WO1999030479A1 - System and method for cellular network selection based on roaming charges - Google Patents

System and method for cellular network selection based on roaming charges Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1999030479A1
WO1999030479A1 PCT/US1998/026210 US9826210W WO9930479A1 WO 1999030479 A1 WO1999030479 A1 WO 1999030479A1 US 9826210 W US9826210 W US 9826210W WO 9930479 A1 WO9930479 A1 WO 9930479A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
cellular networks
mobile terminal
charging information
information associated
cellular
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1998/026210
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Vladimir Alperovich
Ranjit Bhatia
Original Assignee
Ericsson Inc.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Ericsson Inc. filed Critical Ericsson Inc.
Priority to AU17212/99A priority Critical patent/AU1721299A/en
Publication of WO1999030479A1 publication Critical patent/WO1999030479A1/en

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W48/00—Access restriction; Network selection; Access point selection
    • H04W48/18—Selecting a network or a communication service
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M15/00—Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
    • H04M15/28—Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP with meter at substation or with calculation of charges at terminal
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M15/00—Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
    • H04M15/80—Rating or billing plans; Tariff determination aspects
    • H04M15/8044—Least cost routing
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M2215/00—Metering arrangements; Time controlling arrangements; Time indicating arrangements
    • H04M2215/32—Involving wireless systems
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M2215/00—Metering arrangements; Time controlling arrangements; Time indicating arrangements
    • H04M2215/42—Least cost routing, i.e. provision for selecting the lowest cost tariff
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M2215/00—Metering arrangements; Time controlling arrangements; Time indicating arrangements
    • H04M2215/74—Rating aspects, e.g. rating parameters or tariff determination apects
    • H04M2215/745—Least cost routing, e.g. Automatic or manual, call by call or by preselection

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to telecommunications systems and methods for selecting a cellular network for use by a mobile terminal, and specifically to allowing a subscriber to select a cellular network, while roaming outside of the subscriber's home cellular network, based on charging information associated with each cellular network available to the subscriber.
  • GSM Global System for Mobile Communication
  • a GSM Public Land Mobile Network such as cellular network 10, which in turn is composed of a plurality of areas 12, each with a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) 14 and an integrated Visitor Location Register (VLR) 16 therein.
  • the MSC/VLR areas 12 include a plurality of Location Areas (LA) 18, which are defined as that part of a given MSC/VLR area 12 in which a mobile station (MS) (terminal) 20 may move freely without having to send update location information to the MSC/VLR area 12 that controls the LA 18.
  • LA Location Areas
  • MS mobile station
  • terminal may move freely without having to send update location information to the MSC/VLR area 12 that controls the LA 18.
  • Each Location Area 12 is divided into a number of cells
  • MS 20 is the physical equipment, g ⁇ ., a car phone or other portable phone, used by mobile subscribers to communicate with the cellular network 10, each other, and users outside the subscribed network, both wireline and wireless.
  • the MS 20 may also include a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card 13, or other memory, which provides storage of subscriber related information, such as a subscriber authentication key, temporary network data, and service related data (e.g. language preference).
  • SIM Subscriber Identity Module
  • the MSC 14 is in communication with at least one Base Station Controller (BSC) 23, which, in turn, is in contact with at least one Base Transceiver Station
  • BSC Base Station Controller
  • the BTS is the physical equipment, illustrated for simplicity as a radio tower, that provides radio coverage to the geographical part of the cell 22 for which it is responsible. It should be understood that the BSC 23 may be connected to several base transceiver stations 24, and may be implemented as a stand-alone node or integrated with the MSC 14. In either event, the BSC 23 and BTS 24 components, as a whole, are generally referred to as a Base Station System (BSS) 25.
  • BSS Base Station System
  • the PLMN Service Area or cellular network 10 includes a Home Location Register (HLR) 26, which is a database maintaining all subscriber information, e.g.. user profiles, current location information, International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) numbers, and other administrative information.
  • HLR Home Location Register
  • the HLR 26 may be co-located with a given MSC 14, or alternatively can service multiple MSCs 14, the latter of which is illustrated in FIGURE 1.
