EP2143258A1

EP2143258A1 - User information featuring the possibility to indirectly notify users who do not want their telephone number to be known

Info

Publication number: EP2143258A1
Application number: EP08716723A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Olaf Geppert
Original assignee: telegate AG
Current assignee: telegate AG
Priority date: 2007-03-30
Filing date: 2008-03-31
Publication date: 2010-01-13
Also published as: WO2008119532A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a system for contacting a user (T1, T2) in a telecommunication network. Said system comprises a central network unit (ID) which has access to user data encompassing identification data on a plurality of users (T1, T2) from one or more databases, said identification data on a respective user (T1, T2) containing a user identifier that is unique in the telecommunication network. The system further comprises at least one user network service (DA), via which identification data on a user (T2) for whom a searching user (T1) is looking can be acquired and via which a search query for the searched user (T2) can be performed using the acquired identification data by means of the central network unit. Users (T2) who are retrieved in the database/s and can be associated with the acquired identification data are submitted to the user network service (DA) as a search result in which the user identifiers of the retrieved users (T2) are specified at least in part by an anonymous user reference. The central network unit (ID) is designed in such a way as to be able to contact the user identifier of a retrieved user (T2) following a contact request by the user network service (DA).

Description

PARTICIPANT INFORMATION WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF PARTICIPANTS WHO DO NOT WANT TO NOTIFY YOUR TELEPHONE NUMBER TO INDICATE INDEPENDENTLY

The invention relates to a system and a method for contacting a subscriber in a telecommunications network. A participant in this case is a person or institution to understand clearly a subscriber identifier, in particular one or more numbers or Rumummernblöcke assigned. A subscriber can communicate via a corresponding terminal, for example a mobile telephone, in the telecommunications network. In particular, a telecommunications network does not only mean a single network but also includes the networking of a plurality of different networks, in particular of a plurality of mobile networks and / or fixed networks. In addition, the term telecommunications network also includes the Internet and the intranet, possibly in combination with other communication networks.

In telecommunication networks, subscribers often desire to have their respective unique subscriber identifiers not freely given to third parties. In particular, mobile subscribers often do not want their mobile number to be made available to subscriber exchanges, in particular information service providers, in order to be able to be queried by third parties.

From document WO 2004/092878 A2 a method is known with which a telecommunication subscriber who does not want to publish his contact information indirectly sends a message which informs the participant about the contacting request of a third party. In the method of this document, a searching subscriber can contact a directory assistance service provider who searches for the subscriber sought in a central network station, the central network station being filled with subscriber data from a plurality of telecommunication providers. The contact information of a subscriber found in the central network station is inaccessible to the directory assistance provider. lent or not apparent so that he can not give out the contact information to the seeking party. However, the directory inquiry service provider can record contact data of the searching subscriber and cause a corresponding message to be transmitted to the requested subscriber, so that he is informed of the contact request of the searching subscriber without being disturbed directly by a call from the searching subscriber. The method of document WO 2004/092878 A2 does not deal with the manner in which access to unpublished contact information in the central network station is prevented. In addition, an e-mail message is first generated in the method for transmitting a message to the subscriber sought, which is then sent to the mobile service provider of the searched subscriber, who then transmits a text message, in particular an SMS, to the sought subscriber.

The object of the invention is to provide a system and a method for contacting a subscriber in a telecommunication network, which effectively prevent access to the subscriber identifier of a sought subscriber by a subscriber exchange and enable a simple notification of the sought subscriber via a Kontaktierungswunsch a searching subscriber.

This object is solved by the independent claims. Further developments of the invention are defined in the dependent claims.

The system according to the invention for contacting a subscriber in a telecommunications network comprises a central network unit or network station which has access to subscriber data comprising identification data from a plurality of subscribers from one or more databases, the identification data of a respective subscriber containing a subscriber identifier that is unique in the telecommunications network , In addition, in the system according to the invention at least one Teihiehmervermittlung provided via which identification data detected by a searching subscriber subscriber can be performed and using which with the acquired identification data, a search query for the searched subscriber by means of the central network unit can be returned as a search result in the or the databases found participants, which are assigned to the detected identification data, and returned and in the search result the subscriber identifiers of the found subscribers are at least partially specified in each case by an anonymous subscriber reference. The use of the anonymized subscriber reference ensures that the subscriber exchange does not have access to the unique subscriber identifier and also does not have the possibility that the subscriber identifier can be derived from the subscriber reference by the subscriber exchange. The association between subscriber reference and subscriber identifier is thus known only in the central network unit and is not transmitted to the subscriber exchange.

