AU738568B2 - Automatic service registration - Google Patents

Description

AUTOMATIC SERVICE REGISTRATION TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a method, an arrangement and a network for providing a service, preferably within IN.

STATE OF THE ART In a faster and faster development of the telecommunication networks it has become important to operators, new as well as old ones, to be able to offer new services. To be able to provide services for subscribers to a growing extent has become a competitive means between different telecommunication operators for attracting new subscribers. The one who fast and efficiently can offer the latest and most flexible service at an attractive price has gained a comparative advantage as compared to another operator who can not offer the service.

In this environment a system has developed for fast and efficiently providing new services, namely IN (Intelligent Network). An IN network comprises a number of i SSPs (Service Switching Point), a number of SCPs (Service Control Point) as well as some kind of management system, for example an SMS (Service Management System) node. An SSP and an SCP may also be combined in one node, a so called SSCP. In an IN network there may also be SDPs (Service Data Point), IPs (Intelligent Peripheral) and other kinds of resources, such as support functions for making of new services, SCE (Service Creation Environment).

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25 The use of an IN service is described below in a schematical manner. The intention with the following description is not to be complete but it will only illustrate the background of how an IN network functions. A call which will use an IN functionality is incoming to an SSP. The SSP checks the call and reacts on different so called triggers. These may be provided in the beginning of, in the middle of, or at the end of a call. When the SSP detects a trigger, it contacts an SCP with a query. The SCP ,handles the query, possibly with the help of data from an SDP and sends an order to SSP. The words may for example consist in connection to some kind of a resource, such as an IP, to forward the call to some particular function or an amount of other alternatives. Which alternatives that are chosen is given by the service that the SCP executes. This service is built by an amount of different building blocks which may be combined in a number of different ways. In that way an enormous amount of different services may be construed and each operator may provide his own specific service which the operator can use to compete for subscribers.

Therefore, as illustrated above, a huge amount of different services may coexist on the market. This creates an entirely new problem for the subscriber, namely that of keeping control of which services that exist and which services he currently subscribes to. Of course this does not only have to be relevant for IN services but it may also relate to conventional telephony services, such as for example long distance calls which are offered by alternative operators according to known technology.

Another related problem may be that it is difficult for a subscriber to know which types of services another subscriber has access to. A common example is when a subscriber tries to send a fax to a B-number which normally is used for speech S 20 telephony, which results in an unpleasant tone in the ear of the answering part.

Another example is that a subscriber sends an SMS (Short Message Service) to someone who cannot receive SMS, or who is not willing to pay for that service.

i :coo SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION li e 25 The present invention attacks the above mentioned problem of handling nonregistered services for a subscriber.

One object of the present invention is thus to, in a simple and direct way, give a subscriber permanent or temporary access to a service which he, consciously or unconsciously, is in need of.

3 The above mentioned problem of giving a subscriber permanent or temporary access to a service which he, consciously or unconsciously, is in need of is solved through the introduction of a method in the telecom network which registers the subscriber for the service he is in need of and then may give him access to the service (particularly some given criteria have to be met).

In a more detailed manner the problem is solved in that the service which the subscriber has tried to use registers the attempt and that the subscriber does not have access to the service and activates a registration functionality. The registration function uses resources available in the network to inform the subscriber that he, in order to be able to get access to the desired service, has to register and possibly pay a fee and also asks the subscriber if he is willing to do so.

An advantage of the present invention is that the subscriber can use services immediately or at least shortly and without having to bother about whether he is registered or not.

For the operators there is a considerable advantage in being able to sell a new service to a customer accurately at the moment when he most needs it.

.oooo The invention will now be further described using preferred embodiments and with reference to accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 25 Fig. 1 schematically illustrates a network according to the state of the art.

0oo0 Fig. 2 illustrates more in detail functions implemented in the network.

o: Fig. 3 illustrates more in detail further functionalities implemented in the network.

