Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
  • H04W4/00—Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
  • H04W4/24—Accounting or billing

Definitions

• the subject of the present invention is a method of transmitting data between a terminal equipment of a telecommunication network and an equipment of this network.
• the field of the invention is that of telecommunications, and more particularly that of the transmission of information relating to the user of a public or private telecommunications network intended for equipment of the operator managing this network.
• the object of the invention is to securely transmit information relating to a communication, either to an equipment responsible for processing this communication, or to a management system of the telecommunications network used.
• This information may relate in particular to the state of the terminal equipment used, or to the nature of the communication, or even to the characteristics of the subscription used or of any other contract concluded between the user and the operator.
• terminal is used in place of "terminal equipment”.
• information relating to a user is transmitted via the architecture of the telecommunications network.
• This information is typically the identity of the user, the location of the user if the latter is mobile, as well as the network address dialed by the user when the latter. wants to establish communication.
• a mobile telephone terminal is connected, via a radio channel, to a base station or BTS (Base Transceiver Station, that is to say base station for transmission reception) .
• BTS Base Transceiver Station, that is to say base station for transmission reception
• Each BTS is in turn connected to a BSC (Base Station Controller, i.e. base station controller).
• a BSC is an item of equipment that controls one or more BTSs.
• Each BSC is in turn connected to an MSC (Mobile Services Switching Center), a switch that manages incoming and outgoing calls.
• MSC Mobile Services Switching Center
• the invention uses, to transmit this additional data, the automatic insertion of a prefix (respectively a suffix) before (respectively after) the telephone number called or, more generally, before (respectively after) the dialed network address.
• a prefix (respectively a suffix)
• suffix the telephone number called or, more generally, before (respectively after) the dialed network address.
• the invention advantageously, provision is made to encrypt the prefix, in order to ensure the confidentiality of the information.
• This. encryption is performed according to a mechanism known both to the terminal and to the network equipment, and only of this equipment. Thus the user cannot dial the prefix because he ignores the rules governing his generation.
• This encryption is carried out in such a way that its result, that is to say the value of the prefix actually sent in the network, varies from one call establishment request to another, even if these requests relate to the same network address.
• the invention uses pseudo-random data known to both the terminal and the network equipment, varying according to the circumstances and characteristics of the communication. All of these encryption principles ensure that the terminal user is not able to dial the prefix himself when entering the number, and that the generation of the prefix is therefore safe from embezzlement.
• the encryption can relate either to all the digits of the prefix or to part of the digits of the prefix. If the encryption relates to all the digits of the prefix, it must be ensured that the prefix thus modified, and therefore encrypted, cannot be confused with other addresses in the numbering plan of the telecommunications network used. It is therefore necessary that the prefix thus encrypted does not interfere with the numbering plan defined either by the telecommunications regulatory bodies of the public network, or by the manager of the private telecommunications network to which the terminal is connected. If the encryption relates only to the last digits of the prefix, the first digits can be used to indicate that it is a prefix according to the invention.
• the invention provides a method of transmitting data between a terminal connected to a telecommunications network and equipment of this telecommunications network, a process which, in its most remarkable form, requires no modification of the network equipment, and by which , when establishing a communication between the terminal and another device that can be reached via the telecommunications network, a transmission message is sent from the terminal to the telecommunications network, that is to say in the call establishment request which includes the routing information to the recipient, additional data other than an identifier of the recipient of the message and other than the nature of the message, the method being remarkable in that the additional data are made inaccessible to the user by means of a pseudo-random encryption mechanism, allowing donations
• the data actually transmitted in the network are different from one communication establishment request to another even if these requests relate to the same network address, and that these differences are generated according to an algorithm that cannot be deduced by the user.
• the subject of the invention is therefore a method of transmitting data between a terminal, connected to a telecommunications network, and a telecommunication network equipment, by which data is transmitted from the terminal to the equipment, and by which, when a communication is established between the terminal and another device which can be reached via the telecommunication network, , from the terminal to the telecommunications network, a routing message, process characterized in that one inserts in the routing message, that is to say in the request for establishment of the communication which comprises routing information to the recipient, additional data other than an identifier of the recipient of the message and other than the nature of the message.
