FI109440B - Provision of mobile communications services - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for providing a customized service to mobile subscribers (MS1, MS2) in a mobile network comprising a text-delivery function, such as the one in WAP or a short message function. The mobile subscribers comprise a service client (MS1) who customizes the service and at least one service user (MS2) who uses it. The service client initially configures (3-2) the customized service. This step comprises selecting at least one selectable keyword for future use of the customized service. Later the service client updates (3-8) the customized service via the text-delivery function. The service user accesses (3-20) the customized service via the text-delivery function. In the updating and accessing steps, the service is accessed by entering at least a part of the keyword (524) selected by the service client. The service client maintains access control of the customized service.

Description

109440

Background of the Invention

The invention relates to methods and apparatus for providing mobile communication services to mobile subscribers.

5 While mobile services are commonly used over short messaging, the Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) is gaining ground as an access mechanism. The proliferation of short message services is somewhat surprising. From the outset, the GSM configuration has included the short message protocol, but when manufacturing the first mobile devices, many manufacturers omitted the short message functionality because they did not find it useful or practical. Now, a large number of services such as news, weather reports, jokes, etc. are available via short messages. The limitation of such services is that mobile users can only act as recipients of the service, that is, receive information but not update the service.

There are mechanisms for providing rudimentary access to existing Internet services via a mobile device. For example, PCT Publication WO98 / 47270 describes a system for accessing existing Internet services via a mobile device, but the system is limited to read-only access. US Patent: V 20 6125281 discloses a calendar application that can be used either over the Internet or on a mobile device. This system is limited to a few applications provided by the service provider. Neither system points to the tailor-made ·: ··: services available to a managed set of service users.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION; An object of the invention is to increase the number of mobile services available to mobile subscribers. This objective is achieved by a method and a system characterized by what is said in the independent. ·· *. claims. Preferred embodiments of the invention are non-dependent. 30 claims.

The invention will be described using the following terms. A network operator is a self-explanatory term that refers to a company that maintains a underlying mobile network that is capable of providing text message access, such as a short message service or WAP protocol. The service provider is 35 organizations that use the messaging functionality of the mobile network to provide the services of the invention to mobile subscribers according to 109440 2. The network operator and the service provider may be the same entity or separate entities. A service customer is a mobile subscriber who creates his or her own services using the tools provided by the service provider. The service user is a mobile subscriber who uses the services created by the service customer. Thus, the service provider provides a platform for building customized services, while the service customer is responsible for service-related information.

The mobile services are updated and / or used by the mobile station. According to a first embodiment of the invention, the services 10 are updated and / or accessed via the message system of the mobile communication system.

In the context of the present invention, the term '' text messaging function '' essentially means that messages can be sent using a text-based interface (typically a display and a keyboard or a touch screen). An example of a text messaging function is a short message function, such as that used in the GSM-15 system, where short messages are transmitted without establishing a permanent circuit switched channel. The term "short message service" is also commonly used in the art, but the underlying web service is referred to herein as "function" to avoid confusion with customized services using the message function. In the future, the message function may be implemented over a data connection in a packet radio system such as GPRS.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the services are updated and / or accessed via the WAP protocol. Ideally, a common application server will include access and update routines for updating services: ·: ··: and / or accessing from both types of terminals. In other words, any customized service can advantageously be updated or used regardless of the type of terminal (short message or WAP).

; The invention is based, in part, on the surprising discovery that valuable services can be created if mobile subscribers (service customers) "** can update very small amounts of information available to other mobile subscribers (service users), and if service customers: '' *: Can control access to services.

Λ (Access control can be implemented in one or more of the following ways. Each service is used with at least one keyword that is selectable by the service client. Ideally, the keyword is freely selectable by the service client but with two restrictions. Obviously, the keywords must include the protocol below supported by 109440 3 characters.When multiple alternative protocols are used, characters must be supported by all protocols, and some characters (such as a currency sign at the beginning of a word) could be used to indicate more expensive services, and some words are reserved for commands. unlimited number of keywords.

The message to update or use the service contains one or more parameters. One parameter is called the customer identifier and is associated with the service client, although the association may not be immediately apparent to the service user. For example, the customer has registered the customer identifier "pubs", which contains the services used by the service keys "irish", "english" etc. The service access parameters, i.e. the customer identifier and the service keys are collectively referred to as keywords. Preferably, all keywords for accessing the service are freely selectable by the service customer (subject to the above limitations).

