U.S. patent application number 09/077969 was filed with the patent office on 2002-06-20 for procedure and system for the setting up of calls.
Invention is credited to LEPPANEN, OSMO.
Application Number | 20020076017 09/077969 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 8542797 |
Filed Date | 2002-06-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020076017 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LEPPANEN, OSMO |
June 20, 2002 |
PROCEDURE AND SYSTEM FOR THE SETTING UP OF CALLS
Abstract
The object of the present invention is to achieve in the
telephone network a new type of procedure and system for call
control and to meet a need observed recently in the
telecommunication business for calls rated below normal tariffs
especially between certain predeterminable subscriptions. The
system of the invention. does not require any substantial system
changes in the telephone network. In addition, calls between
predetermined subscriptions can now be rated according to a special
tariff and the changes can be easily and flexibly included in the
normal invoicing. When the number of subscriptions per customer is
limited to two. the common call number for all customers in the
same, e.g. 020100. When this number is dialled, the call is
directed to the wired network subscription specified in the
subscriber number pair, which is stored in a database, when the
call is made from a mobile station, and vice versa. When the number
of subscriptions connected to the system by a customer is greater
than two the common call number comprises a prefix part which is
the same for all customers and on the basis of which the telephone
network exchange recognizes the service call of intelligent network
calls and specially rated calls, and a suffix part which is an
integer and which, via the intelligent network, determines the
desired individual subscription among the subscriptions selected to
be included in the system by the customer.
Inventors: |
LEPPANEN, OSMO; (LAHTI,
FI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GARY M NATH
NATH & ASSOCIATES
SIXTH FLOOR
1030 FIFTEENTH STREET, N. W.
WASHINGTON
DC
200051503
|
Family ID: |
8542797 |
Appl. No.: |
09/077969 |
Filed: |
February 9, 1999 |
PCT Filed: |
December 17, 1996 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/FI96/00672 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
379/114.01 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04M 2215/0108 20130101;
H04M 15/00 20130101; H04M 15/8083 20130101; H04Q 2213/1313
20130101; H04M 15/745 20130101; H04Q 3/0029 20130101; H04Q
2213/13547 20130101; H04Q 2213/13532 20130101; H04M 3/44 20130101;
H04M 2215/016 20130101; H04M 3/4228 20130101; H04M 2215/0184
20130101; H04M 15/90 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
379/114.01 |
International
Class: |
H04M 015/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 20, 1995 |
FI |
U950534 |
Claims
1. Procedure for the setting up of calls in a telephone network
between two subscriptions, wherein the second subscriber number is
determined by means of the checking device and the call is
connected to the subscription corresponding to the second
subscriber number and characterized in that a common call number
differing from the subscriber number is reserved for all
subscriptions; a subscriber number pair between two subscriber
numbers is established, between which a call is set up upon
selection of the common call number, and the number pair is stored
by means of a storage device; a call made to the common call number
is directed to a checking device; and a second subscriber number
corresponding is determined on the basis of the subscriber number
of the calling subscription.
2. Procedure as defined in claim 1, characterized in that the
common call number consists of two parts, comprising a prefix part
and a suffix part, on the basis of which the subscriber number pair
to be considered is selected.
3. Procedure as defined in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the
subscriber numbers entitled to calls set up by means of a common
call number are stored in a database and the calling subscriber's
right to calls set up by means of a common call number is verified
by reference to the database.
4. Procedure as defined in any one of claims 1-3, characterized in
that a specially rated call is set up between two predetermined
subscriptions by supplying invoicing data determined on the basis
of the common call number into an invoicing system.
5. Procedure as defined in any one of claims 1-4, characterized in
that the subscriber number pair is formed between a wired network
subscriber number and a mobile communications network subscriber
number.
6. Procedure as defined in any one of claims 1-4, characterized in
that the subscriber number pair is established between a wired
network subscriber number and a plurality of mobile communications
network subscriptions, the subscriber number pair is so defined
that a call made from the wired network subscriber number is
directed on the basis of the suffix part of the common call number
to the subscription corresponding to the mobile subscriber number
defined in the subscriber number pair and a call made from each
mobile subscriber number is directed to the subscriber number
corresponding to the wired network subscriber number defined in the
subscriber number pair.
7. Procedure as defined in any one of claims 1-4, characterized in
that the subscriber number pair is established among a set
comprising a wired network subscriber number and a plurality of
mobile network subscriber numbers so that a call made from any one
of the subscriber numbers to the common call number is directed on
the basis of the suffix part of the common call number to the
subscription corresponding to the second subscriber number
corresponding to the calling subscriber number in the set of
subscriber numbers.