• Figure 1 an illustration of means useful for implementing the method according to the invention.
• FIG. 1 an illustration of process steps according to the invention.
• Figure 3 a diagram showing the elements that can be used to generate the prefix in order to make it randomly variable.
• Figure 4 a general diagram of the treatments.
• Figure 1 shows by way of example a mobile telecommunication terminal 101.
• the terminal is a mobile telephone and that the telecommunications network is a network according to the GSM standard. In practice, this could be any equipment capable of connecting to a telecommunications network.
• the telecommunications network can itself be of any kind, for example PCS, DCS, PSTN, UMTS, GPRS or the Internet.
• a public or private infrastructure requiring the use of an address, that is to say an identifier, to reach a device connected to this network is considered to be a telecommunications network.
• the terminal 101 includes GSM circuits 102.
• the circuits 102 are connected on the one hand to an antenna 103, and on the other hand to a bus 104.
• the circuits 102 are therefore an interface between the signals received transmitted by the antenna 103 and the signals carried on the bus 104.
• the signals on the antenna side 103 are analog and modulated, the signals on the bus side 104 are digital.
• the terminal 101 or one of its components for example the subscriber identification module, comprises a microprocessor 105 controlled by instruction codes stored in a program memory 106.
• the memory 106 is divided into several zones, each zone corresponding to instruction codes relating to a function of the terminal 101.
• FIG. 1 shows only the functions of direct interest to the invention. In the description, when an action is given to an apparatus comprising a microprocessor and a program memory, this means that this action is carried out by the microprocessor of the apparatus, controlled by instruction codes from the program memory of the 'apparatus.
• An area 106a corresponds to a dialing function and allows the user of the terminal 101 to produce the network address to which he wishes to be connected, for example the telephone number of a person called.
• a zone 106b makes it possible to produce a prefix according to the invention.
• a zone 106c corresponds to the transmission of information by the terminal 101.
• a zone 106d corresponds to the standard GSM functions. These standard functions include in particular transmission, GSM function which more particularly concerns the invention.
• An area 106e corresponds to an encryption function. In practice, the memory 106 has more areas allowing other functions to be implemented, but these do not directly concern the invention and are therefore not shown.
• the telecommunication terminal 101 also includes a keyboard 107 and circuits 108 for communication interface with a peripheral connected to the terminal 101.
• the elements 105 to 108 are connected to the bus 104.
• the microprocessor 105 and the area 106e constitute an encryption device, that is to say a device capable of encrypting a message.
• FIG. 1 also shows a device 109 connected to the terminal 101, via circuits 108 and a link 110.
• the device 109 therefore also includes communication circuits 111 compatible with circuits 108.
• Device 109 furthermore comprises a microprocessor 112 and a program memory 113.
• the elements 111 to 113 are connected via a bus 114.
• the memory 113 comprises, like the memory 106, several zones corresponding to some of the functions implemented by the device 109.
• a zone 113a allows the device 109 to produce a prefix according to the invention.
• a zone 113b allows the device 109 to fulfill its function.
• the device 109 may for example be a hands-free kit, or an electronic organizer, a printer or any kind of peripheral connectable to a mobile telecommunication terminal. It comprises other components which are not of interest to the invention and which have therefore not been shown for the sake of simplification.
• Link 110 generally at a short distance, can be either a physical connection, of the Fire Wire or RS232 type, or a wireless connection, for example Bluetooth or infrared.
• the terminal 101 is connected by a radio link 115 to a base station 116.
• the station 116 is itself connected by a link 117, generally wired, to a BSC 118.
• the BSC 118 is connected by a link 119, generally wired, to an MSC 120.
• the MSC 120 includes connection interface circuits 121 for establishing the connection 119.
• the MSC 120 also includes a processor 122, and a program memory 123.
• the elements 121 to 123 are connected by a bus 124.
• the memory 123 has several zones corresponding to instruction codes allowing the MSC to perform its various functions.
• An area 123a corresponds to a function for extracting a prefix
• an area 123b corresponds to a first function for processing a prefix
• an area 123c corresponds to a switching function specific to a standard MSC.
• the memory 123 may include other areas not shown.
• the MSC 120 has other communication interface circuits with other networks.
