Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
  • H04W8/00—Network data management
  • H04W8/18—Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data
  • H04W8/183—Processing at user equipment or user record carrier

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a mobile communication device that is capable of communicating with different networks, and to a corresponding mobile communication system.
• a mobile communication device is a cellular telephone.
• An example of such a mobile communication system is a cellular communication system consisting of base stations, switching centers and the corresponding control elements.
• GSM Global System for Mobile communication
• PLM Public Land Mobile Network
• the GSM standard is such that a subscriber to one PLMN may in principle also log on to a network established by another provider. In other words, a subscriber can in principle roam between different PLMNs. The roaming capabilities of a given subscriber may be limited due to individual parameter settings for said subscriber, as will be explained in the following.
• GSM Global System for Mobile communications
• SIM subscriber identity modules
• the SIM stores all the relevant information that a network requires for identifying a subscriber.
• this module is typically provided on a card that can be slid into a mobile telephone.
• a subscriber can use any mobile station that fulfills the communication requirements (required frequency band, etc.) for the network to which he subscribes, simply by inserting his personal SIM card.
• the mobile station then has the subscriber identification that is necessary for communicating with a network.
• the procedure for logging on the network basically consists in sending out a location update request from the mobile station, where said location update request contains the identification data associated with the subscriber.
• the subscriber data is kept in the so-called home location register (HLR) .
• HLR home location register
• This is basically a data base for the PLMN to which the subscriber subscribes .
• the network to which someone subscribes is also referred to as the home PLMN.
• the mobile station sends out data associated with the user that are read from the SIM to the network base station with which it is communicating, by sending out the above mentioned location update request.
• the network base station forwards the data to the HLR, where the momentary position (in terms of the base station with which the mobile station is communicating) of the subscriber can then be stored, specific parameters associated with the user (e.g. a predetermined priority for channel allocation) can be sent back to the base station and generally the services provided to the given subscriber can be monitored and recorded, e.g. for billing purposes.
• specific parameters associated with the user e.g. a predetermined priority for channel allocation
• GSM mobile services switching center
• one MSC handles communication in a given number of cells
• the PLMN comprises several MSCs.
• a PLMN to which a specific subscriber does not subscribe is also referred to (in GSM) as a visited PLMN or VPLMN.
• a PLMN keeps track of visiting mobile subscribers in the so-called visitor's location register (VLR), which is kept in each MSC.
• VLR visitor's location register
• the MSC handling the cell in which the mobile station is located can check the VLR to see if this visiting subscriber is already registered there, and if not, can determine the home PLMN from the information provided by the mobile station and contact said home PLMN to thereby find out if services (and which services) can be provided to the visiting mobile station.
• the PLMN In the other direction of communication, the PLMN always provides every mobile station that is logged on or attempting to log on with a network ID, so that the mobile station knows which PLMN it is communicating with. This information is of great importance, because, as already mentioned, several providers will typically offer services in one location, so that on the one hand a mobile station will need it to identify and establish a connection with its home PLMN when in range thereof, and on the other hand be able to distinguish the various VPLMNs when outside the range of its home PLMN.
• the network ID can e.g. be displayed to the user of the mobile station.
• the mode of operation of the mobile station in which the network ID is displayed to the user is the idle mode in which the mobile station is in a state of waiting to receive incoming calls or to establish outgoing calls.
• Another mode is a manual selection mode, in which all available networks are displayed to the user, so that he may choose the one he desires.
• a mobile station when searching for a PLMN to log on to, a mobile station will scan various GSM frequencies and receives information transmitted on the so-called broadcast control channel (BCCH) .
• the mobile station thereby obtains the mobile network code (MNC) of every PLMN serving the given location.
• the MNC is a two- digit numerical code contained in the so-called location area identity (LAI) of the BCCH system information type 3 and 4 message.
• the MNC is translated into a respective mobile identity string by referring to a look-up table that is stored in the mobile station at production time.
• the mobile identity strings of all available PLMNs may be displayed to the user of the mobile station, such that he can choose the network he wishes to log on to.
• the mobile identity string associated with the MNC of the PLMN to which the user is logged on to (be it home PLMN or VPLMN) , will be displayed during the idle mode. Due to the above described importance of network identification, the fixed association between the mobile network codes and the mobile identity strings, and also due to numbering plan considerations and existing mobility management mechanisms, the MNC is a vital parameter that can not be changed.
• the mode of operation in which a mobile station typically may display a network ID is the idle mode.
• the mobile station In the idle mode, the mobile station is in a state of waiting for incoming and outgoing calls.
