Title: Method for managing mobile station facilities
Abstract: A method for managing facilities of a first mobile station in a mobile communication system, in which multiple alternative subscriber profiles can be defined for mobile stations, including establishing a connection to a predetermined service control function, inputting information required for identification of the first and a second mobile station to the service control function, retrieving first mobile station's subscriber data from the first mobile station's subscriber register, forming a new subscriber profile for the second mobile station based on the subscriber data retrieved from the first mobile station's subscriber register such that calls can be made with the second mobile station using the first mobile station's subscriber data, and storing reference to the second mobile station for the first mobile station in the subscriber register such that calls terminating at the first mobile station are forwarded to the second mobile station.
Patent Number: 6,975,855 Issued on 12/13/2005 to Wallenius
| Inventors:
|
Wallenius; Jukka (Helsinki, FI)
|
| Assignee:
|
Nokia Networks Oy (Espoo, FI)
|
| Appl. No.:
|
958065 |
| Filed:
|
April 26, 2000 |
| PCT Filed:
|
April 26, 2000
|
| PCT NO:
|
PCT/FI00/00359
|
| 371 Date:
|
January 15, 2002
|
| 102(e) Date:
|
January 15, 2002
|
| PCT PUB.NO.:
|
WO00/67515 |
| PCT PUB. Date:
|
November 9, 2000 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
| Current U.S. Class: |
455/417; 455/432.3 |
| Intern'l Class: |
H04M 003/42 |
| Field of Search: |
455/433,432.3,435.1,417,920
|
References Cited [Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
| 5206899 | Apr., 1993 | Gupta et al.
| |
| 6603969 | Aug., 2003 | Vuoristo et al.
| |
| Foreign Patent Documents |
| WO 97/2582/8 | Jul., 1997 | WO.
| |
| WO 99/0710/6 | Feb., 1999 | WO.
| |
Other References
Eleftheriadis et al., User Profile Identification in Future Mobile Telecommunications
Systems, IEEE Network, Sep./Oct. 1994, pp. 33-39.
|
Primary Examiner: Smith; Creighton
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP
Claims
1. A method for managing facilities of a first mobile station in a mobile communication
system, in which multiple alternative subscriber profiles can be defined for mobile
stations, comprising:
establishing a connection to a predetermined service control function,
inputting information required for identification of the first and a second mobile
station to the service control function,
retrieving subscriber data of the first mobile station from a subscriber register
of the first mobile station,
forming a new subscriber profile for the second mobile station on the basis of
the subscriber data retrieved from the subscriber register of the first mobile
station such that calls can be made with the second mobile station by using the
subscriber data of the first mobile station, and
storing a reference to the second mobile station for the first mobile station
in said subscriber register such that calls terminating at the first mobile station
will be forwarded to the second mobile station.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1, comprising establishing said connection to
the service control function from the second mobile station, and:
transmitting at least an identification code associated with the first mobile
station from the second mobile station to the service control function,
checking on the basis of the subscriber data of the first mobile station whether
the transmitted identification code is right, and
forming a new subscriber profile for the second mobile station, and storing a
reference to the second mobile station in said subscriber register only if said
checking indicates that the transmitted identification code is right.
3. A method as claimed in claim 1, comprising:
retrieving information on the mobile station services from the subscriber register
of the first mobile station, and
storing the information on said services in a subscriber register of the second
mobile station, whereby a subscriber profile according to the subscriber identity
of the first mobile station is formed for the second mobile station, the subscriber
profile having the first mobile station services available.
4. A method as claimed in claim 1, comprising storing an indicator in the subscriber
register of the first mobile station, indicating that the interface has been transferred
into the subscriber profile of the second mobile station, whereby said subscriber
register reports in response to a subscriber data inquiry of the first mobile station
that the first subscriber is not known in the subscriber register.
5. A method for managing facilities of a first mobile station in a mobile communication
system, in which multiple alternative subscriber profiles can be defined for mobile
stations, comprising:
establishing a connection to a predetermined service control function,
sending information required for identification of the first and a second mobile
station to the service control function,
retrieving subscriber data of the first mobile station from a subscriber register
of the first mobile station,
forming a new subscriber profile for the second mobile station on the basis of
the subscriber data retrieved from the subscriber register of the first mobile
station, such that calls can be made with the second mobile station by using the
subscriber data of the first mobile station, and
storing a reference to the second mobile station for the first mobile station
in said subscriber register such that calls terminating at the first mobile station
will be forwarded to the second mobile station.
6. A method as claimed in claim 5, comprising establishing said connection to
the service control function from the second mobile station, and by the first and
the second mobile station being mobile stations of different mobile communication
networks, whereby a reference to the second mobile communication network is stored
for the first mobile station in a network element of the first mobile communication network.
7. A method as claimed in claim 5, comprising storing in an SRF element or PDN
network element said reference for the first mobile station to the second mobile station.
