WO2009063136A1

WO2009063136A1 - Method, system, and smart card for announcing call rate information to a mobile subscriber

Info

Publication number: WO2009063136A1
Application number: PCT/FI2008/050655
Authority: WO
Inventors: Lauri Isotalo; Jari Jokela
Original assignee: Elisa Oyj
Priority date: 2007-11-13
Filing date: 2008-11-13
Publication date: 2009-05-22
Also published as: FI20075801A0; FI20075801A; FI122127B

Abstract

A smart card in accordance with the invention reads a network code in a location identification file such as a LOCI file (location identification file) stored in a memory of the smart card or a terminal. The smart card compares the network code to a stored network code that the terminal is currently using in a communications network. When the compared network codes differ from each other, the smart card replaces the network code used by the terminal with the network code read in the location identification file. In addition, the smart card receives through a radio part of the terminal price information and, if required, presents the price information by the terminal to a mobile subscriber. In addition to the smart card, the invention comprises a method and system utilizing the smart card.

Description

Method, system, and smart card for announcing call rate information to a mobile subscriber

Field of the invention [001] The invention generally relates to mobile communications networks and informing mobile subscribers during roaming. The invention especially relates to announcing charges for telephone calls, messages, or other communication methods.

Background of the invention [002] The European union (EU) regulates also telecommunication in the EU countries. An EU directive which became effective in summer 2007 requires that a teleoperator informs its client about charges concerning telecommunication when the client has travelled abroad. In more detail, according to the EU directive a teleoperator should inform its client, i.e. a subscriber, of pricing basis for the following telecommunication situations: a) the subscriber makes a call to the home country, b) the subscriber receives a call, and c) the subscriber sends a short message to the home country.

[003] Typically, in situations a) and b) the pricing basis is notified as a per- minute rate, wherein the price of a telephone call is determined by a duration of the call and the charge. Typically in the situation c) the pricing basis is notified as a per -short message charge. If the short message is an SMS (Short Message Service) message, its length does not exceed 160 characters. It is, however, possible that in certain cases the telephone call or the short message is free of charge, or that the price is a result of a complicated determi- nation.

[004] The above-mentioned EU requirement is a problem, which is related to the invention. Another problem that is related with the invention is unintentional roaming.

[005] An unintentional roaming happens especially at border regions of countries. For example, at the border region of Finland and Russian a terminal of a Finnish mobile subscriber has moved from a home network, i.e. the network of a Finnish operator, to a network of a Russian operator. Though the mobile subscriber has been locating physically in Finland, his/her terminal has roamed in Russian, wherein the mobile subscriber has been charged for roaming in the telecommunication situations a), b) or c) more than for domestic calls or messages transmitted in the home country.

[006] It is possible to reduce the number of unintentional roaming by adjusting base stations of the mobile network but obviously unintentional roaming cannot be completely avoided. If transmission powers of the base stations are lowered, covering areas of the base stations are simultaneously reduced which causes shadow areas.

[007] Even if the name of an operator is shown on the display of the terminal, the change of the operator's name, which has occurred because of roaming, may be unseen by the subscriber. Thus, there is a need for a solution which announces roaming charges clearly enough and in a way the subscriber has chosen when a mobile subscriber moves from a country to another, or when a subscriber terminal moves from the home network to a visited network [008] Facts described in the patent FI-20022269 granted to the applicant on 31.03.2005, such as information relating to public land mobile networks and other types of communications networks, can be utilized in some scale when creating the solution.

[009] The title of the invention described in the patent FI-20022269 is "Method, system, and service for disclosing pricing of service connection". The method and system are based on the same principle, that is, the location of a called party is solved during the call set-up process. After the location of the called party has been solved, pricing basis for the connection to be established are retrieved among the set of the pre-stored pricing bases. Then the pricing basis retrieved is displayed in user interface of the terminal of the called party, or in user interface of the terminal of the calling party, or in the both user interfaces. Then either of the parties may decide, whether the call setup process is continued or interrupted.

[010] One benefit of the method of the patent FI20022269 is that mobile subscribers do not have to carry price lists printed on paper or to listen verbal announcements of their mobile phones. Verbal announcements in connection with a prepaid service or service numbers are implemented with AoC (Advice of Charge) supplementary service. Another benefit of the method is that the parties obtain exactly the right pricing factor for the connection to be es- tablished. It is often laborious to find out the right pricing basis from a price list printed on paper or from a price list to be viewed through the Internet because the operator providing roaming, and eventually a day of the week and time affect the price of the connection. Correspondingly, finding out the right pricing basis among the verbal announcements may be difficult.

[011] The method of patent FI20022269 provides a solution for telecommunication situation a) in which a subscriber makes a call to the home country, and also for telecommunication situation b) in which a subscriber is called from the home country, but not for telecommunication situation c) in which a subscriber, or in more detail, the mobile subscriber sends a short message to the home country. The method complicates the call setup process and causes a delay in it. The delay occurs because of performing the method steps and because of at least one of the parties may think several seconds whether or not the establishment of the connection should be continued. These facts relating to the method do not necessarily cause any harm, but the applicant is interested in another kind of method to offer price information to a mobile subscriber locating outside of the home network, eventually abroad.

[012] The applicant believes that such a solution is not implemented so far which is able to inform a mobile subscriber about charges in accordance with the EU requirement as the mobile subscriber is residing out of the home country and as any of the above-mentioned telecommunication situations a), b), or c) is possible.

