CN1771751A - Method and device for network operator information retrieval - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an information retrieval concerning information about telecommunication network operators. In particular, the present invention relates to a method for 5 an automatic information retrieval of public land mobile network (PLMN) operators serving telephony services of subscribed mobile communication terminals. The method for network information retrieval according to one embodiment of the invention is provided for retrieval of network information about network operators serving for telephony services of communication terminal identified by a telephone number. To perform the method, a request is coded which comprises one or more telephone numbers. Th request is transmitted to a network serving entity for performing the network information retrieval. The network serving entity receives the request from a communication terminal. The request is decoded to extract the one or more telephone numbers and on the basis of the one or more telephone numbers network information is retrieved. A response is coded which includes the retrieved network information and the coded request is transmitted to the communication terminal from which the request has being originally transmitted. The communication terminal receives the corresponding response from the network serving entity in consequence on the request. The response comprises network information relating to the one or more telephone numbers. The response is decoded to extract the network information and the network information is stored accordingly in conjunction with the one or more telephone numbers.

Description

The method and apparatus that is used for the network operator information retrieval

The present invention relates to a kind of information retrieval about the information relevant with telecommunication network operators.Especially, the present invention relates to the method for automated information retrieval that a kind of telephone service that is used to the mobile communication terminal of reservation provides Public Land Mobile Nerwork (PLMN) operator of service.

In most of industrialized countries, telephone service was mainly runed by state-owned monopolization telephone service operator in the past.Now, telephone service market is disengaged control and makes telephone service be provided and runed by the several separate telecommunication network operators of competition each other.That is to say, the user of telephone service is the client of one of several separate telecommunication network operators, this independently telecommunication network operators exchange respectively and consult by the Client-initiated that is labeled as the promoter, connect to another user's communications that is labeled as the recipient.The recipient also is the client of one of several separate telecommunication network operators, but and unnecessary be the client of the telecommunication network operators identical with the promoter.Therefore the communication between promoter and the recipient or be based upon in the communication network of a telecommunication network operators or by via one or more communication hand-over nodes betwixt at least two telecommunication network operators of route handle, described communication hand-over node makes the communication network of at least two related telecommunication network operators interconnect.

Independently the race condition between the telecommunication network operators causes especially depending on the different chare of the related communication network that will be used to establish a communications link.Just, the charge that establishes a communications link in the communication network of a telecommunication network operators is lower than the charge under the situation about establishing a communications link in two communication networks of different telecommunication network operators.

Be conceived to German mobile telephone service market come more detailed description for the user, in shortcoming by the telecommunication service in the telephony market of several separate telecommunication network operators service, this is as to example of the actual conditions in other country and illustrational.More specifically, will provide demonstration with respect to public land mobile telephone service operator explains.Before fourth quarter in 2002, the operation commercial city of PLMN (PLMN) is stopping that the telephone number with in their scope is distributed to foreign operator.This means that the national management entity distributes a telephone number by demand, this piece telephone number is distinguished by typically dialing code, is prefix sequence by numeral and dial code, and for example four numerals form.Individual Serial No. is added to the code of dialing that is placed on the beginning, makes resulting Serial No. form clear and definite telephone number.Because every telephone number is assigned the fact to a definite public land mobile telephone service operator, the promoter that telephone communication connects (for example call) can dial the identity that code is discerned the public land mobile telephone service operator that serves the recipient clearly by identification.Therefore, the promoter also can estimate the cost that the telephone communication of being initiated connects at least.

Variation has taken place in situation fourth quarter in 2002.The user of mobile terminal device is allowed to change to another public land mobile telephone service operator and keeps their telephone number simultaneously.Therefore, no longer be transparent for the telephone service of a certain telephone number provides the sign of the public land mobile telephone service operator of service for the promoter who calls out.Previous assignment dial code no longer clearly assignment give corresponding public land mobile telephone service operator.Because the calling to the heterogeneous networks that enters public land mobile telephone service operator can cause different suitable charges, so the promoter that telephone communication connects wishes to be notified to the name (identity) as the public land mobile telephone service operator of telephone communication linking objective.

Should be pointed out that the above description that provides (explaining based on PLMN (PLMN)) is not limited to those PLMNs (PLMN).Similarly, same problem also appears at based on wire communication and connects and also in the routine call network by the operation of several separate telephone service operator.In addition, this problem in addition also be present in PLMN and the routine call network between communication in.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a kind of method, be used for setting up an information retrieval that communicates to connect (call) to before relevant this recipient's who communicates to connect of recipient telephone service operator, this communicates to connect by this telephone service operator route of process.

Purpose of the present invention by as the equipment that is used for information retrieval that is used for method for information retrieval, limits as claim 18 and claim 19 that limits in claim 1, claim 9 and the claim 14 and as the system that is used for information retrieval of claim 21 qualification realize.Embodiments of the invention are stipulated by dependent claims.

According to an aspect of the present invention, provide the method that is used for networked information retrieval.The method that is used to retrieve about the network information of the Virtual network operator that is associated with telephone number particularly is provided.More specifically, this Virtual network operator is served telephone service.In order to carry out this method, the request that comprises one or more telephone numbers is encoded.This request is transferred to network service entity, is used to carry out networked information retrieval, and as the result who asks, receives corresponding response from network service entity.This response comprises the relevant network information that relates to the Virtual network operator of one or more telephone numbers.This response decoded with extract the network information and therefore the network information be stored with described one or more telephone numbers.

According to one embodiment of present invention, response is built at least one information record and goes.Be included in a telephone number and the network information relevant that each information record in the response comprises described one or more telephone numbers, make the network information be associated and can discern with a certain telephone number with this telephone number.

According to one embodiment of present invention, choose in a plurality of telephone numbers of described one or more telephone number from the telephone directory that is stored in communication terminal.This telephone directory may be the editable numeral of user (electronics) telephone directory.Such telephone directory also can be embodied in and be appointed as contact directory, and this contact directory comprises a plurality of contact entry, and each contact entry comprises for example title, one or more telephone number, address or the like.Just, contact and contact entry can be respectively applied for a people's of management phone, address and personal information.

According to one embodiment of present invention, the user of communication terminal can realize selecting respectively one or more telephone numbers by hand from telephone directory and contact directory.Manual selection can utilize the instruction of input unit (for example button, switch, actuator or the like) input via communication terminal to operate.

According to one embodiment of present invention, from telephone directory and contact directory, select one or more telephone numbers to realize automatically respectively according to predefined selection definition.Predefined selection definition can define one group of telephone number, this group telephone number is stored in the telephone directory and comprises all telephone numbers, the new telephone number that produces, the telephone number relevant with associated communication terminal in the PLMN (PLMN), selection of user-defined telephone number or the like are correspondingly to carry out selection automatically.

According to one embodiment of present invention, respectively, telephone directory is suitable for storing a plurality of telephone directory items, and contact directory is suitable for storing a plurality of contact directory items.Each telephone directory/contact directory item comprises at least one for example title and a telephone number of name.At least one telephone directory/contact directory item relevant with at least one information record is identified based on a telephone number that is included in the corresponding information record.By in the telephone directory/contact directory item that the network information of an information record in described at least one information record is included at least one identification and this network information is stored in telephone directory/contact directory.

According to one embodiment of present invention, the network information comprises at least about the information of Virtual network operator and particularly about the information of the identity of Virtual network operator.Information about network operator identities can be the clear and definite coded sequence relevant with Virtual network operator.

According to one embodiment of present invention, the network information also comprises the pay imformation of pay imformation and particularly Virtual network operator, and the network information is retrieved according to this information.

