WO2007052348A1

WO2007052348A1 - Mobile communication network operating method

Info

Publication number: WO2007052348A1
Application number: PCT/JP2005/020215
Authority: WO
Inventors: Etsuji Nakagiri; Isamu Hayama
Original assignee: Fujitsu Limited
Priority date: 2005-11-02
Filing date: 2005-11-02
Publication date: 2007-05-10

Abstract

An ISP performs an MVNE business, and is caused to operate a portion of a mobile core network. A server managed by the ISP controls a portion of a management device for operating the mobile core network. The ISP server performs the network operation of the internet, and can also operate the mobile core network technically. The ISP becomes the MVNE and causes the ISP server to operate a portion of the mobile core network in place of a communication company having the mobile core network. On the internet, therefore, the operation of the mobile core network matching various services can be executed in real time to improve the conveniences drastically.

Description

Specification

Mobile communication network operation method

Technical field

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to a mobile communication network operation method, and more particularly to a mobile communication network operation method via an ISP server that is an MVNE supporting MVNO.

Background art

[0002] There is MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) that emerged one after another in the late 1990s, especially in Europe, especially the UK and Northern Europe. MVNO is a provider of mobile communication contracts and services to customers, but does not have frequency allocation. It receives the wholesale of data communication services from carriers with frequency allocation. It is a company that provides its own price plans and services under its own brand. In other words, MVNO is a provider that provides services by borrowing wireless communication infrastructure from other companies, and there are only about 3 to 4 carriers in each country. By using the facilities of the company that received the license, it becomes possible for an unlicensed company to provide wireless communication services. A number of mobile phone lines for employees can be contracted with a company to provide public / private classification services for call charges, or original data communication services can be added and resold with some kind of original service! / There are many business operators.

[0003] MVNE (Mobile Virtual Network Enabler) supports such business operators without mobile communication business know-how. MVNE is a weak MVNO (Mobile Virtual

(Network Operator), and in response to MVNO needs, negotiate with existing mobile operators, provide field 'trial opportunities, support for formulating business plans when actually starting businesses, and charges It is a business that provides various support, such as devising plans. This business is still in its infancy, and there are few MVNE contractors who have begun full-scale business with the ability to use MVMO's own experience and know-how to conduct MVNE business. Many MVNOs and MVNEs are expected to appear in the future.

[0004] Patent Document 1 below describes a process for changing the charge to an MVNO that uses a mopile network. Inventions relating to science are described.

Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-309672

Disclosure of the invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

[0005] Conventionally, a telecommunications carrier having a wireless communication infrastructure has received a request for a dedicated terminal, a subscriber service, and a billing form from the MVNO, and has the ability to issue an operation instruction from the MVNO dedicated terminal to the MVNO gateway device. MVNO's gateway device power The operator itself operates the mopile core network (mobile communication network), and MVNO cannot intervene in the operation management of the mopile core network. Therefore, MVNO can only operate in a regular and restrictive manner, and the services it provides are limited.

[0006] Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a mobile communication network operation method that enables MVMO to provide various services to subscribers.

[0007] Further, an object of the present invention is to provide a mobile communication network operation method capable of setting a mopile core network related to an MVNO service in real time. Means for solving the problem

[0008] A first mobile communication network operation method of the present invention for achieving the above object is to set the mobile communication network in order to realize a service provided by the MVNO using the mobile communication network. The MVNO server managed by the MV NO sends a request for setting necessary for the service to the ISP server managed by the ISP that is the MVNE, and the ISP server When the request is received, the mobile communication network management system is accessed based on the request, and the request is transmitted to the management system. The management system responds to the request from the ISP server, It is characterized in that the setting for the mobile communication network is executed.

[0009] A second mobile communication network operation method according to the present invention is the above-described first method, wherein the MVNO server receives the setting request from a subscriber terminal via the Internet, and If received, the request is transmitted to the ISP server. [0010] In a third mobile communication network operation method according to the present invention, in the second method, the service forwards an incoming call to a mobile terminal of a subscriber who can use the service of the MVNO to another terminal. When the transfer service is used and the transfer service is used, the MV NO server sends the request for setting the transfer service together with the transfer information including the transfer destination number to the ISP server, and the ISP server The request including the transfer information is transmitted to the management system, and the management system executes the setting of the transfer service by registering the transfer information.

