WO2002005534A1

WO2002005534A1 - Method for providing information to a subscribers terminal

Info

Publication number: WO2002005534A1
Application number: PCT/SE2001/001542
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jörgen BJÖRKNER; Johan Liseborn; Henrik Gustafsson; Thommy EKLÖF
Original assignee: Hotsip Ab
Priority date: 2000-07-12
Filing date: 2001-07-04
Publication date: 2002-01-17
Also published as: SE518175C2; SE518175C3; AU2001267999A1; SE0002635D0; SE0002635L

Abstract

A server in a communications network receives information when a call is made by a subscriber in the network and is able to determine at least one other terminal to which a message can be sent through the Internet, in dependence of the dialled number and the type of the other terminal. With the solution according to the invention, a subscriber can have information in any form delivered to any terminal to which the subscriber has access. The sub-scriber can request and receive written information, for example, from a shop while at the same time talking to a person at the same shop.

Description

METHOD FOR PROVIDING INFORMATION TO A SUBSCRIBERS TERMINAL

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a server for use in a computer network, said server being connectable to at least one communications network and comprising or being connected to a database comprising a list of registered subscribers and at least one terminal for each subscriber,

The invention also relates to a method for providing information to at least a first communications terminal.

Description of Prior Art

It is often convenient to request automatically information through the telephone network, which can be delivered, for example, in written form.

A service presently exists that enables people to make a telephone call to an automatic service function and specify a telefax number to have information sent to the specified telefax number. This service is used, for example, to provide information about what is currently showing at a cinema or theatre.

Such services presently only exist for telefax messages.

Object of the Invention

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a more flexible solution to obtaining information that is perceived as simple by the end users.

Summary of the Invention

This object is achieved according to the invention by a server providing information to at least a first communications terminal, said server being connectable to at least one communications network and comprising or being connected to a database comprising a list of registered subscribers and at least one receiving terminal for each subscriber and comprising or being connected to memory-means comprising at least one message that can be provided to the first communications terminal, said server comprising

• receiving means for receiving a notification about a call made by a second terminal connected to the communications network, from the communications network

• terminal selecting means for selecting from the database at least a first terminal to which a message is to be provided

• transmission means for sending the message to the at least second terminal.

The object is also achieved by a method for providing information to at least a first communications terminal, comprising the following steps:

- receiving a call from a second terminal in a communications network,

- notifying a server connected to the communications network of the call, - determining, by the server at least one terminal that is to receive a message

- providing the message to the selected terminal or terminals.

With the solution according to the invention, a subscriber can have information in any form delivered to any terminal to which the subscriber has access. Also, con- trary to the telefax solution described above, the telephone call may be set up while the information is requested. In this way, the subscriber can request and receive written information, for example, from a shop while at the same time talking to a person at the same shop.

The server preferably comprises message selecting means for selecting an appropriate message to be provided to the selected terminal or terminals. A message having an appropriate format may be selected in dependence of at least one characteristic of the at least second terminal, for example, determined by the address format of the at least second terminal. The message selecting means may also be arranged to select a message having a particular content. This enables selection of the most suitable message format and content, respectively, dependent on the user's needs and the capabilities of the terminal to receive the message.

According to a preferred embodiment the database is dynamically updated when the status of the at least one receiving terminal is changed. It can then be ensured that a message is not sent to a terminal that is turned off, disconnected or otherwise unable to receive a message.

A communications network is also disclosed, comprising a server according to the above, said network further comprising notifying means for informing the server when a call is made to a particular address in the network.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention will be described in more detail in the following by means of preferred embodiments only, and with reference to the appended drawings, in which: Figure 1 illustrates a network configuration according to the invention; Figure 2 illustrates an embodiment of the connection between a server used for per- forming the functions according to the invention and a telephone network; and

Figure 3 is a flow chart of an embodiment of the method according to the invention.

