MXPA00001379A - Apparatus and method for indicating service subscription selection in a cellular communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

Method and apparatus for providing a mobile terminal (12) with an indication of the service subscription (42, 55) being used by the mobile terminal (12). When received (132, 148, 158) at a mobile terminal, the indications are displayed upon a display element. The display of the indication of the selected service subscription (47) minimizes uncertainty to a user of the mobile terminal (12) as to which service subscription (42, 55) calls originated at, or terminated at, the mobile terminal (12) are being charged.

Description

"APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR INDICATING THE SELECTION OF SERVICE SUBSCRIPTION IN A CELLULAR COMMUNICATION SYSTEM" REFERENCE TO RELATED REQUESTS The present invention is related to the copending application Serial Number 08 / 840,123, filed on April 9, 1997 and with the copending application Serial Number 08 / 585,149, filed on January 10, 1996, the contents of which are incorporated in the present by reference. The present invention relates generally to a radio communication system wherein communications with the mobile terminal are made in accordance with one of two or more service subscriptions. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus, and an associated method, by which a mobile terminal is presented with an indication of which of the service subscriptions according to which communications are being made by the mobile terminal. . When the indication of which of the service subscriptions according to which the communications with the mobile terminal are being made is presented to the mobile terminal, the indication is presented in a presentation element of the mobile terminal. The indication is provided to the mobile terminal, eg, during the initial energization of the mobile terminal, in response to user request, in response to registration of a user different from the mobile terminal, or in response to a user selection of a service subscription. alternative. The presentation of the selected service subscription minimizes the insecurity for a user of the mobile terminal to which calls of the service subscription made through the mobile terminal are to be uploaded.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A communication system is formed, at a minimum, by means of a transmitter and a receiver interconnected by a communication channel. The communication signals generated by the transmitter are transmitted on the communication channel that is to be received by the receiver. A radio communication system is a communication system in which the communication channel is formed from a portion of the electromagnetic frequency spectrum. A fixed or wire connection between the transmitter and receiver is not required to provide a communication path for the communication channel. Therefore, a radio communication system is advantageously used when the use of these fixed or wire connections would be inconvenient or impractical. A cellular communication system is exemplary of a radio communication system. A cellular communication system is a communication system of multiple users. The users communicate through the mobile terminals with the selected fixed site transceivers that form portions of the network infrastructure of the communication system. The transceivers of the fixed site of the electric network infrastructure are placed in separate locations through a geographic area that will be covered by the cellular communication system. Each of the set site transceivers defines a cell and the channels are assigned to each of the cells for communications between the mobile terminals and the base stations therein. A cellular communication system makes relatively efficient use of the portion of the electromagnetic frequency spectrum assigned to it, since the channels assigned to the cells can be reused in other cells in accordance with a channel allocation project.

The access to the cellular communication system to communicate through it is limited to those who subscribe for service with an operator of the cellular communication system. That is, only when a subscription for service is purchased, a user can use a mobile terminal to communicate through the cellular communication system. When you buy a service subscription, the user of a mobile terminal is able to communicate through a mobile terminal through the network infrastructure of the cellular communication system. When a call originates in the mobile terminal or a call is terminated in the mobile terminal capable of operating in accordance with the service subscription, the authentication signal protocols are carried out to allow the call to originate or be terminated as appropriate, in the mobile terminal. And, the service subscription provides the operator of the cellular communication system with a way by which he keeps abreast of the calls and to create billing records through which invoice is made for the use of the cellular communication system. Historically, a unique service subscription was typically associated with a specific mobile terminal. That is, all communications made through a specific mobile terminal have been commissioned to a single service subscription. All calls originated or terminated in the mobile terminal were uploaded to that service subscription independently of the user of the mobile terminal. The patent applications, co-pending mentioned above, disclose, inter alia, a manner in which a mobile terminal can selectively terminate or terminate calls according to more than one service subscription. For example, a first service solution could be associated with the mobile terminal when a user is using the mobile terminal for personal use, and a separate service subscription could be associated with the mobile terminal when the user makes use of the service subscription. for business purposes. Or, separate users that make use of a single mobile terminal could associate the mobile terminal with a specific user of the users so that calls originated by or terminating in a specific mobile terminal by different users can be associated with a subscription appropriate service subscriptions. This ability to use a single mobile terminal in accordance with more than one service subscription, however, could potentially cause confusion to a user of the mobile terminal. For example, the user could inadvertently use the mobile terminal to originate or terminate calls according to the service subscription other than the proposal. The charges associated with these calls would be charged to the service subscription other than that proposal. One way by which a presentation is provided to the mobile terminal of the service subscription according to which communications are made with the mobile terminal would have a tendency to reduce the insecurity to a user of the service subscription according to which is able to operate the mobile terminal. Clarification of this background information related to mobile terminals operating in accordance with more than one service subscription is preferred that significant improvements of the present invention have been developed.