  • the VLR 16 is a database containing information about all of the Mobile Stations 20 currently located within the MSC/VLR area 12. If a MS 20 roams into a new MSC/VLR area 12, the VLR 16 connected to that MSC 14 will request data about that Mobile Station 20 from the HLR database 26 (simultaneously informing the HLR 26 about the current location of the MS 20). Accordingly, if the user of the MS 20 then wants to make a call, the local VLR 16 will have the requisite identification information without having to reinterrogate the HLR 26. In the aforedescribed manner, the VLR and HLR databases 16 and 26, respectively, contain various subscriber information associated with a given MS 20.
  • the subscriber When a subscriber is roaming outside of the subscribers home PLMN, the subscriber often has a choice of several other cellular networks.
  • the selection of the network for use by the MS 20 is based on a list of PLMNs available to the subscriber, stored, for example, within the SIM card 13, or other programmable memory, within the MS 20. Once this list is created, the first PLMN on the list is selected whenever possible. In many situations, the subscriber may also select the PLMN manually.
  • the chosen cellular network may not provide the lowest rates to the roaming subscriber.
  • the present invention is directed to telecommunications systems and methods for allowing a subscriber to select a cellular network (PLMN), while roaming outside of the subscribers home cellular network, based on charging information received by the subscribers mobile terminal for each cellular network available to the subscriber.
  • PLMN cellular network
  • This information can be broadcast, for example, on a Broadcast Control Channel (BCCH), for GSM-based systems.
  • BCCH Broadcast Control Channel
  • the identity of each PLMN within the geographical area of the MS is received by the MS and compared with a list of allowable PLMNs stored in the SIM card to determine which PLMNs are available to the subscriber. Thereafter, if more than one PLMN is available to the subscriber, charging information associated with each available PLMN is received by the MS/SIM, which can then select the least cost PLMN.
  • the identity of each available PLMN and associated charging information is received by the MS/SIM and displayed to the subscriber, to allow the subscriber to select the desired (least cost) PLMN.
  • FIGURE 1 is a block diagram of a conventional terrestrially-based wireless telecommunications system
  • FIGURE 2 illustrates a choice of cellular networks available to a mobile terminal while roaming
  • FIGURE 3 describes steps in a sample cellular network selection process based on charging information, in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention.
  • a Mobile Station (MS) 200 which has roamed outside of its home Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN), often has a choice of PLMN's (PLMN1 240 and PLMN2250) within a geographic area 230.
  • PLMN Public Land Mobile Network
  • Each PLMN (240 and 250) within that geographic area 230 broadcasts information related to that PLMN (240 and 250, respectively). For example, each PLMN (240 and 250) can broadcast the respective network code (PLMN identity information) and synchronization information.
  • the MS 200 has the capability to receive messages from each PLMN (240 and 250) at the same time, while roaming in the geographic area 230 designated to these PLMNs (240 and 250). In order for the MS 200 to determine which PLMN (240 or 250) to use, each PLMN (240 and 250) can also broadcast the charging information associated therewith, which is applicable to all roaming MSs 200 within that geographical area 230.
  • This information can be broadcast, for example, on separate Broadcast Control Channels (BCCH) (245 and 255) for each PLMN (240 and 250, respectively), for GSM-based systems.
  • BCCH Broadcast Control Channels
  • the charging information for each PLMN (240 and 250) is entered into a charging application (247 and 257, respectively) within a Base Station Controller (BSC) (246 and 256, respectively) associated with each PLMN (240 and 250) (step 300).
  • BSC Base Station Controller
  • the charging application (247 and 257) can be located within a Mobile Switching Center (248 and 258, respectively) connected to the BSC
  • the charging information can be updated in the BSC (246 and 256) or MSC (248 and 258) by various methods, such as by manual commands.
  • This charging information and the PLMN identity information is then sent to the Base Transceiver Station (242 and 252) to be broadcast on the BCCH (245 and 255, respectively) (step 310).
  • the charging information and PLMN identity information can be received by a Subscriber Identity Module 210, or other programmable memory, within the MS 200 (step 320).
  • a list 215 containing the PLMNs allowed to the subscriber is stored in the SIM card 210. Not all PLMNs (240 and 250) within a geographical area 230 are allowed to a roaming subscriber. The allowability of a PLMN (240 or 250) depends upon the agreement between the subscribers home PLMN (not shown) and the PLMNs (240 and 250) within the geographical area 230 the MS 200 is in.
