System and method for IMEI detection and alerting

• US 20060009214A1
• Filed: 08/13/2004
• Published: 01/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kefalas, Anastasios L., Cardina, Donald M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,474,894 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/432.300
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/12 Detection or prevention of fraud
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/126 Anti-theft arrangements, e.g. protection against subscriber identity module [SIM] cloning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/71 Hardware identity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities

Abstract

A system and method for detecting and storing information regarding a mobile communications device within a mobile communications network. Initially, a first data record is received at a subscriber/device database comprising subscriber/device data. Next, a second data record is received at the subscriber/device database comprising additional subscriber/device data. A first data record of a subscriber may then be compared to a second data record of the same subscriber, and if the first data record is different from the second data record a service provider may be notified.

Claims

1. A system for storing information relating to mobile communications devices, comprising:

a mobile communications network;

a plurality of communications devices communicable with the mobile communications network;

a database for storing subscriber/device data, wherein the subscriber/device data comprises subscriber identity data along with device identity data regarding the device in use by the subscriber; and

a first programmed routine operable within the mobile communications network for updating the subscriber/device data within the database after initial storage thereof.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a second programmed routine operable within the mobile communications network for notifying one or more entities or applications of a subscriber/device data change.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the subscriber identity data comprises subscriber information received from a SIM card and the device identity data comprises an IMEI number.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising an application resident on the SIM card for collecting and sending the subscriber/device data to the database.

5. They system of claim 4, wherein the application transmits the subscriber/device data via at least one of an SMS, an MMS, an e-mail, and a USSD message.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a list to which subscriber/device data may be compared to determine if a listed device is in use by a subscriber.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the listed device comprises a device that is being used improperly.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the listed device comprises a device that has been reported lost or stolen.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the listed device comprises a device that has been improperly switched from pre-paid to post-paid service.

10. A method for detecting and storing information regarding a mobile communications device within a mobile communications network, comprising:

receiving at a subscriber/device database a first data record comprising subscriber/device data relating to a particular subscriber;

receiving at the subscriber/device database a second data record comprising subscriber/device data relating to the particular subscriber;

comparing the first data record to the second data record; and

notifying a service provider if the first data record is different from the second data record,

wherein the subscriber/device data comprises subscriber identity data along with device identity data regarding the mobile device in use by the subscriber.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the subscriber identity data comprises subscriber information received from a SIM card and the device identity data comprises an IMEI number.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising comparing device identity data from the second record to a list of listed devices.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising notifying the service provider that a listed device is in use.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the listed device comprises a device that has been reported lost or stolen.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the listed device comprises a device that is being used improperly.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the listed device comprises a device that has been improperly switched from pre-paid to post-paid service.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the subscriber/device data is collected and sent to the database by an application resident on the SIM card.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the subscriber device/data is collected each time the mobile device powers up.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the subscriber/device data is collected and sent each time the mobile device is connected to the mobile communications network.

20. The method of claim 10, wherein the subscriber/device data is sent to the database in response to monitoring of the network by at least one of A-bis, MSC, HLR, VLR, and STP monitoring.

21. The method of claim 10, wherein subscriber/device data is retrieved from call data records and sent to the database.

22. A method for detecting and storing information regarding a mobile communications device within a mobile communications network, comprising:

initially receiving at a subscriber/device database a first data record comprising an IMEI number and information related to a particular subscriber obtained from the subscriber'"'"'s SIM card;

receiving at the subscriber/device database a second data record comprising an IMEI number and information related to the particular subscriber obtained from the subscriber'"'"'s SIM card;

comparing the first data record f the subscriber to the second data record of the subscriber; and

notifying a service provider if the first data record is different from the second data record.