[0001] The present invention relates to roaming cellular data communication and more particularly but not exclusively to wireless application protocol (WAP) data communication.
[0002] Two of the most dynamic and fastest growing technologies in recent years are wireless communications and the Internet. Wireless access to the Internet is currently available from mobile telephones and from laptop computers, and is being developed for other mobile devices such as personal digital assistants (PDAs). The WAP (and i-mode technology) is a leading contender to provide wireless access to data networks. However there are currently numerous limitations to WAP data access.
[0003]
[0004] In a roaming scenario further limitations arise. Currently WAP roaming is based on a WAP gateway proxy at the home network site.
Dial-up Number: +4113806777 User Name: star Authentication type: Normal Password: home Homepage: http://wap.starhome.com IP Address: 190.190.10.170 IP Port: 9201 Bearer: Data Data call speed: 9600 Connection type: Temporary Connection Security: Off Inactive/idle timeout: 300 Response time: 150 Dial type: ISDN Show images: Yes
[0005] The call flow begins with an international data telephony connection initiated by a user agent such as a Mobile Switching Center (MSC)
[0006] Once the session is created, a Radius accounting packet is sent from the RAS
[0007] Routing the call through the home network is costly to the user, as the roaming data user is obliged to pay long distance or international telephony charges in addition to any other charges for data services. However, in most cases, even that simple yet costly configuration does not work because digital calls are not supported internationally, whilst digital calls are the default setup for WAP access. Another difficulty may appear when MSISDN is required for authentication or billing by the RAS
[0008] Additional problems arise when the phone is configured to dial a short code rather than an international number. Operators commonly use this setup for differentiated billing and/or network topology considerations, for example to ensure that users always access the physically closest RAS.
[0009] Additional drawbacks of the CSD architecture are inefficient access to data service applications, lower performance of these applications, and relevancy of the provided information. If the content server is local (in the VPMN or geographically close to the VPMN), a so-called tromboning scenario is created. The session is CSD tunneled to the HPMN and, after WAP conversion, returns to the VPMN through the Internet. If the application resides on a third domain, such as an international public land mobile network (IPLMN), the session is routed from the VPMN via the HPMN and then to the IPLMN, instead of directly from the VPMN to the IPLMN. In either case, the information provided to the user is not oriented to visitors and is not updated according to the visitor's current location and needs. In some cases, such as traffic, weather, and local activities, the information may be irrelevant.
[0010] General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) mobile operators, while not suffering from the same routing difficulties facing CSD mobile operators, have difficulty providing convenient data service access to their subscribers. Subscribers are routed to a single site, and cannot access a wide variety of data services through the mobile operator.
[0011] A need exists for a cellular data communication method that will provide roaming users with seamless access to data services throughout the accessible data network, and which will provide roaming users with relevant information based on both their current location and home network. The method should also ensure that the data communication is efficiently routed.
[0012] According to a first aspect of the present invention there is thus provided an interfacing apparatus, for association with a first mobile network and for supporting cellular data communication to roaming mobile telephony devices, the roaming telephony devices being associated with respective home networks and with respective service profiles specifying service networks providing data services to the device, the apparatus comprising: a data request analyzer, for analyzing requests for data services from the roaming mobile devices, a service network selector associated with the data request analyzer, for using the request analyses together with respective service profiles to select a corresponding service network, and an interfacing engine associated with the service network selector, for introducing the roaming mobile devices to the identified service networks, for directing the data requests to network servers of the service networks, and for directing corresponding data responses from network servers of the service networks to the requesting roaming mobile devices.
[0013] Preferably, the data communication comprises circuit switched data (CSD) communication.
[0014] Preferably, the data communication comprises General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) communication.
[0015] Preferably, the interfacing apparatus has a link to a supporting interfacing apparatus on at least one of the service networks.
[0016] Preferably, the mobile device comprises one of a group comprising: a mobile telephone, a portable computer, and a personal digital assistant (PDA).
[0017] Preferably, one of a group of devices comprising: wireless application protocol (WAP), MHTML, CHTML, and SHTML devices.
[0018] Preferably, the mobile device is operable to perform CSD communication.
