AU741597B2

AU741597B2 - Communication system for providing messages in different languages

Info

Publication number: AU741597B2
Application number: AU74309/98A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Elisabeth Kemper; Andreas Witzel
Original assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson AB
Current assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson AB
Priority date: 1997-04-15
Filing date: 1998-04-14
Publication date: 2001-12-06
Anticipated expiration: 2018-04-14
Also published as: CA2287462A1; CA2287462C; CN1260933A; AU7430998A; DE19715668A1; EP0976236A1; DE19715668C2; RU2185036C2; JP2001519981A; WO1998047274A1

Description

COMMUNICATION SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING MESSAGES IN DIFFERENT

LANGUAGES

The present invention relates to a communication system and more particularly to a communication system including message means for providing messages in one of different languages.

In a communication system, for example as known from DE 44 30 991, it may be required to provide subscribers with messages related to certain system statuses, or to provide subscribers with messages related to certain system services.

These messages are usually transmitted to a called subscriber. Particularly in mobile communications systems covering a plurality of countries, it may occur that messages are provided by units of the communication system, which are located far away from the subscriber, for example in a region or country with a 15 different language. In this case a message may be transmitted in a language which is not understood by the subscriber. For example, a subscriber placing a Socall to another country and dialing an invalid extension will be provided with a message like "you dialed an invalid extension number" in the language of the respective country. Moreover, because of free subscriber-roaming, in a mobile 20 communication network it is possible that the subscriber at different times roams within regions having differing official languages. In this case, even if a subscriber is provided with a message from a local unit of the network, the subscriber will receive messages in different languages.

Moreover, the home location register of a subscriber, storing subscriber related data, is not necessarily located within a region having an official language understood by the subscriber. Here, too, in case of a notification, it is possible that a message is transmitted in a language not understood by the subscriber.

To avoid communication problems when transmitting messages to a subscriber, it is desirable to be able to provide a subscriber with a message in a language understood by the subscriber. This is particularly desirable in a mobile communication network, for example a communication network according to the GSM-standard.

DE 44 30 991 describes a communication network allowing to transmit a message to a caller in different languages. The network may, in particular, be a mobile communication network, e.g. a GSM-network. For selecting a message, a notification number is generated, consisting of a fixed portion of digits for determining the type of the message, and consisting of a variable portion of digits for selecting a specific language for the message. The digits for selecting the language for the message may be derived from the number dialed by the calling subscriber. In case a particular language is unavailable, a predetermined language may be used as a language for the message instead. DE 44 30 991 further describes to assign certain subscriber data to each subscriber, specifying at least one language for a message. Data specifying said at least one language 15 are fixedly assigned to the subscriber and are stored in his home location register. The home location register centrally stores important subscriber data of a large number of subscribers. If more than one language is stored, a replacement S language may be selected, in case a language is unavailable. Language selection S. data is transferred to a temporary register of a respective transmitter station of the 20 communication system which currently serves the subscriber. In case the subscriber moves from one transmission station into the coverage area of a second transmission station, the data is stored in the temporary register of the S second transmission station.

In the above system, however, it is disadvantageous that the subscriber is unable to readily specify language selection data himself. Furthermore, the previously described known system poses the threat, that language selection data does not arrive a respective message device, due to system incompatibilities or due to other transmission problems. In this case, the message device is not able to transmit a message in a language assigned to the subscriber.

In further systems, subscribers of a communication network may be provided with messages in a particular language, by specifying a desired language for a message means, e.g. by entering it via a telephone keyboard or by analyzing the telephone number entered by the caller with respect to country codes or sequences of numbers, which specify regions of the country.

These systems, however, further have the disadvantage that a separate language selection input is required or, in case of an automatic system, the language of the message depends on the location of the caller.

WO 95 20859 Al (D1) describes the selection of a language in a telephone communication system, wherein a subscriber is notified in a language assigned to him. For example, a language selection indicator, predetermined by a user, may be stored in a data base. If the user accesses the telecommunication system, a S 15 user identifier may be searched for retrieving language selection data associated with the user for a notification in the selected language. Language selection options for a user cover the selection of one language of a pool of languages available at the system.

