WO2011161354A1

WO2011161354A1 - Apparatus, system and method for establishing and routing communications at lower cost with a mobile terminal in a roaming situation

Info

Publication number: WO2011161354A1
Application number: PCT/FR2011/051306
Authority: WO
Inventors: Marc Madenian; Philippe Oros; Stéphane MALRIC
Original assignee: Quescom
Priority date: 2010-06-25
Filing date: 2011-06-09
Publication date: 2011-12-29
Also published as: FR2962003A1; FR2962003B1

Abstract

Method and system for establishing communications between a mobile terminal (A) located in a mobile telephony network (C) and a terminal (B,E) located in a telephony network (D,F), characterized in that it comprises the prior steps of connecting the mobile terminal (A) to a mobile housing (RB), and of initializing the mobile housing (RB) during which information data are transmitted and received by a context server (SC) able to configure said mobile housing (RB) and a convergence gateway (HGW), said method comprising a step of establishing communication between the terminal (A) and the terminal (B,E) on the basis of criteria for routing calls included in the mobile housing and the convergence gateway (HGW) via a communication subsystem (3).

Description

APPARATUS, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ESTABLISHING AND ROUTING LOW COST COMMUNICATIONS WITH A MOBILE TERMINAL

IN SITUATION OF ITINERANCE

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION [001] The invention relates to a method and a system for establishing communications between terminals, and also to a mobile unit for establishing communications between terminals.

[002] The invention is in the field of communication networks, and more specifically in the establishment of communications in such networks at the initiative of users of mobile communication terminals (or portable or cellular) or to join such users.

STATE OF THE PRIOR ART

[003] In the field of mobile telephony the temporary change of operator is a major problem facing both users and operators, as there is currently no universal network.

[004] Due to the multiplicity of networks, it is difficult to achieve a global physical mobility allowing a user to benefit from services in a visited network (or "visited access network") at the same cost as in his subscription network (or "home access network"). This situation is known as "roaming", which means roaming.

[005] In such a situation, the costs of communications made from a mobile terminal in a mobile telecommunication network visited (or itinerant) remain uncommon with those practiced in the subscription network.

[006] Indeed, two types of "roaming" extra costs are to be taken into account: - "roaming" active, which is the phone calls made by the user from the mobile telecommunication network visited. These phone calls include all called destinations as well as calls to recipients in the country in which this visited network is located. For example, a user traveling abroad is subject to the additional cost of active roaming, not only when he calls a recipient in his home country but also when he contacts a recipient, for example of the country visited;

- passive roaming, for which it is calls received by a user who are overcharged because the operator of the mobile telecommunication network subscription must pay the operator of the mobile telecommunication network visited for a service called "call termination".

In general, the cost of passive roaming is lower than that of active roaming.

[007] In order to overcome such a situation, it is known in the prior art patent document No. EP1988697 which provides a solution consisting in implementing a callback service ("call back") so that when a mobile terminal is located in a visited mobile telecommunication network, that is to say in "roaming" situation, it can establish a communication with another terminal by calling a network switching center, such as a PABX (acronym for "Private Automatic Branch eXchange"), then hang up, and wait for this network switching center to recall the mobile terminal and calls the other terminal to establish the requested communication.

The advantage of this solution is to transform a call made into a received call and thus play on the difference in cost between active and passive roaming. However, one of the major drawbacks of such a solution lies in its cost because at least two of the three calls made concern a mobile terminal in active and passive roaming.

In addition, the implementation of such a solution is laborious and not transparent to the user of the mobile terminal.

[008] Another solution consists in that the user performs a particular manipulation on his mobile terminal by changing the SIM card of his terminal to replace it with a SIM card for a subscription to the mobile telecommunication network visited. Thus, the user can communicate locally with fixed and mobile terminals of the visited country while benefiting from the local rate, that is to say that practiced for users subscribers to the mobile telecommunication network visited.

However, such a solution gives rise to a certain number of disadvantages, the main ones of which are quoted below:

- obligation for the user to change the SIM card while traveling abroad and therefore not being able to benefit from the personal data stored in the "original" SIM card;

- impossibility to change SIM card without seriously affecting the functions of current use;

- exploitation that is burdensome for the user when he is employed in a company, and for the operator of the company (management of SIM cards, pre-equipped SIM mobile terminals, rental of SIM cards or terminals in the country visited);

- change of telephone number, because the user can no longer be reached on his usual number and is not identified by the correspondents he seeks to reach, and - need to unprotect the mobile phone (simlock) which generally only accepts a SIM card, that of the operator who sold the phone. [009] An alternative solution is based on the use of software application executed on the mobile terminal, "softphone" allowing then to make phone calls via the Internet or any other communication network accepting TCP / IP from a VoIP (Voice Over IP) technology, generally based on the SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) protocol, as soon as the mobile terminal can connect a wireless local area network (WLAN), such as Wi-Fi (wireless Fidelity), or a mobile phone network data at a rate sufficient for this type of VoIP technology, such as networks based on the 3G standard.

