Telecommunications system with value added service directory and an integrated circuit module therefor

• US 6,011,976 A
• Filed: 04/19/1996
• Issued: 01/04/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Celltrace Communication Limited
• Inventors: Timson, Anthony Richard, Dervan, Aden William, Michaels, Wayne David
• Primary Examiner(s): VO, NGUYEN THANH
• Application Number:
  US08/557,147
• Time in Patent Office: 1,355 Days
• Field of Search: 455/422, 455/425, 455/550, 455/551, 455/556-558, 455/575, 455/90, 455/186.1, 455/418, 455/419, 455/420, 455/88, 455/466, 455/564, 455/70, 340/825.44, 340/311.1
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/341 Active cards, i.e. cards including their own processing means, e.g. including an IC or chip
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/357 Cards having a plurality of specified features
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/363 with the personal data of a user
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0866 by active credit-cards adapted therefor G07F7/1008 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/275 implemented by means of portable electronic directories
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2757 by data transmission, e.g. downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/14 including a card reading device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 Directory assistance systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]
• 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

In a telecommunications system such as a global mobile telephone network in which each subscriber unit includes a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM card), each SIM card has fixed memory locations (22), to which data can be addressed over the air. Some of the locations (22) can not be overwritten from the subscriber unit but can be accessed therefrom on the entry of short simple codes, each associated with one of the locations. Further fixed memory locations (24) can be read over the air only when the subscriber enters a personal identification number. Locking control files (27, 28) are used to control read/write access to the locations (22, 24) respectively.

Claims

1. A telecommunications system comprising at least one host station and a plurality of subscriber units, said host station being operable to transmit messages to at least one of said subscriber units, and each said subscriber unit having a multiplicity of memory locations adapted to be accessible from said subscriber unit, means responsive to the detection of a first message to store said first message in one of said memory locations, access means enabling said memory locations to be selectively accessed from said subscriber unit when required, and means responsive to an instruction transmitted from said host station selectively to enable or prohibit accessing of said memory locations from at least one of said host station and said subscriber unit, at least one of said subscriber units comprising a transceiver and an integrated circuit module having said memory locations, and means responsive to the detection of said first message by the transceiver to route said first message to said one of said memory locations, said module being removably connected to said transceiver and including means responsive to the entry of a simple short code to read said first message from the respective memory location, means responsive to a request transmitted from said host station for information stored in a selected one of said memory locations of said module to read and transmit said information to said transceiver, a multiplicity of further memory locations which can be overwritten from the respective subscriber unit, means for selectively enabling or prohibiting said further memory locations to be overwritten or to be read, means responsive to an instruction transmitted from said host station for running a program stored in a said further memory location, and means for recognizing a specific format in which said first message, request for information and instruction are transmitted.

2. A telecommunications system comprising at least one host station and a plurality of subscriber units, each said subscriber unit having a multiplicity of memory locations adapted to be accessible from said subscriber unit, said host station being operable to transmit to at least one of said subscriber units first messages coded in a predetermined first format and second messages coded in a second format distinguished from said first format, said second messages coded in said second format each comprising a data stream including an embedded command which is one of at least a write command for writing data into a selected said memory location of said subscriber unit, a read command for requesting data stored in said subscriber unit, an attribute command to enable or prohibit access to a selected said memory location from at least one of said host station and said subscriber unit, and a run command for executing functional data stored in a selected said memory location, and each said subscriber unit having means for detecting incoming said first and second messages, means for distinguishing the formats of said first and second messages, means connected to said distinguishing means for displaying messages distinguished as said first messages, means connected to said distinguishing means for decoding messages distinguished as said second messages, and means responsive to said commands of said second messages to determine and undertake appropriate processing of the data contained in said second messages.

3. A system as claimed in claim 2, wherein each said subscriber unit includes access means enabling said memory locations thereof to be selectively accessed, when required, to fetch from a selected said memory location data stored therein.

4. A system as claimed in claim 3, wherein each said subscriber unit includes means to present information corresponding to data fetched from a selected said memory location to a user of said subscriber unit, and means for transmitting data fetched from a selected said memory location to said host station.

5. A system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said means for transmitting said data fetched from a selected said memory location is adapted to transmit said data as a second message coded in said second format.