According to an aspect of the present invention, provide a kind of method that is used for networked information retrieval.A kind of method that is used to retrieve about the Virtual network operator that is associated with telephone number is provided especially.More specifically, this Virtual network operator is served telephone service.Receive a request from communication terminal.This request comprises one or more telephone numbers.This request is decoded to extract described one or more telephone number and based on the network information of one or more telephone numbers retrieval about operator.Comprise that request that the response of institute's retrieved network information is encoded and encodes is transferred to that communication terminal of this request of starting.

According to one embodiment of present invention, retrieval can comprise the one or more data storages of visit and particularly visit one or more databases.Data storage and database are respectively applied for the network information that management and processing are associated with a plurality of telephone numbers, and the retrieval of the network information is suitable for obtaining and carrying out the relevant network information of telephone number of retrieval based on it.

According to one embodiment of present invention, the response of coding is built in the information record and goes.Each information writes down a telephone number and the network information relevant with this telephone number in the one or more telephone numbers that comprise request.The number of information record depends on the telephone number number that is included at first in the request that receives, and may depend on the networked information retrieval success or not.Just,, then do not create (coding) information record if the network information is unavailable, if information can be used, then the record of the information in the response is created (coding).

According to one embodiment of present invention, the network information comprises about the information of Virtual network operator and especially, the network information comprises the information about the identity of Virtual network operator at least at least.

According to one embodiment of present invention, the network information also comprises pay imformation.

According to an aspect of the present invention, provide a kind of method that is used for networked information retrieval.Especially, provide and be used to retrieve the method for the network information that the relevant communication terminal of discerning for telephone number provides the Virtual network operator of telephone service service.In order to carry out this method, comprise that the request of one or more telephone numbers is encoded.This request is transferred to network service entity and is used to carry out networked information retrieval.Network service entity receives the request that receives from communication terminal.This request is decoded extracting described one or more telephone number, and based on one or more telephone numbers, retrieval is about the network information of Virtual network operator.Comprise that response that the response of institute's retrieved network information is encoded and encodes is transferred to that communication terminal of this request of starting.In response to this request, corresponding response is received from network service entity by communication terminal.This response comprises and the relevant network information of described one or more telephone numbers.This response is decoded with the extraction network information, and therefore the network information is stored with one or more telephone numbers.

According to an aspect of the present invention, provide a kind of computer program that is used for networked information retrieval.This computer program comprises the program code part, this program code can directly be loaded in the local storage of assembly, treatment facility, terminal equipment, communication terminal device, service equipment or networked devices based on microprocessor and go, and is used to realize the operation of preceding method thereon when program is carried out.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the computer program that is used for networked information retrieval is provided, this computer program comprises the program code part that is stored on the computer-readable media, is used for realizing when program product is carried out on based on assembly, treatment facility, terminal equipment, communication terminal device, service equipment or the networked devices of microprocessor preceding method.

According to an aspect of the present invention, provide a kind of Software tool that is used for networked information retrieval.Software tool comprises program part, is used for realizing when Software tool is realized on computer program and/or carried out the operation of preceding method.

According to an aspect of the present invention, provide a kind of computer data signal, this computer data signal is embodied and represents to cause to realize the instruction of any one operation of preceding method when being carried out by processor with carrier wave.In internet, applications of the present invention thus also is included in.

According to an aspect of the present invention, provide communication terminal.Especially, communication terminal is suitable for carrying out according to an embodiment of the invention, is used for the method for networked information retrieval.This communication terminal comprises encoding pack, communication interface, translation subassembly and memory module.Comprise at least one or a plurality of telephone number by the request of encoding pack coding.Communication interface is used to pass on this request to give network service entity, and this network service entity comes acknowledges requests by transmitting back a response, and this response is received by communication interface once more.Translation subassembly is suitable for deciphering and extract the network information in the response that is included in reception.The network information is relevant with the one or more telephone numbers that are included at first in the request.Memory module is suitable for the network information is included in respectively in telephone directory and the contact directory and goes; Wherein this storage is performed based on the telephone number relevant with the network information of extracting.

According to an aspect of the present invention, provide a kind of network service entity.Especially, network service entity is suitable for carrying out according to an embodiment of the invention, being used for method for information retrieval.Network service entity comprises communication interface, translation subassembly, retrieval component and encoding pack.Communication Interface Module is used to receive from the request of communication terminal and is used for transmission response to communication terminal.Translation subassembly is suitable for deciphering the request that comprises one or more telephone numbers, and extracts one or more telephone numbers.Retrieval component is suitable for according to described one or more telephone number retrieval network information.Encoding pack is suitable for encoding and comprises the response of retrieved network information.

According to an aspect of the present invention, provide a kind of system that is used for networked information retrieval.This system comprises at least one communication terminal and at least one network service entity.

Communication terminal comprises encoding pack, communication interface, translation subassembly and memory module.Comprise at least one or a plurality of telephone number by the request of encoding pack coding.Communication interface is used to pass on this request to give network service entity, and this network service entity comes acknowledges requests by transmitting back a response, and this response is received by communication interface once more.Translation subassembly is suitable for deciphering and extract the network information in the response that is included in reception.The network information is relevant with the one or more telephone numbers that are included at first in the request.Memory module is suitable for the network information is included in respectively in telephone directory and the contact directory and goes; Wherein said storage is performed based on the telephone number relevant with the network information of extracting.

Network service entity comprises communication interface, translation subassembly, retrieval component and encoding pack.Communication Interface Module is used to receive from the request of communication terminal and is used for transmission response gives communication terminal.Translation subassembly is suitable for deciphering this request and extracts one or more telephone numbers.Retrieval component is suitable for according to described one or more telephone number retrieval network information.Encoding pack is suitable for encoding and comprises the response of institute's retrieved network information.

Accompanying drawing is comprised to be provided further understanding of the present invention, and is merged in specification and forms the part of this specification.Accompanying drawing illustrates embodiments of the invention and is used from explanation principle of the present invention with description one.In the drawings,

Fig. 1 shows according to an embodiment of the invention, allows the system of retrieval network information;

Fig. 2 a show operation according to an embodiment of the invention, be used for the first example explanation of user interface of the communication terminal of method for information retrieval;

Fig. 2 b show operation according to an embodiment of the invention, be used for the second example explanation of user interface of the communication terminal of method for information retrieval;

Fig. 2 c shows the alternative exemplary explanation about the user interface of the communication terminal of those example explanations of describing in Fig. 2 a;

Fig. 3 a show explanation according to an embodiment of the invention, be used for the first pass figure of method for information retrieval;

Fig. 3 b show explanation according to an embodiment of the invention, be used for second flow chart of method for information retrieval;

Fig. 4 a shows the assembly of communication terminal according to an embodiment of the invention; And

Fig. 4 b shows the assembly of network service entity according to an embodiment of the invention.

Will be in detail with reference to embodiments of the invention, the example of embodiment describes in the accompanying drawings.As possible, accompanying drawing with describe in just use identical reference number to quote same or analogous part.

Following description is to be similar to preface partly with reference to PLMN, has indicated the problem that the present invention will overcome based on the preface part.Should be appreciated that to the invention is not restricted to PLMN, but also can be applicable to conventional wired telephone network.

Fig. 1 shows a system, and this system comprises that exemplary components is to allow coming retrieval network information according to embodiments of the invention.Basic ideas of the present invention are that user such as the communication terminal of mobile phone 100 can be retrieved about the network information of PLMN operator identity at least, and this operator is that the recipient of communication call operates telephone service.Therefore the recipient can come addressing by means of a certain telephone number.The network information is provided by the special-purpose networked information business of moving on the network service entity of all network information servers as shown in Figure 1 200.The request that the network information is used to retrieve by transmission by communication terminal is from moving the network service entity retrieval of this special use networked information business.The request that is used to retrieve is responded and replys by transmitting back the respective request that comprises the network information of being asked by special-purpose networked information business.The exchange of request and response is denoted as arrow 50 in Fig. 1.

