Abstract:
The invention relates to a method for detection of saturation of files or applications in a mobile communication device ( 10 ) connected to a remote control center ( 12 ) and a message server SMS-SC ( 14 ), characterised in comprising the following principal steps: (a) detection of a data file ( 38 ) or data application contained in a SIM card ( 16 ), the free space of which is below a certain threshold and (b) generation of an alarm signal after said threshold is reached.

Description:
This disclosure is based upon French Application No. 01/07143, filed May 31, 2001, and International Application No. PCT/FR02/01857, filed on May 31, 2002, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention concerns communication networks, in particular those of the GSM type, the acronym for the English expression “Global System for Mobile Communication”, and more particularly in this field a method for detecting, in a communication apparatus connected to the communication network, the exceeding of a saturation threshold of one or more files or applications. 
   To a new subscriber to a communication network, for example of the GSM type, there is supplied a mobile communication apparatus containing an electronic smart card known by the expression “SIM card”, SIM being the acronym of the English expression “Subscriber Identity Module”. This SIM card is personalised so as to enable the subscriber to have access to various applications to which he has subscribed. 
   The present invention is intended for appliances containing a SIM card corresponding to the “SIM Toolkit phases 2 et seq” standard, and thus able to receive and send short so-called SMS (standing for “Short Message Service”) messages. 
   Such a SIM card can contain the various data processing elements for implementing applications, mobile banking or games for example, and/or files for recording certain information such as a telephone directory or a collection of messages received. 
   As the mobile communication apparatus is used, the applications and files take up more and more space on the SIM card: this is because new applications or improved versions of existing applications are added, of larger size and more demanding in terms of memory resource, “results” data files are obtained issuing from larger and larger applications, and more and more directory data and SMS messages are stored. 
   Finally, a saturation threshold of the working memory of the particular applications or files is exceeded, which risks causing a problem for the user of the apparatus, and it is important to detect and indicate this state of affairs to him as soon as possible and to offer him at least one solution. 
   For reasons of simplicity, the terms “saturation” or “saturation threshold” will be used indifferently but under no circumstances should their interpretation be restricted solely to the detection of the full memory state. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   One aim of the present invention is therefore a method for detecting, in a mobile communication apparatus, the saturation of a file or application and to transmit an alarm message to the user and/or to the operator of the network when the saturation is detected. 
   The invention therefore concerns a method of detecting saturation of files or applications in a mobile communication apparatus which can be connected to a remote management centre and to a message server, characterised in that it comprises the following main steps consisting of: 
   (a) detecting, for a given file or a given application contained in a SIM card, the fact that the space available is below a certain threshold, and 
   (b) producing an alarm signal when this threshold is reached. 
   The method of the invention is implemented by an appropriate application which is loaded in the SIM card either at the time of delivery/personalisation, or remotely by the remote management centre via the message server. 
   The remote loading comprises the following steps:
         the transmission by the management centre to the message server of a formatted request containing the application, and   the transmission from the message server to the mobile apparatus of the application in the SIM card.       

   Step (b) comprises the following steps consisting of: 
   (b 1 ) presenting to the subscriber a text message or the like in order to indicate to him that the threshold is reached and that it is suggested that he should change his SIM card, and 
   (b 2 ) transmitting the response of the subscriber to the proposal to the management centre via the message server. 
   The above steps are supplemented by: 
   (b 3 ) transmitting from the management centre to the subscriber via the message server at least one message for proposing the sending of a new SIM card and/or going to a point of sale, and 
   (b 4 ) transmitting the response of the subscriber to this proposal to the management centre via the message server. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge from a reading of the following description of a particular example embodiment, the said description being given in relation to the accompanying drawing, in which: 
     the single FIGURE is a diagram illustrating the method according to the invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   The invention will be described in its application to the detection of the saturation of a directory file in a mobile communication apparatus, this file also being known by the expression “ADN file”, ADN being the acronym of the English expression “Abbreviated Dialling Number”. This ADN file is contained in an electronic smart card SIM, this SIM card also containing a file of messages received from correspondents as well as applications to which memory paths are allocated for their use. 
   The invention then applies also to the detection of the saturation of the file of received messages or any other file and to the detection of saturation of the applications with regard to their associated memory parts. 
   A mobile communication apparatus  10  is connected to a communication network of the GSM type so as to be connected to another subscriber to the same network or another network. The subscribers to the network of the GSM type are managed by a platform at the management centre  12  which knows the characteristics of the mobile apparatus in the network and more particularly those of the SIM card of each subscriber. 
   The subscribers to the network communicate with each other essentially by a voice link but also by short messages which are managed by a server centre  14 , referred to as the SMS-SC server, SMS-SC being the acronym of the English expression “Short Message Service—Service Centre”. SMS means a short message of the text type and E-SMS, “Enhanced Short Message Service”, a short message of the application type. This server  14  also serves to route short messages between the management centre  12  and any subscriber to a GSM network. 
   The method of the invention consists of two steps:
         detecting in the SIM card of the subscriber  10  the passing by a file or an application of a filling threshold or a predetermined empty space threshold, and   transmitting an alarm centre to the management centre  12  when this predetermined threshold is reached.       

