US008107937B2
`
`(12) United States Patent
`Jokinen et al.
`
`(io) Patent No.: US 8,107,937 B2
`Jan. 31, 2012
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`(54) SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATIC
`PROVISIONING DETECTION AND
`NOTIFICATION
`
`(75) Inventors: Hannu J. Jokinen, Kauniainen (FI); Esa
`Ihamaki, Nokia (FI)
`
`(73) Assignee: Nokia Corporation, Espoo (FI)
`
`( * ) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 2288 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/919,317
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Jul. 31, 2001
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`US 2003/0027581 Al Feb. 6, 2003
`
`(51) Int.Cl.
`(2006.01)
`H04M3/00
`(52) U.S. Cl............................................... 455/418; 455/410
`(58) Field of Classification Search ................... 455/419,
`455/456,418, 423, 425
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`9/1992 Schwob ....................... 455/158.5
`5,152,011 A *
`5,365,572 A * 11/1994 Saegusaetal.................... 455/463
`1/1995 Cooper
`5,386,455 A
`4/1995 Raith .............................. 370/311
`5,404,355 A *
`9/1998 Mecheetal...................... 455/411
`5,809,413 A *
`
`5,819,177 A * 10/1998 Vucetic et al............ ...... 455/425
`9/1999 Lipsit
`5,956,636 A
`10/2000 Zicker et al.
`6,134,435 A
`2/2001 Chatterjee et al.
`6,188,899 Bl
`8/2001 Chatterjee et al....... .... 455/435.1
`6,282,421 Bl *
`4/2002 Pirila
`6,377,791 Bl
`2/2003 Donovan et al......... ...... 455/466
`6,519,468 Bl *
`7/2003 Hsu et al.................. ...... 455/419
`6,587,684 Bl *
`7/2003 Sakurai et al............ .... 455/414.3
`6,600,930 Bl *
`9/2003 Moles et al.............. ...... 455/418
`6,615,038 Bl *
`6,636,502 Bl * 10/2003 Lager et al............... ...... 370/352
`6,658,231 B2* 12/2003 Nakatsuyama ....... ..... 455/3.06
`6/2004 Rangarajan et al. ... .... 455/456.1
`6,757,544 B2*
`1/2005 Sutinen et al............ ...... 455/502
`6,839,564 B2*
`2001/0034204 Al
`10/2001 Pentikainen
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`1 043 906
`10/2000
`EP
`4/2000
`WO 00/22794
`WO
`WO 00/78076
`WO
`12/2000
`* cited by examiner
`
`Primary Examiner — George Eng
`Assistant Examiner — Marcos Torres
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Hollingsworth & Funk,
`LLC
`
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`A system and method for automatically initiating provision­
`ing procedures is provided. Terminals that have not been
`provisioned for connection to a network or service are auto­
`matically recognized at the network. When such an unprovi­
`sioned terminal has been detected, a notification is dispatched
`to an appropriate provisioning network entity to initiate the
`provisioning procedures for the unprovisioned terminal.
`
`45 Claims, 10 Drawing Sheets
`
`Netflix v. VideoLabs
`IPR2023-00628
`Netflix. Ex. 1012
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 31, 2012
`
`Sheet 1 of 10
`
`US 8,107,937 B2
`
`NETWORK
`MOBILE
`
`FIG. 1
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 31, 2012
`Jan. 31, 2012
`
`Sheet 2 of 10
`Sheet 2 of 10
`
`US 8,107,937 B2
`US 8,107,937 B2
`
`€OA
`
`FIG. 2
`
`coz
`
`ae|i0ez TWNIWYSL
`
`TNEOW
`
`1£2=
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 31, 2012
`
`Sheet 3 of 10
`
`US 8,107,937 B2
`
