Abstract:
A network ( 30 ) of a telecommunication system ( 100 ) receives requests ( 31 ) for feature transfers from one user ( 10 ) to another user ( 20 ). In addition, network initiated feature transfer marks a call agent ( 61 ) for feature transfer. Subsequent call attempts from a call agent ( 51 ) are redirected ( 63 ) by the network.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention pertains to telecommunication services and more particularly to subscriber and network initiated feature transfers in a telecommunication system.  
           [0002]    Telecommunication networks provide a vast array of features. For example, subscribers may have call waiting, call forwarding, link security and closed user group accesses among the many features available. Various network users will have different user profiles that are lists of these features which the users are entitled to use. Existing networks do not provide the ability for a user to request features to be authorized for another user. These networks allow users to request features on a temporary basis only for themselves. Existing networks do not allow a set of users from various networks to harmonize the set of features for conducting a communication session or for a particular time period.  
           [0003]    Further, another network feature provided is interception of calls. A call interception is made by activating intercept functions on a targeted call session agent (originating or terminating party), and redirecting control and bearer information to a law enforcement agency. Typically, once the redirected call ends, interception activation of the originating call agent is removed. Networks are required by law to provide call interception on all calls forwarded by a targeted party. Existing networks perform the call forwarding in a proxy-like fashion. That is, the forwarding call agent remains in the redirected call even though the targeted forward party is not on the call. The use of redirect in today&#39;s multimedia 3G market prevents call intercept by the existing intercept method.  
           [0004]    Accordingly, it would be highly desirable to provide a telecommunication network in which user initiated and network initiated feature transfer or feature purchase for other users may be made. In addition, it is highly desirable to provide a call intercept arrangement that may intercept forwarded calls via a redirect mechanism. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0005]    [0005]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a telecommunication system including a network in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0006]    [0006]FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of a user initiated feature transfer in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of a network initiated feature transfer in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0008]    [0008]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a telecommunication system  100  including network  30 . Wireless subscribers  10  and  20  are coupled to network  30  as are wireline subscribers  11  and  21 . Cable gateways  14  and  24  are also coupled to network  30 . These cable gateways may supply mixed video and voice telecommunications to subscribers. PSTN gateways  12  and  22  connect conventional wireline subscribers to network  30  via other telecommunication networks (not shown). In addition, internet interfaces  13  and  23  connect wireless or wireline users of the internet for voice over internet protocol (VOIP) arrangements.  
         [0009]    An example of the user initiated feature transfer follows. For the following example, it is assumed that there is a closed user group (CUG) comprising users  10 ,  11 ,  20  and  21 . It is further assumed that the users are in a video and audio conference and a security feature, such as cryptography, is required for viewing the communicated information. Further, it is assumed that user  20  does not have the security feature. As a result of user  20  not having a secure feature, the secure teleconference cannot go forward.  
         [0010]    In this example, user  11  determines that his profile should be transferred to user  20 . User  11  profile does include the security feature. User  11  will drive or initiate network  30  to provide the appropriate profile to user  20  secure communication for a predetermined or specified period of time.  
         [0011]    As an alternative, user  11  may determine that instead of transferring user  11 &#39;s profile to user  20 , that user  11  will pay for or buy the security service for user  20  only for the present communication session. In this case, the network  30  must be instructed to track this and to generate a bill not for user  20  but for user  11 .  
         [0012]    For the intercept scenario in an internet situation in which Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) is used, the following example will be considered. For Voice Over Internet Protocol in 3G or 3GPP networks, using the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), the originating call agent drops out of a forwarded call. A call agent (not shown) associated with internet interface would drop out of the call that was forwarded to network  30  in the case of Voice Over Internet Protocol on the internet. The above mentioned call agent may or may not be a part of network  30 . Network  30  will intercept a forwarded call by a call agent (not shown) via the redirect mechanism. The call intercept activation is transferred from one call agent to a proxy call agent associated with internet interface  13  exclusively for intercepting a redirected call.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of a user initiated feature transfer. Network administration  35  is included in network  30 . Originating call session agent  40  and terminating call session agent  45  are associated with the originating and terminating parties such as users  10 ,  11 ,  20  and  21  or users coupled through cable gateways  14  and  24 , users coupled through the internet interfaces  13  and  23  or users coupled through the PSTN (Public Switch Telephone Network) gateways  12  and  22 .  
