AU752742B2 - A method and an arrangement relating to functions in a telecommunication network - Google Patents

Description

WO 99/17519 PCT/SE98/01647 1 TITLE OF THE INVENTION A METHOD AND AN ARRANGEMENT RELATING TO FUNCTIONS IN A TELECOMMUNICATION NETWORK TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to methods and arrangements in telecommunication networks, particularly to networks where subscribers are able to cancel notification signals communicated during ongoing connections.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART In addition to supporting basic telephone connections between subscribers, present day telecommunication networks support a number of other, more advanced, services to the subscribers. An example of such a service is call waiting.

The call waiting service is applicable during an ongoing connection between a first subscriber and a second subscriber. When a third subscriber calls the first subscriber, the first subscriber is notified, by e.g. an acoustic signal in the earpiece of his telephone, that a third subscriber is attempting to establish contact. The first user may take action, by e.g. pressing a predetermined key sequence on his telephone keyset, to accept or deny the attempted call from the third subscriber.

Another example where a subscriber is notified of attempted connections during an ongoing call, is in a mobile telephone network capable of handling both voice connections and transmissions of short text messages, such as SMS in GSM networks. When a first and a second subscriber have established a connection and are talking to each other, an incoming text message to the first subscriber from a third subscriber in the network, or from an automatic message generator within the network, will generate a notification signal to the first subscriber. As in the case described WO 99/17519 PCT/SE98/01647 2 above, the notification may be in the form of an acoustic signal and the subscriber may take action to accept the message or not.

There are obvious advantages of having a service such as the call waiting service described above. However, there are occasions when, during a call between subscribers, a notification signal may be extremely irritating to the subscriber or even detrimental to the established connection. Typical examples are calls to emergency centers and data connections such as fax transmissions. During a call to an emergency center, the subscriber may be very distressed or confused if he is disturbed by a persisting noise resulting from a notifying third subscriber. A fax transmission, where information is encoded using differing sound frequencies, is obviously very sensitive to external interference, such as a notifying signal, in such a way that information may be lost during the notifying signal.

In order to overcome the disadvantages with notification signals it is known in the art to implement a function in telecommunication networks which temporarily cancels the above described call waiting function. In a UK patent application having publication number GB 2303272A a cancel call waiting function is disclosed. Call waiting services are canceled or suppressed during fax transmissions.

However, only fax transmissions are identified and initiate the cancel call waiting service. It is not disclosed in GB 2303272A how to disable a call waiting service based on an arbitrary preference by a subscriber in the network.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A problem solved with the present invention is thus how to enable suppression of notification signals during telephone calls between a first subscriber and at least a second subscriber who, by the first subscriber is considered as being of such importance that a suppression of disturbing notification signals is desirable.

An object of the present invention is thus to enable suppression of unwanted notification signals during connections between at least two subscribers in a network.

The object the invention is achieved by monitoring dialed destination subscriber numbers and activate a suppression of any incoming notification signals from any source in the network or sources connected to the network.

In the first aspect the present invention accordingly provides a method of enabling suppression of notification signals during a telephone connection between an originating subscriber and a priority destinating subscriber, both subscribers having subscriber equipment connected to a telecommunication network, said notification signals resulting from a connection attempt from a notifying subscriber to the originating subscriber said method characterised by: monitoring destination subscriber numbers dialed by the originating subscriber, whereby a dialed priority destinating subscriber activates a suppression of the notification signals and where said priority destinating subscriber is identified by a stored destinating subscriber number.

In a second aspect the present invention accordingly provides a method of suppressing notification signals during a telephone connection between an originating subscriber and a priority destinating subscriber, both subscribers having subscriber equipment connected to a telecommunication network, said notification signals resulting from a connection attempt from a notifying subscriber 25 to the originating subscriber said method characterised by the steps: selecting the at least one priority destinating subscriber for whom, during °eeoc• o the connection between the originating subscriber and at least one priority destinating subscriber, suppression of notification signals is to be performed where said priority destinating subscriber is identified by a stored destinating subscriber number; dialing a destinating subscriber number; analyzing the dialed destinating subscriber number whereby a dialed priority destinating subscriber triggers a suppression of the notification signals.

