Managing subscriber information

• US 8,428,583 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2006
• Issued: 04/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Ruhanen, Mikko, Silfverberg, Kari, Grahn, Tom, Huomo, Miikka, Hartikainen, Auvo
• Primary Examiner(s): RAMPURIA, SHARAD K
• Application Number:
  US11/642,549
• Publication Number:
  US 20080153488A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,315 Days
• Field of Search: 4554321-4353, 455/552.1, 455/553.1, 455405-411
• US Class Current: 455/432.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4552 Lookup mechanisms between a plurality of directories; Synchronisation of directories, e.g. metadirectories
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4588 containing mobile subscriber information, e.g. home subscriber server [HSS]
• 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 8/20 Transfer of user or subscriber data

Abstract

A method includes storing subscriber data at one or more locations, and storing, at least one of the one or more locations, one or more rules for managing the subscriber data at least one of the one or more locations. The subscriber data regarding at least one of the one or more locations is managed on the basis of the rules.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

causing obtainment, via a first wireless access technology via a wireless interface of a first type, from a single logical entity, of subscriber information relating to controlling access to a network via the first wireless access technology, wherein said single logical entity provides a source of subscriber information relating to controlling access to a network via each of a plurality of wireless access technologies;

causing obtainment, via the first wireless access technology via the wireless interface of the first type, from said single logical entity, of subscriber information relating to controlling access to a network via a second wireless access technology via a wireless interface of a second type, wherein the wireless interface of the second type is different than the wireless interface of the first type; and

causing obtainment, via the first wireless access technology via the wireless interface of the first type, from said single logical entity, of subscriber information relating to controlling access to a network via a third wireless access technology via a wireless interface of a third type, wherein the wireless interface of the third type is different than the wireless interface of the first type and different from the wireless interface of the second type.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the single logical entity functions as a Home Location Register.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said subscriber information includes authentication, authorisation and accounting information.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the subscriber information is associated with a user terminal.

5. An apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory storing computer program code, wherein the at least one memory and stored computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to at least:

cause obtainment, via a first wireless access technology via a wireless interface of a first type, from a single logical entity, of subscriber information relating to controlling access to the network via the first wireless access technology, wherein said single logical entity provides a source of subscriber information relating to controlling access to a network via each of a plurality of wireless access technologies;

cause obtainment, via the first wireless access technology via the wireless interface of the first type, from said single logical entity via said first wireless access technology, of subscriber information relating to controlling access to a network via a second wireless access technology via a wireless interface of a second type, wherein the wireless interface of the second type is different than the wireless interface of the first type; and

cause obtainment, via the first wireless access technology via the wireless interface of the first type, from said single logical entity, of subscriber information relating to controlling access to a network via a third wireless access technology via a wireless interface of a third type, wherein the wireless interface of the third type is different than the wireless interface of the first type and different from the wireless interface of the second type.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5, which is located at a Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN).

7. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the single logical entity comprises a Home Location Register.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the subscriber information is associated with a user terminal.

9. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing program code, which when loaded onto an apparatus is configured to cause the apparatus to perform a method comprising:

causing obtainment, via a first wireless access technology via a wireless interface of a first type, from a single logical entity, of subscriber information relating to controlling access to a network via the first wireless access technology, wherein said single logical entity provides a source of subscriber information relating to controlling access to a network via each of a plurality of wireless access technologies;

causing obtainment, via the first wireless access technology via the wireless interface of the first type, from said single logical entity, of subscriber information relating to controlling access to a network via a second wireless access technology via a wireless interface of a second type, wherein the wireless interface of the second type is different than the wireless interface of the first type; and

causing obtainment, via the first wireless access technology via the wireless interface of the first type, from said single logical entity, of subscriber information relating to controlling access to a network via a third wireless access technology via a wireless interface of a third type, wherein the wireless interface of the third type is different than the wireless interface of the first type and different from the wireless interface of the second type.

10. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the subscriber information is associated with a user terminal.