WO2005009011A1

WO2005009011A1 - Method and device for updating a directory containing coordinates of a telecommunication network subscriber's parties

Info

Publication number: WO2005009011A1
Application number: PCT/FR2003/001887
Authority: WO
Inventors: Philippe Lottin; Jean-Felix Favre-Felix
Original assignee: France Telecom
Priority date: 2003-06-19
Filing date: 2003-06-19
Publication date: 2005-01-27
Also published as: EP1634431A1; AU2003267492A1

Abstract

The invention concerns a method and device for updating a directory containing coordinates of a telecommunication network subscriber's parties, a first directory being stored in a first telecommunication terminal, a second directory being stored in a second communication terminal. The invention is characterized in that the method comprises the following steps performed at the first telecommunication terminal: receiving coordinates transmitted by the second telecommunication terminal in the form of electronic calling cards, determining which electronic calling cards should be included or eliminated in the directory among the received electronic calling cards and inserting or eliminating the electronic calling cards in the first directory. The invention also concerns the associated updating device.

Description

Method and device for updating a directory comprising the coordinates of correspondents of a subscriber to a telecommunications network

The present invention relates to a method and a device for updating directories in a telecommunications network. More specifically, the invention is in the field of updating and synchronizing telephone directories stored in a telephone directory server of a telecommunications network and in a telecommunications terminal such as a telephone handset of the communication network. telecommunication. Telephone directory download services exist in wireless telecommunications networks such as the GSM network, an abbreviation of the English terms Global System for Mobile communication. For example, a subscriber to the Orange® telecommunication network can modify the directory of their mobile phone through the server of this company's website. The user can for example enter new coordinates in his telephone directory, select coordinates from all the coordinates contained in the telephone directory and activate the transfer of the selected telephone coordinates to the directory of his mobile telephone. The transfer of the selected telephone contact details between the website server of this company and the user's mobile phone is done via an SMSC short message server and a download platform. SMSC is the abbreviation for the English terms Short Message Service Center. The SMSC server assembles the selected coordinates in the form of SMS messages, an abbreviation of the English terms Short Message Service and delivers as many SMS to the mobile phone as necessary for the transfer of the coordinates. The telephone coordinates thus transferred are stored in place of the telephone coordinates already recorded. The directory thus formed in the mobile phone is stored in the SIM card (Subscriber Identity Module) of the mobile phone. This service does not partially modify a directory on a mobile phone. The amount of information transferred is therefore not optimal. If only one coordinate among all the coordinates contained in the mobile telephone directory must be modified or created, all the coordinates in the telephone directory must nevertheless be transferred. In addition, the user of the mobile telephone can modify the telephone directory stored in his mobile telephone by means of the man-machine interface thereof. In this case, the directory stored in the telephone operator's server is not modified and the two directories are then out of sync. Managing the telephone directory through the operator's server then becomes difficult. These services are not currently offered in telecommunications networks of the wired telephone network type such as the PSTN network (switched telephone network) or the ISDN network (Digital Network with Service Integration). The subscriber of a wired telephone network must register the telephone coordinates which he wishes in his telephone handset using the human machine interface of the telephone handset. This task is often long and tedious because the human machine interface of the telephone handset is unsuitable for this type of recording. Today, the same person has a plurality of telephone handsets. This is for example the case of a person with a handset telephone at home, a telephone handset at his workplace and a telephone handset at his second home. This person must memorize the coordinates of the correspondents he wishes to reach in each of these telephone handsets. This task is tedious for such a person. Also known are electronic business cards that contain an individual's contact information. These electronic business cards include, among other things, the contact details in electronic form of a person, the surname and first name of the person, the postal address of their home and / or workplace, or even their email address. home and / or workplace. These electronic business cards are particularly used for the transfer of information across the Internet. These electronic business cards are for example electronic business cards conforming to the vCard specification. The vCard specification acronym for "The Electronic Business Card" is a specification from the Nersit consortium. The current version is version 3 issued in September 1998. This specification defines an electronic business card format for the exchange of data between