Telecommunications – Radiotelephone system – Zoned or cellular telephone system
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-12
2002-02-05
Maung, Nay (Department: 2681)
Telecommunications
Radiotelephone system
Zoned or cellular telephone system
C455S414200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06345184
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to telecommunication systems comprising a plurality of communication networks through which a user can roam, such as a mobile or cordless telecommunication user, and more particularly to a method of and a telecommunication system equipped for providing a consistent set of services to a user when roaming through the networks of a system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Typical cordless radio communication networks such as operating in accordance with the Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT) standard, generally comprise a plurality of radio base stations which connect to a so-called central interface unit or radio exchange which, in turn, is connected to or integral with a Private Branch Exchange (PBX). Each base station covers a limited area, generally called a cell, within which a wireless communication link can be established with a remote telecommunication device such as a portable radio telephone. A call in progress can be handed over from one base station to another while the remote telecommunication device is moving in the coverage area of the radio network.
A plurality of cordless radio communication networks, such as networks installed at geographically spread sites of a company or public radio networks each covering a particular city, for example, may form a radio telecommunication system to which a user may have acquired access rights. The several networks of a system may operate in a so-called stand-alone or in a mutually interconnected configuration. In the latter case using the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) or private or leased lines for the coupling of the networks, for example.
Despite the current approach for open or generic communication protocols and interfaces, the different telecommunication devices and/or the networks obtained from different manufacturers may still require different access procedures and protocols for accessing network services, for example.
Services like diverting a call to a user or closing off the divert function may, in different networks, require different commands from the telecommunication device. For example, a service like Call Back (CB) may in one network be initiated by dialing a “5”, for example, whereas this service is accessed in another network by dialing a “3” or is not available at all. Without any additional support from the system, a user roaming through the several networks has to posses the relevant knowledge of how to access the different services in the different networks. From a service point of view, this is not a user friendly solution.
Short number dialing is an example of a service which, in general, has a limited use. For instance, in a first network the subscribers thereof may be accessed by a three digit telephone number which can be stored in a memory of a telecommunication device. However, using the same device in a second network, for instance a network at a different site of a company, the short numbers that are stored in the telecommunication device cannot be used as these numbers refer now to the subscribers of the second network or even to non-existing subscribers in the second network. Thus, in order to set up a call, the stored numbers need to be preceded by suitable access codes or prefixes, such as access codes for getting connected to an external line, area codes etc. which can be different for and from each individual network and, accordingly, have to be known by the user of the telecommunication device.
Further, in the case of services such a Call Forwarding on No Reply (CFNRy) or Call Forwarding on Busy (CFB), a user may have stored in a database of the communication system—such as a database located at the home network of the user—a plurality of extension numbers to which incoming calls have to be forwarded. The home network of a user is in general the network at which subscriber specific information of a user is registered such as access rights, information for billing purposes, etc.
When roaming to a different (visited) network, these data are not known to this network and, in the case of a telecommunication system having interconnected networks, the relevant data have to be transferred by the telecommunication system from the home network database to the visited network database whenever the user is registered at a visited network, for example. In another embodiment the visited network has to set up inquiry calls to the home network to fetch the relevant data on a case by case basis, for example. However, the network features or the network support for establishing such data transfers or inquiry calls, for example, are not yet generally available whereas also a considerable amount of signaling load is imposed on the telecommunication system in those cases wherein such network features are already available.
German patent application DE 43 43 335 discloses a multi mode radio telephone terminal (GSM/DECT) which, among others, provides the user with a network independent interface for call set up. The radio telephone is provided with means for establishing the network to which the radio telephone is currently connected and means for storing a complete subscriber number, i.e. area code, local prefix and terminal number of a preferred network, for example the network at which the user is available during business hours. The radio telephone is further provided with means for processing a dialled telephone number.
Independent of the network to which the radio telephone currently connects, the user may dial a telephone number in accordance with the interface of the preferred network. A dialled telephone number is processed in accordance with the stored subscriber number and call set up information of the network to which the radio telephone currently connects. Accordingly, the user can place calls from the radio telephone terminal without having knowledge of call set up procedures different from his preferred network or home network. That is, the user is provided with a universal user interface for call set up.
British patent application 2,292,047 discloses a radio telephone having different software modules bearing software such that services can be executed from the radio telephone in at least two different networks having different service software requirements. This British patent application is not concerned with the above described problem of providing a user interface independent of the network to which a radio telephone currently connects.
Both, DE 43 43 335 and GB 2,92,047 disclose a fixed storage of service specific data when the radio telephone is used for the first time.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has for its object to provide in a cost effective, flexible and efficient manner a consistent set of services, inclusive call set up, to a telecommunication user roaming in or between networks of a telecommunication system. In particular to provide the set of services to the user in a uniform manner such that, while roaming through different networks, the user does not have to possess the knowledge of how to access the different services in the different networks.
The present invention has also for its object to provide a telecommunication device and a telecommunication system equipped for providing a consistent set of services to a user when roaming through different networks of a-telecommunication system. In particular a radio telecommunication device by which a user may access different radio communication networks, such that while roaming from one network to another the user can access the different services of a system in a consistent manner by using one and the same telecommunication device. For example, a cordless telephone operating in accordance with the DECT standard.
According to the invention there is provided in a telecommunication system including a plurality of communication networks a method of providing a user with a consistent set of services when roaming through the networks using a telecommunication device having memory means for storing data specific to services of the
Blomstergren Sten Erik
Van Der Salm Peter
Burns Doane Swecker & Mathis L.L.P.
Maung Nay
Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
Vuong Quochien B.
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