WO2005004421A1

WO2005004421A1 - Telecommunications services apparatus and methods

Info

Publication number: WO2005004421A1
Application number: PCT/GB2004/002838
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jeffrey Wilson
Original assignee: Intellprop Limited
Priority date: 2003-07-01
Filing date: 2004-07-01
Publication date: 2005-01-13
Also published as: GB0315367D0

Abstract

A voice call may be routed via recording apparatus, such as voice services equipment (10), so as to record a voice message in reply to a text message sent from an external network such as a data network. An email gateway, forming part of a web mail subsystem (3), then delivers the recorded voice message as an email attachment over the external network to an email address such as that of the sender of the original text message. Alternatively, equipment may be provided to make a voice call in reply to a text message sent from an external network such as a data network. The voice call may be directed via conversion apparatus allowing the call to be completed over the data network, such as via Voice over IP (VoIP).

Description

TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES APPARATUS AND METHODS

This invention concerns the field of telecommunications, and in particular techniques for text and voice messaging, generally relating to telecommunications services apparatus and methods.

Today, both voice and text messaging are commonly used by subscribers of mobile telephone networks. Interconnection between many networks has permitted message transmission between subscribers of different networks, and in some cases also between networks of differing technologies, such as GSM and CDMA. Voice messaging commonly uses a mailbox system, whereby a subscriber is allocated a personal mailbox into which other subscribers may record voice messages for later collection by the mailbox owner. Text messaging commonly uses a standardised interface on the subscriber's handset for message composition, and a store and forward-based transport system for delivery of the message to a recipient when available. For example, in the GSM mobile telephone system, the Short Message Services (SMS) provide this functionality.

Text message transmission is possible between mobile handsets, including handsets on other networks, between mobile and suitably adapted fixed networks, and between mobiles and hosts or applications in the subscriber's network.

Transmission of mobile originated messages to hosts or applications in a network other than the subscriber's own network is also possible. This is commonly achieved using a technique known as virtual mobile, whereby the receiving host or application is permanently allocated a range of 'virtual' mobile numbers that are taken from the hosting network's allocated number range. Calls or text messages may then be routed from anywhere to the correct network using standard routing methods. The receiving network then recognises the destination number as being one of its virtual numbers, and is then able to route the communication to the associated host or application. Interconnection with the Internet has also been implemented so that text messages may be composed on a web page of a service provider, and then the text message may be sent over a link to a mobile telephone network and subsequently delivered to its destination in the same way as a mobile originated text message. Several of the large Internet content portal companies provide such a service and in many cases, up to a limit, sending text messages to mobiles from such a 'web mail' application on the Internet can be free of charge.

It is also possible for the recipient of a text message sent from such a web mail system to reply to the message, even though he has no knowledge of the website, the service provider or the identity of the sender. One way that this has been achieved is to use the virtual mobile technique.

Although the prior art provides for text messages and replies to be sent between a web mail account and a mobile telephone, there is no provision for voice communication between these entities. Normally when a mobile user receives a mobile originated text message, he has a number of options for reply. He can send a reply text, he can save the originating number for later use, or he can use the originating number to make a voice call and hence either talk to the sender, or leave a message in voice mail.

From the point of view of the mobile user who has just received a text message that happens to be from a web mail sender, he would expect to have the same options. However, were he to try to make a voice call to the sender's number, which is a virtual mobile number, he would find that the call would not be connected, or would result in an announcement indicating that the number cannot be used for voice calls.

This non-orthogonality of function is confusing for users, and limits the connectivity and hence the traffic growth potential of the network.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a telecommunications services apparatus for use with a mobile telephone system, the apparatus comprising means for routing a voice call via a recording apparatus thereby to record a voice message in reply to a text message sent from an external network, and means for delivering the recorded voice message as an email attachment over the external network to an email address.

The recording apparatus preferably compresses the recorded audio, for example using GSM coding or another coding scheme that is commonly supported by personal and business computer operating systems, such that the physical size of the recorded file is minimised, making it suitable for transmission by email as an attachment, and readily reproducible as audio on the receiving computer terminal.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a telecommunications services apparatus for use with a mobile telephone system, the apparatus comprising means enabling a voice call to be made in reply to a text message sent from an external network, and conversion means via which the voice call is directed, allowing the call to be completed at least in part over a data network.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a telecommunications services method for use with a mobile telephone system, the method comprising routing a voice call via a recording apparatus thereby to record a voice message in reply to a text message sent from an external network, and delivering the recorded voice message as an email attachment over the external network to an email address.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a telecommunications services method for use with a mobile telephone system, the method comprising enabling a voice call to be made in reply to a text message sent from an external network, and directing the voice call via conversion means, allowing the call to be completed at least in part over a data network.

