WO2017105358A1

WO2017105358A1 - A system for transmission of notifications about value added services

Info

Publication number: WO2017105358A1
Application number: PCT/TR2016/000050
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sinan Senguder
Original assignee: Turkcell Teknoloji Arastirma Ve Gelistirme Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2015-12-15
Filing date: 2016-04-15
Publication date: 2017-06-22
Also published as: TR201516062A2

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system (1) which arranges transmission of notifications about value added services provided within a communication network and related to calls initiated within network, to subscribers. The inventive system (1) comprises: subscriber communication device (2), home location register (3), exchange (4), network platform (5), database server (6), application server (7) and notification server (8). The value added services named are: Missed Call Notification MCN, "Mobile On" or Missed Call Notification Reachability Alert MCN-RA as well as "who is calling" when the called subscriber is busy.

Description

DESCRIPTION

A SYSTEM FOR TRANSMISSION OF NOTIFICATIONS ABOUT VALUE

ADDED SERVICES

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a system which arranges transmission of notifications about value added services provided within a communication network and related to calls initiated within network, to subscribers.

Background of the Invention

Today, use of mobile device and communication networks shows continuous increase. Subscribers of mobile network operators make calls over these networks and these calls cannot be sometimes answered by the called subscriber due to various reasons and forms (cannot be reached, being busy) and calls cannot be completed. In such circumstances, mobile operators provide value added services to only subscriber sometimes or to both subscriber and calling subscriber sometimes about these circumstances of calls. These services consist of services such as "Who Called" (notifying subscribers about the persons who called them in cases when their devices are switched off, Missed Call Notification (MCN)), "Mobile On" (when a called and unreachable subscriber become reachable again, this status is notified to the calling subscriber; Missed Call Notification Reachability Alert, MCN-RA), "Who is Calling" (transmitting information about the calling subscriber to the busy subscriber when the subscriber is busy) in the state of the art.

In the event that such a call event occurs as described in the state of the art, the status is notified to the subscriber - who is in the notification receiver position - about these value added services provided and mentioned concerning this call event via a short message (SMS - Short Message Service). A notification in this way has problems and deficiencies such as the following: the notification SMS sometimes become lost among the other SMS's, they don't attract the subscriber's attention, deficiencies occur in the notification due to the fact that the SMS is limited in terms of structure and length, the subscriber cannot take any action over the notification SMS and the notification does not prompt the subscriber to carry out a transaction about the call.

Although there are some systems and methods which offer partial solution to these problems and deficiencies in the state of the art, these systems and methods are not usually provided as solutions including notifications which are only customized for VoIP networks and related to only one type of value added service.

These problems included in the state of the art on the subject of providing the notifications about the value added services - which are provided about the calls - to the subscribers and the subscribers viewing and evaluating these notifications reveal the fact that there is a need for a solution enabling to transmit notifications to an application included in the communication device of the subscriber and thereby to perform a notification transmission in a more comprehensive and interactive way. The United States patent document no. US2015031341, an application in the state of the art, discloses a method which ensures to send notification to the called party as a push notification message and enables the called party to interact with this push notification message, in the event of a missed call realized between a calling party and a called party, so as to be applied only in VoIP networks.

Summary of the Invention

An objective of the present invention is to realize a system which arranges transmission of notifications about value added services provided within a communication network and related to calls initiated within network, to subscribers by means of an application included in subscribers' communication devices. Detailed Description of the Invention

"A system for transmission of notifications about value added services" realized to fulfil the objectives of the present invention is shown in the figure attached, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic block diagram of the inventive system.

The components illustrated in the figure are individually numbered, where the numbers refer to the following:

1. System

2. Subscriber communication device

3. Home location register

4. Exchange

5. Network platform

6. Database server

7. Application server

8. Notification server

A. Subscriber

A system (1) for transmitting notifications about value added services comprises:

at least one subscriber communication device (2) which is used by the subscriber (A) and whereby s/he gets the notifications about the value added services;

at least one home location register (3) wherein all subscription information such as identification, network-based location, service usage parameters of all subscribers of the communication network also including the subscriber (A) are recorded;

at least one exchange (4) which directs and forwards the calls made within the communication network; at least one network platform (5) which makes it possible to provide additional services and functions within the communication network by operating on the communication network;

at least one database server (6) which transmits the information of whether the subscriber (A) has a subscription for value added services related to the call event or not to the network platform (5) after the query of the network platform;

at least one application server (7) which triggers the transactions of sending notification to the subscriber (A) over the subscriber communication device (2) in cases where it is required to send a notification of value added service to the subscriber (A) concerning any call event;

at least one notification server (8) which can send notification message to the subscriber communication device (2) about the value added service after the triggering of the application server (7) (Figure 1).

The subscriber communication device (2) is a device which enables the subscriber (A) to receive calls and messages over a communication network, can run applications on thereof and communicate with remote servers over a data service. The communication device (2) is a smart phone in a preferred embodiment of the invention. The communication device (2) is a smart phone in a preferred embodiment of the invention.