8. A mobile communication system which comprises:
at least a first and a second mobile station,
a subscriber register which maintains at least subscriber data of the first mobile station,
memory means which maintain information on subscriber profiles of the second
mobile station, and
a service control function comprising means for:
retrieving the subscriber data of the first mobile station from the subscriber
register of said first mobile station,
forming a new subscriber profile for the second mobile station on the basis of
the subscriber data retrieved from said subscriber register, such that calls can
be made with the second mobile station by using the subscriber data of the first
mobile station, and
storing a reference to the second mobile station for the first mobile station
in said subscriber register such that calls terminating at the first mobile station
will be forwarded to the second mobile station.
9. A mobile communication system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the service control
function comprises means for identifying the first mobile station on the basis
of information that is conveyed from the second mobile station, and that said information
is conveyed from the second mobile station to the service control function in connection
with a call made to a predetermined service number with the second mobile station,
whereby the service control function identifies the second mobile station on the
basis of the subscriber identity A relating to said call, and the first mobile
station on the basis of DTMF signals conveyed from the second mobile station during
the call.
10. A mobile communication system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the service
control function comprises means for identifying the first mobile station on the
basis of information conveyed from the second mobile station, and that said information
is conveyed from the second mobile station to the service control function by a
text message sent with the second mobile station to a predetermined service number,
whereby the service control function identifies the second mobile station on the
basis of the subscriber identity A relating to the text message and the first mobile
station on the basis of a telephone number included in the text message.
11. A mobile communication system as claimed in any one of 10, wherein said mobile
communication system is a GSM system.
12. A mobile communication system as claimed in claim 8, wherein
said mobile communication system comprises a variety of subscriber registers
and a register, in which a reference to the mobile station subscriber register
in question is stored in association with the MSISDN number of each mobile station,
and that
the service control function comprises means for controlling said register such
that the reference stored in association with the MSISDN number of the first mobile
station refers to the subscriber register of the second mobile station.
13. A mobile communication system as claimed in claim 8, wherein:
said mobile communication system comprises a variety of subscriber registers,
said mobile communication system comprises at least one routing mobile services
switching centre comprising means for transmitting a subscriber data inquiry to
one of said several subscriber registers on the basis of an analysis made of the
MSISDN number relating to the call to be routed, and that
the service control function comprises means for controlling said routing mobile
services switching centre such that the analysis of the MSISDN number of the first
mobile station made by the routing mobile services switching centre indicates that
the subscriber data inquiry must be transmitted to the subscriber register of said
second mobile station.
14. A mobile communication system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the system comprises
a WAP server in data transmission connection with the service control function,
the WAP server comprising means for receiving information that is conveyed from
the second mobile station in a format according to the WAP protocol, and for inputting
the received information to the service control function in order to establish
a new subscriber profile for the second mobile station.
15. A service control function which is in data transmission connection with
a mobile communication system comprising a mobile services switching centre, at
least a first and a second mobile station, a subscriber register which maintains
at least the subscriber data of the first mobile station, and memory means which
maintain information on subscriber profiles of the second mobile station, wherein
the service control function comprising means for:
retrieving the subscriber data of the first mobile station from the subscriber
register of said first mobile station,
storing in said memory means a new subscriber profile for the second mobile station
on the basis of the subscriber data retrieved from said subscriber register, and
storing a reference to the second mobile station for the first mobile station
in said subscriber register.
16. A service control function as claimed in claim 15, wherein:
said mobile communication system comprises a variety of subscriber registers
and a register, in which a reference to the mobile station subscriber register
in question is stored in association with the MSISDN number of each mobile station,
and that
the service control function comprises means for controlling said register such
that the reference stored in association with the MSISDN number of the first mobile
station refers to the subscriber register of the second mobile station.
Description
This is a National Stage Application of International Application No. PCT/FI00/00359
which was filed on Apr. 26, 2000 in the English language.
The present invention relates to facility management in a mobile communication
system, and particularly to the management of mobile station subscriber profiles.
A solution enabling the utilisation of several subscriber profiles by means of
one mobile station (MSP, Multiple Subscriber Profiles) is previously known from
the GSM mobile communication system (Global System for Mobile communications),
for example. By means of a single SIM card (Subscriber Identity Module), a separate
leisure time profile and a separate work-engaged profile, for example, can thus
be defined for a mobile station. A mobile station user can receive and make calls
with the profile selected, whereby the costs of the call made, for example, are
directed to the selected profile. Correspondingly, a mobile station can be provided
with several numbers, and by using these numbers, a call is forwarded to the mobile
station in question. Using the same mobile station, a mobile station user can thus
receive calls that are made to his/her work number and calls made to his/her leisure
time number. The available profiles are defined by the operator, after which a
mobile station user can manage the profiles opened by the operator with his mobile
station in such a manner that the desired profile is used.
Call forwarding, which is also known from the GSM system, makes it possible
to forward a mobile-terminated call to some other interface. A mobile station user
can define conditions by means of his mobile station, and when the conditions are
fulfilled, the call is forwarded. Such conditions may for example be that the mobile
station is not reached or that the mobile station is not answered when a call is
terminating. A mobile station user can further define by means of the mobile station
that all calls terminating at the mobile station are forwarded to some other interface.