`NETWORK DISPATCHES
`NOTIFICATION TO PROVISIONING
`SERVER TO EFFECT PROVISIONING
`OF TERMINAL
`
`FIG. 3
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 31, 2012
`Jan. 31, 2012
`
`Sheet 4 of 10
`Sheet 4 of 10
`
`US 8,107,937 B2
`US 8,107,937 B2
`
`TERMINAL VIA NETWORK
`
`NETWORK TRANSMITS NOTIFICATION
`INCLUDING SUBSCRIBER INFORMATION
`(IMSI/MSISDN) AND EQUIPMENT
`INFORMATION (IMEI} TO PROVISIONING
`SERVER
`
`NETWORK MONITOR
`FOR NEW IMEI FOR
`SUBSCRIBERS
`
`PROVISIONING SERVER GENERATES
`PROVISIONING AND CONFIGURATION
`DATA FOR TERMINAL CORRESPONDING
`TO NEW IMEI BASED ON IMSI, MSISDN,
`IMEI
`
`TRANSMIT PROVISIONING AND
`CONFIGURATION DATA TO
`
`FIG. 4
`FIG. 4
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 31, 2012
`
`Sheet 5 of 10
`
`US 8,107,937 B2
`
`ATTACH
`
`k PROVISIONING
`< DETECTION
`
`PROVISIONING
`NOTIFICATION
`
`\ PROVISIONING
`
`FIG. 5
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 31, 2012
`Jan. 31, 2012
`
`Sheet 6 of 10
`Sheet 6 of 10
`
`US 8,107,937 B2
`US 8,107,937 B2
`
` ATTACH PROCEDURES
`
`ELICITING SUBSCRIBER AND
`EQUIPMENT IDENTIFIERS
`FROM TERMINAL
`
`
`
`
`
`
` STORE SUBSCRIBER AND EQUIPMENT
`
`IDENTIFIERS IN DATABASE
`ACCESSIBLE TO MONITORING
`NETWORKENTITY
`
`
` COMPARE
`PRESENT SUBSCRIBER/EQUIPMENT PAIR
`
`
`WITH
`PREVIOUS SUBSCRIBER/EQUIPMENTPAIR
`
`
`FOR THAT SUBSCRIBER
`
`
` TERMINAL
`
`
`PROVISIONED
`
`DETECTED
`
`UNPROVISIONED TERMINAL
`
`FIG. 6
`FIG. 6
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 31, 2012
`
`Sheet 7 of 10
`
`US 8,107,937 B2
`
`700
`
`706
`
`HLR DATABASE
`
`<708 r710
`IMEI
`IMS!
`
`IMSI
`1
`Σ
`
`IMSI
`
`IMEI
`
`IMEI
`
`702
`
`704
`
`FIG. 7
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 31, 2012
`Jan. 31, 2012
`
`Sheet 8 of 10
`Sheet 8 of 10
`
`US 8,107,937 B2
`US 8,107,937 B2
`
`SS7 MAP SIGNALING
`INCLUDING SUBSCRIBER AND
`
`EQUIPMENT PAIRS
`
`802
`
`MONITOR SUBSCRIBER/EQUIPMENT
`IDENTIFIER PAIRS FROM SS7 MAP
`SIGNALING
`
`FOR THAT SUBSCRIBER
`
`PROVISIONING SERVER COMPARES
`PRESENT SUBSCRIBER/EQUIPMENT PAIR
`WITH
`PREVIOUS SUBSCRIBER/EQUIPMENT PAIR
`
`YES
`
`NO
`
`810
`
`UNPROVISIONED TERMINAL
`DETECTED
`
`FIG. 8
`FIG. 8
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 31, 2012
`
`Sheet 9 of 10
`
`US 8,107,937 B2
`
`FIG. 9
`
`FIG. 10
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 31, 2012
`Jan. 31, 2012
`
`Sheet 10 of 10
`Sheet 10 of 10
`
`US 8,107,937 B2
`US 8,107,937 B2
`
`1100
`
`FIG. 11
`
`

`

`US 8,107,937 B2
`
`1
`SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATIC
`PROVISIONING DETECTION AND
`NOTIFICATION
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates generally to network commu­
`nications systems, and more particularly, to a system and
`method for automatically detecting mobile terminals in the
`network in need of provisioning, and directing the provision­
`ing entity to effect such provisioning.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`The modern communications era has brought about a tre­
`mendous expansion of wireline and wireless networks. Com­
`puter networks, television networks, and telephony networks
`are experiencing an unprecedented technological expansion,
`fueled by consumer demand. Wireless and mobile network­
`ing technologies have addressed related consumer demands,
`while providing more flexibility and immediacy of informa­
`tion transfer.
