Method for activating intelligent network services in a mobile communication system, and a mobile communication system

• US 6,044,264 A
• Filed: 08/22/1997
• Issued: 03/28/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Telecommunications Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Huotari, Seppo, Turkulainen, Veli
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEGREE, TRACY MICHELLE
• Application Number:
  US08/836,544
• Time in Patent Office: 949 Days
• Field of Search: 455/414, 455/445, 455/517, 455/433, 455/422, 455/435, 455/418, 379/207, 379/201, 379/219, 379/220, 379/229, 379/230
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0037 involving call modelling techniques, e.g. modifications to the basic call state model [BCSM]

Abstract

The invention relates to a mobile communication network and a method for activating intelligent network services in the mobile communication network. In the invention, the mobile services switching center (MSC) operates as the service switching point of the intelligent network. The mobile services switching center stores the service triggers, which service triggers comprise the triggering criteria for the services and the information required for visiting the service control point (SCP). The mobile subscriber'"'"'s subscriber data in the subscriber database (HLR) is provided with an intelligent network service trigger key which points to one or more service triggers. As the mobile services switching center obtains the trigger key of the mobile subscriber during the call setup, it activates the service triggers indicated by the key. As the triggering criteria of the service trigger are met at some phase of the call, the mobile services switching center triggers the respective intelligent network service in the service control point (SCP) indicated by the service trigger.

Claims

1. A mobile communication system comprising

at least one mobile services switching center,

mobile subscribers,

at least one subscriber database

an intelligent network comprising at least one service switching point and at least one service control point comprising the database and service logic programs of the intelligent network, whereby the intelligent network contains predefined service triggers, each service trigger defining triggering criteria for activating a respective intelligent network service in one of the service control points,

the mobile services switching center operating as the service switching point of the intelligent network, and the service control point being implemented as a functional unit independent of the mobile services switching center, and communicates with the mobile services switching center by means of an intelligent network interface and an intelligent network protocol,

subscriber data of a mobile subscriber entitled to intelligent network services in said at least one subscriber database including a service trigger key pointing to one or more service triggers,

the mobile services switching center being arranged to react to the service trigger key of the mobile subscriber during call setup by retrieving one or more service triggers pointed to by the trigger key, and by triggering an intelligent network service corresponding to said retrieved service trigger in one of the service control points as the triggering criteria of the service trigger are met.

2. A mobile communication system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mobile services switching center comprises the service triggers and trigger keys of the intelligent network in the form of a table in which each trigger key points to one or more triggers.

3. A mobile communication system as claimed in claim 1, comprising predefined service packages for one or more services in the intelligent network, each package having a dedicated trigger key.

4. A mobile communication network as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mobile services switching center comprises

a call control point for intelligent network calls,

a service switching function having the ability to communicate with the service control point by using a standard intelligent network protocol, and with the call control point by using an internal interface.

5. A method for activating an intelligent network service in a mobile communication network comprising at least one mobile services switching center, mobile subscribers, at least one subscriber database and an intelligent network comprising at least one service switching point, and at least one service control point comprising a database and service logic programs of the intelligent network, the method comprising:

maintaining in the intelligent network predefined service triggers, each service trigger defining triggering criteria for activating a respective intelligent network service in one of the service control points,

defining in a subscriber data of a mobile subscriber entitled to intelligent network services with a trigger key which points to one or more service triggers,

maintaining the service triggers in the mobile services switching center so that they can be activated by the trigger key,

activating in the mobile services switching center, in conjunction with an intelligent network call, the service triggers pointed to by the trigger key of the mobile subscriber, and

triggering the intelligent network service corresponding to the service trigger in one of the service control points as the triggering criteria of the service trigger are met in the mobile services switching center.

6. A method as claimed in claim 5, comprising obtaining, at the mobile services switching center, the trigger key of the mobile subscriber as a result of analysis of a directory number of a called subscriber, in an incoming signaling file or in supplementary service information of a private branch exchange.

7. A method as claimed in claim 5, comprising:

storing the trigger key of the mobile subscriber entitled to intelligent network services in subscriber data of said at least one subscriber database,

transferring the trigger key from said at least one subscriber database to the mobile services switching center during call setup,

activating in the mobile services switching center the one or more of service triggers to which the trigger key point, and

triggering the intelligent network service corresponding to the service trigger in one of the specific service control points as the triggering criteria are met in the mobile services switching center.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising:

initiating the call setup by the mobile subscriber, carrying out by the mobile services switching center an inquiry to the subscriber database,

sending the trigger key from the subscriber database to the mobile services switching center in a response,

activating by the mobile services switching center the service triggers pointed to by the trigger key, and

triggering by the mobile services switching center the intelligent network service corresponding to the service trigger in one of the specific service control points, when the triggering criteria are met in the mobile services switching center.

9. A method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising:

receiving, at the mobile services switching center, the mobile terminating call,

carrying out by the mobile services switching center an inquiry to the subscriber database,

sending the trigger key from the subscriber database to the mobile services switching center in a response,

activating by the mobile services switching center the service triggers pointed to by the trigger key, and

triggering by the mobile services switching center the intelligent network service corresponding to the service trigger in one of the service control points as the triggering criteria are met in the mobile services switching center.

10. A method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the activation of an intelligent network service in a mobile terminating call comprises in a gateway mobile services switching center of the mobile communication network, the method further comprising:

receiving, at the gateway mobile services switching center, the mobile terminating call,

carrying out by the gateway mobile services switching center a routing information inquiry to the subscriber database,

detecting by the subscriber database the trigger key in subscriber data of the mobile subscriber,

sending the trigger key, instead of a routing information, from the subscriber database to the gateway mobile services switching center,

activating by the gateway mobile services switching center the service triggers pointed to by the trigger key, and

triggering by the gateway mobile services switching center the intelligent network service corresponding to the service trigger in a specific service control point, when the triggering criteria are met in the gateway mobile services switching center.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10, further comprising:

transferring, in the routing information inquiry, information on whether the gateway mobile services switching center is able to function as the service switching point of the intelligent network,

sending the trigger key from the subscriber database to the gateway mobile services switching center, if it is able to function as the service switching point of the intelligent network, and

sending the routing information from the subscriber database to the gateway mobile services switching center, if it is not able to function as the service switching point of the intelligent network.

12. A method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the service trigger includes a control point address of the service, a service key, a service trigger priority, a call model detection point in which the service can be activated, and a triggering criteria.

13. A method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising:

detecting by the mobile services switching center the detection point of the call model,

checking by the mobile services switching center whether there are active service triggers set for the call model detection point,

checking by the mobile services switching center whether the active service trigger is in use and whether the triggering criteria are met, and

activating by the mobile services switching center the intelligent network service by sending an activation message to the service control point, if the triggering criteria are met.

14. A method as claimed in claim 5, further comprising:

storing the service triggers in the mobile services switching center in form of a trigger table indexed by the trigger keys, and

activating the triggers by retrieving those service triggers in the service trigger table pointed to by the trigger key.

15. A method as claimed in claim 5, further comprising predefined service packages, each package consisting of one or more intelligent network services, and having a dedicated trigger key.

16. A method as claimed in claim 5 in a mobile communication network whose subscriber databases comprise at least one home location register and at least one visitor location register, the method further comprising transferring the trigger key from the home location register to the visitor location register during location updating.