Method and system for wireless local number portability

• US 7,616,647 B1
• Filed: 03/11/2003
• Issued: 11/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Trupp, Correy, Madhavarapu, Gangadharam
• Primary Examiner(s): Harper; Vincent P
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sabouri; Mazda
• Application Number:
  US10/386,316
• Time in Patent Office: 2,436 Days
• Field of Search: 370/352, 370/410, 370/395.31, 370/466, 370/338, 370/349, 370/401
• US Class Current: 370/401
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]

Abstract

A mobile station is identified by a mobile directory number (MDN) and by a mobile station identifier (MSID). To communicate with a packet-switched network, the mobile station transmits its MSID, and a network access server, such as an interworking function (IWF), assigns an IP address to the mobile station and correlates the IP address with the MSID. A gateway receives a communication from the mobile station that includes the mobile station'"'"'s IP address. The gateway identifies the mobile station'"'"'s MDN based, at least in part, on the IP address, a correlation between IP address and MSID, and a correlation between MSID and MDN.

Claims

1. A method of identification for communication between a mobile station and a packet-switched network, said packet-switched network including a gateway, said mobile station having a first identifier and a second identifier, wherein a subscriber profile is keyed to said second identifier, said method comprising:

providing a first correlation between said first identifier and said second identifier;

assigning a network address to said mobile station;

providing a second correlation between said network address and said first identifier;

said gateway receiving a message from said mobile station, said message identifying a resource and including said network address;

said gateway determining that said second identifier identifies a source of said message based, at least in part, on said network address and said first and second correlations;

said gateway accessing said subscriber profile keyed to said second identifier; and

said gateway determining whether to grant said mobile station access to said resource, based, at least in part, on said subscriber profile.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said first identifier is a device identifier.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said device identification is a mobile station identifier (MSID).

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said second identifier is a directory number.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said directory number is a mobile directory number (MDN).

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said network address is an Internet Protocol (IP) address.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

a network access server receiving a set-up message from said mobile station, said set-up message including said first identifier; and

in response to said set-up message, said network access server dynamically assigning said network address to said mobile station.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said network access server is an interworking function (IWF).

9. The method of claim 7, wherein providing a second correlation between said network address and said first identifier comprises:

transmitting a correlation message to said gateway, said correlation message including said network address and said first identifier.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein providing a second correlation between said network address and said first identifier comprises:

said network access server transmitting a first correlation message to an intermediate node of said packet-switched network, said first correlation message including said network address and said first identifier; and

said intermediate node transmitting a second correlation message to said gateway, said second correlation message including said network address and said first identifier.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said intermediate node is an accounting server.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said resource corresponds to a content server.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said message from said mobile station requests content associated with said resource.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

if said gateway has determined to grant said mobile station access to said resource, said gateway sending a request to said content server, said request identifying said resource;

said gateway receiving a response from said content server, said response including said content associated with said resource; and

said gateway sending said content to said mobile station.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

said gateway tailoring said content based on said subscriber profile.

16. A method of identifying a mobile station, said mobile station having a first identifier and a second identifier, wherein a subscriber profile is keyed to said second identifier, said method comprising:

assigning a third identifier to said mobile station;

providing at least one correlation between said first, second, and third identifiers;

a gateway receiving a message that includes said third identifier, said message requesting access to a resource;

said gateway identifying said second identifier of said mobile station as being associated with said message based, at least in part, on said third identifier and said at least one correlation;

said gateway accessing said subscriber profile keyed to said second identifier; and

said gateway determining whether to grant said mobile station access to said resource, based, at least in part, on said subscriber profile.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said first identifier is a mobile station identifier (MSID).

18. The method of claim 16, wherein said second identifier is a mobile directory number (MDN).

19. The method of claim 16, wherein said third identifier is a network address.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein providing at least one correlation between said first, second, and third identifiers comprises:

providing a first correlation between said first and second identifiers; and

providing a second correlation between said first and third identifiers in response to a correlation message from an accounting server, said correlation message including said first and third identifiers.

27. The method of claim 16, wherein assigning a third identifier to said mobile station comprises:

dynamically assigning said network address to said mobile station in response to a set-up message from said mobile station, said set-up message including said first identifier.

21. A system comprising:

a network access server for providing a mobile station access to a network, said mobile station having a first identifier and a second identifier, assigning a network address to said mobile station, and establishing a first correlation between said first identifier and said network address;

a gateway, said gateway having access to a second correlation between said first identifier and said second identifier, said gateway being able to identify a source of at least one communication related to said mobile station using said first and second correlations; and

an accounting server, communicatively coupled to said network access server and said gateway, for receiving a first correlation message from said network access server, said first correlation message including said first identifier and said network address, and for responsively transmitting a second correlation message to said gateway, said second correlation message including said first identifier and said network address.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein said gateway is a proxy server.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein said at least one communication identifies a resource and requests content associated with said resource.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein said gateway determines whether to grant said mobile station access to said resource, based, at least in part, on said source identified by said gateway.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein, if said gateway has determined to grant said mobile station access to said resource, said gateway:

(a) sends a request to a content server, said request identifying said resource;

(b) receives a response from said content server, said response including said content associated with said resource; and

(c) sends said content to said mobile station.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein said gateway has access to a profile associated with said second identifier and is able to tailor said content based on said profile.