By selectively encrypting or publishing (better still: allowing publishing) keywords, the service customer can determine the availability of the services. Ideally, a service customer can indicate whether each keyword can be published in response to a keyword query from service users. Strong trust can be maintained if the customer ID and / or service keys are private: V (not to be published) and contain hard-to-guess writing. Secret keywords are almost immune to brute force attacks because the attacker · * '[*: has to pay the price of one short message per attempt. On the other hand, some *: ··: which services are intended for publication, If the customer ID of the service customer; If the service provider provides a service to list the customer identifier and public keywords, the services that it publishes are available without needing to know anything other than the customer's name (and sufficient contact information to distinguish the customer from other customers of the same name). If the service provider provides a service to list all the customer identifiers corresponding to the given formula 30, the service users can find the services having interesting names without any prior knowledge of the services.

* · In the context of the present invention, service customization is a broad term that includes the process of initially setting up a service and, as the case may be, subsequent steps for updating the service. Depending on the situation, updating the service may include creating, modifying, and deleting content. For example, service clients may establish a service to indicate their location. Each time they move, they update the service by reporting their new location. The advantage of this kind of service is that the friends of the service customers can locate the service customers even if they are unable to answer the call. A service customer can show that he goes to a disco, for example, and his friends know where he is, even though the music is too loud to hear the phone ring.

One aspect of the invention is a method of providing services to mobile subscribers. Another aspect of the invention is an apparatus for providing services 10 which utilizes a text messaging function of a mobile network to provide services to mobile subscribers.

According to an advantageous aspect of the invention, the service customer may register the new customer identifier with a web browser, but the customer must activate the identifier with a mobile station. The advantage of separate mobile activation is that the service provider can charge for the service (by agreement with the network operator, if these are separate entities), since mobile network operators are well equipped to charge small amounts for different services. Another benefit of separate activation is that customer IDs cannot be hijacked without paying.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS; ··· The invention will now be further described in connection with preferred embodiments: with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing a network architecture in which the invention can be used; Figure 2 is a block diagram showing a preferred embodiment of the invention. a shape application server and its interfaces towards user devices; ; Fig. 3 is a signaling diagram illustrating a possible set of events in a system according to a first embodiment of the invention using a message function of a mobile communication system; * <* * 30 is a flowchart illustrating operations to be performed in an application server logic block; '·' · 'Figure 5 illustrates various forms for customizing services via the Internet; and

FIG. 6 is a signaling diagram illustrating a possible set of event-35 in a system according to another embodiment of the invention, which 109440 5 uses a WAP-enabled mobile station to update a customized service.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Figure 1 is a block diagram showing a network architecture in which 5 inventions can be used. Reference character AS represents an application server according to the invention. The idea of the invention is that it is best to initially configure the services from a web browser on a user's PC. Mobile users must be able to access services through the Public Land Based Mobile Network (PLMN). Thus, the application service AS 10 has a connection to the Internet, as indicated by reference numeral 2, and a short message gateway SGW to a short message service center SMSC in the mobile network. The combination of the application server and the gateway is designated by reference numeral 1 and is intentionally open to interpretation whether the combination is inside or outside the mobile network, i.e., whether it is operated by a mobile network operator or an independent service operator. Other network elements are familiar to those skilled in the art. The acronyms have been unpacked at the end of this description. For the WAP connection, there is a WAP gateway WGW (WAP gateway) which connects the application server AS to the mobile communication network PLMN. The two mobile stations shown in Figure 1 are denoted collectively by the reference symbol MS. The mobile station MSsms supports short message service and the mobile station MSWAP supports the WAP protocol instead of or in addition to the message function. Ideally, the arrangement shown in Fig. 1 comprises both gateways, i.e. SGW and WGW. The advantage of having a dual gateway system is that users switching to the phone can always be supported.

Figure 2 is a block diagram showing an application server AS in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention and its interfaces to user equipment; In this example, the application server comprises four main blocks, namely

web server WS, logic block LS, database interface D1 and '' smart 'database ··. DB. In this context, "intelligent" means that the database comprises SQL

, ··. 30 (structured query language) server. An example of a WS web server is Microsoft's US (Internet Information Server). The logic block LS comprises an ISAPI interface towards the web server so that the logic block can execute programs »in response to user requests. The logic block also includes programs in the form of scripts and / or DLLs.

