WO2008040848A1

WO2008040848A1 - Control of a multisubscription

Info

Publication number: WO2008040848A1
Application number: PCT/FI2007/050532
Authority: WO
Inventors: Henry Fils; Kim Henriksson; Jari Jokela
Original assignee: Elisa Oyj
Priority date: 2006-10-05
Filing date: 2007-10-02
Publication date: 2008-04-10
Also published as: FI20065640A; FI121496B; FI20065640A0

Abstract

The present publication describes a multi-subscription service. According to the invention, a possibility is arranged in the multi-subscription to control one constituent subscription through another constituent subscription, with the aid of received input, hi that case, when the subscription that is active is changed, the necessary call transfers or other definitions can be performed as a single operation from the point of view of the user. With the aid of the invention it is possible to clearly facilitate the use of a multi-subscription.

Description

CONTROL OF A MULTISUB SCRIPTION

The present invention relates to control of a multi-subscription in a mobile station.

More specifically, the invention relates to a method for controlling a multi-subscription service, as well as the system components in a telephone network and in a subscriber identification unit.

The term multi-subscription refers to an arrangement, in which the subscriber identification unit corresponds to more than one subscription. In the present publication, a subscription belonging to such a multi-subscription is referred to as a constituent subscription, m a multi-subscription, there are usually two constituent subscriptions, in which case it is referred to as a dual subscription. However, there can also be three, four, or more constituent subscriptions.

The subscriber identification unit is a unit that is attached to a mobile station to identify the subscriber. The identification unit usually comprises an electronic circuit and is fitted in a place reserved for it inside the mobile station. Most usually the subscriber identification unit is referred to as a SIM card (Subscriber Identification Module). In a UMTS network, it is also referred to as a USIM card, but in the present publication the term SIM card is used to also refer to the subscriber identification units, corresponding to SIM cards, used in such newer kinds of network.

A subscription is a technical and administrative totality, with which are typically associated a network identifier, a subscriber identifier, and subscriber data. Subscriber data typically comprise a name, address, and similar data, which are required for identifying the owner or possessor of the subscription and for arranging billing.

A network identifier is an identifier, which when selected allows a connection to be made to the subscription. Most usually the network identifier is a telephone number.

For its part, the subscriber identifier identifies a specific subscription, hi GSM and similar networks, the subscriber identifier is most usually referred to by the abbreviation IMSI, which comes from the words International Mobile Subscriber Identity.

In a GSM network and corresponding newer networks, a multi-subscription is thus an arrangement, in which a single SIM card corresponds to more than one IMSI.

Usually a multi-subscription operates in such a way that only one constituent subscription at a time is open, i.e. in an active state. The other constituent subscriptions are then closed, i.e. in an inactive state. The mobile communications network can be connected to the open subscription, i.e. the one that is in the active state, but a connection cannot be made to the closed subscription, i.e. the one that is in the inactive state. In the case of an individual constituent subscription, being in an active or inactive state corresponds fully to a normal mobile communications subscription being open or closed.

The prior art includes a service provided by Elisa Corporation, called Elisa Dual Subscription. In Elisa Dual Subscription, there are two mobile communications subscriptions on the same SIM card. One advantage of the service is that it allows the same mobile telephone to be used for both work and leisure calls, without changing the SIM card. This also makes it easy to separate the costs of work and leisure calls, as work and leisure use can be separated for their own bills, without several SIM cards. The same mobile telephone can therefore be used during work and leisure, without changing the SIM card.

Though Elisa Dual Subscription is a good solution to the needs of users, it is nevertheless not entirely without problems. This is because, when using a multi- subscription, it will be wished to route at least some of the calls coming to the subscription in an inactive state to the subscription that is in an active state. This can be done using a normal call transfer. However, managing call transfers is quite complicated and laborious, because the call transfers must be updated whenever the active constituent subscription is changed. If the call transfers are not updated, calls and text messages may not necessarily be delivered to the active subscription, nor will the calls directed to the inactive subscription necessarily be routed to the answering service as intended. The problem cannot be worked around by programming two-way call transfers between the constituent subscriptions, as in that case an endless loop would be created in the call- routing system. For this reason, the call-routing system will not accept a situation, in which call transfers are set simultaneously from two subscriptions to each other.

