USSD Call Back

By Engineer Rawand Dlshad Ali IREG eng. Solution/International Roaming

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re!aid
There are many ways to implement prepaid roaming. Currently, most of the prepaid roaming implementations utilize the capabilities provided by

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USSD Call Back

USSD deploys a callbac mechanism as you now ,!or each outgoing call initiated by a roamer, there will be two call legs"an international call leg bac home and a follow#on call. That ma e call cost v.high because it is surely not an efficient way to handle the call. !or that you can use USSD call $ac service, $ut the user needs to initiate the service by using a special service code. %owever, implementing prepaid roaming with USSD is rather simple, fast, cheaper, and supported by almost all e&isting networ s, providing a global footprint.

"ow USSD Call Back #ork$

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The roamer eys in (')*(+,,+ ))) ))))and presses the .S/0D1234 button to initiate a call to subscriber +,,+ )))) in another networ . The 67L80 8SC16L9 transfers this USSD string to the %7L80 %L9. The %7L80 %L9 passes this string to the prepaid roaming platform <fter the re=uired precall chec s, the prepaid roaming platform initiates two outgoing calls >i.e., one to the roamer and one to the re=uested Called party? and connects

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USSD string coding.

The length and content of a USSD string is very fle&ible. USSD utilizes the characters D(,E D-,E and all the digits, Ff the user eys in a string coding scheme the USSD handlers in the 8S, the 8SC, the 6L9, and the %L9 treat it as a USSD re=uest. The character D(E is used to indicate the beginning of a USSD string. Ft is also used as a separator between two parameters. The character D-E is used to terminate a USSD string.

USSD string coding.

The formatting rules to create a USSD string are summarized as follows.

Roamer initiated USSD o!eration

Ghen a roamer invo es a USSD re=uest >e.g., a prepaid roamer initiates USSD callbac ? by eying in the appropriate code >containing the %7L80 service code?, the USSD handler within the 8S invo es the USSD re=uest by sending a 9/AFST/9 message to the networ . The 9/AFST/9 message contains a process unstructured SS re=uest invo e component. The serving 8SC, on receiving a USSD re=uest containing an %7L80 service code, sets up a transaction to the 6L9 and forwards the re=uest unchanged.

Roamer initiated USSD o!eration

8SC will act in a transparent mode to any further 9e=uests1responses for this transaction, passing them between the 8S and the 6L9 without ta ing any action. Ghen a 6L9 receives a USSD re=uest containing an %7L80 service code, it sets up a transaction to the %L9 and forwards the re=uest unchanged. The 6L9 then acts in a transparent mode to any further re=uests1responses for this transaction. 7assing them between the 8SC and the %L9 without ta ing <ny action.

Roamer initiated USSD o!eration

Ghen the %L9 receives the USSD re=uest, it processes and invo es the appropriate application, i.e., a prepaid roaming platform. The application, as an option, may re=uest further information in order to perform the re=uested operation or terminate the dialogue. Ff the application re=uests more information, it initiates a USSD re=uest , using the ongoing transaction. Ff the application decides to terminate the dialogue, the networ side sends a release complete message. The 8S

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rocess unstructured SS re*uest.

The 8<7 process unstructured SS re=uest procedure is used to relay USSD information between theH 8SC and the 6L9 6L9 and the %L9 %L9 and the gsmSC!

rocess unstructured SS re*uest.

The process unstructured SS re=uest message contains the following parametersH
USSD data coding scheme+ This parameter contains the alphabet and the language information used for the unstructured information in a USSD operation. The coding of this parameter is according to the cell broadcast data coding scheme as specified in :A77 TS 5:.+:I. USSD string +This parameter contains a string of unstructured information The string is sent either by the mobile user or the networ . (SISD) +2riginating subscriber international number. The 8SFSD0 is an optional parameter.

rocess unstructured SS re*uest. The receiving entity, on unsuccessful

outcome of the service, returns a user error. The possible error types are as followsH
System failure: This indicates that the requested task could not be completed because of a problem in another entity.

Data missing: This indicates that the context is missing in the received message.

Unexpected data value: This error is returned if the receiver is not able to deal with the contents of the USSD string.

rocess unstructured SS re*uest.

Illegal subscriber: The receiving entity indicates that the delivery of the USSD failed because the destination 8S failed authentication. Illegal equipment: The receiving entity indicates that the delivery of the USSD failed because the destination 8S failed the F8/F chec . Illegal equipment: The receiving entity indicates that the delivery of the USSD failed because the destination 8S failed the F8/F chec .

re!aid roaming,USSD call-ack scenario .See the next call flow

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ow the USSD call back work when a roamer from ! "#$% visit &"#$% make a USSD call back to call C number 'fixed line belong to C network(

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Call !low Description

The USSD handler at the 8S, on recognizing a valid USSD string,sends a register message with an in.oke !rocess unstructured SS re*uest to the ser.ing (SC. /his message contains the USSD data coding scheme and USSD string. The USSD handler within 8SC analyzes the service code on realising that the service code is not meant for

< USSD ac nowledgment is sent by the %L9 to the roamer by the same transaction. The application performs precall chec s. !or e&ample, it chec s if the caller is authorized to ma e such a call and if there is enough credit balance in the callerKs account. Ff the caller does not =ualify, an appropriate notification is sent by using the unstructured SS noti%y !rocedure. I% the caller *uali%ies0 the a!!lication initiates a mobile

Call !low Description

2n answer from the roamer, a suitable announcement or tone is fed to the roamer indicating the call progress. The prepaid roaming platform then initiates a second outgoing call toward called party C, using FSU7 procedures. 2n answer from called party C, a circuit#switched call is established between the roamer and the called

3uestions$
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