[013] One method that can be utilized to fulfil the EU requirement is based on use of a known server. The server is termed "Welcome SMS server". The Welcome SMS server is used in connection with so-called "Inbound Roaming" to send a salutation message to mobile stations of visitors arriving to a country. An operator greets with the salutation message a visitor who accesses the network of the operator. [014] FIG. 1 shows an arrangement for announcing price information to a roaming mobile subscriber. The arrangement can be considered as known because phases relating to the arrangement are in principle the same as in the conventional use the Welcome SMS server. [015] One difference compared to the conventional way to use the Welcome SMS server is that instead of the salutation message, or in addition to it, such a short message which discloses pricing basis in the telecommunication situations a), b), and c) is sent to a terminal of the mobile subscriber [016] Another difference is that server 16 is used in so called Outbound Roaming", thus the server 16 sends its message to a short message centre of the home network of terminal 10, and the short message centre transmits the message to terminal 10. The above-mentioned "conventional" Welcome SMS server would send its message directly to the terminal 10. [017] Due to these two differences the server 16 is termed a "modified Welcome SMS server".

[018] Let us assume that a network of operator X is the home network of the terminal 10 used by the mobile subscriber, in more detail, the home network of the subscriber connection included in the terminal 10. [019] Let us further assume that the terminal 10, i.e. the subscriber connection included in the terminal 10, is registered in an MSCTVLR (Mobile Switching Centre/ Visitor Location Register) 11 of operator X.

[020] When the radio part of the terminal 10 is in operation and the mobile subscriber has crossed the border of the country, the terminal registers 101 in MSC/VLR 12 of operator Y. In other words, the terminal 10 of the mobile subscriber is moved from its home network, i.e. the network of operator X, to the network of operator Y.

[021] The registration of the terminal in the MSC/VLR 12 causes message traffic 102. In more detail, due to the location update of the terminal 10 the international communications network 13 transmits the location update message 103 to the home location register 14 of the terminal 10 to which the new location data of the terminal 10 is stored. The term "location update message" refers not only to the "Location Update" message according to the GSM standard, but also other messages which are used in mobile networks when a serving MSC/VLR, or a corresponsive network element, is changed due to movement of the mobile subscriber.

[022] The arrangement of FIG. 1 is based on a so-called signalling link of the international communications network 13 that monitoring equipment 15 monitors to detect the location update message 103. When detecting the message 103 the monitoring equipment 15 creates a request message 104 and sends it to the Welcome SMS server 16.

[023] In response to the request message 104 the modified Welcome SMS server 16 executes a service that generates a message 105 to be sent to a message service centre 17. The message 105 includes the pricing basis for the telecommunication situations a), b), and c).

[024] When the message service centre 17 has received the message 105 the message service centre 17 uses a query 106 to retrieve a GT (Global Ti- tie) address of the MSC/VLR from the home location register 14 of the terminal 10.

[025] Then the message service centre 17 creates a short message 105 on the basis of the message 107 and sends the short message 107 with the GT address via the international telecommunications network 13 to the terminal 10.

[026] The short message 107 includes prices to be announced to the mobile subscriber including, for example, the following three prices: a) a call to the home country 0,6 €/min. b) receiving a call from the home country 0,29 €/min. c) sending a short message to the home country 0,28 €/piece.

[027] The arrangement of FIG. 1 is related to certain legal and data security problems, which are discussed in the next.

[028] In some countries it is forbidden to locate a mobile subscriber without a permission of the subscriber. The monitoring equipment 15 collects location update messages, which surely disclose a current location of the subscriber. Thus, the collecting of the location update messages by the monitoring equipment 15 may cause a legality problem concerning those subscribers who are not allowed their localization.

[029] Let us assume that the subscriber has allowed his/her localization at which time the legality problem related to that subscriber is avoided. The subscriber has, however, a right to assume that his/her location data is not abused in the arrangement of FIG. 1. In other words, the location data collected by the monitoring equipment 15 should be used only for the purpose for which the prices related to the telecommunication situations a), b), and c) are delivered to the terminal 10 of the subscriber.

[030] If the arrangement of FIG. 1 is implemented, the monitoring equipment 15 would be obviously composed of a number of separated devices that are geographically located in different places. Therefore, users of the monitoring equipment, and a way of using it, are quite difficult to control. In addition, the users and the use way of the Welcome SMS server should be under control. From the point of view of data security of the subscriber the location data should be immediately destroyed at the monitoring equipment 15 and the Welcome SMS server, and in other additional storage devices, when the terminal 10 has received the short message 110 including pricing information.

[031] A responsibility problem exists in a situation in which devices of the monitoring equipment 15 are not located in premises of operator X, or other persons than employees of operator X use the devices of the monitoring equipment 15. The responsibility problem also exists in a situation in which the Welcome SMS server 16 is not located in the premises of operator X, or other persons than the employees of operator X use the server 16. In more detail, operator in has in some scale a responsibility of the data security of its clients also when the terminals, which include a subscriber connection of op- erator X, are roaming.

[032] The arrangement of FIG. 1 is network based, because the monitoring equipment 15 located in the international communications network 15 creates the request message 104 related to announcing of prices. Then the location update message 103 disclosing the location of the terminal 10 is usable at monitoring equipment 15. However, the location update message 103 does not disclose, for example, with which language the user of the terminal 10 wants to receive price information. When the native language is not known, some language with which the price information is announced to the user must be selected. [033] The first technical problem is considered to be that in addition to the price information in the telecommunication situations a), b), and c), it must be possible to deliver the price information concerning unintentional roaming to the subscriber, but the way of delivering the price information should not cause legal and data security problems, or responsibility problems. [034] Another technical problem is considered to be such arrangement in which the way of delivering the price information is the same for the all subscribers. Then it is not possible to take into account subscriber-specific preferences such as language. Summary of the invention

[035] An aspect of the invention is to solve the first-mentioned technical problem.

[036] Another aspect of the invention is to further solve the other above- mentioned technical problem. [037] Yet another aspect of the invention is to replace a network-based way of action with a smart card-based way of action, because the smart card- based way of action increases an operator's possibilities to solve its technical problems by itself.

[038] Yet another aspect of the invention is that a LOCI file, or a correspon- sive location identification file, discloses a location of a terminal accurate enough so that it is possible to communicate with the terminal. The location identification file is stored in a memory of the terminal or the smart card.

