Call transfer activation indicator in a radio telecommunications network

• US 6,301,473 B1
• Filed: 07/17/1998
• Issued: 10/09/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Nguyen, Thien, Nguyen, Viet
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Lee
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Simon
• Application Number:
  US09/118,428
• Time in Patent Office: 1,180 Days
• Field of Search: 455/414, 455/417, 455/433, 455/445, 455/432, 455/459, 379/211.02, 379/212.01
• US Class Current: 455/417
• 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 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold

Abstract

A method of sending a call transfer notification (CTN) to a mobile station (MS) in a radio telecommunications network. The CTN indicates that a call transfer feature is activated, and is displayed on the MS display until the call transfer feature is deactivated or the MS is turned off. The network includes a serving Mobile Switching Center (MSC) which serves the MS, and a Home Location Register (HLR) which stores a subscriber profile associated with the MS. The method begins by storing in the subscriber profile, a CTN Active parameter that indicates whether or not the CTN should be sent to the MS whenever the MS is powered up. A CTN Type parameter is also stored in the subscriber profile and indicates which type of call transfer feature is activated. When the HLR is notified that the MS has been powered up, the CTN Active parameter is checked in the subscriber profile to determine whether the CTN should be sent to the MS. The CTN Type parameter is then checked to determine which type of call transfer feature is activated. The CTN is then sent from the serving MSC to the MS in a Short Message Service (SMS) display message which includes an indication of which type of call transfer feature is activated. If the call transfer feature is deactivated, the CTN is removed from the MS display.

Claims

1. A method of sending a call transfer notification (CTN) to a mobile station (MS) in a radio telecommunications network wherein there are a plurality of types of call transfer features, said CTN indicating that a call transfer feature is activated, and said network including a serving Mobile Switching Center (MSC) which serves the MS and a Home Location Register (HLR) which stores a subscriber profile associated with the MS, said method comprising the steps of:

storing in the subscriber profile in the HLR, a CTN Active parameter that indicates whether or not the CTN should be sent to the MS whenever the MS is powered up;

storing in the subscriber profile in the HLR, a CTN Type parameter that indicates which type of call transfer feature is activated for the MS;

notifying the HLR that the MS has been powered up;

checking the CTN Active parameter in the subscriber profile to determine in the HLR whether the CTN should be sent to the MS whenever the MS is powered up;

determining in the HLR which type of call feature is activated for the MS by checking the CTN Type parameter in the subscriber profile; and

sending the CTN to the MS upon determining that the CTN should be sent to the MS whenever the MS is powered up, in order to provide an indication to a user of the mobile station that the type of call transfer feature determined in the HLR is currently activated for the mobile station.

2. The method of sending a call transfer notification (CTN) to a mobile station (MS) of claim 1 wherein the step of sending the CTN to the MS includes sending an indication of which type of call transfer feature is activated.

3. The method of sending a call transfer notification (CTN) to a mobile station (MS) of claim 2 wherein the step of sending the CTN to the MS includes sending the CTN to the MS in a Short Message Service (SMS) display message.

4. The method of sending a call transfer notification (CTN) to a mobile station (MS) of claim 3 further comprising the step of displaying the CTN on the MS as long as the MS is turned on.

5. The method of sending a call transfer notification (CTN) to a mobile station (MS) of claim 1 wherein the step of sending the CTN to the MS includes sending the CTN to the MS as an alert pip tone.

6. The method of sending a call transfer notification (CTN) to a mobile station (MS) of claim 1 wherein the step of sending the CTN to the MS includes sending a Qualification Directive (QUALDIR) Invoke message from the HLR to the serving MSC, said QUALDIR Invoke message including the CTN Active parameter and the CTN Type parameter.

7. The method of sending a call transfer notification (CTN) to a mobile station (MS) of claim 6 wherein the step of sending the CTN to the MS includes sending a Short Message Service (SMS) display message from the serving MSC to the MS.

8. The method of sending a call transfer notification (CTN) to a mobile station (MS) of claim 7 further comprising the step of displaying the CTN on the MS as long as the MS is turned on.