WO2010057580A2

WO2010057580A2 - Method for generation ot text messages within telephone networks

Info

Publication number: WO2010057580A2
Application number: PCT/EP2009/007928
Authority: WO
Inventors: Günter HABERKORN
Original assignee: Deutsche Telekom Ag
Priority date: 2008-11-21
Filing date: 2009-11-05
Publication date: 2010-05-27
Also published as: WO2010057580A4; DE102008058546A1; WO2010057580A3

Abstract

Method for generating and transmitting a text message (6) which is transmitted within a telephone network (2) after an unsuccessful call attempt of a caller (1) to the unsuccessfully called telephone number, for display of the text message by the terminal (7) assigned to the called telephone number, the text message (6) containing at least the telephone number of the caller (1), database interrogation (4, 5) taking place using the telephone number of the caller (1) as a parameter and its being interrogated whether at the telephone number of the caller (1) a name is stored, in the case in which the name is stored in the database (4), at least the name further being added to the text message (6) in addition to the telephone number of the caller (1).

Description

Method for generation of text messages within telephone networks

The invention relates to a method for generating and transmitting a text message which is transmitted within a telephone network after an unsuccessful call attempt of a caller to the unsuccessfully called telephone number for display of the text message by the terminal assigned to the called telephone number, the text message containing at least the telephone number of the caller.

These methods are known. Called subscribers of a telephone network in the cases "busy", "no answer" and "cannot be reached" receive a callback request in the form of a text message, i.e. specially a SMS (short message service), for example according to the following pattern:

"Callback request: The subscriber with subscriber number 0123456789 tried to reach you on 1/1/2000 at 6 P.M."

If the subscriber number of the caller is stored in the telephone book, i.e. in the device of the called subscriber, instead of the subscriber number the telephone book entry is displayed, i.e. the name of the caller stored in the terminal of the called subscriber at the subscriber number of the caller.

But the disadvantage in this procedure is that most callers when they are unknown are of course not stored in the telephone book of the called subscriber. In these cases only the subscriber number of the caller can be displayed. Without callback such a caller remains for the time being anonymous for the called subscriber.

i Here the disadvantage is that the called subscriber cannot recognize for a subscriber unknown to him who has called. Conversely it likewise applies that the caller can be interested in giving information, i.e. his name, to the called subscriber.

The object of the invention is to develop a method of the initially named type such that these disadvantages are overcome.

As claimed in the invention this object is achieved by a method as claimed in claim 1. Advantageous developments of the method as claimed in the invention are given in the dependent claims.

In the method for generating and transmitting a text message which is transmitted within a telephone network after an unsuccessful call attempt of a caller to the unsuccessfully called telephone number, for display of the text message by the terminal assigned to the called telephone number, the text message containing at least the telephone number of the caller, it is especially advantageous that database interrogation takes place using the telephone number of the caller as a parameter and it is interrogated whether at the telephone number of the caller a name is stored, in the case in which the name is stored in the database, at least the name further being added to the text message in addition to the telephone number of the caller.

As claimed in the invention, a database is thus integrated into the telephone network or is assigned to it and it is possible to store the name of the subscriber at the telephone numbers of the subscribers. A name subsumes especially the name of a natural person consisting of first name and last name such as "Max Mustermann" or only the last name or also a company name or company keyword or the like, such as for example "Telekom Bonn". In the database the names are stored at the telephone numbers. If such a name is stored at a telephone number, when the text message is generated after an unsuccessful call attempt of the text message, for example a SMS (short message service) or the like, in addition to the telephone number of the caller, also his name is transmitted [sic], so that for the callee who is receiving the text message and on whose terminal the text message is displayed, in addition to the subscriber number at the same time he is notified about the name of the caller.

The caller or terminal of the caller or the telephone number of the caller or also of the callee is defined as the line within the telephone network to which a unique telephone number is assigned since conventionally it is a matter of the caller calling someone else, i.e. between the two terminals a communications connection is set up within the telephone network.

