Method and system for transmitting subscriber-specific information in a telecommunication system
The inventive method and system enable an increase in the amount of information that may be transmitted from a call-initiating first telecommunication terminal to an automated application or device or machine or the like in conjunction with the call request. The content of the A-number field to be transmitted from a conversion/transmission center to a destination second telecommunication terminal is modified by adding control information to the A-number field. This control information is used to control an actuating device that is connected to the second telecommunication terminal and which operates or forms a part of the automated application or device or machine.
1. In a method for transmitting subscriber-specific information in a telecommunication system that includes a telecommunication network, a conversion/transmission center connected to the telecommunication network, a first telecommunication terminal having an associated A-number and connected to the conversion/transmission center through the telecommunication network, a second telecommunication terminal having an associated B-number and connected to the conversion/transmission center through the telecommunication network, and an actuating device connected to the second telecommunication terminal, wherein connection-specific information is transmitted from the first telecommunication terminal to the second telecommunication terminal to effect a call from the first telecommunication terminal, and subscriber-specific optional parameters are added to a dialing string sent to the conversion/transmission center from the first telecommunication terminal to initiate the call such that the dialing string includes at least the B-number and the subscriber-specific optional parameters, the improvement comprising the steps of:
sending a dialing string including the B-number and subscriber-specific optional parameters from the first telecommunication terminal to the conversion/transmission center to initiate the call;
determining, at the conversion/transmission center, the B-number and the subscriber-specific optional parameters from the dialing string received from the first telecommunication terminal;
modifying an A-number field to be transmitted from the conversion/transmission center in the telecommunication network to the second telecommunication terminal in connection with the call by one of adding control information to the A-number field and replacing the A-number field with the control information, the control information comprising at least a portion of the subscriber-specific optional parameters in the dialing string sent to the conversion/transmission center from the first telecommunication terminal to initiate the call; and
controlling the actuating device in accordance with the control information contained in the modified A-number field.
2. In a method in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising the step of adding to the A-number field, in the conversion/transmission center, information dependent on one of a geographic location of the first telecommunication terminal, time and other factors.
3. In a method in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising the step of transmitting the control information added to the A-number field in conjunction with a call request.
4. In a method in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising the step of transmitting to the first telecommunication terminal a confirmation of execution of a control request defined by the control information for controlling the actuating device.
5. In a method in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising the steps of transmitting to the first telecommunication terminal, by answering of the call at the second telecommunication terminal, a confirmation of execution of a control request defined by the control information for controlling the actuating device.
6. In a system for transmitting subscriber-specific information in a telecommunication system that includes a telecommunication network, a conversion/transmission center connected to the telecommunication network, a first telecommunication terminal having an associated A-number and connected to the conversion/transmission center through the telecommunication network, a second telecommunication terminal having an associated B-number and connected to the conversion/transmission center through the telecommunication network, and an actuating device connected to the second telecommunication terminal, wherein system information is transmitted from the first telecommunication terminal to the second telecommunication terminal to effect a call from the first telecommunication terminal, and subscriber-specific optional parameters are added to a dialing string sent to the conversion/transmission center from the first telecommunication terminal to initiate the call such that the dialing string includes at least the B-number and the subscriber-specific optional parameters, the improvement comprising:
means for sending a dialing string including the B-number and subscriber-specific optional parameters from the first telecommunication terminal to the conversion/transmission center to initiate the call;
means for determining, at the conversion/transmission center, the B-number and the subscriber-specific optional parameters from the dialing string received from the first telecommunication terminal:
means for modifying an A-number field to be transmitted from the conversion/transmission center in the telecommunication network to the second telecommunication terminal in connection with the call by adding control information to the A-number field, the control information comprising at least a portion of subscriber-specific optional parameters in the dialing string sent to the conversion/transmission center from the first telecommunication terminal to initiate the call; and
means for controlling the actuating device in accordance with the control information contained in the modified A-number field.
7. In a system in accordance with claim 6 , further comprising means for adding to the A-number field information dependent on one of a geographic location of the first telecommunication terminal, time and other factors.
8. In a system in accordance with claim 6 , wherein the conversion/transmission center comprises a telephone exchange.
9. In a system in accordance with claim 6 , wherein the conversion/transmission center comprises a message center.
10. In a system in accordance with claim 6 , wherein the conversion/transmission center comprises a voice response unit.
11. In a system in accordance with claim 6 , wherein the first telecommunication terminal comprises a mobile station.
12. In a system in accordance with claim 6 , wherein the second telecommunication terminal comprises a mobile station.
13. In a system in accordance with claim 6 , wherein the first telecommunication terminal comprises a telephone apparatus in a public switched telephone network.
14. In a system in accordance with claim 6 , wherein the second telecommunication terminal comprises a numerical display device.