Abstract:
Method, and computer for handling information messages in a wireless communication infrastructure comprising an information message service and a mobile stations comprising the steps: a) receiving a connection request from one or more mobile stations at a server facility providing the information message service; b) receiving identity information about the one or more mobile stations at the server facility via a server facility interface; c) receiving a recording of a plurality information messages at the server facility; d) receiving information at the server facility indicative of the termination of the recording the plurality of information messages; e) storing the plurality of information messages in a storage space on the server facility and; f) receiving information at the server facility specifying at least one time period which at least one of the information messages recorded should be active; g) playing at least one of the information message recorded when receiving information indicative of a call being made to the one or more stations during the specified time period.

Description:
PRIORITY INFORMATION 
     The present application is a continuation of International application Serial No. PCT/SE2008/000235 filed Mar. 31, 2008 that claims priority to Swedish Application Serial No. SE-0700834.5, filed on Apr. 2, 2007. Both applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention is related to the field of voice messaging in wireless communication networks. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In today&#39;s society the cell phone has become one of the most important communication items both for personal and business communication. 
     Especially when doing business it is of essential value for business partners to be able to reach each other or at least to have some information on the other person&#39;s whereabouts and the possible time when that person is going to be reachable by cell phone again. 
     However, even in non-business related communication, it may sometimes be desirable to know when a relative or friend will be reachable again. 
     Also, as far as the recipient of the cell phone call is concerned, he or she may not wish to be reachable all the time, but would in some cases want to indicate to the calling party when he or she may be available again. 
     The means for doing this in today&#39;s wireless communication networks are very limited. 
     In the usual case the user is constrained to record one very general message which usually does not tell details about the person&#39;s location or indicates when he or she may be reached again. 
     Some other voice mail systems are incorporated into a computer program to be downloaded and executed on a smart phone, but the voice mail functionally is lost once the cell phone is switched off. 
     The present invention aims at obviating at least some of the disadvantages associated with known technology. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The object of the present invention is achieved by method for handling information messages in a wireless communication infrastructure comprising an information message service, where the method comprises the steps:
     a) receiving a connection request from one or more mobile stations at a server facility providing the information message service;   b) receiving identity information about the one or more mobile stations at the server facility via a server facility interface;   c) receiving information at the server facility indicative of a start of a recording of a plurality of information messages;   d) receiving information at the server facility indicative of the termination of the recording of the plurality of information messages,   e) storing of the plurality of information messages in a storage space on the server facility, and;   f) receiving information at the server facility specifying at least one time period during which at least one of the information messages recorded should be active   g) playing at least one of the recorded information messages when receiving information indicative of a call being made to the one or more stations during the specified time period.   

     The advantage of the method of the present invention is that it provides the subscriber to the information message service with the option to record personalized messages of absence and to define the time when these messages should be active. In this way a calling party trying to reach the subscriber of the information message who is absent can receiver more detailed information about the reasons of absence of the subscriber. At the same time the subscriber can switch of his mobile terminal and still be confident that the calling party is provided with enough information of his whereabouts. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention the object of the invention is achieved by a mobile station for communication in a wireless network infrastructure comprising a receiver/transmitter combination, a microphone for recording sound files to be stored and used as information messages on a server facility, a storage facility for storing recorded or downloaded sound files or messages to be uploaded to the server facility wherein the mobile terminal also comprises an arrangement for connecting to a server facility providing the information message service, for informing the server facility about the start and termination of the recording of a plurality of sound files and for specifying at least one time period during which at least one of the sound files recorded should be active. 
     The advantage of such a mobile station is the ease and flexibility with which a subscriber to the information message service can record a plurality of specific information messages and request them to be activated at a specific time while at the same time enjoying the freedom of movement. 
