Ericsson Gmbh

Hans Carlson

Nadi Sakir Findikli

Inderpreet Singh Ahluwalia

Annika Birgitta Lindh

Selected identifiers belonging to the wireless communications device are provided to a network entity based upon the control function being processed, or more generally, upon the class of control function being processed. In one embodiment, a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) receives a plurality of identifiers and a control function request from a wireless communications device. The MSC determines which of the identifiers are needed by the network entity to process the requested control function based on the control function requested. The MSC filters the received identifiers to remove un-needed identifiers based on its analysis and forwards the filtered identifiers to the network entity and/or to another network. In another embodiment, the present invention pushes the determination of which identifier to send downward to the wireless communications device itself. In these embodiments, the wireless communications device is programmed to determine which identifier is needed, and this identifier is transmitted to the MSC with the control function message. This determination by the wireless communications device of which identifier is needed is independent of the network, not simply a response to a command from the network. The present method helps insure that the proper identity is sent by the MSC to other network entities when the wireless communications device includes more than one fixed identifier. The method is particularly adapted for situations where the wireless communications device includes a subscription module having a subscription module identifier and mobile terminal having a mobile terminal identifier.

Controlled transmission of wireless communications device identity

A method of controlling the transmission of identities for wireless communications devices relies on a broadcast message from the network to instruct the wireless communications devices as to when to send their identity information. The network's control over the transmissions is extended to the control function class level. In a simple embodiment, the network includes instructions in a broadcast message telling the receiving wireless communications devices to send their identities for some classes of control functions and not others. Thus, by altering the broadcast message, the network is able to control the identity transmissions of the wireless communications devices. In more sophisticated embodiments, the network can control not only whether identities are transmitted for certain control functions, but which identity is transmitted. Thus, one identity (e.g., subscription module identifier) may be transmitted with one class of control functions (e.g., registration) and another identity (e.g., mobile terminal identifier) to be transmitted with other classes of control functions (e.g., page response), thereby providing great flexibility of control to the network.

Growing community of inventors

Cary, NC, United States of America

Hans Carlson