applications or systems. Electronic business cards according to this specification do not include information to determine whether the information contained in these electronic business cards is still valid or not. Thus, when the subscriber described by an electronic business card changes phone number, address or company and has a new electronic business card, it is difficult to determine which of the electronic business cards is the card obsolete electronic visit sign. This therefore disrupts the use of such electronic business cards over time. The object of the invention is to solve the drawbacks of the prior art by proposing a method for updating a directory comprising the coordinates of correspondents of a subscriber to a telecommunications network, a first directory being stored in a first telecommunication terminal, a second directory being stored in a second telecommunication terminal, characterized in that the method comprises the steps carried out at the level of the first telecommunication terminal for receiving coordinates transmitted by the second telecommunication terminal in the form of business cards of electronic business cards to be included or deleted in the first directory among the electronic business cards received and insertion or deletion of the electronic business cards in the directory of the first telecommunications terminal. Correlatively, the invention provides a device for updating a directory comprising the coordinates of correspondents of a subscriber to a telecommunications network, a first directory being stored in a first telecommunications terminal, a second directory being stored in a second telecommunications terminal, characterized in that the device comprises means for receiving coordinates transmitted by the second telecommunications terminal in the form of electronic business cards, means for determining electronic business cards to be included or deleted in the first directory among the electronic business cards received and means for inserting or deleting electronic business cards in the directory of the first telecommunications terminal. Thus, when modifying a directory, it is no longer necessary to replace the whole of a preexisting directory by the new received directory. By determining the electronic business cards to be included or deleted in the directory of the first telecommunications terminal and by inserting or deleting only the relevant electronic business cards, it is not necessary to delete contact details from the pre-existing directory if these are always present in the new directory received. In addition, the use of electronic business cards makes it possible to produce very complete and practical directories for the user. Indeed, a directory including contact details of correspondents in the form of electronic business cards allows easy searches for contact details in the directory. It is then easy to find the contact details of a correspondent, for example the telephone number of the home or the telephone number of the workplace. The subscriber can find these two numbers in the same electronic business card, for example. In addition, thanks to the transfer of an electronic business card, it is no longer necessary for the subscriber to have to manually enter these coordinates via the man-machine interface of his telecommunications terminal. More specifically, the electronic business cards transmitted by the second terminal are included in at least one short message. Thus, the transmission of contact details in the form of electronic business cards is in accordance with existing data transmission protocols. The compatibility of telecommunications terminals for the transfer of these coordinates is thus ensured. More particularly, the or each short message includes date and time information associated with each electronic business card included in the short message. Thus, electronic business cards are associated with information allowing them to be dated. It is therefore possible to differentiate among the most recent electronic business cards of the same correspondent. More specifically, the date and time information is included in a predetermined field of each electronic business card. Thus, the management of this type of information is easier since the electronic business card itself includes the date and time information. This information is transmitted at the same time as the electronic business card. More particularly, date and time information is associated with the electronic business cards included in the directory of the first telecommunications terminal. Thus, if the electronic business cards do not include a field comprising date and time information, the date and time information associated with the electronic business cards contained in the directory are not lost and can thus be used later. More specifically, the date and time information is representative of the date and time of storage of the electronic business card in the directory or of the date and time of a modification of one of the directories of the 'subscriber or the date and time of receipt of the electronic business card by the first telecommunications terminal or the deletion of the business card from one of the subscriber's directories. Thus, it is possible to date each memorization of an electronic card in a directory or to determine the date of the last modification of a directory or the date of reception of a directory. Management is then made easier. More particularly, the first terminal is a telephone handset and the second terminal is a directory server of the telecommunications network. More specifically, the