WO2007049943A1

WO2007049943A1 - Multi terminal and method for originating and terminating call thereof, system for providing multi-number support service to the terminal

Info

Publication number: WO2007049943A1
Application number: PCT/KR2006/004431
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jeong-Woo Jwa; Gil-Sung Kang
Original assignee: Ivas Korea Corp
Priority date: 2005-10-28
Filing date: 2006-10-27
Publication date: 2007-05-03
Also published as: KR20070045989A

Abstract

Multi terminal, call transmitting and receiving method thereof, and multi number support system. Multiple numbers including a default telephone number and at least one virtual telephone number are assigned to a terminal functioning as a multi terminal having functions for the numbers. A number is set as a reference number for the general state and other numbers are set as hidden numbers for the hidden state. Call transmitting and receiving for the reference number is performed in a like manner of call transmitting and receiving for a general terminal. Call transmitting on the hidden number is performed based on the call transmit number or is performed after the state of the hidden number is changed to the general state. Call receiving on the hidden number is performed according to an operation mode set to the number, and an additional service provided by the terminal for the respective numbers is provided.

Description

[DESCRIPTION] [Invention Title]

MULTI TERMINAL AND METHOD FOR ORIGINATING AND TERMINATING CALL THEREOF, SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING MULTI-NUMBER SUPPORT SERVICE TO THE TERMINAL

[Technical Field]

The present invention relates to a terminal. More particularly, the present invention relates to a multi terminal a method for transmitting/receiving a call thereof, and a multi number support system using the same.

[Background Art]

In general, a single number is assigned to a portable terminal, and a call process caused by transmitting and receiving a call is performed based on the number. However, a two-number service has been developed and provided so as to provide various services to users.

The two-number service provides two telephone numbers to a single terminal so that a call may be transmitted and received by each phone number. In this instance, an additional telephone number for easy change or cancellation is provided in addition to a default telephone number, and the user can make each call generated to each of the telephone number through a terminal.

However, the additional service of the two-number service has a drawback of only providing a speech call service or a speech mail box service for each telephone number. Korean Published Application No. 2002-58575 entitled "Short Message Transmission in Mobile Communication Multiple Telephone Number Service" discloses a technique for applying the two-number service to the short message service. Korean Published Application No. 2002-41241 entitled "Automatic Response Service Method in Terminal Receiving Two-number Service" discloses another prior art related to the two-number service, which discloses a method for applying different automatic response messages to respective call receive numbers assigned to a terminal. Korean Published Application No. 2005-72335 entitled "Method and System for Providing Additional Number Service in Mobile Communication Network" discloses another prior art for efficiently displaying an additional number provided by the additional number service to another user's mobile phone. Korean Published Application No. 2005-70966 entitled "System and Method for Providing Multi Number Telephone Service in Mobile Terminal" discloses another prior art for providing a multi number telephone service without using a cal switching scheme.

In addition to the two-number service related techniques, the 030 temporary number service has also been developed, which provides a temporary number to the terminal, and provides a call processing service by using the temporary number.

The above-described conventional two-number skills allow mobile communication service providers to provide predetermined services such as a call transmission and receiving service, a speech service, and a short message service to users for the respective different numbers assigned to a single terminal. No skills for more efficiently managing the different numbers of the terminal and providing various additional services to users have been developed. Therefore, it is difficult to efficiently provide various additional services such as call transmission and receiving, telephone sound, and dialing tone sound to the users according to numbers while the terminal is independently operable for the numbers.

The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

[Disclosure]

[Technical Problem] The present invention has been made in an effort to provide a terminal having at least two different numbers to efficiently process and provide a call transmitting and receiving function and a number dependent additional service function to each of the numbers.

The present invention has been made in an effort to provide a multi terminal operable as a plurality of terminals and a call transmitting and receiving method thereof.

The present invention has been made in an effort to provide a multi number support system for providing various functions to the multi terminal according to the respective numbers. [Technical Solution]

In one aspect of the present invention, a multi terminal for receiving a calling service through a network includes: an interface device for transmitting and receiving signals to/from the network; a storage device for storing, changing, and controlling multiple numbers including a default telephone number and at least one virtual telephone number, and including a multi number storage unit; an input device including a multi number selector for selecting a number from among the multiple numbers, setting the number to be a reference number operable in a general state, and setting other numbers to be hidden numbers operable in a hidden state, and an operation mode selector for setting an operation mode for the hidden number; and a controller including a call transmitter for attempting a transmitting call based on the input call receive number and a call receiver for performing a call receiving process when a receiving call is input through the interface device, wherein the call receiver processes the receiving call according to an operation mode set to the hidden mode when the call receive number extracted from the receiving call is a hidden number. In another aspect of the present invention, a call transmitting method in a terminal for receiving a calling service through a network, wherein the terminal is a multi terminal having multiple numbers including a default telephone number and at least one virtual telephone, includes: a) the terminal selecting a number from among the multiple number, setting the number to be a reference number, and setting other numbers to be hidden numbers when an operation setting mode is selected; b) setting the reference number to be a call transmit number when a call receive number is input and a calling function is selected; c) generating a call transmit signal including the call receive number, a predetermined identifier, and the call transmit number; and d) transmitting the call transmit signal to the network to attempt a transmitting call.