   Two solutions are proposed to implement this method:
         the first by downloading an application for this purpose in the SIM card  16  of the apparatus  10  from the management centre  12  via the SMS-SC server  14 , by means of a message of the E-SMS type, and   the second by recording the application on supply of the SIM card at a point of sale  18 .       

   In the first solution, which is more particularly illustrated by the single FIGURE, the management unit  12  transmits (arrow  20 ) to the SMS-SC server  14  a formatted request  32  for loading the application according to the invention, which will be referred to as DETSAT, standing for detection of saturation. This application will be based on a method known to persons skilled in the art of examination of the state of the memory of a smart card. 
   The SMS-SC server  14  transforms this request into an E-SMS message  34  which is transmitted (arrow  22 ) to the mobile apparatus  10  designated by the formatted request  32 . 
   On reception of this message  34 , the application DETSAT is recorded (arrow  24 ) in the SIM card  16 , which executes it. 
   This execution consists of analysing the ADN file  38  of the SIM card  16  in order to determine the number of locations available for call numbers. If the number of locations available is less than or equal for example to a threshold of five, the application warns the subscriber by means of a text message  44  on the screen  40  of the mobile apparatus  10  of the type:
         “your directory is wrongly sized, Do you wish to replace your current SIM card with another SIM card with a larger directory?”       

   The response of the subscriber to this question by means of the keypad  42  of the mobile apparatus is transmitted (arrow  28 ) in the form of a short message  36  to the SMS-SC server  14 , which retransmits it (arrow  30 ) to the management centre  12  in the form of a suitable message  44 . 
   In the case of a positive response, the management centre  12  transmits to the mobile apparatus via the SMS-SC server  14  a message inviting the subscriber to go to a point of sale  18  in order to change SIM card, if necessary giving him addresses of these points of sale. 
   At the end of the execution of the DETSAT application, the latter is erased. 
   At the point of sale, the operator replaces the old SIM card  16  with the new card  46  into which he transferred the content of the ADN file  38  in a more extensive file of the new card  46 . 
   This first solution of remote loading of the DETSAT application can be carried out in the case of SIM cards corresponding to the “SIM Toolkit, phases 2 et seq” standard. For example, it is suitable for SIM cards sold by the applicant under the brand name “GemXplore 98”. This first solution has the advantage of reaching a large number of subscribers. In addition, it is simple to implement since a single E-SMS message can suffice to contain the DETSAT application. 
   In the second solution, the DETSAT application is loaded into the SIM card at the time of its supply to the subscriber. In this case, the DETSAT application is either launched autonomously according to predefined criteria, for example each time a new call number is entered in the ADN file  38  or simply periodically, or launched by an E-SMS message ordered by the management centre  12  according to a decision of the network operator. 
   In the case of detection of saturation, the steps of the method are the same for warning the management centre  12  via the SMS-SC server  14  by means of a message. 
   The management centre  12  uses this information in order for example to offer a new SIM card to the subscriber or to warn the point of sale  18 . 
   This second solution has the advantage of causing little traffic on the network whilst functioning. 
   It applies to users having SIM cards according to the “SIM Toolkit phases 2 et seq” standard and for example those having SIM cards sold under the brand names “GemXplore 98” and “GemXplore Xpresso” of the applicant. 
   The two solutions can be combined, for example by loading the DETSAT application on personalisation and activating it by a message coming from the management centre  12  via the short message server  14 . 
   This combination enables the management centre  12  to target subscribers without for all that substantially increasing the message traffic. 
   According to variants of the invention, the response message  36  of the subscriber can contain, in addition to his response, his personal details, the identity of the file which is saturated, the number of locations still available in the file etc. 
   Likewise, the final proposal by the network operator may be not a change of SIM card but a change to the parameters internal to the SIM card in order to personalise them. For example, if a subscriber uses the ADN file a great deal and the SMS message saving file only little, it is possible to suggest to him an increase in the memory dedicated to the ADN file and a decrease for the second file.