Patent Application
20110165857
1. Field of the Invention
The present solution relates to managing presence information related to a user terminal.
2. Description of the Related Art
A rich communication suite (RCS) initiative is an effort of a group of telecommunications operators and vendors to enhance the adoption of enhanced mobile applications and services, providing an interoperable, convergent, rich communication experience. A presence service is an integral part of most multimedia services, basically showing the user's availability and/or willingness for communication. Regarding a presence data model, a rich communication suite (RCS) document (i.e. a presence document) may be used for presence exchange.
One of the disadvantages associated with the above arrangement is that is that in current systems presence information can only be charged based on transmitted data volume, the number of messages, etc. This type of charging does not necessarily reflect the user experienced value, i.e. it is really not service-based.
An object of the present invention is thus to provide a method, system and a network apparatus for implementing the method so as to alleviate the above disadvantage. Objects of the invention are achieved by a method and an arrangement which are characterized by what is stated in the independent claims. Preferred embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims.
The present solution is based on the idea of that, if it is detected in a network apparatus that presence data received from a user terminal comprises modified presence information related to the user terminal, the method comprises analysing the type of the modification. If it is detected based on the analysis that the presence data comprises a predetermined type of modified presence information, the method comprises indicating that the presence data received from the user terminal comprises value-added presence information related to the user terminal.
An advantage of the method and arrangement of the invention is that an optimized charging of the user for presence attributes related to the user terminal may be achieved.
Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed solely for purposes of illustration and not as a definition of the limits of the invention, for which reference should be made to the appended claims. It should be further understood that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale and that, unless otherwise indicated, they are merely intended to conceptually illustrate the structures and procedures described herein.
In the following the invention will be described in greater detail by means of preferred embodiments with reference to the attached drawings, in which:
The rich communication suite (RCS) is focused on the use of IMS (IP multimedia subsystem) for providing mobile phone communication services. Rich communication enables the use of more than just voice for communication. From the end-user point of view, RCS enables communication such as instant messaging, video sharing and/or buddy lists. These capabilities are available on any type of user devices using open communication between devices and networks. RCS may involve features such as an enhanced phonebook with service capabilities and presence enhanced contacts information, enhanced messaging which enables a large variety of messaging options including chat and messaging history, enriched call which enables multimedia content sharing during a voice call, and/or a “see what I see” capability. Wider and large scale IMS deployment, interoperability between different terminal vendor RCS clients, and RCS service interworking between operators are a part of RCS initiative. RCS leverages existing standards, taking on board different services defined by e.g. 3GPP and OMA and combines them with the enhanced phonebook. This allows the service capabilities as well as presence information of the different recipients to be shown in the terminal phonebook application. RCS reuses the capabilities of 3GPP specified IMS (IP multimedia subsystem) core system as the underlying service platform taking care of issues such as authentication, authorization, registration, charging and routing. The following services may be included in the RCS concept: presence, voice call, IM (instant messaging), video share, image share, SMS (short message service), MMS (multimedia messaging service). Some of the capabilities of RCS are also available from Internet service providers. Therefore, the present solution is not limited to the rich communication environment. Instead the present solution is applicable in any type of enhanced communication system. E.g. multimedia messaging service refers to a messaging service for sending and receiving multimedia messages. MMS combines conventional text messages with other (“richer”) content types, such as photographs, images, voice clips, and video clips. MMS is used with multimedia terminals, e.g. WAP (wireless application protocol) clients, which can receive and process multimedia messages.
A presence service/enabler represents an integral part of most multimedia services, basically showing the user's availability and/or willingness for communication. A rich communication suite (RCS) is one example of a service utilizing presence. Presence has evolved quite a lot recently and may contain a plenty of information on the user, other than just the availability/willingness of the user. The present solution enables a network operator and/or a service operator to charge for presence information based on user-experienced value, instead of just for generic presence information.