8. Procedure as defined in any one of claims 1-4, characterized in
that the subscriber number pair is established between two
subscriber numbers in a wired network and/or a mobile
communications network.
9. Procedure as defined in any one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that the subscriber number pairs are stored in the
form of a table.
10. System for the setting up of a call in a telephone network
between two subscriptions, characterized in that the system
comprises a storage device (1) for the storage of predetermined
subscriber number pairs and a common call number corresponding to
them; and means (2) for receiving the subscriber number of the
calling subscription in connection with the setup of a call made to
the common call number and for determining a second subscriber
number corresponding to the calling subscriber number on the basis
of the number pair data stored in the storage device.
11. System as defined in claim 10, characterized in that the
storage device (1) comprises a first database (3) for the storage
of subscriber to numbers entitled to calls set up by means of a
common call number; and a second database (4) for the storage of
subscriber number pairs between which a call is to be set up when
the common call number is called.
12. system as defined in claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the
telephone network comprises an intelligent network switching centre
(5); and that the storage device (1) and the means (2) for
receiving the subscriber number of the calling subscription and
determining the subscriber number pair corresponding to the
subscriber number are disposed in the intelligent network switching
centre.
13. System as defined in any one of claims 10-12, characterized in
that the telephone network comprises a mobile communications
network (6) and/or a wired telephone network (7).
14. System as defined in claim 13, characterized in that the
intelligent network switching centre (5) is disposed in the mobile
communications network (6); and that a call to the common call
number is directed to the intelligent network switching centre of
the mobile communications network.
15. System as defined in claim 13, characterized in that the
intelligent network switching centre (5) is disposed in the wired
telephone network (7); and that a call to the common call number is
directed to the intelligent network switching centre of the wired
telephone network.
16. System as defined in any one of claims 10-15, characterized in
that the system comprises an invoicing system (8) connected to a
telephone exchange and/or to the intelligent network switching
centre (5).
17. System as defined in any one of claims 10-16, characterized in
that one of the databases contains a number of common call numbers
and the subscriber number pair corresponding to each common call
number so that the first subscriber number in each subscriber
number pair is the same wired network subscriber number and the
second subscriber number is a mobile communication network
subscriber number.
18. System as defined in any one of claims 10-17, characterized in
that one of the databases contains a number of common call numbers
and the subscriber number pair corresponding to each common call
number so that the first and second subscriber numbers in each
subscriber number pair are selected from a set of subscriber
numbers comprising a wired network subscribe number and/or a mobile
communications network subscriber number.
19. System as defined in any one of claims 10-18, characterized in
that invoicing is based on invoicing data related to the common
call number.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a procedure as defined in
the preamble of claim 1 and to a system as defined in the preamble
of claim 10 for the setup of specially rated calls between two
predetermined subscriptions Moreover, the invention relates to the
setting up of a specially rated call between said
subscriptions.
[0002] Call setup in a telephone network is normally based on a
number selection made by a calling subscriber, in other words, a
calling subscriber selects via his/her terminal equipment the
subscriber number of a called subscription, an the basis of which
the switchboard and exchange system of the telephone network
connects the calling subscriber with the called subscriber. In the
case of this kind of normal call setup, the calling subscriber pays
for the calls he/she has made a price in accordance with the
general tariffs valid at the time.
[0003] In the existing telephone network, a known practice is to
use service numbers common to all callers, for instance the
so-called free numbers starting with 9800-, 0800- or 9700-, and the
chargeable service numbers starting with 0700-, 9600- or 0600-, and
e.g. the short numbers used for number inquiries. However, such
service numbers are not actual subscriber numbers, but the calls
made to these numbers are redirected by the switchboard and
exchange system of the telephone network to actual subscriber
numbers behind the service numbers. When calling such a number, the
calling subscriber does not know the connected subscriber's number
because the number is changed and the call is redirected in the
telephone network. In the call setup chain, the service number is a
so-called C-number. Calls to such service numbers are usually
either free or rated at a price substantially higher than normal
call tariffs.
