System and method for handling unused SIM cards

A computer program product stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium that contains software program instructions, where execution of the software program instructions by at least one data processor results in performance of operations that comprise execution of at least the following steps:

• identifying that a SIM card has not been used for at least an observation duration, said SIM card storing at least an International Mobile Subscriber Identifier (IMSI) then:
• provisioning a release node which comprises backing up in at least a database stored in at least a data storage device of said release node managing parameters comprising at least said IMSI and an identifier of a subscription (MSISDN) associated to the SIM card;
• sending an instruction to modify at least a routing table of a routing node so that the routing node can redirect any attachment request emanating from said SIM card to the release node which comprises sending an instruction to associate, in the routing tables of the routing node, said IMSI of said inactive SIM card with the address of said release node;
• if an activity of the SIM card is detected before the end of a quarantine duration that starts at the same time as the observation period and that is longer than the observation period, then:
• providing to a managing node the set of managing parameters related to said SIM card;
• sending an instruction to modify at least the routing table of the routing node so that the routing node redirects any message emanating from said SIM card to said managing node;
• if, no activity of the SIM card is detected, before the end of a quarantine duration that starts at the same time as the observation period and that is longer than the observation period:
• removing from the database of the release node the managing parameters of the SIM card;
• and
• wherein the quarantine duration lasts at least 30 days and wherein the observation duration lasts at least 15 days and no more than the quarantine duration less 10 days.

A method in a cellular communication network comprising at least a home location register/home subscriber server (HLR/HSS) that stores managing parameters related to a SIM card associated to a cellular terminal configured to be connected to the network said managing parameters comprising at least an International Mobile Subscriber Identifier (IMSI), and at least a routing node configured to route requests between the cellular terminal and the HLR/HSS,

• provisioning a release node which comprises backing up in at least a database of said release node said managing parameters;
• wherein the method performs the following steps if said SIM card that stores said IMSI has not been used before the end of an observation duration starting from the last activity of the SIM card:
• de-provisioning at least the HLR/HSS by removing from the HLR/HSS an identifier of a subscription (MSISDN) associated to the SIM card;
• directing toward the release node any attachment request emanating from said SIM card, wherein directing toward the release node comprises associating, in the routing tables of the routing node, the IMSI of said inactive SIM card with an address of said release node and with an address of the HLR/HSS;
• if, once the de-provisioning of at least the HLR/HSS is completed, an activity of the SIM card is detected before the end of a quarantine duration that starts at the same time as the observation period and that is longer than the observation period, then the method comprises reactivating the SIM card through performing the following steps:
• re-provisioning at least the HLR/HSS by providing back the HLR/HSS with at least said identifier of a subscription (MSISDN) associated to the SIM card and stored in the database;
• and
• directing toward the HLR/HSS any message emanating from said SIM card;
• if, once the de-provisioning of at least the HLR/HSS is completed, no activity of the SIM card is detected before the end of a quarantine duration that starts at the same time as the observation period and that is longer than the observation period, then the method comprises de-activating the SIM card through performing the following steps:
• removing from the database of the release node the managing parameters of the SIM card;
• recycling the identifier of a subscription (MSISDN) of said SIM card in a phone number pool;
• and
• allocating the removed identifier of a subscription (MSISDN) to another SIM card;
• and
• wherein the quarantine duration lasts at least 30 days and wherein the observation duration lasts at least 15 days and no more than the quarantine duration less 10 days.