Thus, in this way, international calls transmitted via WLAN or 3G by the mobile terminal can bypass the visited mobile network and are subject to a less expensive pricing than that applied in such a situation of "roaming".

However, one of the essential disadvantages of this solution is that the mobile terminal must include means of communication enabling it to connect to such WLAN networks, and have a "soft phone" (or equivalent) implemented and compatible with the system. operating the terminal. In addition, the mobile terminal must necessarily be under a blanket of a WLAN network type public HotSpot or private network, which greatly limits its use.

On the other hand, the WLAN network must have been deployed with an engineering taking into account the QoS problems (acronym for "Quality of service", which means in French quality of service) inherent to the VoIP telephone application, well known in the state of the art in this field, in particular in the reference documents relating to the IEEE Standard 802.1 1 .e.

In addition, in the case of the use of VoIP technology over a 3G (VolP / 3G) network, this must be authorized by the visited network, and correspond to financially attractive data exchange tariff plans. is not the case so far in a "roaming" situation. Given the high fluctuation of the bandwidth available in 3G network, it also makes the use of VolP / 3G risky in terms of quality.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0010] The invention proposes to improve the interoperability and portability of the communication establishment mechanisms, in particular in mobile telecommunication networks, so as to reduce the costs associated with this connection. call, particularly in "roaming" situations.

This establishment of the communication is done automatically and completely transparent to the user of the mobile terminal, from a portable mobile housing, compact and easy to use.

For this purpose, one aspect of the invention relates to a mobile unit RB for establishing communications between a mobile terminal A located in a mobile telephone network C and a terminal B, E located in a telephony network. D, F having a:

an identification means adapted to perform the authentication of the box and the security of the data exchanges with an operator of the mobile telephone network C;

wireless communication means configured to establish a connection with at least one mobile terminal A;

processing means capable of implementing: Communication protocols for the exchange of data with the mobile terminal A and with other equipment accessible from the mobile telephone network, and

An application process capable of periodically detecting an accessible mobile telephone network to which said mobile unit RB is able to connect, and of implementing routing criteria so as to enable the establishment of a communication between a mobile terminal A and a terminal B, E.

According to particular embodiments: - said identification means is an electronic device capable of emulating a SIM card of the mobile network operator C network, located in a remote server and cooperating with another SIM card located in said mobile terminal A;

said identification means is a SIM card of the mobile network operator C network;

said identification means is an electronic device capable of emulating a SIM card of the cellular network operator C, located in a remote server cooperating with another SIM card located in said mobile box RB, and said means Wireless communication refers to WiFi or Bluetooth technologies.

The invention also relates to a system for establishing communications between a mobile terminal A located in a mobile telephone network C and a terminal B, E located in a telephony network D, F, comprising:

a mobile box RB adapted to cooperate with a mobile terminal A; a context server SC exchanging data with said mobile box RB and a convergence gateway HGW, and being able to configuring said HGW convergence gateway and said mobile box RB so that said mobile box RB and said convergence gateway HGW realize from routing criteria the establishment of communications between the mobile terminal A and the terminal B, E via a communication subsystem 3. [0015] According to particular embodiments:

the context server SC is included in the convergence gateway HGW;

the context server SC is included in a technical platform of a trusted third party; the communication subsystem 3 comprises a telephony service relay 4 from which said mobile box RB and said HGW convergence gateway have access to the communication subsystem 3;

the communication subsystem 3 is an IP network that accepts the TCP / IP protocol; the mobile terminal A connected in WLAN to the mobile box RB comprises a VoIP interface capable of performing voice communications via the communication subsystem;

the mobile telephone network C is a visited mobile telephone network C or a subscription network, and the telephone network D, F is a mobile or fixed telephone network D, F.

The invention also relates to a method for establishing communications between a mobile terminal A located in a mobile telephone network C and a terminal B, E located in a telephony network D, F, said method comprising the prior steps of connection of the mobile terminal A to a mobile box RB, and initialization of the mobile box RB during which information data is transmitted and received by a context server SC adapted to configure said mobile box RB and a gateway of HGW, said method comprising a step of establishing communications between the mobile terminal A and the terminal B, E from call routing criteria included in the mobile box RB and the convergence gateway HGW via a communication subsystem.

