(19) United States
`(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2002/0037744 A1
`(43) Pub. Date:
`Mar. 28, 2002
`Bhatia et al.
`
`US 20020037744A1
`
`(54) TELECOMMUNICATIONS DEVICE FOR
`SENDING REALTIME INFORMATION TO A
`BUSINESS-TO-BUSINESS ENGINE FOR
`FACILITATING SERVICES TO THE
`TELECOMMUNICATIONS DEVICE
`
`Related US. Application Data
`
`(63) Non-provisional of provisional application No.
`60/235,142, ?led on Sep. 22, 2000.
`
`Publication Classi?cation
`
`(76) Inventors: Ranjit Bhatia, Plano, TX (US); Shashi
`Kavi, Plano, TX (US); Tahir Hussain,
`Dallas, TX (US); Arvind Betrabet,
`Murphy, TX (US)
`
`Correspondence Address:
`Andre M. Szuwalski
`Jenkens & Gilchrist, P.C.
`Suite 3200
`1445 Ross Avenue
`Dallas, TX 75202-2799 (US)
`
`(21) Appl.No.:
`
`09/755,939
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Jan. 5, 2001
`
`(51) Int. Cl? .................................................... .. H04M 1/00
`(52) Us. 01. ......................... ..455/557; 455/466; 455/414
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`A system and apparatus for facilitating the provision of
`realtime information to a Business-to-Business (B2B)
`engine by a telecommunications device Within a telecom
`munications system. The telecommunications device,
`including a Subscriber Identi?cation Module (SIM) card and
`an application unit therein, transmits the realtime informa
`tion to the B2B engine. In a feature of the present invention,
`the application unit, being in communication With the SIM
`card, gathers and constructs a message containing the real
`time information and transmits the realtime information to
`the B2B engine. Upon receipt of the realtime information,
`the B2B engine forWards the realtime information to an
`information service provider, Which, in turn, provides con
`tent data/services to the telecommunications device.
`
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`Patent Application Publication Mar. 28, 2002 Sheet 13 0f 18 US 2002/0037744 A1
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`US 2002/0037744 A1
`US 2002/0037744 A1
`
`Mar. 28, 2002
`Mar. 28, 2002
`
`TELECOMMUNICATIONS DEVICE FOR SENDING
`TELECOMMUNICATIONS DEVICE FOR SENDING
`REALTIME INFORMATION TO A
`REALTIME INFORMATION TO A
`BUSINESS-TO-BUSINESS ENGINE FOR
`BUSINESS-TO-BUSINESS ENGINE FOR
`FACILITATING SERVICES TO THE
`FACILITATING SERVICES TO THE
`TELECOMMUNICATIONS DEVICE
`TELECOMMUNICATIONS DEVICE
`
`CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
`CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATION
`APPLICATION
`
`[0001] This Application for Patent claims the benefit of
`[0001] This Application for Patent claims the bene?t of
`priority from, and hereby incorporates by reference the
`priority from, and hereby incorporates by reference the
`entire disclosure of, co-pending U.S. Provisional Applica-
`entire disclosure of, co-pending US. Provisional Applica
`tion for Patent Ser. No. 60/235,142 filed Sep. 22, 2000.
`tion for Patent Ser. No. 60/235,142 ?led Sep. 22, 2000.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT
`BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT
`INVENTION
`INVENTION
`
`[0002]
`1. Field of the Invention
`[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
`[0003] The present invention relates generally to a busi-
`[0003] The present invention relates generally to a busi
`ness-to-business system, and, in particular, to a telecommu-
`ness-to-business system, and, in particular, to a telecommu
`nications device capable of intelligently reporting realtime
`nications device capable of intelligently reporting realtime
`information associated with a telecommunications network
`information associated With a telecommunications netWork
`and subscribers to a Business-to-Business (B2B) engine.
`and subscribers to a Business-to-Business (B2B) engine.
`[0004]
`2. Background and Objects of the Present Inven-
`[0004] 2. Background and Objects of the Present Inven
`tion
`tion
`[0005] The growing accessibility of information on the
`[0005] The groWing accessibility of information on the
`Internet has made a great variety of content available.
`Internet has made a great variety of content available.
