FI108907B - Procedure and arrangements for establishing a call - Google Patents

Description

108907

Method and arrangement for establishing a call Förfarande och arrangemang för att upprätta et samtal

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a method of establishing a connection from a mobile station to a desired destination number, said destination number being a virtual private network (VPN) extension number. The invention further relates to an arrangement for performing call set-up operations on virtual private network extension numbers.

Background of the Invention

Existing telecommunication systems include so-called virtual private networks (VPNs), which provide different organizations with a flexible and modern telecommunication solution for eg voice and / or data transmission. A VPN can be defined as a system that allows an organization consisting of geographically dispersed entities, such as a company, to use some public network such as PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) or PLMN for intra-company traffic: n (Public Land Mobile. ···. Network) or open data network (eg Internet). processes. The VPN network interconnects a set of PBXs, Private Branch Exchanges, Centrex groups, and / or individual subscribers to a private network with specific numbering and / or charging and / or service arrangements. Usually. '' S VPN is implemented through an Intelligent Network (IN) or by using standard number analysis trees. A VPN, ···, enables an organization to connect a large number of PBXs or similar switching or routing devices to each other »· 108907 2 to form a single network without the need to lease lines from operators. Terminals connected to the VPN, such as telephones, computers, workstations, etc., appear as extensions, and their telephone numbers and addresses are thus subnet numbers or addresses of the VPN.

As mentioned above, the mobile station can be called a member (i.e., an extension) of the VPN group. When a mobile station is a member of a VPN, the abbreviated extension number of other VPN members can be used to directly connect to other members' terminals. Mobile phones or mobile stations generally also have memory features which allow their users to store desired telephone numbers. The numbers may be stored in a subscriber identity module (i.e., a SIM card) located in the mobile station and / or in any other memory, fixed or replaceable, available in the mobile station. It is also possible to store the abbreviated extension numbers of the VPN group in the storage media available with the mobile station.

...: Kek s innon yh teenve to; ·; Although VPN systems have provided significant benefits to their users, existing VPN systems still have the advantage ;;;; some shortcomings. For example, when a user is outside their home network, abbreviations from the extension number cannot be used. Instead, the user must key in or dial a full-length »· (international) telephone number from the mobile number memory. For example, the full-length international format for L M Erics- "· 'son (LMF) abbreviated subheading 1234 in Finland is +358 9 299 1234. When

In Finland, a phone belonging to the LMF VPN can make a VPN call to this number simply by dialing 108907 3 1234. However, when you are abroad, you should always use the full-length format and not the LMF VPN service and / or Pricing is not available to a member even though he / she is calling a number that is actually a listed LMF VPN number and belongs to a VPN group.

While networked IN allows some state-of-the-art network systems to distinguish VPN calls from other calls, current VPN service implementations (IN or Numeric Analysis Tree) are not always smart enough to handle calls correctly to distinguish VPN calls. from full-length numbers stored in the phone (i.e., when using a full-length number, the system treats the call as a "normal" call). So, if a user wants to use VPN numbers while on his home network and in international format abroad, he has to save both numbers on his phone and then manually select which number to use. While the international format is only stored, dialing this long number may not necessarily treat VPN calls even though the user is within their home network. Truncated VPN extension numbers do not work,. . ·. when the MS (Mobile Station) is outside the home network.

, ·; ·. It is an object of the invention to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks of prior art solutions and to provide a novel type of solution for establishing a VPN call. Another object of the invention is to provide a method and an arrangement that avoids the need to store more than one number in the memory of a mobile station for a VPN subscriber and avoid the correct number of · · ·, ···. dialing a number.

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According to a first aspect, the objects are achieved by a method of establishing a connection from a mobile station to a destination terminal, whereby a connection is established through a mobile communication network serving said mobile station. The method comprises selecting a desired destination number or address, monitoring the selected destination number or address, and identifying the selected number or address by means of mobile telephone control means, and if the dialed number or address is detected as a virtual private network number or address; virtual private network format, and in the case that the mobile private network does not support the virtual private network format, the full length of the destination number or address is used for the call.