Detailed Description of Embodiments

Figure 1 illustrates a network configuration according to the invention, using a Pub- lie Services Telephone Network (PSTN) and a GSM network. This is of course only intended as an example. The solution according to the invention is independent of the type of network. A server 1 is provided, connected to a PSTN 3. When a subscriber, represented by a telephone 5 in the PSTN network 3 can make calls to another terminal, information about the call may be forwarded from the PSTN net- work 3 to the server 1. This function can be used, for example, by a shop or an in- formation service to which a subscriber wishes to call to retrieve information. The call may be set up to the shop as an ordinary telephone call while at the same time the server 1 is informed about the call.

The subscriber is registered in a database 7, found in or in connection to the server 1, by one or more telephone numbers and/or one or more computer addresses, for example Uniform Resource Identifiers (URI) such as e-mail addresses, SIP addresses or web addresses. The telephone from which the call is made is associated in the database with one or more other telephones and or computers used by the sub- scriber. In Figure 1, the subscriber also has a personal computer 9, connected either through the PSTN network 3 or in any other way known in the art, to the Internet (not shown). The subscriber may also have other terminals, for example, another personal computer in the office, a mobile telephone, and/or a personal digital assistant (PDA) capable of communicating with the Internet. In Figure 1, a Global Sys- tem for Mobile Communication (GSM) network 11 is also connected to the server 1 through signalling functions. A mobile telephone 15 is connectable to the GSM network 11 through the air interface.

The personal computer 9 comprises a client program enabling it to receive informa- tion from the server 1. A separate information channel is set up by the server between the server and the client program in the personal computer 9, for sending the appropriate type or types of message. In particular, the server 1 can cause an Internet browser to start on the computer 9 and a web page to be opened, or other types of messages, for example audio, video and/or e-mail.

In this way, the PSTN telephone 5 or the mobile telephone 15 can be used, assuming they are registered in the database 7, to call, for example, a service number of a shop to request information. A receiving means 17 in the server 1 receives a notification from the PSTN network that a call has been initiated and set up. The notifi- cation contains both the A subscriber number (i.e. the caller) and the B subscriber number (i.e. the one being called) If the subscriber is registered, the server 1 determines if there is additional information available in a memory means, illustrated here as a database 19. If there is, the server 1 gets information from the database 7 about one or more terminals to which additional information should be sent. If the shop has a web page, for example, the server may, through a transmission means 21, transmit a message to the client in the personal computer 9 and cause it to start an Internet browser and open the web page automatically. Alternatively, if the subscriber does not have a personal computer, or the personal computer is not available at the moment, a suitable message may be sent to the mobile telephone 15 or to any other terminal registered in the database 7 as belonging to the same subscriber. An answer to a question may be provided, or the address of the home page may be sent to the terminal so that the user can open the home page later. If more than one other terminal is specified, the appropriate terminal or terminals to which to send the message is determined by a terminal selecting means 23. The appropriate format for the terminal that is to receive the message may be determined in dependence of the address format, or on the basis of other information stored in the database 7. The message to be selected, and the appropriate format, is determined by a message selecting means 25.

To a mobile telephone, messages may be sent using an existing messaging service in the GSM network 11, such as the Short Message Service (SMS) or by using Wireless Access Protocol (WAP) Push. Of course, a message can be sent to the mobile telephone when the initial call is made from the mobile telephone also.

When more than one terminal is registered for the same subscriber, the server may determine which terminal or terminals to send messages to in several different ways: Messages may be sent to all registered terminals, or to all registered terminals that are able to receive an appropriate message. Of course for the same shop or similar, several messages on several different formats may be available, matching the re- quirements and capabilities of, for example, different mobile telephones, PDAs and personal computers. The database must then comprise information for each terminal about the format or formats that can be accepted. If the message should not be sent to all terminals, the server may check which one, or which ones, of the registered terminals are turned on, or are presently able to receive the message. In addition, there may also be a priority list, so that, for example, if the personal computer is available, the message should always be sent to it, if not, it should be sent to another personal computer, if there is more than one on the list, or to a mobile telephone. Alternatively, if the personal computer is not able to open a home page, an e-mail could be sent instead, assuming an e-mail address of the user is registered in the da- tabase 7.

