Method and system for controlling service to multiple mobile stations having a common subscriber identifier

• US 7,190,969 B1
• Filed: 03/31/2003
• Issued: 03/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LLC (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Oh, Dae-Sik, Pippert, Robert, Anderson, Leo
• Primary Examiner(s): Appiah; Charles
• Assistant Examiner(s): FOX, BRYAN J
• Application Number:
  US10/403,767
• Time in Patent Office: 1,443 Days
• Field of Search: 455/550.1, 455/445, 455/517, 455/551
• US Class Current: 455/551
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/04 using triggered events
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/00 User notification, e.g. alerting and paging, for incoming communication, change of service or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support

Abstract

A system and method for managing multiple mobile stations provisioned for use by a single user with a common mobile identification number (MIN). In an advanced intelligent network, a call control system may receive requests to set one of the multiple mobile stations to an active state. The call control system may also receive requests to set one or more of the multiple mobile stations to an inactive state. The call control system stores the active or inactive indication in a subscriber profile database. When a request is made to register one of the multiple mobile stations for service, the call control system determines if the mobile station is active or inactive. If the mobile station is inactive, it is not permitted to register. If the mobile station is active, it is permitted to register.

Claims

1. A method comprising the steps of:

storing a common mobile identification number (MIN) in a subscriber profile record corresponding to a plurality of mobile stations on a wireless network;

storing a plurality of unique electronic serial numbers (ESN) each corresponding to one of the plurality of mobile stations in the subscriber profile record;

storing a plurality of status indicators each corresponding to one of the plurality of mobile stations, each status indicator having a first state and a second state, wherein mobile stations having their corresponding status indicator set to the first state are allowed to register for service on the wireless network, and mobile stations having their corresponding status indicator set to the second state are not allowed to register for service on the wireless network, wherein registering for service is a process conducted between a given mobile station and the wireless network, and wherein, by registering, the given mobile station transitions from being unable to place or receive calls via the wireless network to thereafter being able to place and receive calls via the wireless network;

receiving a request to set the status indicator corresponding to a selected one of the plurality of mobile stations to the first state; and

responsive to receiving the request, setting the status indicator corresponding to the selected mobile station to the first state.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of setting the status indicator corresponding to the selected mobile station to the first state comprises the step of storing a first value indicative of the first state in the status indicator corresponding to the selected mobile station.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

receiving a request to set the status indicator corresponding to a second selected one of the plurality of mobile stations to the second state; and

setting the status indicator corresponding to the second selected mobile station to the second state.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

storing a registered mobile station record in the subscriber profile record identifying the selected mobile station as the mobile station having its corresponding status indicator set to the first state.

5. A method comprising the steps of:

storing a common mobile identification number (MIN) in a subscriber profile record corresponding to a plurality of mobile stations on a wireless network;

storing a plurality of unique electronic serial numbers (ESN) each corresponding to one of the plurality of mobile stations in the subscriber profile record;

storing a plurality of status indicators each corresponding to one of the plurality of mobile stations, each status indicator having a first state and a second state, wherein mobile stations having their corresponding status indicator set to the first state are allowed to register for service on the wireless network, and mobile stations having their corresponding status indicator set to the second state are not allowed to register for service on the wireless network, wherein registering for service is a process conducted between a given mobile station and the wireless network, and wherein, by registering, the given mobile station transitions from being unable to place or receive calls via the wireless network to thereafter being able to place and receive calls via the wireless network;

receiving a request to set the status indicator corresponding to a selected one of the plurality of mobile stations to the first state;

responsive to the request, setting the status indicator corresponding to the selected mobile station to the first state;

receiving a registration request message from a requesting mobile station, the registration request message comprising the unique ESN and the common MIN to identify the requesting mobile station to the wireless network;

checking the status indicator corresponding to the requesting mobile station;

if the status indicator corresponding to the requesting mobile station is set to the first state, sending a response message in response to the registration request message indicating a successful registration and registering the requesting mobile station on the wireless network; and

if the status indicator corresponding to the requesting mobile station is set to the second state, responding to the registration request message without registering the requesting mobile station on the wireless network.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of checking the status indicator corresponding to the requesting mobile station comprises the step of checking a registered mobile station record in the subscriber profile record.

