Procedure for processing user's identification numbers in communication networks corresponding communication terminal sim-card and computer product

• US 20060270453A1
• Filed: 08/13/2003
• Published: 11/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tim Italia Spa (Telecom Italia S.p.A.)
• Original Assignee: Tim Italia Spa (Telecom Italia S.p.A.)
• Inventors: Puntillo, Domenico Francesco, Di Giorgio, Vincenzo
• Granted Patent: US 7,894,856 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/558
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27485 Appending a prefix to or inserting a pause into a dialling sequence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8044 Least cost routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/42 Least cost routing, i.e. provision for selecting the lowest cost tariff
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/745 Least cost routing, e.g. Automatic or manual, call by call or by preselection

Abstract

A terminal for telecommunications networks, such as a mobile telephone, has at least one storage area for storing user indicators and acting as an electronic address book and processing capacity for processing user indicators stored in the storage area. The terminal is configured for organizing the indicators in at least a first and a second configuration. The first configuration has identifiers organized with the insertion of an identification code of an operator, such as long distance operator, selected by the user of the terminal, while the second configuration has identifiers organized with the inclusion of at least one of a country prefix and a local prefix. The user can thus make calls with the aid of his/her electronic address book without having to manually modify the stored numbers when the user moves (physically or in terms of service) between environments characterized by different telephone number configurations, without having to change back the numbers in the address book on return to the usual environment.

Claims

1-36. -36. (canceled)

37. A method for processing user indicators stored in a terminal for telecommunications networks, comprising:

selectively organizing said indicators in one of a plurality of configurations, said plurality comprising at least a first and a second configuration, said first configuration comprising identifiers organized with the insertion of an identification code of an operator selected by the user of the terminal and said second configuration comprising identifiers organized with the inclusion of at least one of a country prefix and a local prefix.

38. The method as claimed in claim 37, wherein said identification code of an operator is the identifier of a long distance operator.

39. The method as claimed in claim 37, comprising generating said identifiers organized in said at least a first and a second configuration by means of an if/then mechanism, in which the if function identifies at least one value selected from the group of:

the number of digits included in the identifier to be organized, and

the digits present in specified positions of said identifier to be organized.

40. The method as claimed in claim 37, comprising generating said identifiers organized in said at least a first and a second configuration by means of an if/then mechanism in which the then function implements at least one function selected from the group of:

adding said identification code to the identifier to be organized in said first configuration, and

associating with the identifier to be organized at least one of a country prefix and a local prefix in said second configuration.

41. The method as claimed in claim 37, comprising receiving from the user of the terminal information relating to the location of said terminal and the operation of switching said identifiers between said first configuration and said second configuration following the receipt of this information.

42. The method as claimed in claim 37, comprising detecting the location of said terminal and of switching said identifiers between said first configuration and said second configuration according to the detected location of the terminal.

43. The method as claimed in claim 37, comprising organizing identifiers originally consisting of 7 or 8 digits

by adding the digit 0, a local prefix identified by the user and said identification code to the identifier organized in said first configuration, and

by adding the character “

+”

, a country prefix and a local prefix provided by the user to the identifiers organized in said second configuration.

44. The method as claimed in claim 37, comprising organizing identifiers originally consisting of 10 or 11 digits

by adding said identification code to the identifiers organized in said first configuration, and

by removing a “

0”

in the first position and adding a country prefix to the identifiers organized in said second configuration.

45. The method as claimed in claim 37, comprising organizing identifiers originally consisting of 12 or 13 digits

by replacing the second and third digits with said identification code in the identifiers organized in said first configuration, and

by removing a “

0”

in the first position and the second and third digits, replacing them with an international prefix in the identifiers organized in said second configuration.

46. The method as claimed in claim 37, comprising organizing identifiers originally comprising the code “

00”

by replacing the third and fourth digits with said identification code in the identifiers organized in said first configuration, and

by removing the first four digits and adding the symbol “

+”

to the identifiers organized in said second configuration.

47. The method as claimed in claim 37, comprising organizing identifiers originally comprising said country prefix

by removing said country prefix and including said identification code in the identifiers organized in said first configuration, and

by leaving the identifier unchanged in the case of said second configuration.

48. The method as claimed in claim 37, comprising organizing identifiers originally comprising the symbol “

+”

by removing the symbol “

+” and

entering said identification code preceded by two “

0”

symbols in the identifiers organized in said first configuration, and

by leaving the identifier unchanged in the case of said second configuration.

49. The method as claimed in claim 37, comprising:

when indicators corresponding to special services are present, leaving the identifier unchanged without carrying out the configuration in said at least a first and at least a second configuration.

50. The method as claimed in claim 37, wherein said plurality of configurations comprises a network call configuration with an associated identification code consisting of a code for activation of the call by the network designed to enable said terminal to be called back by the corresponding network.

51. The method as claimed in claim 50, wherein said call activation code is associated with a prepaid roaming service.

52. The method as claimed in claim 37, wherein said plurality of configurations comprises a debiting configuration with an associated identification code consisting of a billing code, such as a code for configuring the number of said terminal for making calls to be debited to the called user.

