EP0481714A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Identification of subscribers in a cellular telephone network
Assignee: Vodafone Ltd
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Filing: 1991-10-15
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2011-10-15
Abstract
Abstract In a cellular telephone network, subscribers each have a token (such as a smartcard) by means of which they respectively identify themselves to the network. Each subscriber logs into the network by using his smartcard which inputs a unique identification number (IMSI) into the network. The relationship between each IMSI and the corresponding subscriber's telephone number (MSISDN) is random and stored in a home location register (HLR). When a subscriber activates a mobile using his smartcard, a visitor location register (VLR) at the relevant cell cheks for presence of the IMSI and the corresponding MSISDN. If they are not present, it extracts them from the HLR. When a replacement smartcard is issued to a subscriber, the new IMSI is stored in the HLR in association with the IMSI of the previous smartcard. When the replacement smartcard is first used, the relevant VLR will note its absence and will follow the same routine as specified above - by accessing the HLR. Not only will it thus obtain and store the MISISDN for the subscriber in association with the IMSI of the new smartcard, but this will also activate the HLR to note first use of the replacement smartcard, cancel all reference to the IMSI of the previous smartcard, and inform the administration centre of the network.
Inventors
- 👤 Iain Douglas Sommerville
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 09:29
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04W; H04W12/00; H04W12/06; H04W12/40; H04W12/48; H04W8/00; H04W8/02; H04W8/04; H04W12/60; H04W12/69; H04W12/72
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
263 words
A telecommunications network by means of which a plurality of subscribers can communicate with each other, characterised in that the subscribers (e.g. 16) having respective tokens by means of which they can respectively identify themselves to the network, each token causing a unique identification number (MSISDN) to be input into the network, and by main storage means (HLR10) having a plurality of storage locations each for storing a respective one of the identification numbers (MSISDN) and an access number (IMSI) corresponding to the subscriber who has the token associated with that identification number (MSISDN) and by which the subscriber may be accessed via the network, a plurality of subsidiary storage means (VLR8), accessing means (MSC6) associated with each subsidiary storage means (VLR8) and responsive to an identification number (MSISDN) input into the system to check whether data relating to it is present in the subsidiary storage means (VLR8) and, if it is not, for accessing the said data in the main storage means (HLR10) and recording it and the corresponding access number (IMSI) in the subsidiary storage means (VLR8), and further storage means associated with the main storage means (HLR10) for storing therein identification numbers (MSISDN) corresponding to tokens issued to the subscribers for respectively replacing their existing tokens, whereby the accessing means (MSC6) responds to the input of an identification number (MSISDN) corresponding to a replacement token not previously used by accessing the corresponding identification number (MSISDN) from the further storage means of the main storage means (HLR10) and recording it and the corresponding access number in the subsidiary storage means (VLR8).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
60 words
A network according to claim 1, characterised by control means responsive to the input of an identification number (MSISDN) corresponding to a replacement token not previously used for noting use of the replacement token and deleting the identification number (MSISDN) of the replaced token from the main storage means (HLR10) and any subsidiary storage means (VLR8) where it is stored.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
63 words
A network according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the further storage means stores the identification number (MSISDN) corresponding to the replacement token in association with the identification number (MSISDN) of the previous token, whereby to enable the accessing means (MSC6) to access the part of the main storage means (HLR10) storing the access number (IMSI) corresponding to the relevant subscriber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
A network according to any preceding claim, characterised in that each token carries security data, and in that corresponding security data associated with the identification number (MSISDN) of that token is stored in the main storage means (HLR10), and the accessing means (MSC6) uses the security data to authenticate each token.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
A network according to any preceding claim, characterised in that each token is a smartcard.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
A network according to any preceding claim, characterised in that it is in the form of a cellular telephone network for mobile subscribers (MS) and in that the access numbers (IMSI) are the subscribers' telephone numbers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
A network according to claim 6, characterised in that each subsidiary storage means is a visitor location register (VLR8) associated with one or some of the cells of the network, and in that the main storage means comprises a home location register (HLR10) for at least part of the network.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
344 words
A method of operating a cellular telephone network, characterised in that the subscribers respectively identify themselves to the network by means of smartcards which carry respective subscriber identification numbers (MSISDN) to be input into the network via the relevant cells thereof, the identification numbers having a random relationship with the respective subscribers' telephone numbers (IMSI), and by the steps of setting up, in a home location register (HLR10), storage locations for each telephone number each of which locations also stores the corresponding subscriber identification number (MSISDN) and other subscriber data, responding to an identification number (MSISDN) input at a particular cell by searching for that identification number (MSISDN) in a visitor location register (VLR8) associated with that cell, responding to absence of that identification number (MSISDN) from that visitor location register (VLR8) by accessing the storage location of that subscriber identification number (MSISDN) in the home location register (HLR10) and obtaining the subscriber's telephone number therefrom and recording that number and the corresponding subscriber identification number (MSISDN) in the visitor location register (VLR8), storing in a special location in the home location register (HLR10) the subscriber identification number (MSISDN) carried by a replacement smartcard issued to an existing subscriber and storing in association therewith the subscriber identification number (MSISDN) of the smartcard previously issued to that subscriber, responding to the first input of the identification number (MSISDN) carried by the replacement card by searching the visitor location register (VLR8) corresponding to the particular cell at which that input occurs, noting absence from that register (VLR8) of that subscriber identification number (MSISDN), accessing the special location in the home location register (HLR10) to obtain the subscriber identification number (MSISDN) corresponding to that subscriber's previous smartcard, recording in the visitor location register (VLR8) the subscriber identification number (MSISDN) of the replacement smartcard and the subscriber identification number (MSISDN) corresponding to that subscriber, and substituting in the home location register (HLR10) the subscriber identification number (MSISDN) of the replacement card for the subscriber identification number (MSISDN) of the previous smartcard and cancelling storage of the latter number.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
84 words
A method according to claim 8, characterised by the step of storing at the home location register (HLR10) the identity of each visitor location register (VLR8) in which is stored any particular subscriber identification number (MSISDN) and the corresponding subscriber's telephone number, and responding to the first input of the subscriber identification number (MSISDN) carried by a replacement smartcard by cancelling the storage in each and any visitor location register (VLR8) in which is stored the subscriber identification number (MSISDN) of the previous smartcard.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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