20 It is object of the invention, to provide a communication system including message means for transmitting messages in one of different languages based on the availability of languages and allowing the subscriber to easily specify or change one or more preferred languages.

According to the invention there is provided a communication system including message means for providing messages in one of different languages, the system including: at least one transmission device; at least two communication devices; at least one storage device for storing at least one list including at least two preferred languages, while each of the at least one lists is assigned to one subscriber; at least one message device for providing messages in different languages; at least one subscriber input/retrieval device for storing a list with at least two preferred languages in the at least one storage device and for retrieving and displaying the list from said at least one storage device; each of the at least one subscriber input/retrieval devices includes input means for entering sequences of digits or characters, and includes display means for displaying the list of at least two preferred languages; a list with at least two preferred languages assigned to a subscriber is transmitted between said at least two communication devices, or other units of the communication system, during establishing a connection or during an existing connection; and the at least one message device includes determining means for selecting, in accordance with the sequence of languages in the list, the first language 15 available at the at least one message device, and for initiating that the message is transmitted to one of the at least two communication devices in the selected language.

The system according to the invention comprises at least one transmission 20 device, at least two communication devices, e.g. telephones, at least one storage S. device for storing a list assigned to a subscriber containing at least two preferred languages, and at least one message device for providing a message in one of different languages. Determining means select, in accordance with the sequence of languages in the list, the first language available at the at least one message o 25 device, and initiate that the message is transmitted in the selected language.

Furthermore, the system comprises at least one subscriber input/retrieval device for inputting, changing or deleting the list of preferred languages. The system thus advantageously allows a subscriber to define an assigned list of preferred languages or to change an existing list of preferred languages and allows the transmission of messages in one of different languages, based on the availability of languages and based on the list of languages specified.

The subscriber input/retrieval device may comprise input means, for example a keyboard for inputting certain commands or sequences of numbers corresponding to preferred languages. Further, the subscriber input/retrieval device can be used to interrogate and display the list of preferred languages.

Furthermore, the subscriber input/retrieval device allows to delete the list of preferred languages. Languages may be entered in a certain sequence in accordance to subscriber preference.

During a set-up of a connection in the net, the list with the at least two preferred languages assigned to a subscriber is transmitted. As a consequence, the list is available to the at least one message device.

For the provision of messages selection means may screen the languages in the sequence of preference in order to determine whether at the message device the 15 message is available in the respective language. The message may be transmitted to the subscriber in a first available language. If the message is not available in any one of the preferred languages, a known language selection method may be used or the message is transmitted in a predetermined language.

The message device is usually not directly accessed by the subscriber, it rather is 20 activated by certain processes in the communication system and/or a respective list with at least two preferred languages is transmitted to the message device or is actively retrieved by the message device.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention the at least one subscriber input/retrieval device is integrated into a communication means, e.g.

into a mobile telephone, such that the subscriber can input or change the list of preferred languages by using said communication means.

Furthermore, in an advantageous embodiment the invention allows a secure transmission of information regarding preferred languages to the message device. The transmission of information in the communication network may 1 clude ISDN-connections. During a set-up of a connection, the storage means transmits the list of at least two preferred languages to the message device. In case a message needs to be transmitted to the subscriber, the message device selects a language in accordance with the sequence of languages of the list and transmits the message to the subscriber in the selected language.

Due to transmission problems or system incompatibilities the list of preferred languages may not properly arrive at the message device. Therefore, the message device can advantageously comprise retrieval means, which actively retrieve the list from storage means, in case the list was not received. The retrieval means may send a retrieval command to the storage means, causing a re-transmission of the list from the storage means to the message device. For determining, whether a retrievable list is present, the retrieval means may include means for determining whether or not a list of preferred languages is assigned to the respective subscriber.