In a third aspect the present invention accordingly provides an arrangement for enabling suppression of notification signals during a telephone connection between an originating subscriber and a priority destinating subscriber, both subscribers having subscriber equipment connected to a telecommunication network, said notification signals resulting from a connection attempt from a notifying subscriber to the originating subscriber, said arrangement characterised by: means of monitoring destinating subscriber numbers dialed by the originating subscriber, whereby a dialed priority destinating subscriber activates means for suppression of the notification signals and where said priority destinating subscriber is identified by a stored destinating subscriber number.

In a fourth aspect the present invention accordingly provides an arrangement for enabling suppression of notification signals during a telephone connection between an originating subscriber and a priority destinating subscriber, both subscribers having subscriber equipment connected to a telecommunication network, said notification signals resulting from a connection attempt from a notifying subscriber to the originating subscriber, said Io a arrangement characterised by: means of monitoring destinating subscriber numbers dialed by the 20 originating subscriber, whereby a dialed priority destinating subscriber activates *oo means for suppression of the notification signals and where said priority destinating subscriber is identified by a stored destinating subscriber number.

An advantage of the present invention is that subscribers may cancel irritating and detrimental notification signals during sensitive and important calls.

25 Another advantage of the present invention is that a subscriber wishing to make use of the invention will find it easy to use. Simply by supplying, a network operator with a list of priority subscriber numbers, the network equipment Ol can be made to automatically cancel notification signals without further interaction with the subscriber.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS WO 99/17519 PCT/SE98/01647 4 Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a telecommunication network.

Figure 2A shows a schematic block diagram of a telecommunication network.

Figure 2B shows a schematic signaling diagram illustrating communication in a telecommunication network according to the invention.

Figures 3A and 3B show a schematic flow chart of an embodiment of a method according to the invention.

Figure 4 shows a schematic flow chart of a second embodiment of a method according to the invention.

Figure 5 shows a schematic block diagram of a telecommunication network.

Figure 6 shows a schematic view of a memory containing a list of subscriber telephone numbers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Figure 1 introduces a number of definitions that are to be used further below. A telecommunication network 100 supplies a capability for a number of subscribers to communicate with each other. An originating subscriber 101 denotes a subscriber on whose initiative a connection 150 is initiated with a destinating subscriber 102. A particular group of destinating subscribers consists of priority destinating subscribers 103. These priority destinating subscribers 103 are denoted as being prioritized by the fact that the originating subscriber 101 considers them to be of such importance that an established connection 151 with any of these is to be protected from any interfering notification signals 152 generated by a notifying subscriber 104. A further description of priority destinating subscribers will be presented below in connection with figure 6.

WO 99/17519 PCT/SE98/01647 It is assumed that a person skilled in the art realizes that the network 100 may consist of a large number of components, such as exchanges, subscriber interface circuits and trunk lines between exchanges as well as comprising many more subscribers than shown in figure i. The network 100 may also be in the form of a mobile cellular network, comprising of units such as radio base stations and mobile service switching centers. Equipment at the subscribers is typically represented by ordinary telephones, faxes and mobile telephones.

Figures 2A and 2B will be used below to illustrate the present invention in a schematic and relatively general manner. Figure 2A shows components of a telecommunication network 200 and figure 2B shows connections and signals between these components. It is assumed that the person skilled in the art will recognize the components and signals described below, and readily applies the invention in any existing network hardware. A typical example of network components are exchanges based on the well known AXE digital switching system.

Figure 2A shows three digital exchanges, a first exchange 250, a second exchange 251 and a third exchange 252. The exchanges 250,251,252 are interconnected via a trunk line 280, thus making a part of a telecommunication network 200.