Even if technically a communications connection or a call attempt always takes place within one or more telephone networks, within the framework of this application there is no differentiation between the caller or callee and their respective terminal. Accordingly the call of a caller at the callee at the same time means the attempt and the set-up of a communications connection between the terminals. The caller is thus at the same time the terminal of the caller, just as conversely the callee is the terminal of the callee. These terminals are each assigned to one or more telephone numbers or so-called lines within a telephone network.

In accessing a database the corresponding data set which is stored at the telephone number of the caller is interrogated and retrieved, or it is first checked whether this data set is present in the database. This is what is meant by database interrogation using the telephone number of the caller as a parameter, i.e. as a reference of the database interrogation.

The component of the data set which is called a name can also be any other character sequence which the caller would like to disclose to the callee as additional information to the telephone number of the caller. This is thus not limited to the name of a natural person or a company identification or the like.

A text message is on the one hand a short message, so-called short message service (abbreviated SMS). Furthermore for the purposes of the invention however they are also defined as multimedia messages, so-called multimedia messaging service (abbreviated MMS) and the like so that the message to the called subscriber can also have graphic components.

In one preferred embodiment of the method as claimed in the invention, the generation and transmission of the text message for an unsuccessful call attempt takes place regardless of whether the called terminal is busy or cannot be reached or whether within a definable time interval there is no answer, for example after several, for example five, rings a call has not been accepted.

Called subscribers thus both in the cases "busy" and also "no answer" receive a corresponding callback request by text message, i.e. a so-called callback request by SMS or a so- called lost call SMS (missed call) for a lost call. In this way all cases are covered, i.e. both the case in which the dialed connection is busy or that there is no network connection if the device is off or in the case of a land mobile network, is not in range of a transmitting-receiving station, or that within a definable time interval there is no answer in the form in which a call is not accepted.

In one preferred embodiment the implementation of database interrogation and the transmission of the text message containing the name of the caller to the called subscriber number for display of the text message are triggered by the terminal which is assigned to the called telephone number after an unsuccessful call attempt by the caller by means of a separate input.

Because the implementation of database interrogation and the transmission of the text message containing in addition the name of the caller must be triggered by the caller by means of a separate input, unwanted transmission of the name can be suppressed, by which greater security for the caller results. In this case, the entire implementation of the method as claimed in the invention in the case of a call attempt which is unsuccessful for any reason is thus triggered by the caller and then is automatically carried out, i.e. in this case the entire process is started by the caller the first time.

The method as claimed in the invention thus makes it possible to store a personal caller name in the database so that the service "callback request by text message" for example SMS (short message service) can be supplemented with the additional information of the name of the caller.

Each subscriber has the opportunity to activate this additional service with the desired information.

Preferably callers even after activation still retain the possibility of temporary subscriber number suppression or temporary suppression of the database interrogation or transmission of a text message containing the caller name. This can be controlled for example by a special interrogation, for example with the following announcement texts:

In the case in which the called subscriber number is busy, the following announcement text can be automatically output with the interrogation of an additional input:

"The dialed subscriber number is busy. If you would like a callback request by SMS with your subscriber number and your name, press "1". If not, hang up"

In the case in which there is no answer of the called terminal, i.e. the call is not accepted after several rings or a certain time interval, the following text announcement can take place automatically:

"The called subscriber does not answer. If you would like a callback request by SMS with your subscriber number and your name, press "1". If not, hang up"

In the case in which the called subscriber cannot be reached, i.e. that for example the terminal has been turned off and/or is not checked-in in the land mobile network, the following automatic announcement can take place:

"The dialed subscriber number cannot currently be reached. If you would like a callback request by SMS with your subscriber number and your name, press "1". If not, hang up"

Additional user friendliness and security are achieved by this separate interrogation of a special input for triggering of the database interrogation and for initiating the generation and transmission of a text message containing the name of the caller in addition to his telephone number.