S

OV.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, a list with at least two Se preferred languages assigned to a calling or called subscriber may be transmitted to the message device and the calling and/or the called subscriber may be S provided with a message. Ge.

Further, the communication system may be a mobile telephone network according to the GSM standard and/or may comprise a further mobile communication network and/or a PSTN (Public Switched Telephone) network. In case the communication network includes a communication network according to the GSM standard, the list of preferred languages may be transmitted in an extension part of the MAP (Mobile Application Part) protocol.

Brief description of the drawings: Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic illustration of a communication system according to ~V ,4the invention; 41-

PO

Fig. 2 shows part of the communication system according to the invention, illustrating entering, storing and changing a list of preferred languages; Fig. 3 shows a further embodiment of the communication system according to the invention; Fig. 4 shows an embodiment illustrating a retrieval of a list of preferred languages; Fig. 5 shows a flow chart of the method for providing messages and for entering and storing a list of preferred languages; and Fig. 6 shows a flow chart of the method according to the invention in the case the list of preferred languages was not received by the message device.

In the following, preferred embodiments of the invention are described with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures similar reference numerals describe similar objects.

Fig. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a communication system according to the invention, including an arbitrary number of transmission devices. In Fig. 1 three transmission devices UEV1, UEV2, UEV3 are shown. Communication links may be set-up between transmission devices, or may already be established. The transmission devices may be part of a mobile communication network, as for example according to the GSM-standard, or may be transmission stations of a PSTN network. Transmission device may be connected according to the ISDN standard (Integrated Services Digital System). The communication network is provided with message devices BV1 BV3 for providing messages in different languages. The message devices may be directly connected to one of the transmission devices or may constitute separate units. The message devices can provide messages in a plurality of different languages. The communication system according to the invention further comprises storage means S for storing a list of preferred languages, assigned to a subscriber. Preferably, the storage means is arranged to store lists of preferred languages of a plurality of subscribers. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 the storage means S is Sconnected with the transmission device UEV3.

Subscriber input/retrieval devices EA1 and EA2, shown in Fig. 1, are each part of a communication device T1 T3. The subscriber input/retrieval devices EA1 and EA2 are connected with respective transmission devices. The connections between the subscriber input/retrieval devices and the transmission devices may be fixed lines, or, in case of a mobile communication network, may be radio connections. The subscriber input/retrieval devices allow to enter data and to retrieve data, respectively. The subscriber input/retrieval devices comprise input means K1, K2 and display means D1, D2. Since in the present embodiment the subscriber input/retrieval means and a respective communication device T1, T2 together form a unit, respective input means and display means may be shared by communication devices and subscriber input/retrieval means. In other embodiments, however, input/retrieval means EA may constitute separate units, located remotely from said communication devices shown in Fig. 1.

A list of preferred languages assigned to a respective subscriber may be stored by the subscriber in the storage means S using the input means Ki, K2. Further, subscribers may retrieve data, e.g. respective lists of preferred languages from the storage means S using the input means K1, K2. The retrieved data :o 20 subsequently is displayed on respective display means D1, D2. Preferably, a storage location within the storage means S for storing a list of preferred S languages is assigned to each subscriber. It is further preferred, that only an Sauthorized subscriber or service personnel is allowed to access the list of preferred languages.

A list of preferred languages may include data describing a specific sequence of languages according to subscriber preference, entered by a subscriber via subscriber input/retrieval means EA.

In case a connection is being set-up from one of the communication devices T1 T3, the list of at least one preferred language assigned to the subscriber is S\ transmitted such that the list is available to said message devices BV1 BV3.

However, it is possible that, in case a subscriber is to be notified, the list of the at least one preferred language is transmitted to the respective message device BV1 BV3 after the connection has been established. In case of a notification, said message devices BV1 BV3 transmit a message to a communication device in one of the preferred languages according to the list or in a predetermined (default) language.