• an interface circuit 125 makes it possible to connect the MSC to the public switched telephone network 126, and interface circuits 126 allow the MSC 120 to be connected to the operator's private network 127.
• FIG. 1 shows that, on the network 127, is also connected an equipment 128 which can either be an intelligent network machine of the operator managing the communications in real time, or an information system processing in deferred time the relative information communications established by the operator's network.
• a system 128 includes at least interface and information exchange circuits 129 with the network 127.
• the system 128 also includes a processor 130 and a program memory 131.
• the system 128 also includes a storage memory 132.
• the elements 129 to 132 are connected by a bus 133.
• the memory 131 comprises an area 131a for the implementation of a second prefix processing function according to the invention.
• the system 128 can for example be the billing system of the mobile telephone operator.
• the memory 132 is then intended to record the various calls made by the users of the operator's telecommunications network, the processing of the prefixes making it possible, for example, to classify the various calls according to a billing code.
• FIG. 2 illustrates the possible steps of the method according to the invention. It shows, according to a determined method of implementing the invention, a preliminary step 201 of composing a network address.
• step 201 the user of the terminal 101 determines a network address, either by entering using the keyboard 107, or by searching in an agenda directory of the terminal 101. Such a network address currently includes a number of digits or characters depending on the type of call and the network in which the call is made.
• a step 202 for validating the dialed network address.
• the user of the terminal 101 presses a predefined key on the keyboard 107 to validate this network address. Contextual pressing of this predefined key indicates to the terminal 101 that the number has been completely dialed and that it must request the network to begin searching for the device corresponding to this number.
• step 203 of determining the prefix One of the fundamental and advantageous characteristics of the invention is that, in its most successful form, it is particularly careful to avoid any need for modification of the telecommunications network used. Also, in order not to have to exchange any hazard or encryption key between the terminal and the network, which would typically require a modification of this network, the invention uses pseudo-random data varying according to circumstances and characteristics of communication. This variation effectively guarantees the unpredictability of the encrypted prefix at each use. The terms of determination of this prefix depends on the meaning which will be sought during the practical implementation of the invention.
• the prefix can for example be read in a table.
• the microprocessor 105 browses a table, comprising all the addresses that the user of the terminal 101 is likely to call, in search of the prefix associated with the address composed by the user. If this number is not in this table then it uses, for example, a default prefix.
• This table can be saved in a memory of the mobile terminal 101 or in the memory of a microcircuit introduced in the terminal 101. It is then preferably its SIM card. This table can be updated either by the user of the terminal 101, or by the operator.
• Other more sophisticated implementation methods can involve a set of elements known both to the terminal 101 and to the equipment of the telecommunications network. It can for example be one or more of the characteristic elements of the terminal 101 used, such as, in the GSM field, the IMSI number (International Mobile Subscriber Identity) or the TMSI number (Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity or temporary identity of the mobile subscriber), or the ICCId number (Integrated Circuit Card Identity) associated with a SIM card (Subscriber Identity Module), or also the MSISDN number (ISDN Mobile Station or ISDN mobile station) associated with terminal 101 itself.
• IMSI number International Mobile Subscriber Identity
• TMSI number Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity or temporary identity of the mobile subscriber
• ICCId number Integrated Circuit Card Identity
• SIM card Subscriber Identity Module
• MSISDN number ISDN Mobile Station or ISDN mobile station
• these elements can be for example the number in the numbering plan defined by the CCITT recommendation E.164, the ISDN sub-address as defined by the standard ETS 300 059, the number according to the IP (Internet Protocol) format, or any other addressing element used by said network.
• An even more complex way of determining the prefix is to constitute it as a function for example of the state of the terminal 101, for example in depending on the charge level of its battery, or its geographical location, or its mode of operation. Its operating mode can for example be determined as a function of the state of the memory of a microcircuit introduced into the terminal, or of a device which is connected to it.
• the invention proposes to resort to a step 204 of encryption of the variable prefix thus obtained.
• This encryption is carried out by means of a pseudo-random.
• This pseudo-hazard can be formed from one or more elements known both to the terminal and to elements of the telecommunications network. It can be, for example, the date and time when the call was made, or a pseudo-random series.
• the variable prefix is thus simply and advantageously transformed into a randomly varying prefix.
