SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMMUNICATION USING PUBL TELEPHONES
Description of WO02093949
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMMUNICATION
USING PUBLIC TELEPHONES
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to methods of communication using public telephones.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A cell phone has an associated terminal identity known in the European cell phor
system (the GSM system) asthe"IMEI identity" (International Mobile
Equipment Identity). The IMEI identity is stored in a circuit in the cell phone and i:
not readily accessed.
A user card is also installed in cell phones that has a unique user identity and the must be used with the mobile communications unit in order for the unit to be functional. The user card is associated with a specific subscriber and a specific operator. This user card is referred to in the GSM system as the SIM-card, and tr user identity belonging to a specific user card is referred to as the"IMSI identity" (International Mobile Subscriber Identity) or the"SIM-identity".
When the owner of a cell phone wishes to subscribe to services provided by an operator, he or she applies to the operator for the purchase of a SIM-card. In the application, the owner states the terminal identity of the phone together with personal information, such as name, address, telephone number, personal identification number. This information is stored by the operator in a database or some like device. The operator may also store in the same location information relating to those services that the subscriber may use. Services such as call billir are performed on the user card.
The operator assigns a unique user identity to a SIM-card (the ICCID, Integrated Circuit card identifier) relating to the owner information stored in the database. The user identity may also include a unique identification code that identifies the operator that administers the subscription to which the SIM-card is associated. The SIM card is then installed in the cell phone. All use of the phone ultimately billed to the owner of the cell phone as identified by the SIM card.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a method and system for initiating and receiving te^phone calls from public telephones. Theterm'tpublic telepho7ce"is used herei to denote a telephone accessible to a plurality of individuals for making a phone call to a destination telephone. A public telephone may be a wired telephone or a cell phone. Public phones are owned and operated by an operator.
The system includes a plurality of public telephones. In order to be able to place receive a phone call over the system, an individual must subscribe with an operator. Subscription typically involves the caller providing personal details and establishing an account. After subscribing, the subscriber is provided with means identify himself to the system. The means of identification may comprise, for example, a personal card configured to carry data indicative of the subscriber's identity and any other relevant information.
Each of the public telephones has a subscriber input device that allows a user to identify himself to the system. In the case that the subscriber has been provided with a personal identification card, the input device may be a card reader located inside the telephone that is configured to read the data carried by the card.
In order to place or receive a phone call at a public telephone, the subscriber identifies himself to the system. This may be done, for example, by the caller inserting his personal card into the card reader associated with the telephone. Th subscriber then inputs a telephone number of a remote telephone into the public telephone if he wishes to place a call, or waits for the public phone to ring if he is expecting a call from a remote telephone.
Details relating to the identity of the subscriber as well as other aspects of the telephone call are transmitted to a data base that stores data relating to the publi phones of the system and to the subscribers. In one embodiment, the details are first transmitted to a switching station. In accordance with this embodiment, a nor invasive probe monitors the phone call. If the public telephones are cell phones, the probe may be connected to the E1/T1 links between the base station contrail and the mobile switching center (MSC) or between the MSC and HLR (home location register). For each phone call, the probe determines relevant data relatir to the call such as the identity of the telephone (the telephone's IMEI), the identit of the subscriber (whether he is the caller or the called party), and, in the case of cell phones, the location of the public telephone at which the subscriber has identified himself. Data collected by the probe are input to the database.
In another embodiment, the public telephones are provided with a processor that transmits data to the database via the MSC. The MSC then transmits the data to the database. The data may include for example, the phone's location and identil (IMEI), and the duration of the conversation (airtime).
A processor associated with the database determines whether the public phone i registered with the system. If not no action is taken, and the phone call is not interrupted. Otherwise, the processor verifies that the individual who has identifie himself at the public telephone is in fact subscribed with the system. If not, the processor determines whether the operator's policy allows the phone call connection to be completed. If the individual is subscribed, the processor determines whether the service requested by the subscriber is among the service to which the subscriber has registered. If not, then the phone connection is established and handled as if the subscriber is a regular prepaid or post-paid subscriber.
