System and method for mobile telephone roaming

Abstract

A foreign wireless communication system is operated in a local communication network as if the foreign wireless communication system were a local wireless communication system. A data communication link is established between the wireless communication system and a service provider in a local wireless communication network. An outgoing request for authentication information is communicated from the wireless communication system to a remote administration system over the data communication link. The authentication information is received over the data communication link from the administration system and is transmitted over a signal link from the wireless communication system to the service provider. A requested wireless communication service is received at the wireless communication system based on authentication of the wireless communication system by the service provider using the authentication information.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An extension unit configured to communicate with a wireless communication client, the extension unit comprising communication circuitry and at least one processor configured to execute instructions stored in a memory for:
 establishing a data communication link to transmit information between the extension unit and a remote administration system;   establishing a local authentication information request in response to a local authentication request received from a local communication network;   transmitting the local authentication information request to the remote administration system via the data communication link;   receiving local authentication information from the remote administration system via the data communication link;   establishing a local wireless service provided by the local communication network by sending the local authentication information obtained from the remote administration system to the local communication network over a signal link; and   providing a communication service to the wireless communication client according to the established local wireless service.   
     
     
         22 . The extension unit of  claim 21 , wherein the communication circuitry comprises at least one transceiver for wireless communication with the wireless communication client. 
     
     
         23 . The extension unit of  claim 21 , wherein the communication circuitry comprises at least one transceiver for wireless communication with the local communication network. 
     
     
         24 . The extension unit of  claim 21 , wherein establishing the data communication link comprises accessing authentication data from a subscriber identity module (SIM) card connected to the extension unit. 
     
     
         25 . The extension unit of  claim 21 , wherein establishing the data communication link comprises accessing authentication data locally stored in the extension unit. 
     
     
         26 . The extension unit of  claim 25 , wherein the local authentication information received from the remote administration system and the authentication data locally stored in the extension unit correspond to different subscriber identities. 
     
     
         27 . The extension unit of  claim 26 , wherein the different subscriber identities are different carrier subscriber identities. 
     
     
         28 . The extension unit of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute instructions stored in the memory for:
 requesting access to a desired local wireless service by sending a request to the local communication network over the signal link.   
     
     
         29 . The extension unit of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute instructions stored in the memory for:
 establishing an user account associated with the extension unit at the remote administration system.   
     
     
         30 . The extension unit of  claim 29 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute instructions stored in the memory for:
 transmitting at least one home location parameter to the remote administration system.   
     
     
         31 . The extension unit of  claim 21 , wherein the local authentication information request comprises verification information configured to identify the extension unit as being associated with a user account at the remote administration system. 
     
     
         32 . The extension unit of  claim 31 , wherein the verification information comprises an extension unit identifier and a password. 
     
     
         33 . The extension unit of  claim 21 , wherein the local authentication information request comprises a current location of the extension unit. 
     
     
         34 . The extension unit of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute instructions stored in the memory for:
 storing the local authentication information; and   transmitting the stored local authentication information to the local communication network when the local communication network attempts to re-authenticate the extension unit.   
     
     
         35 . The extension unit of  claim 21 , wherein the wireless communication client is not subscribed to the local communication network. 
     
     
         36 . A communication device comprising communication circuitry and at least one processor configured to execute instructions stored in a memory for:
 establishing a data communication link to transmit information between the communication device and a remote administration system by accessing authentication data locally stored in the communication device;   establishing a local authentication information request in response to a local authentication request received from a local communication network;   transmitting the local authentication information request to the remote administration system via the data communication link;   receiving local authentication information from the remote administration system via the data communication link, wherein the local authentication information received from the remote administration system and the authentication data locally stored in the communication device correspond to different subscriber identities; and   establishing a local wireless service provided by the local communication network by sending the local authentication information obtained from the remote administration system to the local communication network over a signal link.   
     
     
         37 . The communication device of  claim 36 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute instructions stored in the memory for:
 establishing an user account associated with the communication device at the remote administration system.   
     
     
         38 . The communication device of  claim 36 , wherein the local authentication information request comprises verification information configured to identify the communication device as being associated with a user account at the remote administration system. 
     
     
         39 . The communication device of  claim 36 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute instructions stored in the memory for:
 storing the local authentication information; and   transmitting the stored local authentication information to the local communication network when the local communication network attempts to re-authenticate the communication device.   
     
     
         40 . The communication device of  claim 36 , wherein the communication device is not subscribed to the local communication network. 
     
     
         41 . The communication device of  claim 36 , wherein the different subscriber identities are different carrier subscriber identities.