     According to yet another aspect of the present invention the object of the invention is achieved by a computer program for handling an information message service in a wireless network infrastructure comprising instructions sets for:
     a) receiving a connection request from one or more mobile stations at a server facility providing the information message service;   b) receiving identity information about the one or more mobile stations at the server facility via a server facility interface   c) receiving information at the server facility indicative of a start of a recording of a plurality of information messages;   d) receiving information at the server facility indicative of the termination of the recording of the plurality of information messages,   e) storing of the plurality of information messages in a storage space on the server facility,   

     where the computer program comprises further instruction sets for:
     f) receiving information at the server facility specifying at least one time period during which at least one of the information messages recorded should be active   g) playing at least one of the recorded information messages when receiving information indicative of a call being made to the one or more stations during the specified time period.   

     Naturally, the computer program is especially suited to execute the steps of the method according to the present invention. 
     These and other advantages will be more readily understood by studying the detailed description below with reference to the accompanying figures. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an illustration of an example wireless communication infrastructure implementing a first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an illustration of another example wireless communication network implementing a second embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  shows a mobile station according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates the steps for recording or registration of an information message according to an embodiment of a method of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates the steps executed when a call is made to a mobile station of a user who is not available. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  is an illustration of an example wireless communication infrastructure  100  implementing an information message service according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
     The wireless communication infrastructure  100  comprises a first wireless communication network  102 , which, in turn, comprises a first user  110  using a first mobile station  120 , a first base station  130  for receiving data from one or more mobile stations, such as the first mobile station  120  and for transmitting data either to one or more mobile stations in its coverage area (not shown) or to other wireless or wireline communication networks, such as the PLMN (Public Land Mobile Network)  140 . Naturally, the first base station  130  is also arranged to receive data from other wireless or wireline communication networks and to transmit it to one or more mobile station in its coverage area, such as the first mobile station  120 . 
     Furthermore, the wireless communication infrastructure  100  comprises a second wireless communication network  104 , which, similar to the first wireless communication network  102 , comprises a second user  112  using a second mobile station  122  and a second base station  132 . Analogously to the first base station  130 , the function of the second base station  132  is, among others, to receive data from another wireless or wireline communication network and to send it to one or more mobile station in its coverage area, such as the second mobile station  122 . At the same time, the second base station  132  is arranged to receive data from one or more mobile stations, such as the second mobile station  122 , in its coverage area and to forward the data either to another wireless communication network, which may be the PLMN  140  in  FIG. 1 , or to a wireline communication network. 
     The wireless communication infrastructure  100  also comprises a server facility  150  comprising in this example embodiment a server facility interface  152  for communication with a client, such as the one or more mobile stations  120 ,  122  and with the PLMN (Public Land Mobile Network)  140 . Additionally, the server facility  150  also comprises a database  154  for storing records associated with a subscriber, which may be the first or second user  110 ,  112 , where the records comprise subscriber data and subscriber specific information messages the subscriber uses to indicate his availability as well as the times for the activation and deactivation of the information messages. 
     The communication between the server facility interface  152  and the clients  120 ,  122  may be a graphical interface used by the first or second user  110 ,  112  of the information message service, but also it may be a server facility interface between the PLMN  140  and the server facility  150 . 
     The server facility  150  may, in turn, with the help of the server facility interface  152  for communication with a client and the database  154  activate a certain message based on the telephone number the subscriber is called from. 
     The PLMN  140  also comprises a mobile functionality  160  which may comprise locating a mobile station to be called and connecting a call or directing a data transmission aimed at the mobile station. 
     Now, when the first or second user  110 ,  112 , for example, is busy and does not wish or cannot be reached he or she may via its associated mobile station  120 ,  122  activate one or more information messages which will be heard by other users calling him or her. 
     The activation of the one or more information messages may be performed by the first or second users  120 ,  122  by contacting the server  150  via the corresponding first or second base station  130 ,  132  and the PLMN  140  and using a client interface on its mobile station  120 ,  122  in order to choose between a number of predefined information message alternatives and the time during which the one or more message should be active. Alternatively, the first or second user  110 ,  112  may also use its associated mobile station  120 ,  122  in order to record a personalized information message and store it in the sever database  154  together with the time information specifying the time interval during which the message should be active. 
     Naturally, the first or second user  110 ,  112  may activate or record more than one such information message. 