According to particular embodiments: said initialisation step comprises the following sub-steps:

periodic detection of an accessible mobile telephone network;

- connection to said accessible mobile telephone network;

updating an RS variable of the status of the mobile terminal A;

connecting the mobile box RB to a context server SC from the mobile telephone network C;

transmission to the context server SC of information data relating to the variable RS, and to the identifier RN of the mobile unit RB, and

- configuration by the context server SC:

Of the mobile box RB by the transmission of an identification element of the convergence gateway HGW and an identification element of a telephony relay 4, and

The convergence gateway HGW by the transmission of the variable RS of the status status of the mobile terminal A and the identifier RN of the mobile unit RB;

the communication establishment step comprises:

when a call is made from the mobile terminal A to the terminal B, E, the following substeps:

• transmission to the mobile unit RB by the mobile terminal A of a message comprising a DN of the terminal B, E;

Connecting the mobile box RB to the convergence gateway HGW from a relay 4 of telephony service;

Transmitting the identifier DN to said convergence gateway HGW so that from this identifier said convergence gateway HGW establishes a telephone call to the terminal B, E; when a call is made from a terminal B, E to a terminal A, the following substeps:

• reception of said call by the convergence bridge HGW;

Verifying the state of the status of the mobile terminal A from an archived RS variable in the memory means of said convergence gateway HGW;

Connecting the HGW convergence gateway to the mobile box RB from the telephony service relay 4 and an identifier RN of the box so as to carry out the establishment of a telephone call to the terminal A.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent on reading the description which follows, with reference to the appended figures, which illustrate: - Figure 1, a schematic view of the structure of a system of communication establishment according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2, a representation of the communication establishment mechanism initiated by the terminal located in the visited network, and

- Figure 3, a representation of the establishment of communication mechanism initiated by the terminal located in the subscription network.

For the sake of clarity, identical or similar elements are marked with identical reference signs throughout the figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

In an exemplary embodiment of the system according to the invention, FIG. 1 describes a system comprising:

a mobile box RB,

a mobile terminal A; a terminal Β, Ε;

an SC context server;

- a convergence bridge HGW;

- a telephony service relay 4, and - a technical platform 1.

The mobile unit RB is a device for establishing a communication between the mobile terminal A located in a mobile network C and a terminal B, E located in another telephone network D, F (mobile or fixed) . This mobile unit RB comprises processing means 19 such as memory means and at least one microprocessor capable of processing data files stored in the memory means so as to implement a computer program relating to an application process. hereinafter referred to as Advance Roaming Function (ARF). This embedded program ARF in the mobile box RB performs the following functions:

- establishment of the attachment to the visited mobile network C, during an initialization sequence of the mobile unit RB when it is running following the activation of a button 18 for starting the housing mobile (On position);

management of communication protocols with an HGW convergence gateway and a context server SC, in particular the establishment of 3G type data communications (GPRS or Edge) if necessary. The data communications with the RB box and the context server are always established at the initiative of the RB box from the ARF embedded program implemented;

management of the authentication of the mobile terminal on the WLAN network (eg Wifi) in a completely transparent manner for the user. A housing mobile can manage one or more mobile phones, (eg an enclosure can be sequentially shared between multiple users traveling abroad in different periods), the authentication parameters having been previously configured in the housing;

- Processing of VoIP type calls under SIP protocol, for example, with the mobile terminal.

treatment of cellular radio telephone calls for example of the GSM (3G) type. Moreover, a particular feature of this ARF embedded program when it is executed relates to the processing of a call (CP: Call Processing). This feature is used to manage the phone service for a mobile terminal, to inform the user of the characteristics of outgoing and incoming calls.

This mobile box RB comprises an identification means 21 adapted to perform the authentication of the RB box and securing data exchanges with the technical means of the operator of the mobile network C.

This identification means 21 relates for example to a SIM card which is a chip containing a microcontroller and memory, and is used to store the specific information of the subscriber of a mobile network, a user of the mobile terminal, by particularly for GSM or UMTS type networks. It includes:

a secure element containing the connection data for a given user;

a removable element making it possible to personalize a new telephone with the connection data whose interest is to separate the terminal supply from the notion of subscription;

an information storage space for the subscriber's personal data (its directory), but also personalization parameters of its terminal (messaging parameters, etc.), and a space for the applications of the subscriber operator; telephony. This SIM card, like all SIM cards for this mobile box RB, is placed in a communication interface such as a port 20 compatible with the standards and digital technologies of mobile telephony (GSM, UMTS, etc.). In a variant, this identification means 21 relates to an electronic device for emulating a SIM card located in a remote SIM server (not shown).