At moving communicating field, request is routed via PLMN with communicating by letter of response.Particularly, suitable communication path will be described based on the assembly that Fig. 1 provides.Represent aerial download (OTA) interface and its current related base station 150 communications of the mobile phone 100 of communication terminal via it.The network equipments of arranging in the middle of one or more 160, for example router device, gateway device, agent equipment or the like may involve the communication that received via base station 150 in the route of network information server 200, and vice versa.Usually, the communication between mobile phone 100 and the network information server 200 is transmitted by the one or more data communication networks that connect mobile phone 100 and network information server 200.One in the data communication network is wireless data communication network, allows the PLMN of mobile data communication in particular.Other data communication network can be with common formal specification and be called reference number 20 based on wired data communication network, for example Local Area Network, wide area network (WAN) are with the similar or relevant network that allows data communication.

The networked information retrieval that provides among the present invention is based on request message/sequence of response messages.Just, message is in the exchanged between equipment that participates in, and the equipment of described participation is the communication terminal that is specially mobile phone 100 on the one hand, and is the network service entity that is specially network information server 200 on the other hand.Usually in order to operate the aforementioned messages sequence, can set up suitable logic communication and connect to make the apparatus interconnection that participates in via one or more data communication networks.Logic communication connects can by any communication network and data communication carrier and host-host protocol is combined to be provided.Suitable communication network may be Local Area Network, wide area network (WAN), and it may also comprise the Internet, and such as this locality of USB (USB) or standardization serial communication (for example RS-323) based on wired serial network.

Described equipment (promptly, be specially the communication terminal and the network service entity that is specially network information server 200 of mobile phone 100) also may be connected via cordless communication network, described cordless communication network is such as the mobile network who supports global system for mobile communications (GSM) business and/or support GPRS (GPRS), such as 3G (Third Generation) Moblie network, wireless lan (wlan), blueteeth network or the infrared network (IrDA) of Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) network.Logic communication between the equipment that participates in connects can be provided by the single communication network of aforementioned type, can also be provided by the communication network of the several aforementioned type that interconnect by the dedicated network routing device.

Request can realize on the suitable agreement consistent with used communication network type with response message.Can realize on it that asking the appropriate protocol with response message is HTTP(Hypertext Transport Protocol); The WSP of wireless application protocol (wap) standard (WSP); Wireless Datagram Protocol (WDP); Be used for connecting, being used for connecting or being used for the Object Exchange (OBEX) of infrared connection (IrDA) such as the short range radio frequency of bluetooth such as the cable of USB (USB) or RS-232, transmission control protocol/Internet protocol (TCP/IP) stack and (for example by email protocol, Simple Mail Transfer protocol is on the transport layer business that SMTP) provides.Transmission at lower level can be according to using for example short message SMS (short message service) or other signaling type transmission method (for example, USSD; Unstructured supplementary service data), the bottom-layer network of circuit-switched data call or packet switched data transmission servic is carried out.

Should be pointed out that processing, the route of data communication and be transmitted in outside the scope of the present invention and and use conventional or following network communication equipment, communications carrier, data-encoding scheme and communication means for it.

Fig. 2 a and 2b show according to an embodiment of the invention, are used for may the using of method of networked information retrieval.Illustrated application is also relevant with moving communicating field, and special relevant with the user interface field of mobile communication terminal.Fig. 2 a and Fig. 2 b illustrated respectively and select to have shown legend and screenshot capture, and these are to be offered such as the user's of the communication terminal of mobile phone by the user interface that is realized that allows user's operation communication terminal.With reference to figure 2a and according to other embodiments of the invention, Fig. 2 c shows the possible alternative that shows legend and screenshot capture respectively.

In screenshot capture S100, show the exemplary user interface legend of the communication terminal of standby mode.The user interface legend that illustrates comprises that (this signal receives level indicator and illustrates in the left side for the intensity of indication actual signal receptivity or the level indicator of mass value, can discern by antenna symbol), the level indicator of the capacity signal of the actual battery capacity of indication (the battery capacity indication illustrates on the right side, can by battery/storage battery Symbol recognition), be shown operator's identity, soft-key button and the function key setting of " OPERATOR (operator) " respectively and about the out of Memory of the current running status of communication terminal.

The user of this operator's identity notifying communication terminal: current which PLMN that subscribes to of this communication terminal, just, the operator of this PLMN operation, communication terminal are handled and its communicate by letter.In this country of user, communication terminal is subscribed among the PLMN of PLMN operator routinely, utilizes this PLMN operator, and the user has signed the contract of mobile telephone service.Abroad, PLMN operator provides the roaming that utilizes foreign PLMN operator also can use telephone service and correspondingly show operator's identity of foreign PLMN operator in foreign country to allow the user usually, and communication terminal is allowed to subscribe in this external PLMN operator.

In screenshot capture S110, show the exemplary user interface legend of communication terminal when the user enters into telephone directory.Routinely, telephone directory sorts to the telephone directory item according to the lexicographic order of name, wherein is name of each assignment.For example illustrate, the screenshot capture S110 shown in Fig. 1 a has described four names: " Adam ﹠amp; Eve (Adam and Eve) ", " Debbie (Debbie) ", " Juliet (Juliet) ", " Sweet Mary (Si Weite Mary) ", these four names may be included in the part of the name list in the telephone directory.In this example, the user may preliminary election " Juliet ", this shows expression by list items " Juliet " anti-and indicates.

In screenshot capture S120, show the exemplary user interface legend of communication terminal when the user has selected telephone directory item " Juliet " for a demonstration details that obtains " Juliet " as the preliminary election of reference screenshot capture S110 description.Details illustrate at least one telephone number, and this number has been assigned to item " Juliet ".In addition, and according to embodiments of the invention, the details of item " Juliet " are enriched by operator's identity, and operator's identity is notified the user respectively: the PLMN operator of telephone service service and the PLMN operator that can be connected " Juliet " via it are provided for " Juliet ".

For " Juliet " provides operator's identity of the PLMN operator of telephone service service is the information that the user of communication terminal not necessarily knows, it is optional utilizing operator's identity to enrich telephone number like this.Correspondingly, the communication terminal method that provides according to an embodiment of the invention, be used for networked information retrieval offers the user to obtain this information.

In screenshot capture S130, show the exemplary user interface legend of communication terminal, it illustrates one group of selecteed function, the telephone directory item " Juliet " that these functions allow user's modification and operation to select.The user can select other details and this part of calling party interface function with reference to the illustrated demonstration of screenshot capture S120 by combination.Be exclusively used in the telephone directory item, that is, the operation of the item here " Juliet " and one of them function of modification comprise function " more New Network Information ", and this function allows the manual networked information retrieval according to an embodiment of the invention of initiating of user.Networked information retrieval causes at least the information about Virtual network operator and Virtual network operator identification, make as illustrated optional network specific digit operator identity among the screenshot capture S120 can with and be shown.

Be similar to reference to the manual networked information retrieval of initiating of the single telephone directory item shown in the example among the figure 2a (considering that telephone directory item " Juliet " embodies), the initiation of networked information retrieval also can visit via user interface, and this user interface is exclusively used in modification, management and operation telephone directory.

With reference now to Fig. 2 b,, the exemplary user interface legend of the communication terminal that is in standby mode has been shown in screenshot capture S150.Screenshot capture S150 is corresponding to the screenshot capture S100 that describes in detail with reference to figure 2a.