       FIG. 2  is an illustration of another example wireless communication infrastructure  200  implementing a second embodiment of the present invention. 
     While in the first embodiment of the present invention illustrated in  FIG. 1  the server facility  150  was connected to the PLMN and therefore associated to a wireless network operator, the embodiment in  FIG. 2  shows a scenario where a server facility  250  is located outside the PLMN  240  allowing for the server facility to be provided independently of any wireless network operator. 
     Similar to the wireless network infrastructure in  FIG. 1 , the wireless network infrastructure  200  in  FIG. 2  comprises a first wireless communication network  202  and a second wireless communication network  204 , which, in turn, comprise a first base station  232  and a first user  212  using a first mobile station  222  in order to communicate with the first base station and a second base station  232 , a second user  212  using a second mobile station  222  in order to communicate with the second base station  232 . 
     Similarly to the embodiment in  FIG. 1 , the wireless network infrastructure  200  comprises a PLMN  240  for communication between the first and the second wireless communication networks  202  and  204 , where the mobile communication part is administered by the mobile functionality  260  identical to the mobile functionality  160  in  FIG. 1 . 
     Apart from the mobile functionality  260 , the PLMN  240  further comprises a voice mail facility  262  which per se is known in wireless communication networks. The PLMN  240  is additionally connected to an IP-network  242 , such as the Internet, via a communication node  241 . 
     The function of the communication node  241  is to facilitate communication between the IP-network  242  and the PLMN network  240  by, for example, translating the data protocols used for communication in the two networks  240  and  242 . Thus, the communication node  241  may perform the function of a communication gateway. 
     In a GPRS or UMTS network, for example, this function will usually be performed by a GGSN (Gateway GPRS Support Node) which other functionality is known to the skilled person. However, the present invention is not limited to 2.5G and 3G mobile communication networks, but may work in any wireless communication network. 
     The wireless infrastructure  250  also comprises a server facility  250  comprising a server facility interface  252  for communication with one of the mobile stations  220 ,  222  or  214  via the IP-network  242  and a database  254  for storing subscriber records in the same fashion as the earlier described database  154  in  FIG. 1 . 
     Apart from the first and second mobile stations  220 ,  222 , a third mobile station  214  may also be used to activate one or more messages indicative of absence by contacting the server facility  250  via the IP-network  242 . This may, for example, be performed by connecting to a special webpage stored on the server facility interface  252  in the server facility  250  via which a user (not shown) of the third mobile station may choose one or more messages indicative of his absence by contacting the server facility interface  252 . Then that user, which may be identical to the first or second users  210 ,  212  may via the server facility interface  252  activate one or more messages of absence from the server facility  250 . 
     In this second embodiment, however, the first or second user  210 ,  212  or some other user communicates with a server facility  250  which is located outside of the PLMN  260  of the wireless network operator. 
     In this fashion, third party service providers may provide the message of absence service independently of the infrastructure of the PMLN  260  and the condition of the wireless network operator. 
     At the same time, the third party service provider may for a fee provide download of custom made information messages either from the service facility  250  or some other server facility connected to the IP-network  242 . 
     It may also be mentioned that the client based part of the server facility interface of the server facility may be stored as client software on the first, second or third mobile stations  210 ,  212  or  214  by either being preinstalled on these mobile stations from the beginning or by being downloadable from either the wireless network operator or some third party service provider directly using the wireless communication network or via a computer connected to a data communication network. 
     According to  FIG. 2  the server facility interface  252  on the server facility  250  is also in communication with the voice mail box  262  belonging to the PLMN  240 . 
     Thus when one of the users  210 ,  212  wishes to activate one or more messages of absence by communicating with the server facility  250  outside of the PLMN  240 , he or she will contact the server facility interface  252  of the server facility  250  either via the PLMN  240  and the IP-network  242  (first and second users  210 ,  212 ) or only via the IP-network  242 . Then one of the users  210 ,  212  will activate one or more information messages either from a list of available messages, or by recording a new message of absence and by selecting the time during which the message should be activated. 
