GB2395092A

GB2395092A - Controlling access to terminals in a telecommunications system

Info

Publication number: GB2395092A
Application number: GB0225922A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Tin Lin Lee
Original assignee: Vodafone Group PLC
Current assignee: Vodafone Group PLC
Priority date: 2002-11-06
Filing date: 2002-11-06
Publication date: 2004-05-12
Also published as: GB0225922D0

Abstract

When a subscriber to mobile telecommunications network A roams in mobile telecommunications network B using their mobile terminal MS 30B, calls to them, for example from calling mobile terminal MS 30A, are routed via HLR 40A of network A. HLR 40A is connected to a time zone data processing module 50 which stores data relating to the time zone within which network B is located. This allows time zone data processing module 50 to calculate whether the call from MS 30A is likely to be received at an inconvenient time (for example in the early hours of the morning) by roaming subscriber of MS 30B in network B. If it is determined that the call is likely to be received at an inconvenient time by the subscriber MS 30B, the caller is advised of this and is given the option to store a voice or SMS message which will be transmitted by the time zone data processing module 50 to the subscriber of MS 30B at a more convenient time. The times at which the subscriber MS 30B receives communications are selectable by the subscriber.

Description

CONTROLLING ACCESS TO TERMINALS

IN A TELECOMM1JNICATIONS SYSTEM

! The present invention relates to a telecommunications system, apparatus for connection to a telecommunications system and a method of controlling communication between a communication terminal and an entity wishing to communicate with the communication terminal.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided apparatus for connection to a telecommunications network (the "home network") with which a communication terminal is associated, the apparatus including means for receiving data indicative of the location of the terminal when the terminal is used in another network (the "visited network"), and means for controlling communication with the terminal by an entity in dependence upon the location indicative data.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of controlling communication between a communication terminal and an entity wishing to communicate with the communication terminal, the method including selectively allowing communication from the entity to the terminal in dependence upon the difference in local time at the respective locations of the terminal and the entity.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a telecommunications system including first and second telephone networks in respective time zones, the first network having at least one terminal associated with it for allowing communication using the first network, the said terminal also being operable, when located in the second network, for communication using the second network, wherein, when the mobile terminal is in the second network, the difference in local time between the two networks is calculated and used to control communication to the terminal by third parties.

Apparatus for connection to a telecommunications network embodying the invention, a method of controlling communication according to the invention and a telecommunications system according to the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic drawing of two mobile telephone networks for use in explaining the operation of those networks and the "roaming" arrangements between the two networks; Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing the data exchanges taking place within a telecommunications system in accordance with the invention when a "roaming" mobile terminal is first activated in a visited network; and Figure 3 shows the data exchanges taking place in a telecommunications system when a third party attempts to communicate with the "roaming" mobile terminal in accordance with the invention.

Figure 1 diagrammatically explains the operation of two GSM networks between which there is a roaming agreement. Networks _ and B are shown in Figure 1.

Network _ has a number of base stations (BS) such as BS 22A, 24A and 26A.

Each base station corresponds to a respective cell of the network and receives calls from and transmits calls to a subscriber in that cell by radio. Such a subscriber (MS) is shown at 30A. The base stations are arranged in groups and each group of base stations is controlled by a mobile service switching centre (MSC), such as MSC 32A for BS 22A to 26A. As shown in Figure l, the network also has two other MSC's 34A and 36A, each of which is shown as controlling three further BS's. In practice, the network will of course incorporate more MSC's and BS's than shown in Figure 1.

( Each subscriber to the network is provided with a smartcard (referred to as a SIM card where SIM means "subscriber identification module"). The SIM card identifies the subscriber to the network. The SIM card is preprogrammed with a unique identification number, the "International Mobile Subscriber Identity" (IMSI) which is not visible on the card and is not known to the subscriber. The subscriber is of course also issued with a publicly known number, that is, the subscriber's telephone number, by means of which calls to that subscriber are initiated by callers. This number is the MSISDN ("Mobile Station International IDSN Number").

The network includes a "home location register" (HLR) 40A which, for each subscriber to the network, stores the IMSI and the corresponding MSISDN together with other subscriber data. When a subscriber wishes to activate a mobile in a network (so that it may make or receive calls subsequently), the subscriber places the SIM card in a card reader associated with the mobile terminal (MS 30A in this example).

The MS 30A then transmits the IMSI (read from the card) to the base station (BS 22A in this example) associated with the particular cell in which the MS is located. BS 22A transmits this IMSI to the MSC 32A.

