TH29110A - Method for limiting the use of the terminal device - Google Patents

Abstract

DC60 (06/10/40) The invention describes a method for restricting the use of end devices by home subscribers of a network in a telecommunications system where each subscriber has a subscriber identity and each end device has an device identity (IMEI). In this method, a controller can monitor the end devices used on the network by home subscribers if desired. A home device register (6) is maintained concerning end devices approved to the network's home subscribers; the subscriber identity of the user is obtained from the end device; the device identity is obtained from the end device; a check is made on the basis of the subscriber identity to determine whether the user is a home subscriber of the network; and if so, the network's home device register (6) checks whether the end device is approved; and if the end device is not approved, its use is restricted. The invention also relates to device registers in which the method of the invention can be applied. In addition, the invention relates to mobile systems in which the method and device register of the invention can be applied. The invention describes a method for restricting the use of end devices by home subscribers of a network in a telecommunications system where each subscriber has a subscriber identity and each end device has an device identity (IMEI). Each endpoint will have an device identity (IMEI) in which the controller can oversee the endpoints used on the network by home subscribers if desired. A home device register (6) will be maintained concerning endpoints approved to the network's home subscribers; the user's subscriber identity will be obtained from the endpoint; the device identity will be obtained from the endpoint; a check on the basis of subscriber identity will be made whether the user is a network home subscriber and, if so, the network's home device register (6) will check whether the endpoint is approved and, if the endpoint is not approved, its use will be restricted. The invention also involves device registers in which the method of the invention can be applied. In addition, the invention also involves mobile systems in which the method and device register of the invention can be applied.

Claims (9)

1. A method for restricting the use of end devices by home subscribers of a telecommunications network in which each subscriber has a subscriber identity and each end device has a device identity can be described by: keeping a list of home devices of end devices approved to home subscribers of the network; obtaining the subscriber identity (21) of the user from the end device; obtaining the device identity (21) from the end device; checking, based on the subscriber identity, whether the subscriber is a home subscriber (22) of the network; if so, checking whether that is approved; and if the end device is not approved, the use of the device is restricted. 2. The method under Claim 1 is described by a list of home devices comprising the device identifiers for each recipient's identity of the end-user device, which are approved to the recipient's identity, and by verifying the list of home devices based on the recipient's identity to determine whether the relevant end-user device has been approved to the recipient in question. 3. The method described in claim 1 or 2, whereby the verification of the aforementioned list of home network devices occurs through network activity determined by the network administrator. 4. An Equipment Inventory (EIR) that is part of a telecommunications system comprising at least one network and which consists of a receiver (5) for retrieving end devices from the network infrastructure, a comparator (4) for performing end device checks, and a response tool (4) for responding to end device checks, is characterized by the fact that the Equipment Inventory (EIR) for at least one network contains a list of home devices (6) containing information of end devices authorized to the network's home users; in response to an end device check relating to a network home user, the comparator (4) is managed to check the network's list of home devices (6) to determine whether the end device has been authorized, and the response tool (4) is managed to relay the response indicating the result of the check to the network infrastructure. 5. The Equipment Register under Claim 4 is described as follows: The Equipment Register (EIR) is managed to link the Service Recipient's identity with the Equipment (62) that has been approved for each Service Recipient's identity in the list of Home Equipment (6), and in response to a request for an End Device related to a Network Home Service Recipient, the Comparison Tool (4) is managed to separate not only the Equipment identity from the message containing the request, but also the Service Recipient's identity, and to check the list of Home Equipment to see if the End Device has been approved for the Service Recipient under consideration. 6. A mobile system comprising an end device (ME) with its own device identity, a service recipient (SIM) with its own service recipient identity, and multiple networks (1,2) each network comprising at least one controller (VLR,MSC2/VLR2) and instruments (BSS1,BSS2) for acquiring the device and service recipient identities of users from the end device, is characterized by a system comprising an interface (EIR,CEIR) for at least one network containing a list of home devices which includes a group of device identities approved to the network's home service recipients, and a comparison instrument (EIR,CRIR) for comparing the device identities received from the network's home service recipients with the device identities on the interface's home device list, and an identifier instrument (EIR,CEIR) for identifying device identities not on the home device list. 7. The mobile system under Claim 6 is described as follows: The list of home devices contains at least one device identity authorized to the home service user identity of the network; the system contains information (HLR1, HLR2) specific to the home service user of the network and indicates whether the service user identity under consideration has been restricted in its use in relation to the device identity authorized to the service user identity under consideration; in response to restricted use of the service user identity, a comparison tool (EIR, CEIR) is managed to compare with the list of home devices whether the device identity received by the home service user is authorized to the service user identity under consideration; and an identification tool (EIR, CEIR) is managed to identify missing device identifiers if a device identity is not assigned to the service user identity. 8. The mobile system under claim 6 or 7 is described as follows: the controller (VLR1, MSC2/VLR2) is managed to transmit device calls to memory in response to client position adjustments. 9. The mobile system under claim 6 or 7 is described as being a GSM system, its memory and identification instruments are in the GSM device register, its terminal is a GSM mobile station, its device identity is the GSM international mobile device IMEI, its GSM SIM card installed at the mobile station is used for subscriber identification, its subscriber identity is the GSM international mobile station IMSI, and its controller is the GSM visitor location register. (9 claims, 5 drawings)