KR20090056277A - Method for changing mobile telecommunication service provider and method for providing specific information of mobile telecommunication service provider - Google Patents

Abstract

A method and a mobile carrier establishing information providing method for processing a mobile communication service provider change through the processing between mobile network and a mobile communications terminal is provided to perform change task of the mobile communication service provider by entering a service provider selection menu. A mobile communications service provider is selected(S110). A message requesting the service provider change is transmitted to the mobile communications network(S120). The subscriber specific information is read out from the transmitted require-message(S130). In case a subscriber is the new subscriber, the mobile carrier set up information corresponding to the stuck out subscriber specific information is transmitted to the mobile communications terminal(S140). The mobile communications terminal is initialized based on the updated business carrier set up information within the universal subscriber identity module card(S150).

Description

Method for changing mobile telecommunication service provider and method for providing specific information of mobile telecommunication service provider

The present invention relates to a method for changing a mobile carrier, and more particularly, to a method of changing a mobile carrier according to a user's selection in a mobile communication terminal and a mobile communication network equipped with a universal subscriber identity module (USIM) card and a mobile. The present invention relates to a method for providing a mobile communication service provider setting information when a communication network requests a service provider change of a mobile communication terminal.

In a conventional code division multiple access (CDMA) mobile communication terminal, in order to change a service provider from another mobile communication service provider to another mobile communication service provider, a user operating at a currently registered mobile service provider or a new mobile communication service provider is required. After purchasing a new terminal at a customer service center or a representative for each mobile carrier, the user must go through procedures such as termination of use, number transfer or new subscription.

In addition, the conventional Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) and General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) mobile communication terminals adopt a SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card, so that the user's mobile communication subscription history can be freely changed without changing the SIM card between terminals. However, in order to change the service provider, a new SIM card issued by the mobile communication service provider must be purchased.

However, in a mobile communication terminal equipped with a Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM) card, which is essential for using third-generation or more mobile communication services such as Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) and High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSPDA), the USIM between terminals is used. In addition to card mobility, a single USIM card may support mobile carrier mobility.

The USIM card combines a SIM card with subscriber information and a Universal IC Card (UICC) to implement various functions such as user authentication, global roaming, and e-commerce on a single card.

In addition, the USIM card is a small memory that acts as a kind of storage device, and can store not only mobile subscriber information but also personal storage information such as a phone book and a short message service (SMS) message. The contents of the USIM card can be used as it is without having to record the stored information on a new mobile communication terminal.

In addition, even if a user wants to change to another mobile communication provider, the user can easily change to another mobile communication provider by using the user's mobile phone terminal and the USIM card used by the user without going through the mobile communication service provider.

Currently, mobile carriers that provide third-generation mobile telecommunications services are applying locks to USIM cards, so other carriers cannot control USIM cards issued by a given mobile carrier. The purpose is that the mobility between terminals and operators is not properly realized.

Therefore, in order to preserve the convenience of the user and the original purpose of the USIM card, the USIM lock release problem is being opened after consultation between mobile communication providers.However, a proper operation method for the USIM card has not been established. Confusion can arise between the user and each mobile operator.

Due to the above problems, if the user wants to change the mobile communication service provider, the service change procedure cannot be easily performed because the user still needs to visit the service center of the mobile communication service provider or go through a predetermined procedure for different service providers.

A first object of the present invention for solving the above problems is a method for changing a mobile communication provider of a mobile communication terminal to handle the change of the service only by processing between the mobile communication terminal and the mobile communication network corresponding to the user's arbitrary selection To provide.

A second object of the present invention for solving the above problems is to provide a method for providing mobile operator setting information from the mobile communication network to the mobile communication terminal when a mobile communication provider change request is received from the mobile communication terminal.

