Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
  • H04W4/00—Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
  • H04W4/16—Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
  • H04W4/00—Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
  • H04W4/12—Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• • 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
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
  • H04W88/00—Devices specially adapted for wireless communication networks, e.g. terminals, base stations or access point devices
  • H04W88/18—Service support devices; Network management devices
  • H04W88/184—Messaging devices, e.g. message centre
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
  • H04W92/00—Interfaces specially adapted for wireless communication networks
  • H04W92/02—Inter-networking arrangements
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
  • H04W92/00—Interfaces specially adapted for wireless communication networks
  • H04W92/04—Interfaces between hierarchically different network devices
  • H04W92/06—Interfaces between hierarchically different network devices between gateways and public network devices

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a mobile station, equipment connected to a mobile station, a switching system in a mobile communications system with connection to an external node, and to a method relating to a mobile communications system and in particular to a plurality of transactions that take place in parallel to a mobile station.
• U.S. 5,752,188 describes a solution which enables USSD to be used also for transmitting data between the mobile station and a USSD service node located outside the GSM network.
• Other service nodes can be connected to a USSD service node. These other service nodes allow the mobile station access to a number of applications through USSD transactions.
• the solution gives no limitation as to the number of USSD transactions that are set up with the mobile station.
• the present invention addresses a problem where a transaction is set up with a mobile station regardless of whether or not the user of the mobile station wishes the transaction to be established. Undesired information transmitted via the transaction places the user physically under stress. He/she will be particularly stressed by information from different sources obtained via different parallel transactions.
• one object of the present invention is to enable a user of the mobile station to prevent a transaction in advance and in particular to prevent several transactions with the mobile station from progressing at one and the same time. Another object is to ensure that the quality of a circuit switched data connection will not be impaired or degraded because other transactions are ongoing against the wishes of the user.
• the aforesaid problems are solved by a method pertaining to a mobile communications system wherein a user of a mobile station expresses beforehand whether or not he/she is prepared to allow a requested transaction to be set up.
• a user admission or permission is checked and the requested connection is made in accordance with this admission.
• a mobile station that includes means for registering the user admission as to whether or not the transaction may be set up, means for checking whether or not a requested transaction is in accord with the user's admission, and means for preventing a requested transaction when said transaction is not permitted.
• the aforesaid problems are also solved with a switching system that is connected to at least one base station system and thereby connected to a mobile station, and a connection to a service node.
• the switching system also includes means for receiving from the service node a request to set up a transaction with the mobile station, and means for fulfilling the request.
• the switching system includes means for registering the user admission, or permission, to set up a transaction and means for checking the admission in respect of a request for a new transaction, wherewith the transaction is prevented if it is not in accord with the user admission.
• the permission given by the user may be such as to allow a USSD transaction to be set up only if no speech connection, i.e. circuit switched data connection is ongoing.
• the permission given may stipulate that only a certain number of transactions may be ongoing in parallel.
• Another alternative is that a transaction intended for a given application will only be inhibited from or given as one of a number of allowed transactions on the basis of its intended application.
• One advantage afforded by the invention is that the user of the mobile station can limit beforehand the number of parallel transactions that can be undertaken with the mobile station.
• the user limits the number of information sources that send information to the mobile station simultaneously, and therewith avoid mental strain.
• the user may also, or alternatively, prevent transactions being set up on the request of certain applications, or alternatively only permit transactions on the request of certain applications.
• the user will hereby stop in advance the transmission of undesired information.
• Another advantage afforded by the invention is that a circuit switched data connection can be used without impairing the quality of other transactions with the mobile station.
• the invention prevents parallel USSD transactions that would otherwise take transmission capacity from the circuit switched data connection. Results of measurements made in this respect show that about 15-20% of speech frames sent to a given mobile station in a GSM network are degraded by parallel ongoing USSD transactions. The percentage of degraded or impaired speech frames should be restricted to about 1-2% in order for acceptable speech quality to be obtained.