In another aspect of the present invention, a call transmitting method in a terminal for receiving a calling service through a network, wherein the terminal is a multi terminal having multiple numbers including a default telephone number and at least one virtual telephone, includes: a) the terminal selecting a number from among the multiple number, setting the number to be a reference number, and setting other numbers to be hidden numbers when an operation setting mode is selected; b) setting an input hidden number to be a call transmit number when a call receive number is input, the hidden is input, and a calling function is selected; c) generating a call transmit signal including the call receive number, a predetermined identifier, and the call transmit number; and d) transmitting the call transmit signal to the network to attempt a transmitting call. In another aspect of the present invention, a call receiving method in a terminal for receiving a calling service through a network, wherein the terminal is a multi terminal having multiple numbers including a default telephone number and at least one virtual telephone, and one number from among the multiple numbers is set to be a reference number and other numbers are set to be hidden numbers, includes: a) the terminal receiving a call receive signal through a network; b) extracting a call receive number from the call receive signal and determining a category; c) performing a call receiving process when the call receive number is the reference number; and d) selectively performing a call receiving process according to an operation mode set to the hidden number when the call receive number is the hidden number. In another aspect of the present invention, a multi number support system for providing a calling service between terminals through a network includes: a register server for providing multiple numbers to the terminal and managing the multiple numbers; a call processing server for performing a call transmitting/receiving process for the respective number of the terminal; an additional service providing server for providing a personalized additional service requested for each number of the terminal; and a billing server for billing the call process and service provision executed by the call processing server or the additional service providing server for each number of the terminal.

[Description of Drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a network connection state of a multi terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a configuration diagram for a multi terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a configuration diagram for a controller of a multi terminal shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 shows a conceptual diagram for a multi terminal to which a reference number and a hidden number are assigned. FIG. 5 shows a configuration diagram for a multi number support system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows a call transmission process by a multi terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows a call process in a multi number support system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 shows a signal in a call transmission process and a flowchart thereof.

FIG. 9 shows a call receiving process by a multi terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 shows a concept for a multi terminal to which other types of reference number and hidden number are assigned.

[BEST MODE]

In the following detailed description, only certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, simply by way of illustration. As those skilled in the art would realize, the described embodiments may be modified in various different ways, all without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive. Like reference numerals designate like elements throughout the specification.

Also, the term of module in the present specification represents a unit for processing a predetermined function or operation, which can be realized by hardware, software, or combination of hardware and software.

A multi terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention indicates a terminal to which a plurality of numbers is assigned, and in detail, it represents a terminal in which a default telephone number and at least at least one of virtual telephone number are assigned for each ESN (electrical serial number). In particular, the multi terminal independently provides all functions for each number so that each terminal operates as many as the virtually assigned numbers. For ease of description, the default telephone number and the virtual telephone number assigned to the terminal will be totally referred to as a multi number.

FIG. 1 shows a network connection state of a multi terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1 , the multi terminal 100 is connected to the multi number support system 300 through the network 200, and receives a call processing service for processing transmitted and received calls for the respective numbers and a personalized additional service through the multi number support system 300. The personalized additional service includes various types of message transmission services including a speech mail box service for providing a speech message for each number, an SMS (Short Message Service), and an LMS (Long Message Service), a call transmission number display service, and a call connecting sound service.

The multi terminal 100 receives a call service with various types of communication terminals 500 connected to various communication networks 400 through the multi number support system 300. The communication terminal 500 includes a computer connected to the Internet, a cable telephone connected to the PSTN, a cell phone connected to the mobile communication network, and the multi terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 shows a configuration diagram for a multi terminal 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 2, the multi terminal 100 includes a key input device 10, a controller 20, a storage device 30, an audio device 40, a display device 50, and an interface device 60. The input device 10 includes a mouse and a keyboard, and particularly it includes a mode selector 11 and a multi number selector 12. The mode selector 11 and the multi number selector 12 include switches in cooperation with a key and a button installed outside the terminal.