`Current and future networking technologies continue to
`facilitate ease of information transfer and convenience to
`users. The proliferation of local, regional, and global net­
`works such as the Internet has availed a sea of information to
`an information hungry society. These networking technolo­
`gies have expanded to increasingly include wireless and
`mobile technologies. Through these networks, information
`can be downloaded to desktop systems, wireless systems,
`mobile systems, etc. For example, information available via
`the Internet can now be downloaded onto mobile wireless
`units, such as cellular telephones, personal digital assistants
`(PDAs), laptop computers, etc. One such technology facili­
`tating the transfer of Internet content to and from wireless
`devices is the Wireless Application Protocol (WAP), which
`integrates the Internet and other networks with wireless net­
`work platforms. Generally, WAP is a set of protocols that
`accounts for characteristics and functionality of both Internet
`standards and standards for wireless services. It is indepen­
`dent of wireless network standards, and is designed as an
`open standard. WAP bridges the gap between the wireline
`Internet paradigm and the wireless domain, to allow wireless
`device users to enjoy the benefits of the Internet across both
`platforms.
`Second generation wireless service, often referred to as 2G
`wireless service, is a current wireless service based on circuit-
`switched technology. 2G systems, such as Global System for
`Mobile communications (GSM) and Personal Communica­
`tions Services (PCS), use digital radio technology for
`improved quality and a broader range of services over first
`generation mobile technologies. 3G, or third generation,
`refers to a set of digital technologies that promises improve­
`ments in capacity, speed and efficiency by deploying new
`packet-based transmission methodologies between terminals
`and the network. Users of 3G devices and networks will have
`access to multimedia services such as video-on-demand,
`video conferencing, fast web access and file transfer.
`With the introduction of new mobile services such as WAP,
`Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS), calendar and contact
`synchronization, as well as a multitude of other possibilities,
`the number of servers and portals providing services for
`mobile Internet terminals continues to expand. Further, there
`is an increasing number of features associated with these
`services, such as support for multimedia, location-based ser­
`vices, electronic payments, etc. Thus, new terminals support­
`ing new network technologies and mobile Internet services
`
`5
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`2
`will continuously be taken into use, often as replacement
`devices for existing subscribers. The new terminals will
`increasingly require additional initial configuration settings
`before they can successfully connect to the servers.
`The continual addition of new technologies and services
`availed to mobile users may, however, create additional bur­
`dens on users. For example, setting the initial configuration
`parameters, generally referred to as “provisioning,” may
`become increasingly complex and demanding. Further, as
`these new services and applications continue to roll out, or
`existing services provide upgrades, configuring or reconfig­
`uring mobile devices becomes a more frequent requirement
`for end users.
`Conventional provisioning systems required that a retail
`establishment provision the terminal for the user. This, how­
`ever, is inconvenient for the user. Further, if the user decided
`to purchase a different terminal or upgrade services, the user
`was forced to return to the dealer to provision, or re-provision
`the terminal.
`More recent provisioning systems have made it possible to
`allow the user to initiate provisioning from the device. For
`example, a user may manually initiate provisioning from the
`device to be provisioned. This, however, necessitates that the
`user understand that provisioning is required, and also
`requires that the user know how to initiate the provisioning, or
`at the very minimum requires the user to follow a set of
`instructions to initiate the provisioning. Not only does this
`inconvenience mobile terminal users, it threatens to frustrate
`those users who are otherwise unfamiliar with, or otherwise
`resistant to utilize, high-technology devices.
`In other provisioning systems, a remote server device may
`instigate a communications session with a provisioning
`server device, and provide the provisioning server with pro­
`visioning information. Again, such a system requires an
`explicit action in order to initiate provisioning of the mobile
`terminal.
`Therefore, the challenge still remains to automate provi­
`sioning procedures used to provision terminals. There is a
`need in the communications industry for a system and method
`for automating initiation of provisioning procedures for
`mobile terminals. The present invention provides a solution to
`these and other shortcomings of the prior art, and offers
`additional advantages over the prior art.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention is directed to a system and method
`for automatically detecting unprovisioned terminals in a
`mobile communications network, and dispatching notifica­
`tions of such unprovisioned terminals to an appropriate pro­
`visioning network entity to initiate provisioning procedures.
`In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a
`method is provided for initiating provisioning procedures for
`terminals operable in a mobile communications network. The
`method includes automatically detecting an unprovisioned
`terminal in the mobile communications network. When such
`an unprovisioned terminal has been detected, a notification is
`provided to a provisioning server to initiate the provisioning
`procedures for the unprovisioned terminal.