Although the known mobile communication systems offer subscribers a chance
of using various subscriber profiles and call forwarding, the utilisation of these
facilities is, however, fairly difficult. In the known solutions, creation of a
new subscriber profile, for instance, requires that the operator is contacted.
Only after the operator has created the subscriber profile, a mobile station user
can select it for use by means of his mobile station.
The object of the present invention is to eliminate the above drawbacks and to
provide a solution enabling a more flexible use of mobile station facilities and
making the mobile communication system more user-friendly. This object is achieved
by a method of the invention for managing facilities of a first mobile station
in a mobile communication system, in which multiple alternative subscriber profiles
can be defined for mobile stations. The method of the invention is characterized
by comprising the steps of: establishing a connection to a predetermined service
control function, inputting information required for identification of the first
and a second mobile station to the service control function, retrieving subscriber
data of the first mobile station from a subscriber register of the first mobile
station, forming a new subscriber profile for the second mobile station on the
basis of the subscriber data retrieved from the subscriber register of the first
mobile station such that calls can be made with the second mobile station by using
the subscriber data of the first mobile station, and storing a reference to the
second mobile station for the first mobile station in said subscriber register
such that calls terminating at the first mobile station will be forwarded to the
second mobile station.
The object of the invention is also achieved by the second embodiment of the
method of the invention, which is a method for managing facilities of a first mobile
station in a mobile communication system, in which multiple alternative subscriber
profiles can be defined for mobile stations. This preferred embodiment of the method
of the invention is characterized by comprising the steps of: establishing a connection
to a predetermined service control function, sending information required for identification
of the first and a second mobile station to the service control function, retrieving
subscriber data of the first mobile station from a subscriber register of the first
mobile station, forming a new subscriber profile for the second mobile station
on the basis of the subscriber data retrieved from the subscriber register of the
first mobile station, such that calls can be made with the second mobile station
by using the subscriber data of the first mobile station, and storing a reference
to the second mobile station for the first mobile station in said subscriber register
such that calls terminating at the first mobile station will be forwarded to the
second mobile station.
The invention also relates to a mobile communication system, in which the method
of the invention can be employed. The mobile communication system of the invention
comprises: at least a first and a second mobile station, a subscriber register
which maintains at least subscriber data of the first mobile station, and memory
means which maintain information on subscriber profiles of the second mobile station.
The mobile communication system of the invention is characterized in that the system
comprises: a service control function comprising means for: retrieving the subscriber
data of the first mobile station from the subscriber register of said first mobile
station, forming a new subscriber profile for the second mobile station on the
basis of the subscriber data retrieved from said subscriber register, such that
calls can be made with the second mobile station by using the subscriber data of
the first mobile station, and storing a reference to the second mobile station
for the first mobile station in said subscriber register such that calls terminating
at the first mobile station will be forwarded to the second mobile station.
The invention further relates to a service control function which is in data
transmission connection with a mobile communication system comprising a mobile
services switching centre, at least a first and a second mobile station, a subscriber
register which maintains at least the subscriber data of the first mobile station,
and memory means which maintain information on subscriber profiles of the second
mobile station. The service control function of the invention is characterized
in that it comprises means for: retrieving the subscriber data of the first mobile
station from the subscriber register of said first mobile station, storing in said
memory means a new subscriber profile for the second mobile station on the basis
of the subscriber data retrieved from said subscriber register, and storing a reference
to the second mobile station for the first mobile station in said subscriber register.
The invention is based on the idea that the mobile communication system becomes
more and more user-friendly when a system user can manage the facilities of the
first mobile station in such a manner that the subscriber identity of the first
mobile station can be transferred into the subscriber profile of the second mobile
station. Thus, if for example a mobile station owner has forgotten his mobile station
at home, he can change the facilities of his own mobile station via the mobile
station of his wife in such a manner that information relating to his own mobile
station, e.g. identifying information and service information, is transferred into
the subscriber profile of his wife's mobile station. Identifying information can
for example be MSISDN or IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber Identity). In this
case, calls that are made to his mobile station are forwarded to his wife's mobile
station. Correspondingly, costs of calls he makes with his wife's mobile station
are directed to his own mobile station telephone bill, when he, in connection with
calls to be made with his wife's mobile station, selects a subscriber profile for
use, into which profile the subscriber identity of his own mobile station is transferred.
According to the invention, it is possible to create a new subscriber profile
using the mobile station and calling a special service number, for instance. Hence,
creation and implementation of a subscriber profile become considerably easier
and more flexible as in the known systems in which creation of a new subscriber
profile requires that the system operator is contacted. A call by which a new subscriber
profile is created can be made either from the first mobile station or the second
mobile station when the subscriber identity of the first mobile station is transferred
into the subscriber profile of the second mobile station. The service control function
can thus receive the information required for the identification of the mobile
station used for the call from the mobile communication network, to which it is
conveyed in a manner known per se when a call is made. Other information that is
needed can for example be keyed using the keyboard of the mobile station used for
making the call. According to the invention, a new subscriber profile can also
be created in some other way, for example by means of a computer terminal and the
Internet, whereby a connection is established by the computer terminal and the
Internet to the service control function in order to input the required information
to it.