According to an aspect of the present invention for achieving the first object of the present invention, there is provided a service provider selection step in which a mobile communication terminal selects a predetermined mobile communication service provider and a mobile communication service provider to which the mobile communication terminal is currently subscribed. A request message transmitting step of transmitting a message for requesting a service provider to a mobile communication network to a mobile communication service provider; and a subscriber information reading step of reading subscriber specific information from the transmitted request message by the mobile communication network; Is searched in the subscriber database to determine whether the subscriber is a new subscriber, and if the subscriber is a new subscriber, the mobile communication network moves the mobile operator setting information corresponding to the read subscriber specific information. Transmits to a communication terminal, and the mobile communication terminal The service provider performs the service provider setting information transmission and reception step of receiving the mobile communication service provider setting information and the mobile communication terminal updates the service provider setting information in the universal user identification module (USIM) card based on the received mobile communication service provider setting information. It provides a method for changing a mobile communication provider comprising an initialization step that is initialized based on the service provider setting information.

The operator selection step may include providing a changeable list of mobile service providers to a user as a user interface (UI) menu and receiving a user input of one of the list of mobile service providers of the menu. It can be configured. In this case, the list of mobile communication providers may be recorded in a Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM) card. In addition, the list of mobile service providers recorded in the universal user identification module card may be updated through an over the air (OTA) method in an idle mode of the mobile communication terminal.

Here, in the request message transmitting step, a service provider change request message may be transmitted to the mobile communication network using a predetermined attachment type.

Here, the subscriber specific information may be an International Mobile Station Identity (IMSI).

Here, the initializing step may include updating the operator setting information in the USIM card based on the provided operator setting information, resetting the mobile communication terminal, and based on the operator setting information in the updated USIM card. And performing a USIM initialization.

One aspect of the present invention for achieving the second object of the present invention is a subscriber from a request message receiving step of receiving a mobile operator change request message from the mobile communication terminal of the subscriber and the subscriber from the received mobile carrier change request message; A subscriber information reading step of reading specific information and a subscriber identification step of retrieving the subscriber specific information from a subscriber database to determine whether the subscriber is a new subscriber, and if the subscriber is a new subscriber, the read subscriber. The present invention provides a method for providing mobile operator setting information, the method including transmitting operator setting information for transmitting operator setting information corresponding to specific information.

Here, the subscriber specific information may be an International Mobile Station Identity (IMSI).

Here, the operator setting information transmitting step may be configured such that the mobile communication network provides the operator setting information to the mobile communication terminal through an OTA method.

When using a method of changing a mobile communication provider of a mobile communication terminal and a method of providing service provider setting information of a mobile communication network according to an embodiment of the present invention as described above, when a USIM (Universal Subscriber Identity Module) locking device is released, a user possesses The operator may enter the operator selection menu directly from the mobile terminal and perform the operator change operation simply.

Therefore, the time and financial burden of the conventional purchase of a USIM card by visiting the service center of each mobile communication provider to change the mobile communication provider can be reduced, thereby increasing the convenience of the user.

As the invention allows for various changes and numerous embodiments, particular embodiments will be illustrated in the drawings and described in detail in the written description. However, this is not intended to limit the present invention to specific embodiments, it should be understood to include all modifications, equivalents, and substitutes included in the spirit and scope of the present invention. In describing the drawings, similar reference numerals are used for similar elements.

Terms such as first, second, A, and B may be used to describe various components, but the components should not be limited by the terms. The terms are used only for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another. For example, without departing from the scope of the present invention, the first component may be referred to as the second component, and similarly, the second component may also be referred to as the first component. The term and / or includes a combination of a plurality of related items or any item of a plurality of related items.

When a component is referred to as being "connected" or "connected" to another component, it may be directly connected to or connected to that other component, but it may be understood that other components may be present in between. Should be. On the other hand, when a component is said to be "directly connected" or "directly connected" to another component, it should be understood that there is no other component in between.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular example embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention. Singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In this application, the terms "comprise" or "have" are intended to indicate that there is a feature, number, step, operation, component, part, or combination thereof described in the specification, and one or more other features. It is to be understood that the present invention does not exclude the possibility of the presence or the addition of numbers, steps, operations, components, components, or a combination thereof.

Unless defined otherwise, all terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. Terms such as those defined in the commonly used dictionaries should be construed as having meanings consistent with the meanings in the context of the related art and shall not be construed in ideal or excessively formal meanings unless expressly defined in this application. Do not.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a method of changing a mobile service provider according to the present invention.