In one preferred embodiment of the method as claimed in the invention, a database interrogation takes place using the telephone number of the caller as the parameter before the attempt of a connection setup, i.e. that a corresponding database interrogation whether a name is stored at the telephone number of the caller, already takes place beforehand, in the case in which a name is stored in the database, a text message containing at least the telephone number of the caller and the name of the caller is generated and transmitted for display of the text message by a terminal assigned to the called telephone number.

It is known that when this is cleared, the telephone number of the caller is transmitted and is displayed by a terminal assigned to the called telephone number. With this development as claimed in the invention, in addition to the subscriber number in the connection set-up the name of the caller is interrogated from the database and is likewise transmitted for display by the terminal assigned to the called telephone number, so that the callee before accepting the call can recognize on the display of the terminal who the caller is.

Preferably storage of the name at a telephone number in the database is arranged by means of a text message from the terminal to the receiving module of the telephone network set up for this purpose, whereupon storage of the name in the database is carried out with the corresponding assignment to the telephone number.

In the simplest case this thus takes place by sending a SMS (short message service) to a special telephone number or abbreviated dialing number within the telephone network which is used to activate this service in which both the telephone number as the identification and the name to be stored which is desired for this purpose are transmitted by means of the SMS.

Preferably an entered name at a telephone number in the database is erased or changed by means of a special text message, for example by SMS, from the terminal to a receiving module of the telephone network set up for this purpose, whereupon erasure of the name in the database is carried out.

Analogously to the storage of a name, erasure of an entered name thus takes place, i.e. erasure of the database entry or alteration of a completed database entry likewise by sending a text message to a correspondingly set-up receiving module of the telephone network.

Preferably interrogation of the name at a telephone number in the database is arranged by means of a text message from the terminal to the receiving module of the telephone network set up for this purpose, whereupon interrogation of the name in the database is carried out and a text message with at least the stored name is generated and is transmitted to the interrogating terminal.

For the sake of security such an entry and/or erasure and/or alteration and/or interrogation can take place preferably only with that SDVI (subscriber identification module), at whose assigned telephone number the name is stored so that access for unauthorized third parties to the database and the corresponding database interrogations as well as the arrangement of database entries and database changes are stopped.

By way of a receiving module of the telephone network set up for this purpose it is thus possible for the subscriber to undertake, interrogate, erase or change the corresponding database entry. Preferably this takes place by means of the corresponding text messages, for example in the form of a SMS to a special subscriber number, especially an abbreviated dialing number within the respective network.

Preferably the text message which is transmitted within the telephone network after an unsuccessful call attempt of the caller to the unsuccessfully called telephone number furthermore contains the date and time of the failed call attempt.

Preferably the telephone network is a fixed network or a computer network or a land mobile network or a combination of these telephone networks.

The method as claimed in the invention can be used accordingly in all telephone networks, especially in the land mobile network, since especially cellular terminals conventionally have a display device for display of received text messages. But modern fixed network telephones conventionally also have such a display field. The method can likewise be used in telephony over a computer network such as the Internet since the corresponding text message can be displayed on the data processing system used for this purpose.

Preferably the database and/or a module for receiving text messages and/or for further processing of received text messages and/or for generation and transmission of text messages is integrated into the telephone network. By the integration of the database and/or interface for text messages the method can be integrated especially easily in existing telephone networks, especially a fixed network or computer network or land mobile network or a combination of these networks.

Preferably the network affiliation of the telephone number of the caller is added to the text message as further information about the caller.

The addition of the network affiliation of the calling subscriber to the text message is advantageous especially against the background of the possibility of subscriber number portability (Mobile Number Portability, abbreviated MNP).

Preferably graphical components which are stored in the database are added to the text message, such as for example a graphic, a logo and/or a photo. In particular it can also be a company logo or an avatar (graphic representative) or the like.

In one preferred embodiment of the invention the location of the caller is ascertained by ascertaining the cell used when a cellular land mobile system is being used and/or by means of satellite navigation and the location of the caller is added to the text message.