`In accordance with other more particular aspects of the
`invention, a variety of features may be provided in connection
`with such a methodology for initiating provisioning proce­
`dures for unprovisioned terminals. Forexample, in particular
`embodiments, the method includes monitoring for a sub­
`scriber identifier identifying a particular subscriber, and for
`an equipment identifier identifying the unprovisioned termi­
`nal. The automatic detection may include determining that
`
`

`

`US 8,107,937 B2
`
`3
`the subscriber and equipment identifiers do not, as a pair,
`correspond to known subscriber and equipment pairs. In one
`exemplary embodiment, the subscriber identifier includes an
`International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI), and the
`equipment identifier includes an International Mobile Equip­
`ment Identity (IMEI). According to certain embodiments of
`the invention, the subscriber and equipment identifiers are
`provided by the unprovisioned terminal in connection with an
`attach or location update procedure. The automatic detection
`can occur at a predefined network entity, such as at the Mobile
`Switching Center (MSC) or the Serving GPRS Support Node
`(SGSN).
`In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, a
`provisioning system for automatically provisioning terminals
`in a mobile communications network is provided. The system
`includes a detection module coupled to the mobile commu­
`nications network to monitor for at least a subscriber identi­
`fier and an equipment identifier transmitted from an unpro­
`visioned terminal. A provisioning trigger module, coupled to
`the detection module, generates a provisioning notification
`based on the subscriber and equipment identifiers, where the
`provisioning notification indicates that the unprovisioned ter­
`minal has been introduced on the mobile communications
`network. A provisioning server is coupled to receive the pro­
`visioning notification from the provisioning trigger module,
`and in response, instigates provisioning procedures with the
`unprovisioned terminal.
`The above summary of the present invention is not
`intended to describe each illustrated embodiment or imple­
`mentation of the present invention. This is the purpose of the
`figures and the associated discussion which follows.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary system in accor­
`dance with the principles of the present invention;
`FIG. 2 is a system block diagram illustrating an exemplary
`networking environment in which the principles of the
`present invention may be applied;
`FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating an embodiment of an
`automatic provisioning detection and notification procedure
`in accordance with the present invention;
`FIGS. 4 and 5 are flow diagrams illustrating more particu­
`lar embodiments of automatic provisioning detection and
`notification procedures in accordance with the present inven­
`tion;
`FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary embodi­
`ment of the detection of unprovisioned terminals in accor­
`dance with the invention;
`FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary data­
`base having predetermined subscriber and equipment fields
`for each database record corresponding to a subscriber;
`FIG. 8 is a flow diagram illustrating another exemplary
`embodiment of the detection of unprovisioned terminals in
`accordance with the invention;
`FIGS. 9 and 10 are flow diagrams illustrating exemplary
`embodiments of a network element providing a notification to
`a provisioning server that a terminal requires provisioning;
`and
`FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating a view of various
`detection and notification options in accordance with the
`present invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS
`
`In the following description of the various embodiments,
`reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form
`
`5
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`4
`a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration
`various embodiments in which the invention may be prac­
`ticed. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be
`utilized, and structural and functional modifications may be
`made without departing from the scope of the present inven­
`tion.
`The present invention is directed to a system and method
`for initiating provisioning for mobile devices from a network.
`Terminals that need provisioning and configuration data for
`connecting to the network services are automatically detected
`by the communications network. Upon detecting such an
`unprovisioned terminal, the network instigates issuance of a
`notification of such an unprovisioned terminal to a provision­
`ing server, which in turn provides the provisioning and con­
`figuration data to the terminal. This automatic detection and
`notification automatically initiates supplying these unconfig­
`ured terminals with their initial connection settings, i.e., the
`bootstrap configuration information. This allows a variety of
`advantages, including allowing mobile terminals to be pur­
`chased from any terminal dealer, as the dealer does not have
`to provision the terminal. There is further no need for users to
`initiate a provisioning procedure, as it is automatically
`detected and initiated by the network. Further, even where a
`terminal already includes some configuration data on the
`device itself, on an associated Subscriber Identity Module
`(SIM), etc., the correct and most up-to-date configuration can
`be provided to the terminal in real time. The automatic detec­
`tion and notification in accordance with the present invention
`also dispels the need to access some other device, such as a
`dedicated Internet web site, during provisioning procedures.