directory server is connected to a computer device of the subscriber and the second directory is modified according to information transmitted by the computer device. Thus, directory modifications are easier to carry out for the subscriber. As the IT system has a more advanced human-machine interface than that of a telephone handset, changes to the directory by the subscriber are much faster and easier. More particularly, the directory server, following a modification of the second directory, transmits coordinates of the second directory to the telephone handset. Thus, the telephone handset directory is always synchronized with the directory server directory. More specifically, according to a first embodiment of the invention, the transmission to the telephone handset is carried out via an SMSC server. Thus, the transmission of contact details of the directory is done with a short message server in the same way as the transmission of conventional short messages. According to this embodiment, the transfer is carried out automatically without the need for the subscriber to make a call to the directory server. Here we mean as a short message, an SMS type message (Short

Message Service), an EMS (Enhanced Message Service) message or an MMS (Multimedia Message Service) message. These short messages will be explained in more detail later. More particularly, according to a second embodiment of the invention, the transmission to the telephone handset is carried out during a telephone call previously established with the telephone handset following acceptance of the transmission by the subscriber. Thus the subscriber, by consulting the directory server can at any time initiate the transfer of the directory from the directory server without having to stop the communication in progress with the directory server. More precisely, each electronic business card to be included in the first directory is determined by comparing predetermined information in each electronic business card stored in the first directory with predetermined information from the received electronic business card and insert it electronic business card received if there is no electronic business card contained in the first directory relative to the same correspondent or if the date and time information associated with the electronic business card contained in the first relative directory to the same correspondent are older than the date and time information associated with the electronic business card received. More precisely, each electronic business card to be deleted in the first directory is determined by comparing whether the date and time information associated with the electronic business card contained in the first directory relating to the same correspondent is older than the date and time information associated with the electronic business card received. Thus, the correspondent directory always includes the most recent correspondent coordinates. The risks of errors are thus greatly limited. Obsolete electronic business cards are thus automatically erased without intervention from the subscriber. More particularly, the determination of electronic business cards to be included or deleted in the first directory includes, for each electronic business card received, a step of interrogating the subscriber to authorize or not the inclusion or the deletion of the business card. electronic visit in the first directory. Thus, the subscriber can check the coordinates which are stored and modify a selection of coordinates previously made by means of the computer device. According to a variant of the invention, the first terminal is a directory server of the telecommunications network and the second terminal is a telephone handset. Thus, updating a telephone directory is possible from a telephone handset to a directory server. There is therefore no longer any risk of desynchronization of the telephone handset directory and the directory server directory. The subscriber can thus, when consulting a telephone information server or a server communicating the number or numbers of other telephone handsets which have tried to reach him or have joined him, include the new contact details provided by these servers in the directory of the telephone handset and transmit these in the directory associated with it in the directory server. More precisely, each electronic business card to be included in the first directory is determined by comparison of predetermined information. in each electronic business card stored in the first directory and predetermined information in the received electronic business card and the received electronic business card is inserted if there is no electronic business card contained in the first directory relating to the same correspondent or if the date and time information associated with the electronic business card contained in the first directory relating to the same correspondent is older than the date and time information associated with the contact card electronic visit received. More specifically, the directory server receives the coordinates transmitted by the first terminal via an SMSC server. The invention also relates to a method for updating a directory comprising the coordinates of correspondents of a subscriber to a telecommunications network, a first directory being stored in a first telecommunications terminal, a second directory being stored in a second telecommunication terminal, characterized in that the method comprises the steps, carried out at the first telecommunication terminal, of receiving coordinates in the form of electronic business cards transmitted by a