In screenshot capture S160, show when the user has user interface with modification, management and operation telephone directory the exemplary user interface legend of portable terminal.A plurality ofly be provided for the user for you to choose, wherein every relevant with a certain operation, management and the modify feature that relate to one or more telephone directory items respectively.As example, the user can be allowed to select " searching " function, " interpolation name " function, " editor's name " function and " more New Network Information " function.Here, function " more New Network Information " is preliminary election, is indicated by the anti-apparent expression of corresponding user interfaces item.

" more New Network Information " function allows the user to initiate networked information retrieval according to an embodiment of the invention,, initiates networked information retrieval according to embodiments of the invention with reference to one or more telephone directory items that is.

In screenshot capture S170, show the exemplary user interface legend of communication terminal when the user has selected the user interface item " more New Network Information " of preliminary election, wherein, the user interface item of preliminary election has been described with reference to screenshot capture S160 in order to obtain shown more detailed, the function choosing-item that can be used in combination with " more New Network Information " function.As example, function choosing-item " update all ", " partial update ", " selecting to upgrade " and " upgrading automatically " have been provided.

User's selection function option " upgrades " fully can initiate a networked information retrieval, and it is retrieved about being included in the network information of each the telephone directory item (that is telephone number) in the telephone directory.User's selection function option " partial update " can initiate to retrieve respectively about each new telephone directory item and not have the networked information retrieval of the network information of each phone item (that is, each new telephone number and each telephone number of also not enriching by network operator identities) of the existing network information.User's selection function option " is selected to upgrade " and can be initiated to retrieve the networked information retrieval in the network information of carrying out one group of telephone directory item selecting before the network retrieval about the user.User's selection function option " upgrades " automatically can independently provide network operator information by the network operator information business that pushes by the indication network service entities.Like this from main business will be below the reference example customer case be described in detail.The function choosing-item that illustrated sample screen shot S170 shows preliminary election " upgrades " fully.

In screenshot capture S180, show the exemplary user interface legend of communication terminal when the user has selected the user interface item of the preliminary election described with reference to screenshot capture S170 " to upgrade fully ".After the user confirms, initiate about being included in the networked information retrieval of all numbers in the telephone directory.

With reference now to Fig. 2 c,, screenshot capture S125 illustrates the alternative screenshot capture with reference to the top screenshot capture S120 that describes about Fig. 2 a.Be similar to screenshot capture S120, screenshot capture S125 illustrates when the user has selected the telephone directory item " Juliet " of the preliminary election described about screenshot capture S110 for a demonstration details that obtains " Juliet ", the alternate user interface legend of communication terminal.Details illustrate at least one and have been assigned telephone number to item " Juliet ".According to embodiments of the invention, the details of " Juliet " are enriched by operator's identity that " Juliet " subscribes (referring to top), and it is substantial to charged information, can calculate caused cost based on this pay imformation when establishing a communications link.Pay imformation can be expressed as the cost of time per unit, and for example cost of illustrated per minute is so that want the user of the communication equipment that establishes a communications link may be able to estimate the total cost that adds up at least during calling out.

The cost information that shows may depend on date, time or the like.Below chart will be shown in the typically charge of depending on the time of regulation in the contract with telephone service operator.

	Time period	The cost of time per unit
			Working day	0am-12am： 12am-4pm： 4pm-12pm：	0.39/ minute 0.69/ minute 0.29/ minute
Sunday/public holiday	0am-12pm：	0.29/ minute

The cost information that shows is to derive from relevant pay imformation of up duration and/or date, more than in chart, provided the example of such pay imformation.The temporal information that need derive clock internally obtains.In order to adopt a reliable temporal information, internal clocking can be synchronous via the PLMN that communication terminal is subscribed.Such time synchronized is for example professional and known via NITZ (network information and time zone).

Screenshot capture S135 illustrates the alternative screenshot capture with reference to the above screenshot capture S130 that describes about Fig. 2 a.The alternate user surface chart example of communication terminal illustrates the function of another group selection of the telephone directory item " Juliet " that allows user's modification and operation selection.The user can be by selecting to visit with other details that combines with reference to the illustrated demonstration of screenshot capture S125 this part of user interface capabilities.Operation is also revised the telephone directory item (promptly, here being " Juliet ") a special-purpose function comprises function " cost control ", this function allows user command communication terminal to remove to show obtainable pay imformation in conjunction with the telephone directory item (" Juliet ") of current selection.Pay imformation shows can have the form that the above pay imformation table that illustrates provides.Because display size is limited, pay imformation can offer the user by a pair of expression that comprises a part of pay imformation wherein.Illustrated sample screen shot S135 shows the function choosing-item " cost control " of preliminary election.

In screenshot capture S136, show the example user interface legend of communication terminal when the user has selected the user interface item " cost control " of the preliminary election described about screenshot capture S135.The screenshot capture S136 that describes illustrates the first pay imformation item, and as example, it is based on the pay imformation table of introducing above.More specifically, this first screenshot capture S136 relates to the very first time section of stipulating in the pay imformation table.By for example selecting assignment to give " next one " function of the soft key of communication terminal, the next one (second) very first time section of stipulating in the pay imformation table will be presented at.

In screenshot capture S137, show the example user interface legend of communication terminal when the user has selected above-mentioned user interface item " next one ".Similarly and according to above description, this first screenshot capture S137 relates to second time period of stipulating in the pay imformation table.By further selection " next one ", the user can navigate by in/rolling pay imformation the table all.Therefore, make the user can notify him own cost about estimating, this spend in he be established to the communicating to connect of " Juliet " (with correspondingly, particularly call) time takes place.

Should be pointed out that the pay imformation of being discussed can also allow to give the user of communication terminal to provide reliable cost to keep accounts after communicating to connect termination.

Fig. 3 a has described a flow chart, this flowchart illustrations by the sequence of operation of carrying out according to the communication terminal of the embodiment that is used for method for information retrieval.For the sake of completeness, Fig. 3 b has described a flow chart, this flowchart illustrations by the sequence of operation of carrying out according to the network service entity of the embodiment that is used for method for information retrieval.

In operation S200, the sequence of operation that is used for networked information retrieval begins on communication terminal.Communication terminal is enabled the communication terminal communicate by letter with network service entity in particular, and this network service entity provides the network information of being asked, particularly about the information of the PLMN operator that comprises PLMN operator identity at least.More specifically, communication terminal is to be enabled to be used for communication terminal via PLMN communication, and wherein said PLMN can be such second generation mobile communication system, and for example GSM (global system for mobile communications), IS-95 (equal cdmaOne; Code division multiple access One), IS-2000 (equals cdma2000; CDMA 2000), PDC (personal digital cellular), PCS (PCS Personal Communications System) and US-TDMA (equal IS-136; U.S.'s time division multiple access), 3-G (Generation Three mobile communication system), for example UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System), WCDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA)) or the like.Also promptly, communication terminal can be the PDA (personal digital assistant) that enables of mobile phone, mobile transmitter, mobile communication, portable customer equipment that mobile communication enables or the like.

In operation S210, select one or more telephone numbers, can obtain the network information and particularly Virtual network operator identification in conjunction with this telephone number.Select the example of one or more telephone numbers to provide in detail with reference to figure 2a (relatively screenshot capture S130) and Fig. 2 b (relatively screenshot capture S170).Especially, one or more telephone numbers extract from one or more existing telephone directory items.Described selection can be carried out by hand; That is, selection can be imported execution by one or more users, and described user imports one or more telephone numbers that identification is considered for networked information retrieval.In addition, described selection can automatically be carried out, that is, networked information retrieval is automatically discerned and is selected in the predetermined selection of all available phone numbers, new telephone number or telephone number.