• the control element of a prior art mobile station will first determine that the idle mode is to be entered, and then automatically display the network ID associated with the network code of the network that it is monitoring for incoming calls and with which it would request a connection if the user of the mobile station initiated a call.
• Fig. 2 represents a portion of the control flow in the mobile station, where SI indicates the step that determines that the idle mode should be entered, S2 indicates the entering of the idle mode (i.e.
• S3 which directly follows S2, relates to the control of the display, such that the ID of the network onto which the mobile station is logged is automatically displayed.
• the display may also show other information, such as the signal strength, but the characterizing aspect of the prior art device is that in the mode during which a network ID can be displayed, the network ID is necessarily displayed, and this network ID is always displayed exclusively in a specific predetermined part of the display (e.g. the center) .
• a mobile station when a mobile station enters a mode of operation in which a network ID corresponding to a received network code may be displayed (e.g. the idle mode) , the network ID is not automatically displayed, much rather a predetermined condition is first checked, and then the data to be displayed is determined in accordance with the result of said check.
• the fact that the displayed data is not automatically determined from the received network code enhances the performance of the mobile station, as entirely new features can be implemented with respect to the capability of the mobile station to roam between different independent networks, even though the network codes remain unchanged.
• the mobile station after having entered the idle mode, the mobile station first checks if a specific type of data is present, and if said specific type of data is present, then it is displayed instead of or in addition to the data corresponding to the network code broadcast by the network onto which the mobile station is logged, which conventionally is displayed automatically and exclusively.
• An example that relates to the control shown in Fig. 2 is shown in Fig. 1.
• the same reference numerals indicate the same steps.
• the control in Fig. 1 is conducted such that after entering the idle mode in step S2, it is determined in step S4 if the above mentioned specific type of data (e.g.
• step S5 in which the specific type of data is displayed in place of the network ID.
• step S3 the network ID decoded from the network code of the network onto which the mobile station is logged is displayed.
• the replacing mentioned in connection with step S5 means that the network ID or the specific data are displayed in the same part of the display.
• the specific data may also be displayed together with the network ID decoded from the network coded, preferably in close vicinity on the display.
• This specific type of data which is intended to replace or complement the data associated with the network code, can be identifiable by a predetermined address in data relating to the subscriber, be it in the data stored on a SIM or the data received from the network after having logged on.
• the determination of the presence of said predetermined data can be done in any suitable or desired way, e.g. by checking if a specific flag is set, or by going to the predetermined address and checking if bits other than zero are stored there.
• the present invention provides the possibility of not displaying or not exclusively displaying the network ID associated with the network onto which a mobile station is logged, even though the mobile station is in a mode of operation in which this network ID would commonly be displayed exclusively.
• this specific type of data can be the ID of the network to which the subscribers subscribes, i.e. the ID that is conventionally displayed in the idle mode in response to receiving the home network code. Then, even if the subscriber is logged on to another network, e.g. when visiting a foreign country, in which case the conventional device would display the network ID related to the network code of that network, the device according to the invention can display the network ID of the subscriber's home network instead of the network ID belonging to the network onto which the user is logged, which gives the subscriber the impression of still being in his home network. This increases the service identification potential for the provider of the home network, as it provides a virtual extension of the actual network.
• Network providers run the actual networks, whereas service providers offer and sell services for and over networks.
• Such a service may be the establishing of long distance connections at a less expensive rate, or a call-back service.
• the subscriber in a given network must dial a specific service number. He is then connected to the desired service, for example a low cost long distance operator.
• the desired service for example a low cost long distance operator.
• network providers are also service providers, but a number of service providers can exist beside the network provider of a given network. As already indicated above, in conventional systems only the network ID of the network onto which a user is logged, is displayed.
• the service providers can "brand" their services, i.e. make themselves seen to the user.
• a service provider who uses one or more established networks and sells subscriptions can have his own ID displayed on the mobile devices of his subscribers, so that these subscribers have the impression of being in a network provided by the service provider.
• this is naturally well applicable in the case that the service providers offers services over more than one network, so that the subscriber will have the impression of being in a given network (which in reality does not exist at all) even though he is in fact roaming between different networks.
• Fig. 1 shows a portion of a flow chart for controlling the operation of a mobile communication device, said portion indicating the control of the display in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
• Fig. 2 shows a portion of a flow chart for controlling the operation of a mobile communication device, said portion indicating the control of the display in accordance with the prior art.
• Fig. 3 shows a typical example of a mobile communication device.
• Fig. 4 is a block diagram that schematically shows the structure of a mobile communication device.
• Fig. 5 shows a schematic explanation of how additional display information is provided to a mobile station in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
• Fig. 6 shows an example of the structure of a message provided to the mobile station shown in Fig. 5.