35 Database interface consists essentially of two interface technologies.

The logic block LS per database interface is provided by ADO (Active Database 109440 6

Objects) based code interface, and there is an ODBC (Open DataBase Connectivity) interface per database.

As noted, the application server AS communicates with the short message service center SMSC via the short message gateway SGW. There is an HTTP interface HI between the gateway 5 and the application server. Its purpose is to convert short messages into URLs for the WS web server. Traffic to WAP-enabled mobile stations MSWAP is via WAP gateway WGW.

The logic block LS comprises software routines for configuring services, updating services, accessing services (= using them), and access control 10. Preferably, there is also a routine that calculates the number of accesses to the service. The number of accesses can be used to reward service customers (financially or otherwise) for frequently used services.

FIG. 3 is a signaling diagram illustrating a possible set of events in a system according to a first embodiment of the invention using the message function of a mobile communication system. The event chain has two users, Alice and Bob. Alice Wilson is a service customer / user and Bob is a service user only. Alice starts configuring her first service on her PC with a PC and web browser. In Step 3-0, he reserves a customer ID. Configuring the service involves many sub-steps, most of which are routine to those skilled in the art. Configuring the service typically involves the following steps: 1) Alice initiates a web connection to the database application server AS and 2) selects a link to the HTML page to customize the new service. 3) Server AS sends Alice an HTML page (form to be filled in). 4) Alice fills in the form and sends it to the server-25 melleAS.

According to a preferred feature of the invention, the client identifier va-, t. raus is only temporary if it is via a web connection and requires separate activation from the mobile station. Significantly, customers should not be able to hoard without paying customer identifiers. Although initial configuration of the service (; j '30) is best done via a web connection, separate activation should require a fee, which is conveniently accomplished by allowing only one service $ identifier per message to be charged. to the MS1 to activate its customer ID by sending an appropriate short message to the server AS, such as: 35 start alice_wil 109440 7

The server will acknowledge in step 3-4. In step 3-6, Alice begins the initial configuration of her first service. Figure 5 shows example forms for configuring services. Reference numeral 50 represents a form for initial configuration of the service. Fields 502 include contact information (name, address, etc.) of the service client 5 Field 504 indicates the mobile station number from which the client identifier is subsequently activated. Field 506 contains the customer identifier used to access the service. According to an advantageous feature of the invention, the service customer may choose to have his customer ID disclosed to other users. In this example, Alice uses radio station 508 to indicate that her customer ID can be listed in response to a query from other users. A second set of radio buttons 510 (or other menu system) is used to select one of the available services. Assuming Alice chooses the first available service, that is, a response to one of the keywords, she will be shown a lois make 52 to configure such service.

In this example, the form 52 for configuring the service "" one-keyword response "contains a customer identifier field 520, which defaults to the customer identifier that was entered in field 504. Password field 522 is used to enter the password required to update the service later 20 min. Service key field 524 is used to enter the service key for the service. The response field 526 is used to input the first response to the service. Form 52 preferably also includes a public / private pointer 528 indicating whether the service key field 524 may be listed in response to other users' access; · ·: For silks.

. · ·. 25 As stated, the services will later be used with a combination of the customer ID and the service key. Obviously, this compound must be unique within the application server AS. Confusion can be minimized by setting an additional restriction that customer identifiers 506 (and 520 if different) must be unique. If the customer IDs are unique, then all service customers' · "30 can use the service keys they want.

'... * The initial service configuration step 3-6 ends when Alice clicks the OK button on Form 52. In Step 3-8 (which may take days or weeks ··· after Step 3-6), Alice starts using her location service. She goes to the opera and can't answer calls. Thus, he updates his location: .v 35 service by sending the following short message from his mobile station MS1 ':': to the application server AS: 8 109440 day alice_wil where password in opera until 22:45 where "day" means updating. Assuming the application server AS recognizes the parameter combination, it acknowledges the short message in step 3-10. Note that the response to the keyword "where", that is, "" until 22:45 in the opera "5 is ranked last. This placement allows multiple words and arbitrary characters to be used in the response.

