GB2405057A

GB2405057A - Means for reducing call cost

Info

Publication number: GB2405057A
Application number: GB0313429A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher William Hend Ellis
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-06-11
Filing date: 2003-06-11
Publication date: 2005-02-16
Anticipated expiration: 2023-06-11
Also published as: GB2405057B; GB0313429D0

Abstract

Means are provided to allow mobile handsets to communicate with network control resources to mimimise the cost of calling mobile phones from fixed networks and also to minimise the cost of calls between different mobile networks. A call from a fixed to a mobile communication unit is directed by means of a mobile user identifier to a call node (10), an alert is sent to the mobile communication unit (40), and a connexion set up between the mobile communication unit and the call node using a selected one of a plurality of communication systems for delivery of the call.

Description

COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a communication system for mobile telecommunication systems.

Background to the Invention

In many countries, at least 70% of the population now have mobile phones. Consequently, most telephone callers would now prefer to call individuals on their personal mobile phones, rather than call a room or location in the hope that the called party is present. However, callers are inhibited by the high prices charged for calls to mobile phones. Competition has driven the cost of calls from mobile phones to phones on fixed networks down to a level comparable with national calls from fixed phones to fixed phones. Calls from mobile phones to other mobile phones on the same network are also relatively inexpensive. Ho,,vever, calls to mobile phones on other mobile networks are generally much more costly, as are most calls to mobile phones from fixed phones. In both cases, the majority of the cost comes from the high charges levied by the called party's Mobile Network Operator (MNO) for providing the final mobile link to the called party's handset. As a result, the high cost of most calls to mobile phones is frustrating the natural desire of fixed and mobile callers to connect directly to a called party's personal phone, wherever they are. This is illustrated by statistics for the UK showing that the total number of call minutes to most mobile phones is typically only half the number of call minutes from the same mobile phones. This indicates that many mobile users are choosing to make relatively inexpensive calls to the fixed phones of their friends, family or colleagues, despite the inconvenience, rather than incur the extra expense of calls to their mobile phones. It also suggests that some users may be calling a mobile phone briefly from a fixed phone to ask their colleague or friend to call back immediately, at a much lower fixed-to-mobile rate.

GSM standard mobile handsets typically support at least two mobile frequencies. Some handsets support three and are called 'tri-band', allowing these sets to operate on networks in many countries worldwide, provided the user's MNO has the appropriate roaming agreements with other mobile operators. However, when a handset is in the user's home country, it is electronically 'locked' to prevent its use with any network other than the network of the MNO which supplied the SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card in the handset. Already technically possible, but prohibited by current regulation in most countries, is 'national roaming'. This would allow the handset to choose (on a call by call basis) the network with the strongest signal or the lowest call charge to carry an outgoing call. Some European regulators have already taken the first step towards national roaming by obliging the incumbent GSM MNOs to offer a form of national roaming to the new UMTS MNOs.

There is strong competitive pressure on MNOs to reduce the price of calls from mobiles, because these govern the charges that their mobile customers see on the bills from the MNOs.

However, the cost of calls from fixed phones to mobiles appears on the bills from the fixed operators, not the MNOs, consequently some customers are inclined to blame the fixed operators for the high cost of calls to mobiles. The charges for fixed-to-mobile calls are independent of the tariff package chosen by the mobile user and tend to be similar across the MNOs in each country, with a variation of only some 20% from lowest to highest, compared with a span of 700% or more for peak time mobile-tofixed charges. While MNOs heavily advertise their relatively low charges for calls from mobiles, little if any information is provided in most advertisements and brochures on the cost of calls to mobiles. If mobile customers see little difference between MNOs in this area, there is little competitive pressure on MNOs to reduce the cost of fixed-to-mobile charges, and they are likely to remain high.

So-called 'off-net mobile' calls, where a mobile handset cans another mobile handset on a different mobile network, can cost up to ten times as much as so-called 'on-net' calls, where a mobile handset calls another handset on the same mobile network. This price differential is intended to put strong pressure on families, groups of friends or businesses to standardise on a common, shared MNO, to minimise the cost of calls within a so-called 'affinity group'. But most individuals are members of several affinity groups (for example, fancily, company and sports club), and this makes the proposition impractical, given the improbability of all of the groups choosing the same MOO. Most customers know that the underlying costs of off-net calls cannot be substantially more than those of on-net calls, and realise that the high cost, in most tariffs, of calls to mobiles on other networks is a marketing ploy to force the adoption of a single mobile network within a family or business. The,' would prefer a more flexible, less expensive solution. The present invention seeks to provide a communication system in which operating costs are reduced and the most economical route and method to complete a call is used by a handset.