The central network unit in the system according to the invention is further configured such that it can contact the subscriber identifier of a subscriber who has been found, in response to a contacting request from the subscriber exchange. In particular, the contacting request of the subscriber exchange contains the anonymized subscriber reference of the subscriber found, and the central network unit can assign the anonymized subscriber reference to the subscriber identifier of the subscriber found for contacting the subscriber found. According to the invention, therefore, the central network unit directly and directly records a contact with the sought-for subscriber via his subscriber identifier. In this feature, the invention differs from the prior art, in which there is no direct contact via the subscriber identifier, but first an e-mail to the mobile service provider of the sought subscriber is directed, the only then sends a corresponding text message to the sought participants. The inventive method thus provides a simpler and more efficient way of contacting a found participant. In a preferred embodiment of the system according to the invention, identification data of the searching subscriber are contained in the contacting request of the subscriber exchange. This creates an easy way to avoid an unmissable contact with participants. In particular, the central network unit has a data filter with which the identification data of the searching subscriber in the contacting request can be filtered according to predetermined criteria with regard to undesired subscribers and / or subscriber identifiers, in particular with respect to value-added numbers, whereby contacting requests with identification data are undesirable Subscribers and / or subscriber identifiers rejected by the central network entity. Premium numbers are here telephone numbers, in which the caller is charged increased fees for its call.

In a preferred variant, the data filter is configured subscriber-specifically, i. the filter is in each case set up separately for each participant found as a function of subscriber-specific specifications with regard to desired or undesired subscribers.

A further protection against misuse of the subscriber data is achieved in a preferred variant of the invention in that the subscriber exchanges only have read access to the data of the central network unit and thus can not manipulate the subscriber data of the network unit.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the subscriber identifiers of the subscriber data in the central network unit include mobile numbers or identifiers associated with the mobile numbers or a telephone number to an automatic voice answering machine of the subscriber. For these numbers, protection against abuse is particularly important because the person who is assigned to the mobile number is usually directly accessible via this number. In a further embodiment of the invention, the identification data of a respective subscriber comprise, in addition to its subscriber identifier, one or more of the following data:

- First and last name of the participant; - Title and / or name of the participant;

- residence of the participant;

- Postal code of the place of residence of the participant;

- Street and house number of the place of residence of the participant;

- a placeholder for other data.

A subscriber to whose data the central network unit has access can thus be identified via person-specific data, wherein an identification is already possible even if only part of the person-specific data leads to a unique specification of a single subscriber. Optionally, the subscriber data of a respective subscriber may include data relating to the telecommunications services provided to the subscriber.

In a further, particularly preferred embodiment of the system according to the invention, the central network unit comprises a central database, which is filled with the subscriber data of one or more telecommunications providers, in particular of mobile service providers, wherein the telecommunications providers preferably have read and write access to the central database.

In a further refinement of the system according to the invention, the central network unit for contacting the subscriber identifier forwards a call initiated by the subscriber exchange to the subscriber sought. The contacting request according to this variant of the invention thus represents a call to the subscriber identifier by the subscriber exchange, wherein the call is made, for example, by a human operator in the subscriber exchange. This call can be forwarded, for example, to an automatic voice answering machine of the subscriber found, so that a Speech connection between the subscriber exchange and the voice mailbox is established. This voice connection may be, for example, a voice connection between a human operator in the subscriber exchange and the voice mailbox. The human operator can then leave a corresponding message, which is communicated to the found participant that another participant wants to contact him. Preferably, in this case the operator is given, with what content and in what way he should record the message. In particular, the human operator has prefabricated text modules for this purpose.

Alternatively, or in addition to establishing a voice connection between human operator and voice answering machine, it is also possible to establish a voice connection between a voice computer in the subscriber exchange and the voice answering machine, the voice computer leaves a message on the voice answering machine, based on the content of the detected participants the seeking party can contact. In the variants of contacting a voice answering machine just described, the central network unit transmits to the subscriber exchange in particular the name of the subscriber found and / or the mobile service provider of the subscriber found and / or a call luncher for deactivating a contact via the voice answering machine. This information can then be used by the speech computer or the human operator when recording the voice message on the voice mailbox, thereby achieving personalization of the message.

In addition or as an alternative to the above-described contacting via a call, the central network unit can also send out a text message to the subscriber identifier of the subscriber found, wherein the subscriber found can contact the searching subscriber on the basis of the content of the text message. Preferably, such a text message is an SMS message. In a preferred variant of the invention, the subscriber exchange is configured in such a way that it can request data from the searching subscriber, which are subsequently recorded in the text message sent out by the central network unit and / or in the call initiated by the subscriber exchange and forwarded by the central network unit be notified to the voice answering machine of the detected subscriber. These data are queried, for example, by a human operator in the subscriber exchange of the searching party and entered into a corresponding input mask. The queried data include, in particular, identification data of the searching subscriber, eg a callback number and / or the name of the searching subscriber, and / or the reason for contacting.

In a further embodiment of the system according to the invention, the text message received by a detected subscriber contains an option with which the subscriber found can prevent the future delivery of such text messages. Thus, it is easily possible for a subscriber to terminate a contact via such messages without the subscriber having to separately contact the telecommunications provider. In particular, there is also the possibility that a subscriber with a separate text message or by calling a service number - mediated via the central network unit - can enable the delivery of text messages concerning the contacting request of a searching subscriber.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the text message is sent by the central network unit on behalf of the telecommunications provider, in which the detected subscriber is registered. This indicates to the subscriber sought that the service offered is a service of his own telecommunications provider.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the contacting request of the subscriber exchange can only be sent to the central network unit if in the search result of the search query a single, uniquely identifiable the participant is found. This variant of the invention is used when, for reasons of data protection law, it must be ensured that no identification data of a subscriber from the central network unit is known at all in the subscriber exchange. In this case, communication with a subscriber who has been found is only made possible if the search query allows a sought-after subscriber to be uniquely identified.