According to another aspect, the invention provides a mobile station for use in a telecommunication system consisting of a plurality of telecommunications networks, wherein the virtual private network is implemented in at least one of the telecommunications networks. The mobile station comprises a memory for storing telephone numbers in which the telephone numbers can be stored in full-length format and ii>; in the form of a virtual private network, dialing means for selecting the desired destination number, identifying means for monitoring the dialed number, such that the arrangement is such that ···. except that the authentication means detects that the dialed number is a virtual private network service number and that the serving mobile network supports virtual private network calls, the mobile station establishes call setup procedures using the virtual private network format, and in other cases the mobile station initiates call setup procedures. in full-length format.

108907 5

In more detail, the number stored in the memory for calls to a virtual private network includes a number and / or string indicating that the number is a virtual private network number. The number may also be associated with a specific entry or address indicating that the number is a virtual private network number. Selecting the desired destination number may include the steps of selecting a regular telephone number, retrieving the associated telephone number from the mobile station's memory and using this associated telephone number to establish a virtual private network call.

According to yet another alternative, the method comprises the steps of selecting a truncated VPN format from the destination number or address, detecting that the mobile network is not supporting a virtual private network for the used mobile station, and retrieving the full length format of the destination number or address. Demonstration of the capability of the serving mobile network to support virtual private network services for said mobile station may be based on one of the following: a list of networks supporting virtual private network services available in said mobile station, an address transmitted by said mobile serving network or

The proposed solution allows the VPN extension. ···, to store only one format (usually the longest version) of the phone number, while the mobile station selects and uses automatic, ·; ·. and, whenever possible, regardless of the "intelligence" of the VPN service and network hardware used, and ···. abilities. It is also possible to use abbreviated VPN subnet numbers outside the service area of your home network, that is, when abroad.

108907 6

In the following, the invention and its other objects and advantages will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like features throughout the various figures.

Brief Description of the Drawings! Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a communication arrangement comprising a VPN;

Figure 2 shows, partly in section, a cellular telephone having a memory feature;

Figure 3 is a flow diagram of the use according to one embodiment; and

Figure 4 is a flowchart of the use according to the second embodiment.

Detailed explanation of the drawings

Figure 1 is a schematic, simplified representation of a communication arrangement comprising a Virtual Private Network (VPN) 10. The VPN service is implemented through the public switched telephone network (PSTN); ··· 13 through the intelligent network (IN) 15. Public Mobile Network: (PLMN) 11, such as GSM, PDC, AMPS, D-AMPS, UMTS, etc., is connected to the PSTN by suitable interface equipment and / or gateways 12. It is also shown that the mobile station (MS) 1 communicates with the PLMN through a radio link between the hardware of the serving PLMN and the MS 1.

; ___: The various components of PSTN and PLMN networks are known per se to the person skilled in the art and will not be described in further detail as they do not form an essential part of the invention. Here, too, it is possible to implement IN »» ·

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* · 108907 7 in connection with the PLMN or as an arrangement separate from the PLMN and the PSTN.

Figure 1 shows two VPN extension terminals, namely MS 1 served by a PLMN and a leased line terminal 14 connected to a PSTN. In the example below, MS 1 (A number or A subscriber) establishes a call to access terminal 14 (B number or B-subscriber). Other VPN group extension terminals have been omitted for clarity.

Figure 2 shows, partly in section, a cellular telephone 1 comprising a subscriber identity unit (SIM card) 2 and a central processing unit (CPU) 5 or a similar controller. In addition, the mobile phone 1 is described as comprising a display device 3, a dial pad 7 and a Y key i (yes to accept dialing and making a call) and a .N key (no, e.g. to end calls) 4 and 6 respectively. Here, it may be noted that a mobile station may well be of another type, such as an integrated unit of a mobile phone and a computer. In addition, the selection of the destination terminal number or name of the called party. the selection can also be different from the keyboard selection and can be performed, for example, by voice activation etc.

