GB2478765A

GB2478765A - Processing of called party status information

Info

Publication number: GB2478765A
Application number: GB1004444A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Rajiv Rajan Azhapilli; Craig Kelvin Bishop
Original assignee: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
Current assignee: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
Priority date: 2010-03-17
Filing date: 2010-03-17
Publication date: 2011-09-21
Anticipated expiration: 2030-03-17
Also published as: GB2478765B; KR20110104881A; GB201004444D0

Abstract

In a telecommunication network comprising a plurality of radio access networks 4, 10, a first message is sent via the telecommunication network containing a request originated by a first user equipment 2 requesting status information relating to a second user equipment 8 and a second message is received via the telecommunication network conveying the requested status information. At least one of the first and second messages are processed using a service component 6, 12 which is used for controlling handover of user equipment between different radio access networks, such as a Media Independent Handover (MIH) client. This provides an efficient means of accessing and communicating the status information. In a second embodiment the status information may for example enable a caller to avoid an inconvenient alert to a called party. Generation of an alert for a called user may be delayed depending on a status indicator relating to the called user equipment, allowing the caller to decide whether or not to abort a call before the generation of an alert at the called user equipment.

Description

Processing of Called Party Status Information

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to telecommunications networks, and more specifically to methods and apparatus for avoiding an inconvenient alert to a called party.

Background of the Invention

Wireless networks, in which a user equipment (UE) such as a mobile handset communicates via wireless links to a network of base stations or other wireless access points connected to a telecommunications network, have undergone rapid development through a number of generations of radio access technology. Furthermore, wireless networks have evolved via separate routes in the fields of cellular wireless, such as Global System for Mobile communications (GSM), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) and Long Term Evolution (LTE), fixed wireless access (such as IEEE 802.16 WiMax), and wireless networking (such as IEEE 802.11 WiFi), to the point where the technologies potentially offer similar capabilities, including mobility. A telecommunications network may comprise several radio access networks, each using a different radio access technology. In some locations the areas of coverage may overlap, but typically the coverage of deployed wireless networks is not ubiquitous, and the capabilities of a wireless network, in particular regarding available data bandwidth, vary according to location. In particular, WiFi may offer potentially high bandwidth in relatively localised areas such as "hotspots", but limited or no coverage elsewhere. By contrast, cellular wireless systems offer typically greater coverage, but typically more limited data bandwidth.

User equipment has been developed for use in a telecommunication network comprising a plurality of radio access networks, equipped with radio transceivers appropriate to a variety of radio access technologies. The user equipment is able to select a radio access network appropriate to its requirements according to the capabilities on offer at a given location, and to hand over to another radio access network if the location of the user equipment or the capabilities of the radio access networks changes.

Systems and protocols have been developed to assist handover between wireless networks operating according to different radio access technologies, such as IEEE 802.21 Media Independent Handover (MIH). Although MIH is typically used for assisting handover of user equipment between radio access networks operating according to different radio access technologies, MIH may also be used for handover between radio access networks operating using the same radio access technology, or between access nodes within a radio access network.

MIH may typically be implemented without changing the existing radio access networks, other than by the installation of MIH clients in network entities such as user equipment and wireless access nodes, and provision of the MIH server. The MIH server may also be referred to as a MIH information server.

Messages in the MIH system are relayed between entities known as MIH functions (MIHF). An MIH function has a MIH function identifier, which may for example be a MAC address or an IP address. The MIH function is located between layer 2 and layer 3 of the ISO protocol stack, and communication is provided between the various wireless functions (layer 2) and MIH functions, between MIH functions, and between MIH functions and entities in the IP layer (layer 3).

MIH messages may be sent in connection with three specified media independent services: Event Service (ES), Command Service (CS) and Infonnation Service (IS). The Event Service provides a unified reporting mechanism relating to changes in state or status of the link layers. The Command Service (CS) allows either the user equipment client or the MIH server to control the parameters of a link, modify the behaviour of the ES and initiate and coordinate network switching. The Information Service provides database access and retrieval of information relating to network availability, network parameters and the availability of services for both serving and neighbouring access networks. Examples of information carried by the Information Service include geographical network maps, service costs, quality of service functionalities and roaming partners. The Information Service also provides neighbouring network information about user and network operator policies for optimal initial network attachment or network re-selection in idle mode.