`Typically, users access this content at a fixed home or office
`Typically, users access this content at a ?xed home or office
`site through an Internet Service Provider (ISP). Content
`site through an Internet Service Provider (ISP). Content
`providers on the Internet forward their content, along with
`providers on the Internet forWard their content, along With
`advertisements or other commercial information, through
`advertisements or other commercial information, through
`the ISP directly to the user. Whereas, some ISPs currently
`the ISP directly to the user. Whereas, some ISPs currently
`maintain cache, e.g., Yahoo and America On Line (AOL) by
`maintain cache, e.g., Yahoo and America On Line (AOL) by
`providing additional content, most ISPs are purely conduits
`providing additional content, most ISPs are purely conduits
`of information, and as such are not expected to have
`of information, and as such are not expected to have
`increased value as this technology and service matures.
`increased value as this technology and service matures.
`[0006] A concurrent, more recent development is wireless
`[0006] A concurrent, more recent development is Wireless
`Internet access by mobile phone users. Due to the conver-
`Internet access by mobile phone users. Due to the conver
`gence of telecommunications and the Internet, a growing
`gence of telecommunications and the Internet, a groWing
`variety of devices are becoming multipurpose and are now
`variety of devices are becoming multipurpose and are noW
`available to access the Internet wirelessly, e.g., cell phones,
`available to access the Internet Wirelessly, e.g., cell phones,
`personal data assistants (PDAs) or other communications
`personal data assistants (PDAs) or other communications
`devices. As with ISPs, however, Internet content providers
`devices. As With ISPs, hoWever, Internet content providers
`are using existing telecommunications equipment as a mere
`are using existing telecommunications equipment as a mere
`conduit for passing information therethrough, thereby mar-
`conduit for passing information therethrough, thereby mar
`ginalizing the perceived value of these physical connections
`ginaliZing the perceived value of these physical connections
`owned by the telecommunications operators. This paradigm
`oWned by the telecommunications operators. This paradigm
`of operation is illustrated in FIG. 1 and is generally desig-
`of operation is illustrated in FIG. 1 and is generally desig
`nated therein by the reference numeral 100, where a number
`nated therein by the reference numeral 100, Where a number
`of content providers, e.g.,
`restaurant
`information 105,
`of content providers, e.g., restaurant information 105,
`weather information 110 and other such portals 115, channel
`Weather information 110 and other such portals 115, channel
`the respective data through a “pipe”,
`i.e.,
`the telecom
`the respective data through a “pipe”, i.e., the telecom
`operators’ equipment 120, to a realtime user.
`operators’ equipment 120, to a realtime user.
`[0007]
`In view of the high cost of telecommunications
`[0007] In vieW of the high cost of telecommunications
`network infrastructure and the need to avoid perceived
`netWork infrastructure and the need to avoid perceived
`obsolescence, telecommunications system operators must
`obsolescence, telecommunications system operators must
`restructure the interface between the content provider and
`restructure the interface betWeen the content provider and
`user to better exploit advantages in the technological con-
`user to better exploit advantages in the technological con
`vergence. In particular, a system and methodology offering
`vergence. In particular, a system and methodology offering
`an alternative paradigm avoiding the marginalization of the
`an alternative paradigm avoiding the marginaliZation of the
`telecommunications infrastructure and services and avoid-
`telecommunications infrastructure and services and avoid
`ing loss of identity is needed. In addition, the paradigm 100
`ing loss of identity is needed. In addition, the paradigm 100
`of FIG. 1 fails to make use of any realtime information
`of FIG. 1 fails to make use of any realtime information
`
`which is inherently provided within a serving telecommu-
`Which is inherently provided Within a serving telecommu
`nications network, such as location status, pertaining to the
`nications netWork, such as location status, pertaining to the
`mobile subscriber, an area which will be critical in numerous
`mobile subscriber, an area Which Will be critical in numerous
`future applications.
`future applications.
`[0008] Exemplary prior art methods related to the location
`[0008] Exemplary prior art methods related to the location
`and information provided to and from a mobile station
`and information provided to and from a mobile station
`includes U.S. Pat. No. 5,559,520 which generally describes
`includes US. Pat. No. 5,559,520 Which generally describes
`tracking the location change of a user using a GPS system
`tracking the location change of a user using a GPS system
`and providing information from a dispatcher to the user
`and providing information from a dispatcher to the user
`regarding a vehicle’s geographic coordinates.
`regarding a vehicle’s geographic coordinates.
`[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,926,108 generally describes pro-
`[0009] US. Pat. No. 5,926,108 generally describes pro
`viding movie information to a pager. The pager first request
`viding movie information to a pager. The pager ?rst request
`information from the system, which in turn determines the
`information from the system, Which in turn determines the
`pager’s location and sends movie information based on his
`pager’s location and sends movie information based on his
`location and optionally reserve tickets for the pager user.
