WO2015082960A1 - A system and methods for inactive subscriber management - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention is basically related to a system (1) and methods(100, 200) for management of subscriber data stored in network units and nodes (N) for inactive subscribers (S) who started their subscription by buying a newly sold SIM card or turned their subscription from passive state to active state. The said system (1) comprises mobile station(2), MSC/VLR(3), HLR(4), provisioning manager (5), database(51)andactivity monitor(6).

Description

A SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR INACTIVE SUBSCRIBER

MANAGEMENT

Technical Field

The present invention is basically related to a system and methods for management of subscriber data stored in network units and nodes for inactive subscribers who started their subscription by buying a newly sold SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card or turned their subscription from passive state to active state.

Background of the Invention

On wireless networks, different systems and nodes maintain data for subscribers. Each of these systems and nodes has different set of data for different purposes by different vendors. Each system and node may employ different ways of use-based licensing schemes, like unlimited number of subscribers or per the number of subscribers. For systems and nodes which charge network operator according the number of subscribers, the number of subscribers becomes critically important for licensing fees paid by network operator.

One of the reasons for high licensing fees for said systems and nodes is inactive subscriptions which are either a passive subscription or a subscription created for newly produced SIM cards waiting at a store to be sold. While licensing fees are calculated for systems and nodes which charges network operator per number of subscribers, these types of subscriptions are included although these subscriptions and subscribers who own these subscriptions do not use any service of the network operator. The reason for this situation is that when operators produce and distribute SIM cards to the distribution channels like stores, these cards should be ready to use, therefore subscriber data for these subscriptions are also provisioned to all the nodes on the network, which means that these cards waiting at stores are also counted for use-based licenses for said systems and nodes. For passive subscribers, subscriber data for these subscriptions are also provisioned to all the nodes on the network since these subscriptions should be ready to use when subscriber decides to use that subscription again in the wireless network, which again means these passive subscriptions are also counted for use-based licenses for said systems and nodes.

As the license fees may reach to serious amounts for networks operators which have massive amount of subscribers, removing the subscriber data for subscriptions of newly produced SIM cards and subscriber data for passive subscriptions which does not use any service of operator for a particular period of time from said systems and nodes is considered as a cost saving alternative. But, when these types of subscribers decide to use the services of network, their subscriber data must be provisioned to said system and nodes immediately. Therefore, an inventive system and method, which detects activities of these subscribers online and provisions subscriber data to network units and nodes which require subscriber data, should be developed. Before the invention, despite the existence of some workaround solutions like the ones which intercepts messaging between network units, there is no system and method which passively sniffs messaging between network units to detect the activities of subscribers online and takes action without intercepting messaging to provision subscriber data for inactive subscriptions when they want to start using services of network operator.

The international patent document no. WO2009040348, an application in the state of the art, discloses an invention which is concerned with improving the efficiency of Home Location Registers. One embodiment involves a method of provisioning subscriber records corresponding to devices in a telecommunications system, the telecommunications system having a storage system holding a plurality of sets of data records, each set of data records corresponding to a network subscription associated with a said device and being capable of providing the device with access to network services provided by the telecommunications system. The method comprises: providing the storage system with a first processing system capable of generating a first set of standard Mobile Application Part (MAP) responses and of generating at least one non-standard response, the non-standard response comprising notifying the set of data records corresponding to said network subscription as a set of data records to be transferred to a further storage system, wherein the further storage system is in operative association with a second processing system capable of generating a second set of standard Mobile Application Part (MAP) responses, the second set of standard Mobile Application Part (MAP) responses being greater than the first set of standard Mobile Application Part (MAP) responses.

European patent document no. EP 1942692, an application in the state of the art, discloses an invention which relates to a method for processing of subscriber related data in a telecommunication network, comprising the steps of: creating a root data set comprising an unique identification (IMSI) that is associated with a subscriber and at least one parameter being necessary for authentication and encrypting purposes in the telecommunication network, wherein the root data set is associated to the subscriber; storing the root data set in a database being accessible by a component of the telecommunication network; provisioning of subscriber related data being necessary for the subscriber for using services of the telecommunication network when the subscriber tries to register to the telecommunication network for using services of the telecommunication network; and storing the provisioned subscriber related data in the database wherein the root data set is completed with the subscriber related data to a subscriber data set. The United States patent document no. US2004157601, an application in the state of the art, discloses an invention which relates to a method for processing of subscriber related data in a telecommunication network, The present invention proposes a method for enabling a subscriber entity to actively communicate in a communication network, a subscriber entity being identified by at least one assigned subscriber identity (IMSI, MSISDN), said communication network comprising at least one database entity of a first type keeping a first record of data of subscriber entities enabled to actively communicate in a communication network, the method comprising the steps of; storing said at least one assigned subscriber identity of at least one subscriber entity not enabled to actively communicate in said communication network in a database entity of a second type, informing said database entity of said second type about a need to enable said at least one not enabled subscriber entity to actively communicate in said communication network, and, upon being informed, transferring information related to a subscriber entity not enabled, from said database of said second type to a selected one of said at least one database entity of said first type. Also, the present invention proposes an accordingly adapted database entity of the above mentioned second type and a register entity for interaction with said database entity of said second type.

