FR2776451A1 - Telephone call identification system - Google Patents

Abstract

The system has units (50,720, SGIP, SME, SMS-SC,C) for transmitting to a mobile receiver (M), via the telecommunications network (RTCP), information (MSG) destined to inform it of a call and the identification (N2) of the caller's (P2) telephone. The call identification is displayed on a telephone screen when the phone rings

Description

The present invention relates to communications systems

  telephone calls. More specifically, the invention relates to identification devices

  and signaling the telephone number of a calling device.

  The recent development of information and communication technologies has favored the creation of new products and services related to telephone communications, whether they concern the private or professional sphere. This development makes it possible to respond more fully to the needs of users of telephones, among which we find in particular: the need to be permanently informed as soon as a correspondent calls, 15. the need to remain in control of the use of devices connected to telephone networks, and to keep the possibility of not answering a

correspondent calling.

  Solutions exist to meet the first need: we know in particular call transfer, which allows a subscriber to receive calls intended for his usual extension on another extension, wired or mobile, near which said subscriber is temporarily. This solution certainly allows the subscriber to receive a larger number of calls, but has the drawback resulting from the obligation to answer calls that switch to the extension where the subscriber is located without any means of filtering said calls.

calls.

  Solutions are also known which go in the direction of greater control of communications; thus it is possible to filter incoming calls using an answering machine, or display the

  number of the calling party on a screen integrated in the telephone.

  However, these filtering and identification solutions require the immediate reaction of the subscriber, who must decide in real time whether he accepts the

  communication, with the correspondent seeking to reach him.

  Between the absence of communication and excessive communication, which disrupts the subscriber's activities, it therefore appears that an important need is that of being informed in real time of the calls received, while retaining complete freedom to decide on the advisability of communication at a chosen time and not suffered. In order to meet this need, the present invention provides a device for identifying and signaling calls arriving on a telephone communications device and originating from calling devices, the telephone communications device and the calling devices being connected to a same telecommunications network, said device comprising means for identifying the calling device and being characterized in that it further comprises means for transmitting to a receiver, via said network, information intended to signal a call to it

  and provide it with the identification of the calling device.

  Preferred, but non-limiting aspects of the device according to the invention are the following: - in the case where the telecommunications network is of the wire type, said device is in the form of a box and includes plug-in means for its connection on the one hand to a wired type telephone apparatus receiving the calls and on the other hand to an outlet of the telecommunications network; - Said device also comprises means for reading the date and time of the call from the calling device and means for transmitting said date and time to the receiver in association with the identification of the calling device; - Said device also comprises means for memorizing the identification of the calling device, as well as possibly other information such as the date and time of the call; - It also includes means allowing an operator to deactivate the transmission function to said receiver; - Said device also comprises display means, intended in particular to allow viewing of the identification of a calling device; it also includes means for enabling a user to consult the identifications of successively stored calling devices; - said device also includes a Minitel type emulator (registered trademark); - It also includes means for programming an identification of the receiver to which the information intended to signal a

  call and provide it with the identification of the calling device should be forwarded.

  The invention also provides a method for identifying and signaling calls arriving on a telephone communications device and originating from calling devices, the telephone communications device and the calling devices being connected to the same telecommunications network, characterized in that after identification of the calling device, information intended to signal a call is transmitted to a receiver, via said network

  and provide it with the identification of the calling device.

  The receiver is advantageously a mobile telephone or else

  a mobile message receiver ("pager" according to English terminology

  Saxon). Other aspects, aims and advantages of the invention will appear better on reading an embodiment of the invention, made with reference to the appended drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a block diagram representation of the device according to the invention. invention, Figures 2a, 2b and 2c are diagrams showing the principle of the invention, Figure 3 is a flow diagram showing the operation of the invention. Preliminary note that from one figure to another identical or similar elements are referenced as far as possible by the

  same reference signs and will not be described every time.

