EP2047695A1 - System and method for delivering mobile services - Google Patents
System and method for delivering mobile servicesInfo
- Publication number
- EP2047695A1 EP2047695A1 EP07789951A EP07789951A EP2047695A1 EP 2047695 A1 EP2047695 A1 EP 2047695A1 EP 07789951 A EP07789951 A EP 07789951A EP 07789951 A EP07789951 A EP 07789951A EP 2047695 A1 EP2047695 A1 EP 2047695A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- service
- request
- mobile terminal
- signaling
- mobile
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
- H04W4/00—Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
- H04W4/16—Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
- H04W4/00—Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
- H04W4/20—Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
- H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
- H04M1/26—Devices for calling a subscriber
- H04M1/27—Devices whereby a plurality of signals may be stored simultaneously
- H04M1/274—Devices whereby a plurality of signals may be stored simultaneously with provision for storing more than one subscriber number at a time, e.g. using toothed disc
- H04M1/2745—Devices whereby a plurality of signals may be stored simultaneously with provision for storing more than one subscriber number at a time, e.g. using toothed disc using static electronic memories, e.g. chips
- H04M1/27485—Appending a prefix to or inserting a pause into a dialling sequence
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
- H04W8/00—Network data management
- H04W8/26—Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a system and method for delivering services to a mobile terminal, and in particular to delivering mobile services to a roaming terminal by issuing signaling requests.
- Mobile phone charges can be quite steep when a subscriber is located outside the influence zone of the mobile phone operator's network to which he subscribes to.
- a user travels, for example, to a different country, he may be able to use his mobile phone to originate and receive calls only if his original mobile phone operator has special agreements, known in the art as "roaming agreements", to let its own users use a different network for initial connection.
- mobile phone user A subscribes to a mobile network Operator B. While A is traveling outside the territory where mobile Operator B is operating its mobile network, user A might be able to connect to mobile Operator C operating in said area, only if Operator B has commercial roaming agreements with Operator
- A would be allowed to use the C network to place and receive calls.
- Callback is a well-known method in the industry for reducing outgoing call costs either when roaming or not.
- the caller typically calls a predetermined service number and is then immediate called back by the callback service.
- the caller needs to communicate the destination number he wishes to call and is then connected to that destination number. Since the destination number is called by the callback provider, the calling rates are known, and typically much lower than what the caller would pay in a direct dial call.
- One of the biggest challenges of the callback industry has been how to obtain the destination number from the caller. Some schemes ask the caller to punch in the number, which means the caller needs to either remember the number by heart or have it in front of him.
- a mobile user typically has many numbers in the mobile terminal memory, so they are not easily accessible during a call.
- Another method has the user dial the destination number while the actual call gets barred and the destination number is communicated via a Short Message (SMS).
- SMS Short Message
- the present invention relates to a method for offering mobile services to a roaming mobile phone user and a system implementing said method.
- the present invention benefits from the fact that most telephone networks establish a voice or data call using voice or data channels and an independent signaling channel. The caller is not billed for information exchanged on the signaling channel. Billing only occurs when an actual voice or data call is established on the remaining non- signaling channels.
- the method of the invention consists of issuing a signaling Supplementary Service command such as a call divert message via the signaling link, along with a knowingly invalid number.
- the call divert request ends up being rejected by the caller's home operator due to the invalid number accompanying the call divert request.
- a communication server of the invention associated with the caller's mobile terminal receives the rejected request and knows how to interpret the invalid number as a service request.
- the call divert request is to a number with a dummy country prefix of 99 followed by a valid phone number.
- the communication server interprets the request as a callback request to the valid phone number, wherein the number following the initial 99 is the destination number to call and connect with the mobile terminal.
- Fig. 1 is an overview of a GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) network as known in the art.
- GSM Global System for Mobile Communications
- Fig. 2 is a block diagram of a roaming mobile terminal connecting to its home network, in which the home network includes a communication server used by the invention.
- Fig. 3 shows a service number comprised of a dummy prefix and a service request code.
- the present invention relates to a method for offering mobile services to a roaming mobile phone user and a system implementing said method.
