Apparatus and method for mobile subscriber service modification

• US 6,449,479 B1
• Filed: 04/30/1999
• Issued: 09/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Optis Wireless Technology, LLC (Brevet Capital)
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Sanchez, Eduardo
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Nay
• Assistant Examiner(s): Trinh, Sonny
• Application Number:
  US09/303,771
• Time in Patent Office: 1,229 Days
• Field of Search: 455/432, 455/433, 455/410, 455/414, 455/435, 455/461, 455/466, 455/412, 455/456, 455/565, 455/418
• US Class Current: 455/433
• 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

An apparatus for changing a mobile subscriber'"'"'s feature profile in a telecommunications network comprises a Home Location Register having a means to change the profile and a memory for storing the profile, in electronic communication with a node. The node includes a means to recognize the subscriber change request, a means to validate the request, a means to determine whether the subscriber is currently using a mobile phone to which the profile is assigned, and a means to prevent changes to the profile, with the exception of the selected service feature if the subscriber is not currently using the phone to which the profile is assigned. The invention also is embodied in a method for changing a mobile subscriber'"'"'s feature profile which comprises the steps of sending a mobile subscriber request to a node changing a selected service feature, validating the request, determining whether the requesting mobile subscriber is currently using a mobile phone to which the profile is assigned, and preventing changes to the profile, with the exception of the selected service feature (if the subscriber is not currently using the mobile phone to which the profile is assigned).

Claims

1. An apparatus for changing a profile of a mobile subscriber in a telecommunications network, the profile including one or more service features, said apparatus comprising:

a Home Location Register (HLR) having means to change the profile and a memory for storing the profile, and

a node in electronic communication with the HLR, the node including;

means for recognizing a request from the mobile subscriber to change a selected one of the service features,

means for validating the request from the mobile subscriber,

means for determining whether the mobile subscriber is currently using a mobile phone to which the profile is assigned, and

means for preventing changes to the profile, with the exception of a change to the selected one of the service features, if the mobile subscriber is determined not to be currently using the mobile phone to which the profile is assigned when making the recognized request.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the profile includes a current location of the mobile phone to which the profile is assigned, said current location is not changed if the mobile subscriber uses a phone other than the mobile phone to which the profile is assigned to make the request.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the profile includes an activity indicator for the mobile phone to which the profile is assigned, said activity indicator is not changed if the mobile subscriber uses a phone other than the mobile phone to which the profile is assigned to make the request.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the means for recognizing the request from the mobile subscriber makes use of a feature code entered by the mobile subscriber.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the means for validating the mobile subscriber request makes use of a Personal Identification Number (PIN) entered by the mobile subscriber.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the means for determining whether the mobile subscriber is currently using the mobile phone to which the profile is assigned makes use of a Mobile Subscriber Directory Number (MSDN) and either of a selected one of an Electronic Serial Number (ESN) or a landline calling phone number.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the means for preventing changes to the profile makes use of a program module located in the node.

8. A method for changing a profile of a mobile subscriber in a telecommunications network, the profile including one or more service features, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a request from a mobile subscriber by a node to change a selected one of the service features within the profile;

validating the request;

determining whether the mobile subscriber is currently using a mobile phone to which the profile is assigned;

preventing changes to the profile, with the exception of a change to the selected one of the service features, if the mobile subscriber is determined not to be currently using the mobile phone to which the profile is assigned when making the request; and

changing the selected one of the service features.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the profile includes a current location of the mobile phone to which the profile set is assigned, said current location is not changed if the mobile subscriber uses a phone other than the mobile phone to which the profile is assigned to make the request.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the profile includes an activity indicator corresponding to the mobile phone to which the profile is assigned, said activity indicator is not changed if the mobile subscriber uses a phone other than the mobile phone to which the profile is assigned to make the request.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the node includes a memory and the step of validating the request includes the step of comparing a first Personal Identification Number (PIN) entered by the mobile subscriber to a second PIN contained in the memory.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of determining whether the mobile subscriber is currently using the mobile phone to which the profile in assigned includes the step of comparing a Mobile Subscriber Directory Number (MSDN) and either of a selected one of an Electronic Serial Number (ESN) or a landline calling phone number associated with the request.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of sending a request to the nodes includes dialing the Directory Number of a Pilot Node in electronic communication with a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the node includes a Mobile Switching Center.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the node includes a Visitor Location Register.