  Referring firstly to FIG. 1, the structure of the device according to the invention is as follows: a box B comprises a liquid crystal screen 10 which can display information on 3 lines of 32 characters, an internal clock 20, three buttons 31, 32 and 33 to activate respectively the power supply, the standby and the programming of the box, according to

  modalities which will be described later in this description. To the three

  buttons 31, 32 and 33 are associated with three light-emitting diodes 35, 36 and 37. The box also includes a memory 40 which can be of EEPROM or RAM type, a module 50 of Minitel emulation, two other buttons marked + and - and a last RESET button to reset. A microprocessor 60 is connected to all of the components of the housing B. The external connections of the housing consist of a line 71 for the electrical supply of the housing by a transformer 710 connected to the mains by means of a socket 711 and delivering to the housing a voltage of 2.5V, a telephone link 72 to a male telephone socket 720 intended to be plugged into a trundle socket 720 connected to the telephone network and not shown in the figure, and in an input / output 73 of RJ45 or RS232 type connected to memory 40 for the connection of the box with a telephone apparatus. Finally, the housing comprises a battery 80 intended to supply the housing in the event of an external electrical supply failure. Referring now to Figures 2a to 2c, we will present the operating principle of the invention. A telephone device P1 of the wired type and provided with a keypad is connected to a public switched telecommunications network PSTN, by means of a telephone socket 721 inserted in the pull-out socket 720 of a housing B similar to that described in Figure 1, said pull-out plug itself being plugged in

  in a 722 socket connected to the PSTN network.

  This device P1 is that of a subscriber A1, who has to communicate with other devices connected to the PSTN network of a subscriber number N1. The device P1 is in the present embodiment of the invention located at the home D of the subscriber A1, but can also be

  connected to a PABX type PABX for example.

  Subscriber A1 also has a mobile telephone device M, provided with a subscriber number N3 for transmitting and receiving communications via a cellular network C to which he can

  be connected by radio waves.

  Thanks to a CLI type process ("Calling Line Identification" according to the English terminology usually used), well known elsewhere, the telephones connected to socket 722 are able to identify the subscriber number of a device l calling via the PSTN network, unless the user of said device has specified by manipulation prior to the call that he does not want his subscriber number to be identified. The general principle of the invention is as follows: when a subscriber A2, provided with a telephone apparatus P2 with which is associated a number N2 for communicating on the PSTN network, calls the station P1 (FIG. 2a), the box B having been previously programmed, with the number N3 and activated, according to methods which will be described with reference to FIG. 3, identifies the number N2 and stores it with the time of the call. When the home line D is released, the box B transmits the numbers N2 and N3 and an access code X to a SGIP server, via the PSTN network (Figure 2b). This SGIP server, of a type known elsewhere, operates via Minitel emulation and is able to send short messages to mobile devices connected to the network C and provided with a number N. The communication between the box B and the SGIP server is thus done thanks to the emulator 50 of the box B and to the transmission of the code X. The SGIP server having received the numbers N2 and N3 in a determined sequence, in which N3 occupies the field intended to identify the mobile recipient of the short message by its number N, formats a message of the type "at xx hour xx minute, you received a call from N2" by associating the hour H to the number N2 using an internal clock. This MSG message (N2, H) is then sent by the SGIP server to a system for routing such messages, schematically composed of a message management entity SME and of SMS-SC message distribution centers (FIG. 2c). The subscriber A1 thus receives on the screen of his mobile M the message informing him that the device P2 provided with the number N2 has sought to

join on his P1 device ...

  Referring now to Figure 3, we will describe the possible modes of operation of the device according to the invention. The sequence is

  initiated in 300 by the call from subscriber A2, from device P2 to device P1.

  The box B can be powered or not, as illustrated in step 310.

  If subscriber A1 has switched off box B with button 31, the box does not intervene

  step and the sequence ends in 370.

  If the unit B has been switched on by the action of the subscriber A1 on the button 31, which is indicated by the diode 35, the unit identifies the calling number N2 and stores it in 320, in the memory 40, with l 'associated call time H2 provided by the internal clock 20 of the box. In the event that the subscriber A2 has made a specific manipulation to prohibit the identification of N2, the box B stores a standard sign (* * * * * * * *) in place of N2. In both cases, screen 10 of box B

displays time H2.

  In step 330, if the subscriber A1 has not activated the “standby” mode of the box B by means of the button 32, the sequence ends after memorization of the call number and the associated time H2. If the standby mode is activated, as indicated by the diode 36 of the box, the numbers N2 and N3 are sent at 340 by the box to the mobile M, via the Minitel 50 emulator, the SGIP server and the routing short messages as we

  exposed it with reference to Figures 2b and 2c.

  In step 350, if the transmission of information from box B to the SGIP server, the formatting of the short message and its routing to the mobile M have been carried out correctly, the subscriber A1 receives on the screen of his mobile M the MSG message (N2, H) informing him of the call from

subscriber A2.