In a further refinement of the system according to the invention, the subscriber exchange is an information provider in which at least one human operator communicates with a searching subscriber, wherein the human operator asks the searching subscriber for the identification data of the subscriber sought and enters this identification data into the subscriber exchange via a user interface, wherein the human operator or a second human operator enters in a contacting request of the searching subscriber whose identification data in a user interface for generating a contacting request to the central network unit, wherein the human operator preferably has the ability to the requested subscriber via a call and in case the non-achievement of the requested subscriber via a text message containing identification data of the searching subscriber to contact. If necessary, it is also possible for a computer to be used to query the information instead of a human operator. Likewise, it may be possible for the directory assistance provider to provide its services via a direct input mask on the screen of the searching subscriber, for example via the Internet, so that the searching subscriber can enter his own identification data as well as the identification data of the sought-for subscriber.

In a further embodiment of the system according to the invention, the central network unit has access to a plurality of decentralized databases, the databases preferably being databases of different mobile service providers. In this embodiment, the central network unit makes a considerable contribution to the coordination of the individual queries; Only through the central network unit, this type of query is only possible. She coordinates the individual queries and leads Then they put together again in an edition that corresponds to a common ordering logic.

In a further refinement of the system according to the invention, the subscriber exchange is configured in such a manner that the participants found without their personal data, in particular without their address data, are displayed or output via a corresponding user interface in the subscriber exchange. This variant is used when data protection regulations have to be met. If necessary, to fulfill data protection regulations, it may also be necessary for the subscriber exchange to be configured in such a way that a subscriber found without his or her personal data is only displayed if it has been uniquely identified by the search query.

In a further variant of the method according to the invention, the subscriber exchange is configured such that the participants found are displayed with their person-specific data, in particular with their address data.

In a preferred embodiment of the system according to the invention, the subscriber exchange is configured in such a way that a plurality of databases are stored via the

Query can be queried in parallel, the search result from all

Databases can be merged via an application in the subscriber exchange and displayed ordered according to a common logic, the plurality of databases preferably comprises an information database in the subscriber exchange.

If appropriate, in one embodiment of the system according to the invention, the search result returned to the subscriber exchange is transferred to a separate unit, in particular to a separate service provider and / or to a separate human operator, for further processing. When handing over the search result from a first human operator of the subscriber exchange to a separate operator, the advance payment of the first operator plays a considerable role Role. In particular, the search result is not passed on unprocessed, but the first operator predefines the search result and already identifies the sought-after subscriber. This result is then passed to the separate operator.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the subscriber exchange can only direct pre-specified search queries to the central network unit, whereby a specified access to subscriber data can be determined via the subscriber exchange.

In a further variant of the system according to the invention, the search result returned to the subscriber exchange contains not only the subscribers specified by anonymized subscriber references but also subscribers specified by subscriber identifiers. Preferably, a call can be initialized to the subscribers specified by the subscriber identifiers via the subscriber exchange.

In addition to the system described above, the invention further comprises a method for contacting a subscriber in a telecommunication network having a central network unit accessing subscriber data comprising identification data from a plurality of subscribers from one or more databases, wherein the identification data of a respective subscriber is in the telecommunication network comprise unique subscriber identifiers, the method comprising the steps of: - acquiring identification data of a subscriber sought by a searching subscriber in at least one subscriber exchange; Carrying out a search query for the searched subscriber by means of the network unit with the acquired identification data, wherein as a search result in the or the databases found participants, which are assigned to the detected identification data, are returned to the subscriber exchange and wherein in the search result, the subscriber identifier of at least partially each specified by an anonymous subscriber reference;

Contacting the subscriber identifier of a found subscriber by the central network unit in response to a contacting request from the subscriber exchange.

In a preferred variant, the contacting request of the subscriber exchange contains the anonymized subscriber reference of the subscriber found, and the central network unit assigns the anonymized subscriber reference to the subscriber identifier of the subscriber found to contact the subscriber found.

In this case, identification data of the searching subscriber are preferably included in the contacting request, so that a suitable filter function can be used in the method. In this filter function, the identification data of the searching subscriber in the contacting request are filtered by the central network unit according to predetermined criteria with regard to undesired subscribers and / or subscriber identifiers, in particular with respect to value-added numbers, contacting requests with identification data of undesired subscribers and / or subscriber identifiers central network unit are rejected. In this case, the filtering can preferably take place in such a way that filtering is performed separately for each participant found as a function of subscriber-specific specifications. In this way, a "customer-side" filter is created with which a discovered subscriber has the possibility of having individual, unwanted numbers blocked without being completely blocked for the service.

