IP Library Granted Patent US 9,043,879
Granted Patent B1
US 9,043,879 · App. 13/546,688 · Granted May 26, 2015

Facilitating enforcement of PRL restrictions

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,043,879
App. No.
13/546,688
Granted
May 26, 2015
Kind
B1
Abstract

Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for facilitating enforcement of PRL restrictions are provided. The method includes receiving a registration request from a user device. The registration request includes a device identifier that identifies the user device and a network identifier that identifies a network selected for use. The device identifier is used to reference a list of networks permitted for use or prohibited for use by the user device. Thereafter, it is determined that the network selected for use by the user device is unauthorized based on a comparison of the network identifier that identifies the network selected for use to the list of networks permitted or prohibited for use by the user device. Based on the determination that the network selected for use by the user device is unauthorized, the user device is prevented from utilizing the selected network for voice or data services.

Claims (37)

1. One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon that, when executed, perform a method for facilitating enforcement of PRL restrictions, the method comprising:

receiving a registration request from a user device, the registration request comprising a device identifier that identifies the user device and a network identifier that identifies a network selected for use by the user device;

using the device identifier to reference a preferred roaming list (PRL) assigned to the user device, the PRL comprising a list of networks permitted for use by the user device or prohibited for use by the user device;

remote from the device, determining that the network selected for use by the user device is unauthorized based on a comparison of the network identifier that identifies the network selected for use by the user device to the list of networks permitted or prohibited for use by the user device; and

based on the determination that the network selected for use by the user device is unauthorized, preventing the user device from utilizing the selected network for voice or data services.

2. The media of claim 1 , wherein the device identifier is used to obtain a preferred roaming list (PRL) identifier associated with the use device.

3. The media of claim 2 , wherein the preferred roaming list (PRL) identifier is used to obtain the list of networks permitted for use by the user device or prohibited for use by the user device.

4. The media of claim 1 , wherein the selected network is determined to be unauthorized based on the network identifier associated with the selected network matching a network identifier included in the networks prohibited for use by the device.

5. The media of claim 1 , wherein the selected network is determined to be unauthorized based on the network identifier associated with the selected network not matching any network identifiers included in the networks permitted for use by the user device.

6. The media of claim 1 further comprising providing one or more permitted networks to the user device.

7. The media of claim 1 further comprising providing an alert to another component to indicate a potential fraudulent activity performed at the user device.

8. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon that, when executed, perform a method for facilitating enforcement of PRL restrictions, the method comprising:

receiving a registration request from a user device, the registration request including a network identifier comprising at least a system identification code (SID) indicating a network selected to provide one or more services to the user device;

obtaining a preferred roaming list identifier associated with the user device;

using the preferred roaming list identifier to obtain a preferred roaming list, or details associated therewith, that is designated for the user device, wherein the preferred roaming list, or details associated therewith, includes a list of preferred networks and prohibited networks corresponding with the user device identified at least by a set of SIDS;

remote from the user device, comparing the at least the SID indicating the network selected to provide the one or more services to the user device to the set of SIDs indicating the preferred networks and the prohibited networks from the preferred roaming list; and

based on the comparison, determining whether the network selected to provide the one or more services to the user device is an authorized network, wherein

when the selected network is an authorized network, enabling the user device to utilize the one or more services, and

when the selected network is an unauthorized network, preventing the user device from utilizing the one or more services.

9. The media of claim 8 , wherein the network identifier further comprises a network identification code (NID).

10. The media of claim 8 , wherein the preferred roaming list identifier is obtained from a data profile system.

11. The media of claim 8 , wherein the preferred roaming list, or details associated therewith, is obtained from a PRL update server that manages user device preferred roaming list updates.

12. The media of claim 8 , wherein the list of preferred networks and prohibited networks corresponding with the user device is further identified by a set of network identification codes.

13. The media of claim 8 , wherein a determination is made that the network selected to provide the one or more services to the user device is an unauthorized network based on the at least the SID indicating the selected network matching a SID within the prohibited network.

14. The media of claim 8 , wherein a determination is made that the network selected to provide the one or more services to the user device is an unauthorized network based on the at least the SID indicating the selected network not matching a SID within the permitted network.

15. A system for facilitating enforcement of PRL restrictions, the system comprising:

a user device that utilizes a preferred roaming list (PRL) stored at the user device to select a network for providing one or more services to the user device, wherein the PRL comprises a list of one or more preferred or prohibited networks corresponding with the user device; and

a data session registrar remote from the user device configured to:

receive a registration request provided by the user device that includes an indication of the selected network,

compare the indication of the selected network to the PRL, wherein the PRL is obtained from a network component remote from the user device,

based on the comparison, determine that the selected network is not permitted for use by the user device, and

deny registration for the user device.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the indication of the selected network comprises a system identification code and a network identification code.

17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the list of the one or more preferred or prohibited networks comprises a list of one or more system identification codes and one or more network identification codes indicated as preferred networks and one or more system identification codes and one or more network identification codes indicated as prohibited networks.

18. The system of claim 15 , wherein the network component remote from the user device comprises a PRL update server that manages preferred roaming lists issued to user devices.

19. The system of claim 15 , wherein the data session registrar is further configured to provide one or more permitted networks to the user device.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the data session registrar is further configured to provide an alert indicating a potential misuse of the preferred roaming list stored at the user device.

Assignments (6)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 23, 2022
From: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
To: IBSV LLC; LAYER3 TV, LLC; PUSHSPRING, LLC; T-MOBILE CENTRAL LLC; T-MOBILE USA, INC.; ASSURANCE WIRELESS USA, L.P.; BOOST WORLDWIDE, LLC; CLEARWIRE COMMUNICATIONS LLC; CLEARWIRE IP HOLDINGS LLC; SPRINTCOM LLC; SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY L.P.; SPRINT INTERNATIONAL INCORPORATED; SPRINT SPECTRUM LLC
Reel/Frame 062595/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 4, 2021
From: SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY L.P.
To: T-MOBILE INNOVATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 055604/0001 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF FIRST PRIORITY AND JUNIOR PRIORITY SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS Recorded Apr 2, 2020
From: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
To: SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY L.P.
Reel/Frame 052969/0475 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 2, 2020
From: T-MOBILE USA, INC.; ISBV LLC; T-MOBILE CENTRAL LLC; LAYER3 TV, INC.; PUSHSPRING, INC.; BOOST WORLDWIDE, LLC; CLEARWIRE COMMUNICATIONS LLC; CLEARWIRE IP HOLDINGS LLC; CLEARWIRE LEGACY LLC; SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY L.P.; SPRINT INTERNATIONAL INCORPORATED; SPRINT SPECTRUM L.P.; ASSURANCE WIRELESS USA, L.P.
To: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
Reel/Frame 053182/0001 →
GRANT OF FIRST PRIORITY AND JUNIOR PRIORITY SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS Recorded Mar 6, 2017
From: SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY L.P.
To: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
Reel/Frame 041895/0210 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 11, 2012
From: REEVES, RAYMOND EMILIO; YOUNGS, SIMON; KOLLER, GARY DUANE; PEDEN, MARK DOUGLAS
To: SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY L.P.
Reel/Frame 028531/0055 →