53. The method as claimed in claim 37, wherein said plurality of configurations comprises an authorization configuration with an associated identification code consisting of a code which authorizes calls from two or more lines associated with a terminal or with a corresponding card of the SIM type.

72. A computer program product which can be loaded into the memory of an electronic computer, containing portions of software code for implementing the method according to any one of claims 37 to 53.

54. A terminal for telecommunications networks, comprising at least a storage area for storing user indicators and acting as an electronic address book, and processing capacity for processing user indicators stored in said storage area, said processing capacity being configured for organizing said indicators selectively in one of a plurality of configurations, said plurality comprising at least a first and a second configuration, said first configuration comprising identifiers organized with the insertion of an identification code of an operator selected by the user of the terminal and said second configuration comprising identifiers organized with the inclusion of at least one of a country prefix and a local prefix.

55. The terminal as claimed in claim 54, wherein said identification code of an operator is the identifier of a long distance operator.

56. The terminal as claimed in claim 54, wherein said processing capacity is configured for generating said identifiers organized in one of said at least a first and at least a second configuration by means of an if/then mechanism, in which the if function identifies at least one value selected from the group of:

the number of digits included in the identifier to be organized, and

the digits present in specified positions of said identifier to be organized.

57. The terminal as claimed in claim 54, wherein said processing capacity is configured for generating said identifiers organized in one of said at least a first and at least a second configuration by means of an if/then mechanism, in which the then function implements at least one function selected from the group of:

adding said identification code to the identifier to be organized in said first configuration, and

associating with the identifier to be organized at least one of a country prefix and a local prefix in said second configuration.

58. The terminal as claimed in claim 54, wherein the terminal can receive from the user of the terminal information relating to the location of said terminal and said processing capacity is configured for switching said identifiers between said first configuration and said second configuration following the receipt of this information.

59. The terminal as claimed in claim 54, wherein the terminal can detect the location of said terminal and said processing capacity is configured for switching said identifiers between said first configuration and said second configuration according to the detected location of the terminal.

60. The terminal as claimed in claim 54, wherein said processing capacity is configured for organizing identifiers originally consisting of 7 or 8 digits

by adding the digit 0, a local prefix identified by the user and said identification code to the identifiers organized in said first configuration,

by adding the character “

+”

, a country prefix and a local prefix provided by the user to the identifiers organized in said second configuration.

61. The terminal as claimed in claim 54, wherein said processing capacity is configured for organizing identifiers originally consisting of 10 or 11 digits

by adding said identification code to the identifiers organized in said first configuration, and

by removing a “

0”

in the first position and adding a country prefix to the identifiers organized in said second configuration.

62. The terminal as claimed in claim 54, wherein said processing capacity is configured for organizing identifiers originally consisting of 12 or 13 digits

by replacing the second and third digits with said identification code in the identifiers organized in said first configuration, and

by removing a “

0”

in the first position and the second and third digits, and replacing them with an international prefix in the identifiers organized in said second configuration.

63. The terminal as claimed in claim 54, wherein said processing capacity is configured for organizing identifiers originally comprising the code “

00”

by replacing the third and fourth digits with said identification code in the identifiers organized in said first configuration, and

by removing the first four digits and adding the symbol “

+”

to the identifiers organized in said second configuration.

64. The terminal as claimed in claim 54, wherein said processing capacity is configured for organizing identifiers originally comprising said country prefix

by removing said country prefix and including said identification code in the identifiers organized in said first configuration, and

by leaving the identifier unchanged in the case of said second configuration.

65. The terminal as claimed in claim 54, wherein said processing capacity is configured for organizing identifiers originally comprising the symbol “

+”

by removing the symbol “

+” and

entering said identification code preceded by two “

0”

symbols in the identifiers organized in said first configuration, and

by leaving the identifier unchanged in the case of said second configuration.

66. The terminal as claimed in claim 54, wherein said processing capacity is configured for leaving the identifier unchanged, without carrying out the configuration in said at least a first and at least a second configuration, when identifiers corresponding to special services are present.

67. The terminal as claimed in claim 54, wherein said plurality of configurations comprises a network call configuration with an associated identification code consisting of a code for activation of the call by the network, designed to enable said terminal to be called back by the corresponding network.

68. The terminal as claimed in claim 67, wherein said call activation code is associated with a prepaid roaming service.

69. The terminal as claimed in claim 54, wherein said plurality of configurations comprises a debiting configuration with an associated identification code consisting of a billing code, such as a code for configuring the number of said terminal for making calls to be debited to the called user.

70. The terminal as claimed in claim 54, wherein said plurality of configurations comprises an authorization configuration with an associated identification code consisting of a code which authorizes calls from two or more lines associated with a terminal or with a corresponding SIM-type card.

71. A card of the SIM type for a telecommunications network terminal, wherein said card hosts, at least partially, at least one of said storage area and said processing capacity for a terminal according to any one of claims 54 to 70.