[0011] A fourth mobile communication network operation method according to the present invention is the above second method, wherein the service is from a first extension group in which a mobile terminal of a subscriber who can use the service of the MVNO is registered. It is an extension call service that allows extension calls to the second extension group, and when registering the second extension group, the MVNO server is the subscriber's mobile terminal registered in the second extension group. The request for registration of the second extension group is transmitted to the ISP server together with the extension group information including the data and the extension number to the second extension group, and the ISP server sends the extension duplex to the ISP server. The request including information is transmitted to the management system, and the management system is based on the extension group information! This is characterized in that registration of the second extension group is executed.

[0012] A fifth mobile communication network operation method of the present invention is the above-mentioned second method, wherein the service is provision and reception of information about a facility near a mobile terminal of a subscriber who can use the service of the MVNO. When the MVNO server transmits the request for requesting the setting of the information provision and the incoming call restriction service to the ISP server, the ISP server receives the current location information from the mobile terminal. And searching for a facility close to the mobile terminal based on the current location information, transmitting the facility information to the mobile terminal, and transmitting the request for setting the incoming call restriction service to the management system, The management system performs setting of an incoming call restriction service based on the request.

The invention's effect

[0013] According to the present invention, the MVNE business supporting MVNO is technically ISP (Internet

By connecting the ISP server managed by the ISP and the management system of the mobile communication network (mopile core network) to open a part of the operation of the mopile core network to the ISP server, MVNE directly A mopile core network can be operated. Using the know-how of ISP, MVNO can provide various services, and it is possible to set up a mopile core network in real time via ISP.

Brief Description of Drawings

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an outline of a mobile communication network operation method according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an outline of a network operation method in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a processing sequence of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a processing sequence of the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an outline of a network operation method in the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a processing sequence of the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a processing sequence of the second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an outline of a network operation method in the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a processing sequence of the third embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a processing sequence of the third embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

[0015] 10: Mobile terminal for MVNO, 20: MVNO sano, 30: ISP server, 40: management system BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the embodiment does not limit the technical scope of the present invention.

[0017] In the present invention, ISP (Internet Service

Provider) conducts MVNE (Mobile Virtual Network Enabler) business and provides ISPs with mopile core Operate part of the network. Specifically, the Sano managed by the ISP (hereinafter referred to as ISP server) controls a part of the management device that operates the mopile core network. The ISP server operates the Internet, and technically can operate a mopile core network. The ISP becomes an MVNE, and on behalf of a carrier having a mopile core network, the ISP server operates a part of the mopile core network so that it can handle various services via the Internet. Will be able to be carried out in real time, greatly improving convenience.

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an outline of a mobile communication network operation method of the present invention. In Fig. 1, MVMO borrows part of the 3GPP-based mopile core network (3G) to provide its own services, but the management of the mopile core network (3G) itself is It is managed by a management system 40 operated by a telecommunications carrier. In the present invention, a part of operation of the management system 40 is opened to the ISP which is the MVNE, so that the ISP server 30 can control the management system 40. Since the ISP is a provider of Internet services, the Internet and the management system 40 are linked, and the ISP server 30 accepts requests from MVMO subscribers via the Internet, and responds to the requests in real time. Control management system 40. This realizes the automation of the settings for the mopile core network required for requests from MVMO subscribers.

[0019] The MVNO server 20 is a server of the Internet network, and has a website that accepts various registration requests such as setting, changing, and releasing of services provided by the MVNO. The mobile terminal 10 is a mobile terminal that can use services provided by MVNO, and can be connected to the Internet. As will be described later, for setting and registration of various services, the MVNO server 20 may be accessed via the Internet by the personal computer (PC) of the MVNO subscriber not from the mobile terminal 10. In this specification, the term “subscriber terminal” refers to a terminal that can access the MVNO sensor 20 via the Internet, and includes a general-purpose computer such as a personal computer in addition to the mobile terminal 11.