1 is a flowchart illustrating a mobile communication service provider that is currently in use by using subscriber information of a mobile communication terminal supporting a third generation or more mobile communication service and a universal subscriber identity module (USIM) card installed in the mobile communication terminal. A process of performing a carrier change from the service provider to another mobile communication service provider is shown.

1, an embodiment of a method of changing a mobile communication service provider according to the present invention includes a service provider selection step (S110), a request message transmission step (S120), a subscriber information reading step (S130), and service provider setting information transmission / reception step ( S140 and the initialization step (S150).

The operator selection step S110 is a step in which the mobile communication terminal selects a predetermined mobile communication provider and is configured as follows.

A user enters a mobile communication service provider selection menu provided by a mobile communication terminal in order to change a service provider from a mobile communication service provider currently used to another mobile communication service provider.

Next, in order to display a mobile communication operator selection menu, the mobile communication terminal reads out a list of mobile communication operators stored in the mounted USIM card.

The USIM card uses a file system with an internal logical structure to store various information. The types of files are largely divided into MF (Master File), DF (Dedicated File), and EF (Elementary File). Among them, EF is a file type having a structure in which a header and a body are combined, and in detail, EF is divided into three types, Transparent EF, Linear fixed EF, and Cyclic EF. Each EF has a unique identifier and each stores information corresponding to it.

The list of mobile carriers may be stored in the USIM card in the form of EF, which may be pre-recorded before sale to the user by the mobile carrier that manufactured the USIM card, and the USIM card is mounted in the mobile terminal. After being updated, it may be updated through an over the air (OTA) method in an idle mode.

The read list of mobile operators is displayed to receive input from the user.

2 is a screen of a user interface (UI) for selecting a mobile service provider in the method of changing a mobile service provider according to the present invention.

The read list of mobile communication providers may be provided as a UI menu shown in FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 2, the read list of mobile communication providers may be displayed as a list-type UI menu. When entering the UI menu, the mobile communication service provider 210 currently being used may be displayed using contrast processing.

Here, the user may select a mobile communication provider to change in the UI menu through the input of the navigation key and the confirmation soft key 220 of the mobile communication terminal.

Referring back to FIG. 1, when a user input is completed through the mobile service provider selection UI, a request message transmitting step S120 is performed.

The request message transmission step (S120) is a step of transmitting a message for requesting a change of operator to the mobile communication network. As a method of transmitting such a request message, the mobile communication terminal uses a predetermined attachment type (attach type). A method of transmitting a request message can be used.

The mobile communication terminal attempts to attach a GPRS to the WCDMA network in order to use a general packet radio service (GPRS) service provided by a wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA) system.

GPRS attach, by the mobile communication terminal transmits an attach request signal composed of a predetermined content and format prescribed by WCDMA to the WCDMA network, and receives an attach accept signal from the WCDMA network; It is a series of processes until the attachment to the WCDMA network is completed.

 The GPRS attach request signal is composed of a plurality of information elements, wherein an Attach type information element may indicate what type of GPRS attach the mobile communication terminal requests, that is, whether the GPRS attach is desired or not. Combined GPRS attach.

3 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a structure of an attach type information element in a GPRS message format and an identification value of a connected form according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, the connection type element 310 is allocated in size of one octet, and stores identification values of each connection type in bits 1 to 3 of the octets.

Referring to FIG. 3, there are three types of connection types: GPRS attach, GPRS attach while IMSI attached, and Combined GPRS / IMSI attach. Each identification value is shown in FIG. 3 (320).

Referring to FIG. 3, in the present invention, when a mobile communication terminal requests a GPRS connection for a mobile service provider change request, a new connection in which bit 1 to bit 3 has a value of 1 as an identification value of the connection type element. The request message may be transmitted using a form, for example, a service provider change 330.

Referring back to FIG. 1, after the request message transmitting step S120 is completed, the subscriber information reading step S130 is performed.

In the subscriber information reading step (S130), the mobile communication network reads an operator change request message received from the mobile communication terminal to read an International Mobile Station Identity (IMSI).