[039] Yet another aspect of the invention is to replace the network-based way of action with the smart card-based way of action, because it is difficult or impossible to take into account, from the network's perspective, user- specific preferences.

[040] The invention comprises a method according to claim 1 , a system according to claim 7, and a smart card according to claim 16 for announcing price information to a subscriber locating outside of his/her home network. Use of the method and system requires that the smart card in accordance with invention is placed in a mobile station of a mobile subscriber

[041] The price information to be announced to the mobile subscriber includes at least one price for making a call, receiving a call, sending a short message, or for other communication. [042] The smart card in accordance with the invention comprises a processor, a memory unit, and in addition to them, a handler, and an announcer which perform the following tasks. [043] The updater receives prices via a radio part of a terminal used by the mobile user when the smart card is placed in the terminal. The received prices are sent from the home network.

[044] The handler reads a network code from a location identification file stored in the memory, compares the read network code to a network code stored in the memory and currently used by the terminal in the international communications network, and when the compared network codes differ from each other it replaces the network code currently used in the international communications network with the new network code which is read from the location identification file and discloses the location.

[045] The announcer presents through the terminal the price information in accordance with the preferences of the mobile subscriber.

[046] The updater, handler, and announcer are preferably implemented by SIM Toolkit but it is also possible to use some corresponsive means. Brief description of the drawings

[047] The invention is described more closely with reference to the examples shown in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which figure 1 shows a known arrangement for announcing price information to a roaming mobile subscriber figure 2 shows a first arrangement for announcing price information, figure 3 shows the method in accordance with the invention, figure 4 shows a second arrangement for announcing price information, figure 5 shows the system in accordance with the invention, figure 6 shows the smart card of a terminal in accordance with the inven- tion.

Detailed description of the invention

[048] Price information is delivered by means of the invention to a mobile subscriber when the subscriber has travelled aboard and can call to his/her home country from there, receive a call from the home country, or send a short message to the home country. [049] Generally speaking, when the subscriber is located outside of his/her home network, the price information to make a call, receive a call, send a short message, or for other communication is delivered to the subscriber by means of the invention. Roaming may be possible also inside the borders of the country. In more detail, the subscriber may locate outside of his/her home network, far away from the borders of the country. For this reason, in addition to the term "international communications network", a more general term "communications network" is used in the application.

[050] The delivery way in accordance with invention is such that the legal, the data security, and the responsibility problems related to figure 1 are avoided in whole or partly.

[051] In certain embodiments of the invention the price information delivered to the subscriber is stored in the memory of the terminal or the smart card at which time the subscriber may also explore other ones than the prices re- lated to the current location.

[052] Even if the prices, which are kept up-to-date, may be continuously available for the exploration, it is essential from point of view of the invention that the prices are delivered to the subscriber at once when detected that the subscriber is moved outside of his/her home network. Thus, the subscriber is informed in accordance with the EU requirement in the telecommunications situations a), b), and c).

[053] In addition, unintentional roaming is detected by means of the invention at which time the subscriber is informed about the prices related to the unintentional roaming. [054] The invention enables arrangements in which the delivery way of the price information is different for different subscribers. In other words, it is possible to take into account subscriber-specific preferences. Presentation language of the price information is one but not the only option which is preferably selectable by a subscriber. [055] It is supposedly important that a subscriber is alerted when detecting that the subscriber has moved outside of his/her home network. In more detail, the subscriber is alerted with a graphical presentation on the graphical user interface, an audio presentation through a speaker of the terminal, or with the graphical presentation as well as the audio presentation. [056] Let us assume that the subscriber has flight to outside of his/her home country. When the aeroplane has landed and it is again allowed to use the radio part of a terminal, the terminal is to be registered in an MSC/VLR of the Communications network. This situation is usually the best point of time to explore the price information.

[057] The subscriber doesn't necessarily return from a foreign country direct to his/her home country, but moves to another foreign country. Also in the situation that the subscriber moves from the foreign country to the other, the network code included in the location identification file is changed. [058] When the location identification file is a LOCI file, the change of the network code means that at least one of the codes an MCC (Mobile Country Code) or MNC (Mobile Network Code) is changed. The MCC code discloses a country, for example, '244' refers to Finland. The MNC code discloses an operator, for example, '05' refers to the applicant (Elisa). [059] In the method in accordance with the invention a change of the network code is an impulse due to which price information is usually delivered to the terminal of the subscriber. However, it should be noticed that a smart card application of the terminal is feasible in a way that the subscriber can define by the means of the terminal which prices he/she is willing to receive and when.

[060] Let us then consider a situation in which the subscriber moves in the border area of his/her home country and a foreign country, or in the border area of two foreign countries. Then the before-mentioned network code is changed exceptional frequently and the subscriber may feel to receive too many SMS messages or other audiovisual presentations including the prices into his/her terminal. For this reason, it is reasonable that the subscriber is able to inhibit sending the prices to his/her terminal.

[061] As mentioned in the above, one aspect of invention is the smart card- based way of action. Then the subscriber-specific preferences are stored in the memory which is usable by the smart card. This memory comprises at least one memory unit of the smart card or at least one memory unit of the terminal.

[062] Because the subscriber-specific preferences are stored in the memory, the smart card application can read the preferences in the memory and send them with the request message to the network. Thus, the smart card effects to a response in the way wished by the subscriber. In other words, which content the response message posses and when it is delivered to the terminal of the subscriber in response to the request message. [063] If the subscriber changes his/her preferences at the terminal, the new preferences are immediately available for the smart card application. In other words, there is no need to retrieve the preferences from the network. Neither the subscriber-specific preferences need to be sent to the network, except with the request message. [064] In following the smart card-based way of action is shortly compared to the network-based way of action.

[065] In the network-based way of action the subscriber-specific or default preferences should be stored in some network element. If the preferences are stored, for example, in the home register of the subscriber, use and up- date of them require message transmission via the communications network between the home register and the terminal used by the subscriber.

