Telecommunications – Radiotelephone system – Programming control
Reexamination Certificate
1997-01-09
2001-04-03
Hunter, Daniel S. (Department: 2749)
Telecommunications
Radiotelephone system
Programming control
C379S267000, C340S286080, C340S870030, C455S434000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06212372
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to telephone systems, preferably mobile telephone systems, in which the subscriber units, preferably mobile units or stations, are controlled by a subscriber identity module. More specifically, the invention concerns a method in such a telephone system, wherein the subscriber identity module is utilised in a new way, as well as a subscriber identity module especially suited for use in connection with the method.
The invention is advantageously applied to a telephone system of the GSM type (Global System for Mobile Communication). Although the invention is by no means restricted to such an application, it will be described hereinafter with reference to a system of this type.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
GSM is a uniform, intelligent digital mobile telephone system which is not geographically confined to a single country. A subscriber may use any subscriber unit (Mobile Station—MS) by controlling it with the aid of a subscriber identity module (SIM), which may be an active card or a plug-in unit inserted in the subscriber unit and producing the subscriber's identity (IMSI) which is allocated to a directory number (Mobile Station International ISDN number—MSISDN) . Information on IMSI and MSISDN is stored, together with other information relating to the subscriber, in a home database (Home Location Register—HLR) with the operator of the network including the subscriber. The system comprises visitor databases (Visitor Location Register—VLR) and switches (Mobile Services Switching Centre—MSC) Information on an activated subscriber unit MS is temporarily stored in the VLR pertaining to the area of location of the subscriber unit MS.
Since the above concepts, as well as the design and operation of the system as a whole, are subjected to extensive standardisation, no detailed description seems required here.
Systems of the above type are widely used for service calls, but also to some extent for private calls. Distributing the costs for service and private calls usually cause problems or involves extra work.
One and the same subscription can also be used by different people, e.g. within one and the same company. Also in this case, distributing the costs among the different people concerned may cause problems or involve extra work.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to eliminate the above inconveniences and also in other respects enable a more flexible use of subscriptions and subscriber identity modules.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This object is achieved by a method and a subscriber identity module having the distinctive features recited in the appended claims.
The invention is thus based on the insight that a subscriber identity module can be allocated at least two different identities which are selectively activable by the user. As will be appreciated, there may be two identities, e.g. a service identity and a private identity, which belong to the same user, which seems to be the currently preferred case. However, different identities might also be used, which correspond to several potential users of the subscriber identity module.
Preferably, only one identity can be activated at a time, i.e. a change of identity means that the previously activated identity must first be deactivated before the new identity can be regarded as activated. The associated home database is suitably made to store information on which identity is activated, so that calls can be set up, cost information stored and so forth in a correct way.
The subscriber identity module can be so designed that the selective identity activation, i.e. the selection of identity function in the subscriber identity module, can be carried out with the aid of keys or the like provided on the subscriber unit, or with the aid of special means provided on the subscriber identity module, e.g. so-called touch contacts when the module is an active card. The activation may then, for instance, take place in connection with the input of a so-called PIN code. In that case, each identity can be allocated a special code. This means that a number of different users (corresponding to the number of different identities) can share the subscriber identity module employed. It is also possible to have a user's PIN code supplemented with code elements for selecting the desired identity (for instance, service or private).
In a preferred embodiment of the subscriber identity module according to the invention, the module is an active card designed to be inserted in the subscriber unit in two different positions, preferably with one or the other end first, each position corresponding to an allocated identity. This enables an embodiment in which each identity function is clearly marked on the card, which thus becomes easy to handle. A change of identity is performed simply by taking out the card and then again inserting it, now in the other position, e.g. when switching from a service call to a private call, or vice versa.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3581019 (1971-05-01), Ryan
patent: 4399330 (1983-08-01), Kuenzel
patent: 4691339 (1987-09-01), Redman et al.
patent: 4734928 (1988-03-01), Weiner et al.
patent: 4736094 (1988-04-01), Yoshida
patent: 4837422 (1989-06-01), Dethloff et al.
patent: 4868846 (1989-09-01), Kemppi
patent: 4868849 (1989-09-01), Tamaoki
patent: 4928001 (1990-05-01), Masada
patent: 5020091 (1991-05-01), Krolopp et al.
patent: 5249302 (1993-09-01), Metroka et al.
patent: 5276311 (1994-01-01), Hennige
patent: 5301234 (1994-04-01), Mazziotto et al.
patent: 5353328 (1994-10-01), Jokimies
patent: 5371493 (1994-12-01), Sharpe et al.
patent: 5898923 (1999-04-01), Gaasvik et al.
patent: 2147638 (1972-04-01), None
patent: 3736190 (1988-05-01), None
patent: 3809028 (1988-09-01), None
patent: 3736854 (1989-05-01), None
patent: 3906349 (1990-09-01), None
patent: 0378450 (1990-07-01), None
patent: 0607767 (1994-07-01), None
patent: 2627880 (1989-09-01), None
patent: 1366372 (1974-09-01), None
Ballard, Issenmann, “Digital Cellular Mobile Radio System ECR900”, European Transactions on Telecommunications, Jan. 1990.*
European Telecommunications Standards Institute “Vocabulary in a GSM PLMN”, Jan. 23, 1990.*
Williams, “Cellular Industry Fights Fraud”, Telephony, Feb. 27, 1995.*
KIM, KIM, KIM, “Integrated Number Portability Protocols for Wire and Wireless Network”, International Conference on Communications Technology, Oct. 1998.*
Mazziotto, “The Subscriber Identity Module for the European Digital Cellular System GSM,” Fourth Nordic Seminar on Digital Mobile Radio Communications DMR IV, Oslo, Norway. Jun. 26-28, 1990, pp. 1-9.
Christie Parker & Hale LLP
Comvik GSM AB
Hunter Daniel S.
LandOfFree
Method in mobile telephone systems in which a subscriber... 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 in mobile telephone systems in which a subscriber..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method in mobile telephone systems in which a subscriber... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2499396