KR100701231B1 - Method and apparatus for storing subscriber data - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of managing subscriber data in a communication network is disclosed, comprising: sending a message from a mobile station associated with a subscriber to a third network entity, the message comprising data related to the identity of the subscriber; At the third network entity, determine whether the subscriber is active or inactive based on the subscriber's identity and routing information stored in a register, and sends the message from the third network entity to the first network entity and the second; Selectively routing to one of the network entities, wherein the message is routed to the first entity if the subscriber is determined to be inactive, and to the second entity if the subscriber is determined to be active Become; After receiving the message at the first network entity, provisioning the second network entity with the subscriber data required by the second network entity to service the subscriber from the first network entity; And updating the routing information associated with the subscriber such that the routing information specifies the subscriber as active.

Routing, SIM card, GSM, subscriber.

Description

Method and apparatus for storing subscriber data {METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR STORING SUBSCRIBER DATA}

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for managing storage of subscriber data for subscribers in a telecommunications network, and more particularly to storing (but not limited to) data of inactive subscribers. .

Cellular telecommunication systems are communication systems based on use in radio access entities and / or wireless service areas. An access entity typically means a cell. Examples of cellular telecommunication systems include various GSM-based systems such as GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) or (GPRS: General Packet Radio Service), US Mobile Phone System (AMPS), Digital AMPS (DAMPS), and Wideband Code Division Multiplexing (WCDMA). Connections), standards such as TDMA / CDMA (Time Division Multiple Access / Code Division Multiple Access), IMT 2000, i-Phone, etc.

In a cellular system, a base station (BTS) provides a wireless communication facility for serving a mobile station (MS) or similar wireless user equipment (UE) over an air interface or air interface within a cell's coverage area.

A characteristic of cellular systems is that they provide mobility for the mobile station. In other words, the mobile station can move from one location area to another location area. The mobile station may also roam from one area to another network compatible with the standard to which a given mobile station is adapted. As a property of the mobility function, it records location area information about the location of a particular mobile station for a predetermined time. Cellular communication systems typically include one location register or several location registers for location management. The location management function typically operates such that whenever a mobile station enters a new location or routing area, location area information related to the mobile station is updated in the relevant location register or several registers.

For example, in a circuit switched GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) network, controller functionality is provided by a mobile switching center (MSC). The location information of the mobile station is maintained centrally by the home location register (HLR), where the mobile station is permanently registered as a subscriber profile in the home location register. At the same time, the mobile station is registered locally by the visitor location register (VLR). VLRs are typically implemented in conjunction with MSCs, but the system treats the MSCs and VLRs as separate logical entities. Each mobile switching center (MSC) is typically provided with a visitor location register. The VLR in which the mobile station is temporarily registered at any given moment is the VLR of the MSC currently serving the mobile station. The HLR may be a standalone element in the network or the HLR may be integrated into another network element, such as located within one of the mobile switching centers provided to the network. Typically, but not necessarily, the HLR is configured such that the MS recognizes the VLR currently registered, and then the VLR recognizes the actual location area (LA) within where the MS is currently located.

Location area information is needed for various purposes. For example, when someone attempts to establish a call break at a mobile station or send a short message to the mobile station, the communication system must be aware of the location area, which routes call-related signals and calls to the correct location area. In this area, the mobile station can be paging.

Thus, although the subscriber profile is permanently registered with the HLR, the subscriber only needs to be registered on the HLR if the subscriber is active (ie, when the subscriber establishes or receives a call). However, at present, most storage space on the HLR is occupied with a profile for inactive subscribers (ie, those who cannot subscribe and / or receive calls). This means that the storage space of the HLR that stores the profile for inactive subscribers is eventually consumed. This is quite undesirable because the storage space cost is high.

The subscriber information of the mobile communication system may also be stored in a number of other elements such as voice mail systems, short service centers, IN-servers, multimedia messaging centers. The subscriber information of these elements is typically provisioned at the same time as in the HLR, so the same storage space consumption problem is also related to these elements. For provisioning, a dedicated provisioning solution (hereafter provisioning gateway) is used.