To enable the server 1 to know which terminals are available at any given time, a register message may be sent from each terminal to the server when the terminal is switched on, or at regular intervals. This is indicated in Figure 1 by a dashed arrow between the personal computer 9 and the server 1. For mobile terminals connected to the GSM network, a similar register message may be sent from the HLR of the GSM network when the mobile terminal is switched on, or connects to the network.

There may also be more than one A number registered for a particular subscriber, that is, numbers from which the initiating call may be made.

Of course, the server 1 could be connected only to the PSTN-network 3 or to the GSM network 11, or to both. Other networks may be connected as well. Instead of one server, two or more, or a network of servers could be used, depending on the load.

Figure 2 shows a possible way of connecting the server to the PSTN 103 or other telephone network. The telephone network is connected to a signalling gateway 105, which performs protocol conversion, in particular to the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) or another suitable call signalling protocol from the signalling protocol used in the telephony network. The signalling gateway 105 is connected to an interconnecting unit 107. When a call received in the telephone network 103 is to be diverted it is sent through the signalling gateway 105 to the interconnecting unit 107. The interconnecting unit 107 then analyzes the message and forwards it to one of a number of service nodes connected to it. One such service node may be the server 1 discussed in connection with Figure 1, for performing the functions according to the invention.

Figure 3 is a flow chart of the steps performed according to one embodiment of the invention.

Step SI: A subscriber registered in the database makes a telephone call.

Step S2: A notification that a call has been set up is sent to the server.

Step S3: Is a message available from the receiver of the call? If yes, go to step S4; if no, end of procedure. Step S4: Select the terminal or terminals that are to receive the message.

Step S5 : Select the appropriate message or message format for the terminal selected in step S4.

Step S6: Send the message to the selected terminal or terminals. End of procedure.

How to select the terminal or terminals in step S4, and the message in step S5, was discussed in connection with Figure 1.

In step S6, if the message is to be sent to more than one terminal, of course, different messages, or different message formats may have to be sent.

Claims

1. A server providing information to at least a first communications terminal, said server (1) being connectable to at least one communications network (3, 11) and comprising or being connected to a database (7) comprising a list of registered subscribers and at least one receiving terminal for each subscriber and comprising or being connected to memory means (19) comprising at least one message that can be provided to /the first communications terminal, said server comprising

• receiving means (17) for receiving a notification about a call made by a second terminal (5) connected to the communications network (3) , from the communi- cations network

• terminal selecting means (23) for selecting from the database (7) at least a first terminal (9) to which a message is to be provided

• transmission means (21) for sending the message to the at least second terminal.

2. A server according to claim 1, further comprising message selecting means (25) for selecting an appropriate message.

3. A server according to claim 2, wherein the message selecting means (25) is arranged to select a message having an appropriate format in dependence of at least one characteristic of the at least second terminal (9).

4. A server according to claim 3, wherein the message selecting means (25) is arranged to select the message in dependence of the address format of the at least second terminal (9).

5. A server according to any one of the claims 2-4, wherein the message selecting means (25) is arranged to select a message having a particular content.

6. A server according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the database (7) is dynamically updated when the status of the at least one receiving terminal is changed.

7. A communications network comprising a server (1) according to any one of the claims 1-7, said network further comprising notifying means (105) for informing the server when a call is made to a particular address in the network.

8. A method for providing information to at least a first communications terminal, comprising the following steps:

- receiving a call from a second terminal in a communications network,

- notifying a server connected to the communications network of the call,

- determining, by the server at least one terminal that is to receive a message

- providing the message to the selected terminal or terminals.

9. A method according to claim 8, further comprising the step of selecting the message to be provided to the first terminal in dependence of the type of terminal or terminals selected.

10. A method according to any one of the claims 8-9, further comprising the step of selecting the message to be provided to the first terminal as the message having the desired content.

11. A method according to any one of the claims 8-10, further comprising the step of selecting the second terminal among terminals that can currently be reached by the server.