Regarding a presence data model, an exemplary rich communication suite (RCS) document (i.e. an exemplary presence document) used for presence exchange may be as follows:
In the above example, it can be seen that a presence document may comprise information on multiple points; such as in point “x”, a service is identified as possible to the other party (watcher). In point “y” it is possible to deliver information on the user's favourite website, deliver a short free text notation, or state that the user is hyper-available. According to the present solution, this type of information is part of the added value in a presence service and outside of “normal” presence exchange, and could thus be charged accordingly (i.e. more) by the operator. For example, the exchange of free text in <pdm:note>I'll be PAG</pdm:note> has certain SMS-like characteristics. When the presence status is updated the complete RCS presence document is sent every time regardless of how much of the information has actually changed.
The present solution may be implemented in an interconnecting network (such as IPX) or within a sending/terminating operator's network. The present solution may be used to analyze presence data in more detail than previously possible. The idea is to analyze each presence update and compare it with the previous one. That way changes made by the users may be tracked in more detail, and, for example, free text or a favourite link may be charged separately. The present solution also makes it possible to differentiate status updates (online/busy/offline) from other presence data which may also be considered to be a means for communication.
In an exemplary embodiment of the present solution, a “free text” presence attribute is used as an example of presence data that resembles SMS and may thus be charged differently compared to generic presence data.
The field/purpose of the present solution is related to multimedia services and especially to presence. Usage and purpose of the present solution is to enable/optimize charging aspects related to using presence in inter-working networks, i.e. in interconnecting operator networks.
A problem that may be solved by using the present solution is that in current systems presence information can only be charged based on data volume, the number of messages, etc. This type of charging does not reflect the user experienced value, i.e. it is really not service-based. The present solution solves the problem by analyzing and comparing which kind of information has been changed in the presence information, and may thus be used to apply charging based on the value experienced by the user.
The present solution enables performing deeper analysis of presence information. Therefore, there may be extra requirements for the processing capabilities of the network components. Interworking agreements between operators may have to be more detailed in order to benefit from the present solution.
The best mode to implement the present solution is to carry out the implementation of the present solution in the interconnecting network (hubbing model) or in the sending/receiving operator's network.
Exemplary embodiments of the present solution will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all embodiments of the solution are shown. Indeed, the solution may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Although the specification may refer to “an”, “one”, or “some” embodiment(s) in several locations, this does not necessarily mean that each such reference is to the same embodiment(s), or that the feature only applies to a single embodiment. Single features of different embodiments may also be combined to provide other embodiments. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.
The present solution is applicable to any user terminal, server, corresponding component, and/or to any communication system or any combination of different communication systems that support services utilizing presence. The communication system may be a fixed communication system or a wireless communication system or a communication system utilizing both fixed networks and wireless networks. The protocols used, the specifications of communication systems, servers and user terminals, especially in wireless communication, develop rapidly. Such development may require extra changes to an embodiment. Therefore, all words and expressions should be interpreted broadly and they are intended to illustrate, not to restrict, the embodiment.
In the following, different embodiments will be described using as an example of a system architecture whereto the embodiments may be applied, an architecture based on an evolved UMTS terrestrial radio access network of an enhanced cellular network (E-UTRAN). Although E-UTRAN is discussed as a primary example herein, the present solution is not limited to E-UTRAN, LTE, and/or 3GPP systems. Thus, the present solution may also be applicable to other communications systems such as WiMAX (worldwide interoperability for microwave access), HSDPA (high-speed downlink packet access), HSUPA (high-speed uplink packet access), and/or WLAN (wireless local area network).
A general architecture of a communication system according to exemplary embodiments of the present solution is illustrated in
Another option is that the checking/analysing/storing/transmitting step as described above in step 4-2 is instead performed in step 4-5 in the second presence server PS2 of the second operator network N2. Yet another option is that the checking/analysing/storing/transmitting step as described above in step 4-2 is performed both in step 4-2 in the first presence server PS1 of the first operator network N1 and in step 4-5 in the second presence server PS2 of the second operator network N2.
The steps/points, signaling messages and related functions described above in
The techniques described herein may be implemented by various means so that an apparatus implementing one or more functions of a corresponding mobile entity described with an embodiment comprises not only prior art means, but also means for implementing the one or more functions of a corresponding apparatus described with an embodiment and it may comprise separate means for each separate function, or means may be configured to perform two or more functions. For example, these techniques may be implemented in hardware (one or more apparatuses), firmware (one or more apparatuses), software (one or more modules), or combinations thereof. For a firmware or software, implementation can be through modules (e.g., procedures, functions, and so on) that perform the functions described herein. The software codes may be stored in any suitable, processor/computer-readable data storage medium(s) or memory unit(s) or article(s) of manufacture and executed by one or more processors/computers. The data storage medium or the memory unit may be implemented within the processor/computer or external to the processor/computer, in which case it can be communicatively coupled to the processor/computer via various means as is known in the art.