16. The method of claim 8, wherein the node is a Pilot Node in electronic communication with a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).

17. A method for changing a mobile subscriber'"'"'s feature profile in a telecommunications network, the profile including one or more service features, comprising the steps of:

receiving a request to change a selected one of the service features;

validating the request;

preventing changes to the profile, with the exception of a change to the selected one of the service features, if the request is not made using the mobile phone to which the profile is assigned; and

changing the selected one of the service features.

18. The method of claim 17, including the step of determining whether the mobile phone to which the profile is assigned was used during the receiving step.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of determining whether the mobile phone to which the profile is assigned is being used during the receiving step includes the step of comparing a Mobile Subscriber Directory Number (MSDN) and either of a selected one of an Electronic Serial Number (ESN) or a landline calling phone number associated with the request.

20. The method of claim 17, including the step of preventing a change to a current location of the mobile phone if said mobile subscriber uses a phone other than the mobile phone to which the profile is assigned to make the request.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of receiving a request to change a selected one of the service features includes the step of receiving a Qualification Request message.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the Qualification Request message includes a proprietary ORIGINATION flag.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of preventing changes to the profile includes the step of sending a Feature Request message.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the Feature Request message includes a proprietary ORIGINATION flag.

25. A method for changing a feature profile of a mobile subscriber in a telecommunications network, the profile including one or more service features, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving a request to change a selected one of the service features;

validating the request;

determining whether a mobile phone to which the profile is assigned was used to request the change;

preventing the start of other network activities unrelated to the activity of changing the selected one of the service features, if the request is not made using the mobile phone to which the profile is assigned; and

changing the selected one of the service features.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the step or receiving a request to change the selected one of the service features includes the step of entering a feature code by the mobile subscriber.

27. The method of claim 25, including the step of preventing a change to a current location of the mobile phone to which the profile is assigned if said mobile phone is not used to request the change.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein the step of receiving a request to change the selected one of the service features includes the step of receiving Qualification Request message.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein the step of preventing the start of other network activities unrelated to the activity of changing the selected one of the service features includes preventing at least one of the activities related to subscriber location update, fraudulent activity detection, or authentication.

30. The method of claim 25, wherein the step of preventing the start of other network activities unrelated to the activity of changing the selected one of the service features includes the step of receiving a Feature Request message.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the Feature Request message includes a proprietary ORIGINATION flag.

32. A system comprising:

a communications node issuing a request for a download of a mobile subscriber'"'"'s feature profile, the request including a first indicator if a mobile subscriber input precipitating the request is received from any source other than a mobile station for that mobile subscriber, the request specifying that changes to the mobile subscriber'"'"'s feature profile are not to be made in response to processing of the request for download; and

a home location register storing the mobile subscriber'"'"'s feature profile and operable to make certain changes to the mobile subscriber'"'"'s feature profile, the home location register is operable, responsive to receipt of the request and the first indicator from the communications node, to retrieve and download the mobile subscriber'"'"'s feature profile and further to inhibit any action on the part of the home location register to make a change in that stored and downloaded mobile subscriber'"'"'s feature profile.

33. The system of claim 32 wherein the request comprises a QUALREQ message and the first indicator comprises a flag within the QUALREQ message.

34. The system of claim 32 wherein the change that is inhibited from being made by the home location register in the stored subscriber'"'"'s feature profile comprises a change in home location register stored information that would identify a current location of a mobile station for the mobile subscriber.

35. The system of claim 32 wherein the change that is inhibited from being made by the home location register in the stored subscriber'"'"'s feature profile comprises a change in home location register stored information that would identify an activity indicator of a mobile station for the mobile subscriber.

36. The system of claim 32 wherein the communications node is a mobile switching center (MSC)/visitor location register (VLR).

37. The system of claim 32 wherein:

the communications node, responsive to mobile subscriber input, makes changes to the downloaded mobile subscriber'"'"'s feature profile, and then issues a request for mobile subscriber'"'"'s feature profile update to the home location register, the request including a second indicator specifying that changes to the feature profile are not to be made in response to processing of the request for update; and

the home location register is operable, responsive to receipt of the request and the second indicator, to inhibit any action on the part of the home location register to make a change in the stored mobile subscriber'"'"'s feature profile except for those specific changes identified in the received request.