In a further refinement of the method according to the invention, the subscriber identifiers of the subscriber data in the central network unit comprise mobile telephone numbers and / or identifiers linked to the mobile telephone numbers and / or a telephone number to a voice answering machine of the subscriber. In one embodiment of the method according to the invention, the central network unit for contacting the subscriber identifier of a found subscriber forwards a call initiated by the subscriber exchange to the subscriber identifier. This call can be sent, for example, to a voice mailbox of the subscriber found, so that a voice connection is established between the subscriber exchange and the voice answering machine. In a variant, a voice connection can be established between a human operator in the subscriber exchange and the voice answering machine, wherein the human operator can then leave a corresponding message concerning the contacting request of the searching subscriber. Alternatively or additionally, it is also possible for a voice connection to be established between a voice computer in the subscriber exchange and the voice answering machine, wherein the voice computer leaves a voice message on the voice answering machine, on the basis of whose content the subscriber found can contact the searching subscriber. In order to personalize the message left on the answering machine, in one embodiment of the method the central network unit of the subscriber exchange also transmits the name of the subscriber found and / or the mobile service provider of the subscriber found and / or a telephone number for deactivating the service for contacting the subscriber found his answering machine. This information can then be used in the message left by the subscriber exchange on the voice mailbox.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, a text message is sent to the subscriber identifier for contacting the subscriber identifier of a detected subscriber by the central network unit, wherein based on the content of the text message the detected subscriber can contact the searching subscriber. The text message here is preferably an SMS message. Embodiments of the invention are described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Show it:

1A and 1B is a flowchart which represents the executed in an embodiment of the inventive system steps for contacting a subscriber.

The concept of the invention based on the example of mobile radio is explained below. In practice, it may u.U. but also to data from alternative networks, e.g. Fixed or Voice over IP carriers act. FIGS. 1A and 1B show, by means of a flowchart, the interaction of the individual components of a system for contacting a subscriber in a telecommunications network. The diagram is divided into an end user level El, in which the so-called A-subscriber Tl is located, which directs a request to a subscriber exchange DA. In the embodiment described here, the subscriber exchange DA is an information service, which is arranged in the information level E2 in FIGS. 1A and 1B. The information service interacts with a database ID, which in the embodiment described here is part of a central network unit in the sense of the claims and is reproduced in the level E3. However, it is also possible that the central network entity is separate from the database and manages one or more remote databases. In the variant described here, the central network unit and the database form a unit, whereby the term "database" used below is to be equated with a central network unit with an associated database The database ID interacts with one or more mobile service providers MC, which operate at the level The database ID can be managed by the mobile service providers themselves or on behalf of the mobile service providers.

In the scenario of FIG. 1A, the A subscriber T1 in a telecommunication network contacts the directory assistance service DA by calling a corresponding access code. arrival number by means of a telecommunication terminal. In this case, the A subscriber T1 communicates with a human operator O of the information service, the operator O acquiring the data from a so-called B subscriber T2, the A subscriber reporting this data to the operator. The A-subscriber has the desire to contact the B-subscriber via his mobile phone number. For example, the A-subscriber can search for a B-subscriber with the name "Müller" and the place of residence "Munich".

After the data has been entered by the operator O who enters the data via a user interface, the data is used to generate a search query via an NDIS (National Directory Inquiry System) query system, whereby the search query uses an NDIS database D of the Information provider and the NDIS database ID is searched. However, other types of query systems or databases can be used instead of using NDIS query systems or NDIS databases. The database ID is hereby filled by one or more mobile service providers MC. The database ID contains data from subscribers / customers of the individual mobile service providers. The two databases D and ID are searched by the search query for relevant entries which correspond, for example, to the search criteria "Müller, Munich." The hits are then output in a sorted list to the operator O via the NDIS query system , where the list contains both entries from the database D and from the database ID.

Person-specific data and application-specific data are stored in the database ID for the participants contained therein. In particular, the mobile numbers of the respective participants are stored. The database ID is distinguished by the fact that for the subscribers found according to the search query in the database, their mobile number is not transmitted to the information provider DA. This is realized technically in that the mobile radio numbers of the subscribers are specified by an anonymized subscriber reference, the assignment between subscriber reference and mobile number being known in the database ID, but not to the directory assistance provider DA is transmitted. The information provider will only be notified of the participant reference. In this way it is ensured that no misuse of the mobile number can be operated by the directory assistance provider. In particular, the directory service provider can not forward the mobile phone number directly to the A-subscriber Tl.