COMPENDIUM OF THE INVENTION The present invention, correspondingly provides advantageously an apparatus and an associated method, which presents an indication to a mobile terminal, which is capable of operating in a radio communication system in accordance alternatively with at least two separate service subscriptions, of whose service subscription communications with the mobile terminal are being performed. Through the operation of one embodiment of the present invention, the indication of the service subscription according to which the communications with the mobile terminal are being made is selectively displayed in the mobile terminal. This presentation provides notification to a user of the mobile terminal of the service subscription to which calls terminated or originating in the mobile terminal will be charged. The user's insecurity as to which service subscriptions are being charged for calls is reduced in this way. Inadvertent use of the mobile terminal according to another service subscription other than the one proposed in this way will have less tendency to occur. In an aspect of the present invention, the indication of the service subscription according to which the communications with the mobile terminal are being made is presented to the mobile terminal during the initial energization of the mobile terminal. In this way, the service subscription can be presented to a user when the mobile station is first energized. The initial service subscription may for example be formed of a defective service subscription or a service subscription used with the mobile terminal previously used. In another aspect of the present invention, the indication of the service subscription according to which the mobile terminal is capable of functioning is presented to the mobile terminal in response to a request from the user. For example, in one embodiment, during the initial energization of the mobile terminal, the service subscription according to which they are performing communications with the mobile terminal is presented for only a limited period of time. If, during the subsequent operation of the mobile terminal, the user of the mobile terminal wishes to reconfirm which of the service subscription according to which the communications with the mobile terminal are being made, during the user's request, it is presented to the mobile terminal an indication of the service subscription. This indication can then be presented to the presentation element of the mobile terminal. In another aspect of the present invention, the service subscription indication according to which the communications with the mobile terminal are being made is presented to the mobile terminal in response to the reselection of the user of the service subscription. That is, during the operation of the mobile terminal, if a user no longer wants to load the calls according to a service subscription but instead loads the calls to another service subscription, the reselection of the service subscription is carried out performed by the user from the mobile terminal. When the service subscription is reselected, an indication of the new service subscription is presented to the mobile terminal. In still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for the electrical network infrastructure of a cellular communication system that provides means for presenting to a mobile terminal an indication of which service subscription according to which are the communications with the mobile terminal being carried out. This apparatus is capable of operating in response to the reception in the grid infrastructure of a request for the presentation to the mobile terminal of the indication. The request for the presentation is made, for example, according to the initial energization of the mobile terminal, in response to a request from the user, in response to the registration of a user different from the mobile terminal, or in response to the reselection of the service subscription. Once the presentation is transmitted to the mobile terminal, the indication of the service subscription according to which the communications with the mobile terminal are being made, can be presented in a presentation element. In another aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for a mobile terminal is provided at least for receiving indications generated by the electrical network infrastructure of a cellular communication system of the service subscription according to which the communications with the mobile terminal. The mobile terminal includes a presentation device for presenting the indications that are provided thereto. The mobile terminal may further include an apparatus for generating signals requesting the indications to be presented to the mobile terminal. This request can be carried out, for example, automatically in response to the energization of the mobile terminal, in response to the user's request manually, in response to the registration of a different user, or in response to the reselection of the user of the service subscriptions. In these and other aspects, therefore, the apparatus and an associated method is provided for a cellular communication system having an electrical network infrastructure and a mobile terminal. The mobile terminal is capable of communicating with the electricity network infrastructure in accordance with at least one selected subscription of a first service subscription and at least one second service subscription. The apparatus provides a display to the mobile terminal of an indication of which of the first and at least the second service subscriptions according to which the mobile terminal is capable of operating. A storage device is placed in the infrastructure of the electrical network. The storage device stores records representative of at least one present service subscription according to which the mobile terminal is capable of functioning. The present service subscription is formed of a subscription selected from the first and at least the second service subscription. It is coupled with the storage device to an access device. The access device gives access to the records stored in the storage device and generates notification signals representative of the registers to which access is given from them. The notification signals when transmitted to the mobile terminal form the presentation to the mobile terminal of which of the service subscriptions according to which the mobile terminal is capable of operating. A more complete appreciation of the present invention and the scope thereof can be obtained from the accompanying drawings which are briefly summarized below, the following detailed description of the currently preferred embodiments of the invention and the appended reviations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 illustrates a functional block diagram of a cellular communication system wherein an embodiment of the present invention is capable of operating. Figure 2 illustrates a portion of a storage record stored in a storage location that forms a portion of the communication system shown in Figure 1. Figure 3 illustrates a portion of another storage record that forms a portion of the storage location. storage of the communication system shown in Figure 1. Figure 4 illustrates a sequence diagram showing the sequence of the signal during the operation of a modality of the present invention.

