Methods and systems for temporarily permitting a wireless device to access a wireless network

1. A method for temporarily permitting a wireless device to access a wireless network, the method comprising:

storing, by a computer system functioning as part of the wireless network, a plurality of international mobile subscriber identities (IMSIs) and, associated with each IMSI of the plurality of IMSIs, an indication of a lifetime access period;

receiving, by the computer system from the wireless device, an authentication request indicating an IMSI of the plurality of IMSIs, wherein the wireless device has not previously been authenticated in association with the IMSI;

authenticating, by the computer system, the IMSI for use in accessing the wireless network;

after authenticating the IMSI for use on the wireless network, determining, by the computer system, the lifetime access period associated with the IMSI has expired; and

in response to determining the lifetime access period associated with the IMSI has expired, revoking authentication of the IMSI for use in accessing the wireless network.

2. The method for temporarily permitting the wireless device to access the wireless network of claim 1 , the method further comprising:

initiating, by the computer system, in response to the authentication request, a timer for the lifetime access period stored in association with the IMSI of the plurality of IMSIs.

3. The method for temporarily permitting the wireless device to access the wireless network of claim 2 , wherein initiating the timer in association with the IMSI of the plurality of IMSIs comprises recording a date and a time of the authentication of the IMSI.

4. The method for temporarily permitting the wireless device to access the wireless network of claim 1 , wherein:

for a first subset of the plurality of IMSIs, the lifetime access period is of a first predefined duration; and

for a second subset of the plurality of IMSIs, the lifetime access period is of a second predefined duration that is shorter than the first predefined duration.

5. The method for temporarily permitting the wireless device to access the wireless network of claim 1 , the method further comprising:

routing, by the wireless network, the authentication request to the computer system based on the IMSI being within a predefined range, wherein at least some other authentication requests having IMSIs outside the predefined range are alternatively routed to a home location register.

6. The method for temporarily permitting the wireless device to access the wireless network of claim 1 , wherein revoking authentication of the IMSI for use in accessing the wireless network comprises not refreshing an entry for the IMSI in a visitor location register (VLR), serving GPRS support node (SGSN), or a Mobility Management Entity (MME).

7. The method for temporarily permitting the wireless device to access the wireless network of claim 1 , wherein revoking authentication of the IMSI for use in accessing the wireless network comprises sending, by the computer system, a remove command to a visitor location register (VLR), serving GPRS support node (SGSN), or a Mobility Management Entity (MME).

8. The method for temporarily permitting the wireless device to access the wireless network of claim 1 , wherein authenticating the IMSI for use in accessing the wireless network comprises authenticating the IMSI for use in accessing the wireless network exclusively for data services.

9. A detection device for temporarily permitting a wireless device to access a wireless network, the detection device comprising:

one or more processors; and

a memory communicatively coupled with and readable by the one or more processors and having stored therein processor-readable instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

cause a plurality of international mobile subscriber identities (IMSIs) to be stored and, associated with each IMSI of the plurality of IMSIs, an indication of a lifetime access period;

receive an authentication request indicating an IMSI of the plurality of IMSIs, wherein the wireless device has not previously been authenticated in association with the IMSI;

authenticate the IMSI for use in accessing the wireless network;

after authenticating the IMSI for use on the wireless network, determine the lifetime access period associated with the IMSI has expired; and

in response to determining the lifetime access period associated with the IMSI has expired, revoke authentication of the IMSI for use in accessing the wireless network.

10. The detection device for temporarily permitting the wireless device to access the wireless network of claim 9 , wherein the processor-readable instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to:

initiate, in response to the authentication request, a timer for the lifetime access period stored in association with the IMSI of the plurality of IMSIs.

11. The detection device for temporarily permitting the wireless device to access the wireless network of claim 10 , wherein initiating the timer in association with the IMSI of the plurality of IMSIs comprises recording a date and a time of the authentication of the IMSI.

12. The detection device for temporarily permitting the wireless device to access the wireless network of claim 9 , wherein:

for a first subset of the plurality of IMSIs, the lifetime access period is of a first predefined duration; and

for a second subset of the plurality of IMSIs, the lifetime access period is of a second predefined duration that is shorter than the first predefined duration.

13. The detection device for temporarily permitting the wireless device to access the wireless network of claim 9 , wherein the processor-readable instructions which cause the one or more processors to revoke authentication of the IMSI for use in accessing the wireless network comprises processor-readable instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to:

not refresh an entry for the IMSI in a visitor location register (VLR), serving GPRS support node (SGSN), or a Mobility Management Entity (MME).

14. The detection device for temporarily permitting the wireless device to access the wireless network of claim 9 , wherein the processor-readable instructions which cause the one or more processors to revoke authentication of the IMSI for use in accessing the wireless network comprises processor-readable instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to:

cause a remove command to be sent to a visitor location register (VLR), serving GPRS support node (SGSN), or a Mobility Management Entity (MME).

15. The detection device for temporarily permitting the wireless device to access the wireless network of claim 9 , wherein the processor-readable instructions which cause the one or more processors to authenticate the IMSI for use in accessing the wireless network comprises processor-readable instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to:

authenticate the IMSI for use in accessing the wireless network exclusively for data services.