The request for information corresponding to the search query of the operator is displayed in the form of a list. For participants from the database D, personal data and the telephone number of the subscriber are also reproduced here. The entries from the database ID are particularly marked by corresponding notes, which are referred to below as the IncognitoCall identifier. In this case, mcognitoCall represents a name for the service provided according to the invention, which enables an indirect notification of a subscriber from the database ID, as will be described in more detail below. Person-specific data is preferably also displayed for the subscribers from the database ID displayed in the list, which makes it possible for the operator to specify the subscriber in more detail by means of further inquiries at the subscriber T1. The operator O can find out, in particular by means of communication with the subscriber T 1, the B subscriber T2 with whom the subscriber T 1 wishes to communicate. This is done by asking the A-subscriber for further information from the hit list, in particular for information on the place of residence, such as street, house number and postcode, of the subscriber T2. If the B-subscriber sought by the A-subscriber can be specified, it is now possible for the operator O to initiate a so-called InCognitoCall on his user interface if the B-subscriber originates from the database ID. In the variant described here, an IncognitoCall corresponds to the sending of an SMS to the B subscriber, whereby the IncognitoCall identifier mentioned above corresponds to a so-called IncognitoSMS note. In the variant described here, entries of subscribers may also be specified by an IncognitoCall identifier in the form of a so-called IncognitoCall note. For subscribers with such a note, it is possible to initialize a telephone call by the operator to these subscribers. In the case of subscribers with an IncognitoCall note, it should be noted in particular that the subscribers also transmit their mobile phone number to the information provider DA, although this mobile number is not visible to the operator and therefore can not be disclosed. However, the mobile number is required for the call to be set up by the operator, the call then being made directly through the subscriber exchange without the interworking of the network unit ID.

If, for reasons of data protection law, it is undesirable for the operator O of the information provider to display person-specific data of the subscribers, in particular address data of the subscribers, from the database ID, in the hit list for the subscribers found from the database ID no further data other than the IncognitoCall data is available. Identifier specified. If there are several entries of participants from the database ID, there is no possibility for the operator O to initiate an IncognitoCall, which is indicated by a corresponding note "IncognitoCall blocked" for the corresponding hits, for example If the subscriber can be uniquely identified, the status "IncognitoCall disabled" is set to "IncognitoCall free" so that the operator can then initiate the IncognitoCall for this entry.Uniquely identified here means that only data records are contained in the hit list. which relate to a person or a connection and with respect to the person-specific data, in particular name, first name, place of residence, street and house number, do not deviate from the information of the searching party Tl.

The performance of the IncognitoCall will now be described with reference to FIG. 1B. By the operator O, the A-subscriber Tl is asked if he agrees to an IncognitoCall for contacting the B-subscriber T2. If this is not the case, the call between the subscriber T1 and the operator O is ended. However, if the subscriber Tl agrees to the IncognitoCall, contact data of the subscriber Tl are detected, which occurs because the operator O asks the subscriber T1 for contact information with which the subscriber T2 instructs the subscriber Tl can achieve. Such information is in particular a callback number, the name of the searching subscriber Tl and possibly a note from which the reason for contacting appears. For the reason of contacting the subscriber Tl can choose in a variant of the invention between urgent, emergency, business and private. Optionally, the subscriber Tl can choose between other or other reasons for contacting.

By means of a separate application, the operator O invokes an input mask when entering the contact data of the A subscriber. The captured data is entered into this input mask. The acquired data is finally transmitted to the database ID, wherein in the transmission and the subscriber reference of the B-subscriber T2 is sent, with which the A-subscriber wants to contact. After transmission of the data, the call between A-subscriber and DA DA is terminated. Finally, in the database ID, a text message in the form of an SMS (SMS = Short Message Service) is generated, which contains the transmitted contact information of the A-subscriber. This SMS is finally sent directly through the database ID to the mobile number of the B-subscriber T2. In this case, the database ID has determined from the transmitted subscriber reference of the B subscriber the correspondingly allocated mobile number of the B subscriber. In contrast to known methods according to the prior art, the transmission of the SMS is initiated directly by the central network unit ID. The B-subscriber T2 receiving the SMS can now send a response to the subscriber Tl via the contact data contained in the SMS or call it. He also has an option in the SMS, the possibility to block the service IncognitoCall future. In this case, in a variant, by activating a corresponding link in the SMS, a message is sent via the database ID to the mobile service provider, who at the next update of the database ID deletes the corresponding subscriber entry from the database or identifies it accordingly. In a further variant, a subscriber can initiate immediate blocking by the central network unit by calling a service number or sending a text message to the central network unit. blocking requests are passed on to the mobile service providers. Similarly, for filtering data corresponding subscriber-specific blocking requests from undesirable subscribers, of which no SMS is to be received, passed on to the mobile service providers.

In FIG. 1B, dashed lines and boxes represent an alternative variant for initiating an IncognitoCall. Background for such a variant can u.a. be regulatory requirements. In this alternative variant, an assignment to a second human operator 02 is carried out after the consent of the subscriber T1 for carrying out the incognito call. In this case, a transfer of the screen of the operator O to the operator 02 takes place. This operator 02 can also be an employee of another company, in particular of another information service provider or service provider, to whom the request is transmitted for processing. In this way, a "pre-qualified" job in the form of a search result is already transferred to a further service provider for further processing.The operator 02 then communicates with the A-subscriber T1 and enters the contact information of the subscriber T1 in the corresponding input mask Steps performed this variant are identical to the variant described above again.

In Fig. IB furthermore the step of updating the database ID via a daily update by the mobile operators MC is reproduced. Through this daily update new subscribers are deposited in the database ID. Furthermore, the blockages of subscribers for the service IncognitoCall are taken into account by deleting subscriber data which want to block the service from the database ID.

