WO2014020237A1 - Method and system for communication in different networks - Google Patents

Abstract

The method of the invention is performed in a communication network for the management of a mobile station communicating between a home network and other networks. The mobile station has a subscriber identification module that holds subscriber information that include both a local subscriber identifier and a roaming subscriber identifier. The method comprises steps in which the mobile station registers to a central core for accessing a network or for a change of network by using the roaming identifier for registration of the subscriber identification module to the network, authentication and location update, the central core managing subscriber information and being connected to the networks. The central core then selects and allocates a new local subscriber identifier based on the updated location and updates the subscriber identification module with the new local subscriber identifier. The mobile station accesses the other network by using the new local subscriber identifier that was allocated in the foregoing step. The system of the invention comprises a mobile station having a subscriber identification module holding subscriber information that include both a local subscriber identifier and a roaming subscriber identifier and has an applet that manages switching of subscriber identifiers based on the updates done by a central core managing subscriber information and being connected to the networks. The central core has means to allocate and update new subscriber identifiers from a database for the subscriber identification module to be used by the mobile station at change of network. The database stores subscriber identifiers to be used by mobile stations at network changes. FIG. 2

Description

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR COMMUNICATION IN DIFFERENT NETWORKS

TECHNICAL FIELD

Method in a communication network for the management of a mobile station communicating between a home network core and other networks.

BACKGROUND

A telecommunications network is a collection of terminals, links and nodes which connect to enable telecommunication between users of the terminals. A network is interconnected by communication channels that allow sharing of resources and information. Networks may be classified according to a wide variety of characteristics, such as the medium used to transport the data, communications protocol used, scale, topology, and organizational scope.

A mobile network is a radio network distributed over land areas called cells, each served by at least one fixed-location transceiver, known as a cell site or base station. In a cellular network, each cell uses a different set of frequencies from neighboring cells, to avoid interference and provide guaranteed bandwidth within each cell. When joined together these cells provide radio coverage over a wide geographic area

GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications, originally Groupe Special Mobile), is a standard set developed by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) to describe technologies for second generation (2G) digital cellular networks. Developed as a replacement for first generation (1 G) analog cellular networks, the GSM standard originally described a digital, circuit switched network optimized for full duplex voice telephony. The standard was expanded over time to include first circuit switched data transport, then packet data transport via GPRS (General Packet Radio Services). Packet data transmission speeds were later increased via EDGE (Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution) referred as EGPRS. The GSM standard is more improved after the development of third generation (3G) UMTS standard developed by the 3GPP. GSM networks will evolve further as they begin to incorporate fourth generation (4G) LTE Advanced standards.

Current Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) and Long Term Evolution (LTE) technologies enable fast mobile data connectivity to a variety of mobile devices. This connectivity is made possible by Mobile Network Operators having a license to the applicable regulated radio spectrum, deploying Radio Access Network (RAN), Core Network and associated systems - as well as offering Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards to subscribers to be used in a variety of devices having compliant radio modules. A Mobile Network Operator or MNO (also known as a wireless service provider, wireless carrier, cellular company, or mobile network carrier) is a provider of wireless communications services that owns or controls all the elements necessary to sell and deliver services to an end user including radio spectrum allocation, wireless network infrastructure, back haul infrastructure, billing, customer care and provisioning computer systems and marketing, customer care, provisioning and repair organizations.

A key defining characteristic of a mobile network operator is that an MNO must own or control access to a radio spectrum license from a regulatory or government entity. A second key defining characteristic of an MNO is that an MNO must own or control the elements of the network infrastructure that are necessary to provide services to subscribers over the licensed spectrum.

A mobile network operator typically also has the necessary provisioning, billing and customer care computer systems and the marketing, customer care and engineering organizations needed to sell, deliver and bill for services. However, an MNO can outsource any of these systems or functions and still be considered an mobile network operator. In addition to obtaining revenue by offering retail services under its own brand, an MNO may also sell access to network services at wholesale rates to Mobile Virtual Network operators or MVNO's. A mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) or (in the United Kingdom) mobile other licensed operator (MOLO) is a wireless communications services provider that does not own the radio spectrum or wireless network infrastructure over which the MVNO provides services to its customers. An MVNO enters into a business agreement with a mobile network operator to obtain bulk access to network services at wholesale rates, then sets retail prices independently. An MVNO may use its own customer service and billing support systems and its own customer service, marketing and sales personnel or it may employ the services of a Mobile Virtual Network Enabler (MVNE).

The radio spectrum for UMTS and LTE frequencies is typically regulated by the regulators in every country and limits the use of that frequency and network to the corresponding country. However, in order to enable visiting users whose home network is from outside the visited country to use such national network and therefore increase the usage and revenue derived from such network by the visitors, Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) have over the years developed and standardized a practice called roaming.

When a subscriber leaves his home network and receives service from another network, he is said to be roaming.

The roaming behavior of the subscribers is controlled and managed by different processes.

A subscriber can roam to networks with which the operator of the subscriber's home network has a roaming agreement. Operators tend to have roaming agreements with as many other network operators as possible, but usually only one network in a given roaming situation is preferred, e.g. of cost, agreement or other reasons. Usually the solutions aim to savings for the operator and roaming management is an important area for the operators to improve the revenue stream.

Roaming behavior is defined in the telecom standards and is controlled by data that is stored on the SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card of a mobile station. The roaming behaviour of the mobile station is based on the contents of roaming control files on the SIM card. When a mobile station has a SIM card in its device, this SIM card is issued by a Mobile Operator in a particular country. Within this country, the IMSI and MSISDN of the SIM is tied to the local Mobile Network Operator (MNO) and are subject to a local tariffing scheme. When travelling abroad, the end-users device with the SIM in it is recognized by the VLR or LTE equivalent (Virtual Location Router) as a non-residential Mobile user, and the hosting MNO charges the home MNO with a roaming tariff. The home MNO is then charging the end-user with the roaming tariff.

There are some known solutions to avoid roaming tariffs.

EP patent 1 407 629 is concerned with a method and system for registering a subscriber having a first international mobile subscriber identity in a visited public mobile network by transmitting a second international mobile subscriber identity from arrange of numbers of the visited public mobile network via a service unit. The solution is concerned with voice telephony and text messaging in roaming situations.

WO publication 201 1/036484 The method comprises selecting a subscriber network identifier on the basis of the current location, to be provisioned, and outputting the selected subscriber network identifier for transmission to the subscribed device. The method is used in roaming situations and enables a subscriber to roam from one network to another as a local user. Location update is performed in the traditional way via the visited network and the home location register.

