Optimized routing of calls to roaming subscribers within a telecommunications network

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention discloses a method and system for optimally routing a call connection within a mobile telecommunications network.
A telecommunications subscriber requesting an outgoing call connection towards a mobile station informs the serving telecommunications node that the called party is a mobile station.
In response, the serving telecommunications node analyzes the received directory number representing the called mobile station to identify the home location register (HLR) associated with the called mobile station and then interrogates the identified HLR directly to acquire a roaming number.
The roaming number received from the HLR identifies the mobile switching center (MSC) currently serving the called mobile station.
Utilizing the received roaming number as the called party number, the originating telecommunications node originates an outgoing call directly towards the serving MSC.
The serving MSC, in turn, establishes a speech connection with the called mobile station traveling within its coverage area.
As an embodiment of the present invention, the HLR interrogation is performed by a gateway mobile switching center (GMSC) associated with the originating telecommunications node.
As another embodiment of the present invention, the HLR interrogation is performed by a mobile switching center (MSC) associated with the calling party terminal.