[0020] The management system 40 includes, for example, a charging center 41, an OMC-R (Operator Management Center- Radio) 42, OMC- CN (Operator Management Center-Core Network) 43, RNC (Radio)

Network Controller) 44, Node— B45, IN / APL (Intelligent Network / Application) 46, H LR (Home

(Location Register) 47, MSC (Mobile Switching Center) 48, GGSN (Gateway GPRS Support port)

Node, GPRS: General Packet Radio Service) 49 and the like.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an outline of the network operation method in the first embodiment of the present invention. 3 and 4 are diagrams showing a processing sequence of the first embodiment. The first embodiment will be described based on FIG. 2 with reference to FIG. 3 and FIG. The first embodiment is an example in which a registration service for forwarding (Call Forwarding) is realized. MVN0 provides a service that forwards a call received from a subscriber's mobile terminal to another telephone terminal. This is an example in which the MVNE performs billing settings in which the subscriber pays for transfer registration and billing when the subscriber desires the forwarding service.

[0022] First, a subscriber terminal (such as a mobile terminal 10 or a personal computer) is connected to the Internet by a subscriber's operation, and a home page (MVM0 server 20) managed by the MVN0 to which the subscriber subscribes. To access. The power to connect to the Internet requires a connection to a predetermined ISP server 30 In the present invention, the ISP for connecting to the Internet may not be an ISP that is an MVNE that is an arbitrary ISP. The home page of MVN0 (MVM0 Serno 20) has a page for accepting the transfer service. For example, the subscriber terminal selects the “transfer registration” menu corresponding to the transfer service and operates the transfer destination. A transfer request is made with transfer information including the phone number of the client (S10) _o

[0023] When receiving the request, the MVN0 server 20 transmits the request to the ISP server 30 of the ISP that is the MVNE (Sll). The ISP server 30 accepts the request and performs the following two operations. First, a transfer registration request is made to 0MC-CN (S12) ₀ Then, 0 MC-CN43 accesses the home location register (HLR) 47 and registers necessary data related to the transfer service in the subscriber data. (S13).

[0024] The ISP server 30 accesses the billing center 41 to generate billing information for each transfer. An individual notification request for notification is made (S14). The billing center 41 registers the individual notification request and performs billing control based on the request at the time of transfer.

[0025] After the above registration, when a call request is actually made to the mobile terminal 10 of the subscriber, the call is transferred to the transfer destination based on the subscriber data in the HLR. A call is made. When the call with the transfer destination ends, the transfer source mobile terminal 10 transmits a call end notification to the MSC 48 (S15), and the MSC 48 transmits call information including the call time to the billing center (S16). The billing center 41 collects data such as call time and call time because the individual notification request for billing information is registered for the transfer service of the subscriber. Billing information, which is a telephone call charge, is transmitted to the MVNO server 20 and the mobile terminal 10 of the subscriber, respectively (S17, S18).

[0026] As described above, the service request from the MVNO subscriber is received by the MVNO server 20 via the Internet, and the ISP server 30 linked via the Internet notifies the request to the ISP server 30. In order to realize the service request, the management system 40 of the monocore network is directly operated. In response to service requests from subscribers, MVNO has requested communications operators to work with documents and human resources for each service request, so service implementation takes time and increases costs. It was. By using MVNE, which acts as an intermediary between MVNOs and telecommunications carriers, as an ISP, service requests can be realized quickly and easily via the Internet, as in the above example. As a result, service improvement and cost reduction can be achieved. ISPs can also develop new businesses that use their own technology.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an outline of a network operation method in the second embodiment of the present invention. 6 and 7 are diagrams showing a processing sequence of the second embodiment. The second embodiment will be described based on FIG. 5 with reference to FIG. 6 and FIG. The second embodiment is an example of realizing a new extension group registration service of Mopile Centrex. Specifically, MVNO provides a mopile centrex service that uses mobile terminals for extension calls. The first extension group using the mopile centrex service provided by MVNO is registered. A new second extension group is established separately from the first extension group. This is an example in which a dedicated extension number and billing information notification form in an extension call from a subscriber registered in the group to a subscriber registered in the second extension group are uniquely set.

[0028] First, a subscriber terminal of a subscriber in the first extension group connects the subscriber terminal to the Internet, and a Web site (MVNO managed by the MVNO to which the subscriber subscribes). Access server 20). The MVNO website (MVNO server 20) has a site that accepts a setting service related to the establishment of an extension group. For example, the identification information of the second extension group newly established by the subscriber's operation, the second extension Subscriber data for joining the group (ie, a dedicated extension number) is input, and a notification form for notifying charging information for each call is specified as a notification form for charging information. The dedicated extension number is composed of, for example, a dedicated toll number for identifying the second extension group + an extension number for each subscriber. The subscriber terminal inputs information necessary for establishing an extension group, such as subscriber data (extension number) registered in the second extension group, and transmits the information to make a new extension group registration request (S20). .