Figure 5 illustrates a sequence diagram, similar to that shown in Figure 4, but showing the sequence of the signal during the operation of another embodiment of the present invention. Figure 6 illustrates a functional block diagram of a mobile terminal that forms a portion of the communication system shown in Figure 1. Figure 7 illustrates a flow diagram of the method illustrating the mobile terminal operation method of a mode of communication. the present invention. Figure 8 illustrates a logical flow diagram of the method of one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring first to Figure 1, a cellular communication system that is generally shown at 10, allows a radio communication between the mobile terminal 12 and a base transceiver station (BTS) 14, through one of the channels radio assigned to communications in this system. Station 14 of the base transceiver forms a portion of the network infrastructure of the cellular communication system 10. In addition to the station 14 of the base transceiver, the network infrastructure includes, inter alia, a base station controller 16 coupled to the station 14 of the base transceiver, a visited mobile switching center (VMSC) 18 coupled with the BSC 16, and a mobile access switching center (GMSC) 22, coupled with the VMSC 18 through the lines 24. A visited location register (VLR) 26 is coupled with the VMSC 18, and a record of Home location (HLR) 28 is coupled to GMSC 22. VLR 26 and HLR 28 are functionally indicated as being separated from VMSC 18 and GMSC 22, respectively. However, in a conventional manner, the VLR 26 and the HLR 28 sometimes instead of this, are physically co-located together with the respective switching center or are distributed among more than one discrete device. Also, in a conventional manner, each mobile terminal 12 has a home location register associated with it. For purposes of illustration, the HLR 28 forms the home location register for the mobile terminal 12. The HLR 28 forms a database for storing the information related to the mobile terminal 12 and also related to other mobile terminals with which the register 28 forms a home location register. Also in a conventional manner, the database that forms the home location registry for the - mobile terminal 12 also forms a visited location record for other mobile terminals that are routed to an area defined to be encompassed by HLR 28. GMSC 22 includes the switching and control circuit that includes an access device 34 that forms a portion of one embodiment of the present invention. And, a database portion that forms the HLR a storage device that also forms a portion of an embodiment of the present invention. The access device 34 is capable of operating to provide access to selected storage locations in the storage device 36 not illustrated separately, an access device 34 similarly forms a portion of the VMSC 18 and a storage device 36 so shaped as similarly a portion of the VLR 26. As described more fully in the copending patent applications mentioned above, the information associated with the mobile terminal 12 and stored in the storage device 36 can be transferred to the VLR 26, when the mobile terminal 12 is placed in a defined area to be encompassed by the visited location register 26. Transferring, ie, copying these records into VLR 26, the required signals between switching centers 18 and 22, and the 6 registers 26 and 28 associated with them, respectively, can be reduced. As also described in the aforementioned copending patent applications, the mobile terminal 12 is capable of operating selectively according to more than one service subscription. The service subscription according to which communications are carried out for the mobile terminal 12, depends for example on which user is registered to use the mobile terminal 12 during a specific period of time. A single user is subscribed or more than one service subscription is able to select which of the calls of the service subscriptions originated or given by terminals in the mobile terminal, will be loaded. A defective service subscription can be designed as a failure if an affirmative selection by the user of the mobile terminal 12 is not made. This defective selection, for example, may be time dependent. That is, the defective selection could be a first service subscription during a first period of time of one day and a second subscription of service during another period of time of the day. If, instead of being selectable by the user, the service subscription according to which the mobile terminal 12 is capable of functioning, these could be viewed and automatically selected by means of a "user-enabled list" dependent on time. Once the appropriate service subscription is assigned to the mobile terminal 12, the charges associated with the calls that originate in or terminate at the mobile terminal 12 are billed to the appropriate service subscription. The operation of one embodiment of the present invention provides presentations to the mobile terminal 12 of the indications of which of the service subscriptions according to which communications with the mobile terminal 12 are carried out. Once the indications of the service subscription are presented to the mobile terminal, the indication is presented in a display element such as a liquid crystal display element (LCD) or a light emitting diode (LED) display device. . In another embodiment, another type of advertisement device is used as the presentation device in another form perceptible by the human being. By presenting the indications in a perceptible manner by the human being, a user of the mobile terminal is able to quickly and easily determine the service subscription according to which the mobile terminal is capable of operating. In this way, the insecurity of the user as to which of the service subscription calls made through the mobile terminal 'are going to be charged, is reduced to a minimum of course. In one embodiment, when the mobile terminal 12 is energized, a service request record is transmitted by the mobile terminal 12 to the station 14 of the base transceiver. The service request record, once it is received in the electrical network infrastructure of the communication system 10, is routed to the access device 34. In response to the receipt of the service request record, the access device 34 retrieves the records stored in the storage device of the service subscription according to which the communications with the mobile terminal 12 are carried out. In the exemplary illustration, the registration of the service request is routed to the GMSC 22 since the register 28 includes the information associated with the mobile terminal 12. If the information is transmitted to the VLR 26, the service request record is sent, instead of this, the VMSC 18 where an access device 34 formed therein gives access to the related storage locations of a storage device. which forms a portion of the register 26. Once access has been granted, a return of the registration notification is routed back to the station 14 of the base transceiver and then transmitted back to the mobile terminal 12 to be presented therein. . Once the information is presented to the mobile terminal 12, the information can be presented in a presentation element of the mobile terminal. In another embodiment, a request is generated during the operation of the mobile terminal 12. The request for the particularity is generated, for example, when a user of the mobile terminal 12 requests the reselection of the service subscription according to which the calls placed or received in the mobile terminal are to be loaded. A particularity request also generates, for example, when a request is made by the user in the mobile terminal of an update