Method and apparatus for assigning mobile subscriber identification information to multiple devices according to location

• US 10,512,055 B2
• Filed: 10/18/2018
• Issued: 12/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2016
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chastain, Walter Cooper, Chin, Stephen Emille
• Primary Examiner(s): Taylor, Nathan S
• Application Number:
  US16/163,990
• Publication Number:
  US 20190053188A1
• Time in Patent Office: 425 Days
• Field of Search: 4554321-433
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/654 International mobile subscriber identity [IMSI] numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/06 for supporting key management in a packet data network cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key management H04L9/08
• 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: H04W 4/70 Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/04 using triggered events
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/04 Registration at HLR or HSS [Home Subscriber Server]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/06 Registration at serving network Location Register, VLR or user mobility server

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a system that manages utilization of mobile subscriber identity information including enabling use of such information by different communication devices. The use of the same mobile subscriber identity information by multiple devices can be based on locations. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

a processing system including a processor; and

a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising;

assigning a first international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) to a first communication device;

assigning the first IMSI to a second communication device for a registration service area;

responsive to a first determination that the first communication device is not authorized to use the first IMSI in the registration service area, transmitting instructions to a first registration function server, wherein the instructions enable the second communication device to register in the registration service area with the first IMSI;

identifying a second registration function server in another registration service area, wherein a communication service area comprises the registration service area and the another registration service area; and

transmitting instructions to the second registration function server, wherein the instructions enable the first communication device to register in the another registration service area with the first IMSI.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the first determination that the first communication device is not authorized to use the first IMSI in the registration service area includes a second determination that the first communication device is authorized to use the first IMSI in the another registration service area.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the first determination that the first communication device is not authorized to use the first IMSI in the registration service area includes a third determination that the first communication device has moved to the another registration service area.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the operations comprise, subsequent to transmitting instructions to the first registration function server, detecting that the first communication device is authorized to use the first IMSI in the registration service area.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the operations comprise assigning a second IMSI to the first communication device.

6. The device of claim 4, wherein the operations comprise assigning a third IMSI to the second communication device.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the first communication device comprises a non-mobile device.

8. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium, comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processing system including a processor, facilitate performance of operations, comprising:

assigning a first international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) to a first communication device;

assigning the first IMSI to a second communication device for a registration service area;

responsive to a first determination that the first communication device is authorized to use the first IMSI in another registration service area, transmitting instructions to a first registration function server, wherein the instructions enable the second communication device to register in the registration service area with the first IMSI;

identifying a second registration function server in the another registration service area, wherein a communication service area comprises the registration service area and the another registration service area; and

transmitting instructions to the second registration function server, wherein the instructions enable the first communication device to register in the another registration service area with the first IMSI.

9. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the first determination that the first communication device is authorized to use the first IMSI in the another registration service area includes a second determination that the first communication device has moved to the another registration service area.

10. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the operations comprise, subsequent to transmitting instructions to the first registration function server, detecting that the first communication device is authorized to use the first IMSI in the registration service area.

11. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the operations comprise assigning a second IMSI to the first communication device.

12. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the operations comprise assigning a third IMSI to the second communication device.

13. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the first communication device comprises a non-mobile device.

14. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the non-mobile device comprises a machine-to-machine communication device.

15. A method, comprising:

assigning, by a processing system including a processor, a first international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) to a first communication device;

assigning, by the processing system, the first IMSI to a second communication device for a registration service area;

responsive to a determination that the first communication device has moved to another registration service area, transmitting, by the processing system, instructions to a first registration function server, wherein the instructions enable the second communication device to register in the registration service area with the first IMSI;

identifying, by the processing system, a second registration function server in the another registration service area, wherein a communication service area comprises the registration service area and the another registration service area; and

transmitting, by the processing system, instructions to the second registration function server, wherein the instructions enable the first communication device to register in the another registration service area with the first IMSI.

16. The method of claim 15, comprising, subsequent to transmitting instructions to the first registration function server, detecting, by the processing system, that the first communication device is authorized to use the first IMSI in the registration service area.

17. The method of claim 16, comprising assigning, by the processing system, a second IMSI to the first communication device.

18. The method of claim 16, comprising assigning, by the processing system, a third IMSI to the second communication device.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the first communication device comprises a non-mobile device.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the non-mobile device comprises a machine-to-machine communication device.