`The automated nature of the provisioning procedure of the
`invention can also significantly reduce the need for users to
`contact customer service organizations for provisioning
`assistance.
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary system in accor­
`dance with the principles of the present invention. A user of a
`mobile device, also referred to as a subscriber, may utilize any
`of a number of mobile communication devices. For purposes
`of illustration, the wireless terminal lOOmay represent any of
`a number of such mobile communication devices, such as a
`cellular telephone 102, apersonal digital assistant (PDA) 104,
`a notebook or laptop computer 106, or any other type of
`terminal represented by device 108. An unprovisioned termi­
`nal 100 is one that has not undergone a configuration of initial
`device/infrastructure connection parameters from a storage
`location to the terminal. A variety of different types of infor­
`mation may accompany such an initial configuration.
`A terminal 100 that has not been provisioned can be auto­
`matically detected by a network 110 detection module 112 as
`being unprovisioned. Upon such detection, a provisioning
`trigger 114 at the network 110 sends a notification containing
`predetermined information to a provisioning server 116. In
`response, the provisioning server 116 provides the provision­
`ing and other configuration data to the terminal 100. Instiga­
`tion of the provisioning procedure is therefore automatic, and
`does not require initiation by the user or via some remote
`system that targets the terminal for provisioning.
`FIG. 2 is a system block diagram illustrating an exemplary
`environment in which the principles of the present invention
`may be applied. FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of the
`invention in connection with a General Packet Radio System
`(GPRS) mobile communications network. GPRS is a packet-
`switched service for Global System for Mobile Communica­
`tions (GSM) that mirrors the Internet model and enables
`seamless transition towards 3G (third generation) networks.
`GPRS thus provides actual packet radio access for mobile
`
`

`

`US 8,107,937 B2
`
`5
`GSM and time-division multiple access (TDMA) users, and
`is ideal for Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) services.
`The various exemplary embodiments described herein are
`generally described in connection with GPRS, and GSM
`which is the underlying digital technology of GPRS. How­
`ever, it should be recognized that the examples provided
`herein, and the references to GSM and GPRS, are provided to
`facilitate an understanding of the invention. As will be readily
`apparent to those skilled in the art from the description pro­
`vided herein, the invention is equally applicable to other
`technologies, including other circuit-switched and packet-
`switched technologies, 3G technologies, and beyond.
`Referring to FIG. 2, the terminal 200 communicates with
`the base transceiver station (BTS) 202 via an air interface.
`The BTS 200 is a component of a wireless network access
`infrastructure that terminates the air interface over which
`subscriber traffic is communicated to and from the terminal
`200. The Base Station Controller (BSC) 204 is a switching
`module that provides, among other things, handoff functions,
`and controls power levels in each BTS 202. The BSC 204
`controls the interface between the Mobile Switching Center
`(MSC) 206 and BTS 202 in a GSM mobile wireless network,
`and thus controls one or more BTSs in the call set-up func­
`tions, signaling, and in the use of radio channels. The BTS
`also controls the interface between the Serving GPRS Sup­
`port Node (SGSN) 208 and the BTS 202 in a GPRS network
`210. Other BTS, BSC, and SGSN components may also be
`associated with the network system, as depicted by BTS 212,
`BSC 214, and SGSN 218.
`The MSC module 206 includes the MSC, Visiting Location
`Register (VLR) 207, and Home Location Register (HLR)
`209. The MSC 206 performs a variety of functions, including
`providing telephony switching services and controlling calls
`between telephone and data systems, switching voice traffic
`from the wireless network to the landline network if the call is
`a mobile-to-landline call, or alternatively switching to
`another MSC if the call is a mobile-to-mobile call. The MSC
`206 also provides the mobility functions for the network, and
`serves as the hub for multiple BTSs. Generally, it is the MSC
`206 that provides mobility management for subscribers, in
`order to register subscribers, and authenticate and authorize
`services and access for subscribers. In GSM systems, some of
`the functionality of the MSC 206 may be distributed to the
`BSC 204, while in other systems such as TDMA systems, the
`BSC 204 functions are integrated with the MSC. The MSC
`206 includes a processing module 211 to perform a variety of
`processing functions, including the detection, comparing,
`and notification generation functions in accordance with one
`embodiment of the invention.
