Telecommunications – Radiotelephone system – Security or fraud prevention
Reexamination Certificate
1998-05-15
2001-09-04
Bost, Dwayne (Department: 2681)
Telecommunications
Radiotelephone system
Security or fraud prevention
C455S410000, C455S551000, C455S558000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06285869
ABSTRACT:
This invention relates to mobile telecommunications systems and to the identification of subscribers in such a system. In particular, the invention relates to the provision of subscriber identity cards whereby subscribers are identified and authorised to use the system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A particular problem in mobile telephone systems to which the public have access is that of fraudulent misuse, the most common form of fraud being the use of stolen or cloned handsets to evade the call billing process. This represents a significant loss of revenue to system operators. An approach to this problem has been the introduction of handsets which require the insertion of a subscriber identity card containing coded information before access to the system is permitted. For example, the GSM system requires the use of a subscriber identity module (SIM) card to allow a mobile terminal to use the system services.
It will be appreciated that a subscriber identity card will have a finite lifetime and will from time to time require replacement on an occasional basis as a result of loss by the subscriber or, more commonly, on a periodic basis to allow for normal wear and tear. This provides a problem to the system operator if security is to be maintained. To prevent fraud, the system is arranged to recognise a unique card for each subscriber. However, this requirement is generally incompatible with the temporary existence of two cards during the replacement operation. One approach to this problem is described in specification No. EP-A2-0481714 and No. GB-A-2248999 which describe the use of a SIM card or smart card to control access to a mobile system. In this arrangement, the first use of a replacement card triggers deletion of the replaced card from the system records. This process however is reliant upon diligence by the subscriber in using the replacement card promptly so that the change can be put into effect.
The object of the invention is to minimise or to overcome this disadvantage.
A further object of the invention is to provide a greater degree of control by the system operator on the card replacement process.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention there is provided a method of effecting subscriber identity card replacement in a mobile communications network in which each subscriber is allocated a unique identity code, the method including storing a list of said identity codes together with subscriber details in a first store, creating a new identity code for a said subscriber and storing said new code in said first store and in a second store, providing a mapping between the new identity code and the corresponding existing subscriber identity code, associating timing information with the new identity code, and associating the new identity code with the corresponding subscriber details at, or after, a time determined by the timing information, whereby to activate the new code and deactivate the existing code.
A further aspect of the invention provides an arrangement for effecting subscriber identity card replacement in a mobile communications network in which each subscriber is allocated a unique identity code, the arrangement including a first store for storing a list of said identity codes together with corresponding subscriber details, a second store for storing each said code together with a status indicator whose value determines whether that identity code is activated or deactivated, means for generating a new identity code for a subscriber, for providing a mapping between that new identity code and the corresponding existing subscriber identity code and for associating timing information with the new identity code, and means for associating the new identity code with the corresponding subscriber details at, or after, a time determined by the timing information whereby to activate the new code and deactivate the existing code.
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MacCoroni Multi-SIM Card GSM Cellular Telephone pp. 1-4, Mar. 6, 1999.
Morgan Andrew
Shannon John Parker
Bost Dwayne
Gelin Jean A
Lee, Mann, Smith McWilliams, Sweeney and Ohlson
Nortel Networks Limited
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