The mode selector 11 selects various modes provided by the multi terminal. The modes provided by the multi terminal includes an operation setting mode for setting a reference number for processing call transmission and receiving of a terminal, a call receiving mode for performing general call receiving on a transmitting call of a predetermined number, an announcement mode for outputting announcement data designated by the user, a call disallowance mode for providing a predetermined additional service for each predetermined number without performing a call receiving process, a power off mode for controlling the terminal to be in the power off state, and an automatic change mode for setting a predetermined number to be a reference number and performing a call receiving process.

The multi number selector 12 controls to select one of the default telephone number and a virtual number assigned to the terminal.

The interface device 60 for performing a transmitting/receiving function through the network includes a receiver 61 for receiving a signal (particularly, a call receive signal) through the network and providing the signal to the controller 20 and a transmitter 62 for transmitting the signal (particularly, a call transmit signal) provided by the controller 20 to the network.

The audio device 40 includes a microphone 41 , a speaker 42, and an audio controller 43 for multi-modulating the speech signal input through the microphone 41 according to the control by the controller 20, demodulating the signal received through the receiver 61 , and outputting the demodulated signal to the speaker 42 as a speech signal.

The display device 50 includes an LCD and an EL for displaying information processed on the terminal 100 and information transmitted through the network on the screen. The storage device 30 stores and controls various data controlled by the terminal, and includes a multi number storage unit 31 and service data storage unit 32. The multi number storage unit 31 stores and controls multiple numbers provided by the system 300 through the interface device 60 or the multiple numbers provided through the input device 10, and particularly, it stores and controls them by corresponding them to the default telephone number provided in correspondence to the ESN of the terminal and at least one virtual telephone number. The service data storage unit 32 stores additional service data provided for the respective numbers assigned to the terminal. For this purpose, the service data storage unit 32 includes various storage tables for storing various service data according to the multiple numbers. FIG. 3 shows a configuration diagram for a controller 20 of a multi terminal shown in FIG. 2.

As shown in FIG. 3, the controller 20 includes a reference number setter 21 , an additional mode setter 22, a call transmitter 23 for processing a transmitted call for a predetermined number, a call receiver 24 for processing a predetermined received call input through the interface device 60, and a service provider 25 for providing an additional service for a predetermined number.

When an operation setting mode is selected by the mode selector 11 , the reference number setter 21 sets a reference number for processing call transmission and receiving from among the multiple numbers according to the signal input by the multi number selector 12.

The numbers other than the reference number set for processing call transmission and receiving from among the numbers assigned to the terminal will be referred to as hidden numbers. In this instance, the reference number or the hidden numbers may be a default telephone number or a virtual telephone number.

FIG. 4 shows a conceptual diagram for a multi terminal to which a reference number and a hidden number are assigned. As shown in FIG. 4, the multi terminal sets a reference number for transmitting and receiving calls through a reference number setting key installed outside. The reference number is operable in the general state, and the hidden number is operable in the hidden state. .

The general state represents the state in which the process for transmitting and receiving calls is performed in a like manner of the general terminal. That is, the reference number is processed as like a mobile phone number assigned to the general portable terminal, and general call transmission and receiving is performed based on the reference number.

For example, when the user inputs a call receive number to the terminal and requests to transmit a call, the reference number together with the call receive number is set to be a reference number and is then transmitted to the communication network. When a predetermined a received call including a reference number is received from the communication network, a connection process with the other user's terminal is performed in a like manner of a general call receiving process. The hidden state indicates states other than the general state, and in detail, it represents the state in which the terminal performs a predetermined function, but it is operated in a specific case while it is not operated as if hidden in the general state. Particularly, the hidden state means the state in which numbers available for call transmission and receiving are assigned to the terminal, and a call receiving process is performed according to a specific mode when call transmission is performed for a specific case or a receiving call is received for a corresponding number. For example, when attempting to transmit a call with a hidden number in the hidden state, the user must directly input the hidden number as a call transmit number as well as the call receive number. The above-noted general call transmission process is performed when the hidden number is changed to the reference number. For example, when a receiving call is received for the hidden number in the hidden state from the other user's terminal, a process for the specific mode set to the hidden number is performed an a general call receiving process is performed, or the general call receiving process is not performed. However, the hidden state according to the present invention is not restricted to the described embodiment.

The reference number is operable as an independent terminal having a reference number, and other hidden numbers are operable as independent terminal s having respective corresponding numbers. Therefore, the terminal having a reference number is operable in the general state, and the terminal having a hidden number is operable in the hidden state.

The additional mode setter 22 selectively sets at least one mode from among the call receiving mode, announcement mode, call disallowance mode, power off mode, and automatic change mode for the respective hidden numbers according to the mode selector 11. The call transmitter 23 attempts call transmission by using a number from a plurality of numbers. In detail, when a number is selected from among the numbers by the multi number selector 12 or a reference number is selected in the operation setting mode, the call transmitter 23 sets the selected number to be a call transmit number. The call transmitter 23 generates a call transmit signal including the call receive number input through the input device 10 and the call receive number and transmits the call receive signal to the network 200 through the transmitter 62. In this instance, it is possible to add a predetermined identifier (e.g., ^**) to the call transmit number to determine which one from among the numbers included in the call transmit signal is a call transmit number. The call transmit signal may include an ESN properly assigned to the terminal.