For example, a subscriber profile for a SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card sold in a so-called "prepaid" mobile phone is created on the HLR. Prepaid mobile phones are phones that can be purchased directly without the need for a contract. In order to set up a call from a mobile phone, the user must pay the network operator prior to the call setup. Before the prepaid mobile phone is sold and registered by the user, the storage space on the HLR allocated to the unsold phone generates no income and is thus a waste.

A further example of where the storage space of an HLR is occupied by a subscriber and generates no revenue is when the prepaid subscriber keeps its balance at zero. One solution to this problem is to delete the subscriber profile from the HLR after a predetermined time (typically two months). However, this solution is not satisfactory because the subscriber is required to purchase a new SIM card when he wants to resume using his prepaid mobile phone.

Another additional example is when a postpaid subscriber is temporarily inactive. The inactive state can last substantially a long time (eg, when the subscriber is abroad or uses a different subscription). Despite being inactive, the network operator has a legal obligation to maintain subscriber records on the HLR; Or the network operator may not want to force the subscriber to purchase a new SIM card if the subscriber wants to reuse the subscription.

Embodiments of the present invention aim to address one or several of the above problems.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a method is provided for managing subscriber data in a communication network, the method comprising: sending a message from a mobile station associated with a subscriber to a third network entity, the message comprising data related to the identity of the subscriber; Steps; At the third network entity, determine whether the subscriber is active or inactive based on the subscriber's identity and routing information stored in a register, and sends the message from the third network entity to the first network entity and the second; Selectively routing to one of the network entities, wherein the message is routed to the first entity if the subscriber is determined to be inactive, and to the second entity if the subscriber is determined to be active Become; After receiving the message at the first network entity, provisioning the second network entity with the subscriber data required by the second network entity to service the subscriber from the first network entity; And updating the routing information associated with the subscriber such that the routing information specifies the subscriber as active.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a communication system for providing services to subscribers, the system comprising: a first network entity for storing subscriber data for inactive subscribers; A second network entity storing subscriber data necessary to enable a service profile for subscribers of the communication system; Provide routing information to determine whether a subscriber associated with a message from a mobile station is active or inactive, and based on the identity of subscribers and the routing information stored in the register, send the message to the first network entity and the; A register for selectively routing to one of the second network entities, wherein the message is routed to the first network entity if the subscriber is determined to be inactive and the second if the subscriber is determined to be active. Routed to a network entity; And means for provisioning the second network entity with subscriber data associated with the subscriber to be activated, stored at the first network entity, based on a message comprising information related to the identity of the subscriber, wherein: The subscriber is activated by provisioning the second network entity with subscriber data from the first network entity and updating the routing information associated with the subscriber in the register to specify that the subscriber is active.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a subscriber data management entity for a communication network is provided, which entity: stores only subscriber data for inactive subscribers and identifies inactive subscribers to be activated. Receive a message and provide subscriber data associated with an inactive subscriber to be activated based on the received message to at least one other entity of the communication network.

According to another aspect of the invention, a register for a communication network is provided, which register stores: routing information to determine whether a subscriber associated with a message from a mobile station is active or inactive, Route the message to a second network entity if the subscriber is specified to be active in the routing information, route the message to the first network entity if the subscriber is specified to be inactive in the routing information, And if at least one of the plurality of subscribers is active, the routing information is updated to specify the subscriber as active.

Embodiments of the present invention can provide a method and apparatus that can provide more efficient and flexible subscriber data management. These embodiments allow for more economical subscriber data storage.

Embodiments according to the second aspect of the present invention may provide a method and apparatus capable of retaining data associated with an inactive subscriber. These embodiments may eliminate the requirement to discard inactive subscribers.

1 illustrates a portion of a cellular public land mobile network (PLMN) to which embodiments of the present invention may be applied.

2 schematically illustrates an area covered by a plurality of entities.

3 shows a schematic representation of signaling between nodes in a network implementing an example of the invention.