  • This list of allowable PLMNs 215 within the SIM card 210 can then be compared with the received PLMN identity information (step 330) to determine which PLMNs within the geographical area 230 are available to the subscriber. If there is only one received
  • the MS 200 collects the roaming charge information received on the BCCH channels (245 and 255, respectively) by the MS 200 for all of the available PLMNs
  • a PLMN charge-based selection application 220 within the SIM card 210 compares the received charging information for each available PLMN (240 and 250) (step 360) and registers, e ⁇ , by performing a location update, as is well known in the art, with the PLMN (240 or 250) having the lowest charging rate (step 370).
  • the roaming charges can be displayed to the subscriber on a display 205, along with the received PLMN identities that are on the list 215 (available PLMNs 240 and 250).
  • the subscriber can then have the option of selecting the least cost PLMN, or another PLMN, using, for example, existing function keys 202 on the keypad 208 of the MS 200.
  • the innovative concepts described in the present application can be modified and varied over a wide range of applications. Accordingly, the scope of patented subject matter should not be limited to any of the specific exemplary teachings discussed.

Abstract

A telecommunications system and method is disclosed for selecting a cellular network by a mobile terminal, while roaming outside of the subscribers home cellular network, based on charging information associated with each cellular network available to the subscriber of the mobile terminal. The cellular networks within the geographical area of the mobile terminal can broadcast the charging information applicable to roaming subscribers from other networks. The identity of each cellular network within the geographical area of the mobile terminal and associated charging information is received by the mobile terminal, which can then select the least cost cellular network. For manual selection, the identity of each available cellular network and associated charging information received by the mobile terminal is displayed to the subscriber, to allow the subscriber to select the desired cellular network.

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CELLULAR NETWORK SELECTION BASED ON ROAMING CHARGES
BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to telecommunications systems and methods for selecting a cellular network for use by a mobile terminal, and specifically to allowing a subscriber to select a cellular network, while roaming outside of the subscriber's home cellular network, based on charging information associated with each cellular network available to the subscriber.
Background and Objects of the Present Invention Cellular telecommunications is one of the fastest growing and most demanding telecommunications applications ever. Today it represents a large and continuously increasing percentage of all new telephone subscriptions around the world. A standardization group, European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), was established in 1982 to formulate the specifications for the Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) digital mobile cellular radio system.
With reference now to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, there is illustrated a GSM Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN), such as cellular network 10, which in turn is composed of a plurality of areas 12, each with a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) 14 and an integrated Visitor Location Register (VLR) 16 therein. The MSC/VLR areas 12, in turn, include a plurality of Location Areas (LA) 18, which are defined as that part of a given MSC/VLR area 12 in which a mobile station (MS) (terminal) 20 may move freely without having to send update location information to the MSC/VLR area 12 that controls the LA 18. Each Location Area 12 is divided into a number of cells
22.
Mobile Station (MS) 20 is the physical equipment, g^ ., a car phone or other portable phone, used by mobile subscribers to communicate with the cellular network 10, each other, and users outside the subscribed network, both wireline and wireless. The MS 20 may also include a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card 13, or other memory, which provides storage of subscriber related information, such as a subscriber authentication key, temporary network data, and service related data (e.g. language preference).
The MSC 14 is in communication with at least one Base Station Controller (BSC) 23, which, in turn, is in contact with at least one Base Transceiver Station
(BTS) 24. The BTS is the physical equipment, illustrated for simplicity as a radio tower, that provides radio coverage to the geographical part of the cell 22 for which it is responsible. It should be understood that the BSC 23 may be connected to several base transceiver stations 24, and may be implemented as a stand-alone node or integrated with the MSC 14. In either event, the BSC 23 and BTS 24 components, as a whole, are generally referred to as a Base Station System (BSS) 25.
With further reference to FIGURE 1, the PLMN Service Area or cellular network 10 includes a Home Location Register (HLR) 26, which is a database maintaining all subscriber information, e.g.. user profiles, current location information, International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) numbers, and other administrative information. The HLR 26 may be co-located with a given MSC 14, or alternatively can service multiple MSCs 14, the latter of which is illustrated in FIGURE 1.
