Dynamic configuration of subscriber data, such as data for subscribers of mobile device services

• US 8,437,745 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2009
• Issued: 05/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile USA, Inc. (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: T-Mobile USA, Inc. (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Theppasandra, Janardhan, Bostdorff, Nancy, Piscopo, Rob
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Ajit
• Assistant Examiner(s): WYCHE, MYRON
• Application Number:
  US12/537,140
• Publication Number:
  US 20100035586A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,370 Days
• Field of Search: 370/332, 370/338, 455/413, 455/417, 455/418, 455/432.1, 455/435.1
• US Class Current: 455/413
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/04 using triggered events
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/12 between location registers or mobility servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/20 Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/205 Transfer to or from user equipment or user record carrier

Abstract

A system for registering a mobile device located in a network outside a device'"'"'s home network is described. In some examples, the system receives a message including contents associated with a location of the mobile device, and extracts the contents of the received message. The system matches the extracted contents to one or more rules associated with an adjustment of subscriber data within a registration database for the home network, adjusts the data, and registers the mobile device having the adjusted data.

Claims

1. A system for adjusting data associated with a subscriber of a network service provider when a mobile device associated with the subscriber connects to a network other than the network operated by the network service provider, the method comprising:

a message reception component located in the network operated by the network service provider,

wherein the message reception component is configured to receive a registration message from the mobile device when the mobile device attempts to connect to a foreign network that differs from the network operated by the network service provider;

a data adjustment component located in the network operated by the network service provider and in communication with the message reception component,

wherein the data adjustment component is configured to temporarily adjust data for the subscriber within a registration database of the network operated by the network service provider to reflect a roaming location of the mobile device within the foreign network in response to the received registration message;

a functionality modification component located in the network operated by the network service provider and in communication with the data adjustment component,

wherein the functionality modification component is configured to modify a functionality of providing services within the network operated by the network service provider to the mobile device within the foreign network in response to the temporary adjustment of the data for the subscriber; and

a data re-adjustment component, wherein the data re-adjustment component is configured to automatically reset the data for the subscriber back to a previous state when the mobile device returns to the network operated by the network service provider.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the foreign network is a network located in a country that differs from a country in which the network operated by the network service provider is located.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the registration message includes contents relating to updating a network location of the mobile device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein modifying the functionality of providing services within the network operated by the network service provider to the mobile device within the foreign network includes modifying a handling of incoming communications to the mobile device within the foreign network.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein modifying the functionality of providing services within the network operated by the network service provider to the mobile device within the foreign network includes forwarding all calls to the mobile device to a voice mail system associated with the mobile device.

6. A method for registering a mobile device located in a network outside a home carrier network providing services to the mobile device, the method comprising:

receiving a message from the mobile device,

wherein the message includes information related to a location of the mobile device outside the home carrier network;

determining that the information related to the location of the mobile device outside the home carrier network matches one or more rules associated with services provided to the mobile device by the home carrier network,

wherein the one or more rules includes at least one rule that defines an adjustment to the services provided to the mobile device by the home carrier network when the information related to the location of the mobile device indicates that the mobile device is roaming outside the home carrier network; and

temporarily adjusting subscriber data associated with the mobile device and associated with the provided services based on the matched one or more rules.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the information related to the location of the mobile device includes information identifying a cell tower.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the information related to the location of the mobile device includes information identifying an IP address accessed by the mobile device.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein determining that the information related to the location of the mobile device outside the home carrier network matches one or more rules associated with services provided to the mobile device by the home carrier network includes determining that the mobile device is roaming on an international network.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein determining that the information related to the location of the mobile device outside the home carrier network matches one or more rules associated with services provided to the mobile device by the home carrier network includes determining that the mobile device is proximate to a certain access point.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein determining that the information related to the location of the mobile device outside the home carrier network matches one or more rules associated with services provided to the mobile device by the home carrier network includes determining that the mobile device is a certain device type.

12. The method of claim 6, wherein determining that the information related to the location of the mobile device outside the home carrier network matches one or more rules associated with services provided to the mobile device by the home carrier network includes determining that the location of the mobile device provides services not provided by the home carrier network.

13. The method of claim 6, wherein adjusting the subscriber data includes adjusting subscriber data associated with basic services provided by the home carrier network to the mobile device.

14. The method of claim 6, wherein adjusting the subscriber data includes adjusting subscriber data associated with supplementary services provided by the home carrier network to the mobile device.

15. The method of claim 6, wherein adjusting the subscriber data includes adjusting Customised Applications for Mobile networks Enhanced Logic (CAMEL) subscription information for the mobile device.

16. A system for registering a mobile device to a home carrier network providing services to the mobile device, the system comprising:

means for receiving a message from a mobile device,

wherein the message includes information related to a location of the mobile device outside the home carrier network, and

wherein the means for receiving is configured to be located in the home carrier network;

means for determining that the information related to the location of the mobile device outside the home carrier network matches one or more rules associated with services provided to the mobile device by the home carrier network when the mobile device is outside the home carrier network; and

means for adjusting subscriber data associated with the mobile device and associated with the provided services based on the matched one or more rules.

17. A system in a telecommunications network for modifying call handling procedures for a mobile device, the system comprising:

a message reception component,

wherein the message reception component is configured to receive a message including contents indicating a mobile device is roaming in a partner network of a home network for the mobile device;

a content extraction component,

wherein the content extraction component is configured to extract the contents of the received message;

a match component,

wherein the match component is configured to match the extracted contents to one or more rules associated with an adjustment of subscriber data within a registration database for the home network;

a data adjustment component,

wherein the data adjustment component is configured to adjust data within the registration database related to services provided by the home network to a subscriber associated with the mobile device in response to the match to the one or more rules; and

a device registration component,

wherein the device registration component is configured to register the mobile device with the adjusted data.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the data adjustment component is located within a home location registry for the telecommunications network.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the data adjustment component is located in a device within the telecommunications network but outside of a home location registry for the telecommunications network.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the message reception component is configured to receive LocationUpdate registration messages.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein the message reception component is configured to receive application triggers.

22. A tangible computer-readable medium whose contents store software configured to cause a system associated with a registration database for a home network to perform a method for registering a mobile device on a partner network to the home network, the method comprising:

receiving a message including contents indicating a mobile device is roaming in a partner network of a home network for the mobile device;

extracting the contents of the received message;

matching the extracted contents to one or more rules associated with an adjustment of subscriber data within a registration database for the home network;

adjusting data within the registration database for the home network related to services provided by the home network to a subscriber associated with the mobile device when the mobile device is roaming in the partner network;

registering the mobile device with the adjusted data;

receiving a message including contents indicating the mobile device is back within the home network for the mobile device; and

re-adjusting the data within the registration database to a previous state.

23. The tangible computer-readable medium of claim 22, wherein adjusting the data within the registration database includes adjusting data associated with reception of incoming calls to the mobile device.

24. The tangible computer-readable medium of claim 22, wherein adjusting the data within the registration database includes adjusting data associated with data services provided to the mobile device by the home network.

25. The tangible computer-readable medium of claim 22, wherein adjusting the data within the registration database includes adjusting data associated with data services provided by the partner network and not provided by the home network.