The most remarkable advantages of the invention are that creation of a subscriber
profile that covers the subscriber identity of some other mobile station is very
simple and user-friendly, since a system user can create the new subscriber profile
by himself, that calls can be made very easily with somebody else's mobile station
by using one's own mobile station subscriber data, for example in such a manner
that the calls made can be included in one's own mobile station bill, and that
a user can change the facilities of his own mobile station more flexibly.
In a preferred embodiment of the mobile communication system of the invention
the system comprises a WAP server in data transmission connection with the service
control function, which WAP server comprises means for receiving information conveyed
in the format according to the WAP protocol from the second mobile station and
for inputting the received information to the service control function in order
to form a new subscriber profile for the second mobile station. This embodiment
of the invention enables the implementation of a user interface that is highly
user-friendly. A mobile station user can thus be inquired about the information
required by the service control function by means of input forms enabled by the
WAP protocol, after which the WAP server conveys the necessary information further
to the service control function. This embodiment of the invention thus enables
the implementation of a graphic user interface, when the subscriber identity of
the first mobile station is needed to be transferred into the subscriber profile
of the second mobile station.
The preferred embodiments of the method, mobile communication system and service
control function of the invention are disclosed in the appended dependent claims
2 to
4,
6 to
7,
9 to
14 and
16.
In the following the invention will be described in greater detail by way of
example
with reference to the attached drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 shows a flow chart of the first preferred embodiment of the method of
the invention,
FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of the mobile communication system
of the invention,
FIG. 3 illustrates signalling in connection with creation of a new subscriber profile,
FIGS. 4
a and 4
b illustrate signalling in connection with
a call set-up,
FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of the system of the invention,
FIGS. 6 and 7 show a block diagram and a signalling diagram of an embodiment
of the system of the invention,
FIG. 8 illustrates signalling in connection with creation of a new subscriber
profile in the embodiment according to FIGS. 6 and 7,
FIG. 9 illustrates signalling in connection with creation of a new subscriber
profile in the WAP environment, when the first and the second mobile station are
subscribers in different networks,
FIG. 10 illustrates signalling in connection with creation of a new subscriber
profile in the WAP environment, when the first and the second mobile station are
subscribers in the same network, and
FIG. 11 illustrates signalling in connection with creation of a new subscriber
profile in the WAP environment, when the subscriber data of the first and the second
mobile station are in the same subscriber register.
FIG. 1 shows a flow chart of the first preferred embodiment of the method of
the invention. The flow chart of FIG. 1 can be applied in a similar mobile communication
system as the GSM system (Global System for Mobile communications), for example,
in which subscribers have the chance of forming several subscriber profiles MSP
(Multiple Subscriber Profile) on a SIM card (Subscriber Identity Module).
In block
1, a connection is established from the second mobile station
MS
2 to the service control function CSE (Camel Service Environment) of the
system, and in block B the information required for the identification of the first
mobile station MS
1 is input to the service control function. This may be
carried out for example in such a manner that a call is made from the second mobile
station MS
2 to a predetermined service number, after which the required
information is input by means of DTMF signals (Dual Tone Multi-Frequency) to the
service control function via the keyboard of the second mobile station MS
2.
Alternatively the information can be input to the service control function such
that the information to be input is transmitted from the second mobile station
in the form of a text message to the service control function, or such that the
information is input by means of an input form implemented by the WAP (Wireless
Application Protocol) system or the MExE (Mobile Station Execution Environment)
system. The code implementing the input form can be loaded into the mobile station
in advance or it can be loaded into the mobile station in connection with the information inquiry.
The service control function includes all service logic and service control.
A service control function can be only a logical function and it can be implemented
internally in a variety of ways. A service control function can be internally decentralized
and the service logic relating to it can be decentralized into various nodes. Service
data can also be decentralized into different nodes than service logic.
When using an input form that is implemented by the WAP or MExE system or some
other mobile-based execution environment to input information, the service control
function can also be understood as an arbitrary network-based server application
that can be addressed by a URL or an Internet address. It is also possible that
this server application is further in connection with a CAMEL type, or IN type
in general, service control function, which performs part of the steps of the method
that relates to the implementation of the service. Characteristics of the IN are
triggering, state models and a protocol which gives controls. A control or an operation
may also be a call or some other method that relates to entities.
At least the information required for the identification of the first mobile
station
MS
1, e.g. the telephone number of the mobile station MS
1 (MSISDN,
Mobile Station International ISDN Number), must be conveyed to the service control
function CSE. The information required for the identification of the second mobile
station MS
2, e.g. the subscriber identity A (MSISDN), is conveyed to the
service control function in a call made to the service control function or in a
text message sent to the service control function.
In block C, the subscriber data of the first subscriber station MS
1 is
retrieved from the subscriber register HLR of said mobile station.