computer device for updating the first directory, of determining electronic business cards to be included or deleted in the first directory among the electronic business cards received, insertion of electronic business cards in the directory of the first telecommunications terminal and transfer of each electronic business card inserted or deleted in the directory of the first telecommunication terminal to the second telecommunication terminal for updating the directory of the second telecommunication terminal. Correlatively, the invention provides a device for updating a directory comprising the coordinates of correspondents of a subscriber to a telecommunications network, a first directory being stored in a first telecommunications terminal, a second directory being stored in a second telecommunications terminal, characterized in that the device comprises means for receiving coordinates in the form of electronic business cards transmitted by a computer device for updating the first directory, means for determining electronic business cards to be included or deleted in the first directory among the electronic business cards received, means for inserting electronic business cards in the directory of the first telecommunications terminal and means for transferring each electronic business card inserted or deleted in the directory of the first telecommunications terminal to the second telecommunications terminal for updating the directory of the second telecommunications terminal. The invention also relates to an electronic business card comprising the coordinates of a correspondent, characterized in that the electronic business card comprises a predetermined field comprising date and time information. More specifically, the date and time information is representative of the date and time of the creation of the electronic business card in the directory or of the date and time of the inclusion of the business card. electronic visit in a directory of subscribers or reception of the electronic visit card by a telecommunication terminal. The advantages of the business card being identical to those described for the method and the updating device, these will not be described further. The invention also relates to the computer program stored on an information medium, said program comprising instructions making it possible to implement the methods described above, when they are loaded and executed by a computer system. The characteristics of the invention mentioned above, as well as others, will appear more clearly on reading the following description of an exemplary embodiment, said description being made in relation to the accompanying drawings, among which: FIG. . 1 shows the architecture of a telecommunications system according to a first embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 shows the architecture of a telecommunications system according to a second embodiment of the invention; Fig. 3 shows a schematic view of the telecommunications terminal according to the invention; Fig. 4 shows a schematic view of the directory server according to the first embodiment of the invention; Fig. 5 shows a schematic view of the directory server according to the second embodiment of the invention; Fig. 6a represents the algorithm for recording, dating and transferring to a SMSC server the coordinates of a correspondent via a telephone handset according to the first embodiment of the invention; Fig. 6b represents the transfer algorithm from an SMSC server to a directory server of contact details according to the first embodiment of the invention; Fig. 6c represents the algorithm for updating a directory of contact details in the directory server according to the first embodiment of the invention; Fig. 7a represents the algorithm for updating a directory of contact details in the directory server via a computer connected to the directory server and for transferring the modifications to an SMSC server according to the first embodiment of the invention; Fig. 7b represents the algorithm for updating a directory of contact details in a telephone handset from information transmitted by an SMSC server according to the first embodiment of the invention; Fig. 8a represents the algorithm for recording, dating and transferring to a directory server the coordinates of correspondents via a telephone handset according to the second embodiment of the invention; Fig. 8b represents the algorithm for updating a directory of contact details in the directory server according to the second embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 1 shows the architecture of a telecommunications system according to a first embodiment of the invention. Fig. 1 represents a telecommunications system in which a subscriber 10 communicates with a server 15 of the telecommunications network. The telecommunications network consists of a first telecommunications network 13 and a second telecommunications network 16. The telecommunications network 13 is for example a PSTN Switched Telephone Network allowing communication between a telephone handset 11 of the subscriber 10 and the server 15 of the telecommunications network. The telecommunication network 15 can also be an ISDN (Digital Network with Service Integration) type network. The second telecommunication network is for example an Internet type network 16 allowing communication between a computer device 12 of the subscriber 10 and the server 15 of the telecommunication network. The telecommunications terminal 15 is a directory server. The directory server 15 stores the directory of contact details of subscriber 10. The directory server 