     These one or more messages will then be transferred to the voice mail box  262  in the PLMN  260  and be activated at the user specified time. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 3 , a mobile station  300  according to the present invention is illustrated in a simplified form. The mobile station  300  according to the present invention comprises a receiver/transmitter combination  310  for communication with a base station, an access node, or some other node in a wireless communication network performing a corresponding function or simply another mobile station. Moreover, the mobile station  300  comprises a microphone  320  for use during a voice call to another user or for recording sounds or messages to be stored and used as information messages on a serves facility, such as the server facility  150  in  FIG. 1  or  250  in  FIG. 2 . 
     Additionally, the mobile station also comprises a storage facility  330  for storing recorded or downloaded sound files which will be uploaded onto the server facility  150  or  250  and be used there used as information messages. This storage facility  330  may either be an internal RAM (Random Access Memory), a SIM card, an external memory card, a hard disk or some other suitable facility for permanent data storage. It may also store software for operation in the mobile station. 
     Additionally, the mobile station  300  according to the present invention may comprise a software for providing a service to the subscriber to be able to contact the server facility  150  or  250 , to activate one or more messages of absence and the time during which they should be active and additionally a service to record a message of absence and to either store it locally or to directly record it onto the server facility  150  or  250 . This software may either be part of an ASIC in the mobile station  300 , preinstalled onto the storage facility  330  of the mobile station  300  or be downloadable from a wireless network infrastructure, such as the one in  FIG. 2 , onto the storage facility  330 . 
     It may be added here, that the mobile station may be any kind of mobile terminal capable of wireless communication with a wireless access point or directly with another mobile station. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 4 , an embodiment of the method of the present invention is illustrated, where the steps performed when a user is activating one or more messages of absence are shown. When describing the different method steps reference will be made to users, mobile stations, base stations or access points, servers and the like which have been described previously. However, these references should not be construed as limiting the implementation of the method of the present invention only in such systems. In fact, the method according to the present invention may be implemented in any wireless communication system with client/server functionality, be it a 3G mobile network, a wireless network or any other suitable wireless communication network. The same goes for the description of the method steps in  FIG. 5 . 
     Returning now to  FIG. 4 , a user, such as a first or a second user  110 ,  112  in  FIG. 1  activates at step  400  a so called “multivoice” function on their mobile station and connects to a server facility  150  connected to the PLMN  140 . This “multivoice” function is the ability to activate one or more information messages on a server facility and to activate them at a specified time. Naturally, the one or more users may also connect to the server facility via an IP-network in case the server facility is located outside the PLMN. 
     At step  410 , the server facility  150  compares the identity of the mobile station  120 ,  122  to a list of subscribers stored in a database  154  of the server facility  150 . The identity may for example be a number uniquely identifying the mobile station, such as its IMEI number or the identity in the form of a user name and password may be typed in by the user on activation of the “multivoice” service. 
     If at step  420 , the user of the mobile station could not be identified as a valid subscriber, the method returns to step  410 , presenting the user with an opportunity to type in his or her user name and password anew. Of course, the server facility  150  may limit the number of login attempts to a certain number after which the “multivoice” service will lock the subscriber&#39;s account. Since the further procedure of unlocking account is known to the skilled person and since it is not an essential part of the method according to the present invention, it will not be elaborated on further. 
     If however, the subscriber identity is found in the subscriber database  152 , the user is presented with a choice at step  422  where he or she may choose to either activate one or more information messages, to record an information message or to send a sound file corresponding to the information message to the server facility  150  and to specify the time it should be activated. 
     Thus, if the user  110  or  112  decides to activate one or more information messages which are already stored in the database  154  of the server facility  150 , he or she is presented with a choice of different types of messages of absence at step  430  through a server facility interface  152  of the server facility  150 . 
     In the next step, i.e. at  440 , the user selects one or more predefined information messages and specifies the time the one or more messages of absence should be active. Thereafter the “multivoice” interface  152  informs the mobile functionality  160  in the PLMN that the one or more information messages are active. 
     In the next step, at  450 , the mobile functionality  160  of the PLMN  140  confirms the activation of one or more information messages to the mobile terminal  120 ,  122  and the time they are going to be activated. 