In Optional Step 3-12, Bob wants to know Alice's customer ID. It would be very easy to implement such a directory service over the Internet, but the short GSM message for current GSM mobile stations is limited to 160 characters. Thus, Bob can send a short message from his mobile station MS2 to server AS2, which shortens the list of service clients. Assuming Bob remembers Alice living on Main Street, he can send the following short message to the AS server: LIST USER Alice Wilson main street 15 Bob's mobile number is of course carried by the short message, even though Bob does not write it separately. Assuming only one client responds to the query, the server AS returns Alice Wilson's client identifier in step 3-14. In the second optional step 3-16, Bob wants to know Alice's service keys, or at least those that are available for publication. He sends the following message to AS-20:; ·; 1 LISTAPAL TOYS alice_wil 'The server responds by listing Alice's published service keys in steps 3-18. In this example, the response 3-18 contains the keyword "where". (It is also possible to combine queries and responses 3-12 ... 3-18 so that server 25 AS lists Alice's client identifier and all the published service keys are :-,, · In step 3-14, in which case steps 3-16 and 3-18 are unnecessary.)

In step 3-20, Bob sends a query to the application server about Alice's location. In other words, he sends the following short message: ...: alice_wil where 30 In step 3-22, the application server sends Bob the following short message:: Y: alice_wil in opera until 10:45 pm I · 109440 9 (The server can omit the name "alice_wil" because Bob obviously knows who is in the opera.) Bob can use Alice's location service because the services of the invention are used regardless of the identifier of the underlying messaging function (such as a particular subscriber number). Instead, Bob 5 uses the service with a customer ID and a service key, each of which is freely chosen by Alice.

One of the clear benefits of such a simple location service is that Alice can use mobile to let her friends see her location, even though she can't receive calls during the show. Another very useful application of 10 such one-word services is location maintenance for outdoor activities such as boating or hiking. The location service is very valuable to rescue personnel if the person is unable to answer the phone due to injury or loss of device / battery or blanket.

According to another advantageous aspect of the invention, the service update message in step 3-8 may include a lifetime of service or information provided by the service. For example, a rarely used symbol may be reserved to indicate that the end of a service update message indicates the lifetime of the message. Assume that in step 3-8 Alice sends the following short message: 20 days alice_wil where password in the opera until 22:45 »23:00

The "» "symbol means that Alice's location information automatically ends at 11:00 pm. After this time, the server replies that it has no entry for Alice's keyword "" where. There may be another symbol such as '' '' indicating that the service (or related information) is valid after a certain day and / or 25 days. Of course, the lifetime (from - to) can be given just as well during the initial web-based configuration.

'* ·' In step 3-12, Bob sent an AS client request ('' list user '') to the server, containing Alice's name and partial address. This is :.' · An inexpensive way to retrieve real person customer IDs. Some services may not be related to an individual. As an example, the following will be explained. > you soccer tournament event. All football related public services can be retrieved by short message: list user% soccer%. ', Where the percentages serve as wildcards.

109440 10

FIG. 6 is a signaling diagram showing a possible set of events in a system according to another embodiment of the invention using a WAP-enabled mobile station to update a customized service. To keep the representation concise, Figure 6 is shown as a modification of Figure 3, and only differences are described. Optional steps 3-0 to 3-4 may be used as in the first embodiment. In step 6-2, Alice uses WAP-enabled mobile communications to initially configure the service. In step 6-4, Alice activates (opens) the WAP session via the WAP gateway WGW to the application server AS. Session activation involves authentication with a case-10 authentication token and password. In step 6-6, the application server acknowledges the session activation. In step 6-8, Alice updates her first service with a service key and new content. In optional step 6-8 ', Alice updates her next service. Steps 6-8 'may be repeated as many times as there are upgradeable services. The benefit of a WAP session is that Alice does not have to enter her 15 passwords every time she wants to upgrade the service. Instead, the password is entered only once per session and is used for all services that are updated during the session. In step 6-10, Alice closes the session and the server acknowledges in step 6-12. In the remaining steps of Figure 6, Bob uses the Alice service (s), but although Bob uses (in this example) WAP-enabled mobile 20 communications, the session does not need to be set up for service access steps 3-12 to 3-22.

Fig. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the operations to be performed in the logic block LS of the application server AS. In step 4-2, the server AS receives: · * the message (short message or WAP message) and parses it (parse). In step 4-4, the server determines whether the first word is a valid command or a client identifier. If neither is, an error is reported in steps 4-6.

