FI106176B - A method and system for providing a voice mail service - Google Patents

Description

1 106176

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ORGANIZING THE RESPONSE SERVICE

The present invention relates to a method as defined in the preamble of claim 1 and to a system as defined in the preamble of claim 5 for providing a voice mail service in a telecommunications network. In particular, the invention relates to the provision of a voicemail service in a GSM network (Global System for Mobile Communications), an ISDN network (ISDN) and between an ISDN network and a GSM network.

Voice mail services have traditionally been based on voice messages. For example, the subscriber has at his disposal a voicemail device which is connected to the terminal 15 or which is integrated with the terminal. The answering device includes means, such as a magnetic tape, for the subscriber to record an audio notification message and for the person seeking the subscriber to leave an audio search message to the subscriber. With the advent of Digi-20 telecommunication networks, the same functions are nowadays most commonly provided as operator services. In this case, the subscriber subscribes to the operator for a service whereby, in the event of the subscriber being inaccessible, the incoming calls are directed to a separate answering service. 25 mer. The person seeking the subscriber is repeated with either a standard notification message provided by the operator or a notification message dictated by the subscriber himself. In addition, the person seeking the subscriber may leave the subscriber with a paging message that the subscriber receives when calling his / her answering number to check his / her paging message.

A problem with known voicemail services is that only one notification message can be used at a time. If you want to use different messages for 35 different situations, you must always record them separately. Further, existing voicemail services are typically additional paid services.

2 106176

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel method which eliminates the above drawbacks.

In particular, it is an object of the invention to provide a novel method and system for utilizing a short message service of a digital mobile network for providing an SMS-based voice mail service between a mobile network and a fixed network and within a mobile network and a fixed network.

As regards the features of the present invention, reference is made to the claims.

The system for providing an answering service in accordance with the invention comprises a mobile communication network 15 including a first short message service center. Preferably, the mobile communication network is a GSM network equipped with a short message sending feature. The system also includes a telephone network using digital signaling, which is connected to the mobile communication network by means known per se by telephone technology. Preferably, the telephone network is an ISDN telephone network. A plurality of terminals, mobile stations, and ISDN terminals are connected to the mobile communication network and the telephone network to transmit a response message from the B-subscriber terminal to the A-subscriber terminal when the A-subscriber attempts to call the B-subscriber.

According to the invention, the response message is a predetermined short message. Further, according to the invention, the system connects the first short message service center to the telephone network on the first telecommunication connection.

According to the invention, when generating a response message, a subscriber type identifier of the A subscriber is attached to it, which may be, for example, the subscriber number of the A subscriber. Next, a reply message is sent to the first 3 106176 short message service centers. The broadband type of the A subscriber and possibly the telephone number are checked in the short message service center and based on this a response message is sent to the A subscriber if the A subscriber 5 is a subscriber to the telephone network. If the A subscriber is a mobile network subscriber, the short message definitions known per se in the mobile network are used and a response message is sent through the first short message service center to the A subscriber.

An advantage of the present invention over the prior art is that it allows the transmission of the desired preselected short messages if the calls cannot be answered or the telephone cannot be held. The terminal 15 can store a plurality of different messages for different situations, from which the messages can be quickly and flexibly selected as appropriate. Naturally, it is also possible to write a new message. Because the operation is done on the terminal, the 20 users do not have to subscribe to the operator for a paid voicemail service, thus saving on costs. In addition, the textual form of a message can be useful in some situations over a voice message. If you need to use a foreign language in your messages, it is often easier to understand if you use the written language than the spoken one.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the system comprises, in addition to the first short message service center, one or more short message service centers 30 or equivalent devices or gateways for adapting the transmission path between the first short message service center and the telephone network. Such an arrangement may be required to adapt the short message service center to the telephone network. Preferably, DSS1-4 106176 (DSS, Digital Signaling System) or ISUP (ISUP, Integrated Services User Part) signaling is used between the first short message service center and the telephone network.

