WO2000031920A2

WO2000031920A2 - Arrangement for improving the control of supplementary services in a fixed terminal

Info

Publication number: WO2000031920A2
Application number: PCT/NO1999/000354
Authority: WO
Inventors: Einar Oltedal
Original assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson
Priority date: 1998-11-23
Filing date: 1999-11-23
Publication date: 2000-06-02
Also published as: NO985453L; WO2000031920A3; NO312739B1; AU1418000A; NO985453D0

Abstract

The present invention relates to an arrangement for improving the control of services in a fixed terminal (FT), said arrangement comprising a service control via a fixed terminal connected to a local exchange (LE), and for the purpose of implementing this improvement in a very expedient, cost-saving and rational manner, it is according to the present invention suggested a solution characterized by including an application in said fixed terminal so as to allow said fixed terminal to communicate through Internet for thereby executing remote control of said supplementary services.

Description

ARRANGEMENT FOR IMPROVING THE CONTROL OF SUPPLEMENTARY SERVICES IN A FIXED TERMINAL

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to an arrangement for improving the control of supplementary services in a fixed terminal, said arrangement comprising a service control residing in a local exchange .

Prior art

WO 97/44981 (Nokia Telecommunications Oy) relates to a method and a mobile communication system for transmitting the identity of a calling subcriber (subscriber A) to a called subscriber (subscriber B) in a mobile communication system, comprising a home location register (HLR) for permanent storage of subscriber data on mobile stations (MS) registered in the network, and at least one visitor loca- tion register (VLR) for temporary storage of subscriber data on mobile stations (MS) located in the geographical area monitored by the visitor location register (VLR) . This prior art solution suggests that the identity of the subscriber A is transmitted to the mobile service switching centre (MSC) of the subschriber B via signalling that is unrelated to the speech connection.

However, this prior art technique does not relate to any remote control of supplementary services in a fixed termi- nal, let alone that such a remote control should be implemented by an application in the fixed terminal and that such remote control should be realised through Internet .

WO 96/29839 (Telia AB) relates to a device and procedure for automatic registration in a telecommunication network. The prior art solution is to the fact that in order to change over a mobile telephone subscriber's telephone calls to a fixed network without the need for the subscriber to press push-buttons on his telephone at each change-over, the change-over is performed automatically. The solution is implemented by means of a register including input devices for control of signals from a home location register (HLR) and storing buffers for different telephone numbers, and a buffer for different position indicators for the subscriber in question and comparison devices which relate to a certain, for a subscriber, in the mobile system existing position to a certain telephone number which is stored in said buffer, and output devices which perform the system position related change-over.

Neither does this publication relate to a proposal for remote control of supplementary services in a fixed terminal, let alone a service which can be applied as a fixed and mobile conversion (FMC) , as is the fact with the present invention.

WO 97/36451 (ERICSSON Inc.) relates to a centralised data base connected to the next to last service switching point

(SSP) within a public switched telephone network (PSTN) interfacing with a ported public land mobile network (PLMN) , which stores correlation data correlating a network address representing the new home location register (HLR) associ- ated with a ported mobile station with a mobile identification number representing that particular mobile station. Whenever an incoming signal such as an initial address message (IAM) is received by the next to last SSP, a data base query is performed towards the centralised database to re- trieve the network address representing the new HLR. In other words, this prior art relates to a mobile telecommunication network and to the routing of an incoming call to a mobile station relocated from a first home location register to a second home location register.

Neither does this prior art teaching relate to remote control of supplementary services in a fixed terminal, let alone to the implementation of such supplementary services with the assistance of a server in the Internet. -

WO 96/34502 (Northern Telecom Limited) relates to a mobile communication system with intelligent network services, whereby an intelligent network (IN) call is set up from a fixed network to a mobile network subscriber served via a mobile switching centre (MSC) . The mobile network incorporates a home location register (HLR) for storing informa- tion including location information relating to mobile subscribers. The call setup procedure for the IN-call comprises an origination call model and a termination call model associated respectively with an originating terminal and a terminating terminal. The termination call model as- sociated with intelligent network calls to mobile subscribers is shared between the home location register (HLR) and the mobile switching centre (MSC) , whereby to facilitate participation of both the home location register and the mobile switching centre in the call termination procedure.