The call receiver 24 process a received call for one of the multiple numbers. When a predetermined personalized additional service for the received call is provided by the system 300, the call receive number is extracted from the signal, and it is determined to which one the call receive number belongs from among the multiple numbers assigned to the terminal.

The personalized additional service for the determined number is processed.

Particularly, the call receiver 24 includes a call receive number determination module 241 for determining a predetermined call receive number included in the call receive signal when receiving the call receive signal, and a plurality of call receiving processing modules 242-247 for performing a corresponding call receiving process according to the call receive number. The call receiving processing module includes a first call receiving processing module 242 for performing a received call process when the call receive number is a reference number, a second call receiving processing module 243 for performing a received call process when the call receive number is a hidden number and a call receiving mode is set to the hidden number, a third call receiving processing module 244 for outputting speech data corresponding to a hidden number and terminating the receiving call when the call receive number is the hidden number and an announcement mode is set to the hidden number, a fourth call receiving processing module 245 for storing the call receive number to record existence of the received call and terminating the receiving call without response to the call receive signal when the call receive number is a hidden number and a call disallowance mode is set to the hidden number, a fifth call receiving processing module 246 for storing the call receive number to record existence of the received call and terminating the receiving call without response to the call receive signal when the call receive number is a hidden number and a power off mode is set to the hidden number, and a sixth call receiving processing module 247 for setting a hidden number corresponding to the call receive number and performing a call receiving process when the call receive number is a hidden number and an automatic change mode is set to the hidden number.

The service provider 25 independently provides additional services according to the multiple numbers assigned to the terminal. The additional services include an OEM additional service including a telephone directory, a text message transmission function, and a message storing and managing function provided by a terminal manufacturer, and a personalized service including a wireless Internet service, a screen setting function, and a bell sound setting function personally set by a subscriber. Therefore, the service provider 25 includes a first service providing module 251 for providing an OEM additional service according to the multiple numbers, a second service providing module 252 for providing a wireless Internet service according to the multiple numbers, and a third service providing module 253 for providing a personalized service according to the multiple numbers. In addition, the service provider 25 includes a service providing module for processing increased additional services.

For example, the first service providing module 251 stores and controls the received message in correspondence to the default telephone number in the message storage table of the service data storage unit 32 when receiving a message having the default telephone number as a call receive number, and stores and controls the message received in correspondence to the default telephone number in the message storage table when receiving a message through a virtual telephone number. Therefore, when the subscriber attempts to check the received message, the first service providing module 251 provides the messages that are received according to the multiple numbers.

Also, the first service providing module 251 stores a plurality of telephone numbers in the telephone table corresponding to the default telephone number or stores the telephone numbers according to the virtual telephone numbers. Therefore, when the user inputs a request for searching telephone numbers, the first service providing module 251 searches the telephone numbers stored for the multiple numbers and provides search results.

For example, the third service providing module 253 sets different kinds of bell sound that is output when a call receive signal is received for the multiples, or sets different screens displayed on the terminal when processing various signals including a call receive signal receiving function for the multiple numbers.

Therefore, users use a single terminal as like many terminals since they can independently receive all the services that are provided by the single terminal according to a plurality of numbers.

The above-described multi terminal is a communication device for receiving a calling service, and it includes a wireless terminal including a mobile phone and a PDA, and a wired terminal including a PC having a calling function.

FIG. 5 shows a multi number support system 300 for providing multiple numbers including a default telephone number and at least one virtual telephone number to the multi terminal 100 and providing a call processing service and a personalized additional service for the respective multiple numbers.

As shown in FIG. 5, the multi number support system 300 includes a register server 310, a call processing server 320, an additional service providing server 330, and a billing server 340.

The register server 310 registers and controls the numbers assigned to the terminal, and in detail, it assigns multiple numbers to multi terminal and controls them. For this purpose, the register server 310 includes a register database 311 for storing a default telephone number for each terminal and at least one virtual telephone number. Particularly, the default telephone number and the virtual telephone numbers are stored corresponding to the

ESN assigned to the terminal, and subscriber information can be additionally stored and controlled.

The call processing server 320 processes transmitted and received calls for the respective numbers.

The additional service providing server 330 provides a personalized additional service to the terminal, and particularly, it provides a personalized additional service that is requested for each number to one terminal.

Accordingly, the additional service providing server 330 includes an SMS server and a speech mail box server.

