Patent ID: 8068469

Claim:
A method implemented by a first node in a telecommunication network for registering user communication devices coupled through an end point to an internet protocol multimedia subsystem (IMS) network, comprising the steps of: associating a plurality of public user identities (PUIDs) into groups where each PUID represents a different user's communication device served by the end point and storing the groups, where each group contains a group address that uniquely identifies the group and the end point associated with the users and the PUIDs that are associated with the group, where the first node is coupled to the end point and the IMS, the end point coupled in series between the first node and user communication devices, and the first node coupled in series between the end point and the IMS network such that registration associated signaling messages from the IMS network to the user communication devices are required to pass through the first node and end point to reach the user communication devices, the end point preventing the passage of registration associated signaling messages between the IMS network and the user communication devices even though the IMS network, first node, and end point as well as user communication devices support internet protocol packet-based communications; transmitting to the IMS a first registration request where the first registration request includes the group address and the PUIDs that are associated with the group, the first registration request seeking to establish implicit registration in the IMS of the PUIDs associated with the group with the group address; receiving a reply from the IMS in response to the first registration request where the reply seeks authentication for the requested implicit registration of the PUIDs; calculating, in response to receipt of the reply, authentication information and transmitting to the IMS a second registration request that contains the authentication information and the group address and the PUIDs that are associated with the group; thereby implicitly registering the PUIDs in association with the group address in the IMS upon a determination that the authentication information is acceptable.