7. A method comprising the steps of:

storing a common mobile identification number (MIN) in a subscriber profile record corresponding to a plurality of mobile stations on a wireless network;

storing a plurality of unique electronic serial numbers (ESN) each corresponding to one of the plurality of mobile stations in the subscriber profile record;

storing a plurality of status indicators each corresponding to one of the plurality of mobile stations, each status indicator having a first state and a second state, wherein mobile stations having their corresponding status indicator set to the first state are allowed to register for service on the wireless network, and mobile stations having their corresponding status indicator set to the second state are not allowed to register for service on the wireless network, wherein registering for service is a process conducted between a given mobile station and the wireless network, and wherein, by registering, the given mobile station transitions from being unable to place or receive calls via the wireless network to thereafter being able to place and receive calls via the wireless network;

receiving a request to set the status indicator corresponding to a selected one of the plurality of mobile stations to the first state;

responsive to the request, setting the status indicator corresponding to the selected mobile station to the first state; and

setting the status indicator corresponding to at least one mobile station that is not the selected mobile station to the second state.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the step of setting the status indicator corresponding to the at least one mobile station that is not the selected mobile station to the second state comprises the step of storing a second value indicative of the second state in the status indicator corresponding to the at least one mobile station that is not the selected mobile station.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the step of setting the status indicator corresponding to the at least one mobile station that is not the selected mobile station to the second state comprises the step of setting the status indicators corresponding to all of the remaining mobile stations except the selected mobile station to the second state.

10. A method comprising the steps of:

storing a common mobile identification number (MIN) in a subscriber profile record corresponding to a plurality of mobile stations on a wireless network;

storing a plurality of status indicators each corresponding to one of the plurality of mobile stations, each status indicator having a first state and a second state, wherein mobile stations having their corresponding status indicator set to the first state are allowed to register for service on the wireless network, and mobile stations having their corresponding status indicator set to the second state are not allowed to register for service on the wireless network, wherein registering for service is a process conducted between a given mobile station and the wireless network, and wherein, by registering, the given mobile station transitions from being unable to place or receive calls via the wireless network to thereafter being able to place and receive calls via the wireless network;

storing a user password in the subscriber profile record;

receiving a request to set the status indicator corresponding to a selected one of the plurality of mobile stations to the first state;

prompting for a user input in response to the request to set the status indicator corresponding to the selected mobile station to the first state;

receiving the user input in response to prompting for the user input;

comparing the user input with the stored user password;

if the user input is the same as the stored user password, setting the status indicator corresponding to the selected mobile station to the first state; and

if the user input is not the same as the stored user password, denying the request to set the status indicator corresponding to the selected mobile station to the first state.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of setting the status indicator corresponding to at least one mobile station that is not the selected mobile station to the second state if the user input is the same as the stored user password.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the step of setting the status indicator corresponding to the at least one mobile station that is not the selected mobile station to the second state comprises the step of storing a second value indicative of the second state in the status indicator corresponding to the at least one mobile station that is not the selected mobile station.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the step of setting the status indicator corresponding to the at least one mobile station that is not the selected mobile station to the second state comprises the step of setting the status indicators corresponding to all of the remaining mobile stations except the selected mobile station to the second state.

14. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of:

storing a plurality of unique electronic serial numbers (ESN) each corresponding to one of the plurality of mobile stations in the subscriber profile record.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of setting the status indicator corresponding to the selected mobile station to the first state comprises the step of storing a first value indicative of the first state in the status indicator corresponding to the selected mobile station.

16. The method of claim 10 further comprising the steps of:

receiving a request to set the status indicator corresponding to a second selected one of the plurality of mobile stations to the second state; and

setting the status indicator corresponding to the second selected mobile station to the second state.

17. The method of claim 10 further comprising the steps of:

receiving a registration request message from a requesting mobile station, the registration request message comprising the common MIN and an electronic serial number (ESN) unique to the requesting mobile station to identify the requesting mobile station to the wireless network;

checking the status indicator corresponding to the requesting mobile station;

if the status indicator corresponding to the requesting mobile station is set to the first state, sending a response message in response to the registration request message indicating a successful registration and registering the requesting mobile station; and

if the status indicator corresponding to the requesting mobile station is set to the second state, sending a response message in response to the registration request message indicating an unsuccessful registration.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of:

storing a registered mobile station record in the subscriber profile record identifying the selected mobile station as the mobile station having its corresponding status indicator set to the first state.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the step of checking the status indicator corresponding to the requesting mobile station comprises the step of checking the registered mobile station record in the subscriber profile record.