[0019] Preferably, the data request analyzer comprises: a device identifier, for identifying from at least one parameter received with a data request from the mobile device a respective identity of the mobile device and a data service determiner for determining from at least one parameter received with the data request a respective data service requested by the mobile device.
[0020] Preferably, the interfacing engine comprises: an introducer, for introducing the mobile device to the selected service network, and a data communication manager, for managing data communication between the mobile device and network servers.
[0021] Preferably, data communication between the mobile device and a service network which allocates a private network address are performed with network address translation, and wherein data communication between the mobile device and a service network which does not allocate a private network address are performed without network address translation, and wherein the interfacing engine further comprises a network address translator comprising: a visited network address determiner, for determining a visited network address allocated to a mobile device by the first mobile network, a service network address determiner, for determining a service network address allocated to the mobile device by the service network, and a readdresser, for replacing an originating network address of a data request with the service network address and for replacing a destination network address of a data response with the visited network address.
[0022] Preferably, the service network selector comprises a service profile locator for using the respective identity to locate the respective service profile.
[0023] Preferably, the device identifier is operable to identify the device from at least one of the following group of parameters: Mobile Station International Subscriber Directory Number (MSISDN), mobile device home page, access point name (APN), and calling line identifier (CLI).
[0024] Preferably, the service network selector is further operable to select the corresponding service network according to an identity of the interfacing apparatus.
[0025] Preferably, the service network selector is farther operable to select the corresponding service network according to a current location of the device.
[0026] Preferably, the service network selector is further operable to identify a service network authorization server.
[0027] Preferably, the introducer is further operable to query the service network authorization server to authorize the data service request.
[0028] Preferably, the introducer is further operable to perform accounting functions.
[0029] Preferably, the device identifier further comprises a home network identifier to identify a respective home network of the mobile device.
[0030] Preferably, the home network identifier is operable to identify the respective home network from at least one of the following group of parameters: MSISDN, mobile device home page, APN, and CLI.
[0031] Preferably, the device identifier is further operable to identify a home authorization server associated with the respective home network of the device.
[0032] Preferably, the introducer is further operable to query the home authorization server to authenticate the mobile communication device.
[0033] Preferably, the service network authorization server comprises a Radius server.
[0034] Preferably, the interfacing apparatus further comprises a visitor database for storing properties associated with the mobile device.
[0035] Preferably, at least some of the properties comprise the service profiles.
[0036] Preferably, the service network selector is operable to use service profile information from the database.
[0037] Preferably, the properties comprise at least one of the following group of properties: visited network name, visited network location, home network address, visited network address, service network address, community profiles, and a user profile.
[0038] Preferably, the service profile comprises a user profile associated with the device.
[0039] Preferably, the user profile comprises user specified data service networks.
[0040] Preferably, the data communication manager comprises a session manager operable to create and terminate a data communication session.
[0041] Preferably, the data communication manager comprises a network address allocater for allocating a visited network address to the mobile device.
[0042] Preferably, the data communication manager is further operable as a router.
[0043] Preferably, the data communication manager is further operable to perform location and identity based routing of the data communication.
[0044] Preferably, the data communication manager comprises a quality of service manager for managing quality of service.
[0045] Preferably, the data communication manager comprises a billing manager for managing billing.
[0046] Preferably, the data communication manager comprises a network protocol converter for converting a network protocol of the data communication between Wireless Transaction Protocol (WTP) and HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP).
[0047] Preferably, the data communication manager comprises a network protocol converter for converting a data request having an incompatible protocol into a predetermined network protocol.
[0048] Preferably, the data communication manager comprises a telephony protocol converter for converting a preliminary data request having a CSD transport IP protocol to local area network (LAN) IP protocol.
[0049] Preferably, the data communication manager comprises a rerouter for rerouting a preliminary data request having a mobile telephony protocol to a mobile telephony node operable to convert the preliminary data request into a data request having a predetermined network protocol and to return the data request to the interfacing apparatus.
[0050] Preferably, the mobile telephony protocol comprises CSD and the mobile telephony node comprises a Remote Access Server (RAS).