Since the ISDN call set-up typically takes a short time, the already-5 feature of the telephone network can be used if the subscriber or the short message service center is reserved for them at the start of the call set-up. The latency caused by queuing is so small that it does not significantly interfere with the sending of the response message, but flexibly eliminates the "useless" failures due to the busy signal, i.e., when sending messages. Such use of the queuing function is known per se and is therefore not described further herein.

If the response message is transmitted from the ISDN network 15 to the GSM network or from the GSM network to the ISDN network, the response message is routed at the first short message service center connected to the mobile communication network. When a reply message is sent from or to the ISDN terminal, a call is established between the terminal and the first short message service center to transfer the message to the second short message service center. Preferably, the ISDN UUS (User to User Signaling) signaling is used for transmitting the response message such that the UUS information elements necessary for transmitting the response message are transmitted to the first short message service center or terminal. However, no actual call is made between the short message service center and the ISDN terminal.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the recipient's identifier is transmitted in the Called Party Subaddress field.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a predetermined time interval is expected before transmitting the response message. This gives the service user time to answer the call if they wish.

5, 106176

In addition, in a preferred embodiment of the method of the invention, the transmission success to the A-subscriber is monitored and the success or failure of the transmission is reported to the sender of the response message. This way, the service user can make sure his message is delivered.

In a preferred embodiment, the terminal of the invention includes means for storing and selecting predetermined response messages for transmission. Further, it is preferred that the ISDN terminal of the fixed telephone network supports the NEW Advanced Service and that it supports the Subaddressing Additional Service. The recording means may provide, for example, a menu control 15 which allows the user to select a predefined response message to be sent.

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 illustrates a preferred system according to the invention; Fig. 2 shows another preferred system according to the invention; and FIG. 3 illustrates signaling between a terminal and another short message service center in a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

An example of a practical situation in which a reply message service can be utilized is as follows. The user is in a meeting or other situation where calls cannot be answered and the user does not have an answering service, call forwarding service, etc. However, the user wants to inform him or her of the calling spirit. where you are, why you can't answer and when you can be reached next time. The user has written in advance through the answering message function 35 different response messages with a maximum length of a short message to maksimipituuus, such as, for example: I have a meeting, call again at 14.30. I am 6 106176 on the train and arrive in Helsinki at 17.25. I am reachable after the weekend. By the time the user enters the meeting, he or she activates the answering service from his or her phone and selects the desired 5 pre-written messages from the memory. He can also write a new message. The user then switches on silent operation. When someone calls the user from a GSM or ISDN phone, the user can answer the call if necessary, or when a certain time, for example 10 se-10 municipalities, has elapsed, the user's terminal automatically sends a short message to the caller of his choice. This allows the person who called the user to know why the user is unable to answer the call and when he or she will be caught the next time. For example, the recipient number is obtained such that when an attempt is made to call the B subscriber, the A subscriber number is transmitted in a setup message that the B subscriber terminal receives from the A subscriber terminal during call setup.

The system illustrated in Figure 1, which is a simple embodiment of the present invention, comprises a mobile communication network 1 and a telephone network 3. The mobile communication network is a known GSM network in which users communicate using GSM mobile telephones 25 42. The GSM standards define short message sending (SMS). , Short Message Service). Using this service, mobile network users can send short message response messages of 160 characters in the GSM network. The telephone network 3 includes a 30 local exchange LE (not shown) which supports ISDN signaling. The terminal 41 is connected to the local exchange LE via a basic ISDN connection (2B + D). The GSM network includes the first short message service center 2, which is known in the art and is commonly used in the mobile 35 network.

The system illustrated in Figure 2 further comprises a second short message service center 5. The second short message service center 5 may be a computer or the like and is generally connected to the telephone network by a basic ISDN interface. It is also possible to connect another short message service center to the telephone network using the ISDN-5 system interface (30B + D) if the connection capacity is to be increased. The first and second short message service centers 2, 5 are interconnected by a first communication link 6, which may preferably be a local area network LAN or other similar data network.

Furthermore, Fig. 2 schematically shows a queuing function ACD in a telephone network, by means of which a call set-up request from the terminal 41 can be queued if another short message service center 5 is busy. Since transmitting the short message response message 15 to the short message service center 2, 5 is a short operation, the user hardly notices the queue delay.