[0004] The object of the present invention is to achieve in the
telephone network a new type of procedure and system for call
control and to meet a need observed recently in the
telecommunication business for calls especially between certain
predeterminable subscriptions. A further object of the present
invention is to present a procedure hat allows said calls to be set
up using a predetermined call number common to all subscribers. on
the basis of which the calls can also be assigned a price below
normal tariff. Such calls could be e.g. calls made within a family
or a small enterprise e.g. between a wired network subscription and
and/or an optional number of mobile subscriptions. In this case,
the specially rated telephone communication would comprise calls
from a specified wired network subscription to a specified number
of mobile telephone subscriptions and vice versa, calls between
specified mobile telephone subscriptions and also between wired
network subscriptions.
[0005] A further object of the invention is to achieve a service in
which the customer is able to define a pair or set of desired
subscriptions between which the calls are invoiced at a price below
the normal tariff.
[0006] As for the features characteristic of the present invention,
reference is made to the claims.
[0007] In the procedure of the invention, a specially rated call,
generally cheaper than the normal tariff, is set up between two
subscriptions. According to the invention, the subscriptions are
predetermined and the procedure is implemented as follows. First, a
common call number differing from the subscriber number is reserved
for all subscriptions. The common call number may consist of two
parts and have the form ABCDER, where the prefix part ABCDE is a
digit series common to all, while R is an integer in the set [0, 1,
. . . , N)]. Further, a subscriber number pair between two
subscriber numbers is formed, between which a specially rated call
is set up, and the number pair is stored by means of a storage
device. The number pair can preferably be stored in a suitable
database or an equivalent component in the telephone network. After
this, calls to the common call number are directed to a checking
device, by means of which the second subscriber number
corresponding to the subscriber number of the calling subscription
is determined. Finally, the call is connected to the subscription
corresponding to the second subscriber number. Finally, invoicing
data determined on the basis of the common call number is given to
the invoicing system, so that a price preferably lower than the
normal call price will be charged for the call
[0008] The advantages of the et invention as compared with prior
art include the fact that the system does not require any
substantial system changes in the telephone network. In addition,
calls between predetermined subscriptions can be rated according to
a special tariff and the charges can be easily and flexibly
included in the normal invoicing.
[0009] Moreover, the invention allows the same tariffs to be
applied to calls in either direction, i.e. from a mobile station to
a wired network subscription or vice versa, or, on the other hand,
the price may be deferent depending on direction. Furthermore, the
invention makes it possible to offer the customer a specially rated
data connection for communication between a pair or set of
computers.
[0010] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the pair
of subscriber numbers to be considered is selected on the basis of
a suffix pan of a common call number. Further, subscriber numbers
entitled to specially rated calls are stored in a database and the
calling subscriber's right to specially rated calls is verified via
reference to the database on the basis of the calling subscriber's
subscriber number.
[0011] There are several alternative solutions for forming a
subscriber number pair. A subscriber number pair can be established
between a wired network subscription and a mobile communications
network subscription In addition, a subscriber number pair can be
established between a wired network subscription and several mobile
communications network subscriptions, in which case the subscriber
number pair is assigned a separate common call number in which the
suffix part determines the subscriber number pair to be considered
so that a call made from the wired network subscription is directed
on the basis of the suffix part of the common call number to the
subscription corresponding to the mobile subscriber number defined
in the subscriber number pair and a call made from each mobile
subscriber number is directed to the subscriber number
corresponding to the wired network subscriber number defined in the
subscriber number pair. This makes it possible to form a kind of
specially rated group in which a specially rated call can be made
from a wired network subscription to several mobile network
subscriptions and from each mobile subscription in the group to one
and the same wired network subscription Furthermore, it is possible
to establish a subscriber number pair among a set comprising a
wired network subscriber number and a plurality of mobile network
subscriber numbers so that a call made from any one of the
subscriber numbers to the common call number is directed on the
basis of the suffix part of the common call number to the
subscription corresponding to the second subscriber number
corresponding to the calling subscriber number in the set of
subscriber numbers. This again provides the possibility to form a
kind of specially rated network comprising a number of
subscriptions which can be selected either from a wired network or
from a mobile communications network and between which it is
possible to establish specially rated number pairs according to
free selection.
[0012] Moreover. the present invention relates to a system for
setting up a specially rated call between two predetermined
subscriptions in a telephone network, which may comprise a mobile
communications network, a wired telephone network some other
telecommunications network or a combination of these, between two
subscriptions. According to the invention, the system comprises a
storage device in which, in addition to the predetermined
subscriber number pairs and the corresponding common call number,
it is also possible to store a list of subscriber numbers entitled
to specially rated calls In addition, according to the invention,
the system comprises means for receiving the subscriber number of
the calling subscription in connection with the setup of a call to
the common call number and for determining the second subscriber
number corresponding to the calling subscriber number on the basis
of the number pair data stored in the storage device. The telephone
network preferably comprises an intelligent network switching
centre, in which case the means for receiving the subscriber number
of the calling subscription and determining the subscriber number
pair corresponding to the subscriber number are disposed in the
intelligent network switching centre.