The subscriber communication device (2) included in the inventive system (1) is a device which comprises and runs an application that enables to receive, display any type of message to be sent by the notification server (8) related to a value added service about any call event to the subscriber (A); the subscriber (A) to interact with this message. The home location register (3) is a unit wherein all subscription information such as identification, network-based location, service usage parameters of all subscribers of the communication network also including the subscriber (A) are recorded. The home location register (3), in a preferred embodiment of the invention, is a HLR (Home Location Register) element which is included within the mobile communication networks. The home location register (3) included in the inventive system (1) is a unit wherein the parameter related to the DCF (Default Call Forwarding) feature for all subscribers being recorded within thereof is adjusted such that this feature is active.

The exchange (4) is a unit which directs and forwards the calls made within the communication network. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the exchange (4) is a MSC (Mobil Switching Center) element which is included within the mobile communication networks.

The exchange (4) included in the inventive system (1) is a unit which performs a triggering to the network platform (5) by number-based triggering in cases where the subscriber (A) is busy, cannot be reached for a call such that the call is accepted as missed call due to the fact that the DCF feature is active for all subscribers also including the subscriber (A) in the home location register (3). The network platform (5) is a platform which makes it possible to provide additional services and functions within the communication network by operating on the communication network. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the network platform (5) is a CAMEL IN (Customized Applications for Mobile Network Enhanced Logic, Intelligent Network) platform.

The network platform (5) included in the inventive system (1) is a unit which initiates a query to the database server (6) in order to determine whether the subscriber (A) has a value added service subscription (such as MCN, MCN-RA, Who is Calling subscriptions) about the call event or not by processing the content of the message transmitted from the exchange (4) by number-based triggering. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the message which is sent by the exchange (4) and content of which is processed by the network platform (5) is CAMEL IDP (Initial Detection Point) and the network platform (5) informs the application server (7) in the event that the subscriber (A) has the said value added service subscription.

The database server (6) is a server which transmits the information of whether the subscriber (A) has a value added service subscription related to the call event or not to the network platform (5) after the query of the network platform.

The application server (7) is a unit which triggers and manages the notification server (8) for the transactions of sending notification to the subscriber (A) over the subscriber communication device (2) in cases where it is required to send a value added service notification to the subscriber (A) concerning any call event.

The application server (7) included in the inventive system (1) is a unit which connects to the notification server (9) as a client and triggers the notification server (8) by the message content for the notification message to be sent to the smart communication device (2) of the subscriber (A). For example, for the "Who Called" (MCN) service, the application server (7) triggers the notification server (8) by information such as message text, calling number information, call time for the notification message to be sent to subscriber (A) whose communication device (2) is now reachable. For the "Mobile On" (MCN-RA) service, the application server (7) triggers the notification server (8) by information such as message text, called number information, call time for the notification message to be sent to subscriber (A) who is now reachable. For the "Who is Calling" service, the application server (7) triggers the notification server (8) by information such as message text, calling number information for the notification message to be sent to the subscriber (A) who is in busy status and is receiving a call other than the current call while s/he is busy.

The notification server (9) is a server which can send notification message to the subscriber communication device (2) about the value added service after the triggering of the application server (7). In different embodiments of the invention, the notification server (8) can be a XMPP (Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol) server and a server having features of both XMPP server and a push notification server. In one embodiment of the invention, the notification server (8) can also be a module which will be able to transmit message to the application running on the subscriber communication device (2) over socket. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the notification server (8) is a unit which tries to firstly send XMPP message to the subscriber communication device (2) however in the event that the application that will enable the subscriber communication device (2) to receive and display the XMPP message is not active within the subscriber communication device (2), enables the subscriber (A) to open the application to receive the XMPP message upon detecting this, sending primarily a push notification message to the subscriber communication device (2) and the subscriber (A) touches this push notification message. When the subscriber (A) touches the push notification message and opens the said application, the notification server (8) sends the XMPP message comprising the actual information about the value added service to the application which is now in active status on the subscriber communication device (2).

As will be understood the person skilled in the state of the art, the notification server (8) is a unit which is configured such that it will enable to send notification message to the subscriber communication device (2) about the value added service in any manner. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the notification server (8) sends the push notification or the XMPP message - which are prepared for performing notification about the value added service to the subscriber (A) - to the application running on the subscriber communication device (2) and this application enables display of these messages to the subscriber (A) on the subscriber communication device (2) and interaction of the subscriber (A).

