Inter-technology roaming proxy

Claim 2

An interworking proxy coupled to first and second mobile switching systems using first and second management protocols, respectively, wherein the first and second management protocols are different, the interworking proxy comprising: means for receiving a request for service, including one of a registration request for registering a mobile user and a call termination request for forwarding an incoming call to the mobile user, for the mobile user from the first system using the first management protocol; means for translating the received request from the first management protocol to the second management protocol; means for sending the translated request to the second system; means for receiving a response to the translated request from the second system using the second management protocol; means for translating the received response from the second management protocol to the first management protocol; and means for sending the translated response to the first system.

Claim 3

The interworking proxy of claim 1, wherein the first system is a GSM network and the second system is an IS-41 network.

Claim 4

The interworking proxy of claim 1, wherein the first system is an IS-41 network and the second system is a GSM network.

Claim 11

An inter-system roaming interface for routing registration and routing number requests and responses between home and visiting systems for a mobile user from the home system who is roaming in the visiting system, the home system and visiting system using different home system and visiting system protocols, respectively, the inter-system roaming interface comprising: means for receiving one of a registration request for registering the mobile user and a routing number request for forwarding an incoming call to the mobile user; means for determining which type of request was received; means for translating the registration request from the visiting system protocol to the home system protocol, for sending the translated registration request to the home system, for receiving a registration response from the home system in the home system protocol and translating the registration response to the visiting system protocol, and for sending the translated registration response to the visiting system when the determining means determines that the received request is a registration request; and means for translating the routing number request from the home system protocol to the visiting system protocol, for sending the translated routing number request to the visiting system, for receiving a routing number response from the visiting system in the visiting system protocol and translating the routing number response to the home system protocol, and for sending the translated routing number response to the home system when the determining means determines that the received request is a routing number request.

Claim 12

An inter-system roaming interface for routing registration and routing number requests and responses between home and visiting systems for a mobile user from the home system who is roaming in the visiting system, the home system and visiting system using different home system and visiting system protocols, respectively, the inter-system roaming interface comprising: means for receiving one of a registration request for registering the mobile user and a routing number request for forwarding an incoming call to the mobile user; means for determining which type of request was received; means for translating the registration request from the visiting system protocol to the home system protocol, for sending the translated registration request to the home system, for receiving a registration response from the home system in the home system protocol and translating the registration response to the visiting system protocol, and for sending the translated registration response to the visiting system when the determining means determines that the received request is a registration request; and means for translating the routing number request from the home system protocol to the visiting system protocol, for sending the translated routing number request to the visiting system, for receiving a routing number response from the visiting system in the visiting system protocol and translating the routing number response to the home system protocol, and for sending the translated routing number response to the home system when the determining means determines that the received request is a routing number request.

Claim 13

The inter-system roaming interface of claim 7, wherein the home system is a GSM network and the visiting system is an IS-41 network.

Claim 14

The inter-system roaming interface of claim 7, wherein the home system is an IS-41 network and the visiting system is a GSM network.

Claim 15

A network for permitting inter-system roaming, comprising: a first system including a first mobile switching center for providing communication with a second system, a first home location register, coupled to the first mobile switching center, for storing data relating to a location of a first mobile subscriber of the first system roaming in the second system, a first visitor location register, coupled to the first mobile switching center, for temporarily storing subscription data for a second mobile subscriber of the second system roaming in a service area of the first system, and first protocol converting means, coupled to the first home location register and a second visitor location register, for translating and forwarding requests and responses between the first system and the second system to provide services to the first mobile subscriber roaming in the second system; and the second system including a second mobile switching center for providing communication with the first system, a second home location register, coupled to the second mobile switching center, for storing data relating to a location of the second mobile subscriber of the second system roaming in the first system, the second visitor location register, coupled to the second mobile switching center and the first protocol converting means, for temporarily storing subscription data for the first mobile subscriber of the first system roaming in a service area of the second system, and second protocol converting means, coupled to the second home location register and the first visitor location register, for translating and forwarding requests and responses between the second system and the first system to provide services to the second mobile subscriber roaming in the first system.

Claim 16

A network for permitting inter-system roaming, comprising: a first system including a first mobile switching center for providing communication with a second system, a first home location register, coupled to the first mobile switching center, for storing data relating to a location of a first mobile subscriber of the first system roaming in the second system, a first visitor location register, coupled to the first mobile switching center, for temporarily storing subscription data for a second mobile subscriber of the second system roaming in a service area of the first system, and first protocol converting means, coupled to the first home location register and a second visitor location register, for translating and forwarding requests and responses between the first system and the second system to provide services to the first mobile subscriber roaming in the second system; and the second system including a second mobile switching center for providing communication with the first system, a second home location register, coupled to the second mobile switching center, for storing data relating to a location of the second mobile subscriber of the second system roaming in the first system, the second visitor location register, coupled to the second mobile switching center and the first protocol converting means, for temporarily storing subscription data for the first mobile subscriber of the first system roaming in a service area of the second system, and second protocol converting means, coupled to the second home location register and the first visitor location register, for translating and forwarding requests and responses between the second system and the first system to provide services to the second mobile subscriber roaming in the first system.

Claim 17

The network of claim 10, wherein the first system is a GSM network and the second system is an IS-41 network.

Claim 18

The network of claim 10, wherein the first system is an IS-41 network and the second system is a GSM network.

Claim 19

An interworking proxy coupled to first and second mobile switching systems using first and second management protocols, respectively, wherein the first and second management protocols are different, the interworking proxy comprising: first protocol converting means for translating and forwarding requests and responses between the first system and the second system in the first and second management protocols, respectively, to provide services to a first mobile subscriber from the first system that is roaming in the second system; and second protocol converting means for translating and forwarding requests and responses between the second system and the first system in the first and second management protocols, respectively, to provide services to a second mobile subscriber from the second system that is roaming in the first system.

Claim 20

An interworking proxy coupled to first and second mobile switching systems using first and second management protocols, respectively, wherein the first and second management protocols are different, the interworking proxy comprising: first protocol converting means for translating and forwarding requests and responses between the first system and the second system in the first and second management protocols, respectively, to provide services to a first mobile subscriber from the first system that is roaming in the second system; and second protocol converting means for translating and forwarding requests and responses between the second system and the first system in the first and second management protocols, respectively, to provide services to a second mobile subscriber from the second system that is roaming in the first system.