Handover using MIH may be implemented according to various control models. In one approach, handover may be terminal controlled, that is to say the control is implemented in the MIH client installed in a user equipment. In this case, the user equipment may make use of all three MIH services (ES, CS and IS).

Alternatively, handover may be terminal initiated, and network assisted.

In this case the user equipment makes use of the Information Service.

According to a third control model, handover may be network initiated and network controlled, in which case the network makes use of the MIH Event Service, Command Service and Information Service to decide whether handover is needed, to decide the target (i.e. the wireless access point or base station to which handover should be made) and to command the terminal to handover. In this approach, the user equipment does not use the MIH Information Service.

In either the terminal controlled handover model, or terminal initiated handover model, the MIH information server may typically supply information to the MIH client at the user equipment relating to: * network types available given the location of the user equipment, * location of wireless access points and base stations, * identifiers of network providers, * information relating to roaming agreements between network operators, indications of costs for network usage according to service type, * link layer security supported, * link quality of service parameters, * capabilities of an access point or base station such as emergency services, * Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) services and * operator specific information elements.

It can be seen that the MIH Information Service is not used to convey status information relating to a user equipment to another user equipment in any of the approaches to handover, since such information is not relevant to a handover decision. Furthermore, a user equipment is not supplied information relating to the status of another user equipment by use of any other MIH service.

In a telecommunication system comprising a plurality of radio access networks, the radio access networks may cover differing time zones, so that a called party may be roaming in a location at which the local time is an inconvenient time to receive an alert of a call, such as at night, unknown to a caller. In addition, a called party may wish not to be alerted for a variety of reasons. It would be beneficial to provide a method and apparatus that would enable a caller to avoid an inconvenient alert to a called party, for use in a telecommunications network comprising a plurality of radio access networks.

Summary of the Invention

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of processing user equipment status information, in a telecommunication network comprising a plurality of radio access networks, a first user equipment and a second user equipment, the method comprising: sending a first message via the telecommunication network, the first message containing a request originated by the first user equipment and requesting status information relating to the second user equipment; and receiving a second message via the telecommunication network, the second message conveying the requested status information, wherein at least one of said first and second messages are processed using a service component which is used for controlling handover of user equipment between different radio access networks.

An advantage of using the service component which is used for controlling handover of user equipment between different radio access networks is that the service component may have access to an efficient means of communication to other network parts used for controlling handover which may have access to status information relating to the second user equipment. It is not obvious to use the service component for this purpose, since the service component may be intended for a different purpose, that is to say for use in controlling handover. Furthermore, it is not conventional to convey information to a service component used for controlling handover at a user equipment that relates to another user equipment; typically, information is conveyed relating to an access point to which handover may be performed.

Preferably, the service component is a Media Independent Handover (MIH) client on the first user equipment.

Preferably, the first message is sent from a Media Independent Handover (MIH) client on the first user equipment to a Media Independent Handover (MIH) client on the second user equipment and the second message is received at the Media Independent Handover (MIH) client on the first user equipment from the Media Independent Handover (MIH) client on the second user equipment, with advantages that the messages may be sent conveniently using MIH communication, and that the MIH client on the second user equipment may have access to the status information.

Advantageously, the first message is sent from a Media Independent Handover (MIH) client on the first user equipment to a Media Independent Handover (MIH) server in the telecommunication network and the second message is received at the Media Independent Handover (MIH) client on the first user equipment from the Media Independent Handover (MIH) server.

Accordingly. status information sent from the second user equipment to the MIH server may be efficiently accessed by the first user equipment.

Preferably, the requested status information comprises status data indicating a location of the second user equipment, which has an advantage that the location of the second user equipment may be displayed to the user of the first user equipment, so that a user of the first user equipment may decide whether or not to initiate a call to the second user equipment on the basis of the location.

Preferably, the status information conveyed in the second message comprises status data indicating a time of day at the location of the second user equipment, which has an advantage that a time of day at the location of the second user equipment may be displayed to the user of the first user equipment, so that a user of the first user equipment may decide whether or not to initiate a call to the second user equipment on the basis of the a time of day at the location.

Preferably, the status information conveyed in the second message comprises status data indicating a contactability preference setting for the second user equipment, which has an advantage that contactability preference setting for the second user equipment may be displayed to the user of the first user equipment, so that a user of the first user equipment may decide whether or not to initiate a call to the second user equipment on the basis of the contactability preference setting.