The SIM 2 can be used as a memory for the desired numbers ·. on the phone. It should be noted, however, that other storage media are also possible for storing desired telephone numbers. When a number belonging to the same "·. VPN group is stored in memory, it can be done in full-length. (International) format. When making a call, a special VPN address (such as a predefined number C and / or string, entry, flag or the like) is used. ), which is included in 108907 8 to indicate to mobile control devices that the number is a VPN number, for example, the arrangement may be such that the CPU 5 knows that all B-numbers beginning with + 358-9-299 or 09-299 are numbers For VPN calls, it proceeds accordingly each time a number is dialed in. Alternatively, a specific entry or flag is included in front of or inside each VPN number A control device such as a CPU 5 or similar processor then recognizes this indicator when monitoring the dialed numbers before it triggers a call set-up signal.

Referring now also to the flowchart of Figure 3, the use according to one embodiment when the MS 1 moves within its home network (in Figure 1 this would be PLMN 11) or any other network supporting this VPN service (e.g. through inter-operator agreements) is described. The user selects the desired destination terminal, after which the number or address assigned to the MS controller is retrieved from the MS memory. The number retrieved is monitored for any indication of a VPN number. In case that selected. the phone number is found to be a virtual private network. The phone number and the serving cellular network support calls ('! for a virtual private network, this virtual I t f l.I private network format is used to initiate and process the call.

«* S ·, ···, the MS needs to know whether or not the serving mobile network supports VPN services and calls for this particular MS. Therefore, the MS must provide an indication of this capability of the mobile network to support virtual private network services at said mobile station. According to one alternative, said mobile station is provided with a list of networks supporting virtual private network services for that subscriber, either in the SIM card or in other memory of the MS. The assignment may also be sent to said mobile station by the serving mobile network when the MS is turned on or moved to the service area of the serving network. In addition, the user can manually, for example, use menu selection j or enter a predefined number / character or | | queue, indicates to said mobile station that the MS is now served by a network that supports VPN calls for said MS.

Figure 4 shows a flowchart of a situation where an MS moves and is served on a network that does not support VPN services for that particular MS. Nevertheless, the arrangement is such that the user can select the desired destination terminal using an abbreviated VPN number (e.g.

three or four digits). In the event that the MS detects that the VPN number cannot be used, the long form number or address is retrieved from the MS memory. Because. The MS is able to make the correct selection of the destination number, the user transparently establishes a VPN call and "ordinary" calls without having to pay attention to the ··· dialing.

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In cases or networks that have "official" abbreviated numbers that may be targeted elsewhere, ·· *. than a VPN such as an emergency (eg 112 or 911), ···. it may be necessary to take these numbers into consideration when making directory number arrangements to avoid this situation, "* ·" * * h. so that someone in the VPN group would receive such an abbreviated VPN number, which is the official number on some PLMN networks.

»T>» ii · 108907 ίο This can also be avoided by an arrangement where the abbreviated VPN number must always be preceded or followed by an agreed character, eg * or #, or a number or string, eg 77, or the selection can be verified by a suitable menu option (for example, by selecting "VPN CALL" from the phone menu). In yet another alternative, the arrangement could also be: such that there is a special character before or after the official numbers, while abbreviated VPN numbers can be entered and used as such.

When mobile stations are members of a VPN group, they may not have any common prefix, but their telephone numbers may be any of a directory number provided by an operator's number space. If the user of the VPN sub-number uses the full-length format of the mobile destination (MS-destination-I) number (i.e., the full B-number), it is possible that the call is not treated as a VPN because the network may not recognize the VPN to be heard. To avoid this, prior art systems often use a special prefix (e.g., 55) to route a call through a VPN service called. into MS. This prefix is often prefixed with an abbreviated VPN number (e.g. 55 1234).