The above-described service IncognitoCall enables the mobile operators to provide a further service feature, with which an anonymous contact with the participants of the mobile service provider can be done via an SMS. Here, the mobile service providers determine which subscribers are unlocked for the service feature. The subscriber data contained in the data bank ID are released here by the respective mobile operator. In one variant, the customers of the respective mobile service provider for the service feature in principle unlocked, but with the exception that customers who enjoy special protection (such as public figures, connections with secret numbers and the like) are initially not activated for this service to To avoid abuse.

In a variant of the invention, the subscribers of the respective mobile service provider who are enabled for the service are also preferably given the opportunity to obtain information about their current status with regard to this service feature (i.e., IncognitoCall activated or not activated). For example, this information can be obtained by subscribers through the subscriber self-administration area of their mobile service provider. In addition, the participants are given the opportunity in another variant to be banned for this service via the self-administration area. Another variant, already described above, for changing the status of the service is that a link is contained in each SMS message which is sent on the basis of the service feature IncognitoCall, with which the corresponding subscriber can be blocked for the service. In addition, it is preferably created the possibility that each participant can be automatically unlocked or blocked for a call for a specific service number for the service. The call to this service number is preferably free for the subscriber. In addition, the participant is additionally or alternatively given the possibility of blocking by text message.

An essential aspect in the implementation of the service described above is that the search service providers a search application is created, with the subscriber data from different mobile service providers can be accessed. In order to make this possible, a dedicated central database ID is created, although it is also possible for a large number of decentralized databases to be managed via a central network unit. In the central database, all data required for the operation of the service feature IncognitoCall needed, provided. The database is here once filled with a dump and maintained by the mobile operators. The access during the provision of the service takes place with read and write rights for the mobile service providers and with read-only rights for the directory assistance service providers who access the database.

In a further variant of the invention, the data is managed in a plurality of decentralized databases operating independently of one another, which are located directly with the mobile service providers. A central network unit records the search queries of the individual subscriber exchanges and feeds them to the individual databases. Likewise, the central network unit receives the feedback from the database and makes it available to the switching units. In addition, the central network unit takes over the sending of the SMS or forwarding of the calls, u.U. on behalf of the mobile service providers. Furthermore, by the central network unit lock request recorded and forwarded to the mobile service providers. The data transmission between the central network unit and the subscriber exchanges takes place analogously to the variant described above by means of anonymized subscriber references, which, analogously to the above method, provides protection against misuse of subscriber data. This protection against misuse may be necessary due to data protection considerations or due to security reservations of the mobile service providers.

In the foregoing, the method according to the invention was explained with reference to the sending of an SMS to the B subscriber T2. Additionally or alternatively, however, there is also the realization of a corresponding service with the help of a voice box of the B-subscriber. This service feature is called IncognitoVoicemail. In this case, instead of an SMS message, the B-subscriber T2 receives a voicemail on the voicebox of his mobile radio connection. If the A-subscriber Tl agrees with this, the human operator of the DA service DA leaves a message on the B-subscriber's voicebox and asks for a call back. The content of the message is always standardized and it is not allowed for the operator Analogously to the variant described above, it is further ensured that the directory service is not transmitted to the directory inquiry service and displayed to the operator.

The operator of the information service acquires the following data of the A-subscriber from the A-subscriber before contacting the B-subscriber's voice box: Salutation First name Last name - Callback number

Optional: Reason for the call, which can be selected here for given reasons.

After the operator has detected the details of his person from the A-subscriber, he initiates the call on the B-subscriber's voice box. This can be done via a button in the user interface that is available to the operator.

The calling of the voicebox is carried out automatically by dialing the number of the voicebox, without the operator being able to see the number of the voicebox. The operator only the name of the B-subscriber and the respective mobile service providers and a phone number to disable the service are displayed. This call number is used so that the B-subscriber is given the opportunity during the subsequent contacting of his voicebox to have the service InvognitoVoicemail blocked by dialing this number.

The technical means for implementing the service IncognitoVoicemail are here separately provided by each information service, the interfaces to the network unit ID are defined by this network unit.

The content of the voicemail to be transmitted to the B subscriber is clearly specified to the operator of the information service provider. Alternatively, the message can also be transmitted by an automated system. The message to the B The subscriber is then generated fully automated from the recorded data and recorded after dialing the B subscriber's voice box with the aid of a Text to Speech system.

Claims

claims

A system for contacting a subscriber (T1, T2) in a telecommunications network, comprising: a central network unit (ID) comprising subscriber data

Identification data from a plurality of subscribers (Tl, T2) has access from one or more databases, wherein the identification data of a respective subscriber (Tl, T2) contain a unique in the telecommunication network subscriber identifier; at least one subscriber exchange (DA) via which identification data of a subscriber (T2) sought by a searching subscriber (T1) can be detected and via which with the detected identification data a search query for the sought subscriber (T2) by means of the central network unit ( ID), whereby subscribers (T2) found as search result in the database or databases, which can be assigned to the acquired identification data, are returned to the subscriber exchange (DA) and wherein in the search result the subscriber identifiers of the found subscribers (T2) at least partially each specified by an anonymous subscriber reference; wherein the central network unit (ID) is configured such that it can contact the subscriber identifier of a discovered subscriber (T2) in response to a contacting request from the subscriber exchange (DA).