Statement of the invention

According to one aspect of the present invention7 there is provided a communication system comprising a call node hosting an identifier for a user and arranged to associate the identifier with a communication unit for communicating with the user, the call node being arranged to accept communications directed to the identifier of the user, wherein if the communication unit associated with the user satisfies certain criteria the call node instructs the communications unit to connect to the call node, the call node then linking the communication directed to the identifier with the connection made by the communication unit to complete the call.

A call node receives all calls to an identifier, such as a personal telephone number or a fixed line number, for a user. If the communication unit, such as a mobile telephone, associated with the user satisfies predetermined criteria, such as it is capable of accepting calls via a mobile telecommunication network under some reduced price tariff such as at weekends7 the call node connects the communication directly to the communication unit. However7 if it is determined that it is not possible to use such a route or some other route is more advantageous7 the call node communicates with the communication unit instructing the communication unit to call the call node. The call node can then link the incoming call to the communication unit. In this manner7 where a handset is only contactable via a GSM or other mobile cellular network call completion is made at a mobile-to-fixed charging tariff instead of a fixed-to-mobile charging tariff resulting in substantial savings in call completion costs. Furthermore7 when telecommunications networks become more liberalised and allow calls from any handset to be made without a specific subscription the system can be programmed to determine and use the most economical communications network and route available to complete the call.

Preferably7 the call node is capable of connecting to the communication unit via one of a plurality of communication networks7 wherein the call node periodically communicates with the communication unit to determine whether connection via each of the communication networks Is feasible, the predetermined criteria comprising the feasibility of a connection via a communication network of a first type.

The communication system may further comprise a database in which the call node records the feasibility of connection via each communication network against the identifier, wherein upon accepting a call to an identifier the call node accesses the database to determine whether a connection via a communication network of the first type is feasible.

The communication system may further comprise a further database on communication networks indicating whether they are of the first type, the call node cross referencing the database with the further database to determine whether a connection via a communication network indicated as being of the first type is feasible.

Non-cellular mobile networks may be networks of the first type.

The communication unit may comprise a dual mode telephone capable of connecting to the call node using a GSM cellular mobile network or using a land based PSTN via a local DECT, Bluetooth or similar base station. The communication unit may satisfy me predetermined criteria if it is within range of a local base station so that a connection via a land based PSTN can be made. With UMTS, handsets supporting both Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) and Time Division Duplex (TDD) transmission protocols will become available, and such handsets will be able to connect to land-based networks via short-range TDD if TDD base stations are in range, and communicating over FDD frequencies to the M:NOs' networks if not.

The communication unit and the call node may include a communication subsystem for instructing the communication unit to connect to the call node. The communication unit may be arranged to determine whether the feasibility of a connection via the cellular mobile network or the PSTN via a local base station changes and to communicate the change to the call node using the communication subsystem The communication subsystem may comprise a GPRS or UMTS system l According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a communication method comprising the steps of: hosting an identifier for a user and associating the identifier with a communication unit for communicating with the user; accepting communications directed to the identifier of the user; determining whether the communication unit associated with the user satisfies predetermined criteria and, if so, connecting the communications to the communications unit, otherwise instructing the communications unit to connect to the call node and linking the communication directed to the identifier with the connection made by the communications unit to complete the call.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a communication system comprising a call node hosting an identifier for a user and arranged to associate the identifier with a cellular mobile telephone of the user, the call node being arranged to accept communications directed to the identifier of the user, wherein upon acceptance of a call, the call node instructs the cellular mobile telephone to connect to the call node, the call node then linking the communication directed to the identifier with the connection made by the communications unit to complete the call.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a communication system comprising a call node hosting an identifier for a user and arranged to associate the identifier with a cellular mobile telephone of the user, the call node being arranged to accept communications from a communications network such as the luternet, wherein upon receipt of a request from another node on the communications network for a call to be set up, the call node instructs the cellular mobile telephone to connect directly to the identifier associated with a fixed or mobile telephone specified in the call request, the call node then optionally confirming back to the requesting node whether the cellular mobile telephone is attempting to call the identifier indicated in the call request.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a personal communication system capable of associating a list of names of cellular mobile telephone users with the mobile phone number of each user, the personal communication system being arranged s to accept and receive communications from a communications network such as the Internet, wherein upon the user of the personal communication system requesting a call to a cellular mobile telephone user to be set up, the personal communication system instructs the cellular mobile telephone via the communication network to connect directly to the identifier associated with a fixed or mobile telephone specified in the call request and located close to the user initiating the call request, the mobile then optionally confirming back to the initiating personal communication system via the communication network whether the cellular mobile telephone is attempting to call the identifier indicated in the call request and set up a voice call.

