Method and system for identifying a mobile station to a content server

• US 7,990,986 B1
• Filed: 07/16/2009
• Issued: 08/02/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Mazza-Deblauwe, Tania
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, PHUC H
• Application Number:
  US12/504,170
• Time in Patent Office: 747 Days
• Field of Search: 370/401, 370/466
• US Class Current: 370/401
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/10 of different types
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/563 Data redirection of data network streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/00 Wireless channel access
• 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]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements

Abstract

A gateway receives network presence information regarding a mobile station. The network presence information is based, at least in part, on status messages that a network access server, such as a packet data serving node (PDSN), sends, for example, to an accounting server. The network presence information identifies the mobile station, such as by Internet Protocol (IP) address, network access identifier (NAI), and/or mobile directory number (MDN). When the gateway receives a request from a mobile station to access a content server, e.g., an HTTP GET request, the gateway inserts identifying information, such as NAI and/or MDN, into the request to identify the mobile station to the content server.

Claims

1. A system for identifying a mobile station to a content server, wherein said mobile station is configured to transmit an access request that requests access to content on said content server and includes a network address of said mobile station, said system comprising:

a gateway, communicatively coupled to said content server, for inserting identifying information into said access request to identify said mobile station to said content server, said identifying information including at least one additional identifier; and

a network presence server for transmitting network presence information regarding said mobile station to said gateway, wherein said network presence information provides a correlation between said network address of said mobile station and said at least one additional identifier that enables said gateway to determine said at least one additional identifier from said network address in said access request.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one additional identifier includes a network access identifier (NAI).

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one additional identifier includes a mobile directory number (MDN).

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one additional identifier includes a first additional identifier.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said network presence information includes said network address and said first additional identifier.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein said at least one additional identifier further includes a second additional identifier.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising:

a directory, accessible by said gateway, that stores said second additional identifier.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said gateway is able to query said directory to obtain said second additional identifier based on said network presence information.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a repository, accessible by said gateway, that stores a profile for said mobile station.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said gateway is able to tailor content provided to said mobile station based on said profile.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said profile specifies device capabilities of said mobile station.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein said profile specifies customer preferences.

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

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said IP address has been dynamically assigned to said mobile station.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said access request is a HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) GET request.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said HTTP GET request includes a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) that corresponds to said content server and further includes said IP address as a destination address to receive said content.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein said network presence server is configured to transmit said network presence information in a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) NOTIFY message.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein said network presence server stores criteria for transmitting said SIP NOTIFY message to said gateway, based on a SIP SUBSCRIBE message from said gateway.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein said SIP SUBSCRIBE message specifies selected network presence information that said gateway is to receive.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein said network presence server is configured to obtain said selected network presence information specified in said SIP SUBSCRIBE message.