APPARATUS FOR SERVICE DELIVERY TO COMMUNICATIONS DEVICES

摘要

Embodiments of the invention are concerned with improving methods of organizing subscription data for subscribers in a network, in particular when a subscriber has more than one device or line associated with their subscription. Embodiments of the invention are most conveniently embodied in a home location register ("HLR") for a mobile communications network: data are stored in separate data structures for the devices ("IMSI" ) and line numbers ( "MSISDN") and currently paired devices and lines are indicated in the HLR by direct references, or pointers, linking one data structure to the other for the devices and lines. The currently paired device and service data are assembled for transmission to a visitor location register ("VLR") , thereby avoiding problems with the prior art of sending subscriber data for all potential pairings. Conveniently, this can be embodied in object-oriented software in which data aliases are used to create the references at appropriate levels in an object hierarchy as each data structure.