• Figure 1 is a view of a cellular mobile communications system including nodes.
• Figure 2 is a flowchart illustrating an inventive method.
• Figure 3 is a block schematic illustrating nodes included in the switching system (not complete) .
• Figure 4 is a block schematic illustrating nodes that are active in setting-up a USSD transaction.
• Figure 5 illustrates the principle of a permission registering data structure.
• FIG. 1 is a view of the known mobile communications system PLMN GSM.
• the GSM network PLMN includes a mobile station MS, a number of radio base transceiver stations BTS1-BTS2, two base station controllers BSC1-BSC2, a mobile services switching centre MSC, a Gateway Mobile services Switching Centre GMSC, a Visitor Location Register VLR, and a Home Location Register HLR.
• Each radio base station BTS1-BTS2 is connected to a base station controller BSC1-BSC2, which in turn is connected to the mobile services switching centre MSC.
• the mobile services switching centre MSC is connected to the visitor location register VLR and to the gateway mobile services switching centre GMSC.
• the gateway switching centre GMSC is connected to the home location register HLR.
• the mobile station MS is connected by radio to the radio base station BTS1 that serves a cell Cl within which the mobile station MS is situated at that moment in time.
• the gateway mobile switching centre GMSC is connected to other telephone networks (not shown in Figure 1) and to a USSD service node USSDgw.
• Transactions in the form of speech connections TCH or SMS transactions can be set up between the mobile station MS and telephone network terminals, through the medium of the gateway mobile switching centre GMSC.
• USSD transactions USSDl, USSD2 are set up between the mobile station MS and the USSD service node USSDgw.
• the first of these types of transaction is a traditional circuit switched data connection TCH used typically for speech connections.
• a connection is set up through the GSM network or duplex connection TCH in this respect.
• the second type of transaction is an SMS transaction.
• An SMS transaction is a one-way connection, although the connection can be chosen to or from the mobile.
• the transaction is effected via an SMS service node outside the GSM network PLMN
• This connection is not a "usual connection" but is one in which the user data is transferred transparently by protocol in the GSM network PLMN that normally handles signalling.
• the third type of transaction is a group of services defined under the collective name of "Supplementary Services". This group includes a service USSD, meaning Unstructured Supplementary Data. Similar to the SMS transaction, user data is transmitted transparently with signalling protocol within the GSM network PLMN. As opposed to an SMS transaction, a USSD transaction takes place in the form of a dialogue in which an answer is given to a question included in the transaction, for example.
• Figure 1 illustrates a circuit switched transaction TCH and two USSD transactions USSDl and USSD2 that are ongoing simultaneously with the mobile station MS.
• Figure 1 does not show the external telephone network to which the circuit switched transaction continues.
• the two USSD transactions USSDl, USSD2 take place between the mobile station MS and the USSD service node USSDgw.
• a number of applications AP are connected to the USSD service node USSDgw.
• the applications AP can either be implemented in the USSD service node or in own service nodes that are connected to the USSD service node.
• the applications use the USSD service node for information transfer with the mobile station MS.
• Another service node WAPgw for Internet protocol is also connected to the USSD service node.
• the mobile station MS obtains access to information on the Internet, via the second service node WAPgw.
• the second service node WAPgw ensures that the information will be delivered and presented in a manner optimal for the mobile station.
• the USSD transactions, USSDl, USSD2 are transmitted on the radio connection of a radio channel designated FACCH (Fast Associated Control CHannel) .
• the circuit switched connection TCH is transferred on the radio connection of a traffic channel TCH.
• the FACCH channel is set up only when data to be transmitted via this channel is found, and when set up then steals transmission capacity from the traffic channel.
• the transmission of the two USSD transactions USSDl, USSD2 will considerably impair the quality of user data that has been transmitted by the traffic channel.
• speech is transmitted by the traffic channel, a certain degree of speech impairment or degredation can be corrected with the aid of coding.