In this way it is possible to ascertain the location of the caller when making a call and to include it in the text message as further information, for example by using location based services (abbreviated LBS), i.e. so-called LBS databases and/or determining the location based on the cell used or satellite navigation (Global Positioning System, GPS).

Preferably, using the telephone number of the caller and/or using the name of the caller as a parameter one or more additional database interrogations are carried out in public databases, especially in public telephone directories, the results of these additional database interrogations being added to the text message. This enables inclusion of other databases such as for example MNP databases for automatic determination of network affiliation, interrogation of LBS databases, interrogation of customer databases within the network for automatic filling in "default use" (without manual presentation of a visiting card by the customer), databases for telephone book entries and if necessary inclusion of public databases.

In one preferred embodiment the storage of a name to the telephone number of the caller in the database and/or further database entries, especially company/organization, graphics and the like, take place automatically by interrogation of customer databases and/or publicly accessibly databases on the network side.

In this way the user has the opportunity to undertake only one pure "default activation" of the service. Default activation can be undertaken for example at contract completion or by SMS to speed dialing. Filling of caller information in the database takes place for example by automatic access via an internal customer database and/or telephone book database and/or other publicly accessible databases, directories and the like.

Preferably when the answering machine of the called subscriber is used a text message is generated and transmitted which contains a notification of the call accepted by the answering machine and the name and/or further information on the calling subscriber.

Thus the invention can also be advantageously used in conjunction with the use of a network-integrated answering machine, the so-called mailbox, i.e. that the method works with the mobile box function. If therefore a caller comes to the mobile box, the callee receives a text message (SMS or the like) with the information that there is a new message at the mobile box. Here then the information of the caller name, etc., is also equally contained. In a text message, multimedia message or the like which is transmitted as claimed in the invention after an unsuccessful call attempt of a caller to the unsuccessfully called telephone number for display of the text message by a terminal assigned to the called telephone number, it can be a so-called class-O-SMS (Class Zero SMS). It is a message which is displayed simply on the display, i.e. the display of the terminal, without this message being stored in the memory of the terminal assigned to the called telephone number. Accordingly this zero SMS is displayed only once and later can no longer be retrieved, since it is not stored in the memory of the terminal.

One embodiment of the method as claimed in the invention is shown schematically in the figures and is explained below.

Figure 1 shows a diagram of the method as claimed in the invention for an unsuccessful call attempt;

Figure 2 shows a diagram of set-up, interrogation, alteration or erasure of database entries in the method as claimed in the invention.

Figure 1 shows a diagram of the method as claimed in the invention for generating and transmitting a text message 6 in the case of an unsuccessful call attempt proceeding from the terminal 1 of the caller to the terminal 7 of the callee.

The call attempt fails, i.e. that a connection between the terminals of the caller 1 and the callee 7 over the telecommunications network does not take place. In this case, on the side of the telephone network 2 an information request 4 is directed to the database 3 assigned to the telephone network 2.

The information request 4 to the database 3 contains as the interrogation parameter the telephone number of the caller 1 for caller identification. It is checked in the database 3 whether a data set is stored at the subscriber number of the caller 1, containing the name of the caller 1. The database transfers the response 5 containing in addition to the subscriber number of the caller 1 also his name stored in the database 3.

On the network side, a text message 6 is generated and transmitted [to] the terminal 7 of the callee. The text message 6 which is generated within the telephone network 2 after an unsuccessful call attempt contains in addition to the subscriber of the caller 1 also his name.

Alternatively to the message generated in the illustrated exemplary embodiment as text message 6, it can be a multimedia message (so-called multimedia messaging service, abbreviated MMS) with graphic components. The transmission medium can also be GPRS or an IP based service (for example, instant messaging). General packet radio service (GPRS) is a packet-oriented service for data transmissions which is used in GSM networks.