In one embodiment of the invention, the notification server (8) is a unit which sends an interactive message to the application running on the subscriber communication device (2) on a type such that the subscriber (A) can take action or actions related to the call event by interacting with thereof. For example, for a notification message related to the "Who Called" service, the notification server (8) can call back the number which has called it when it was unreachable by means of the button having the characteristics of an interface and the subscriber communication device (2) initiates call accordingly. With the inventive system (1 ), transaction of transmitting notifications about the value added services related to the calls provided within a communication network and initiated within the network to subscribers by means of an application included in the communication devices of subscribers is carried out. When carrying out the said transaction, due to the fact that the subscriber (A) cannot answer (busy, cannot be reached, no answer) an incoming call because of any reason and a call cannot be established and a record kept in the home location register (3), first of all the transaction of transferring the call from the exchange (4) to the network platform (5) is carried out. After the call is transferred to the network platform (5), the network platform (5) determines the information about the subscriber (A) by processing the messages about the call and determines whether the subscriber (A) has a value added service subscription or not after the query sent to the database server (6). If the subscriber (A) has a value added service subscription, the network platform (5) informs the application server (7) about the call event occurred and this subscription and the application server (7) triggers the notification server (8) for sending notification message to the subscriber communication device (2) of the subscriber (A) by preparing the information necessary for the message about the call event occurred and the related value added service. The notification server (8) enables the subscriber (A) to be informed about the call event occurred by sending message to the application running on the subscriber communication device (2) of the subscriber (A). In addition, on the message sent to the subscriber communication device (2) by the notification server (8) of the subscriber (A), there may be various interface elements such as button, etc. enabling the subscriber (A) to take action related to the call event occurring by interacting. With the transactions carried out by the inventive system (1), it is ensured that the subscriber (A) can be informed instantly over an application running on the subscriber communication device (2) by a message prepared within the value added service in call events such as the subscriber (A) cannot be reached or the subscriber (A) is busy. Within these basic concepts, it is possible to develop a great variety of embodiments of the inventive "a system for transmission of notifications about value added services (1)"; it cannot be limited to the examples disclosed herein and it is essentially according to the claims.

Claims

A system (1 ) for transmitting notifications about value added services comprising:

at least one exchange (4) which directs and forwards the calls made within the communication network;

at least one network platform (5) which makes it possible to provide additional services and functions within the communication network by operating on the communication network;

at least one database server (6) which transmits the information of whether the subscriber (A) has a subscription for value added services related to the call event or not to the network platform (5) after the^' query of the network platform;

at least one application server (7);

at least one notification server (8);

and characterized by:

at least one notification server (8) which can send notification message to the subscriber communication device (2) about the value added service after the triggering of the application server (7).

A system (1) according to Claim 1. characterized by the subscriber communication device (2) which is a smart phone that enables the subscriber (A) to receive calls and messages over a communication network, can run applications on thereof, communicate with remote servers over a data service.

A system (1) according to Claim 2, characterized by the subscriber communication device (2) which comprises and runs an application that enables to receive, display any type of message to be sent by the notification server (8) related to a value added service about any call event to the subscriber (A); the subscriber (A) to interact with this message.

A system ( 1 ) according to Claim 1 , characterized by the home location register (3) wherein the parameter related to the DCF (Default Call Forwarding) feature for all subscribers being recorded within thereof is adjusted such that this feature is active.

A system (1) according to Claim 1, characterized by the exchange (4) which performs a triggering to the network platform (5) by number-based triggering in cases where the subscriber (A) is busy, cannot be reached for a call such that the call is accepted as missed call due to the fact that the DCF feature is active for all subscribers also including the subscriber (A) in the home location register (3).

A system (1) according to Claim 1, characterized by the network platform (5) which is a CAMEL IN (Customized Applications for Mobile Network Enhanced Logic. Intelligent Network) platform

A system (1) according to Claim 1, characterized by the network platform (5) which initiates a query to the database server (6) in order to determine whether the subscriber (A) has a value added service subscription (such as MCN, MCN- RA, Who is Calling subscriptions) about the call event or not by processing the content of the message transmitted from the exchange (4) by number-based triggering.

8. A system (1) according to Claim 1, characterized by the network platform (5) which is configured such that it will inform the application server (7) about the call event occurred and the said subscription if the subscriber (A) has value added service subscription.

9. A system ( 1 ) according to Claim 1 , characterized by the application server (7) which connects to the notification server (9) as a client and triggers the notification server (8) by the message content for the notification message to be sent to the smart communication device (2) of the subscriber (A).

10. A system ( 1) according to Claim 1, characterized by the notification server (8) which is a XMPP (Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol) server or a server having features of both XMPP server and a push notification server.

11. A system (1) according to Claim 1, characterized by the notification server (8) which is a module that will be able to transmit message to the application running on the subscriber communication device (2) over socket.

12. A system (1) according to Claim 10, characterized by the notification server (8) which tries to firstly send XMPP message to the subscriber communication device (2) however in the event that the application that will enable the subscriber communication device (2) to receive and display the XMPP message is not active within the subscriber communication device (2), enables the subscriber (A) to open the application to receive the XMPP message upon detecting this, sending primarily a push notification message to the subscriber communication device (2) and the subscriber (A) touches this push notification message.

13. A system ( 1) according to Claim 10, characterized by the notification server (8) which sends an interactive message to the application running on the subscriber communication device (2) on a type such that the subscriber (A) can take action or actions related to the call event by interacting with thereof.