Method and system for tracing a subscription

• US 6,459,893 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2001
• Issued: 10/01/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nokia Networks (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Pentikäinen, Heimo
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne
• Assistant Examiner(s): Persino, Raymond B.
• Application Number:
  US09/796,178
• Publication Number:
  US 20010034204A1
• Time in Patent Office: 580 Days
• Field of Search: 455/410, 455/411, 455/423, 455/551, 455/558, 455/3.05, 455/409, 455/435, 455/414, 379/32.05
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and system for tracing a subscription in a telecommunication system. The telecommunication system comprises a local exchange, an access node connected to the local exchange, a wireless link system connected to the access node and a telecommunication terminal connected via the wireless link system to the access node. In the telecommunication system, an IMEI code corresponding to the telecommunication terminal and an IMSI code corresponding to the subscriber have been defined. In the method of the invention, the tracing of the subscription is started on the basis of the IMEI code and the tracing is converted into IMSI tracing. In the system, the access node comprises means for tracing a subscription on the basis of the IMEI code and means for converting the IMEI tracing into IMSI tracing.

Claims

1. Method for tracing a subscription in a telecommunication system comprising a local exchange (LE), an access node (AN) connected to the local exchange (LE), a wireless link system (WLL) connected to the access node (AN) and a telecommunication terminal (MS) connected via the wireless link system (WLL) to the access node (AN), an IMEI code corresponding to the telecommunication terminal (MS) and an IMSI code corresponding to the subscriber, characterized in that the tracing of the subscription is started on the basis of the IMEI code and the tracing is converted into IMSI tracing.

2. Method as defined in claim 1, characterized in that, based on the IMEI tracing, a reference number is generated and the number is linked with the IMSI tracing.

3. Method as defined in claim 1, characterized in that the IMEI tracing is started for a telecommunication terminal entered in an equipment identity register (EIR) as a terminal (MS) to be traced.

4. Method as defined in claim 1, characterized in that a report comprising the IMEI code, IMSI code and reference number is generated.

5. Method as defined in claim 1, characterized in that the IMSI code corresponding to the IMEI code is retrieved from a subscriber data register (WFR).

6. Method as defined in claim 1, characterized in that the IMSI code is obtained from the call initiating messages.

7. Method as defined in claim 1, characterized in that an alarm is generated in conjunction with a call by a telecommunication terminal (MS) without a subscriber identity module, the IMEI code, location area and call event of the telecommunication terminal (MS) being presented in conjunction with the alarm.

8. Method as defined in claim 1, characterized in that the wireless link system (WLL) is based on a digital mobile communication system.

9. System for the tracing of a subscription in a telecommunication system comprising a local exchange (LE), an access node (AN) connected to the local exchange (LE), a wireless link system (WLL) connected to the access node (AN) and a telecommunication terminal (MS) connected via the wireless link system (WLL) to the access node (AN), an IMEI code corresponding to the telecommunication terminal (MS) and an IMSI code corresponding to the subscriber, characterized in that the access node (AN) comprises means (1) for tracing the subscription on the basis of the IMEI code and means (2) for converting the IMEI tracing into IMSI tracing.

10. System as defined in claim 9, characterized in that the access node (AN) comprises means (3) for generating a reference number based on the IMEI tracing and linking the reference number with the IMSI tracing.

11. System as defined in claim 9, characterized in that the access node (AN) comprises an equipment identity register (EIR), in which the telecommunication terminal (MS) under IMEI tracing is entered.

12. System as defined in claim 9, characterized in that the access node (AN) comprises means (4) for generating a report about the tracing.

13. System as defined in claim 9, characterized in that the access node (AN) comprises a subscriber data register (WER), which contains the IMSI code corresponding to the IMEI code.

14. System as defined in claim 9, characterized in that the access node (AN) comprises means (7) for obtaining the IMSI code from the call initiating messages.

15. System as defined in claim 9, characterized in that the access node (AN) comprises means (5) for generating an alarm from a call by a telecommunication terminal (MS) without a subscriber identity module.

16. System as defined in claim 9, characterized in that the wireless link system (WLL) is based on a digital mobile communication system.