WO201 1057668 presents a method and apparatus for allowing a terminal to attach to an access network. The terminal determines that the access network does not support a subscriber identifier used by the terminal, and so it attaches to the access network using an IMSI having been pre-provisioned at the terminal. The terminal, once attached, sends a request for a roaming IMSI to a remote node in the subscriber's home network. Having received it, the terminal detaches from the access network and then re-attaches to the access network using the roaming IMSI. The access IMSI is specifically provisioned to allow the subscriber to access a network that does not support the terminal' subscriber identifier. The document uses the concept of choosing between preferred networks and more preferred network and breaking and reconnecting to the network.

The object of this invention is a technique enabling a partnership solution for a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) to cooperate with different MNOs by offering roaming and other kind of network mobility for subscribers by avoiding roaming tariffs and by offering the MNOs revenue streams.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The method of the invention is performed in a communication network for the management of a mobile station communicating between a home network and other networks. The mobile station has a subscriber identification module that holds subscriber information that include both a local subscriber identifier and a roaming subscriber identifier. The method comprises steps in which the mobile station registers to a central core for accessing a network or for a change of network by using the roaming identifier for registration of the subscriber identification module to the network, authentication and location update, the central core managing subscriber information and being connected to the networks. The central core then selects and allocates a new local subscriber identifier based on the updated location and updates the subscriber identification module with the new local subscriber identifier. The mobile station accesses the other network by using the new local subscriber identifier that was allocated in the foregoing step. The system of the invention comprises a mobile station having a subscriber identification module holding subscriber information that include both a local subscriber identifier and a roaming subscriber identifier and has an applet that manages switching of subscriber identifiers based on the updates done by a central core managing subscriber information and being connected to the networks. The central core has means to allocate and update new subscriber identifiers from a database for the subscriber identification module to be used by the mobile station at change of network. The database stores subscriber identifiers to be used by mobile stations at network changes. The preferable embodiments of the invention have the characteristics of the subclaims.

When the mobile station registers for change of network it can either request access to a data network or it can be roaming. Thus, the invention covers different kind of mobility, i.e. both physical mobility at roaming and moving from one network to another when it changes network and the roaming identifier is also used for network access and change.

The central core manages a pool of subscriber identifiers from which the new local subscriber identifier is selected when the mobile station needs a new local subscriber identifier for the actual location. The new local subscriber identifier is released back to the pool after use when not connected to the mobile station as a valid subscriber identifier anymore.

In this text, all kinds of communication networks, like telecommunication networks, computer networks and data networks are included in the term. A telecommunication(s) network is a collection of terminals, links and nodes which connect together to enable telecommunication between users of the terminals. Networks may use circuit switching or message switching. Each terminal in the network must have a unique address so messages or connections can be routed to the correct recipients. A computer network, that is an example of a telecommunication network, often simply referred to as a network, is a collection of computers and devices connected by communications channels that facilitates communications among users and allows users to share resources with other users. Computer networks can be classified according to the hardware and software technology that is used to interconnect the individual devices in the network, The most simplistic definition for a data network is an electronic communications process that allows for transmission and receptive of data, such as letters, spreadsheets, and other types of documents. What sets the data network apart from other forms of communication, such as an audio network, is that the data network is configured to transmit data only. This is in contrast to the audio or voice network, which is often employed for both voice communications and the transmission of data such as a facsimile transmission The networks referred to can be the GSM, GPRS, UMTS, HSPA+, EDGE or LTE-based networks and the mobile station can be a 2G, 3G or 4G mobile station. It can e.g. be a GSM phone, a feature phone, a smartphone, a laptop and a tablet. The mobile stations that are used in the invention have (U)SIM cards and the primary use case is the access to mobile networks. For using the invention, a GSM, UMTS and/or LTE mobile station is needed.

The invention is used in cases where a packet switched data access (Internet access or intranet access) is provided rather than using the invention for voice or SMS access.

A requirement is that the mobile station is getting connected to a foreign or home mobile 2G/3G/4G network. For the pre-provisioning process, the internet connection could be a replacement of that. In practice the home network of the mobile station is in the invention the Radio Access Network Part from a partnering Mobile Network Operator (MNO) in combination with the central core as operated by a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) otherwise acting like a MNO. The module can be the Subscriber Identification Module, (U)SIM, and the subscriber information consists of at least the International Mobile Subscriber Identity, IMSI, the International Mobile Equipment (IMEI) number, and the unique serial number (ICCID).

The central core has an inventive functional unit managing a pool of IMSIs in a database and when new IMSIs are allocated for mobile stations at roaming or network change, a suitable IMSI is selected from this pool.

For accessing the Radio Access Network part of the home work, IMSI is used as the subscriber identifier in a normal way but the central core uses the ICCID or IMEI to identify the subscriber as a unique identifier, which is essential since there can be several IMSIs in the pool dynamically allocated for a subscriber and one subscriber can have several IMSIS. The IMSIs can be categorized into different types based on the primary role of the given IMSI. The different types used in within the DSP solution are.

Temporary I MS I/Roaming IMSI: An initial IMSI allocated to the SIM card to facilitate online just-in-time activation of the SIM card. Typically the temporary IMSI belongs to a roaming service provider so that users can also activate the SIM card in a country where the operator might not have a direct roaming agreement with the local service providers. The use of a temporary IMSI also eliminates the need to have pre-configured IMSIs for each local MNO thereby reducing the SIM card supply-chain complexity. This is the IMSI used by the mobile station when it is registering to a foreign or another network than the initial home network, e.g. when roaming. The temporary IMSI is a roaming identifier and is also called roaming 11 MSI in this text.

Primary IMSI: The Primary IMSI can in the invention be changed overtime as in the central core, the ICCID or IMEI is used to identify the (U)SIM/Subscriber in the form of an unique identifier. This IMSI is allocated by the local authority regulator. This is a very important advantage in the invention, since a subscriber can have a primary IMSI belonging e.g. to another country if the subscriber is travelling in a way (for example back and forth from a certain country) that this is the most practical and economic situation.

In practice, the foreign network is not foreign anymore after registering, since the mobile station now uses an IMSI (the primary IMSI) that is a home IMSI for the foreign network that the mobile station roamed into. Therefore, the foreign network to roam or changed into is called "other network".

The primary IMSI can be dynamically managed Over-The Air (OTA) for a given customer based on the roaming region. The primary IMSI is dynamically allocated from the pool of IMSIs. The inventive functional unit of the central core manages as many pools as there are countries/local partners.

IMSIs are taken from the pool once the subscriber is switching to a new network, e.g. when roaming into a new country/local partner and, released back to the pool when the customer is no longer roaming with that local partner, or when no longer used. The dynamic management of IMSI ensures that the pool of IMSIs of the local MNO are efficiently managed, enabling a small pool of local IMSIs to cater to a large roaming customer base. Since the IMSIs are not connected to the mobile station, only when in use, they are released back to the pool which means that less IMSIs than mobile stations are needed.

