Location based screening in a mobile telecommunications system

• US 5,815,808 A
• Filed: 02/20/1996
• Issued: 09/29/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Original Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Inventors: Valentine, Eric Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Cumming, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): GELIN, JEAN ALLAND
• Application Number:
  US08/604,097
• Time in Patent Office: 952 Days
• Field of Search: 455/414, 455/415, 455/422, 455/435, 455/445, 455/436, 455/456, 455/565, 455/567, 455/461, 455/459, 455/432, 379/207, 379/196
• US Class Current: 455/422.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/101 Access control lists [ACL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/107 wherein the security policies are location-dependent, e.g. entities privileges depend on current location or allowing specific operations only from locally connected terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/38 Graded-service arrangements, i.e. some subscribers prevented from establishing certain connections queuing arrangements H04Q3/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/63 Location-dependent; Proximity-dependent
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/72 Subscriber identity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

A screening list for a specific location within a mobile telecommunications system is assigned to a mobile subscriber. If the mobile subscriber is served by a Mobile Switching Center of that location, all originating and terminating calls are screened against the allowed directory numbers that have been stored in the screening list. If there is a match, telecommunications service is selectively provided. Otherwise, access is denied. A single mobile station can have separate screening lists for different locations within a mobile telecommunications system. Accordingly, a different screening list can be assigned to a Local Access and Transport Area, Network Area, Location Area and Cell Area within a mobile telecommunications system.

Claims

1. A method for selectively screening incoming and outgoing calls for a mobile subscriber within a cellular telecommunications system, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving a call setup request to establish a connection between said mobile subscriber and a telecommunications party, said telecommunications party having an associated directory number;

determining a current location of said mobile subscriber;

determining whether said directory number is an entry within an individualized screening list associated with said current location for said mobile subscriber; and

processing said call setup request in response to said step of determining.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of receiving a call setup request further comprises the step of receiving an originating call setup request from said mobile subscriber toward said telecommunications party.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said step of processing said call setup request further comprises the steps of:

processing said originating call setup request if said directory number is included as one of the entries within said screening list for said mobile subscriber;

otherwise,

generating a denial message to said mobile subscriber.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of receiving a call setup request further comprises the step of receiving a termination call request from said telecommunications party to said mobile subscriber.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said step of processing said call setup request further comprises the steps of:

processing said terminating call request by alerting said mobile subscriber and establishing a speech connection if said directory number is included as one of the entries within said screening list;

otherwise,

generating a denial message to said telecommunications party.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of determining the current location of said mobile subscriber further comprises the step of determining a Local Access and Transport Area (LATA) where said mobile subscriber is currently located.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of determining said current location of said mobile subscriber further comprises the step of determining a Network Area where said mobile subscriber is currently located.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of determining said current location of said mobile subscriber further comprises the step of determining a Location Area where said mobile subscriber is currently located.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of determining said current location of said mobile subscriber further comprises the step of determining a Cell Area where said mobile subscriber is currently located.

10. A system for selectively screening incoming and outgoing calls for a mobile subscriber within a cellular telecommunications system, said system comprising:

means for receiving a call setup request to establish a connection between said mobile subscriber and a telecommunications party, said telecommunications party having an associated directory number;

means for determining a current location of said mobile subscriber;

means for determining whether said directory number is an entry within an individualized screening list associated with said current location for said mobile subscriber; and

means for processing said call setup request in response to said determining means.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein said means for receiving said call setup request further comprises the means for receiving an originating call setup request from said mobile subscriber toward said telecommunications party.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein said means for processing said call setup request further comprises:

means for processing said originating call setup request if said directory number is included as one of the entries within said screening list for said mobile subscriber;

otherwise,

means for generating a denial message to said mobile subscriber.

13. The system of claim 10 wherein said means for receiving a call setup request further comprises the means for receiving a termination call request from said telecommunications party to said mobile subscriber.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein said means for processing said call setup request further comprises:

means for processing said terminating call request by alerting said mobile subscriber and establishing a speech connection if said directory number is included as one of the entries within said screening list otherwise,

means for generating a denial message to said telecommunications party.

15. The system of claim 10 wherein said means for determining the current location of said mobile subscriber further comprises the means for determining a Local Access and Transport Area (LATA) where said mobile subscriber is currently located.

16. The system of claim 10 wherein said means for determining said current location of said mobile subscriber further comprises the means for determining a Network Area where said mobile subscriber is currently located.

17. The system of claim 10 wherein said means for determining said current location of said mobile subscriber further comprises the means for determining a Location Area where said mobile subscriber is currently located.

18. The system of claim 10 wherein said means for determining said current location of said mobile subscriber further comprises the means for determining a Cell Area where said mobile subscriber is currently located.

19. A method of selectively treating a call setup request between a mobile subscriber and a telecommunications party within a mobile telecommunications network, said network comprising a number of service areas, said method comprising the steps of:

associating a register containing a screening list with one of said service areas;

receiving a call setup request to establish a connection between said mobile subscriber and said telecommunications party;

determining if a directory number associated with said telecommunications party is an entry within said register if said mobile subscriber is within said one of said service areas; and

selectively treating said call setup request in response to said determination.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein said step of associating said register further comprises the step of associating said register with one of said service areas representing a Local Access and Transport Area (LATA).

21. The method of claim 19 wherein said step of associating said register further comprises the step of associating said register with one of said service areas representing a Network Area.

22. The method of claim 19 wherein said step of associating said register further comprises the step of associating said register with one of said service areas representing a Location Area.

23. The method of claim 19 wherein said step of associating said register further comprises the step of associating said register with one of said service areas representing a Cell Area.

24. The method of claim 19 wherein said step of selectively treating said call setup request further comprises the steps of:

processing said call setup request if there is a match;

otherwise,

denying said call setup request.

25. The method of claim 19 wherein said step of receiving said call setup request further comprises the step of receiving a terminating call setup request from said telecommunications party toward said mobile subscriber.

26. The method of claim 19 wherein said step of receiving said call setup request further comprises the step of receiving an originating call setup request from said mobile subscriber toward said telecommunications party.