[066] Because of the message exchange the arrangement using the home register burdens the resources of the operator. In addition, the arrangement is dependent on the services provided by the communications network. As generally known, the communications network is not usable, for example, during flights.

[067] The operator would probably be forced to buy the new features needed in the arrangement from a third-party company such as a network producer. The smart card-based way of action, instead, gives the operator an opportunity to implement a corresponsive arrangement by itself.

[068] The operation of the method, system, and smart card in accordance with invention is illustrated the arrangements shown in figures 2 and 4. These arrangements are in the same time examples of use of the invention when the LOCI file is used as a location identification file. [069] Figure 5 shows some options for using the LOCI file.

[070] Figure 2 shows a first arrangement related to the invention for announcing price information to a roaming subscriber. [071] Let us assume that a network of operator X is a home network of the terminal 10 used by the subscriber. First, the terminal 10 is registered in an MSCA/LR (Mobile Switching Center/Visitor Location Register) 11 of operator X. [072] When the radio part of the terminal 10 is in action and the mobile subscriber has crossed the border of the country, the terminal 10 moves from the home network, i.e. from the network of operator X to the network of operator Y. Then the terminal 10 is registered in 201 an MSC/VLR 12 of operator Y.

[073] As shown in figure 1 , the registration is performed during the location update of the terminal 10. Therefore, also in figure 2 the location update message is sent to the home register 14 of the terminal 10. The location update message is omitted from figure 2, because there is no need to monitor it.

[074] Instead of monitoring the location update message, the LOCI file stored in the memory of the smart card 18 is examined in the arrangement of figure 2. The LOCI file includes two codes, the MCC and the MNC, which are important from point of view of the invention. The utilization of the LOCI file requires that the smart card 18 stores the MCC and MNC codes in the memory. [075] The location update of the terminal 10 causes a change of the network code, i.e. at least one of the codes MCC or MNC changes in the LOCI file.

[076] The smart card 18 compares the new MCC and MNC codes, which are included in the LOCI file and originated from 202 the MSC/VLR 12 of operator Y, to the MCC and MNC codes stored in the memory. [077] When the smart card 18 detects that the new MCC differs from the MCC stored in the memory, or that the new MNC differs from the MNC stored in the memory, the smart card 18 creates a request message 203 in which the smart card 18 places the MCC and new MNC or the both of them.

[078] The smart card 18 sends the request message 203 to a short mes- sage centre (SMSC) 16 in order that the current price information related to a certain foreign country and a certain operator of a foreign network would be delivered to the terminal 10. [079] SMSC 17 receives the request message 203 via the international communications network 13 and transmits it to the price information server 19.

[080] In response to the request message 203 the price information server 19 performs a database query 204 targeted to a database 20, wherein the content of the request message (MCC code, MNC code) is used as a search key. The database query 204 results in at least one price for making a call, receiving a call, or a price for short message or other communication.

[081] The price information server 19 sends one or more prices resulted in the data base query 204 through a specific interface 21 to the SMSC 17. The interface 21 creates a definition message 205 on the basis of which the SMSC 17 creates an SMS message 206 to be sent to the terminal 10, the SMS message including the current prices.

[082] SMSC 17 retrieves from the home register 14 by means of a query 207 a GT address of MSC/VLR, which is required in routing of short messages. Then the SMSC 17 sends the SMS message 206 via the international communication network 13 to the terminal 10. The SMS message 206 may be a conventional SMS message. If so, the terminal 10 usually provides a voice signal to indicate that the SMS message 206 is received. In addition, the text "1 message" is shown on the display of the terminal. After this the mobile subscriber may open the message and read the current prices from it.

[083] Figure 3 shows the method in accordance with the invention. The method is intended for announcing price information to the mobile subscriber located outside of his/her home network. The steps of the method are per- formed in the message centre, the price information unit, the terminal, and in the smart card of the terminal used by the subscriber.

[084] Figure 1 shows just one example of the message centre (SMSC) 17. Instead of the SMSC the method may use, for example, an MMSC (Multimedia Messaging Service Centre) as the message centre. Correspondingly, the price information server 19 of figure 1 is just one example of the price information unit that can be used in the method. The price information unit can be implemented in another way.

[085] During a location update of the terminal the method performs the step of detecting 301 in a smart card of a terminal used by the mobile subscriber that a network code, which the terminal uses in a communications network, is replaced in the LOCI file stored in a memory with a new network code. Then the request message including the new network code and identification information of the terminal is formed 302. [086] Then the request message is sent 303 from the terminal via the communication network to a message centre.

[087] In the message centre the request message is received 304 and the new network code included in the request message is transmitted 305 to a price information unit. [088] In the price information unit price information is retrieved 306 by the new received network code from a database and the price information is delivered 307 to the message centre.

[089] In the message centre the location data of the terminal is retrieved 308 from a register. When the communications network is a mobile communica- tions network the register related to step 308 is usually a home location register (HLR) of a home network, but generally speaking the HLR on just one possible register. If required, step 308 can be performed before step 306.

[090] It is formed 309 in the message centre a reply message including the price information and the reply message is sent 310 via the communications network to the terminal in accordance with the location data of the terminal.

[091] Lastly, the reply message is received 311 in the terminal and the price information is presented 312 through the display of the terminal to the mobile subscriber.

[092] In a certain embodiment of the invention the reply message sent by terminal in step 303 includes at least one mobile subscriber-specific preference which effects to the content of the reply message. The mobile subscriber-specific preference may, for example, determine on which language the price information of the message received by the terminal in step 311 is presented. [093] It is possible to use in the method as well as in the smart card according to the invention different types of communications networks of which some are mentioned here as examples. The communications network is preferably one of the following networks or a combination of the following net- works: a GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication), a GPRS (General Packet Radio Services), a CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access), a WCDMA (Wideband Code-Division Multiple Access), a UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) network or another 3G (third genera- tion) network, a fixed network, a network using IP (Internet Protocol), a LAN (Local Area Network), a WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network), or a WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) network.