There is an applet on the (U)SIM card that seamlessly manages the switching of the primary IMSIs. Thus, there is only one IMSI valid, stored in a standard elementary file of the SIM card, at a time. The primary and temporary/roaming IMSIs will still both be stored on the applet using private elementary files and be managed Over-The-Air OTA, but only one IMSI is valid at a time.

The applet uses the new IMSI as the valid one based on rules and dynamic assignment by the functional unit following the IMSI update/renewal procedure. A fallback IMSI is always available at any time on the SIM card, i.e. the temporary IMSI.

The change of the IMSI and the update OTA of a new IMSI are done in real-time and transparently to the end user subscriber, without any notable impact on the user experience.

The dynamic IMSI allocation in accordance with the invention enables the provision of the most suitable network available to the customers, e.g. the best possible rates for data services when roaming. This is done by allowing the operator's roaming or network changing customers to perform registration in selected partner networks using a local IMSI. The operator will acquire the right to IMSI ranges from a number of countries where they want to offer coverage. Those IMSI ranges will be managed within the inventive functional unit of the central core and its innovative concept of pool. When a subscriber moves from the home region (i.e. using the current primary/local IMSI) into another region, the applet on the (U)SIM card determines that the user is roaming as the current primary IMSI is not a local IMSI and the following scenarios are possible: • The applet on the (U)SIM card recognizes that the customer does not have a pre- configured list of roaming IMSIs or the customer is not roaming into those regions. In these cases, the applet uses the Global Roaming IMSI (i.e. the roaming/temporary I MSI) as a fallback IMSI to perform the initial registration. Alternatively, the applet can also use the Primary/Home IMSI as the fallback IMSI provided that the roaming agreements are in place for all the Home/local MNO with different service providers.

• The process of dynamically assigning a new primary IMSI using which customers can have access to data services with "local tariff" is explained in the section of the detailed description of this text.

In the invention a data call can be initiated in the operator's partner network in the following way:

Once a subscriber profile with primary IMSIs) has been created in the HLR/HSS, the operator's customer is free to register into one of the operator's partner networks using either the Primary IMSI (local connection) or a valid temporary IMSI (when roaming).

When communicating in a GPRS network, the IMSI ranges allocated by the local partners to the operator and the routing rules are worked in a way that the Serving GPRS Support Node SGSN, that is responsible for the delivery of data packets from and to the mobile stations within its geographical service area, will engage with the remote HLR/HSS, which is seen as a local HLR/HSS from the local partner.

At registration, using one of the IMSI allocated, the customer profile is downloaded into the partner SGSN. When the device initiates the PDP context establishment, the SGSN will route the request to the operator's Gateway GPRS Support Node GGSN based on the APN information in the Packet Data Protocol PDP creation request. The operator's GGSN allocates a IP address and a data connection is set up through the operator's GGSN allowing the customer to benefit from the operator's data services. The Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN) is a main component of the GPRS network and is responsible for the interworking between the GPRS network and external packet switched networks, like the Internet and X.25 networks. Access Point Name (APN) is a configurable network identifier used by a mobile device when connecting to a GSM carrier. The carrier will then examine this identifier to determine what type of network connection should be created, for example: what IP addresses should be assigned to the wireless device, what security methods should be used, and how or if, it should be connected to some private customer network.

More specifically, the Access Point Name (APN) identifies an IP Packet Data Network (PDN), that a mobile data user wants to communicate with. In addition to identifying a PDN, an APN may also be used to define the type of service, (e.g. connection to wireless application protocol (WAP) server, multimedia messaging service (MMS)), that is provided by the PDN. APN is used in 3GPP data access networks, e.g. general packet radio service (GPRS), evolved packet core (EPC) of LTE.

This invention describes a methodology and technical implementation for providing a mobile service using multiple radio networks through different mobile network operators as the home operator service to by-pass the process of traditional roaming.

The invention is performed by changing the identity of the (U)SIM card over-the-air for accessing the most suitable mobile radio network (e.g. GSM, UMTS or other 3G network or LTE) via a single mobile core network. The unique identity of the attached active IMSI will remain registered by the usage of the ICCID or the IMEI, instead of the IMSI itself to identify the subscriber, i.e the IMSI on the HLR/HSS is now a temporary stored identity, only to be used to register in the local networks.

The "roaming" SIM cards are treated in such a way that it acts as a local SIM. This is done by altering the IMSI number or more specifically changing to a IMSI number with the local MCC in it, on the SIM over-the.air.

Requirements to achieve this are:

• MVNO agreements with MNOs

· Registration with the local regulators for a provider of electronic communications with the local regulators. • According to local regulation office rules and regulations, local IMSI ranges.

• The implementation of network core elements in such a way that free-IMSI

assignments can be made on a SIM card. SIM cards are enabled to load or switch to a local IMSI (meaning an IMSI with a MNC of the operator and MCC of the country of presence) each time a border is crossed when the change from one radio access network to another is needed.

Instead of the IMSI being the unique identifier that describes the subscriber, the ICCD or IMEI can be used as the unique identifier in all core network and Business supporting systems. This secures customer behavior tracking, secure billing etc. Another advantage of using the ICCID or IMEI as the unique identifier is that they are respectively tied to SIM card or device Hardware. The subscriber is identified in the Base Station Subsystem BSS instead of the HLR meaning that the subscriber may have multiple IMSIs (and eventually ICCIDs if the (U)SIM card has to be changed). The IMSI update is initiated by the algorithm in then (U)SIM card, not in an external system.

Adjustments in the common setup of 3GPP or 4G core standard network elements are needed. The invention is implemented so that the following distinct modifications are done for HLR and HSS::

- Allowing for the HLR or HSS subscriber database for more IMSI's to be assigned to a subscriber

- Allowing for the HLR or HSS subscriber database to use the IMEI or ICCID as the main unique identifier for a subscriber. Another advantage of doing this is that the IMEI or ICCID cannot respectively be disconnected from the device or the SIM cards.

- The usage of the MSISDN as described in the 3GPP standards has been reduced to not having a function at all when provisioning a data only service.

- These adjustments will be made, currently under IPR of the applicant by the projected vendors for these elements.

Thus, the invention provides a methodology and technical implementation for a mobile service that uses multiple radio networks by different mobile network operators as the home operator service. The invention can apply GSM or 3GPP (such as GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, HPA+) and/or LTE based network technology, and the most suitable 3GPP or GSM radio network can be offered the subscriber. The methodology and technology can e.g. be used for purposes as

- enabling the subscribers to use any of multiple mobile access networks as their home networks (when there is a MVNO partnership) and thus avoiding traditional roaming and the costs involved in using mobile services outside the home country or region

- enabling the subscribers to use the best available network when the coverage of individual mobile networks are limited for example when implementing new network technologies (LTE, etc.)