The billing server 340 bills the service used by the terminal in cooperation with the call processing server 320 and the additional service providing server 330, and includes a billing database 341 for storing a billing history. Particularly, the billing server 340 bills the single terminal for each assigned number. That is, the terminal is billed according to the service executed based on one of the multiple numbers, and the billing database 341 accordingly stores the default telephone number and at least one virtual telephone number corresponding to the ESN assigned to the terminal and stores a billing history according to the service used for each number.

A method for a multi terminal to transmit and receive a call according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be described.

The method for a multi terminal to transmit a call according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be described.

FIG. 6 shows a flowchart for a call transmission process by a multi terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 shows a flowchart for a call process in a multi number support system according to an embodiment of the present invention.. FIG. 8 shows a signal in a call transmission process and a flowchart thereof, and particularly, it shows a call transmitting and receiving process for a call between multi terminals communicating through a mobile communication network. The terminal on the call transmitting side and the call receiving side is connected to the SSP (Service Switching Point) through the MSC (mobile telephone switching office), and the multi number support system is operable as a SCP (Service Control Point) for supporting a calling service for the multiple numbers through the SSP. In addition, communication between the multiple terminals is available through a HLR (Home Location Register).

The user determines a predetermined number as a number for transmitting and receiving a call as a default from among the multiple numbers in advance to the case of transmitting a call by using the multi terminal, as shown in FIG. 6. In detail, the user selects an operation setting mode through the mode selector 11 and sets a reference number through the multi number selector 12. When the operation setting mode is selected, the reference number predetermined module 21 of the controller 20 sets one of multiple numbers as a reference number (e.g., one of a reference telephone number and a virtual telephone number) according to the signal input by the multi number selector 12 (S100-S110). Other numbers are set to be a hidden number when one number is set to be a reference number from among the multiple numbers. However, the present invention is not restricted to this, and it is possible to set predetermined numbers to be hidden numbers if needed. To set the hidden numbers in the embodiment of the present invention include to automatically set other numbers to be hidden numbers when the reference number is set, and to respectively set predetermined numbers to be hidden numbers through a predetermined process. The reference number is operable in the general state, and the hidden numbers are operable in the hidden state. When the user inputs the number assigned to a predetermined communication terminal 500 as a call transmit number and presses a calling button to select the calling function (S120-S140), the call transmitter 23 sets the reference number as a call transmit number and generates a call transmit signal including the call receive number and the call transmit number (S150). In this instance, a predetermined identifier can be added to the call transmit number. The call transmit signal is transmitted to the multi number support system 300 through the transmitter 62 (S160).

When the user sets the hidden number to be a call transmit number and attempts to make a call, the user sets a predetermined hidden number to be a reference number through the mode selector 11 and the multi number selector 12 again (S170-S180). When the predetermined hidden number is set to be the reference number again according to the above-noted operation, a call transmit signal including the call receive number input through the steps of (S130-S160) is generated. Also, the user can directly input a predetermined hidden number as a call transmit number (S190), and in this instance, a call transmit signal including the input call receive number and the input call transmit number is generated. It is possible to make a call by setting the hidden number other than the reference number to be a call transmit number in various manners.

It is possible to change the step for setting the reference number in the call transmitting process. For example, the operation setting mode is divided into a first operation mode for setting the default telephone number to be a reference number and a second operation mode for setting the virtual telephone number to be a reference number. It is possible to set the default telephone number to be a reference number without additional selecting process when the first operation mode is set by the mode selector 11 , and to select a virtual telephone number and set the same to be a reference number through the multi number selector 12 when the second operation mode is set. When the call transmit signal is transmitted from the terminal 100 to the multi number support system 300, the multi number support system 300 performs a call transmit process.

As shown in FIG. 7, the call processing server 320 of the multi number support system 300 receives a call transmit signal from the multi terminal 100 and extracts a call receive number and a call transmit number from the signal (S200-S210). The call processing server 320 searches the register database 311 based on the call receive number to determine whether the call receive number is a virtual telephone number (S220). When the call receive number included in the call transmit signal is a virtual telephone number, the call processing server 320 determines the default telephone number of the corresponding terminal corresponding to the call receive number and checks the location of the call receiving terminal based on the default telephone number (S230). The call processing server 320 generates a call receive signal having the call receive number and transmits the call receive signal to the call receiving terminal 500 the location of which is checked, and the call receive number included in the transmitted call receive signal is a virtual default telephone number. As shown in FIG. 8, when the call receiving terminal 500 is a multi terminal, the call receiving multi terminal receives the call receive signal through the virtual telephone number (S240).

When the call receive number included in the call transmit signal is a default telephone number in the previous step of (S220), the location of the call receiving terminal is checked without additional determination step (S230), and a call receive signal is transmitted.

