Mobile radio system

p0001The invention relates to a mobile radio system comprising a central service station, which is intermediated switching units having at least one mobile radio station in radio contact and exchange with this digital data, wherein the mobile radio station for controlling the data communication includes a microprocessor which is controlled by control commands of a control program and a light emitted from the service station according to a predetermined data transmission protocol text message detects and evaluates.

p0002In a conventional digital cellular mobile radio system according to the GSM system (radio transmission system in accordance with the recommendations of the CEPT Subcommittee <u>G</u>Roupé <u>S</u>pecial <u>M</u>Obil) can be emitted from a central service station from a text message to a device connected to the mobile network mobile device. This text message generally contains short texts with up to 160 characters, for example. This particular service in the mobile radio system, which is also referred to as Short Message Service (SMS), not using the normal speech channel for the transmission, but a signaling channel. The cost of transferring a text message are very low and are generally only one charge unit. In practice, such text messages are used, for example, to provide information on current tariffs and other novelties. In addition, the short message service can be used by any other device participating in the Mobile Network with DTMF signaling to inform, for example, employees in the field of appointments. Generally, the information contained in the text message are output to an operator of the mobile device via a display. One use of the short message service for controlling a mobile radio station or a mobile device is not yet known.

p0003The object of the invention to change control functions of a mobile station of the mobile radio system with low technical and economic effort.

p0004This object is achieved for a mobile radio system of the initially mentioned type in that the microprocessor contained in the mobile radio station changes the contents of its control program on the basis of data contained in the text message information.

p0005In the invention, the known short message service is used in the mobile radio system for transmission of data. Notwithstanding the contents of the previously known text messages, information for controlling the mobile radio station is transmitted itself. The microprocessor evaluates this information and causes automatically changing the contents of his stored in a memory control program. Since the hardware components can be further used for the realization of the short message service, the technical complexity in the realization of the invention remains low. The use of inexpensive short message service conferring an economic advantage because generally obtained only a phone call unit for the transmission of control data.

p0006A preferred embodiment provides that the control program comprises at least one control section which is enabled or disabled depending on the information contained in the text message. The mobile radio station has been prepared in this development with various control functions, which are defined as control commands in the control portions of the control program. Depending on the control data in the short message can now released individual control portions, that enabled them to become. The mobile radio station can then use the stored in this control section control commands and execute the corresponding functions. In this way it is possible to equip the mobile radio station with numerous technical functional characteristics which are initially switched to inactive and can not be used without an open-circuit by the owner of the radio station. A participant in the mobile network, in a network operator request activation of some or all functions and pay a purchase price or rent only for these functions. The grid operator to pay the purchase price at the appropriate technical function of the mobile radio station, which can then use the user. In this way, can be provided with a single basic model of a mobile radio station a variety of technical functions, as is more typical of different device models. Among these functions, the user selects the his Kaufvorstellun from gen corresponding assortment with the associated functional features.

p0007For example, the shared control section control commands according to a calculator function or according to a game program included. If the calculator function is activated for example by a text message, the operator of the radio station can enter numbers from the keypad and perform arithmetic functions, the results are displayed on the display unit of the radio station.

p0008In another development of the invention can be provided that can be corrected or modified selected control commands on the basis of the information contained in the text message. This development can then be used in an advantageous manner, if they are found in previously sold devices that the control program contains a malformed control commands. Through a text message these faulty control commands can be corrected. A hitherto usual recall campaign for radio stations that contain these faulty control commands can be omitted, whereby economic damage is avoided.

p0009Another embodiment of the invention provides that on the basis of the information contained in the text message new control commands are inserted into the control program. If the network operator, for example, offers a new service in its mobile network, are not yet equipped to the existing mobile radio stations, so this training can be used to advantage. The control commands necessary for use of the new service are in fact transmitted to the mobile radio station in a text message and then inserted into the control program. After release of the associated control section of the owner of the radio station can use the new service.

p0010An embodiment of the invention will be described below with reference to the single figure of the drawing. In this figure the network elements of the digital cellular mobile radio system D900 are shown according to the GSM standard. For reasons of simplicity only a few key network elements are shown to illustrate the principle of operation of the invention. A central service station 10 through the connection in the mobile network and networks with other not shown, for example, to an ISDN telephone network. The mobile radio system comprises a short message service, short SMS (Short Message Service) mentioned wherein by a subscriber of the mobile network, a short message is temporarily stored in a memory 12th The presence of such a text message is displayed to the recipient when activated its subscriber device. Usually then the text of the text message is sent from the memory 12 to the subscriber device and displayed on a display unit.