[0013] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the
storage device comprises a first database which contains the
subscriber numbers entitled to specially rated calls, and a second
database which contains the subscriber number pairs between which a
specially rated calls is to be set up when the common call number
is called.
[0014] In an embodiment of the invention, the intelligent network
switching centre is disposed in a mobile communications network, in
which case a call to the common call number is directed to the
intelligent network switching centre of the mobile communications
network. On the other hand the intelligent network switching centre
may be disposed in the wired telephone network in which case a call
to the common call number is directed to the intelligent network
switching centre of the wired telephone network. Moreover, the
system comprises an invoicing system, which is connected to the
intelligent network switching centre or some other suitable
component, such as a telephone exchange.
[0015] In an embodiment of the system, one of the databases
contains a number of common call numbers and the subscriber number
pair corresponding to each common call number so that the first
subscriber number in each subscriber number pair is the same wired
network subscriber number and the second subscriber number is a
mobile communications network subscriber number. Reference is here
made to the above description of a specially rated group.
[0016] In another embodiment, the other database contains a number
of common call numbers and the subscriber number pair corresponding
to each common call number so that the first and second subscriber
numbers in each subscriber number pair are selected from a set of
subscriber numbers comprising a wired network subscriber number and
a mobile communications network subscriber number. Reference is
here made to the above description of a specially rated group.
[0017] As a summary of the above, let the following be noted. When
the number of subscriptions per customer is limited to two, the
common call number for all customers is the same, e.g. 020100. When
this number is dialled, the call is directed to the wired network
subscription specified in the subscriber number pair when the call
is made from a mobile station, and vice versa. When the number of
subscriptions connected to the system by a customer is greater than
two, the common call number comprises a prefix pan which is the
same for all customers and on the basis of which the telephone
network exchange recognizes the service call of intelligent network
calls and specially rated calls, and a suffix part which is an
integer and which, via the intelligent network, determines the
desired individual subscription among the subscriptions selected to
be included in the system by the customer. In this case it is
preferable that the suffix part indicating the wired network
subscription is 0 and the suffix part identifying other
subscriptions is an integer selected from the set [0, 1, . . .
N].
[0018] A service as achieved by the procedure and system of the
invention can be included in the service agreement made with the
customer. The dealer selling the subscription may also open the
service via his/her terminal or by calling the teleoperator's
service number or customer service via an automatic apparatus
recognizing tone frequency signals or via a corresponding customer
server. A service ordered via a service number and an automatic
apparatus is ready for use on the next weekday, provided that the
order has been made from the subscription to which the service is
to be added, because in this way de subscriber number or identity
or A-ID of the subscription in question can be signalled. For the
sake of clarity, let it be stated the an A-ID is always given in
mobile communication and in the wired network when the subscription
is digital. This limitation encountered in the wired network is the
only restriction to the connection of the service and if the
subscription pair or set desired by he customer includes such a
wired network subscription which does not signal an A-ID, such a
subscription can only function as a subscription receiving calls in
the system of the invention. Having joined the system, a customer
may change the numbers in the pair or set of subscriptions he/she
has selected or cancel it by making a call to the system service
number.
[0019] In the following the invention is described in detail by the
aid of a few embodiment examples by referring to the attached drab
in which
[0020] FIG. 1 presents a diagram representing a system according to
the invention,
[0021] FIG. 2 presents a diagram representing a control arrangement
according to the invention for directing calls to an intelligent
network; and
[0022] FIG. 3 represents a method according to the invention for
the storage of number pairs.
