TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS

Abstract: Apparatus for handling a call in a telecommunications network comprises reception means (10, 11) for receiving call request information from a caller (2) having a first subscriber type for a connection to a called party (3) having a second subscriber type, and for receiving call request response information from the called party, and connection means (10) for connecting the call between the caller and the called party if the call request response information indicates that the second subscriber type is equivalent to the first subscriber type. Alternatively, the call is processed in dependence upon the difference between the first and second subscriber types if the call request response information indicates that the second subscriber type is not equivalent to the first subscriber type.

Description: TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS The present invention relates to telecommunications networks. DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART Typical telecommunications networks enable communication between different types of calling and called terminals. For example, voice telephones, facsimile machines and modems. However, since facsimile machines and modems produce unpleasant noises or tones when communicating along the telecommunications network, and particularly upon receiving a telephone call, it is disturbing and a significant problem for a human caller who receives a large amount of unwanted noise from a facsimile machine or modem. Japanese Patent Application No JP 59214365 discloses a system in which the outgoing call type is chosen, by the outgoing apparatus, in dependence upon the proposed receiving apparatus. However, this does not prevent callers and called parties being connected to one another if the actual receiving apparatus is of a different type from that expected. It is therefore desirable to provide a network based system which avoids callers being subjected to unwanted noise, and in which different calling and called apparatus can be successfully connected to one another . SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided apparatus for handling a call in a telecommunications network, the apparatus comprising: reception means for receiving call request information from a caller having a first subscriber type for a call connection to a called party having a second subscriber type, and for receiving call request response information from the called party; and connection means for connecting the call between the caller and the called party if the call request response information indicates that the second subscriber type is equivalent to the first subscriber type, or for processing the call in dependence upon the difference between the first and second subscriber types if the call request response information indicates that the second subscriber type is not equivalent to the first subscriber type. According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided apparatus for handling a call in a telecommunications network between a first subscriber and a second subscriber, the apparatus comprising: means for receiving call request information from the first subscriber; means for sending call information to the second subscriber; means for receiving call request response information from the second subscriber; means for determining first and second subscriber types for the first and second subscribers respectively; means for comparing the first and second subscriber types; and call processing means which is operable, if the first and second subscriber types are equivalent, to connect the call between the first and second subscribers, or, if the first and second subscriber types are not equivalent, to process the call on the basis of the difference between the first and second subscriber types . According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of handling a call in a telecommunications network, the method comprising: receiving call request information from a caller having a first subscriber type; routing call information to a called party on the basis of the call request, the called party having a second subscriber type; receiving call request response information from the called party; and connecting the call between the caller and the called party if the call request response information indicates that the second subscriber type is equivalent to the first subscriber type, or processing the call in dependence upon the difference between the first and second subscriber types if the call request response information indicates that the second subscriber type is not equivalent to the first subscriber type. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of handling a call in a telecommunications network between a first subscriber and a second subscriber, the method comprising: receiving call request information from the first subscriber; sending call information to the second subscriber; receiving call request response information from the second subscriber; determining first and second subscriber types for the first and second subscribers respectively; comparing the first and second subscriber types; and if the first and second subscriber types are equivalent, connecting the call between the first and second subscribers, or if the first and second subscriber types are not equivalent, processing the call on the basis of the difference between the first and second subscriber types . BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a schematic view of a telecommunications network; Figure 2 is a block diagram illustrating the parts of a telecommunications network embodying the present invention; and Figures 3 and 4 show steps in a method embodying the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As illustrated in Figure 1, a telecommunications network 1 serves to connect a caller 2 with a called party 3. Typical intelligent networks (IN) have an architecture which is aimed at offering new telecommunications services in a fast, flexible and cost-effective way. An intelligent telecommunications network typically includes a service switching point (SSP) which is a switching system that can intercept telephone calls and query a service control point (SCP) . The SCP service includes specific logic and data that allows it to return instructions to an SSP on how further to treat an intercepted call . Such a system can also include a service data point which can extend the SCP memory and also contains service handling logic which are supplemental to the SCP. The service data point can also act as an open interface to open systems . As described above, current