• the speech impairment is greater than a given threshold value, the fault cannot be corrected by coding and the speech will be so poor that the receiver will be unable to understand what is said.
• the present invention enables the user of the mobile station MS to prevent a transaction USSDl, USSD2 being set up in parallel with a circuit switched data connection TCH, or to limit the number of transactions TCH, USSDl, USSD2 that can be set up with the mobile station MS, or to release an ongoing transaction USSDl, USSD2 when a circuit switched data connection TCH is established.
• Figure 2 is a flowchart illustrating the method steps of checking user admission when a request for connecting a transaction USSDl, USSD2 is received.
• a number of parameters are initiated to indicate a certain value. This value is determined by the user of the mobile station MS and the parameters together constitute the user's permission, i.e. user admission, to set up a USSD transaction.
• a first of the parameters UPAF denotes whether or not the admission check has been activated.
• the parameter UPAF is set to indicate that the admission check is on.
• a second of the parameters, TCHACF is set to indicate whether or not the establishment of a USSD transaction is allowed or not allowed when a circuit switched data connection has already been established.
• a third parameter NoNP is set to indicate whether or not a request for a USSD transaction intended for an unknown application is in accord with the user admission or not. If this is given in the request, it will be in the form of the identity "NEI" (Network Element Identifier) of the USSD service node USSDgw and its port address.
• the port address, or gateway address, in combination with NEI corresponds to a given application.
• a fourth parameter MaxNo is set to indicate the maximum number of USSD transactions that are permitted to take place in parallel, i.e. simultaneously.
• the user may include a black list or white list in addition to these parameters, if he/she so desires.
• the black list will include applications for which a transaction request is inadmissible.
• the alternative white list includes applications for which a transaction is admissible solely if the intention of the transaction is an application included in the white list.
• step S2 On a later occasion there is received a request for a USSD transaction, in accordance with step S2.
• step S3 a check is made to ascertain whether or not the admission control has been activated or not. This state of the control is given by the parameter UPAF. If the admission control is not activated, the transaction is set up in an earlier known manner in accordance with step S13. On the other hand, if the admission control is on, the control continues by checking in a following step S4 that the requested transaction is in accord with the registered permission.
• step S4 a check is made to ascertain whether or not the requested USSD transaction may be set up if a circuit switched data connection is already ongoing. This is indicated by the parameters TCHACF. If set to "ON”, a check is made to ascertain whether or not a circuit switched data connection is ongoing, according to step S5. If a circuit switched data connection is ongoing, the requested USSD transaction is stopped, in accordance with step S14. If the USSD transaction may be set up despite an ongoing circuit switched data connection, i.e. no to the question raised in step S4, or if no circuit switched connection is ongoing, i.e. no to the question raised in S5, the control continues in accordance with step S6.
• step S6 a check is made to ascertain whether or not the received request for a USSD transaction discloses the intended application for the transaction according to the request, and if the application is disclosed the application is also read. If such is the case, the application will be disclosed with the address of the USSD service node USSDgw on the form "NEI" (Network Element Identifier) plus port which together with NEI corresponds to a certain application. If the application is not stated, a check is carried out in step S7 to ascertain whether or not a request intended for an unknown application is in accord with the admission. This is indicated by the parameter NoNP and the transaction is terminated in accordance with step S14 if the transaction according to the request is not allowed.
• NEI Network Element Identifier
• step S7 if the answer to the question raised in step S7 is yes - a transaction intended for unknown application is allowed - a further check is carried out in accordance with step S12. If, on the other hand, the application is indicated in the request, step S6 is followed by step S8.
• step S8 a check is made to ascertain whether or not a Black list is found. If the answer is yes - a black list exists - a check is carried out in step S10 to ascertain whether or not the application for the requested USSD transaction is included on the black list. If the answer is yes also to the question raised in step S10, i.e. the transaction according to the request is not allowed because of the application intended, the transaction is terminated in accordance with step S14. On the other hand, if the answer to the question in step S10 is no, i.e. the transaction is not blocked because of the intended application, a further check is carried out in accordance with step S12.
