Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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WO 98/47274 PCT/EP98/02181
Communication system for providing messages
in different languages
The present invention relates to a communication system
including message means for providing messages in a
language according to the preamble of patent claim 1.
In a communication system, for example as known from DE 44
30 991, it may be required to provide subscribers with
messages related to certain system statuses, or to provide
subscribers with messages related to certain system
services. These messages are usually transmitted to a
calling subscriber, however, may also be transmitted to a
called subscriber. Particularly in mobile communications
systems covering a plurality of countries, it may occur
that messages are provided by units of the communication
system, which are located far away from the subscriber,
for example in a region or country with a different
language. In this case a message may be transmitted in a
language which is not understood by the subscriber. For
example, a subscriber placing a call to another country
and dialing an invalid extension will be provided with a
message like "you dialed an invalid extension number" in
the language of the respective country. Moreover, because
of free subscriber-roaming, in a mobile communication
network it is possible that the subscriber at different
times roams within regions having differing official
languages. In this case, even if a subscriber is provided
with a message from a local unit of the network, the
subscriber will receive messages in different languages.
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Moreover, the home location register of a subscriber,
storing subscriber related data, is not necessarily
located within a region having an official language
understood by the subscriber. Here, too, in case of a
notification, it is possible that a message is transmitted
in a language not understood by the subscriber.
To avoid communication problems when transmitting messages
to a subscriber, it is desirable to be able to provide a
subscriber with a message in a language understood by the
subscriber. This is particularly desirable in a mobile
communication network, for example a communication network
according to the GSM-standard.
DE 44 30 991 describes a communication network allowing to
transmit a message to a caller in different languages. The
network may, in particular, be a mobile communication
network, e.g. a GSM-network. For selecting a message, a
notification number is generated, consisting of. a fixed
portion of digits for determining the type of the message,
and consisting of a variable portion of digits for
selecting a specific language for the message. The digits
for selecting the language for the message may be derived
from the number dialed by the calling subscriber. In case
a particular language is unavailable, a predetermined
language may be used as a language for the message
instead. DE 44 30 991 further describes to assign certain
subscriber data to each subscriber, specifying at least
one language for a message. Data specifying said at least
one language are fixedly assigned to the subscriber and
are stored in his home location register. The home
location register centrally stores important subscriber
data of a large number of subscribers. If more than one
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WO 98/47274 3 PCT/EP98/02181
language is stored, a replacement language may be
selected, in case a language is unavailable. Language
selection data is transferred to a temporary register of a
respective transmitter station of the communication system
which currently serves the subscriber. In case the
subscriber moves from one transmission station into the
coverage area of a second transmission station, the data
is stored in the temporary register of the second
transmission station.
In the above system, however, it is disadvantageous that
the subscriber is unable to readily specify language
selection data himself. Furthermore, the previously
described known system poses the threat, that language
selection data does not arrive a respective message
device, due to system incompatibilities or due to other
transmission problems. In this case, the message device is
not able to transmit a message in a language assigned to
the subscriber.
In further systems, subscribers of a communication network
may be provided with messages in a. particular language, by
specifying a desired language for a message means, e.g. by
entering it via a telephone keyboard or by analyzing the
telephone number entered by the caller with respect to
country codes or sequences of numbers, which specify
regions of the country.
These systems, however, further have the disadvantage that
a separate language selection input is required or, in
case of an automatic system, the language of the message
depends on the location of the caller.
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WO 95 20859 Al (D1) describes the selection of a language -
in a telephone communication system, wherein a subscriber
is notified in a language assigned to him. For example, a
language selection indicator, predetermined by a user, may
be stored in a data base. If the user accesses the
telecommunication system, a user identifier may be
searched for retrieving language selection data associated
with the user for a notification in the selected language.
Language selection options for a user cover the selection
of one language of a pool of languages available at the
system.
It is object of the invention, to provide a communication
system including message means for transmitting messages
in one of different languages based on the availability of
languages and allowing the subscriber to easily specify or
change one or more preferred languages.
This object of the invention is solved by a communication
system having a message device for transmitting messages
in one of different languages according to the features of
claim 1.
