WO2002089510A1

WO2002089510A1 - Selective call forwarding

Info

Publication number: WO2002089510A1
Application number: PCT/AU2002/000526
Authority: WO
Inventors: Benjamin Kowarsch
Original assignee: Cellular Roaming Alliance Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2001-04-30
Filing date: 2002-04-30
Publication date: 2002-11-07
Also published as: AUPR472601A0; AP2003002919A0

Abstract

There is disclosed apparatus for selectively forwarding calls to a mobile terminal (11) roaming in a visited network (3), including selective call forwarding means (17) for selectively forwarding individual calls to the mobile terminal (11) when the mobile terminal (11) is roaming in a visited network (3) in a manner specified by a record associated with the mobile terminal (11).

Description

SELECTIVE CALL FORWARDING

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the selective forwarding of calls to mobile terminals roaming in visited networks .

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

When a mobile terminal such as a mobile phone is roaming in a visited network, and roaming is enabled for the mobile terminal, calls made to the mobile terminal are forwarded automatically by the mobile terminal's home network to the visited network and the forwarded leg of the call is charged to an account associated with the mobile terminal. This is in contrast to the usual situation where the calling party incurs the call costs. The costs incurred can be substantial, particularly, as the mobile terminal is usually roaming in a visited network in a foreign country and hence the forwarded leg is usually an international call. Further, it is usually not possible for the roaming user to know who is calling when they receive an inbound roaming call and hence to know whether they need to accept the call. The only control which a user of the mobile terminal can exercise over forwarded calls is to direct all inbound calls to their voicemail service while they are roaming. However, this is only achievable on an all or nothing basis.

Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide a technique which allows a user of a mobile terminal to select which calls are forwarded to them.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the invention provides a method of selectively forwarding calls to a mobile terminal roaming in a visited network involving selectively forwarding individual calls in a manner specified by a record associated with said mobile terminal only when said mobile terminal is roaming in a visited network.

Preferably, said method involves automatically activating selective forwarding of calls when a mobile terminal is roaming in a visited network.

Preferably, said record includes a list of phone numbers, and said method involves automatically forwarding calls from a number in said list to the mobile terminal.

Preferably, said method includes monitoring communications between the mobile terminal's home network and a visited network in order to detect when said mobile terminal is roaming in a visited network, and automatically activating selective call forwarding only when said mobile terminal is detected as roaming in a visited network.

Alternatively, said method includes the mobile terminal's home location registry monitoring said mobile terminal and automatically activating selective call forwarding when the home location registry detects that said mobile terminal is roaming in a visited network.

Preferably, said method includes a user of said mobile terminal configuring said record.

Preferably, said method includes authenticating said user of said mobile terminal before actively selecting call forwarding for said mobile terminal.

Preferably, said method includes authenticating said user each time said user configures said record. Preferably, said method includes automatically deactivating selective forwarding of calls in response to detecting that the mobile terminal is no longer roaming.

Preferably, said method includes generating a caller identification number (CIN) associated with said mobile terminal and said method involves requiring a caller to enter said CIN and forwarding calls when said CIN is entered.

Preferably, said caller is only required to enter said CIN if the caller is calling from a phone number which is not included in said record or it cannot be determined that the caller is calling from a number in said record.

Preferably, said method includes automatically distributing an individual CIN to a list of persons incorporated in said record for said mobile terminal.

The invention also provides apparatus for carrying out the above method. Specifically, the invention provides apparatus for selectively forwarding calls to a mobile terminal roaming in a visited network including selective call forwarding means for selectively forwarding individual calls to said mobile terminal when said mobile terminal is roaming is a visited network in a manner specified by a record associated with said mobile terminal.

Preferably, said selective call forwarding means is automatically activated when a mobile terminal is roaming in a visited network.

Preferably, said record includes a list of phone numbers, and said selective call forwarding means automatically forwards calls from numbers in said list.

Preferably, said record is stored in a user preferences database.

Preferably, said apparatus includes a roaming event detection device located between the home and visited networks in order to detect when said mobile terminal roams in said visited network and to trigger activation of said selective call forwarding means.

Alternatively, said apparatus includes a home location registry (HLR) which is configured to automatically activate said call forwarding means when said mobile terminal is detected roaming in a visited network.

Preferably, said user preferences database is accessible by a user, whereby said user can configure said record for said mobile terminal.

