Method for signalling a call transfer

The invention relates to a method for signaling a call forwarding from a first Subscriber line of a telecommunications network a second subscriber line of any Telecommunications network, preferably the mobile radio network, wherein a caller the first subscriber line has chosen.

With the digitization of the telephone network carried or the provision of ISDN services be phone customers new comfort features made available. One of the major Comfort features is the possibility of call forwarding. This obtains the telephone customer or the subscriber the option of using his home telephone or his workplace connection, the number of a call destination to program, to the incoming telephone calls are to be forwarded. The call destinations itself can in the fixed network, the mobile network or in foreign fixed or mobile networks lie.

In particular, the increasing use of Mobile telephony is increasingly of participants often made use of the option, incoming Calls from a landline connection to a redirect mobile terminal. Thus, the subscriber is even in the absence of home or his workplace accessible.

The disadvantage of call forwarding is for the called to see participants is that it charges the phone must pay that, for call forwarding ie for the connection between the selected port and the destination port of Call forwarding, arise. In particular, in the Call forwarding from a landline connection in a cellular network are the called subscriber fees charged very high.

When call forwarding is in connection with this Invention also redirect from a national Mobile Network in a foreign mobile network to understand (referred to as so-called roaming). Also in this case has the called Participants bear the fees charged for the connection arise between the two mobile networks.

From a legal perspective, the burden of the caller currently with the total costs, that is to say with the existing technical facilities, not allowed. The site is the load the caller is not allowed to the total cost. The caller must see from the numbers dialed can, with which billing it to has expected.

The object of the invention is accordingly to to provide a method with which it is possible, in the case of call forwarding, the total cost pay the connection to the caller without the leave plugged by law framework

This object is achieved by a method, the comprising the features of claim 1. As a result of that the caller through the call forwarding an indication obtained via the call forwarding, it is legally possible, the caller to the total fees to charge. The reference is to the Caller namely possible to terminate the connection, before the call is forwarded, or can refer to in his calling habits Setting these higher fees.

In an advantageous development of the invention, the notice will include information on the connection fees between the first and the second Subscriber. This receives the caller a additional decision aid about whether he to maintain connection. Is located For example, the second subscriber, the is the call forwarding destination, in the same Local area network as the selected first subscriber line, so only drops another local network fee , so that the caller through this call forwarding would hardly loaded additionally. located However, the second subscriber terminal in a foreign telecommunications network, as would be the Fees that would have the caller to wear considerably, so that it in this case, the compound interrupt, or in his calling habits Adjusting to these higher fees can. Thus, although in both cases, call forwarding is programmed, would result for the caller -in load with the total fees significantly different amounts.

In an advantageous development of the invention, is between the note and call forwarding a predetermined time period elapse. It gives thereby the advantage that the caller a certain amount of time to decide whether he will link the to cancel or not, is available. Preferably, the end of this time, e.g. , Signaled by an acoustic signal will.

In an advantageous development of the invention, is the signaling function from the first subscriber line from activated. Thus, the subscriber has the opportunity and the advantage of influence on to take, who incurred for call forwarding ordered to pay fees.

In an advantageous development of the invention, is the message by voice to the caller transmitted. This has the advantage that the telephone the caller is not necessarily an optical must have display device. Furthermore is the signaling means for each language Caller very easy to understand. Other acoustic Signaling forms, such as certain Sequences of tones, are for the caller not self-explanatory; Rather studies are needed the relevant operating instructions.

In an advantageous development of the invention, contains the indication accurate information about the Fee schedule, on the basis of the two Subscribers will be charged.

Further embodiments of the invention will be apparent from the description and the drawing.

The invention will now by way of example described the near with reference to the drawing. The single figure shows a functional block diagram the system for explaining the invention Process.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 designates an exemplary , indicated in telecommunication network. contains the sake of clarity this telecommunications network only those components the need to illustrate the invention are.

These components include a total of three subscribers 3, 5 and 7 as well as a switching center 9. All three subscriber lines 3, 5, 7 are connected via lines 11, with the related this invention wired or wireless connections provide, to the exchange 9 connected. Of course, it is conceivable that the compounds of the subscribers 3, 5, 7 to the exchange 9 via further not Exchanges illustrated done.

described in the embodiment in the present Case, it is at the local loop 7 for example, a mobile subscriber terminal, so that in the transmission path to the exchange 9 definitely another Exchange is involved, as the Link between the wired landline and the mobile network is used. In the two Subscriber lines 3, 5 is, for example, customary landline telephones.

The switch 9 shown in the figure includes among others a switching controller 13, and a data memory 15, a speech module 17 and a billing module 19. The data memory 15, the speech engine 17 and the charging module 19 are, for example, a Databus 20 connected to the switching controller. 13 Furthermore, the indicated in the figure Subscriber lines 3, 5, 7 likewise with the switching controller 13.

The switching controller 13 has the task, a connection between the caller, for example, Subscriber line 3, and the desired Participants, for example, subscriber line 5, establish, with the identification of the desired Operator 5 a phone number is used.

The switch 9 also offers the following Participants the opportunity to call forwarding to activate. For this purpose, it is necessary that the subscriber on his phone selects this service and a destination number enters, to the all directed calls forwarded to him. The need for call forwarding data be in the switching center 9 in the data memory 15 saved. This data memory 15, as be seen in the enlarged view A, in matrix form organized. Each cell 21 of this matrix-type Structure corresponds to a memory cell of the data memory 15. Each row 23 of the matrix type Construction is a subscriber line 3, assigned to 5, the seventh That is, the number of rows 23, at least the number of the switching center 9 connected subscribers equivalent. is to identify each row 23 an example in a first memory cell 25 Line 23, the telephone number of the subscriber line stored. In the three other Memory cells 27, 29, 31 of a row 23 are, for example, the information forwarding destination fee schedule Information and yes / no stored. The function of these values ​​is more detail later to be discribed.