4 shows a flowchart implementing an example of the invention.

5 shows a further portion of a cellular public land mobile network (PLMN) to which embodiments of the present invention may be applied.

6 shows a schematic representation of signaling between nodes in a network implementing an alternative example of the invention.

In order to better understand the present invention, reference is now made to the accompanying drawings by way of example.

First, see FIGS. 1 and 2. 1 illustrates a portion of a cellular public land mobile network (PLMN) in which embodiments of the present invention may be employed. FIG. 2 schematically illustrates an area covered by a plurality of access entities, ie cells of the cellular communication system of FIG. 1. Each cell has an associated base station 6. In a third generation communication system, a base station is called a Node B. The term base station is used herein to include all elements that exchange signals with the mobile station 1 and the like over the air interface. Similarly, the radio station or mobile station 1 may receive signals from each base station and transmit signals to the base station by wireless communication with the base station.

Although the base stations of FIG. 2 are shown to provide hexagonal shaped wireless coverage, in practice, the base stations may provide other shaped wireless coverage. As will be appreciated, the size and shape of the cells or other access entities are typically not regular, as shown in FIG. 2, and depend on the conditions in the area and communication application.

The mobile station 1 can move within a cell and from one cell coverage area to another cell coverage area. Therefore, since the mobile station moves freely within the service area of the communication system, the position of the mobile station varies with time.

Hereinafter, some elements of the mobile network system used in the present invention will be described in detail. The mobile station or user equipment 1 is configured to communicate with each base station 6 of the wireless network system 10 via an air interface. Each base station is controlled by a respective network controller 7 such as a radio network controller (RNC) of a third generation communication system or a base station controller (BSC) of a GSM system. Since the configuration of the access network controller is not essential to the operation of the present invention, it will not be described in detail.

The access network controller 10 may be connected to a controller node such as an MSC (Mobile Switching Station). MSC provides various control functions. The MSC incorporates a Visitor Location Register (VLR). The MSC and VLR, referred to together with reference numeral 12, track the location of the mobile station and perform security functions and access control for call routing as described above. Although not shown, a wireless access system is typically connected to other parts of the communication system via an appropriate interface and / or gateway.

The MSC / VLR 12 is connected to an SRR (Service Routing Register) 13. SRR 13 is an element currently used in mobile communication to enable mobile number portability.

Each subscriber is provided with an MS-ISDN number (Mobile Station-Integrated Services Digital Network Number) and an IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber Identity) number. The MS-ISDN provides a number commonly known as the subscriber's "telephone number". The MS-ISDN is unique to each subscriber and is used to identify and route calls to subscribers by the telephone network globally. The use of MS-ISDN is based on the so-called E.164 numbering scheme.

Next, the IMSI number is used for mobility management messages between the mobile station, VLR and HLR. IMSI is only used in mobile network environments. That is, it is used for traffic between mobile networks inside the mobile network. The IMSI number range can be assigned to the operator according to the international standard known as E.212. Call coverage identifies countries and operators in each country, facilitating mobility management routing. IMSI also identifies subscribers.

For technical reasons, the MS-ISDN number cannot be used for mobility management messages because the MS-ISDN number is typically unknown to the mobile station (MS). Instead, only IMSI is stored in the identification module of the mobile station. The identification module may be provided by a chip such as a SIM card (subscriber identity module), a U-SIM (Universal Mobile Communication System SIM).

The MS-ISDN number is used to route the call between operators as described above. However, even when changing the network operator, for example, due to the emergence of number portability in which subscribers can maintain the same MS-ISDN number, routing based only on the MS-ISDN number is no longer possible.

To solve this, a network entity (this is called the SRR (Service Routing Register)) that routes calls by introducing / adapting the network by recognizing MS-ISDN numbers belonging to subscribers who have changed the network but maintains the same MS-ISDN number was introduced / adapted. . Thus, the mobile network may be provided with an SRR connected to the appropriate controller node to enable a call to / from the ported number. 1, SRR 13 is connected to MSC / VLR12.

