Method and apparatus for using temporary mobile subscriber identification information in a device to provide services for a limited time period

1. A device, comprising:

a processing system including a processor; and

a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, performs operations, comprising:

receiving a first notification, from an identity proxy function, indicating an identity mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) is being registered, wherein a communication device sends a registration request that includes the IMSI towards a first registration function, wherein the identity proxy function intercepts the registration request and sends the first notification to the device;

identifying the IMSI as a temporary IMSI;

sending a first registration message to the first registration function, wherein the first registration function includes a first registry, wherein the first registration message indicates to the first registration function to add the IMSI to the first registry;

sending a second registration message to a second registration function, wherein the second registration function includes a second registry, wherein the second registration message indicates to the second registration function to remove the IMSI from the second registry;

receiving from a billing server a request for services for the communication device, wherein the request for services includes a limited time period for the services;

setting a timer according to the limited time period;

detecting that the timer has expired;

transmitting a third registration message to the first registration function, wherein the third registration message indicates to the first registration function to remove the IMSI from the first registry; and

transmitting a fourth registration message to the second registration function, wherein the fourth registration message indicates to the second registration function to add the IMSI to the second registry.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the operations comprise sending a second notification to the identity proxy function indicating that the IMSI has been added to the first registry of the first registration function, wherein the identity proxy function sends the registration request to the first registration function in response to receiving the second notification to complete a registration process for the communication device for communication services.

3. The device of claim 2 , wherein the first registration function sends a registration confirmation message in response to adding the IMSI to the first registry and receiving the registration request from the communication device via the identity proxy function.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the operations comprise receiving a third notification indicating that the services are terminated prior to the timer expiring.

5. The device of claim 4 , wherein the operations comprise transmitting a fifth registration message to the first registration function, wherein the fifth registration message indicates to the first registration function to remove the IMSI from the first registry.

6. The device of claim 5 , wherein the operations comprise transmitting a sixth registration message to the second registration function, wherein the sixth registration message indicates to the second registration function to add the IMSI to the second registry.

7. The device of claim 6 , wherein the third notification is provided by the billing server.

8. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a processing system including a processor, a first notification, from an identity proxy function, indicating an identity mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) is being registered, wherein a communication device sends a registration request that includes the IMSI to a first registration function, wherein the identity proxy function intercepts the registration request and sends the first notification to the processing system;

sending, by the processing system, a first registration message to the first registration function, wherein the first registration function includes a first registry, wherein the first registration message indicates to the first registration function to add the IMSI to the first registry;

sending, by the processing system, a second registration message to a second registration function, wherein the second registration function includes a second registry, wherein the second registration message indicates to the second registration function to remove the IMSI from the second registry;

receiving, by the processing system, from a billing server a request for services for the communication device, wherein the request for services includes a limited time period for the services;

setting, by the processing system, a timer according to the limited time period;

detecting that the timer has expired;

transmitting a third registration message to the first registration function, wherein the third registration message indicates to the first registration function to remove the IMSI from the first registry; and

transmitting a fourth registration message to the second registration function, wherein the fourth registration message indicates to the second registration function to add the IMSI to the second registry.

9. The method of claim 8 , comprising identifying, by the processing system, the IMSI as a temporary IMSI.

10. The method of claim 8 , comprising sending a second notification to the identity proxy function indicating that the IMSI has been added to the first registry of the first registration function, wherein the identity proxy function sends the registration request to the first registration function in response to receiving the second notification to complete a registration process for the communication device for communication services.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first registration function sends a registration confirmation message in response to adding the IMSI to the first registry and receiving the registration request from the communication device via the identity proxy function.

12. The method of claim 8 , comprising receiving a third notification indicating that the services are terminated prior to the timer expiring.

13. The method of claim 12 , comprising:

transmitting a fifth registration message to the first registration function, wherein the fifth registration message indicates to the first registration function to remove the IMSI from the first registry; and

transmitting a sixth registration message to the second registration function, wherein the sixth registration message indicates to the second registration function to add the IMSI to the second registry.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the third notification is provided by the billing server.

15. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium, comprising executable instruction that, when executed by a processing system including a processor, performs operations, comprising:

sending a first registration message to a first registration function, wherein the first registration function includes a first registry, wherein the first registration message indicates to the first registration function to add an IMSI to the first registry;

sending a second registration message to a second registration function, wherein the second registration function includes a second registry, wherein the second registration message indicates to the second registration function to remove the IMSI from the second registry;

receiving from a billing server a request for services for a communication device, wherein the request for services includes a limited time period for the services;

setting a timer according to the limited time period;

detecting that the timer has expired;

transmitting a third registration message to the first registration function, wherein the third registration message indicates to the first registration function to remove the IMSI from the first registry; and

transmitting a fourth registration message to the second registration function, wherein the fourth registration message indicates to the second registration function to add the IMSI to the second registry.

16. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the sending of the first registration message and the second registration message is in response to receiving a first notification, from an identity proxy function, indicating an identity mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) is being registered, wherein the communication device sends a registration request that includes the IMSI to the first registration function, wherein the identity proxy function intercepts the registration request and sends the first notification to the processing system.

17. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the operations comprise receiving a third notification indicating that the services are terminated prior to the timer expiring.

18. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein the operations comprise transmitting a fifth registration message to the first registration function, wherein the fifth registration message indicates to the first registration function to remove the IMSI from the first registry.

19. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein the operations comprise transmitting a sixth registration message to the second registration function, wherein the sixth registration message indicates to the second registration function to add the IMSI to the second registry.

20. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 19 , wherein the third notification is provided by the billing server.