Patent ID: 6813496
Filing Date: 2004-11-02
Classification: H04W

Abstract:
An access control system for controlling access by wireless terminals to a wireless telecommunications network, the access control system comprising:a database storing the identities of a set of wireless terminals belonging to the telecommunications network; a configurable store configurable in two ways by use of a supplementary access value, the value being capable of being set in one way to indicate that terminals that do not belong to the telecommunications network may access the network and the value being capable of being set in another way to indicate that terminals that do not belong to the telecommunications network may not access the network; and an access control unit for receiving an access request message indicating the identity of a wireless terminal and in response to that message accessing the database and/or the store to permit access by the wireless terminal to the wireless telecommunications network if: a. the identity of the wireless terminal is present in the database; or b. the value is set to indicate that terminals that do not belong to the telecommunications network may access the network.