The system according to the invention comprises at least
one transmission device, at least two communication
devices, e.g. telephones, at least one storage device for
storing a list assigned to a subscriber containing at
least one preferred language, and at least one message
device for providing a message in one of different
languages. Determining means select, in accordance with
the sequence of languages in the list, the first language
available at the at least one message device, and initiate
that the message is transmitted in the selected language.
AMENDED SHEET
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Furthermore, the system comprises at least one subscriber
input/retrieval device for inputting, changing or deleting
the list of preferred languages. The system thus
advantageously allows a subscriber to define an assigned
list of pz~ferred languages or to change an existing list
of preferred languages and allows the transmission of
messages in one of different languages, based on the
availability of languages and based on the list of
languages specified.
""
The subscriber input/retrieval device may comprise input
means, for example a keyboard for inputting certain
commands or sequences of numbers corresponding to
preferred languages. Further, the subscriber
input/retrieval device can be used to interrogate and
display the list of preferred languages. Furthermore, the
subscriber input/retrieval device allows to delete the
list of preferred languages. Languages may be entered in a
certain sequence in accordance to subscriber preference.
AMEn~F~ ~,~~:~~T
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WO 98/47274 5 PCT/EP98/02181
During a set-up of a connection in the net, the list with
the at least one preferred languages assigned to a
subscriber is transmitted. As a consequence, the list is
available to the at least one message device.
For the provision of messages selection means may screen
the languages in the sequence of preference in order to
determine whether at the message device the message is
available in the respective language. The message may be
transmitted to the subscriber in a first available
language. If the message is not available in any one of
the preferred languages, a known language selection method
may be used or the message is transmitted in a
predetermined language. The message' device is usually not
directly accessed by the subscriber, it rather is
activated by certain processes in the communication system
and/or a respective list with at least one preferred
language is transmitted to the message device or is
actively retrieved by the message device.
In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention the
at least one subscriber input/retrieval device is
integrated into a communication means, e.g. into a mobile
telephone, such that the subscriber can input or change
the list of preferred languages by using said
communication means.
Furthermore, in an advantageous embodiment the invention
allows a secure transmission of information regarding
preferred languages to the message device. The
transmission of information in the communication network
may include ISDN-connections. During a set-up of a
connection, the storage means transmits the list of at
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least one preferred languages to the message device. In
case a message needs to be transmitted to the subscriber,
the message device selects a language in-accordance with
the sequence of languages of the list and transmits the
message to the subscriber in the selected language.
Due to transmission problems or system incompatibilities
the list of preferred languages may not properly arrive at
the message device. Therefore, the message device can
advantageously comprise retrieval means, which actively
retrieve the list from storage means, in case the list was
not received. The retrieval means may send a retrieval
command to the storage means, causing a re-transmission of
the list from the storage means to the message device. For
determining, whether a retrievable list is present, the
retrieval means may include means for determining whether
or not a list of preferred languages is assigned to the
respective subscriber.
In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, a
list with at least one preferred language assigned to a
calling or called subscriber may be transmitted to the
message device and the calling and/or the called
subscriber may be provided with a message.
30
Further, the communication system may be a mobile
telephone network according to the GSM standard and/or may
comprise a further mobile communication network and/or a
PSTN (Public Switched Telephone) network. In case the
communication network includes a communication network
according to the GSM standard, the list of preferred
languages may be transmitted in an extension part of the
MAP (Mobile Application Part) protocol.
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7
Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are
described in further dependent claims.
Brief description of the drawings:
Fig. 1 is a schematic illustration of a communication
system according to the :i.nvention~
Fig. 2 shows part of the communication system according
to the invention, illustrating entering, storing
and changing a list of preferred languages:
Fig. 3 shows a further embodiment of the communication
system according to the :invention
Fig. 4 shows an embodiment illustrating a retrieval of
a list of preferred languages;
Fig. 5 shows a flow chart of the method for providing
messages and for entering and storing a list of
preferred languages; and
Fig. 6 shows a flow chart of the method according to
the invention in the case the list of preferred
languages was not received by the message
device.
In the following, preferred embodiments of the invention
are described with reference to the accompanying figures.
In the figures similar reference numerals describe similar
objects.
