Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
  • H04W48/00—Access restriction; Network selection; Access point selection
  • H04W48/18—Selecting a network or a communication service

Definitions

• the present invention relates generally to mobile radiocommunication systems, that is to say cellular mobile radiocommunication networks and mobile stations intended to be used in these networks.
• - dedicated mode in which a mobile station has one or more dedicated channels at its disposal
• - standby mode in which a mobile station does not have dedicated channels at its disposal, but must nevertheless remain in contact with the network , which it does through channels called common channels.
• beacon frequency a particular frequency
• the mobile station receives on the beacon frequency of its serving cell, in a common channel called BCCH (“Broadacst Control CHannel”), first system information constituted by a list of beacon frequencies associated with cells neighboring its serving cell.
• BCCH Broadacst Control CHannel
• the mobile station searches successively for each of these beacon frequencies, in order on the one hand to carry out radio measurements thereon, and on the other hand to acquire, after synchronization, second system information constituted by a certain number of parameters making it possible, by combination with said radio measurement results, to determine whether a selection criterion is verified for this beacon frequency, then, by comparison to the results obtained in the same way for the other beacon frequencies, to determine the cell to be selected.
• the mobile station selects a cell waitress according to the same principles, but by exploring all the beacon frequencies.
• a verification of the access rights of the user is carried out, according to the subscription data of this user, and possibly, in the case of roaming user, according to the ⁇ roaming agreements between operators.
• these systems are generally formed from a plurality of distinct networks (or PLMN, for “Public Land Mobile Network” in English), generally operated by different operators, this in particular making it possible to extend the geographic coverage and / or the services offered.
• the procedure for verifying access rights is then briefly as follows.
• the mobile station determines, using third system information broadcast on the beacon frequency of the selected cell, whether or not this cell belongs to the same geographical area as its current serving cell.
• this geographic area is a so-called location area (or LA, for “Location Area” in English); in the case of the GPRS service (“General Packet Radio Service”), this geographical area is a so-called routing area (or RA, for “Routeing Area” in English).
• LA Location Area
• RA routing area
• the mobile station notifies the network beforehand, via a location update procedure, in order to have the network verify the user's right to access the selected cell.
• the mobile station transmits to the network a so-called location update request (or "Location Area Updating Request”) message.
• the message returned by the network to the mobile station is a message called acceptance of location update (or "Location Area Updating Accept” in English).
• the user is then registered in the new location area, and the selected cell becomes the new waiter cell.
• the message returned by the network to the mobile station is a so-called Location Update Updating Reject message which indicates the cause of the rejection.
• the selected cell belongs to an unauthorized PLMN.
• the cause of rejection is a cause known as "PLMN not authorized" (or
• PLMN is performed by the mobile station.
• this unauthorized PLMN is added to a list of prohibited PLMNs (or “forbidden PLMN list”) stored in the SIM card (for “Subscriber Identity Module”) in English) associated with the mobile station, in order to prohibit a new attempt to record in this PLMN.
• the selected cell belongs to an unauthorized location area.
• the cause of rejection is a cause known as "Location area not allowed" (or “Location Area not allowed” in English).
• the mobile station does not re-select
• the present invention relates more particularly to the problems posed, in this context, by the evolutions of these systems linked in particular to the introduction of new services, in particular to the introduction of new radio access technologies.
• so-called second generation radio access technologies in particular of the GSM type (for “Global System for Mobile Communication”)
• so-called third generation radio access technologies in particular of the UMTS type (for "Universal Mobile Telecommunication System”).
• a first situation is of the following type: an operator A has a GSM network and a UMTS network, identified by means of the same PLMN code (or “PLMN code” in English), a user has subscribed with operator A a limited subscription In GSM, this user uses a dual-mode GSM / UMTS terminal with his SIM card.
