EP1829325A1

EP1829325A1 - Method of opening a connection in a mobile network

Info

Publication number: EP1829325A1
Application number: EP05821541A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Marko Vanninen; Panu Lehti
Original assignee: Saunalahti Group Oyj
Current assignee: Saunalahti Group Oyj
Priority date: 2004-12-22
Filing date: 2005-12-21
Publication date: 2007-09-05
Also published as: FI20041651A0; WO2006067270A1; FI20041651A; FI120022B

Abstract

The method of the invention for opening a new connection to a mobile station of a user in a mobile network is mainly characterized in that a subscriber identity module enabling a new connection is sent to the user as well as a security code. A message is sent to the operator of the new connection of the mobile network by means of the existing connection of the user, which message contains the security code sent to the user. The security code sent is verified and the new connection of the subscriber identity module sent to the user is activated.

Description

METHOD OF OPENING A CONNECTION IN A MOBILE NETWORK

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention is concerned with a method for opening a new connection for a mobile station of a user in a mobile network.

BACKGROUND

In mobile networks, people can be contacted by calling to their telephone number. The Mobile Station Integrated Service Digital Network Number, MSISDN, is an international telephone number standard used for identification of a given user.

The Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) is a connection standard for wireless connections. GSM provides other services in addition to voice services. The second generation GSM networks of today enable for example text messaging services offered by the Short Message Service (SMS). The (SMS) end-to-end service provides a method of sending messages of limited sizes to GSM phones and from GSM phones. The ETSI standard GSM 03.40 Version 5.3.0. gives detailed information.

The Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) to be placed in GSM phones is a smart chip by means of which the connection of subscribers to the network can be performed in a secure way. Also different applications can be installed on the SIM card. The subscriber information has been installed in the SIM card working as a smart card. The SIM card contains for example the International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI), a secret authentification key and other user information. The operator maintains a user database in the network with information of IMSI/MSISDN connections. By installing the SIM card to another GSM terminal, the user can receive and make calls and use other subscribers services from the terminal in question.

UMTS is a wireless system of the following (3.) generation offering improved multimedia services, such as video. The USIM (universal SIM) card is used in UMTSI, which card is a developed version of SIM. In both GSM and UMTS networks, the USIM card is central for identification of the subscriber and for offering value added services for the users. Even if it is often only talked about SIM, the USIM (UMTS Subscriber Identity Module) is the subscriber identity module of the UMTS network. In this text, SIM also covers USIM.

Also so called operators of virtual wireless networks exist, Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO), which offer wireless telecommunication services without however having a wireless network. These operators can, however, have parts of such networks, such as the Home Location Register (HLR) or a Mobile Switching

Centre (MSC), but even that is not necessary. Instead, the MVNOs hire space from conventional operators of wireless networks. Usually, the MVNOs offer voice services, modificated (flexible) services of conventional operators, or they work as retailers for these and usually they have their own charging.

The transfer ability of the number - NumSi - is a controlling benefit of the consumer introduced by the EU with which the consumer can change the mobile operator offering the service in such a way that the telephone number in use does not change in connection with the change of operator.

There are companies, which offer number transfer services for mobile operators and producers of mobile services, such as for example Suomen Numerot Numpac Oy. In the transfer of the mobile number, the client keeps his old telephone number when changing operator. The internet address www.Numpac.fi gives general information of the transfer of the number.

The transfer service of the number in mobile networks follows the European parliament directive 2002/22/EY. This directive requires the member countries of the European Union to follow the general service directive for transfer of mobile telephone numbers.

When calling from a mobile network, the calls are routed directly to the network of the operator owing the number. When calling from other countries or from fixed networks, the calls are routed indirectly, in other words via the operator owing the original number.

All transferred numbers (also the numbers of the fixed network) is stored in a database of transferred numbers (master). In this transfer process of the number, a so called Master system is used. By means of this system, the calls, the short messages and the MMS messages are directed between the mobile networks directly to the right network by so called direct routing.

The telecommunication company that has received the number checks the number from the over giving telecommunication company in order to check that the number is possible to transfer and confirms this information after having received the transfer time of the number. The old subscription of the customer works until the new connection has been opened. When the new subscription has been opened, the user take the new subscription in use, in other words changes the SIM card of the new operator to his phone.

The calls called from the fixed network and from abroad are directed to the original operator of the receiving connection, which directs the subscription of the call to the new operator (so called indirect routing). The calls called from the mobile network of the home country are directed directly to the actual operator of the subscriber (sc. direct routing). The Master system forwards the information in connection with the transfer of the number between the telecompanies, maintains and distributes the information from the transferred numbers.

The opening and/or transfer of the subscription of the mobile phone requires strict safety directions to be followed. When opening a new connection, it is important to ensure that the new SIM card is controlled by the right user for sure. This also applies when the number is transferred from one operator to another.

The SIM card is usually distributed to the new client in such a way that the client itself fetches it from the sales point or then it is sent in a registered letter so that the receiver of the card could be verified for sure.