[0029] When receiving the request, the MVNO server 20 transmits the request to the ISP server 30 of the ISP that is the MVNE (S21). The ISP server 30 receives the request and performs the following operation. First, a new extension group registration request is sent to the OMC-CN (S22). ₀ Then, the OMC-CN43 accesses the home location register (HLR) 47 and stores the new extension group and its subscriber data data in the HLR47. (S23a). In addition, OMC-CN43 accesses MSC48 and changes the translation office data in MSC48. That is, the newly registered dedicated extension number is set so as to correspond to the routing from the mobile terminal registered in the first extension group to the mobile terminal registered in the second extension group (S23b).

[0030] The ISP server 30 accesses the billing center 41 and requests billing collection for the extension call from the first extension group to the second extension group. Makes an individual notification request for generating and notifying accounting information for each call (S24). The billing center 41 registers the request and performs billing control based on the request when the extension call is performed.

[0031] After the above registration, the mobile terminals 10 actually registered in the first extension group 10 When a dedicated extension number of a mobile terminal registered in the second extension group is dialed

(S25), MSC48 translates the private extension number and recognizes it as routing to the second extension group. Then, the MSC 48 performs routing for the mobile terminal of the corresponding subscriber in the second extension group (S26), and calls the corresponding mobile terminal.

[0032] When the call with the mobile terminal in the second extension group ends, the mobile terminal 10 in the first extension group sends a call end notification to the MSC 48 (S27). Is transmitted to the billing center 41 (S28). The billing center 41 collects data such as call time and call time for the extension call from the first extension group to the second extension group. A certain billing information is generated and transmitted to the MVNO server 20 and the mobile terminal 10 of the subscriber in the first extension group (S29a, S29b) ₀

[0033] In the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, a service request from an MVNO subscriber is accepted on the Internet, and the ISP server 30 which is an MVNE directly receives a monocore. Operate the network and realize the service. Since the procedures for realizing services are simplified and automated, low-cost and real-time services can be provided.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an outline of the network operation method in the third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 are diagrams showing the processing sequence of the third embodiment. A third embodiment will be described based on FIG. 8 with reference to FIG. 9 and FIG. The third embodiment is an example of realizing an incoming call restriction service according to provision of facility information using the GPS function. Specifically, MVNO provides an incoming call restriction service that can restrict incoming calls to mobile terminals. For example, it is assumed that MVNO is an operator that operates multiple facilities such as movie theaters in various locations, and mobile terminals of MVNO subscribers have a GPS function. To limit incoming calls in the movie theater, an example is assumed in which incoming call restriction is automatically set when the GPS function detects that a movie theater is nearby.

[0035] First, by the operation of an MVNO subscriber, the subscriber terminal of the subscriber is connected to the Internet and connected to a website (MVNO server 20) managed by the MVNO to which the subscriber is subscribed. To access. The MVNO website (MVMO server 20) has a site that accepts incoming call restrictions. For example, a subscriber terminal selects a menu of incoming call restriction services according to provision of short-distance facility information by operating a subscriber, Request incoming call restriction (S30) _o

[0036] Upon receiving the request, the MVNO server 20 transmits the request to the ISP server 30 of the ISP that is the MVNE (S31). The ISP server 30 registers the request internally, and as described below, for the incoming call restriction setting, the management system for the mopile core network 40 at a predetermined timing after providing the short-distance facility information. To do.

[0037] When the MVNO subscriber goes out to the movie theater owned by the MVNO and comes to the vicinity of the movie theater, the mobile terminal 10 uses the GPS function to change the current position by the subscriber's operation (operation of the GPS button). Measures the location, sends the location information to the ISP server 30, and requests the provision of near-distance facility information (S32) ₀

[0038] Since the ISP stores detailed map data for the whole country, it is possible to provide information in which the current location of the mobile terminal is associated with the map information. The ISP server 30 transmits facility information such as a map from the current position of the mobile terminal to the movie theater and a movie theater address to the mobile terminal (S33). Along with the current position information, discount electronic coupons for the nearest movie theater may be distributed.