• PLMN code or “PLMN code” in English
• a second situation is of the following type: two operators A and B operate in different countries, - operator A has a GSM network and a UMTS network, identified by the same PLMN code, operator B can either have a GSM network only, either a GSM network and a UMTS network, operators A and B have a roaming agreement for GSM only, - a user has subscribed to operator B a subscription limited to
• a third situation is of the following type: two operators A and B operate in the same country, each of the two operators has at least one network, for example a UMTS network, - a UMTS network is only operated in a given area by l 'operator
• this zone also known as a shared zone, or typically being a zone with very low traffic density
• a roaming agreement exists between operators A and B for this shared area, a user has subscribed to operator B, for UMTS.
• an attempt to register this user in a cell of the operator A UMTS network should be rejected outside the shared area, and allowed only in the shared area.
• the present invention aims in particular to provide a solution to these problems.
• the present invention is of general application and is not limited to the examples of situations described above.
• the present invention thus relates to a method for enabling access to services in a cellular mobile radio communications system in which various services are available and in which prior registration is necessary to allow a given user to access services given, this method being essentially characterized in that an attempt to register a user for unauthorized services triggers the implementation of procedures necessary to allow the registration of this user for authorized services.
• said unauthorized, respectively authorized services correspond to services available in a first, respectively a second, network or PLMN of the same operator.
• said unauthorized services correspond to services available in a first network or PLMN of a first operator
• said authorized services correspond to services available in a second network or PLMN of the first operator as well as in a network or PLMN of a second operator having a roaming agreement with the first operator, for the services available in its second network.
• different services correspond to different radio access technologies.
• different different radio access technologies include second generation radio access technologies and third generation radio access technologies.
• said first and second networks are identified by the same code, or PLMN code.
• said authorized services correspond, outside a given area called a shared area, to services available in a network or PLMN of this first operator, or, in said shared area , to services available in a network or PLMN of a second operator, and said unauthorized services correspond, outside said shared area, to services available in the network of the second operator.
• said procedures necessary to allow the registration of the user for authorized services include a network reselection or PLMN.
• a list of used 'by the authorized user is stored in the network.
• said list of services authorized by user is stored in the network, in a database of mobile users.
• a list of authorized services is stored in a mobile station user identification module.
• said list of authorized services is a list of services authorized by network, or PLMN, identified by a given PLMN code.
• different services correspond to different radio access technologies.
• different different radio access technologies include second generation radio access technologies and third generation radio access technologies.
• said mobile user database is a nominal location recorder (HLR).
• said mobile station user identification module is a SIM / USIM card.
• the entity of the network concerned transmits to the mobile station a corresponding message, comprising a cause of rejection known as "unauthorized service” .
• the mobile station on receipt of said message, performs a network or PLMN re-selection.
• the network entity concerned transmits the PLMN code concerned to a database of mobile users, the mobile user database sends back, to the network entity concerned, the list of authorized services, by PLMN, for this user, on this basis the network entity concerned accepts or not to offer the service required, if it does not agree to offer the required service, it transmits to the mobile station a corresponding message, including a cause of rejection known as "unauthorized service".
• the mobile station in the case of an attempt to register a user for given services, the mobile station also transmits to the network entity concerned a list of authorized services, by PLMN, as stored in a module user identification of this mobile station.
• Another object of the invention is a mobile radio communication system, comprising means for implementing such a method.
• Another object of the invention is a mobile radio network equipment, comprising means for implementing such a method.
• Another object of the invention is a database of mobile users, comprising means for implementing such a method.
• Another object of the invention is a mobile station, comprising means for implementing such a method.
• Another object of the invention is a mobile station user identification module, comprising means for implementing such a method.
• FIG. 1 is intended to illustrate a first example of a method according to the invention.
• FIG. 2 is intended to illustrate a second example of a method according to the invention.
• Exemplary embodiments of the present invention can be described as follows. • A new cause for rejection of location updates is introduced, also known as “service not allowed” (or “service not allowed” in English).