In a modern society, this is however difficult and time consuming and therefore the object of this invention is to developed a more practical solution.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The object of this invention is to develop a solution for distribution of SIM cards and for taking them in use in a secure way without the need for the receiver to fetch it from anywhere.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The method of the invention for opening a new connection to a mobile station of a user in a mobile network is mainly characterized in that a subscriber identity module enabling a new connection is sent to the user as well as a security code. A message is sent to the operator of the new connection of the mobile network by means of the existing connection of the user, which message contains the security code sent to the user. The security code sent is verified and the new connection of the subscriber identity module sent to the user is activated. The preferable embodiments of the invention have the characteristics of the dependent claims.

The mobile network is for example GSM, whereby the subscriber identity module is the SIM card or it is UMTS, whereby the subscriber identity module is the USlM card.

The method of the invention is especially useful when a new connection is opened instead of an existing mobile connection of the user. The user can then send a security code, having e.g. four numbers by, means of the existing connection of the user, to the operator, for example as a short message by means of the Short Message Service (SMS). Otherwise, the message can take place for example by a fixed telephone.

If the existing connection and the new connection are connections of different operators, such a step can be connected to the method wherein the information of the user is transferred from the existing operator to the operator of the new connection.

The intention is to use the security code primarily for a secure identification of a GSM client in change or updating situations of SIM cards (for example change of the subscription from one network/service operator to another or to a MVNO subscription or from such a subscription) or alternatively for secure identification of clients having subscriptions on MVNO base when making new subscription contracts.

In the following, an advantageous embodiment of the invention is described in detailed by means of a figure. The invention is however not restricted to the details of this description.

FIGURE Figure 1 presents a preferable embodiment of the invention by means of a diagram.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Figure 1 presents a preferable embodiment of the invention by means of a diagram, in which it is assumed that a user has an existing connection to the GSM network and is changing the connection to a new operator which he has contacted and to which he has told his wish.

In this embodiment of the method of the invention, a new SIM card is sent from the new operator to the user by ordinary mail in a (closed) envelope, to the subscriber address informed to this operator in step 1 of figure 1 and (as in connection with identification codes of payment cards) a number series of four numbers, i.e. the so called security code. If it is question of opening of a connection for a new user, information of the user contract, its conditions and the steps of the contract process are sent in the same letter (by keeping an eye on the regulations concerning electronic commerce).

Instructions are sent together with the security code according to which the user has to send the security code with a short message from the subscription number to be closed and earlier used by the client (which the operator has the information about along with the ordering of the transfer of the number to the operator), which registers and verifies the received security code. The creation of the short message including the code has in figure 1 been presented as step 2 and its sending to the operator as step 3. The operator registers and verifies the received security code in step 4. When the essentiality of the security code has been checked, the system of the operator also activates the new SIM card sent to the user in step 5, whereby the user only needs to remove the old SIM card from the terminal and install the new SIM card now sent.

When it is question about new users, the new SIM card is activated by means of a normal NUMSI process at a time determined in advantage in a previously known way and thus the security code does not influence on the NUMSI process itself. With the code, it is verified that the right user has received the new SIM card and if no security code is received, the NUMSI process can be cancelled.

The sending of the security code of the user can preferably simultaneously start a process, wherein the information of the user is copied from the system of the transferring operator to the system of the new operator and the information of the user is removed from the system of the transferring operator. The traffic of the client is forwarded from the time of the change for example in accordance with the MVNO model, mainly via the network elements of the new operator.

The new operator can use the security code only for clients shifting from such operators with which there is a special arrangement for cooperation between the systems. In the transfer of the clients, the old subscription information between the systems is not removed from the transferring systems until the user successfully has been connected to the network of the new operator with a new SIM card.

The user can send the security code also by using a fixed telephone.

The security code can be used instead of a signature, whereby there is no need to send or fetch registered letters.

Thus, the user advantageously sends the security code from his own subscription and the new operator uses it as a receipt/signature in the same way as the

NUMSI process starts with a short message, when a subscription is ordered by SMS. The start of the subscription contract would then be the moment when the user gets the instructions and according to the conditions of the contract (after sending the security card) connects the new SIM card to his terminal.

Claims

1. A method for opening a new connection between a mobile station of a user and a mobile network, characterized in that a) said user is provided with a new subscriber identity module and a security code, b) a message is sent to the operator of said new network connection from the device of the user by using an existing connection, the message containing said security code, c) said security code is verified, and d) said new connection specified by said new subscriber identity module and sent to the user is activated.

2. A method according to claim ^characterized in that said mobile network is a GSM network and said subscriber identity module is a SIM card.

3. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that said mobile network is a UMTS network and said subscriber identity module is a USIM card.

4. A method according to claim ^characterized in that the message sent in step b) is sent by using an existing connection active in the mobile station of the user.

5. A method according to claims 2 and 4, characterized in that the message sent in step b) is a Short Message Service (SMS) message.

6. A method according to claim ^ cha racterized in that the message sent in step b) is sent using an existing connection of a wireline telephone of the user.

7. A method according to any of claims 1-6, characterized in that said security code is a four-digit code.

8. A method according to any of claims 1 -7, characterized in that said existing connection and said new connection are operated by different operators.

9. A method according to claim 8, characterized by a further step e) in which the user information is transferred from the operator of the existing connection to the operator of the new connection.