Telephonic communications – Special services – Call diversion
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-23
2002-03-26
Matar, Ahmad (Department: 2642)
Telephonic communications
Special services
Call diversion
C379S221010, C379S211020, C455S445000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06363144
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method of administering supplementary services in a communications network and to a service control unit or service switching unit configured for the method. The supplementary services are capable of being used in accordance with an intelligent network structure.
Communications networks are configured as fixed networks or mobile communications systems, such as the known GSM mobile radio network (Global System for Mobile Communications) and have interconnected switching centers. In mobile radio networks, base stations are respectively connected to the switching centers and can be used for connecting communication terminals via an air interface. The communication terminals permit network access for a subscriber of the mobile communications system. The switching centers also create the gateway to further networks, for example data transmission networks or a fixed network.
It is also known from the GSM mobile radio network to use memory units in which subscriber-specific data about the services of the network are respectively stored. One of the memory units realizes the so-called home location register, which is generally at a permanently defined location and in which the data on which the registration of the subscriber is based are stored. A memory unit is provided for the location of the mobile subscriber at any given time, 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 specific for the subscriber are located also changes.
The supplementary services with which the invention is concerned are to be realized in accordance with an intelligent network topology by independent service control units. The service control units and the profiles stored therein of the supplementary services, including the information necessary for their realization, are consequently modifiable independently of the mobile communications network. It is known from Published, Non-Prosecuted German Patent Application P 44 42 305 A that the services which can be used in an intelligent network are initiated in a service switching unit in order to leave the customary call processing and consequently activate access to supplementary services. Such service switching units are generally realized in the switching centers.
It is generally known to provide a service indicator as a subscriber-individual subscriber datum in the respective subscriber database and, by evaluating the service indicator during call handling in the case of an incoming or outgoing call, to initiate branching to a service control unit specified in a subscriber database of the intelligent network.
Also known, from “The CAMEL Feature, Proposed Revisions To The Stage 1 Description”, from ETSI/STC/SMG1. 14.03.95, GSM 02.78, Version 0.4.0, pages 1-14, is a so-called customized application for mobile network enhanced logic (CAMEL) platform, with which the support of supplementary operator-specific services for subscribers is to be made possible. Consequently, an operator-specific supplementary service can be used even beyond the network and service limits of a communications network. This is possible if the service switching unit initiating the supplementary service can process the required protocol (CAP—CAMEL application part) for the service requested and if signaling messages from and to the home location register and the service control unit of the supplementary service can be exchanged beyond the network limits.
A prerequisite for a subscriber to use the supplementary service is that the service switching unit with which the subscriber is connected can support the supplementary service with the corresponding protocol. The full-coverage provision of the supplementary service consequently requires conversion of all the service switching units and a signaling message exchange for the selection of one of the corresponding protocols.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a method of administering supplementary services in a communications network which overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art methods and devices of this general type, in which supplementary services are accessible to a greater number of users and entails only a low retrofitting effort.
With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, an improved method of administering supplementary services in a communications network having connection equipment, a gateway for connecting to at least one further network, networked switching centers connectable via the connection equipment to communication terminals for permitting subscriber access and via the gateway to the at least one further network, service switching units connected to the connection equipment and the gateway, and at least one service control unit controlling a supplementary service of the supplementary services, the improvement which comprises:
sending an initiating message from a first service switching unit of the service switching units serving a subscriber to the at least one service control unit;
performing a comparison of a first protocol supported by the first service switching unit with a second protocol necessary for the supplementary service; and
determining a second service switching unit of the service switching units that can support the second protocol necessary for the supplementary service, and rerouting to the second service switching unit in dependence on a result of the comparison.
The method according to the invention of administering supplementary services provides that the initiating message is sent from the first service switching unit, serving a subscriber, to the service control unit assigned to the supplementary service. In the service control unit there then takes place a comparison of a protocol supported by the first service switching unit with a protocol necessary for the supplementary service. Depending on the result of the comparison, i.e. if the protocol supported by the first service switching unit is not adequate for supporting the supplementary service, a second service switching unit, which supports the protocol necessary for the supplementary service is determined. A rerouting to the second service switching unit is then initiated.
New supplementary services can be initially introduced using the method according to the invention in only one service switching unit and nevertheless be offered in the entire network and in visited networks that support a CAMEL phase 1. This considerably reduces the effort for introducing supplementary services. The procedure also makes it much easier to carry out a test of a new supplementary service.
The method according to the invention can be used if the calling subscriber or the called subscriber uses a supplementary service that is supported by a service control unit. It can similarly be used if the first service switching unit has been selected by call forwarding. Managing the entries on the protocols available in the individual service switching units just in one or more service control units makes it possible for the entries to be easily maintained and amended. The service switching units do not have to be adapted to the same extent.
It is consequently also possible to use non-standardized protocols, for example ETSI Core INAP and network-specific variants for mobile radio networks (for example TELECOM INAP), or various CAP (CAMEL application part) versions, which are supported both in the network of the subscriber registered for the supplementary service and in a visited network if only a single service switching unit or a few service switching units support the specific protocol. For roaming subscribers, the necessary prerequisite is that CAP phase 1 is supported by the respective service switching unit.
According to an advantageous development of the invention, particulars on the protocol required for the supplementary service are stored in the service con
Bäecher Reinhard
Leitgeb Manfred
Greenberg Laurence A.
Lerner Herbert L.
Matar Ahmad
Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
Stemer Werner H.
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