[0051] Preferably, the interfacing apparatus further comprises a mobile device configurer for configuring mobile telephony devices.
[0052] Preferably, the mobile device configurer is operable to configure the device with an access code for directing data requests to the interfacing apparatus.
[0053] Preferably, the access code comprises one of a group comprising; a WAP short code, an APN, a country code, a corporate code, an identity based code, and a network address.
[0054] Preferably, a network server of a service network is located within a corporate network.
[0055] Preferably, a network server of a service network is located within a private network.
[0056] Preferably, a network server of a service network is located within the Internet.
[0057] Preferably, a format of at least one of the data requests comprises one of a group comprising: WAP data, standard data, and secure data.
[0058] Preferably, a format of at least one of the data requests comprises IP data.
[0059] Preferably, the interfacing apparatus further comprises a visitor portal operable to direct the mobile device to a visitor portal page associated with the device.
[0060] Preferably, the visitor portal comprises: a page generator for generating the visitor portal pages, and an interface for directing the devices to the visitor portal pages.
[0061] Preferably, the visitor portal is operable to direct the mobile device to the visitor portal page upon initiation of a data session by the device.
[0062] Preferably, the visitor portal is operable to generate the associated visitor portal page in accordance with a current location of the device.
[0063] Preferably, the current location is determined by parameters associated with the first mobile network.
[0064] Preferably, the current location is determined by parameters associated with the interfacing apparatus.
[0065] Preferably, the visitor portal is operable to generate the associated visitor portal page in accordance with the first network.
[0066] Preferably, the visitor portal is operable to generate the associated visitor portal page in accordance with the respective home network of the device.
[0067] Preferably, the visitor portal is operable to generate the associated visitor portal page in accordance with the respective service profile associated with the device.
[0068] Preferably, the visitor portal page contains links to at least one of a group comprising: bookmark requests a mobile device home page, a home network page, a first mobile network page, a location based page, an Internet access page, a corporate access page, a search engine, and an e-mail service.
[0069] Preferably, the data services comprise at least one of the following group of services: commercial services, emergency services, email, native language customer assistance, global short code access, bookmark access, and short message service.
[0070] Preferably, the selected service network comprises the first mobile network.
[0071] Preferably, the selected service network comprises a respective home mobile network of the mobile device.
[0072] According to a second aspect of the present invention there is thus provided a mobile cellular communication device having a home cellular network and being able to roam other networks, the mobile device being associated with a service profile specifying service networks providing data services to the device, wherein the mobile device is configured to direct roaming data communications whilst roaming a respective one of the other networks to a preselected data interface of the respective network, thereby to make connections to user-selected data services, the interface being selected to analyze requests for data services from the mobile device, to use the request analyses together with the service profile to select a corresponding service network, to introduce the mobile device to the identified service networks, to direct the data requests to network servers of the service networks, and to direct corresponding data responses from network servers of the service networks to the mobile device.
[0073] Preferably, the data communication comprises CSD communication.
[0074] Preferably, the data communication comprises GPRS communication.
[0075] Preferably, the configuration is enterable at manufacture of the device.
[0076] Preferably, the configuration is enterable enterable upon roaming access to a network.
[0077] Preferably, the configuration is remotely applicable.
[0078] Preferably, a configuration of the device is remotely entered by the respective network, thereby to enable the device to direct roaming data communications to the data interface upon logon of the device to the respective network.
[0079] Preferably, the device is configured with a predetermined access code for directing data requests to the interfacing apparatus.
[0080] Preferably, the mobile device is operable to direct the data requests to the interface by outputting a predetermined access code.
[0081] Preferably, the predetermined access code comprises one of a group of codes comprising: a predetermined access address, a predetermined APN, a WAP short code, a country code, a corporate code, an identity based code, and a network code.
[0082] Preferably, the mobile device comprises one of a group comprising: a mobile telephone, a portable computer, and a PDA.
[0083] Preferably, mobile cellular communication further comprises support for a WAP compatible device.
[0084] Preferably, the WAP compatible device comprises one of a group of devices comprising: WAP, MHTML, CHTML, and SHTML devices.