of the service subscription according to which the communications with the mobile terminal are being made. In a manner similar to the manner in which the service request record is routed to the access device 34, the request for the particularity is routed similarly to the access device 34. The information is retrieved from the appropriate storage locations of the storage device 36, and the information to which access has been given is routed back to the station 14 of the base transceiver and then to the mobile terminal 12. Similarly, again once the information is presented to the mobile terminal 12, the information is presented in a presentation element of the mobile terminal. Figure 2 illustrates the exemplary storage registers, here a subscriber list 42 of the user that is stored in the storage device 36 of the register 28. The information contained in the subscriber list 42 of the user stored in the register 28 can be copied and transferring to corresponding locations of the VLR 26, when the mobile terminal 12 is routed to the defined area to be covered by the VLR 26 and the records of the mobile terminal with the infrastructure of the electric network therein. The subscriber list 42 of the user illustrated in the Figure includes three fields. The fields define a mode of operation. The user's subscription list 42 also includes a box that defines a selection program. The selection program indicates, by time and day, the service subscription according to which the communications with the mobile terminal 12 are being carried out. A first field, field 45, indicates the failure subscription according to which communications with the mobile terminal 12 are being made. That is, unless otherwise selected by the user, through a selection project, the service subscription that is automatically selected to be charged for communications with the mobile terminal 12 is a failure service subscription. Here, the failure service subscription is indicated as belonging to "Lisa". Field 47 indicates the service subscription to which the communication with the mobile terminal can now be loaded. As illustrated, the present service subscription is that of "Ericsson". That is, the charges for communication with the mobile terminal 12 are currently billed with the "Ericsson" service subscription. The third field, field 49, indicates that the selection project is "connected". That is, indicating in the third field 49 that the autoconnection is "connected", the selection project is used to determine the present service subscription according to which communication with the mobile terminal must be made. The selection project includes two rows, rows 51 and 53, which define, by the day of the week and the time period (start time-stop time) the periods of time during which a specific service subscription will be the present service subscription. Additional details related to the user's subscription list 42 can be found in the copending patent applications mentioned above. Figure 3 illustrates a subscription record that is also stored in storage locations of the storage device 36 shown in Figure 1. The subscription record 55 is formed from a list of permitted users of a specific service subscription., here, the service subscription "Ericsson". A single entry is listed in subscription record 55 for purposes of illustration. Additional entries, as appropriate, may also be listed in the subscription record. The allowed list of users of the subscription record 55 indicates the times, by day and period of time (time of initiation-time of stoppage or termination) during which a specific user is allowed to communicate with a mobile terminal in accordance with the service subscription. Additional details associated with the subscription record 55 can be found in the copending patent applications mentioned above. Figure 4 illustrates a sequence diagram, generally shown at 64, the sequence of signals generated during the operation of an embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The sequence diagram 64 represents the generation of signals when the mobile terminal 12 is initially energized. In addition to the conventional signals between the mobile terminal 12 and the electrical network infrastructure of the cellular communication system 10, a service request register 66 is generated by the mobile terminal 12 and transmitted on a radio link connecting the terminal mobile and electricity network infrastructure. The service request record 66 is routed to the VMSC 18. A registration notification is sent by the VMSC to the HLR 28. The subscriber's subscription list 42 and the subscription record 55 which forms a portion of the HLR storage device 36 28 are illustrated again in the sequence diagram. More particularly, the registration notification 68 causes the access device 34 to access the information stored in the storage device 36 of the HLR 28. Once the information is retrieved, a registration notification return 72 is generated and routed back to the VMSC 18. Then, a service request registration return 74 is sent from the VMSC 18 to the mobile terminal 12. The information contained in the return of registration notification includes the information indicating the present service subscription according to which the mobile terminal is capable of operating. When presented to the mobile terminal, this information is presented in a display element of the mobile terminal during a selected period of time, such as a period of time of several seconds. Figure 5 illustrates a sequence diagram 78 illustrating the sequence of the signal in response to the user actuation of a request driver for the operation of the mobile terminal 12. The request driver is triggered, for example, when the user of the mobile terminal requests an update of the service subscription according to which the mobile terminal is communicating to register an alternate user from the mobile terminal or to request reselection of the service subscription according to which the mobile terminal will be operated. In response to the actuation of the user of the requesting actuator for any of these purposes, a request 82 for particularities is generated by the mobile terminal 12, transmitted to the station 14 of the base transceiver (shown in Figure 1), and is routed to the VMSC 18. Then, the feature 82 request is sent so that the appropriate storage locations of the storage device 36 that make up a portion of the HLR 28 have access. Then, a particularity request response 86 is routed back to the VMSC 18 and then sent to be presented at the mobile terminal 12. Once the information that has been accessed is presented to the mobile terminal, the information is presented in a display element thereof for a selected period of time again such as a period of time of several seconds. Figure 6 illustrates the mobile terminal 12 of one embodiment of the present invention. The mobile terminal 12 forms a portion of the communication system 10, which is shown above in Figure 1. The mobile terminal 12 includes a receiver circuit 92 and a transmitter circuit 96 to allow the reception and transmission of the communication signals generated during a normal telephone operation of the mobile terminal. A controller 98 is coupled to both the receiver circuit and transmitter 92 and 96 to control the operation of this circuit. The controller further includes a notification signal detector 102 which is coupled to the receiver circuit 92. The notification signal detector 102 is capable of operating to detect the information transmitted by the infrastructure of the electric network and is presented to the mobile terminal indicative of the service subscription according to which the communications with the mobile terminal are being loaded.