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WO 98/47274 8 PCT/EP98/02181
Fig. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a communication system
according to the invention, including an arbitrary number
of transmission devices. In Fig. 1 three transmission
devices UEVl, UEV2, UEV3 are shown. Communication links
may be set-up between transmission devices, or may already
be established. The transmission devices may be part of a
mobile communication network, as for example according to
the GSM-standard, or may be transmission stations of a
PSTN network. Transmission device may be connected
according to the ISDN standard (Integrated Services
Digital System). The communication network is provided
with message devices BV1 - BV3 for providing messages in
different languages. The message devices may be directly
connected to one of the transmission devices or may
constitute separate units. The message devices can provide
messages in a plurality of different languages. The
communication system according to the invention further
comprises storage means S for storing a list of preferred
languages, assigned to a subscriber. Preferably, the
storage means is arranged to store lists of preferred
languages of a plurality of subscribers. In the embodiment
shown in Fig. 1 the storage means S is connected with the
transmission device UEV3.
Subscriber input/retrieval devices EA1 and EA2, shown in
Fig. 1, are each part of a communication device T1 - T3.
The subscriber input/retrieval devices EA1 and EA2 are
connected with respective transmission devices. The
connections between the subscriber input/retrieval devices
and the transmission devices may be fixed lines, or, in
case of a mobile communication network, may be radio
connections. The subscriber input/retrieval devices allow
to enter data and to retrieve data, respectively. The
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WO 98/47274 9 PCT/EP98/02181
subscriber input/retrieval devices comprise input means
K1, K2 and display means D1, D2. Since in the present
embodiment the subscriber input/retrieval means and a
respective communication device T1, T2 together form a
unit, respective input means and display means may be
shared by communication devices and subscriber
input/retrieval means. In other embodiments, however,
input/retrieval means EA may constitute separate units,
located remotely from said communication devices shown in
Fig. 1.
A list of preferred languages assigned to a respective
subscriber may be stored by the subscriber in the storage
means S using the input means K1, K2. Further, subscribers
may retrieve data, e.g. respective lists of preferred
languages from the storage means S using the input means
Kl, K2. The retrieved data subsequently is displayed on
respective display means D1, D2. Preferably, a storage
location within the storage means S for storing a list of
preferred languages is assigned to each subscriber. It is
further preferred, that only an authorized subscriber or
service personnel is allowed to access the list of
preferred languages.
A list of preferred languages may include data describing
a specific sequence of languages according to subscriber
preference, entered by a subscriber via subscriber
input/retrieval means EA.
In case a connection is being set-up from one of the
communication devices T1 - T3, the list of at least one
preferred language assigned to the subscriber is
transmitted such that the list is available to said
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WO 98/47274 1 ~ PCT/EP98/02181
message devices BV1 - BV3. However, it is possible that,
in case a subscriber is to be notified, the list of the at
least one preferred language is transmitted to the
respective message device BVI - BV3 after the connection
has been established. In case of a notification, said
message devices BV1 - BV3 transmit a message to a
communication device in one of the preferred languages
according to the list or in a predetermined (default)
language.
In general, a list assigned to a calling subscriber or
assigned to a called subscriber may be considered by the
message device, and the called and/or the calling
subscriber may be notified accordingly. Therefore, while a
call is being established or at any other instant in time
during the call, a list of preferred languages may be
transmitted from a calling communication device T1 - T3,
and further, from the called communication device, a
corresponding list of preferred languages may be
transmitted in reverse direction, such that in case one or
both subscribers are to be notified, the respective lists
are available at respective message devices BV1 - BV3.
It is then determined whether the message is available in
one of the preferred languages at the message device. The
list of preferred languages is therefore processed
according to the sequence of preferred languages and the
message is transmitted to the subscriber in the first
available language. In case none of the preferred
languages is available, a known language selection method
or a pre-determined language can be used instead. The
message is transmitted to the subscriber via one of the
communication devices T1 - T3. Messages can be composed of
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WO 98/47274 11 PCT/EP98/02181
audio signals or can comprise a sequence of digits or
characters to. be displayed at the communication device.
Fig. 2 illustrates part of another embodiment of the
communication system according to 'the invention. In Fig.
2, again three transmission devices UEV1, UEV2 and UEV3
are shown. Storage means S are connected to the
transmission device UEV3, temporary storage means TS are
connected to transmission device UEV2. Subscriber
input/retrieval means EA1 are shown connected with
transmission device UEV2. In the embodiment shown in Fig.