According to the basic idea of the invention, short message response messages 20 between the GSM network and the ISDN network are transmitted via the first communication link 6 between the short message service centers.

Accordingly, the transmission of response messages between networks may be accomplished using a separate data connection. The first data connection may be established in the telephone network 25, for example as an ISDN connection. It is further noted that: to a person skilled in the art, the various options for establishing a data connection 6 are self-explanatory.

Figure 3 illustrates a call signaling between an ISDN terminal and another short message service center for transmitting a short message response-y. message the ISDN users further to either another ISDN user or to the GSM network (point A) and when transmitting from the GSM network or another ISDN user a short message response message to the ISDN user (point 35 B).

When transmitting a short message format response message from an ISDN network to a GSM network, for example, User-to-User information elements are used to convey the message. It is also possible to transmit the messages either as packet data or by other standard means of transmission. The ISDN terminal 4 generates a setup message 5 to which a short message service number 223344, a recipient number 12345, and a "message" in the UUS information elements are attached. The message is sent from the ISDN terminal to the first short message service center 2, arrow 1. Optionally, the short message service center 10 acknowledges the received setup message, arrow 2. Acknowledgment is optional.

After receiving and processing the setup message, the short message service center 2 transmits a disconnect message to the ISDN terminal 4, which is accompanied by 15 messages that the UUS information elements transmitted by the user have been accepted.

When the response message arrives at the first short message service center 2, it is routed to the intended GSM subscriber, as described in the GSM specifications. If 20 reply messages cannot be delivered to the recipient within the time limit, the first short message center 2 notifies the sender of the failure. The notification is carried out using standard telephone techniques.

The SMS message sent by the GSM subscriber is always routed first to the first short message service center 2. It routes the response message back to the GSM network, to the second short message service center 5, depending on the recipient's telephone number added, or initiates direct call setup to the subscriber. telephone network subscriber. The second short message service center 5 transmits the received short message format reply message from the GSM terminal to the ISDN network and is responsible for sending the reply message to the ai-35 recipient. If the reply message fails to deliver within the time limit, a notification of 9 106176 transmission failures is sent as a short message to the GSM mobile phone.

A short message response message is sent from an ISDN terminal to another ISDN terminal using a UUS supplementary service. The response message is generated using, for example, means 7 added to the terminal to select a predetermined response message from the menu. However, when a response message is sent, call set-up is initiated to the first 10 or second short message service center 2, 5. However, the call is not routed, but during the set-up and call phase, UUS information elements containing the short message response message are transmitted. The recipient's number is transferred in the Calling Party Su-baddress field of the 15 called subscribers, as described above.

Similarly, the first or second short message service center 2, 5 transmits the response message to the ISDN terminal by setting the number of the called subscriber number 20 to 334455 and the calling subscriber number of the reply message. Here, too, the response message is delivered to the recipient during the set up and calling steps in the UUS information elements.

Preferably, the ISDN terminal supports the UUS Additional Service and the Subaddressing (SUB) Additional Service. Here, for example, a menu control 7 is provided for the user interface of the terminal, by means of which the user can select the response message to be sent.

The invention is not limited only to the above exemplary embodiments, but many others. the claims are possible within the scope of the inventive idea defined by the claims.

Claims (17)