The detector 102 of the notification signal is coupled with a display element, such as an LCD or LED display element 104, through the lines 106. When the detector of the notification signal detects the indications presented to the mobile terminal , the signals representative of these indications are provided to the presentation element 104 to be presented therein for a selected period of time. "The presentation element 104 forms a portion of the user interface 108. The user interface 108 further includes a particularity request driver that is capable of being operated by a user of the mobile terminal.The particularity request driver is made act by the user when, as mentioned above, the user wishes to update with the present service subscription, when a different user is going to be the registered user of the mobile terminal and when the user wishes to reselect the service subscription according to which they are going to be charged the communications with the mobile terminal The particularity request actuator is coupled through the lines 114, with an interpreter 16 of the actuator The actuator 116 of the actuator forms a portion of the controller 98. The interpreter 116 interprets the signals of input generated in response to the actuation of the user of the sun actuator particularity. The interpreter 116 is coupled to the transmitter circuit 96 and is capable of operating to cause the transmitting circuit to generate and transmit, inter alia, the particularity requests to request updating, reselection, and registration of the new user of the mobile terminal user. Figure 7 illustrates a method generally shown at 122, of the operation of the mobile terminal 12 of an embodiment of the present invention. The method 122 for example, may be encompassed in the algorithms executable by the controller 98 (shown in the Figure 6). First, and as indicated by block 124, the mobile terminal is energized, such as when a user of the terminal connects the mobile terminal. Then, and as indicated by block 128, a service request record is transmitted as indicated by block 128 via the mobile terminal to the cellular network cellular network infrastructure. As described above, the information of the service subscription indicative of the service subscription according to which the communications with the mobile terminal that gives access and is transmitted to the mobile terminal will be loaded. This information is received as indicated by block 132, in the mobile terminal. Then, the information is presented in a presentation element, as indicated by the block 134. Then, and as indicated by the decision block 136, a determination is made as to whether the particular application driver of the mobile terminal has been determined. done by a user. If not, no branching is taken back to the decision block. Otherwise, if the actuator has been triggered by a user, the branch of whether decision 138 is carried to the block. A determination is made in decision block 138 of whether the actuation of the particularity request driver is a request. to re-submit the service subscription information. If so, the branch of yes is carried back to block 128. Otherwise, the branch of not being carried to the decision block 142 where a determination is made as to whether the particularity request driver has been triggered for application for the registration of a new user of the mobile terminal. If so, the branch of if it is carried to block 144 where a request of particularity is transmitted by the mobile terminal to the infrastructure of the electrical network of the cellular system.