- a method for delivering a mobile service to a mobile terminal, wherein the mobile terminal contains software or hardware logic adapted to generate a service call to a communication server, the method comprising the steps of: (i) dialing out a destination number on the mobile terminal; (ii) intercepting the call by said adapted software or hardware logic on the mobile terminal and creating a service number comprising a service request code; (iii) issuing a signaling request with an associated service number by the adapted software or hardware logic on the mobile terminal; (iv) transferring the signaling request via a signaling channel for authorization; (v) rejecting the signaling request;
- mobile terminal as referred to herein means any mobile device with telephony capabilities or that can be augmented with telephony capabilities. Examples include, but are not limited to: mobile phones, Personal Digital Assistants (PDA's), portable computers, portable media playing devices, portable game consoles and others.
- PDA's Personal Digital Assistants
- portable computers portable media playing devices
- portable game consoles portable game consoles and others.
- Fig. 1 is an overview of a generic GSM network of the art and its major components. The diagram and description below are available on the following Internet site: http://www.shoshin.uwaterloo.ca/ ⁇ jscouria/GSM/gsmreport.html.
- a GSM network is composed of several functional entities, whose functions and interfaces are specified. The GSM network can be divided into three broad parts.
- the Mobile Station is carried by the subscriber.
- the Base Station Subsystem controls the radio link with the Mobile Station.
- the Network Subsystem the main part of which is the Mobile services Switching Center (MSC), performs the switching of calls between the mobile users, and between mobile and fixed network users.
- the MSC also handles the mobility management operations.
- the Mobile Station and the Base Station Subsystem communicate across the Um interface, also known as the air interface or radio link.
- the Base Station Subsystem communicates with the Mobile services Switching Center across the A interface.
- the mobile station consists of the mobile equipment (the terminal) and a smart card called the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM).
- SIM provides personal mobility, so that the user can have access to subscribed services irrespective of a specific terminal. By inserting the SIM card into another GSM terminal, the user is able to receive calls at that terminal, make calls from that terminal, and receive other subscribed services.
- the mobile equipment is uniquely identified by the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI).
- the SIM card contains the International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) used to identify the subscriber to the system, a secret key for authentication, and other information.
- IMSI International Mobile Subscriber Identity
- the IMEI and the IMSI are independent, thereby allowing personal mobility.
- the SIM card may be protected against unauthorized use by a password or personal identity number.
- the Base Station Subsystem is composed of two parts, the Base Transceiver Station (BTS) and the Base Station Controller (BSC). These communicate across the standardized Abis interface, allowing (as in the rest of the system) operation between components made by different suppliers.
- BTS Base Transceiver Station
- BSC Base Station Controller
- the Base Transceiver Station houses the radio transceivers that define a cell and handles the radio-link protocols with the Mobile Station.
- the requirements for a BTS are ruggedness, reliability, portability, and minimum cost.
- the Base Station Controller manages the radio resources for one or more BTSs. It handles radio-channel setup, frequency hopping, and handovers.
- the BSC is the connection between the mobile station and the Mobile service Switching Center (MSC).
- the central component of the Network Subsystem is the Mobile services
- MSC Mobile Switching Center
- PSTN Switched Telephone Network
- ISDN ISDN
- HLR Home Location Register
- VLR Visitor Location Register
- the HLR contains all the administrative information of each subscriber registered in the corresponding GSM network, along with the current location of the mobile.
- the location of the mobile is typically in the form of the signaling address of the VLR associated with the mobile station.
- the Visitor Location Register contains selected administrative information from the HLR, necessary for call control and provision of the subscribed services, for each mobile currently located in the geographical area controlled by the VLR.
- each functional entity can be implemented as an independent unit, all manufacturers of switching equipment to date implement the VLR together with the MSC, so that the geographical area controlled by the MSC corresponds to that controlled by the VLR, thus simplifying the signaling required.
- the MSC contains no information about particular mobile stations — this information is stored in the location registers.
- the other two registers are used for authentication and security purposes.
- the Equipment Identity Register (EIR) is a database that contains a list of all valid mobile equipment on the network, where each mobile station is identified by its International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI). An IMEI is marked as invalid if it has been reported stolen or is not type approved.
- the Authentication Center (AuC) is a protected database that stores a copy of the secret key stored in each subscriber's SIM card, which is used for authentication and encryption over the radio channel.