In an alternative aspect, there is provided a method of connecting calls to a mobile terminal, including: activating selective connection of calls to said mobile phone if a predetermined condition stored in a record associated with said mobile terminal is met; and selectively connecting calls to said phone while said predetermined condition is met.

In a further aspect, there is provided a method of forwarding calls from a first number to a second phone number, including: activating selective forwarding of calls from said first phone number to said second phone number if a predetermined condition stored in a record associated with said first number is met; and selectively forwarding calls to said second phone number while said predetermined condition is met.

Preferably, said predetermined condition relates to costs incurred by the owner of said mobile terminal when calls are connected.

The second number may be one of a plurality of second numbers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the following drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing how a user connects to a selective call forwarding service platform;

Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing one possible configuration for activating selectively forwarding calls to a mobile terminal roaming in a visited network;

Figure 3 is a schematic diagram showing how a user registers for selective call forwarding; and Figure 4 is a schematic diagram showing how calls are selectively forwarded.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to Figure 1, in order to take advantage of the technique of the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is necessary for a user to register with the system. Typically, the user of mobile terminal 11 accesses a service portal 24 in the form of an internet site by logging onto the service portal 24 from a personal computer 20 via the world wide web 22. The user provides their full name and mobile phone number and other such information as is necessary to identify the owner of the mobile terminal 11. If necessary, the service portal 24 will verify these details, preferably by checking them automatically via an interface with a database (not illustrated) belonging to the network to which the mobile terminal user subscribes. When registration is complete, the service will issue the user with a user identification number (UIN) . In the preferred embodiment, the UIN is transmitted directly via a short messaging service (SMS) message to the mobile terminal 11 to reduce the chance of interception and to ensure that it is sent to the genuine user of the mobile terminal 11. The service platform 17 transmits the UIN via short messaging service centre 37 (SMSC) and MSC 9 to the mobile terminal 11. The mobile terminal is then required to respond with its UIN. As illustrated in Figure 3, the phone 11 calls a number provided in the SMS and is connected to an IVR 35 which requests that the user enter their UIN. Once the user enters the UIN, the service platform 17 creates an entry in user preferences database 26. Thus, it is necessary for the user to enter the UIN in order to complete the registration process to thereby authenticate the user. However, the UIN may be provided to the user in some other manner - for example by mail .

As stated above, once the UIN has been generated, it is necessary for the user to enter the UIN in order to enter the service portal and to modify the record which has been established for their mobile terminal in the user preferences database 26. The user is then capable of modifying their individual record. For example, their individual record can be modified to indicate whether selective call forwarding should be activated or not, and to add or delete numbers from which calls should be forwarded using the call forwarding service. The user is also able to enter details of the circumstances in which call forwarding should be activated, as well as details to identify the owners of the various phone numbers etc. Further details of what may be entered in the record for the mobile terminal will become apparent from the following description.

Referring to Figure 2, mobile terminal 11 is roaming in a visited network 3 and signs on for the first time, base station 13 relays the sign-on attempt to the

MSC 9 which checks with the VLR 7 to determine whether the mobile terminal is already registered with the visited network 3. As the mobile terminal is signing on for the first time, the mobile terminal 11 will not be registered with the VLR 7 in the visited network 3, and the VLR 7 will need to determine from the mobile terminal's international mobile subscriber identification (IMSI) to which network it belongs. The VLR 7 will then send a signal to the home location registry (HLR) 5 of the mobile terminal 11 in the mobile terminal's home network 1 advising the HLR that it has one of the home network's subscribers roaming in the visited network 3. In the preferred embodiment, a roaming event detection device (REDD) 15 monitors communications between the two networks in order to monitor and detect these roaming events.

Roaming events are notified to a service platform 17 which determines from user preferences database 26 whether the mobile terminal 11 is registered for selective call forwarding. In the preferred embodiment, the service platform 17 provides a selective call forwarding means, and following activation will check all incoming calls to the mobile terminal 11 to determine whether they should be forwarded to the mobile terminal 11. This involves checking the record for the mobile terminal established by the user in the user preferences database 26 to determine whether it indicates that the phone call should be forwarded to the mobile terminal 11 in the visited network 3. As illustrated in Figure 4, once selective call forwarding is activated the gateway mobile services centre (GMSC) 19 routes all calls to phone 11 via the service platform 17. Thus, the service platform 17 is able to check all calls against the user preferences database. This is done by checking the caller ID for the re-routed phone call against a list of phone numbers in the record for the mobile terminal. If the caller is authorised the call is forwarded to mobile terminal 11, if the caller is not authorised, the caller is forwarded to a voice mail service 39 (VMS) .