If a subscriber has call forwarding activated, so the destination number in the memory cell is 27 of the subscriber associated with line 23 stored.

To explain the method according to the invention is now assumed that the subscriber terminal 3 serves as a caller and makes a call, is to reach the subscriber. 5 Of the Subscriber line 5 has in turn call forwarding is enabled and the destination number, the phone number the subscriber line 7 input. This telephone number of the subscriber line 7 It follows that in the memory cell 27, the said Subscriber is allocated 5.

Achieved the call request of the subscriber line 3, the switch 9 and there the switching controller 13, the data memory 15 is searched for a number in the memory cells 25, the elect of the subscriber line 3 corresponding number.

If the switching controller 13 a corresponding found entry in a memory cell 25 and including the memory cell 27 is now an information, call forwarding is enabled, so that the Switch 9 does not connect to the Subscriber line 5, but with the Subscriber line 7 produces.

According to the invention, however, before the preparation of Connection with the subscriber terminal 7 to the subscriber terminal 3 indicates that a call forwarding takes place. This signaling service the participant terminal 5 with activation Select the call forwarding, which information for example in the form of a flag in the Memory cell 31 is stored.

Detects the switching controller 13 such flag set in the memory cell 31, it controls the language module 17 corresponding to that in spoken Language a predetermined reference text the subscriber 3 transmits. The nature of this Note text is preferably also of the subscriber terminal 5 can be predetermined and as appropriate Information in the memory cell 31 is stored. This reference text, for example, as read as follows: "The number you have dialed is forwarded to another connection. "

So far, the charges incurred in forwarding Charges the subscriber line 5, of the Call forwarding has enabled calculated. With The novel process, it is now possible in the call forwarding of the exchange 9 and thereby inform the network operator, that the charges completely by the caller to are wearing. This, in turn, is a flag in the Memory cell 31 is set. Detects the switching controller 13, such a set flag, is additionally Note the means of the speech module 17 to the calling subscriber terminal 3 transmits, that the fees are paid by the caller.

After receipt of this notice, the subscriber terminal 3 the option to disconnect, not with potentially high roaming charges to be charged, or can refer to in his calling habits Setting these higher fees. If the subscriber terminal 3 the connection before the production the connection with the subscriber terminal 7 has ended, so that therefore no additional Fees for forwarding emerged. to the Subscriber line 3 to signal that the now Connection with the subscriber terminal 7 made is, for example, an audible beep conceivable that sent directly to the subscriber line 3 becomes. Alternatively, it is conceivable that the caller for example by pressing a button on his phone prohibits the forwarding and simultaneously a voice recorder (answering machine) starts, the recording of a short message, for example, "Please call / phone number ..." serves. Of course, could be the generation this message to the corresponding phone number the caller by means of a key press also performed automatically.

In the caller transmitted indication of the Routing the call can be beyond receive information that a Note the fee schedule is that for forwarding the call to bear would. Such a notice for example, could look like this: "The of You dialed number is currently on a terminal at long range (eg Regio, overseas / Europe, Mobile Network) forwarded. The additional Fees during this connection calculated ". This information can be, for example, by the billing module the number of the subscriber line 5 and the calculate Target number of the subscriber line. 7 This type of information is the calling subscriber 3 is a very good basis for the decision, whether to maintain the connection or should be canceled. If he chooses the subscriber 3 for the maintenance of the Connection, he will be charged the full cost of Compound charged. However, he interrupts the connection, so only are the familiar costs for preparing a compound with the switching center 9 arose.

This method is both when forwarding of calls within a telecommunications network as well as between different telecommunications networks, For example, GSM 900 and GSM 1800 networks possible. It is conceivable, for example, call forwarding from a landline to a Mobile subscriber, the currently in itself abroad is. In this case, the caller could be the Note obtained by the mobile subscriber currently is abroad and that the additional Costs of £ xxx per minute the caller be loaded. Since the exchanges of the Fixed network in this case, not all the information feature, this information is provided in several Steps which are briefly described below: <ul><li>Caller dials landline number of the call destination;</li><li>Exchange or "intelligent Power "of the fixed network operator acknowledges the call forwarding for mobile operators and generate For example, the outgoing message: "The selected Destination number was in the xy-Mobile Network forwarded. There are additional Fees of xy DM per minute ... ";</li><li>then relaying is done to each mobile operator.</li><li>The mobile operator recognizes before construction of Connection to the foreign mobile phone network activated function "Reverse charge by caller when roaming "and generates the following announcement: "Your desired interlocutor is currently in a foreign mobile phone network. There are more in addition to the xy fees Foreign fees of xy DM per minute ... ".</li><li>The respective total fee (fixed fee, national mobile fee, roaming Share for foreign mobile operators) are the Caller charged.</li></ul>

Particularly advantageous method of the invention is then, when the subscriber terminal which the Call forwarding activated, has the possibility between the conventional and the new fee system, in which charged the entire cost of the caller will select.

Of course, other reference texts and further information imaginable. To the caller with the extra charges for forwarding to weigh his call, it is only necessary, the caller in any form to inform. This is advantageously achieved by the method according to the invention.

Of course, the inventive method also applicable when in the future, for example, a single telephone number for both the Landline connection as well as for the mobile terminal a participant is awarded. In such a Case will first attempt to connect with establish a landline connection. Failing that not, call forwarding is automatically Mobile terminal performed. Before forwarding the caller hears however the information, previously described. The only difference the above-mentioned embodiment lies in the fact that the subscriber the phone number for call forwarding does not have programmed with.