Each of the exchanges 250,251,252 has a number of connected subscribers. For illustrative purposes only one subscriber is shown for each respective exchange 250,251,252. A first subscriber 201 is connected to the first exchange 250, a second subscriber 202 is connected to the second exchange 251 and a third subscriber 203 is connected to the third exchange 252. Although not shown in the figure, the subscribers 201,202,203 comprise hardware such as telephones and faxes. It should also be pointed out that, although figure 2A shows the subscribers 201,202,203 as being WO 99/17519 PCT/SE98/01647 6 connected directly to their respective exchange 250,251,252, the invention is also applicable in networks where connections between subscribers and exchanges are wireless.

Typical examples of wireless networks are obviously mobile cellular networks and so called cordless networks.

Each of the three exchanges 250,251,252 comprises functional units in the form of hardware and software, enabling subscribers to establish arbitrary connections for voice calls, fax transmissions etc. For the sake of clarity only the first exchange 250 is illustrated in some detail. The second 251 and third 252 exchanges are assumed to comprise at least similar functional units.

The first subscriber 201 is connected to a telephony unit 260 which mainly comprises hardware for basic functionality, such as e.g. switching. Within the telephony unit 260 is a signaling unit 261 which handles basic functions relating to signaling between the different components in the network 200. The telephony unit 260 with its signaling unit 261 is controlled by a control unit 262 having a memory 263. The control unit is basically a computer in which control software is running. In addition to software, the memory unit 263 contains a list 600 of destinating subscriber numbers as shown in figure 6. The list 600 is in a simple implementation comprised by telephone numbers 601, each number 601 having associated status information 602 which in the present example is in a form of an ON/OFF flag. A subscriber number 603 with an ON-flag 604 is considered to be a priority destinating subscriber number for which suppression of notification information is to be performed.

A subscriber number 605 with an OFF-flag 606 is considered to be a priority destinating subscriber number for which no suppression of notification information is to be performed.

Input of the numbers 601 in the list 600, as well as toggling between status ON and OFF is performed by the WO 99/17519 PCT/SE98/01647 7 subscriber; either by actions through his subscriber equipment, e.g. keypad, or on demand by an operator of the network 200 (figure 2A). Needless to say, the list 600 of numbers 601 may be of any length, only limited by the available memory 263 in which it is stored.

For the purpose of the inventive methods described below, it is assumed that the priority destinating subscriber number 604 stored in the memory unit 263, is the subscriber number of the second subscriber 202.

It is outside the scope of the present invention to describe in detail any particular software implementation. Thus, it is assumed that the person skilled in the art is capable of programming the control unit 262 in an appropriate manner to implement the invention.

Nevertheless, an important feature of the software running in the control unit 262 is that it is capable of comparing a dialed destinating subscriber number with the list of priority destinating subscriber numbers in the memory unit 263. A comparison which results in a finding that a priority destinating subscriber number has been dialed triggers the telephony unit 260 to suppress any notifying signals emanating from any other subscriber than the dialed destinating subscriber.

Figure 2B is a schematic signaling diagram in which the main components of the network 200 in figure 2A are represented as vertical lines. The first subscriber 201, the first exchange 250, the second exchange 251, the second subscriber 202, the third exchange 252 and the third subscriber 203.

Connections between subscribers, e.g. telephone conversations and fax transmissions, are in figure 2B illustrated with solid horizontal arrows. Signals between the different components are illustrated with dashed horizontal arrows.