IMSI is used to uniquely identify subscribers regardless of roaming regions and is a 15-digit unique identification number assigned to mobile subscribers when subscribing to GSM and third generation mobile services. IMSI consists of a Mobile Country Code (MCC), Mobile Network Code (MNC) and Mobile Subscriber Identifier Number (MSIN). A digit, MSIN, can have a maximum of 10 digits.

Subsequently, referring again to FIG. 1, an operator setup information transmission / reception step S140 is performed between the mobile communication network and the mobile communication terminal.

Operator setting information transmission and reception step (S140), the mobile communication network retrieves the IMSI provided from the mobile communication terminal in the subscriber database, if a new subscriber, a response message including the corresponding mobile communication operator setting information to the mobile communication terminal And the mobile communication terminal receives the response message transmitted from the mobile communication network.

The mobile communication network retrieves the read IMSI from a subscriber database, and determines that the mobile terminal user is a new subscriber when the mobile terminal user is a new subscriber of the company or his subscription, but currently uses another mobile operator. Read the mobile operator setting information necessary for the subscriber's mobile terminal initialization.

Here, the service provider setting information may be transmitted to a mobile communication terminal necessary for initiating connection to a mobile communication network and maintaining a connection with the mobile communication network so that the mobile communication terminal can use various services of a predetermined mobile communication company. It means the information to be set.

The operator setting information may be recorded on the USIM card by a mobile communication service provider that issues a USIM card, and may be updated through an OTA method after the USIM card is mounted in the mobile communication terminal.

The mobile communication network includes the read operator setting information in a response message and transmits the response message to the mobile communication terminal using an OTA method, and the mobile communication terminal receives the response message and transmits the mobile communication provider setting information from the response message. Extract and proceed to the next step.

Referring back to FIG. 1, the initialization step (S150) is a step in which the mobile terminal updates information and setting values of the USIM card and the mobile terminal in order to use a service of a predetermined mobile communication terminal. do.

The mobile communication terminal updates the operator setting information in the USIM card based on the operator setting information extracted from the response message. Thereafter, the mobile communication terminal performs a reset. Here, the operator setting information in the USIM card may be recorded before selling to the user by the mobile communication service provider that issues the USIM card.

Next, the mobile communication terminal performs USIM initialization. Here, USIM initialization means performing a predetermined procedure for using a mobile communication network based on information read from a USIM card loaded in a mobile communication terminal.

For example, a series of processes for setting information such as emergency call codes, language indication, USIM service table, and international mobile station identity (IMSI) to a mobile terminal can be performed. it means.

4 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a method for providing mobile operator setting information according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, the mobile communication terminal 410 is connected to the home location register 430 and the OTA providing server 440 through the base station 420. The base station 420 serves as an interface between the mobile communication terminal 410, the HLR 430, and the OTA providing server 440 to perform various processes required for providing various mobile communication services. The HLR 430 is a database server that stores and manages information of subscribers who have subscribed to the corresponding mobile communication service provider or have a history of subscription in the past. The OTA providing server 440 stores and manages various kinds of information provided in the OTA method to the mobile communication terminal through the base station 420.

5 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a method for providing mobile operator setting information according to the present invention.

5 is a flowchart illustrating a process for providing company setting information for a corresponding subscriber when receiving a mobile operator change request message from a mobile communication terminal in a third generation or more mobile communication network.

Referring to FIG. 5, according to an embodiment of the present invention, a method for providing mobile operator setting information may include receiving a request message (S510), reading a subscriber information (S520), determining a subscriber (S530), and transmitting service provider setting information. It consists of step S540.

The request message receiving step (S510) is a step in which the base station 420 receives a mobile communication provider change request message of the mobile communication terminal 410.

Next, referring to FIG. 5, in the subscriber information reading step S520, the base station 420 extracts subscriber specific information from the request message. For example, IMSI may be used as such subscriber specific information.

The subscriber identification step S530 is performed based on the extracted IMSI.

The subscriber determination step (S530) is a step of determining whether the mobile communication terminal is a new subscriber when the mobile communication network receives a service provider change request from the mobile communication terminal, and is configured as follows.

