Telecommunications – Radiotelephone system – Zoned or cellular telephone system
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-19
2001-08-28
Le, Thanh Cong (Department: 2684)
Telecommunications
Radiotelephone system
Zoned or cellular telephone system
C455S039000, C455S411000, C455S059000, C379S067100, C379S056200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06282418
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a method for providing information to a user, which method comprises the steps of
transmitting a request signal from the user to a telecommunication switch,
in response to said request signal, transmitting a data signal to a telecommunication database, and
in response to said data signal, transmitting an information signal from said telecommunication database via said telecommunication switch to said user.
Such a method is of common general knowledge and, in general, based on said telecommunication switch (like for example a Mobile Switching Center or MSC) and said telecommunication database (like for example a Home Location Register or HLR) directly communicating with each other. Said user, who for example wants to investigate or update his profile like a call forwarding situation, interrogates said database by generating said request signal via the keyboard or keypad of his handset, which request signal is transmitted via a signalling channel to said telecommunication switch, which converts said request signal into said data signal and transmits said data signal via a data connection to said telecommunication database. This telecommunication database then sends back said information signal via said telecommunication switch to the user, who can check (certain settings of) his profile on the display of his handset.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This method is disadvantageous, inter alia, because of not being userfriendly and because of limitations imposed by the menue options of the handset.
It is an object of the invention, inter alia, to provide a method as described in the preamble which is more user-friendly and which offers more possibilities.
Thereto, the method according to the invention is characterised in that the step of transmitting said data signal to said telecommunication database comprises the steps of
transmitting said request signal from said telecommunication switch to a processor device via a speech connection,
converting said request signal into said data signal in said processor device, and
transmitting said data signal to said telecommunication database via a data connection,
whereby said request signal is transmitted from said user to said telecommunication switch via a speech connection.
By placing a processor device (like for example a server) between said telecommunication switch and said telecommunication database, and using speech connections between handset and telecommunication switch and telecommunication switch and processor device and vice versa, and using data connections between processor device and telecommunication database and vice versa, the user can get more possibilities and options, and the user-friendlyness can easily be increased. The telecommunication switch does not have to convert the request signal into the data signal any longer, but only has to receive and transmit the request signal for example in the form of signalling information via both speech connections. The converting then is done by the processor device, which in general will be more suited to handle such a conversion than an ordinary telecommunication switch.
The method according to the invention thus solves the problem, inter alia, of creating more possibilities and a higher user-friendlyness, by using a server between telecommunication switch and telecommunication database.
The invention is based on the insight, inter alia, that a telecommunication switch is designed for switching speech connections, and that a processor device could be used for performing special functions.
A first embodiment of the method according to the invention is characterised in that the step of transmitting said information signal from said database via sold telecommunication switch to said user comprises the steps of
transmitting said information signal from said telecommunication database to said processor device via a data connection, and
transmitting said information signal from said processor device via said telecommunication switch to said user via a speech connection.
According to this first embodiment, the information signal is not transmitted directly from the telecommunication database to the telecommunication switch but indirectly via the processor device.
A second embodiment of the method according to the invention is characterised in that the step of transmitting said information signal from said database via said telecommunication switch to said user comprises the step of
converting said information signal into a speech signal in said processor device.
According to this second embodiment, the user receives his information in the form of speech.
A third embodiment of the method according to the invention is characterised in that said request signal comprises a further speech signal.
According to this third embodiment, the user makes his request in the form of speech.
The invention further relates to a telecommunication system for providing information to a user, which telecommunication system comprises
a telecommunication switch for receiving a request signal from the user,
a telecommunication database for, in response to said request signal, receiving a data signal, and for, in response to said data signal, transmitting an information signal via said telecommunication switch to said user.
The telecommunication according to the invention is characterised in that the telecommunication system comprises
a processor device for receiving said request signal from said telecommunication switch via a speech connection, and for converting said request signal into said data signal, and for transmitting said data signal to said telecommunication database via a data connection,
whereby said request signal is transmitted from said user to said telecommunication switch via a speech connection.
A first embodiment of the telecommunication system according to the invention is characterised in that said information signal is transmitted from said telecommunication database to said processor device via a data connection, whereby said information signal is transmitted from said processor device via said telecommunication switch to said user via a speech connection.
A second embodiment of the telecommunication system according to the invention is characterised in that said information signal is converted into a speech signal in said processor device.
A third embodiment of the telecommunication system according to the invention is characterised in that said request signal comprises a further speech signal.
The invention yet further relates to a processor device for use in a telecommunication system system for providing information to a user, which telecommunication system comprises
a telecommunication switch for receiving a request signal from the user,
a telecommunication database for, in response to said request signal, receiving a data signal, and for, in response to said data signal, transmitting an information signal via said telecommunication switch to said user.
The processor device according to the invention is characterised in that the processor device comprises
receiving means for receiving said request signal from said telecommunication switch via a speech connection,
converting means for converting said request signal into said data signal, and
transmitting means for transmitting said data signal to said telecommunication database via a data connection.
A first embodiment of the processor device according to the invention is characterised in that the processor device comprises
further receiving means for receiving said information signal from said telecommunication database via a data connection, and
further transmitting means for transmitting said information signal via said telecommunication switch to said user via a speech connection.
A second embodiment of the processor device according to the invention is characterised in that the processor device comprises
further converting means for converting said information signal into a speech signal.
A third embodiment of the processor device according to the invention is characterised in that
Alcatel
Cong Le Thanh
Le Lana
Sughrue Mion Zinn Macpeak & Seas, PLLC
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