Further aspects of the invention provide a computer program for carrying out the above method, and a storage medium on which such computer program is stored. The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying single figure drawing (Figure 1) which shows a block diagram of telecommunications services apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention.

Referring to Figure 1, a user at a data terminal 1 such a personal computer may communicate via the Internet 2 with a web site operating a Web mail facility. The web mail facility is referred to as the web mail subsystem 3. A data store 4 is provided to allow the web mail subsystem to store associations between an email address of the user, an allocated virtual mobile telephone number and the telephone number of the desired recipient. The web mail sub-system 3 is associated with a mobile telephone network 5 allowing a message composed on the web mail subsystem 3 to be sent as a text message to a mobile telephone 6. The connection between the web mail subsystem 3 and the mobile network 5 may be via an SMSC (short message service centre) 8 in the mobile network 5 or via another route. A text message sent to the SMSC 8 is routed via one or more MSCs (mobile switching centres) 7 and to the mobile telephone recipient 6. A textual reply from the mobile telephone 6 is routed via the MSC 7 and a virtual mobile facility 9 in the network 5, which delivers the reply back to the web mail subsystem 3. Using data stored in the data store 4, the message is delivered to the email address associated with the original user. A voice reply from the mobile telephone 6 is routed via a voice services equipment 10, and may either be converted to a recording and delivered by email attachment to the user or connected over the data network to set up a voice call to the user terminal 1.

The voice services equipment 10 may be, for example, "Hi-Call" (RTM) equipment manufactured by Telsis Limited.

The previously known web mail facility for allowing replies from a mobile telephone back to the originating web-based email account or address is first described.

The Internet Service Provider (ISP) who provides the service for originating text messages from the web already has an association with at least one mobile telephone network in order for the messages to be delivered. By extending this arrangement to include a range of virtual mobile numbers, a reply path can be effected. When the ISP sends a first text message to a given recipient from the web to the mobile network, it allocates for example, the first virtual mobile number in the range to be the source address. If a subsequent text message from a different sender is sent to the same recipient, then a next virtual mobile number may be used as the source address in order to distinguish the two communications. Messages from the same sender do not need to be distinguished. The web mail system keeps a record of the originator's email address, the virtual mobile number used, and the destination mobile number used in a data store.

The text message arrives at the mobile handset of the recipient with a source address (CLI) set to the allocated virtual mobile number. By replying to the message, the handset transposes the source address and destination address, and delivers the reply message to the virtual mobile number. The virtual mobile number allows the reply path to work successfully from any network.

The mobile network determines from the virtual mobile number that the message is destined for the web mail application and directs the message to the web mail subsystem. From the virtual mobile number and the sender's CLI in the data store, the web mail subsystem is able to determine the email address of the original message, and can post the reply to this email address, thereby completing the reply path.

The previously known system so far described has no support for voice reply from the mobile telephone, even though the mobile user may reasonably expect to be able to utilise the originating mobile number to make a voice call. Any attempt to do this in the known system will result in a failed voice call.

In a first embodiment of the invention, the mobile user is able to make a voice call in reply to a text message received from the web mail user, using the virtual mobile number that is the source of the text message as the destination number for the voice call. The call is routed using the virtual mobile number to the correct mobile network. The voice call is then directed to the voice services equipment (VSE) 10, which prompts the caller to record a message. The recording is preferably encoded in a compressed audio format such as GSM 6.1 for which de-compressors are commonly provided in popular computer operating systems. The VSE 10 then transmits the recorded file to an email gateway that is part of the web mail subsystem 3, so that the file can be delivered to the user as an email attachment. The web mail subsystem 3 then delivers it to the email account of the data network user.

This method is a very simple and easy to use extension to the prior art that requires no additional effort on the part of the data network user. It therefore satisfies the threshold law for usage of a new service, in that the effort barrier to use is zero. No additional software is required on the data network user's terminal. The method also has the advantage that the voice file is available to be listened to again, kept, archived etc. using the management tools available on the user's terminal.

In a second embodiment of the invention, the mobile user is able to reply to the web mail message by making a voice call to the originating number, which is a virtual mobile number, in the normal way. If the original web mail sender is on-line (still connected to the internet), has suitable audio peripherals connected to his computer to permit voice communication and has suitable client software provided by the ISP downloaded onto his computer, then the voice call may be connected through via the Internet. The voice data may be carried over the Internet using a Voice over IP (VoIP) protocol, and may use either a standard or a proprietary client application on the computer to handle the call.

