Method and apparatus for managing and reusing mobile subscriber identification information to multiple devices

• US 10,555,164 B2
• Filed: 06/04/2019
• Issued: 02/04/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• 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): Miller, Brandon J
• Application Number:
  US16/431,007
• Publication Number:
  US 20190289457A1
• Time in Patent Office: 245 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/02 Processing of mobility data, e.g. registration information at HLR [Home Location Register] or VLR [Visitor Location Register]; Transfer of mobility data, e.g. between HLR, VLR or external networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/04 Registration at HLR or HSS [Home Subscriber Server]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/183 Processing at user equipment or user record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a system that manages reuse of mobile subscriber identity information. The use of a same generic mobile subscriber identity information by multiple devices can be based on the mobility and/or device location. 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, comprising;

determining that a first device has a first location in a first service area;

determining that a second device has a second location in a second service area, wherein the first service area and the second service area are distinct; and

assigning a first international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) to the first device and assigning the first IMSI to the second device responsive to identifying a first mobility type for the first device and identifying a second mobility type for the second device.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein one of the first mobility type and the second mobility type indicates that one of the first device and the second device is stationary.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein one of the first mobility type and the second mobility type is fixed.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the identifying of the first mobility type and the identifying of the second mobility type comprises identifying that the first mobility type is different than the second mobility type.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the operations comprise receiving a first request for the first IMSI for the first device.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the operations comprise obtaining a plurality of IMSIs.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the operations comprise classifying each of the plurality of IMSIs according to one of a plurality of mobility types.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the assigning of the first IMSI to the first device and assigning the first IMSI to the second device reduces a likelihood of a registration error.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving a second request from the second device to register the first IMSI with a registration function; and

selecting a second IMSI from a plurality of IMSIs according to the first mobility type, wherein the second IMSI is associated with a third device, wherein the first mobility type is associated with the third device.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving a first error message associated with a registration error from a registration function;

determining from the first error message that the second device is attempting to register the first IMSI with the registration function; and

selecting a third IMSI from a plurality of IMSIs according to the second mobility type, wherein the third IMSI is associated with a fourth device, wherein the second mobility type is associated with the fourth device.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise determining that the first device is associated with a first entity and the second device is associated with a second entity.

12. 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:

determining that a first device has a first location in a first service area;

determining that a second device has a second location in a second service area, wherein the first service area and the second service area are distinct; and

assigning a first international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) to the first device and assigning the first IMSI to the second device responsive to identifying a first mobility type for the first device is fixed.

13. The non-transitory, machine-readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein the identifying of the first mobility type comprises identifying that the first mobility type is different than a second mobility type for the second device.

14. The non-transitory, machine-readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein the operations comprise receiving a first request for the first IMSI for the first device.

15. The non-transitory, machine-readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein the operations comprise obtaining a plurality of IMSIs.

16. The non-transitory, machine-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the operations comprise classifying each of the plurality of IMSIs according to one of a plurality of mobility types.

17. The non-transitory, machine-readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein the assigning of the first IMSI to the first device and assigning the first IMSI to the second device reduces a likelihood of a registration error.

18. The non-transitory, machine-readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving a second request from the second device to register the first IMSI with a registration function; and

selecting a second IMSI from a plurality of IMSIs according to the first mobility type, wherein the second IMSI is associated with a third device, wherein the first mobility type is associated with the third device.

19. The non-transitory, machine-readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving a first error message associated with a registration error from a registration function;

determining from the first error message that the second device is attempting to register the first IMSI with the registration function; and

selecting a third IMSI from a plurality of IMSIs according to a second mobility type, wherein the third IMSI is associated with a fourth device, wherein the second mobility type is associated with the fourth device.

20. A method, comprising:

determining, by a processing system including a processor, that a first device has a first location in a first service area;

determining, by the processing system, that a second device has a second location in a second service area, wherein the first service area and the second service area are distinct; and

assigning, by the processing system, a first international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) to the first device and assigning the first IMSI to the second device responsive to identifying that a first mobility type for the first device is different than a second mobility type for the second device.