Methods and systems for handling subscriber data

Details Methods and systems for handling subscriber data Methods and systems for handling subscriber data

2000-08-24

2004-05-04

Trost, William (Department: 2683)

Telecommunications

Radiotelephone system

Zoned or cellular telephone system

C455S432300, C455S433000, C455S435100, C455S422100, C455S517000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06731932

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND
This invention relates generally to methods and systems for handling subscriber data. More particularly, this invention relates to methods and systems for updating and modifying subscriber data, unallocating subscriber identities, and indicating that subscriber identities have been purged.
There are many types of public land mobile networks (PLMNs), e.g., a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), a Digital Cellular System for Mobile Communications (DCS 1800), and a Personal Communication System (PCS). These networks provide a wide range of services and facilities to mobile subscribers that are roaming around between individual cells of the mobile radio communication networks.
A Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) is currently being standardized within the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), which is a cross-regional cooperative project to develop a third generation standard which can be accepted in as many regions of the world as possible. The UMTS will build on the success of GSM.
Network entities communicate via a common signalling system. For example, in the GSM System, the Mobile Application Part (MAP) of the Signaling System No. 7 specified by CCITT is used to communicate between entities in the PLMN. Details of this signalling system are given in Digital Cellular Telecommunications System (Phase 2+), Mobile Application Part (MAP) specification, TS GSM 09.02 v.5.6.00, which is incorporated herein by reference. The UMTS MAP will be based on the latest version of GSM MAP, with the minimum number of modifications possible.
The UMTS will support both circuit switched data communication, as used in traditional voice networks and packet switched communication, as provided by, e.g., the General Packet Radio Service (GPRS). Thus, the UMTS will be useful for exchanging voice and non-voice data quickly and efficiently.
FIG. 1
illustrates an exemplary network architecture for UMTS. In
FIG. 1
, a mobile station (MS) communicates with one or more Public Land Mobile Networks Each PLMN includes one or more Mobile Switching Centers (MSCs) for performing circuit switching for the MS.
A first network (PLMN
1
) is considered the Home PLMN (HPLMN) and includes a Home Location Register (HLR) containing subscriber data for subscribers to the network. The HPLMN also includes a Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN) for enabling packet-switched communication.
PLMN
2
and PLMN
3
are considered visiting PLMN and include one or more Visitor Location Registers (VLRs) for storing data regarding subscribers to other networks that may be roaming in the network. PLMN
2
and PLMN
3
also include Serving GPRS Support Nodes (SGSNs) for supporting packet switched communication.
The HLR of PLMN
1
communicates with VLR
1
(of PLMN
2
) and VLR
2
and VLR
3
(of PLMN
3
) for updating subscriber information, e.g., when a subscriber roams into an area served by one of these VLRs. The VLRs also communicate with each other. For example, when a subscriber roams into a new location area served by a VLR, this VLR referred to as a “new VLR”, the VLR serving the location area in which the subscriber was previously located, i.e., the “previous VLR”, communicates with the new VLR, providing subscriber information.
The SGSNs are at the same hierarchal level and function in a similar manner as the MSCIVLRs, but for packet switched communication for subscribers roaming between the service areas of the SGSNs. The SGSNs keep track of the location of the GPRS user, perform security functions, and handle access control. The SGSNs communicate with the HLR to obtain subscriber profiles. The SGSNs also communicate with each other, and the SGSN of PLMN
3
communicates with the BSS which, in turn, communicates with the MSC connected to VLR
2
.
The GGSN is the interconnection point for packet data between the GPRS network and the public data network. The GGSN is connected to the SGSNs via an Internet Protocol (IP) backbone. User data, e.g., from a GPRS terminal connected to the Internet, is sent encapsulated over the IP Backbone. The GGSN is connected to the HLR for obtaining routing information for routing packet data to and from the SGSNs. The GGSN may also be connected to other GGSNs to facilitate roaming.
In the following, the difference between the mobility management procedures, in particular the location update procedures for the non-GPRS case, in standard GSM networks and the procedures in UMTS networks using the Super-Charger concept will be described. The differences are illustrated by first describing the location update procedures in standard GSM networks and then describing the corresponding procedures (and some additional procedures) used in UMTS networks employing the Super-Charger concept.
During a standard GSM location update procedure, during which a subscriber roams into an area served by a new VLR, the new VLR retrieves the International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) of the concerned subscriber. If the subscriber uses the IMSI for identification in a location update request sent to the new VLR from the subscriber, the IMSI is already available to the new VLR. However, if the subscriber uses a Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity (TMSI) for identification so as to protect the integrity of the subscriber identity, the new VLR has to retrieve the IMSI from the previous VLR.
This may be understood with reference to
FIG. 2
which illustrates a signaling sequence for a location update procedure in a standard GSM network in which the MS identifies itself with the TMSI. In
FIG. 2
, the BSS nodes and the authentication procedure have been omitted for simplicity.
As shown in
FIG. 2
, the location update procedure begins with the MS sending a location update request to the new VLR. The previous VLR is identified via an old location area identity, which is included in the location update request from the MS. The new VLR then requests the IMSI from the previous VLR by sending a MAP SEND ID request message, including the TMSI, to the previous VLR. The previous MSC/VLR returns the IMSI of the subscriber in the MAP SEND ID response message, together with any unused authentication triplets.
When the IMSI is retrieved, the new VLR sends a MAP UPDATE LOCATION indication message to the HLR of the concerned subscriber's home network, i.e., the HPLMN. The HPLMN may, of course, be the same PLMN as that to which the new VLR belongs. The HLR then sends a MAP CANCEL LOCATION indication message to the previous VLR. The previous VLR then deletes the record of the concerned subscriber from its database and sends a MAP CANCEL LOCATION confirm message to the HLR. The HLR then sends the subscriber profile of the concerned subscriber to the new VLR in one or several MAP INSERT SUBSCRIBER DATA (ISD) indication message(s), depending on the amount of data. The new VLR responds with a MAP INSERT SUBSCRIBER DATA response message. After the ISD procedure, the HLR sends a MAP UPDATE LOCATION response message to the new VLR, and a similar acknowledgment is sent to the MS by the new VLR. Thereby, the location update procedure in the network is completed.
More details on the location update procedures in GSM can be found in TS GSM 9.02, “Digital Cellular telecommunication system (Phase 2+); MAP specification.
In the GPRS case, the corresponding signaling is similar. The signaling between the new SGSN and the HLR and between the HLR and the previous SGSN is, in principle, the same as between the new VLR and the HLR and between the HLR and the previous VLR in the non-GPRS case. However, the signaling between the new SGSN and the previous SGSN is somewhat different.
This may be understood with reference to
FIGS. 3 and 4
which illustrate the signalling sequences for a GPRS Attach procedure and a Routing Area Update Request, respectively, in a standard GSM GPRS network. The BSS nodes and the authentication procedure have been omitted for simplicity.
In the GPRS Attach case, the MS requests GPRS service from a new SGSN. If the request is successful, this changes the mobility management state of the MS

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