As described above, when the request for particularity is received in the electricity network infrastructure, together with the new record, a request for particularity response is generated through the infrastructure of the electricity network and transmitted back to the mobile terminal. The particularity request response is received in the mobile terminal as indicated by block 148. And, the indications of the service subscription according to which the communications with the mobile terminal are going to be loaded, are presented in an element of presentation as indicated by block 152. A redirection is carried back to decision block 136. If the branch is not carried from the decision block 142, the activation of the particularity request driver is a request for a charge of the service subscriptions by a single user, which is indicated here by block 154. Then, the The particularity request is transmitted by the mobile terminal, as indicated by block 156, together with the request for the change in the service subscription. A response of the particularity request is received, as indicated by block 158 and, then, the indications of the service subscription according to which the communications with the mobile terminal will be loaded, are presented in a presentation element as indicated by block 162. The branch is then carried back to decision block 136. Figure 8 illustrates a method, generally shown at 172, of one embodiment of the present invention. The method provides a presentation to a mobile terminal of an indication of a service subscription according to which communications between the mobile terminal and the grid infrastructure are to take place. First and as indicated by block 174, the records are stored in the grid infrastructure. The registers are representative of at least one present service subscription according to which the mobile terminal is capable of operating. Then, and as indicated by block 176, access to selected records is given. Then, and as indicated by block 178, the notification signals representative of the registers to which access has been given are generated. And, as indicated by block 182, the notification signals are provided to the mobile terminal. The notification signals form the presentation to the mobile terminal of which the service subscriptions according to which the mobile terminal is capable of operating. Through the operation of one embodiment of the present invention, therefore, an indication of the selected service subscription in accordance with which the communications with the mobile terminal are to be loaded may be presented in a display element of the mobile terminal. The presentation of the selected service subscription minimizes the insecurity for the user of a mobile terminal to which the service subscription communications with the mobile terminal will be loaded. The above descriptions are of preferred examples for implementing the invention, and the scope of the invention should not necessarily be limited by this description. The scope of the present invention is defined by the following claims.