• the mobile station can immediately re-select PLMN.
• a list of authorized services should be provided for each user, registered in a database of mobile users such as HLR (“Home Location register” in English). This list can thus indicate the services authorized by PLMN for each user.
• the services authorized by PLMN can include the authorized radio access technology (s), the authorized zone (s), ... etc.
• HLR can thus be stored a list of services authorized by PLMN and by user.
• the network entity concerned contacts the HLR, indicating the PLMN concerned, and the HLR communicates to it the authorized services for this PLMN.
• the network entity concerned can then accept or not to offer the service, and transmit, as the case may be, a message of acceptance of location update (or" Location Area Updating Accept “in English), or a Location update updating rejection message, with an appropriate reason for rejection in the latter case.
• the mobile station may immediately re-select PLMN.
• a re-selection of PLMN can be more or less controlled by the user. It can thus be either entirely controlled by the user (who then chooses the PLMN to be re-selected), or not controlled by the user (the set of beacon frequencies then being explored, as when the power is turned on. mobile station), or partially controlled by the user (only part of the beacon frequencies then being explored, on the basis of a list of preferred PLMNs (or “PLMN preferred list” in English) stored in the SIM card associated with the mobile station). In this case, it will then be possible, if necessary, to ensure that the mobile station does not re-select the same PLMN as before receiving the cause of rejection "unauthorized service". Such a list of authorized services could also be stored in the SIM / USIM card (for “Subscriber Identity Module / Universal Subscriber Identity
• Module "in English) of the user could be associated with a list of preferred PLMNs also stored in this card.
• the list of authorized services stored in the SIM / USIM card can likewise indicate the services authorized by PLMN for the user in question. "In the SIM / USIM card can thus be stored a list of authorized services, or" allowed services list "in English.” The mobile station can use this list of authorized services when it makes a selection of PLMN.
• the mobile station having read the corresponding PLMN code on the BCCH, it can then transmit to the network, in this message, the authorized services, stored in this list for this
• PLMN (eg authorized radio access technology).
• the network can compare the list of authorized services received from the mobile station (or list of authorized services from the mobile station, or” MS allowed services list "in English) against its list of authorized services (or list of authorized services of the network , or “NW allowed services list”.
• the network accepts or refuses to offer the service, and transmits to the mobile station either a message of acceptance of update of location (or “Location Area Updating Accept” in English), or a Location Update Updating Reject message with the appropriate cause of rejection.
• the mobile station may immediately re-select PLMN. Likewise, it may be possible, if necessary, to ensure that the mobile station does not not select the same PLMN as before receiving the cause of rejection "service not authorized”.
• the list of authorized network services should be updated in the HLR.
• the list of authorized services of the mobile station could also be updated, for example by means of the so-called "SIM Toolkit” technique).
• Phase 2+ services in the case of packet mode services (or also “PS domain” in English) or the so-called “Phase 2” services in the case of circuit mode services (or also “ CS domain ”.
• AN for “Access Network” in English
• BSS for “Base Station Sub-System” in English
• CN for “Core Network” in English
• NSS for “Network Sub-System” in English
• the access network AN is in relation on the one hand with mobile stations (or MS, for "Mobile Station” in English), on the other hand with the core network CN.
• the core network CN is itself in relation, on the one hand with the access network AN, and on the other hand with external networks and with a database of mobile users (such as in particular HLR, for "Home Location Register” in English).
• the CN core network essentially contains entities, or network nodes, such as MSC (“Mobile Switching
• FIGS. 1 and 2 correspond more particularly, by way of example, to the case of the GSM / GPRS system.
• GGSN Gateway GPRS Support Node
• Figure 1 corresponds to the case where a list of authorized services is stored in the HLR alone.
• the process illustrated in FIG. 1 comprises by way of example the following steps:
• the MS sends the CN entity concerned a routing zone / location update request message (or "Routeing / Location Area Update Request”), this entity being a called entity also a new entity, to which such a message should be sent, for example a new SGSN.
