Mobile call management system

Abstract

The invention provides a method and a system for analyzing mobile telephony connectivity transaction information by the use of a code appended to a transaction.

1 . A method for marking mobile originating connectivity transactions which facilitates identification and classification of marked connectivity transactions in service provider billing and/or bill analysis, said method including marking of said transactions by transmitting a code when the transaction is initiated, during the duration thereof, or after completion thereof, wherein the bill analysis is performed by the consumer in which case the consumer downloads billing information including marked transactions from the service provider and utilises software and a database to classify said transactions at least into two categories. 
   
   
       2 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein connectivity transactions are calls and/or data transmission. 
   
   
       3 . A method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein a code is appended either as a prefix or a postfix to a telephone number when it is transmitted to the service provider for the call to be connected. 
   
   
       4 . A method as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the code is a system code which is recognised by the service provider thereby grouping charges on the billing system according to the codes or a user code which is not recognised by the service provider but is analysed by the user when the billing information has been downloaded. 
   
   
       5 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , in which a subscriber identity module is allocated at least two different identities which are selectively activated by the user. 
   
   
       6 . A method as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein an associated home database is suitably made to store information on which identity is activated, so that calls can be set up, cost information stored and so forth in a correct way in relation to the identities. 
   
   
       7 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the service provider of the mobile telephone network is precluded from viewing private information relating to the categorization of numbers which have been dialed. 
   
   
       8 . A method as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the subscriber identity module is so designed that the selective identity activation is carried out with the aid of keys or the like provided on the subscriber unit. 
   
   
       9 . A method as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the subscriber identity module identifies the identity activation with the aid of special means provided on the subscriber identity module such as touch contacts when the module is an active card. 
   
   
       10 . A method as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the activation takes place in connection with the input of a so-called PIN code and wherein each identity is allocated a special code. 
   
   
       11 . A method as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the PIN code is supplemented with code elements for selecting the desired identity. 
   
   
       12 . A method as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the allocation of directory information in the database is performed by one or more of the following methods:
 different identities of the subscriber identity module are allocated to one and same directory number and the home database is designed to allocate cost information for the current combination of directory number and identity;   different identities of the subscriber identity module are each allocated to a unique directory number of which one particular number is the subscriber's external telephone number, while the other number(s) is only used in the home database and may be unknown to the subscriber and to the public; and   two of the subscriber's directory numbers may be external telephone numbers, of which one suitably is a service number and the other is a private number.   
   
   
       13 . A method as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein when there is an outgoing call, the selected and activated identity is used together with the allocated directory number in a conventional manner. 
   
   
       14 . A method as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein for call transfer, use is made of a function of the type ‘Call Forwarding Unconditional’ (CFU), which is a well-known standard function adapted to be controlled by the subscriber together with a corresponding function, controlled by the network operator, operatively associated with the home database, so that one or more of the subscriber's directory numbers can be supplemented for direct transfer in the event of the associated identity being non-activated and provided that the subscriber has not himself made any arrangements for other direct call transfer. 
   
   
       15 . A call categorization system including a computer and software configured to identify connectivity transaction markers in a connectivity charges statement provided in electronic format by a service provider, said system configured to analyse the charges statement and group transactions which are marked in a predetermined manner in accordance with rules set in the software, wherein in one mode, the system operates by means of authorized and unauthorised lists of numbers in relation to a user identity. 
   
   
       16 . A system as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the user marks a number as authorized, however, the account payer may have to verify that a number is indeed authorized before it becomes a permanent part of the authorized list. 
   
   
       17 . A system as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein it is possible for a number to be authorized for a limited period only. 
   
   
       18 . A system as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein a number is automatically deemed to be unauthorized outside authorized hours and/or outside authorised days. 
   
   
       19 . A system as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the authorised list is modifiable manually from a handset or from software once the list of called numbers which have been billed has been downloaded. 
   
   
       20 . A system as claimed in  claim 15 , which allocates the actual cost of free calls and included calls (calls pre-paid as part of a bundle or a contract) according to the authorised and unauthorised lists, or according to any other classification rules together with the actual costs of the included calls for accounting purposes.