38. The system of claim 37 wherein the communications node includes the second indicator in the request for update if the mobile subscriber input is received from any source other than a mobile station for that mobile subscriber.

39. The system of claim 37 wherein the request comprises a FEATREQ message and the first indicator comprises a flag within the FEATREQ message.

40. The system of claim 37 wherein the change that is inhibited from being made by the home location register in the stored subscriber'"'"'s feature profile comprises a change in home location register stored information that would identify a current location of a mobile station for the mobile subscriber.

41. The system of claim 37 wherein the change that is inhibited from being made by the home location register in the stored mobile subscriber'"'"'s feature profile comprises a change in home location register stored information that would identify an activity indicator of a mobile station for the mobile subscriber.

42. The system of claim 37 wherein the change that is inhibited from being made by the home location register in the stored mobile subscriber'"'"'s feature profile comprises a change in home location register stored information that would result from fraud detection with respect to a mobile station for the mobile subscriber.

43. The system of claim 37 wherein the change that is inhibited from being made by the home location register in the stored mobile subscriber'"'"'s feature profile comprises a change in home location register stored information that would result from authentication of a mobile station for the mobile subscriber.

44. A method, comprising the steps of:

storing a mobile subscriber'"'"'s feature profile in a home location register;

issuing a request from a communications node to the home location register for a download of the mobile subscriber'"'"'s feature profile, wherein the request includes a first indicator if a mobile subscriber input precipitating the request is received from any source other than a mobile station for that mobile subscriber, the request specifying that changes to the mobile subscriber'"'"'s feature profile are not to be made in response to processing of the request for download;

operating the home location register to make certain changes to the mobile subscriber'"'"'s feature profile in response to the request; and

operating the home location register, responsive to receipt of the request and the first indicator, to retrieve and download the mobile subscriber'"'"'s feature profile and inhibit any action on the part of the home location register to make a change in the stored and downloaded mobile subscriber'"'"'s feature profile.

45. The method of claim 44 wherein the request comprises a QUALREQ message and the first indicator comprises a flag within the QUALREQ message.

46. The method of claim 44 wherein the change that is inhibited from being made by the home location register in the stored mobile subscriber'"'"'s feature profile comprises a change in home location register stored information that would identify a current location of a mobile station for the mobile subscriber.

47. The method of claim 44 wherein the change that is inhibited from being made by the home location register in the stored mobile subscriber'"'"'s feature profile comprises a change in home location register stored information that would identify an activity indicator of a mobile station for the mobile subscriber.

48. The method of claim 44 wherein the communications node is a mobile switching center (MSC)/visitor location register (VLR).

49. The method of claim 44 further including the steps of:

changing by the communications node in response to mobile subscriber input of the downloaded mobile subscriber'"'"'s feature profile;

issuing by the communication node a request for mobile subscriber'"'"'s feature profile update to the home location register, the request including a second indicator specifying that changes to the feature profile are not to be made in response to processing of the request for update; and

operating the home location register, responsive to receipt of the request and the second indicator, to inhibit any action on the part of the home location register to make a change in the stored mobile subscriber'"'"'s feature profile except for those specific changes identified in the received request.

50. The method of claim 49 further including the step of including the second indicator in the request for update if the mobile subscriber input is received from any source other than a mobile station for that mobile subscriber.

51. The method of claim 49 wherein the request comprises a FEATREQ message and the first indicator comprises a flag within the FEATREQ message.

52. The method of claim 49 wherein the change that is inhibited from being made by the home location register in the stored mobile subscriber'"'"'s feature profile comprises a change in home location register stored information that would identify a current location of a mobile station for the mobile subscriber.

53. The method of claim 49 wherein the change that is inhibited from being made by the home location register in the stored mobile subscriber'"'"'s feature profile comprises a change in home location register stored information that would identify an activity indicator of a mobile station for the mobile subscriber.

54. The method of claim 49 wherein the change that is inhibited from being made by the home location register in the stored mobile subscriber'"'"'s feature profile comprises a change in home location register stored information that would result from fraud detection with respect to a mobile station for the mobile subscriber.

55. The method of claim 49 wherein the change that is inhibited from being made by the home location register in the stored mobile subscriber'"'"'s feature profile comprises a change in home location register stored information that would result from authentication of a mobile station for the mobile subscriber.