Brief Description of the Drawings

An example of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a communication system according to the invention.

Detailed Description

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a communication system according to the invention.

A user leases a personal number from a personal number service operator. The personal number is associated with a call node 10 maintained by the personal number service operator. The call node 10 includes incoming call ports 1 la-1 le. outgoing call ports 12a-12e and a control system 15. An IN (Intelligent Network) platform 2() is connected to the call node control system 15 and runs the software which provides the conventional personal number services and also includes a database 35 associating personal numbers with the telephones of users registered to receive the calls. Attached to the IN platform 20 is the GPRS server 30 which hosts the additional 'Instant Callback' software. In this example, the server is separate from the IN platform, but it will also be possible to integrate the new function into the IN platform. A mobile telephone 4() owned by the user is registered in the database 35 for receiving calls to the user's personal number. The mobile phone 4() includes a GPRS system 50, a call processing controller 55, and a transceiver fitted with a GSM/GPRS aerial 45. The call processing controller 55 is connected to the GPRS system 50 and the transceiver 45. The controller 55 operates to control the transceiver 45. GSM and GPRS communications from the transceiver 4S are supported by a cellular GSM aerial 60 by which the call node 10 can be reached via the MNO core network 65.

The mobile phone 40 communicates new control information with the GPRS server 30 using the GPRS service of the MNO via the MNO's GPRS gateway 70. The mobile phone 40 may not need to supply location and network status until it is interrogated over GPRS by the IN platform 20, although in some implementations it may be desirable to supply the information on a regular basis. When the call node 10 receives a call to the mobile phone 40 from the PSTN, it communicates with the mobile phone 40 using the IN platform 20 and the GPRS server 30, which update the database 35.

When a call is made to the personal number of the user, the caller is connected to a free incoming call port lla-e of the call node 10. The call node 10 detects the called personal number and the IN platform 20 cross-references this with the database 35 to determine the status of the associated handset 40. The IN platform 20 communicates via its GPRS server 30 to the GPRS system 50 of the handset 40 and alerts the controller 55 of the handset 40 that there is a call waiting. The communication may include the CLI (Calling Line Information) of the incoming call and other data associated with the CLI or obtained from other databases.

Depending on the programming of the controller 55, the controller 55 may automatically accept the call or may present the CLI and any other information to the user for him or her to determine whether to accept the call. If the call is accepted, the controller 55 controls the transceiver 45 to initiate a voice call via the GSM network 60 to an outgoing call port 12a-12e of the call node 10. The outgoing call port may be predetermined by the call node and indicated in its GPRS communication to the handset. The transceiver 45 makes this call using the GSM network 60 and the MNO's core network 65 which is connected to the call node 10. Once the call is completed via the GSM network 60 to the call node 10, the call node 10 connects the incoming call port l la holding the incoming call to the outgoing call port 12a-12e to which the handset has connected. In this manner the call is completed.

It can be seen that this scenario and configuration is tailored to the current economic climate discussed above in which calls made to GSM telephones are charged at a tariff much higher than calls made to fixed, land-based telephones over a PSTN or even calls made from a GSM telephone. Where necessary, calls are made from a GSM handset over the GSM network to a PSTN based call node to avoid the highest type of call charges from the PSTN call node to the GSM network. Although the handset is making calls it otherwise would not be in the case where calls are completed over GSM to the call node, it is not necessary that this element of the call is billed to the handset owner, the called party. Its cost can be covered in the overall charge paid by the caller.

Further prograrnnung can be envisaged to take into account situations where more telecommunication networks are available. For example, a first communication network may charge a price X for calls from mobile telephones whilst a competitor may charge a price X-2 for the same service. Therefore, if the call node 10 was to maintain a database of call tariffs, in combination with status information from the handset on the availability of networks, it could determine the cheapest route to complete the call to the handset and either complete the call itself or instruct the handset to complete the call over the selected telecommunication network.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a means to load into the communication unit the software required to provide the 'instant callback' function. Cellular phones using the GSM standard are provided with SIM card readers. Typically, a GSM user is given a SIM card by the MNO who is contracted to provide the user with GSM service. Some SIM cards now have sufficient memory capacity to carry additional software. However, access to this memory is controlled by the MNO, who is unlikely to permit its use for applications which reduce the MNO's revenue. Another possibility is to persuade one or more handset manufacturers to include the 'instant callback' functionality in the software built into the handset. However, in the UK and other markets where most handsets are sold to MNOs who then sell the handsets to users at subsidised prices, the MNOs are likely to insist that handsets do not incorporate the 'instant callback' function. To overcome these limitations, the following approach is adopted.

