T-Mobile USA, Inc.

Muhammad Ejaz Sial

Shujaur Rehman Mufti

Zeeshan Jahangir

Saqib Badar

Khurram Ahmad Mirza

Anselmo Myungsup Shim

In some examples, an authentication node of a telecommunications network can receive an authentication request from a terminal, and an authentication-control message. The authentication node can skip an authentication operation with respect to the authentication request in response to the authentication-control message. In some examples, a relay node of the telecommunications network can detect an overload or service-interruption condition and determine, in response, the authentication-control message. The relay node can send the authentication-control message to the authentication node. In some examples, an authentication node can detect that its load level satisfies a predetermined criterion and, in response, skip an authentication operation and send a first message. Another authentication node can receive an indication of the first message and, in response, perform a second authentication operation.

Network-authentication control

Systems and methods for network-controlled scam/robocall handling are described. When an incoming call for a user device is received, a user may elect to add the originating number of the incoming call to a block list or a report list at the network level. Future calls from the originating number, if placed on the block list, are then blocked by the network from being received by the user device. Numbers on the report list may be moved by the user from the report list to the block list, and numbers on the block list may be moved from the block list to the report list. Also, the user may request additional information in order to determine whether to add the originating number to the block list or the report list.

Device logic enhancement for network-based robocall blocking

Systems and methods provided herein are directed to a mechanism for determining current or currently known location of a user equipment (UE). Upon receiving a request regarding location information of the UE, a gateway mobile location center (GMLC) may send a SIP OPTIONS to an interrogating call session control function (I-CSCF). In response to receiving the SIP OPTIONS, the I-CSCF may perform a location information request (LIR) and a location information answer (LIA) with the HSS to locate a serving call session control function (S-CSCF) where the UE is registered. The S-CSCF may route the SIP OPTIONS to an application server (AS) to request the registered location information of the UE, and in response, the AS may send a 200 OK, as an acknowledgment, to the S-CSCF, that includes location information of the UE provided during registration of the UE.

SIP options based location determination

A USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data) message may be transmitted by a communication device to an IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem) within a SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) INVITE message, where it is received by a TAS (Telephony Application Server). The TAS sends the USSD message to an HSS (Home Subscriber Service) of the IMS using an existing Diameter Sh interface between the TAS and the HSS. The HSS then communicates with a USSD gateway to obtain a USSD response, which is sent back to the TAS over the Diameter Sh interface. The TAS sends the USSD response to the communication device within a SIP BYE message.

IP-based USSD communications

When an application server receives an invite message associated with a call from an originating user equipment (UE) to a terminating UE, the application server can determine if one of the originating UE or the terminating UE is associated with a scammer. If the originating UE is associated with a scammer, the application server can remove the scammer's caller identification (ID) information from the invite message, such that a user of the terminating UE cannot use that caller ID information to make a return call to the scammer. If the terminating UE is associated with a scammer, the application server can remove caller ID information associated with the originating UE from the invite message to hide the calling party's information from the scammer, and/or invoke playback of a scam announcement to the originating UE to warn the calling party that they are calling a scammer.

Growing community of inventors

Snoqualmie, WA, United States of America

Muhammad Ejaz Sial