WO2008026049A2

WO2008026049A2 - Method, server and device for indicating on the device the service provider to which the phone number of a phonebook entry belongs.

Info

Publication number: WO2008026049A2
Application number: PCT/IB2007/002496
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ondrej Borusik
Original assignee: Axalto S.A.
Priority date: 2006-08-30
Filing date: 2007-08-29
Publication date: 2008-03-06
Also published as: DE102006040719A1; WO2008026049A3

Abstract

A method of indicating that a phone number of at least one entry in an electronic phonebook of a device (6) belongs to a particular service provider is disclosed. The method includes applying (48) an indicium to the entry to indicate that the phone number belongs to the service provider. A subscriber identity module and a device that is capable of performing the method are also disclosed. A server for providing the subscriber identity module or the device with the relevant service provider information is also disclosed.

Description

METHOD, SERVER AND DEVICE FOR INDICATING ON THE DEVICE THE SERVICE PROVIDER TO WHICH THE PHONE NUMBER OF A PHONEBOOK

ENTRY BELONGS

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] This invention relates to a method, server and device for indicating that a phone number of an electronic phonebook entry of the device belongs to a particular service provider. More particularly, the invention relates to a method, server and device for obtaining information for such use.

BACKGROUND

[0002] An electronic phonebook is a ubiquitous feature that is available in many of today's devices that are used to store data, such as electronic organizers, personal digital assistants, fixed-line telephones, cellular or mobile phones, etc. In a mobile phone, the electronic phonebook may be stored in the mobile equipment or terminal, and/or in a subscriber identity module (SIM) attached to the mobile terminal. Each entry in the electronic phonebook contains at least a name and a phone number. With mobile phones being so widely used these days, the phone number is more often than not a phone number of another mobile subscriber.

[0003] In the early days of GSM, mobile phone numbers are allocated to operators or service providers for their respective subscribers in ranges. For example, a service provider A may be allocated the numbers in the range of 777 000 000 - 777 999 999, and another service provider B may be allocated the numbers in the range 788 000 000 - 788 999 999. That is, numbers allocated to service provider A have a prefix of 777 and those allocated to service provider B have a prefix of 788. The prefix is thus synonymous with the service provider. From the prefix of a phone number, one is able to tell the service provider to which the number belongs. [0004] Nowadays, with so many service providers around and each offering several subscription plans, subscribers are spoilt for choice and have a tendency to want to switch service providers. Until quite recently, a change of service provider means that the subscriber cannot retain his phone number and has to change to a •different phone number belonging to the new service provider. This inability to retain his or her phone number however discourages some subscribers from switching service operators. The regulatory authorities view the reluctance of a service provider to offer number portability as anti-competition, which prevents subscribers from benefiting from lower prices offered by other service providers. The authorities have therefore started to mandate the support of number portability by service providers. This move has however introduced an inconvenience to subscribers as far as recognition of the service provider of a phone number is concerned. With number portability, a subscriber is no longer able to tell the service provider associated with the phone number from the prefix. Consequently, the subscriber is unable to know from the phone number if it belongs to the same service provider as the subscriber, or to some other service providers, and therefore cannot have an indication of what the billing rate may be if he or she calls the phone number. To provide such an indication, some service providers inform the subscriber at the beginning of a call by playing a short beeping tone if the call is placed to a phone number belonging to a service provider other than its service provider. Some subscribers find placing a call just to find out if a phone number belongs to the same service provider cumbersome. Some may also find the indication tone annoying. Besides, the tone does not indicate which service provider the called phone number belongs to.