15 also transfers information for updating the directory of contact details of subscriber 10 stored in the telephone handset 11 of the subscriber 10 following modifications by subscriber 10 from his computer device 12 of the directory stored by the directory server 15. The directory server 15 also updates the directory of contact details of subscribers 10 which he stores following modifications to the directory of contact details of subscriber 10 stored in the telephone handset 11. It should be noted that only one telephone handset is represented for subscriber 10. Of course, subscriber 10 can have access to '' a greater number of telephone handsets, the directory of each telephone handset can be modified or synchronized selo n the invention. Subscriber 10 can also modify the directory of contact details stored in the directory server 15 from each telephone handset. The directory server 15 is accessible via the Internet telecommunications network 16 and the subscriber's computer device 12 10. The subscriber 10 obtains his directory of contact details from the directory server 15. He modifies it by adding and / or deletion of contact details and / or selection of contact details to be transferred to the telephone handset 11 from among the set of contact details contained in its directory of contact details stored in the directory server 15. Updating the directory of contact details of the subscriber 10 stored in the telephone handset 11 is carried out via a short message server SMSC 14 and a transit switch CTS 17 of the telecommunications network 13. A SMSC server 14 is a server which delivers messages in the form of short messages to telecommunications terminals. SMSC is the abbreviation for the English terms Short Message Service Center. The exchange of data between the directory server 15 and the SMSC server 14 is carried out for example in accordance with the UCP protocol (Universal Computer Protocol) or the SMPP protocol acronym for Short Message Peer to Peer or peer-to-peer short message protocol. The exchange of data between the SMSC server 14 and the transit switch 17 is carried out according to an exchange protocol between switches of a telecommunications network of type SS7 (signaling system number 7) or SSUR (User Subsystem for ISDN Signaling System No. 7). Short messages are for example SMS service messages, EMS messages or MMS messages. An EMS message, an abbreviation of the English terms Enhanced Message Service, is a service message which includes sequences of images or music and may, among other things, include electronic business cards of the vCard type. An MMS message, an abbreviation of the English words Multimedia Message Service, is a service message which may include sequences of video images or music. These short messages include the coordinates of other telecommunication terminals of the telecommunication network 13 included for example in the directory of the subscriber 10 stored in the directory server 15. More particularly, the coordinates of the telephone directory of the subscriber 10 are stored in the form of electronic business cards in a format compliant with the vCard standard. The standard vCard acronym for "The Electronic Business Card" is a specification from the Versit consortium. The current version is version 3 issued in September 1998. This specification defines an electronic business card format for the exchange of data between applications or systems. The telephone handset 11 directory can also be downloaded by the directory server 15 via the SMSC server 14, the transit switch 17 of the telecommunications network 13, at the request of the subscriber's computer device 12. The directory server 15 is accessible via the telecommunications network 13 by the subscriber's telephone handset 11 10. The subscriber 10 modifies the directory of contact details stored in his telephone handset by adding and / or deleting contact details and / or selection of some coordinates among the set of coordinates contained in the directory of correspondent coordinates. The telephone handset 11 then transfers the directory thus modified to the directory server 15 so that the latter synchronizes the directory of the subscriber 10 which it stores with the received directory. The directory server 15 is accessible to subscriber 10 by dialing, for example, a predetermined telephone number. Fig. 2 shows the architecture of a telecommunications system according to a second embodiment of the invention. Fig. 2 represents a telecommunications system in which a subscriber

10 communicates with a server 25 of the telecommunications network. The telecommunications network consists of a first telecommunications network 23 and a second telecommunications network 26. The telecommunications network 23 is for example a PSTN Switched Telephone Network allowing communication between a telephone handset 11 of the subscriber 10 and the server 25 of the telecommunications network. The telecommunications network 23 can also be an ISDN (Digital Network with Service Integration) type network. The second telecommunication network is for example an Internet type network 26 allowing communication between a computer device 12 of the subscriber 10 and the server 25 of the telecommunication network. The telecommunications terminal 25 is a directory server. The directory server 25 stores the directory of contact details of subscriber 10. The directory server 25 also transfers information for updating the directory of contact details of subscriber 10 stored in the telephone handset 11 of the subscriber 10 following modifications by subscriber 10 from his computer device 