The VLR 16 is a database containing information about all of the Mobile Stations 20 currently located within the MSC/VLR area 12. If a MS 20 roams into a new MSC/VLR area 12, the VLR 16 connected to that MSC 14 will request data about that Mobile Station 20 from the HLR database 26 (simultaneously informing the HLR 26 about the current location of the MS 20). Accordingly, if the user of the MS 20 then wants to make a call, the local VLR 16 will have the requisite identification information without having to reinterrogate the HLR 26. In the aforedescribed manner, the VLR and HLR databases 16 and 26, respectively, contain various subscriber information associated with a given MS 20.
When a subscriber is roaming outside of the subscribers home PLMN, the subscriber often has a choice of several other cellular networks. Currently, the selection of the network for use by the MS 20 is based on a list of PLMNs available to the subscriber, stored, for example, within the SIM card 13, or other programmable memory, within the MS 20. Once this list is created, the first PLMN on the list is selected whenever possible. In many situations, the subscriber may also select the PLMN manually.
However, at present, only the network name (identity) is displayed to the subscriber prior to the subscriber making a manual selection of the desired cellular network. Therefore, in either of the above situations, the chosen cellular network may not provide the lowest rates to the roaming subscriber.
It is therefore an object of the invention to allow a subscriber to select a cellular network, while roaming, based on both the identity of the cellular network and the charging information associated therewith.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to telecommunications systems and methods for allowing a subscriber to select a cellular network (PLMN), while roaming outside of the subscribers home cellular network, based on charging information received by the subscribers mobile terminal for each cellular network available to the subscriber.
This can be accomplished by allowing PLMNs within the geographical area of the mobile terminal to broadcast the charging information applicable to roaming subscribers from other networks. This information can be broadcast, for example, on a Broadcast Control Channel (BCCH), for GSM-based systems. The identity of each PLMN within the geographical area of the MS is received by the MS and compared with a list of allowable PLMNs stored in the SIM card to determine which PLMNs are available to the subscriber. Thereafter, if more than one PLMN is available to the subscriber, charging information associated with each available PLMN is received by the MS/SIM, which can then select the least cost PLMN. For manual PLMN selection, the identity of each available PLMN and associated charging information is received by the MS/SIM and displayed to the subscriber, to allow the subscriber to select the desired (least cost) PLMN. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The disclosed inventions will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show important sample embodiments of the invention and which are incorporated in the specification hereof by reference, wherein:
FIGURE 1 is a block diagram of a conventional terrestrially-based wireless telecommunications system;
FIGURE 2 illustrates a choice of cellular networks available to a mobile terminal while roaming; and FIGURE 3 describes steps in a sample cellular network selection process based on charging information, in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
The numerous innovative teachings of the present application will be described with particular reference to the presently preferred exemplary embodiments. However, it should be understood that this class of embodiments provides only a few examples of the many advantageous uses of the innovative teachings herein. In general, statements made in the specification of the present application do not necessarily delimit any of the various claimed inventions. Moreover, some statements may apply to some inventive features but not to others.
With reference now to FIGURE 2 of the drawings, a Mobile Station (MS) 200, which has roamed outside of its home Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN), often has a choice of PLMN's (PLMN1 240 and PLMN2250) within a geographic area 230.
Each PLMN (240 and 250) within that geographic area 230 broadcasts information related to that PLMN (240 and 250, respectively). For example, each PLMN (240 and 250) can broadcast the respective network code (PLMN identity information) and synchronization information. The MS 200 has the capability to receive messages from each PLMN (240 and 250) at the same time, while roaming in the geographic area 230 designated to these PLMNs (240 and 250). In order for the MS 200 to determine which PLMN (240 or 250) to use, each PLMN (240 and 250) can also broadcast the charging information associated therewith, which is applicable to all roaming MSs 200 within that geographical area 230. This information can be broadcast, for example, on separate Broadcast Control Channels (BCCH) (245 and 255) for each PLMN (240 and 250, respectively), for GSM-based systems. As described in FIGURE 3 of the drawings, for the purpose of PLMN selection based on roaming charges, the charging information for each PLMN (240 and 250) is entered into a charging application (247 and 257, respectively) within a Base Station Controller (BSC) (246 and 256, respectively) associated with each PLMN (240 and 250) (step 300). Alternatively, the charging application (247 and 257) can be located within a Mobile Switching Center (248 and 258, respectively) connected to the BSC
(246 and 256, respectively). The charging information can be updated in the BSC (246 and 256) or MSC (248 and 258) by various methods, such as by manual commands. This charging information and the PLMN identity information is then sent to the Base Transceiver Station (242 and 252) to be broadcast on the BCCH (245 and 255, respectively) (step 310).