A call receiving processing method in a multi terminal will now be described. FIG. 9 shows a flowchart for a call receiving process according to an embodiment of the present invention.

When a call receive signal is transmitted from a predetermined terminal to the multi terminal (S300), the call receive signal is transmitted to the controller 20 through the receiver 61 , as shown in FIG. 9. The call receive number determining module 241 of the call receiver 24 extracts a call receive number from the call receive signal and determines which one from among the multiple numbers assigned to the terminal corresponds to the extracts call receive number (S310).

When the call receive number is a reference number set for processing the current call transmitting and receiving, the first call receive processing module 242 performs a general call receive signal process (S320-S330). In this instance, the call receive signal is processed by the call receiver 24, and hence, calling between the terminals will be performed through the audio device 40.

When the call receive number is not a reference number in the step of (S320), that is, when the call receive number is a hidden number, the mode set to the hidden number is determined (S340-S350), and the second to sixth call receive processing modules 243-247 are operated according to the mode.

In detail, when the call receive number is a hidden number and a call receiving mode is set to the hidden number (S360), the call receiving process is performed by the second call receive processing module 243 (S370). When a specific bell sound or a specific screen is set to the hidden number according to control by the second call receive processing module 243, the bell sound is output through the speaker 42 by the third service providing module 253 of the service provider 25 and the screen is displayed through the display device 50 (S380). A call is performed between the terminals since the call receiving process is performed (S390).

When the call receive number is a hidden number and an announcement mode is set to the hidden number (S400), the call receiving process is not performed, and the third call receive processing module 244 reads a stored automatic answering message for the hidden number from the service data storage unit 32 and transmits the same data through the transmitter 62 (S410). For example, an automatic answering message such as "I'm not available and call you later as I'm in the meeting now." Is transmitted to the call transmitting terminal that has transmitted a call receive signal. Therefore, the call transmitting terminal checks the state of the call receiving multi terminal 100 based on the automatic answering message. The third call receive processing module 244 of the multi terminal 100 stores the call receive number to record generation of a call on the corresponding hidden number and terminates the call receive signal process (S420-S430). When the call receive number is a hidden number and a call disallowance mode is set to the hidden number (S440), the fourth call receive processing module 245 stores the call receive number to record generation of a call on the corresponding hidden number and terminates the process without an additional response to the call receive signal (S450-S460). Accordingly, the multi number support system 300 notifies the call transmitting terminal 500 of no calling performance when receiving no response to the call receive signal from the call receiving multi terminal 100.

However, when the signal transmitted from the call transmitting side is not a call signal but a message signal even when the call disallowance mode is set to the hidden number, the service provider 25 stores and controls the received message according to the hidden number according to control by the fifth call receive processing module 245, and notifies the user of receiving of a predetermined message on the hidden number through the display device 50 and the speaker 42. When the call receive number is a hidden number and the power off mode is set to the hidden number (S470), the fifth call receive processing module 246 stores the call receive number to record generation of a call on the corresponding hidden number and terminates the process without an additional response to the call receive signal (S480-S490). The multi number support system 300 notifies the call transmitting terminal 500 of the fact that the call cannot be connected because the power of the call receiving terminal is turned off.

When the call receive number is a hidden number and an automatic change mode is set to the hidden number (S500), the reference number setter 21 sets the hidden number to be a reference number according to the control by the sixth call receive processing module 247 so that the multi terminal 100 may be operated by the hidden number (S510). In this instance, a call receiving process is performed by the sixth call receive processing module 247 when the hidden number is changed to the reference number. In this case, predetermined bell sound or screen is provided when the bell sound or screen is set to the hidden number (S520-S530).

As described above, the multi terminal 100 selectively performs a call receiving process according to the condition whether the call receive number included in the call receive signal is a reference number or a hidden number, and the terminal is accordingly operated as a terminal having a reference number or a terminal having a hidden number.

Therefore, the user can acquire efficiencies of using many terminals by actually using a single terminal.

The billing server 340 of the multi number support system 300 generates billing data according to the provision of personalized service or the process of a transmitted call for each number of the terminal having transmitted and received a call, and subsequently notifies the subscriber of the generation of billing data. Therefore, the multi terminal is independently billed for each number. For example, the default telephone number assigned to a single multi terminal can be used for the company and other virtual telephone numbers can be used for the personal purpose, and in this instance, a single terminal can be used as two terminals since the billing is performed for each telephone number.

In the above-described embodiment of the present invention, the default telephone number and the virtual telephone number can be provided by the same communication network, or they can be provided by different communication networks. For example, the virtual telephone number can be a telephone number for a telephone connected to the PSTN, a number assigned to another type of mobile terminal such as a PDA, or a cell phone number while the default telephone number of the multi terminal is a mobile phone number for a calling service through a mobile communication network. FIG. 10 shows that terminals having telephone numbers provided by different communication networks are classified into terminals by the reference number and the virtual numbers.