Fig. 4 shows a flow diagram for one embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 5 shows a signalling diagram according to one embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 6 shows a flow diagram for a further embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 7 shows a signalling diagram for one embodiment of the invention.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Fig. 1 shows a network 101 according to known technology. 102 denotes a first subscriber A and 103 denotes a second subscriber both of which are connected to the network 101. In the network 101 there is at least one exchange 104, at least one SSP 105 and in addition thereto at least one SCP 106. In the nodes 104, 105 and 106 a large number of services are implemented which makes it difficult for the subscriber 102 to know which services are available to subscriber 103. Furthermore subscribers 102 and 103 may have access to alternative networks 107 operated by other operators than the traditional public network operators. If the subscriber 101 wants to use an alternative operator he, as a rule, first has to dial an access :o 20 number, an area code number, in order to get in contact with the network 107 and furthermore he may be required to have an account with the operator who runs the network 107. I figures 2 and 3 some of the functionalities which are necessary to be able to register the subscriber at the moment when he needs the service.

00o• 25 Of course the present invention is advantageous not only for alternative operators but it may as well be used by traditional public operators.

Fig. 2 shows some functions which may be implemented in a switching node or in a node for network intelligence. 201 denotes the exchange. In the exchange 201 there is at least one service 202 which further includes a screening function 203 the task of which is to screen out messages which for example are badly formatted or other types of calls which can not be given access to the service 202. The screening function 203 includes a detection function 204. The detection function 204 detects that a subscriber who is not registered tries to use the service and then handles over the call control to a detection handling function implemented in a network intelligence node, for example an SCP. The node 201 also is comprised by a charging system 205. The detection handling function is further described with reference to Fig. 3.

Even if the word service is used above as well as in the following, there are no limitations relating to the types of services to which the invention are applicable but the word service is also taken to comprise such types of services as for example call connection. Thus the service of setting up a call channel may symbolically be described with a function block in an exchange.

301 denotes a node for network intelligence in Fig. 3. The node 301 is advantageously an SCP. The node 301 includes the services 302 and 303 which both use screening functions 303 and detection functions 304 in a way similar to S: that as described with reference to Fig. 2. The node 301 further comprises a i 20detection handling function 305 hereinafter called DHF. DHF 305 connects a message machine 306 which replays a message to the subscriber. The message machine 306 also comprises means to detect a response from the subscriber either 0o• in the form of DTMF (Dual Tone Multiple Frequency) signalling from the subscriber or through voice recognition.

25 The message that is replayed may for example be "At the moment you can not use this service. Press 1 if you want to register. Press 2 if you do not want to register but if you want information about the service sent to you. Press 3 to talk to an operator." o If voice recognition is used the message may for example be "You are still not registered as a customer with us and you can therefore not use this service. If you want to, we can register you automatically and the cost for using the service will then be 4,80 SEK per minute. Do you want to register?" 6 The message machine 306 detects the response from the subscriber and forwards it to DHF 305. DHF 305 registers the choice of the subscriber and if the choice is positive, DHF 305 instructs the message machine 306 and the service is available immediately or shortly. If the service is available immediately the message machine for example sends the following message: "Welcome as a customer of ACME Inc.

You can use the service as soon as we have completed the registration. Please wait."And if the service will be available only after a while: "Welcome as a customer of ACME Inc. The service will be available within 14 days. Please make hook on".

Irrespectively of whether the subscriber has given a positive answer or not DHF 305 feeds out a call data post 307 to a registration handling system 308.

If the subscriber already was registered with the operator DHF 305 instructs the message machine 306 to ask the subscriber for a PIN code (Personal Identification Number). The PIN code is stored in DHF 305.

To the registration handling function 309, below called RHF, the call data post 307 is fed. The registration handling system 308 includes an RHF 309 and a table 310 wherein the call data post 307 of subscribers subscribing to a specific service are 20 stored and a table 311 wherein the call data post 307 for subscribers who have attempted to use the service but who did not want to subscribe to it, are stored.

There is one table 310 and 311 each for each service with automatic registration.

The tables 310 and 311 sometimes among others store the A-number. RHF 309 ;r also derives the name and address from the A-number and store them in the right goo 25 table. RHF 309 also contacts a credit evaluation function 312 to evaluate if the subscriber is creditworthy. If the subscriber is not creditworthy, the handling is finished and the service is blocked to the subscriber. If however the credit evaluation is positive, a subscription is opened in the screening function 203, 303 and in the charging system 205. RHF 309 generates a PIN code which is stored in DHF 305 and sent to the subscriber.