WO 99/17519 PCT/SE98/01647 8 When the first subscriber 201 activates his telephone and dials a destinating subscriber number corresponding to the second subscriber 202, signaling 271 takes place between the first subscriber 201 and the first exchange 250. The dialed destinating subscriber number is processed by known processes such as number- and route analysis, as well as compared with the list of priority destinating subscriber numbers in the memory unit 263. It is found that the dialed number corresponds to a priority destinating subscriber number, and hence the telephony unit 260 is instructed by the control unit 262 to suppress incoming notification signals. Then the first exchange 250 and the second exchange 251 start signaling 272, followed by signaling 273 between the second exchange 251 and the second subscriber 202 in order to set up the connection between the first 201 and the second 202 subscriber. When the second subscriber 202 has answered the connection attempt, e.g. by lifting the receiver of his telephone, a voice connection 274 is established.

During the connection 274 between the first 201 and second 202 subscribers, the third subscriber 203 dials a destinating subscriber number corresponding to the first subscriber 201. In the same manner as described above, signaling 275,276 takes place between the third subscriber 203, the third exchange 252 and the first exchange 250.

However, due to the fact that the first subscriber 201 triggered a suppression of incoming notification signals, no signaling takes place between the first exchange 250 and the first subscriber 201 as a result of the attempted connection from the third subscriber 203. Signals 277 informing the third subscriber 203 of the unsuccessful connection attempt are transmitted from the third exchange 252 to the third subscriber 203.

WO 99/17519 PCT/SE98/01647 9 Figure 5 illustrates an alternative embodiment of a telecommunication network 500 wherein the present invention is implemented. Similar to the network 200 described in connection with figure 2A, the network 500 in this embodiment comprises three digital exchanges 550,551,552 that are interconnected with each other by trunk lines 580 and each exchange 550,551,552 having respective subscribers 501,502, 503 connected.

Each of the three exchanges 550,551,552 comprise functional units in the form of hardware and software, enabling subscribers to establish arbitrary connections for voice calls, fax transmissions etc. As in the previous example, for the sake of clarity, only the first exchange 550 is illustrated in some detail and comprises a telephony unit 560, a signaling unit 561 and a control unit 562.

In contrast to the previous example in figure 2A, the first subscriber 501 is illustrated in some more detail. A keypad 573 and a subscriber memory unit 572 are both connected to a subscriber control unit 571 which in turn connects the first subscriber 501 to the telephony unit 560 of the first exchange 550. The subscriber memory unit 572 holds a list of priority destinating subscriber numbers, such as the list 600 illustrated in figure 6.

When the first subscriber 501 activates his telephone and dials a destinating subscriber number corresponding to the second subscriber 502, the dialed destinating subscriber number is processed within the subscriber control unit 571.

In particular, the dialed number is compared with the list of priority destinating subscriber numbers in the subscriber memory unit 572. If it is found that the dialed number corresponds to a priority destinating subscriber number, the telephony unit 560 of the first exchange 550 is instructed by the subscriber control unit 562 to suppress incoming notification signals. Also, if suitably programmed, the WO 99/17519 PCT/SE98/01647 subscriber control unit 562 may itself suppress the incoming notification signals. The suppression of the notification signals may alternatively be performed in the subscriber unit 501. As described above in connection with figure 2A and 2B, a connection between the first subscriber 501 and the second subscriber 502 is then established, during which connection notification signals emanating from attempted calls from the third subscriber 503 are suppressed.

Two methods according to the present invention will be described below in connection with flow charts illustrated in figures 3A,3B and 4. It is assumed that the methods are implemented in arrangements in telecommunication networks such as the network 200 described above in connection with figure 2A. The methods will cover examples where the first subscriber 201 connects with the second subscriber 202, during which connection the third subscriber 203 attempts to connect with the first subscriber 201 and thereby generate a notification signal to the first subscriber 201.

A first method according to the present invention commences with a step 301 where a list of priority destinating subscriber numbers is created and stored in the network equipment, preferably in the memory unit 263 of the first exchange 250. The list may be created in a number of ways, such as e.g. by an operator of the network acting upon instructions from the first subscriber 201, or the first subscriber 201 may create the list on his own without operator assistance by accessing the memory unit 263 through the keyset of his telephone. A detailed description of how to create a list of subscriber numbers and storing them is outside the scope of this disclosure and is assumed to be within the knowledge of the person skilled in the art.