[094] Figure 4 shows another arrangement for announcing price information to the roaming mobile subscriber. [095] Let us again assume that the network of operator X is the home network of the terminal 10 used by the mobile subscriber.

[096] When the radio part of the terminal 10 is in action and the mobile subscriber has crossed the border of the country, the terminal 10 moves from the home network, i.e. the network of operator X, to the network of operator Y at which time the terminal 10 is registered 401 to an MSCΛ/LR 12 of operator Y.

[097] The location update of the terminal 10 causes a change of the network code, i.e. at least one of the codes MCC or MNC is changed in the LOCI file stored in the memory of the smart card.

[098] The smart card 18 compares the new MCC and MNC codes, which are included in the LOCI file and which are originated 402 from MSC/VLR 12, to the MCC and MNC codes stored in the memory. Because operator X is changed to operator Y, at least the new MNC code differs from the MNC code stored in the memory. Therefore, the smart card 18 determines that current prices shall be presented to the mobile subscriber. [099] The smart card 18 retrieves 403 the current prices from the memory of the smart card or the terminal 10, and presents them to the mobile subscriber. The memory includes the price table from which the current prices are readable by means of the MCC and MNC code. The price table is just one way to store the prices. The storing format may be some other than a table.

[0100] Then the smart card 18 presents on the display price information that includes the prices related to the MCC and MNC code. [0101] In the arrangement of figure 2 only current prices, which are related to a certain foreign network operator, are delivered to the terminal 10. Instead, in the arrangement of figure 4 the price table of the terminal 10 may include the price information of the whole world. [0102] The price table is preferably visible on the display of the terminal. Therefore the mobile subscriber may, if required, to examine the price information of the whole world.

[0103] Many of new mobile phones have such feature that applications of a mobile phone, and applications of its the smart card, are usable even though the radio part of the mobile phone is switched off. When this kind of mobile phone includes the price table, the mobile station user may examine the table also in the aeroplane.

[0104] The price table must be, of course, updated in order that the mobile subscriber obtains valid price information from it. In figure 4 the price table is updated by OTA (Over the Air) technique.

[0105] When an addition, a change, or a deletion event is targeted to the price database 22 of figure 4, the event always results in an internal request message 404 to be sent to the price information unit 23. The internal request includes the addition, the change, or deletion that has been performed in the database 22.

[0106] Due to the internal request message 404 the price information unit 23 creates a definition message 405. The definition message 405 corresponds to the message 105 of figure 1 and the message 205 of figure 2, because also the definition message 405 has such format that it controls the operation of an SMSC 17 in a certain way. In figure 4 the SMSC 17 creates, in response to the definition message 405, an update message 406 to be sent by the OTA technique.

[0107] The SMSC 17 retrieves from the home register 14 by query 407 the GT address needed for routing short messages, and sends the update mes- sage 406 via the international communications network 13 to the terminal 10.

[0108] When the terminal 10 has received the update message 406 the smart card 18 updates the price table on the basis the content of the update message 406. [0109] In addition, figure 4 shows such option that the mobile subscriber using the terminal 10, or the smart card 18, orders updating of the price table. Then the order message 408, which is created due to the order made by the mobile subscriber or the smart card 18, is sent from the terminal 10 via the international communications network 13 the SMSC 17.

[0110] Let us assume that the order message 408 is an SMS message and let us assume that the price information unit 23 communicates with the SMSC 17 via a bus, a local area network, or another type of communications network. Then the SMSC 17 transforms the order message 408 to message 409 having the same content but different type, and sends the message 409 to the price information unit 23.

[0111] After receiving the message 409 the price information unit 23 examines which additions, changes, or deletions should possibly be sent to the terminal 10. Sending of the price information can be performed by any known way via the international communications network 13.

[0112] The price table is updated in accordance with update definitions. The update definitions are preferably subscriber-specific. In addition, the subscriber has preferably an option to set at least a part of the update definitions. The update definitions are preferably stored in the memory of the smart card. It is possible that a part of or the all update definitions are such that they cannot be changed without changing the smart card.

[0113] For example, one or more of the following update methods can be used when updating the price table.

[0114] One update method is such that the content of the price table is up- dated from the network 13. Messages 404, 405, 406, and 407, are related to this update method.

[0115] A second update method is such that the user of the terminal 10 can, if required, order the update.

[0116] A third update method is such that the smart card 18 orders invaria- bly, for example once in a day, the update of the price table.

[0117] A fourth update method is such that the smart card orders the update of the price table, when the smart card detects a change of the network code during the location update of the terminal 10. [0118] The update specifications of the price table specify which of the before-mentioned update methods are in use when the price information stored in the terminal 10 is updated.

[0119] Figure 3 shows the method in accordance with invention which ap- plies, for example, to the arrangements of figures 2 and 4. Although the

SMSC 17 exists in figures 2 and 4, it is possible to use the MMSC instead of the SMSC. If so, the message 206 or message 406 received by the terminal

10 is an MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) message instead of an SMS message. Still another option is that the message 206 or the message 406 is a USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data) message which is sent from the USSD centre.

[0120] Correspondingly, the message 203 or 408 sent by the terminal may be, instead of an SMS message, another type of message such as an MMS, a USSD, or an IP message. [0121] It is possible to omit a message centre such as the SMSC, MMSC, or USSD from the method of figure 3. The system to be shown on the following figure implements such embodiment of the invention that the known message centre is omitted from it as an unnecessary element.

[0122] Figure 5 shows the system in accordance with the invention for an- nouncing price information to the mobile subscriber located outside of his/her home network.

[0123] The system comprises a price information unit 501 and at least one smart card 502. Internal action of the components 501 and 502 of the system as well as mutual action the components 501 and 502 is not fixed to a certain chronological order.

