Vodafone Group Plc.

Vodafone IP Licensing Limited

Richard Gumbrell

Yakeen Prabdial

Najib Koraichi

Tony Smith

Greg Reeve

Edmund Wontner

Graeme Sandieson

A telecommunications system is provided, comprising a plurality of different cellular telecommunications networks, an identity module registrable on the plurality of different networks and containing multiple unique identifiers, each unique identifier being associated with a respective network; and, a device, operative in accordance with the identity module, to communicate with the networks when the identity module is registered on that network. The identity module comprises a common security key associated with at least two of the unique identifiers such that the identity module is registrable on each one of the plurality of networks when a unique identifier of the identity module and its associated security key are authenticated for that network.

Identity module with interchangeable unique identifiers

A telecommunications system is provided, including a plurality of different cellular telecommunications networks, an identity module registrable on the plurality of different networks and containing multiple unique identifiers, each unique identifier being associated with a respective network; and, a device, operative in accordance with the identity module, to communicate with the networks when the identity module is registered on that network. The identity module includes a common security key associated with at least two of the unique identifiers such that the identity module is registrable on each one of the plurality of networks when a unique identifier of the identity module and its associated security key are authenticated for that network.

A cellular telecommunications network for facilitating communication connections for terminals having token identification modules, the network including: a location register for receiving requests to access the network and, if the requests are associated with a token identification module, redirecting the requests; a token register which receives redirected requests, generates connection identification data and transmits the connection identification data to the location register to identify the terminal to the location register; a network gateway component for establishing a communication between the network and the terminal in accordance with the connection identification data; and a network monitoring component for performing service management, such as a session authentication check. A network implementing the invention is capable of providing data communication sessions to terminals having identification modules that are not associated with MSISDN numbers. Embodiments described are directed to laptops and M2M terminals with embedded token identification modules.

Facilitating communication connections for terminals having token identification modules within a telecommunications network

A cellular telecommunications network that facilitates communication connections for terminals having identification modules that are not associated with a subscriber record or Mobile Subscriber Integrated Services Digital Network (MSISDN). The cellular telecommunications network implements providing a pool of unique connection numbers; in response to a request for communication with a device incorporating a token identification module, assigning a selected one of the pooled numbers to the token identification module in a location register; and initiating a reconnection event, thereby providing the assigned number to the device by associating the device with a temporary unique connection number in the location register. Embodiments described are directed to Machine-to-Machine (M2M) client terminals with embedded token identification modules.

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Newbury, United Kingdom

Richard Gumbrell