The SIM card emulation process is a method known from the state of the art, which has the advantage of making the connection means of this RB box "universal" and thus not dedicated to a telephony network. given mobile.

The user can always use the same mobile terminal regardless of the country he goes to.

As part of the operation of this electronic device, a data link can be established permanently between this electronic SIM card emulator RB device and the server SIM to, at least, meet the authentication requirements and security to be implemented regularly between the equipment of the visited mobile phone network and the SIM card allocated by the SIM Server.

This data link can for example be controlled by a software application of the "SIM-Roaming" type, implemented on the mobile terminal A.

In practice, when the mobile terminal is in the visited mobile network, the user must invoke the "SIM-Roaming" application on his mobile terminal A.

The actions that follow are:

- SIM-Roaming software establishes two data links:

A WLAN connection with the mobile unit managed and processed by the on-board ARF program executed, in the RB box,

· A 3G cellular connection (Gprs, Edge, LTE), with the 'SIM

Server ", the identification (IP address or URL) of the SIM Server being a configuration parameter of the" SIM-Roaming "application. - from this moment, the "SIM-Roaming" software ensures the relaying of the data exchanged between the SIM Server and the mobile box RB, the server SIM, possibly in cooperation with the context server SC, allocates a SIM card to the box mobile. It should be noted that the choice of SIM card SIM server emulated in the housing, can be determined by a context server (defined below).

In another variant, the identification means 21 also relates to an electronic SIM card emulation device associated with another SIM card included in the RB housing, this other card being able to cooperate with a SIM server. remote. This identification means 21 also includes a SIM card of the visited mobile telephony network.

The process is analogous to the previously described variant with the following essential differences:

the data link with the SIM Server is established directly by the RB box via the GSM port 20 and the SIM card of the mobile subscription network; it is activated directly by the ARF program implemented in the box when the latter is in a "roaming" situation,

- no specific application is required in the mobile terminal.

In this variant, the box RB then comprises two ports compatible with the standards and digital technologies of mobile telephony (GSM, UMTS, etc.).

This mobile housing is a lightweight housing of reduced size, a user can carry in a briefcase, a bag, see a jacket pocket.

In a nonlimiting manner, such a housing has an approximate volume of 20 cm ³ .

This housing is for example powered by a battery, chargeable via an external adapter from a power distribution network.

The autonomy of the housing must be at least one day of activity, for intensive use. The RB box is equipped with a light 23 (for example: LED) indicating the level of energy autonomy (ex: green, red flashing to prompt the user to recharge the battery, red steady indicating a risk of end of operation in the next few minutes). The housing also includes an on / off button on / off button.

The housing includes, without limitation, the following communications interfaces 22:

at least one port compatible with the digital mobile telephony standards and technologies (for example GSM (3G)), and

- a WLAN port (eg Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Wimax, Infrared) manageable terminal function and access point (ex: Access Point wifi). The housing comprises processing means capable of implementing communication protocols for exchanging data with a mobile terminal and with other equipment accessible from the mobile telephone network.

It can indeed process VoIP data and includes in its memory means codecs relating to digital mobile telephony standards and technologies (GSM, UMTS, etc.). It includes, for example, for the WLAN, the codes corresponding to the G.71 1, G.729 and .etc standards, and the VolP / TDM conversion functions (termed "Time Division Multiplexing"), referring to time division multiplexing.

In addition, this box RB can connect to the Internet network 2 or the communication subsystem 3 via the network C and the link 7.

This box is able to exchange data during a step 8 with the mobile terminal A.

The mobile terminal A relates to any type of mobile or portable communication equipment or cellular capable of communicating bidirectionally with another communication equipment over the airwaves via a mobile (or cellular) communication network. and a local network wireless (WLAN, Wifi, Bluetoooth, Winnax or infrared). This will be for example a mobile phone (or cellular), a personal digital assistant (or PDA, or Smartphone) or a laptop or a multimedia digital tablet, or any other computer equipment portable able to accommodate a communication equipment type "softphone" or equivalent.

This terminal refers to all equipment including:

at least one microprocessor,

volatile and / or non-volatile memory and / or mass,

input means, such as a keyboard and / or a mouse and / or touch screen or voice control means,

display means, and

- means of communication.

The communication means of this terminal 2 relate for example to the following technologies and / or standards:

- Bluetooth and / or IrDA (Infrared Data Association), and / or WI-FI

(abbreviation of wireless fidelity) and / or Wimax, and GPRS (General Packet Radio Service), GSM, UMTS, HSDPA or IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem).

It will be noted, in particular, that these communication means are compatible with those of the mobile box RB and the mobile telephone networks C.