MSC 32A now accesses the appropriate location in the HER 40A and extracts the corresponding subscriber MSISDN and other subscriber data from the appropriate storage location, and stores it temporarily in a location in a "visitor location register" (VLR) 42A. In this way, therefore the particular subscriber is effectively registered with a particular MSC (MSC 32A), the subscriber's information being temporarily stored in the VLR (VLR 42A) associated with that MSC.

Each of the other MSC's of the network (MSC 34A and MSC 36A) has a respective

( VLR associated with it and operates in the same way as already described when a subscriber activates an MS in one of the cells corresponding to one of the BS's controlled by that MSC.

When the subscriber wishes to make a call using MS 30A, having already inserted the SIM card into the reader associated with this MS in the manner described, the subscriber enters the telephone number of the called party in the usual way. This information is received by BS 22A and the call is then routed to the called party via the MSC 32A. By means of the information held in the VLR 42A, MSC 32A can associate the call with the particular subscriber and thus record information for charging purposes.

Similarly, when a calling party (whether a subscriber within the network or outside it) makes a call for the subscriber using MS 30A, MSC 32A is able to route this call to MS 30A via BS 22A using the information relating to that subscriber and to MS 30A which is temporarily stored in VLR 42A.

The foregoing is intended to be merely a simplified description of the normal

operation of a GSM network.

In practice, other procedures will also be carried out. In particular, an authentication procedure will take place when a subscriber activates a mobile.

Also shown in Figure 1 is the GSM network B. Items in network B corresponding to those in network _ are similarly referenced, but with the suffix "B" instead of"A".

Of course, the network B is likely to have a different arrangement and number of MSC's and BS's but operates in the same way as network _.

As explained above, for a subscriber to network _, the respective IMSI and MSISDN

and other relevant data particular to that subscriber will be stored in HLR 40A (Figure 1). If that subscriber now roams to network B and activates a mobile such as MS 30B in that network, the procedure described above is substantially repeated.

Thus, the subscriber inserts the SIM card into the card reader in MS SOB. The mobile then transmits the IMSI from the card to the adjacent base station (BS 26B) and thence to MSC 32B.

However, MSC 32B will now recognise, from the structure of the IMSI, that the subscriber is not a subscriber to network B but is a subscriber to network A. Therefore, MSC 32B will access HLR 40A instead of HLR 40B via interconnection 10 between network A and network _. The subscriber's information, including the relevant MSISDN and other subscriber data, will be accessed and temporarily stored in VLR 42B. All this information is thus ready for use in processing calls to or from MS 30B. Any charging information associated with any such calls can then be associated with the subscriber information in VLR 42B and eventually transmitted back to HLR 40A and then billed to the subscriber.

If a calling party wishes to make a call to the visiting subscriber using MS 30B, the call would initially be routed to network _ (because this network would be the network identified by the subscriber's publicly known telephone number which the calling party would use). The call would interrogate HLR 40A which would thus produce information that a copy of the subscriber's data was temporarily stored in VLR 42B, thus indicating, of course, that the subscriber had roamed to network B. Via the link 10, network A interrogates network _ to request a "roaming number".

This is in effect a temporary telephone number for the subscriber, being a number appropriate to network B. This roaming number can now be used to route the calling party's call to network _ and thence to MS SOB. The calling party would of course not be aware of this roaming number or of the transferring process.

Again, the foregoing description of roaming between different GSM networks is

intended to be a brief and partial description only.

The foregoing known roaming arrangement is very useful in that it allows a subscriber to be contacted when they are travelling away from the coverage area of their home network without the calling party having to take any special action, or, indeed, being aware at all that the subscriber is not within their home network. However, a disadvantage of such an arrangement is that, when the subscriber is roaming in a network in which the local time is different to that of the home network, the subscriber may be disturbed by incoming calls which are initiated by a caller who assumes that the roaming subscriber is in their home network. Because of a difference in time at the respective time zones of the home network and the visited network, such an incoming call could be received by the roaming subscriber at an unsuitable time (such as the early hours of the morning). In such an instance, had the caller known that the subscriber was in a different time zone and would be inconvenienced by the incoming call, the caller may have elected to make the call at a different time (for example, if the call did not relate to an emergency or other urgent matter). However, with conventional roaming arrangements, the caller has no way of being able to ascertain whether a subscriber is roaming or not.

In accordance with the present invention, the "home" network _ is provided with a time zone data processing module 50 connected to the HER 40A of network _. The functions performed by the time zone data processing module 50 will be described in further detail with reference to Figures 2 and 3.