In operation S220, coding is used for the request of networked information retrieval.Request can be encoded as request message, and this request message comprises the needed information of requested retrieval at least, and promptly at least one or a plurality of telephone number are carried out retrieval according to these telephone numbers.The coding of request can for example be similar to the existing or following standard based on proprietary coding or based on the standard code method.Especially, the coding of request can and more particularly can be similar to based on extending mark language (XML), universal coding scheme and be introduced into the synchronization makeup language (SyncML) that allows to carry out between portable terminal and the service entities suitable automatic information exchange.In addition, the special database retrieval language such as SQL (SQL) also can be applied to the request message of encoding.What provide above should not be construed as be limited to these coding methods to enumerating of coding method.

Below, will provide the coding example based on the request message that uses short message service (SMS) to transmit.Usually, short message service (SMS) is made terminal equipment to cooperate by standardization.Short message is allowed to comprise one group of limited at least alphanumeric notation in its payload.Alphanumeric notation wherein comprise character " a " arrive " z ", such as ", ", "＜" and "〉" additional character and digital " 0 " to " 9 ".This text code ability of short message is used to the suitable request message of encoding.Payload based on the request message of short message can have following form:

<MSISDN>，<MSISDN>，...

Label MSISDN specifies and for example is assigned to each mobile radio station ISDN (integrated services digital network) number based on the mobile phone of GSM.May there be ISDN number to be encoded yet.Payload as the short message of the request message of networked information retrieval comprises telephone number, but according to these telephone number retrieval network information.For example, aforementioned encoded payload comprises two MSISDN that separate with symbol ", " to each other, and this allows to be coded in the telephone number of undefined number in principle.This separation equally also can obtain with other list separator.In addition, MSISDN not only can be encapsulated in the bracket as implied above, but also can come mark (mark) with any alternate manner.

In operation S230, the request message of coding is transferred to the network service entity that can suitably reply this request.The request of coding is via the suitable request message carrier of all short message services as described above (SMS), be transmitted via HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) stack, WAP (wireless application protocol) stack (WAP) and WSP (WSP) stack.Under the situation of using HTTP, WAP or WSP, request message can be transferred to network service entity as pushing and obtaining message respectively.

In operation S240, response message receives from network service entity.Response message comprises according to the network information that before was transferred to the message information of network service entity.The coding of response is similar to the coding of request, can be based on proprietary coding or based on the standard code method that for example is similar to the existing or following standard.Especially, the coding of response can and more particularly can be similar to based on extending mark language (XML), universal coding scheme and be introduced into the synchronization makeup language (SyncML) that allows the suitable automatic information exchange between portable terminal and the service entities.In addition, the special database retrieval language such as SQL (SQL) also can be used to the response message of encoding.What provide above should not be construed as be limited to these coding methods to enumerating of coding method.

Hereinafter and be similar to aforesaid request coding, will provide the coding example based on the response message that uses short message service (SMS) to transmit.Payload based on the response message of short message can have following form:

<MSISDN><HOME NETWORK>，<MSISDN><HOME NETWORK>，....

Label MSISDN specifies and for example is assigned to each mobile radio station ISDN (integrated services digital network) number based on the mobile phone of GSM.May there be ISDN number to be encoded yet.Comprise telephone number and according to these telephone number retrieved network information as the payload of the short message of networked information retrieval response message.In the example that provides, the network information comprises the network operator identities that is designated as " HOME NETWORK (the ancestral home network) " that be added to each telephone number MSISDN." HOME NETWORK " can be any alphanumeric sequence of coding network operator identity by rights, the suitable expression of network operator identities is provided can for the user of communication terminal according to this alphanumeric sequence communication terminal.

Response message can be fabricated, and this has simplified following for extracting decoding and the parsing that the network information is carried out response.The decoding of response and resolve should cause clearly a plurality of network information records of being associated with specific telephone number.The network information and telephone number related is that to store the network information of reception in conjunction with correct telephone number needed.The coding example of reference response message back, the structure of response can make up example based on illustrated response and understand.The network information that each telephone number back and then is associated with this telephone number.Each information that comprises the telephone number and the network information writes down to each other use-case such as above-mentioned symbol ", " is separated.

Hereinafter and be similar to aforesaid response coding, will provide other coding example based on the response message that adopts short message service (SMS) to transmit.Payload based on the response message of short message also comprises charge and cost information respectively except network operator information, and may have following form:

<MSISDN><HOME NETWORK>[<TIME RANGE><CHARGE>]n...，

The bracket [] of wherein being furnished with subscript n is appreciated that logical operator, and the sequence that its expression is included in the bracket can be repeated n time in the response message of reality.Complete such real response message of writing out can have following form (suppose n=3 and do not have limitation ot it):

<MSISDN><HOME NETWORK><TIME RANGE(1)><CHARGE(1)>

<TIME RANGE(2)><CHARGE(2)><TIME RANGE(3)><CHARGE(3)>...

In the alternative exemplary that provides, the network information that combines with a telephone number MSISDN comprises the network operator identities that is designated as " HOME NETWORK ", and based on the pay imformation of the various different time sections that are designated as " TIME RANGE (time range) "/" TIME RANGE (i) " and " CHARGE (charge) "/" CHARGE (i) ", wherein i is a sequence number.Total pay imformation based on the various time period will allow to upset a pay imformation table, such as following about shown in Fig. 2 c.

In operation S250, response is respectively decoded and resolve to extract according to the requested network information of request message.Reference is based on the response coding of the functional and ability of short message service (SMS) back, decoding and parsing may cause a group record, and each in this group record comprises the telephone number (MSISDN) that is associated with respective coding network operator identities (HOME NETWORK).

In operation S260, the network operator identities of one or more receptions and decoding (HOMENETWORK) is added in one or more existing telephone book items based on the telephone number (MSISDN) of this network operator identities correspondence.

In operation S270, finished the sequence of operation that is used for networked information retrieval.

The retrieval of the network information of communication terminal request is by providing the network service entity of the network information of being asked to operate to communication terminal.Based in the time to the sealing inspection of sequence, the sequence of operation of network service entity is inserted between operation S230 and the operation S360, these two operations relate separately to the transmission operation of request and as the reception operation of the response of this request results.Below, will the sequence of operation of the method for the networked information retrieval of carrying out according to embodiments of the invention be described in more detail on network service entity.

In operation S300, the sequence of operation that is used for network information business begins on network service entity.The beginning of the sequence of operation can be by detecting as being initiated about the request message that enters that describe, that be used for communication terminal of the operation S230 among Fig. 3 a.Network service entity is provided by one or more network information servers (service processing apparatus) of operational network information service especially, this network information business from the communication terminal of the request network information accept request message and according to this request as responding accordingly.More particularly, network service entity may be the network information service provider of operational network information server (service processing apparatus).

In operation S310, network service entity receives request (request message) from communication terminal.The network information that this request is encoded and can be provided by network service entity with request.Therefore, request message comprises telephone number, receives network service entity according to these telephone number retrieval network information.Describe the coding of request in detail with reference to the operation S220 shown in the figure 3a.

In operation S320, request is respectively decoded and resolve to extract telephone number, carries out retrieval based on these telephone numbers.With reference to the request encoding operation of referencing operation S220 explanation among the figure 3a, it is based on the functional and ability of short message service (SMS) back, and decoding and parsing may cause a plurality of telephone numbers (MSISDN).

Because the coding of telephone number, network service entity may have to the telephone number that will extract is processed into the telephone number that is suitable for retrieving the network information that is associated with described telephone number.Routinely, provide the communication terminal of mobile communication ability usually also to use abroad, make telephone number usually be stored in the telephone directory with the universal coding scheme.It is to operate home or use abroad and all use same telephone number independently that such universal coding scheme allows communication terminal.The example of such universal coding scheme can be considered GSM and be illustrated.International country dials code and is added to telephone number, for example Germany "+49 ", Finland "+358 ", Australia "+46 " or the like.The alternative world of symbol "+" is preset and is dialed code to realize switching to the world switching of another country.Alternatively, may must use preset and dial code such as the special-purpose world of the country of " 00 " or " 99 ".