Summary of the Invention

An objective of the present invention is to realize a system and method which enables subscriber data to be provisioned in appropriate network units and/or nodes only when subscriber starts subscription after buying a newly sold SIM card or turns subscription form passive state to active state, so that mobile operators do not have to pay license fees for inactive subscribers to systems and nodes which charge per number of subscribers. Description of the Invention "A System and Methods for Inactive Subscriber Management" realized to fulfill the objectives of the present invention is shown in the figures attached, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic block diagram of the inventive system.

Figure 2 is a flowchart of the inventive method.

Figure 3 is a flowchart of another inventive method which relates to embodiment of the invention.

The components illustrated in the figures are individually numbered, where the numbers refer to the following:

1. System

2. Mobile station (MS)

3. MSC/VLR (Mobile Switching Center/ Visitor Location Register)

4. ULR (Home Location Register)

5. Provisioning manager

51. Database

6. Activity monitor

100. Method

S. Subscriber

N. Node

A system (1) which enables inactive subscriber management:

at least one mobile station (2) which includes a SIM card which belongs to a passive or new subscription of a subscriber (S) whose subscriber data is non-provisioned,

at least one MSC/VLR (3) which is a component that performs the switching functions of the network and contains subscriber data necessary to provide the subscribed services to subscribers (S) in the area of MSC/VLR (3),

at least one HLR (4) which is a component that stores subscriber data of subscribers (S) and provides subscriber data to MSC/VLR (3) when subscriber is in the area of MSC/VLR (3) and subscriber data is requested by MSC/VLR (3) from HLR (4),

at least one provisioning manager (5) which conducts provisioning process of subscriber data for subscriptions which are turned to active state from passive state or which are started to be used after a newly produced SIM card is sold in a store, by sending subscriber data to

HLR (4) and/or other nodes (N) which require subscriber data, at least one database (51) which is included in provisioning manager (5) and keeps subscriber data to be transmitted by provisioning manager (5) to HLR (4) and/or other nodes (N) which require subscriber data,

at least one activity monitor (6) which observes signaling between elements in a network to determine signaling activities of mobile station (2) which belongs to subscriber (S) and notifies provision manager (5) about the signaling activities of mobile station (2) (Figure 1).

Mobile station (2) is the device which includes a SIM card which belongs to a passive subscription of a subscriber (S) whose subscriber data is non-provisioned. MSC/VLR (3) is the component that performs the switching functions of the network and contains information necessary to provide the subscribed services to subscribers (S) in the area of MSC/VLR (3). MSC/VLR (3) is the component which requests subscriber data from HLR (4) about the subscribers (S) who entered the area of MSC/VLR (3). The subscriber data requested by MSC/VLR (3) is the data that allows MSC/VLR (3) to assure the subscribed services without needing to ask HLR (4) each time a communication is established.

HLR (4) is the component which stores subscriber data and provides subscriber data to MSC/VLR (3) when subscriber is in the area of MSC/VLR (3) and subscriber data is requested by MSC/VLR (3) from HLR (4). HLR (4) also stores the location of the subscriber (S). The location of the subscriber (S) maps to SS7 address of MSC/VLR (3). Provisioning manager (5) is the component which conducts provisioning process of subscriptions which are turned to active state from passive state or which are started to be used after a newly produced SIM card is sold in a store, by sending subscriber data to HLR (4) and/or other nodes (N) which require subscriber data. In an embodiment of the invention, provision manager (5) provisions subscriber data to a node (N) which is a VPN (Virtual Private Network) which replicates PBX-like dialing in a mobile environment.

