System and method for associating devices across mobile, wi-fi hotspot and home networks

A network node comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a communications interface operatively coupled to the processor;
• wherein:
• the processor and the communications interface are configured to receive a request message, wherein the request message includes one or more device identifiers including:
• a Medium Access Control (MAC) address for the device, an Internet Protocol (IP) address for the device, a network access identifier (NAI) for the device, a first Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11bh device identifier (device ID) for the device, a mobile subscription identifier, or a fingerprint for the device;
• the processor configured to allocate, based network policy and on a determination that no subscription of the device is found, a second IEEE 802.11bh device identifier for the device, wherein the second IEEE 802.11bh device identifier for the device is a network wide identifier, wherein the allocating is performed via an application programming interface (API) exposed by an identification management function (IdMF);
• the processor and the communications interface are configured to generate a response message, wherein the response message includes the second IEEE 802.11bh identifier for the device;
• and
• the processor and the communications interface are configured to send the response message.

A network node comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a communications interface operatively coupled to the processor;
• wherein:
• the processor and the communications interface are configured to receive a request message, wherein the request message includes one or more device identifiers including:
• a Medium Access Control (MAC) address for the device, an Internet Protocol (IP) address for the device, a network access identifier (NAI) for the device, a Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11bh device identifier (device ID) for the device, a mobile subscription identifier, or a fingerprint for the device;
• the processor configured to resolve, based network policy and on a determination that a subscription of the device is found, the IEEE 802.11bh device identifier for the device, wherein the IEEE 802.11bh device identifier for the device is an existing network wide identifier, wherein the resolving is performed via an application programming interface (API) exposed by an identification management function (IdMF);
• the processor and the communications interface are configured to generate a response message, wherein the response message includes the IEEE 802.11bh identifier for the device;
• and
• the processor and the communications interface are configured to send the response message.