[0023] The system presented in FIG. 1 comprises a public telephone
network 7, PSTN (Public Switched Telecommunications. Network) and a
number of telephone exchanges 9, PTX (Public Telephone Exchange)
connected to it. In addition, the system comprises a mobile
communications network 6, MCN (Mobile Communications Network), and
a number of mobile services switching centres 10, MSC (Mobile
Services Switching Centre) connected to it. An essential part of
the system is an intelligent network 5, IN (Intelligent Network),
which is connected to the public telephone network 7 and/or to the
mobile communications network 6 e.g. via an interconnecting
network. The intelligent network 5 comprises, e.g. in accordance
with the CCITT definition (IN Conceptual Model) a service switching
point 11 SSP (Service Switching Point), through which the
intelligent network is connected to the public telephone network 7
PSTN or 6 MCN, a service control point 2 SCP (Service Control
Point) which contains the logic associated with the control of the
services, i.e. the service control functions, and which is usually
also provided with a service database 1 SDF (Service Data Function)
which contains information including the customer and network data
needed for the services, a service management system 12 SMS
(Service Management System) which contains the required functions
for the creation and control of services, and an intelligent
peripheral device or peripheral computer 13.
[0024] The SSP 11 is functionary a part of a wired network or
mobile communications network exchange or it is integrated with an
exchange PTX 9 or MSC 10. When a caller makes a call to a common
call number ABCDER, which constitutes an essential feature of the
present invention, where R is an integer from the set [0, 1, . . .
, N ], the SSP 11 recognizes an IN need on the basis of the
beginning or prefix part ABCDE of the called number and transmits
an IN request to the other IN components. Moreover, the SSP 11
contains a service switching function SSF (Service Switching
Function) and a function CCAF (Call Control Agent Function)
associated with the control of the calling subscriber's selection.
Functionally, the SCP 2 controls the implementation of IN services
by issuing commands to other functions, including SSF, CCAF, SRF
and SDF, as necessary for the service. The SMS 12 contains a
service management point SMP (Service Management Point), a service
creation point SCEP (Service Creation Environment Point), which
also comprises a service creation function SCEF (Service Creation
environment Function) for the definition, development and testing
of services, and a service management function SMF (Service
Management Function) which is used to control the supply and
implementation of services. The intelligent peripheral device or
computer IP 13 contains special auxiliary functions SRF (Special
Resource Function) used to implement e.g. voice announcements,
voice recognition and speech processing.
[0025] In the following, the invention is described by the aid of a
preferred embodiment by referring to FIG. 1. In this embodiment,
the calling master subscription is a wired network 7 subscription
and the receiving slave subscription is a mobile communications
network 6 subscription and vice versa.
[0026] Referring to FIG. 1, the wired network subscription and the
terminal 14 connected to it communicates via a wired connection
with a public telephone exchange PTX 9, which transmits the calls
in the wired network PSTN 7 and further to other telecommunications
networks and vice versa. Further, via a base station 16 with a
limited base station area and via a mobile communications network
MCN 6, the mobile station 15 usually communicates with a mobile
communications switching centre MSC 10, which transmits the calls
in the mobile communications network MCN and further to other
telecommunications networks and vice versa.
[0027] When a caller dials a number in the wired telephone network
7, the subscriber number or identity or A-ID of the calling
subscription is fed into the telephone network, on the basis of
which information the calling subscription can be unambiguously
determined. In a mobile communications network 7, e.g. an
authentication centre (AUC or AR), a home location register HLR
(Home Location Register) or a visitor location register VLR
(Visitor Location Register) identifies the caller or calling
subscriber, and, together with the calling subscriber's subscriber
number and the dialled number, unambiguous identification data,
such as the international mobile subscriber ides IMSI, which
consists of the mobile subscriber's national mobile subscriber
identity NMSI and the mobile country code MCC, is fed into the
mobile communications network. Moreover, the information fed into
the network comprises the mobile subscriber identification number
MSIN, by means of which the mobile subscriber can be identified
within the area of the mobile communications network, the temporary
mobile subscriber identity TMSI, which is a temporary identifier
assigned to the mobile subscriber by the visitor location register
to allow identification of the subscriber, and the international
mobile station equipment identity to allow identification of the
mobile station. The calling subscriber number and the
identification data for the calling subscriber and/or the calling
subscriber's mobile station constitute the cawing subscriber
identity or A-ID.
[0028] In this connection it is to be noted that the creation of
invoicing records and their input to the invoicing system 8 is
usually handled by the telephone exchanges PTX 9 or MSC 10, and
when an intelligent network (IN) architecture is used, the
selections given, especially selections requiring IN support, are
routed via one or more intelligent network service switching points
11, to one of which the telephone exchanges PTX or MSC are
connected. It is also to be noted that there is nothing to prevent
the telephone exchanges PTX 9 or MSC 10 of all or at least the
digital communication systems from being used as service switching
points SSP 11. Furthermore, an SSP 11 may also function in a
telephone network as a router to systems connected to or
communicating with the telephone network, such as a customer
service system or CSS, which is usually implemented as a voice
service computer CVAP (Central Voice Application Platform), (not
shown).