The invention is intended to facilitate the use of a multi-subscription.

The invention is based on arranging a possibility in the multi-subscription to control a constituent subscription with the aid of an input received through another constituent subscription. Thus when a change is made to the subscription that is active, the necessary call transfers and other definitions can be performed as a single operation, from the point of view of the user.

For this purpose, the control system of the mobile network is arranged to alter the settings of a second constituent subscription through a single constituent subscription, on the basis of the received input. The management of the switch is further facilitated, if a subscriber identification unit equipped with a functionality, which creates the necessary control message for the control system of the mobile network, is attached to the mobile station using the multi-subscription.

More specifically, the control method according to the invention is characterized by what is stated in the characterizing portion of Claim 1.

The control system according to the invention is, for its part, characterized by what is stated in Claim 6, and the subscriber identification unit by what is stated in Claim 11.

A considerable advantage is gained with the aid of the invention. This is because, with the aid of the invention, it is possible to clearly facilitate the use of a multi-subscription.

hi turn, the easier control of a multi-subscription opens additional applications for multi- subscription technology, so that new services and solutions to users' problems can be provided.

In the following, the invention is examined with the aid of examples and with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 shows schematically a system environment according to one embodiment.

The example of operation in Figure 1 shows a case, in which two IMSI codes 2 are associated with a single SIM card. In the example, the use of these IMSI codes is shown in such a way that one of the codes is for a private subscription and the other is for a work subscription.

In the example operation in Figure 1, the procedure is to reserve a sufficient amount of space on the SIM card 1 for the necessary IMSI codes 2 and for the other necessary identifier data, so that these data can be stored on the SIM card.

The SIM card is also equipped with a user interface, through which the user can make transfer commands between the subscriptions. With the aid of a transfer command, information is transferred to the intelligent network 3, for example, concerning the fact that the user wishes to receive calls from both subscriptions, or that the user will not receive calls of the inactive subscription, in which case these calls will transfer directly to an answering service, or to an announcement, or to a switchboard. In the user interface of the SIM card, there can be, for example, the following choices:

* Work

This choice means that the work subscription is activated. At the same time, the home subscription is set to the inactive state. According to the agreement, home- subscription transfers can be made, for example, to an answering service, an announcement, or to a landline subscription.

Home

This choice means that the home subscription is activated. At the same time, the work subscription is set to the inactive state. According to the agreement, work- subscription transfers can be made, for example, to an answering service, an announcement, or to a switchboard. * Work -> Home

This choice means that the home subscription is activated and call transfers are made from the work subscription to the home subscription. The work subscription is thus set to the inactive state, but calls made to the work subscription are routed to the home subscription, according to the settings stored in the service.

* Home -> Work

This choice means that the work subscription is activated and call transfers are made from the home subscription to the work subscription. The home subscription is thus set to the inactive state, but calls made to the home subscription are routed to the work subscription, according to the settings stored in the service.

In addition, in the chains referred to above, it is possible to user a contactability chain or an answering service, if the active subscription is busy, or does not answer, or is not in the network. Further, various rules can be defined for the call transfers, for example, in such a way that only certain calls are transferred from one subscription to the other, the other calls being routed, for example, to an answering service.

When a selection is made, the SIM card uses the subscription that is active at the time of the selection to transmit information on the presently active subscription (e.g., IMSIl) and on the subscription to which the active state is being transferred (e.g., IMSI2). These IMSIs are thus recorded on the SIM card.

In the example of operation of Figure 1, the change of subscription is implemented as follows:

a) The Sim ToolKit application (STK) of the SIM card sends a change request, for example, with the aid of a USSD message according to the above description. The message can be, for example, in the form 123#IMSI1*IMSI2.

b) The SIM card waits for acknowledgement of the transmission of the message and, once acknowledgement of the transmission of the USSD message has been received, the STK changes the subscription's IMSIs and other identifier data between the files on the card.

c) The SIM card requests the telephone or other terminal device, to which the SIM card is attached at the moment, to check the contents of the altered data. This can be implemented using, for example, the REFRESH command.

d) In parallel with the above stages, the intelligent network 3 has made the necessary call transfers and the new subscription is now in use.