The terminal B, E may be a mobile terminal E or wired B.

The context server SC is a remote data processing server included in a technical platform 1 of a trusted third party.

In another embodiment, this context server SC can also be included in the convergence gateway HGW.

This server is able to exchange data with the mobile unit RB, during step 13, and the convergence gateway HGW, during step 12 via connection and communication means 2, 5, 6 and 7. This server SC comprises processing means such as memory means and at least one microprocessor capable of processing data files stored in these memory means, so as to execute an on-board computer program for retrieving and archiving data. information from the RB box and the HGW convergence gateway.

The execution of this program also makes it possible to configure the mobile box RB and the convergence gateway HGW by transmitting them routing rules for the implementation of the establishment of a communication between the mobile terminal A and the terminal B, E.

In the present embodiment, it is the context server SC which initiates the connection with the convergence gateway HGW, after the establishment of the connection initiated by the mobile box RB with this server SC.

More precisely, the context server retrieves information data from the mobile unit RB, for example, in the present embodiment, on the state of the status of the mobile terminal as to whether it is in a "roaming" situation.

The relay 4 telephony service is included in a communication subsystem 3 may provide an IP telephony service, type VoIP or TolP (acronym for Telephony over Internet Protocol).

This relay 4 thus enables the mobile unit RB or the convergence gateway HGW to establish a communication via the communication subsystem for exchanging data by connecting to said relay 4 from an identification address of this relay 4 This relay 4 is a POP (acronym for "Point Of Presence", which means point of presence) and which makes it possible to have access to the communication subsystem 3. It will also be recognized that in another embodiment, the relay 4 refers to a gateway when the communication subsystem 3 is a virtual private network ("Virtual Private Network" in English, abbreviated VPN).

The communication subsystem 3 is an IP network accepting the TCP / IP protocol, and being included in an Internet network 2.

The convergence gateway HGW is a convergence gateway of Fixed-Mobile type (FMC).

This gateway HGW is able to exchange data with a mobile terminal E during steps 14 and 15, or with a wired terminal B during steps 17 and 16. In the present embodiment, it will be considered that this gateway is connected to a PABX / IP-PBX of a company, and that it ensures in particular the function of unique number (ON: "One Number") to identify a user who would be here employee of said company by a single telephone number (ci -after SDA), usually its fixed number.

The conventional function of the HGW convergence gateway is to direct incident calls for this single telephone number to the user's fixed or mobile terminal, see both simultaneously. In a simple example, if Mr Dupont has a DID number of a fixed set (ON: 33 1 60 12 30 91), a mobile terminal (MN: 33 6 07 57 00 39), Mr Dupont will not divulge professional correspondents than the ON number ("One Number"). When the convergence gateway HGW receives a call for the fixed number ON of Mr Dupont, it has the possibility to alert only the mobile terminal (MN) according to the contextual situation, in the example where it is a choice of Mr Dupont when he is traveling.

This unique number function provided by the convergence gateway is a non-limiting example, the present invention can be implemented with a convergence gateway devoid of this function.

This convergence gateway comprises processing means such as memory means, and at least one microprocessor capable of processing data files stored in the memory means so as to implement a computer program hereinafter named RLCR ("Roaming Least Cost Routing"). This HGW gateway is also able to connect to the Internet network 2 or the subsystem 3 via the link 6.

Advantageously, the invention implements a method for establishing communication between a mobile terminal A located in a mobile telephone network C and a terminal B, E located in a telephony network D, F. This method comprises preliminary steps such as:

the connection of the mobile terminal A to the mobile box RB, from its communication means, which is made completely transparent to the user, and

- The initialization of the mobile unit RB during which information data is transmitted and received by the context server SC.

This initialization step of the mobile box RB comprises the following substeps:

periodic detection of a visited mobile telephone network accessible from the implementation of the ARF computer program by the RB mobile box processing means, so as to identify on the basis of information provided by each active telephony network visited mobile phone (PLNM: "Public Land Mobile Network") through signals received by the mobile box RB, from equipment such as BTS (acronym for Base Transceiver Station, meaning base station) or Node B ( "Relay antenna") included in each of these active networks. In addition a process is implemented by the ARF program for this detection to be performed periodically, from the definition of a period t which is configurable by the user. For example, the period t can be set at t = 15min; -connection to the visited mobile phone network C accessible;

- Update of a status variable RS ("Roaming Status") relating to the status of the mobile terminal A, this variable RS is likely to take one of the following three values: · RS = LOCAL, the mobile terminal A and the mobile box RB are located in the mobile phone subscription network;

• RS = Roaming LCR, the mobile terminal A and the mobile box RB are located in the visited mobile phone network C accessible because the means of identification (SIM card) of the box RB belong to the operator of this visited network;

• RS = Unknown Roaming, the mobile terminal A and the mobile box RB are located in a non-accessible visited mobile phone network because the identification means (SIM card) of the box RB do not belong to the operator of this visited network.