When MS SOB, which in the following explanation has as its home network network A, is initially activated in network _, the mobile terminal transmits the IMSI from its SIM to the adjacent base station BS 26B and thence to MSC 32B. The IMSI and other

data relating to the subscriber of MS 30B form part of a registration notification signal 60 (Figure 2) which is processed by components of network B. such as MSC 32B, VLR 42B and HER 40B.

The MSC 32B will recognise, from the structure of the IMSI, that the subscriber of MS 30B is not a subscriber to network B but is a subscriber to network A. Therefore, MSC 32B will access HER 40A of network _, thereby providing registration notification to the home network A (at 62).

Conventionally, the home network A will then pass data relating to the subscriber to MS 30B (the user profile 64) to the network B. which will in turn notify MS 30B that registration with network B has been successful (registration complete notification 66), "hereafter the subscriber of MS 30B is able to make and receive calls within network B. In accordance with the present invention, user location data (at 68) is passed to a time zone data processing module 50 associated with the network A. The data exchange between network B and network A will provide network A with data identifying network _. Often, network B will occupy a single time zone, and the time difference between the local time in the geographical area covered by network B and the local time at the geographical area covered by network _ can be calculated using, for example, a look-up table which associates a time difference with each ofthe networks with which network A has a roaming arrangement. Of course, other methods of determining the time difference could be used.

If network B covers a geographical area which spans several time zones, two approaches may be taken. The first, simpler, approach is to assume that the difference in local times at the different time zones covered by a single network will be relatively small, and to not take account of these. The second approach is to obtain and store in

the processing module 50 further information from network _ as to the location of MS 30B within that network. For example, the geographical area within which the MSC within the network with which MS 30B is registered could be stored on processing module 50 and the time at that area could be calculated.

The home network A may offer (at 70) services to roaming MS JOB, such as tourist information or other information relevant to the locality of MS SOB.

The advantages of the time zone data processing module 50 will be understood from the following discussion in relation to Figure 3.

When a calling party, for example MS 30A dials the telephone number of MS JOB, the call is initially routed (in Figure 3) to network _ (in this example via BS 22A and MSC 32A to HLR 40A). The HLR 40A will have a record that the subscriber's data related to MS 32B has been temporarily stored on VLR 42B on network _. This indicates that MS 30B is roaming in network B. Conventionally, network _ would then perform the necessary functions to allow the calling MS 30A to communicate with the roaming MS SOB. However, in accordance with the present invention, the HLR 40A of network _, on establishing that the called MS 30B is roaming, will send an enquiry (at 74) to time zone data processing module 50.

In this simple example, the processing module 50, which contains data relating to the local time at network _ and network _ (or at the particular part of network B in which MS 30B is located), will determine whether the local time in network _ is between 11 pm and 7 am (the time at which the subscriber of MS 30B might reasonably be expected to be asleep and would not wish to be disturbed) - hereinafter referred to as the "non-available time". If it is determined that it is the non- available time at network B. the processing module 50 will return a message (at 76) to HLR 40A of network A indicating that the calling party should not be connected to MS 30B at the

present time. The network A will then provide a notification (at 78) to MS 30A, for example in the form of an SMS or recorded message, advising the calling party that the subscriber MS 30B is roaming and is not available at the present time, and prompting the calling party to send an SMS message to the subscriber MS JOB, that will be forwarded at an appropriate time to MS 30B taking account of the local time in the geographical area covered by network _.

The SMS message generated by the calling party of MS 30A is passed (at 80) to and processed by network _ in the conventional manner. However, rather than being passed directly to network _ where it would be transmitted to roaming MS 30B with minimal delay, the SMS is passed (at 82) to the time zone data processing module 50, where it is stored for subsequent transmission to MS SOB. The communication between MS 30A and network A, relating to communication with the roaming MS 30B is then terminated (at 84).

When processing module 50 calculates that the local time at network B (or the relevant part of network _) is between 7 am and 11 pm, the or each stored SMS message relating to roaming MS 30B is passed by network _ to MS 30B (step 86).

The subscriber of MS 30B can then review the SMS messages and return the call to MS 30A if required.

It should of course be appreciated that, although the party MS 30A attempting to call the roaming MS 30B in this example is a mobile terminal, the calling party could be a fixed telephone, a mobile terminal associated with a different mobile telecommunications network or any other telecommunications device. Whichever type of device the calling party uses, and wherever they are located, by dialling the telephone number of MS 30B, the call will be routed to network _ (because it is the home network of MS SOB) and subject to the controls of time zone data processing module 50 in the manner described above.