Advanced applications are supported in GSM by WAP (Wireless Application Protocol). The latest models of GSM handsets now ship with WAP level 1.2. 1, and WAP 2.0 is expected to appear in some handsets before the end of 2()02. Earlier versions of WAP required that WAP applications in the handset had to be initiated by the handset's user. WAP 1.2.1 now also Supports 'push', where certain applications in the handset can also be initiated by the communication network, not just by the user. Application initiation with 'push'is not confined to the network operator's WAP servers but can come from other authorised servers attached to the network. WAP 2.0 adds further functionality, including a reserved area of storage called the Repository', in any handset conforming to WAP 2.0. The Repository allows WAP applications to remain in the handset on a semipermanent basis, significantly reducing the cost and time needed to load applications into the handset.

The present invention takes full advantage of the new 'push' and program storage functions of WAP, which will also be available in UMTS (open described as 3G) when it begins to roll out.

Where GPRS (General Packet Radio Service, sometimes described as 2.5G) is already available, WAP over GPRS can provide an ideal platform for the present invention. It is this implementation of the invention that is now described.

A caller on a public fixed or mobile network calls the 'private line' number associated with the user's mobile handset. The network operator who is supplying the 'private line' service based on the invention will have provided the user with her 'private line' number. The 'private line' number has the appearance of a fixed line to the billing system of the caller's network; consequently the caller is billed for a call to a fixed phone, rather than a more expensive call charge to a mobile phone if the caller had dialled the user's mobile number. The user will have given out her 'private line' number to those potential callers she would like to provide with an inexpensive means of calling her. The 'private line' also provides a means of delivering priority access to the user.

The call is routed over the caller's network to the network of the 'private line' service provider.

The 'private line' service provider may complete the call by providing a telephone answering service or attempt to extend the call to the telephone where the called party has indicated calls to her 'private line' should currently be directed.

Conventionally, the basic information about the incoming call is passed by the 'private line' service provider's switch receiving the call to the service provider's Intelligent Network (IN) platform, which determines how the call should be handled and then instructs the call switch how to proceed.

Conventionally again, if the IN platform decides to attempt to complete the call on the called party's mobile phone, the IN platform will now pass the mobile phone number to the call switch and instruct it to hand the call on to the appropriate MNO for completion. Instead, in the present invention the IN platform instructs the call switch to place the incoming call temporarily on hold, perhaps supply a suitable recording ("We are trying to contact Ms Smith, please hold "). In parallel, the IN platform sends a 'WAP over GPRS' message to the called party's handset which, using the 'push' function of WAP, initiates the 'instant callback' application embodying the present invention.

The 'instant callback' application expands the data received over GPRS from the service provider's IN platform and presents it to the called party on the display of her handset. One or more alert signals may be given (special ringing tone, vibration, etc). Note that, by taking full advantage of the bit rate of GPRS, the information supplied could include a passport-style photograph or a cartoon image, enabling the called party to recognise the caller instantly, i without resort to reading glasses, etc. The user has full control over call direction from her mobile handset when it is equipped with I the invention. The user can modify the settings in the IN platform whenever she chooses, in advance of calls. In addition, she can instantly override the current settings in response to a specific call alert. For example, the called party might want the incoming call routed to an audio conferencing system, rather than to the handset that has alerted her to the call. This level of control is facilitated by the 'always on' immediacy provided by WAP over GPRS.

It can be seen that a variation of the above approach is where a new UMTS mobile operator uses the innovation to gain maximum value from national roaming agreements with established GSM operators. In the early stages of the rollout of the new UMTS network, geographic coverage will be limited, and the UMTS operator will need to use the GSM networks of one or t more established MNOs to initiate and/or complete mark ofthe calls to the UMTS/GSM/GPRS handsets. In the case of call initiation, this is not a problem because the call charges from the GSM MNOs will be acceptably low. However, call completion charges are typically three times as high. For the new operator, one possible way to attract customers might be to offer significantly lower charges for calls to mobiles. However, if the cost of completion is held high by the existing operators, this option may initially be prohibitively expensive, or require a costly subsidy, until the UMTS network coverage is nearly complete. The innovation enables the new operator to use national roaming to the full, but usually pay only 'mobile-to-fixed' related call initiation charges, rarely the more expensive call completion charges. With most UMTS and some GSM/GPRS handsets being programmable by users, the 'instant callback' function can be implemented using Java or other open code, as an alternative to WAP.