- balancing the load between multiple mobile network in cases where two or more radio networks are available. The described method and technology for multi radio network operator mobile data service in avoids the costs of international mobile data roaming. Conventional international mobile data roaming costs will not be incurred by either the end-user or a third party supplying such services. When a conventional user is using a SIM card with prior art technique in its device, this SIM card is issued by a Mobile Operator in a particular country. Within this country the MNO-tied-SIM/IMSI/MSISDN with its local IMSI and MSISDN is subject to local tariffing scheme. When travelling abroad, the end-users device with the SIM in it is recognized by the VLR or LTE equivalent (Virtual Location Register) as a non-residential Mobile user, the hosting MNO charges the home MNO with a roaming tariff, the home MNO is then charging the end-user with the roaming tariff. As the SIM cards of the subscribers are enabled to load or switch to a local IMSI each time a border is crossed, roaming costs will not be incurred. The described method and technology for multi radio network operator mobile data service in UMTS and LTE networks avoids the costs of international mobile data roaming. Conventional international mobile data roaming costs will not be incurred by either the end-user or a third party supplying such services.

In the following, the invention will be described by means of some examples by referring to figures. These embodiments are not intended to restrict the invention in any way.

DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a architecture view of a prior art network wherein conventional roaming is performed

Figure 2 is a architecture view of a modified network wherein the invention is implemented Figure 3 is a signal diagram presenting an embodiment of the invention

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Figure 1 is an architecture view of a prior art network for mobile (or wireless) telecommunication presenting both the home network 1 of a given mobile station and visitor networks 2, 3, 4, and 5 operated by a third party Mobile Network Operator.

Each home or visitor network consists of several components for call handling depending on whether the network in questions is a GSM, UMTS or other network.

A detailed architecture for the components of each home or visitor network is not shown in figure 1 but some components and different types of networks are mentioned to facilitate the understanding of the difference between a conventional network and a network of the invention presented in figure 2. The GSM network can be divided into three major parts. The first part, the Mobile Station (MS) is carried by the subscriber. The Mobile Station (MS) 7a, 7b is served within the coverage area of a cell of the network. The second one, the Base Station Subsystem (BSS) controls the radio link with the Mobile Station. A cell is formed by the coverage area of a Base Transceiver Station (BTS), which serves the MS in its coverage area. Several BTS stations together are controlled by one Base Station Controller (BSC). The BTS and BSC together form the Base Station Subsystem (BSS).

The third one, The Network Subsystem, the main part of which is the Mobile services Switching Center (MSC), performs the switching of calls between the mobile and other fixed or mobile network users, as well as management of mobile services, such as authentication.

The communication from BSC further is based on signaling system no. 7 (SS7). Communication between the different function authorities is based on signaling system # 7(SS7). The SS7 network and protocol are used for e.g basic call setup, management, wireless services, wireless roaming, and mobile subscriber authentication, enhanced call features thus providing efficient and secure worldwide telecommunications.

The mobile station can move away from the area covered by one cell and enter the area covered by another cell. The call can be transferred to the second cell without call termination when the phone gets outside the range of the first cell in a process called handover or handoff. The process is called roaming when the mobile station not only leaves the cell but even leaves his home network and receives service from another network.

The Home Location Register (HLR) is a database used for permanent storage and management of subscriptions and service profiles. The HLR provides the routing information for an indicated subscriber. A HLR is thus a database of subscriber (user) information, i.e., customer profiles, used in mobile (cellular) networks. It is a key component of mobile networks. A HLR contains user information such as e.g. account information, account status, user preferences, features subscribed to by the user user's current location.

The Visitor Location Register (VLR) is a database that contains temporary information about subscribers and local subscriber capabilities. A VLR is a database, similar to a HLR, which is used by the mobile network to temporarily hold profiles of roaming users (users outside their home area). This VLR data is based on the user information retrieved from a HLR.

Each mobile network 2, 3, 4, and 5 has its own HLR and VLR. When a MSC detects a mobile user's presence in the area covered by its network, it first checks a database to determine if the user is in his/her home area or is roaming, i.e., the user is a visitor.

Thus, when a user is in its home area, HLR has the necessary information for initiating, terminating, or receiving a call and when a user is roaming, VLR contacts the user's HLR to get the necessary information to set up a temporary user profile.

The user's location is recorded in the HLR, and in case the user is roaming, it is also recorded in the VLR. When the user wants to make a call in a home are, MSC contacts the HLR prior to setting up the call and when roaming, MSC contacts the VLR prior to setting up the call.

There are different kinds of mobile stations, like GSM phones, smartphones, laptops and tablets. A smartphone is a mobile phone built on a mobile computing platform, with more advanced computing ability and connectivity than a simpler feature phone, which at the time of manufacture is not considered to be a smartphone, but nevertheless has additional functions over and above standard mobile services, like voice and text messaging by Short Message Service SMS. Voice over IP (VoIP, or Voice over Internet Protocol) commonly refers to the communication protocols, technologies, methodologies, and transmission techniques involved in the delivery of voice communications and multimedia sessions over Internet Protocol (IP) networks, such as the Internet. VoIP is available on many smartphones and Internet devices so that users of portable devices that are not phones, may place calls or send SMS text messages over 3G or Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi is a popular technology that allows an electronic device to exchange data wirelessly (using radio waves) over a computer network, including high-speed Internet connections. A device that can use Wi-Fi (such as a personal computer, video game console, smartphone, tablet, or digital audio player) can connect to a network resource such as the Internet via a wireless network access point.

Smartphones use SIM cards, cell phone carriers that use GSM technology use SIM cards, and LTE statons use SIM cards. The SIM cards are sometimes called USIM cards.

A tablet computer, or a tablet, is a mobile computer, larger than a mobile phone or personal digital assistant, integrated into a flat touch screen and primarily operated by touching the screen rather than using a physical keyboard. It often uses an onscreen virtual keyboard, a passive stylus pen, or a digital pen. The term may also apply to a variety of form factors that differ in position of the screen with respect to a keyboard. The standard form of tablet does not have an integrated keyboard but may be connected to one with a wireless link or a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port. Universal Serial Bus (USB) is an industry standard for short-distance digital data communications intended for computer connectivity.