20. A system comprising:

a subscriber profile database to store a user subscriber profile;

a plurality of unique mobile station identifiers stored in the user subscriber profile, each unique mobile station identifier identifying a corresponding one of a plurality of mobile stations on a wireless network;

a common mobile identification number (MIN) to identify the plurality of mobile stations, the common MIN stored in the user subscriber profile;

a status indicator corresponding to each mobile station identified by the plurality of mobile station identifiers;

a registered mobile station record operable to identify a selected one of the plurality of mobile stations having its corresponding status indicator set to a first state; and

a call control system operable to set each of the status indicators corresponding to each of the plurality of mobile stations to the first state or to a second state in response to requests, wherein the selected mobile station having its corresponding status indicator set to the first state is allowed to register for service on the wireless network and mobile stations having their corresponding status indicators set to the second state are not allowed to register for service on the wireless network, wherein registering for service is a process conducted between a given mobile station and the wireless network, and wherein, by registering, the given mobile station transitions from being unable to place or receive calls via the wireless network to thereafter being able to place and receive calls via the wireless network.

21. The system of claim 20 further comprising:

a data network interface to a service provider server operable to receive requests from the service provider server to set at least one status indicator.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein the data network interface is a web-page interface.

23. A server comprising:

a subscriber profile database to store a user subscriber profile;

a plurality of unique mobile station identifiers stored in the user subscriber profile, each unique mobile station identifier identifying a corresponding one of a plurality of mobile stations on a wireless network;

a common mobile identification number (MIN) to identify the plurality of mobile stations, the common MIN stored in the user subscriber profile;

a status indicator corresponding to each mobile station identified by the plurality of mobile station identifiers, each status indicator having a first state and a second state, wherein mobile stations having their corresponding status indicator set to the first state are allowed to register for service on the wireless network, and mobile stations having their corresponding status indicator set to the second state are not allowed to register for service on the wireless network, wherein registering for service is a process conducted between a given mobile station and the wireless network, and wherein, by registering, the given mobile station transitions from being unable to place or receive calls via the wireless network to thereafter being able to place and receive calls via the wireless network; and

a signaling system interface operable to receive request messages to activate a selected one of the plurality of mobile stations, the server operable to set the status indicator corresponding to the selected one of the plurality of mobile stations to the first state in response to the request message to activate the selected one of the plurality of mobile stations.

24. The server of claim 23 wherein the signaling system interface is operable to receive request messages to deactivate a second selected one of the plurality of mobile stations, the server operable to set the status indicator corresponding to the second selected one of the plurality of mobile stations to the second state in response to the request message to deactivate the second selected one of the plurality of mobile stations.

25. A server comprising:

a subscriber profile database to store a user subscriber profile;

a plurality of unique mobile station identifiers stored in the user subscriber profile, each unique mobile station identifier identifying a corresponding one of a plurality of mobile stations on a wireless network;

a common mobile identification number (MIN) to identify the plurality of mobile stations, the common MIN stored in the user subscriber profile;

a status indicator corresponding to each mobile station identified by the plurality of mobile station identifiers, each status indicator having a first state and a second state, wherein mobile stations having their corresponding status indicator set to the first state are allowed to register for service on the wireless network, and mobile stations having their corresponding status indicator set to the second state are not allowed to register for service on the wireless network, wherein registering for service is a process conducted between a given mobile station and the wireless network, and wherein, by registering, the given mobile station transitions from being unable to place or receive calls via the wireless network to thereafter being able to place and receive calls via the wireless network; and

a signaling system interface operable to receive request messages to activate a selected one of the plurality of mobile stations, the server operable to set the status indicator corresponding to the selected one of the plurality of mobile stations to the first state in response to the request message to activate the selected one of the plurality of mobile stations,

wherein the signaling system interface is operable to set the status indicator corresponding to all of the plurality of mobile stations except the selected one of the plurality of mobile stations to the second state.