Otherwise, the phone connection is made. After a phone connection is made, progress of the phone call may be monitored. At the end of the call, a call detail record (CDR) is made of the call that is transmitted to the server. The call detail record includes the identity of the subscriber, the telephone's IMEI and the durati of the call. The server stores in a memory all CDRs and periodically executes a rating and billing process so that each phone call may be charged to the subscrit involved (whether the subscriber was the caller or called party of the call), or to tt telephone owner.
The processor may also be configured to determine the total duration of all phon< calls placed or received at the public telephone over a period of time. The processor may further be configured to calculate a royalty to be paid to the operator of the public telephone based upon the total duration.
In one embodiment, the public phones are cell phones in which a SIM card has n been installed. A user of a phone is provided with a personal SIM-card similar in size to a credit card that carries all of the information normally carried by SIM cards installed in cell phones. In order to use a public cell phone, the user inserts his personal SIM card into a card reader located in the phone. The user then initiates or receives a telephone call from the public cell phone. At the conclusion of the phone call, the user retrieves his personal SIM card. The cost c the phone call is subsequently billed to the user as identified by his personal SIM card.
Thus, in its first aspect the invention thus provides a method for completing a telephone connection requested by an individual from a public telephone to a remote telephone comprising: (a) identifying the individual; (b) determining wheth the individual and/or the telephone satisfies one or more predetermined conditior (c) completing a telephone connection between the public telephone and the remote telephone if the individual satisfies the predetermined conditions.
In its second aspect the invention provides a system for making a telephone cypnection between a public telephone and a remote telephone comprising: (a) one or more public telephones, the public telephones each having a caller identifier; (b) a probe probing data indicative of a request by an individual to receive or place a call at a public telephone including an identity of the caller; (c) processor configured to: (ca) receive data including an identify of an individual frc the caller identifier; (cb) store data in a memory indicative of one or more individuals; (cc) compare data indicative of a request to receive or place a call by an individual at a public telephone with data stored in the memory and determine whether the individual wishing to place or receive a phone call at one of the publi telephones satisfies one or more predetermined conditions; and (cd) cause a telephone connection to be completed between the public telephone and a remo^ telephone if the individual satisfies the predetermined conditions.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In order to understand the invention and to see how it may be carried out in
practice, a preferred embodiment will now be described, by way of non-limiting
example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 shows a system for communication with public telephones in accordance
with one embodiment of the invention; and
Fig. 2 shows a process carried out by the system of Fig. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Fig. 1 shows a communications systemlOO, in accordance with one embodiment
the invention. The system comprises a plurality of public telephones 105 (three a
shown in Fig. 1.). The public telephone 105 may be cell phones as shown in Fig.
or wired telephones (not shown). Each of the cell phones 105 are owned and
operated by an operator. All of the cell phones may belong to the same operator,
or several different operators may own cell phones 105 in the system 100. The o
phones 105 communicate with a Mobile Switching
Center (MSC) 110 via a base station having a Base Station Controller (BSC) 115
and a transceiver 120. The MSC 110 communicates with a public switched
telephone network(PTSN) indicated by a cloud 125 via a GMSC gateway 130.
The MSC also communicates with a Home Location Register(HER) 175 which maintains a database relating to the identification of each user. In order to be abl to place or receive a phone call over the system, an individual must first subscrib with the system. Subscription typically involves the individual providing personal details and establishing an account with the system. After subscribing, a subscrit is provided with means to identify himself with the operator to the system. As shown in Fig. 1, the means of identification may comprise a personal card 160 configured to carry data indicative of a subscriber's identity and any other relevar information.
E^ch of the cell phones 105 has a subscriber input device that allows a subscribe to identify himself to the system. As shown in Fig. 1, the input device may be a a reader located inside the telephone 105 that is configured to read the data carrie< by the card 106.