• step S9 a check is made in step S9 to ascertain whether or not there exists a white list. If no white list exists, i.e. the answer to the question is no, a further check is carried out in accordance with step S12. On the other hand, if a white list exists, a check is carried out in step Sll to ascertain whether or not the intended application of the transaction according to the request is included in the white list. If the answer to the question is no, the application in the request is not included in the white list, the transaction is terminated in accordance with step S14. On the other hand, if the application is included in the white list, i.e. yes to the question raised in step Sll, step S12 is carried out.
• step S12 a check is made to ascertain whether or not the number of transactions ongoing with the mobile station MS is beneath the maximum number of permitted USSD transactions.
• the maximum number of USSD transactions that are permitted to be ongoing simultaneously is indicated by the parameter MaxNo. If the answer is yes, i.e. the number of USSD transactions is less than the maximum permitted number, the transaction is set up in accordance with the request in a conventional manner; see step S13.
• step S14 if the answer to the question in step S12 is no, i.e. the number of ongoing USSD transactions is not fewer than the maximum permitted number, the requested USSD transaction is terminated in accordance with step S14.
• parameter UPAF As an alternative to allowing parameter UPAF to indicate solely whether the admission control is activated or not, as in the above example, there is defined a further indication "USSD transaction allowed".
• the flowchart in Figure 2 is extended with a further step after step S3, control: Is USSD transaction allowed? If the answer is yes, the control carried out in accordance with step S4 continues in the same way as before. If no, i.e. no USSD transaction is allowed, the requested USSD transaction is terminated according to step S14.
• Several different nodes in the GSM network PLMN may alternatively be chosen to register the state of the user and to check this state in conjunction with a connection request.
• the inventive mobile station includes a display screen and keypad with which the user controls the mobile station.
• the inventive mobile station includes a function with which the number of ongoing transactions USSDl, USSD2, TCH can be counted.
• the mobile station MS also includes a register for storing those parameters that indicate user admission to USSD transactions.
• the mobile station MS also includes a function for controlling user admission when a request for a USSD transaction has been obtained, in accordance with the method described with reference to Figure 2.
• the mobile station MS receives a request for a USSD transaction in a message "Register" over the FACCH channel.
• the mobile station MS answer with a message "Facility". Both of these messages includes a USSD component that contains data for the USSD transaction. If the mobile station MS terminates the transaction, this is indicated by the USSD component in the message "Facility". This is earlier known. In the earlier known message there is defined a new reason for terminating the USSD transaction. This new reason is "the USSD transaction is forbidden by the user".
• the user of the mobile station MS initiates the admission parameters, i.e. registers the form of admission he desires, through the medium of the mobile station keypad and instructions on the display screen of the mobile station MS.
• a mobile station MS is comprised of mobile equipment and a SIM card.
• the register containing admission parameters may either be inserted into the mobile equipment or into the SIM card.
• the SIM card is supplied by the operator of the GSM network, who has set the admission parameters beforehand in a first state when these parameters are stored in the SIM card.
• the registration and control may be handled by the switching system.
• the switching system SS and its nodes are defined in
• Figure 3 shows those nodes of the switching system SS that are significant to the present invention.
• the switching system SS in Figure 3 thus includes the switching centre plus the visitor location register MSC/VLR, the gateway mobile switching centre GMSC and the home location register HLR. These nodes are connected to each other and to external nodes in the manner described above with reference to Figure 1.
• the USSD service node USSDgw is connected directly to the home location register HLR as shown in Figure 4.
• Figure 4 illustrates a second service node AS with application AP.
• An arrow Al indicates that the USSD service node USSDgw is contacted by the second service node AS which requests permission to set up a USSD transaction USSDl, USSD2 with the mobile station MS.