Preferably, the status information conveyed in the second message comprises status data indicating whether the second user equipment is registered to a wireless network other than a home wireless network for the second user equipment, which has an advantage that the status of the second user equipment regarding whether or not it is roaming may be displayed to the user of the first user equipment, so that a user of the first user equipment may decide whether or not to initiate a call to the second user equipment on the basis of whether or not the second user equipment is roaming.

Preferably the status information conveyed in the second message comprises status data indicating a type of network to which the second user equipment is connected, for example a cellular network or a WiFi network, so that a user of the first user equipment may decide whether or not to initiate a call to the second user equipment on the basis of the type of network to which the second user equipment is connected.

Preferably, the method comprises sending the first message in response to selection of an entry associated with the second user equipment from a store of address information. An advantage is that status information may displayed in response to selecting an entry in an address book, indicating a possible interest in the status of the second user equipment.

Preferably, the method comprises sending the first message dependent on a determination that the second user equipment has an associated Media Independent Handover (MIH) function identifier. An advantage is that the sending of an unnecessary message will be avoided it is identified that the second user equipment does not have an associated MIH function identifier, as the lack of a MIH function identifier indicates that the second user equipment does to have a MIH client with which to communicate or which may send status information to MIH server. The presence or absence of an MIH identifier may be ascertained from an entry in an address book.

Preferably, the method comprises providing an indication relating to said requested status information at the first user equipment, in order to allow a user of the first user equipment to decide whether or not to contact the second user equipment.

Preferably, the method comprises, dependent on the status information, storing a payload message and sending the payload message to the second user equipment after a delay, in order to delay an alert by the second user equipment.

This has an advantage that the alert may be delayed to occur at a more convenient time for the user of the second user equipment.

Preferably, the delay is dependent on the user status information conveyed in the second message, which has an advantage that the alert may be arranged to occur at a time that is less inconvenient to the user of the second user equipment, in view of the status of the user equipment.

Preferably, the payload message is stored at the first user equipment, which has the advantage that it is not necessary to make any changes to the network in order to implement the delay.

Preferably, the payload message is an SMS or MMS message. An advantage of using the method when the payload message is an SMS or MMS message is that audio alert tones associated with such messages may be delayed.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of managing alerts in a telecommunications system, the method comprising: setting a status indicator relating to second user equipment; detecting the initiation of a call to the second user equipment by a caller from first user equipment; dependent on the status indicator, selecting an alerting tone for use at the first user equipment; and dependent on the status indicator, delaying the generation of an alert for use at the second user equipment. The method has an advantage of allowing the caller to decide whether or not to abort a call to the first user equipment before the generation of an alert at the first user equipment.

Preferably, the status indicator indicates status information comprising status data indicating whether the second user equipment is registered to a wireless network other than a home wireless network for the second user equipment, with an advantage that the user of the first user equipment may be informed when the user of the second user equipment is roaming.

Preferably, the method comprises setting the status indicator dependent on a query to a home location register associated with the second user equipment, with an advantage that the status indicator may be set on the basis of information held by the home location register. Typically, a home location register holds information relating to a location of a user equipment.

Preferably, the status indicator comprises status data indicating a location of the second user equipment, with an advantage that the alerting tone may be related to the location of the second user equipment.

Preferably, the status indicator comprises status data indicating a time of day at the location of the second user equipment, which has an advantage that a an alerting tone may be selected on the basis of the time of day at the location of the second user equipment, so that a user of the first user equipment may decide whether or not to initiate a call to the second user equipment on that basis.

Preferably, the status indicator comprises status data indicating a contactability preference setting for the second user equipment, which has an advantage that the alerting tone may, for example, indicate that the second user wishes to be contacted in certain circumstances only, such as in an emergency.

The term "alerting tone" is used here to include a spoken message.

In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided user equipment, suitable for use in a telecommunication network comprising a plurality of radio access networks and a second user equipment, the claimed user equipment being arranged to: send a first message via the telecommunication network, the first message containing a request originated by the claimed user equipment and requesting status information relating to the second user equipment; and receive a second message via the telecommunication network, the second message conveying the requested status information, wherein the claimed user equipment is arranged to process at least said first and second messages using a service component which is used for controlling handover of user equipment between different radio access networks.