In order to place or receive a phone call, a subscriber 112 identifies himself to tht system. As shown in Fig. 1, the subscriber 112 inserts the personal card 106 into the card reader located inside the telephone 105 through a slot 165. The subscriber 112 then either inputs a destination telephone number if he wishes to place a call into the telephone 105 or waits for the telephone 105 to ring in the ca that he expects to receive a call. Details relating to the identity of the subscriber, the telephone number of the other party, and the location of the telephone 105, a well as other aspects of the telephone call are transmitted first to the BSC 115, a then the MSC 110.
In the embodiment shown in Fig.1, a non-invasive probe 135 is connected to the E1/T1 links between the BSC 115 and the MSC 110. This is by way of example only, and a probe may be placed between MSC 110 and the HLR 175. For each phone call, the probe 135 determines, for example, which of the cell phones 105 involved in the call as identified by its IMEI, the location of the cell phone 105 anc the identity of the subscriber 112. Data collected by the probe 135 is input to a server 140 over a communications line 170. The server 140 comprises a databas 153 that stores data relating to the cell phones 105 and subscribers.
Fig. 2 shows a flow chart diagram of a process carried out by a processor in the server 140. In step 200, the processor determines whether the cell phone involve in a call is a cell phone 105 that is registered with the system. If not (step 205), m action is taken, and the phone call is not interrupted (step 205). If yes, then in ste 210 the processor determines whether the phone 105 is operating in an allowed location and has not been reported to have been stolen. If no, (step 215), a disconnect order is sent to the MSC 110. Details of an aborted phone call may b< sent to the database 140 for further investigation (step 216) and the process terminates. If yes, then in step 220, the processor verifies that the individual 112 in fact subscribed with the system. If no, (step 225), the processor determines whether the operator's policy allows the phone call connection to be completed. I no, the process returns to step 215. If yes, (step 230), the phone call is not interrupted and the process terminates. If at step 220 it is determined that the individual 112 is a subscriber, the processor determines in step 230 whether the service requested by the subscriber is among the services to which the caller has subscribed. If no, then the process returns to step 215. If yes, the phone connection is made (step 240). After a phone connection is made, the process pauses for an amount of time, for example 10 seconds (step 243). It is then
determined whether the phone call is still in progress (step 145). If yes, the proce returns to step 243.
If no, then in step 250, a call detail record is made of the call that is transmitted tc the server 140. The call detail record includes the identity of the subscriber 112,1 IMEI of the telephone 105, and the duration of the call(the"airtime"), so that the cost of the call may be charged to the subscriber or the phone owner. The server may also calculate the commission due to the phone owner for the call (step 255

CLAIMS;
1. A method for providing telephone services by an operator to an individual at
a public telephone, .the public telephone being configured to receive a device
identifying the individual, the method comprising:
(a)Inserting a device identirying the individual into the public telephone;
(b)detcnnming whether the individual has previously subscribed with the
operator to receive telephone services at the public telephone; and
(c)provjding telephone services at the public telephone if the individual has
previously subscribed with the operator to receive telephone services at the
public telephone.
2. The method according to Claim 1 further comprising updating in a
database the public telephone in -which the indiyidual's device has been inserted.
3. The method according to Claim 2 wherein the telephone services include
one or more of the following:
(a) placing a telephone call from the public telephone;
(b) receiving a telephone call at the public telephone; and
(c) accessing a messaging service.
4. The method according lo any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein determining
whether foe individual has previously subscribed with the .operator to receive
telephone services ax the public telephone involves determining a location of the
public telephone determining whether tihe individual is permitted to receive
telephone services at the public telephone at the determined location.
5. The method according to any one of the previous claims in which the
public telephone is a cell phone.
6. The method according to any one of the previous claims wherein the
device is a. SIM card.