( Various modifications and additions may be made to the basic system described above. For example, when the subscriber of MS 30B initially registers with network B and location data relating to the subscriber of MS 30B is passed (at 68) to time zone data processing module SO, the processing module 50 may cause a prompt to be sent (via network A and network _) to MS 30B for the subscriber of MS 30B to select various options. The subscriber may chose the times at which they do not wish normally to receive communications. For example, rather than wishing not to be disturbed at night, the subscriber of MS 30B may not wish to be disturbed at a particular time of day - for example when they have a commitment relating to their work.

The subscriber can also be provided with a facility to record a voice message to be replayed to a calling party which calls during the nonavailable time. Alternatively, the subscriber can select from a list of pre-recorded voice messages or SMS messages that are sent to a calling party which calls during the non-available time.

The options selected by a subscriber can be stored securely in an erasable memory 51 of the processing module 50 (for example, an EEPROM). Of course, the erasable memory 51 may be separate from the processing module 50 provided that the processing module 50 can access and control the data on the erasable memory 51.

The subscriber can access the processing module 50 at any time while they are roaming (provided they are within the area of coverage of the roamed network). This allows the subscriber to update or change the options and settings they have chosen from those available from the processing module 50 as and when the subscriber's circumstances change.

! Also, rather than the calling party of MS 30A being automatically provided with a message indicating that the subscriber of MS 30B is not available when called at non-

available times, the calling party of MS 30A may be prompted with a series of options, such as an option to leave a voice message or to activate automatic call-back from MS 30B when the subscriber of MS 30B is available, in addition to the facility to send a deferred SMS to the subscriber of MS JOB.

The subscriber of MS 30B can be given the option to decide if they would like to reveal their location (which they might want to keep private) to callers. If the subscriber of MS 30B is happy to reveal their location, the processing module 50 will inform the caller of the time difference and location of MS 30B - for example with an I SMS message: I "I'm now in XXX and there is a time difference of +XX hours. Please call me XX hours later."

If the subscriber of MS 30B does not wish to reveal their location, the processing module 50 may simply ask the caller to call back later - for example with an SMS message: "I'm not available now, please call at XX:XX and I'll be able to speak to you then".

The subscriber of MS 30B may further be allowed the option of selecting groups to whom they would like to reveal their location and others to whom they would not like to reveal their location. The calling line identification (CLI) feature of the GSM system allows the callers to be distinguished, if this information is passed to the processing module 50. Similarly, some groups of callers may be allowed to contact the subscriber at any time.

The subscriber may also select whether messages from callers are archived by the processing module 50 for sending during an approved time period, or whether the messages will be sent immediately (in real time).

The subscriber may selectively activate/deactivate time zone aware feature provided by the processing module 50 when roaming. For example, if the subscriber is happy to receive massages at any time of the day after a particular date, the subscriber may instruct the processing module 50 to provide the following message to callers: "I'm now in XXX and there is a time difference of +XX hours. Please call me from XX:XX to XX:XX if you want to reach me. Otherwise, get me after XX//".

The subscriber may be allowed to select from the services (step 70) provided by the home network A. It should be understood that the home network A can send messages relating to "value added" services to the MS 30B at a convenient and appropriate time for the subscriber, using the information form the processing module 50. For example, "home alerts" from the home network (such as news, sport and share price notifications by SMS, for which the subscriber has subscribed) may prove to be a nuisance if received while roaming because they may arrive at inconvenient times and disturb the subscriber. However, if such home alerts are transmitted to the subscriber under the control of the processing module 50, they can be delivered to the roaming user at an appropriate time according to the local time at the subscriber's location. The processing module 50 can further offer the subscriber the option not to receive selected home alerts while the subscriber is roaming. For example, home alerts relating to the weather in the subscriber's distant home network may be of little use.

The home network A may select default options for subscribers to choose from (for

( different levels of privacy, available local service menus, continuation of home alerts etc). The home network A may also determine default options where time zone information can feed in-line with user's voice; make available archive facilities for home alerts, SMS and voice messages so that these are only delivered at the request of the subscriber of MS30B; calculate and memorise time difference based on information from local operator; and search for services that are available at that time zone (tourism, local alerts, m-commence etc). It should be understood that these are merely examples of facilities that can be provided by the home network A. The advantages of the described system include: 1. Ability to notify local callers of time-zone of roaming mobiles. Callers can then avoid making future unwanted calls.

2. Roaming mobiles can then be "on" most of the time, as they do not need to worry about undesirable disturbance.

3. Home network can continue to provide friendly time-aware services (such as alerts and news can be sent at appropriate times) taking into account that roaming mobiles are not within home coverage and are in a different time zone. 4. Ability to explore different billing options.