In accordance with a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a telecommunications system capable of managing alerts, the telecommunications system being arranged to: set a status indicator relating to second user equipment; detect the initiation of a call to the second user equipment by a caller from first user equipment; dependent on the status indicator, select an alerting tone for use at the first user equipment; and dependent on the status indicator, delay the generation of an alert for use at the second user equipment, in order to allow the caller to decide whether or not to abort a call to the first user equipment before the generation of an alert at the first user equipment.

Further features and advantages of the invention will be apparent form the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention, which are given by way of example only.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing a telecommunication network including MIH entities; Figure 2 is a diagram showing transmission of messages according to a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 3 is a diagram showing transmission of messages according to a second embodiment of the invention; Figure 4 is a diagram showing transmission of messages according to a third embodiment of the invention; Figure 5 is a diagram showing transmission of messages according to a fourth embodiment of the invention; and Figure 6 is a diagram showing transmission of messages according to a fifth embodiment of the invention.

Detailed Description of the Invention

By way of example, embodiments of the invention will now be described in the context of a telecommunication network that includes one or more cellular radio access networks and also includes wireless hotspots that are part of a radio access network such as a WiFi network supporting IEEE8O2. 11 radio access technology. The one or more cellular radio access networks may be GSM, UMTS or LTE networks, or a combination of these, using GERA, UTRA and E-UTRA radio access technology respectively. However, it will be understood that this is by way of example only and that other embodiments may involve wireless networks using other radio access technologies, such as WiMax networks supporting IEEE8O2.16 radio access technology; embodiments are not limited to the use of a particular radio access technology. Embodiments are described using Media Independent Handover (MIH) to assist handover between these radio access networks. However, it will be understood that other service components for controlling handover between different radio access networks could be used in embodiments of the invention, such as Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA), also known as Generic Access Network (GAN), which provides handover between IEEE 802.11 WiFi and GERA/UTRA.

The embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to Figure 1, which shows a telecommunication network including MIH entities. A first user equipment 2 is camped in a first radio access network 4, and a second user equipment 8 is camped in a second radio access network 12, which may be located in a different time zone than the first radio access network 4. The first radio access network 4 may be a UMTS network, and the second radio access network 12 may be a WiFi network; the second user equipment may be connected to a local WiFi hotspot in the second radio access network 12, for example to take advantage of high speed data services. The first and second radio access networks are connected to an interconnecting network 14. The first user equipment 2 has a MIH client 6 installed, and the second user equipment 8, similarly, has a MIH client 10 installed. A MIH server or server system 16 is connected to the interconnecting network 14, so that the MIH clients may access the MIH server or server system 16 using the telecommunication network, typically by use of Internet Protocol (IP).

A user A, being the user of the first user equipment 2, intends to call user B, who is the user of the second user equipment 8. At this point, user A would like to obtain status information regarding the user equipment of user B, in order to avoid causing an inconvenient alert to user B; user A does not know, in this example, the location or time zone in which the second user equipment is located or whether or not user B has set the second user equipment to indicate a contactability preference, for example a preference to receive urgent calls only.

User A selects the entry for user B from an address book, which is a store of address information, typically held at the first user equipment 2. The address information may, in a variant of the embodiment, be retrieved from other entities in the telecommunication network. The address information conventionally comprises a telephony party identifier such as a telephone number, relating to a user and/or a user equipment. However, according to the first embodiment of the invention the address book may also hold MIH function (MIHF) identifiers relating to user equipment and/or the user in addition to the telephony party identifier. Attempting to retrieve the MIHF identifier from the address book has the function of firstly indicating whether or not the user equipment to be called, in this example the second user equipment 8, has a MIH client installed, and if so, of providing an address to enable a message to be sent to the MIHF of the second user equipment 8.

If the second user equipment 8 has an MIHF identifier, and the first user equipment 2 has an MIHF client 6 installed, a first message is sent from the first user equipment 2 via the telecommunication network, the first message containing a request originated by the first user equipment 2 and requesting status information relating to the second user equipment 8. The first message is processed by the MIH client 6. The processing includes sending the message using the MIH client 6 to an entity that has an MIHF identifier, the entity being the MIH client 12 of the second user equipment 8 in the first embodiment.

The trigger for sending the first message may be based on the dwell time of browsing through the address book, so that status information may be sought only for those entries on which User A pauses for longer than a threshold time, to avoid unnecessary demands on signalling resource for retrieving status information.