telecommunications networks suffer from the significant disadvantage that human callers can be connected with facsimile machines, modems and the like which produce unwanted and undesirable noise and signalling tones. Figure 2 illustrates a telecommunications network embodying a first aspect of the present invention. A caller 2 communicates with a call routing and control unit 10 (which may include SSPs and SCPs) . The control unit 10 serves to connect the caller 2 with a called party 3. The caller 2 and called party 3 have respective subscriber types indicative of the type of signal that the subscriber transmits and receives . The subscriber types can simply be divided into voice and non-voice types . The non-voice type may be further divided into facsimile, modem, etc. types (tone signalling types) . A subscriber type recognition unit 11 is connected to monitor responses from the called party 3 which are made in response to incoming call information from the call routing control unit 10. An answer service unit 12, a subscriber type converter 13, an announcement unit 14 and a re-routing unit 15 are all connected to interact with the call routing and control unit 10 in response to control signals from that unit. The function of these units 12 to 15 will be explained in more detail below with reference to Figures 3 and 4. Operation of the Figure 2 system will now be explained with reference to Figures 3 and 4, as well as to Figure 2. The caller 2 originates a call by dialling a required called number which results in the sending of a call request to the control unit 10 (step A) . The call request contains information which enables the control unit 10 to ascertain the subscriber type of the caller 2. For example, the call request information can explicitly state the subscriber type, or could contain a reference (eg. calling line identifier) for use with a subscriber type database accessible by the control unit 10. The control unit 10 routes call information, in conventional fashion, to the called party 3 (step B) . The called party 3 responds to the incoming call information from the control unit 10, and this response is detected by the subscriber type recognition unit 11 (step C) . A recognition signal is sent from the recognition unit 11 to the call routing and control unit 10 in order to enable the subscriber type of the called party 3 to be ascertained. The call request response information can explicitly hold this information, or could provide a reference for the information, as before. If the called party 3 is of the same subscriber type as the caller 2, the call is connected as usual between the caller and the called party 3 (steps D and E) . However, if the called party 3 is found to be of a different subscriber type from that of the caller 2, then the control unit 10 operates alternative call processing (step F) . With reference to Figure 4, when the subscriber types of the caller and the called party are different, the call routing and control unit 10 can process the call in any one of a series of ways. Firstly, the call can simply be rejected (step G) . Alternatively, in the case of a voice type caller 2, the call can be accepted, but routed to an answer service (step H) provided by the answer service unit 12. The caller 2 will be asked to leave a message for the called party 3 on the answer service. The called party receives the messages the next time that they make a telephone call and then hang up. The network could then call back to relay the messages. In this way, the network could be sure that the called party 3 is at the telephone. Alternatively, the call routing and control unit 10 can refer the call to a subscriber type converter 13, which converts the caller's call signal into a type suitable for reception by the called party 3 (step I) . For example, the converter 13 can record a voice message from a voice type caller 2, and then convert this message into a data stream appropriate to the called party 3 - a voice message may be converted into a facsimile text message, or an e-mail text message. The converted data stream is then transferred, via the call routing and control unit 10 to the called party 3. As a further alternative, a voice type caller 2 can be referred to an announcement unit 14, which announces to the caller 2 that the intended called party is not a voice type subscriber, but a facsimile or modem (step J) . The caller 2 is advised to redial using a different number, and then the call is rejected (step 364) . A further alternative for any caller type is that the control unit 10 refers to a re-routing unit 15 which serves to provide re-routing information for the particular called party 3 (step K) . For example, the called party 3 can supply information in advance to the telecommunications network indicating that any voice calls to a facsimile number should be re-routed to a secondary called party 4. The control unit 10 receives alternative call routing information from the rerouting unit 15 in order to complete the call. It will be appreciated that the present invention is applicable to any type of telecommunications network, for example, a private switch telecommunications network (PSTN) or a mobile GSM network. It is intended that the service would be provided by the network provider, and it is particularly useful for subscribers who make many telephone calls that require a voice response. For example, interviewers or telemarketing personnel, secretaries, persons using a headset with which it is not easy to go "on hook" as with an ordinary phone. However, it will be readily appreciated that a system embodying the present invention is also suitable for non-voice callers. When the caller 2 in fact sending a facsimile or modem message to a called party 3, and the called party 3 is a subscriber requiring a voice message, then the facsimile message can be converted, as described, to a voice message. Alternatively, a facsimile message may be converted to an e-mail message or vice versa. Systems embodying the present invention enable automatic network handling of calls between incompatible calling and called subscribers.