• the mobile station MS is specified by its identity, designated MSISDN.
• the USSD service node USSDgw then sets up a transaction with the home location register HLR by sending a USSD request to the home location register in a message "TCAP-BEGIN" . This message is sent in accordance with the protocol MAP (Mobile Application Part) and is indicated by an arrow A2 in Figure 4.
• MAP Mobile Application Part
• the home location register HLR When the home location register HLR has received this USSD request, the home location register translates the identity MSISDN of the mobile station MS to the corresponding identity designated IMSI used in the GSM network PLMN.
• the home location register HLR also checks the identity of the switching centre plus visitor location register MSC/VLR that serves the mobile station MS at that moment in time and sets up a USSD transaction with this switching centre/visitor location register MSC/VLR.
• the USSD transaction is set up by the home location register HLR, by sending a USSD request to the switching centre/visitor location register MSC/VLR in a message "TCAP-BEGIN" shown by an arrow A3 in Figure 4.
• a conventional switching centre/visitor location register MSC/VLR When a conventional switching centre/visitor location register MSC/VLR has received the message "TCAP-BEGIN", it initiates procedures for mobility management and radio resource management, for instance for calling the mobile station MS and for allocating signalling capacity. These are used to set up the USSD transaction to the mobile station MS.
• the USSD transaction request is forwarded to the mobile station MS and when a reply has been obtained, the reply is forwarded to the second service node AS via the USSD service node USSDgw. For each string of user data that is subsequently sent via the USSD service node USSDgw, it then awaits a reply.
• a USSD transaction can therefore be likened to a dialogue.
• the switching centre/home location register MSC/VLR checks that the requested USSD transaction is in accord with the registered admission, before starting the mobility management and radio resource management procedures.
• the inventive mobile switching centre/visitor location register MSC/VLR includes a user admission storage register.
• the mobile switching centre/visitor location register MSC/VLR also includes a function for checking this admission upon receipt of a request for setting up a USSD transaction, in accordance with the inventive method.
• a known mobile switching centre/visitor location register MSC/VLR is able to count the number of transactions ongoing with the mobile station MS. This function is used when the admission states that only a limited number of parallel transactions may be set up with the mobile station MS.
• a known mobile switching centre/visitor location register MSC/VLR also has a function for checking the type of transaction that might have been set up. Thus, setting-up of new transactions can be inhibited when the admission states that no further transactions may be set up when a circuit switched data connection has already been established.
• a GSM network will normally include a plurality of switching centres and associated visitor location registers, although only one will serve the mobile station MS at any one time.
• the switching centre/visitor location register MSC/VLR accepts the mobile station MS for service, data relating to the mobile station MS is downloaded in the mobile switching centre/visitor location register MSC/VLR from the home location register HLR, in which mobile station MS information is always registered.
• the data record P of the mobile station MS is identified by one of its two identities MSISDN and IMSI. Chosen values of the parameters UPAF, TCHACF and NoNp are registered in the data record.
• the data record P also includes a list L which contains an indicator that shows whether the list is a black list or a white list.
• the list L then includes a number of NEIs each being an address to a USSD service node USSDgw.
• a number of port addresses are also defined in the list. Each port address in the list is associated with an NEI and together indicate a given application.
• a copy of the data record P is sent from the home location register to the mobile switching centre/visitor location register MSC/VLR.
• the user can register its admission in the home location register.
• the simplest way is to inform the GSM network operator as to which admission is desired, whereafter the operator sets the parameters to indicate the admission, via a man machine interface (MMI).
• MMI man machine interface
• Other solutions enable the user to set admission parameters in accordance with desired admission, via the mobile station MS.
• One such solution involves setting up a USSD transaction with HLR and transferring desired USSD admission to HLR, where the parameters are registered.
• Other solutions involve providing HLR with an interactive voice control or a WWW interface, with which the mobile station user can cause the home register HLR to register desired admission.