Mobile Stations (MS) 7a, 7b using SIM cards consist of two distinct entities. The actual hardware is the Mobile Equipment (ME), which consists of the physical equipment, such as the radio transceiver, display and digital signal processors. The mobile equipment is uniquely identified by the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI), which is a unique code that corresponds to a specific GSM handset. The subscriber information is stored in the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM), implemented as a Smart Card. The SIM card contains the International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) and identifies the subscriber, a secret key for authentication, and other user information. The elements that identify the subscriber are thus the IMSI and the MSISDN, respectively, located on the SIM card and the Subscriber databases are country specific. A Mobile Country Code (MCC) is a part of the International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) number, which uniquely identifies a particular subscriber, and is also stored on the (usually) removable SIM card. The current MCC (i.e. the country in which the modem is now) may also be obtained from a GSM/UMTS wireless modem. The list of Mobile Country Codes (MCCs) is used in identifying mobile stations in wireless telephone networks, particularly GSM and UMTS networks). A Mobile Network Code (MNC) is used in combination with a Mobile Country Code (MCC) (also known as a "MCC / MNC tuple") to uniquely identify a mobile phone operator/carrier.

The Mobile Subscriber Integrated Services Digital Network Number (MSISDN) is a number uniquely identifying a subscription in a GSM or a UMTS mobile network. It is the telephone number to the SIM card in a mobile/cellular phone. This is the full phone number of a subscriber, including the national country code (e.g. 1 for US, 44 for UK, etc.). The purpose of the MSISDN is simply to allow a device to be addressed when called or messaged in case of SMS and MMS. A subscriber can have multiple MSISDNs (e.g. one phone number for business, one for personal calls, one for fax, etc.), but generally only one IMSI. The MSISDN does not need to be stored on the SIM card.

The operator declares the subscription in a database inside the network, which holds the correspondence between the IMSI and the MSISDN. By inserting the SIM card into another GSM terminal, the user is able to receive and make calls from that terminal, and receive other subscribed services.

Besides IMSI, IMEI and MSISDN, the SIM card also contains a unique serial number (ICCI D), security authentication and ciphering information, temporary information related to the local network, a list of the services the user has access to and two passwords: a personal identification number (PIN) for ordinary use and a personal unblocking code (PUK) for PIN unlocking. ICCI D (Integrated Circuit Card I D) is a unique number assigned to a SIM card in a GSM cellphone. Using a formula, the ICCID can be converted into the subscriber's IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber Identity) number. GSM, together with other technologies, is part of an evolution of wireless mobile telecommunication that includes e.g. General Packet Radio System (GPRS), and Universal Mobile Telecommunications Service (UMTS).

GSM has many more services than just voice telephony. Today's second-generation GSM networks deliver high quality and secure mobile voice and data services (such as SMS/Text Messaging) with full roaming capabilities across the world.

The GPRS core network is the central part of the General Packet Radio Service which allows 2G, and 3G mobile networks to transmit IP packets to external networks such as the Internet. The GPRS system is an integrated part of the GSM network switching subsystem.

A Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN) is responsible for the delivery of data packets from and to the mobile stations within its geographical service area. Its tasks include packet routing and transfer, mobility management (attach/detach and location management), logical link management, and authentication and charging functions. The location register of the SGSN stores location information (e.g., current cell, current VLR) and user profiles (e.g., IMSI, address (es) used in the packet data network) of all GPRS users registered with this SGSN. The Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN) is a main component of the GPRS network. The GGSN is responsible for the interworking between the GPRS network and external packet switched networks, like the Internet and X.25 networks.

Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) is a third generation mobile cellular technology for networks based on the GSM standard. Developed by the 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project). UMTS specifies a complete network system, covering the radio access network, the core network (Mobile Application Part, or MAP) and the authentication of users via SIM cards (Subscriber Identity Module). In UMTS, the SIM card is often called USIM card. UMTS requires new base stations and new frequency allocations.

GSM is a second generation network. The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) is a collaboration between groups of telecommunications associations, known as the Organizational Partners. The initial scope of 3GPP was to make a globally applicable third-generation (3G) mobile phone system specification based on evolved Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) specifications.

EDGE (also known as Enhanced GPRS or EGPRS) is a data system used on top of GSM networks. It provides nearly three times faster speeds than the outdated GPRS system. EDGE meets the requirements for a 3G network but is usually classified as 2.75G. EDGE does not require new base stations and new frequency allocations. HSPA+, or Evolved High-Speed Packet Access, is a technical standard for wireless, broadband telecommunication. HSPA+ enhances the widely used WCDMA (UMTS) based 3G networks with higher speeds for the end user that are comparable to the newer LTE networks. LTE (an initialism of Long Term Evolution), is marketed as a fourth generation network 4G LTE, and is a standard for wireless communication of high-speed data for mobile phones and data terminals. It is based on the GSM/EDGE and UMTS/HSPA network technologies, increasing the capacity and speed using new modulation techniques. The standard is developed by the 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project).

Home Subscriber Service (HSS) is similar to the GSM Home Location Register HLR. HSS contains user profiles, performs authentication and authorization of the user, and can provide information about the physical location of user.

When the mobile station is roaming, e.g. to visitor network 2, VLR or an LTE equivalent (Virtual Location Router) recognizes it as a non-residential mobile user but can support the communication since it has the temporary information about subscribers and local subscriber capabilities needed. When the mobile station is recognized as a non-residential mobile user, the mobile network operator of the area roamed into can charge the local mobile network operator. Arrow 6 through all the visitor networks in figure 1 indicates that the scenario is the same when the mobile station 7a trying to contact mobile station 7b is roaming to other visitor networks 3, 4 and 5.

Mobility management is a function in GSM and includes location management, security and authentication. When a mobile station is switched on in a new location area, or it moves to a new location area, it must register with the network to indicate its current location.

Normally, a location update request and the IMSI are automatically sent to the new location area, which records the location area information in Visitor Location Register (VLR) and then sends the location information to the subscriber's Home Location Register, HLR. Thus, when a mobile terminal attaches to the network, it sends a signal to the network containing both IMSI end IMEI information. The IMSI is used for location update of the VLR/HLR registers, whereas the IMEI is used for the checking of invalid equipment.

When a mobile station has a SIM card in its device, this SIM card is issued by a Mobile Operator in a particular country. Within this country, the IMSI and MSISDN of the SIM is tied to the local Mobile Network Operator (MNO) and are subject to a local tariffing scheme.

When an end-user using a SIM issued by a Mobile Operator in the home network 1 , is travelling abroad, the end-user's device with the SIM in it is recognized by the VLR or LTE equivalent (Virtual Location Router) in the visitor network roamed into, for example network 2 as a non-residential Mobile user. The hosting MNO of visitor network 2 then charges the home network's 1 MNO with a roaming tariff, and the home network's MNO is then charging the end-user with the roaming tariff.

Figure 2 is an architecture view of a network wherein the invention is implemented.