It is also possible to route mobility management messages addressed to IMSI in the same way as messages addressed to MS-ISDN via SRR. This is typically not required because operators use a substantially fixed numbering scheme within their IMSI number range. For example, it is common to easily maintain routing tables in multiple MSCs by the first two digits in a range indicating a particular HLR.

SRR 13 uses two databases to facilitate routing, where the first database stores a list of MS-ISDN / IMSI number ranges. Each range indicates the HLR of a particular network operator. The second database stores a list of individual MS-ISDN numbers for subscribers who have changed the network, along with a list of HLRs to which signaling information should be directed. This second database in the SRR overlies the first database and is checked before signaling information is routed to the HLR corresponding to the stored ranges of MS-ISDN numbers.

SRR 13 is typically connected to a plurality of HLRs. Within the network, there are two or more SRRs for reasons of availability and capacity, so the databases must be the same and remain the same as the provisioning system. However, for the sake of clarity, FIG. 1 shows a single HLR 15 and an SRR 13.

In one embodiment of the invention, the SRR entity 13 additionally stores a separate IMSI number list for inactive subscribers. This will be explained in more detail below.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a virtual home location register 14 is provided. Virtual HLR 14 may be viewed as an additional network entity configured to store data for inactive subscribers and to provision HLR with subscriber data when the inactive subscriber is activated. Thus, in the following, this entity will be referred to as the provisioning home location register (pHLR). The term 'inactive subscriber' covers any situation where an IMSI number was generated by an operator but for some reason that IMSI number is not used. This may occur after the creation of a SIM card for a prepaid telephone that has not yet been sold or registered in the network. In this case, an IMSI number is present for the SIM card, but that SIM card will not be used. A second example of a situation covered by the term 'inactive subscriber' is when the network recognizes that an existing subscriber has not used his phone for a predetermined time, for example, one month. The third example may be the case where the subscriber or operator determines that the subscription should be deactivated for future use. These examples are not exhaustive, and additional examples for "inactive subscribers" are given below.

For example, if an inactive subscriber is identified by the network operator after creating a prepaid SIM to be sold, the IMSI number and other possible subscription data are stored in the pHLR 14. Such a SIM card may be configured to belong to a particular IMSI range. This range is configured to direct signaling for pHLR 14 instead of HLR 15, within the SRR database.

Reference is now made to FIG. 3 showing signaling between nodes of a network in one embodiment of the invention, and to FIG. 4 showing the main steps of an embodiment of the invention.

When a mobile station 1 associated with an inactive subscriber is activated and attempts to register with the network, the mobile station sends a message to the MSC / VLR 12 via the radio access network 10. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the message 31 includes the subscriber's IMSI number. In response to receiving message 31, MSC / VLR 12 sends message 32 to SRR 13. Message 32 also contains the IMSI of the SIM from which message 31 originated.

As described above, the SRR 13 is configured to indicate pHLR for IMSI numbers associated with inactive subscribers. Thus, in response to receiving the message 32, the SRR 13 sends the message 33 to the pHLR 14. This message 33 also contains an IMSI number.

Upon receiving message 33 from the SRR, pHLR 14 compares the data of the message related to the identity of the subscriber (in this embodiment, IMSI number) with the list of IMSI numbers stored in pHLR 14.

If pHLR finds that the IMSI number included in the received message matches the stored IMSI number, pHLR sends message 34 to MSC / VLR 12 in response to this message. This response message may optionally be configured to proceed via SRR 13, depending on how the operator wishes to configure the network. This message 34 serves the MSC / VLR 12 to indicate that the subscriber identified by the IMSI number included in the messages 31 to 33 is an authorized true subscriber entitled to access the network.

The message 34 sent from the pHLR 14 to the MSC / VLR 12 includes an authentication triplet and an encryption key to insert a temporary profile for the subscriber to the MSC / VLR, thereby allowing the network to Allow you to provide preliminary services to your subscribers.