A method of providing a response service in a telecommunications network, including: a mobile network (1); A telephone network (3) in which digital signaling is used and which is connected to the mobile network; a first short message service center (2) which belongs to the mobile network and which is connected to the telephone network (3) with a first telecommunication connection (6); a plurality of terminal equipments (4; 41, 42, 4 ") which are compatible with the mobile and / or telephone networks; wherein a method for sending a response message from the B subscriber's terminal equipment via a first short message service center to the A subscriber's terminal equipment where A the subscriber attempts to call the B subscriber, who has activated the answering service 20 in his terminal equipment, the response message being a predetermined short message, characterized in that: The A subscriber's terminal equipment is connected to either the mobile or the telephone network; and, the B subscriber's terminal equipment is connected to a network other than the A subscriber's terminal equipment; to the response message, the A subscriber's subscriber type code is added; the subscriber's subscriber type is checked in the short message service center; and if the A subscriber is a subscriber in the telephone network. , then the call connection to the A subscriber is started and a is transmitted in the meantime the reply message to the A subscriber; if the A subscriber is a subscriber in the mobile network, the response message according to per se known short message definitions is transmitted via the first short message center to the A subscriber. 16 106176 2. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the telephone network is an ISDN or equivalent and that the mobile network is a GSM network or equivalent. 5 A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a plurality of short message service centers (5) are joined to the telephone network (3) and they are combined with the first short message service center. 10 Method according to any one of the preceding claims 1 - 3, characterized in that the answer message is routed between the mobile network and the telephone network in the first short message service center. 15 Method according to any of the preceding claims 1 - 4, characterized in that the reply message is sent from the ISDN terminal equipment, such that a call is established between the sending ISDN terminal equipment and the first short message service center (2) for transmitting a reply message. another short message service center. Method according to any one of the preceding claims 1 - 4, characterized in that the reply message is sent to the ISDN terminal equipment 25, such that a call is established between the receiving r ISDN terminal equipment and the second short message message center (5) for transmitting the reply message. to the short message service center for further routing. 30 Method according to any of the preceding claims 1 - 6, characterized in that for transmitting the response message in the ISDN network, UUS signaling is used, so that when the response message is sent from the ISDN terminal equipment, transmitted during the upward transmission. ringing stage the UUS information elements needed for the response message to the short message service center (2) and from there to the A subscriber. Method according to any of the preceding claims 1 - 7, characterized in that the identifier of the A subscriber is moved in the subaddress field of the called subscriber. Method according to any of the preceding claims 1 - 8, characterized in that a predetermined time interval is expected before the reply message is sent. 10. A method according to any of the preceding claims 1 - 9, characterized in that the successful delivery of the transmission to the A subscriber is observed and if the transmission fails, the B subscriber is notified thereof. 15 11. A method according to any of the preceding claims 1 - 10, characterized in that the successful delivery of the transmission to the A subscriber is observed and if the transmission succeeds, the B subscriber is notified thereof. A method according to any of the preceding claims 2 - 10, characterized in that the telephone function characteristic of the telephone network is used if the A subscriber of the telephone network or the first short message service center (2) is busy, where the call connection is started. 13. System for providing a response service: in a telecommunication network, to which belongs: a mobile network (1); a telephone network (3) in which digital signaling is used and which is connected to the mobile network; a first short message service center (2), which belongs to the mobile network and which is connected to the telephone network (3) with a first telecommunication connection (6); and a plurality of terminal devices (4; 41, 42,., 4n) which are compatible with the mobile and / or telephone networks; Wherein a system sends a reply message from the B subscriber's terminal equipment via a first short message service center to the A subscriber's terminal equipment, where , characterized in that: The A-subscriber's terminal equipment is connected to either the mobile or the telephone network; and the B-subscriber's terminal equipment is connected to a network other than the A-subscriber's terminal equipment; the system includes means for appending the A subscriber's subscriber type code to the response message; To the first short message service center hears means for controlling the subscriber type of the A subscriber; the telephone network hears means for transmitting a reply message to the A subscriber upon the connection of the call and / or during the same time; and to the mobile network hear means for transmitting the response message according to the short network definitions known per se in the mobile network via the first short message center to the A-subscriber. 14. A system according to claim 13, characterized in that the telephone network consists of an ISDN network or equivalent and the mobile network is a GSM network or equivalent. System according to claim 13 or 14, 30, characterized in that the telecommunication network includes several short message service centers (5) which are connected to the first short message service center. System according to any one of the preceding claims 13 - 15, characterized in that digital signaling such as DSS1, ISUP signaling or the like is used between the telephone network (3) and the first short message service center. 17. A system according to any of the preceding claims 13-16, characterized in that the terminal equipment (4) includes means (7) for saving and selecting response messages for transmission. «