METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIA FOR CONTROLLING ACCESS TO VOICE RESOURCES IN MOBILE NETWORKS USING MOBILITY MANAGEMENT SIGNALING MESSAGES

• US 20090196269A1
• Filed: 03/19/2008
• Published: 08/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tekelec
• Original Assignee: Tekelec
• Inventors: Agarwal, Devesh, Marsico, Peter J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,113,334 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/341
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/104 Grouping of entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1073 Registration or de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/71 Hardware identity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/72 Subscriber identity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/56 based on priority criteria
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/20 Manipulation of established connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/50 for emergency connections

Abstract

Methods, systems, and computer readable media for controlling access to voice resources using mobility management messages are disclosed. According to one method, a mobility management message associated with a mobile subscriber is received. A priority level of the mobile subscriber is determined based on the mobility management message and access to voice resources in controlled based on the priority level.

Claims

1. A method for controlling access to voice resources using mobility management messages in a mobile communications network, the method comprising:

receiving a mobility management message associated with a mobile subscriber;

determining a priority level of the mobile subscriber based on the mobility management message; and

controlling access to voice resources based on the priority level.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving a mobility management message includes receiving one of a global system for mobile communications (GSM) mobility management message, a universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) mobility management message, and a session initiation protocol (SIP) mobility management message.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving a mobility management message includes receiving one of a mobile application part (MAP) update location message, a MAP send authentication information message, MAP check international mobile equipment identity (IMEI) message, a send routing information (SRI) message, MAP provide roaming number message, and a session initiation protocol (SIP) register message.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein determining a priority level of the mobile subscriber includes determining the priority level based on one of an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI), an international mobile equipment identity (IMEI), a mobile subscriber integrated services digital network number (MSISDN), a session initiation protocol (SIP) uniform resource indicator (URI), a mobile switching center (MSC) identifier, a calling party identifier (CgPN), and a called party identifier (CdPN).

5. The method of claim 1 wherein controlling access to voice resources includes one of blocking registration of a mobile device, preventing allocation of voice resources for a registered mobile subscriber, terminating an existing call for a mobile device, discarding the mobility management message, and generating a mobility management response message.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein controlling access to voice resources includes generating a one of a mobile application part (MAP) update location acknowledgement message, a MAP send authentication information acknowledgment message, a MAP check (IMEI) acknowledgment message, a MAP cancel location message, a MAP purge mobile subscriber message, a send routing information (SRI) response message, a MAP provide roaming number acknowledgement message, and a SIP acknowledgment message.

7. The method of claim 6 comprising including an error code in the generated message.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein including the error code includes including one of an unknown subscriber error code, a roaming not allowed error code, a system failure error code, and an unexpected data value error code.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein controlling user access to voice resources includes, during an emergency, preventing non-emergency personnel from accessing voice trunks.

10. A system for controlling access to voice resources using mobility management messages in a mobile communications network, the system comprising:

a subscriber access database for associating mobility management information and a priority level, wherein the mobility management information and the priority level are associated with a mobile subscriber; and

a subscriber access module for receiving a mobility management message including the mobility management information, determining the priority level of the mobile subscriber based on the mobility management message, and controlling access to voice resources based on the priority level.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the subscriber access module is configured to receive one of a global system for mobile communications (GSM) mobility management message, a universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) mobility management message, and a session initiation protocol (SIP) mobility management message.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein the subscriber access module is configured to receive one of a mobile application part (MAP) update location message, a MAP send authentication information message, MAP check international mobile equipment identity (IMEI) message, a send routing information (SRI) message, MAP provide roaming number message, and a session initiation protocol (SIP) register message.

13. The system of claim 10 wherein the subscriber access module is configured to determine the priority level of the mobile subscriber based on one of an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI), an international mobile equipment identity (IMEI), a mobile subscriber integrated services digital network number (MSISDN), a session initiation protocol (SIP) uniform resource indicator (URI), a mobile switching center (MSC) identifier, a calling party identifier (CgPN), and a called party identifier (CdPN).

14. The system of claim 10 wherein the subscriber access module is configured to one of block registration of a mobile device, prevent allocation of voice resources for a registered mobile subscriber, terminate an existing call for registered mobile subscriber, discard the mobility management message, and generate a mobility management response message.

15. The system of claim 10 wherein the subscriber access module is configured to generate one of a mobile application part (MAP) update location acknowledgement message, a MAP send authentication information acknowledgment message, a MAP check (IMEI) acknowledgment message, a MAP cancel location message, a MAP purge mobile subscriber message, a send routing information (SRI) response message, a MAP provide roaming number acknowledgement message, and a SIP acknowledgment message.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the subscriber access module is configured to generate message a message including an error code.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the error code includes one of an unknown subscriber error code, a roaming not allowed error code, a system failure error code, and an unexpected data value error code.

18. The system of claim 10 wherein the subscriber access module is configured to control access to voice resources during an emergency by preventing non-emergency personnel from accessing voice trunks.

19. A computer readable medium having stored thereon computer instructions that when executed by a processor of a computer perform steps comprising:

receiving a mobility management message associated with a mobile subscriber;

determining a priority level of the mobile subscriber based on the mobility management message; and

controlling access to voice resources based on the priority level.