Abstract:
Subscribers are segmented in a telecommunications by allocating given first subscribers network resources with a lower priority than second subscribers, but allowing the first subscribers to temporarily upgrade their subscription by a self-service request. On detecting the request, the network updates the charging correspondingly and adapts the resource allocation of the first subscribers who made the request for a predetermined period and/or amount of phone calls. The network is also capable of signaling the subscribers their current resource allocation priority so that the subscribers can provide respective users with a feedback of changes in resource allocation. The mechanism is also applicable for temporarily lowering the priority of given subscribers in resource allocation.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to controlling access to telecommunications networks. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Market segmentation means providing markets with differentiated products or services such that substantial price difference may prevail between different segments. For instance, presently most economical mobile phones may cost 5 percent of the price of the high-end mobile phones. This allows both establishing wide markets ranging from entry level customers to heavy users who can afford more. However, until recently there has not been corresponding segmentation for the network access. Recently new mobility solutions embodying the concept of giving subscribers choices of different service levels have been presented. With such concept, an economy subscription to a mobile telecommunications network can have lower call tariffs with a somewhat higher probability of blocked or dropped calls during busy hours. A business subscriber will enjoy very high call success rates but also pay a higher tariff. In effect, this concept provides subscriber segmentation in mobile networks—offering different subscriber classes different products with corresponding price levels. This concept has been well received on developing markets because it allows addressing the not yet subscribers with very attractive tariffs. Entry level subscribers appreciate lower tariffs and accept lowered service quality. However, it may be found excessively undesirable if the lower service level can prevent placing an important and urgent personal call. After all, one of the key benefits of having a mobile phone is that often one can call friends or relatives in urgency. 
     It should be borne in mind that cellular networks are not always reachable and thus even though they can save lives, there may be occasions in which the network or necessary network resources are not available and therefore mobile operators cannot guarantee the access to their networks nor can they be held liable for possible failure to access their networks. Thus, even when in urgency, the mobile telephone may not be able to make desired phone calls due to network congestions or radio access failure. Emergency calls may be prioritized over all other calls to reduce the risk that congestion would prevent calling an ambulance or fire engine, for example, but even these calls cannot be guaranteed. 
     The most typical segmentation approach in telecommunication network subscriptions relates to the services availed to subscribers. It is broadly accepted that different data and messaging services can be charged with charges depending on the value of those services to the customer and on the availability of resources required for these services. However, even in industrial countries the telecommunications network operators still gain most of their revenues from traditional voice communication and text messaging. Hence, there is a need to provide segmentation in telecommunication network access which would avoid and/or mitigate the problems associated with the present solutions. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a phone call prioritizer for a telecommunications system having a plurality of subscribers and limited network resources, comprising:
         a memory configured to store individual priorities associated with different subscribers;   a resource allocator configured to allocate network resources to subscribers who need network resources in accordance with the individual priorities; and   an input configured to receive a signal indicative of a change request from a requesting individual subscriber;   wherein the prioritizer is capable of temporarily changing the individual priority of the requesting individual subscriber responsive to the change request.       

     The call prioritizer of the first aspect allows allocating lowered priorities to individual subscribers for market segmentation and temporarily increasing the priority on an individual basis responsive to their requests. Hence, using the call prioritizer of the first aspect subscribers may obtain a lowered service level subscription and yet place particularly important phone calls with a temporary preference in resource allocation. 
     The call prioritizer may be configured to allocate network resources to the individual subscribers who requested resource allocation change in preference to subscribers who have not requested resource allocation change. Hence, the prioritizer may temporarily enhance the access to network also in preference over normal subscribers. 
     The prioritizer may be configured to change the individual priority of the requesting individual subscriber for the duration selected from the group consisting of: next phone call; predetermined number of subsequent phone calls originated by the requesting subscriber; on-going phone call; predetermined period of time starting from the request; predetermined period of time starting from the next phone call originated by the requesting subscriber. 
     The call prioritizer of the first aspect also allows allocating increased priorities to individual subscribers for market segmentation and temporarily decreasing the priority of individual basis responsive to their requests. Hence, using the call prioritizer of the first aspect subscribers may obtain a normal service level subscription and yet place less important phone calls with a temporarily lower priority in resource allocation. 
     The change request may be signalled by a supplementary string selected from a group consisting of at least one of a prefix string and a postfix string. 
     Advantageously, signaling the change request by said supplementary string enables using existing terminal equipment. 
     The change request may be identified by a predetermined code in the supplementary string. 
     The telecommunications system may comprise a mobile switch centre, and the prioritizer may be configured to evoke a multi level precedence and preemption feature in the mobile switch center to command the mobile switch center to apply maximum priority level. 
     The call prioritizer may comprise: a service control point; a switch centre; a network controller; a packet data scheduler; a base station subsystem and any combination thereof. 
     The call prioritizer may consist of a single network entity effectively forming the call prioritizer. The call prioritizer may be capable of configuring a prior existing network capable of producing a subscriber segmentation service in which subscribers may have a lowered priority to network resources with an option of temporarily obtaining increased priority to the network resources. 
     The call prioritizer may be functionally distributed an entity comprising two or more functionally separate elements. 
     The telecommunications system may be a mobile communications system. Mobile communications systems typically have more constrained network access resources that fixed systems and hence mobile communications systems may benefit from the prioritizer of the first aspect even more than fixed networks. The contention ratio may be enhanced in fixed networks when using the prioritizer of the first aspect by connecting more subscribers to a common node, as it is still possible to place calls when urgent even if the resources would be entirely occupied. 
     According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method for prioritizing phone calls in a telecommunications system having a plurality of subscribers and limited network resources, comprising:
         storing individual priorities associated with a set of the subscribers;   allocating network resources to subscribers who need network resources in accordance with the individual priorities;   receiving a signal indicative of a change request from a requesting individual subscriber; and   temporarily changing the individual priority of the requesting individual subscriber responsive to the change request.       