2, the storage means S are constituted by a central
memory, permanently storing a plurality of lists of
preferred languages assigned to subscribers. Preferably,
lists of preferred languages or further subscriber data of
a large number of subscribers served by any of said
transmission devices of the network, are stored. Said
temporary storage means TS store lasts of preferred
languages or subscriber data of subscribers served by the
transmission device UEV2. Not shown in Fig. 2 are further
temporary storage means connected to further transmission
devices and storing subscriber data or lists of preferred
languages of subscribers served by these transmission
devices.
In the following, it is described, how a subscriber
specifies a list of preferred languages via the subscriber
input/retrieval means EA1. A language can be entered via
the input means of the subscriber input/retrieval means
EA1 by entering sequences of numbers or characters. For
example, the sequence of digits or characters can specify
a country code where a language is used as an official
language. Since country codes are standardized worldwide,
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WO 98/47274 12 PCT/EP98/02181
this may also allow a recognition of the language in
systems, which do not have the features according to the
invention. Another approach to specify a_language of the
list of preferred languages is to enter an internationally
defined name of a respective country (e. g. "SF" = Finn.
language) in form of a sequence of characters or digits
via the input means K1 of the input/retrieval means EA1.
The sequence of the languages of the list of preferred
languages can, e.g., be specified by the particular
sequence the numbers or characters defining particular
languages were entered. The list of preferred languages is
stored by entering further numbers or characters before or
after the numbers and characters specifying the languages.
For example, a list which is specified, in the sequence of
preference, Finnish, Italian, German, English, may have
the following form: "*#* 123 * 5F I BRD GR #" or "*#* 123
* 35 39 49 44#". After the list is entered, the list is
transmitted to the transmission device UEV2 where it is
stored in the temporary storage means T5. Further, the
list is transmitted to the transmission device UEV3 where
it is stored in the storage means S, constituting the
central register.
In another embodiment of the invention the list of
preferred languages may be directly transferred to said
storage means S. In case of a mobile communication network
according to the GSM standard, data transmission can be
performed using an USSD (Unstructured Service Data)
command. In this case the list is transferred from the
subscriber input/retrieval means EA to a VLR (Visitor
Location Register) storage means and to a HLR (Home
Location Register) storage means.
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The subscriber can retrieve the list of preferred
languages by entering a specific retrieval command via
input means of the subscriber input/retrieval means EA1.
This command is transmitted to the transmission device
UEV3 and causes that the list of preferred languages is
retrieved and transmitted to the subscriber
input/retrieval means EAl. The command, as well as the
list is transmitted via transmission device UEV2. In other
embodiments the retrieval command directly retrieves the
list of preferred languages from the temporary storage
means TS.
The subscriber is further able to delete the list of
preferred languages by entering a predetermined command
via the subscriber input/retrieval means EA1. In this
case, the command is transmitted via transmission device
UEV2 to transmission device UEV3 and the deletion of the
list in the storage means S is executed.
Fig. 3 describes a further embodiment of the communication
system according to the present invention. Two temporary
storage means TS1, TS2 are provided. The temporary storage
means are connected to transmission devices UEV1 and UEV2,
respectively. With respect to Fig. 2 it was outlined that
a list of preferred languages is stored in central storage
means S as well as in temporary storage means TS,
connected to the transmission device serving the
subscriber. If now, as shown in Fig. 3, a subscriber, or
communication device T1 moves from the area covered by
transmission device UEV1 into the area covered by the
transmission device UEV2, the list of preferred languages
assigned to the subscriber, which initially was stored in
the temporary storage means TS1, is deleted and is stored
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WO 98/47274 14 PCT/EP98/02181
in the temporary storage means TS2, connected to said
transmission device UEV2.
