FI121496B - Multiple access control - Google Patents

Description

MANAGING THE MULTI-INTERFACE

The invention relates to the control of a multi-access mobile station.

More particularly, the object of the invention comprises a method for controlling a multi-access service 5 as well as system components in a telephone network and a subscriber identity unit.

Multiple access refers to an arrangement where more than one subscription is responsible for one subscriber identity unit. Such a multi-subscription interface is referred to herein as a member interface. In a multi-subscriber line, there are usually 10 subscriber lines, which is called dual subscriptions. However, there may be three, four or more memberships.

A subscriber identity unit is a unit that can be connected to a mobile station for subscriber identification. The detection unit usually comprises an electronic circuit and can be fitted in a dedicated slot inside the mobile station. Most commonly, the subscriber's 15 identification units are called a SIM (Subscriber Identification Module). A UIMTS network also refers to a USIM card, but in this publication the term SIM card also refers to such subscriber identity units corresponding to a SIM card used in newer networks.

An interface is a technical and administrative entity typically associated with 20 domain names, a subscriber ID and subscriber information. The subscriber information typically includes the name, address, and similar information needed to identify the owner or holder of the subscription and to arrange a charge.

The domain name is the one that you can select to access the subscription. The most common domain name is a phone number.

The subscriber ID, in turn, identifies a particular subscription. In GSM networks and similar networks, the subscriber identity is most commonly referred to as IMSI, which stands for International Mobile Subscriber Identity.

2 In a GSM network and similar newer networks, multiple access is thus an arrangement where more than one IMSI corresponds to one SIM card.

Usually, a multi-subscriber operates so that only one member subscription is open at a time, that is, in an active state. The other member subscriptions are then closed, i.e. in an inactive state. The mobile network may be connected to an open, that is, an active, but not connected, or an inactive, connection. For a single member subscription, being in an active or inactive state is completely equivalent to being in a normal or open mobile subscription.

The well-known technology includes a service provided by Elisa Corporation called Elisa 10 Dual Interface. Elisa Dual subscription has two mobile subscriptions with the same SIM card. One of the benefits of the service is that the service allows the same mobile phone to be used for both business and leisure calls without changing the SIM card. This also makes it easy to break down the cost of your work and leisure calls, since you can separate your work and leisure costs for your own bills without having to use multiple SIM cards. This means that you can use the same mobile phone during work and leisure without having to change your SIM card.

Elisa Dual Interface is a good but not completely problem-free solution to users' needs. Namely, when using a multi-access interface, it is generally desired to divert at least some of the calls or text messages to an inactive subscription to an active subscription. This can be accomplished by standard 20 call transmissions. However, managing call forwarding is very complicated and laborious, as call forwarding should always be updated when switching to an active member. If the call forwarding is not updated, calls and text messages may not arrive at the active subscription and calls directed to the inactive subscription may not be routed as intended to the voice mailbox. Also, the problem cannot be circumvented by programming two-way call transfer between the subscribers, as this could result in an infinite loop in the call control system. For this reason, a call control system cannot accept a situation where two calls have simultaneous call forwarding to each other.

The object of the invention is to facilitate the use of a multi-access.

3

The invention is based on providing a possibility for a multi-access to control a member by means of an input received through another member. Then, when switching from one active to another, the necessary call forwarding or other configuration can be performed from the user's point of view as a single operation.

For this purpose, the mobile network control system is adapted to change the settings of the second member interface based on the input received through one member interface. Handoff control is further facilitated if the subscriber identity unit connected to the multi-access mobile station is provided with a functionality that provides the necessary control message for the mobile network control system.

More specifically, the control method according to the invention is characterized in what is set forth in claim 1.

The control system according to the invention, in turn, is characterized by what is set forth in claim 5 and the subscriber identification unit is characterized by what is set forth in claim 9.

The invention provides a considerable advantage. Namely, the invention can clearly facilitate the use of a multi-access.

Easier control of the multi-interface, in turn, opens up more applications for multi-interface technology, providing new services and solutions to users' problems.

The invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawing 20.

Figure 1 schematically illustrates a system environment according to one embodiment.

The embodiment of Figure 1 illustrates a case where two SIMSI codes 2 are associated with one SIM card 1. The example illustrates the use of these IMSI codes, one for a private interface and the other for a work interface.

In the exemplary embodiment of Figure 1, the SIM card 1 is provided with sufficient space for the required IMSI codes 2 and other required identification information to be stored on the SIM card.