`location and optionally reserve tickets for the pager user.
`[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 6,131,028 generally describes pro-
`[0010] US. Pat. No. 6,131,028 generally describes pro
`viding a specific predefined feature based on a user geo-
`viding a speci?c prede?ned feature based on a user geo
`graphic location. These features could be location-based call
`graphic location. These features could be location-based call
`forwarding or predefined business establishment directions.
`forWarding or prede?ned business establishment directions.
`[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 5,930,699 generally describes pro-
`[0011] US. Pat. No. 5,930,699 generally describes pro
`viding information about a business based on a location of
`viding information about a business based on a location of
`a mobile station. The cell identity is determined by the
`a mobile station. The cell identity is determined by the
`system and information regarding a business in that area is
`system and information regarding a business in that area is
`sent to the mobile station.
`sent to the mobile station.
`[0012] U.S. Pat. No. 6,091,956 generally describes a sys-
`[0012] US. Pat. No. 6,091,956 generally describes a sys
`tem that provides services about places and events a mobile
`tem that provides services about places and events a mobile
`computer encounters in their current location or potential
`computer encounters in their current location or potential
`destinations. The mobile computer is informed of events
`destinations. The mobile computer is informed of events
`relatec to places the user is willing to visit. Based on this
`relatec to places the user is Willing to visit. Based on this
`information,
`the mobile computer may respond, avoid
`information, the mobile computer may respond, avoid
`entirely, communicate with other people, or modify his plans
`entirely, communicate With other people, or modify his plans
`in view of such events.
`in vieW of such events.
`[0013] U.S. Pat. No. 6,108,533 generally describes pro-
`[0013] US. Pat. No. 6,108,533 generally describes pro
`viding a mobile station with ability to search, using key-
`viding a mobile station With ability to search, using key
`words, information in a database. Such information might
`Words, information in a database. Such information might
`require the knowledge of the location of the mobile station
`require the knoWledge of the location of the mobile station
`and search for the keyword provided by the mobile station
`and search for the keyWord provided by the mobile station
`in that area location database.
`in that area location database.
`[0014] U.S. Pat. No. 6,115,611 generally describes having
`[0014] US. Pat. No. 6,115,611 generally describes having
`an information center connected to a plurality of mobile
`an information center connected to a plurality of mobile
`terminals. The mobile terminals accessing location informa-
`terminals. The mobile terminals accessing location informa
`tion as well as other information helpful
`to the mobile
`tion as Well as other information helpful to the mobile
`terminal user from the information center. The information
`terminal user from the information center. The information
`center is used for accumulating information and/or services
`center is used for accumulating information and/or services
`from the mobile terminals and providing information to the
`from the mobile terminals and providing information to the
`mobile terminal related to the mobile terminal
`location
`mobile terminal related to the mobile terminal location
`information.
`information.
`[0015]
`It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to
`[0015] It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to
`provide a new system and methodology for mobile Internet
`provide a neW system and methodology for mobile Internet
`usage, which offer more value to the telecommunications
`usage, Which offer more value to the telecommunications
`network operators and better exploits technological advan-
`netWork operators and better exploits technological advan
`tages of the network.
`tages of the netWork.
`[0016]
`It is a further object that the system and method-
`[0016] It is a further object that the system and method
`ology of the present invention better utilize the realtime
`ology of the present invention better utiliZe the realtime
`information available in telecommunications networks
`information available in telecommunications netWorks
`about mobile subscribers and the content available, thereby
`about mobile subscribers and the content available, thereby
`leveraging the network capabilities to generate revenue.
`leveraging the netWork capabilities to generate revenue.
`[0017]
`It is another object of the present invention that the
`[0017] It is another object of the present invention that the
`enabler described herein leverages the realtime capabilities
`enabler described herein leverages the realtime capabilities
`of a telecommunications network.
`of a telecommunications netWork.
`
`

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`US 2002/0037744 A1
`
`Mar. 28, 2002
`
`It is an additional object of the present invention
`[0018]
`that the enabler better personalize services based upon user
`situation, e.g., user mobility.