• FIG. 3 illustrates how a randomly varying prefix can be generated.
• FIG. 3 firstly distinguishes a first set of variable parameters, some of which are previously known on the one hand from the area 106b of the terminal 101 and on the other hand, for example, from the area 131a of the equipment 128 of the network, and a second set, specific to the call, among which are for example the identifiers exchanged during the establishment of the call, such as the network addresses of the terminal 101 or of the equipment requested.
• FIG. 3 also shows that a set of states, either from the transmitting terminal, or from a microcircuit card inserted in the terminal, or from equipment connected to the terminal, can contribute to defining the variable prefix.
• an encryption algorithm (pseudo-random) applied to this variable prefix allows the randomly varying prefix to be obtained.
• the network equipment from the prefix extracted from the numbering received, as well as previously known variable parameters and identifiers exchanged during the call, as they appear in Figure 3, be able for example to deduce therefrom the state of “the SIM card inserted in the terminal 101.
• a prefix can for example mean that the call to the number he prefixes is not billed, or it is billed according to a specific scale because the user is at home or in business, or else that he is paid by a person who is not the user.
• the prefix can also advantageously be produced by the device 109.
• the terminal 101 sends a request via the link 110, to obtain a prefix.
• the device 109 then responds to this request with a message including a prefix.
• This prefix then corresponds to a state of the device 109.
• the encryption being carried out according to the method forming the subject of steps 203 and 204, guarantees that the same prefix composed, once encrypted, will never systematically have the same value, which greatly and very effectively limits the risks of fraud. .
• step 205 for transmitting the prefix and the number dialed.
• the terminal transmits to the telecommunications network a routing message, that is to say a request to establish communication.
• a routing message that is to say a request to establish communication.
• the routing message is therefore transferred to the MSC via the BTS 116 and the BSC 118.
• step 207 if the MSC is to perform a specific processing for the prefix, we go to a processing step 208, otherwise we go to a step 209 for transmitting the prefix and the number called to another device.
• the BSC 118 having demodulated the message before transmitting it to the MSC, is therefore in possession of both the encrypted prefix and the called network address. It is therefore possible to perform processing on the called network address or on the call itself from the BSC.
• processing in equipment external to the network such as for example the billing system 128.
• the great and authentic interest of this implementation is that it resides outside the normative field applicable to the network, and therefore does not depend on developments of said network.
• the system 128 interprets, in real or deferred time, the prefix and stores, in the memory 132, the characteristics of the call according to the nature of this prefix.
• steps 208 or 209 go to a step 210 of normal processing of the routing message.
• the user of the terminal 101 is able to activate or inhibit the production and transmission of the prefix.
• the area 106e is recorded in a memory of a microcircuit introduced into the terminal 101.
• a microcircuit is, for example, a SIM card.
• SIM card is moreover capable of producing a prefix itself, as the apparatus 109 would do.
• FIG. 4 describes the general treatment scheme.
• the terminal 101 performs the generation and transmission functions of the prefix.
• the network carries the standard identifiers (network address and / or IMSI and / or TMSI and / or MSISDN, etc.), as well as the dialing dialed by the user using the terminal 101, preceded by the prefix. It performs preprocessing functions, identifying the system (116, 118, 120, 128) which must process the call (real time) or the information of the call (deferred time). Finally, at the end of the chain, the system (116, 118, 120, 128) performs the desired processing, and deduces the information sought, for example the state of the terminal, from the other elements of information available.
• the invention can of course be generalized in the field of networks and systems: during a session between two systems, the invention makes it possible to pseudo-randomly modify an address or sub-address field, generally of the recipient, to convey information with complete integrity and / or confidentiality.

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• Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
• Accounting & Taxation (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
• Signal Processing (AREA)
• Mobile Radio Communication Systems (AREA)

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• 2001
  • 2001-12-31 FR FR0117098A patent/FR2834405B1/fr not_active Expired - Lifetime
• 2002
  • 2002-12-19 WO PCT/FR2002/004469 patent/WO2003061312A1/fr not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2002-12-19 AU AU2002365013A patent/AU2002365013A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2002-12-19 EP EP02806331A patent/EP1461970A1/de not_active Withdrawn

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