The preliminary service may include sending a message 36 informing the mobile station that the registration process is in progress. The original service profile is to enable a limited set of services, such as voice only access, of operator definition.

Message 36 may additionally require the user of the mobile station to switch off the mobile station, for example for a predetermined time of 5 minutes, to allow time for completion of the registration process. Again, this is preferably an operator definable behavior for provisioning all necessary network elements.

By requiring the user to switch off the mobile station, time is allowed for the pHLR 14 to provision the service to the subscriber via the provisioning gateway 16 (shown in FIG. 5). In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the pHLR will control the provisioning of the subscriber with the subscriber profile in the HLR 15 in response to receiving the message 33.

To provision the HLR 15, the pHLR 14 sends data related to the identity of the subscriber to the HLR via the provisioning gateway. In a preferred embodiment, the pHLR sends the subscriber's IMSI / MS-ISDN number to the HLR.

The message 31 contains the identity of the MSC and VLR where the MS 1 is located for message routing purposes. Additional information may be included, such as information about the location of the mobile station. This location can be defined by including the identity of the base station with which the mobile station is communicating, since it can be associated with the cell in which the mobile station is currently located. The messages 32 and 33 may include the location of the mobile station and / or the identity of the MSC / VLR 12 or any additional information as needed.

The pHLR can also send data about the location of the mobile station and / or the identity of the MSC / VLR to the HLR, so that routing information can be stored in the HLR upon generation of the subscriber profile via the provisioning gateway. The HLR can then automatically update the profile in the VLR.

Communication between the VLR and other nodes in the network is facilitated by appropriate mobile networking protocols and signaling such as those based on SS7 (Signaling System Number 7). For example, in a GSM network, a GSM MAP (mobile application portion) rides on top of SS7, enabling communication between pHLR, SRR and HLR.

Typically each network operator has 1 to 15 HLRs. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, pHLR 14 may be connected to all other elements including HLR, SSR and subscriber data of the network operator via provisioning gateway 16 as shown in FIG. 5. . 5 illustrates a portion of a network in which any embodiments of the present invention may be used. In this embodiment, the pHLR can dynamically provision the HLR by assigning a subscriber profile to the HLR with the maximum amount of unused capacity. pHLR controls the provisioning gateway for subscribers residing within pHLR. Subscription data is stored in datastore 17 for inactive subscribers waiting to become active. The Customer Care and Billing System (CCB) is a system used for operator's customer care services. This typically controls the provisioning gateway for postpaid subscriptions. Through the provisioning gateway, pHLR can control the provisioning of all required network elements 19 such as voice mail systems, short message service centers, IN-servers, multimedia messaging centers.

In one embodiment of the invention, after the subscriber profile is generated at the HLR 15 and other network elements including subscriber specific data, the routing information for the subscriber stored in the SRR 13 is directed to the HLR 15. Is updated. This can be done using the normal provisioning function of SRR. This is typically based on MML (Human Machine Language) over TCP / IP (Transport Protocol / Internet Protocol). This type of operation is supported by the provisioning gateway.

Once the routing information is updated at the SRR 13, the temporary profile created for the subscriber at the MSC / VLR 12 is deleted if it is not automatically updated. This profile can be deleted in response to the message 35 sent from the pHLR 14.

In one embodiment of the invention, in order to reload a new profile from the HLR 15 into the VLR 12, the user may switch on the mobile station after a predetermined time defined in message 36 has elapsed. Can be. When the mobile station is switched on, a message 37 containing the subscriber IMSI number and the mobile station location is sent to the MSC / VLR 12 to register the mobile station with the network. Upon receiving the message 37, the MSC / VLR 12 sends a message 38 to the SRR 13 containing the subscriber's IMSI number.

Since the routing information stored in the SRR 13 has been updated, when the SRR receives the message 38 from the MSC / VLR, a message 39 containing the subscriber IMSI number and the MSC / VLR identity / mobile station location is generated. It can be routed directly to the generated HLR 15.