In this embodiment the text message is transmitted in the form of a short message (SMS, short message service) to the terminal 7 for display on the terminal 7 which is assigned the subscriber number of the called subscriber.

Figure 2 shows the communication between the terminal 1 and the database 3 of the telephone network 2 for setting up, altering, interrogating and deactivating this service of the telecommunications network 2.

The subscriber who would like to activate this service sends a corresponding short message 10, originating from the terminal 1. In the case of a land mobile network the terminal 1 is a cellular terminal.

The corresponding short message 10 for activating or altering or deactivating or interrogating the contents of the database is sent to a receiving module 11 of the telecommunications network 2 which has been set up for this purpose.

The receiving module 11 is suitable for receiving and further processing or forwarding of text messages 10 to the database 3.

Depending on the contents of the short message 10, activation takes place, i.e. set-up of the service in which in the database 3, in addition to the telephone number, for example the MSISDN (mobile subscriber ISDN number) in the case of a land mobile network, or simply a fixed network line number, for example the ISDN in the case of a fixed network subscriber, furthermore the name which is to be stored, is transmitted to the module 11. The module 11 which is a component of the telecommunications network 2 is suitable for receiving and further processing of these text messages.

When a corresponding text message for setting up the service is received, on the side of the module 11 creation of a data set and storage of the data set consisting of the line identification and name in the database 3 are arranged.

In the reception of a corresponding text message 10 for deactivation of the service, on the side of the module 11 erasure of the corresponding data set from the identification of the line and the name in the database is arranged.

When a corresponding text message 10 for changing the stored name is received, on the side of the module 11 alteration of the corresponding data set is arranged and storage of the modified data set from the identification of the line and new name in the database 3 is arranged.

When the corresponding text message 10 for interrogation of the database contents is received, a corresponding interrogation of the database 3 takes place on the side of the module 11.

On the side of the database 3 or on the side of the telecommunications network 2 a text message 12 containing a confirmation is generated and sent to the terminal 1. This text message 12 is displayed on the terminal 1 for checking by the user.

In the case of activation, this confirmation message 12 can contain a disclosure about activation and the data stored in the database 3.

In the case of deactivation, the confirmation message 12 contains the confirmation that the entry in the database 3 has been erased.

This confirmation message 12 in the case of alteration can contain a disclosure about the completed alteration and the altered data stored in the database 3.

In the case of a status interrogation the message 12 which is transmitted for confirmation to the terminal 1 contains the data set stored in the database 3 consisting of the subscriber identity in the form of his telephone number and the information stored in this respect in the database, in the form of the stored name.

Optionally this additional service can be expanded to the enhanced service "call reminder" when the callee can be reached again after being temporarily unreachable, for example when the line is free again or a cell phone assigned to the subscriber number is checked-in again in a land mobile network.

In this connection, the caller receives a "call reminder by text message", in which in addition to the subscriber number of the called customer also the name of the destination subscriber is indicated, for example according to the following pattern.

"Call reminder:

Max Mustermann, telephone number 0123456789 can now be reached again".

In particular, for frequently changing or one-time telephone contacts the caller when receiving a call reminder can often no longer remember the specific destination subscriber. Higher transparency is achieved by the additional display of the destination subscriber.

Furthermore, it is possible for the caller's name to be sent at the same time in parallel in an active outgoing call. The called subscriber during connection set-up at the same time receives a corresponding text message for display on the terminal with the name of the current caller, for example according to the following pattern:

"Incoming call from Max Mustermann"

In this way increased transparency of the subscriber is achieved. The method as claimed in the invention can be used both in the fixed network and also in the land mobile network and for telecommunications over computer networks. Increased transparency enhances the possibilities for establishing contact especially in business contacts. The method as claimed in the invention can however also be used for subscriber groups other than in business.

