Method for managing comfortable value added services in telecommunication networks

0001The invention relates to a method for operating convenient value-added services in telecommunications networks according to the preamble of claim 1.

0002There are different methods for realizing value-added services in telecommunications networks, but all of them have specific disadvantages and restrictions, so that no method is currently known which solves the problem underlying the invention.

0003Value-added services in telecommunications networks (fixed network, mobile network) are currently offered as "services" of the network operator. Communication-specific services that facilitate or expand connection-oriented traffic are common. The best-known representatives of this type are ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) and GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) features of the corresponding ETSI (European Telecommunications Standards Institute) recommendations, such as call diversion, call forwarding, call back on busy, call waiting etc. These Services are provided by the network operator in the telecommunications network (in the switching centers or implemented and operated in the intelligent network control SCP (Service Control Point) and SMS (Service Management System). Basics can be found in the book by Biala, Jacek:<img file="EP1014645A2_D0001.tif" />Mobile Communications and Intelligent Networks ", Viehweg and Sohn Verlagsgesellschaft mbH, 1996.

0004In addition, there are value-added services such as mailbox (answering machine), messaging, announcement services, information services (weather, lottery numbers, news, etc.), which are also offered by the network operator, but based on server solutions. Traffic information services such as those offered by the DeTeMobil Deutsche Telekom MobilNet GmbH and TEGARON GmbH service network can also be grouped here. This service category can usually only be reached by network-specific customers by means of a speed-dial number, whereby the use of the service is usually associated with the selection of the server and a corresponding fee is automatically booked via the telecommunications bill.

0005Internet access and online services can be considered as a further category of value-added services. However, the corresponding "services" are usually transmitted transparently in the telecommunications network, the actual telecommunications service being the implementation of the network transitions to the point of presence POP of the Internet service provider ISP. The ISP carries out authentication, administration and, as a rule, time-dependent tariffing of its customers. As a rule, the ISP customer can dial in to his ISP with which he has concluded a contractual relationship via any telecommunications network. In addition, some telecommunications network operators offer Internet access as a service by entering into a corresponding cooperation agreement with a specific ISP and in this business relationship the ISP's access fees and, if applicable, List any additional fees from the ISP's online services on the telecommunications bill (previously telecommunications bill). This is the case with Telekom and T-Online, for example. Recently, private network operators have also offered the Internet transition by acting as an ISP themselves and enabling their customers to switch directly to the Internet. However, the two concepts differ less in the technical implementation than in the corresponding corporate philosophy.

0006Transaction transactions on the Internet (shopping etc.) are usually carried out in such a way that the customer carries out the corresponding order in direct contact with the supplier online on the PC by communicating transparently over the Internet with the specific supplier (its server) and on them Can schedule in writing. Www (html) and e-mail processes are common (cf. InterNetworking, Petra Barowka, Datacom, International Thomson Publishing Verlag mbH, Bonn 1998). The procedure is not legally binding due to the corresponding unprotected transmission on the Internet and the anonymous access procedure and has the same status as an order by telephone. For larger transactions, there is usually an exchange of documents (contract). For smaller transactions - especially in Anglo-Saxon countries - it is often sufficient to provide your own credit card details. The supplier then debits this data. Any problems will be resolved later. In the banking sector in particular, there are therefore different encryption and access authorization procedures to ensure customer access.

0007However, all of these methods do not affect the telecommunications network operator and generally not the ISP, who also does not know the message content of their customers, but are solved end-to-end on the basis of standardized Internet technologies and the telecommunications networks as the customer's access network.

0008In addition to the restrictions mentioned, the Internet process also has an access problem for telecommunications customers. It requires a powerful personal computer PC with appropriate software and a certain minimum of technical expertise, as well as a not inconsiderable amount of maintenance of these facilities by the knowledgeable user. In principle, the ever smaller dimensions of PCs (notebook, palmtop, personal digital assistant etc.) change with this, possibly with the integration of voice terminals or the integration of web browsers into television sets (cf. c't Magazin für Computertechnik, 12 / 1998, Heise Verlag, page 160, "Set-top boxes and web televisions") in principle little.

0009In addition, there is the usually considerable time and search effort both for dialing in and authorizing at the ISP and for the actual target service (the web page), the comparatively very limited possibilities of the telecommunications network operators to support such services for their customers and to market them commercially as well the fact that both the required operating procedures, the technology and the terminal and application-specific constraints are sometimes a hindrance, so z. B. in mobile applications.