Thereafter, the charging information and PLMN identity information can be received by a Subscriber Identity Module 210, or other programmable memory, within the MS 200 (step 320). A list 215 containing the PLMNs allowed to the subscriber is stored in the SIM card 210. Not all PLMNs (240 and 250) within a geographical area 230 are allowed to a roaming subscriber. The allowability of a PLMN (240 or 250) depends upon the agreement between the subscribers home PLMN (not shown) and the PLMNs (240 and 250) within the geographical area 230 the MS 200 is in. This list of allowable PLMNs 215 within the SIM card 210 can then be compared with the received PLMN identity information (step 330) to determine which PLMNs within the geographical area 230 are available to the subscriber. If there is only one received
PLMN identity on the list 215, for example, PLMN1 240, the MS 200 registers with that PLMN 240 (step 340).
However, if the mobile subscriber has several available PLMNs (240 and 250), the MS 200 then collects the roaming charge information received on the BCCH channels (245 and 255, respectively) by the MS 200 for all of the available PLMNs
(240 and 250) (step 350). After collecting the charging information (step 350), a PLMN charge-based selection application 220 within the SIM card 210 compares the received charging information for each available PLMN (240 and 250) (step 360) and registers, e^, by performing a location update, as is well known in the art, with the PLMN (240 or 250) having the lowest charging rate (step 370). For manual PLMN selection, the roaming charges can be displayed to the subscriber on a display 205, along with the received PLMN identities that are on the list 215 (available PLMNs 240 and 250). The subscriber can then have the option of selecting the least cost PLMN, or another PLMN, using, for example, existing function keys 202 on the keypad 208 of the MS 200. As will be recognized by those skilled in the art, the innovative concepts described in the present application can be modified and varied over a wide range of applications. Accordingly, the scope of patented subject matter should not be limited to any of the specific exemplary teachings discussed.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
1. A telecommunications system for selecting a given one of a plurality of cellular networks based on charging information associated with said given cellular network, said telecommunications system comprising: a mobile terminal in wireless communication with each of said cellular networks; transmission means for transmitting, by each of said cellular networks, charging information associated with each of said cellular networks to said mobile terminal; and selection means within said mobile terminal for selecting said given cellular network, using said charging information associated with said given cellular network, said charging information associated with said given cellular network having a rate lower than said charging information associated with nonselected ones of said cellular networks.
2. The telecommunications system of Claim 1, wherein each of said cellular networks has a base station system.
3. The telecommunications system of Claim 2, wherein said base station system includes a base station controller and a base transceiver station, said transmission means including said base transceiver station.
4. The telecommunications system of Claim 1, wherein said mobile terminal has a memory located therein for storing a list of allowable ones of said cellular networks.
5. The telecommunications system of Claim 4, wherein each of said cellular networks has an identity associated therewith, said transmission means for each of said cellular networks transmitting said identity of each of said cellular networks to said mobile terminal, said mobile terminal comparing each said identity with said list of allowable cellular networks to determine available ones of said cellular networks.
6. The telecommunications system of Claim 5 , wherein said given cellular network is selected from said available cellular networks.
7. The telecommunications system of Claim 4, wherein said memory is a Subscriber Identity Module.
8. The telecommunications system of Claim 1, wherein said mobile terminal has reception means therein for receiving said charging information associated with each of said cellular networks.
9. The telecommunications system of Claim 8, wherein said reception means includes a Subscriber Identity Module, said Subscriber Identity Module comparing said charging information associated with each of said cellular networks, said selection means being included within said Subscriber Identity Module.
10. The telecommunications system of Claim 1, wherein said selection means consists of displaying said charging information associated with each of said cellular networks on a display on said mobile terminal and depressing at least one key on said mobile terminal.