In response to the first message, a second message is received via the telecommunication network, the second message conveying the requested status information to the first user equipment 2 and the second message being sent in this embodiment from the MIH client 12 of the second user equipment 8 to the MIH client 6 of the first user equipment 2.

The status information may then be displayed on the first user equipment to user A, so that user A can make an informed decision as to whether or not to call user B. The status information may comprise data indicating a location of the second user equipment, a time of day at the location of the second user equipment, an indication of whether the second user equipment is registered to a wireless network other than a home wireless network for the second user equipment, and/or a type of network to which the second user equipment is connected.

Figure 2 illustrates an exchange of signalling in the first embodiment of the invention. The first user equipment 2 is also referred to as the mobile node of user A (MN User A). Within the first user equipment there is shown a phone dialler 18, an address book 20, and a MIH function 22, the MIH function being the entity of the MIH client 6 that sends and receives messages. The second user equipment 8 has a MIH function 24. Firstly, user A selects contact details relating to user B or the second user equipment 8 from the address book. Then, the phone dialler 18 sends a message 28 to the address book 20 to fetch user B's Media Independent Handover Function Identifier (MIHF ID), that is to say the MIHF ID for the second user equipment 8. In response, the address book sends a message 30 to the phone dialler supplying User B's MIHF ID, if available. If a MIHF ID is available for user B, the phone dialler then sends a message 32 to the MIH function 22 requesting status information regarding the second user equipment 8. In response, the MIH function 22 sends a first message 34 requesting status information relating to the second user equipment to the MIH function 24 of the second user equipment.

In response, the MIH function 24 of the second user equipment sends a second message 36 conveying the requested status information to the MIH function 22 of the first user equipment. The MIH function 22 then sends a message 38 to the phone dialler 18 conveying the requested status information.

The status information is then displayed at the first user equipment, in order to allow a user of the first user equipment to decide whether or not to contact the second user equipment.

In the first embodiment of the invention, the first message 34 is a modified version of a MIH Capability Request Message, conventionally used for the MIH Information Service, but in this embodiment the message is modified to carry parameters relating to the status of the second user equipment, and in this embodiment the message is sent to the MIH ftinction 24 in the second user equipment rather than to the MIH information server. The location information may be provided by a navigation system such as GPS at the second user equipment.

If there is no MIHF identifier stored in the address book for the entry for User B relating to the second user equipment, then the first message 34 is not sent. Also, if the first user equipment is not equipped with a MIH client, then the first message is not sent. In either case, therefore, the status information may not be available at the first user equipment.

Figure 3 illustrates an exchange of signalling in a second embodiment of the invention. As in the first embodiment, user A selects user B's contact details from the address book, the phone dialler 18 sends a message 28 to the address book 20 to fetch user B's Media Independent Handover Function Identifier (MIHF ID), and in response, the address book sends a message 30 to the phone dialler supplying User B's MIHF ID, if available. In the second embodiment, the phone dialler then sends a message 42 to the MIH function 22 requesting status information regarding the second user equipment 8. In response, the MIH function 22 sends a variant 44 of the first message requesting status information relating to the second user equipment to the MIH Information server 16. The status information regarding the second user equipment is held on the MIH information server in this embodiment; the status information is updated by means of a message 46 sent to the MIH information server by the MIH ftinction 24 installed in the second user equipment, and the MIH server is arranged to send an acknowledgement 48.

In response to receiving the message 44 requesting status information, the MIH Information server 16 checks user B's privacy settings 50, the privacy setting relating to permission to pass the status information to user A. Provided that the privacy settings allow, the MIH server sends a variant 52 of the second message conveying the requested status information to the MIH function 22 of the first user equipment. The MIH function 22 then sends a message 54 to the phone dialler 18 conveying the requested status information. The status information is displayed at the first user equipment, in order to allow a user of the first user equipment to decide whether or not to contact the second user equipment.

In the second embodiment of the invention, the variant 44 of the first message is a modified version of a MIH Get Information Request Message, conventionally used for the MIH Information service, modified to carry parameters relating to the status of the second user equipment.

Similarly to the case of the first embodiment, if there is no MIHF identifier stored in the address book for the entry for User B relating to the second user equipment, then the variant 60 of the first message is not sent.

Also, if the first user equipment is not equipped with a MIH client, then the first message is not sent. In either case, therefore, the status information may not be available at the first user equipment.

