Connecting transactional messages for GSM mobile operators over two disparate networks

A method for providing communication between first and second networks using disparate messaging protocols, comprising, the steps of:

• sending an originating telephone transaction message having the first network messaging protocol from an originator on the first network to an interface processor at an interface location between and exterior to the two networks;
• the interface processor being constructed to:
• request subscriber information from a home registration database located on the second network;
• convert the first network messaging protocol of the originating message into a second network messaging protocol suitable for the second network;
• forward the converted originating message to the home registration database of the second network;
• receive a responding message from the second network, the responding message having the second network messaging protocol;
• and
• convert the second network messaging protocol of the responding message into the first network messaging protocol;
• and
• receiving the converted responding message at the first network;
• said method facilitating communications between a home register database and a computer operable on said first network, so that authorization commands can be issued directly from said home register database to said computer on said first network.

A method for providing communication between first and second networks using disparate messaging protocols, said method making use of an interface processor disposed between the two networks and comprising:

• means for receiving an originating telephone transaction message from an originator on a first network, the originating message having a first network messaging protocol and requesting subscriber information from a home registration database located on a second network, the first and second networks using disparate messaging protocols;
• means for converting the first network messaging protocol of the originating message into a second network messaging protocol suitable for the second network;
• means for forwarding the converted originating message to the home registration database of the second network;
• means for receiving a responding message from the second network, the responding message having the second network messaging protocol suitable for the second network;
• means for converting the second network messaging protocol of the responding message into the first network messaging protocol;
• and means for forwarding the converted responding message to the originator on the first network, said method comprising the steps of:
• sending an originating telephone transaction message having the first network messaging protocol from an originator on the first network to the interface processor;
• and
• receiving the converted responding message from the interface processor at the first network;
• said method facilitating communications between a home register database and a computer operable on said first network, so that authorization commands can be issued directly from said home register database to said computer on said first network.

A method for providing communication between first and second networks using disparate messaging protocols, said method making use of an interface processor disposed between the two networks and comprising:

• means for receiving a telephone transaction initiation or response message that originated with a telephone set or node currently located in the first network, the message bearing an originator's registration number identifying a subscriber whose home registration is located in the second network, or the address of the initiating or responding node in the first network;
• means for querying the originator's home registration database on the second network using the signaling protocol of the second network, to determine the registration status of the originator;
• and means for converting the registration status of the originator to the signaling protocol of the first network, said method comprising, the steps of:
• sending an originating telephone transaction message having the first network messaging protocol from an originator on the first network to the interface processor;
• and
• receiving the converted registration status message from the interface processor at the first network;
• said method facilitating communications between a home register database and a computer operable on said first network, so that authorization commands can be issued directly from said home register database to said computer on said first network.

A method for providing communication between first and second networks using disparate messaging protocols, said method making use of an interface apparatus, comprising means for receiving a telephone transaction initiation message that originated with a telephone set currently located in the first network, the call initiation message identifying a telephone for which registration information is located in a second network;

• means for querying the originating telephone's home registration database using the network protocol of the second network to determine the registration status of the originating telephone;
• and means for forwarding registration status information to the first network in the network protocol of the first network, said method comprising, the steps of:
• using the interface apparatus to obtain the registration status of the originating telephone in the first network;
• and
• thereafter permitting the telephone set to communicate, while in the first network, without intervention of the interface apparatus.

A method for providing communication between first and second networks using the ANSI and ITU messaging protocols, respectively

• extracting the called party address from a message received from the first network, the called party address having a terminating “0” which may be valid or a filler;
• accessing a database of called parties in the second network containing an odd/even indicator along with the called party address;
• and
• utilizing the odd/even indicator to determine whether the terminating “0” in the extracted called party address is valid or a filler.