In the scenario of the invention, the visitor networks 2', 3', 4', and 5' are here called partner networks since there is an agreement between the user's home network and the networks 2', 3', 4', and 5' in question. In practice the home network of the mobile station is the Radio Access Network Part from the partnering MNO in combination with the central core as operated by a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) otherwise acting like a MNO. The mobile station 7a', 7b' in figure 2 has no home network in a roaming situation. Instead, any of the partner networks 2', 3', 4', and 5' can act as a home network after that the mobile station has been assigned by the central core 8 with an IMSI number for that network in question. The central core 8 can be implemented in different ways within the idea of the invention. One such implementation is presented here to have the following functions either integrated in one entity or in separate entities to perform the steps of the method of the invention: The central core 8 holds

- A Dynamic SIM Provisioning (DSP) platform 9, which is the inventive key element in it. DSP performs the function of allocating a new IMSI for a mobile station that is roaming or registering for a change of network or access to a network upon request by the home/partner network of the mobile station intending to roam. The Dynamic SIM Provisioning (DSP) platform 9 having the following sub functions

- - a Dynamic SIM Provisioning DSP work flow manager 10 able to

- - send a provisioning order to create a subscriber profile in the Home Location Register,HLR, /Home Subscriber Server, HSS, and update it when needed and any other system that needs to be synchronized with the information containing the temporary IMSI and the primary IMSI after initial registration,

- - identify a usable local IMSI to be allocated

- - instruct the HLR/HSS to update the subscriber profile with a new primary

IMSI allocated by Dynamic SIM Provisioning DSP work flow manager.

- - a SIM updater function 1 1 with means to - - update the SIM card with the value of the allocated new primary IMSI by an updating Over-The-Air (OTA) procedure as instructed by the DSP work flow manager

- - send a reset message to the Visitor Location Register, VLR of the network to change to, to indicate the new registration of the temporary and primary IMSIs.

- A database13 that is connected to the DSP platform for storing subscriber identifiers to be used by mobile stations at roaming or generally change of network.. The central database 13 holds all country specific IMSIs that are "ordered" in any country in which the service is active. The database can actively segregate the ranges per country. Each range of IMSIs per country can be sub divided in groups which can be assigned to specific service definitions.

- a HLR/HSS (Home Location Register or Home Subscriber Server) 12. HLR is the subscriber database from 2G/3G. HSS s the new database in 4G networks. The Home

Location Register HLR/HSS has means to identify a roaming situation and send a notification along with parameters to identify a usable subscriber identifier to the Dynamic SIM Provisioning work flow manager.

- The GGSN/PGW 14, which is the central router or Gateway GPRS Support Node for 2G/3G / PDN Gateway in 4G networks, which s responsible for the interworking between the GPRS network and external packet switched networks is used to connect data traffic for mobile GSM and UMTS stations. This data traffic can consist of several different services such as IP packet traffic and Multimedia Service (MMS). The Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN) is a main component of the GPRS network. GGSN is the switch that is closest to the IP network. In its lower end, it is connected to the serving GPRS Support Node SGSN in order to transport the data packets to the terminal. SGSN takes care of mobility, authentication of the terminal and is connected to the charging system of the operator. PGW (PDN Gateway) is the LTE equivalent of GGSN and provides connectivity from the use equipment to external packet data networks by being the point of exit and entry of traffic for the user equipment. The PGW performs policy enforcement, packet filtering for each user, charging support, lawful interception and packet screening. Another key role of the PGW is to act as the anchor for mobility between 3GPP and non- 3GPP technologies.

Business Logistics Supporting elements such as OSS / BSS (Operations/Business Support Systems, which includes network management, provisioning and specific billing functionality).

The system of the invention also includes

- an applet, called Dynamic SIM provisioning DSP applet, on the subscriber identification module, such as a (U)SIM card of the mobile station to

- - recognize when the mobile station is roaming or changing network and perform a registration to the DSP platform.

- - switch between temporary/roaming and primary subscriber identifiers, such as IMSIs, to keep one IMSI valid at a time based on the update performed by the DSP platform

- - to reset the network connection and a new registration by the DSP platform with a new allocated primary subscriber identifier.

The mobile station 7a', 7b also hold a (U)SIM card with IMSI and ICCID, which were described in connection with figure 1 and an IMEI.

The IMSI allocated by the Dynamic SIM Provisioning DSP work flow manager is an IMSI for a network into which the mobile station intends to roam or it attends to access.

After the mobile station 7a' has got a new IMSI, the visited network (i.e. the partner network) is considered to be the new or temporary home network and therefore there will be no roaming tariff sent from any visited network to the home network of the mobile station. Thus the Central Core will never function as the Home network in a roaming situation since the home network is considered to be in the country in which the IMSI was issued.

Figure 3 is a signal diagram of a detailed embodiment of the method of the invention, which is presented as an example. When (U)SIM cards are produced and supplied by the SIM manufacturers, they do not usually become immediately active in the operator's network since they are delivered in a - pre-provisioned status. The SIM profile with the data corresponding to the SIM card (Key, versions, IMSI, etc.) will be pre-loaded on the operator's Dynamic SIM Provisioning (DSP) platform waiting to be activated.

When (U)SIM cards are produced and supplied by the SIM manufacturers, they are first pre-loaded with a subscriber profile with data and do not usually become immediately active in the operator's network. The pre-loaded SIM needs to be activated by an activation procedure by the Mobile Network Operator (MNO) or in this case, the Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO). In the invention, which in practice is operated by a Mobile Virtual network Operator (MVNO), the pre-loading of the (U)SIM with a subscriber profile with data corresponding to the SIM card (Key, versions, IMSI, and other info) is preferably performed on the inventive Dynamic SIM Provisioning (DSP) platform of the MVNO waiting to be activated. The pre-loading and the subsequent activation procedure in the invention are that when the user buys a mobile data subscription from the operator MVNO and gets a (U)SIM from the operator to insert into his PC, tablet or 3G capable tablet, the (U)SIM is embedded into the device at the purchase time. The SIM could also be pre-installed in the device. Initial registration from the mobile (Authentication, Location Update, etc.) is routed through the SS7 network to the Dynamic SIM Provisioning (DSP) platform via the roaming service provider as the temporary IMSI belongs to the roaming service provider.

The (U)SIM cards with the associated subscriber profile (keys, ICCID, versions, etc.) are bulk loaded on the Dynamic SIM Provisioning (DSP) platform with the allocated temporary IMSI. Typically the temporary/roaming IMSI on the USIM card belongs to a roaming hub (Hubber) service provider so that customers can also activate the (U)SIM card in a country where the operator might not have a direct roaming agreement with the local service providers.

