Network operator controlled usage of long distance carriers
First Claim
1. A method of controlling a long distance call setup in a communications system, comprising steps ofselecting a preferred long distance carrier applicable to at least some calls when set up in said communication system,determining a locking parameter for a subscriber in a subscriber database by an operator of a home network of said subscriber, said locking parameter defining whether said subscriber is allowed to select the long distance carrier for a call, or not,receiving a destination number dialled by said subscriber during a call setup,in connection with said receiving, checking whether a long distance carrier access code has been dialled by said subscriber during said call setup,if no long distance carrier access code has been dialled by said subscriber during said call setup, continuing said call setup via said preferred long distance carrier, but if a long distance carrier access code has been dialled by said subscriber during said call setup,checking said locking parameter of said subscriber, and deciding on continuation versus termination of said call setup depending on said locking parameter.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In order to to enable an operator to control the subscriber'"'"'s long distance carrier usage in a telecommunications network, a new subscriber-specific parameter, a locking parameter, is added to the subscriber data by the operator, in addition to a preferred long distance carrier access code. The locking parameter defines whether said subscriber is allowed to select the long distance carrier for the call or not. The locking parameter is checked each time the subscriber dials the long distance carrier access code during an originating call setup. In an embodiment of the invention, if the locking parameter indicates the subscriber is not allowed to select the long distance carrier, the call setup will be always terminated, preferably after making an announcement for informing the subscriber of the cause of the termination.
58 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method of controlling a long distance call setup in a communications system, comprising steps of
selecting a preferred long distance carrier applicable to at least some calls when set up in said communication system, determining a locking parameter for a subscriber in a subscriber database by an operator of a home network of said subscriber, said locking parameter defining whether said subscriber is allowed to select the long distance carrier for a call, or not, receiving a destination number dialled by said subscriber during a call setup, in connection with said receiving, checking whether a long distance carrier access code has been dialled by said subscriber during said call setup, if no long distance carrier access code has been dialled by said subscriber during said call setup, continuing said call setup via said preferred long distance carrier, but if a long distance carrier access code has been dialled by said subscriber during said call setup, checking said locking parameter of said subscriber, and deciding on continuation versus termination of said call setup depending on said locking parameter.
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11. A method of controlling a long distance call setup in a wireless communications system, comprising the step of
selecting a new preferred long distance carrier applicable to at least some calls when set up in said communication system, determining a default locking parameter for at least one other wireless network in a database of a first wireless network, said default locking parameter defining whether subscribers of said at least one other wireless network are allowed to select a long distance carrier for a call or not, receiving during a call setup in said first wireless network, a destination number dialled by a subscriber of said at least one other wireless network visiting in said first wireless network, in connection with said receiving, checking whether a long distance carrier access code has been dialled by said subscriber during said call setup, is no long distance carrier access code has been dialled by said subscriber during said call setup, continuing said call setup via said preferred long distance carrier, but if a long distance carrier access code has been dialled by said subscriber during said call setup, checking said default locking parameter of said at least one other wireless network, and deciding on continuation versus termination of said call setup depending on said default locking parameter.
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16. A wireless network, comprising at least one mobile subscriber,
at least one switching center at least one subscriber data base for storing subscriber data for said mobile subscriber, said subscriber data of said mobile subscriber including a subscriber-specific locking parameter set by an operator of the wireless network, said locking parameter defining whether said subscriber is allowed to select the long distance carrier for a call, or not, said wireless network being arranged to check, in a response to a destination number dialled by said subscriber during a call setup, whether a long distance carrier access code is dialled by said subscriber, and A) to continue the call setup via a predetermined preferred long distance carrier, when no long distance carrier access code is dialled by said subscriber, and B) to check, when a long distance carrier access code is dialled by said subscriber, said locking parameter of said subscriber, in a response to a destination number dialled by said subscriber during a call setup, whether a long distance carrier access code is dialled by said subscriber, and A) to continue the call setup via a predetermined preferred long distance carrier, when no long distance carrier access code is dialled by said subscriber, and B) to check, when a long distance carrier access code is dialled by said subscriber, and to decide on the continuation or the termination of the call setup on basis of said locking parameter.
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25. A wireless network, comprising
at least one switching center, a home subscriber data base, a visitor subscriber data base for temporarily storing subscriber data for mobile subscribers of at least one other wireless network visiting in the service area of the visitor data base, said visitor subscriber data base being arranged to further store a network-specific default locking parameter for said at least one other wireless network, said said default locking parameter defining whether subscribers of said at least one other wireless network are allowed to select a long distance carrier for a call, or not, said wireless network being arranged to check in response to a destination number dialled by a subscriber of said at least one other wireless network during a call setup, whether a long distance carrier access code dialled by said subscriber of said at least one other wireless network during said call setup, and A) to continue the call setup via a predetermined preferred long distance carrier, when no long distance carrier access code is dialled by said subscriber, or B) to check said default locking parameter of said subscriber said at least one other wireless network, when a long distance carrier access code is dialled by said subscriber, and decide on continuation or termination of the call setup in basis of said default locking parameter.
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27. A method of controlling a call forwarding activation in a wireless communications system, comprising the steps of
determining a locking parameter for a subscriber in a subscriber database by an operator of a wireless home network of said subscriber, said locking parameter defining whether said subscriber is allowed to select the long distance carrier for the call or not, receiving a forwarded-to-number from said subscriber during a call forwarding activation, checking whether a long distance carrier access code is in said forwarded-to-number, and A) continuing the call forwarding activation when no long distance carrier code is in forwarded-to-number, and B) checking said locking parameter of said subscriber when a long distance carrier access code is in forwarded to number, and (B1) continuing the call forwarding activation when the said locking parameter indicates that said subscriber is allowed to select the long distance carrier, or (B2) rejecting the call forwarding activation when the said locking parameter indicates that said subscriber is not allowed to select the long distance carrier.
Specification