[0085] Preferably, mobile cellular communication comprises functionality to perform CSD communication.
[0086] According to a third aspect of the present invention there is thus provided a network having home mobile devices and able to allow connections with non-home mobile devices, the network having a data interface for supporting data communication involving the non-home devices, the non-home devices being associated with respective home networks and with respective service profiles specifying service networks providing data services to the non-home devices, the data interface comprising: a data request analyzer, for analyzing requests for data services from the non-home mobile devices, a service network selector associated with the data request analyzer, for using the request analyses together with respective service profiles to select a corresponding service network, and an interfacing engine associated with the service network selector, for introducing the non-home mobile devices to the identified service networks, for directing the data requests to network servers of the service networks, and for directing corresponding data responses from network servers of the service networks to the requesting non-home mobile devices.
[0087] Preferably, the data communication comprises CSD communication.
[0088] Preferably, the data communication comprises GPRS communication.
[0089] Preferably, the interface has a link to a supporting interface on at least one of the service networks.
[0090] Preferably, the data request analyzer comprises: a device identifier, for identifying from at least one parameter received with a data request from the non-home mobile device a respective identity of the non-home mobile device, and a data service determiner for determining from at least one parameter received with the data request a respective data service requested by the non-home mobile device.
[0091] Preferably, an introducer, for introducing the non-home mobile device to the selected service network, and a data communication manager, for managing data communication between the respective device and network servers.
[0092] Preferably, data communication between the respective mobile device and a service network which allocates a private network address are performed with network address translation, and wherein data communication between the respective mobile device and a service network which does not allocate a private network address are performed without network address translation, and wherein the interfacing engine further comprises a network address translator comprising: a visited network address determiner, for determining a visited network address allocated to a respective non-home mobile device by the network, a service network address determiner, for determining a service network address allocated to the respective mobile device by the service network, and a readdresser, for replacing an originating network address of a data request with the service network address and for replacing a destination network address of a data response with the visited network address.
[0093] Preferably, the data service determiner is further operable to identify a service network authorization server.
[0094] Preferably, the introducer is further operable to query the service network authorization server to authorize the data service request.
[0095] Preferably, the data interface further comprises a visitor database for storing properties associated with the respective mobile device.
[0096] Preferably, at least some of the properties comprise the service profiles.
[0097] Preferably, the device identifier is operable to identify the mobile device from at least one of the following group of parameters: MSISDN, mobile device home page, APN, and CLI.
[0098] Preferably, the data communication manager comprises a session manager operable to create and terminate a data communication session.
[0099] Preferably, the data communication manager is further operable as a router.
[0100] Preferably, the data communication manager is further operable to perform location and identity based routing of the data communication.
[0101] Preferably, the data communication manager comprises a quality of service manager for managing quality of service.
[0102] Preferably, the data communication manager comprises a billing manager for managing billing.
[0103] Preferably, the data communication manager comprises a network protocol converter for converting between WTP and HTTP.
[0104] Preferably, the data communication manager comprises a network protocol converter for converting a data request having an incompatible protocol into a predetermined network protocol.
[0105] Preferably, the data communication manager comprises a rerouter for rerouting a preliminary data request having a mobile telephony protocol to a mobile telephony node operable to convert the preliminary data request into a data request having a predetermined network protocol and to return the data request to the data interface.
[0106] Preferably the network further comprises a mobile device configurer for configuring mobile telephony devices.
[0107] Preferably, the mobile device configurer is operable to configure a mobile telephony device with an access code for directing data requests to the interfacing apparatus.
[0108] Preferably, the data interface further comprises a visitor portal operable to direct the mobile device to a visitor portal page associated with the device.
[0109] Preferably, the visitor portal comprises: a page generator for generating the visitor portal pages, and an interface for directing the devices to the associated visitor portal pages.
[0110] Preferably, the visitor portal is operable to generate the associated visitor portal page in accordance with at least one of the following: a service profile associated with the device, a respective home network of the device, the network, and a user profile associated with the device.
[0111] Preferably, the visitor portal is operable to direct the respective mobile telephony device to the visitor portal upon initiation of a data session by the device.