In another variation, the innovation can be applied to enable callers on a private network, such as a PABX, to be able to call certain mobile phones at much lower cost. In this case, the GPRS server hosting the invention may be co-located with the PABX, and owned and operated by the owner of the PABX, or the innovation may be hosted by a service provider, but with no call switching required by the senice provider.

In another variation, the innovation can be used to allow a user of a personal computer to issue a request for the setting up of a telephone call from a mobile phone equipped with the innovation. For example, a secretary might have an application on her personal computer which shows a list of the sales people she supports and the GPRS/lnternet addresses of their mobile handsets. To initiate a call, she selects the appropriate sales person by name and the innovation sets up a GPRS call to the appropriate handset. The GPRS message indicates who has initiated the call setup request and the telephone number the mobile handset should dial if the mobile handset user wishes the call to be established. Note that the telephone number to be used can be changed easily by the secretary if she is working from another office or from home. The mobile user will have the option of allowing such calls to be set up immediately and automatically on receipt, or of requiring confirmation from the mobile user before the call from the mobile handset to the secretary is initiated. The requesting message will not normally be presented to the mobile user until any call in progress has been completed, although there may be a requirement in some applications for high priority call setup requests to be presented immediately, and this can be achieved by using, for example, the handset vibrator and display, without disturbing the current call. The mobile user may be presented with the option of indicating to the call requester that the request is acknowledged and that the call will be initiated, as soon as practicable. The acknowledgement will be conveyed back via GPRS or UMTS to I the requester's personal computer.

Claims

Claims 1. A communications system comprising a call node hosting an

identifier for a user and arranged to associate the identifier with a communication unit for communicating with the user, the communication unit being able to communicate with the call node via any one of a plurality of telecommunications systems, wherein the call node is arranged to accept communications directed to the identifier of the user and to alert the communications unit of an accepted communication, the communications unit being operative to communicate details of the plurality of telecommunications systems to the call node so that it can form a connection via a suitable one of the telecommunications systems with the communications unit to link the accepted communication to the communications unit.
2. A communications system according to claim 1, in which the communications are telephone-based, the communications unit comprising a telephone.
3. A communications system according to claim 2, in which the communications unit is a mobile telephone, wherein at least one of said plurality of telecommunications systems is compatible with a first mode of the mobile telephone and at least one of said plurality of telecommunications systems is compatible with a second mode of the mobile telephone.
4. A communications system according to claim 2, in which the communications unit is a mobile telephone, wherein each telecommunications system comprises a mobile telephone network.
5. A communications system according to claim 2, in which the communications unit is a cordless telephone, wherein each telecommunications system comprises a public cordless telecommunications system.
6. A communications system according to any preceding claim, in which alerts from the call node to the communications unit and the communication of details of the plurality of telecommunications systems from the communications unit to the call node is by a selected one of GPRS or UMTS or similar.
7. A communications system according to any preceding claim, in which an identifier comprises a personal telephone number for a user.
8. A communications system according to any preceding claim, in which an alert to a communications unit of an accepted call includes data associated with the caller.
9. A communications system according to claim 8, in which the data includes the caller's calling line identifier (CLI).
10. A communications system according to claim 8 or 9, in which the data includes data associated with the caller selected from the set of image of the caller, personal data on the caller, contact data on the caller and other predetermined data associated with the caller.
11. A communications system according to any preceding claim, in which the details on the plurality of telecommunications systems include data selected from the set of telecommunication system availability, signal strength, cost of using the telecommunication system, and pre-set user preferences.
12. A communications system according to any preceding claim, in which the selection of a telecommunication system to form the connection is made in dependence on the details communicated by the communications unit.
13. A communications system according to any preceding claim, in which the comnunications:'n,it selects' the telecommunications system to use in dependence on the details. ' '
14. A communications system according to any of claims 1 to 12, in which the call node selects the telecommunications system to use in dependence on the details.
15. A communications system according to claim 14, in which the call node is linked to a data source on the telecommunications systems, wherein the call node selects the telecommunications system to use in dependence on data from the data source and on the details.
16. A communications system according to claim 14 or 15, in which the alert includes details of the plurality of telecommunications systems from a prior call, the communications unit being arranged to communicate differences between the prior state and the current state of the plurality of telecommunications systems.
17. A communications system according to claim 16, in which the communications unit is arranged to store prior details of the plurality of telecommunications systems, the communications unit being arranged to communicate the differences between the prior details and the current details upon alert of a call.

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