     According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a program for controlling a resource allocator for prioritizing phone calls in a telecommunications system having a plurality of subscribers and limited network resources, comprising:
         digital data processor executable instructions capable of enabling the resource allocator to implement the method of the second aspect of the invention.       

     The data processor executable instructions of the third aspect may consist of instructions executable by any one of the following: a multipurpose processor such as a microprocessor; an application specific integrated circuit; a digital signal processor; and a master control processor. 
     According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a memory medium carrying the program of the third aspect. 
     According to a fifth aspect of the invention there is provided a signal carrying the program of the third aspect. 
     According to a sixth aspect of the invention there is provided a telecommunications network comprising having a plurality of subscribers and limited network resources, the telecommunications network comprising:
         a memory configured to store individual priorities associated with different subscribers;   a resource allocator configured to allocate network resources to subscribers who need network resources in accordance with the individual priorities; and   an input configured to receive a signal indicative of a change request from a requesting individual subscriber;   wherein the telecommunications network is capable of temporarily changing the individual priority of the requesting individual subscriber responsive to the change request.       

     According to a seventh aspect of the invention there is provided a mobile station comprising:
         a user interface configured to input a selection of a desired B-subscriber for a telephone call and configured to input a user indication of a special call;   wherein the mobile station comprises a processor configured to form a request for temporary priority change for the telephone call to the desired B-subscriber responsive to the indication of a special call.       

     The user interface may be configured to provide a menu option for indication of the special call. 
     The user interface may be configured to provide a short-cut key for indication of the special call. 
     The user interface may be configured to detect the indication of the special call from a pre-determined string of commands, such as a predetermined string of key strokes. 
     According to an eighth aspect of the invention there is provided a method comprising:
         inputting a selection of a desired B-subscriber;   inputting a user indication of a special call; and   forming a request for temporary priority change for the telephone call to the desired B-subscriber responsive to the indication of a special call.       

     According to a ninth aspect of the invention there is provided a program for controlling a mobile station, comprising:
         digital data processor executable instructions capable of enabling the mobile station to implement the method of the eighth aspect of the invention.       

     According to a tenth aspect of the invention there is provided a phone call prioritizer for a telecommunications system having a plurality of subscribers and limited network resources, comprising:
         means for storing individual priorities associated with different subscribers;   means for allocating network resources to subscribers who need network resources in accordance with the individual priorities; and   means for receiving a signal indicative of a change request from a requesting individual subscriber;   wherein the prioritizer is capable of temporarily changing the individual priority of the requesting individual subscriber responsive to the change request.       