• the home location register may handle the control.
• the home location register uses control functions corresponding to those used in the mobile switching centre/visitor location register.
• One difference, however, is that the home location register HLR contains no information concerning transactions that are ongoing with the mobile station MS. Consequently, a requested USSD transaction cannot be inhibited because a certain number of transactions or a circuit switched data connection are/is in progress.
• the home location register is allowed to carry out said control, it is unnecessary to copy the admission parameters to the mobile switching centre/visitor location register MSC/VLR.
• the mobile station MS may be provided with connected equipment.
• the mobile station MS and the connected equipment together form a mobile terminal.
• the connecting equipment is normally a computer.
• the connected computer may handle the control in accordance with a registered admission.
• the computer is equipped with functions corresponding to those of the mobile station MS for managing the control and registering the user admission.
• the interface for connection between the mobile station MS and the computer may be configured so that relevant information contained in the request with respect to a USSD transaction is transferred to the computer. The decision as to whether the transaction may be carried out or not is passed back from the computer to the mobile station MS, which then sends a reply to the request.
• control check 2 includes a number of control checks that ascertain whether the transaction requested is allowed or not. It will be understood that not all of these controls need be carried out and that those controls which are to be carried out are selected in the implementation of the control function.
• additional controls can be included in the method.
• One example of such additional controls resides in reading the identity of the module in the mobile station MS that shall receive a requested USSD transaction.
• the module is given in the USSD component of the request and is designated DCS (Data Coding Scheme) .
• DCS Data Coding Scheme
• the user admission may, for instance, be stated such as to stop a USSD transaction if its data is intended for the display screen or loudspeaker of the mobile station.
• One reason for stopping such transactions is because the user becomes stressed when several types of data are presented at one and the same time.
• USSD service node USSDgw sends over an established USSD transaction request to send further strings of information.
• the user admission may also state that only a limited number of data transmission requests are accepted within a transaction.
• control has been carried out in response to a request for a USSD transaction. It will be understood, however, that the invention can be applied with other types of transactions other than USSD transactions.
• the described embodiments illustrate how the invention is applied in a GSM network PLMN. It will be understood, however, that the invention can also be applied in other mobile communications systems.
• a transaction-type circuit switched data connection that is normally used for speech purposes.
• the majority of mobile communications systems also include types of transactions in which user data is transferred by a transaction that is not circuit-switched connected.
• a transaction that is not circuit-switched is often transmitted with the aid of protocol that is also used for signalling.
• the USSD transaction and the SMS transaction are the names of two such transactions in the GSM network PLMN. Similar types of transactions have other names in other systems, although they, unfortunately, lack a common designation.
• Other mobile communications systems normally include a base station instead of a radio base station BTS and a base station switching centre BSC.
• the base station includes essentially the same functions that are distributed in GSM between the base station switching centre BSC and the radio base transceiver station BTS.
• Functions which in the GSM system are distributed on nodes in switching systems SS are in other mobile communications systems distributed on nodes that partly have other names but which together have essentially the same functions as the switching systems SS of the GSM system.
• the invention is applicable for all mobile communications systems where several transactions can be in progress in parallel with one mobile station.
• mobile communications system is meant a cellular radio network in which the mobility service is offered to mobile stations.

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Citations (3)

• 1998
  • 1998-11-16 SE SE9803922A patent/SE513098C2/sv not_active IP Right Cessation
• 1999
  • 1999-10-19 AU AU14278/00A patent/AU1427800A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1999-10-19 CA CA002350461A patent/CA2350461A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1999-10-19 WO PCT/SE1999/001882 patent/WO2000030377A1/en active Application Filing
  • 1999-10-19 CN CN 99813325 patent/CN1326647A/zh active Pending
• 2001
  • 2001-05-14 NO NO20012369A patent/NO20012369L/no not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2001-05-15 FI FI20011020A patent/FI20011020A/fi unknown

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