In the embodiment of Figure 1, calls are brought under the control of the intelligent network by setting a so-called terminating traffic trigger condition (TCSI trigger) in the HLR register for all the numbers of the multi-subscription. This takes place by provisioning (i.e. by using a command to set the required parameter in the customer data of the subscription in question). The TCSI trigger always triggers the intelligent-network controller when call comes to the number in question. The intelligent network then checks its database (or from an external database) for the subscription to which the call should be routed, and for where the call should be routed, if the subscription shown by the database is not available (in a shadow, battery empty, or similar). There is a 'transfer list' for both subscriptions in the database used by the intelligent network, in which there is information as to where a call should be connected, if this subscription is not active.

On the basis of these routing data, the intelligent network commands the mobile service centre (MSC) to connect the incoming call either to the subscription, coming to which the incoming call caused the trigger, or else to a subscription found from the transfer list, or, for example, to an answering service or another device, if calls cannot be connected to the subscription defined by the database as the destination (e.g., both of the subscriptions are inactive). Routing is then performed according to the rules recorded in the database for the subscription causing the trigger at the time. The call is also routed in a corresponding manner, if the subscription stated to be active on the basis of the database is, in reality unavailable, e.g., due to the battery being empty, the telephone being in a shadow, the telephone being busy, if free connection are not found between the MSC — ► base-station controller — +^■ base station, if there are no free radio channels in the base station, or if the subscription does not respond, even through the call is connected to it. The intelligent-network software detects the situations referred to in this paragraph by remaining, after the connect command, to wait (the so- called monitoring function) for what response the network gives ('call cannot be connected because...') up to the point at which the response 'call answered' is received from the network.

The aforesaid database thus contains already call-transfer data and other settings for the aforementioned four use profiles. Of course, there can be a number other than four of such ready use profiles, for example, two, three, five, or more. The ready defined use profiles of the database in connection with the intelligent network reduce the need for the exchange of information between a subscription and the intelligent network, when changing a subscription. In addition, they permit effective editing and management of the use profiles, for example, by means of a computer and an internet connection.

The database can be, for example, the service control point (SCP) of the intelligent network's own database, which can be used with the aid of USSD or SMS messages, or the database of an external server used by the SCP, to which the operations are routed. The SCP can then be connected to the database, for example, over a TCP/IP connection.

In embodiments it is also possible that the use profile is recorded in the SIM card, or in a memory of the terminal device controlled by the SIM card. In such an embodiment, the STK commands the terminal device to sent not only the IMSI codes to the intelligent telephone network, but also the other data, which are needed for creating the desired changes in the call routing. In such embodiment, it may be necessary for security reasons to define the conditions of the intelligent telephone network, concerning which IMSI codes can give commands to the intelligent network concerning which other IMSI codes. Thus, according to one embodiment, a method for controlling a multi-subscription service is implemented, in which, on the basis of input received through one constituent subscription, the settings of a second constituent subscription are changed in a mobile communications network. Such input received from one constituent subscription typically includes control information concerning at least two constituent subscriptions, the constituent subscriptions being then set in states according to these in the intelligent- network service.

In one embodiment of the method, input is received from one constituent subscription, containing control information concerning the setting of call transfers, and the call transfers are set according to the control information.

According to a second embodiment, input is received from one constituent subscription, which contains control information concerning the subscription in question, as well as at least one other constituent subscription, and the states of the constituent subscriptions are set according to the received control information.

The multi-subscription service described above is implemented, according to one embodiment, in the control system of a mobile communications network. In such an embodiment, the control system 3 is arranged to change the settings of a second constituent subscription, on the basis of input received through one constituent subscription.

In a second embodiment, the control system is arranged to receive input from one constituent subscription, which contains control information concerning at least two constituent subscriptions, and in response to the input, the constituent subscriptions are set to states according to the received control information.

In a third embodiment, the control system is arranged to alter the settings of at least one constituent subscription, in response to input received from the another constituent subscription.

In a fourth embodiment, the control system is set to alter the settings of at least two constituent subscriptions, on the basis of input received from at least one constituent subscription.

