Delivery of network services

• US 20040082326A1
• Filed: 01/02/2003
• Published: 04/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Shaw, Venson M., Holmes, David W., Carlson, Steven I.
• Granted Patent: US 7,734,289 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/432.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/14 Backbone network devices

Abstract

A network element includes at least one input to receive communications from a plurality of terminal devices and a plurality of network elements, a processing unit and logic to classify the communications as a type of user information, and a router to route the communications according to the type of user information. The communication may be routed to at least one of a plurality of subnetworks according to the type of user information.

Claims

1. A network element comprising:

at least one input to receive communications from a plurality of terminal devices and a plurality of network elements;

a processing unit and logic to classify the communications as a type of user information; and

a router to route the communications according to the type of user information.

2. The network element of claim 1 further comprising:

logic to determine network usage statistics from the communications.

3. The network element of claim 2 further comprising:

the logic to determine network usage statistics to determine at least one of a service usage history, most recently used service, and most frequently used service for each of the terminal devices.

4. The network element of claim 1 further comprising:

the network element comprising a mobile switching center.

5. A network comprising:

a network element to receive communications from at least one terminal devices and at least one other network elements and to classify the communications as a type of user information; and

a router to route the communications to at least one of a plurality of subnetworks according to the type of user information.

6. The network of claim 5 further comprising:

logic to determine at least one of a service usage history, most recently used service, and most frequently used service for each of the at least one terminal devices.

7. The network of claim 5 further comprising:

the network element to receive communications from at least one terminal devices and at least one other network elements and to classify the communications as a type of user information comprising a mobile switching center; and

the mobile switching center comprising the router.

8. A method comprising:

a mobile switching center identifying communications comprising user information as at least one of terminal capabilities, service information, and network information; and

the mobile switching center routing the communications according to whether the communications is terminal capabilities, service information, or network information.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

the mobile switching center determining at least one of a service usage history, most recently used service, and most frequently used service for at least one terminal devices.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

the mobile switching center receiving communications from at least one terminal devices and at least one network elements;

the mobile switching center classifying the communications as one of terminal capabilities, service information, and network information; and

the mobile switching center routing the communications according to whether the communications is terminal capabilities, service information, or network information.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

the mobile switching center assigning network resources to provide at least one of a terminal management subnetwork, a service management subnetwork, and a network management subnetwork.

12. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

the mobile switching center routing the communications to a plurality of subnetworks according to the type of user information; and

the subnetworks causing the user information to be stored in one of a home location registry and a home subscriber system.

13. A network comprising:

a classifier to classify communications as a type of user information;

a router to route the communications according to the type of user information;

a plurality of network elements to receive the communications from the router and to process a type of user information;

at least one of a home location registry and a home subscriber system to store user information; and

a controller to receive user information from the plurality of network elements and to cause the user information to be stored in the at least one of a home location registry and the home subscriber system.

14. The network of claim 13 further comprising:

a mobile switching center comprising the classifier and the router.

15. The network of claim 13 further comprising:

the controller comprising logic to provide access control to the user information.

16. A mobile switching center comprising:

at least one inputs to receive information from terminal devices and network elements; and

logic to route the information to at least one of a plurality of subnetworks according to whether the information is applicable to terminal management, service management, or network management.

17. The mobile switching center of claim 16 further comprising:

logic to determine at least one of a service usage history, most recently used service, and most frequently used service for the terminal devices.

18. A network element comprising:

at least one input to receive service requests from terminal devices; and

logic to access user information for the terminal device and to compare the user information with service requirements of at least one service providers.

19. The network element of claim 18 further comprising:

logic to cause updates to stored user information.

20. The network element of claim 18 further comprising:

logic to select, according to terminal capabilities for the terminal device, a service provider to respond to the service request.