-connecting to the context server SC from the accessible visited mobile network when the variable is instantiated or changes value; this connection is initiated by the mobile unit, and in particular by the ARF embedded program executed, from the address (IP address or URL) of this context server SC; transmission to the context server SC of information data relating, for example, to the value RS, and to an identifier RN of the mobile unit, and

configuration by the context server SC of the mobile box RB and the convergence gateway HGW.

In the case where the state variable RS = Roaming LCR, the mobile terminal A is in a "roaming" situation and is therefore located in the accessible visited mobile telephony network C, in such a situation the following steps are realized:

the mobile unit RB then transmits to the context server SC the information data relating to the value RS and the identifier RN (number MSISDN) of the RB box, that is to say that of the SIM card connected to the visited network and included (or emulated) in the mobile box RB,

the context server SC configures the mobile box RB by transmitting routing criteria comprising the following elements:

· PCI identifier of the HGW convergence gateway, such as the IP address or URL, from which the RB can connect to the HGW convergence gateway for the establishment of a call,

• LN identifier of the relay 4 of telephony service accessible in the visited mobile network C;

· Possibility of using a VoIP service via the 3G data link of the accessible C mobile phone network accessed;

the context server SC configures the convergence bridge HGW by transmitting routing criteria comprising the following elements, after having initiated a connection with this gateway HGW:

"Information data relating to the entry into

"Roaming" of the mobile unit RB associated with the mobile terminal A;

RN identifier (for example: MSISDN) of the mobile box RB.

Thus, in the present embodiment comprising the convergence gateway HGW configured to perform the unique number function, the convergence gateway HGW determines the unique number ON which corresponds to the identifier RN of the mobile unit associated with the mobile terminal A.

The implementation of the RLCR embedded program of the convergence gateway HGW then creates in the memory means of the gateway association of the unique number ON with the identifier RN, meaning that the user of the mobile terminal A must be joined via the RN of the mobile unit RB and no longer directly on the MSISDN assigned to the SIM card of the terminal A and corresponding to its home network

In the case where the variable RS changes state and takes one of the other two possible values: RS = LOCAL or RS = Unknown Roaming; the following steps are carried out: the mobile unit initiates a connection with the context server SC and transmits the new value of the variable RS, which means the end of the active roaming situation of the mobile unit;

the context server initiates a connection to the convergence gateway HGW and transmits information data relating to the end of the "roaming" situation of the mobile unit having the identifier RN;

the processing means of the convergence gateway therefore cancels the association of the unique number ON with the identifier RN of the mobile unit, henceforth allowing the convergence gateway HGW to return to a "normal" routing of the MSISDN of its mobile terminal AT ;

-deconnection of the mobile unit with the context server and the convergence gateway;

-disconnect the context server with the convergence gateway.

Figure 2 illustrates the establishment of a communication between the mobile terminal A included in the accessible visited mobile telephony network C and the terminal B, E included in another mobile telephony network, F or fixed.

As soon as the mobile terminal A is connected to the mobile unit, during step 8, and the initialization step is performed, the user can then make a VoIP call from a "softphone" operating for example under SIP protocol (other protocols type H.323 or MGCP are also usable).

The mobile terminal A transmits, in step 9, then a SIP call request message to the mobile unit RB. The ARF embedded program implemented by the RB mobile box processing means extracts from the body of the message the requested number DN.

The mobile unit RB then connects to the communication subsystem 3 via the accessible visited mobile telephone network C (for example GSM / 3G) from the LN identifier of the telephony service relay 4 (POP). , in step 10.

The identifier, LN for example, refers to an online number assigned to the relay POP service service, which allows said relay 4 POP to route the call to the convergence gateway HGW.

This mechanism is implemented in particular by the Skype ™ software application, in the context of establishing a one-to-one correspondence between a foreign number and a local number.

The telephony relay relay 4 conventionally relays the call to the unique number associated with the LN, via the network communication subsystem 3 so that the convergence gateway HGW receives the VoIP call, during the step 1 1.

As soon as the HGW gateway accepts the VoIP call, the connection is then established between the latter and the mobile box RB. The mobile unit RB then transmits the requested DN number, for example by successively transmitting in DTMF the digits dialing this requested number, in step 24.