• the BSS adds information called “Cell Global Identity” including the RAC (“Routeing Area Code”) and LAC (“Location Area Code”) codes of the cell where the message was received, before passing the message at CN.
• security functions can be executed.
• the encryption mode will be established if encryption is supported.
• CN informs the HLR of a change in SGSN by sending the HLR a location update message (or "Update
• the corresponding PLMN code is provided to the HLR in this message.
• the HLR sends to CN a message called “Insert Subscriber Data”, comprising the IMSI number (for “International Mobile Subscriber Identity” in English) and GPRS subscription data.
• the HLR also sends the CN, in this message, the list of authorized services from the network (or “NW Allowed Service List”).
• the CN can then validate the presence of the MS in the new RA / LA area (“Routeing Area / Location Area”). If the MS is not authorized to be registered in the new RA / LA area, due to subscription restrictions, CN rejects the RA / LA update request. In this case, if the available service is not authorized for the user, CN rejects the request to update RA / LA, with the cause of rejection "service not authorized”. If all checks are performed with success, then CN establishes a so-called mobility management context (or “MM context”, where MM is used for “Mobility Management” in English).
• MM context mobility management context
• CN acknowledges receipt of the message “Insert Subcriber data” by sending a message “Insert Subcriber Data Ack” to the HLR, this message being able to be different depending on whether or not the MS is authorized to be recorded in the new RA / LA area.
• the HLR acknowledges receipt of the "Update Location” message by sending an "Update Location Ack” message to CN.
• the CN sends to the MS, as the case may be, a message "Routeing / Location Area Update Accept", or "Routeing / Location Area Update
• the rejection cause sent to the MS is the “unauthorized service” cause, and the MS can then immediately perform a re -selection of PLMN. If necessary, provision may be made for the mobile station not to re-select the same PLMN as before receiving the cause of "unauthorized service". For example, the CN may, if necessary, transmit to the MS, in particular in the “Routeing / Location Area Update Reject” message, the list of authorized services.
• Figure 2 corresponds to the case where a list of authorized services is also stored in the SIM / USIM card.
• the method illustrated in FIG. 1 comprises steps similar to those illustrated in FIG. 1 (these steps being for simplicity noted by means of the same references).
• a step noted 2 ' is added, in which the MS, after decoding the PLMN code in the system information broadcast in the cell considered, can send to CN its list of services authorized for this PLMN, as read in the in the SIM card.
• - CN can compare the list of authorized services received from the mobile station (or “MS allowed services list”) and the list of authorized services from the network (or “NW allowed services list”) before deciding whether the available service is authorized or not for the user.
• MS allowed services list the list of authorized services received from the mobile station
• NW allowed services list the list of authorized services from the network
• the MS allowed services list may differ from the NW allowed services list in at least two cases: a new roaming agreement has been signed and the MS allowed services list has not yet been updated, the SIM card is fraudulent. Such a comparison can in particular allow the network to detect an inconsistency between these two lists, which could, if necessary, cause an update of the SIM card, if necessary, for example by means of the technique known as of “SIM Toolkit” .
• a subject of the present invention is also a mobile radio communication system, a mobile radio network entity, a mobile user database, a mobile station, and a mobile station user identification module, all of which include means for implementing a method according to the invention.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Computer Security & Cryptography (AREA)
• Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
• Signal Processing (AREA)
• Mobile Radio Communication Systems (AREA)

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  • 2001-05-07 FR FR0106092A patent/FR2824441B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
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  • 2002-05-06 US US10/476,849 patent/US20040203775A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2002-05-06 CN CNA028094727A patent/CN1524392A/zh active Pending
  • 2002-05-06 WO PCT/FR2002/001550 patent/WO2002091784A1/fr not_active Application Discontinuation
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