In block D, a check of rights is performed. This is done preferably so that the
misuse of the system could be prevented. The check of rights can be performed for
example in such a manner that it is checked on the basis of the information retrieved
(along with other subscriber data) from the subscriber register HLR of the mobile
station MS
1, whether an identification code transmitted from the second
mobile station MS
2 to the service control function is right. If this identification
code is right, the creation of a new subscriber profile is allowed, and block F
is entered.
The identification code can be transmitted from the second mobile station by
a variety of alternative ways, such as:
- entering a password via the keyboard,
- a mobile station may comprise a reader, to which an identification card
is set, after which the second mobile station reads the identification code from
the card and forwards it. The connection may alternatively be a bluetooth or infrared
connection, by which the identification card can be in connection with the mobile
station, or
- a challenge-response solution can be used, in which a code is transmitted
from the network to the second mobile station, after which the mobile station calculates
the right response for the code it has received by means of the received code and
the identification card, for example, and transmits the response to the network
as an identification code.
In block F, a new subscriber profile is created for the second mobile station
MS
2 on the basis of the information retrieved from the subscriber register
of the mobile station MS
1. Then, the information retrieved from the subscriber
register is copied into the memory, in which information on the subscriber profiles
of the second mobile station MS
2 is maintained in a manner known per se.
The memory can be located in connection with the subscriber register of the second
mobile station MS
2, for example. Thus, the subscriber identity (IMSI) of
the first mobile station MS
1 can be stored as the subscriber profile of
the second mobile station MS
2 in such a manner that by means of the first
mobile station, e.g. calls can be made, and the billing of these calls is concentrated
on the second mobile station MS
2.
When the subscriber identity of the first mobile station is stored as the subscriber
profile of the second mobile station MS
2, information on the services of
the first mobile station MS
1 is stored at the same time for example in the
subscriber register of the second mobile station. Thus, the same services are provided
in the new subscriber profile of the mobile station MS
2 as is normally available
for the mobile station MS
1. If the mobile station MS
1 has had several
subscriber profiles available, a mobile station MS
2 user can select a subscriber
profile among these several profiles of the mobile station MS
1 to form a
new subscriber profile for the second mobile station MS
2. This can be done
for example in such a manner that in block F the service control function informs
the mobile station MS
2 user by means of a speech or text message that he
can choose between several subscriber profiles, after which the mobile station
MS
2 user keys e.g. via the keyboard a number code indicating which subscriber
profile he wants to select.
In block G, a reference to the second mobile station MS
2 is stored in
the
subscriber register HLR of the first mobile station MS
1. In addition, a
reference to the subscriber register of the second mobile station MS
2 can
also be stored for the subscriber station MS
1 in the SRF element (Signalling
Relay Function) of the system and the subscriber register HLR. The SRF element
is used in call routing in the system to find out in which subscriber register
the subscriber data of the mobile station having a specific MSISDN number is stored.
In the GMSC (Gateway Mobile Switching Centre) of the mobile communication system,
a reference can further be stored to refer to the subscriber register of the second
mobile station MS
2 for the mobile station MS
1, so that the GMSC could
route the call properly right from the beginning. Because of the above measures,
calls terminating at the first mobile station MS
1 are forwarded to the second
mobile station MS
2.
FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of the mobile communication system
of the invention. The mobile communication system of FIG. 2 can be the GSM system,
for instance, which comprises base transceiver stations BTS, a base station controller
BSC and a mobile services switching centre MSC to convey calls to subscriber stations
of the system. FIG. 2 also shows a service control function CSE enabling the offering
of intelligent network services, and an SRF element (Signalling Relay Function).
Intelligent network functions can be implemented for example in accordance with
CAMEL architecture (Customised Applications for Mobile network Enhanced Logic)
of ETSI. The service control function CSE may comprise all service logic and service
control. A service control function is only a logical function and it may be implemented
internally in a variety of ways. One alternative is that it is decentralized internally
and service logic related to it can be decentralized in various nodes. Service
information may also be decentralized in different nodes than service logic.
FIG. 2 shows the first mobile station MS
1, whose subscriber data are
maintained in the subscriber register HLR. Correspondingly, FIG. 2 shows the second
mobile station MS
2, whose subscriber data are stored in the subscriber register
HLR
2. The service control function CSE illustrated in FIG. 2 enables in
accordance with the invention that the facilities of the first mobile station MS
1
can be managed through the second mobile station MS
2. Via the service control
function CSE, the subscriber identity of the first mobile station MS
1 can
be transferred into the subscriber profile of the second mobile station MS
2.
