FI120022B - Method of opening a connection in a mobile telecommunications network - Google Patents

Description

METHOD FOR OPENING A COMMUNICATION IN A MOBILE NETWORK

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

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The invention relates to a method for opening a new connection of a user's mobile station to a mobile network.

10 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In mobile networks, people can be reached by calling their phone number. The Mobile Station Integrated Service Digital Network Number, MSISDN, is an international telephone number standard used to identify a specific user.

15 The Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) is a mobile communication standard for wireless communications. GSM provides other services besides voice services. Today's second-generation GSM networks allow, for example, SMS services provided by the Short Message Service (SMS). The End-to-End 20 (SMS) provides a method for sending limited size messages to and from GSM phones. ETSI in GSM 03.40 Version 5.3.0. has detailed information.

The Subscriber Identity Module (SIM), a subscriber identity module (GSM) embedded in GSM telephones, is a smart chip that enables secure connection of subscribers to 25 networks. You can also install different applications on your SIM card. Subscriber information is stored on a SIM card that functions as a smart card. The SIM card contains, for example, an international user ID, International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI), a secret authentication key, and other user information.

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The operator maintains a user database on the network containing information on IMSI / MSISDN connections. By installing a SIM card in another GSM terminal, the user can receive and make calls and other calls from the subscriber service. from the terminal.

5 UMTS is the next (3rd) wireless system that provides better multimedia services such as video. UMTSI uses a USIM (universal SIM) card, a developed version of the SIM. In both GSM and UMTS networks, a (U) SIM card is central to identifying a subscriber and providing value-added services to users. Although 10 is often only referred to as SIM, USIM (UMTS Subscriber Identity Module) is a UMTS subscriber identity module. In this text, SIM also covers USIM.

There are also so-called Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs), which provide wireless telecommunications services without owning a wireless network. However, these operators may have parts of such networks, such as Home Location Register (HLR) or Mobile Switching Center (MSC), but this is not necessary either. Instead, MVNOs rent space from standard 20 wireless network operators. Generally, MVNOs provide or act as resellers of voice services, customized (flexible) services from standard operators and usually have their own billing.

Number Portability - NumSi - is the EU-brought reform of 25 consumer interests that allows consumers to switch between mobile service providers without changing their phone number when switching.

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There are companies that offer number portability services to mobile operators and mobile service providers, such as Suomen Numerot Numpac Oy. When transferring a mobile phone number, the customer retains his old telephone number 5 when changing operator. The Internet address www.Numpac.fi provides information on number portability in general.

Number portability in mobile networks implements Directive 2002/22 / EC of the European Parliament and of the Council. This Directive 10 obliges Member States of the European Union to implement the Universal Service Number Portability Directive.

When making a call from a cellular network, calls are routed directly to the operator's own network. When making a call from abroad or from a fixed 15 network, calls are routed indirectly, that is, through the carrier who originally owned the number.

The ported numbers database (master) stores all the ported numbers (including landline numbers). This number 20 transfer process employs a so-called. Master system. With the system, calls, text messages and MMS messages are routed directly between the mobile networks to the correct network, the so - called. with direct routing.

25 The receiving telecommunications operator shall verify with the releasing telecommunications operator that the number is transferable and shall confirm this information upon receipt of the number porting time. The customer's old subscription will work until the new subscription is opened. Once the new subscription has been opened, the subscriber will introduce a new subscription, i.e. change the SIM-30 card of the new operator into his phone.

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Calls made from the fixed network and from abroad are routed to the original operator of the receiving subscription, which directs the call to the current operator of the subscription (so called indirect routing). Calls made from the domestic mobile network are routed directly to the subscriber 5's current operator (so-called direct routing). The Master system transmits information related to number portability between telecommunications companies, stores and distributes information on ported numbers.

Opening and / or transferring a new connection to a mobile phone requires strict security regulations. When opening a new connection 10, it is important to make sure that the new SIM card is under the control of the right user. This also applies when transferring a number from one operator to another.

The SIM card is usually shipped to the customer either by picking it up at the point of sale or by sending it in a registered letter 15, so that the recipient of the card can be verified with certainty.

However, in modern society this is a cumbersome and time consuming solution and therefore the object of the present invention is to develop a more convenient solution.