A step 302 follows during which the first subscriber 201 dials a destinating subscriber number. This step 302 may take place at any point in time and is not restricted to WO 99/17519 PCT/SE98/01647 11 occur immediately after the step 301 when the list of priority destinating subscriber numbers was created.

The dialed destination subscriber number is in a following step 303 analyzed by the first exchange 250. As is known in the art, this step comprises, a routing analysis in order to find a route through the network 200 from the exchange 250 of the first subscriber 201 to the exchange 251 of the second subscriber 202.

In connection with the previous step, a comparison is performed in step 304 between the dialed destinating subscriber number and the priority destinating subscriber numbers stored in the memory unit 263.

It is found, in a decision step 305, that the dialed destinating subscriber number and one of the priority destinating subscriber numbers is equal. This activates suppression of notifying signals is performed in a suppression step 306.

A connection between the first subscriber 201 and the second subscriber 202 is then established in a concluding step 307.

Figure 3B illustrates the embodiment of the first inventive method as perceived by the third subscriber 203 attempting to establish a connection with the first subscriber 201.

After dialing 351 the destinating subscriber number corresponding to the first subscriber 201, the third exchange 252 analyses the dialed number in a number and route analysis step 352, corresponding to the analysis step 303 described above.

After finding a route between the third exchange 252 and the first exchange 250, a connection is established between the third 252 and first 250 exchanges in an exchange connection step 353.

WO 99/17519 PCT/SE98/01647 12 The method then continues with a decision step 354, performed by the first exchange 250, in which a check is made whether suppression of notification signals is activated.

In the present case, where the suppression is activated, as described in connection with step 306 above, the suppression check returns an affirmative answer and the method concludes without any connection being established between the third 203 and first 201 subscribers. Nor has any notification signal been generated and transmitted to the first subscriber 201.

Had it been a case where the decision step 354 found that no suppression of notification signals is activated, a call waiting notification signal would have been transmitted from the first exchange 250 to the first subscriber 201 in a call waiting signaling step 355, as well as followed by an establishment of connection in a connecting step 356.

Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in figure 4. As in the previous example, the first subscriber 201 dials a priority destinating subscriber number in a dialing step 401.

The dialed number is analyzed in a number analysis step 402 resulting in a destination code which is representative of where in the network the destination subscriber number terminates. For example, the destination code may indicate whether the call is local among subscribers connected to the first exchange 250 or if it is an international call, and also if the call is to an emergency destination, such as police or fire brigade.

In a decision step 404 a check is made if the destination code found in the previous step 403 is an emergency destination code.

WO 99/17519 PCT/SE98/01647 13 Activation of suppression of incoming notification signals are performed, as in the previous example, in an activating step 405, followed by an establishment of the connection in a connection step 406.

Any attempted connection from a third subscriber, such as disclosed in connection with figure 3B above, will be suppressed for the duration of the established connection.

The above described embodiments of methods show that the present invention can be regarded from two different viewpoints: from a subscriber point of view and a network operator point of view. From the subscriber's point of view, the invention is preferably considered as a method of suppressing unwanted notification signals. From the network operator's point of view it is preferably a method of enabling the suppression of notification signals, and hence it may be of relevance to introduce a concept of monitoring attempted connections.

Claims (16)

1. A method of enabling suppression of notification signals during a telephone connection between an originating subscriber and a priority destinating subscriber, both subscribers having subscriber equipment connected to a telecommunication network, said notification signals resulting from a connection attempt from a notifying subscriber to the originating subscriber said method characterised by: monitoring destination subscriber numbers dialed by the originating subscriber, whereby a dialed priority destinating subscriber activates a suppression of the notification signals and where said priority destinating subscriber is identified by a stored destinating subscriber number.