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Apparatus for handling a call in a telecommunications network, the apparatus comprising: reception means for receiving call request information from a caller having a first subscriber type for a connection to a called party having a second subscriber type, and for receiving call request response information from the called party; and connection means for connecting the call between the caller and the called party if the call request response information indicates that the second subscriber type is equivalent to the first subscriber type, or for processing the call in dependence upon the difference between the first and second subscriber types if the call request response information indicates that the second subscriber type is not equivalent to the first subscriber type. 2. Apparatus for handling a call in a telecommunications network between a first subscriber and a second subscriber, the apparatus comprising: means for receiving call request information from the first subscriber; means for sending call information to the second subscriber; means for receiving call request response information from the second subscriber; means for determining first and second subscriber types for the first and second subscribers respectively; means for comparing the first and second subscriber types; and call processing means which is operable, if the first and second subscriber types are equivalent, to connect the call between the first and second subscribers, or, if the first and second subscriber types are not equivalent, to process the call on the basis of the difference between the first and second subscriber types . 3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2 , wherein when the first subscriber type is a voice call type and the second subscriber type is a tone signalling type, the connection means is operable to reject the call. 4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein when the first subscriber type is a voice call type and the second subscriber type is a tone signalling type, the connection means is operable to pass the call to an answering service on which the caller can record a voice message. 5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2 , wherein when the first subscriber type is a voice call type and the second subscriber type is a tone signalling type, the connection means is operable to pass the call to a secondary called party, which secondary called party has a voice call type. 6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2 , wherein when the first subscriber type is a voice call type and the second subscriber type is a facsimile message type, the connection means is operable to transfer the call to a voice signal converter which is operable to convert a voice message to a facsimile data message. 7. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the call request information contains an explicit indication of the caller's subscriber type. 8. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the call request response information contains an explicit indication of the called party's subscriber type. 9. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising storage means for storing information relating to the respective subscriber types of the caller and the called party, and wherein the call request information and call request response information include reference data for use in accessing the storage means . 10. A method of handling a call in a telecommunications network, the method comprising: receiving call request information from a caller having a first subscriber type; routing call information to a called party on the basis of the call request, the called party having a second subscriber type; receiving call request response information from the called party; and connecting the call between the caller and the called party if the call request response information indicates that the second subscriber type is equivalent to the first subscriber type, or processing the call in dependence upon the difference between the first and second subscriber types if the call request response information indicates that the second subscriber type is not equivalent to the first subscriber type. 11. A method of handling a call in a telecommunications network between a first subscriber and a second subscriber, the method comprising: receiving call request information from the first subscriber; sending call information to the second subscriber; receiving call request response information from the second subscriber; determining first and second subscriber types for the first and second subscribers respectively; comparing the first and second subscriber types; and if the first and second subscriber types are equivalent, connecting the call between the first and second subscribers, or if the first and second subscriber types are not equivalent, processing the call on the basis of the difference between the first and second subscriber types . 12. A method as claimed in claim 10 or 11, wherein when the first subscriber type is a voice call type, and the second subscriber type is a tone signalling type, the call is rejected. 13. A method as claimed in claim 10 or 11, wherein when the first subscriber type is a voice call type, and the second call subscriber is a tone signalling type, the call is passed to an answering service on which the caller can record a voice message. 14. A method as claimed in claim 10 or 11, wherein when the first subscriber type is a voice call type, and the second call subscriber is a tone signalling type, the call is passed to a secondary called party, which secondary called party has a voice call type. 15. A method as claimed in claim 10 or 11, wherein when the first subscriber type is a voice call type, and the second subscriber type is a facsimile tone type, the call is transferred to a voice signal converter which is operable to convert a voice message to a facsimile data message. 16. A method as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 15, wherein the call request information contains an explicit indication of the caller's subscriber type. 17. A method as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 16, wherein the call request response information contains an explicit indication of the called party's subscriber type. 18. A method as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 15, wherein information relating to the respective subscriber types of the caller and the called party is stored in storage means, and the call request information and call request response information incltides reference data for use in accessing the storage means . 19. Apparatus for handling a call in a telecommunications network substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings. 20. A method of handling a call in a telecommunications network substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Inventors: DAHLEN JOHAN, LJUNGQVIST PER, DAHLEN, JOHAN, LJUNGQVIST, PER
Applicants: DAHLEN JOHAN, ERICSSON TELEFON AB L M, LJUNGQVIST PER, DAHLEN, JOHAN, LJUNGQVIST, PER, TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON
Application year: 1998
Main classification: H04M3
IPC codes: H04M3, H04Q3