, · # If the first word is a valid customer identifier, the next word is checked in steps 4-8. If it is a valid service key for a service that has only one service key, the server queries its database and formats and transmits; 30 send the answer in step 4-10. If, in step 4-8, the second word is the service key for a service that requires two service keys, the verification of step 4-8 is repeated for the second service key. If an invalid service key is detected ,-- · ·. in 4-6 an error is reported. Step 4-10 thus produces a response to a valid query with a customer identifier and one or two service keys. If, in step 4-4, the first word is a valid command, the server will perform step ':: 4-12' where the command is executed.

109440 11

An illustrative but not necessarily complete list of commands and responses is provided in Table 1 below, where the braces "{}" indicate optional data:

table 1

Command_Response_list_list {schema} list (corresponding to schema} public customer ID_list services lists client public service keys_ add as_t p_av ss san add new private service key response "san" _ add public__ same as above but add new public service key_ add url p_av s add new private service key response from url addvulkjulk ..._ same as above but add new public service key_date as_t p_av ss san update existing service with response "san" _ calculate as_t_count customer tag as_t usages reset as_t ss_ reset above counter p_av ss private service key with multiple possible _responses (list type) from which the server arbitrarily selects_DAY as_t p_av ss san adds a new item to retrieve for the "san" list type keyword _defined by the add command 5

In Table 1, "as_t", "ss", "p_av" and "" san "are the abbreviations for the client;; *; * identifier, password, service key, and message, respectively.

In Figure 5, Form 54 illustrates the initial configuration of a slightly more complex tailor-made service, namely, the response to two of its keys -. ** !: 10, which is accessed by a second selection of the "... services used in Form 50" 510. This service is described in connection with a football tournament.

Field 541 is a Customer Identifier field, but in this case, "Soccer-15" does not directly indicate any particular customer, but a football turf * for juniors under the age of 15. Still, the customer identifier 541 points to the customer, albeit indirectly and only to the server AS and its operator, because ... form 54 is used through form 50, which records the customer's actual, · · ·. contact information. Reference number 543 indicates a set of first keyword values, which in this case are team names. Reference 544 sets of keyword values, which in this case are team coaches 20 (names, contacts, etc.), schedules and results. More than three en-109440 12 first or second keywords are available using the scroll bars 549.

Coach names are not updated frequently, and maintaining names is trivial in light of the previous example shown in Figure 3. The coach information for team coach yh-5 can be retrieved by sending the following short message to the application server AS: football-15 team coach

For example, the answer could be '' Martin Smith, 12345678 '. Figure 5 illustrates Form 54 in the step where the tournament organizer is entering initial team configuration information. The Team 2 Schedule Data field opens for writing as the organizer writes a long text entry into the field. After initial configuration and data entry via the Internet, it is easy to update data fields on the mobile device. Suppose the organizer wants to update Team 1 and Team 2 schedules by playing 15 on Field 5 instead of Field 1. He wants to avoid typing everything and download the old content of Team 1 by sending the following short message: Football-15 Team Schedule

The server AS responds by sending the schedule as a short message. The organizer modifies the short message, enters the required keys and passwords, and sends it to the server AS. The short message to update the schedule is as follows: day football-15 teams schedule password 9:00 Team2 'Field5 ...

Of course, a similar correction must be made to Team 1's opponent, Team 2's schedule. In real life, team and field names are different. 25 more than they do in this example. This means that only a few letters are sufficient to uniquely identify the first keyword 543 or the second keyword 544. Thus, according to a further advantageous aspect of the invention, the server AS recognizes a partial key word if two conditions are met: 1) the keyword is public (not private) and 2) the partial keyword uniquely identifies one of the possible keywords.

. * ·. The reason for the first condition is as follows. Some information is intended for publication, such as the information in this football tournament example. Data use is one-to-one: it is easier if users do not have to enter keywords literally.

'': Instead, some information is intended for a closed group of friends or coworkers. Let's say Alice maintains another service, "Vacation # Plans," which is private, that is, not listed in response to Alice's service query. Alice controls access to this service by publishing this service key personally to her friends. Trust is maintained by combining a non-5 spell (including a "#" sign) and the fact that potential hackers have to pay the price of one short message for each attempt to guess Alice's private services. If the server AS only recognized the letter "L", which in this example uniquely identifies the keyword, the non-obvious spelling would be ineffective.

