Method and identification module for network selection
View Patent ↗A method and an identification module SIM of a device in a mobile communication system wherein the SIM provides a first subscriber identity to the device and receives updates for a list of forbidden networks stored in a memory of the identification module. The SIM uses the received updates as a list of available networks for a second subscriber identity and provides the second subscriber identity to the device.
1. A method performed in an identification module SIM of a device in a mobile communication system, the method comprising:
providing a first subscriber identity IMSI_F to the device, the first subscriber identity IMSI_F being a forbidden subscriber identity;
receiving updates for a list of forbidden networks FPLMN stored in a memory of the identification module;
using the received updates as a list of available networks for a second subscriber identity IMSI_P, the second subscriber identity IMSI_P being a regular subscriber identity; and
providing the second subscriber identity IMSI_P to the device.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first subscriber identity IMSI_F is adapted to cause receipt of updates for the list of forbidden networks and/or the second subscriber identity IMSI_P is adapted to enable network attachment by the device.
3. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising deleting the list of forbidden networks.
4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein deleting the list of forbidden networks is performed prior to providing the first subscriber identity and/or providing the second subscriber identity.
5. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising generating the first subscriber identity IMSI_F in the identification module based on location information.
6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein using the received updates comprises selecting one of the networks from the list of available networks for network attachment.
7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein using the received updates comprises providing the list of forbidden networks as a list of available networks for network selection by a network entity.
8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first subscriber identity IMSI_F contains an unacceptable MNC for networks at a location of the mobile device.
9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first subscriber identity IMSI_F contains an unacceptable MCC for networks at a location of the mobile device.
10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first subscriber identity IMSI_F contains an unacceptable MNC and/or MCC compared to all possible networks at a location of the mobile device.
11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first subscriber identity IMSI_F contains a dummy MCC and/or MNC.
12. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a list of preferred networks is amended for attempts of the mobile device to attach to networks using the first subscriber identity.
13. An identification module SIM adapted to perform the method recited in claim 1 .
14. A system comprising the identification module of claim 13 and the device, the device being a user's mobile device including the identification module or a stationary device including the identification module.
15. The system according to claim 14 further comprising a network server that receives the list of forbidden networks and performs network selection based on the received list.