0010The present invention is based on the object of proposing a new method for operating convenient value-added services in telecommunications networks. In particular, in the triangular relationship between providers, network operators and customers based on new technical processes, numerous new value-added services and new marketing channels for existing services and products with commercial advantages for all involved should be made possible.

0011This object is achieved by the characterizing features of patent claim 1.

0012The method according to the invention combines the possibilities for the application and terminal-optimized preparation of information from external service providers and providers of any kind, the inclusion of existing customer-specific data of the telecommunications network operators for convenient handling in particular disposition processes (booking, ordering, Reservations etc.) and the possible influence of the network operators on the content and quality of the services offered in order to develop unique selling points and competitive advantages.

0013In principle, with the procedure according to the invention, any high-quality value-added services, for example in the areas of bookings, reservations, ticket purchases, order processes of any kind, lottery participation, auction services, voting services, brokerage services, subscription services, insurance services etc. be made accessible to telecommunications customers using simple operating methods using commercially available telecommunications terminals (preferably with a large display, but for example also voice-controlled). Through an individual offer and appropriate menu preparation as well as through the generally existing contractual relationship between network operator (TSA) and service provider, the network operator can achieve corresponding unique selling propositions and competitive advantages through a corresponding offer quality as well as the at least partial transfer of any major customer discounts, sales commissions or similar. to generate.

0014Advantageous embodiments and refinements of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

0015The invention is explained in the following using drawing figures, which here merely describe a possible embodiment using the example of booking and reservation services in connection with the nationwide Start Amadeus service with the GSM mobile network, in a schematic representation, with the aid of the drawing figures further areas of application and claims. Show it:<dl id="dl0001" compact="compact"><dt>Fig. 1:</dt><dd>a schematic arrangement for handling value-added services according to the inventive method;</dd><dt>Fig. 2:</dt><dd>Functional diagram of the method according to the invention;</dd><dt>Fig. 3:</dt><dd>Data structure diagram in the method according to the invention.</dd></dl>

0016For simplification, the value-added services implemented using the method according to the invention are subsequently described without being restricted to certain existing services, legal forms and procedures or the like. carry out with the term "agency services".

00171 schematically shows an arrangement according to the invention for handling value-added services in the areas of booking and reservation via a private telecommunications network (PTN) 3. Here, in an exemplary representation, a special server device, here referred to as TSA server 1 (telecommunications service agency server), enables the access of telecommunications customers to a service provider 2, e.g. the German Start-Amadeus or to the international Sita system, by means of their standardized end devices, e.g. a mobile terminal 4 or a handheld computer 5, which enables the network operator or the operator of the TSA server 1 to, for example, commission-oriented value-added services in connection with the service provider 2 (here Start-Amadeus / Sita) to offer its customers.

00182, the function-specific tasks are shown. In this illustration, the TSA server 1 from FIG. 1 is assigned to a service provider, namely a telecommunications service agency TSA. The TSA can preferably be the telecommunications network operator itself, or any dependent or independent service agency. The TSA is generally connected via a private telecommunications network 3 (or more) to the provider / service provider AB / SP 2 on the one hand and to a terminal 20 of the subscribers (customers) on the other hand.

0019The service provider SP 2 operates a server device 6 for carrying out bookings and reservations, which on the one hand is networked with external contractors 7, such as organizers, hotels, airlines, rental car companies etc., on the other hand enables agency access through contract agencies, such as travel agencies. The service provider 2 provides information and booking masks that are usually identical for a large number or for all sales intermediaries and usually require additional specialist knowledge for processing. The TSA server 1 therefore optionally has a corresponding client process 8, which serves the interface 9, 10 (protocols 9 and physical interfaces 10) to the SP server process 6 (start server 11) via its interfaces 12. The task of the start client 8 in this case is the specific operation of the start server 11 (automatic activity of the agency function normally carried out manually in the travel agency or the like and thus the avoidance of implementations specific to the telecommunications network on the SP side.