In another embodiment of the invention, provision manager (5) provisions subscriber data to a node (N) which is a CCN (Charging Control Node) which is a signaling control point used in a communication network.

In another embodiment of the invention, provision manager (5) provisions subscriber data to a node (N) which is a SDP (Service Data Point) on which balance of the prepaid subscribers are stored.

Database (51) is included in provision manager (5) and keeps subscriber data to be transmitted by provision manager (5) to HLR (4) and/or other nodes (N) which require subscriber data. In preferred embodiment of the invention, two types of data are kept in database (51): data for passive subscribers (S) and data for subscribers (S) who will buy and start using newly produced SIM cards. Subscriber data kept in database (51) for passive subscribers (S) are information backed up to database (51) when the subscription status of these subscribers is turned to passive and their subscription data are deleted from HLR (4) and/or nodes (N). Subscriber data kept in database (51) for new subscribers (S) are basic subscriber data which includes initial parameters.

Activity monitor (6) is the component which observes signaling between elements in a network without intercepting signaling to determine signaling activities of mobile station (2) which belongs to subscriber (S) and notifies provision manager (5) about the signaling activities of mobile station (2). Activity monitor (6) is the component which is responsible for monitoring signaling activity towards HLR (4) and informing provisioning manager (5) regarding to these activities. In preferred embodiment of the invention, activity monitor (6) monitors only SAI (SendAuthenticationlnfo) and UL (UpdateLocation) messages.

In preferred embodiment of the invention, activity monitor (6) operates on MAP (Mobile Application Part) protocol which is an SS7 protocol which provides an application layer for the various nodes in GSM (Global System for Communications) and UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) mobile core networks and GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) core networks to communicate with each other in order to provide services to subscribers (S). More specifically, activity monitor (6) operates on two different protocol families by which MAP messages can be transferred, namely MTP (Message Transfer Part) and SIGTRAN (Signaling Transfer) protocol families. MTP is the protocol family which is used to transfer SS7 messages over Tl/El links by using TDM technology and SIGTRAN is the protocol family which is used to transfer SS7 messages over IP technology. Both LSL and HSL link versions of MTP protocol suites provide available environment for activity monitor (6) to operate. For HSL links, both STM and ATM technologies can be used. For SIGTRAN, one of M3UA, M2UA and IUA can be used. In preferred embodiment of the invention, activity monitor (6) is able to operate (monitor messages) on C interface which is used to handle messaging between MSC/VLR (3) and HLR (4).

In another embodiment of the invention, activity monitor (6) is able to operate (monitor messages) on D interface between MSC/VLR (3) and HLR (4).

In another embodiment of the invention, activity monitor (6) is able to operate (monitor messages) on Abis interface between BTS (Base Transceiver Station) and BSC (Base Station Controller) in network.

In another embodiment of the invention, activity monitor (6) is able to operate (monitor messages) on A interface between BSC and GMSC (Gateway Mobile Switching Centre) in network. In another embodiment of the invention, activity monitor (6) is able to operate (monitor messages) on Gr interface between SGSN (Serving GPRS Support Node) and HLR (4) in network.

A method (100) which enables inactive subscriber management comprises steps of:

- mobile station (2) starting registration process in the area of MSC/VLR (3) (101); - MSC/VLR (3) sending a message to HLR (4) to ask for parameters to authenticate the subscriber (S) (102);

- HLR (4) sending an error message to MSC/VLR (3) since the subscription data of subscriber (S) is not provisioned (103);

- activity monitor (6) determining IMSI (International Mobile

Subscriber Identity) in authentication message sent from MSC/VLR (3) to HLR (4) (104);

- activity monitor (6) checking if determined IMSI is in the list of provision (105);

- if IMSI is in the list of provision, activity monitor (6) notifying the provisioning manager (5) to make it (5) start provisioning process (106);

- if IMSI is not in the list of provision, activity monitor (6) taking no action for determined IMSI (107);

- provisioning manager (5) conducting provisioning process using subscription data of subscriber (S) which is stored in database (51) (108);

- mobile station (2) starting registration process again in the area of MSC/VLR (3) (109);

- MSC/VLR (3) sending a message again to HLR (4) to ask for parameters to authenticate the subscriber (S) (110);

- HLR (4) sending success result this time to MSC/VLR (4) since provisioning process of subscription data of subscriber (S) is conducted at step 107 (111);

- MSC/VLR (3) sending a message to HLR (4) to update the location of subscriber (112);

- activity monitor (6) determining IMSI in location update message sent from MSC/VLR (3) to HLR (4) (113);