According to one possibility that depends on the performance of the HLR 15, the pHLR also provides the HLR 15 with location information of the mobile station (also using the provisioning gateway) and gives the HLR 15 a new LocUp ( You can request that new profile data be inserted into the VLR without a location update message. This characteristic in the HLR 15 can simplify the instructions for the MS-subscriber. For example, the command could be 'Wait a minute', 'You are being provisioned', and an SMS message could be 'Welcome to our network'.

6 illustrates alternative embodiments of the present invention. The messages represented by 51, 52 and 53 in FIG. 6 are the same as the messages 31, 32 and 33 described in connection with FIG. 3, respectively.

In this embodiment of the invention, pHLR 14 provisions HLR 15 without creating a temporary profile for the subscriber during registration. Thus, in response to the message 53 sent from the SRR 13, the pHLR 14 provisions a profile for the subscriber at the HLR 15 via the provisioning gateway 16. As before, once the HLR is provisioned, the routing information for the subscriber's IMSI number stored in the SRR 13 is updated to indicate the HLR. The subscriber needs to wait for a while before the service is activated.

In this embodiment of the present invention, the information required to route the call is sent to MSC / VLR by message 54 from the HLR. Thus, in this embodiment, the mobile station is only required to send one message 51 to register with the network.

Before the HLR is provisioned, whether the network operator decides whether to provide provisional services to the subscriber depends on the length of time it takes for the pHLR 14 to provision the HLR 15 and the SRR 13. This depends on the hardware used and the compatibility of pHLR and HLR.

In a further embodiment of the invention, data relating to subscriber profiles on the HLR can be sent to the pHLR and deleted from the HLR. This may occur in response to the subscriber becoming inactive after the subscriber profile has been created in the HLR for the subscriber.

Previously active subscribers may be identified as inactive in response to a plurality of situations:

For a prepaid telephone, the subscriber may be identified as inactive if the balance of the prepaid amount remains zero for a predetermined time.

• A contracted / postpaid subscriber who has not spoken or received a call for a specified time.

A subscriber who has indicated that they do not want to make or receive a call for a limited time but want to resume subscription with the same IMSI number. This happens when the subscriber does not want to take a vacation and use his phone.

When a subscriber applies for a contract with a competitor network operator, that subscriber is identified as active by one network operator, but may be identified as inactive by the competitor network operator.

The above situations are provided by way of example only and should not be considered exhaustive.

As will be appreciated, embodiments of the present invention have been described in connection with a mobile station, but embodiments of the present invention may apply to any other suitable type of user equipment. For example, in an alternative embodiment of the present invention, a subscriber profile can be created at the HLR by activating the SIM of the equipment used at point of sale (POS).

1 shows a single pHLR 14. The SRR can also be connected to a plurality of pHLRs (provisioning home location registers).

In addition to storing IMSI and MS-ISDN numbers for inactive users, pHLR can also store security information, additional details related to subscribers, and network subscription duration.

The network operator is responsible for pHLR in the same way that the network operator is responsible for his HLR. In alternative embodiments, the pHLR may be operated by a third party that maintains the pHLR relative to other network operators upon charging.

In one embodiment of the invention, the HLR does not store inactive subscriber profiles.

Also, as will be appreciated, in further embodiments of the invention, the pHLR is not limited to just provisioning the HLR, but is configured to provision any service. Other possible applications include voice mail systems, mail servers, multimedia messaging servers, wireless application part (WAP) gateways, prepaid servers, and the like. HLR also includes second generation (2G) HLR and third generation (3G) HLR. HLR supports a variety of access systems such as both GSM and WCDMA connections for packet data over circuit switched calls and General Packet Radio Service (GPRS).

Embodiments of the invention have been described in the context of a circuit switched area. The invention can be applied to any other technique, including packet switched domains.