10 Assuming that the server AS uniquely identifies the identifying part of the keyword, the organizer can update the team results as follows. Suppose that Team 1 wins Team 2 with a score of 3-1. The organizer sends the following short messages: day football-15 team 1 match password team2: 3-1 15 day football-15 team2 team password: 1-3 Here 'com' and 't' are enough to uniquely identify the keyword '' results' because nothing the other 544 does not begin with the letter 't'. Later in the tournament, as the leaderboards lengthen, it is convenient to retrieve them from the server, edit them, and resend them to the server, as explained in the 20 schedule changes. Alternatively, it is possible to improve the service update syntax. Like the symbol "" "to indicate the service life time i, a symbol may be reserved to indicate that the end of the short message is intended to supplement and not replace the original content of the service. A suitable symbol for this purpose is "&&". Assuming that Team 2 ·: ··: 25 now wins Team 3 with a score of 4-2, the organizer can send the following short message: day football-15 team21 password &&, team3: 4-2 '· *: Now Team 2 score is : teammates; 1 -3, Team 3: 4-2

According to a further advantageous feature of the invention, updating the service is facilitated if the server AS bypasses the password check when the ·· *. the service is updated from the same mobile station as indicated on Form 50 (see fig.

5), and was used to activate the customer identifier in step 3-2 (see Figure 3). Skip password override may be restricted to public services.

In other words, passwords should always be checked if the service key is private.

109440 14

Form 56 of Figure 5 is associated with a voting / opinion polling service used by selecting the third option from 'Use Services' in Form 50 510. The voting service will be described in connection with a recent football tournament. Martin Smith, coach of Team 1, will hold an evening vote for Kos-5 Restaurant. The customer ID, password, and service key field are self-explanatory in the light of the services already described, as is the public / private pointer 568. This service includes several options 566, which in this example are local restaurants. Initial options are best configured through a network connection and form 56. However, even with a suitable syntax 10, it is possible for the mobile station to either complete the voting service or modify existing alternatives.

Team members can retrieve the options by sending an explicit or implicit query. An example of an explicit query is:

Isk martin_s restaurant 15 where "lsk" (= count) is the keyword for reporting volume.

An example of an implicit query is the same, but without the keyword 'lsk'.

Because the user uses the voting service but does not vote on any option, the server AS assumes that the user wants to know the voting situation or options. So the server answers as follows: 20 1: Luigi's Lasagne (x / t%), 2: Pietro's Pizzeria (y / u%), 3: Kama! 'S

Kebab (z / v%): · 'where x, y and z are absolute votes and t, u and v are percentages for each alternative. A member of the team can vote for the restaurant by sending the following short message: '' 25 martin_s rav xxx »· where 'xxx' is replaced by a voter choice, which can be expressed as 1-3 (number of options) or a unique part of the choice such as '' .

•: Assuming the tournament is a multi-day event, the coach can • 30 update the voting service every day by resetting the votes. He does so almost. by sending the following short message: reset martin_s restaurant password • | He may also update the voting service by changing one of the conditions for the following day. Assuming Option 2 wins the first 109440 15 days, the coach can secure the variation by replacing Option 2 with the following short message: day martin_s rav password option2 = Salvatore's Spaghetti

A fourth option in Form 50, "Services Available", "5 510" is to "retrieve a requested file." This service can be used to retrieve lengthy text files in response to identified keywords. This service identifies short messages containing one of a set of predefined keywords and retrieves the corresponding text file from URL, which is configured in a configuration form which is substantially similar to forms 52, 54 and 56 of Figure 5, but is not shown separately.

In the examples above, all services can be accessed from any mobile station as long as the user or user of the service knows the required keyword (s). The service client maintains access control by choosing whether the keywords are public or private, and if they are private, the service issue only discloses them to trusted individuals. Security can be further enhanced by implementing a third option where the service can only be accessed from the mobile device used to register the customer identifier.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments detailed above. The invention can be used to provide tailor-made mobile services from one mobile station 20 to another. Unlike push services, such as short messages to a group of recipients, users explicitly request (use) demand services. Because service users explicitly request a service, the service usage counter is a measure of user satisfaction. The invention allows mobile users to maintain a highly relevant content offering for mobile communications. For example, a service customer may maintain a service called "cheap gas" which indicates the cheapest gas stations in the area. Another service may be called "good restaurants". Other users can find such services by querying customer identifiers that match the terms "% bens%" or "% nutr%", respectively. Such services can be very popular if the content is relevant. Thus, a service or network operator may reward a service customer based on a percentage of the text delivery traffic.

t · 'The idea of rewarding frequently used services can be enhanced if the server AS classifies services into two categories, depending on whether the service is free or charge (in addition to the price of one short message). The services to be provided could be indicated by customization forms (Figure 5), and the file identification could begin with a special symbol such as "$" or some other currency symbol. The server operator may charge the service customer a small monthly fee for usage and fee calculation. This allows service customers to test new business models at virtually no cost, and when successful, the 5 models can be made chargeable.