In step 26 (or 25), the convergence gateway HGW then makes a call via the wired and mobile telephony network F, D (or F wired) in which is included the terminal E (or B) to the DN indicating, as the Calling Line Identification (CLI) ID, which is the Calling Line Identification number, the unique ON number retrieved from the ON-RN match table, archived in the convergence gateway of the user in "roaming" situation. Thus the recipient of the call is informed about the nature of the caller without knowing his situation of travel abroad.

FIG. 3 illustrates the establishment of a communication between the terminal B, E (fixed or mobile) included in the mobile telephony network D, F or fixed towards the mobile terminal A located in the mobile telephony network visited. accessible C.

When the convergence gateway HGW receives a call from the mobile terminal E (or B), during step 27 (or 28) via the mobile and wired network D, F (or wired F), for to the unique ON number of the user of the mobile terminal A, and that the state variable RS = Roaming LCR, that is to say that the terminal A is in a "roaming" situation, the convergence gateway HGW then implements the procedure for routing this call, based on the routing criteria.

To do this, during a step 29 the convergence gateway HGW makes a call to the relay 4 of the telephony service (POP) using the call signaling of the protocol supported by the communication subsystem 3 (VoIP or TolP network), and by transmitting the identifier RN of the mobile unit RB provided as a parameter so that the telephony service relay 4 can in turn send a call to the mobile unit RB, during a step 30 On reception by the mobile unit RB of the signaling of a call, the latter transmits it from the link WoLAN to the mobile terminal A, during a step 31.

In another embodiment, the mobile telephone network C corresponds to the subscription network of the user of the terminal A, and the mobile or wired network D, F can be a network of an operator included in the same country as that of the mobile network C. In this context, the terminal A includes a SIM card corresponding to a subscription from the operator of the C telephony network, and the RB box comprises an identification means 21 corresponding for example to a SIM card for a subscription with a mobile network operator C, D of the same country as that of the telephony network C. When, in a variant, the identification means 21 corresponds, for example, to an electronic device to emulate a SIM card located in a remote server SIM (not shown), this SIM card will be similar to the SIM card of a subscription to a mobile network operator C, D of the same country as C. And if in another variant, the identification means 21 also relates to an electronic SIM card emulation device associated with another SIM card included in the RB housing and adapted to cooperate with a SIM Remote server, the emulated SIM card will be similar to the SIM card of a subscription to a mobile network operator C, D of the same country as that of the telephony network C. It will also be noted that in these last two variants of the identification means 21 the box will be able to function both when the mobile network C is a visited network (in a "roaming" situation) or a network of subscription. Thus under these conditions, the user of the terminal A who is for example employed by a company, owner of the box RB but not the subscription of the SIM card of the terminal A, can define his telephone operation mode:

- Professional mode: the function relating to the connection of the mobile terminal A to the mobile network C subscription is disabled ("airplane" mode) and the wifi function of the terminal A is activated so that it can be connect to the RB box and thus receive only business calls to the RN identifier (MSISDN number) of the RB box.

- Personal mode: the wifi function of the mobile terminal A is disabled, therefore the terminal A is no longer connected to the RB box, and only the personal calls corresponding to the MSISDN of the SIM card of the terminal A are received by the terminal A. As an option, the RB box may notify the HGW convergence gateway (if it exists) of the "non reachability";

mixed mode: the wifi function is activated and the "airplane" mode function is deactivated, therefore the terminal A can receive calls intended for the SIM card of the terminal A as well as those received by the SIM card of the RB box.

In such a configuration, one of the advantages of the present invention is to allow a clear and unambiguous separation of personal and professional cellular radio communications costs. For some companies, the globalization of personal and professional telecommunications expenses is a problem that needs to be solved as simply as possible. The costs of personal communications are then charged to the SIM card of the mobile terminal A, and those of business calls to a company subscription to a SIM card included in the RB box or in a centralized server. SIM cards.

In this way, not only the operating costs are distinguished but also the ownership of communication equipment, namely:

"The mobile terminal A is a user's property, and

• the RB case owned by the company.

Thus, it is understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described and illustrated. It is furthermore not limited to these exemplary embodiments and the variants described.

Claims

1. Mobile box for establishing communications between a mobile terminal (A) located in a mobile telephone network (C) and a terminal (B, E) located in a telephony network (D, F) comprising:

identification means (21) adapted to perform mobile box authentication (RB) and secure data exchange with a mobile network operator (C);

wireless communication means configured to establish a connection with at least one mobile terminal (A);

processing means capable of implementing communication protocols for exchanging data with the mobile terminal A and with other equipment accessible from the mobile telephone network,

characterized in that said mobile unit is also capable of implementing an application process capable of periodically detecting an accessible mobile telephony network to which said box is able to connect, and of implementing routing criteria so as to enable establishing a communication between a mobile terminal (A) and a terminal (B, E) via a communication subsystem (3).