0020In the event that several different SPs of comparable functionality are operated by TSA, different SP clients 8 are provided as required, which in turn serve different interfaces 9, 10 (protocols and physical interfaces) as required. An agency services (AD) manager 13 is responsible for operating the TSA-specific services within the overall range of SP services. He ensures that the corresponding partial information required for the fulfillment of the services provided by the customer is selected from the SP information and forwarded to the customer and, on the other hand, maintains the necessary customer information and the information available in the TSA based on the customer relationship for the purpose of forwarding it to the customer SP together. To this end, he is in contact with additional devices for authentication 14, for determining the service profile 15, for determining the customer profile 16 and for determining the end device profile 17 of the customers, as well as, if necessary, with further devices. The AD server process 18 provides the connection to the customer via corresponding interfaces 19 (protocols and physical interfaces), ie to its terminal 20 securely and for this purpose communicates with the corresponding terminal-specific AD client 21 via its interfaces 22. If different telecommunication networks are operated, here, analogously to the SP client of the TSA server, there are generally several network-specific AD server processes 18 required. The AD client 21 establishes the connection between the device-specific optical, acoustic and tactile devices of the respective terminal 20 and the AD server process 18 and is therefore primarily responsible for the presentation of the services and the user interface (user interface). The necessary network-specific signaling and connection-oriented components have no influence on the basic procedure according to the invention and are not shown here. The optional connection to at least one customer care and billing system is provided for the maintenance of existing contractual relationships, for customer support and for the recording and billing of chargeable events. If the TSA is assigned to a telecommunications network operator, it is usually the existing Customer Care and Billing Center 23 CCBS of the telecommunications customers.

00213 illustrates the basic data flow of the method according to the invention. The service provider 2 provides offers 24 which are prepared by the TSA server 1 and displayed in the terminal 20, for example structured in the form of a menu 26. Additional TSA-specific information such as special discounts, additional information and information, promotions, etc. can be added here. The customer makes a corresponding menu-guided selection 27, the "disposition data" being supplemented with the customer's master data of the TSA after appropriate authentication, 28. This includes personal data, such as name, address, delivery address, age, maximum booking limits, phone numbers, bank details , Creditworthiness etc. but also other contract-related data, such as subscribed services, activations, billing periods, limitations, blocks, individual passwords, special payment methods, priorities etc.

0022A context-oriented connection to Customer Care, if required, with optional forwarding to Customer Care of SP 2 complete the service offering. The automatic booking 29 (disposition) then takes place at SP 2. The confirmation 30 received at TSA 1 is optionally temporarily stored in TSA 1 and, if necessary, is delivered or made available for collection 31, 33 in accordance with the customer agreement. This is combined with telecommunications-specific features, such as polling by fax 34, fax forwarding, etc .; or delivery via Unified Messaging System (mail, fax, GSM-SMS etc. to). The delivery of a simple document 32 to the customer is also possible. The operation of the agency services on the telecommunications network includes the accessibility of the TSA for the corresponding customers via the public Internet, so that the complete operation of all services and document handling is also possible in this way. The authentication procedure must be expanded accordingly in this case, since the customer authentication that is customary in the mobile radio sector, for example, is not possible here via the mobile radio card.

Drawing legend

0023<dl id="dl0002" compact="compact"><dt>1</dt><dd>TSA server</dd><dt>2</dt><dd>Service provider</dd><dt>3</dt><dd>Private telecommunications network</dd><dt>4</dt><dd>Mobile terminal</dd><dt>5</dt><dd>Handheld computer</dd><dt>6</dt><dd>Server setup</dd><dt>7</dt><dd>external contractors</dd><dt>8</dt><dd>Service provider client (e.g. start client)</dd><dt>9</dt><dd>Logs</dd><dt>10</dt><dd>interface</dd><dt>11</dt><dd>Start server</dd><dt>12</dt><dd>interface</dd><dt>13</dt><dd>Agency services manager</dd><dt>14</dt><dd>Authentication</dd><dt>15</dt><dd>Service profile</dd><dt>16</dt><dd>Customer profile</dd><dt>17</dt><dd>Device profile</dd><dt>18</dt><dd>Agency services server</dd><dt>19</dt><dd>interface</dd><dt>20</dt><dd>Terminal</dd><dt>21</dt><dd>Agency services client</dd><dt>22</dt><dd>interface</dd><dt>23</dt><dd>Customer care and billing center</dd><dt>24</dt><dd>deals</dd><dt>25</dt><dd>processing</dd><dt>26</dt><dd>menu</dd><dt>27</dt><dd>selection</dd><dt>28</dt><dd>Completion</dd><dt>29</dt><dd>Ticketing</dd><dt>30</dt><dd>confirmation</dd><dt>31</dt><dd>Storage and delivery</dd><dt>32</dt><dd>receipt</dd><dt>33</dt><dd>Delivery and retrieval</dd><dt>34</dt><dd>fax machine</dd><dt>POP</dt><dd>Point of presence</dd><dt>ISP</dt><dd>Internet service provider</dd><dt>TSA</dt><dd>Telecommunications service agency</dd><dt>FROM</dt><dd>providers</dd><dt>SP</dt><dd>Service provider</dd><dt>AD</dt><dd>Agency services</dd><dt>CCBC</dt><dd>Customer care and billing center</dd></dl>