11. The telecommunications system of Claim 1 , wherein each of said cellular networks has a base station controller in wireless communication with said mobile terminal, said charging information associated with each of said cellular networks being stored in a respective one of said base station controllers.
12. The telecommunications system of Claim 1, wherein each of said cellular networks has a mobile switching center in wireless communication with said mobile terminal, said charging information associated with each of said cellular networks being stored in a respective one of said mobile switching centers.
13. The telecommunications system of Claim 1 , wherein said transmission means consists of broadcasting said charging information associated with each of said cellular networks on a respective broadcast control channel.
14. A method for selecting a given one of a plurality of cellular networks based on charging information associated with said given cellular network, by a mobile terminal in wireless communication with each of said cellular networks, said method comprising the steps of: transmitting, by each of said cellular networks, charging information associated with each of said cellular networks; receiving, by said mobile terminal, said charging information associated with each of said cellular networks; and selecting, by said mobile terminal, said given cellular network, using said charging information associated with said given cellular network, said charging information associated with said given cellular network having a rate lower than said charging information associated with nonselected ones of said cellular networks.
15. The method of Claim 14, wherein each of said cellular networks has a base station system.
16. The method of Claim 15, wherein said base station system includes a base station controller and a base transceiver station, said step of transmitting being performed by said base transceiver station.
17. The method of Claim 14, wherein said mobile terminal has a memory located therein for storing a list of allowable ones of said cellular networks.
18. The method of Claim 17, wherein each of said cellular networks has an identity associated therewith, and further comprising, before said step of transmitting said charging information, the steps of: transmitting, by each of said cellular networks, said identity of each of said cellular networks to said mobile terminal; comparing, by said mobile terminal, each said identity with said list of allowable cellular networks; and determining, by said mobile terminal, available ones of said cellular networks.
19. The method of Claim 18, wherein said given cellular network is selected from said available cellular networks.
20. The method of Claim 17, wherein said memory is a Subscriber Identity Module.
21. The method of Claim 14, wherein said step of receiving is performed by a Subscriber Identity Module located within said mobile terminal, said Subscriber Identity Module comparing said charging information associated with each of said cellular networks, said step of selecting being performed by said Subscriber Identity Module.
22. The method of Claim 14, wherein said step of selecting is performed by displaying said charging information associated with each of said cellular networks on a display on said mobile terminal and depressing at least one key on said mobile terminal.
23. The method of Claim 14, wherein each of said cellular networks has a base station controller in wireless communication with said mobile terminal, said charging information associated with each of said cellular networks being stored in a respective one of said base station controllers.
24. The method of Claim 14, wherein each of said cellular networks has a mobile switching center in wireless communication with said mobile terminal, said charging information associated with each of said cellular networks being stored in a respective one of said mobile switching centers.
25. The method of Claim 14, wherein said step of transmitting is performed by each of said cellular networks broadcasting said charging information associated with each of said cellular networks on a respective broadcast control channel.
26. A mobile terminal for selecting a given one of a plurality of cellular networks based on charging information associated with said given cellular network, said mobile terminal comprising: reception means for receiving charging information associated with each of said cellular networks; a memory unit for storing said received charging information; and selection means for selecting said given cellular network, said charging information associated with said given cellular network having a rate lower than said charging information associated with nonselected ones of said cellular networks.
27. The mobile terminal of Claim 26, wherein said receiving means further receives identity information associated with each of said cellular networks, and further comprising comparison means for comparing said identity information associated with each of said cellular networks with a list of allowable cellular networks, stored within said memory unit, to determine available ones of said cellular network, said given cellular network being selected from said available cellular networks.
28. The mobile terminal of Claim 26, wherein said memory unit is a Subscriber Identity Module.
29. The mobile terminal of Claim 26, wherein said selection means comprises displaying said charging information associated with each of said cellular networks on a display to a subscriber, said subscriber pressing at least one key to select said given cellular network.
30. The mobile terminal of Claim 26, wherein said receiving means and said selection means comprises said memory unit.
PCT/US1998/026210 1997-12-11 1998-12-10 System and method for cellular network selection based on roaming charges WO1999030479A1 (en)

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