At least two subscriber identifiers 2, each of which corresponds to its own constituent subscription, can be attached in turn to the subscriber identification unit 1 operating the multi-subscription service. According to the embodiment, the subscriber identification unit 1 comprises a functionality for changing the constituent subscription that is in an active state and for creating a control message relating to the change for the control system 3 of the mobile communications network.

In one embodiment, the identification unit 1 is arranged to control the change of the constituent subscription in an active state, in such a way that the constituent subscription in an active state is disconnected from the mobile communications network and one constituent subscription in an inactive state is connected to the mobile communications network.

In a second embodiment, the identification unit 1 is arranged to create a control message, in such a way that the control message contains data relating to both constituent subscriptions involved as parties to the change.

In a third embodiment, the identification unit 1 is arranged to insert settings data of call transfers in the control message.

In a fourth embodiment, the identification unit 1 is arranged to route the transmission of the control message through the constituent subscription that is active prior to the change.

On the basis of the examples presented above, it is obvious that, within the scope of the invention, it is possible to implement numerous solutions differing from the embodiments described above. Thus, it is not intended to restrict the invention to only the examples presented above, but instead the patent protection should be examined within the full extent of the accompanying Claims.

Claims

Claims:

1. Method for controlling a multi-subscription, characterized in that, on the basis of input received through one constituent subscription, the settings of another constituent subscription are changed in the mobile communications network.

2. Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that input is received from one constituent subscription, which contains control information concerning at least two constituent subscriptions, and the constituent subscriptions are set to states according to the received control information.

3. Method according to Claim Ior2, characterized in that input is received from one constituent subscription, which contains control information relating to the setting of call transfers, and the call transfers are set according to the control information.

4. Method according to any of Claims 1-3, characterized in that input is received from one constituent subscription, which contains control information concerning this subscription and at least one other constituent subscription, and the states of the constituent subscriptions are set according to the received control information.

5. Method according to any of Claims 1-4, characterized in that a subscriber in the multi-subscription service is provided with a subscriber identification unit, as well as at least two subscriptions, i.e. constituent subscriptions, in such a way that at least two constituent subscriptions are attached to one and the same subscriber identification unit.

6. Mobile communications control system (3), which is arranged to provide a multi- subscription service, characterized in that the control system (3) is arranged to alter the settings of one constituent subscription on the basis of input received through the other constituent subscription. j _χ

7. System according to Claim 6, characterized in that it is arranged to receive from one constituent subscription input, which contains control information concerning at least two constituent subscriptions, and in response to the input to set the constituent subscriptions to states according to the received control information.

8. System according to Claim 6 or 7, characterized in that it is arranged to change the settings of call transfers of at least one constituent subscription, in response to input received from another constituent subscription.

9. System according to any of Claims 6-8, characterized in that the system is set to change the settings of at least two constituent subscriptions, on the basis of input received from one constituent subscription.

10. System according to any of Claims 6-9, characterized in that, in the multi- subscription service, the subscriber has a subscriber identification unit and the control system (3) is arranged to provide the multi-subscription service in such a way that at least two subscriptions, i.e. constituent subscriptions, are attached to the subscriber identification unit.

11. Subscriber identification unit (1) for a multi-subscription service, to which subscriber identification unit are attached at least two subscriber identifiers (2), each of which corresponds to its own constituent subscription, characterized in that the subscriber identification unit (1) comprises a functionality for changing the constituent subscription in an active state and for creating a control message relating to the change, for the control system (3) of the mobile communications network.

12. Identification unit (1) according to Claim 11, characterized in that it is arranged to control the change of the constituent subscription in an active state, in such a way that the constituent subscription in an active state is disconnected from the mobile communications network and one constituent subscription in an inactive state is connected to the mobile communications network.

13. Identification unit (1) according to Claim 11 or 12, characterized in that it is arranged to create the control message in such a way that the control message contains data relating to both of the constituent subscriptions that are parties to the change.

14. Identification unit ( 1 ) according to any of Claims 11-13, characterized in that it is arranged to insert settings data of the call transfers in the control message.

15. Identification unit (1) according to any of Claims 11 - 14, characterized in that it is arranged to route the transmission of the control message through the constituent subscription that is active prior to the change.