- Supplementary services (SS) in GSM are a means of enriching the user experience. An SS may, for example, forward a call in the case of no reply from the called party, bar certain outgoing or incoming calls, show the number of the calling party to the called party, etc.
- a GSM user In order to use an SS, a GSM user needs a subscription to that SS.
- the subscription to supplementary services is contained in the HLR and is sent to the MSCATLR during registration.
- the supplementary services are fully standardized, as listed in Table ⁇ l-below, ⁇ CGSM subscriber can therefore use his supplementary services in any GSM network, provided that the network supports' these supplementary services, and thus enjoy the same user experience.
- the invention relates to a telephony system for delivering a mobile service to a mobile terminal, wherein the mobile terminal contains software or hardware logic adapted to generate a service call to a communication server, said system comprising: (i) a mobile terminal adapted to dial out a destination number;
- adapted software or hardware logic on the mobile terminal configured to intercept said destination number and create a service number comprising a service request code;
- a communication server adapted to receive the service number associated with the signaling request, read the service request code from the received service number, and perform the mobile service associated with said service request code.
- Fig. 2 is a block diagram of a roaming mobile terminal 10 connecting to its home network.
- the mobile terminal 10 When roaming, the mobile terminal 10 is connected to a different operator or service provider than its home provider.
- the home provider is defined as the service provider with which the user has a direct billing relationship and who authorizes the calls made by the mobile terminal 10.
- the mobile terminal 10 When attempting to establish a call, the mobile terminal 10 connects to the roaming network local switch, marked in Fig. 2 as roaming switch 20.
- the roaming switch 20 contacts the home switch 25 for authorization.
- Information regarding the identity of the mobile terminal 10 and the nature of the request are passed from the Visitor Location Register (VLR) 30 of the roaming or visiting network to the home networks' Home Location Register (HLR) 35.
- VLR Visitor Location Register
- HLR Home Location Register
- the two networks, the roaming network and the home network are connected via voice channels 40 and a signaling link 45.
- a communication server 50 of the invention is associated with the HLR 35 for exchanging information.
- the service request code is based on the destination number, for example, in order to perform a callback service connecting the mobile terminal 10 to the destination number.
- the service number comprises a dummy prefix and a service request code.
- the service number consists of a dummy prefix and a service request code.
- Fig. 3 shows a service number 60 comprised of a dummy prefix 65 and a service request code 67.
- the number 99 is used as the dummy prefix 65.
- the number 99 is a good choice for a dummy prefix 65 since it does not correspond to any country prefix.
- the service request code 67 example shown in Fig. 3 is a telephone number in France (country code 33).
- the services provided by the invention to the mobile terminal 10 are based on the callback mechanism wherein the mobile terminal 10 gets called back within seconds and then connected to the desired phone number.
- the process starts when the user of the mobile terminal 10 dials a destination telephone number.
- Adapted software or hardware logic on the mobile terminal 10 intercepts the call, stores the destination number in a temporary storage location, and creates a service number 60.
- the service number 60 is composed of two parts: a dummy prefix 65 and a service request code 67.
- the dummy prefix 65 is usually a predetermined number, for example, 99.
- the service request code 67 is based on the destination number dialed by the mobile terminal 10 and may also be identical to the destination number.
- the adapted software or hardware logic on the mobile terminal 10 then proceeds to issue a signaling request with an associated service number 60.
- the signaling request is a Supplementary service request.
- the signaling request is a call divert request.
- a call divert request sometimes also termed call forward request, is a request to transfer all incoming calls to a different phone number. For example, when traveling some people may wish to transfer all calls received to their home or office to their mobile phone.
- the signaling request along with the associated service number 60 are then transmitted via the signaling link 45 for authorization.
- the signaling request arrives to the HLR 35 for authorization.
- the signaling request will always end up being refused due to the dummy prefix 65 that is not a valid beginning of a valid phone number.
- the communication server 50 receives the signaling request and service number 60 from the HLR 35, and instructs the HLR to reject the signaling request. In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the communication server 50 instructs the HLR 35 to always reject signaling requests with service numbers 60 that start with a dummy prefix 65. After rejecting the signaling request, the HLR 35 forwards the communication server 50 the rejected signaling request and service number 60.