The call transmitting and receiving processing method can be realized into a program stored on a computer readable recording medium. The recording medium includes any kinds of recording devices for storing computer readable data, for example, a CD-ROM, a magnetic tape, a floppy disk, and a carrier wave format (e.g., Internet transmission).

While this invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be practical exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. [INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY]

According to the embodiment of the present invention, multiple numbers are assigned to a single terminal, and various services including a telephone number dependent calling tone function and a speech mail box function as well as the number dependent additional services are provided.

Hence, sales are increased.

Further, the virtual multi mobile phone effect for providing a multiple mobile phone function with a single mobile phone is provided by providing a call transmit number function and a call receive number function for each of the multiple numbers and also providing additional services.

Also, customer satisfaction and subscriber promotion can be increased by additionally providing convenience to the subscriber in the number mobility condition.

Claims

[CLAIMS]

1. A multi terminal for receiving a calling service through a network comprising: an interface device for transmitting and receiving signals to/from the network; a storage device for storing, changing, and controlling multiple numbers including a default telephone number and at least one virtual telephone number, and including a multi number storage unit; an input device including a multi number selector for selecting a number from among the multiple numbers, setting the number to be a reference number operable in a general state, and setting other numbers to be hidden numbers operable in a hidden state, and an operation mode selector for setting an operation mode for the hidden number; and a controller including a call transmitter for attempting a transmitting call based on the input call receive number and a call receiver for performing a call receiving process when a receiving call is input through the interface device, wherein the call receiver processes the receiving call according to an operation mode set to the hidden mode when the call receive number extracted from the receiving call is a hidden number.

2. The multi terminal of claim 1 , wherein when the call receive number is input through the input device and a calling function is selected, the call transmitter sets the reference number to be a call transmit number, generates a call transmit signal including the call receive number and the call transmit number, and transmits the call transmit signal to the network through the interface device.

3. The multi terminal of claim 1 , wherein when the call receive number is input through the input device, a predetermined hidden number is input, and a calling function is selected, the call transmitter sets the hidden number to be a call transmit number, generates a call transmit signal including the call receive number and the call transmit number, and transmits the call transmit signal to the network through the interface device.

4. The multi terminal of claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the call transmitter additionally adds a predetermined identifier for identifying the call transmit number to the call transmit signal and transmits the signal to the network.

5. The multi terminal of any one of claim 1 to claim 3, wherein when the call receive number included in the call receive signal is a hidden number, the operation mode set to the hidden number includes at least one of: an automatic state change mode for automatically changing the hidden number to the reference number and processing the call receiving; a call receiving mode for processing the call receiving without changing to the general state; an announcement mode for outputting announcement data designated by the user; a call disallowance mode for storing message receiving in a storage space of the corresponding number without performing a call receiving process; and a power off mode for operating a power off state without performing a call receiving process.

6. The multi terminal of claim 5, wherein the controller further comprises: a reference number setter for setting a reference number in the general state for processing the call transmitting and receiving process of the terminal from among the multiple numbers according to the signal input by the multi number selector; and an additional mode setter for setting at least one operation mode to the hidden numbers other than the reference number according to the operation by the mode selector.

7. The multi terminal of claim 5, wherein the call receiver includes a call receive number determining module for determining the call receive number included in a call receive signal when receiving the call receive signal through the interface device, and additionally includes at least one of: a first call receive processing module for performing a call receiving process when the call receive number is a reference number; a second call receive processing module for performing a call receiving process when the call receive number is a hidden number and a call receiving mode is set to the hidden number; a third call receive processing module for outputting speech data corresponding to the hidden number and terminating the receiving call when the call receive number is a hidden number and an announcement mode is set to the hidden number; a fourth call receive processing module for storing the call receive number to record generation of call receiving, and terminating the receiving call without response to the call receive signal when the call receive number is a hidden number and a call disallowance mode is set to the hidden number; a fifth call receive processing module for storing the call receive number to record generation of call receiving, and terminating the receiving call without response to the call receive signal when the call receive number is a hidden number and a power off mode is set to the hidden number; and a sixth call receive processing module for changing the hidden number corresponding to the call receive number to the reference number in the general state, and performing a call receiving process while an initial screen and bell sound of the terminal is set by the corresponding number when the call receive number is a hidden number and a state automatic change mode is set to the hidden number.

8. The multi terminal of claim 7, wherein the fourth call receive processing module stores and controls the data for the call receive number when the data for the personalized additional service are included in the call receive signal.

