Method and Apparatus for a Subscriber Database

• US 20110125807A1
• Filed: 07/14/2008
• Published: 05/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Solutions and Networks US LLC (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Solutions and Networks US LLC (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Bland, Jonathan
• Granted Patent: US 8,938,476 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/803
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4588 containing mobile subscriber information, e.g. home subscriber server [HSS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/04 Registration at HLR or HSS [Home Subscriber Server]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data

Abstract

A method including receiving a request to change first information relating to a first identity of a subscriber in a database; obtaining information from said database relating to said first identity and at least one other identity of said subscriber; determining from the obtained information if said requested change can be made, in dependence on if said first identity is at least partially shared.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a request to change first information relating to a first identity of a subscriber in a database;

obtaining information from said database relating to said first identity and at least one other identity of said subscriber;

determining from the obtained information if said requested change can be made, in dependence on if said first identity is at least partially shared.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said obtained information comprises one or more identities of said subscriber.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said obtained information comprises for each identity:

an identity, the type of identity and an index.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said obtained information comprises application information for respective identities of said subscriber and said determining comprises determining if said first identity is shared by a plurality of applications.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4, where said application information comprises the application type and an index.

6. A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein said application comprises at least one of an home subscriber server application, a boot strapping server function, an authentication server function, a home location server function.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said determining comprises using index information in said obtained information, said index correlating said subscriber identity with one or more associated applications.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said request comprises a request to delete said first identity.

9. A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein said determining determines said information is to be deleted if said first identity is associated with no other application.

10. A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein said determining determines said information is be partially deleted if said first identity is used by at least two different applications.

11. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said request to change comprises a request to add said first identity.

12. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein said determining comprised determining if said first identity is used by a different subscriber and if so to reject said request to change.

14. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein said determining comprises determining if said first identity is used and if not to add said first identity and an association with an application identified in said request.

15. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein determining comprises determining if a different attempt is being made to change information relating to said subscriber and if so preventing the carrying out of said requested change.

16. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said database is arranged to store user profile information associated with said first identity for said subscriber, said method further comprising the step of:

providing to an application at least part of said user profile information associated with said first identity.

17. A computer program comprising program code means for performing the step of claim 1 when the program is run on a processor.

13. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein said determining comprised determining if said first identity is already used by said subscriber and if so change said information to add an association with an application identified in said request.

13-1. Apparatus comprising:

means for receiving a request to change first information relating to a first identity of a subscriber in a database;

means for obtaining information from said database relating to said first identity and at least one other identity of said subscriber;

means for determining from the obtained information if said requested change can be made, in dependence on if said first identity is at least partially shared.

19. Apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein said obtained information comprises one or more identities of said subscriber.

20. Apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein said obtained information comprises for each identity:

an identity, the type of identity and an index.

21. Apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein said obtained information comprises application information for respective identities of said subscriber and said determining means is arranged to determine if said first identity is shared by a plurality of applications.

23. Apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein said application comprises at least one of an home subscriber server application, a boot strapping server function, an authentication server function, a home location server function.

22. Apparatus as claimed in claim 18, where said application information comprises the application type and an index.

24. Apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein said determining means is arranged to use index information in said obtained information, said index correlating said subscriber identity with one or more associated applications.

25. Apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein said request comprises a request to delete said first identity.

26. Apparatus as claimed in claim 25, wherein said determining means is arranged to determines said information is to be deleted if said first identity is associated with no other application.

27. Apparatus as claimed in claim 25, wherein said determining means is arranged to determine said information is be partially deleted if said first identity is used by at least two different applications.

28. Apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein said request to change comprises a request to add said first identity.

29. Apparatus as claimed in claim 28, wherein said determining means is arranged to determine if said first identity is used by a different subscriber and if so to reject said request to change.

30. Apparatus as claimed in claim 28, wherein said determining means is arranged to determine if said first identity is already used by said subscriber and if so change said information to add an association with an application identified in said request.

31. Apparatus as claimed in claim 28, wherein said determining means is arranged to determine if said first identity is used and if not to add said first identity and an association with an application identified in said request.

32. Apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein said determining means is arranged to determine if a different attempt is being made to change information relating to said subscriber and if so preventing the carrying out of said requested change.

33. Apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein said database is arranged to store user profile information associated with said first identity for said subscriber, said apparatus further comprises means for providing to an application at least part of said user profile information associated with said first identity.

34. Apparatus as claimed in claim 18, further comprising said database.

35. Apparatus as claimed in claim 18, further comprising a provisioning client.

36. Apparatus as claimed in claimed in claim 35, wherein said apparatus is arranged to determine an application associated with said request on the basis of information included in said request.

37. Apparatus as claimed in claim 35, wherein said apparatus is arranged to determine an application associated with said request based on a source of said request.

38. An integrated circuit comprising the apparatus as claimed in claim 18.

39. A chip set comprising the apparatus as claimed in claim 18.

40. A database comprising:

means for storing an association between at least one identity of a subscriber and a plurality of applications.

41. A database as claimed in claim 40, wherein said storing means is arranged to store a subscriber identity list having a plurality of entries, each entry comprising one at least one identity and an index.

42. A database as claimed in claim 41, wherein said storing means is arranged to store an application data list, each entry comprising an application names and one of said indexes.

43. A database as claimed in claim 40, further comprising means for storing subscription related information for at least one of said plurality of applications, wherein the subscription related information is associated with the at least one identity.

44. A database as claimed in claim 43, further comprising means for providing at least part of the subscription related information to at least one application.

45. A database as claimed in claim 44, wherein the means for providing at least part of the subscription related information is configured to provide to an application the part of the subscription related information which is relevant for the application based on the association between the at least one identity of a subscriber and the application.

46. A database as claimed in claim 40 wherein the plurality of applications comprise at least one of a subscription server, authentication server, a home location register, a home subscriber server, a bootstrapping server function, a security server.