User data notification in a mobile communications system

Abstract

Data stored about user equipment, such as mobile phones, that is stored in a Home Location Register of at least one wireless, cellular voice network communications system configured, for example, as a 3G network deployment, is augmented with supplemental information and is communicated automatically to active users in the network. The invention is particularly advantageous for mobile systems that are deployable where normal networks have been disrupted, such as among emergency personnel who need to communicate and cooperate as a group at a disaster scene. Supplemental information includes, for example, the identity of a user or device that has entered or exited the network, the function, position, rank, responsibility level, etc., that each user has, and what group the user is affiliated with.

1 . An apparatus configured to:
 retrieve, in response to a trigger, a first information element comprising data identifying a role associated with a user of a first user equipment and a second information element comprising data identifying a role associated with a user of a second user equipment that is connected to a telecommunications network;   transmit the retrieved first information element to the second user equipment; and   transmit the retrieved second information element to the first user equipment,   wherein the trigger comprises determining that the first user equipment has connected to the telecommunications network.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first information element includes data identifying a group of users to which the user of the first user equipment belongs. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first information element includes data indicating that the first user equipment has connected to the telecommunications network. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first information element is transmitted to the second user equipment via signaling. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the data identifying the role associated with the user of the first equipment comprises one or more of:
 a text string; and   a numerical code.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the data identifying the role associated with the user of the first user equipment indicates one or more of:
 a rank of the user of the first user equipment;   a responsibility of the user of the first user equipment; and   a job description of the user of the first user equipment.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the telecommunications network comprises a first register configured to store the first information element. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the first register is a Home Location Register. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the telecommunications network comprises a second register configured to store the second information element. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the second register is a Home Location Register. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the apparatus is configured to:
 retrieve the first information element from the first register; and   retrieve the second information element from the second register.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the first register is different from the second register. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further configured to transmit a request for the first information element, wherein the request comprises an International Mobile Subscriber Identity associated with the user of the first user equipment. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the telecommunications network is configured according to one of:
 the Global System for Mobile Communications standard;   the General Packet Radio Service standard;   the 3G standard;   the 4G standard; or   the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System standard.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the telecommunications network is a transportable wireless telecommunications network. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the telecommunications network is operationally independent of, but is configured to communicate over one or more of:
 a Public Switched Telephone Network; and   an Internet Protocol Wide-Area Network.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further configured to:
 retrieve, in response to the trigger, at least one further information element comprising data identifying a role associated with at least one further user of at least one further user equipment that is connected to a telecommunications network;   transmit the retrieved first information element to the at least one further user equipment; and   transmit the retrieved at least one further information element to the first user equipment.   
     
     
         18 . A method of controlling an apparatus, comprising:
 retrieving, in response to a trigger, a first information element comprising data identifying a role associated with a user of a first user equipment and a second information element comprising data identifying a role associated with a user of a second user equipment that is connected to a telecommunications network;   transmitting the retrieved first information element to the second user equipment; and   transmitting the retrieved second information element to the first user equipment,   wherein the trigger comprises determining that the first user equipment has connected to the telecommunications network.   
     
     
         19 . Apparatus configured to:
 receive, in response to the apparatus connecting to a telecommunications network, an information element comprising data identifying a role associated with a user of a user equipment connected to the telecommunications network;   store the data; and   delete the data in response to the apparatus disconnecting from the telecommunications network.   
     
     
         20 . A method of controlling an apparatus, comprising:
 connecting to a telecommunications network;   receiving, in response to said connecting, an information element comprising data identifying a role associated with a user of a user equipment connected to the telecommunications network;   storing the data; and   deleting the data in response to the apparatus disconnecting from the telecommunications network.