A third embodiment of the invention concerns avoidance of an inconvenient alert relating to the delivery of a payload message, such as a Short Message Service (SMS) or Multi-media Messaging Service (MMS) message, to the second user equipment. This is achieved by delaying the transmission of the payload message from the first user equipment, if processing of status information relating to the second use equipment indicates that delivery of the message would cause an inconvenient alert. The duration of the delay may be dependent on the status information.

Figure 4 illustrates an exchange of signalling in the third embodiment of the invention, operating in the telecommunications network of figure 1. User A of the first user equipment 2 initiates the sending of a payload message to the second user equipment 8, used by user B, using an SMS client 70 installed in the first user equipment 2. In response to the initiation of the sending of the payload message, a MIHF identifier related to the second user equipment is requested from an address store, that may be an address book held on the first user equipment. If there is no MIHF identifier available for the second user equipment, then the payload message is sent to the second user equipment. If an MIHF identifier is available for the second user equipment, then the SMS client sends a message 58 to the MIH function 22 of the first user equipment, requesting status information regarding the second user equipment 8. In response, the MIH function 22 sends a first message 60 requesting status information relating to the second user equipment to the MIH function 24 of the second user equipment.

In response, the MIH function 24 of the second user equipment sends a second message 62 conveying the requested status information to the MIH function 22 of the first user equipment. The MIH function 22 then sends a message 64 to the SMS client conveying the requested status information.

As a variant, the status information may be retrieved from the MIH server 16 using similar messaging to that in the second embodiment.

The requested status information is processed at the first user equipment to determine whether or not an inconvenient alert may be caused by sending the payload message, and if so, by how much the message should be delayed. Dependent on the determination, the payload message may be stored 66 at the first user equipment and after a determined delay, the payload message is sent to the SMS client 72 of the second user equipment 8.

In a fourth embodiment of the invention, a method is provided to allow a caller from a first user equipment to abort a call to a second user equipment, in response to status information relating to the second user equipment conveyed in an alerting tone played to the caller. This is achieved by delaying the generation of an alert for use at the second user equipment dependent on the status information, in order to allow the caller to decide whether or not to abort a call to the second user equipment before the generation of an alert at the second user equipment.

This method is particularly applicable when either the first or second user equipment, or both, does not have a MIH client, so that communication of the status information using MIH clients, according to the first and second embodiments, is not available.

Figure 5 shows an exchange of signalling in the fourth embodiment of the invention; for the purposes of illustration this is shown in the context of a Circuit Switched telecommunication network comprising GSM radio access networks. Alternatively, this may be implemented in the context of the IP Multimedia Subsystem in UMTS or LTE using the Customised Alerting Tone feature to communicate the status and preference of the second user). In this example, user A is a user of a first user equipment which is camped in a GSM radio access network, and is in communication with a Base Transceiver Station (BTS) 74 which is itself in communication with a Mobile Switching Centre (MSC) 76. User B is a user of a second user equipment that is roaming away from its home network. The second user equipment sends an update 84 to the second user equipment's Home Location Register (HLR) indicating the location of the second user equipment. The location update may be sent via the Visitor Location Register 82 of a network into which it has roamed. In response to the update, roaming triggers are set 86 at the HLR of the second user equipment.

An acknowledgement 88 is sent to the second user equipment.

A message 90 initiating the call is sent from the first user equipment via Base Transceiver Station 74 and mobile Switching Centre 76 to the second user equipment's Home Location Register 78. On receiving the message initiating the call to the second user equipment, and in dependence on the setting of the roaming triggers 86 relating to the second user equipment, the Home Location Register generates an Intelligent Network (IN) trigger that is sent to an Intelligent Network node 80 in the telecommunication network. In dependence on the location update, the Intelligent Network 80 communicates to the Mobile Switching Centre 76, which may send an alerting tone to the first user equipment communicating the status of the second user equipment to the user of the first user equipment. The status may relate to roaming status of the second user equipment, that is to say whether the second user equipment is registered to a wireless network other than a home wireless network for the second user equipment. The alerting tone may be a distinctive sound such as a musical passage or may be a voice message or other sound. The status may also relate to the location of the second user equipment, or to the time of day at the location of the second user equipment.