The DSP workflow manager of the DSP platform checks the validity of the initial registration message sent from the applet on the SIM of the mobile station in signal 1 . The message is received with the temporary/roaming IMSI. In step 2, The DSP workflow manager starts the activation procedure by coordinating all the actions to be taken for the activation of the USIM card including:

- Selection of a Primary IMSI based on the activation location of the customer and potentially a secondary IMSI for traditional roaming. This is the IMSI as provided by the hubber in case there is no contract with the MNO in that specific region/country

- In case no home network identity in the country of presence can be found, the Selection of Global Roaming IMSI is based on the customer's subscription profile (probably the pre-provisioned IMSI). This particular profile resides in the Radio Access Network, it describes provisioning details like price/speed, roaming or bandwidth plan. Connected to the pool of IMSIs which are connected to that profile.

The DSP workflow manager then sends a provisioning order in signal 3 to HLR/HSS to create a subscriber profile in HLR/HSS and any other system that needs to be synchronized with the information of the primary or secondary IMSIs, using its north bound provisioning interface.

In signal 4, the DSP workflow manager initiates and performs an Over-The-Air (OTA) procedure by instructing a SIM Updater (SU) module in the DSP platform to update the IMSIs (Primary and Secondary), if and when required) on the subscriber's new (U)SIM. The SIM Updater (SU) module performs this in signal 5 to the DSP applet, which configures the SIM card.

The workflow manager sends a Reset message in signal 6 to the VLR of the partner network to indicate that a new IMSI registration must be performed. Now the partner/home network acknowledges a new registration with a local subscriber in their network. A message 7 is sent either to a DSP applet on the SIM card or the connectivity driver/software on the device (i.e. equipment) part of the mobile station to perform the final network re-registration using the new Primary IMSI (i.e. usually the local IMSI) for connection.

The DSP applet on the SIM of the mobile station sends a registration signal 8 to the HLR/HSS in the central core using the new Primary IMSI.

The (U)SIM card is now pre-provisioned and can be used.

The following steps explain the process of dynamically assigning a primary IMSI using which customers can have access to data services with "local tariff" as being a local subscriber. When the mobile station is roaming or trying to connect to another network than the home network, DSP applet recognizes in step 9 that the customer is roaming and does not have a suitable local IMSI which allows the customer to access data services with "local tariff". This is preceded by a location update request to a partner VLR. (The VLR always holds a copy of the profile in the HLR. It communicates with the HLR but also receives updates from the mobile station, which is then also sent to the HLR. A location update is always sent to the HLR. A location update is done whenever a base station is changed (if there are no changes in the MNC, no IMSI update will take place).

Registration is performed (authentication, location update) by the DSP applet in the SIM of the mobile station) to HLR/HSS in signal 10 using the Global Roaming IMSI (i.e. the temporary/roaming IMSI being non local) IMSI. Data services are available but with roaming charges.

The HLR/HSS identifies a roaming or network change situation and sends a notification to DSP in signal 1 1 to the DSP Workflow Manager, along with the parameters to identify the IMSI pool (so country and local partner). The DSP Workflow Manager checks profile and whether a local IMSI could be allocated, then selects a new primary IMSI to work as a local IMSI from the country/local partner pool by fetching it from the database with signals 12 and 13. The DSP Workflow Manager instructs the HLR/HSS in signal 15 to update the customer's profile and link it with the allocated new primary IMSI and propagate that information to any systems in the need for.

The DSP Workflow Manager instructs in signal 14 the DSP SIM Updater to update the SIM card with a new value for the primary IMSI. The DSP SIM updater sends an instruction with signal 15 to the DSP applet on the mobile station to reconfigure the (U)SIM card, which is performed by the DSP applet. The DSP applet will in this reconfiguration configure the card to use the primary IMSI. The HLR/HSS sends a reset to the VLR (not shown in the figure) of the network to access. The DSP applet resets the network connection with a signal 16 to the DSP work flow manager and a new registration is performed this time with primary IMSI.

The mobile station can now access the network to change into by using the primary IMSI.

Claims

1. Method in a communication network for the management of a mobile station communicating between a home network and other networks, the mobile station having a subscriber identification module holding subscriber information that include a local subscriber identifier and a roaming subscriber identifier, the method comprising a) the mobile station registering to a central core for accessing a network or for a change of network by using the roaming identifier for registration of the subscriber identification module to the network, authentication and location update, the central core managing subscriber information and being connected to the networks,

b) the central core selecting and allocating a new local subscriber identifier based on the updated location and updating the subscriber identification module with the new local subscriber identifier,

c) the mobile station accessing the other network by using the new local subscriber identifier allocated in the foregoing step.

2. Method of claim ^ c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the central core managing a pool of subscriber identifiers from which the new local subscriber identifier is selected in step b).

3. Method of claim 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the new local subscriber identifier is released back to the pool after use when not connected to the mobile station as a valid subscriber identifier anymore.

4. Method of claim 1 , 2, or 3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the mobile station is requesting access to a data network when registering for a change of network

5. Method of claim 1 , 2, or 3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the mobile station is roaming when registering for a change of network.

6. Method of claim 1 , 2, 3, 4, or 5, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the central core selects the new local subscriber identifier based on parameters describing the updated location of the customer to be used as a primary subscriber identifier.

7. Method of claim 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that an applet on the subscriber identification module recognizes when the mobile station is registering for change of network and performs the registration at the central core.

8. Method of claim 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that an applet on the subscriber identification module manages switching of subscriber identifiers based on the updates done by the central core in order to keep only one subscriber identifier valid at a time.

9. Method of claim 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the networks in the mobile telecommunication network are GSM, GPRS, UMTS, HSPA+, EDGE and/or LTE-based networks.

10. Method of claim 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the subscriber identification module is the Subscriber Identification Module, (U)SIM, used in GSM or UMTS, and the subscriber information consists of at least the International Mobile Subscriber Identity, IMSI used as a subscriber identifier for the local subscriber identifier and for the roaming subscriber identifier, and the unique serial number (ICCID).

1 1. Method of claim 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that a Home Location Register, HLR,/Home Subscriber Server, HSS, in the central core identifies the network change situation and sends a notification along with parameters to identify a usable subscriber identifier to a Dynamic SIM Provisioning work flow manager in a DSP platform of the central core.

12. Method of claim 1 1 , c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the parameters consists of location update and country information with respect to the network to access on the basis of which the Dynamic SIM Provisioning DSP work flow manager in the central core identifies a usable IMSI to be allocated .

13. Method of claim 1 1 or 12, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that in step b), the DSP work flow manager selects a primary IMSI from a local/country IMSI pool in a database connected to the DSP platform in the central core and instructs the Home Location Register, HLR/Home Subscriber Server, HSS, to update a previously created subscriber profile in HLR/HSS with the allocated primary I MSI to be the active one instead of the current local subscriber identifier in the subscriber profile.

14. Method of claim 1 1 , 12, or 13, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that in step b), the DSP Workflow Manager instructs a SIM updater function in the DSP platform of the central core to update the (U)SIM card with the value of the allocated primary IMSI.