It is envisaged that when then the user first registers with the ISP, or subsequently, the user is offered the facility to receive voice calls on his computer provided that the hardware is sufficiently capable. If the user agrees, then some client software is downloaded onto the computer. While the user is online to the Internet, the client software may periodically communicate with the web mail subsystem 3 of the ISP to indicate that the user is online and able to receive voice calls at a particular Internet address. The voice call is initiated by the mobile user that has just received a text message from the computer user. The call is routed using the virtual mobile number to the correct mobile network, and then on to the VSE 10. By querying the web mail subsystem, the VSE 10 establishes whether the user is online, and if so routes the call to the enhanced web mail subsystem 3, which provides the standard function of a PSTN to IP media gateway. Using standardised techniques, the call is set up over PSTN and VoIP between the mobile telephone and the client software on the user's computer terminal.

If the call set-up fails, either because the user has recently gone off-line, or the user has rejected the call, or for any other reason, then the VSE 10 reroutes the call to a internal recording service, giving suitable announcements to the mobile caller and delivering the recording by email in the manner described before.

It can be seen that the direct voice communication method has a higher threshold of use, since it requires software to be downloaded and run on the user's terminal. It is therefore considered to be an optional enhancement, while the primary and default method of operation of the invention is the sending of a recording as an email attachment.

As an enhancement to the system, the user of the data network may be permitted to initiate a voice call to a mobile telephone user. In this case the system would allocate a virtual mobile number and present this is as the CLI of the caller.

As a further enhancement to the system, "audio smileys" (audio clips, for example as described in UK Patent Application No. 0311849.4) may be introduced into the message path in either direction. In the web to mobile direction, the text message could be directed via a suitable server, which would convert the text to speech, inserting any audio clips specified in the message composition. In the reply direction, audio clips could be inserted by the VSE 10 during the voice call or voice recording, in response to DTMF keys pressed by the mobile user. In so far as the embodiment(s) of the invention described above may be implemented, at least in part, using software controlled processing apparatus, it will be appreciated that a computer program providing such software control and a storage medium by which such a computer program is stored are envisaged as aspects of the invention.

Claims

1. Telecommunications services apparatus for use with a mobile telephone system, the apparatus comprising means for routing a voice call via a recording apparatus thereby to record a voice message in reply to a text message sent from an external network, and means for delivering the recorded voice message as an email attachment over the external network to an email address.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the email address is associated with the sender of the original text message.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the external network is a data network.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3, including compression means for compressing the recorded voice message.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the compression means provides audio compression using GSM coding.

6. Telecommunications services apparatus for use with a mobile telephone system, the apparatus comprising means enabling a voice call to be made in reply to a text message sent from an external network, and conversion means via which the voice call is directed, allowing the call to be completed at least in part over a data network.

7. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising means for allocating a virtual mobile number to be the source address of the received text message.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the number allocating means is operable to allocate a number from a range of virtual mobile numbers.

9. Apparatus according to claim 7 or claim 8, comprising data storage means for maintaining a record of the email address of an originator of the text message, the allocated virtual mobile number and the destination mobile number.

10. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, including means for inserting an audio clip in the message path.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10, including means for converting text into speech in response to text specified in the received text message.

12. Apparatus according to claim 10 or claim 11, including voice processing means for inserting the audio clip during the voice call or recording in response to control signals input by the user.

13. A telecommunications services method for use with a mobile telephone system, the method comprising routing a voice call via a recording apparatus thereby to record a voice message in reply to a text message sent from an external network, and delivering the recorded voice message as an email attachment over the external network to an email address.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the email address is associated with the sender of the original text message.

15. A method according to claim 13 or claim 14, wherein the external network is a data network.

16. A method according to claim 13, claim 14 or claim 15, including compressing the recorded voice message.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein the compression uses GSM coding.

18. A telecommunications services method for use with a mobile telephone system, the method comprising enabling a voice call to be made in reply to a text message sent from an external network, and directing the voice call via conversion means, allowing the call to be completed at least in part over a data network.

19. A method according to any one of claims 13 to 18, comprising allocating a virtual mobile number to be the source address of the received text message.

20. A method according to claim 19, wherein a number is allocated from a range of virtual mobile numbers.

21. A method according to claim 19 or claim 20, comprising maintaining a record of the email address of an originator of the text message, the allocated virtual mobile number and the destination mobile number.

22. A method according to any one of claims 13 to 21, including inserting an audio clip in the message path.

23. A method according to claim 22, including converting text into speech in response to text specified in the received text message.

24. A method according to claim 22 or claim 23, including inserting the audio clip during the voice call or recording in response to control signals input by the user.

25. A computer program for implementing a method according to any one of claims 13 to 24.

26. A storage medium storing a computer program according to claim 25.