Method and system to provide objects, especially documents, multimedia objects, software applications and/or processes to users of a telecommunications network

• US 6,829,593 B1
• Filed: 01/05/2000
• Issued: 12/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Stripe, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Swisscom Mobile AG (Government of Switzerland)
• Inventors: Ritter, Rudolf, Lauper, Eric, Cabano, Claudio
• Primary Examiner(s): Dixon, Thomas A.
• Application Number:
  US09/477,803
• Time in Patent Office: 1,798 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1, 705/50, 705/51, 705/52, 705/53, 705/72, 463/40, 463/16, 463/20, 455/403, 455/410, 455/411, 455/412, 455/413, 455/414, 455/415, 455/416, 455/417, 455/517, 455/519, 375/220
• US Class Current: 705/51
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2066 Call type detection of indication, e.g. voice or fax, mobile of fixed, PSTN or IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2026 Wireless network, e.g. GSM, PCS, TACS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/382 using authorisation codes or passwords
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42229 Personal communication services, i.e. services related to one subscriber independent of his terminal and/or location diverting calls from one subscriber to another subscriber, i.e. two different subscriptions H04M3/54; selecting arrangements in intelligent networks H04Q3/005
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/493 Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries ; Arrangements therefor, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] systems or voice portals
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5307 for recording messages comprising any combination of audio and non-audio components
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53316 Messaging centre selected by message originator
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/00 Arrangements for interconnection between switching centres
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/12 for working between exchanges having different types of switching equipment, e.g. power-driven and step by step or decimal and non-decimal
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0062 Provisions for network management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing

Abstract

Method with which a first user of a mobile telecommunications network, in which users are identified with a chip card by the provider of the telecommunications network, can provide objects to other users of the telecommunications network, with the following steps:

reserving by the first user of a memory area in an accessible database in said telecommunications network, in which at least a number of users can store objects, for example documents and programs,

filing by the first user of objects in said memory area,

allocation by the first user of access authorizations for said objects,

sending by a second user of a query to said database,

verification of the access authorization of the second user through the database administration system, by using the second user'"'"'s identity stored in his said personal identification module for his identification in the database administration system,

if his access authorization allows it, sending of a reply from the database to the second user.

Claims

1. Method with which a first nomad user of a telecommunications network (2), in which users can provide objects to other users of the telecommunications network, the method comprising the steps:

of

identifying a user by using a personal identification module;

reserving by the first user of a memory area (440) in an accessible database system (4) in said telecommunications network, in which at least a number of users can store objects,

filing by the first user of objects in said memory area (440), allocation by the first user of access authorizations (441) for said objects,

sending by a second user of a query to said database system (4),

verification of the access authorization of the second user through the database system (4), by using the second user'"'"'s identity (102) stored in his said personal identification module (10) for his identification in the database system (4),

if his access authorization allows it, sending of a reply from the database system (4) to the second user,

wherein said database system (4) is connected to said telecommunications network (2) via a TCP/IP link,

wherein the queries from users and the replies from the database system (4) are converted in a DIA interface (3) between the telecommunications network (2) and the TCP/IP link,

wherein at least some messages between said user and the database system (4) are signed electronically.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the integrity of at least one of certain transmitted queries and objects are verified with said electronic key.

3. Method with which a first nomad user of a telecommunications network (2), in which users can provide objects to other users of the telecommunications network, the method comprising the steps:

of

identifying a user by using a personal identification module;

reserving by the first user of a memory area (440) in an accessible database system (4) in said telecommunications network, in which at least a number of users can store objects,

filing by the first user of objects in said memory area (440), allocation by the first user of access authorizations (441) for said objects,

sending by a second user of a query to said database system (4),

verification of the access authorization of the second user through the database system (4), by using the second user'"'"'s identity (102) stored in his said personal identification module (10) for his identification in the database system (4),

if his access authorization allows it, sending of a reply from the database system (4) to the second user,

wherein a fee is billed at the analysis of at least certain queries, a message with at least one indication of this amount being prepared and sent to a billing center (21) in said telecommunications network (2), the billing center (21) also billing the users for use of the telecommunications network (2), and wherein said billing center (21) debits the user of that amount.

4. Method according to claim 3, wherein at least certain said amounts are automatically deducted from a prepaid amount of money in the user'"'"'s identification module.

5. Method according to one of claim 3 or 4, wherein at least certain said amounts are billed to the second users with their bill for use of the telecommunications network.

6. Method with which a first nomad user of a telecommunications network (2), in which users can provide objects to other users of the telecommunications network, the method comprising the steps:

of

identifying a user by using a personal identification module regardless of the user'"'"'s geographic location and also regardless of any network being accessed;

reserving by the first user of a memory area (440) in an accessible database system (4) in said telecommunications network, in which at least a number of users can store objects,

filing by the first user of objects in said memory area (440), allocation by the first user of access authorizations (441) for said objects,

sending by a second user of a query to said database system (4),

verification of the access authorization of the second user through the database system (4), by using the second user'"'"'s identity (102) stored in his said personal identification module (10) for his identification in the database system (4),

if his access authorization allows it, sending of a reply from the database system (4) to the second user.