2. A method of suppressing notification signals during a telephone connection between an originating subscriber and a priority destinating subscriber, both subscribers having subscriber equipment connected to a telecommunication network, said notification signals resulting from a connection attempt from a notifying subscriber to the originating subscriber, said method characterised by the steps: selecting the at least one priority destinating subscriber for whom, during the connection between the originating subscriber and at least one priority destinating subscriber, suppression of notification signals is to be performed where said priority destinating subscriber is identified by a stored destinating subscriber number; dialing a destinating subscriber number; 0. analyzing the dialed destinating subscriber number whereby a dialed priority destinating subscriber triggers a suppression of the notification signals. oooo

3. A method according to claim 2, further characterised in that the analysis of the dialed destinating subscriber number generates a destination code representative of the destinating subscriber, followed by the step: analyzing the destination code, whereby a destination code representative of a priority destinating subscriber triggers a suppression of notification signals.

4. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further characterised in that the selection of the at least one priority destinating subscriber is performed by the originating subscriber.

A method according to claim 1, 2 or 4, further characterised in that the storage of the at least one selected priority destinating subscriber number is performed by the telecommunication network.

6. A method according to claim 1, 2 or 4, further characterised in that the storage of the at least one selected priority destinating subscriber number is performed in the subscriber unit.

7. A method according to any one of claims 2 to 6, further characterised in that the suppression of the notification signals is performed in the telecommunication network.

8. A method according to any one of claims 2 to 6, further characterised in that the suppression of the notification signals is performed in the subscriber unit.

9. A method according to any one of claims 2 to 6, further characterised in that the suppression of the notification signals is performed in response to a S. signal from the subscriber unit.

An arrangement for enabling suppression of notification signals during a telephone connection between an originating subscriber and a priority destinating subscriber, both subscribers having subscriber equipment connected to a telecommunication network, said notification signals resulting from a connection attempt from a notifying subscriber to the originating subscriber, said arrangement characterised by: means of monitoring destinating subscriber numbers dialed by the originating subscriber, whereby a dialed priority destinating subscriber activates means for suppression of the notification signals and where said priority destinating subscriber is identified by a stored destinating subscriber number. 16

11. An arrangement for suppressing notification signals during a telephone connection between an originating subscriber and a priority destinating subscriber, both subscribers having subscriber equipment connected to a telecommunication network, said notification signals resulting from a connection attempt from a notifying subscriber to the originating subscriber, said arrangement characterised by: means for selecting at least one priority destinating subscriber for whom, during connection between the originating subscriber and the at least one priority destinating subscriber, suppression of the notification signals is to be performed where said priority destinating subscriber is identified by a stored destinating subscriber number; means for dialing a destinating subscriber number; means for analyzing the dialed destinating subscriber number whereby a dialed priority destinating subscriber triggers means for suppression of the notification signals.

12. An arrangement according to claim 11, further characterised in that the means for analyzing of the dialed destinating subscriber number includes means i for generating a destination code representative of the destinating subscriber, as well as means for analyzing the destination code, whereby a destinating code representative of a priority destinating subscriber triggers means for suppression of notification signals.

13. An arrangement according to claim 10 or 11, further characterised in that the means for storage of the at least one selected destination subscriber number ~is located in the telecommunication network.

14. An arrangement according to claim 10 or 11, further characterised in that the means for storage of the at least one selected priority destination subscriber Snumber is located in the subscriber unit.

An arrangement according to any one of claims 11 to 14, further characterised in that the means for suppression of the notification signals is R fted in the telecommunication network. 17

16. An arrangement according to any one of claims 11 to 14, further characterised in that the means for suppression of the notification signals is at least partly located in the subscriber unit. DATED this 22nd day of July 2002 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL) WATERMARK PATENT TRADE MARK ATTORNEYS 290 BURWOOD ROAD HAWTHORN VICTORIA 3122 AUSTRALIA P17176AU00 PNF/AAL/MD *f *o S* f° t* foo f °ooo *o o o f ft t