User terminal (user equipment) may refer to any user communication device. A term “user equipment” as used herein may refer to any device having a communication capability, such as a wireless mobile terminal, a PDA, a smart phone, a personal computer (PC), a laptop computer, a desktop computer, etc. For example, the wireless communication terminal may be an UMTS or GSM/EDGE smart mobile terminal. Thus, the application capabilities of the device according to various embodiments of the invention may include native applications available in the terminal, or subsequently installed applications. The network apparatus may be implemented in any network element, such as a server.
An apparatus capable of performing operation according to various embodiments of the present solution may refer to any communication entity, such as the network apparatus, database or the user terminal. The apparatus may generally include a processor, controller, or the like connected to or comprising a memory. The memory may include volatile and/or non-volatile memory and typically stores content, data, or the like. For example, the memory may store computer program code such as software applications or operating systems, information, data, content, or the like for a processor to perform steps associated with operation of the entity in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. Also, for example, the memory typically stores content transmitted from, or received by, the apparatus. Memory may be, for example, random access memory (RAM), a hard drive, or other fixed data memory or storage device. The processor may receive input from an input device and may display information on a display. The processor may also be connected to at least one communication interface or other means for transmitting and/or receiving data, content, messages, or the like. Where the apparatus provides wireless communication, such as in a UMTS, GSM, EDGE, WCDMA network, Bluetooth network, a wireless LAN network, or other mobile network, the processor may operate with a wireless communication subsystem of the interface. Where the apparatus provides an IP server with IP communication, the processor may operate with an IP communication system of the interface. One or more processors, memory, storage devices, and other computer elements may be used in common by a computer system and subsystems, as part of the same platform, or processors may be distributed between a computer system and subsystems, as parts of multiple platforms. If the apparatus is, for example, a mobile station or a network server, the apparatus may also include modules such as a messaging service client/server and/or an application associated with the processor. These modules may be software and/or software-hardware components. For example, a messaging service client/server may include software capable of establishing, modifying, and terminating messaging sessions, to send and receive messages, etc. The apparatus may generally include a processor, controller, control unit or the like connected to a memory and to various interfaces of the apparatus. Generally the processor is a central processing unit, but the processor may be an additional operation processor. The processor may comprise a computer processor, application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), field-programmable gate array (FPGA), and/or other hardware components that have been programmed in such a way to carry out one or more functions of an embodiment. An interface provides a transmitter and/or a receiver or a corresponding means for receiving and/or transmitting data, content, messages including the above described advertisements, responses and solicitation messages.
At least some embodiments or aspects described herein may be implemented using programming stored within an appropriate storage circuitry described above or communicated via a network or other transmission media and configured to control appropriate processing circuitry. For example, programming may be provided via appropriate media including, for example, embodied within articles of manufacture, embodied within a data signal (e.g., modulated carrier wave, data packets, digital representations, etc.) communicated via an appropriate transmission medium, such as a communication network (e.g., the Internet or a private network), wired electrical connection, optical connection or electromagnetic energy, for example, via communications interface, or provided using other appropriate communication structure or medium. Exemplary programming including processor-usable code may be communicated as a data signal embodied in a carrier wave in but one example.
It will be obvious to a person skilled in the art that, as the technology advances, the inventive concept can be implemented in various ways. The invention and its embodiments are not limited to the examples described above but may vary within the scope of the claims.
Thus, while there have shown and described and pointed out fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the devices illustrated, and in their operation, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, it is expressly intended that all combinations of those elements and/or method steps which perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve the same results are within the scope of the invention. Moreover, it should be recognized that structures and/or elements and/or method steps shown and/or described in connection with any disclosed form or embodiment of the invention may be incorporated in any other disclosed or described or suggested form or embodiment as a general matter of design choice. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 09179040.2 | Dec 2009 | EP | regional |