7. Method according to claim 6, wherein said database system (4) is distributed in various hosts (44) accessible from said telecommunications network (2).

8. Method according to claim 6, wherein said telecommunications network (2) is a digital mobile radio network (20).

9. Method according to claim 6, wherein said telecommunications network (2) is a digital Power Line Communication network.

10. Method according to claim 6, wherein said telecommunications network (2) is a digital telephone network in which users identify themselves regardless of terminal (1) with a chip card (10).

11. Method according to claim 6, wherein said database system (4) is connected to said telecommunications network (2) via a TCP/IP link.

12. Method according to claim 11, wherein the queries from users and the replies from the database system (4) are converted in a DIA interface (3) between the telecommunications network (2) and the TCP/IP link.

13. Method according to claim 6, wherein the users do not request access authorization for the access to certain public objects.

14. Method according to claim 6, wherein the users allot an access authorization only to a limited number of predefined users (CUG Closed User Group).

15. Method according to claim 14, wherein users allot an access authorization for certain objects only to themselves.

16. Method according to claim 6, wherein users allot an access authorization for certain objects only to holders of a certain token.

17. Method according to claim 16, wherein said token contains an electronic key.

18. Method according to one of the claim 16 or 17, wherein said token is erased after access to the objects in question.

19. Method according to claim 18, wherein said token is only erased after the database system (4) receives a confirmation from the querying user that the latter has received completely the objects in question.

20. Method according to claim 6, wherein the users additionally identify themselves to the database system (4) with a password.

21. Method according to claim 20, wherein the password is requested by the user administrator.

22. Method according to claim 20, wherein the password is requested by an application in the user'"'"'s identification module (10).

23. Method according to one of claims 20-22, wherein users additionally identify themselves to the database system (4) with an electronic key stored in the identification module (10).

24. Method according to claim 6, wherein said identity (102) is an IMSI.

25. Method according to one of claim 6 or 24, wherein said identity (102) is contained in an applet in the identification module (10).

26. Method according to claim 17, wherein said electronic key is supplied by a Trusted Third Party (TTP).

27. Method according to claim 6, wherein a user profile of at least certain users is stored in said database system (4).

28. Method according to claim 27, wherein said user profiles contain the users'"'"' priority parameters for use of the database system (4).

29. Method according to one of claim 27 or 28, wherein said user profiles indicate as a bookmark the users'"'"' preferred queries.

30. Method according to claim 6, wherein the providing users identify themselves through their identification module (10) to reserve a memory area (440).

31. Method according to claim 30, wherein said reserved memory areas (440) can be rented to providing users.

32. Method according to claim 31, wherein a billed fee for the rented memory area (440) depends on the amount of data and on the storage time.

33. Method according to claim 6, wherein users reserve memory area through the internet and store objects in these memory areas.

34. Method according to claim 10, wherein the WAP protocol is used for the transfer of data between the terminal (1) and the database system (4) and for a menu structure.

35. Method according to claim 6, wherein at some portion of said objects are documents.

36. Method according to claim 6, wherein at least some portion of said objects are multimedia objects.

37. Method according to claim 6, wherein at least some portion of said objects are applications that can be run by second users.

38. Method according to claim 6, wherein said first users can allocate an expiration date for the stored objects after which these objects can no longer be consulted.

39. Method according to, claim 6 wherein said first users can allocate a time window for the stored objects during which these objects can be consulted.

40. Method according to claim 6, wherein at least certain said first users can allocate a Quality of Service (QoS) to the stored objects.

41. Method according to claim 6, wherein at least certain said second users require a Quality of Service (QoS) in their user profile which indicates with what quality these users can receive objects.

42. Method according to one of the claim 40 or 41, wherein said Quality of Service comprises a minimal bandwidth for the transmission of objects.

43. Method according to one of the claims 40 to 41, wherein said Quality of Service comprises a maximal object transfer time.

44. Method according to one of the claims 40 to 41, wherein said Quality of Service comprises a preferred transmission channel.

45. Method according claim 6, wherein said objects are stored in one directory hierarchy defined at least partially by the database administrator (43).

46. Method according to claim 45, wherein at least certain objects are search engines that can perform at least one of index and catalogue other objects in order to be able to search for them.

47. Method according to claim 6, wherein the user profile contains information on the terminal (10) used by the second user.

48. Method according to claim 6, wherein at least certain sought objects are transferred via a Bluetooth interface (14, 63) to another unit (6).

49. Method according to claim 23, wherein said electronic key is supplied by a Trusted Third Party (TTP).

50. Method according to claim 42, wherein said Quality of Service comprises a maximal object transfer time.

51. Method according to claim 50, wherein said Quality of Service comprises a preferred transmission channel.

52. Method according to claim 42, wherein said Quality of Service comprises a preferred transmission channel.

53. Method according to claim 43, wherein said Quality of Service comprises a preferred transmission channel.