[0039] Further, when the ISP server 30 accepts the facility information provision request from the mobile terminal, it makes an incoming call restriction request to the OMC-CN 43 at this timing (S34). ₀ Then, the OMC-CN 43 The home location register (HLR) 47 is accessed, and necessary data related to the incoming call restriction service is registered in the subscriber data (S35). The incoming call restriction service provides various patterns, such as restricting all incoming calls or services that allow some incoming calls, and the service selected by the subscriber is registered. Note that the incoming call restriction request is sent to the OMC-CN43 in addition to the reception timing of the facility information provision request. Even when the request is received.

[0040] For example, when the subscriber finishes watching the movie and comes out of the theater, the subscriber operates the incoming call restriction release button to request the ISP server 30 to release the incoming call restriction (S36). ). When the ISP server 30 receives the incoming call restriction release request, the ISP server 30 requests the OMC-CN43 to release the incoming call restriction. The OMC-CN 43 deletes the data related to the incoming call restriction service registered in the HLR 47 and releases the incoming call restriction (S38).

[0041] In the third embodiment, as in the first and second embodiments, a service request from an MVNO subscriber is accepted on the Internet, and the ISP server 30 is an MVNE. Directly operate the mopile core network to realize the service. Since the procedure for realizing the service is simplified and automated, a low-cost and real-time service can be provided.

[0042] As illustrated in each of the above-described embodiments, by setting ISP as MWNE and allowing ISP to operate a part of mopile core network, it is possible to implement a wide range of diverse services in real time. it can. By combining the mobile communication service and the Internet service and via the ISP, various settings and changes to the service provided by the MVNO can be facilitated.

[0043] Also, if the MVNO has an IP address resource! / ヽ, it would be difficult to provide data services. However, by setting the ISP as the MVNE, the MVNO uses the IP address resource that the ISP has. This makes it easy to develop the data service business.

Industrial applicability

[0044] By setting the ISP as the MVNE, the MVNO can leave the operation of the mopile network to the MVNE, and the MVNO can concentrate on providing the service, leading to the provision of various services. In addition to the Internet connection business, ISPs can develop a new business called MVNE by making the most of their own know-how.

Claims

The scope of the claims

[1] Using a mobile communication network In the mobile communication network operation method for setting the mobile communication network in order to realize the service provided by MVNO,

The MVNO server managed by the MVNO transmits a setting request necessary for the service to the ISP server managed by the ISP that is the MVNE,

Upon receiving the request, the ISP server accesses a management system of a mobile communication network based on the request and transmits the request to the management system. The management system 40 receives the request from the ISP server. A method for operating a mobile communication network, wherein the setting for the mobile communication network is executed in response to the request.

[2] In claim 1,

The MVNO server receives the setting request from a subscriber's terminal via the Internet,

When the request is accepted, the request is transmitted to the ISP server.

[3] In claim 2,

The service is a transfer service for transferring an incoming call to a mobile terminal of a subscriber who can use the service of the MVNO to another terminal. When the transfer service is used, the MVNO server is a transfer service including a transfer destination number. Along with the information, send the request for setting the transfer service to the ISP server,

The ISP server transmits the request including the transfer information to the management system, and the management system performs setting of the transfer service by registering the transfer information. Network operation method.

[4] In claim 2,

The service is an extension call service that enables extension calls from a first extension group in which mobile terminals of subscribers who can use the service of the MVNO are registered to a second extension group, and the second extension group When registering

The MVNO server is a mobile terminal of a subscriber registered in the second extension group Together with the extension group information including the data of the extension and the extension number to the second extension group, the request for registration of the second extension group is sent to the ISP server, and the ISP server Sending the request containing group information to the management system;

The mobile communication network operating method, wherein the management system performs registration of the second extension group based on the extension group information.

In claim 2,

The service is an information provision and incoming call restriction service related to a facility close to a mobile terminal of a subscriber who can use the service of the MVNO,

The MVNO server sends the request to the ISP server for requesting setting of the information provision and incoming call restriction service,

When the ISP server receives the current location information from the mobile terminal, the ISP server searches for a facility close to the mobile terminal based on the current location information, transmits the facility information to the mobile terminal, and the management system. To send the request to request setting of the incoming call restriction service,

The management system executes setting of an incoming call restriction service based on the request. A method for operating a mobile communication network, characterized in that: