METHOD FOR IMPROVING THE RECORDING OF INFORMATION DURING AN ON-GOING TELEPHONE CALL

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for improving the recording of information during an on-going telephone call, especially a telephone call made through a UPT (Universal Personal Telecommunication) subscription, and for the purpose of avoiding any separate recording means which has to follow the telephone apparatus, and also for simplifying the procedure of starting the recording whenever someone so wishes, it is according to the present invention suggested that by pressing a selected push-button on the telephone used by the UPT subscriber, a certain DTMF (Dual Tone Multi-Frequency) sequence is activated, which DTMF sequence initiates the start-up of the recording of the telephone conversation on an appropriate medium, for example an Intelligent Peripheral (IP).

Description: METHOD FOR IMPROVING THE RECORDING OF INFORMATION DURING AN ON-GOING TELEPHONE CALL Field of the invention The present invention relates to a method for improving the recording of information during an on-going telephone call, especially a telephone call made through a UPT (Universal Personal Telecommunication) subscription. Background of the invention Universal Personal Telecommunication (UPT) enables access to telecommunication services while allowing personal mo- bility. It enables each UPT-User to participate in a user defined set of subscribed services and to initiate and receive calls on the basis of a personal, network transparent UPT-Number across multiple networks on any fixed or mobile terminal, irrespective of geographical loca- tion, limited only by terminal and network capabilities and restictions imposed by the network Service Provider. Calls to UPT-Users may also be made by non-UPT-Users . Intelligent Networks comprise a telecommunication network architecture aimed at offering new telecommunication services in a fast, and flexible and cost effective way. The core of an Intelligent telecommunications Network consists of a Service Switching Point (SSP) which is a switching system that can intercept telephone calls and query a Service Control Point (SCP) , which is a system containing service specific logic and data that will allow it to return instructions to the SSP on how to further treat the intercepted call. On this Intelligent Network platform there is implemented a UPT product . Problems You are having a conversation with a customer, and you have to consentrate about two things at the same time; talking to the customer and make sure all the details are written. Prior art US 5 583 935 (Dunchock) relates to a digital recording means which can be mounted on a mobile telephone, said recorder comprising a record button and a playback button making it possible for the user to record a telephone conversation in a simple and secure manner, at the same time as the conversation takes place with another telephone part. However, this publication is silent about how to make an appropriate recording without having to carry such a recording means together with the mobile telephone in question. Also, this publication is silent about using Intelligent Network technology and Universal Personal Telecommunication (UPT) for this type of recording. US 5 535 263 (Blumhardt) relates to a method for recording subcriber specific messages in a telephone call for use in telephone services, and more particularly for use in co-operation with an AIN Service Switching Point (SSP) , an AIN Service Control Point (SCP) and an Intelligent Peripheral (IP) . In other words, this specification suggests the recording of a message which is read into an Intelligent Peripheral, which is typically a message on a telephone answering unit. In other words, this specification suggests the calling from one customer directly to one Service Switching Point (SSP) which thereafter is connected to an Intelligent Peripheral via a Service Con- trol Point (SCP) . More specifially, US 5 535 263 is silent about establishing a conversation between two parts, and still more silent about any of these parts subscribing to a Universal Personal Telecommunication (UPT) service. WO 96/36161 (Cohen/I.0. Research PTY. Limited) relates to a system for recording transactions which are transfered via a communication line by using DTMF signals. The system comprises a telephone having a record card as a recording medium, said card being replayed by an authorized unit located at a different location. Also here it is suggested a device which has to be carried by the user, which entales a cumbersome system which the present invention will improve. WO 97/23963 (Shepherd et al./ICO Services Limited) re- lates to a telephone system comprising a message unit, which message unit is used when the communication between the calling parties are disrupted. This is a sort of telephone answering functionality, since one of the parties are connected towards an Intelligent Periphery. US 5 003 547 (Denq et al . ) relates to a voice capture system for use with a telephone switching system and transcribing terminals to record calling party generated information in predefined formats. However, the system is silent about improving a telephone call made through a UPT subscription, and is also silent about any communication in an Intelligent Network. Objects of the invention An object of the present invention is to suggest a method for improving the recording of information during an ongoing telephone call, without having a special recording device in addition to the telephone in question. Further, an object of the present invention is to suggest a method wherein recording of a conversation between two parties can be effected when said communication therebetween has been set up and is alive. Still another object of the present invention is to sug- gest a method for such improvement which can be initiated by only pressing a single button, namely on the telephone in question. Yet another object of the present invention is to further extend the services of an Intelligent Network, especially in relation to UPT subcriptions . Summary of the invention The above objects are achieved in a method as stated in the preamble, which according to the present invention is characterized in that by pressing a selected push-button on the phone used by the UPT subscriber, a certain DTMF (Dual Tone Multi-Frequency) sequence is activated, which DTMF sequence initiates the start-up of the recording of the telephone conversation on an appropriate medium, for example an Intelligent Peripheral (IP). In other words, contrary to the suggested prior art, the present method suggests the setting-up of a conversation between two parties before the desired recording of the conversation can take place, and then by connecting an Intelligent Peripheral (IP) as a third party of the conversation. Further, the recording can therefore be made from any telephone without having to carry an additional recording unit for recording purposes. Further features and advantages of the present invention will appear from the following description taken in conjunction with the enclosed drawings, as well as from the appending patent claims. Brief disclosure of the drawings Fig. 1 is a simplified sketch illustrating a possible network configuration for Incall Message Recorder (IMR) wherein the method according to the present invention can be implemented. Fig. 2 is a sequential diagram for such an Incall Message Recorder. Fig. 3 is another simplified sketch illustrating a network configuration wherein the method according to the present invention can be implemented. Detailed description of embodiments In Fig. 1 it is schematically illustrated how an Incall Message Recorder (IMR) according to the present invention can be implemented. The illustrated unit SRP must have the possiblity to record a conversation. As illustrated in Fig. 1 said SRP is connected to a Service Switching Point SSP which is a switching system that can intercept telephone calls and query a Service Control Point SCP, which a system containing service specific logic and data that will allow it to return instructions to said SSP on how further treat the intercepted call. Further, in Fig. 1 there are illustrated two telephones Tl and T2 connected to said SSP. In Fig. 2 it is illustrated how an Incall Message Recorder can be implemented. In order to access the service an Intelligent Network IN service must have been triggered. In this example the first monitoring will entail the activation of only one of the three alternatives . On the next monitoring all of these alternative will entail an activation of one of the outputs, whereas monitoring is still exercised on the remaining outputs. If the UPT- User wishes to record a conversation, then an SRF will be connected, and a voice message will be played. If user A or user C hang off this will entail that the conversation is disconnected. Of course, it is not necessary to implement that a voice message is to be played before the re- cording of the conversation commences. It is also possible to arrange a "disrupt button" which shall stop the recording of the conversation, or that A and C must approve that recording can take place, for example by pressing push button #3. Then, turning to Fig. 3 there will be given a further description of how the method according to the present invention can be implemented. The invention is a part of the complete UPT functional portifolio. The purpose with this functionality is to let the owner of a UPT subscription have the possibility to start recordning of a conversation while talking to another party. If the UPT user presses a certain DTMF se- quence, a voice prompt telling the users that the conversation will be recorded, is played. Using Intelligent Network techonology, a speech-recording-connection from the IP to the UTP user is then established. Call Scenario You are in the lucky position of owning an Ericsson UPT subscription and a brand new Mercedes. While driving on the highway your boss calls you on your UPT number. He want you to get in touch with some business assosiates, so by pressing e.g. #1 you start a recording and get all the names and numbers recorded. Later when you reach your destination you can replay this part of the conversation and write down the names and numbers . Further, in connection with Fig. 3, it is to be understood that the person B will primarily connect himself towards the Service Control Point SCP via the Service Switching Point SSP, for therefrom be connected towards the subscriber A. If one or both of these subscribers have a UPT subcription, in this case subscriber A then he can during the conversation only push a single button and thereby transmit a DTMF sequence, for thereby initiating the recording of the conversation in question. All the time the Intelligent Network will monitor this event, and as soon as this event occurs the Intelligent Network will send an Establish Temporary Connection ETC from said SCP to said SSP. Said SSP will then connect an Intelligent Peripheral IP to this conversation. This IP will then be controlled from the SCP. It is to be understood that it is possible to connect the IP by means of Initial Call Attempt, continue and reconnect, provided the communication has previously been dis- connected, i.e. a split in IN 2.1. Consequently, there is established a three-party conversation, but then without any connection between SCP and IP. By means of the present method it is possible that the subscribers of UPT and assosiated services can record a part of a conversation, and later it should be possible only for such a subscriber to replay a part or the whole of this conversation. Advantages/use cases If a subscriber is to receive a lot of information, and said subscriber does not have the time or equipment to write it down, then the subscriber can only push a button on his telephone for recording this and/or further conversations for later use. Abbreviation and terminology Broadening In this document a UPT service realized on an IN platform is used as an example of a Personal Communication service. The patent claims also cover other Personal Communications related services or other IN related services.

Claims: P a t e n t c l a i m s 1. Method for improving the recording of information during an on-going telephone call, especially a telephone call "made through a UPT (Universal Personal Telecommunication) subscription, the telephone being used by the UPT subscriber being able to communicate with an Intelligent Network node, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that by pressing a selected push-button on said telephone used by a UPT subscriber, a certain DTMF (Dual Tone Multi-Frequency) sequence is activated, which DTMF sequence initiates the start-up of the recording of the telephone conversation on an appropriate medium, for example an Intelligent Pe- ripheral (IP) . 2. Method as claimed in claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the DTMF sequence initiates a voice prompt telling the users that the on- going conversation will be recorded. 3. Method as claimed in claim 1 or 2 , c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that said appropriate medium is adapted to be replayed at any appropriate in- stant, for example at the end of the conversation or whenever the user is connected to his service profile again. 4. Method as claimed in claims 1-3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that said recording of the telephone conversation is implemented by using IN (Intelligent Network) technology. 5. Method as claimed in claim 4, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the communication in said IN technology is based upon Service Switching Point (SSP) and Service Control Point (SCP) technology as well . 6. Method as claimed in any of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that when establishing a communication between two parties (A,B) in a telephone conversation, a third party is involved, namely the calling party (B) , the callee (B) and the IP. 7. Method as claimed in any of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that said IP is con- nected by means of an Initial Call Attempt, Continue and Reconnect, for thereby possibly having no connection between SCP and IP.

Inventors: HAUGEN ARVID, LOEVENDAHL ARILD, HAUGEN, ARVID, LOEVENDAHL, ARILD
Applicants: ERICSSON TELEFON AB L M, HAUGEN ARVID, LOEVENDAHL ARILD, HAUGEN, ARVID, LOEVENDAHL, ARILD, TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON
Application year: 1998
Main classification: H04M3
IPC codes: H04M3