However, the prior art according to this publication does not give any instructions for how to integrate fixed and mobile terminals and supplementary services thereof, in an expedient and reliable manner.

Objects of the invention

The main object of the present invention is to provide an arrangement for remote control of supplementary services in a fixed terminal.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an arrangement by which the service control, which still resides in the local exchange, is executed by an application in the fixed terminal.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an arrangement in which such a remote control of supplementary services can be realised through Internet, and more specifically by letting the Internet server communicate with said local exchange.

Brief summary of the invention

The above objects are achieved in an arrangement as stated in the preamble, which according to the present invention is characterized by the features as sated in the character- izing clause of the enclosed patent claim 1.

In other words, the present invention suggests a solution for this improvement by including an application in said fixed terminal so as to allow said fixed terminal to commu- nicate through Internet for thereby executing remote control of said supplementary services.

One example for a service where this arrangement can be used, is the application of a so-called One Number - Two Phones service whereby one incoming number is used for more than one terminal, for example comprising said fixed terminal and a mobile terminal.

Further features and advantages of the present invention will appear from the following description taken in conjunction with the enclosed drawing, as well as from the further enclosed patent claims.

Brief disclosure of the drawing

Figure 1 is a schematical diagram illustrating an embodiment of the arrangement according to the present invention, in which remote control of subscriber services is run via Internet . General

The present invention suggests a proposal for remote control of supplementary services in a fixed terminal . The service control, which still resides in the local exchange, is executed by an application in the fixed terminal. The remote control is realised through Internet, meaning that the fixed terminal must have a connection to Internet.

One example for a service where this can be applied is a service where one incoming number is used for more than one terminal, like the fixed and mobile terminal. On/off status of the mobile in the HLR will be conveyed to the concerned fixed terminal where it will execute the call diversion unconditional service from the terminal to the local exchange .

To achieve this the following conditions must be fulfilled:

• The HLR and the fixed terminal must have Internet interfaces

• The fixed terminal must have minimum two separate connections, where call diversion is only applied to the one used for normal incoming calls

The main benefits of this service are:

• One number, possibly the PSTN number, for both the mobile and the fixed terminal.

• Service control from the mobile or from the fixed termi- nal.

• No operator intervention in local exchanges is necessary.

• Other services than call diversion can be built using the same concept . • The service can be controlled also from an Internet terminal

• If Gatekeeper functionality is added the service could handle calls to and from an Internet terminal.

Special features

As the use of mobiles increases there is a need to integrate fixed and mobile terminals. This should be possible for features like:

• One number for both terminals

• One subscription and one bill

• Seamless services in both types of terminals

• Simple interface for end-user control of services

• Service deployment, management and charging independent of intervention in telephony exchanges

Network solution

Figure 1 shows the needed infrastructure. The service is run from an Internet Server. The subscriber can subscribe on-line by contacting this server. The server will then download the necessary applets to the HLR and the fixed terminal .

The mobile can be an ordinary mobile terminal . The fixed terminal must have access to Internet, either as a separate PSTN line, a B-channel or via the D-channel. Other access types like ADSL can also be used.

The service execution will be faster if the Internet connection on the fixed terminal is on-line. The capacity need is not so high, so an on-line D - channel to Internet would be suitable. These kinds of terminals already exist on the market . As an add-on to service control the Internet Server could also collect and integrate charging data from the terminals. It will then fetch charging output from the fixed terminal and from the HLR. A charging applet must then be down loaded into the fixed terminal.

Typical call scenarios assuming that subscription applets have been installed:

1. When the mobile is off incoming calls will be routed as normal .

2. When the user turns on his mobile the HLR will send an operation to the concerned fixed terminal via Internet .

3. This operation will trigger an applet in the terminal which will make the terminal automatically activate the call forwarding service in the local exchange. Call for- warding can be of different types: unconditional, on busy or on no-answer.

