Method and arrangement for handling and inspecting supplemetary services intended for a mobile telephone unit

• US 5,781,858 A
• Filed: 09/29/1995
• Issued: 07/14/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Lantto, Jorgen, Gandils, Mats, strom, Bo, Stille, Ola, Pehrsson, Arne, Peltonen, Ari
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne
• Assistant Examiner(s): WYCHE, MYRON
• Application Number:
  US08/530,161
• Time in Patent Office: 1,019 Days
• Field of Search: 379/59, 379/61, 379/62, 455/33.1, 455/410, 455/414, 455/411, 455/422
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/38 Graded-service arrangements, i.e. some subscribers prevented from establishing certain connections queuing arrangements H04Q3/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/382 using authorisation codes or passwords
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42229 Personal communication services, i.e. services related to one subscriber independent of his terminal and/or location diverting calls from one subscriber to another subscriber, i.e. two different subscriptions H04M3/54; selecting arrangements in intelligent networks H04Q3/005
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4228 in networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/54 Arrangements for diverting calls for one subscriber to another predetermined subscriber based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; to voice mail H04M3/53308
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data

Abstract

A method pertaining to a telecommunications system for handling supplementary services for a mobile unit. The system includes a public land mobile network to which the mobile unit has subscribed. The mobile telephone network includes a main switch or gateway switching center to which there is connected a home location register. The mobile unit services are stored in this register. The method includes the steps of sending an authority word belonging to the mobile unit and the identification of the mobile unit to the home location register from a telephone unit in the telecommunications system via a telephone connection intended for handling services; checking the authority word by comparing the word with an authority word known to the home location register; accepting the authority word received from the telephone unit; sending a service handling specification from the telephone unit to the home location register; and performing the specified handling of the service.

Claims

1. A method of handling supplementary services for a mobile unit in a telecommunications system, wherein the telecommunications system includes a public land mobile network to which the mobile unit is subscribed and a main switch to which a home location register is connected and in which the mobile unit'"'"'s supplementary services are stored, the method comprising the steps of:

setting up a non-call related connection for handling the supplementary services between any chosen telephone unit in the telecommunications system and the home location register;

sending an authority word belonging to the mobile unit and an identification of the mobile unit to the home location register from the chosen telephone unit telecommunications system via a telephone connection intended for handling supplementary;

checking the sent authority word by comparing the sent authority word with an authority word known to the home location register;

accepting the sent authority word received from the telephone unit, if authorized;

sending a specification for handling a supplementary service from the telephone unit to the home location register; and

performing the specified handling of the supplementary service.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of sending an authority message from the home location register to the telephone unit, wherein the authority message indicates that the authority word has been accepted.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of sending the authority message includes the steps of:

sending, from the home location register to the main switch, an accept message which indicates that a user of the telephone unit has authority; and

sending, from the main switch to the telephone unit, a second prompt message which indicates that the main switch is prepared to receive a specification for handling a supplementary service.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of sending the authority message comprises the steps of:

sending, from the home location register to the main switch, an acceptance message which commands the main switch to send a second prompt message to the telephone unit; and

sending, from the main switch to the telephone unit, a second prompt message which indicates that the main switch is prepared to receive a specification for handling the supplementary service.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of sending the specification for handling the supplementary service comprises the steps of:

sending, from the telephone unit to the main switch, a second tone message which includes the providing of the supplementary service requested; and

sending, from the main switch to the home location register, a procedure message which includes the specification for providing the supplementary service.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising the steps of:

sending, from the home location register to the main switch, a status message which commands the main switch to send a third prompt message to the telephone unit; and

sending the third prompt message from the main switch to the telephone unit, whereby a user of the telephone unit is informed that handling the supplementary service has been implemented.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

setting up a connection between the telephone unit and the main switch; and

sending, from the main switch to the telephone unit, a first prompt message which indicates that the main switch is prepared to receive the authority word and the identification of the mobile unit.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the telecommunications system includes a public switched telephone network having a local exchange to which the telephone unit is connected, and in which the step of sending the first prompt message comprises the step of sending, from the main switch to the local exchange, a confirmation indicating that the connection has been established.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the public land mobile network includes a mobile services switching center to which the telephone unit is connected, and the step of sending the first prompt message comprises the step of sending, from the main switch to the mobile services switching center, a confirmation indicating that the connection has been established.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of sending the authority word and the identification of the mobile unit comprises the steps of:

sending, from the telephone unit to the main switch, a first tone message which includes the authority word and the identification of the mobile unit; and

sending, from the main switch to the home location register, a check message which includes the authority word and the identification of the mobile unit.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of sending a specification for providing a supplementary service includes the steps of:

sending, from the telephone unit to the main switch, a second tone message which includes the requested handling of the supplementary service; and

sending, from the main switch to the home location register, a procedure message which includes the specification for handling the supplementary service.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

sending, from the home location register to the main switch, a status message which indicates that handling the supplementary service has been implemented; and

sending, from the main switch to the telephone unit, a third prompt message which informs a user of the telephone unit that handling of the supplementary service has been implemented.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

setting up the connection between the telephone unit and the home location register;

sending a reception request ordering the main switch to send a first prompt message to the telephone unit; and

sending, from the main switch to the telephone unit, a first prompt message which indicates that the main switch is prepared to receive the authority word and the identification of the mobile unit.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the telecommunications system includes a public switched telephone network having a local exchange to which the telephone unit is connected, and the step of sending the first prompt message comprises the step of sending, from the main switch to the local exchange, a confirmation which confirms that the connection has been established.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the public land mobile network includes a mobile services switching center to which the telephone unit is connected, and the step of sending the first prompt message comprises the step of sending, from the main switch to the mobile services switching center, a confirmation confirming that the connection has been established.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of sending the authority word and the identification of the mobile unit includes the steps of:

sending, from the telephone unit to the main switch, a first tone message which includes the authority word and the identification of the mobile unit; and

sending, from the main switch to the home location register, a check message which includes the authority word and the identification of the mobile unit.