Claims (15)

CLAIMS:

1. In a cellular communication system having an electrical network infrastructure and a mobile terminal capable of communicating with the electric network infrastructure according to at least one selected subscription of a first service subscription and at least one second service subscription , an improvement of the apparatus for providing a display to the mobile terminal of an indication of which of the first and at least the second service subscription according to which the mobile terminal is capable of functioning, the apparatus comprising: a storage device placed in the electrical network infrastructure, the storage device for storing representative registers of at least one present service subscription in accordance with which the mobile terminal is capable of functioning, the present service subscription formed of the first and at least the second service subscription selected; and an access device coupled with the storage device, the access device to give access to the records stored in the storage device and to generate notification signals representative of the records to which access has been given therefrom, the Notification signals when transmitted to the mobile terminal form the presentation to the mobile terminal of which of the service subscriptions according to which the mobile terminal is capable of operating.

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electrical network infrastructure includes a home location register associated with the mobile terminal and wherein the storage device forms a portion of the home location register.

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the access device is capable of operating to provide access to the registers in the storage device in response to a service request registration signal generated with the mobile terminal during the initial energization of the mobile terminal.

The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the network infrastructure includes at least one mobile switching center coupled with the access device, wherein the service request registration signal generated with the mobile terminal is provided. to the mobile switching center, and wherein the mobile switching center generates a registration notification signal in response to the service request registration signal, the registration notification signal provided by the mobile switching center to the access device to cause the access device to access the records stored in the drive device.

The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the notification signals generated by the access device comprise a return signal of registration notification, the return signal of registration notification provided by the access device to the mobile switching center .

The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the mobile switching center generates a service request registration return signal in response to the receipt thereon of the registration notification return signal, the return signal of The registration notification contains the information that, when the mobile terminal is transmitted, forms the presentation to the mobile terminal.

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the access device is capable of operating to give access to the registers without the storage device in response to a particularity request signal generated by the mobile terminal during the operation of the same.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the mobile terminal comprises a request driver of particularity and wherein the request signal of particularity generated by the mobile terminal is generated in response to the user actuation of the particularity request driver.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the particularity request driver, during the actuation of the user of the same, also allows the selection of user operation of the mobile terminal according to a selected subscription of the first service subscription and at least the second service subscription , and wherein the particularity request signal is of a value indicative of the user's selection of the operation of the mobile terminal in a selected subscription of the first service subscription and at least the second service subscription.

The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the infrastructure of the electric network includes at least one mobile switching center coupled with the access device, wherein the request signal of particularity generated by the mobile terminal is provided to the center of mobile switching, and wherein the mobile switching center sends the request signal of particularity, the request signal of particularity sent by the mobile switching center to the access device causing the access device to access the records stored in the mobile device. the storage device.

The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the notification signals generated by the access device comprise a request response signal of particularity, the request response signal of particularity provided by the access device to the mobile switching center .

The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the mobile switching center sends the request response signal of particularity for the transmission thereof of the mobile terminal, the response signal of the particularity request contains the information that, when the mobile terminal is transmitted, it forms the presentation to the mobile terminal.

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mobile terminal further comprises a display element and wherein the notification signals generated by the access device, once they are transmitted to the mobile terminal are presented in the display element.

14. A method for providing a display to the mobile terminal of an indication of a subscription selected from a first service subscription and at least a second service subscription according to which communications between the mobile terminal and the network infrastructure electrical network will be made, the method comprises the steps of: storing the records in the network infrastructure representative of at least one present service subscription according to which the mobile terminal is capable of functioning, the present service subscription is formed of a subscription selected from the first and at least the second service subscription; give access to records stored during the storage step; generate notification signals representative of the registers to which access has been given during the access step; and providing the notification signals to the mobile terminal, the notification signals forming the presentation to the mobile terminal of which the service subscriptions according to which the mobile terminal is capable of operating.

15. In a mobile terminal capable of operating in a cellular communication system having an electrical network infrastructure with which the mobile terminal is capable of communicating, in accordance with a selected subscription of a first service subscription and at least one second service subscription, an improvement of a user interface at least to indicate to the user which of the first and at least the second service subscription according to which communications between the mobile terminal and the Internet infrastructure will be made. electrical network, the user interface comprising: a notification signal detector coupled to the receiving circuit of the mobile terminal, the notification signal detector for detecting the reception in the receiving circuit of the mobile terminal of the notification signals transmitted thereto by the electrical network infrastructure, the notification signals indicative of which of the The service subscriptions form the selected service subscription; and a display device coupled to the detector is a notification signal, the display device for presenting in a perceptible manner to a human being an indication of which the service subscriptions form the selected service subscription.