Method and apparatus for control of a subscriber identity module in a data communication system

US6934391B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• Sonera Oyj · FI

Inventors

• Janne P. Linkola · Brooklyn, US
• Olavi Blomberg · Kauniainen, FI

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 24, 1999
• Grant date: Aug 23, 2005
• Expiry date: Nov 24, 2019

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H04W8/183
• WIPO field: Digital communication
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A method and apparatus for the control of a subscriber identity module (SIM) in a data communication system, preferably a mobile communication system. The data communication system includes first and second subscriber registers (HLR1, HLR2) for maintaining subscriber records defining a subscriber identity module registry, a short message transmission system (SMSC) for transmission of messages in the communication system, and a mobile station (MS) connected to the subscriber identity module (SIM) for use by a subscriber in effecting mobile communications through the data communication system. The subscriber identity module (SIM) stores therein data comprising a first subscriber code (IMSI1) and an encrypted code key (Ki) corresponding to a first subscription for the mobile station subscriber and associated with the subscriber identity module A record of data corresponding to the first subscription is created in the first subscriber register (HLR1) when the first subscription is opened, the record comprising a first subscription specific call number (MSISDNx), the encryption code key (Ki) and a subscriber identity code (IMSI1) for the mobile station subscriber. A second subscription …