- the communication server 50 receives rejected signaling request and service number 60 it looks at the service request code 67 and performs the service associated with that service request code 67.
- Examples of mobile services the communication server 50 can perform comprise: callback, voicemail, short-code dialing, information services, billing services, prepaid services, data services or directory assistance.
- a callback service the communication server 50 receives the destination number in the service request code 67.
- the communication server 50 dials back the telephone number associated with the mobile terminal 10, followed by dialing the destination number, and then connects the mobile terminal 10 with the destination number.
- the service request code 67 is for voicemail
- the communication server 50 then dials user's voicemail number, dials back the mobile terminal 10 and then connects the two.
- the communication server 50 can then receive information about the caller's billing status, available credit, newly added credit etc. If the service request code 67 is identified as a short-code, the communication server 50 retrieves the telephone number associated with the dialed short-code and then dials the retrieved phone number, dials back the mobile terminal 10 and then connects the two. Depending on the mobile service requested by the user, the communication server 50 either retrieves a number from the roaming network or from the home network. If the user, for example, dials a short- code number for a taxi service, the communication server 50 will look up a taxi service in the area the user is roaming. If on the other hand, the user dials a short- code for a sports scores service, the communication server 50 will look up the sports news service in the user's home network.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
- Signal Processing (AREA)
- Mobile Radio Communication Systems (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
IL176909A IL176909A0 (en) | 2006-07-17 | 2006-07-17 | System and method for delivering mobile services |
IL178961A IL178961A0 (en) | 2006-07-17 | 2006-10-31 | System and method for delivering mobile services |
PCT/IL2007/000896 WO2008010217A1 (en) | 2006-07-17 | 2007-07-17 | System and method for delivering mobile services |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP2047695A1 true EP2047695A1 (en) | 2009-04-15 |
Family
ID=38646584
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP07789951A Withdrawn EP2047695A1 (en) | 2006-07-17 | 2007-07-17 | System and method for delivering mobile services |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP2047695A1 (en) |
IL (1) | IL178961A0 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2008010217A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE102009022749A1 (en) | 2009-05-26 | 2010-12-02 | T-Mobile International Ag | Method for establishing a telephone connection to a mobile radio terminal |
Family Cites Families (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
FI94702C (en) * | 1991-08-28 | 1995-10-10 | Nokia Mobile Phones Ltd | Speed dial telephone |
US5752188A (en) * | 1994-12-23 | 1998-05-12 | Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson | Unstructured supplementary service data from a home location register to an external node |
US5722088A (en) * | 1995-09-20 | 1998-02-24 | Ericsson Inc. | Automatic prefix systems and methods for mobile radiotelephones |
US6044263A (en) * | 1996-12-18 | 2000-03-28 | Ericsson Inc. | Method for providing a location independent dialing procedure within a mobile telecommunications network |
DE19717588C2 (en) * | 1997-04-25 | 1999-09-02 | Siemens Ag | Procedure and communication network for administration of additional services |
DK1106025T3 (en) * | 1998-08-11 | 2002-05-27 | Swisscom Mobile Ag | How to Provide Intelligent Network Support to a Mobile Subscriber |
WO2001019109A1 (en) * | 1999-09-09 | 2001-03-15 | Siemens Aktiengesellschaft | Method for implementing a call-back service in a mobile radio network |
WO2001037523A1 (en) * | 1999-11-19 | 2001-05-25 | Siemens Aktiengesellschaft | Method and a terminal for converting a call number |
WO2004054293A1 (en) * | 2002-12-09 | 2004-06-24 | Me-Omnicom B.V. | Transfer of ussd messages to/from ussd external node |
-
2006
- 2006-10-31 IL IL178961A patent/IL178961A0/en unknown
-
2007
- 2007-07-17 WO PCT/IL2007/000896 patent/WO2008010217A1/en active Application Filing
- 2007-07-17 EP EP07789951A patent/EP2047695A1/en not_active Withdrawn
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
---|
See references of WO2008010217A1 * |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
WO2008010217A1 (en) | 2008-01-24 |
IL178961A0 (en) | 2007-03-08 |
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RIC1 | Information provided on ipc code assigned before grant |
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Effective date: 20100424 |