4 The SIM card is also provided with a user interface through which the user can make a transfer request between the interfaces. The transfer request informs the intelligent network 3, for example, that the user wants to receive calls from both subscriptions, or that the user does not receive calls from the inactive subscriber, whereby the calls are forwarded directly to the voicemail or to the message or exchange. For example, the following options may be available in the SIM interface: • Job This option means that the interface is activated. At the same time, the home interface is switched to an inactive state. Home subscription transfers may be 10 by agreement to, for example, voicemail, newsletter, or landline.

• Home This option means that the home interface is activated. At the same time, the work interface is switched to an inactive state. Deployment of the work interface may be by agreement, for example, to voicemail, newsletter, or exchange.

15 · Work-> Home This option means that the home interface is activated and the work interface makes call forwarding to the home interface. Thus, the work interface is switched to the inactive state, but calls made to the work interface are routed to the home interface according to the settings stored in the service.

20 · Home -> Work This option means that the work interface is activated and the home interface is redirected to the work interface. The home connection is switched to the inactive state, but calls made to the home connection are routed to the work interface according to the settings stored on the service.

In addition, an access chain or an answering machine may be used in the above chains if the active connection is busy or unresponsive or not in the network. Further, it is possible to define different rules for call forwarding, for example, so that only certain calls are transferred from one subscription to another and others are routed, for example, to an answering machine.

When making a selection, the SIM conveys information about the current subscription (eg IMSI1) and the subscription which is switched to active 5 (e.g. IMSI2) by means of the subscription which is active at the time of selection. These IMSIs are thus stored on the SIM card.

In the exemplary embodiment of Figure 1, the switching is implemented as follows: a) The SIM Tool 1 Sim ToolKit (STK) application sends a change request, e.g., by means of a USSD message, as described above. The message can be, for example, in the form: 123 # IMSI1 * IMSI2.

10 b) The STK will wait for the acknowledgment of the transmission of the message and when the acknowledgment of the transmission of the USSD message is received, the STK will exchange the IMSIs and other identification information between the files on the card.

c) The SIM card asks the phone or other terminal to which the SIM card is currently connected to check the contents of the changed information. This can be done with 15 commands, e.g. REFRESH.

d) In parallel with the previous steps, the intelligent network 3 has made the necessary call forwarding and the new interface is now in use.

In the embodiment of Figure 1, calls are made under intelligent network control by setting up a so-called HLR register. an end-to-end traffic trigger (TCSI trick) for all 20 multi-access numbers. This is done by provisioning (that is, by setting the parameter in question to the customer data of that interface). The TCSI trick triggers the intelligent network controller each time that a smartcard is triggered. there is an incoming call. In this case, the intelligent network checks from its database (or from an external database) which connection to direct the call to and where to call if the connection indicated by the database is not available (in the dark, battery low, etc.). Each interface has a "" transfer list "in the database used by the intelligent network that indicates where to place the call when this connection is inactive.

Based on this control information, the intelligent network instructs the mobile services switching center (MSC) to connect the incoming call either to the access line that triggered the call triggering 6, or to a subscription in the transfer list, or to an answering machine or other device, if calls cannot be connected. subscriptions are inactive). The control is performed on the respective trigger interface according to the rules stored in the database.

5 Similarly, the call is routed when the connection declared as being active by the database is actually unavailable, e.g., when the battery is exhausted, when the phone is idle, when the phone is busy, when there are no free connections between the MSC base station controller and the base station. , or if the connection is not answered even if the call can be connected to it. The situations mentioned in this section are detected by the intelligent network software after waiting for the switch command to wait (so-called monitoring function), which is the response of the network ('' call cannot be connected because .... ') until the moment the network receives a response'. call answered ".

Thus, the above database already contains call forwarding information and other settings for the 15 different four user profiles mentioned above. Of course, such ready-to-use profiles may also be in a different number from four, for example two, three, five or more. Predefined user profiles for a database connected to the intelligent network reduce the need for communication between the interface and the intelligent network when switching between the interfaces. In addition, they allow you to efficiently edit and manage user profiles, for example, via a computer and the Internet.

The database may be, for example, a proprietary database of the Intelligent Network Controller (SCP) that can be accessed by USSD messages or SMS messages, or an external server database used by the SCP where operations are controlled. The SCP can then connect to the database via, for example, tcp / ip connections.