The system of claim 1, wherein the contacting request of the subscriber exchange (DA) includes the anonymized subscriber reference of the found subscriber (T2) and the central network unit (ID) for contacting the discovered subscriber (T2) assigns the anonymized subscriber reference to the subscriber identifier of the found subscriber can.

3. System according to claim 1 or 2, wherein in the contacting request identification data of the searching subscriber (Tl) are included.

4. System according to claim 3, wherein the central network unit (ID) has a data filter with which the identification data of the searching subscriber (Tl) in the contacting request according to predetermined criteria with respect to undesired subscribers and / or subscriber identifiers, in particular

With regard to value-added numbers, they can be filtered, whereby contacting requests with identification data of undesired subscribers and / or subscriber identifiers are rejected by the central network unit (ID).

5. System according to claim 4, wherein the data filter is configured separately for each detected subscriber (T2) as a function of subscriber-specific specifications.

6. System according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the subscriber exchange (DA) exclusively has a read access to the database or databases.

7. System according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the subscriber identifier of the subscriber data mobile numbers and / or with the mobile radio numbers associated identifiers and / or a call number to a voice answering machine of the subscriber (Tl, T2) include.

8. System according to one of the preceding claims, in which the identification data of a respective subscriber (T1, T2) in addition to its subscriber identifier comprise one or more of the following data:

- First and last name of the participant;

- Title and / or name of the participant; Place of residence of the participant; - Postal code of the place of residence of the participant;

Street and house number of the place of residence of the participant; a placeholder for other data.

9. System according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the subscriber data of a respective subscriber (Tl, T2) data with respect to the subscriber (Tl, T2) provided Telekommunikationsdienstε.

10. System according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the central network unit (ID) comprises a central database which is filled with the subscriber data from one or more telecommunications providers (MC), in particular from mobile service providers, wherein the telecommunication onsanbieter (MC) in particular read and write access to the central

Have network unit (ID).

11. System according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the central network unit (ID) for contacting the subscriber identifier of a detected subscriber (T2) forwards a call initiated by the subscriber exchange (DA) to the subscriber identifier.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the central network unit (ID) forwards the call to a voice mailbox of the found subscriber (T2), so that a voice connection between the subscriber exchange

(DA) and the voice mailbox.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the voice connection between a human operator in the subscriber exchange (DA) and the voice mailbox of the detected subscriber (T2) is established.

14. System according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the voice connection between a voice com- puter in the subscriber exchange (DA) and the voice answering machine is established, wherein the voice computer leaves a Sprachnach- rieht on the voice mailbox, based on the content of the discovered subscriber (T2) the contacting subscriber (Tl).

15. System according to any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein the central network unit (ID) of the subscriber exchange (DA) the name of the discovered subscriber (T2) and / or the mobile service provider of the found subscriber (T2) and / or a phone number for deactivation a contacting of the detected subscriber (T2) transmitted via the voice answering machine.

16. System according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the central network unit (ID) for contacting the subscriber identifier of a discovered subscriber (T2) can send a text message to the subscriber identifier, wherein the detected subscriber (T2) on the basis of the content of the text message to the seeking subscriber (Tl) can contact.

The system of claim 16, wherein the text message is an SMS message.

18. System according to any one of claims 12 to 17, wherein the subscriber exchange (DA) is configured such that it can request from the searching party (Tl) data, which are then included in the sent by the central network unit (ID) text message and / or in the one initiated by the subscriber exchange (DA) and by the central

Network Unit (ID) forwarded call the voice answering machine of the discovered subscriber (T2).

19. System according to claim 18, in which the data requested by the subscriber exchange (DA) contain identification data of the searching subscriber (T1), in particular a callback number and / or the name of the searching subscriber (T1), and / or the reason for contacting.

20. A system according to any one of claims 16 to 19, wherein the text message received from a retrieved subscriber (T2) includes an option by which the discovered subscriber (T2) can inhibit the future delivery of such text messages, whereby a subscriber ( T2) preferably further the delivery of such text messages by sending a text message or calling a service number can reconnect under mediation of the central network unit again.

A system according to any one of claims 16 to 20, wherein the text message is sent from the central network unit (ID) on behalf of the telecommunications provider to which the discovered subscriber (T2) is registered.

22. System according to any one of the preceding claims, in which a contacting tion request of the subscriber exchange (DA) can only be sent to the central network unit (ID) if in the search result of the search query a unique identifier to be identified is found.

23. System according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the subscriber exchange (DA) is an information provider, in which at least one human operator (O) with a searching party (Tl) communicates, wherein the human operator (O) the seeking party (Tl) asks for the identification data of the subscriber (T2) sought and inputs this identification data via a user interface and wherein the human operator (O) or a second human operator (02) in a contacting desire of the searching party (Tl) whose Polls identification data and enters it into a user interface in order to generate the contacting request to the central network unit (ID), wherein the human operator (O) preferably has the possibility of calling the subscriber (T2) via a call and in case of failure to reach the searched participant

(T2) via a text message containing identification data of the searching subscriber (Tl) to contact.