In order to obtain being used for the suitable dialing of networked information retrieval, these international countries dial code and can remove from telephone number.In addition, international country like this dials the telephone number that code can be used to filter reception, if make the network service entity of network enabled information service be merely able to provide certain country, the particularly network information of this country, the international country that then will for example comprise foreign country dials the telephone number of code and picks out.

In operation S330, network service entity is retrieved the available network information in conjunction with each telephone number of deciphering respectively and extracting from the request that receives.Especially, network service entity may comprise or can accesses data memory that this data storage allows to differentiate the network information that is associated with specific telephone number (MSISDN).Data storage can be a database or several database of supervising the network information, that is, store at least about telephone number (MSISDN) respectively with the related information of Virtual network operator and network operator identities.

In operation S340, network service entity is according to the result of the networked information retrieval corresponding response of encoding.Response message comprises according to the network information that had before been received by network service entity, message carried out information requested.The coding of response can be similar to the coding of request and carry out.For the coding example, reference is about the operation S220 shown in Fig. 3 a.

In operation S350, the network service entity transmission is echoed and is answered message to give communication terminal, receives the request that starts from this communication terminal.

In operation S360, finish the sequence of operation that is used for network information business.

Under the situation of using PLMN, the data communication between communication terminal and the network service entity may be the time-consuming process high with cost, makes the data volume that communicates should be reduced to minimum especially.Data compression is a kind of technology that allows the data volume that reduces to communicate by letter.Request and response can be compressed communicating, so that reduce to ask the amount with response data.Data compression algorithm and data decompression compression algorithm are the codings that the proper compression algorithm prior art development level and any can be applied to request (referring to the operation S220 among Fig. 3 a) and response (referring to the operation S340 among Fig. 3 b) respectively.Corresponding in addition decompression algorithm can be applied to the decoding of request (referring to the operation S250 among Fig. 3 a) and response (referring to the operation S320 among Fig. 3 b) respectively.

Flow chart shown in Fig. 3 a and Fig. 3 b is considered to differentiate Virtual network operator and network operator identities respectively and be described based on telephone number.Telephone number is to extract from the telephone directory that the user keeps communication terminal, and this request utilizes this communication terminal to start.The sign of Virtual network operator and network operator identities is respectively one of network information that can provide based on telephone number.Selection will illustrate in conjunction with other following example according to improving one's methods of other embodiments of the invention.

Example: other log-on message

Except the response of the network information, for example beyond the network operator identities, it is relevant with the Virtual network operator of different identification and therefore and the relevant pay imformation of telephone number of asking that response also may comprise respectively.Pay imformation can be used as the user that the supplementary service that needs the user to subscribe is provided for communication terminal.Be similar to description the network information request and comprise the request response of the network information, illustrated process can be used to be independent of network operator identities information any needs renewal and upgrade pay imformation.This means, below example all, that relate generally to the networked information retrieval of considering network operator identities information also be applicable to the networked information retrieval of considering pay imformation.Especially, automatic and autonomous renewal process can be applicable to this two groups of information.

In addition, the network information that is included in the response of network service entity can comprise the national information relevant with a certain telephone number, especially is concerned about under the situation that this telephone number that is provided in the request to network service entity is foreign telephone number.

Similarly, under the situation of the telephone number of (based on wired) of routine telephone network, geography information may be included in the network information relevant with telephone number.Geography information may comprise information about the city, about the information of street and dwelling house number or even for example in the telephone directory of routine or via telephone directory assistant available information.

Such information can be added in the existing digital telephone book item.

Example: upgrade automatically

As in preface part of the present invention, describing, the owner of communication terminal can be allowed to transform at any time another PLMN operator that the telephone service service is provided for its communication terminal, and keep its telephone number simultaneously, make the promoter of call not depend on so before to have provided, about the information of network operator identities that telephone service is provided.At last, the promoter can not conclude the cost that takes place along with call.In conjunction with illustrated flow chart among the screenshot capture of the example user interface shown in Fig. 2 a and the 2b and Fig. 3 a, the manual of describing in detail about the telephone directory item of specific telephone directory item or selection of networked information retrieval (the particularly retrieval of Virtual network operator ()) initiates.

Since because of the owner of communication terminal may for example change the relevant network information of the particular telephone number with in the telephone directory that their PLMN operator causes once obtaining may be incorrect, may be favourable so automatic update mechanism is provided.Automatically update mechanism can be extracted all available telephone numbers or the predetermined telephone number of selecting from telephone directory, and automatically initiates aforesaid networked information retrieval.The information that corresponding response message contrast is stored in the communication terminal is examined and is updated if necessary.

For example, such automatic update mechanism can be included in the user interface that the screenshot capture S170 with reference to figure 2b describes.Can add the additional optional function that can be indicated as being " be provided with and upgrade at interval ".Function " is provided with and upgrades at interval " and can be provided as automatically more certain time cycle of redetermination to the user, for example a week, two weeks, all around, the possibility in eight weeks or the like, this means upgrade by by each week once, whenever biweekly, every around once, per eight Mondays of inferior Time Triggered ground operation.The cycle of Chu Faing can be stipulated by the user At All Other Times, and for example calendar drives, that is, and for example first of every month day.

Example: the autonomous renewal

As what introduce with reference to the screenshot capture S170 that quotes among the figure 2b, the network information can independently be upgraded.Any direct initiation of the communication terminal that the network information that renewal process is not needed by network information initiation of services to be provided relates to is provided.The network information that independently provides can be transferred to communication terminal by utilizing the data push technology, and wherein the data push technology for example is that the cellular standards field is known, for example the SMS PUSH message.

At least one prerequisite is set to allow autonomous renewal.The network information business that the network information was derived from that independently provides must be informed respectively with one group of telephone directory item and telephone number corresponding, realizes networked information retrieval based on this group telephone directory item and telephone number corresponding.

This group telephone directory item and telephone number corresponding can be respectively by the professional storages of the network information.This group information based on storage, network retrieval can one or more time cycles (for example, the time interval) is performed afterwards, if and detect (promptly in the information of being retrieved, operator's identity and/or pay imformation) in variation, the response message that then comprises detected information at least is encoded and is independently transmitted and do not need any request of communication terminal.The triggering of the autonomous transmission of network information business can be similar in conjunction with the realization of renewal process description automatically and be performed.Autonomous transmission can realize via the network information carriers of the propelling movement business of supporting to push or the like such as SMS propelling movement, WAP Push, SyncML.

This group telephone directory item and telephone number corresponding can be provided for network information business respectively by the initialization that comprises an initialization request message at least.The information of initialization request message can be stored concurrently with networked information retrieval and make this information in the future available.Other request message that is used for the network information may allow to upgrade respectively, add and revise this group telephone directory item and telephone number corresponding of storage, the telephone directory that this group telephone directory item of feasible storage and telephone number corresponding reflect communication terminal respectively.

In order to keep this group telephone directory item and telephone number corresponding respectively by the professional storage of the network information, can utilize simultaneous techniques, described simultaneous techniques allows the part telephone directory of synchronous communication terminal at least and this group telephone directory item and the telephone number corresponding of being stored respectively by network information business.

Should be pointed out that so autonomous renewal process described above is also included among the embodiment according to the network information retrieval method of the present invention that provides with reference to figure 3a and Fig. 3 b.Initial request message is corresponding to the request message of describing; The response message of each autonomous transmission is corresponding to the response message of describing.