To achieve this, a call is made in the example of FIG. 2 from the mobile station
MS
2 to a predetermined service number. The call in question activates a
facility in the service control function CSE, and by means of a speech message,
for example, the facility requests the user of the second mobile station to enter
the identifier, e.g. a telephone number, needed for the identification of the first
mobile station MS
1. Thereafter, the service control function CSE can request
the user of the mobile station MS
2 in the speech message to enter a password
of the mobile station MS
1. This way it can be ensured that the user of the
second mobile station MS
2 really has the right to transfer the subscriber
identity of the first mobile station MS
1 as the subscriber profile of his
own mobile station MS
2. The service control function CSE of the second mobile
station MS
2 identifies the second mobile station MS
2, for example,
on the basis of the subscriber identifier A that is conveyed from the mobile services
switching centre MSC of the second mobile station MS
2.
When the service control function CSE has received the information input by
the second mobile station MS
2, the subscriber register HLR in which the
subscriber data of the mobile station MS
1 is stored is identified on the
basis of the first mobile station MS
1 number. Thereafter, the service control
point retrieves the subscriber data of the mobile station MS
1 from the subscriber
register HLR in question and checks on the basis of these data, whether the password
entered by the second mobile station MS
2 is right.
When subscriber data have been read, the service control function CSE stores
in the SRF element of the system a reference for the first mobile station MS
1
to the subscriber register HLR
2 of the second mobile station MS
2.
In addition, the service control function stores a reference to the second mobile
station MS
2 in the subscriber register HLR of the first mobile station MS
1.
In the case of FIG. 2, the service control function CSE may further store in the
mobile services switching centre GMSC (Gateway Mobile Switching Centre) a reference
for the first mobile station MS
1 to the subscriber register of the second
mobile station. Hence, calls terminating at the mobile station MS
1 are forwarded
to the second mobile station MS
2.
On the basis of the subscriber data read from the subscriber register HLR, the
service control point CSE creates a new subscriber profile for the mobile station
MS
2. The service control function stores the information on this subscriber
profile in the memory reserved for this purpose, which memory is by way of example
assumed in the following to be located in the subscriber register HLR
2 of
the second mobile station MS
2. The information relating to the subscriber
profile includes e.g. triggering information indicating in which situations the
new created subscriber profile should be used.
When a new profile is created, calls can be made from the second mobile station
MS
2, and the calls are billed from the first mobile station MS
1.
The profile is preferably identified by means of a prefix, which is before the
telephone number (number B) to be dialled, e.g. *1#123456. In this case, costs
of the call to be made from the second mobile station to the number 123456 are
included in the telephone bill of the first mobile station MS
1, and the
subscriber identifier A that is composed of the telephone number (MSISDN) of the
first mobile station is conveyed to the call recipient. An alternative subscriber
profile can also be registered as a default profile in advance such that the profile
to be used does not need to be identified separately when making a call. The registration
of the profile as a default profile can be performed for example by means of a
USSD message with a specific content.
FIG. 3 illustrates signalling in connection with creation of a new subscriber
profile in the system of FIG. 2. In FIG. 3 it is assumed that subscriber data of
the first and the second mobile station are maintained in different subscriber
registers. In step
1, the mobile station MS
2 makes a call, for instance,
to a specific service number to create a new subscriber profile. The subscriber
register HLR
2 of the second mobile station MS
2 detects on the basis
of the used number that the call in question requires that intelligent network
services are offered for the mobile station MS
2. The mobile services switching
centre MSC obtains this information from the subscriber register, and it triggers
the creation of a new profile by sending a triggering message to the service control
function CSE. The MSISDN number, i.e. telephone number, of the first mobile station
MS
1 and a password is input to the service control function CSE.
In step
2 of FIG. 3, subscriber data of the first mobile station are read
from the subscriber register HLR, after which the subscriber identity of the first
mobile station MS
1 is transferred into the subscriber profile of the second
mobile station MS
2. In step
3, a user interface is loaded to the
second mobile station MS
2, by which user interface a user can manage subscriber
profiles defined for the second mobile station MS
2.
FIGS. 4
a and
4b illustrate signalling in connection with
a call set-up.
FIG. 4
a shows how network elements signal between a mobile services switching
centre GMSC routing a call, a subscriber register HLR
2 of the second mobile
station, a service control function CSE and a visitor location register VLR, when
a call terminating at the mobile station MS
1 is forwarded to the mobile
station MS
2 due to the transfer of the subscriber identity of the mobile
station MS
1 into the subscriber profile of the second mobile station MS
2.
In the example of FIG. 4
a it is assumed that the first and the second mobile
station are in the same network.
FIG. 4
b shows how network elements signal between a mobile station MS
2,
a mobile services switching centre MSC and a service control function CSE, when
a call is made from the mobile station MS
2, which is provided with several
alternative subscriber profiles. Information on the subscriber profile used in
the call is thereby conveyed to the mobile services switching centre MSC in a SETUP message.
