Abstract:
The present invention provides a computer program embodied on a computer readable medium. The computer may include a code segment for storing user service information. The computer program may also include a code segment for communicating with a mobile switching station and remote service providers. The computer program may further include a code segment for accessing services from remote service providers. The computer program may also include a code segment for routing the services to a communications device.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to the field of telecommunications and, more particularly, to systems methods, and apparatuses for maintaining services within a telecommunications network having separate service providers and network providers. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Today all the subscribers are provided the same applications, if they have the same network provider. Usually the applications are coded in the switch itself so that the user of the network is limited to those services which the switch has available. It is anticipated that information retrieval, electronic commerce as well as the provisioning or management of services will increase in such a degree that the handling of signaling, data, call setup and routing of a call will become very complicated. A need for service mobility will become extremely important. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a computer program embodied on a computer readable medium. The computer may include a code segment for storing user service information. The computer program may also include a code segment for communicating with a mobile switching station and remote service providers. The computer program may further include a code segment for accessing services from remote service providers. The computer program may also include a code segment for routing the services to a communications device. 
     The present invention also provides a method of maintaining services within a telecommunications network having separate service providers and network providers. The method may include the steps transmitting a computer program to a mobile switching station with the computer program having user service information, executing the computer program at the mobile switching station, retrieving services from remote service providers based upon the user service information, and delivering the services to a communications device. 
     The present invention further provides a system for maintaining services within a telecommunications network having separate service providers and network providers. The system may include a database to store user information, a computer program resident in the database with the computer program containing user service information, and a mobile switching station in communication with the database. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIGS. 1A-1B are schematic diagram of the system of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a signaling sequence diagram illustrating the signaling of the system of FIGS. 1A-1B; 
     FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the operation of the system of FIGS. 1A-1B; and 
     FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the operation of the computer program of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As used herein, the following terms shall have the following meanings: 
     “Services” mean voice mail, long distance service, call forwarding, pager service, and the like as used by persons operating communication devices; 
     “Service Provider” means an organization who provides the services; 
     “Network Provider” means an organization that provides its health communications system for persons using communication devices; 
     “HLR” means Home Location Register; 
     “MSC” means Mobile Switching Station; and 
     “VLR” means Visitor Location Register. 
     Referring now to FIG. 1A, a telecommunications network of the present invention is generally depicted. The telecommunications network comprises a MSC  100 . The MSC  100  may be in communication with a HLR  105 . It will be appreciated, however, that any database may be connected to and in communication with the MSC  100 . One or more communication devices  110  may be in communication with the MSC  100 . The communications devices  110  may be any standard type of device such as a mobile phone, a computer, a personal digital assistant, or the like. In addition, one or more service providers  115  may be in communication with the MSC  100 . 
     The HLR  105  may contain subscriber information, such as supplementary services and authentication parameters. The HLR  105  may also contain information about the location of the communications device, for example, information about the MSC area in which the communications device is presently residing. As the communications device moves around, the information changes and the communications device can send the information, for example, location information, to the HLR, thus providing means to receive a call. Contained within the MSC  100 , may be a VLR. The VLR may be a database containing information about all the communication devices currently located in the MSC area. As soon as a communications device roams into a new MSC area, the VLR connected to the new MSC will request data about the communications device from the HLR responsible for the communications device. The communications device will inform the HLR of the new MSC area in which it resides. By allowing the VLR/MSC in the new area to communicate with the HLR responsible for the communication devices, the VLR in the new MSC area will have the information necessary to assist the communications device in performing its functions. 
     Contained with the HLR of FIG. 1A, is a computer program  120 . The computer program  120  can be designed specifically for a particular communication device user. It will be appreciated, however, that the computer program  120  can be a computer program with segments designated for each communication device contained within the HLR  105 . The computer program  120  may contain user service information. The user service information provides the MSC  100 , the location and provider of specified services, such as call forwarding, call waiting, and the like. 
     When the system of FIG. 1A is operational, the communications device  110  contacts the MSC  100  to begin operation, such as making a phone call. The MSC  100  requests user information about the communications device  110  from the HLR  105 . The HLR  105  sends the user information to the MSC  100 , which includes the computer program  120 . As is shown in FIG. 1B, the computer program  120  resides on the MSC  100  during the operation of the communications device  110 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 2, a signaling sequence diagram demonstrating the communications between the multiple devices in the system of the present invention is shown. The signaling sequence diagram includes a communications device  200 , an MSC/VLR  205 , an HLR  210 , and a service provider  215 . Initially, the communications device  200  may request to begin operation and thus the communications device sends a message to the MSC/VLR  205 , as shown by  220 . When the MSC/VLR  205  receives the message from the communications device  200 , the MSC/VLR  205  requests user information from the HLR  210 , as shown by  225 . After the HLR  210  receives the request for user information  225  from the MSC/VLR  205 , the HLR searches its database for the proper user and that user&#39;s information. The HLR  210  then transmits the user information to the MSC/VLR  205 , as shown by  230 . 
     Under the present invention, the information transmitted from the HLR  210  to the MSC/VLR  205  may contain the computer program  120 . Once the MSC/VLR  205  receives the user information along with the computer program  120 , the computer program  120  can be executed by the MSC/VLR. After the computer program  120  begins operation at the MSC/VLR  205 , the MSC/VLR  205  requests the executable services from the service provider  215 , as shown by  235 . The service provider  215  then transmits or executes the services requested, as shown by  240 . Once the MSC/VLR  205  receives the services from the service provider  215 , the MSC/VLR  205  delivers the services to the communications device  200 , as shown by  245 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 3, a block diagram illustrating in more detail the operation of the computer program  120  is given. Once the computer program  120  has been transmitted from the HLR  105  to the MSC/VLR  100 , the computer program  120  begins operation. The computer program may first determine the services which the user of the communications device requires, as shown by block  300 . As indicated by block  305 , after the services required are determined, the computer program  120  locates the service providers needed to perform the services. After locating the service providers, the computer program  120  requests the services from the service providers, as shown by block  310 . Once the service providers receive the request for the services from the computer program, the service providers will then deliver the services to be transferred to the communications device, as shown by block  315 . 
     FIG. 4 shows a block diagram further illustrating the delivery of services from the service provider to the communications device. As shown by block  400 , the computer program  120  determines the user&#39;s services. Thereafter, the computer program  120  locates the service provider in block  405  and requests the services from the service provider in block  410 . The service provider then determines if the service is to be executed at the server or database where the service is located, as shown by block  415 . If the service is performed or executed at the server or database, then the service is performed in block  420  and transmitted to the communications device in block  425 . If, however, the service is not executed at the database or server of the service provider, as determined in block  415 , then the executable program to operate the service is transmitted to the MSC/VLR, as shown by block  430 . 
     The MSC/VLR then determines if the service is to be executed at the MSC/VLR, as shown by block  435 . If the service is to be executed at the MSC/VLR, then the service is performed in block  420  and the services are transmitted to the communications device, as shown by block  425 . If, however, the service is not to be executed at the MSC/VLR, as determined in block  435 , then the executable program for the service is transmitted to the communications device, as shown by block  440 . Once the communications device receives the executable program, the communications device performs the service.