Apparatus and method for controlling registration of mobile identification number of mobile communication terminals

• US 20060135122A1
• Filed: 04/28/2005
• Published: 06/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Park, Sang-Kyun
• Granted Patent: US 8,027,675 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/410
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/14 Backbone network devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/18 Service support devices; Network management devices

Abstract

An apparatus and method for controlling registration of a mobile identification number (MIN) of a mobile communication terminal. A memory stores a table in which MIN groups uniquely assigned to common carriers are stored, and a MIN of a mobile communication terminal. An input device inputs a MIN to be stored in the memory. If the MIN stored in the memory is a default MIN, a controller replaces the MIN stored in the memory with the MIN input from the input device. If the MIN stored in the memory is not the default MIN and the input MIN belongs to a MIN group assigned to a common carrier corresponding to the stored MIN, the controller replaces the stored MIN with the input MIN.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling registration of a mobile identification number (MIN) of a mobile communication terminal, the apparatus comprising:

a memory for storing a table in which MIN groups uniquely assigned to common carriers are stored, and for storing the MIN of the mobile communication terminal;

an input means for inputting a MIN to be stored in the memory; and

a controller operable to;

if the MIN stored in the memory is a default MIN, replacing the MIN stored in the memory with the MIN input from the input means; and

if the MIN stored in the memory is not the default MIN and the input MIN belongs to a MIN group assigned to a common carrier corresponding to the stored MIN, replacing the stored MIN with the input MIN.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein if the input MIN does not belong to the MIN group assigned to the common carrier corresponding to the stored MIN, the controller discards the input MIN.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller checks if the input MIN belongs to a MIN group assigned to an initial common carrier by referring to the table stored in the memory.

4. A method for controlling registration of a mobile identification number (MIN) of a mobile communication terminal, the method comprising the steps of:

inputting a MIN to be stored in the mobile communication terminal;

if a currently stored MIN is a default MIN, replacing the stored MIN with the input MIN, and if the currently stored MIN is not the default MIN, checking if the input MIN belongs to a MIN group assigned to a common carrier corresponding to the currently stored MIN; and

replacing the currently stored MIN with the input MIN if the input MIN belongs to the MIN group assigned to the common carrier corresponding to the currently stored MIN.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising discarding the input MIN if the input MIN does not belong to the MIN group assigned to the common carrier corresponding to the currently stored MIN.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein it is checked if the input MIN belongs to a MIN group assigned to an initial common carrier by referring to a table stored in a memory.

7. An apparatus for controlling registration of a mobile identification number (MIN) of a mobile communication terminal, the apparatus comprising:

a memory for storing a table in which MIN groups uniquely assigned to common carriers are stored, and for storing the MIN of the mobile communication terminal;

an input means for inputting a MIN; and

a controller for checking if the input MIN belongs to a MIN group assigned to a common carrier corresponding to the MIN stored in the memory to determine whether to store the input MIN.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the controller replaces the MIN stored in the memory with the input MIN if the input MIN belongs to the MIN group assigned to the common carrier corresponding to the MIN stored in the memory.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the controller discards the input MIN if the input MIN does not belong to the MIN group assigned to the common carrier corresponding to the MIN stored in the memory.

10. A method for controlling registration of a mobile identification number (MIN) of a mobile communication terminal, the method comprising the steps of:

inputting a MIN;

checking if the input MIN belongs to a MIN group assigned to a common carrier corresponding to a previously stored MIN; and

storing the input MIN according to the checked result.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising replacing the previously stored MIN with the input MIN if the input MIN belongs to the MIN group assigned to the common carrier corresponding to the previously stored MIN.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising discarding the input MIN if the input MIN does not belong to the MIN group assigned to the common carrier corresponding to the previously stored MIN stored.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising providing a user with information indicating that the input MIN cannot be stored in the mobile communication terminal.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein it is checked if the input MIN belongs to a MIN group assigned to an initial common carrier by referring to a table stored in a memory.