Method and system for service authentication, network preference, and reporting logic with MMS services

• US 10,200,860 B1
• Filed: 09/26/2016
• Issued: 02/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CSC Holdings LLC (Altice USA, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CSC Holdings LLC (Altice USA, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cham, Dev, Pothuraju, Suman
• Primary Examiner(s): Shehni, Ghazal B
• Application Number:
  US15/275,970
• Time in Patent Office: 862 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0876 Network utilisation, e.g. volume of load or congestion level
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0272 Virtual private networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0876 based on the identity of the terminal or configuration, e.g. MAC address, hardware or software configuration or device fingerprint
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0892 by using authentication-authorization-accounting [AAA] servers or protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/069 using certificates or pre-shared keys
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data

Abstract

Methods and systems for multimedia messaging service (MMS) authentication over IP networks are disclosed. An access identifier records message corresponding to a user by a multimedia messaging service center (MMSC) forwarded by a server is received. Data from the access identifier records message including a mobile directory number, a framed IP address, access network information and a session ID is extracted and stored in a cache accessible to the MMSC. Network IP authentication is executed to determine that the user has a valid IP address. Client IP authentication of the user is executed to determine that the valid IP address is stored in the cache. A correspondence between the valid IP address and a mobile directory number of the user is determined. The user is authenticated for MMS over the IP network based on the correspondence.

Claims

1. A mobile device, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory, wherein the memory is coupled to the processor, the processor configured to;

register with a multimedia message service center (MMSC),

wherein the MMSC receives a mobile directory number of the mobile device, a framed IP address of the mobile device, access network information, and a session ID,

wherein the MMSC validates the framed IP address of the mobile device,

wherein the MMSC determines that the validated framed IP address corresponds to the mobile directory number, and

wherein the MMSC stores the mobile directory number of the mobile device, the valid framed IP address, the access network information, and the session ID in a cache accessible to the MMSC;

transmit a request for depositing a multimedia message service (MMS) message,

wherein the MMSC authenticates data from the request with the stored valid framed IP address and the stored mobile directory number; and

deposit the MMS message.

2. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein to deposit the MMS message, the processor is configured to:

determine that more than one network is available; and

use a preferred network of the more than one available network to transmit the MMS message.

3. The mobile device of claim 2, wherein the preferred network is an IP network and a secondary network of the more than one network available is a cellular network.

4. The mobile device of claim 3, wherein to use the preferred network, the processor is configured to establish a secure tunnel with the preferred network.

5. The mobile device of claim 3, wherein the MMSC stores a second valid IP address associated with the mobile device, wherein the second valid IP address corresponds to the secondary network.

6. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein to authenticate the data, the MMSC determines that the stored valid framed IP address is associated with permitted IP subnets.

7. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the MMSC maintains the validated framed IP address for at least a period during which the mobile device is registered.

8. A method for a mobile device, comprising:

registering with a multimedia message service center (MMSC),

wherein the MMSC receives a mobile directory number of the mobile device, a framed IP address of the mobile device, access network information, and a session ID,

wherein the MMSC validates the framed IP address of the mobile device,

wherein the MMSC determines that the validated framed IP address corresponds to the mobile directory number, and

wherein the MMSC stores the mobile directory number of the mobile device, the valid framed IP address, the access network information, and the session ID in a cache accessible to the MMSC;

transmitting a request for depositing a multimedia message service (MMS) message,

wherein the MMSC authenticates data from the request with the stored valid framed IP address and the stored mobile directory number; and

depositing the MMS message.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein depositing the MMS message comprises:

determining that more than one network is available; and

using a preferred network of the more than one available network to deposit the MMS message.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the preferred network is an IP network and a secondary network of the more than one network available is a cellular network.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein using the preferred network comprises establishing a secure tunnel with the preferred network.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the MMSC stores a second valid IP address associated with the mobile device, wherein the second valid IP address corresponds to the secondary network.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the MMSC authenticates data comprises the MMSC determining that the stored valid framed IP address is associated with permitted IP subnets.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the MMSC maintains the validated framed IP address for at least a period during which the mobile device is registered.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor of a mobile device, cause the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:

registering with a multimedia message service center (MMSC),

wherein in response to the registering, the MMSC receives a mobile directory number of the mobile device, a framed IP address of the mobile device, access network information, and a session ID,

wherein the MMSC validates the framed IP address of the mobile device,

wherein the MMSC determines that the validated framed IP address corresponds to the mobile directory number, and

wherein the MMSC stores the mobile directory number of the mobile device, the valid framed IP address, the access network information, and the session ID in a cache accessible to the MMSC;

transmitting a request for depositing a multimedia message service (MMS) message,

wherein the MMSC authenticates data from the request with the stored valid framed IP address and the stored mobile directory number; and

depositing the MMS message.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein depositing the MMS message comprises:

determining that more than one network is available; and

using a preferred network of the more than one available network to deposit the MMS message.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the preferred network is an IP network and a secondary network of the more than one network available is a cellular network.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein using the preferred network comprises establishing a secure tunnel with the preferred network.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the MMSC stores a second valid IP address associated with the mobile device, wherein the second valid IP address corresponds to the secondary network.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the MMSC maintains the validated framed IP address for at least a period during which the mobile device is registered.