The subscriber may choose, via the time zone data processing module 50, to allow a caller to be put through to the subscriber's MS 30B immediately, in real time, in the event of an emergency. A caller of MS 30A would be provided with a prompt from the processing module 50 indicating that there was a time difference and that the subscriber has chosen not to accept calls at the present time other than in an emergency. The caller would then have an option to indicate that there was an emergency, and if such an indication were provided, the caller would be connected directly to the subscriber of MS 30B via network B. Such a facility provides additional peace of mind for the subscriber of MS SOB. They may leave their mobile

( terminal switched on at all times while roaming, knowing that they will not be disturbed at selected times unless there is an emergency.

The processing module 50 may also take into account the local time at the point where a call to a roaming subscriber is initiated. Consider the following scenario: Subscriber's home network = Vodafone UK; Caller's network = fixed PSTN in Spain or Vodafone Spain mobile network; Subscriber's visited network = SFR France mobile network.

For example, it may be desirable for the processing module 50 to calculate and then indicate to the subscriber that the caller and the roaming subscriber are in the same time zone. Such a calculation is not just based on the home network's time zone (in this case UK) but needs to take into account the time zone of the caller. The time can be calculated based on information provided by the caller's number (if provided by CLI) - or by other information available as to the origin of the call.

The time at the caller's time zone is made available to the roaming subscriber. The processing module 50 can therefore attach information indicative of the time at the caller's location at the end of each SMS message sent to the subscriber when a call is made to them during their non-available time. The processing module 50 may also choose to send an SMS message to inform the roaming subscriber of the home time or the time difference at the home network if the subscriber chooses this facility or if information relating to the caller's location is not available. In another arrangement, when the subscriber tries to place a call to a caller via the home network, they are automatically informed of the local time at the caller's time zone.

Whilst the invention has been described in the context of a GSM mobile telecommunication system, it should be understood that the invention is equally

applicable to other mobile telecommunications systems, such as 3G.

Claims

( CLAIMS

i 1. Apparatus for connection to a telecommunications network (the "home network") with which a communication terminal is associated, the apparatus including means for receiving data indicative of the location of the terminal when the terminal is used in another network (the "visited network"), and means for controlling communication with the terminal by an entity in dependence upon the location indicative data.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control means is operable to control the communication with the terminal in dependence upon the local time at the location of the home network. I
3. The apparatus of claim I or 2, wherein the control means is operable to control the communication with the terminal in dependence upon the local time at the location of the entity.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the control means is operable to notify the entity of information indicative of the local time at the location of the terminal.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein the control means is operable to notify the entity of information indicative of the location of the terminal.
6. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the control means is operable to receive and store a message from the entity for subsequent transmission to the terminal.
7. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the control

/ 17 means is operable to control communication with the entity in dependence upon the identity of the entity.
8. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the control means is operable to provide the entity with a series of selectable options relating to communication with the terminal.
9. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the control means is operable to provide the terminal with a series of selectable options relating to communication with the home network.
10. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the home I network is geographically separated from the visited network.
11. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the home network is in a different time zone to the visited network.
12. A method of controlling communication between a communication terminal and an entity wishing to communicate with the communication terminal, the method including selectively allowing communication from the entity to the terminal in dependence upon the difference in local time at the respective locations of the terminal and the entity.
13. The method of claim 12, including selectively preventing communication of the entity with the terminal.
14. The method of claim 12 or 13, including selectively notifying the entity of information indicative of the time difference.
15. The method of claim 12, 13 or 14, including notifying the entity of information indicative of the location of the terminal.
16. The method of any one of claims 12 to 15, including selectively receiving and storing a message from the entity for subsequent transmission to the terminal.
17. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 16, including controlling communication with the entity in dependence upon the identity of the entity.
18. The method of any one of claims 12 to 1 7, including providing the entity with a series of selectable options relating to communication with the terminal.
19. The method of any one of claims 12 to 18, including providing the roaming terminal with a series of selectable options relating to communication with the home network.
20. The method of any one of claims 12 to 19, wherein the terminal and the entity are located in respective geographically separated telecommunications networks.
21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the respective networks are in different time zones.
22. A telecommunications system including first and second telephone networks in respective time zones, the first network having at least one terminal associated with it for allowing communication using the first network, the said terminal also being operable, when located in the second network, for communication using the second network, wherein, when the mobile terminal is in the second network, the difference in local time between the two networks is

( calculated and used to control communication to the terminal by third parties.
23. The system of claim 22, wherein means is provided for preventing communication to the terminal by selected third parties at selected times.
24. Apparatus for connection to the telecommunications network, a method of controlling communication or a telecommunications system, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and/or substantially illustrated in any one of or any combination of the accompanying drawings.