A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the central network entity (ID) has access to a plurality of remote databases, the databases preferably being databases of different mobile providers.

25. System according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the subscriber exchange (DA) is configured such that the found participants (T2) without their person-specific data, in particular without their Adressda- th, are displayed.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the subscriber exchange (DA) is configured such that a discovered subscriber (T2) is displayed without his personal data only if it has been uniquely identified by the search query.

27. System according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the subscriber exchange (DA) is configured such that the found participants (T2) with person-specific data, in particular with their address data, are displayed.

28. System according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the subscriber exchange (DA) is configured such that a plurality of databases via the search query can be queried in parallel, the search result from all databases via an application in the subscriber exchange

(DA) is merged and can be displayed according to a common logic, wherein the plurality of databases preferably comprises an information database in the subscriber exchange (DA).

29. System according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the returned to the subscriber exchange (DA) search result for further processing to a separate unit, in particular a separate service provider and / or a separate human operator, is passed.

30. System according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the subscriber exchange (DA) can only address previously specified search queries to the central network unit (ID).

31. System according to one of the preceding claims, in which the search result returned to the subscriber exchange (DA) contains, in addition to the subscribers (T2) specified by an anonymized subscriber reference, subscribers specified by subscriber identifiers.

The system of claim 31, wherein to the subscribers specified by a subscriber identifier, a call can be initiated via the subscriber exchange (DA).

33. A method for contacting a subscriber (T1, T2) in a telecommunication network with a central network unit (ID), which accesses subscriber data comprising identification data from a plurality of subscribers (T1, T2) from one or more databases, wherein the identifica cation data of a respective subscriber (T1, T2) contain a subscriber identifier which is unique in the telecommunication network, the method comprising the following steps:

Detecting identification data of a subscriber (T2) sought by a searching subscriber (T1) in at least one subscriber exchange (DA);

- Performing a search query for the searched subscriber (T2) by means of the network unit with the detected identification data, which as a search result in the or the databases found participants (T2), which are assigned to the detected identification data, are returned to the subscriber exchange (DA) and wherein in the search result the subscriber identifiers of the found subscribers (T2) are at least partially specified in each case by an anonymous subscriber reference; Contacting the subscriber identifier of a found subscriber (T2) by the central network unit (ID) in response to a

Contacting request of the participant exchange (DA).

34. The method according to claim 33, wherein the contacting request of the subscriber exchange (DA) contains the anonymized subscriber reference of the subscriber (T2) found, and the central network unit (ID) for contacting the subscriber (T2) found the anonymized subscriber reference the subscriber identifier of the subscriber found Assigns to the participant.

35. The method of claim 33 or 34, wherein in the contacting request identification data of the searching subscriber (Tl) are included.

36. The method according to claim 35, in which the identification data of the searching subscriber (T1) in the contacting request are filtered by the central network unit (ID) according to predetermined criteria with regard to undesired subscribers and / or subscriber identifiers, in particular with respect to value-added numbers Contacting requests with identification data of undesired subscribers and / or subscriber identifiers are rejected by the central network unit (ID).

37. The method according to claim 36, wherein the identification data are filtered separately for each detected subscriber (T2) as a function of subscriber-specific defaults.

38. The method according to any one of claims 33 to 37, wherein the subscriber identifier of the subscriber data mobile numbers and / or associated with the mobile phone numbers identifiers and / or a phone number to a voice answering machine of the subscriber (Tl, T2) include.

39. The method according to any one of claims 33 to 38, wherein the central network unit (ID) for contacting the subscriber identifier of a detected subscriber (T2) forwards a call initiated by the subscriber exchange (DA) call to the subscriber identifier.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the central network unit (ID) forwards the call to a voice mailbox of the found subscriber (T2) so that a voice connection is established between the subscriber exchange (DA) and the voice mailbox.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein a voice connection is established between a human operator in the subscriber exchange (DA) and the voice mailbox.

42. The method of claim 40 or 41, wherein a voice connection between a voice computer in the subscriber exchange (DA) and the voice answering machine is made, wherein the voice computer leaves a voice message on the voice answering machine, based on the content of the discovered subscriber (T2) the seeking party (Tl) can contact.

43. The method according to any one of claims 40 to 42, wherein the central network unit (ID) of the subscriber exchange the name of the discovered subscriber (T2) and / or the mobile service provider of the found subscriber (T2) and / or a phone number for deactivating a Contacting the detected subscriber (T2) is transmitted via the voice mailbox.

44. The method according to any one of claims 33 to 43, wherein for contacting the subscriber identifier of a detected subscriber (T2) by the central network unit (ID) a text message is sent to the subscriber identifier, based on the content of the text message of the detected subscriber (T2) can contact the searching participant (Tl).

45. The method of claim 44, wherein the text message is an SMS message.