• Fig. 7 shows an example of the structure of the supplementary display information in accordance with the invention.
• Fig. 8 shows a schematic explanation of how additional display information is provided to a mobile station in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.
• Fig. 9 shows a portion of a flow chart for controlling the operation of a mobile communication device, said portion indicating the control of the display in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.
• Figure 3 shows a representation of a mobile telephone as an example of a mobile communication device.
• the telephone 1 has an antenna 2 for transmitting and receiving wireless communications.
• a display for displaying information.
• the information regarding the network provider is a network identification 31, in this example called "Teleplus”.
• other information 32 is shown, e.g. the signal strength etc.
• the mobile telephone 1 comprises number keys
• variable keys 7 which may fulfill any desirable function
• loudspeaker 5 for letting a user hear incoming voice information, and a microphone 6 into which the user speaks when communicating.
• Fig. 4 schematically shows the structure of the mobile communication device shown in Fig. 3. Identical elements have the same reference numeral .
• the communication device is controlled by a central control unit 10.
• This central control unit may e.g. comprise a microprocessor and suitable storage elements, such as RAMs and ROMs containing the programs and data necessary for the functioning of the microprocessor.
• This control unit 10 is connected with the various parts of the mobile communication device, to thereby control the data flow between these various parts and control their individual operation to thereby determine the overall operation of the mobile communication device.
• the antenna 2 is connected to a transceiver 11, which transmits and receives signals on a appropriate frequencies under the control of control unit 10.
• the data to be sent and data received by the transceiver 11 is manipulated in a data processor 12, which e.g. appropriately digitizes analogue voice information coming from the microphone ⁇ , and also converts digitized information into analogue information to be output by speaker 5.
• a data processor 12 which e.g. appropriately digitizes analogue voice information coming from the microphone ⁇ , and also converts digitized information into analogue information to be output by speaker 5.
• specific control information received through antenna 2 and transceiver 11 is passed to the control unit 10, and vice versa control information from control unit 10 is also processed by data processor 12, in order to be sent out from the mobile communication device.
• the control unit 10 is also connected to the keyboard 4 and the display 3, to thereby register the pushing of the keys, and to control which data is displayed on the display 3.
• the mobile communication device or mobile station also comprises a SIM connector 13, i.e. a means for receiving a subscriber identity module.
• Fig. 4 also shows such a subscriber identity module (SIM) 14, although this is in principle not a part of the communication device per se.
• SIM subscriber identity module
• the SIM 14 is inserted into the communication device prior to operation, such that all of the subscriber-related data on the SIM 14 can be accessed by the control unit 10 through the SIM connector 13.
• the SIM is generally provided on a card that is inserted into the mobile telephone prior to use, where a chip having standardized contacts is provided on the card, such that appropriate counter contacts inside the mobile telephone constitute the SIM connector 13 shown in Fig. 4.
• the module can be provided in any other suitable way, e.g. as a circuit chip package that can be attached to a designated part of a printed circuit board in the mobile communication device.
• Step SI represents an arbitrary step in the control flow conducted by the control unit 10 that leads to the idle mode being entered (step S2) .
• the idle mode is defined as that mode in which the mobile communication device is in a state of waiting for incoming calls or outgoing calls or any user actions, i.e. the mobile station waits to see if the base station associated with the cell in which the mobile station is located sends a message indicating that a call is being directed towards the mobile station, or waits for the user of the mobile station to place a call or perform some other action.
• mobile stations display the network identification information associated with the mobile network code received from the network onto which the mobile station is logged.
• the conventional mobile station automatically decodes the received mobile network code on the basis of the predefined tables stored in the mobile station at production time, and displays the corresponding information.
• the subscriber to a network having the identification "Teleplus” i.e. "Teleplus” is the name of his home PLMN
• the subscriber to a network having the identification "Money- sy-phone” “Money-sy-phone” is the visited PLMN
• “Money-sy-phone” is the visited PLMN
• step S4 determines if a specific type of date is present.
• the network identification corresponding to the subscriber's home PLMN i.e. "Teleplus”
• the mobile station would display "Teleplus” on the display 3, as shown in Fig. 3, although it is in fact logged on to the network referred to as "Money-sy-phone” .
• the subscribers to "Teleplus” have the impression of an extended network, i.e. the network is virtually extended.
• step S3 the network ID associated with the received mobile network code is displayed, as in the prior art.
• the network identification "Money-sy- phone" would be displayed. In this way, the system remains compatible with the conventional implementation, because if the mentioned specific type of data is not present, then the mobile station will default into the conventional behavior.