In general, a list assigned to a calling subscriber or assigned to a called subscriber may be considered by the message device, and the called and/or the calling subscriber may be notified accordingly. Therefore, while a call is being established or at any other instant in time during the call, a list of preferred languages may be transmitted from a calling communication device T1 T3, and further, from the called communication device, a corresponding list of preferred languages may be transmitted in reverse direction, such that in case one or both 15 subscribers are to be notified, the respective lists are available at respective message devices BV1 BV3.

It is then determined whether the message is available in one of the preferred languages at the messagedevice. The list of preferred languages is therefore 20 processed according to the sequence of preferred languages and the message is transmitted to the subscriber in the first available language. In case none of the preferred languages is available, a known language selection method or a pre- .o0 determined language canbe used instead. The message is transmitted to the -oooo subscriber via one of the communication devices T1 T3. Messages can be composed of audio signals or can comprise a sequence of digits or characters to be displayed at the communication device.

Fig. 2 illustrates part of another embodiment of the communication system according to the invention. In Fig. 2, again three transmission devices UEV1, UEV2 and UEV3 are shown. Storage means S are connected to the transmission device UEV3, temporary storage means TS are connected to transmission device I EV2. Subscriber input/retrieval means EA1 are shown connected with transmission device UEV2. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, the storage means S are constituted by a central memory, permanently storing a plurality of lists of preferred languages assigned to subscribers. Preferably, lists of preferred languages or further subscriber data of a large number of subscribers served by any of said transmission devices of the network, are stored. Said temporary storage means TS store lists of preferred languages or subscriber data of subscribers served by the transmission device UEV2. Not shown in Fig. 2 are further temporary storage means connected to further transmission devices and storing subscriber data or lists of preferred languages of subscribers served by these transmission devices.

In the following, it is described, how a subscriber specifies a list of preferred languages via the subscriber input/retrieval means EA1. A language can be entered via the input means of the subscriber input/retrieval means EA1 by 15 entering sequences of numbers or characters. For example, the sequence of digits or characters can specify a country code where a language is used as an official language. Since country codes are standardized worldwide, this may also allow a recognition of the language in systems, which do not have the features according to the invention. Another approach to specify a language of the list of 20 preferred languages is to enter an internationally defined name of a respective country "SF" Finn. language) in form of a sequence of characters or digits S via the input means K1 of the input/retrieval means EA1. The sequence of the languages of the list of preferred languages can, be specified by the particular sequence the numbers or characters defining particular languages were entered. The list of preferred languages is stored by entering further numbers or characters before or after the numbers and characters specifying the languages.

For example, a list which is specified, in the sequence of preference, Finnish, Italian, German, English, may have the following form: 123 SF I BRD GR or 123 35 39 49 After the list is entered, the list is transmitted to the transmission device UEV2 where it is stored in the temporary storage means TS.

Further, the list is transmitted to the transmission device UEV3 where it is stored in the storage means S, constituting the central register.

11 In another embodiment of the invention the list of preferred languages may be directly transferred to said storage means S. In case of a mobile communication network according to the GSM standard, data transmission can be performed using an USSD (Unstructured Service Data) command. In this case the list is transferred from the subscriber input/retrieval means EA to a VLR (Visitor Location Register) storage means and to a HLR (Home Location Register) storage means.

The subscriber can retrieve the list of preferred languages by entering a specific retrieval command via input means of the subscriber input/retrieval means EA1.

This command is transmitted to the transmission device UEV3 and causes that the list of preferred languages is retrieved and transmitted to the subscriber input/retrieval means EA1. The command, as well as the list is transmitted via S 15 transmission device UEV2. In other embodiments the retrieval command directly retrieves the list of preferred languages from the temporary storage means TS.

The subscriber is further able to delete the list of preferred languages by entering a predetermined command via the subscriber input/retrieval means EAI. In this 20 case, the command is transmitted via transmission device UEV2 to transmission device UEV3 and the deletion of the list in the storage means S is executed.