[0124] In the system the smart card 502 of a terminal 503 used by the mobile subscriber detects during a location update that a network code, which the terminal uses in a communications network 504, is replaced in a location identification file stored in the memory with a new network code. [0125] In addition, the smart card 502 receives an update message 505 which is sent by the price information unit 501 and is intended for updating the price information, and presents the price information through the terminal in accordance with the preferences of the mobile subscriber. [0126] The price information unit 501 retrieves in accordance with the update definitions of the price information new prices from a database 506 and sends the update message 505 with the new prices to the terminal 503.

[0127] The update definitions of the price information mean the definitions, which were discussed in the above, in figure 4. The update definitions are preferably subscriber-specific. The new prices retrieved from the database 506 by price information unit include at least one addition, change, or deletion. The price information, which is usable at the terminal 503 and stored in the memory, is updated with the new prices included in the update message 505 in a way defined by the update definitions.

[0128] In certain embodiment of the invention the smart card 502 performs the following action in response to the replacement of the network code in the location update file with a new network code. The smart card 502 forms a request message 507 comprising the new network code and the identification information of the terminal 503, sends the request message 507 from the terminal 503 to the price information unit 501 , and receives prices which are included in a message 508 sent by the price information unit 501.

[0129] In addition, in response to the request message 507, the price information unit 501 retrieves by the new network code, which it has read in the request message, the prices from database 506, and sends the prices in the reply message 508 to the terminal 503.

[0130] In the before-described embodiment of the system the request message 507 comprises at least one preference of the mobile subscriber. A preference of the mobile subscriber effects to the content of the reply message 508.

[0131] The preferences of the mobile subscriber include at least one of the following definitions:

- an on/off definition disclosing whether the prices are announced - a content definition disclosing which prices are announced

- a rendering definition disclosing in which way the prices are announced

[0132] Unintentional announcements at border areas of countries can be prohibited by the on/off definition. [0133] The typical content definition defines that the all prices, which are related to the new network code are shown on the display of the terminal 503, but this is just one option.

[0134] The rendering definition includes at least the presentation language of the prices. In addition or alternatively, the rendering definition may define, for example, the content and volume of an audio presentation.

[0135] The preferences of the mobile subscriber are subscriber-specific or default definitions. The subscriber-specific definitions are related to a certain mobile subscriber and they may be definitions which the mobile subscriber has made through the terminal 503. The default definitions are meant to be definitions made by the operator.

[0136] At least a part of the preferences of the mobile subscriber is preferably stored in at least one of the components of the system: the price information unit 501 or the smart card 502. [0137] Relating to figure 3, it was mentioned that the location data of the terminal is retrievable, for example, from the HLR. Also the location data of the terminal 503 is retrievable from the HLR.

[0138] Generally speaking, the register from which the location data is retrieved is one of the following: the HLR, the IP (Internet Peripheral) address register, an internal register, or another register.

[0139] The location data of the terminal should disclose the location of the terminal accurate enough. In addition, the data should include adequate routing orders to enable communication with the terminal 503.

[0140] The internal register is intended for the message centre or the price information unit 501 of the system. The internal register is updated from outside the message centre or the price information unit 501.

[0141] Instead of a mobile network, the communications network used in the method or system may be an IP network or it may be a combination of the mobile network and the IP network. [0142] When the communications network 504 used in figure 5 is an IP network, the smart card 502 placed in the terminal 503 can communicate with the price communication unit 501. In more detail, the terminal 503 and the price information unit 501 are nodes of the IP network, because they both have a certain IP address in their use. The terminal 503 is a moving terminal which complicates the communication. There are, however, known methods by which two nodes of the IP network can communicate with each other, though the both nodes would be moveable. [0143] A dynamic IP address is preferably allocated to the terminal 503. Then it is assumed that the base station currently serving the terminal 503 has a pool of dynamic IP addresses on which the base station has allocated one address to the terminal 503. When the terminal 503 leaves the service area of the base station, the address is restored to the pool. This address is usually termed a care of address. In addition to the care of address, the terminal 503 has its own fixed IP address.

[0144] Thus, the idea is that the moving terminal 503 is reachable through its care of address. The care of address is changed when the serving base station is changed. Then the routing of IP packets to the terminal 503 does not essentially differ from a case that the terminal would be a home computer or some other node of the IP network.

[0145] The care of address is often coupled to the Mobile IPv6 protocol, but with known special arrangements the care of address can be also used in the traditional Internet traffic, i.e. when using the IPv4 protocol. [0146] When the register from which the location data of the terminal 503 is retrieved is the IP address register, the addresses of the IP address register are preferably the care of addresses allocated to the terminals.

[0147] The location identification file is preferably one of the following files: a) a LOCI file (location identification file), b) a file including a network code of the serving network element, c) a file including a network code of the terminal.

[0148] In the option a), i.e. when the location identification file is the LOCI file, the network code which the terminal 503 uses in the communications network 504 includes at least one of the codes MCC or MNC. [0149] In the option b), i.e. when the location identification file includes the network code of the serving network element, the network code is preferably an IP address. The serving network element is a base station, a base station controller, or another network element of the communications network 504 through which it is possible to communicate with the terminal 503. The serving network element is changed when the terminal 503 leaves the geographical domain area of the serving network element.

[0150] In the option c), i.e. when the location identification file includes the network code of the terminal 503, the network code is preferably an IP address or a code which discloses the identifier of the terminal 503 or the geographical location of the terminal 503.

[0151] If in the option c) the network code is an IP address, the IP address is either a fixed address or a dynamic address. The dynamic address is pref- erably the IP address which the serving base station allocates from its pool to the terminal 503.