• a check is performed with regard to the information to be displayed in the ID display mode, and the data that is displayed at the end, is determined on the basis of said check.
• FIG. 7 An example of the structure of the stored additional display information is shown in Fig. 7 and will be explained in more detail further on.
• step S4 can be in any suitable or desired way, i.e. it is possible that this step is not conducted by looking for the presence of the alternative network identification, but much rather only looking if a specific flag is set at a predetermined location in the data on the subscriber identity module. For example, if such a flag is set to a value of 1, then this means that the specific type of data is present, and consequently such data is read out from a predetermined address and then step S5 follows, whereas if the flag is set to 0, then step S3 is automatically conducted.
• step S5 may be embodied in several different ways. For example, instead of only displaying the alternative information stored on the subscriber identity module, it is equally well possible to display both the network identification associated with the mobile network code received from the network to which the mobile station is logged and the additional information on the subscriber identity module at the same time. In other words, in the context of the above mentioned example, this means that both “Teleplus” and “Money-sy-phone” would be displayed at the same time.
• step S5 Another alternative to step S5 is the displaying of the additional information from the subscriber identity module for a given period of time and then displaying the network identification associated with the mobile network code in a subsequent period of time, and then repeating this process as long a the mobile station is in the idle mode.
• the last two embodiments in which both the additional information from the subscriber identity module and the network identification corresponding to the received mobile network code are displayed, are advantageous in that the user of the mobile station is informed of the network onto which he is logged, but at the same time is also reminded of his home network.
• the supplementary information on the subscriber identity module was an additional network identification to be displayed in place of or together with the network identification belonging to the network onto which the mobile station is actually logged.
• the present invention is by no means restricted thereto.
• the type of information displayed in step S5 (be it exclusively or mutually with the network identification of the network to which the mobile station is logged) can basically be of arbitrary nature.
• the alternative display mode can advantageously be to display the service indication together with the network identification of the VPLMN. In this way the subscriber can see that his special service is being provided, even though he is roaming. Also, it would be possible to provide the network identification of the home PLMN together with the service indication (i.e. "Teleplus Gold Member” etc.). In this case the alternative display mode could again be to show this information in place of the network identification of the VPLMN, to thereby give the subscriber the impression of an extended network.
• the present invention does not only enhance the performance possibilities with respect to the roaming capability of a mobile communication device, it also provides new possibilities in a single network.
• a network provider can let an indication of a specific type of service be displayed to those subscribers entitled to that service, where the alternative display mode would here advantageously consist in displaying the service indication together with the network identification. Those subscribers not entitled to the service will simply see the network ID, as usual .
• FIG. 9 shows another embodiment of the present invention, where identical or equivalent steps carry the same reference signs as in Fig. 1.
• the procedure is the same as in the previous embodiments, except that an additional step S6 is provided, in which it is determined if the visiting network allows the display of the additional data. If not, then the control procedure goes to step S3, i.e. the network identification of the VPLMN is displayed, as in a conventional system.
• This step S6 can be implemented in any suitable or desired way, for example by having the mobile communication device send a corresponding request message to the VPLMN and then conducting step S6 in accordance with the answer message, or the necessary information can already be provided by the VPLMN in the answer to the location update request sent by the mobile communication device before logging on.
• This embodiment further increases the performance possibilities, as the control over what is displayed to the user of a mobile communication device is not only in the hands of the home PLMN of that user, but also in the hands of individual VPLMN providers.
• a variation of this embodiment consists in the provider of the VPLMN not only influencing if additional and/or alternative information is to be displayed, but also which information and how it is to be displayed, e.g. in alternation or simultaneously. This may e.g. consist in the VPLMN checking the type of phone sending a location update request in response to said location update request, and then sending data on how a display is to be conducted in dependence on the capabilities of the phone.
• the present invention increases the performance possibilities of a mobile communication device and system tremendously.
• steps S4 and S5 in Fig. 1 and steps S4, S5 and S6 in Fig. 9 is only an example of the present invention, as the invention generally consists in checking for a predetermined condition in the ID display mode (e.g. the idle mode) and then determining the data to be displayed in said mode in accordance with the result.
• this processing can also be more complicated and it is possible that there are more than two possibilities for the data to be displayed.
• some of the processing can be made at one or both of the mobile services switching centers (MSC) of the VPLMN and HPLMN.
• this additional information for being displayed in step S5 is always stored in the subscriber identity module, which needs to be inserted into the mobile station before being able to use it.
• the present invention is by no means restricted thereto. Much rather, it is equally well possible that this additional information to be displayed is transmitted to the mobile station.