15. Method of claim 1 1 , 12, 13, or 14, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that a SIM updater function in a DSP platform in the central core sends a message to an applet on the (U)SIM card to update the (U)SIM card with the allocated primary IMSI.

16. Method of claim 1 1 , 12, 13, 14, or 15, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the applet is a Dynamic SIM Provisioning applet that resets the network connection and a new registration is performed at the DSP platform with the allocated primary IMSI.

17. Method of claim 16, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that after the initial registration, the DSP platform sends a provisioning order to create a subscriber profile in the Home Location Register, HLR/Home Subscriber Service, HSS, and any other system that needs to be synchronized with the information containing the allocated primary IMSI.

18. Method of claim 16 or 17, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the updating of the (U)SIM card with a primary IMSI to replace the roaming IMSI is performed by an updating Over- The-Air (OTA) procedure by sending a message from the DSP platform to an applet on the SIM card.

19. Method of claim 15, 16, 17, or 18, c h a r a c t e r i z e d by the DSP platform sending a reset message to the Visitor Location Register, VLR, of the network to change to in order to indicate the new registration of the allocated primary IMSI.

20. Method of claim 15, 16, 17, or 18, c h a r a c t e r i z e d by the central core identifying the subscriber of the mobile station by means of the ICCID or IMEI.

21 . Method of claim 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 1 1 , 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, or 20, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that step c) is performed by registering into a GPRS network other than the home network by using the allocated secondary subscriber identifier in the request fro registration and by the further steps of

a) downloading the subscription profile into the Serving GPRS Support Node SGSN of the GPRS network ,

b) the Serving GPRS Support Node SGSN routing the request to the operator's Gateway GPRS Support Node GGSN, based on the Access Point Name, APN, information in the Packet Data Protocol PDP request,

c) the GPRS Support Node GGSN allocating an IP address for the mobile station to reach, and

d) the mobile station using the services of the operator's GPRS network.

22. System in a communication network for the management of a mobile station communicating between a home network and other networks, the system comprising a mobile station having a subscriber identification module holding subscriber information that include a local subscriber identifier and a roaming subscriber identifier with an applet that manages switching of subscriber identifiers based on the updates done by a central core managing subscriber information and connected to the networks, the central core having means to allocate and update new subscriber identifiers from a data base for the subscriber identification module to be used by the mobile station at change of network, the database storing subscriber identifiers to be used by mobile stations at network changes.

23. System of claim 22, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that, the networks in the mobile telecommunication network are GSM, GPRS, UMTS, HSPA+, EDGE and/or LTE-based networks.

24. System of claim 22 or 23, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the subscriber identification module is the Subscriber Identification Module, (U)SIM, and the subscriber information consists of at least the International Mobile Subscriber Identity, IMSI, used as a subscriber identifier for the local subscriber identifier and an International Mobile Subscriber Identity, IMSI used for the roaming subscriber identifier, the International Mobile Equipment (IMEI) number, and the unique serial number (ICCID).

25. System of claim 22, 23, or 24, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the database stores a pool of IMSIs from which new local subscriber identifiers are allocated use to the mobile stations and/or to which local subscriber identifiers are released after used at network changes.

26. System of claim 24 or 25, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the roaming IMSI is used for initial registration of the (U)SIM card before activation.

27. System of claim 24 or 25, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the a primary IMSI is a local subscriber identifier for the network that the mobile station changed into.

28. System of claim 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, or 27, c h a r a c t e r i z e d by the applet on the (U)SIM card having means for managing switching between primary and roaming IMSIS along with the configuration of the valid IMSI based on the update performed by a Dynamic SIM Provisioning (DSP)platform in the central core.

29. System of claim 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, or 28, c h a r a c t e r i z e d by a Dynamic SIM Provisioning (DSP) applet on the (U)SIM card with means to recognize when the mobile station is registering for change of network and perform the registration to the Dynamic SIM Provisioning (DSP) platform in the central core.

30. System of claim 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 or 29, c h a r a c t e r i z e d by a Home Location Register, HLR,/Home Subscriber Service, HSS, in the central core with means to identify the network change situation and send a notification along with parameters to identify a usable subscriber identifier to a Dynamic SIM Provisioning work flow manager in the Dynamic SIM Provisioning (DSP) platform in the central core.

31 . System of claim 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 28, 29, or 30, c h a r a c t e r i z e d by a Dynamic SIM Provisioning DSP work flow manager in the Dynamic SIM Provisioning (DSP) platform in the central core able to identify a usable IMSI to be allocated on the basis of parameters consists of location update and country information.

32. System of claim 31 , c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the DSP work flow manager has means to select a primary IMSI from a local/country IMSI pool and instruct the HLR/HSS to update a previously created subscriber profile in HLR/HSS with the allocated primary IMSI to be the active one instead of the current local subscriber identifier in the subscriber profile.

33. System of claim 31 or 32, c h a r a c t e r i z e d by a SIM updater function in the Dynamic SIM Provisioning (DSP)platform in the central core with means to update the SIM card with the value of the allocated primary IMSI as instructed by the DSP work flow manager.

34. System of claim 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 28, 29, 30, 31 , 32, or 33, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the applet is a Dynamic SIM Provisioning DSP applet with means to reset the network connection and a new registration with a new subscriber identifier to the DSP platform.

35. System of claim 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 28, 29, 30, 31 , 32, 33, or 34, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the DSP platform of the central core has means for activation of the (U)SIM card by updating it with a primary IMSI to replace a roaming IMSI.

36. System of claim 30, 31 , 32, 33, 34, or 35, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the DSP platform of the central core has means to send a provisioning order to create a subscriber profile in the Home Location Register HLR/HSS and any other system that needs to be synchronized with the information containing the primary IMSI after initial registration.

37. System of claim 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 2728, 29, 30, 31 , 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, or 37, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the DSP platform of the central core has means to update the (U)SIM card with a primary IMSI to by an updating Over-The-Air (OTA) procedure by sending a message to an applet on the SIM card.

38. System of claim 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 2728, 29, 30, 31 , 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, or 37, c h aracterized in that the DSP platform of the central core has means to send a reset message to the Visitor Location Register, VLR, of the network to change to and indicate the new registration of the allocated primary IMSI.

39. System of claim 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 2728, 29, 30, 31 , 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, or 38, characterized in that the unique identity of the attached IMSI will remain registered by the usage of the ICCID or the IMEI, instead of the IMSI itself, the IMSI on the HLR/HSS being used to register in the local networks.

40. System of claim 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 2728, 29, 30, 31 , 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, or 38, characterized in that the roaming IMSI can be used as a fallback IMSI e.g. in case of loss of connection.