Example: telephone directory/contact manager

The telephone directory of up-to-date communication terminal often is called contact manager owing to offer the functional of user.Contact manager allows a plurality of contacts of management, and each contact provides a plurality of contacts territory, and each territory is specified specific contact details.For example, contact comprises that a plurality of territories are used to import name, telephone number, address, e-mail address, announcement or the like at least.

The network information especially network operator identities can be exclusively used in the special domain that comprises about the information of Virtual network operator and is included in such contact by providing.The special domain that also is called provider domain below can be accepted cleartext information and be used for coding network operator identity, and a plurality of figure logos perhaps can be provided, and a described logo is shown the identity of informing Virtual network operator.The figure logo can be the logo of PLMN operator.Provider domain should be by user's manual edit so that the user can manual fan-in network operator's identity and does not use the method for networked information retrieval.At least one provider domain should be integrated in the contact allowing to comprise PLMN operator identity, and this PLMN operator identity is effective in conjunction with the contact territory for the telephone number of input communication terminal.

In improvement embodiment of the present invention, also may retrieve the network information about the telephone network operator of routine, that is, and the network operator identities of conventional telephone network operator.The networked information retrieval of conventional telephone network operator can be similar to given method and carry out.Because this improved embodiment and consider that each contact territory that is used for importing telephone number may be included in a telephone number of the communication terminal that PLMN operates, it may be wise providing each that comprise a telephone number to get in touch territory to provider domain.

Alternatively, the network information particularly the coding of network operator identities can be included in the territory that comprises the telephone number corresponding that is associated with the network information.

Another replacement scheme can be to be encoded in name field as cleartext information the network information or to be encoded in any additional field such as advertised domain.

In addition, the network information also comprises situation as the pay imformation explained in above-mentioned example under, user's pay imformation that storage receives in for example charge is write down may be useful and favourable, and wherein said charge record can for example be shown to the user by demand or allow to calculate the continuous cost that communicates to connect in time or after on-hook via user interface.Such charge record can be provided for the Virtual network operator of each identification respectively and be used for each telephone directory item.

Example: filter

According to an embodiment of the invention, the preceding method that is used for networked information retrieval can be restricted to the network information business of the networked information retrieval of the PLMN operator that is supported in communication terminal user this country.Because this limited support, realize that in the method that is used for networked information retrieval filtering function may be necessary or favourable, it is unnecessary and spend high data communication that this method mainly prevents between communication terminal and the network service entity.Filtering function can or even be realized in both sides in communication terminal side, network service entity side.

Be stored in the filtering function that the suitable tissue of the telephone number in the communication terminal can the enabled communication terminal side.For example describe about the example telephone directory, the tissue that is stored in the telephone number in the communication terminal can be supported by the specific field of the content that is used to import subject-oriented.As explained above, specific field can be provided to import the telephone number that belongs to the terminal that mobile phone or any similar mobile communication enable.Such tissue of telephone directory can be applied to the telephone number that preliminary election belongs to the terminal that mobile communication enables, and under the situation that a network service entity supported PLMN operator's informaiton is differentiated, this is wise.

The filtration of the network information business that provides according to network service entity is provided the filtering function of network service entity side.For example, network information business can be limited to the network information about national PLMN operator, that is, and just about the information of user's national PLMN operator with about the information of the PLMN operator that only can use via national PLMN operator.This means, can pick out and comprise that foreign country dials the telephone number of code and/or belongs to the telephone number of conventional telephone network.

Under the situation of network service entity support, can use in a similar manner and do not break away from scope of the present invention by the appended claims regulation according to embodiments of the invention, the method that is used for networked information retrieval about the network information business of the telephone network operator of routine.

Based on according to an embodiment of the invention, the networked information retrieval environment (this environment may in the future by standardization) that is used for the method for networked information retrieval, the request of the relevant telephone number that those can not be replied because the restricted network information of a certain network service entity that is addressed is professional may be by one or more corresponding request supports, described request is included in those telephone numbers of other network service entity of the desired business of one or more supports, make even belong at telephone number under the situation of foreign Virtual network operator that for example the network information corresponding to these telephone numbers also can be retrieved.

Example: minimum cost route

The method that is used for networked information retrieval can be in conjunction with the minimum cost method for routing of prior art level.Be allowed to use the user of communication terminal under the situation of a plurality of communication networks of heterogeneous networks operator, as possible in the country in the telephone operator market with unordered (particularly having for the telephone network of routine), minimum cost route is especially suitable.In the mobile communication field, if use roaming partner PLMN in foreign country, it usually is possible then the PLMN that will use being selected.Minimum cost route makes the user can use current communication network and the Virtual network operator that the reasonable fee that communicates to connect of expectation is provided respectively.For this reason, minimum cost route need be about the information that communicates to connect that will set up, and this information is included as the information that the recipient who communicates to connect provides the destinations traffic network of telephone service especially.This information is provided by the preceding method that is used for networked information retrieval, makes that wise minimum cost route is possible.Side information about charge has further strengthened minimum cost route and reliability thereof.

Example: the validity of retrieved network information

Communication terminal and especially mobile communication terminal comprise identity device, and based on this device, communication terminal is allowed to subscribe in PLMN.The subscriber identity module that for example can comprise the information that all subscribers of storage are relevant via the communication terminal that global mobile communication (GSM) system or Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) communicate.The relevant information of subscriber comprises for example subscriber identification sequence, at least one isdn telephone number, the definition of PLMN operator's informaiton or the like, and wherein communication terminal is allowed to subscribe among this PLMN.Just, by replacing the SIM in the communication terminal, the PLMN operator that serves the telephone service of communication terminal can change.This means that also all information that the information relevant with the subscriber in being stored in SIM connects may become invalid.Subscribe at communication terminal under the situation of different PLMN operators, because the charge of the difference of other PLMN operator, described pay imformation may be invalid.In addition, even replace the situation that PLMN operator does not have to change after the SIM with the 2nd SIM under, a SIM is also possible different with the contract provision that the 2nd SIM decides through consultation.The information that the information relevant with the subscriber connects may become invalid.

Therefore, depend on the relevant information of subscriber in conjunction with communication terminal and for the all-network information or that part of at least network information of the PLMN operator of this communication terminal service needs to upgrade, perhaps under the situation that the subscriber identity of communication terminal changes, may forbid this network information to guarantee can not offer invalid information the user of communication terminal.Because SIM, only taking SIM away but of no use another replaces under its situation, information may become invalid.

Following block diagram illustrates the example structure of communication terminal and network service entity based on embodiments of the invention.The operation of the assembly that provides and functional permission are carried out as the operation with reference to figure 3a and Fig. 3 b method that describe, that be used for networked information retrieval.

Fig. 4 a shows a block diagram, this block diagram depiction the assembly of communication terminal according to an embodiment of the invention.The communication terminal of being described is the terminal of a microprocessor control, that is, and and central processing unit CPU 300 control and operation communication terminals.In communication terminal, provide storage several comprise the application memory 320 of the code segment of instruction and data, this code segment allows to carry out as is above about according to that explain, that the be used for networked information retrieval in detail method of embodiments of the invention.Especially, application memory 320 comprises code segment and is used for the request of encoding, decoding as the result's of this request response and be used to store the network information from this response extraction.In addition, application memory 320 also comprises code segment and is used for embodiment screening phone number and the selection telephone number that basis is used for network information retrieval method.Alternatively, the code segment of description may be implemented as one or more independently softwares or hard-wired assembly, and this assembly has function corresponding to allow to carry out the embodiment of this method.Communication terminal also comprises telephone directory 310 and contact directory, user interface 340 respectively and via input controller 370 connected input units 375.The expression of user interface has been described in detail with reference to Fig. 2 a and 2b.Input unit 375 may be button, switch and/or allow the actuator of user in conjunction with input controller 370 generation signals, so that especially go to use user interface 340.The information of user interface is provided for the user via the display 365 that display driver 360 drives.Communication terminal utilizes communication interface 350 and network service entity to transmit request and response.Here, wireless communication interface should be embodied as and have antenna 355 via the radiofrequency signal of communication interface 350 transmitting-receiving corresponding to RFDC.