• Fig. 5 A system embodying this principle is shown in Fig. 5.
• the embodiment of Fig. 5 is based upon GSM, but requires a change of standardization with respect to present implementations, as will be explained.
• the additional information to be displayed is obtained in the following way. Initially, the mobile station selects a network and attempts to log onto the network by sending a so-called location update request. This is still in accordance with the known method of operation. Such a location update request, which essentially constitutes a request for registering with a given network is passed on to the home location register HLR of the subscriber using the mobile station. This is also still in accordance with known systems .
• the additional information to be displayed is stored as an alphanumeric string of limited length in the subscriber record in the home location register HLR.
• MAP Mobile Application Part
• DTAP Direct Transfer Application Part
• step S5 the network ID of the visiting PLMN is displayed, as explained in connection with step S3 of Fig. 1.
• IMSI International Mobile Subscriber Identity
• the additional display information for a given subscriber is stored using that subscriber's IMSI as an identifier.
• Such a table at the MSC/VLR would have to be updated regularly from a network operation and maintenance center.
• the advantage of this variation would be that the HLR would remain unchanged, and only that part of the GSM standard relating to the communication between the MSC/VLR and the mobile station (MS), i.e. DTAP, would have to be modified.
• Fig. 6 shows an example of a DTAP-Location-Update-Accept- Message.
• the message contains known parameters, and in accordance with the invention, a new additional display information parameter is added at the end, as indicated by the dashed line.
• Fig. 7 shows an example of the coding of this additional display information parameter.
• the first octet contains an information element identity (i.e. a tag) for the additional display information, and is followed by an octet describing the display method to be used on the mobile station.
• This display method can consist of permanent display, temporary display, display together with the existing network identification, or the alternate display with the existing network identification. In other words, the way of displaying the additional display information can be communicated together with the display information.
• the third octet may contain information specifying the character coding to be used. The intention of this is to use the available character coding schemes already supported by the mobile station. In the example of Fig.
• octets 4 to m contain n characters that represent the additional display information.
• the string (“Money-sy- phone") would be contained in these characters 4-n, i.e. character 1 would be M, character 2 would be o, character 3 would be n, etc.
• Fig. 7 can also be used in connection with the other embodiments of the invention.
• the additional display information is stored on the subscriber identity module
• a sequence of octets as shown in Fig. 7 may be stored at a predetermined address on said module.
• this format it may be remarked that by storing the n characters, any arbitrary string can be used as additional display information. If the additional information is itself a network identification (e.g.
• USSD Unstructured Supplementary Service Data
• USSD The decisive aspect of USSD is that it is not a part of the standard, much rather the concept of USSD allows for applications that are specific to individual PLMNs. This is due to the fact that USSD messages are handled transparently by intermediate elements. In other words, the MSC/VLR at the visiting PLMN shown in Fig. 8 transparently handles the USSD message encapsulating the additional display information and therefore simply passes the USSD message on to the mobile station. The mobile station can then decode the information.
• the USSD message is repeated after a certain time, i.e. the home location register periodically sends a USSD message to the mobile station.
• the advantage of using USSD lies in the fact that the elements between the home location register and the mobile station do not need to be changed, it is nonetheless possible to also implement the invention in such a way that the additional display information is not stored at the home location register, but much rather is stored in the mobile services switching center's visitors location register, where the association between a given subscriber and the additional display information for said subscriber is provided by the IMSI . This is similar to what has already been described in connection with Fig. 5. In this case, a USSD message is only sent from the MSC/VLR to the mobile station.
• the information to be displayed (or parts thereof) in the ID display mode is generated dynamically, e.g. depending on one or several of the visited network, the possible services for the given subscriber, the type of mobile device being used etc.
• the message to be displayed instead of or together with the network ID of the network to which the specific user is logged is not fixed, but is determined dynamically from case to case and from time to time on the basis of one or more conditions.
• this can be indicated to the subscriber by an appropriate message displayed together with the network ID, e.g.
• HPLMN in addition to “Teleplus” if the user subscribes to the above mentioned “Teleplus” network. If the user roams into another network that due to an arrangement with that users HPLMN will also accord the high priority access, then the HPLMN can determine this and select "HP" as the additional display information for the ID display mode in that network. On the other hand, if the visited network does not accord any higher priority, then the HPLMN can select an appropriate different display information, such as e.g. "No Pri" to thereby inform the user.
• This dynamic message determination can also be employed in connection with the embodiments described in connection with Figures 5 to 7.

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• 1998
  • 1998-07-13 DE DE1998131407 patent/DE19831407C2/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
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