`Associated with the MSC 206 is the Home Location Reg­
`ister (HLR) 209 and Visiting Location Register (VLR) 207.
`The HLR 209 is a database that stores information about
`subscribers in the mobile network, and is maintained by one
`or more service providers for their respective subscribers. The
`MSC 206 uses the information stored in the HLR 209 to
`authenticate and register the subscriber by storing permanent
`subscriber information including the service profile, the cur­
`rent location of mobile terminals, and activity status of the
`mobile user. The VLR 207 is a database that is maintained by
`the MSC 206 to keep track of all the visiting mobile terminals
`within a mobile telephony system.
`The Serving GPRS Support Nodes (SGSN) 208, 218 serve
`GPRS mobile by sending or receiving packets via a base
`station subsystem, and more particularly via the BSC 204,
`214 in the context of GSM systems. The SGSN is responsible
`for the delivery of data packets to and from the mobile termi­
`nals within its service area, and performs packet routing and
`
`5
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`6
`transfer, mobility management, logical link management,
`authentication, charging functions, etc. In the exemplary
`GPRS embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the location register of
`the SGSN 208 stores location information such as the current
`cell and VLR associated with the terminal 200, as well as user
`profiles such as the International Mobile Subscriber Identity
`Number (IMSI) of all GPRS users registered with this SGSN.
`The IMSI is the primary number used to identify a user on a
`GSM network, and includes a mobile country code, a mobile
`network code, and a mobile subscription identification num­
`ber. The IMSI may be stored, for example, in memory of the
`terminal or in a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) database
`which provides for portable user profile information. The
`SGSN 208 includes a processing module 213 to perform a
`variety of processing functions, including the detection, com­
`paring, and notification generation functions in accordance
`with one embodiment of the invention.
`A Short Message Service Center (SMSC) 220 may also be
`employed. The SMSC 220 is a network element through
`which short messages (e.g., via Short Messaging Service)
`may be transmitted, and stored for later transmission in the
`event that the message recipient is not reached. As is
`described more fully below, one embodiment of the invention
`utilizes SMS messaging, thus utilizing the services of the
`SMSC 220 in managing the SMS message transfer.
`While GSM forms the underlying technology, the SGSN
`described above is a network element introduced through
`GPRS technology. Another network element introduced in
`the GPRS context is the Gateway GPRS Support Node
`(GGSN) 230, which acts as a gateway between the GPRS
`network 210 and a packet switched public data network, such
`as network 232. This gateway 230 allows mobile subscribers
`to access the public data network 232 or specified private IP
`networks. The connection between the GGSN 230 and the
`public data network is generally enabled through a standard
`protocol, such as the Internet Protocol (IP).
`Bootstrap provisioning in accordance with the invention
`involves the process providing a terminal with its first set of
`configurations. In one embodiment of the invention, a sub­
`scriber using a new (or otherwise unprovisioned) terminal is
`automatically detected at the network which subsequently
`transmits a corresponding notification of the new terminal to
`a provisioning server. The example shown in FIG. 2 illustrates
`two exemplary manners in which such detection and notifi­
`cation is accomplished, in both the GSM and GPRS contexts.
`In the GSM network context, for example, the mobility
`management procedures include attach procedures, as well as
`location update procedures. When a terminal is powered on, it
`performs a location update procedure by indicating its IMSI
`to the network. The first location update procedure is referred
`to as the “attach” procedure. Thus, when a mobile terminal is
`switched on, or it moves to a new location area or different
`operator’s Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN), it registers
`with the network to indicate its current location.
`In connection with an IMSI/GPRS attach procedure, the
`mobile terminal provides an Identity Response in response to
`a request for the identity of the mobile terminal. In GSM
`networks, the MSC 206 makes the request for the mobile
`terminal identity, while the SGSN 208 performs this request
`function in GPRS networks. The Identity Response includes
`an equipment identifier, such as the International Mobile
`Equipment Identity (IMEI) in the case of IMSI/GPRS attach
`procedures. Other current or future attach procedures may
`include an analogous equipment identity parameter. In IMSI/
`GPRS attach procedures, the IMEI is compared to an IMEI
`list in the Equipment Identity Register (EIR) (not shown) to
`determine the validity or status of the mobile terminal.