[0005] Therefore, there is a need for a subscriber to be able to tell in a less cumbersome manner which service provider a phone number belongs to. It is also desirable to obtain such information without too much hassle to the subscriber.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0006] According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of indicating that a phone number of at least one entry in an electronic phonebook of a device belongs to a particular service provider. The method includes relying on a prefix of the phone number to indicate to a user the likelihood of the phone number belonging to that service provider. However, as mentioned above, with number portability the user cannot be certain from the prefix alone that the phone number still belongs to that particular service provider. The method therefore is characterized in that it further includes applying an indicium to the entry to indicate that the phone number actually belongs to the service provider. A user of the device may manually apply the indicium, or the device may apply it automatically. In addition to a phone number field, an entry in the phonebook may include fields containing other information, such as a person's name, address, date of birth, etc. The device may include electronic organizers, personal digital assistants, and communication devices, such as fixed-line telephones, cellular or mobile phones, etc. [0007] According to various embodiments of the invention, applying an indicium to an entry may include attaching a logo to the entry. The logo may, for example, be a logo of the service operator or any user selected logo. Applying* the indicium may also include appending a distinguishing character to any field of an entry, including the phone number field. For example, the distinguishing character may be the character "^*", "#", "@", "&", etc. Other ways of applying the indicium to an entry, include but are not limited to, highlighting with a colour at least one field of the entry, using a distinguishing font for at least one field of the entry; and associating a sound with the entry. The sound, which may include for example an audio clip or a tone, is made audible through a speaker of the device when the entry is selected. [0008] According to some embodiments, the device may be a communication device. For such a communication device, the method further includes the communication device sending information to a server of the service provider. This information includes the phone number and an identity of the communication device, which allows the server to associate the phone number with the communication device. The server is able to check if the phone number belongs to the service provider and, if so, to inform the communication device accordingly. [0009] The information may be sent by the communication device to the server in an outgoing related communication session, whereby the communication device is trying to reach another device bearing the phone number. Such a communication session may for example include a phone call, the sending or forwarding of a short message, etc. [0010] Alternatively, the communication device may send the information to the server in a dedicated query, enquiring if the phone number belongs to the service provider. The query, in this case, includes the phone number and the identity of the device. The query may be sent at predetermined regular intervals, for example, at twenty-four hour intervals so as not to unnecessarily overload the server. Intervals of other durations are also possible. The intervals may start at an at least pseudo random time determined by the communication device. For example, when the communication device powers up, it may obtain the values of a suitable register in a microprocessor therein that is used to determine a random start time for sending the queries. The start time may also be determined by the server and transferred to the communication device when responding to a first query from the communication device. In some embodiments, the queries may be sent at totally random times, each determined by the communication device. In some other embodiments, the communication device sends a query only when specifically initiated by a user of the device.

[0011] For all the embodiments wherein the server is able to associate the phone number with the communication device, the server is able to further inform the communication device when the phone number is determined to be no longer no longer belonging to the service provider. [0012] According to other embodiments, the information of a service provider associated with a phone number may be included in an incoming call from that phone number to a subscriber. If the phone number appears in the phonebook of the subscriber's communication device, the subscriber or the communication device can update the phonebook with the received service provider information. [0013] According to other embodiments, a server instead of the communication device applies an indicium to an entry. In such embodiments, the server maintains a copy of the device's phonebook. If the server is able to determine the service provider of a phone number in an entry of the copy of the phonebook, the server will apply an indicium to the entry accordingly. The server then sends the entry, with the applied indicium, to the communication device. The server may obtain the service provider information for a phone number from data stored at the server itself or data external to the server.