  Otherwise (2 consecutive failures to connect box B to the SGIP server or unavailability of the mobile for more than 48 hours), the sequence ends in 370 without the short message MSG (N2, H) having been transmitted to the mobile M It was said that the powered box memorized the N2 numbers and the associated H2 call times. The memory 40 of the box is thus able to store a hundred numbers with the hours associated with them, the content of said memory 40 evolving according to the "first in, first out" principle: the storage of a new number causes , when the capacity of memory 40 is full, the output of said memory of the number whose call time H2 is the oldest. Subscriber A1 has the possibility of consulting the content of this memory 40 by actuating the buttons + and - of the box, a total purging of the memory 40 being carried out

by pressing the RESET button.

  In addition, subscriber A1 can modify the number N3 of the mobile to which he wishes to route short messages, if said mobile is connected to network C. The programming of a new forwarding number N3 is done by a predetermined sequence starting and ending with the activation of the key 33 in housing B, and requiring in the present embodiment the connection of the socket 721 of the apparatus P1 to the input / output 73 of housing B. In fact, c 'it is thanks to the keys of the keyboard of the device P1 that the subscriber A1 can program a new forwarding number N3. In a second embodiment not shown in the figures, the box B also includes a keyboard with keys allowing this programming operation to be carried out without using the apparatus P1, the box B then no longer having a socket 73. In the two case, the diode 37 signals when it is on that a forwarding number N3 has been

  programmed in the box memory.

  Thus, the invention allows a subscriber to be permanently informed of the calls intended for him and of the number corresponding to the calling stations. However, the subscriber is free to manage this

  information, which is advantageous compared to existing solutions.

  In the case where a remote interrogable answering machine is associated with the device P1, the subscriber A1 may advantageously be notified of a call on the device P1 and interrogate his answering machine remotely to listen to a

possible message.

  Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment presented. In particular, the invention also applies to the

  signaling on a wired device of calls intended for a mobile device.

Claims (12)

  1. Device for identifying and signaling calls arriving on a telephone communications device (P1) and originating from calling devices (P2), the telephone communications device (P1) and the calling devices (P2) being connected to the same telecommunications network (PSTN) I said device comprising means for identifying the calling device and being characterized in that it also comprises means (50, 720, SGIP, SME, SMS-SC, C) for transmit to a receiver (M), via said network (RTCP), information (MSG) intended to signal a call to it and to provide it with the identification (N2) of the calling device (P2).   2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that, in the case where the telecommunications network (PSTN) is of wired type, said device is in the form of a box (B) and comprises plugging means (720) for its connection on the one hand to a wired type telephone device (P1) receiving calls and on the other hand to an outlet (722) of the   telecommunications network (PSTN).   3. Device according to any one of the claims   above, characterized in that said device also comprises means (20) for reading the date and time (H2) of the call from the calling device (P2) and means (50, 720, SGIP, SME, SMS-SC, C) to transmit said date and time to the receiver in association with   The identification (N2) of the calling device.   4. Device according to any one of the claims   above, characterized in that said device also comprises means (40) for storing the identification (N2) of the calling device, as well as possibly other information such as the date and time (H2) of The call.   5. Device according to one of the preceding claims,   characterized in that it also comprises means (32) allowing   an operator to deactivate the transmission function to said receiver (M).   6. Device according to any one of claims   above, characterized in that said device also comprises display means (10), intended in particular to allow viewing   the identification (N2) of a calling device (P2).   7. Device according to claims 4 and 6 taken in combination,   characterized in that it also comprises means for enabling a user to consult the identifications (N2) of calling devices (P2) successively memorized.   8. Device according to any one of the preceding claims,   characterized in that it also comprises an emulator (50) of the type Minitel (registered trademark).   9. Device according to any one of the preceding claims,   characterized in that it also comprises means (33, 73) for programming an identification of the receiver (M) to which the information intended to signal a call and to provide it with the identification (N2) of   the calling device (P2) must be transmitted.   10. Method for identifying and signaling calls arriving on a telephone communications device (P1) and originating from calling devices (P2), the telephone communications device (P1) and the calling devices (P2) being connected to the same telecommunications network (RTCP), characterized in that after identification of the calling device (P2), information (MSG) is transmitted to a receiver (M), via said network (RTCP) intended to signal a   call and provide him with the identification (N2) of the calling device.   11. Method according to claim 10, characterized in that the   receiver (M) is a mobile phone.   12. Method according to claim 10, characterized in that the   receiver (M) is a mobile message receiver.