A status indicator may be set on the basis of the status of the second user equipment, and the status indicator may for example be set at the intelligent network. The status indicator may comprise status data indicating a contactability preference setting for the second user equipment, for example indicating that the user of the second user equipment wishes to receive only urgent personal calls. Dependent on the status indicator, an alerting tone is selected or generated for use at the first user equipment and the generation of an alert for use at the second user equipment is delayed, so for example ringing is delayed. The delay of the alert tone may be achieved for example by delaying the call set up at the Mobile Switching Centre 76, or by simply delaying the generation of an alert at the handset of User B following reception of a call set up message. The caller may then decide whether or not to abort the call to the second user equipment before the generation of the alert at the second user equipment.

In the case that the first user equipment does have a MIH client, and the second user equipment does not, the process of initiating a call may proceed as follows. User A selects the entry for user B from an address book, but user B does not have a MIHF identifier stored. Therefore, the message from the first user equipment requesting status information relating to the second user equipment is not sent using the MIH client, as there is likely to be no MIH client at the second user equipment.

A message may be displayed at the first user equipment to the effect that that status information relating to the second user equipment is not available. A message may also be displayed indicating that, should the call be initiated, an alerting tone may be played if the call is likely to be inconvenient and the caller will be given the chance to abort the call before the called party is disturbed by an alert.

Figure 6 shows an exchange of signalling in a fifth embodiment of the invention. The first user equipment 2 is also referred to as the mobile node of user A (MN User A). Within the first user equipment 2 there is shown a phone dialler 18, an address book 20, and a MIH function 22, the MIH function being the entity of the MIH client 6 that sends and receives messages. In a hybrid network, a user equipment may or may not have an MIH client. Figure 6 relates to an example of operation in a hybrid network, in which the first user equipment 2 has a MIH client and the second user equipment 8 does not have a MIH client.

When the second user equipment 8 is roaming, the second user equipment 8 sends an update 110 to the second user equipment's Home Location Register (HLR) 105 indicating the location of the second user equipment 8. The location update may be sent via the Visitor Location Register 104 of a network into which it is roaming. In response to the update 110, roaming triggers are set 111 at the HLR 105 of the second user equipment 8. An acknowledgement 112 is sent to the second user equipment 8.

User A, being the user of the first user equipment 2, intends to call user B, who is the user of the second user equipment 8. At this point, user A would like to obtain status information regarding the second user equipment 8. User A is not aware of the location or time zone in which the second user equipment 8 is located and wants to avoid causing an inconvenient alert to user B. User A selects an entry for user B from an address book 108, which is a store of address information, typically held at the first user equipment 2. The address information may, in an alternative embodiment, be retrieved from other entities in the telecommunication network. The address information conventionally comprises a telephony party identifier such as a telephone number that may be a MSISDN (Mobile Subscriber ISDN Number), relating to a user and/or a user equipment. According to the fifth embodiment of the invention the address book may also hold MIH function (MIHF) identifiers relating to user equipment and/or the user in addition to the telephony party identifier. The phone dialler 18 sends a message 28 to the address book 20 to fetch user B's Media Independent Handover Function Identifier (MIHF ID), that is to say the MIHF ID for the second user equipment 8. Attempting to retrieve the MIHF identifier from the address book has the function of indicating whether or not the user equipment to be called has a MIH client installed. In this example, the second user equipment 8 does not have a MIH client installed, and so no MIH identifier is retrieved. A message 122 is sent from the address book 20 to the phone dialler 18 conveying the MSISDN.

A message 116 requesting the status information regarding the second user equipment is generated at the phone dialler 18, sent to the MIH Function 22 and forwarded to the MIH information server. Then, the status information 118 containing the MSISDN number is sent by the MIH Information Server 106 to the HLR 105 as a Mobile Application Part (MAP) subscriber info. The approximate location of the user, based on the VLR location of the user and the roaming status is retuned as a MAP message 119.

The status is updated by means of a message 120 sent from the MIH information server to the MIH function 22 installed in the first user equipment 2.

The status information is then displayed at the first user equipment, in order to provide the user A of the first user equipment 2 with enough information to decide whether or not to contact the second user equipment 8.

The above embodiments are to be understood as illustrative examples of the invention. It is to be understood that any feature described in relation to any one embodiment may be used alone, or in combination with other features described, and may also be used in combination with one or more features of any other of the embodiments, or any combination of any other of the embodiments. Furthermore, equivalents and modifications not described above may also be employed without departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined in the accompanying claims.