- activity monitor (6) deleting IMSI from the list of provision (114) (Figure 2). In the inventive method (100), firstly, mobile station (2) starts the registration process in the area of MSC/VLR (3) (101). MSC/VLR (3) sends a message to HLR (4) to ask for parameters to authenticate the subscriber (S) (102). Message sent at step 102 is SAI.Invoke message. HLR (4) sends an error message to MSC/VLR (3) since the subscription data of subscriber (S) is not provisioned (103). Error message sent at step 103 is SAI.ReturnError message. Activity monitor (6) determines IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber Identity) in authentication message sent from MSC/VLR (3) to HLR (4) (104) and checks if determined IMSI is in the list of provision (105). If IMSI is in the list of provision, activity monitor (6) notifies the provisioning manager (5) to make it (5) start provisioning process (106). If IMSI is not in the list of provision, activity monitor (6) takes no action for determined IMSI (107). Provisioning manager (5) conducts provisioning process using subscription data of subscriber (S) which is stored in database (51) (108). Provisioning process conducted by provisioning manager is basically sending appropriate subscriber data to HLR (4), and also in an embodiment of the invention, to any other nodes (N) which require subscriber data. In one exemplary embodiment of the invention, node (N) is a charging system. Subscriber data provisioned at step 107 is data which enables all services of the subscriber (S). Mobile station (2) starts registration process again in the area of MSC/VLR (3) (109). MSC/VLR (3) sends a message again to HLR (4) to ask for parameters to authenticate the subscriber (S) (110). In preferred embodiment of the invention, message sent again to HLR (4) at step 110 is SAI.Invoke message. HLR (4) sends success result this time to MSC/VLR (4) since provisioning process of subscription data of subscriber (S) is conducted at step 108 (111). In preferred embodiment of the invention, message sent at step 111 is SAI.ReturnResult message. MSC/VLR (3) sends a message to HLR (4) to update the location of subscriber (112). In preferred embodiment of the invention, message sent at step 112 is UL. Invoke message. Activity monitor (6) determines IMSI in location update message sent from MSC/VLR (3) to HLR (4) (113) and deletes determined IMSI from the list of provision (114).

In the inventive system (1) and method (100), a system and method which enables subscriber data to be provisioned in appropriate network units and/or nodes (N) only when subscriber starts subscription after buying a newly sold SIM card or turns subscription form passive state to active state, is realized. While the said system (1) and method (100) is realized, activity monitor (6) monitors messaging between two network units, which are MSC/VLR (3) and HLR (4) in preferred embodiment of the invention, after mobile station (2) starts registration process. For certain types of messages, activity monitor (6) determines IMSI in the message and checks whether IMSI is in the provision list or not. If IMSI is in the list of provision, activity monitor (6) notifies provisioning manager (5) for starting provisioning process. Provisioning manager (5) conducts provisioning process by using subscriber data in database (51). Since, provisioning process is completed, the following registration requests of mobile station (2) cause success messages between network units. Activity monitor (6) also monitors these messages and determines IMSI and deletes this determined IMSI from the provisioning list. In another embodiment of the invention, a method (200) which enables inactive subscriber management comprises steps of:

- mobile station (2) starting registration process in the area of MSC/VLR (3) (201);

- MSC/VLR (3) sending a message to HLR (4) to ask for parameters to authenticate the subscriber (S) (202);

- HLR (4) sending a success message to MSC/VLR (3) since the subscription data of subscriber (S) is provisioned in HLR (4) (203); activity monitor (6) determining IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber Identity) in authentication message sent from MSC/VLR (3) to HLR (4) (204);

activity monitor (6) checking if determined IMSI is in the list of provision (205);

if IMSI is in the list of provision, activity monitor (6) notifying the provisioning manager (5) to make it (5) start provisioning process (206);

if IMSI is not in the list of provision, activity monitor (6) taking no action for determined IMSI (207);

provisioning manager (5) conducting provisioning process for nodes (N), using subscription data of subscriber (S) which is stored in database (51) (208);

provisioning manager (5) informing activity monitor (6) that provisioning process is completed (209);

activity monitor (6) deleting IMSI from the list of provision (210) (Figure 3).