12 of the directory stored by the directory server 25. The directory server 25 is accessible via the Internet telecommunications network 26 by the computer device 12 of the subscriber 10. Subscriber 10 obtains, via the device and the telecommunications network 26, his directory of contact details of correspondents of the directory server 25, modifies the latter by adding and / or deleting contact details and / or selection coordinates among all the coordinates contained in its directory of correspondent coordinates stored in the directory server 25. The modified directory is then transmitted to the telephone handset 11 in order to modify the directory of contact details contained in the telephone handset 11. According to a first variant of this second embodiment, the directory server 25 includes a short message service center SMSC . The transfer by the SMSC server to the telephone handset 11 of the directory of the user 10 stored in the directory server 25 is carried out by generating a call to establish a communication with the telephone handset 11 and communicating to the latter at the same time. SMSC server identifier. With this identifier, the telephone handset 11 identifies the call and automatically takes the call. The short message is then transferred from the SMSC server to the telephone handset 11 and the communication between the SMSC server and the telephone handset 11 is interrupted. The communications between the telephone handset 11 and the directory server 25 comprising the SMSC server comply with the ETSI standard (European Telecommunication Standards Institute) described in the document ETSI EN 201 912 entitled Access and Terminais (AT); Short Message Service (SMS) for PSTN / ISDN; Short Message Communication between a fixed network Short Message Terminal Equipment and a Short Message Service Center. According to a second variant of this second embodiment, the directory server 25 does not have an SMSC server. The subscriber 10 establishes a telephone communication with the directory server 25 which responds to him with voice messages. The subscriber 10 identifies himself by dialing on the keyboard 33 of his telephone handset 11 an identification code previously allocated and commands the transfer of modified or created coordinates from the telephone handset 11 to the directory manager 25 or from the directory server 25 to the telephone handset 11. Of course, the directory server 25 can also initiate a telephone communication with the telephone handset 11 to transfer modified or created contact details to it via the computer device 12. It should be noted here that the transfer in the form short message is made during communication with the telephone handset 11. In this variant, the subscriber 10 by pressing a predetermined key on the keyboard 33 of the telephone handset 11 causes the generation of a predetermined signal on the telecommunications network 23 This predetermined signal is interpreted by the directory server 25 as a command for the transfer of a short message. The directory server 25 then transfers during the communication the modified or created coordinates. More particularly, the contact details contained in the subscriber's directories 10 are stored in the form of electronic business cards in a format conforming to the vCard standard. The directory of the telephone handset 11 can also be downloaded by the directory server 25 at the request of the computer device 12 of the subscriber 10. FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of the telecommunications terminal according to the invention. The telecommunication terminal is more particularly a telephone handset 11. The telephone handset 11 comprises a processor 30 connected to a memory 31, a screen 34, a keyboard 33, a modem 32, a line interface 35 as well as a loudspeaker 36 and a microphone 37. The memory 31 stores the directory of the subscriber 10 as well as the programs implementing the method according to the invention which will be described in detail later. The processor 30 executes the instructions of the programs corresponding to the algorithms described later with reference to FIGS. 6a, 7b and 8a. The processor 30 controls the line interface 35, the screen 34, the keyboard 33, the modem 32 and the activation of the speaker 36 and the microphone 37. The keyboard 33 and the screen 34 provide the man-machine interface. with the user. Via the screen 34, the processor 30 displays the coordinates of the directory associated with the subscriber 10 and received from the directory server 15 in the form of short messages. The keyboard 33 and the screen 34 allow the user 10 to modify the telephone directory stored in the memory 31. They allow for example the inclusion of new coordinates in the telephone directory stored in the memory 31. These new coordinates can for example example be obtained from a telephone information server which, in the form of short messages, transfers to subscriber 10 information such as the telephone number that subscriber 10 wishes to reach. These new coordinates can also be obtained in the form of short messages from a server able to memorize the last telephone number. of a caller, or even his identity, having tried to reach the telephone handset 11. The keyboard 33 allows the user of the telecommunications terminal 10 to dial the telephone number of the directory server 15 according to the invention. According to a variant of the invention, the keyboard 33 makes it possible to accept the reception of a short message from the directory server 25 during a telephone communication with the latter. The telephone handset 11 comprises