[0152] If in the option c) the network code discloses the identifier and the geographical location of the terminal, the identifier is, for example, an IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) code. The geographical location is disclosed, for example, with GPS- (Global Positioning System) coordinates. Then it can be assumed that the terminal 503 comprises a GPS locator and the terminal 503 notifies to the communications network 504 a network code which includes the IMEI code and the GPS coordinates. The terminal may encrypt the network code for security reasons. The communications network 504 may use immediately the network code which it has received from the terminal 503 to announce the price information to the terminal. Alternatively, in order to announce the price information later on, the communications network stores the network code in a register that resembles the home location register. [0153] Let us assume that the communication features and the GPS coordinates are stored in a network element register. Then the communication network is able to determine, on the basis of the network element register and the network code notified by the terminal 503, through which network element of the communications network 504 it is possible to communicate with the terminal 503.

[0154] Generally speaking, the location identification file discloses, with adequate accuracy, the current location of the terminal 503 making possible to deliver prices to the terminal. [0155] The location identification file is situated in such memory which the smart card application is able to read. At least a part of the location identification file is stored in the memory unit of the smart card or the memory unit of the terminal 503. [0156] BIP (Bearer Independent Protocol) is one protocol which is usable when implementing of the system. The BIP is related to the OTA technique as well as needs to use some other transmission protocol than the SMS. For example, TCP (Transport Control Protocol) is considered to be more reliable transmission protocol than the SMS. In addition, poor transmission capacity is considered to be a drawback of the SMS. When comparing the SMS and the BIP, the BIP is at least as reliable and it has clearly better transmission capacity. When using a TCP/IP connection over the GPRS the BIP provides even 20 times faster transmission capacity than the SMS.

[0157] The BIP also makes possible to use another protocol than the IP, thus in addition to the IP, or instead of it, the terminal 503 could use a Bluetooth, an infrared, a USB (Universal Serial Bus), or a corresponsive network access standard. In that case, the access network differs from a traditional mobile communication network. One option is that the terminal 503 uses a WLAN or a WiMAX network as the access network. The access network to be used in the system can be implemented in various ways. The access network and the price information unit 501 are connectable by a backbone such as the Internet. Then the communications network 504 is composed of the access network and the backbone.

[0158] The smart card 502 and the price information unit 501 of the terminal 503 use preferably the BIP when communicating with each other over the communications network 504.

[0159] Figure 6 shows a smart card of the terminal in accordance with the invention for announcing price information to a mobile subscriber locating outside of his/her home network. In addition to a processor 602 and a mem- ory unit 603, the smart card 601 further comprises an updater 604, a handler 605, and an announcer 606.

[0160] The updater 604 receives through a radio part of a terminal 607 prices 609 sent via a communications network 608 when the smart card 601 is placed in the terminal 607. [0161] The handler 605 reads a network code in a LOCI file stored in the memory and compares the read network code to a network code which is stored in a memory and which the terminal 607 uses in the communications network 608. [0162] In addition, the handler 605 replaces the network code used by the terminal with the network code read in the LOCI file when the compared network codes differ from each other.

[0163] The announcer 606 presents in accordance with preferences of the mobile subscriber the price information through the terminal 607. [0164] The smart card 601 , or in more detail, the announcer 606 shows on the display of the terminal 607 the prices related to the new network code when the compared network codes differ from each other.

[0165] An SMS message is one means to announce the price information. SMS messages are classified to four classes. A class notation is included in the SMS message retrieved by the terminal 607 and it effects to the handling of the message in the following way: Class Disposal 0 so called flash message which is shown on the display of the terminal 1 message is stored in the memory of the terminal

2 message is stored in the memory of the smart card

3 message is stored in an external memory.

[0166] The flash message according to class 0 applies well for awakening a user, i.e. the mobile subscriber of the terminal 607, but the content of the flash message is not stored in any memory.

[0167] Instead of one message, it is possible to send two SMS messages to the terminal 607 as follows. One message is a message of class 0 and is thus immediately shown on the terminal's display to the mobile subscriber and the other message is a message of class 1-3, i.e. it is stored in the memory. The message of class 1-3 applies well for updating the price table.

[0168] As mentioned in the above, the updater 604 receives through the radio part of the terminal 607 the prices 609 which are sent via the communications network 608 in one or more messages. [0169] The announcer 606 shows the prices when the compared network code differ from each other, but if required, the announcer 606 may show the prices also in another point of time. In addition to the messages, or instead of them, the announcer 606 may use other techniques for showing the prices. One known technique is SIM-Toolkit or a newer USAT (USIM Application Toolkit).

[0170] The GSM 11.14 standard describers two features which are important for the operation of the announcer 606. The features are termed a "display text" feature and a "play a tone" feature. It is possible to implement these features of the GSM 11.14 standard into the smart card 601 by using the SIM-Toolkit technique

[0171] By the "display text" feature the announcer 606 can show the prices stored in the memory. By the "play a tone" feature the announcer 606 can attract the attention of the mobile subscriber, i.e. the announcer plays voice through an audio system of the terminal 607. The voice is, for example, a tone, piece of music, or a verbal announcement.

[0172] 3G TS 31.111 standard of 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) is considered to be one follower of the GSM 11.14 standard. The before- mentioned USAT applies to an implementation of the "display text" and "play a tone" features in accordance with the 3G TS 31.111 standard.

[0173] In a certain embodiment of the smart card 601 at least one preference of the mobile subscriber is stored in the memory. The mobile subscriber has a possibility to amend a preference stored in the memory, remove the preference, or add a new preference. [0174] The updater 604 preferably sends at least one of the preferences of the subscriber from the terminal 607 to the communications network 608. In more detail, the updater 604 forms a request message which includes at least one preference and sends the message to the communications network. In response to the request message, the updater 604 receives from the communications network a reply message comprising the prices 609.