SFig. 3 describes a further embodiment of the communication system according to the present invention. Two temporary storage means TS1, TS2 are provided. The temporary storage means are connected to transmission devices UEV1 and UEV2, respectively. With respect to Fig. 2 it was outlined that a list of preferred languages is stored in central storage means S as well as in temporary storage means TS, connected to the transmission device serving the subscriber. If now, as shown in Fig. 3, a subscriber, or communication device T1 moves from the area covered by transmission device UEV1 into the area covered by the transmission device UEV2, the list of preferred languages assigned to the isubscriber, which initially was stored in the temporary storage means TS1, is deleted and is stored in the temporary storage means TS2, connected to said transmission device UEV2.

In a preferred embodiment, in a GSM-system, this procedure can be performed as follows: the transmission device UEV3 or control means (not shown) connected to the central storage means, initiates the transfer of the list of preferred languages. The list is transmitted to temporary storage means TS2, by means of appending the list as a data packet into an extension part of the standard MAP-protocol. At the temporary storage means TS2, the list is stored together with further subscriber data. Further, the list is deleted in the temporary storage means TSI. In case an ISDN-network is part of the transmission path, the list is transmitted together with the IAM (Initial Address Message). The list of preferred languages is received from the ISDN-network by transmission device UEV2 and is stored in temporary storage means TS2. Further, the list is deleted in said temporary storage means TS1. This method may be also applied to a call forwarding. It is further possible that this method is applied to existing communication networks, by way of assigning certain code numbers to subscribers, for identifying the subscriber towards the network.

20 Fig. 4 illustrates an embodiment of the retrieval of a list of preferred languages. A message device BV1 is connected to transmission device UEV2, and storage means S are connected to transmission device UEV3. A communication device T1 and subscriber input/retrieval means EA1 are also connected to transmission S device UEV3. As outlined before, in case a connection is being set-up, originating from communication device T1, the list of preferred languages is transmitted from said storage means S to the message device BV1. A language is selected by the message device and a message is transmitted accordingly. Due to incompatibilities of communication networks or due to transmission errors, however, it may happen that the list of preferred languages is not or not completely transmitted to said message device. For example, a PSTN-network can form part of the link between transmission device UEV2 and transmission device UEV3, which does not support a transmission of the list of preferred languages.

Therefore, the message device BV1 of the shown embodiment includes retrieval means AV1 for actively retrieving the list from storage means S, in case the list was not received.

In order to determine, whether a call towards the message device BV1 originates from a subscriber having an associated list of preferred languages, the message device BV1 includes determining means PV1. For example, the determining means PV1 may be arranged to determine, by analyzing the country code and further partitions of the code number, whether the calling subscriber is a mobile subscriber. If the determining means PV1 determines, that a list of preferred languages could possibly be, or is assigned to the subscriber, the retrieval means PV1 transmits a "transmit list"-command to the transmission device UEV3. This i command initiates a transmission of the list of preferred languages to the message device. In other embodiments the "transmit list"-command may be transmitted without a previous polling.

S 20 Fig. 5 shows a flow chart illustrating the method for providing messages, in a preferred language, to subscribers of a communication system according to the invention. Initially, either a retrieval command may be sent out or an input of languages may be performed. In case of a retrieval command from the subscriber S input/retrieval means EA1, a sequence of digits or characters, entered via input means K1, is transmitted to storage means S, wherein the list of preferred languages is stored. In response thereto, the storage means S transmits the list of preferred languages to subscriber input/retrieval means, which in turn will display it on display means D1. The input of a list of preferred languages may be performed via a keyboard of the subscriber input/retrieval means, as previously described in detail with respect to Fig. 2. In case the list is to be stored, the list is transmitted to storage means S, TS1, TS2 and stored therein. Subsequent input and retrieval of languages of the list is possible. In case a connection is being established via a subscriber or a communication device, having a list of preferred languages assigned thereto, the list of preferred languages is transmitted. As outlined before, as a result, the list is thus available to respective message devices. However, it is also possible that the list is transmitted to the message device only in case a message needs to be provided. Subsequently, the message device provides, as described with respect to Fig. 1, a message to the subscriber in accordance with one of the preferred languages.