Fig. 4 b shows a block diagram, this block diagram depiction the assembly of network service entity according to an embodiment of the invention.The network service entity of describing is the server apparatus of microprocessor control, that is, and and central processing unit CPU 400 control and operational network service entities.The information database 410 of the storing communication network information that terminal is asked is provided in network service entity.Realize that in network service entity translation subassembly 430, retrieval component 420 and encoding pack 440 are above about according to explanation, that the be used for networked information retrieval in detail method of embodiments of the invention to allow to carry out.Unshowned is that network service entity also may comprise filter assemblies.Described assembly may be independently software or hard-wired assembly, perhaps may the representative code section, and this code segment comprises instruction to carry out the function of explaining about the embodiment according to method of the present invention, as to be used for networked information retrieval.Described assembly also may be comprised in such as in the application memory of describing about Fig. 4 a and describing.Network service entity utilizes communication interface 450 and communication terminal to transmit request and response.Communication interface 450 may be respectively via based on wired communication line and network transmission data.The network equipments of arranging in the middle of one or more may be responsible for enabling to be used for the communication terminal of RFDC and the network server device that enables to be used for based on wired data communication is connected to each other.

For those skilled in the art, obviously along with the development of technology, notion of the present invention can realize in many ways.Therefore the present invention and embodiment are not limited to example described above, but can change within the scope of the claims.

Claims (20)

1. be used for networked information retrieval, in particular for the method for retrieval about the network information of the Virtual network operator that is associated with telephone number, comprising:

-coding comprises the request of one or more telephone numbers;

-transmission described request gives network service entity so that carry out described networked information retrieval;

-receiving response from described network service entity, described response comprises the network information about the Virtual network operator relevant with described one or more telephone numbers;

The described response of-decoding is to extract the described network information; And

-store the described network information in conjunction with described one or more telephone numbers.

2. method according to claim 1 comprises:

-receive the response be built at least one information record, wherein said information record comprise in described one or more telephone number telephone number and with the described network information that telephone number is relevant.

3. according to claim 1 or the described method of claim 2, comprising:

Select described one or more telephone numbers in-a plurality of telephone numbers from the telephone directory that is stored in communication terminal.

4. method according to claim 3, wherein said selection is carried out by hand by the user of described communication terminal.

5. method according to claim 3, wherein said selection is automatically carried out according to predefined selection definition.

6. according to any one described method in the claim 3 to 5, wherein said telephone directory is used for storing call book item, and each telephone directory item comprises at least one title and a telephone number, and wherein said method comprises:

-based on a described telephone number that is included in the described information record, identification and at least one relevant telephone directory item of described at least one information record;

-by storing the described network information in the telephone directory item that the described network information is included in described at least one identification.

7. according to any one the described method in the aforementioned claim, the wherein said network information comprises the information about Virtual network operator at least, particularly about the information of described network operator identities.

8. according to any one the described method in the aforementioned claim, the wherein said network information comprises pay imformation.

9. be used for networked information retrieval, especially serve the method for retrieval, comprising about the network information of the Virtual network operator that is associated with telephone number:

-receiving request from communication terminal, wherein said request comprises one or more telephone numbers;

-decoding described request is to extract described one or more telephone number;

-retrieval is about the network information of the Virtual network operator relevant with described one or more telephone numbers;

-coding comprises the response of described retrieved network information; And

Described communication terminal is given in the described response of-transmission.

10. method according to claim 9 comprises:

-come retrieval network information by the data storage of the visit storage network information relevant with a plurality of telephone numbers.

11., comprising according to claim 9 or the described method of claim 10:

-coding is built into the described response at least one information record, this information record comprise in described one or more telephone number telephone number and with the described network information that telephone number is relevant.

12. according to any one described method in the claim 9 to 11, the wherein said network information comprises the information about Virtual network operator at least, especially about the information of described network operator identities.

13. according to any one described method in the claim 9 to 12, the wherein said network information comprises pay imformation.

14. be used for networked information retrieval, in particular for the method for retrieval, comprise about the network information of the Virtual network operator that is associated with telephone number:

-coding comprises the request of one or more telephone numbers in communication terminal;

-transmission described request is used to carry out described networked information retrieval to network service entity;

-reception comprises the described request of one or more telephone numbers;

-in described network service entity, decipher described request to extract described one or more telephone number;

-retrieval is about the network information of the Virtual network operator relevant with described one or more telephone numbers;

-coding comprises the response of described retrieved network information in described network service entity; And

Described communication terminal is given in the described response of-transmission;

-reception comprises the described response of the network information relevant with described one or more telephone numbers;

-in described communication terminal, decipher described response to extract the described network information; And

-in conjunction with described one or more telephone numbers, store the described network information.

15. be used for the computer program of networked information retrieval, comprise that the program code segments that can load is used for when described program code is carried out on assembly, treatment facility, terminal equipment, communication terminal device, service equipment or networked devices based on microprocessor, realize any one described operation in the claim 1 to 14.

16. be used for the computer program of networked information retrieval, wherein said computer program comprises the program code segments that is stored on the computer-readable media, be used for when described computer program is carried out on assembly, treatment facility, terminal equipment, communication terminal device, service equipment or networked devices based on microprocessor, realize any one described method in the claim 1 to 14.

17. with the computer data signal that carrier wave embodies, it represents instruction, when being carried out by processor, described instruction causes realizing any one step in the claim 1 to 14.

18. communication terminal comprises:

-one encoding pack, being used to encode comprises the request of one or more telephone numbers;

-one Communication Interface Module is used to transmit described request and is used to receive response according to described request;

-one translation subassembly is used to decipher described response to extract the network information; Wherein the network information is included in the described response and is relevant with described one or more telephone numbers; And

-one memory module is used for the described network information is stored into the telephone directory of described communication terminal; The wherein said network information is stored according to described one or more telephone numbers relevant with it.

19. network service entity comprises:

-one Communication Interface Module is used for receiving request and being used for transmission response to described communication terminal from communication terminal;

-one translation subassembly is used to decipher the described request that comprises one or more telephone numbers;

-one retrieval component is used for coming retrieval network information according to described one or more telephone numbers; And

-one encoding pack, being used to encode comprises the described response of described retrieved network information.

20. be used for the system of networked information retrieval, comprise at least one communication terminal and at least one network service entity,

Wherein said at least one communication terminal comprises:

-one encoding pack, being used to encode comprises the request of one or more telephone numbers;

-one Communication Interface Module is used to transmit described request and is used to receive response according to described request;

-one translation subassembly is used to decipher described response to extract the network information; Wherein the network information is included in the described response and is relevant with described one or more telephone numbers; And

-one memory module, the telephone directory that is used for the described network information is stored into described communication terminal goes; The described network information is stored according to described one or more telephone numbers relevant with it;

Wherein said at least one network service entity comprises:

-one Communication Interface Module is used for receiving request and being used for transmission response to described communication terminal from communication terminal;

-one translation subassembly is used to decipher the described request that comprises one or more telephone numbers;

-one retrieval component is used for coming retrieval network information according to described one or more telephone numbers; And

-one encoding pack, being used to encode comprises the described response of described retrieved network information.

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