Method for registering with a communication service

• US 7,881,717 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2006
• Issued: 02/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Denenberg, Jack, Febo, Denise
• Primary Examiner(s): Le; Lana N
• Application Number:
  US11/633,594
• Publication Number:
  US 20070207775A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,519 Days
• Field of Search: 4554351-4353, 4554321-4323, 455406-407
• US Class Current: 455/435.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2066 Call type detection of indication, e.g. voice or fax, mobile of fixed, PSTN or IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/14 with services dependent on location where the service is an information service H04M2242/15; services independent of location H04M3/42229
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42153 by subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42348 Location-based services which utilize the location information of a target
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• 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 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A method determines whether a given mobile communication device is eligible to register for a particular service. A first database tracks the equipment capabilities of various mobile devices. A second database tracks which regions, of a plurality, of geographic regions are eligible to receive the service. These databases are checked when the system receives a request to register for the service.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

(a) receiving a service registration call for a new service;

(b) obtaining an identifier of a corresponding mobile device;

(c) retrieving device capabilities information for the mobile device based on the identifier, the device capabilities information relating to whether equipment of the mobile device is compatible with the requested new service;

(d) receiving an identification of the requested new service;

(e) comparing the requested new service with the device capabilities;

(f) based on (e), determining whether the device is capable of handling the requested new service;

(g) obtaining a location identifier of a subscriber corresponding to the mobile device;

(h) comparing the location identifier to information in an eligibility area database;

(i) based on (h), determining whether the subscriber'"'"'s location is eligible to receive the requested new service; and

(j) if the device is capable of handling the requested new service and subscriber'"'"'s location is eligible to receive the requested new service, registering the mobile device for the requested new service.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifier is an electronic serial number.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the requested new service requires a capability for operating on both analog and digital networks.

4. A machine-readable medium, wherein the machine-readable medium is not a signal, the medium storing computer-executable instructions to perform a method according to claim 1.