6. A system as claimed in claim 5, wherein said data is fetched from successive said memory locations, is buffered, coded in said second format and, thereafter, transmitted.

7. A system according to claim 3, wherein said memory locations include memory locations identified by short codes and including means responsive to the entry of a selected said short code by said access means to fetch said data from a corresponding said memory location.

8. A system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said short codes are abbreviated dial number codes.

9. A system as claimed in claim 7, wherein each subscriber unit includes send means for instigating dialling of a telephone number contained in said fetched data and, in response to an answering signal from said telephone, data is fetched from a predetermined said memory location and sent to receiving equipment associated with said telephone number.

10. A system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said memory locations include secure memory locations and said access means is only able to fetch data from a selected said secure memory location in response to entry of a personal identification signal into said subscriber unit.

11. A system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said second messages are coded in a secure second format.

12. A system as claimed in claim 11, wherein said first and second messages are transmitted using a short message service.

13. A system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said second messages carry executable application data file programs for providing each said subscriber unit with additional services.

14. A system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said memory locations have file handling capabilities including directory functions.

15. A system as claimed in claim 14, wherein data involving said attribute commands is stored in locking control files within predetermined directories.

16. A system as claimed in claim 2 which is a cellular radio communication system.

17. A system as claimed in claim 16, including means for transmitting said second messages simultaneously to more than one of said subscriber units via cell broadcasting.

18. A system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said memory locations, detecting and decoding means and means responsive to said commands are comprised in integrated circuit modules removably connected to said subscriber units.

19. A module for controlling a subscriber unit in a telecommunications system including at least one host station, said module being adapted to be removably connected to said subscriber unit, and said module comprising a multiplicity of memory locations adapted to be accessible from said subscriber unit, means for detecting first and second messages transmitted thereto, said first messages being coded in a predetermined first format and said second messages being coded in a second format distinguished from said first messages used in said system in that said second format comprises a data stream including an embedded command which is one of at least a write command for writing data into a selected said memory location, a read command for requesting data stored in said subscriber unit, an attribute command to enable or prohibit access to a selected said memory location from at least one of said host station and said subscriber unit, and a run command for executing functional data stored in a selected said memory location, means for detecting incoming said first and second messages, means for distinguishing the formats of said first and second messages, means connected to said distinguishing means for instigating display of messages distinguished as said first messages, means connected to said distinguishing means for decoding messages distinguished as said second messages, and means responsive to said commands to determine and undertake appropriate processing of data contained in said second messages.

20. A module as claimed in claim 19, including means operable to fetch data stored in a selected said memory location and transmit said data stored to said subscriber unit.

21. A module as claimed in claim 20, wherein said means responsive to said commands is adapted to transmit said data as a second message coded in said second format.

22. A module as claimed in claim 20, wherein said means responsive to said commands is also responsive to a personal identification signal entered into said subscriber unit.

23. A module as claimed in claim 20, wherein said memory locations are identified by short codes and said module includes means responsive to said short codes to transmit data from said selected memory location.

24. A module as claimed in claim 19, including a directory structure for addressing said memory locations.

25. A module as claimed in claim 19, wherein said module is programmable for use remotely from said subscriber unit by downloading extra services onto said module, via said at least one host station, prior to removing said module from said subscriber unit.

26. A module as claimed in claim 19, wherein said module is in the form of an integrated circuit card.

27. A telecommunications system comprising at least one host station and a plurality of subscriber units, each said subscriber unit having a multiplicity of memory locations adapted to be selectively accessible from said at least one host station and said subscriber unit, means at said host station operable to transmit to at least one of said subscriber units first messages coded in a predetermined first format, means at said host station operable to transmit to said at least one subscriber unit preselected second messages coded in a second format which is distinguished from said first format, said second format comprising a data stream having an embedded command, and each said subscriber unit having means for receiving said transmitted first and second messages, means for distinguishing said formats, means connected to said distinguishing means for decoding said second messages transmitted in said second format, means for detecting when a decoded said second message comprises an embedded command which is an attribute command selectively identifying at least one of said memory locations which is to be locked or unlocked so as to render said at least one memory location accessible or inaccessible to at least one of said host station and said subscriber unit, and means for processing said attribute command to lock or unlock said at least one memory location, whereby to control access to said at least one memory location from at least one of said host station and said subscriber unit.