In the preferred embodiment, an additional facility is provided wherein a caller identification number CIN may be distributed to potential callers of the mobile phone 11. In this case, if the service platform 17 is unable to match the caller's number against the user preferences database, the user will be referred to an interactive voice response system (IVR) 23 which allows the user to input the CIN, if the caller is in possession of the CIN and enters it correctly, the caller's call is forwarded to the roaming user 11. In all instances, call forwarding occurs in the usual manner between networks with the GMSC 19 initiating the call to the roaming user 11 via MSC 9 in the visited network.

A number of modifications may be made to the above system without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, as illustrated in Figure 1, if the mobile terminal is wireless application protocol (WAP) enabled, the user will be able to access the service portal using their mobile terminal as well as by using a personal computer. Alternatively, the user may call an IVR system 35 to alter their preferences. Further, rather than provide a roaming event detection device 15, the HLR

5 can be reconfigured to notify the service platform 17 when the mobile terminal 11 roams, the MSC may be altered to include means for selectively forwarding the calls and the HLR could include means for initiating selective call forwarding. Similar functionality can be provided for general pocket radio service (GPRS) as mobile terminals.

As will be apparent from the above, it is also possible for the user to configure the user preferences database so that calls are only forwarded in particular circumstances such as they are roaming in a particular network. For example, a user may be going on an overseas trip which is part business and part pleasure. The user may wish to configure the record for their mobile terminal so that business calls are only forwarded to them in the visited network while they are engaged in the business part of their trip.

A further example where configuration may be used to advantage is if the mobile terminal is paid for by the user's employer, the user's employer may wish to configure the record for the mobile terminal so that only work related phone calls are forwarded.

In a further aspect, there is provided a system where a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) has a service platform which registers user requests and settings for inbound call screening. A user can edit his preferences via the internet or WAP or using an interactive voice response (IVR) 35 system. The preferences contain rules to determine under which circumstances inbound call screening is to be applied. This aspect is aimed at dealing with networks which charge mobile phone users for incoming calls.

The user can turn inbound call screening on or off when editing preferences or selecting options on the phone itself and this is communicated to the service platform. Once the user has activated call screening, calls will be screened in accordance with user defined rules. Such rules have the general aim of reducing call costs, and could be location dependent or time dependent, i.e. (a) activate when the mobile terminal is outside its local area; or (b) activate during the expensive peak/daytime tariff .

Further the rules could be charging regime or account balance dependent, i.e.:

(a) activate for any chargeable calls; or

(b) activate for any inbound calls over $$ per minute ; or (c) activate for any inbound calls if account balance is below a ceiling amount of $$

The screening mechanism is activated if (and only if) any of these user defined rules are validated, otherwise it is dormant and all calls go through. If the mechanism is activated, then the service platform aims to verify the calling party by CLI or if CLI is not present it will aim to authenticate the calling party by a CIN as described above. If the calling party cannot be verified nor authenticated, then the call is diverted to voicemail or to an alternative number or to an operator.

In a further aspect, the invention can be applied to a Unified Messaging Service (UMS) . In a Unified Messaging Service, a user is provided with one number which they provide to people who want to call them. People calling the UMS number are automatically forwarded to a number pre-specified by the user (alternatively to one or more of a plurality of numbers) . In this embodiment there is a service platform which registers user requests and settings for inbound call screening. A user can edit his or her preferences via web or IVR. The preferences contain rules to determine under which circumstances selective call forwarding is to be applied.

The user switches the selective call forwarding mechanism on or off via the web or through an IVR. Once selective call forwarding is activated, user defined rules will activate the mechanism that aims to verify or authenticate calling parties. Such rules could be location dependent or time dependent, i.e: (a) activate mechanism when forward-to number is outside of a local area or outside of the country or a mobile phone number; or (b) activate mechanism when the expensive peak/daytime tariff applies or during office/work hours (where only important callers should be able to get through) .

Further, they could be charging regime or account balance dependent, i.e: (a) activate mechanism when forwarding cost is over the rate for a local call or over the national call rate; or (b) activate mechanism when forwarding cost is over $$ per minute; or (c) activate mechanism when account balance is below a ceiling amount of $$.