`
`

`

`US 8,107,937 B2
`
`7
`In accordance with the invention, the IMEI and IMSI pair
`is collectively analyzed in order to detect a new affiliation
`between a subscriber and a particular mobile terminal. In this
`manner, the network automatically detects mobile terminals
`that need provisioning. Upon detecting a mobile terminal
`requiring provisioning, the network initiates transmission of a
`notification including both the subscriber and equipment
`information to the provisioning server using a suitable proto­
`col and technology. Various exemplary manners of carrying
`out such detection and notification procedures are set forth
`below.
`Referring again to FIG. 2, an example of a bootstrap pro­
`visioning procedure including the automatic detection and
`notification principles of the present invention may be
`described. During an attach procedure, the mobile terminal
`200 provides the IMSI and IMEI. In accordance with the
`invention, the HLR 209 associated with the MSC 206 is
`equipped with fields to maintain both the IMSI and IMEI (or
`analogous subscriber/equipment identity parameters). When
`the mobile terminal provides these parameters, the MSC 206
`compares the new IMSI/IMEI combination with a stored
`IMSI/IMEI combination. For example, a processor (not
`shown) associated with the MSC 206 operating under the
`control of software can perform the comparison operation, as
`can other known comparison modules including discrete
`comparator circuits known in the art. If the new IMSI/IMEI
`combination does not match the existing IMSI/IMEI, the
`MSC 206 can create a message, such as via SMS, including
`the IMSI and IMEI pair in the user data field of the short
`message. This SMS message is sent through the SMSC 220 to
`the external application, which in this example, is the provi­
`sioning server illustrated as the Mobile Terminal Manage­
`ment Server (MTMS) 240. This progression of events is illus­
`trated by the dashed line 234.
`By comparing the IMEI to a database of corresponding
`IMEIs and mobile terminal models, the MTMS 240 deter­
`mines how the terminal 200 shall be configured. A provision­
`ing message is returned to the terminal 200, as depicted by
`dashed line 242. Depending on the provisioning message
`content, the terminal may contact the MTMS 240 using a
`predetermined protocol to obtain further provisioning infor­
`mation. Upon completion of the provisioning process, the
`terminal 200 may access services, such as a Multimedia Mes­
`saging Service (MMS) provided via the Multimedia Message
`Service Center (MMSC) 244. The availability of this service
`to the terminal 200 is illustrated by line 246.
`The exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2 described a detec­
`tion and notification methodology in terms of an attach pro­
`cedure. The present invention is also applicable in the context
`of a location update procedure, where the equipment identity
`(e.g., IMEI) is provided to the network in connection with
`such a location update. The present invention is applicable to
`other procedures involving presentation of equipment and
`subscriber identification parameters as well. Further, the
`invention is applicable regardless of the particular network
`element effecting the equipment identity request, or of the
`particular network element detecting a new equipment/sub-
`scriber affiliation. For example, in embodiments in which the
`detection is associated with existing mobility management
`procedures, the attach procedures may include a request for
`the equipment identity initiated from the MSC 206 in GSM
`networks, or from the SGSN 208 in GPRS networks. Simi­
`larly, the MSC 206 may monitor the HLR for a new equip-
`ment/subscriber affiliation in GSM networks, where the
`SGSN 208 may perform such an analysis in the GRRS net­
`work context.
`
`5
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`8
`FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating one embodiment of an
`automatic provisioning detection and notification procedure
`in accordance with the present invention. The network,
`through one or more assigned network elements, monitors
`300 for terminals requiring provisioning If no terminals
`requiring provisioning are detected as determined at decision
`block 302, the network continues to monitor 300 for such
`terminals requiring provisioning. On the other hand, if a
`terminal requiring provisioning is detected 302, this triggers
`the assigned network element(s) to dispatch a notification to
`a provisioning server to carry out the requisite provisioning of
`that terminal, as shown at block 304. As seen from the exem­
`plary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, provisioning need not
`be triggered by the terminal user, or by a remote provisioning
`system. Rather, one or more assigned network elements
`monitors for terminals requiring provisioning, and automati­
`cally instigates provisioning procedures upon detection of a
`terminal(s) in need of such provisioning.
`FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating a more particular
`embodiment of an automatic provisioning detection and noti­
`fication procedure in accordance with the present invention.
`The network, through one or more assigned n