Multiplex communications – Communication over free space – Having a plurality of contiguous regions served by...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-02
2003-04-08
Patel, Ajit (Department: 2664)
Multiplex communications
Communication over free space
Having a plurality of contiguous regions served by...
C455S422100, C455S435100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06545987
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method and a service switching point for requesting information during incoming calls to a subscriber in a communications network.
Communications networks are, for example, in the form of fixed networks or radio networks—such as the known GSM mobile radio network (Global System for Mobile Communications)—and have switching devices which are networked with one another. In mobile radio networks, base stations are in each case connected to the switching devices and allow communications terminals to be connected via an air interface. These communications terminals allow a radio subscriber in the radio network access to the network. Furthermore, the switching device can handover the subscriber and communicated-terminal to other networks, for example data transmission networks or a fixed network.
The GSM mobile radio network teaches subscriber databases to be used as memory units in which subscriber-specific data—for example relating to the services for which the subscriber has registered—are in each case stored. One of these memory units provides the so-called home location register which, as a rule, is located at a permanently defined point and in which the data on which the registration of the subscriber are based are stored. Depending on the present location of the mobile subscriber, one memory unit is provided as a so-called visitor location register. Depending on the location of the mobile subscriber, the memory unit for the visitor location register in which the data that are specific for this subscriber are located also changes.
Known communications networks support additional services for the subscribers by forming an intelligent network (IN) using service control points. Such a communication network can be a fixed network or a mobile radio network. These service control points store profiles of the additional services. The control points and profiles include the information required to provide the additional services and can thus change the additional services independently of the respective communications network. In this case, the services that can be used in an intelligent network are initiated in a service switching point. This brings about an exit from the normal call processing and activates the access to the additional services. A CAMEL platform (Customized Application for Mobile network Enhanced Logic) is known from “The CAMEL feature, proposed revisions to the stage
1
description”, from ETSI/STC/SMG
1
. 14.03.95, GSM 02.78, Version 0.4.0, pages 1-14, which makes possible the support of additional provider-specific services for subscribers, for example even when such subscribers are abroad. An operator-specific additional service can thus be used beyond the network and service boundaries of a communications network. This is the situation when the service switching point that initiates the additional service can process the required (CAP) signalling (CAMEL Application Part) for the requested service. Then, signaling information can be interchanged beyond the network boundaries, from and to the home location register, and to the service control point of the additional service.
When a call connection is initiated, the switching device responsible for the incoming call carries out a two-stage location interrogation. In the first stage, the switching device sends a request to the home location register to initiate a dialogue with a service control point, provided an IN/CAMEL subscription entry exists for the subscriber. In the second stage, the switching device requests the home location to request for a mobile subscriber roaming number from a switching device that is currently controlling the radio subscriber being called, and transmit this to the switching device responsible for the incoming call. In the process, the service control point transmits information such as parameters relating to call charging. However, the service control point only transmits this information once in the course of this two-stage interrogation procedure. Accessing data and parameters in the service control point later is impossible. This means that any new information for the called subscriber must be restandardised in each individual case, and a corresponding transmission medium—for example a new message container—must be provided. Furthermore, the only information that can be transmitted is the information available with the interrogation of the service control point at the time when the connection is set up.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a method and service switching point for requesting information during incoming calls to a subscriber in a communications network that overcomes the described disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices of this general type and that improves information transmission during incoming calls.
With the foregoing and other objects in view, there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a method for requesting connection information during incoming calls, during and after the setting up of a connection, to a subscriber in a communications network. The method includes the following steps. Providing communications terminals connected to further devices. The communications terminal granting access to subscribers. Further providing networked switching devices connected to the communications terminals. The networked switching devices handing over subscribers to a further network. Further providing a subscriber database for storing data relating to the subscribers registered in the communications network. And, further providing a service switching point and a service control point for administering services. Sending information-request trigger information from the subscriber database during a connection setting-up procedure to the service switching point that is currently responsible for the subscriber. Storing an information-request trigger event in the service switching point. And, requesting the information directly from a service control point by the service switching point when the information-request trigger event is present.
In accordance with another feature of the invention, the method further includes the following step. Transmitting data and parameters from the service control point via the service switching point to the communications terminal.
In accordance with another feature of the invention, the data and parameters are passed on transparently from the service switching point to the communications terminal.
In accordance with another feature of the invention, the method includes the following additional steps. Processing the data and parameters with the service switching point. And, passing the processed data and parameters to the communications terminal.
In accordance with another feature of the invention, the service control point has an address stored with the information-request trigger information in the service switching point.
In accordance with another feature of the invention, the method includes the following additional steps. Sending the information-request trigger information from the subscriber database upon receipt of a request from the switching device, which receives an incoming call. Requesting an indicator for the information directly from the service control point on the basis of an initiating message from the switching device. And, sending the information-request trigger information together with the indicator from the switching device via the subscriber database to the service switching point, in a request for transmission of a mobile subscriber roaming number, the mobile subscriber roaming number identifying the location of the subscriber.
In accordance with another feature of the invention, the method can include the following additional step. Sending the information-request trigger information from the subscriber database to the service switching point in a message used for updating the location of the subscriber.
In accordance with another feature of the invention, the method can include t
Greenberg Laurence A.
Locher Ralph E.
Patel Ajit
Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
Stemer Werner H.
LandOfFree
Method and service switching point for requesting... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method and service switching point for requesting..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method and service switching point for requesting... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3114556