2. Housing according to the preceding claim, wherein said identification means (21) is an electronic device capable of emulating a SIM card of the operator of the mobile telephone network (C), located in a remote server and cooperating with another SIM card located in said mobile terminal (A).

The housing according to claim 1, wherein said identification means (21) is a SIM card of the operator of the mobile telephone network (C).

The housing according to claim 1, wherein said identification means (21) is an electronic device capable of emulating a SIM card of the operator of the mobile telephone network (C) located in a remote server, cooperating with a another SIM card located in said mobile housing (RB).

5. Housing according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said wireless communication means relate to WiFi or Bluetooth type technologies.

A system for establishing communications between a mobile terminal (A) located in a mobile telephone network (C) and a terminal (B, E) located in a telephony network (D, F), comprising:

a mobile housing, as defined in claims 1 to 5, adapted to cooperate with a mobile terminal (A);

a context server (SC) exchanging data with a said mobile box (RB) and a convergence gateway (HGW), and being able to configure the said convergence gateway (HGW) and the said mobile box (RB) so that said mobile unit (RB) and said convergence gateway (HGW) realize from routing criteria the establishment of communications between the mobile terminal (A) and the terminal (B, E) via a communication subsystem ( 3).

7. System according to the preceding claim, wherein the context server is included in the convergence gateway (HGW).

8. System according to claim 6, wherein the context server (SC) is included in a technical platform of a trusted third party.

The system according to one of the preceding claims 6 to 8, wherein the communication subsystem (3) comprises a telephony service relay (4) from which said mobile box (RB) and said convergence gateway ( HGW) have access to this communication subsystem (3).

10. System according to one of the preceding claims 6 to 9, wherein the communication subsystem (3) is an IP network accepting the TCP / IP protocol.

1 1. System according to one of the preceding claims 6 to 10, wherein said mobile terminal (A) connected to said mobile housing comprises a VoIP interface capable of performing voice communications via the communication subsystem (3).

12. System according to one of the preceding claims 6 to 11, wherein said mobile network (C) is a visited mobile telephony network (C) or a subscription network.

13. System according to one of claims 6 to 12, wherein the telephone network D, F is a mobile or fixed network.

14. A method for establishing communications between a mobile terminal (A) located in a mobile telephone network (C) and a terminal (B, E) located in a telephony network (D, F), characterized in that comprises the preliminary steps of connection of the mobile terminal (A) to a mobile box, and initialization of the mobile unit during which information data is transmitted and received by a context server able to configure said mobile box and a gateway of convergence (HGW), said method comprising a step of establishing communications between the mobile terminal (A) and the terminal (B, E) from call routing criteria included in the mobile box (RB) and the gateway of convergence (HGW) via a communication subsystem (3).

15. Method according to the preceding claim, wherein said initialization step comprises the following sub-steps:

periodic detection of an accessible mobile telephone network;

connection to said accessible mobile telephone network; updating a variable (RS) of the status of the mobile terminal (A); connecting the mobile box (RB) to a context server (SC) from the mobile telephone network (C);

transmitting to the context server (SC) information data relating to the variable (RS), and the identifier (RN) of the mobile box (RB), and configuration by the context server (SC):

Of the mobile box (RB) by the transmission of a convergence gateway identification element (HGW) and an identification element of an IP telephony service relay (4), and

Of the convergence gateway (HGW) by the transmission of the variable (RS) of the status of the mobile terminal (A) and the identifier (RN) of the mobile box (RB).

The method of one of claims 14 or 15, wherein the establishing step comprises:

when a call is made from the mobile terminal (A) to the terminal (B, E), the following substeps:

• transmission (9) to the mobile unit (RB) by the mobile terminal (A) of a message comprising an identifier (DN) of the terminal (B, E);

· Connecting (10,1 1) the mobile box (RB) to the convergence gateway (HGW) from a telephony service relay (4);

• transmission (24) of the identifier (DN) to said convergence gateway (HGW) so that from this identifier said convergence gateway (HGW) establishes a telephone communication to the terminal (B, E);

17. when a call is made from a terminal (B, E) to a mobile terminal (A), the following substeps:

• reception (27,28) of said call by the convergence gateway (HGW); checking the status of the terminal status (A) from a variable (RS) stored in the memory means of said convergence gateway (HGW);

connection (29) of the convergence gateway (HGW) to the mobile box (RB) from the telephony service relay (4) and an identifier (RN) of the mobile box (RB) so as to realize the establishment a telephone call to the terminal (A).