In Fig. 4 a flow diagram according to what was described above is illustrated.

1001. A call from a subscriber directed to a service which has automatic registration is detected.

1002. Is the subscriber registered? 1003. The subscriber is already registered. Request and detect the PIN code of the subscriber.

1004. Is the PIN code correct? The subscriber is given three attempts. If the wrong code is given in all of the three attempts, the verification is considered as failed.

1005. Verification failed. Terminate connection with the subscriber.

1006. Verification successful. Proceed with connection to subscriber in a conventional manner and let the subscriber use the service.

1007. The subscriber is not registered since earlier. Ask the subscriber if the subscriber wants to register for the service.

1008. The subscriber does not want to register. Generate a call data post and store it.

25 1009. The subscriber wants to register. Perform a credit rating.

1010. The credit rating was not accepted. Block the subscriber from using the service. Terminate the connection to the subscriber.

S 30 1011. The credit rating was accepted. Open a subscription in the screening function 203, 303 and in the charging function 205.

1012. Generate a PIN code and store it in DHF 305.

8 In Fig. 5 a signalling scheme is illustrated according what has been described above. In Fig. 5 it is further supposed that the node 201 is an SSP, that node 301 is an SCP and that the message function 306 is an IP.

1. REQUEST. Subscriber A requests to use a service with automatic registration. The SSP detects it through the signal REQUEST.

2. REQUEST. The SSP notes that the subscriber is not registered for the service and forwards the call control to the SCP.

3. PROMPTANDCOLLECT. The SCP orders an IP to send a message to the subscriber and to detect an answer.

4. PROMPT. The IP sends a message to the subscriber according to one of the suggestions as given in connection with Fig. 3.

COLLECT. The IP detects the answer of the subscriber.

6. ANS. The IP informs the SCP about the answer from the subscriber. In this embodiment the subscriber is supposed to answer positively. If the subscriber answers negatively another signalling flow will result which is not further described herein but which can be understood through the description referring to Fig. 3.

7. QUEST. The SCP checks with a credit rating function whether the subscriber is creditworthy.

.o 8. ANS. The credit rating function answers to the SCP. In this embodiment the answer is supposed to be positive. If the answer is negative, another 30 signalling flow will result which is not further described here but which can be understood through the description of Fig. 3.

9 0• 9 9. UPDATEOK. The SCP informs the SSP that the subscriber is given access to the service and asks the SSP to update the screening function 203, 303 and the charging function 205.

In another embodiment of the invention a first subscriber 102 presupposes that a second subscriber 103 has access to a particular service, for example voice mail with fax. The subscriber 102 thus sends a voice message by fax to the subscriber 103. The subscriber 103 normally can not receive the message and does not even notice that a message has arrived. Again through referring to Fig. 3 and through using the invention the problem can be handled.

In the same manner as described above the detection function 304 detects that the second subscriber 103 needs a service to which he so far has no access. The detection function then forwards the call control to DHF 305. DHF 305 sets up a temporary storing area for storing the voice message and the fax. DHF examines which services that are available to the second subscriber 103 and uses one of them to make the second subscriber 103 aware of the ensued situation. In this embodiment DHF 305 instructs the message machine 306 to contact the second S subscriber with a message, for example "This is an automatic service. You have a 20 message which you are not entitled to receive according to your current service profile. Do you want to register for voice mail with fax which gives you access to the ooo. message?' If the second subscriber 103 does not want to do so, the temporary i storing area is erased. If however the subscriber 103 wants to register, a registration takes place in agreement with what has been described above.

Fig. 6 shows a flow diagram according to the embodiment as described above.

2001. A call to a subscriber using a service with automatic registration.

30 2002. Is the subscriber registered for said service? 2003. Subscriber already registered. Proceed with normal handling.

2004. Subscriber not registered. Store relevant data, in this embodiment voice message and fax.

2005. Contact the subscriber using a service that is available to him, in this embodiment a message machine 306 is used. The message machine also detects if the subscriber wants to register.

