherein the home register (HLR1) in the home network (PDC) includes information relating to those supplementary services that are available to the subscriber, and wherein the method comprises the steps of - sending from the mobile unit (MS2) to the roaming register (ILR) via the local switching centre (MSC2) in the guest network (GSM) a first handling request (31a) which includes information as to how the subscriber (A) wishes to handle a supplementary service;
- transforming the first handling request (31a) to a second handling request (31b) which is sent from the roaming register (ILR) to the home register (HLR1) in the home network (PDC); and - handling the supplementary service in the home register (HLR1) in the home network (PDC) in accordance with the specification given by the subscriber (A).

15. A method relating to a telecommunications system (TS) according to Claim 12, wherein the method comprises the further steps of - sending from the home register (HLR1) in the home network (PDC) to the roaming register (ILR) a first handling acknowl-edgement (32a) which acknowledges handling of the service in accordance with subscriber specification; and - transforming the first handling acknowledgement (32a) to a second handling acknowledgement (32b) and sending this second acknowledgement from the roaming register (ILR) to the mobile unit (MS2) via the local switching centre (MSC2).

16. A method relating to a telecommunications system (TS) according to Claim 7 or Claim 8, wherein the home register (HLR1) in the home network (PDC) and the local switching centre (MSC2) includes information relating to those supple-mentary services that are available to the subscriber (A), and wherein the method comprises the steps of - sending from the home register (HLR1) in the home network (PDC) to the roaming register (ILR) a first change message (41a) which informs that a change of supplementary service has taken place;
- transforming the first change message (41a) to a second change message (41b) and sending the second message from the roaming register (ILR) to the local switching centre (MSC2) in the guest network (GSM);
- noting the supplementary service change in the local switching centre (MSC2) in the guest network (GSM);
- sending to the roaming register (ILR) from the local switching centre (MSC2) in the guest network (GSM) a first change acknowledgement (42a) which acknowledges that the change has been implemented; and - transforming the first change message (42a) to a second change message (42b) which is sent from the roaming register (ILR) to the home register (HLR1) in the home network (PDC).

17. A method relating to a telecommunications system (TS) according to Claim 7 or Claim 8, wherein the home register (HLR1) in the home network (PDC) and the local switching centre (MSC2) includes information concerning those supple-mentary services that are available to the subscriber (A), and wherein the method comprises the steps of - sending to the roaming register (ILR) from the home register (HLR1) in the home network (PDC) a first error message (51a) which informs that an error has occurred in the home register (HLR1) in the home network (PDC) and that the home register lacks information relating to the position of the subscriber (A);
- transforming the first error message (51a) to a second error message (51b) and sending said second message from the roaming register (ILR) to the local switching centre (MSC2) in the guest network (GSM); and - noting in the local switching centre (MSC2) the need for information concerning the position of the subscriber (A).

18. A method relating to a telecommunications system (TS) according to Claim 15, comprising the further steps of - sending to the roaming register (ILR) from the local switching centre (MSC2) in the guest network (GSM) a first error acknowledgement (52a) which confirms that the error message has been received; and - transforming the first error acknowledgement (52a) to a second error acknowledgement (52b) and sending said second error acknowledgement from the roaming register (ILR) to the home register (HLR1) in the home network (PDC).

19. A method relating to a to telecommunications system (TS) according to Claim 7 or Claim 8, wherein the home network (PDC) includes a local switching center (MSC1) which handles signalling to and from mobile units (MS1) that are located in a cell area handled by the local switching centre (MSC1), and wherein the method comprises the steps of - sending from the home register (HLR1) in the home network (PDC) to the roaming register (ILR) a first deactivation message (61a) which informs that the subscriber (A) is no longer present in the guest network (GSM);
- updating the roaming register (ILR) to the effect that the subscriber (A) is no longer present in the guest network (GSM);
- transforming the first deactivation message (61a) to a second deactivation message (61b) and sending said second deactivation message from the roaming register (ILR) to the local switching centre (MSC2) in the guest network (GSM);
- deactivating subscriber (A) data in the local switching centre (MSC2);
- sending a first deactivation acknowledgement (62a) from the local switching centre (MSC2) to the roaming register (ILR);
and - transforming the first deactivation acknowledgement (62a) to a second deactivation acknowledgement (62b) and sending said second deactivation acknowledgement from the roaming register (ILR) to the home register (HLR1) in the home network (PDC).