It should also be noted that while the above has described exemplary embodiments of the present invention, various modifications and variations can be made to the disclosed solutions without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (21)

A method of managing subscriber data in a communication network, Sending a message from a mobile station associated with a subscriber to a third network entity containing data related to the identity of the subscriber; At the third network entity, determine whether the subscriber is active or inactive based on the subscriber's identity and routing information stored in a register, and sends the message from the third network entity to the first network entity and the second; Selectively routing to one of the network entities, wherein the message is routed to the first entity if the subscriber is determined to be inactive, and to the second entity if the subscriber is determined to be active Become; After receiving the message at the first network entity, provisioning the second network entity with the subscriber data required by the second network entity to service the subscriber from the first network entity; And Updating the routing information associated with the subscriber such that the routing information specifies the subscriber as active. The method of claim 1, Storing a plurality of subscriber identities in the first network entity; And If the data related to the identity of the subscriber in the message corresponds to one of the plurality of subscriber identities, provisioning the second network entity with the subscriber data; How to manage. delete The method of claim 1, And wherein said message comprises an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI). The method of claim 1, The message further comprises data related to the location of the mobile station. The method of claim 1, Transmitting data from the first network entity to the mobile station to provide a preliminary service to the subscriber. The method of claim 6, And wherein the data transmitted from the first network entity to the mobile station further comprises authentication information. The method according to claim 6 or 7, And wherein the preliminary service comprises sending a notification message to the mobile station to notify the subscriber that the service request has been confirmed. The method of claim 8, And wherein the notification message comprises a voice notification. The method of claim 1, And said message is sent to said register via a second register. The method of claim 1, And said register comprises a service routing register. The method of claim 1, Wherein the first network entity comprises a provisioning home location register (pHLR). The method of claim 1, And said second network entity comprises a home location register (HLR). The method of claim 10, And said second register comprises a visitor location register (VLR). The method of claim 1, The second network entity may be a voice mail system entity; Mail server entity; A multimedia messaging server entity; A wireless application portion gateway entity; Prepaid server entity; Intelligent network server; Short message service center; Location-based service centers; USSD-Center; GPRS-server; And one of a billing and rating server. The method of claim 1, And provisioning at least one additional network entity with subscriber data. A method of managing subscriber data in a communication network, At at least one network entity storing subscriber data for use in serving active subscribers, determining that the first subscriber has become inactive; Storing subscriber data associated with the first subscriber in a secondary network entity; Updating the information stored in a routing register to specify the first subscriber as inactive and direct a request for subscriber data associated with the first subscriber to the secondary network entity; And Deleting subscriber data associated with the first subscriber from at least one network entity storing data for use in serving the active subscribers. Way. The method of claim 17, If the time elapsed since the last message associated with the subscriber exceeds a predetermined time, determining that the first subscriber has become inactive. A communication system that provides services to subscribers, A first network entity storing subscriber data for inactive subscribers; A second network entity storing subscriber data necessary to enable a service profile for subscribers of the communication system; Provide routing information to determine whether a subscriber associated with a message from a mobile station is active or inactive, and based on the identity of subscribers and the routing information stored in the register, send the message to the first network entity and the; A register for selectively routing to one of the second network entities, wherein the message is routed to the first network entity if the subscriber is determined to be inactive and the second if the subscriber is determined to be active. Routed to a network entity; And Means for provisioning the second network entity with subscriber data associated with the subscriber to be activated, stored at the first network entity, based on a message comprising information related to the identity of the subscriber, Wherein the subscriber is activated by provisioning the second network entity with subscriber data from the first network entity and updating the routing information associated with the subscriber in the register to specify that the subscriber is active. A communication system for providing services to subscribers, characterized in that. A subscriber data management entity for a communication network, The subscriber data management entity stores only subscriber data for inactive subscribers, receives a message identifying an inactive subscriber to be activated, and must be activated based on the received message to at least one other entity in the communication network. And provide subscriber data related to inactive subscribers. As a register for a communication network, The register stores routing information to determine whether the subscriber associated with the message from the mobile station is active or inactive, and sends the message to the second network entity if the subscriber is specified to be active within the routing information. To route, to route the message to a first network entity when the subscriber is specified to be inactive in the routing information, and to specify the subscriber as active if at least one of the plurality of subscribers is active. And register the routing information.

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