Claims

1. Method for generating and transmitting a text message (6) which is transmitted within a telephone network (2) after an unsuccessful call attempt of a caller (1) to the unsuccessfully called telephone number, for display of the text message by the terminal (7) assigned to the called telephone number, the text message (6) containing at least the telephone number of the caller (1), characterized in that database interrogation (4, 5) takes place using the telephone number of the caller (1) as a parameter and it is interrogated whether at the telephone number of the caller (1) a name is stored, in the case in which the name is stored in the database (4) at least the name further being added to the text message (6) in addition to the telephone number of the caller (1).

2. Method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the generation and transmission of the text message (6) for an unsuccessfully call attempt take place regardless of whether the called terminal (7) is busy or cannot be reached or whether within a definable time interval there is no answer.

3. Method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the implementation of database interrogation (4, 5) and the transmission of the text message (6) containing the name of the caller to the called subscriber number for display of the text message are triggered by the terminal (7) assigned to the called telephone number after an unsuccessful call attempt by the caller (1) by means of a separate input.

4. Method as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein database interrogation (4, 5) takes place using the telephone number of the caller (1) as a parameter before the attempt of a connection set-up and it is interrogated whether at the telephone number of the caller a name is stored, in the case in which the name is stored in the database (3) a text message (6) containing at least the telephone number of the caller (1) and the name being generated and transmitted for display of the text message (6) by a terminal (7) assigned to the called telephone number.

5. Method as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein storage of the name at a telephone number in the database (3) is arranged by means of a text message (10) from the terminal (1) to the receiving module (11) of the telephone network (2) set up for this purpose and whereupon storage of the name in the database (3) is carried out with the corresponding assignment to the telephone number.

6. Method as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein erasure of an entered name at a telephone number in the database (3) is arranged by means of a text message (10) from the terminal (1) to a receiving module (11) of the telephone network (2) set up for this purpose and whereupon erasure of the name in the database (3) is carried out.

7. Method as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein interrogation of a name at a telephone number in the database (3) is arranged by means of a text message (10) from the terminal (1) to a receiving module (11) of the telephone network (2) set up for this purpose and whereupon interrogation of the name in the database (3) takes place and a text message (12) with at least the stored name is generated and transmitted to the interrogating terminal (1).

8. Method as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein the text message (6) which is transmitted within the telephone network (2) after an unsuccessful call attempt of the caller (1) to the unsuccessfully called telephone number furthermore contains the date and time of the call attempt.

9. Method as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein the telephone network (2) is a fixed network or a computer network or a land mobile network or a combination of these telephone networks.

10. Method as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein the database (3) and/or a module (11) for receiving text messages (10) and/or for further processing of text messages (10) and/or for generation and transmission of text messages (6, 12) is integrated into the telephone network (2).

11. Method as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein the network affiliation of the telephone number of the caller (1) is added to the text message (6) as further information about the caller (1).

12. Method as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein furthermore graphical components which are stored in the database (4) especially a graphic, a logo and/or a photo, are added to the text message (6).

13. Method as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein the location of the caller (1) is ascertained by ascertaining the cell used when a cellular land mobile system is being used and/or by means of satellite navigation and the location of the caller (1) is added to the text message.

14. Method as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein using the telephone number of the caller (1) and/or using the name of the caller (1) as a parameter one or more additional database interrogations are carried out in public databases, especially in public telephone directories, the results of these additional database interrogations being added to the text message (6).

15. Method as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein the storage of a name to the telephone number of the caller (1) in the database (4) and/or further database entries, especially company/organization, graphics and the like, take place automatically by interrogation of customer databases and/or publicly accessibly databases on the network side.

16. Method as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein when the answering machine of the called subscriber is used a text message (6) is generated and transmitted which contains a notification of the call accepted by the answering machine and the name and/or further information on the calling subscriber (1).

17. Method as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein the text message is a class zero SMS.

18. Computer program with program instructions and/or means for implementing the steps of the method as claimed in one of the preceding claims in the execution of the computer program on a data processing system within the telephone network, especially within a fixed network or a computer network or a land mobile network or a combination of these telephone networks.