System and method for determining a subscriber's zone information

• US 10,419,875 B2
• Filed: 06/14/2017
• Issued: 09/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile USA, Inc. (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: T-Mobile USA, Inc. (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Caldwell, Christopher E., Linkola, Janne P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rinehart, Mark H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dewan, Sanjay K
• Application Number:
  US15/623,325
• Publication Number:
  US 20170289811A1
• Time in Patent Office: 825 Days
• Field of Search: 370338
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/64 using geofenced areas
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/04 based on user or terminal location or mobility data, e.g. moving direction, speed
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/003 locating network equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

Systems and methods for delivering customized content to wireless service subscribers are disclosed. According to the disclosed embodiments, wireless access points can be grouped into various zones. Some of all of these zones can be further associated with predefined service types or other customized attributes. When a wireless subscriber connects to an access point in a given zone, the subscriber can be provided with content and/or services based on the zone to which he is connected.

Claims

1. At least one non-transitory computer readable medium, carrying instructions, which when executed by at least one data processor, perform a method of:

mapping at least one access point of an IP-based wireless access network (WLAN) to a service zone,

wherein the WLAN connects to a cellular telephone network via a Generic Access Network (GAN), Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA), or Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) protocol;

storing the mapping of the access point to the service zone in a database;

mapping the service zone to at least one service type,

wherein the service type is associated with content or services provided to mobile device users who access the cellular telephone network via the access point;

storing the mapping of the service zone to the service type in the database;

mapping specific subscribers of the cellular telephone network with the at least one service type, wherein the specific subscribers are authorized to receive the at least one type of service when accessing the access point in the service zone; and

storing the mapping of the specific subscribers of the cellular telephone network to the service type in the database.

2. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the database stores for each mapping of the access point to the service zone:

a Zone Number Field that includes a unique zone number integer and reflects different service zones, or

a Zone Field that reflects one or more addresses associated with a single Zone Number.

3. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 2, wherein the database further stores for each mapping of the access point to the service zone:

a Cellsite Global Indicator (CGI) Field that reflects a value sent to a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) to include in call detail records to indicate a rating in the service zone, or

a UMA Service Zone Field that reflects UMA service zone information applicable to a location of the access point.

4. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 2, wherein each Zone Field is identified using at least one IP address, at least one MAC address, at least one proximate CGI, or at least one Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN).

5. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 2, wherein at least one Zone Field comprises a wild card value.

6. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 2, wherein at least one Zone Field comprises a subnet mask to indicate multiple IP addresses.

7. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the database stores for each mapping of the service zone to the service type:

a Service Type Field that includes a unique service zone integer and reflects different service types, or

a Zone Number Field as a foreign key that reflects either single or multiple service zones associated with a single Service Type.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the database stores, for each mapping of the specific subscribers of the cellular telephone network to the service type, at least two of:

an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) Field that includes a unique subscriber identity integer and reflects different subscriber profiles,

a Service Type Field as a foreign key that reflects a service type associated with the specific subscriber,

a UMA Barring Field as a Boolean value that indicates whether the specific subscriber is allowed UMA service, or

a UMA Roaming Field as a Boolean value that indicates whether the specific subscriber is allowed UMA roaming.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the database further stores, for each mapping of the specific subscribers of the cellular telephone network to the service type, at least two of the following:

a Mobile Station International Subscriber Directory Number (MSISDN) Field that includes a unique subscriber identity integer and reflects a MSISDN associated with the IMSI Field,

a Serving UMA Network Controller (UNC) Field that reflects a UNC preferred for the specific subscriber,

a MAC/CGI Pairs Field that reflects a MAC address/CGI pair and a UMA Service Zone text to send to the specific subscriber,

a Default Location Field that includes a location identity integer and reflects a time zone of a call, or

a Maximum Number of Access Points Field that reflects a maximum number of MAC/CGI entries allowed in the database.

10. In a system having multiple wireless handheld devices capable of communicating over an IP-based wireless local area network (WLAN) that includes at least one access point for communicating with the handheld devices, an apparatus comprising:

a database; and

a server, coupled to the database, and configured to;

map the at least one access point of the WLAN to a service zone,

wherein the WLAN connects to a cellular telephone network via a Generic Access Network (GAN), Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA), or Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) protocol;

store the mapping of the access point to the service zone in a database;

map the service zone to at least one service type,

wherein the service type is associated with content or services provided to mobile device users who access the cellular telephone network via the access point;

store the mapping of the service zone to the service type in the database;

map specific subscribers of the cellular telephone network with the at least one service type,

wherein the specific subscribers are authorized to receive the at least one type of service when accessing the access point in the service zone; and

store the mapping of the specific subscribers of the cellular telephone network to the service type in the database.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the database stores for each mapping of the access point to the service zone:

a Zone Number Field that includes a unique zone number integer and reflects different service zones, or

a Zone Field that reflects one or more addresses associated with a single Zone Number.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the database further stores for each mapping of the access point to the service zone:

a CGI Field that reflects a value sent to a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) to include in call detail records to indicate a rating in the service zone, or

a UMA Service Zone Field that reflects UMA service zone information applicable to a location of the access point.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein each Zone Field is identified using at least one IP address, at least one MAC address, at least one proximate CGI, or at least one FQDN.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein at least one Zone Field comprises a wild card value.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein at least one Zone Field comprises a subnet mask to indicate multiple IP addresses.

16. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the database stores for each mapping of the service zone to the service type:

a Service Type Field that includes a unique service zone integer and reflects different service types, or

a Zone Number Field as a foreign key that reflects either single or multiple service zones associated with a single Service Type.

17. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the database stores, for each mapping of the specific subscribers of the cellular telephone network to the service type, and least two of:

an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) Field that includes a unique subscriber identity integer and reflects different subscriber profiles,

a Service Type Field as a foreign key that reflects a service type associated with the specific subscriber,

a UMA Barring Field as a Boolean value that indicates whether the specific subscriber is allowed UMA service, or

a UMA Roaming Field as a Boolean value that indicates whether the specific subscriber is allowed UMA roaming.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the database further stores, for each mapping of the specific subscribers of the cellular telephone network to the service type, at least two of the following:

a Mobile Station International Subscriber Directory Number (MSISDN) Field that includes a unique subscriber identity integer and reflects a MSISDN associated with the IMSI Field,

a Serving UMA Network Controller (UNC) Field that reflects a UNC preferred for the specific subscriber,

a MAC/CGI Pairs Field that reflects a MAC address/CGI pair and a UMA Service Zone text to send to the specific subscriber,

a Default Location Field that includes a location identity integer and reflects a time zone of a call, and

a Maximum Number of Access Points Field that reflects a maximum number of MAC/CGI entries allowed in the database.

19. A mobile device capable of being associated with a service type, comprising:

at least one processor;

at least one memory coupled to the processor;

at least one data input device coupled to the processor;

at least one data output device coupled to the processor; and

at least one wireless radio coupled to the processor,

wherein the radio permits the mobile device to communicate with an access point of an IP-based wireless access network (WLAN),

wherein the radio permits the mobile device to communicate with the WLAN based on a Generic Access Network (GAN), Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA), or Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) protocol, and

wherein the processor is configured to receive one service type for the mobile device based on;

a determination of a service zone that covers the access point,

an association of the mobile device with the service zone, and

an identification of at least one of multiple services types assigned to the service zone, and

wherein at least one of the service types is unrelated to billing.

20. The mobile device of claim 19, wherein the mobile device is identified using an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) number, a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) number, or a mobile phone number.