The transfer of the subscriber identity of the first mobile station MS
1
into the subscriber profile of the second mobile station MS
2 does not hinder
calls from the mobile station MS
1. In this kind of a situation, however,
the mobile station MS
1 preferably conveys a warning to its user (e.g. by
means of warning text on the display of the mobile station MS
1) when a call
is to be made. At the same time the mobile station MS
1 can, for instance
with the text appearing on the display, inquire the user whether he wants to switch
off calls terminating at the mobile station MS
1 from the mobile station
MS
2. A warning text and an inquiry of whether calls terminating at the mobile
station MS
1 are to be prevented from coming to the mobile station MS
2
may preferably appear on the display of the mobile station MS
1 until the
switching to the second mobile station MS
2 has been eliminated. This could
be done on the basis of the message sent from the service control function CSE
to the first mobile station MS
1. In this case, however, calls that are made
using the subscriber profile that is composed of the subscriber identity may have
a tariff, which is higher than normal tariffs of the network
2′ and
which also includes a compensation for the network
1′ operator.
FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of the system of the invention,
in which embodiment the first MS
1′ and the second MS
2′
mobile station are mobile stations of different mobile communication networks,
and the subscriber identity of the first mobile station MS
1′ is transferred
into the subscriber profile of the second mobile station MS
2′.
In the embodiment of FIG. 5, an indicator of the transfer of an interface into
a subscriber profile is recorded in the subscriber register of the first mobile
station MS
1′ when a subscriber identity is being transferred. This
makes the subscriber register reply to the subscriber data inquiry (SendRoutingInformation)
as if the subscriber were unknown in the subscriber register. Unlike deletion of
subscriber data, the indicator in question does not, however, hinder outgoing calls
and location updatings from the mobile station MS
1′.
FIG. 5 illustrates routing of a terminating call when the terminating call is
made by the MSISDN
1 number of the first mobile station MS
1′.
Then the routing centre GMSC
1′ of the network
1′ (the
network of the mobile station MS
1′) receives a reply to the subscriber
data inquiry sent to the subscriber register HLR
1′ that the subscriber
number MSISDN
1 is not known in the network
1′. The routing
centre GMSC
1′ inquires a PND′ network element (Portable Number
Database) of the network to which the first mobile station MSI′ is forwarded.
In this case, the PND′ network element returns the information of the network
to whose mobile station MS
2′ the subscriber identity of the mobile
station MS
1′ is transferred as subscriber profile. As a result of
the reply of the PND′ network element, the call routing proceeds to the
routing centre GMSC
2′ of the network
2′ (which is the
network of the second mobile station MS
2′).
The routing centre GMSC
2′ of the second network
2′
makes a subscriber data inquiry to the second subscriber register HLR
2′,
and as a reply, it receives the necessary information to route the call to the
mobile services switching centre MSC
2′ of the second network, from
where the call is forwarded to the second mobile station MS
2′ in
a manner known per se.
After the inquiry
4 the PND′ network element, which may be an
intelligent network service control point (IN-SCP), can in the case of FIG. 5 stay
and measure the duration of the call, for example by setting IN events for call
release and call reply, in order to be able to form a charging record for the call,
or it can notify the mobile services switching centre MSC
1′ that
it must exceptionally form the charging data from the call in question. The PND′
network element can also give a charging record including a fixed tariff to the
mobile services switching centre MSC
1′ or it can express a need for
the use of the fixed tariff in the call. This way the network
1′
operator can bill for a service, due to which the call is routed properly to the
second mobile station MS
2′.
When calls are made with the mobile station MS
2′ with a subscriber
profile formed of the subscriber identity of the first mobile station MS
1′,
charging records of the call are changed in post-processing of the network
2′
into roaming records. Thus, the calls are billed in the equivalent way as in the
case where the mobile station MS
1′ had been roaming in the network
2, as a subscriber of the network
1.
FIGS. 6 and 7 show a block diagram and a signalling diagram of an embodiment
of the mobile communication system of the invention, and FIG. 8 illustrates signalling
in the embodiment according to FIGS. 6 and 7, in which a new subscriber profile
is being created.
FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate a situation in which the first MS
1" and the
second MS
2" mobile station are mobile stations of different mobile communication
networks and in which the subscriber identity of the first mobile station MS
1"
has been transferred into the subscriber profile of the second mobile station MS
2".
FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate routing of a terminating call when the terminating call
is made from the MSISDN
1 number of the first mobile station MS
1".
In the embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7, the original subscription combined as the
subscriber profile of the mobile station MS
2 of the second network
2
is handled as if the number of the original subscription were transferred into
the second network. There is a difference, however, that the number refers to the
alternative profile of the second subscription.
In FIG. 6, interfaces between a service control function CSE
1", a subscriber
register HLR
1" and an SRF
1" network element can be either direct
or indirect, in which case it can be implemented for example via the network management
system or subscriber management system. This concerns also interfaces between the
corresponding elements in the network
2".
In FIG. 6, the routing centre GMSC
1" of the network
1" (the network
of the mobile station MS
1") makes an inquiry to the SRF
1" network
element (Signalling Relay Function), which includes a number portability application
NP". The SRF
1" network element replies to the routing centre with a message
which includes the number of the first mobile station MS
1" with a prefix,
or the number of the first mobile station MS
1" and the routing number used
for routing to the network
2" separately.