28. A system as claimed in claim 27, including means for detecting when a decoded said second message comprises an embedded command which is a write command, and means for writing data comprised in said second message into at least one of said memory locations.

29. A system as claimed in claim 28, wherein said attribute command locks said at least one memory location to prevent overwriting from at least one of said host station and said subscriber unit.

30. A system as claimed in claim 29, wherein each said subscriber unit includes access means enabling said memory locations of said subscriber unit to be selectively accessed, when required, to fetch from a selected said memory location data stored therein.

31. A system as claimed in claim 30, wherein each said subscriber unit includes means to present information corresponding to data fetched from a selected said memory location to a user of said subscriber unit, and means for transmitting data fetched from a selected said memory location to said at least one host station.

32. A system as claimed in claim 27, wherein said attribute command locks said at least one memory location to prevent reading of data stored therein from at least one of said host station and said subscriber unit.

33. A system as claimed in claim 27, including means for detecting when said decoded second message comprises an embedded command which is a read command, and means for reading data stored in at least one of said memory locations as identified by said read command, a buffer for storing the data read from said at least one memory location, means for encoding said stored data into a third message coded in said second format, and means for transmitting said third message.

34. A system as claimed in claim 33, wherein said at least one memory location is a secure memory location and said data is only fetched and transmitted from a said secure memory location in response to entry of a personal identification signal into said subscriber unit.

35. A system as claimed in claim 27, including means for detecting when a decoded said second message comprises an embedded command which is an execute command, and means for executing data stored in at least one said memory location.

36. A system as claimed in claim 27, including means for detecting when a decoded said second message comprises an executable application data file program for providing additional services, and means for executing said program.

37. A module for controlling a subscriber unit in a telecommunications system including at least one host station, said module being adapted to be removably connected to said subscriber unit, and said module comprising a multiplicity of memory locations adapted to be selectively accessible from said at least one host station and said subscriber unit, means for detecting first and second messages transmitted thereto from said at least one host station, said first message being coded in a predetermined first format and said second message being coded in a second format which is distinguished from said first format, said second format comprising a data stream having an embedded command, said module further comprising means for detecting received first and second messages, means for distinguishing said formats, means connected to said distinguishing means for decoding said second messages coded in said second format, means for detecting when a decoded said second message comprises an attribute command selectively identifying at least one of said memory locations which is to be locked or unlocked so as to render said at least one memory location accessible or inaccessible to at least one of said host station and subscriber unit, and means for processing said attribute command to lock or unlock said at least one memory location, whereby to control access to said at least one memory location from at least one of said host station and said subscriber unit.

38. A module as claimed in claim 37, including means for detecting when a decoded said second message comprises an embedded command which is a write command, and means for writing data comprised in said second message into at least one of said memory locations.

39. A module as claimed in claim 38, wherein said attribute command locks said at least one memory location to prevent overwriting from at least one of said host station and said subscriber unit.

40. A module as claimed in claim 39, wherein each said subscriber unit includes access means enabling said memory locations of said subscriber unit to be selectively accessed, when required, to fetch from a selected said memory location data stored therein.

41. A module as claimed in claim 40, wherein each said subscriber unit includes means to present information corresponding to data fetched from a selected said memory location to a user of said subscriber unit, and means for transmitting data fetched from a selected said memory location to said at least one host station.

42. A module as claimed in claim 37, wherein said attribute command locks said at least one memory location to prevent reading of data stored therein from at least one of said host station and said subscriber unit.

43. A module as claimed in claim 37, including means for detecting when said decoded second message comprises an embedded command which is a read command, and means for reading data stored in at least one of said memory locations as identified by said read command, a buffer for storing the data read from said at least one memory location, means for encoding said stored data into a third message coded in said second format, and means for transmitting said third message.

44. A module as claimed in claim 43, wherein said at least one memory location is a secure memory location and said data is only fetched and transmitted from a said secure memory location in response to entry of a personal identification signal into said subscriber unit.

45. A module as claimed in claim 37, including means for detecting when a decoded said second message comprises an embedded command which is an execute command, and means for executing data stored in at least one said memory location.

46. A module as claimed in claim 37, including means for detecting when a decoded said second message comprises an executable application data file program for providing additional services, and means for executing said program.