This inventive method (200) is for an embodiment of the invention where subscriber data is provisioned only in HLR (4) and not in nodes (N) which require subscriber data. In this embodiment, HLR (4) returns success message to MSC/VLR (3) since the subscription data of subscriber (S) is provisioned in HLR

(4) (203) but activity monitor (6) still determines IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber Identity) in authentication message sent from MSC/VLR (3) to HLR (4) (204) and checks if determined IMSI is in the list of provision (205). If IMSI is in the list of provision, activity monitor (6) notifies the provisioning manager

(5) to make it (5) start provisioning process (206) and provisioning manager (5) conducts provisioning process for nodes (N), using subscription data of subscriber (S) which is stored in database (51) (208). In this embodiment of the invention which is described by method (200), provisioning process is conducted for only nodes (N) which require subscriber data since subscriber data were already provisioned in HLR (4) and there is no need to provision subscriber data to HLR (4). After provisioning process (208), provisioning manager (5) informs activity monitor (6) that provisioning process is completed (209) and activity monitor (6) deletes EVISI from the list of provision (210). This embodiment of the invention which is described by method (200) usually relates to conditions in which mobile network operator is not charged for license as per user based for HLR (4) or mobile network pays the license fee as per user based only for HLR (4) and not for the nodes (N) which require subscriber data.

It is possible to develop various embodiments of the inventive "system (1) and methods (100, 200)", it cannot be limited to examples disclosed herein and it is essentially according to claims.

Claims

A system (1) enabling inactive subscriber management comprising

at least one mobile station

(2) which includes a SIM card which belongs to a passive or new subscription of a subscriber (S) whose subscriber data is non-provisioned,

at least one MSC/VLR (3) which is a component that performs the switching functions of the network and contains subscriber data necessary to provide the subscribed services to subscribers (S) in the area of MSC/VLR (3),

at least one HLR (4) which is a component that stores subscriber data of subscribers (S) and provides subscriber data to MSC/VLR (3) when subscriber is in the area of MSC/VLR (3) and subscriber data is requested by MSC/VLR

(3) from HLR (4),

at least one provisioning manager (5) which conducts provisioning process,

at least one database (51) which is included in provisioning manager (5) and keeps subscriber data to be transmitted by provisioning manager (5) to HLR

(4) and/or other nodes (N) which require subscriber data,

at least one activity monitor (6) which observes signaling between elements in a network and notifies provision manager (5) about the signaling activities of mobile station (2) and characterized by

at least one provisioning manager

(5) which conducts provisioning process of subscriber data for subscriptions which are turned to active state from passive state or which are started to be used after a newly produced SIM card is sold in a store, by sending subscriber data to

HLR (4) and/or other nodes (N) which require subscriber data, at least one activity monitor

(6) which observes signaling between elements in a network to determine signaling activities of mobile station (2) which belongs to subscriber (S) and notifies provision manager (5) about the signaling activities of mobile station (2).

A system (1) according to Claim 1, characterized by provision manager (5) which provisions subscriber data to a node (N) which is a VPN (Virtual Private Network).

A system (1) according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterized by provision manager (5) which provisions subscriber data to a node (N) which is a CCN (Charging Control Node) which is a signaling control point used in a communication network.

A system (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by provision manager (5) which provisions subscriber data to a node (N) which is a SDP (Service Data Point) on which balance of the prepaid subscribers are stored.

A system (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by database (51) in which data for passive subscribers (S) and data for subscribers (S) who will buy and start using newly produced SIM cards are kept.

A system (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by database (51) where subscriber data being kept for passive subscribers (S) are information backed up to database (51) when the subscription status of these subscribers is turned to passive and their subscription data are deleted from HLR (4) and/or nodes (N).

7. A system (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by database (51) where subscriber data being kept for new subscriber (S) are basic subscriber data which includes initial parameters.

8. A system (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by activity monitor (6) which is responsible for monitoring signaling activity towards HLR (4).

9. A system (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by activity monitor (6) which monitors only SAI and UL messages.

10. A system (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by activity monitor (6) which operates on MAP (Mobile Application Part) protocol which is an SS7 protocol which provides an application layer for the various nodes in GSM and UMTS mobile core networks and GPRS core networks to communicate with each other in order to provide services to subscribers (S).

11. A system (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by activity monitor (6) which is able to operate on two different protocol families by which MAP messages can be transferred, namely MTP and SIGTRAN protocol families.

12. A system (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by activity monitor (6) which is able to operate on both LSL and HSL link versions of MTP protocol suite.

13. A system (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by activity monitor (6) which monitors messages on C interface which is used to handle messaging between MSC/VLR (3) and HLR (4).