a line interface 35 adapted to the telecommunications network 13. The line interface 35 comprises inter alia at least one relay controlled by the processor 30 allowing the connection or disconnection of the telecommunications terminal 10 to the telecommunications network 13, at least one transformer making it possible to isolate the telecommunication terminal 10 from the telecommunication network 13 and at least one two-wire four-wire converter circuit allowing the separation of the incoming and outgoing signals. The telecommunications terminal 10 also includes a microphone 37 and a conventional speaker 36. It should be noted that the speaker 36 and the microphone 37 can be deactivated by the processor 30 when receiving and / or sending short messages according to the invention. The telephone handset 11 also includes a modem 32. This modem 32 is for example a DSP (Digital Signal Processor). According to the first embodiment of the invention and according to the first variant of the second embodiment of the invention, the modem 32 is capable of generating data frames modulated according to a modulation of the FSK (Frequency Shift Keying) type at 1200 bits per second. The modem 32 is also capable of detecting, decoding signals conforming to the rules defined in the protocol standardized at ETSI (European Telecommunication Standards Institute) and described in the document ETSI EN 201 912 entitled Access and Terminais (AT); Short Message Service (SMS) for PSTN / ISDN; Short Message Communication between a fixed network Short Message Terminal Equipment and a Short Message Service Center. Two UBS protocols (User Based Solution) are described in the ETSI standard EN 201 912. The UBSl and UBS2 protocols provide a reliable service guaranteeing the correct transfer of short messages such as SMS messages and allow the user who sent the message to check if it has been correctly received by the recipient of the message. The UBSl protocol has the advantage of being a protocol compatible with the service for providing SMS messages from the GSM (Global System for Mobile communication) network. The UBS2 protocol has the advantage of being particularly suitable for a fixed wired telecommunications network such as the PSTN or ISDN network. The processor 30 and the modem 32 implement the three ISO / OSI layers for the transmission of short messages via a telecommunications network 13 or 23. These layers are the physical layer SM physical layer, the data layer SM Data Link Layer and the layer of transfer SM Transfer layer. According to the second variant of the second embodiment, the modem 32 is capable of generating short message transfer activation signals on the telecommunications network 23 such as dual-frequency signals or DTMF (Dual Tone Modulation Frequency) signals . The modem 32 is also able to exchange data in accordance with the UBSl or UBS2 protocols described in the ETSI standard EN 201 912. The processor 30 and the modem 32 implement the three ISO / OSI layers for the transmission of data via a network wired such as the telecommunications network 23. These layers are the physical layer SM physical layer, the data layer SM Data Link Layer and the transfer layer SM Transfer layer. The processor 30 and the modem 32 implement the algorithms as described in annexes A and B of the ETSI standard EN 201 912. It should be noted however that according to the invention, only the parts of the sequence diagrams of the annexes A and B between the markers “Connection Manager initiâtes connection” and “Connection Manager deletes connection” are performed by the processor 30 and the modem 32. In fact, contrary to this standard, the invention allows short message transfers in progress telephone communication. The processor 30, upon receipt of a directory or part of a directory from the directory server 15 in the form of short messages such as EMS or MMS messages, stores these in the memory 31 of the telephone handset 11 and reproduces one or more of these coordinates on the screen 34. The processor 30 is able to process contact details in the form of electronic business cards conforming to the vCard recommendation and to put the contact details of subscriber 10 in the form of business cards electronic compliant with the vCard recommendation for transferring them to the directory server 15 according to the invention. Fig. 4 shows a schematic view of the directory server 15 according to the first embodiment of the invention. The directory server 15, more generally called telecommunication terminal, comprises a processor 41 connected to a ROM read-only memory 42, a random access memory 43, a data memory 45 comprising the subscriber directories, a network interface 44 connected to the telecommunication network 16 and a server interface 46 making it possible to communicate with the SMSC server 14. When the directory server 15 is put into service, the instructions of the programs corresponding to the algorithms of FIGS. 6c and 7a are loaded from the read-only memory 42 into random access memory 43 and are executed by the processor 41. The processor 41 is for example and in a nonlimiting manner, capable of processing contact details in the form of electronic business cards conforming to the recommendation vCard, to associate date and time information with them and to process these electronic business cards according to this date and time information. The processor 41, via the network interface 44, transfers the directory of contact details of subscribers of the subscriber 10 stored in the data memory 45 to the computer device 12. The processor 41, via the network interface 44, receives commands for modifying the subscriber's directory 10 from the computer device 12. The processor 41, via the server interface 46 and the SMSC server 14, transfers the subscriber's directory 10 contained in the data memory 45 to the telephone handset 11. The processor 41, via the server interface 46 and the SMSC server 14, receives the directory of subscriber 10 stored in the telephone handset 11 for setting the subscriber's directory 10 stored in the data memory 45. The data transfer between the directory server 15 and the SMSC server 14 is carried out in accordance with the UCP protocol (Universal Computer Protocol) or SMPP short for Short