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OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a solution for supplying and introducing a SIM card in a secure manner without the recipient having to separately retrieve it from anywhere.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

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The method of the invention for opening a new connection of a mobile station of a user to a mobile network is characterized by providing the user with a new subscriber identity module and a security code, sending a message 5 to the activating a new connection to the subscriber identity module provided to the user.

Preferred embodiments of the invention have the features of the dependent claims.

For example, the mobile communication network is GSM, wherein the subscriber identity module is a SIM card or it is a UMTS, wherein the subscriber identity module 15 is a USIM card.

The method of the invention is particularly useful when a new connection is opened in place of a user's existing mobile connection. The user can then send the security code 20, for example a four-digit number, to the operator through the user's existing connection, for example as a Short Message Service (SMS). Otherwise, the notification may be made, for example, by landline.

25 If an existing connection and a new connection are connections between different operators, the method may include the step of transferring user data from the existing operator to the operator of the new connection.

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The security code is to be used primarily to reliably identify a GSM customer in case of SIM card change and update (for example, switching from one network / service operator to another or from an MVNO subscription or subscription) or, alternatively, 5

In the following, a preferred embodiment of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the figure, in which details, however, are not limited.

PATTERN

Figure 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention by means of a diagram

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

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Figure 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention by means of a diagram assuming that the user has an existing connection to the GSM network and is switching to a new operator to which he has contacted and expressed his wish.

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In this embodiment of the method according to the invention, a new SIM card is sent to the user from the new operator in step 1 of Figure 1 to the subscriber address indicated to this operator in a regular mail (closed) envelope, as well as In the case of the opening of a new user subscription, the same letter shall include information on the user's agreement, its terms and the 5 stages of its conclusion (subject to the rules of e-commerce).

The security code is accompanied by instructions that the user should send a security code via SMS to the operator who registers and verifies the incoming security code from the closing subscription number used by the customer (which is known to the operator through 10 number transfer orders). In Figure 1, the creation of a text message containing the code is shown in step 2 and sent to the operator in step 3. The operator registers and verifies the incoming security code in step 4.

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Once the security code has been verified, the operator system also activates the new SIM card sent to the user in step 5, so that the user only needs to remove the old SIM card from the terminal and insert a new SIM card that has now been sent.

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In the case of new users, the new SIM card is activated via the standard NUMSI process at a predetermined time, and thus the security code does not affect the NUMSI process itself. The code is used to verify that the correct user has received a new SIM-25 card and, if the security code is not provided, the NUMSI process can be canceled.

Preferably, the transmission of the user security code initiates simultaneously the process of copying user data from the transferring system to the new operator system and deleting the user data from the transferring system. As a rule, the customer traffic is transmitted through the new operator's network elements according to the MVNO model.

5 The new operator may use the security code only for customer transfers from operators with which it has a separate arrangement for inter-system cooperation. When transferring accounts between systems, the old subscription information is removed from the transferring system only after the user has successfully 10 connected to the network of the new operator with the new SIM card.

The user can also send the security code using a landline telephone.

The security code can be used as a replacement for the signature, which avoids the hassle of sending and retrieving registered letters.

Thus, the user preferably sends the security code from his old subscription and is used by the new operator as an acknowledgment / signature in the same way as when initiating a NUMSI process via SMS when ordering a subscription via SMS. In this case, the date of signing the subscription would be the moment when the user, according to the instructions and the terms of the contract (after sending the security code), connects the new SIM card to his / her terminal.

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Claims (9)

A method for opening a new connection of a mobile station of a user to a mobile network comprising: a) providing a subscriber identity module and a code allowing the new connection to the user; b) transmitting a message to the mobile network operator of the new connection from the user device using an existing connection; and d) activating a new connection to the subscriber identity module provided to the user, characterized in that, in addition to the subscriber identity module, the user is sent, in step a), a code which is a security code verifying the received subscriber identity module. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the mobile network is GSM and the subscriber identity module is 20 SIM card. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the mobile communication network is a UMTS and the subscriber identity module is a USIM card. 25 4. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the message sent in step b) is transmitted via an existing connection in the user's mobile station. Method according to claims 2 and 4, characterized in that the message sent in step b) is a Short Message Service (SMS) SMS. 6. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the message sent in step b) is transmitted from the user's landline by means of an existing connection. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the security code is a four-digit code. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the existing connection and the new connection are connections of different operators. 15 Method according to claim 8, characterized in the additional step e) of transferring the user information from the existing operator to the operator of the new connection.