Communication method and system

• US 7,702,326 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2000
• Issued: 04/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Haumont, Serge
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; CongVan
• Application Number:
  US10/181,040
• Publication Number:
  US 20030092390A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,406 Days
• Field of Search: 455/8, 455/67.7, 455/67.11, 455423-425, 455/406, 455/408, 455/422.1, 455/67.13
• US Class Current: 455/423
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/06 Management of faults, events, alarms or notifications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements

Abstract

A telecommunication system comprises a mobile station, or handset, usable by a user, at least one switching center connectable to the mobile station. The system is arranged such that when an attempt to establish a connection between the mobile station and the switching center fails, information relating to the cause of the connection failure is provided to the mobile station. The mobile station is able to provide this information to help a center.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a receiver configured to receive information from a communications system when a connection failure occurs between said apparatus and at least one node, said received information relating to a cause of said connection failure; and

a transmitter configured to provide to a management entity information comprising said received information relating to the cause of connection failure, said transmitted information enabling said management entity to provide assistance to said apparatus to assist a user of said apparatus in correcting an error relating to the cause of said connection failure.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said information received by the apparatus causes the apparatus to request if the user requires assistance from the management entity.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the receiver is further configured to receive information from said management entity to change at least one setting of the apparatus.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the receiver is further configured to receive from said management entity a message advising as to the cause of the failure.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a connection is established between the apparatus and the management entity so that the user is able to communicate with a helper at the management entity.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said management entity is further configured to ensure that said user receives charges associated with said assistance.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said communications system comprises a wireless telecommunications system.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said communications system comprises a cellular telecommunications system.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said communications system supports voice connections.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said communications system supports data connections.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said communications system comprises a general packet radio service system.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein said at least one node comprises a servicing general packet radio service support node.

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said information is provided by a short message service.

14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said apparatus further comprises user equipment.

15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein said user equipment comprises a mobile station.

16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said communications system comprises a wired telecommunications system.

17. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said connection failure occurs for one or more of the following reasons:

incorrect information input by said user to said apparatus;

an unavailable service requested by said user;

the user does not subscribe to a requested service;

incorrect settings of said apparatus; and

errors at the at least one node or any other node.

18. A method comprising:

receiving at an apparatus information relating to a cause of a connection failure for a connection between the apparatus and at least one node;

transmitting from said apparatus to a management entity said information relating to a cause of the connection failure; and

receiving assistance at said apparatus from the management entity to assist a user of said apparatus in correcting an error relating to the cause of said connection failure.

22. The method as claimed in claim 18, further comprising:

when said information is received by the apparatus, the apparatus requesting if the user requires assistance from the management entity.

23. The method as claimed in claim 18, further comprising:

receiving information from said management entity to change at least one setting of the apparatus.

24. The method as claimed in claim 18, further comprising:

receiving from said management entity a message advising as to the cause of the failure.

25. The method as claimed in claim 18 further comprising:

establishing a connection with the management entity so that the user is able to communicate with a helper at the management entity.

26. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein said management entity is configured to ensure that said user receives charges associated with said assistance.

27. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein said communications system comprises a wireless telecommunications system.

28. The method as claimed in claim 27, wherein said communications system comprises a cellular telecommunications system.

29. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein said communications system supports voice connections.

30. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein said communications system supports data connections.

31. The method as claimed in claim 30, wherein said communications system comprises a general packet radio service system.

32. The method as claimed in claim 31, wherein said at least one node comprises a servicing general packet radio service support node.

33. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein said information is provided by a short message service.

34. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein said apparatus further comprises user equipment.

35. The method as claimed in claim 34, wherein said user equipment comprises a mobile station.

36. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein said communications system comprises a wired telecommunications system.

37. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein said connection failure occurs for one or more of the following reasons:

incorrect information input by said user to said apparatus;

an unavailable service requested by said user;

the user does not subscribe to a requested service;

incorrect settings of said apparatus; and

errors at the at least one node or any other node.

38. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein said management entity communicates with said apparatus via said at least one node.

19. A system, comprising:

an apparatus usable by a user; and

at least one node, said apparatus being connectable with the at least one node,

said system being configured such that when a connection failure occurs between said apparatus and said at least one node, information relating to a cause of said connection failure is provided to a management entity, said management entity providing assistance to the apparatus to assist the user of said apparatus in correcting an error relating to the cause of said connection failure.

20. A method, comprising:

determining when a connection failure occurs in a communications system, between an apparatus usable by a user and at least one node;

providing information relating to a cause of said connection failure to a management entity; and

providing assistance from said management entity to said apparatus, to assist the user of said apparatus in correcting an error relating to the cause of said connection failure.

21. An apparatus, comprising:

receiving means for receiving information from a communications system when a connection failure occurs between said apparatus and at least one node, said received information relating to a cause of said connection failure; and

transmitting means for transmitting to a management entity information comprising said received information relating to the cause of connection failure, said transmitted information enabling said management entity to provide assistance to said apparatus to assist a user of said apparatus in correcting an error relating to the cause of said connection failure.