2006. Does the subscriber want to register? 2007. The subscriber did not want to register. Erase the stored data.

2008. Depending on whether the first subscriber 102 requested it, a message can be sent to the first subscriber 102 containing the information that the second subscriber 103 did not receive the message.

2009. The subscriber wants to register. Further information from the subscriber may be necessary to complete registration. In this embodiment the subscriber has to give a fax number to where the fax can be sent.

2010. The service is activated and the subscriber can receive the voice message and the fax.

In Fig. 7 a signalling scheme according to the above embodiment is illustrated. In Si Fig. 7 it is further supposed that node 201 is an SSP, that node 301 is an SCP and 25 that the message function 306 is an IP.

1. REQUEST. A first subscriber A sends a voice message by fax to a second subscriber B. The message is received by SSP 201.

30 2. REQUEST. The SSP 201 forwards the control to the SCP 301. The SCP 301 detects that the second subscriber B does not have access to the needed "service.

11 3. PROMPTANDCOLLECT. The SCP 301 instructs the IP 306 to send a message to the second subscriber B and to detect the answer from the subscriber B.

4. PROMPT. The IP 306 sends a message to the subscriber B.

COLLECT. The IP 306 detects the answer from the subscriber B.

6. ANS. The IP 306 informs the SCP 301 about the answer of the subscriber B.

In this embodiment the subscriber is supposed to answer positively. The signal ANS furthermore contains the additional information that may be necessary for registration of the service such as for example the fax number of the B-subscriber.

The SCP registers the service in agreement with the preceding embodiment.

The invention is of course not limited to the embodiments described above and to the illustrated drawings, but it can be modified within the scope of the appended claims.

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Claims (16)

1. Method for automatically registering a new user of a service in a telephone network, wherein a subscriber tries to use a service for which he is not registered, and the attempt is registered by means of a detection function, characterized in that the detection function calls a registration function, that the registration function informs the subscriber that the subscriber is not registered for the service and gives the subscriber the possibility to register, and that the registration function registers the subscriber or not, depending on the choice of the subscriber.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that a resource is activated by said registration function, that the resource makes a query to said subscriber, that the resource informs the registration function about the answer to the query and that the registration function registers the subscriber for said service depending on the answer.

3. Method according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that before the subscriber is registered for the service, a credit rating function is called and that the subscriber is registered depending on the evaluation of the credit rating function.

4. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a call data post for each subscriber is stored in the registration function.

5. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that a PIN code is generated by the registration function and that the PIN code is stored in the detection function.

6. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said service is activated by said subscriber. 13

7. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said service is activated by a second subscriber.

8. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the registration function registers the subscriber for the service and in that when the subscriber terminates the call, the registration function deregisters said subscriber.

9. Method according to claim 2 or to any one of claims 3 to 8 as appended to claim 2, characterized in that the detection function is implemented in an SSP, that the registration function is implemented in an SCP and that the resource is an IP. Network for automatical registration of a new user of a service in a telephone network, characterized by at least one first node including a detection function arranged to detect whether a subscriber tries to use a service for which he is not registered, at least one second node comprising a registration function arranged to automatically register a subscriber for a service.

11. Network according to claim 10, characterized in that the second node includes a resource arranged to make a query to the subscriber, to detect the answer to the query and to inform the second node about the answer.

12. Network according to claim 11, characterized in that the first node is an SSP, 9 the second node is an SCP and the resource is an IP.

13. A node for automatically registering a new user of a service in a telephone network and which is in communication with a node which includes a detection function arranged to detect whether a subscriber tries to use a service for which he is not registered, characterized in that said node for automatically registering a new user 14 includes a registration function arranged to automatically register a subscriber for a service.

14. A node according to claim 13, characterized in that said registration function includes means for storing at least one PIN code, that the registration function comprises at least two tables arranged to store call data posts. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, substantially as described with reference to the drawings.

16. A network as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 12, substantially as described with reference to the drawings.

17. A node as claimed in claim 13 or 14, substantially as described with reference to the drawings. DATED this 2 0 th Day of July, 2001 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET L M ERICSSON (publ) WATERMARK PATENT TRADE MARK ATTORNEYS Unit 1, The Village Riverside Corporate Park

39-117 Delhi Road S North Ryde NSW 2113 PNF/AJE/JB *go ooo