[0112] Preferably, the visitor portal page contains links to at least one of a group comprising: bookmark requests, a respective device home page, a home network page, a network page, a location based page, an Internet access page, a corporate access page, a search engine, and an e-mail service
[0113] Preferably, the data services comprise at least one of the following group of services: commercial services, emergency services, email, native language customer assistance, global short code access, bookmark access, and short message service.
[0114] According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is thus provided a system for supporting roaming data communication, the system comprising a network having home users and non-home users and a data interface, the interface is operable to support data communication between one of the non-home users having a roaming mobile device and a requested data service, the roaming mobile device is associated with a home network and with a service profile specifying service networks providing data services to the device, wherein the interface comprises: a data request analyzer, for analyzing requests for data services from the mobile device, a service network selector associated with the data request analyzer, for using the request analyses together with the service profile to select a corresponding service network, and an interfacing engine associated with the service network selector, for introducing the mobile device to the identified service networks, for directing the data requests to network servers of the service networks, and for directing corresponding data responses from network servers of the service networks to the mobile devices.
[0115] Preferably, the data communication comprises CSD communication.
[0116] Preferably, the data communication comprises GPRS communication.
[0117] Preferably, the interface has a link to a supporting interface on at least one of the service networks network.
[0118] Preferably, the data request analyzer comprises:
[0119] a device identifier, for identifying from at least one parameter received with a data request from the roaming mobile device a respective identity of the roaming mobile device, and
[0120] a data service determiner for determining from at least one parameter received with the data request a respective data service requested by the roaming mobile device.
[0121] Preferably, the interfacing engine comprises: an introducer, for introducing the roaming mobile device to the selected service network, and a data communication manager, for managing data communication between the roaming mobile device and network servers.
[0122] Preferably, data communication between the roaming mobile device and a service network which allocates a private network address are performed with network address translation, and wherein data communication between the roaming mobile device and a service network which does not allocate a private network address are performed without network address translation, and wherein the interfacing engine further comprises a network address translator comprising:
[0123] a visited network address determiner, for determining a visited network address allocated to the mobile device by the network,
[0124] a service network address determiner, for determining a service network address allocated to the mobile device by the service network, and
[0125] a readdresser, for replacing an originating network address of a data request with the service network address and for replacing a destination network address of a data response with the visited network address.
[0126] Preferably, the service network selector is further operable to identify a service network authorization server of the roaming mobile device.
[0127] Preferably, the introducer is further operable to query the service network authorization server to authorize the data communication.
[0128] Preferably, the data interface further comprises a visitor database for storing properties associated with the mobile device.
[0129] Preferably, at least some of the properties comprise the service profiles.
[0130] Preferably, the device identifier is operable to identify the mobile device from at least one of the following group of parameters: MSISDN, mobile device home page, APN, and CLI.
[0131] Preferably, the data communication manager comprises a session manager operable to create and terminate a data communication session.
[0132] Preferably, the data communication manager is further operable as a router.
[0133] Preferably, the data communication manager is further operable to perform location and identity based routing of the data communication.
[0134] Preferably, the data communication manager comprises a quality of service manager for managing quality of service.
[0135] Preferably, the data communication manager comprises a billing manager for managing billing.
[0136] Preferably, the data communication manager comprises a network protocol converter for converting between WTP and HTTP.
[0137] Preferably, the data communication manager comprises a network protocol converter for converting a data request having an incompatible protocol into a predetermined network protocol.
[0138] Preferably, the data communication manager comprises a rerouter for rerouting a preliminary data request having a mobile telephony protocol to a mobile telephony node operable to convert the preliminary data request into a data request having a predetermined network protocol and to return the data request to the data interface.
[0139] Preferably the system further comprises a mobile device configurer for configuring mobile telephony devices.
[0140] Preferably, the mobile device configurer is operable to configure a mobile telephony device with an access code for directing data requests to the interfacing apparatus.
[0141] Preferably, the data interface further comprises a visitor portal operable to direct the mobile device to a visitor portal page associated with the device.
[0142] Preferably, wherein the visitor portal comprises: a page generator for generating the visitor portal page, and an interface for directing the device to the visitor portal page.