7. The method according to any one of the previous claims further
comprising determining whether the individual belongs to a predetermined group
of individuals.
8. The method according to any one of the previous claims further
comprising a step of issuing a call detail record for the phone connection, the call
detail record including an identity of the individual and an identity of the public
.telephone such as the phone's IMEI. .
9. The method according to Claim ? wherein the call detail record further
includes a duration of the phone call.
10. The method according to Claim 9, further comprising a step of
determining a total, duration of phone calls placed or received at a public
telephone over a period of time.
11. The method according to Claim 10 further comprising a step of
determining a royalty to be paid to an operator of a public telephone in a
calculation involving the total duration of phone calls placed or received at the
public telephone during a predetermine?! time period,
12. A system for providing telephone services by an operator to an individual
at a public telephone comprising:
(a)oae or more public telephones configured to receive a device identifying an
individual; -
(b)a processor configured to:
(ba) receive data including an identity of an individual;
(bb) store data in a. xnem ory indicative of one or more individuals;
(be) compare data indicative of a request to receive telephone services
at a public telephone by an individual "with data stored in the
memory aad determine whether the individual has previously
subscribed with the operator to receive telephone services at the
public telephone; and
(bd) provide telephone services to the individual at the public telephone
if the individual has previously subscribed -with tbe operator to
receive telephone services at the pub!ic telephone.
13. The system according to Claim 12 wherein the processor is further
configured to update in a database the publjc telephone in which the individual's
device has been inserted..
14, The system according to Claim, 13 wherein the telephone services include
one or more qf the following:
(d) placing a telephone call from the public telephone;
(c) receiving a telephone call at the public telephone; and
(f) accessing a messaging service.
15, The system according to any .one of Claims 12 to 14 wherein determining
whether the individual has previously subscribed with, the operator to receive
telephone services at tike public telephone involves determining a location of the
public telephone and determining whether the individual is permitted tp receive
telephone services st the public telephone at the detennined location.
16, The system according to any one of Claims 12 to 15 further comprising a
probe configured to monitor telephone conversations and to transmit to the
processor data indicative of the identity of the individual, the identity of the
public phone, or a location of the public phone and to transmit the data to the
processor.
17- The system according to any one of Claims 12 to 16 wherein 1he device \$
a SIM card
18. The system according to any one of Claims 12 to 17 wherein the processor
is further configured to determine whether the individual belongs to a
predetermined group of individuals.
19. The system according to any one of Claims 12 to 18 wherein the processor
is further configured to issue a call detail record, the call detail record including
an identity of the telephone.
20. The system according to Claim 19, wherein the call detail record further
includes a duration of me phone call.
2L The system according to Claim 20, wherein the processor is further •
configured to determine a total duration of phone calls placed or received at a
public telephone over a period of time.
22. The system according to Claim 21, wherein the processor is further
configured to determine a royalty to be paid to an operator of a public telephone
in a calculation involving the total duration of phone calls placed or received at
the public telephone.
23. The system according to any one of Claims 12 to 22 wherein one or more
of the public telephones are cell phones.
24. The system according to Claim 23 further comprising a probe configured
to monitor telephone conversations and to transmit lo the processor data
indicative of me identity of the individual, the IMET of the telephone or a location
of tbe public phone and to transmit the data to file processor.
25. The system according to Claim 24 wherein the probe is located between a
base station controller and a ro.obfl.e switching centec.
26. The system according to Claim 24 wherein the public telephone is
configured lo transmit data indicative of the identity of me individual, the JMEI
• i
of the telephone or a location of the public phone to a home location register and
the horn e location register is configured to transmit Hie data to the processor.
27. A method for providing telephone services by an
operator to an individual at a public telephone,
substantially as herein described with reference':,
to the accompanying drawings.
28. A system for providing telephone services by an
operator to an individual at' a public telephone/
substantially as herein described with reference to the
accompanying drawings.