Method and system of offering wireless telecommunication services in a visited telecommunication network

• US 6,741,848 B2
• Filed: 11/14/2001
• Issued: 05/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Timonen, Juha T., Smolander, Jouni
• Primary Examiner(s): Urban, Edward F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Simon
• Application Number:
  US09/987,483
• Publication Number:
  US 20020058494A1
• Time in Patent Office: 923 Days
• Field of Search: 455/405, 455/406, 455/407, 455/408, 455/410, 455/411, 455/415, 455/422, 455/557, 455/558, 379/121.01, 379/115.02, 379/114.17
• US Class Current: 455/405
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/069 using certificates or pre-shared keys
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/265 for initial activation of new user

Abstract

A method and system of offering wireless telecommunication services in a visited telecommunication network for a terminal device which does not have a first identifier accepted by the network. In the method, the visited network gives the terminal device a right to a temporary use of a telecommunication connection and establishes a connection with a third party in order to obtain a confirmation of paid services, for example. The third party checks a second identifier transmitted by the terminal device and transmits the confirmation to the visited network, which offers telecommunication services for the terminal device.

Claims

1. A method of providing telecommunication services in a telecommunication system, the system including at least one terminal device and a fixed network providing network access for said terminal device, the method comprising:

establishing a connection from said terminal device to said fixed network,

checking a first identifier of said terminal device in said fixed network,

transmitting a third party identifier from said terminal device to the fixed network,

establishing a connection from said fixed network to a third party other than a called party on the basis of the received third party identifier for obtaining a confirmation,

transmitting a second identifier from said terminal device to the third party for identification,

replying to said fixed network with the confirmation given by the third party in response to the third party accepting the second identifier,

allowing said terminal device to use the telecommunication services of said fixed network in response to the confirmation of the third party, and

initiating a connection establishment to a network according to a number to be called.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connection from said fixed network to the third party is established in response to said terminal device not having the first identifier accepted by said fixed network.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising charging for the use of telecommunication services on the basis of the confirmation transmitted by the third party.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the third party is charged for the use of the telecommunication services.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the third party identifier is a telephone number.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

setting a time limit for the duration of a telecommunication connection of said terminal device,

activating a timer when establishing the telecommunication connection of said terminal device, and

preventing the offering of the telecommunication connection to said terminal device when the time measured by the timer exceeds the time limit.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising reserving a temporary user identity for said terminal device to said fixed network.

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

setting a time limit for the validity of said user identity, and

rejecting to offer telecommunication services for said terminal device if the time limit is exceeded.

9. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the third party identifies a terminal device user via the second identifier.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the third party identifies the user every time the user requires a telecommunication service.

11. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said telecommunication system is wireless and said terminal device is a mobile station.

12. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said terminal device is provided with a smart card, whose application includes the second identifier, which is transmitted to the third party.

13. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the application of said smart card is a payment application comprising the second identifier.

14. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein

the application of said smart card is a SIM application, and

that the third party is another wireless telecommunication system.

15. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a public-key identification method is employed.

16. A telecommunication system comprising at least one terminal device and a fixed network providing network access for said terminal device, wherein

said terminal device is configured to transmit a third party identifier to said fixed network during connection establishment,

said fixed network is configured to check a first identifier of said terminal device, said fixed network is configured to establish a connection to a third party other than a called party on the basis of the received third party identifier for obtaining a confirmation,

said terminal device is configured to transmit a second identifier to the third party for identification,

the third party is configured to transmit the confirmation to said fixed network in response to the third party accepting the second identifier,

said fixed network is configured to offer telecommunication services for said terminal device in response to the confirmation of the third party, and

said fixed network is configured to initiate a connection establishment to a network according to a number to be called.

17. A system as claimed in claim 16, wherein said fixed network is configured to establish a connection to the third party in response to said terminal device not having the first identifier accepted by said fixed network.

18. A system as claimed in claim 16, wherein said fixed network is configured to charge for the use of telecommunication services on the basis of the confirmation transmitted by the third party.

19. A system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the third party identifier is a telephone number.

20. A system as claimed in claim 16, wherein said fixed network is configured to reserve a temporary user identity for said terminal device to the fixed network.

21. A system as claimed in claim 16, wherein

said telecommunication system is wireless, and

said terminal device is a mobile station.

22. A system as claimed in claim 16, wherein

said terminal device comprises means for using a smart card in the terminal device, the terminal device, and

said fixed network is configured to transmit the second identifier of an application of the smart card to the third party.

23. A system as claimed in claim 22, wherein the application of the smart card is a payment application comprising the second identifier.

24. A system as claimed in claim 22, wherein the application of said smart card is a SIM application and that the third party is another wireless telecommunication system.

25. A system as claimed in claim 16, wherein at least said smart card and the third party are configured to employ a public-key identification method.

26. A network element of a telecommunication system, wherein

said network element is configured to provide network access for at least one terminal device and,

said network element is configured to check a first identifier of said terminal device,

said network element is configured to receive a third party identifier from said terminal device,

said network element is configured to establish a connection to a third party other than a called party on the basis of the received third party identifier in response to said terminal device not having the first identifier accepted by said network element,

said network element is configured to offer telecommunication services for said terminal device in response to a confirmation from the third party, and

said network element is configured to initiate a connection establishment to a network according to a number to be called.

27. A network element as claimed in claim 26, wherein the network element is a mobile services switching centre of a wireless telecommunication system.