Registering a user in a communication network

• US 20040122934A1
• Filed: 10/02/2003
• Published: 06/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Westman, Ilkka, Honeisen, Bernhard
• Granted Patent: US 7,792,974 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/147 Signalling methods or messages providing extensions to protocols defined by standardisation
• 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 60/005 Multiple registrations, e.g. multihoming

Abstract

The present invention describes a registration method wherein a user is registered in a communication network. According to a first aspect, a registration message is used, which comprises a header field for defining at least one other identity of the subscriber. According to a second aspect, a registration message is used, which comprises an identity information in its payload portion, said identity information defining at least one other identity of the subscriber. According to a third aspect, a one-by-one registration is performed based on an identity information stored at the terminal device, said identity information defining at least one other identity of the subscriber. Thus, the user or subscriber can register some or all of his public identities at once with one registration procedure. Furthermore, the subscriber can utilize his identities smoothly and easily, and at the same time prevent unwanted incoming calls. Additionally, the subscriber can utilize his public identities smoothly and easily by grouping the public identities under user profiles or under private identities.

Claims

1. A method of registering a user in a communication network, said method comprising the steps of:

a. transmitting a registration message defining an identity of said user to said communication network, and

b. providing in said registration message a header field for defining at least one other identity of the subscriber.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said header field is added to the header of a SIP register message.

3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein list of registered identities of said subscriber is returned from said communication network in a corresponding header field of a response message.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein said response message is a SIP 200 OK message.

6. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a direction information is added to said registration message to convey at least one registration direction for which said at least one other identity is valid.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein said direction information defines incoming calls, outgoing calls or both.

8. A method according to claim 6 or 7, wherein said direction information is determined by a parameter, a header or a flag of said registration message.

9. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said registration message comprises an instruction that all valid identities of said user should be activated at the same time.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein said instruction is stored in a header field of said registration message.

11. A method according to claim 9 or 10, wherein said instruction is determined by a flag, a mark or a note in said registration message.

12. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said other identities are stored in a subscriber database.

13. A method according to claim 12, further comprising the steps of dividing said subscriber database into several subdatabases, wherein some of the subdatabases can be edited by said subscriber, and others by an operator only.

14. A method according to claim 12, wherein a predetermined part of said subscriber database can be edited by the subscriber, and another predetermined part of said subscriber database can be edited by the operator only.

15. A method according to any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein said subscriber edits a temporal copy of his entry in said subscriber database, checks validity and correctness of the change or the whole entry after editing, and replaces the old entry if no errors are found in said temporal copy of the subscribers entry.

16. A method according to claim 2, wherein said identity is a private identity of said user and is comprised in the “

From”

header field of said SIP register message, and wherein a valid public identity of said user is comprised in the “

To”

header field of said SIP register message.

17. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said identity or said other identity defines an identity profile comprising a predetermined set of identities.

18. A method according to claim 17, wherein a list of identity profiles is stored in a subscriber identity module.

19. A method according to claim 17 or 18, wherein attributes for modifying said identity profile are attached to said identity profile.

20. A method according to claim 17, wherein said identity profile comprises a predetermined set of public identities and is defined by a private identity.

21. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one other identity is inserted to said registration message at a terminal device of said user.

22. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein an unregistered one of said at least one other identities is registered by a network element when a call is initiated by said user using said unregistered identity.

23. A method according to claim 22, wherein said unregistered identity is transmitted to said network element in the “

From”

header field of a SIP invite message.

24. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a limiting information is stored in a subscriber database, said limiting information defining limiting factors for limiting registration choices of said user.

30. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a warning about calls to non-registered public identities is issued to said user.

5. A method of registering a user in a communication network, said method comprising the steps of:

a. transmitting a registration message defining an identity of said user to said communication network, and

b. providing in a payload portion of said registration message an identity information for defining at least one other identity of the subscriber.

25. A method of registering a user in a communication network, said method comprising the steps of:

a. storing an identity information at a terminal device of said user, said identity information defining an identity and at least one other identity of said user; and

b. performing a one-by-one registration of said identity and said at least one other identity based on said identity information.

26. A method according to claim 25, wherein said identity information is stored in a subscriber identity module or a memory of said terminal device.

27. A method of registering a user in a communication network, said method comprising the steps of:

a. transmitting a registration message defining an identity of said user to said communication network, and

b. registering at least one other identity of said user, stored in a subscriber database, by a default setting.

28. A method according to claim 27, wherein said at least one other identity is comprised in a default set defined by said user.

29. A method according,to claim 28, wherein said default set is defined via a web page or a terminal menu.

31. A terminal device for registering a user in a communication network, said terminal device comprising:

a. memory means for storing an identity information of said user, said identity information defining an identity and at least one other identity of said user; and

b. signaling means for performing a one-by-one registration based on said identity information.

32. A system for registering a user in a communication network, said system comprising:

a. a terminal device for transmitting a registration message defining an identity and at least one other identity of said user to said communication network, and

b. a network element for detecting said identity and said at least one other identity, and for registering said identity and said at least one other identity.

33. A system according to claim 32, wherein said network element is a CSCF of said communication network.