14. A system (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by activity monitor (6) which monitors messages on D interface between MSC/VLR (3) and HLR (4).

15. A system (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by activity monitor (6) which monitors messages on Abis interface between BTS and BSC in network.

16. A system (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by activity monitor (6) which monitors messages on A interface between BSC and GMSC in network.

17. A system (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by activity monitor (6) which monitors messages on Gr interface between SGSN and HLR (4) in network.

18. A method (100) enabling inactive subscriber management characterized in that

- mobile station (2) starting registration process in the area of MSC/VLR (3) (101);

- MSC/VLR (3) sending a message to HLR (4) to ask for parameters to authenticate the subscriber (S) (102);

- HLR (4) sending an error message to MSC/VLR (3) since the subscription data of subscriber (S) is not provisioned (103);

- activity monitor (6) determining IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber Identity) in authentication message sent from MSC/VLR (3) to HLR (4) (104);

- activity monitor (6) checking if determined IMSI is in the list of provision (105); if IMSI is in the list of provision, activity monitor (6) notifying the provisioning manager (5) to make it (5) start provisioning process (106);

if IMSI is not in the list of provision, activity monitor (6) taking no action for determined IMSI (107);

provisioning manager (5) conducting provisioning process using subscription data of subscriber (S) which is stored in database (51) (108);

mobile station (2) starting registration process again in the area of MSC/VLR (3) (109);

MSC/VLR (3) sending a message again to HLR (4) to ask for parameters to authenticate the subscriber (S) (110);

HLR (4) sending success result this time to MSC/VLR (4) since provisioning process of subscription data of subscriber (S) is conducted at step 107 (111);

MSC/VLR (3) sending a message to HLR (4) to update the location of subscriber (112);

activity monitor (6) determining IMSI in location update message sent from MSC/VLR (3) to HLR (4) (113);

activity monitor (6) deleting IMSI from the list of provision (114).

19. A method (100) according to Claim 18, characterized in that, at the step of MSC/VLR (3) sending a message to HLR (4) to ask for parameters to authenticate the subscriber (S) (102), message is SAI.Invoke message.

20. A method (100) according to Claim 18 and Claim 19, characterized in that, at the step of HLR (4) sending an error message to MSC/VLR (3) since the subscription data of subscriber (S) is not provisioned (103), error message is SAI.ReturnError message.

21. A method (100) according to any of Claims 18 to Claim 20, characterized in that, at the step of provisioning manager (5) conducting provisioning process using subscription data of subscriber (S) which is stored in database (51) (108), provisioning process conducted by provisioning manager (5) is sending appropriate subscriber data to HLR (4).

22. A method (100) according to Claim 21, characterized in that, at the step of provisioning manager (5) conducting provisioning process using subscription data of subscriber (S) which is stored in database (51) (108), provisioning process conducted by provisioning manager (5) is sending appropriate subscriber data to any nodes (N) which require subscriber data.

23. A method (100) according to any of Claims 18 to Claim 22, characterized in that, at the step of HLR (4) sending success result this time to MSC/VLR (4) since provisioning process of subscription data of subscriber (S) is conducted at step 107 (111), message is SAI.ReturnResult message.

24. A method (100) according to any of Claims 18 to Claim 23, characterized in that, at the step of MSC/VLR (3) sending a message to HLR (4) to update the location of subscriber (112), message is UL. Invoke message.

25. A method (200) enabling inactive subscriber management characterized in that

- mobile station (2) starting registration process in the area of MSC/VLR (3) (201);

- MSC/VLR (3) sending a message to HLR (4) to ask for parameters to authenticate the subscriber (S) (202);

- HLR (4) sending a success message to MSC/VLR (3) since the subscription data of subscriber (S) is provisioned in HLR (4) (203); activity monitor (6) determining IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber Identity) in authentication message sent from MSC/VLR (3) to HLR (4) (204);

activity monitor (6) checking if determined IMSI is in the list of provision (205);

if IMSI is in the list of provision, activity monitor (6) notifying the provisioning manager (5) to make it (5) start provisioning process (206);

if IMSI is not in the list of provision, activity monitor (6) taking no action for determined IMSI (207);

provisioning manager (5) conducting provisioning process for nodes (N), using subscription data of subscriber (S) which is stored in database (51) (208);

provisioning manager (5) informing activity monitor (6) that provisioning process is completed (209);

activity monitor (6) deleting IMSI from the list of provision (210).