Methods and systems for subscriber identity management in a mobile device
Methods and systems for managing a pool of subscriber identities, and wirelessly provisioning mobile devices to use one or more of the subscriber identities when a subscriber is roaming on a different network. When a subscriber's mobile device connects to a visited network, a subscriber identity server can be notified. The subscriber identity server may have access to a plurality of available subscriber identities (e.g., registered to various service providers), and may select a suitable subscriber identity matching the subscriber's visited network. The subscriber identity can be communicated to the subscriber's mobile device, which can be reprogrammed to assume the new subscriber identity.
1. A method for managing subscriber identities on a mobile device during regional roaming, the mobile device having a primary subscriber identity associated therewith, the primary subscriber identity being associated with a first location area in a home network, the method comprising:
wirelessly receiving a temporary subscriber identity from a subscriber identity server while the mobile device is located in a second location area in the home network, the second location area having a different Location Area Code than the first location area;
storing the temporary subscriber identity in a memory of the mobile device; and
initializing the mobile device to use the temporary subscriber identity.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
prior to receiving the temporary subscriber identity, detecting that the mobile device is located in the second location area; and
in response to the detecting, transmitting a temporary identity request to the subscriber identity server, the temporary identity request comprising an indication of the second location area.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, prior to initializing the mobile device to use the temporary subscriber identity, transmitting a request to a host system to forward communications addressed to the primary subscriber identity to the temporary subscriber identity.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
detecting that the mobile device has changed its location from the second location area to the first location area;
transmitting a release request to the subscriber identity server to release the temporary subscriber identity; and
re-initializing the mobile device to use the primary subscriber identity.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the memory is a programmable subscriber identity module provided on the mobile device.
6. A method at a subscriber identity server for managing identity of a mobile device during regional roaming, wherein the mobile device has a primary subscriber identity associated therewith, the primary subscriber identity being associated with a first location area in a home network, the method comprising:
determining that the mobile device is located in a second location area in the home network, the second location area having a different Location Area Code than the first location area;
selecting a temporary subscriber identity from a plurality of available identities, wherein the selected temporary subscriber identity is associated with the second location area; and
transmitting the selected temporary subscriber identity to the mobile device.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the determining comprises receiving a temporary identity request from the mobile device, the temporary identity request comprising an indication of the second location area.
8. The method of claim 6 , further comprising transmitting a request to a host system to forward communications addressed to the primary subscriber identity to the temporary subscriber identity.
9. The method of claim 6 , further comprising updating a database to indicate that the temporary subscriber identity has been assigned to the mobile device.
10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
receiving a notification that the mobile device has changed location; and
updating the database to indicate that the temporary subscriber identity is no longer assigned to the mobile device.
11. A mobile device having a primary subscriber identity associated therewith, the primary subscriber identity being associated with a first location area in a home network, the mobile device comprising:
a memory;
a communication subsystem configured to wirelessly receive a temporary subscriber identity from a subscriber identity server while the mobile device is located in a second location area in the home network during regional roaming, the second location area having a different Location Area Code than the first location area;
a processor configured to:
store the temporary subscriber identity in the memory of the mobile device; and
initialize the mobile device to use the temporary subscriber identity.
12. The mobile device of claim 11 , wherein the mobile device is configured to:
prior to receiving the temporary subscriber identity, detect that the mobile device is located in the second location area; and
in response to the detecting, transmit a temporary identity request to the subscriber identity server, the temporary identity request comprising an indication of the second location area.
13. The mobile device of claim 11 , wherein the mobile device is configured to:
prior to initializing the mobile device to use the temporary subscriber identity, transmit a request to a host system to forward communications addressed to the primary subscriber identity to the temporary subscriber identity.
14. The mobile device of claim 11 , wherein the mobile device is configured to:
detect that the mobile device has changed its location from the second location area to the first location area;
transmit a release request to the subscriber identity server to release the temporary subscriber identity; and
re-initialize the mobile device to use the primary subscriber identity.
15. The mobile device of claim 11 , wherein the memory is a programmable subscriber identity module provided on the mobile device.
16. An apparatus for managing identity of a mobile device during regional roaming, wherein the mobile device has a primary subscriber identity associated therewith, the primary subscriber identity being associated with a first location area in a home network, the apparatus comprising:
a database configured to store a plurality of available identities;
a processor configured to:
determine that the mobile device is located in a second location area in the home network, the second location area having a different Location Area Code than the first location area;
select a temporary subscriber identity from the plurality of available identities, wherein the selected temporary subscriber identity is associated with the second location area; and
transmit the selected temporary subscriber identity to the mobile device.
17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the determining comprises receiving a temporary identity request from the mobile device, the temporary identity request comprising an indication of the second location area.
18. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the apparatus is configured to transmit a request to a host system to forward communications addressed to the primary subscriber identity to the temporary subscriber identity.
19. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the apparatus is configured to update a database to indicate that the temporary subscriber identity has been assigned to the mobile device.
20. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the apparatus is configured to:
receive a notification that the mobile device has changed location; and
update the database to indicate that the temporary subscriber identity is no longer assigned to the mobile device.