Terminal Identifiers in a Communications Network

Abstract

A method and apparatus for allocating an identifier to a terminal in a communications network. A core network controlling node, such as a Mobility Management Entity (MME) receives an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) and an International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) from the terminal. Subscription information is determined using both the IMSI and the IMEI. A temporary identifier that can be used to identify the terminal is then allocated to the subscription information.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of determining subscription information for a terminal in a communications network, the method comprising:
 receiving, at a Home Subscriber Server from a core network control node, an International Mobile Subscriber Identity and an International Mobile Equipment Identity relating to the terminal; and   determining, at the Home Subscriber Server, subscription information using both the International Mobile Subscriber Identity and the International Mobile Equipment Identity.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising allocating a temporary identifier to the subscription information, the temporary identifier being used to identify the terminal, wherein the temporary identifier comprises one of a Temporary International Mobile Subscriber Identity, a Packet Temporary International Mobile Subscriber Identity, and a Globally Unique Temporary Identity. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising associating a sequence number counter with the combination of the International Mobile Subscriber Identity and the International Mobile Equipment Identity. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3  further comprising sending to the core network control node an authentication challenge as part of a process to generate session keys for the terminal, the authentication challenge comprising at least in part an identifier for the terminal. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising identifying a user subscription using the combination of the International Mobile Subscriber Identity and the International Mobile Equipment Identity. 
     
     
         6 . A core network controlling node for use in a communications network, the core network controlling node comprising:
 a first receiver for receiving from a terminal device a request to attach to the network;   a first transmitter for sending to a Home Subscriber Server a request for information to authenticate the terminal;   a second receiver for receiving, from the Home Subscriber Server, information relating to a subscription;   a processor configured to allocate, on the basis of both an International Mobile Subscriber Identity and an International Mobile Equipment Identity relating to the terminal, a temporary identifier to the subscription information, the temporary identifier being used to identify the terminal; and   a second transmitter for sending the temporary identifier to the user terminal.   
     
     
         7 . The core network controlling node according to  claim 6  wherein the core network controlling node comprises one of a Mobility Management Entity, a Serving GPRS Support Node, and a Mobile Switching Centre. 
     
     
         8 . A Home Subscriber Server for use in a communications network, the Home Subscriber Server comprising:
 a first receiver configured to receive from a core network controlling node a request for information to authenticate a terminal, the receiver also configured to receive an International Mobile Subscriber Identity and an International Mobile Equipment Identity relating to the terminal; and   a processor configured to determine subscription information associated with the combination of the International Mobile Subscriber Identity and the International Mobile Equipment Identity.   
     
     
         9 . The Home Subscriber Server according to  claim 8  further comprising a transmitter for sending to the core network control node an authentication challenge as part of a process to generate session keys for the terminal, the authentication challenge comprising at least in part an identifier for the terminal. 
     
     
         10 . The Home Subscriber Server according to  claim 8 :
 wherein the processor is further configured to identify a user subscription on the basis of the International Mobile Subscriber Identity, where the subscription information identifies a unique counter relating to the user subscription; and   wherein the Home Subscriber Server further comprises a transmitter for sending authentication information relating to the user subscription to the core network controlling node.   
     
     
         11 . The Home Subscriber Server according to  claim 8 :
 wherein the subscription information comprises a user subscription; and   wherein the Home Subscriber Server further comprises a transmitter for sending authentication information relating to the user subscription to the core network controlling node.   
     
     
         12 . A computer program stored in a non-transient computer readable medium, the computer program comprising computer readable code which, when run on a programmable network node, causes the programmable network node to:
 receive, from a core network control node, an International Mobile Subscriber Identity and an International Mobile Equipment Identity relating to the terminal; and   determine subscription information using both the International Mobile Subscriber Identity and the International Mobile Equipment Identity.