     Various embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated only with reference to certain aspects of the invention. It should be appreciated that corresponding embodiments may apply to other aspects as well. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  presents a block diagram of a telecommunications system illustrating one example of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  presents general structure of user terminals in the telecommunications systems of  FIG. 1   
         FIG. 3  presents a simplified block diagram of a telecommunications system illustrating an example of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 4  presents a flow chart illustrating the basic operation of one example of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  presents a block diagram of a telecommunications system  100  illustrating one example of the present invention. The telecommunications system  100  comprises a telecommunications network  110 , a plurality of user terminals  120  typically associated with respective subscribers  130 , and interfaces  140  and  150  for connecting to the internet  160  and to other telecommunications systems  170 , respectively. The telecommunications network is typically a public switched telecommunications network (PSTN), a cellular telecommunications network such as GSM, Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (W-CDMA), IS-95, Personal Digital Communications network (PDC) or a satellite telecommunications network. The telecommunications system may also comprise a number of different telecommunications networks in which case the invention can be applied to any or all of such networks depending on implementation. In the following, the network  110  is described using GSM as an example so that the network comprises normal GSM network elements (not shown in  FIG. 1 ) including a Home Location Register (HLR), a Mobile Switching Centre (MSC), Visiting Location Register (VLR) and a plurality of base station subsystems (BSS) including base station controllers (BSC) and base transceiver stations (BTS). 
       FIG. 2  presents general structure of the user terminals  120  in the telecommunications systems of  FIG. 1 . The user terminals  120  comprise a communications block  210 , a work memory  220 , a non-volatile memory  230  comprising operating instructions, a processor  240  for executing the operating instructions and accordingly controlling other blocks of the user terminal, and a user interface  250  for providing output to a user and reading user input. The user interface  250  typically comprises, for data output, a display and/or a speaker. For data input, the user interface  250  typically comprises one or more of the following: dedicated buttons, soft keys, touch screen, microphone, voice recognition circuitry, and pointing device. The processor is typically a master control unit MCU. Alternatively, the processor may be a microprocessor, a digital signal processor or an application specific integrated circuit. 
       FIG. 3  presents a simplified block diagram of a telecommunications network  110  illustrating a first example of the present invention.  FIG. 3  shows three main blocks referred to as a Service Control Point (SCP)  310 , a Mobile Switching Centre (MSC)  320  and a Home Location Register (HLR)  330 .  FIG. 3  further shows a user terminal that in this case is a Mobile Station (MS)  340 . In this example, the service control point  310  operates as part of an intelligent network. 
     When a user or more accurately A-subscriber of the MS is starting a phone call, the MSC receives a first signal S 1  for call request from the MS to a call recipient, that is, B-subscriber. It is appreciated that there is usually a base station subsystem between the MS and the MSC, although not drawn here. Further, the B-subscriber need not be a subscriber of common network or network operator with the MS. The first signal S 1  triggers a second signal representing detection point DP 2  for the SCP indicative of the need to check the subscriber&#39;s chargeability and start charging. The SCP responds to the second signal S 2  with a third signal S 3 . In case that the MS subscription is an economy subscription in which the subscribers are allocated lowered service level in comparison to other subscribers, the third signal contains supplementary data together with the B-subscriber number. Typically the supplementary data is represented as a prefix or postfix to the B-subscriber number. The MSC next receives the third signal and obtains the subscriber data of the A-subscriber in a fourth signal S 4 . The subscriber data typically comprises enhanced Multi Level Precedence and Preemption (eMLPP) service information implemented in HLR &amp; MSC including ISDN User Part (ISUP) add-on information. Next, the MSC sends a fifth signal comprising call control information to the base station subsystem(s) in communication with the MS, which are about to be used for communication with the MS or which reside within a particular area (such as a given location area or paging area) of the network  110 . 