[0014] According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a subscriber identity module (SIM) that includes an electronic phonebook in which a phone number entry can be stored. The SIM further includes a means for applying an indicium to an entry in the electronic phonebook to indicate that the phone number belongs to a particular service provider. Such a feature allows a user to know if a phone number belongs to a particular service provider, especially the service provider it subscribes to so as to know phone numbers with preferential call rates. [0015] According to yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided a device. The device includes an electronic phonebook in which a phone number entry can be stored; and a means for applying an indicium to an entry to indicate that the phone number belongs to a particular service provider. According to some embodiments, the communication device further includes a means for sending a query to a server of the service provider, enquiring if a phone number of an entry belongs to the service provider. The communication device sends the phone s numbers stored in the phonebook or phonebooks in the communication device to the server via the query. The communication device also includes a means for receiving information from the server indicating that the phone number belongs to the service provider and for thereby activating the means for applying the indicium to the entry. These embodiments are advantageous in that no manual entry is required. The communication device is able to obtain the service provider information for the phone numbers stored therein automatically in a non-intrusive way. [0016] According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a server associated with a service provider. The server includes a means for maintaining at least one phone number belonging to the service provider. The server is characterized to further include means for receiving information that allows the server to associate a phone number with a communication device; and means for sending information to the communication device for indicating that the phone number belongs to the service provider. In some embodiments, the means for receiving information may include means for receiving the query from the communication device described above.

[0017] According to yet a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a server having a means for maintaining phone numbers belonging to at least one service provider, and a means for maintaining a copy of a phonebook of a communication device. The server is able to determine the service provider of a phone number in an entry of the copy of the phonebook. Once such service provider information of an entry is available, the server will apply an indicium to the entry accordingly. The server will then send the entry, with the applied indicium, to the communication device, for the communication device to update the corresponding entry stored thereat.

[0018] According to yet another further aspect of the invention, there is provided a software program having instructions, executable by a processor of a mobile station including a mobile terminal and a subscriber identity module. The software program is for implementing a method for indicating that a phone number of at least one entry in an electronic phonebook stored in the mobile station belongs to a particular service provider. The method includes receiving information indicating that a phone number actually belongs to the service provider; and applying an indicium to the entry to indicate that the phone number belongs to the service provider. The method may further include sending a query to a server of the service provider, enquiring if the phone number belongs to the service provider. The query includes the phone number and an identity of the mobile station by which it can be reached. The mobile station receives a list of its phones numbers belonging to the service provider from the server. [0019] Other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS [0020] The invention will be better understood with reference to the drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic drawing of a system including a mobile station and a server of a service provider, according to one embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a schematic drawing of the mobile station in Figure 1 , the mobile station including a mobile terminal and a subscriber identity module (SIM); Figure 3 is a flowchart showing a sequence of steps, according to one embodiment, for implementing a method in the system , in Figure 1 for the mobile station to enquire with the server which of the phone numbers stored in the mobile station belong to the service provider; and

Figure 4 is a flowchart showing a sequence of steps, according to another embodiment, for implementing a method in the system in Figure 1 for the server to update a copy of a phonebook with service provider information; the updated copy being synchronizable with the corresponding phonebook of the mobile station.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS [0021] As shown in the drawings for purposes of illustration, the invention is embodied in a novel system and method for allowing the affirmative indication of phone numbers in an electronic phonebook belonging to a particular service provider. [0022] Figure 1 shows the system 2 that includes a server 4 and a mobile station 6 of a Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) network (not shown). The mobile station 6 is able to send a query 8 to the server 4. The server 4 responds to the query 18 from the mobile station by sending a response 10 to the mobile station 6. The server 4 may be a Short Message Service Center (SMSC), an Unstructured Supplementary Services Data (USSD) server, a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) node, a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) node or any suitable server. The server 4 has access to a database containing phone numbers, e.g. Mobile Station International Subscriber Directory Number (MSISDN), and their respective service providers that is used for billing purposes. [0023] Referring to Figure 2, the mobile station 6 includes a mobile equipment or terminal (ME) 12, and an authentication token 14 in the form of an electronic "smart card" or chip card (equipped with a microprocessor) supported in the mobile terminal. This authentication token 14 is known as a subscriber identity module (SIM) when used in the GSM network. The SIM 14 is programmed with a unique International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI).