The base station 410 submits the read IMSI to the HLR 430, and the HLR 430 retrieves subscriber information corresponding to the submitted IMSI in the subscriber database. At this time, the HLR 430 determines whether the subscriber corresponding to the IMSI is a new subscriber.

Here, the new subscriber refers to a user who does not have subscriber information stored in the subscriber database or whose subscriber information is stored in the subscriber database but is currently subscribed to another mobile communication provider.

Thereafter, the HLR 430 notifies the base station 410 whether or not the subscriber corresponding to the submitted IMSI is a new subscriber.

The operator information transmitting step S540 is a step in which the mobile communication network transmits the corresponding mobile communication operator setting information to the mobile communication terminal requesting a mobile communication provider change, and is configured as follows.

If the subscriber corresponding to the IMSI is a new subscriber, the base station 420 requests the OTA providing server 440 to provide provider setting information suitable for the new subscriber. The OTA providing server 440 provides corresponding operator setting information to the base station 420, and the base station 410 transmits the provided operator setting information to the mobile communication terminal 410 through the OTA method.

Additional security measures as described above may be applied selectively or in combination, while the above has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, those skilled in the art will be described in the following claims It will be understood that various modifications and changes can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

1 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a method for changing a mobile service provider according to the present invention.

2 is a screen of a user interface (UI) for selecting a mobile service provider in the method of changing a mobile service provider according to the present invention.

3 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a structure of an attach type information element in a GPRS message format and an identification value of a connected form according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a method for providing mobile operator setting information according to the present invention.

5 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a method for providing mobile operator setting information according to the present invention.

Claims (10)

A carrier selection step of the mobile communication terminal selecting a predetermined mobile communication provider; A request message transmitting step of transmitting, by the mobile communication terminal, a message for requesting a service provider change to the mobile communication network to the selected mobile communication service provider; A subscriber information reading step of reading, by the mobile communication network, subscriber specific information from the transmitted request message; The subscriber specific information is searched in a subscriber database to determine whether the subscriber is a new subscriber, and when the subscriber is a new subscriber, the mobile communication network sets a mobile carrier corresponding to the read subscriber specific information. Transmitting and receiving information on the operator setting information to the mobile communication terminal, wherein the mobile communication terminal receives the mobile communication service provider setting information; And The mobile communication terminal includes an initialization step of updating service provider setting information in a universal user identification module (USIM) card based on the received mobile communication service provider setting information, and initializing based on the updated service provider setting information. How to change your business. The method of claim 1, wherein the operator selection step, Providing a changeable list of mobile service providers to a user as a user interface (UI) menu; And And a step of receiving one of a list of mobile communication providers of the menu from a user. The mobile communication service provider list of claim 2, wherein A method of changing a mobile service provider, characterized in that it is recorded in a Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM) card. The mobile communication service provider list of claim 3, wherein the list of mobile communication providers recorded in the universal user identification module card is as follows. A method of changing a mobile service provider, characterized in that the mobile communication terminal is updated through an over the air (OTA) method in the idle mode (idle mode). The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting of the request message comprises: And a service provider change request message to the mobile communication network using a predetermined attachment type. The method of claim 1, wherein the subscriber specific information, And a mobile station identification number (IMSI: International Mobile Station Identity) from the transmitted request message. The method of claim 1, wherein the initializing step, Updating carrier setting information in the USIM card based on the received carrier setting information; Resetting the mobile communication terminal; And And performing a USIM initialization based on the service provider setting information in the updated USIM card. A request message receiving step of receiving a mobile operator change request message from a subscriber's mobile communication terminal; A subscriber information reading step of reading subscriber specific information from the received mobile operator change request message; A subscriber discrimination step of determining whether the subscriber is a new subscriber by searching the subscriber specific information in a subscriber database; And And a service provider setting information transmitting step of transmitting service provider setting information corresponding to the read subscriber specific information when the subscriber is a new subscriber. The method of claim 8, wherein the subscriber specific information, A method of providing mobile carrier setting information, characterized in that it is an International Mobile Station Identity (IMSI). The method of claim 8, wherein the provider setting information transmission step, And providing service provider setting information to the mobile communication terminal through an OTA.

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