Fig. 6 illustrates how a message is transmitted in one of preferred languages by the message device, and further illustrates how a list of preferred languages may be actively retrieved, in case the list was not or not entirely transmitted during establishing a connection.

The flow starts at an entry point E. In case the message device determines that a 15 list of preferred languages was received, the determining means PV1 determines, in accordance to the sequence of preference, whether the message is available in :'.one of the preferred languages. In case the list was not received, the message device may determine, whether a list of preferred languages is assigned to the subscriber, ormay determine whether the subscriber is a mobile subscriber.

S 20 Following, said message device attempts to actively retrieve the list from the storage means by sending a retrieval command. In case no list is retrieved, the message is transmitted in a predetermined language. In case a list is received, a message will be sent to the subscriber in the first available language of the list of preferred languages, as described with respect to Fig. "Comprises/comprising" when used in this specification is taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one'or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.

Claims

1. Communication system including message means for providing messages in one of different languages, the system including: at least one transmission device; at least two communication devices; at least one storage device for storing at least one list including at least two preferred languages, while each of the at least one lists is assigned to one subscriber; at least one message device for providing messages in different languages; at least one subscriber input/retrieval device for storing a list with at least two preferred languages in the at least one storage device and for retrieving and displaying the list from said at least one storage device; each of the at least one subscriber input/retrieval devices includes input 15 means for entering sequences of digits or characters, and includes display means for displaying the list of at least two preferred languages; a list with at least two preferred languages assigned to a subscriber is transmitted between said at least two communication devices, or other units of the communication system, during establishing a connection or during an existing connection; and S" the at least one message device includes determining means for selecting, in accordance with the sequence of languages in the list, the first S: language available at the at least one message device, and for initiating that the message is transmitted to one of the at least two communication devices in o 25 the selected language. S

2. Communication system according to claim 1, wherein each of the at least one subscriber input/retrieval devices, together with a respective one of the communication devices provide a unit.

3. Communication system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least one list includes a plurality of preferred languages in a specific sequence.

4. Communication system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein only in case a subscriber is to be notified, during establishing a communication the list with the at least two preferred languages is transmitted to the corresponding message device. Communication system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one message device transmits a message to the communication device of the calling and/or called subscriber.

6. Communication system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a list with at least two preferred languages, assigned to a calling and/or a called subscriber, is transmitted, and, in case of a notification of the communication device of the calling and/or called subscriber, a message is transmitted in a language according to the corresponding list. S

7. Communication system according to any one of the preceding claims, including: f first temporary storage means connected to the first transmission device for storing a list with at least two preferred languages assigned to a subscriber 20 served by the first transmission device; second temporary storage means are provided connected to the second transmission device; and means for deleting the list of preferred languages in the first temporary storage means and for storing the list in the second temporary storage means, in case the subscriber moves from the area covered by the first temporary storage means into the area covered by the second temporary storage means.

8. Communication system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the message is transmitted to the communication device in a predetermined language, in case none of the languages is available.

9. Communication system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one message device includes retrieval means for retrieving a list with at least two preferred languages from storage means, in case the list is not or not properly transmitted from a communication device to message device. Communication system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one subscriber input/retrieval device is arranged to transmit sequences of digits or characters to said at least one storage device, the sequences of numbers or characters constituting country codes or international country abbreviations.

11. Communication system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the communication system is a mobile communication network and/or a telephone network according to the GSM-standard and/or a fixed telephone network.

12. Communication system according to claim 11, wherein the at least one 20 message device is arranged to receive a list with the at least two preferred languages in an extension part of the MAP (Mobile Application Part).

13. A communication system substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the embodiments of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings. DATED this 1 8 th day of September, 2001 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON WATERMARK PATENT TRADE MARK ATTORNEYS Unit 1, The Village Riverside Corporate Park

39-117 Delhi Road North Ryde NSW 2113