In a preferred embodiment, in a GSM-system, this procedure
can be performed as follows: the transmission device UEV3
or control means (not shown) connected to the central
storage means, initiates the transfer of the list of
preferred languages. The list is transmitted to temporary
storage means TS2, by means of appending the list as a
data packet into an extension part of the standard MAP-
protocol. At the temporary storage means TS2, the list is
stored together with further subscriber data. Further, the
list is deleted in the temporary storage means TS1. In
case an ISDN-network is part of the transmission path, the
list is transmitted together with the IAM (Initial Address
Message). The list of preferred languages is received from
the ISDN-network by transmission device UEV2 and is stored
in temporary storage means TS2. Further, the list is
deleted in said temporary storage means TS1. This method
may be also applied to a call forwarding. It is further
possible that this method is applied to existing
communication networks, by way of assigning certain code
numbers to subscribers, for identifying the subscriber
towards the network.
Fig. 4 illustrates an embodiment of the retrieval of a
list of preferred languages. A message device BV1 is
connected to transmission device UEV2, and storage means S
are connected to transmission device UEV3. A communication
device T1 and subscriber input/retrieval means EA1 are
also connected to transmission device UEV3. As outlined
before, in case a connection is being set-up, originating
from communication device Tl, the list of preferred
f
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languages is transmitted from said storage means S to the
message device BV1. A language is selected by the message
device and a message is transmitted accordingly. Due to
incompatibilities of communication networks or due to
transmission errors, however, it may happen that the list
of preferred languages is not. or not completely
transmitted to said message device. For example, a PSTN-
network can form part of the link between transmission
device UEV2 and transmission device UEV3, which does not
support a transmission of the list of preferred languages.
Therefore, the message device BV1 of the shown embodiment
includes retrieval means AVl for actively retrieving the
list from storage means S, in case the list was not
received.
In order to determine, whether a call towards the message
device BV1 originates from a subscriber having an
associated list of preferred languages, the message device
BVl includes determining means PV1. For example, the
determining means PVl may be arranged to determine, by
analyzing the country code and further partitions of the
code number, whether the calling subscriber is a mobile
subscriber. If the determining means PV1 determines, that
a list of preferred languages could possibly be, or is
assigned to the subscriber, the retrieval means PVl
transmits a "transmit list"-command to the transmission
device UEV3. This command initiates a transmission of the
list of preferred languages to the message device. In
other embodiments the "transmit list"-command may be
transmitted without a previous polling.
;;;,p~v,~;.-~ .~
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WO 98/47274 16 PCT/EP98/02181
Fig. 5 shows a flow chart illustrating the method for
providing messages, in a preferred language, to
subscribers of a communication system according to the
invention. Initially, either a retrieval command may be
sent out or an input of languages may be performed. In
case of a retrieval command from the subscriber
input/retrieval means EA1, a sequence of digits or
characters, entered via input means K1, is transmitted to
storage means S, wherein the list of preferred languages
is stored. In response thereto, the storage means S
transmits the list of preferred languages to subscriber
input/retrieval means, which in turn will display it on
display means D1. the input of a list of preferred
languages may be performed via a keyboard of the
subscriber input/retrieval means, as previously described
in detail with respect to Fig. 2. In case the list is to
be stored, the list is transmitted to storage means S,
TS1, TS2 and stored therein. Subsequent input and
retrieval of languages of the List is possible. In case a
connection is being established via a subscriber or a
communication device, having a list of preferred languages
assigned thereto, the list of preferred languages is
transmitted. As outlined before, as a result, the list is
thus available to respective message devices. However, it
is also possible that the list is transmitted to the
message device only in case a message needs to be
provided. Subsequently, the message device provides, as
described with respect to Fig. 1, a message to the
subscriber in accordance with one of the preferred
languages.
Fig. 6 illustrates how a message is transmitted in one of
preferred languages by the message device, and further
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WO 98/47274 1 ~ PCT/EP98/02181
illustrates how a list of preferred languages may be
actively retrieved, in case the list was not or not
entirely transmitted during establishing-a connection.
The flow starts at an entry point E. In case the message
device determines that a list of preferred languages was
received, the determining means PV1 determines, in
accordance to the sequence of preference, whether the
message is available in one of the preferred languages. In
case the list was not received, the message device may
determine, whether a list of preferred languages is
assigned to the subscriber, or may determine whether the
subscriber is a mobile subscriber. Following, said message
device attempts to actively retrieve the list from the
storage means by sending a retrieval command. In case no
list is retrieved, the message is transmitted in a
predetermined language. In case a list is received, a
message will be sent to the subscriber in the first
available language of the list of preferred languages, as
described with respect to Fig. 5.