4. Calls to the fixed terminal will now be redirected to the mobile.

5. When the mobile is turned off the HLR will send an op- eration to the fixed terminal which will deactivate the call forwarding service in the local exchange, so that calls are no longer routed to the mobile.

The application in the Internet server will contain routing profiles for different call scenarios which could include routing to voice mail and time of day routing.

A natural extension of the FMC service is to also include terminals connected to Internet (see figure 1) .

FMC using Internet, without IN

Ericsson has a similar service called FM&M, which is a part of the IAS 2.2.2 release, based on IN. IN requires the use of SCP and SSPs. To have a similar solution as the proposed idea, SSF functions would have to be implemented^" in the local exchanges.

The FMC solution using Internet is a much simpler solution as it does not use any software in the PSTN network. It only requires Internet access on the fixed terminals and an Internet interface towards the HLR.

It is very likely that Internet acess will be very common in the near future.

Abbreviations

FMC Fixed and Mobile Conversion

HLR Home Location Register

MSC - Mobile Service Switching Centre

PSTN Public Switched Telephone Network

B-channel - Bearer channel

D-channel Data channel

ADSL Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Line

LE - Local Exchange

IN - Intelligent Network

SCP Service Control Point

SSP Service Switching Point

SSF Service Switching Function

Claims

P a t e n t c l a i m s

1. Arrangement for improving the control of supplementary services in a fixed terminal (FT) , said arrangement com- prising a service control residing in a local exchange (LE) , c h a r a c t e r i z e d b y including an application in said fixed terminal so as to allow said fixed terminal to communicate over Internet, using existing standardised interfaces between the fixed terminal and the local exchange, for thereby executing remote control of said supplementary services.

2. Arrangement as claimed in claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that said arrangement and the application in said fixed terminal (FT) comprises a One Number - Two Phones service, i.e. a service handling one incoming number used for more than one terminal, for example comprising said fixed terminal (FT) and a mobile termi- nal (MT) .

3. Arrangement as claimed in claim 1 or 2 , c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the on/off status of the mobile terminal (MT) will be conveyed to the associated fixed terminal (FT) , the application of said fixed terminal (FT) executing a call diversion unconditional service from the fixed terminal (FT) to the local exchange (LE) .

4. Arrangement as claimed in any of the preceding claims, C h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that said arrangement comprises an Internet interface both for the fixed terminal (FT) and the associated home location register (HLR) .

5. Arrangement as claimed in any of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that said fixed terminal

(FT) is provided with at least two separate connections, one of said connections being used for nomal incoming calls, on which the call diversion is set.

6. Arrangement as claimed in any of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the arrangement allows for only one number, possibly a public switched tele- phone network (PSTN) number, for both a mobile terminal (MT) and a fixed terminal (FT) .

7. Arrangement as claimed in any of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that said arrangement comprises means for communicating with any type of Internet terminal, thereby allowing the execution of said supplementary services from said any type of Internet terminal.

8. Arrangement as claimed in any of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that said arrangement comprises means for communicating with gatekeeper functionality for thereby allowing said supplementary services to handle calls to and from any Internet terminal .

9. Arrangement as claimed in any of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that said arrangement comprises means for communication with an Internet server (IS), to which any subscriber can subscribe on-line by contacting said server.

10. Arrangement as claimed in any of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that said server is adapted so as to download necessary applets to the home location register (HLR) and the fixed terminal (FT) in ques- tion.

11. Arrangement as claimed in any of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the mobile terminal (MT) can be of any type, and that the fixed terminal (FT) has access to the Internet either as a separate PSTN-line, a B-channel or a D-channel, possibly access comprising ADSL.

12. Arrangement as claimed in any of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the fixed -termial (FT) is connected on-line to the Internet.

13. Arrangement as claimed in any of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that said arrangement comprises add-on services including for example subscription and billing service handled by the Internet server (IS) , said Internet server collecting and intergrating charges from the fixed terminal and the HLR, and downloading a charging applet into said fixed terminal.

14. Arrangement as claimed in any of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that said arrangement comprises an Internet server (IS) including routing profiles for different call scenarios, for example routing to voice mail, time of day routing, etc.