[0175] The before-mentioned reply message may be the message 507 shown in figure 5 at which time the reply message received by the updater 604 is the message 508 of figure 5 and the communications networks 504 and 608 are the same network. [0176] The term LOCI file used in the application refers not only to a so called LOCI basic file, which is stored in the smart card, but also to LOCIgpsr and LOCIps files

[0177] a SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) and a USIM (User Services Iden- tity Module) are some smart cards which can be utilized in the invention. The SIM card used in a GPRS network includes, in addition to the LOCI basic file, the LOCIgprs file for packet data.

[0178] Correspondingly, the USIM card used in a 3G/GPRS network includes, in addition to the LOCI basic file, the LOCIps file for packet data. [0179] In addition to the before-mentioned descriptions and examples the method, the system, and the smart card according to the invention can be implemented by various way which are, however, obvious to a person skilled in the art due to his/her professional skills and the advises provided in this application. [0180] Regarding to the term "price information unit" shown in figure 5 it is emphasized that the term refers to all such components of the system which performs the same actions as the price information unit 501.

[0181] Regarding to the terms "updater", "handler", and "announcer" shown in figure 6 it is remarked that the terms refer to all such components of the smart card which perform by itself or together with others the same actions as the updater 604, handler 605, and announcer 606.

Claims

1. A method for announcing price information to a mobile subscriber locating outside of his/her home network, the price information including at least one price for making a call, receiving a call, sending a short mes- sage, or for other communication, c h a ra cte r i z e d in that in a smart card of a terminal used by the mobile subscriber detecting during a location update of the terminal that a network code, which the terminal uses in a communications network, is replaced in a location identification file stored in a memory with a new network code, forming a request message including the new network code and identification data of the terminal, sending the request message from the terminal via the com- munications network to a message centre, at the message centre receiving the request message, transmitting the new network code included in the request message to a price information unit, at the price information unit retrieving by the new network code prices from a database, delivering the prices to the message centre, at the message centre retrieving a location data of the terminal in a register forming a reply message including the prices, sending in accordance with the location data of the terminal the reply message via the communications network to the terminal, at the terminal receiving the reply message, and presenting in accordance with user preferences the price information through the terminal.

2. The method according to claim ^ c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the request message is included in at least one of the preferences of the mobile subscriber.

3. The method according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the preferences of the mobile subscriber include at least one of the following definitions:

- an on/off definition disclosing whether the price information is announced,

- a content definition disclosing which pieces of the price information is presented,

- a presentation manner definition disclosing in which way the price information is presented.

4. The method according to claim ^ c h a r a ct e r i z e d in that the message centre is one of the following centres: an SMSC (Short Message Service Centre), an MMSC (Multimedia Messaging Service Centre), a USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data) centre.

5. The method according to claim ^ c h a r a ct e r i z e d in that the register from which the location data of the terminal is retrieved is one of the following ones: a Home Location Register of a home network, an IP (Internet Peripheral) address register.

6. The method according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the location identification file is one of the following files: - a LOCI file (location identification file),

- a file including a network code of a serving network element,

- a file including the network code of the terminal.

7. A system for announcing price informationto a mobile subscriber locating outside of his/her home network, the price information includ- ing at least one price for making a call, receiving a call, sending a short message, or for other communication, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the system comprises a price information unit and at least one smart card, and in that in the system a smart card of a terminal used by the mobile subscriber detects during a location update of the terminal that a network code, which the terminal uses in a communications network, is replaced in a location identification file stored in a memory with a new network code, receives a reply message which is sent by the price information unit and which is intended for updating the price information, and presents in accordance with user preferences the price information through the terminal, and the price information unit retrieves in accordance with an update principle of the price information new prices from a database, and sends the reply message with the new prices to the terminal.

8. The system according to claim 7, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the location identification file is one of the following files:

- a LOCI file (location identification file), - a file including a network code of a serving network element,

- a file including the network code of the terminal.

9. The system according to claim 8, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the location identification file being the LOCI file the network code comprises at least one of the following codes: an MCC (Mobile Country Code) or an MNC (Mobile Network Code).

10. The system according to claim 8, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the network code is an IP address when the location identification file includes the network code of the serving network element.

11. The system according to claim 8, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the network code is an IP address or a code disclosing a geographical location of the terminal when the location identification file includes the network code of the terminal.

12. The system according to claim 7, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that in response to the replacement of the network code with the new network code the smart card forms a request message including the new network code and identification data of the terminal, sends the request message from the terminal via the com- munications network to a message centre, and receives a reply message which is sent by the price information unit and which includes the new prices.

13. The system according to claim 12, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that in response to request message sent by the terminal the price information unit retrieves by the new network code read in the reply message the new prices and sends in the reply message the new prices to the terminal.

14. The system according to claim 7, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the preferences of the mobile subscriber include at least one of the following definitions:

- an on/off definition disclosing whether the price information is announced, - a content definition disclosing which pieces of the price information is presented,

15. The system according to claim 7, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the smart card and the price information unit use BIP (Bearer Independent

Protocol) when communicating each other over the communications network.

16. A smart card for announcing price information to a mobile subscriber locating outside of his/her home network, the smart card comprising a processor and a memory unit, and the price information including at least one price for making a call, receiving a call, sending a short message, or for other communication, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the smart card further comprising an updater, a handler, and an announcer of which the updater receives through a radio part of a terminal prices sent from a communications network when the smart card is placed in the terminal, the handler reads a network code in a location update file, compares the read network code to a network code which is stored in a memory and which the terminal uses in the communications network, and when compared network codes differ from each other, replaces the network code currently used by the terminal with the network code read in the location file, and the announcer presents in accordance with preferences of the mobile subscriber on a display of the terminal the price information related to the network code when the compared network codes differ from each other.

17. The smart card according to claim 16, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the preferences of the mobile subscriber include at least one of the following definitions: - an on/off definition disclosing whether the price information is announced,

18. The smart card according to claim 16, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the location identification file is one of the following files:

- a LOCI file (location identification file),

- a file including a network code of a serving network element, - a file including the network code of the terminal.