[0143] Preferably, the visitor portal is operable to generate the visitor portal page in accordance with at least one of the following: a service profile associated with the respective device, a home network of the respective device, the network, and a user profile associated with the device.
[0144] Preferably, the visitor portal is operable to direct the respective mobile telephony device to the visitor portal upon initiation of a data session by the device.
[0145] Preferably, the visitor portal page contains links to at least one of a group comprising: a roaming mobile device home page, a home network page, a network page, a location based page, an Internet access page, a corporate access page, a search engine, and an e-mail service.
[0146] Preferably, the data services comprise at least one of the following group of services: commercial services, emergency services, email, native language customer assistance, global short code access, bookmark access, and short message service.
[0147] According to a fifth aspect of the present invention there is thus provided a visitor portal for supporting data communication from roaming mobile telephony devices, the mobile telephony devices being associated with respective home networks and with respective service profiles, and being able to roam non-home networks, the visitor portal comprising: a page generator for generating for the devices respective visitor portal pages according to the service profiles, and an interface for directing the devices to the respective visitor portal pages.
[0148] Preferably, at least some of the service profiles comprise a user profile.
[0149] Preferably, a user profile comprises user specified data service networks.
[0150] Preferably, a non-home network being roamed by a mobile telephony device is operable to connect the mobile telephony device to the visitor portal.
[0151] Preferably, the non-home network is operable to connect the mobile telephony device to the visitor portal upon initiation of a data session by the mobile telephony device.
[0152] Preferably, the mobile device comprises one of a group of devices comprising: WAP, MHTML, CHTML, and SHTML devices.
[0153] Preferably, the mobile devices are operable to perform CSD communication.
[0154] Preferably, the mobile devices arc operable to perform GPRS communication,
[0155] Preferably, a portal page comprises at least one link to a service network.
[0156] Preferably, the page generator is operable to generate the respective visitor portal page in accordance with a current location of the device.
[0157] Preferably, the current location is determined by parameters associated with a non-home network being roamed by the mobile telephony device.
[0158] Preferably, the page generator is operable to generate the respective visitor portal page in accordance with a non-home network being roamed by the mobile telephony device.
[0159] Preferably, the page generator is operable to generate the respective visitor portal page in accordance with the home network associated with the device.
[0160] Preferably, the visitor portal page contains links to at least one of a group comprising: bookmark requests, a non-home user page, a mobile device home page, a home network page, a location based page, an Internet access page, a corporate access page, a search engine, and an e-mail service.
[0161] Preferably, the visitor portal comprises at least one visitor page template, and wherein the page generator is operable to generate a visitor portal page by insertion of information associated with a mobile device into one of the templates.
[0162] According to a sixth aspect of the present invention there is thus provided a system for supporting roaming data communication, the system comprising a network having home users and non-home users and a visitor portal for non-home users, the system is operable to connect a non-home user to the visitor portal.
[0163] Preferably, the network comprises the visitor portal.
[0164] Preferably, the system is operable to connect the non-home user to the visitor portal upon initiation of a data session by the user.
[0165] Preferably, the visitor portal is operable to direct the non-home user to a visitor portal page associated with the device.
[0166] Preferably, the visitor portal comprises: a page generator for generating for the visitor portal pages, and an interface for directing the non-home user to the associated visitor portal page.
[0167] Preferably, the page generator is operable to generate the associated visitor portal page in accordance with a current location of the device.
[0168] Preferably, the current location is determined by parameters associated with the first mobile network.
[0169] Preferably, the page generator is operable to generate the associated visitor portal page in accordance with the home network of the device.
[0170] Preferably, the page generator is operable to generate the associated visitor portal page in accordance with a user profile associated with the device.
[0171] Preferably, the visitor portal page contains links to at least one of a group comprising: a non-home user page, a mobile device home page, a home network page, a location based page, an Internet access page, a corporate access page, a search engine, and an e-mail service.