In the example of FIGS. 6 and 7 it is assumed that as the subscriber identity
of the first mobile station MS
1" is transferred into the subscriber profile
of the second mobile station MS
2", the new subscriber profile is indicated
in the network
2" by the MSISDN number of the first mobile station MS
1".
The routing centre receives the information referring to the second network
2",
and the call routing is transferred to the routing centre GMSC
2" of the
second network
2". The second network routing centre makes a subscriber
data inquiry from the SRF
2" network element and the inquiry is conveyed
to the second network subscriber register HLR
2". In a manner known per se,
the subscriber register HLR
2" makes an inquiry from the visitor location
register of that mobile services switching centre on whose area the second mobile
station MS
2" is located. As a reply to the inquiry, the subscriber register
HLR
2" receives a roaming number MSRN, which is conveyed from the SRF
2"
network element to the routing centre GMSC
2".
From the routing centre GMSC
2" the terminating call is forwarded to the
mobile services switching centre MSC
2" of the second network
2 in
a manner known per se, after which the call is connected to the second mobile station MS
2".
In FIG. 6, a reply to the routing information inquiry that is returned by the
SRF
1" element of the first network
1" or a routing number to the
second network may include a special indicator, which causes that a routing of
a transferred number to a new subscription network, which is otherwise free, becomes
now chargeable, for example such that a charging record is formed of it. More generally
this indicator causes a case in which a call made to the transferred number and
which is routed to a new subscription network, can be separated from the case in
which the number is not transferred, but a subscriber profile is formed of the
network
1" subscriber identity to the network
2". In these different
cases, a different tariff can more generally be used.
The above indicator can be IN triggering information to the routing centre GMSC
1"
of the original network
1", which routing centre causes an inquiry to be
made to the service control function CSE". If the system functions in accordance
with the CAMEL recommendations while handling a terminating call, the first SRF
1"
element inquiry returns only the IN triggering information, and the SRF" inquiry
repeated later after the IN triggering returns the routing number, which forwards
to the second network. An indicator may also be a special prefix reserved for this
purpose in the prefixed MSISDN number returned by the SRF
1" network element
or in the separate routing number from the network
1" to the network
2".
An alternative, by which the network
1" operator can bill for the routing
to the second network
2", is that an immediate call forwarding to the second
interface in the second network is defined in the original network
1" in
such a manner that a call forwarding number (number C) includes an identifier referring
to the subscriber profile created for the second mobile station MS
2". A
number referring to the created subscriber profile can also be reserved from the
second network
2", the number being used only for call forwarding from the
original network
1" to the second network
2". In IN triggering, the
service control function CSE
1" may return the IN control, which sets a tariff
for routing from one network to another or causes that a charging record is made
of this in the GMSC
1".
FIG. 9 illustrates signalling in the WAP environment, while a new subscriber
profile is being created and when the first and the second mobile station are subscribers
of different networks. In FIG. 9, conversion service is offered to subscribers
from the WAP server WAP-SERV′", which is in connection with the service
control function CSE
1′".
It is assumed in FIG. 9 that a subscriber uses a mobile station MS
2′"/UA,
which employs User Agent, i.e. a WAP browser. The connection between the second
mobile station MS
2′"/UA and the WAP server WAP-SERV′"can be
arranged via the WAP gateway, which performs the conversion between HTTP and WAP.
Using the WAP environment in the communication between a mobile station and
a service control function enables the implementation of a more user-friendly user
interface than before. This is achieved primarily due to the WAP environment enabling
the use of clear input forms.
FIG. 10 illustrates signalling in the WAP environment, when a new subscriber
profile is being created and when the first and the second mobile station are subscribers
of the same network. When it comes to the other parts, the embodiment of FIG. 10
corresponds to that of FIG. 9.
FIG. 11 illustrates signalling in the WAP environment, when a new subscriber
profile is being created and subscriber data of the first and the second mobile
station are in the same subscriber register. In FIG. 11, an alternative subscriber
profile is created for the second mobile station by copying the subscriber data
of the first subscriber in the subscriber register HLR""such that the subscriber
data of the first mobile station can be stored as the subscriber profile of the
second mobile station.
In the embodiment of FIG. 11, information of several profiles is transferred
in
the signalling between the home (HLR) and the visitor location registers (VLR)
in such a manner that each profile has its own services and IN triggering information.
As a subscriber makes a call in this embodiment, he has to register a certain profile
as a default profile of the mobile station in advance or alternatively to select
a profile for use by means of a special prefix.
It is to be understood that the above description and the related drawings are
only intended to illustrate the present invention. Thus, signalling between network
elements may differ from what is described above by way of example. The invention
is also applicable to some other mobile communication system than the GSM system
mentioned above by way of example. Consequently, the invention can also be applied
to a packet-switched GPRS environment (General Radio Packet Services), for example.
The billing control can thus be arranged for example between the GPRS node and
the service control function in such a manner that it can help to affect the subscriber
identity to be billed, so that the call bills could be concentrated on the right
mobile station. Other variations and modifications of the invention will also be
apparent to a person skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit
of the invention disclosed in the attached claims.
*