     The case in which the A-subscriber desires to make an express call with temporarily enhanced service level is next described with reference to  FIG. 3 . The A-subscriber first sends a Service Level Change Request (SLCR) to the network. This SLCR can be implemented in a number of ways, including a particularly formed and/or addressed short message, with a phone call to a particular number, with an internet based request via subscriber&#39;s internet portal, for instance, or with any other mechanism capable of indicating to the network the request with sufficient authentication of the subscriber. In this case, the request is incorporated into the first signal as a prefix to the B-subscriber number of form 123*87654321 or as a postfix of form 87654321*123. Alternatively, the request can be included in a phone call request using Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD). The request can be identified from the presence of a predetermined code in the prefix or in the suffix. With the first prefix, the express call request can be pre-programmed to a phone book of existing mobile phones and it is relatively easy to enter on placing a phone call by manually entering the digits of the B-subscriber number. On receiving the first signal with the SLCR, the MSC contains an indication of the SLCR in the second signal by passing the received B-subscriber number with its prefix or postfix, for example, to the SCP. Armed with the SLCR, the SCP determines whether the A-subscriber can be charged the call and proceeds placing the phone call by providing the MSC with the third signal adapted to indicate the SLCR, optionally by including supplementary information such as a prefix or postfix. The MSC obtains the fourth signal that comprises the default and maximum priority level of the A-subscriber and now furnishes the fifth signal with the maximum priority level responsive to the SLCR instead of the default priority level. 
     Whilst the SLCR may be indicated by particular supplementary information in the third signal S 3 , alternatively the third signal may be such as with normal subscribers who do not have a reduced service level subscription. In this implementation, the MSC should output the fifth signal with call control information indicative of using the maximum priority level defined in the subscriber data. 
     If the SLCR were allowed to indicate temporary lowering of the service level, then HLR should contain a predetermined lowest priority level and a default priority level and the MSC should normally pass in the fifth signal the default level and the predetermined lowest priority level on the MSC detecting the SLCR. 
     Typically, the network is configured to charge a higher rate for express calls (lower rates for lowered service level calls if used) than normally. The charging function is typically controlled by the MSC or by the SCP to account for the temporary change of service level for the duration of the call for which the service level is changed. In alternative embodiments the charging function is performed by other network elements. 
     In communications over the MAP interface HLR-VLR (typically in prepaid &amp; postpaid subscriptions), the SLCR can be conveyed, for instance, by using an adapted Routing Category. Adapted routing categories are supported by modern HLR and MSC equipment and provide end-to-end priority definition mechanism in mobile-to-mobile calls such that if so desired, the network can allocate enhanced priority to both the originating and terminating subscribers. 
     Alternatively, the MAP interface may employ the eMLPP service, which is also implemented in some modern HLR and MSC (including the ISUP add-on mentioned in the foregoing). In this case, one possible implementation is as follows: the subscriber record is created in the HLR. The subscriber record includes the maximum/default priority levels. Upon registration on a VLR, HLR sends maximum and default priority levels to the VLR or MSC. The MSC maps the eMLPP priority on the scale of priority levels such as 1 to 14 for BSC. For a mobile terminated call, the priority level is defined in the ISUP (ISDN User Part) set-up message to the VMSC. 
     The SCP can be configured to detect the change request and respectively evoke enhanced multi level precedence and preemption feature in the mobile switch center to command the mobile switch center to apply maximum priority level. 
     Further alternatively to using the eMLPP, CS Allocation or Retention priority can be employed on the MAP interface. This embodiment may enable providing interoperability when, for instance, either the HLR or the MSC is unable to employ the eMLPP. Hence, the CS Allocation Retention Priority (ARP) can be understood as an alternative to the eMLPP. 
     On the A-Interface between the MSC and the serving BSC the MSC informs the BSS about call priority and pre-emption associated with individual subscribers by using the priority message element in the fifth signal an assignment request. The serving BSC is typically capable of informing target BSC about user parameters on handover of the subscriber to the target BSC. See 3GPP TS 48.008 Section 3.1.1.1, Successful Operation, for further information on radio resource assignment in a mobile communications system. 
     The call control in the fifth signal may contain following data when the SLCR has been detected (class one case): 
     