[0172] According to a seventh aspect of the present invention there is thus provided a network for supporting roaming of mobile communication devices between at least one mobile network and at least one service network providing data services, each of the mobile communication devices having a respective home network, the network comprising interfacing links to each of the mobile networks and a roaming support unit associated with the interfacing links for providing home data of roaming devices to a respective interfacing link.
[0173] Preferably, the network further comprises a database for storing properties associated with the mobile devices,
[0174] Preferably, the database is further operable to store the home data
[0175] According to an eighth aspect of the present invention there is thus provided a method for supporting cellular data communication between a mobile telephony device roaming within a first network and having a home network, the mobile telephony device is associated with a service profile specifying service networks providing data services to the device, and a requested data service, the method comprising: receiving a data request for a data service from the mobile device, analyzing the data request to determine the data service and to identify the mobile device, identifying a service profile associated with the identified mobile device, using the request analysis together with the service profile to select a corresponding service network, introducing the mobile device to the service network and forwarding the data request to the service network.
[0176] Preferably, the data communication comprises CSD communication.
[0177] Preferably, the data communication comprises GPRS communication.
[0178] Preferably the method further comprises determining a service network address assigned to the mobile device by the service network.
[0179] Preferably the method further comprises:
[0180] determining if the service network address comprises a private network address, and
[0181] if the service network address comprises a private network address, performing network address translation to translate an originating network address of the data request from a visited network address assigned to the mobile device by the first network to the service network address.
[0182] Preferably, performing network address translation comprises:
[0183] determining the visited network address, determining the service network address, and, replacing the originating network address of the data request with the service network address.
[0184] Preferably the method further comprises: receiving a data response from a data service, the data response having a destination network address associated with the mobile device, determining if the destination network address comprises a private network address, and if the destination network address comprises a private network address, performing network address translation to translate the destination network address from the service network address to the visited network address, and forwarding the data response to the mobile device.
[0185] Preferably, performing network address translation comprises:
[0186] determining the visited network address, determining the service network address, and replacing the destination network address of the data request with the visited network address.
[0187] Preferably the method further comprises identifying a service network authorization server of the mobile device.
[0188] Preferably, the service network authorization server comprises a Radius server.
[0189] Preferably the method further comprises querying the service network authorization server to authorize the data request by the mobile device.
[0190] Preferably the method further comprises identifying a home authorization server of the mobile device.
[0191] Preferably the method further comprises querying the home authorization server to authenticate the mobile device.
[0192] Preferably the method comprises querying the service network only during initiation of a data session.
[0193] Preferably the method comprises querying the home network only during initiation of a data session.
[0194] Preferably the method comprises determining an identity of the mobile device from at least one parameter received with the data request.
[0195] Preferably the method comprises determining an identity of the device from at least one of the following group of parameters: MSISDN, mobile device home page, APN, and CLI.
[0196] Preferably, the mobile device is configurable to provide the at least one parameter.
[0197] Preferably the method further comprises allocating a visited network address to the mobile device.
[0198] Preferably the method further comprises maintaining a visitor database for storing properties associated with the mobile device.
[0199] Preferably, the properties comprise at least one of the following group of properties: visited network name, visited network location, home network address, visited network address, service network address, service profile, and a user profile.
[0200] Preferably the method comprises identifying the service profile from the database.
[0201] Preferably the method comprises determining an identity of the home network from the database.
[0202] Preferably the method further comprises determining the home network address from the database.
[0203] Preferably the method further comprises determining the visited network address from the database.
[0204] Preferably the method further comprises creating a data communication session for the mobile device.
[0205] Preferably the method further comprises terminating a data communication session for the mobile device.
[0206] Preferably the method further comprises routing the data communication.
[0207] Preferably, the routing is location and identity based.
[0208] Preferably the method further comprises managing quality of service.
[0209] Preferably the method further comprises managing billing.
[0210] Preferably the method further comprises converting a network protocol of the data communication between WTP and HTTP.
[0211] Preferably the method further comprises converting a data request having an incompatible protocol into a predetermined network protocol.
[0212] Preferably the method further comprises rerouting a preliminary data request having a mobile telephony protocol to a mobile telephony node operable to convert the preliminary data request into a data request having a predetermined network protocol and to return the data request to the data interface.
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