p0011The service station 10 communicates with a base station 14 in compound represented by an antenna 16 via an air interface 18, the connection with a subscriber device, which manufactures a mobile radio device 20 in this case. The radio signal is further processed by a telephone controller 22 is controlled by a microprocessor 24th This telephone controller 22 further comprises, not shown the hardware elements of the mobile device 20, such as a speaker and a microphone. The microprocessor 24 controls a display unit 26 and is replaced by a keyboard 28 input signals. In the figure are required for the operation of the microprocessor 24 usual Hardeware components, such as input / output units, data buses, etc., not shown for clarity. The microprocessor 24 is controlled by a control program, the control commands are stored in a memory 32nd This memory 32 contains control section A1, A2, A3, A4, in which the belonging to a certain technical function of the mobile device 20 control commands are stored for the microprocessor 24th For example, can be performed using the control commands in the control section A1 a calculator function. The control section A2 contains commands that realize a game program. The other control sections A3 and A4 contain other useful functions.

p0012The microprocessor 24 also has access to a decoder 30 which decodes the encoded information contained in the short message. This decoder 30 is typically software technical realized, that is in the memory 32, a corresponding storage section is provided with control commands which control the microprocessor 24 so as to satisfy the decoding function of the decoder 30th

p0013In the following the operation of the embodiment will be explained according to the invention. A network operator that wants to change the control program contained in the memory 32, sent to the service station 10, a text message that is to be forwarded to mobile station 20th The text message with the encoded information is stored temporarily in memory 12th The microprocessor 24 of the mobile device 20 is then notified that a text message is present. Upon activation of the mobile device 20 to the subscriber is displayed on the display unit 26, constitute present a text message on the mobile device 20th The sequence control in the mobile communications device 20 can now be designed so that the short message is automatically taken over by the microprocessor 24, or only after input of an initiating command on the keyboard 28th As mentioned, the short message on the signaling channel, that is, without use of the voice channel, via the air interface 18 is transmitted to the mobile radio device 20th The text message contains coded information that allows the microprocessor 24 recognizes that a change in the content of the data stored in memory 32 control program is desired. Using the decoder 30 of the text message content is decoded and then causes the change of the control program.

p0014For example, the text message containing the information that the control section A1 will be unlocked. Accordingly, changes of the microprocessor 24 to be sequence program, for example by changing the jump address or by indirect addressing, so that also the control section is run through A1 during execution of the control program. Since the control portion includes A1 commands for realizing a calculator function, now the operator of the mobile device 20 run through the keyboard 28 arithmetic operations with the support of the microprocessor 24, are displayed on the display unit 26 the results. Analogously, the other control section A2 can be unlocked to A4.

p0015The information contained in the text message can also cause a disabling of control sections A1 to A4. For example, if an owner of the mobile device is no longer required 20 specific technical functions and wants to pay to the network operator no fees, so he can disable this function. The network operator will then send to the mobile device 20 a text message, said based on the information contained in the text message a certain control section A1 to A4 blocked. When executing the control program of the locked control section A1 is then skipped to A4.

p0016In an analogous manner, it is possible to correct control commands in the memory 32 on the basis of the information contained in the text message or modify. If it is found in the operation of a mobile telephone that his tax program is faulty, the control program or the memory had been 32 exchanged in a recall campaign in all mobile devices. According to the present invention, it is now possible to correct single faulty control commands. For this purpose, sends the network operator to all mobile devices concerned a text message from, containing the encoded information of the kind that change the control program. One or more faulty control commands are then corrected in the memory 32nd Similarly, new commands can be added to the control program on the basis of the information contained in the text message. Advantageously, the short message includes a recognition code from the identification number of the mobile station, the so-called IMEI number derived. In this way it is ensured that the intended recipient is addressed. The information contained in the text message can be encrypted in the service station by an encryption algorithm and then transmitted. The mobile radio device is also known the key so that the encrypted information can be decoded in the mobile unit. Through these measures, the data security is increased further.