`
`[0030] FIG. 10 is a flow diagram illustrating a number of
`signals employed in initiating an “OFF” trigger pursuant to
`the teachings of the present invention;
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`[0019] The present invention is directed to a system and
`apparatus for facilitating the provision of realtime informa-
`tion to a Business-to-Business (B2B) engine by a telecom-
`munications device within a telecommunications system.
`The telecommunications device,
`including a Subscriber
`Identification Module (SIM) card and an application unit
`therein,
`transmits the realtime information to the B2B
`engine. In a feature of the present invention, the application
`unit, being in communication with the SIM card, gathers and
`constructs a message containing the realtime information
`and transmits the realtime information to the B2B engine.
`Upon receipt of the realtime information, the B2B engine
`forwards the realtime information to an information service
`
`provider, which, in turn, provides content data/services to
`the telecommunications device.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`[0020] The disclosed invention will be described with
`reference to the accompanying drawings, which show
`important sample embodiments of the invention and which
`are incorporated in the specification hereof by reference,
`wherein:
`
`[0021] FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional telecommunica-
`tions system for providing a variety of Internet-based con-
`tent to a subscriber;
`
`[0022] FIG. 2 illustrates a telecommunications system in
`accordance with the principles of the present
`invention,
`providing a business-to-business engine interfacing with
`external content providers and providing realtime subscriber
`information thereto;
`
`[0023] FIG. 3 further illustrates the telecommunications
`system of FIG. 2, demonstrating the interaction between
`telecommunications operators and the content providers by
`way of the business-to-business engine in accordance with
`the present invention;
`
`[0024] FIG. 4 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the
`present invention illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, demonstrat-
`ing the interaction between mobile telecommunications
`operators and content providers using the business-to-busi-
`ness engine;
`
`[0025] FIG. 5 illustrates exemplary interactions between
`the business-to-business engine of the present invention and
`different elements of a network;
`
`[0026] FIG. 6 illustrates an architecture of a number of
`application modules in a preferred embodiment of the
`present invention;
`
`[0027] FIG. 7 illustrates an alternate architecture for the
`application modules from that shown in FIG. 6 in accor-
`dance with another embodiment of the present invention;
`
`[0028] FIG. 8 is a flow diagram illustrating a flow of
`signals employed in user subscription initialization;
`
`[0029] FIG. 9 illustrates a preferred interface between a
`portal and user equipment through the B2B engine of the
`present invention;
`
`[0031] FIG. 11 is another flow diagram illustrating a flow
`of signals for an event occurring in a telecommunication
`system in accordance with the teachings of the present
`invention;
`
`[0032] FIG. 12 is a flow diagram illustrating a user-on
`indication to the B2B engine of the present invention;
`
`[0033] FIG. 13 is a flow diagram illustrating a location
`area update to the B2B engine of the present invention;
`
`[0034] FIG. 14 illustrates an architecture in a preferred
`embodiment of the present invention, demonstrating a num-
`ber of interactions between the B2B engine and several
`network nodes;
`
`[0035] FIG. 15 illustrates an example of network node
`notification to the B2B engine;
`
`[0036] FIG. 16 illustrates the communications of realtime
`information associated with mobile subscriber from various
`
`network elements to the B2B engine in accordance with the
`teachings of the present invention;
`
`[0037] FIG. 17 illustrates a number of the protocols used
`in connection with the present
`invention, particularly
`between the B2B engine and several network nodes; and
`
`[0038] FIG. 18 illustrates an exemplary configuration and
`interworking of a B2B engine with different network archi-
`tectures.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PRESENTLY PREFERRED EXEMPLARY
`EMBODIMENTS
`
`[0039] The numerous innovative teachings of the present
`application will be described with particular reference to the
`presently preferred exemplary embodiments. However, it
`should be understood that this class of embodiments pro-
`vides only a few examples of the many advantageous uses
`of the innovative teachings herein. In general, statements
`made in the specification of the present application do not
`necessarily delimit any of the various claimed inventions.
`Moreover, some statements may apply to some inventive
`features but not to others.
`
`invention sets forth a system and
`[0040] The present
`methodology for providing personalized, customizable
`intelligent information and associated services to mobile
`subscribers based on the mobile subscribers’ realtime infor-
`
`mation, including but not limited to the mobile subscriber’s
`current activity, preferences, location, usage and behavior
`patterns inherent in realtime networks.
