Auto-Provisioning IP Services via Equipment Identification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current telecommunications networks face challenges in simplifying user registration processes, requiring significant user effort and organizational processes, and are inefficient in providing access to new services when users change equipment or when network services are updated.

Innovation Solution

An improved auto-provisioning method that dynamically updates IP services by checking user equipment type and provisioning user data transparently, allowing access to a group of IP services based on user equipment capabilities, with features like IMEI code analysis and authentication phases to ensure secure access.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a-priori provisioning procedure is implemented to provision user data in advance for all users, then user registration is simplified, but network resources in HSS are unnecessarily consumed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser registrationVSAvoidnetwork resources
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-provisioning user data in the HSS database before users actually subscribe to services. This allows users to be automatically recognized and provisioned when they first access the network, eliminating the need for manual registration procedures while avoiding continuous resource consumption since data is only pre-loaded when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Quantity of substance

If auto-provisioning is implemented to record user data when a service session is set up, then network resources are optimized, but service provisioning time is delayed and user registration remains complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork resourcesVSAvoidservice provisioning time
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary provisioning of user data in the HSS before the user actually needs to access services. When a user first connects to the network, the system checks if user data already exists in HSS, and if not, automatically provisions it in advance. This eliminates service provisioning delays while optimizing network resources by only provisioning when necessary.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements self-service by automatically detecting new users and provisioning their data without requiring manual intervention or complex user registration procedures. The network autonomously manages the provisioning process based on user equipment identification, reducing both time loss and operational complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If user data is provisioned once at the first session set-up, then provisioning frequency is reduced, but users cannot access new services when changing equipment or when network services are updated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprovisioning frequencyVSAvoidservice access
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic provisioning system that updates user data in HSS based on current user equipment characteristics. When users connect with different devices or when new services are deployed, the system detects changes in equipment identifiers and automatically updates the provisioned data, ensuring users can access new services while maintaining efficient provisioning frequency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Reliability

If traditional registration procedures are required for users to access services, then service security is maintained, but user effort and organizational processes increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice securityVSAvoiduser registration
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements self-service registration where users automatically authenticate by presenting their equipment identifiers (such as IMEI) when connecting to the network. The system autonomously verifies these identifiers against pre-provisioned data in HSS and grants service access without requiring users to perform manual registration procedures, thereby maintaining security while dramatically simplifying the user experience.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP2520067B1Method for providing IP services to a user of a public network
Publication Date: 2018.02.14 TELECOM ITALIA SPA
  • EP2520067B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2520067B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2520067B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

It is disclosed a method for providing IP services to a user of a public network. The user accesses (300) the public network using a user equipment which supports a first set of IP services. The network provides a second set of IP services. A third set of IP services, comprised in said first and second set of IP services, is identified and the user is allowed to access a plurality of IP services of said third set. A public network suitable to implement the method is also disclosed.