* · * · T ···. However, the present invention also provides a solution to this problem. The solution is to store the VPN interface number in the MS memory and associate it with the full-length number, which is also stored in the MS memory. If a full-length number is selected, then I ·. **. associated VPN number and is used instead of the originally dialed number in the event that the serving network for this particular MS supports VPN calls. A connected VPN number can be retrieved with the (pre-stored) i »i * *» »*» 108907 11 prefix. This allows the VPN number to be used despite the fact that the user may select (for example, by mistake) another form of the target B number. The connected number is provided with an indication that it is a VPN number, after which the call is treated as a VPN call. This interconnected number selection can be made dynamically or the user of another MS can select the interconnected number manually, e.g.

Examples of when the above could be used are when a failed call is made from a VPN group extension number to an MS extension number of the same VPN group or where the calling extension number is stored in the MS memory. The MS later displays the A-number it received from the network, and this A-number is often used to call back. Since the received and displayed A number is not necessarily a VPN number, the interconnection described above can be used to ensure that the VPN number is used and that the call is treated as a VPN call.

The invention thus provides an apparatus and method which. • gives the user a transparent opportunity to get the benefits of a VPN connection wherever possible. The arrangement according to the invention is easy and economical to implement

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components known per se, and it is used with confidence - !!! accordingly.

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It should be noted that the above examples of the invention are not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the specific forms described above, but rather are intended to cover all modifications, similarities and variations. the terms contained within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims;

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Claims (12)

108907 12 A method of establishing a connection from a mobile station to a destination terminal, the connection being established over a mobile network serving said mobile station, the method comprising selecting a desired destination number or address; monitoring the selected destination number or address and identifying the selected number or address type by means of control means of the mobile station; wherein, if the dialed number or address is identified as a virtual private network number or address and the serving mobile network supports virtual private network calls, the virtual private network format is used for the call, and if the mobile private network does not support the virtual private network format, . The method of claim 1, wherein the identification is based on detecting a string of numbers or characters in a destination number or address, said string indicating that the number or address is a number or address of a virtual private network. The method of claim 1, wherein the identification of t * · * · * 'is based on detecting a specific virtual private network * entry or address in a selected destination number or address, said entry or address indicating a number or address being a virtual single- »* ·; · 'Number or address of the dedicated network. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the indication that the serving mobile network supports virtual private network services for said mobile station is based on one of the following: virtual private network services supporting virtual private network services. a list of networks with which said mobile station is equipped, an indication sent by said serving mobile network to said mobile station, or an indication provided by a user of said mobile station. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the number and address are selected from a set of target numbers or addresses stored in a memory provided to the mobile station. i The method of claim 5, wherein the memory comprises a subscriber identity module (SIM) installed in the mobile station. The method of claim 5 or 6, further comprising: selecting a truncated VPN format for the destination number or address; * 'recognizing that the serving mobile network is not running'!! * * supports a virtual private network; and »· t * '·· * retrieving the full-length format of the target number or address. »· * The use of any one of the preceding claims; A method wherein said dialing of a desired destination number comprises: '. ·' dialing a regular telephone number; > »· Retrieving an associated phone number from a mobile station:: *: from memory; and f i t * i I> »i> t using an associated telephone number to establish a call to a virtual private network. 108907 14 A mobile station for use in a telecommunication system comprising a plurality of telecommunication networks, wherein the virtual private network service is implemented in at least one of the telecommunication networks, comprising: a memory for storing telephone numbers wherein the telephone numbers can be stored in full length and virtual private network; selection means for selecting a desired destination number; authentication means for monitoring the dialed number, wherein the arrangement is such that, when the identification means detects that the virtual private network service number and the serving mobile network support virtual private network calls, the mobile station establishes call set up procedures using the The mobile station of claim 9, wherein the * 1 * * stored number for virtual private network calls *! * · * Includes a number and / or character string indicating the number of the virtual private network number. * »· I · · The mobile station of claim 9, wherein the specific entry or indication is stored together with a number ;;; with indicating that the number is a virtual private network number. 11 «I i · t · I» · »· *» «1Q8907 15 The mobile station according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the memory comprises a subscriber identity unit (SIM) installed in the mobile station. 108907 16