[0024] The mobile terminal 12 includes a processor 16 and its associated memory 18. The mobile equipment 12 is connected to the removable SIM 16 via electrical contacts 20. The SIM 14 includes a SIM processor 22 and a SIM memory 24. The SIM 14 is used for the storage and retrieval of data items by the processor 16 of the mobile terminal 12. The command set, data file structure and data coding used for data communicated via the interface between the mobile terminal processor 16 and the SIM processor 22 are specified in 3GPP technical specification 11.11 or ETSI Technical Specification 100.977.

[0025] Applications are stored on the SIM 14 card, more specifically in the SIM memory 24. These applications allow interactions between the SIM 14 and the mobile terminal 12. These applications may be supported by the SIM application toolkit or a similar platform. The applications may be developed using a number of computer programming languages, such as C, Java™ or any other proprietary programming language.

[0026] Typical applications include downloading data and "events" to the SIM 14. Data records are stored in what is known as elementary files in the SIM memory 24. A phonebook is stored in the SIM 14 as an elementary file. An additional phonebook is stored in the mobile terminal 12.

Each entry in the phonebooks includes a name field and a phone number field. [0027] According to one embodiment of the invention, a new SIM toolkit application is stored in the SIM memory 24 for obtaining the service provider information for each phone number stored in the phonebooks. Such an application is also known as an applet, or more specifically a cardlet, when implemented on a Java™ card type of SIM.

[0028] The SIM processor 22 executes the application to perform a method for affirmatively identifying and indicating the service provider to which each phone number in the phonebooks belongs. Figure 3 is a flowchart showing a sequence 30 of steps, according to a first embodiment, that implements the method. The sequence 30 starts in a START step 32 at the mobile station when the SIM processor 22 receives a timing signal.

[0029] The sequence 30 next proceeds to a TIME TO QUERY? decision step 34, wherein the SIM processor 22 checks if it is now time to send a next query 8. If it is determined in this step 34 that it is not time to send a query 8, the sequence 30 ends in an END step 36. If however it is determined in the TIME TO QUERY? decision step 34 that it is now time to send a query 8, the sequence 30 proceeds to a SEND QUERY TO SERVER step 38. In this step 38, the SIM processor 22 sends a query 8 to the server 4. [0030] The query 8 includes a query identifier, query originator (i.e. the identity of the mobile station), and the phone numbers stored in the phonebooks of the SIM 14 and the mobile terminal 12. After this step 38, the sequence 30 takes two different paths. The sequence 30 at the mobile station 14 next proceeds to and loops around a RESPONSE RECEIVED? decision step 40, waiting for a response 10 from the server 4.

[0031] The sequence 30 at the server 4 begins in a RECEIVE QUERY step 42 when the server 4 receives the query 8 sent by the mobile terminal 12. The sequence 30 at the server 4 next proceeds to a PROCESS QUERY step 44, wherein the server 4 checks each of the phone numbers in the query 8 to determine if it belongs to the service provider. After checking all the phone numbers in the query 8, the sequence 30 at the server 4 proceeds to a SEND RESPONSE step 46, wherein the server 4 sends a response message 10 including a list of phone numbers belonging to the server provider to the mobile station 6, and more specifically, to the SIM 14. At the mobile station 6, the sequence 30 exits the RESPONSE RECEIVED? decision step 40 and proceeds to a PROCESS RESPONSE FROM SERVER step 48 when the SIM 14 receives the response message 10. In this step 48, the SIM processor 22 applies an indicium to each entry in the phonebooks having a phone number that appears in the list of the response message 10. [0032] For a phonebook wherein no new fields are allowed to be added to the phonebook, this indicium may take the form of appending a special character, e.g. the character "^*", to the name field associated with each phone number appearing in the list, as shown in the table below. In such a case, the "^*" may be used merely to indicate entries having phone numbers belonging to the same service provider which issues the SIM.

[0033] For a phonebook wherein new fields can be added, the indicium may be a new field, e.g. "Group" shown in the table below, for indicating the service provider to which the corresponding phone number belongs. The character "A" is entered in the Group field of entries bearing the phone numbers that belong to a service provider A. Similarly, the character "B" is used to indicate entries having phone numbers that belong to a service provider B. This information may be sent to the mobile station 6 in a response message 10 from a single server 4 or multiple servers.