There are a variety of local information services that are best served by a mobile station. A nutrition expert can maintain a customer ID called "$ good restaurants" and service keys such as "meat", "fish", "vegetarian", "tex-mex", "dance" etc. Apart from the fact that the service may be chargeable, server AS 10 provides such a service just like Alice's location service, but since the services are used with keywords chosen by the customer, the same server logic can be used to implement an almost endless variety of business models.

Current text messaging capabilities, such as GSM short message service and WAP protocol, as well as mobile user interfaces are significantly limited compared to what is achieved through the Internet. However, in the long run, such restrictions may prove to be beneficial.

Because what matters is the content of the service and not its appearance, the invention is likely to attract content providers seeking to produce relevant | 20 who have no experience in programming or HTML coding. The invention makes it possible to create services very easily. A simple text-based interface is enough and no programming or HTML coding is required. So it is reasonable to assume that the number of service: ··: bones will be quite large. Although the above joker card based technique for locating a service by its name (customer ID and service key) may initially be sufficient, it would be desirable to find the service based on its content. Thus, in accordance with yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the application server AS includes or is operatively connected to a search engine that finds services based on one or more search words. For example, you may be interested in blonde jokes. The following ...: via messages could be used to find the following services: »get blonde / task I t get blonde / visit

The first message (with the "/ count" parameter) sorts the services down to "· 35, but based on the numbers of the word" blonde ". The second message 109440 17 (with the parameter '' / access '') sorts the services in descending order of usage (for example, in the last 30 days). Of course, the search engine only searches for public services. Due to the limitations of current short messages, a server can only list as many services as it can in a single short message. A more comprehensive search could be done through a web browser.

Another technique to make finding a service easier is categorization. For example, the previous example - that is, blonde jokes - can be placed in the hierarchy as follows: entertainment - jokes - blonde jokes. A category pointer can be added to service configuration forms 52-56 (see Figure 5). If service 10 is completely created by short messages, the "add" or "add" commands may include a parameter such as kat = "blond jokes". Because categorization is intended to facilitate the discovery of a service, placing a service in a category implies that the service is public.

Service users can search for categories by sending a short word-15 man such as: search kat xx where xx is the name of the category or its sub-string, eg '' jokes '', 'blonde' etc. If the searched category has subcategories, the server can list them. at the bottom of the hierarchy, the server lists the actual services.

Access to frequently used services can still be simplified by using a feature called v, "" pools "in some operating systems. Let's say the student named "Kalle" has registered the \ "Kalle" customer ID. He often uses bus 102 from Otaniemi to Helsinki (and back). He has created a service that lists the bus time-25 table in response to three parameters , namely the bus number, time and departure point.

The following message will retrieve buses departing from Otaniemi starting from morning morning dex: • "· Kalle 102 0800 Otaniemi 30 Kalle can define an alias" ab "(= morning buses) by sending the following · 'alias Kalle password ab = 102 0800 Otaniemi .v Now he can retrieve the morning bus schedule by sending the following »short message: 109440 18 Kalle ab

The server extends the alias parameter ab to the actual parameters attached to it and sends the requested bus schedule.

According to another advantageous feature, the pool replacement logic 5 expands certain reserved words to their present values. For example, a slut! and Place! can be expanded to the current time and place, respectively. (In this case, the "location" does not mean the customer's verbally stated location as in Alice's "opera", but the location information obtained from the network operator. Of course, the mobile subscriber's consent is required if the service operator and the 10 network operators are different entities. .)

Although the invention has been described in connection with preferred embodiments, the invention is not limited to these embodiments, but may vary within the scope of the appended claims.