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 Priority = 
                 1 
               
               
                   
                 Preemption Capability indicator = 
                 may preempt 
               
               
                   
                 Queuing allowed indicator = 
                 allowed 
               
               
                   
                 Preemption Vulnerability indicator = 
                 shall not be preempted 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     The labels used indicate intended priority level (1 being the highest), whether the call being made is allowed to preempt an existing call (that is, abruptly assume resources prior assigned to another subscriber), whether the call is allowed to be placed into a queue on setting up if the network resources are not available, and whether the call shall be indicated by the BSC as one that may not be preempted. The BSC may communicate the preemption vulnerability indicator to the MS such that if the MS supports the feature, the MS can indicate to the user that the call is not indicated vulnerable for preempting. 
     In case that the subscriber has a subscription normally employing reduced service level and the SLCR is not made (class 2), the call control of the fifth signal may contain the following data: 
     
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 Priority = 
                 2 to 14 
               
               
                   
                 Preemption Capability indicator = 
                 shall not preempt 
               
               
                   
                 Queuing allowed indicator = 
                 allowed 
               
               
                   
                 Preemption Vulnerability indicator = 
                 might be preempted 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     This class 2 case differs from class 1 case in that the call being made is only established if there are sufficient resources available without preempting other calls. The MS may be indicated of the vulnerability to preempting. 
     It should also be appreciated that the BSC may be configured to leave a predetermined headroom of free resources to accommodate for sudden radio interference caused needs to reallocate new channels to subscribers, for allowing data transfer and/or for enhancing the segmentation of subscriptions. 
     In order to facilitate the entering of a prefix to pre-stored phone numbers, the MS may be capable of combining a stored number with a prefix or postfix used for indicating the SLCR. The MS may be further configured to provide the user with an option of temporarily changing the service level and respectively to adapt the phone number as applicable. 
     It should be appreciated that the afore described mechanism of making an express call can also be used to indicate requests for temporarily lowered service level, in which case the network should identify that the service level is being lowered and to define respectively adapted call control for the fifth signal. Usually, when eMLPP is used and a subscriber record is created in the HLR, the record includes the maximum and default priority levels. Upon registration on a Visiting Location Register (VLR), HLR sends these maximum and default priority levels to the VLR or to the Visiting MSC (VMSC). 
     The MSC maps the eMLPP priority on priority levels using a scale depending on implementation for a serving Base Station Controller (BSC), which scale is, for instance, 1 to 14. 
     Regarding phone calls terminated to a subscriber who has the economy subscription with lowered service level, the allocation of radio resources may depend on the originating subscriber&#39;s subscription especially when the originating subscriber is responsible for the charging of the phone call. Alternatively, especially when the B-subscriber is charged for her radio access, the A subscriber may provide the B-subscriber&#39;s network with the priority level with an ISUP set-up message to the VMSC. A high priority of subscriber A can be informed to subscriber B&#39;s MSC over ISUP. This is particularly useful in order to improve the call reliability end-to-end, as a call drop could also happen at the B-subscriber&#39;s end. However, the B-party priority need not influence MSC-A resource allocation. 
     On establishing a phone call, the priority may be chosen at a phone call recipient&#39;s end based on the higher of the called user priority and the calling user priority. 
       FIG. 4  presents a flow chart illustrating the basic operation of one example of the invention. The flow chart begins in step  400  at which a user indicates that a phone call should be made to a given destination. It is next detected at the caller&#39;s mobile station that a SLCR is made. Responsively, in step  420  the MS forms and transmits the first signal S 1  of  FIG. 3  to the network. The network receives the first signal and detects in step  430  that a special call is desired by detecting the SLCR. The network next updates the charging rate for the next phone call in step  440  to correspond with the SLCR and instructs the access network in step  450  for the change in resource usage priority. The network may next indicate the current service level or resource usage priority by a message to the MS, which may inform the user of the current service level in step  461 . The operation also proceeds from step  460  to step  462  in which the end of the service level change is detected. Typically, when the service level is only changed for the following or commencing phone call, this detection of the ending of the special call status is based on detecting the end of the phone call. Alternatively, a timer may be used to detect expiry of a predetermined duration and/or number of phone calls made after the SLCR was made. 
     Responsively to the detection in step  462  of the ending of the special call status, the network may indicate in step  470  the current service level so that the MS may inform the user correspondingly in step  471 . The operation also proceeds from the step  470  to step  472  in which the network instructs the access network of the service level to which the access network should resume after the temporary change of service level caused by the SLCR. The network next updates the charging again to correspond with the normal service level for next phone calls and resumes to step  400  to wait for the next call the user desires to originate. 
     In general, the various embodiments may be implemented in hardware or special purpose circuits, software, logic or any combination thereof. For example, some aspects may be implemented in hardware, while other aspects may be implemented in firmware or software which may be executed by a controller, microprocessor or other computing device, although the invention is not limited thereto. While various aspects of the invention may be illustrated and described as block diagrams, flow charts, or using some other pictorial representation, it is well understood that these blocks, apparatus, systems, techniques or methods described herein may be implemented in, as non-limiting examples, hardware, software, firmware, special purpose circuits or logic, general purpose hardware or controller or other computing devices, or some combination thereof. 
     Embodiments of the inventions may be practiced in various components such as integrated circuit modules. The design of integrated circuits is by and large a highly automated process. Complex and powerful software tools are available for converting a logic level design into a semiconductor circuit design ready to be etched and formed on a semiconductor substrate. 
     The foregoing description has provided by way of exemplary and non-limiting examples a full and informative description of the best method and apparatus presently contemplated by the inventors for carrying out the invention. However, various modifications and adaptations may become apparent to those skilled in the relevant arts in view of the foregoing description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the appended claims. However, all such and similar modifications of the teachings of this invention will still fall within the scope of this invention. 
     Furthermore, some of the features of the preferred embodiments of this invention could be used to advantage without the corresponding use of other features. As such, the foregoing description should be considered as merely illustrative of the principles of the present invention, and not in limitation thereof.