[0034] After processing the response in the PROCESS RESPONSE FROM SERVER step 48, the sequence 30 ends in the END step 36. Advantageously, the above-described method allows a subscriber to know in a more certain and less annoying manner the service provider to which a phone number belongs.

[0035] Figure 4 is a flowchart showing a sequence 60 of steps, according to a second embodiment, that implements the method. The sequence 60 starts in a BACKUP PHONEBOOK step 62 at the mobile station 6 when the mobile station 6 sends the information stored in its phonebook or phonebooks to the server 4 for backup at the server 4. The sequence 60 next proceeds to a CREATE PHONEBOOK step 64 at the server 4, wherein the server 4 creates a copy of the phonebook or phonebooks in the server 4, if not already created, or updates the phonebook or phonebooks, if already created, using the information received from the mobile station 6. After the phonebook or phonebooks are created or updated in the step 64, the sequence 60 proceeds to an ADD SERVICE PROVIDER INFORMATION step 66, to add the respective service provider information, if available, to each entry in the phonebook or phonebooks at the server 4. The subscriber may add the information via a suitable web interface. Alternatively, the server 4 may obtain the service provider information from data stored in the server 4 or from data stored outside the server 4, and add it to the phonebook or phonebooks. The server 4 may perform this task at regular intervals, such as once every twenty- four hours. [0036] When it is determined that information has been added to the copy of the phonebook or phonebooks at the server 4, or when the mobile station attemps to synchronize the phonebooks, the sequence 60 proceeds to a SEND PHONEBOOK step 68, wherein the server 4 sends the contents of the copy of the phonebook or phonebooks to the mobile station 6. The sequence 60 ends in an UPDATE PHONEBOOK step 70, wherein the mobile station 6 updates the entries in its phonebook or phonebooks with those received from the server 4. In this manner, the service provider information, if available, associated with each phone number in the phonebook or phonebooks of the mobile station 6 is added to the respective entry in the phonebook or phonebooks. Advantageously, only the server 4 needs to be modified to support such a feature; no modification of the mobile station is necessary. [0037] Instead of initiating backup of the phonebooks from the mobile station 6, the server 4 may send an over-the-air (OTA) "Read Record" command to retrieve the contents of the phonebooks. [0001] Although the invention is described as implemented in a SIM card for a GSM network, it is not to be construed to be limited as such. For example, the method may be implemented in the mobile terminal instead. > As another example, the method may also be implemented in a Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC) and a DECT authentication module (DAM) when used in a third generation (3G) network and a DECT network respectively.

Claims

1. A method of indicating that a phone number of at least one entry in an electronic phonebook of a device (6) belongs to a particular service provider, the method comprising: relying on a prefix of the phone number to indicate the likelihood of the phone number belonging to that service provider; characterized in that the method further comprises: applying (48) an indicium to the entry to indicate that the phone number belongs to the service provider.

2. A method according to Claim 1 , characterized in that applying (48) an indicium comprises at least one of: attaching a logo to the entry; appending a distinguishing character to a field of the entry; highlighting with a colour at least one field of the entry; using a distinguishing font for at least one field of the entry; and associating an audio clip with the entry, the audio clip being audible when the entry is selected.

3. A method according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the device (6) comprises a communication device (6) and in that the method further comprises: a server (4) of the service provider receiving (42) information from the communication device (6) that allows the server (4) to associate the phone number with the communication device (6); and the server (4) informing (46) the communication device (6) that the phone number belongs to the service provider; and in that applying an indicium comprises the communication device (6) applying the indicium when it is informed that the phone number belongs to the service provider.

4. A method according to Claim 3, characterized in that the server (4) receiving information comprises the server (4) receiving (42) the information when the communication device (6) initiates a communication session using the phone number.