The selective call forwarding mechanism is only activated if (and only if) any of these user defined rules are validated otherwise it is dormant and all calls go through. If the mechanism is activated, then the service platform aims to verify the calling party by CLI or if CLI is not present it will aim to authenticate the calling party by CIN as described above. If the calling party cannot be verified nor authenticated, then the call is diverted to voicemail or to an alternative number or to an operator. To meet certain of the activation criteria the service platform will need to have knowledge of the network's charging regime. This can be achieved by an interface to the rating engine or reading the rating engine's tariff database. To meet other activation criteria, the service platform will need to have knowledge of the user's account balance. This can be achieved by an interface to the charging system, either prepaid platform or billing system or reading the charging system's account database.

These and other modifications will be apparent for persons skilled in the art and should be considered as being within the scope of the invention as disclosed herein.

Claims

CLAIMS :

1. A method of selectively forwarding calls to a mobile terminal roaming in a visited network involving selectively forwarding individual calls in a manner specified by a record associated with said mobile terminal only when said mobile terminal is roaming in a visited network.

2. A method of selectively forwarding calls to a mobile terminal as claimed in claim 1, involving automatically activating selective forwarding of calls when a mobile terminal is roaming in a visited network.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said record includes a list of phone numbers, and said method involves automatically forwarding calls from a number in said list to the mobile terminal.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said method includes monitoring communications between the mobile terminal's home network and a visited network in order to detect when said mobile terminal is roaming in a visited network, and automatically activating selective call forwarding only when said mobile terminal is detected as roaming in a visited network.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said method includes the mobile terminal's home location registry monitoring said mobile terminal and automatically activating selective call forwarding when the home location registry detects that said mobile terminal is roaming in a visited network.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1, further including a user of said mobile terminal configuring said record.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1, further including authenticating a user of said mobile terminal before activating selective call forwarding for said mobile terminal.

8. A method as claimed in claim 6, further including authenticating said user each time said user configures said record.

9. A method as claimed in claim 1, further including automatically deactivating selective forwarding of calls when it is detected that the mobile terminal is no longer roaming .

10. A method as claimed in claim 1, further including generating a caller identification number (CIN) associated with said mobile terminal and said method involves requiring a caller to enter said CIN and forwarding calls to said mobile terminal when said CIN is entered.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein said caller is only required to enter said CIN if the caller is calling from a phone number which is not included in said record or it cannot be determined that the caller is calling from a number in their record.

12. A method as claimed in claim 10, including distributing an individual CIN to a list of persons incorporated in said record associated with said mobile terminal .

13. Apparatus for selectively forwarding calls to a mobile terminal roaming in a visited network, including selective call forwarding means for selectively forwarding individual calls to said mobile terminal when said mobile terminal is roaming in a visited network in a manner specified by a record associated with said mobile terminal .

14. Apparatus for selectively forwarding calls to a mobile terminal as claimed in claim 13, wherein said selective call forwarding means is automatically activated when a phone is roaming in a visited network.

15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein preferably, said record includes a list of phone numbers, and said selective call forwarding means automatically forwards calls from numbers in said list.

16. Apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein said record is stored in a user preference database.

17. Apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein said apparatus includes a roaming event detection device located between the home and visited networks in order to detect when said mobile terminal roams in said visited network and to trigger activation of said selective call forwarding means .

18. Apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein said apparatus includes a home location registry (HLR) which is configured to automatically activate said call forwarding means when said mobile terminal is detected roaming in a visited network.

19. Apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein said user preferences database is accessible by a user, whereby said user can configure said record for said mobile phone.

20. A method of connecting calls to a mobile terminal, including: activating selective connection of calls to said mobile phone if a predetermined condition stored in a record associated with said mobile terminal is met; and selectively connecting calls to said mobile terminal while said predetermined condition is met.

21. A method of forwarding calls from a first phone number to a second phone number, including: activating selective forwarding of calls from said first phone number to said second phone number if a predetermined condition stored in a record associated with said first phone number is met; and selectively forwarding calls to said second phone number while said predetermined condition is met.

22. A method as claimed in claim 21, wherein said predetermined condition relates to costs incurred by the owner of said mobile phone when calls are connected.

23. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of second numbers are stored in said record, said selective forwarding includes attempting to forward said call to a plurality of second numbers in a predetermined way.