`
`[0041] As noted hereinabove, FIG. 1 illustrates a conven-
`tional telecommunications system that supplies information
`to telecom subscribers. In the prior art, the contents of the
`restaurant and weather
`information, 105 and 110,
`for
`example, are supplied from the content providers to the end
`users directly. The telecom operators 120, however, in this
`paradigm are only pipe providers passing the information to
`the end users, akin to many current ISPs. In particular, and
`as discussed in more detail hereinbelow, the telecom opera-
`tors 120 do not share any realtime information 130 about the
`user with the content providers and are only a means to pass
`
`

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`US 2002/0037744 A1
`
`Mar. 28, 2002
`
`information one-way from the content providers directly to
`the users who, of course, operate in realtime. As an illus-
`tration,
`in order for a mobile subscriber to retrieve the
`weather information associated with the subscriber’s current
`
`location in a conventional system, although the serving
`mobile telecommunication network already knows the
`approximate location of the mobile subscriber, since the
`serving mobile telecommunications network merely act as a
`conduit for communicating such information,
`the mobile
`subscriber nevertheless has to manually provide the location
`information to the Internet content provider.
`
`[0042] With reference now to FIG. 2, there is illustrated a
`business-to-business (B2B) engine 210 in accordance with a
`preferred embodiment of the present invention. The busi-
`ness-to-business engine 210 includes a number of applica-
`tion modules 220 therein, as more fully illustrated and
`described hereinbelow with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7 and
`
`the accompanying text. In a preferred configuration, the B2B
`engine 210 runs on network hardware, generally designated
`in FIG. 2 by the reference numeral 224, e.g., a Sparc
`processor, and uses an operating system/ middle ware 222,
`e.g., Solaris OS, which is stable and performs various
`functions described in more detail hereinbelow. It should, of
`course, be understood that alternate hardware and software
`may be utilized in the implementation of the instant inven-
`tion, as understood by one skilled in the art. With further
`reference to FIG. 2, the B2B engine 210 is connected to a
`telecommunication system 230 and to the Internet 250.
`
`[0043] The telecommunication system 230 preferably
`includes a wireless service provider or any service provider
`that services a number of subscriber or user terminals, e.g.,
`cellular phones, personal data assistants (PDAs) or any
`wireless or wireline communications device or equipment
`capable of receiving signals. In addition, the B2B engine
`210 is coupled, via a link 248 to the Internet, generally
`designated by the reference numeral 250, which includes
`content provider applications that supply information to
`users pro-actively. The supplied information may be found
`at and forwarded from a weather server 260, a financial
`server 262, a news server 264 and/or an ad server 266, via
`a respective link 252 to the Internet 250, which provides the
`gateway for the respective services.
`
`[0044] An Internet portal for collecting and providing
`certain services based on such collected information may
`also be connected to the Internet 250. Such a portal may
`further communicate with other associated servers 260, 262,
`264, 266, and communicate such collected information to a
`requester via the Internet 250.
`
`[0045] With reference now to FIG. 3, there is illustrated a
`preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing the
`alternate paradigm of the instant invention as compared to
`the conventional paradigm shown in FIG. 1. The B2B
`Engine 210 connected to a serving telecommunication
`operator 120 communicates certain realtime information
`associated with a particular mobile subscriber to any one of
`the content providers, such as restaurant information pro-
`vider 105, weather information provider 110 or service
`portal 115. Each of these content providers or portal can then
`use the received realtime information associated with a
`
`particular mobile subscriber to provide a service customized
`to that particular subscriber’s realtime status or preference.
`As an illustration, a request for nearby Italian restaurants
`
`will be answered and provided to the requesting mobile
`subscriber without the mobile subscriber manually typing in
`the current location thereof. The B2B engine would auto-
`matically receive the current
`location of the requesting
`mobile subscriber and communicate this realtime informa-
`
`tion (location information) to the content provider pro-
`actively.
`in order for a
`[0046] As further described in FIG. 8,
`particular content provider to receive certain realtime infor-
`mation or event associated with a particular mobile sub-
`scriber, the content provider must subscribe with the B2B
`Engine. The content provider may need to provide a mobile
`identification number associated with a particular mobile
`subscriber and subscribe with the B2B engine to monitor
`and provide the content provider with certain realtime
`information associated with that particular mobile sub-
`scriber. As an example, the weather information provider
`may subscribe with the B2B engine to monitor a particular
`subscriber’s location and “on” information. As a result,
`whenever that particular mobile subscriber turns his mobile
`station on, such realtime information will be provided to the
`weather information provider by the B2B engine. The
`weather information provider will, in turn, automatically
`provide the current weather in