In some embodiments, it is also possible for the user profiles to be stored on the SIM card or in the memory of the terminal controlled by the SIM card. In such an embodiment, the STK directs the terminal to send to the telephone intelligent network not only IMSI codes, but also other information needed to effect the desired changes in the call control. In such embodiments, for security reasons, it may be necessary to define conditions in the 30 intelligent network which IMSI codes may provide other IMSI code controls to the intelligent network.

7

Thus, according to one embodiment, there is provided a method for controlling a multi-access service in which the input received through one member interface changes the settings of the other member interface in the mobile network. Such an input received from one member interface typically includes control information for at least two member interfaces 5, according to which states the member interfaces are then set up in the intelligent network service.

In one embodiment of the method, an input containing control information relating to the setting of call forwarding is received from one member interface, and the call forwarding is set according to the control information.

According to another embodiment, an input is received from one member interface containing control information for that particular interface and at least one other member, and the states of the member interfaces are adjusted according to the received control information.

According to one embodiment, the multi-access service described above is implemented in a mobile network control system. In such an embodiment, the control system 3 is adapted to change the settings of the second member interface based on the input received through one member interface.

In another embodiment, the control system is adapted to receive from one member interface an input containing control information regarding at least two member interfaces, and in response to the input, set the member interfaces to states according to the received control information.

In a third embodiment, the control system is adapted to change the call forwarding settings of the at least one member in response to an input received from the other member.

In a fourth embodiment, the control system is configured to change the settings of at least 25 member interfaces based on input received from a single member interface.

In turn, the subscriber identity unit 1 using the multi-access service may be associated with at least two subscriber identifiers 2, each corresponding to its own member subscription. According to an embodiment, the subscriber identification unit 1 comprises the functionality 8 for switching an active subscriber interface and generating a switching control message for the mobile network control system 3.

In one embodiment, the authentication unit 1 is adapted to control the switching of the active mode member interface by disconnecting the active mode member interface 5 from the mobile network and one inactive mode member interface being connected to the mobile network.

In another embodiment, the authentication unit 1 is adapted to generate a control message such that the control message contains information directed to both member interfaces involved in the exchange.

In a third embodiment, the authentication unit 1 is adapted to include call forwarding setup information in the control message.

In a fourth embodiment, the authentication unit 1 is adapted to control the transmission of a control message through an active member interface before switching.

Thus, it is clear from the above examples that numerous solutions other than those described above can be implemented within the scope of the invention. Thus, the invention is not intended to be limited to the above examples, but the full scope of the appended claims should be considered.

Claims (13)

A method for controlling a multi-connection service, in which multi-connection service a subscriber identification unit corresponds to more than one connection, i.e. a member connection, characterized by the basis of an input received via a member connection, the settings of another member connection are changed in the mobile telephone network. 2. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that from a member connection, an input is received which contains control information regarding at least two member connections, and the member connections are set in condition according to the received control information. 3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that from a member connection, an input is received which contains control information regarding the setting of call transfers, and the call transfers are set according to the control information. 15 Method according to any of claims 1-3, characterized in that an input is received from a member connection, which contains control information about this connection and at least another member connection, and the state of the member connections is set according to the received control information. A mobile telephone network (3) control system, which control system is provided to provide a multi-connection service, wherein a subscriber identification unit is matched by more than one connection, i.e. a member connection, characterized in that the control system (3) is arranged to change the settings of another member connection via a member connection on the basis of the received input. System according to claim 5, characterized in that it is arranged to receive from an member connection an input containing control information regarding at least two member connections, and to set the member connections in response according to the received control information in response to the input. System according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that it is arranged to change at least one member connection's call transfer settings in response to an input received from another member connection. System according to any of claims 5-6, characterized in that the system is configured to change at least two member connection settings on the basis of an input received from a member connection. Subscriber identification unit (1) for a multi-connection service, to which subscriber identification unit is connected to at least two subscriber identifiers, each of which corresponds to its own member connection, characterized in that the subscriber identification unit (1) comprises a functionality for switching the member connection active state and to form a control message associated with the switch for the mobile communication network's control system (3). Identification unit (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that it is arranged to control the change of the member connection in an active state in such a way that the member connection is switched actively from the mobile telephone network and a member connection in an inactive state is connected to the mobile telephone network. Identification unit (1) according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that it is arranged to create a control message in such a way that the control message contains information concerning both member connections, which are parties to the exchange. Identification unit according to any of claims 9-11, characterized in that it is arranged to include in the control message the setting data of the call transmissions. Identification unit according to any of claims 9-12, characterized in that it is arranged to control the transmission of the control message via the member connection in active condition before the exchange.