     Alternatively, if the user  110 ,  112  selects the option of wanting to record an information message or to send a corresponding sound file to the server facility  150 , the server facility  150  at step  432  requests a storage space to be reserved in the database  154  and the database to be ready for recording or receiving a sound file. 
     Then, at step  442 , the data base  154  returns a ready signal to the “multivoice” interface  152  which, in turn, forwards the ready signal to the mobile station  120 ,  122 . 
     At step  452 , the user  110 ,  112  starts to record a voice message via the mobile station  120 ,  122  onto the database  154 . As already mentioned earlier, the user  120 ,  122  may also start a transmission of a sound file constituting the information messages to be activated. After the end of the recoding or the end of the transmission of the sound files, the mobile station  120 ,  122  transmits a termination signal to the multivoice interface  152  which is forwarded to the database  154 . 
     If at step  460  the server facility  150  has successfully received the voice recording or the sound file, the database  154  acknowledges the successful reception to the multivoice interface  152 , which, in turn, sends an acknowledgment to the mobile station  120 ,  122  which sent the sound recoding or sound file. 
     However, if the sound recording or sound file for some reason was not received correctly, the database  154  transmits a not-acknowledged message to the multivoice interface  152 , which forwards the not-acknowledged message to the mobile terminal  120 ,  122  where the sound recording or sound file originated from. 
     Alternatively, if the user  110 ,  112  transmitted a sound file to the database  154  which was not correctly received, the database may keep the part of the file that was correctly received and request a retransmission of the incorrectly received part of that file. Since the assembling together of missing or incorrectly received file parts is known to the skilled person, it will not be further elaborated here. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 5 , the steps executed when a call is made to a mobile station of a user who is not available are illustrated schematically. 
     At step  500 , a second mobile station, such as the one shown in  FIG. 1 , i.e. the mobile station  122  calls the multivoice subscriber using the first mobile station  120  by means of the mobile functionality  160  of the PLMN  140 . 
     At step  510 , the PLMN  140  checks whether the first mobile station  120  is available and, if yes, the PLMN  140  connects at step  520  via its mobile functionality  160  a call between the second mobile station  122  and the first mobile station  120 . Further steps after the call has been connected are omitted here, since they are well known to the skilled person. 
     Now, if the PLMN  140  via its mobile functionality  140  detects that one first mobile station  120  is not available, it checks at step  530  whether the first user  110  has left any information messages on the server facility  150 . If the first user  110  is unavailable, but has not left any information messages the PLMN  140  may at step  540  directly or after a certain waiting time retrieve a standard information message from the database  154  of the server facility  150 . This standard information message may contain information on the number the second user  112  has dialed and that he or she may leave a message and/or his or her telephone number as is already known to the skilled person. 
     If, however the first user  110  has left and activated an information message, then at step  550 , the mobile functionality  140  signals the multivoice interface  152  in the server facility  150  to take over the handling of the call made by the second mobile station  122 . 
     In the next step  560 , the mobile functionality  140  establishes a voice or sound connection between the multivoice interface  152  and the second mobile station  122 . 
     Thereafter, at step  570 , the multivoice interface  152  retrieves the sound file from the database  154  corresponding to the message of absence activated by the multivoice subscriber  110 . 
     Finally, at step  580  the multivoice interface  152  plays the message of absence for the second user  112  using the second mobile terminal  122 . 
     According to one variant (not shown) of the method according to the present invention, the mobile functionality  160  of the PLMN  140  may also transmit the telephone number from which the first user  110  is called to the multivoice interface  152  when redirecting the call. 
     The multivoice interface  152  may then, depending on the phone number retrieve an information message in the language corresponding to the country from where the call was made or retrieve a telephone number specific information message from the database  154 . Whether an information message should have corresponding information in another language or be telephone number specific may be specified by the first user  110  activating or leaving such an information message. 
     It should be noted that to the skilled person various modification of the present invention will be obvious after having read the description where and that the scope of the invention is only limited by the accompanying claims.