Patent ID: 8838099
Filing Date: 2014-09-16
Classification: H04W

Abstract:
1. A network element comprising a Visitor Location Register (VLR) within a wireless, cellular voice network of at least one communications system configured according to any of the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), the General Packet Radio Services (GPRS), the 3G or the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) standards, in which the VLR stores information about each of a plurality of user equipment (UE) devices, that are roamed into the wireless, cellular voice network and that are currently active within a service area of the VLR; wherein: the VLR is configured to receive from a Home Location Register a flag associated with a UE and indicating that a user using the UE has at least one pre-assigned role; the VLR is configured to identify users in the service area of the VLR that have at least one pre-assigned role based on flags received from the Home Location Register and to obtain from the Home Location Register and store within the VLR entries describing pre-assigned roles of the identified users actively connected to one of the communications systems; and the VLR is configured to receive and process requests by any of the UEs active within a service area of the VLR for connection to any other UE on the basis of the at least one pre-assigned role of the user associated with the other UE.