5. A method according to Claim 3, characterized in that the method further comprises: the communication device (6) sending (38) a query (8) to the server (4), enquiring if the phone number belongs to the service provider, the query including the phone number and an identity of the device (6) by which the device can be reached.

6. A method according to Claim 5, characterized in that the communication device (6) sending (38) a query (8) comprises the communication device (6) sending

(38) the query (8) to the server (4) at predetermined intervals.

\ 7. A method according to Claim 6, characterized in that the predetermined intervals start at one of an at least pseudo random time determined by the communication device (6) and a time that is determined by the server (4).

8. A method according to Claim 5, characterized in that the communication device (6) sending (38) a query (8) to the server (4) comprises the communication device (6) sending the query to the server when initiated by a user.

9. A method according to Claims 3-8, characterized in that the method further comprises: ₅ the server informing the communication device that the phone number no longer belongs to the service provider.

10. A method according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the device comprises a communication device (6), in that the method further comprises: maintaining a copy of the phonebook at a server; and in that applying an indicium to the entry comprises: the server applying an indicium to the corresponding entry in the copy of the phonebook; and the server sending the entry, to which the indicium is applied, to the communication device.

11. A subscriber identity module (14) comprising: an electronic phonebook in which a phone number entry can be stored; characterized in that the module further comprises: a means for applying (48) an indicium to an entry in the electronic phonebook to indicate that the phone number belongs to a particular service provider.

12. A subscriber identity module (14) according to Claim 11 , characterized in that it further comprises: a means for sending (38) a query, via a communication device (6) to which the module (14) is attached to, to a server (4) of the service provider, enquiring if a phone number of an entry belongs to the service provider; and a means for receiving (48) information, via the communication device (6), from the server (4) indicating that the phone number belongs to the service provider and for thereby activating the means for applying the indicium to the entry.

13. A device (6) comprising: an electronic phonebook in which a phone number entry can be stored; characterized in that the communication device further comprises: a means for applying (48) an indicium to an entry to indicate that the phone number belongs to a particular service provider.

14. A device (6) according to Claim 13, characterized in that the device comprises a communication device (6) and in that the communication device (6) further comprises: a means for sending (38) a query to a server of the service provider, enquiring if a phone number of an entry belongs to the service provider; and a means for receiving (48) information from the server (4) indicating that the phone number belongs to the service provider and for thereby activating the means for applying the indicium to the entry.

15. A server (4), the server (4) comprising: a means for maintaining phone numbers belonging to at least one service provider; characterized in that the server further comprises: a means for receiving (42) information that allows the server to associate a phone number with a communication device (6); and a means for sending (46) information to the communication device for indicating the service provider of the phone number.

16. A server (4) according to Claim 15, characterized in that the means for receiving information comprises means for receiving (42) a query 8 from the communication device (6), enquiring if the phone number belongs to the service provider.

17. A server (4), the server (4) comprising: a means for maintaining phone numbers belonging to at least one service ^ς provider; and a means for maintaining a copy of a phonebook of a communication device; characterized in that the server further comprises: a means for applying an indicium to an entry in the copy of the phonebook to indicate the service provider associated with the phone number of the entry; and a means for sending the entry, to which the indicium is applied, to the communication device.

18. A software program having instructions executable by a processor (18, 22)) of a mobile station (6) comprising a mobile terminal (12) and a subscriber identity module (14) for implementing a method for indicating that a phone number of at least one entry in an electronic phonebook stored in the mobile station (6) belongs to a particular service provider, the method comprising: receiving (48) information indicating that a phone number belongs to the service provider; and applying an indicium (48) to the entry to indicate that the phone number belongs to the service provider.

19. A software program according to Claim 18, characterized in that the method further comprises: sending (38) a query to a server (4) of the service provider, enquiring if the phone number belongs to the service provider, the query including the phone number and an identity of the mobile station by which it can be reached; and in that receiving (48) information comprises receiving information from the server (4).