15 Abbreviations (some are informal) AS: Application server ADO: Active Database Objects API: Application Programming Interface BSC: Base Station Controller 20 BTS: Base Transceiver Station •. ·: DLL: Dynamic Link Library

* GMSC: Gateway MSC

:: GSM: Global System for Mobile Communication GPRS: General Packet Radio Service; 25 GW: Gateway ·. HTML: HyperText Mark-up Language HTTP: HyperText Transfer Protocol. IIS: Internet Information Server (Microsoft) IF: Interface 30 ISDN: Integrated Services Data Network; * MS: Mobile Station "; MSC: Mobile Services Switching Center> <> ODBC: Open DataBase Connectivity • 'PC: Personal Computer 35 PLMN: Public Land Based Mobile Network 109440 19 PSTN: Public Switched Telephone Network SGW: Short Message Gateway SMSC: Short Message Service Center SQL: Structured Query Language 5 URL: Uniform Resource Locator WGW: Wap Gateway

Claims (20)

109440 20 A method of providing a customizable service to a mobile subscriber in a mobile network including a text messaging function, wherein the mobile subscriber includes a service customer who customizes the service and at least one service user using it; characterized in that: - the service client (PC, MS1) initially configures (3-0 ... 3-6) a customizable service, wherein the configuration step comprises selecting at least one selectable keyword (524, 543, 544, 564) for subsequent customization of the service 10; for use; - the service client updates (3-8) via the text messaging function of the customized service; - at least one service user accessing (3-20) a customizable service via a text messaging function; 15. wherein the updating and operating steps include entering at least a portion of at least one keyword selected by the service customer; and - the service client maintains access control (508, 528, 3-12 ... 3-18) of the customized service. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the preliminary configuration step comprises: - the service client temporarily allocates a client identifier (506, 520,:: 541, 560) over the IP network; and the \ · - service client temporarily activates the reserved client identifier via the text: *: relay function. · '25 A method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the updating step (3-8) comprises indicating the lifetime of the service to be customized or the information transmitted by it. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, · ;;; characterized in that the service client decides whether said at least one optional keyword is public or private. A method according to claim 4, characterized by allowing the service user to use the customizable service with a uniquely identifying portion of at least one selectable keyword if the 109440 21 keyword is public, and allowing the service to be used with the entire keyword if the keyword is private. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the number of times the service to be customized is calculated. Method according to claim 6, characterized in that the service client is rewarded on the basis of the calculated number of times. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the text messaging function uses the short message function. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the text messaging function uses a wireless application protocol (WAP). Method according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the text messaging function uses the short message function (SMS) or the wireless application protocol (WAP) depending on the characteristics of the terminal used by the service client or service user. An application server (AS) for providing a customizable service to mobile subscribers in a mobile network (PLMN) including text messaging. · * 'Ment (SMS) when mobile subscribers include a service customer who customizes the service and • at least one service user who uses it; 20. which application server includes an interface (GW, Hl) to the text-to-text ·: ··: function; characterized in that the application server comprises: - a service configuration routine for initial configuration of the service to be customized in response to the service client configuration input (3-0, 3-6, 25 520, 52, 54, 56), including at least an selectable keyword (524, 543); , 544, 564) for future use of the customizable service; a service update routine for updating a customizable service via a text relay function in response to a service client update input (3-8); a service usage routine for providing access to a customizable service-bone text messaging function in response to a request for access (3-20) from at least one service user; 109440 22 - wherein the update feed and access request include at least a portion of the at least one keyword (524, 543, j 544, 564) selectable by the service client; and - access management means (508, 528, 3-12 ... 3-18) for providing a customized service access control to the service client. An application server according to claim 11, characterized in that it includes a session count for counting the number of times the service to be customized. An application server according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the text messaging function uses the short message function. An application server according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the text messaging function uses the wireless application protocol (WAP). An application server according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the text messaging function uses the short message function (SMS) or the wireless application protocol (WAP) depending on the characteristics of the service client or terminal used by the service user. «M; v. An application server according to any one of claims 11 to 15, characterized in that it includes a routine for classifying the service into one of at least two price ranges depending on the key word included in the access request. The application server according to any one of claims 11 to 16, characterized in that one of its services comprises retrieving a file: from a URL in response to a predetermined keyword in a request for access. »· ·» · »· · Application server according to one of Claims 11 to 17, characterized in that it comprises means for organizing multiple services. · ·. hierarchical categories and tools for searching services within categories. Y: An application server according to any one of claims 11 to 18, characterized in that it comprises means for searching for services based on the information provided by them. 109440 23 Application server according to one of claims 11 to 19, characterized in that it comprises means for associating the alias parameter with a plurality of actual parameters and means for replacing the alias parameter included in the request for use with the associated real parameters. 24 109440