Claims

Claims 1. A method of processing user equipment status information, in a telecommunication network comprising a plurality of radio access networks, a first user equipment and a second user equipment, the method comprising: sending a first message via the telecommunication network, the first message containing a request originated by the first user equipment and requesting status information relating to the second user equipment; and receiving a second message via the telecommunication network, the second message conveying the requested status information, wherein at least one of said first and second messages are processed using a service component which is used for controlling handover of user equipment between different radio access networks.
2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the service component is a Media Independent Handover (MIH) client on the first user equipment.
3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the first message is sent from a Media Independent Handover (MIH) client on the first user equipment to a Media Independent Handover (MIH) client on the second user equipment and the second message is received at the Media Independent Handover (MIH) client on the first user equipment from the Media Independent Handover (MIH) client on the second user equipment.
4. A method according to claim 2, wherein the first message is sent from a Media Independent Handover (MIH) client on the first user equipment to a Media Independent Handover (MIH) server in the telecommunication network and the second message is received at the Media Independent Handover (MIH) client on the first user equipment from the Media Independent Handover (MIH) server.
5. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the requested status information comprises status data indicating a location of the second user equipment.
6. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the status information conveyed in the second message comprises status data indicating a time of day at the location of the second user equipment.
7. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the status information conveyed in the second message comprises status data indicating a contactability preference setting for the second user equipment.
8. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the status information conveyed in the second message comprises status data indicating whether the second user equipment is registered to a wireless network other than a home wireless network for the second user equipment.
9. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the status information conveyed in the second message comprises status data indicating a type of network to which the second user equipment is connected.
10. A method according to any preceding claim, the method comprising sending the first message in response to selection of an entry associated with the second user equipment from a store of address information.
11. A method according to any preceding claim, the method comprising sending the first message dependent on a determination that the second user equipment has an associated Media Independent Handover (MIH) function identifier.
12. A method according to any preceding claim, the method comprising providing an indication relating to said requested status information at the first user equipment, in order to allow a user of the first user equipment to decide whether or not to contact the second user equipment.
13. A method according to any preceding claim, the method comprising, dependent on the status information, storing a payload message and sending the payload message to the second user equipment after a delay, in order to delay an alert by the second user equipment.
14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the delay is dependent on the user status information conveyed in the second message.
15. A method according to claim 12 or claim 14, wherein said storing of the payload message is at the first user equipment.
16. A method according to any one of claim 13 to claim 15, wherein the payload message is an SMS or MMS message.
17. A method of managing alerts in a telecommunications system, the method comprising: setting a status indicator relating to second user equipment; detecting the initiation of a call to the second user equipment by a caller from first user equipment; dependent on the status indicator, selecting an alerting tone for use at the first user equipment; and dependent on the status indicator, delaying the generation of an alert for use at the second user equipment, in order to allow the caller to decide whether or not to abort a call to the second user equipment before the generation of an alert at the second user equipment.
18. A method according to claim 17, wherein the status indicator indicates status information comprising status data indicating whether the second user equipment is registered to a wireless network other than a home wireless network for the second user equipment.
19. A method according to claim 18, wherein the method comprises setting the status indicator dependent on a query to a home location register associated with the second user equipment.
20. A method according to any one of claim 17 to claim 19, wherein the status indicator comprises status data indicating a location of the second user equipment.
21. A method according to any one of claim 17 to claim 20, wherein the status indicator comprises status data indicating a time of day at the location of the second user equipment.
22. A method according to any one of claim 7 to claim 21, wherein the status indicator comprises status data indicating a contactability preference setting for the second user equipment.
23. User equipment, suitable for use in a telecommunication network comprising a plurality of radio access networks and a second user equipment, the claimed user equipment being arranged to: send a first message via the telecommunication network, the first message containing a request originated by the claimed user equipment and requesting status information relating to the second user equipment; and receive a second message via the telecommunication network, the second message conveying the requested status information, wherein the claimed user equipment is arranged to process at least said first and second messages using a service component which is used for controlling handover of user equipment between different radio access networks.
24. A telecommunications system capable of managing alerts, the telecommunications system being arranged to: set a status indicator relating to second user equipment; detect the initiation of a call to the second user equipment by a caller from first user equipment; dependent on the status indicator, select an alerting tone for use at the first user equipment; and dependent on the status indicator, delay the generation of an alert for use at the second user equipment, in order to allow the caller to decide whether or not to abort a call to the second user equipment before the generation of an alert at the second user equipment.