9. The multi terminal of any one of claim 1 to claim 3, wherein the controller further comprises a service provider for providing an independent additional service for each number as many as the multiple numbers, the storage device further comprises a service data storage unit for storing additional service data provided for the multiple numbers assigned to the terminal, and the service provider provides a corresponding additional service for the respective multiple numbers based on information stored in the service data storage unit.

10. The multi terminal of claim 9, wherein the additional service includes at least one of an OEM additional service provided by a terminal manufacturer, an SMS, an MMS, a mail service, a wireless Internet service, a telephone directory, a call transmitting and receiving number storage service, an initial screen service, a bell sound service, a camera storage service, and a personalized setting service.

11. The multi terminal of claim 9, wherein when a predetermined personalized additional service is provided for the call receive signal, the call receiver extracts a call receive number from the signal, determines to which number the call receive number corresponds from among the multiple numbers assigned to the terminal, and processes and provides a personalized additional service for the determined number.

12. The multi terminal of any one of claim 1 to claim 3, wherein the default telephone number and the virtual telephone number are provided by the same communication network.

13. The multi terminal of any one of claim 1 to claim 3, wherein the default telephone number and the virtual telephone number are provided by different communication networks, and the virtual telephone numbers are provided by different communication networks.

14. A call transmitting method in a terminal for receiving a calling service through a network, wherein the terminal is a multi terminal having multiple numbers including a default telephone number and at least one virtual telephone, the call transmitting method comprising: a) the terminal selecting a number from among the multiple number, setting the number to be a reference number, and setting other numbers to be hidden numbers when an operation setting mode is selected; b) setting the reference number to be a call transmit number when a call receive number is input and a calling function is selected; c) generating a call transmit signal including the call receive number, a predetermined identifier, and the call transmit number; and d) transmitting the call transmit signal to the network to attempt a transmitting call.

15. A call transmitting method in a terminal for receiving a calling service through a network, wherein the terminal is a multi terminal having multiple numbers including a default telephone number and at least one virtual telephone, the call transmitting method comprising: a) the terminal selecting a number from among the multiple number, setting the number to be a reference number, and setting other numbers to be hidden numbers when an operation setting mode is selected; b) setting an input hidden number to be a call transmit number when a call receive number is input, the hidden is input, and a calling function is selected; c) generating a call transmit signal including the call receive number, a predetermined identifier, and the call transmit number; and d) transmitting the call transmit signal to the network to attempt a transmitting call.

16. A call receiving method in a terminal for receiving a calling service through a network, wherein the terminal is a multi terminal having multiple numbers including a default telephone number and at least one virtual telephone, and one number from among the multiple numbers is set to be a reference number and other numbers are set to be hidden numbers, the call receiving method comprising: a) the terminal receiving a call receive signal through a network; b) extracting a call receive number from the call receive signal and determining a category; c) performing a call receiving process when the call receive number is the reference number; and d) selectively performing a call receiving process according to an operation mode set to the hidden number when the call receive number is the hidden number.

17. The call receiving method of claim 16, wherein the mode set to the hidden number includes at least one of: a call receiving mode for performing a call receiving process; an announcement mode for outputting announcement data designated by a user; a call disallowance mode for providing an additional service without performing a call receiving process; a power off mode for operating the terminal to be in a power off state without performing a call receiving process, and an automatic state change mode for setting the hidden number to be a reference number and performing a call receiving process.

18. The call receiving method of claim 17, wherein d) comprises: performing a call receiving process when the call receive number is a hidden number and a call receiving mode is set to the hidden number; outputting speech data corresponding to the hidden number and terminating the receiving call when the call receive number is a hidden number and an announcement mode is set to the hidden number; storing the call receive number to record generation of call receiving and terminating the receiving call without response to the call receive signal when the call receive number is a hidden number and a call disallowance mode is set to the hidden number; storing the call receive number to record generation of call receiving and terminating the receiving call without response to the call receive signal when the call receive number is a hidden number and a power off mode is set to the hidden number; and changing a hidden number corresponding to the call receive number to a reference number and performing a call receiving process when the call receive number is a hidden number and an automatic state change mode is set to the hidden number.

19. A recording medium storing a program for realizing the method disclosed by any one of claim 14 to claim 18.

20. A multi number support system for providing a calling service between terminals through a network, comprising: a register server for providing multiple numbers to the terminal and managing the multiple numbers; a call processing server for performing a call transmitting/receiving process for the respective number of the terminal; an additional service providing server for providing a personalized additional service requested for each number of the terminal; and a billing server for billing the call process and service provision executed by the call processing server or the additional service providing server for each number of the terminal.

21. The multi number support system of claim 20, further comprising a billing database for storing a default telephone number and at least one virtual telephone number corresponding to an ESN (electrical serial number) provided to the terminal, setting an additional service for each number, and storing a billing history according to the used service.