         [0014]    A mobile or wireline user associated with call session agent  40  first makes a request  31  to the network administration  35  for transferring or replicating the user&#39;s  10  profile to the user  20  associated with agent  45  or for purchasing for user  20 , which is associated with call session agent  45 , a particular feature. This may be, for example, purchasing a security feature as mentioned above. As a result of call session agent  40 &#39;s request  31 , network administration  35  activates  32  the requested feature for user  20  via the call session agent  45 .  
         [0015]    If user  20  accepts the security activation, call agent  45  transmits a message of acceptance  33  back to network administration  35 . The session or call  34  is then established with the selected feature transfer, security for example, between users  10  and  20  via their respective call session agents  40  and  45 .  
         [0016]    When the session or call  34  is terminated, call session agent  45  generates a use billing report  36  which is transmitted to network administration  35 . Lastly, network administration  35  sends a feature use report  37  including appropriate billing information back to the call session agent  40  for user  10 .  
         [0017]    As a result, user  10  is billed for user  20 &#39;s use of the security feature during their call  34 . The above described feature transfer was initiated by user  10 , for example, with user  10  paying for the feature used by user  20 . As a result, a user who would otherwise be unable to participate in the session for lack of a security feature, has been given the security feature for a particular session and another has been billed for that use. A session limited feature transfer was affected to perform this session In an alternative embodiment, the feature transfer or replication could have been purchased by user  10  for user  20 , or for a group of users, for a specific period of time.  
         [0018]    Referring now to FIG. 3, a block diagram of a network initiated feature transfer or call intercept is shown. Network administration  50  which also provides the intercept feature, for example, is included in network  30 . Call or session agent  51  couples originating party  11  to the intercept administration  50 . Similarly, call or session agent  55  couples terminating party  20  to intercept administration  50 .  
         [0019]    For a lawful intercept as directed by a law enforcement agency or the network owner, network intercept administration  50  is instructed and marks call or session agent  53  which is associated with user  11  for a call intercept. For 3G or 3GPP communication standards, the forwarding call agent  53  does not remain connected in the network so that network intercept administration  50  may directly intercept call agent  53  for the complete duration of the forwarded call or session.  
         [0020]    User  11  makes a call attempt through call agent  51  to attempt  62  to reach target user  20 . Since call session agent  53  has been marked for call intercept  61 , call session agent  53  sends a call redirect message  63  including a user profile that indicates to call forward to the originating call agent  51 .  
         [0021]    Then call agent  53  sends a redirect report message  64  to network intercept administration  50 . Since network intercept administration  50  has been notified of an interception by call agent  53 , network intercept administration  50  transmits an intercept activation  65  to the target user  20  or call agent for terminating party  55  for intercepting the call or session. Next, call agent  51  makes the redirected call attempt  66  to the terminating call agent  55 . Call agent  55  then intercepts the call intended for target user  20  and transmits the message with the results to law enforcement agency  67 .  
         [0022]    When the caller session terminates, a termination message  68  is sent from call agent  55  to the originating call agent  51 . In addition, call agent  55  reports the caller session termination and intercept deactivation  69  via a message to network intercept administration  50 . Intercept administration  50  then knows that the intercepted call or session has been accomplished. Also, call agent  51  may then release the originating user  11  from the call.  
         [0023]    Alternatively, the network administration  50  could have transferred the intercept to originating call agent  51  instead of terminating call agent  55  at the discretion of the network administration  50 . In addition, although the intercept portion of the call forwarding party&#39;s user profile was transferred in the above mentioned example, other portions of the user profile such as basic network services may be transferred under control of the network administration  50 .  
         [0024]    The above described invention provides the benefit of harmonizing features among a closed user group (CUG) and allows one user to pay for another user&#39;s feature use for a particular session or for a time interval. This invention allows users of 3GPP type networks to communicate using all the latest features developed by various network operators. Further, this invention allows call intercept by profile transferring from one call agent to another.  
         [0025]    Although the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated, and that form described in detail, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the present invention or from the scope of the appended claims.