[0029] To join a system according to the invention as a user, the
subscriber dials the service number of the system via the terminal
equipment he/she wants to include in the system. When this is done,
the system according to the invention is supplied with the calling
subscriber identity data or A-ID, which is stored in a first
database SDF 3 in the SCP 2 or in a database equipment 1 capable of
data communication with it. This database SDF 3 therefore contains
the A-ID information for all subscriptions that have joined the
system.
[0030] In response to the calling subscriber identity information,
a customer- and/or calling subscription-specific file or register
corresponding to the A-ID as shown in FIG. 3 is created in a second
database DB 4 in the SCP 2 or in database equipment 1 communicating
with it. Preferably the customer-specific subscriber numbers are
stored in this file or register in the form of a table. Further,
FIG. 3 shows a subscriber number pair 123456 and 333444 defined as
numbers corresponding to each other and 020100 as the common call
number for this number pair. In a corresponding manner, both
numbers can be assigned further paired numbers by entering the
desired numbers into the 0-fields in the table.
[0031] The numbers stored in the customer-specific file or register
are those subscriber numbers that are intended to form a pair or
set of numbers for specially rated calls, which means that in
addition to the maser subscriber number at least one slave
subscriber number is stored in the register. When the number of
subscriptions stored is two, the common call number for calls from
any one of the subscriptions in the pair to the other subscription
in the pair is always the same and preferably of the format ABCDE0,
in which case either the dialled number as a whole or its prefix
part ABCDE will activate the intelligent network control and the
last digit 0 of the dialled number together with the A-ID given
into the network will function as an inquire key and activate a
search to find the second number of the pair in the second database
DB 4 in the database equipment 1and further under control of the
intelligent network 5 cause the call to be connected via the SSP 11
to the subscription corresponding to the second subscriber number
while at the same the invoicing system g is supplied with invoicing
data for the specially rated call.
[0032] When the number of customer-specific or
small-enterprise-specific subscriptions is more than to, the common
call number is of the format ABCDER, where R is an integer and
dependent on the number of subscriptions to be combined. The prefix
part ABCDE of the selection will activate the intelligent network
control 5 and the last selection R together with the A-ID given
into the network will function as an inquiry key and activate a
number search to find the second number of the pair in the second
database DB 4 in the database hardware and further under control of
the intelligent network 5 cause the call to be connected via the
SSP 11 to the relevant subscription while at the same the invoicing
system 8 is supplied with invoicing data for the specially rated
call.
[0033] After the user A-ID has been stored in the first database
SDF 3 and after the desired subscriber numbers have been stored in
the customer- and/or calling-subscriber-specific register or file
in the second database DB 4, in which second database 4 and
register the A-ID together with the common call number functions as
a search key, the system of the invention is ready for use. When
the use calls the predetermined common call number via the network
exchange PTX 9 or MSC 10, the user is identified automatically by
the telephone network exchange. The communication system takes care
of the signalling associated with the call. In the case of a call
between an intelligent network (IN) exchange 5 and a PTX 9 or MSC
10 exchange, the signaling follows a protocol consistent with e.g.
the SS7, TUP, ISUP, TCP/IP, X400, X500, X25 or similar
standard.
[0034] Referring to FIG. 2, further preferred possibilities of
application of the invention are now described. A call to the
common call number is directed from the telephone network of the
subscriber exchange, either a wired network 7 telephone exchange 9
or a mobile communications network 6 exchange 10, to which the
subscription is connected, either using the dialled number directly
or using an intermediate number to be assigned during the call
setup, to an intelligent network 5, which is connected either to
the wired network 5.sup.1, alternative A, or to a mobile
communications network 5.sup.2, alternative B. The intermediate
number may be a prefix added before the selection given from the
calling subscription or the selection may be replaced with a
different number. Further, in the intelligent network element
performing the service, the service can be identified either
directly by the selection given or by the calling subscriber's
identity. Moreover, the service can be so implemented that, when
the call is made from a wired network, the intelligent network
5.sup.1 connected to the wired network 7 is used, and
correspondingly when the call is made from a mobile communions
network, the intelligent network 5.sup.2 connected to the mobile
communications network 6 is used.
[0035] The invention is not limited to the embodiment examples
presented above, but many variations are possible within the
framework of the inventive idea, defined by the claims.
* * * * *