Patent ID: 6138017
Filing Date: 2000-10-24
Classification: H04W

Abstract:
A method of routing subscriber information request messages in a cellular communications network incorporating a plurality of home location registers each serving a common service region and on which registers subscriber data for subscribers each having a unique identity and allocated to that common service region is stored such that each subscriber is allocated only to a selected one of said registers, the method including routing for a subscriber a request message incorporating the subscriber identity to one of said home location registers irrespective of whether or not the subscriber details corresponding to that subscriber are stored on that one home location register, at said one home location register, processing the request message to a stage at which the subscriber identity contained in the message is verified, determining whether the subscriber details are stored on said one home location register, completing processing of the request message at that said home location register if the corresponding subscriber details are determined to be stored on said one home location register, and, when the subscriber details are not stored on said one home location register, adding an indicator component to the request message and diverting the request message to one or more other home location registers whereby to attempt processing of the request message at one of said other home location registers, and wherein the number of diversions to which said request message is subjected is limited to a predetermined number determined by said indicator.