Network Elements, Wireless Communication System and Methods Therefor
Assigneeip.access Limited
InventorNeil Philip Piercy
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A radio access network element (101) obtains a permanent subscriber identity (IMSI) of a User Equipment (103) in an LTE wireless communication system (100) by sending a “fake” service reject message to a User Equipment which has attempted to attach to a cell (102) in a request for services message which includes its S-TMSI. The reject message may include a cause code which results in the UE attempting to attach again, this time using its IMSI. The fake service reject message may be generated in a an eNode B serving one or more macrocells or a evolved Home Node B serving a small cell.
Claims16
A method for determining a permanent subscriber identity of a wireless communication unit located within a cell of a wireless communication system comprising a radio access network and a core network, the method including, at a network element:
- serving said cell in the radio access network,
- receiving a request for services from a wireless communication unit wherein the request for services includes a temporary identity of the wireless communication unit,
- in response to receiving said request for services, at the network element, generating and transmitting to the wireless communication unit a response message wherein the response message prompts the wireless communication unit to make a second request for services including its permanent subscriber identity, and
- receiving said second request for services including the permanent identity of the wireless communication unit.
A radio access network element for determining a permanent subscriber identity of a wireless communication unit located in a cell of wireless communication system comprising a radio access network and a core network , the radio access network element being arranged to serve said cell and comprising:
- a receiver arranged to receive a request for services from a wireless communication unit wherein the request for services includes a temporary identity of the wireless communication unit,
- a signal processor arranged, in response to receipt of said request for services by the receiver, to generate a response message wherein the response message prompts the wireless communication unit to make a second request for services including its permanent subscriber identity, and
- a transmitter arranged to transmit said generated response message to the wireless communication unit and wherein the receiver is further arranged to receive the second request for services including the permanent subscriber identity of the wireless communication unit.
(canceled)
(canceled)
A long term evolution, LTE, wireless communication system comprising:
- a radio access network;
- a core network;
- and
- a radio access network element for determining a permanent subscriber identity of a wireless communication unit located in an LTE cell , the radio access network element being configured to serve said cell and comprising:
- a receiver arranged to receive a request for services from a wireless communication unit wherein the request for services includes a temporary identity of the wireless communication unit,
- a signal processor arranged, in response to receipt of said request for services by the receiver, to generate a response message wherein the response message prompts the wireless communication unit to make a second request for services including its permanent subscriber identity, and
- a transmitter arranged to transmit said generated response message to the wireless communication unit and wherein the receiver is further arranged to receive the second request for services including the permanent subscriber identity of the wireless communication unit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.