Peer to Peer Message or Peer to Peer Short Message Protocol. Fig. 5 shows a schematic view of the directory server 25 according to the second embodiment of the invention. The directory server 25 includes a processor 51 connected to a read only memory

ROM 52, a random access memory 53, a data memory 55 comprising the subscribers' directories, a network interface 54 connected to the telecommunications network

26 and a network interface 53 making it possible to communicate with the telephone handset 11 of the subscriber 10. When the directory server 25 is put into service, the program instructions corresponding to the algorithms of FIGS. 7a and 8b are loaded from the read-only memory 52 into random access memory 53 and are executed by the processor 51. The processor 51 is for example and in a nonlimiting manner, capable of processing contact details in the form of electronic business cards conforming to the recommendation vCard, to associate date and time information with them and to process these electronic business cards according to this date and time information. The processor 51, via the network interface 54, transfers the directory of contact details of subscribers 10 stored in the data memory 55 to the computer device 12. The processor 51, via the network interface 54, receives commands to modify the directory of subscriber 10 from the computer device 12. The processor 51, via the network interface 54, transfers the directory of subscriber 10 contained in the memory of data 55 to the telephone handset 11. The processor 51, via the network interface 54, receives the directory of subscriber 10 stored in the telephone handset 11 for updating the directory of subscriber 10 stored in the data memory 55. In accordance with a first variant of this embodiment, the directory server 25 comprises an SMSC server, and the exchange of dormancies between the directory server 25 and the telephone handset 11 is produced in accordance with the ETSI standard (European Telecommunication Standards Institute) described in the document ETSI EN 201 912 entitled Access and Terminais (AT); Short Message Service (SMS) for PSTN / ISDN; Short Message Communication between a fixed network Short Message Terminal Equipment and a Short Message Service Center. According to a second variant of this embodiment, the short message transfers are carried out during communication with the subscriber 10. According to this variant, the network interface 54 is able to generate activation signals for short message transfer on the telecommunications network 23 such as dual-frequency signals or DTMF (Dual Tone Modulation Frequency) signals. The network interface 54 is also able to exchange data in accordance with the UBSl or UBS2 protocols described in the ETSI standard EN 201 912. The processor 51 and the network interface 54 implement the three layers

ISO / OSI for data transmission via a telecommunications network 23. These layers are the physical layer SM physical layer, the data layer SM Data Link Layer and the transfer layer SM Transfer layer. The processor 51 and the network interface 54 implement the algorithms as described in appendices A and B of the ETSI standard EN 201 912. It should however be noted that according to the invention, only the parts of the sequence diagrams Appendices A and B between the markers “Connection Manager initiâtes connection” and “Connection Manager deletes connection” are made by the processor 51 and the network interface 54. Indeed, contrary to this standard, the invention allows transfers of short messages during telephone communication. Fig. 6a represents the algorithm for recording, dating and transferring to a SMSC server 14 the coordinates of a correspondent via a telephone handset 11 according to the first embodiment of the invention. When the application is launched, the processor 30 reads from the memory 31, the program instructions corresponding to steps E600 to E605 of FIG. 6a and loads them into RAM, not shown, to execute them. Subscriber 10, using the algorithm as described with reference to this FIG. 6a, will generate a communication with a view to modifying his telephone directory stored in the directory server 15. In step E600, the subscriber 10 selects at least one coordinate of a correspondent stored in the memory 31 of his telephone handset 11. This coordinate is for example a coordinate which it previously obtained from a server. This server is for example a server able to memorize the last telephone number of a caller, or even his identity, having tried to reach subscriber 10 or a telephone information server which, during interrogations of subscriber 10, transferred information in the form of a short message such as the telephone number that subscriber 10 had previously searched for. Selection is made by the subscriber 10 via the man machine interface consisting of the keyboard 33 and the screen 34 of the telephone handset 11. It should be noted that the selected coordinate can also be a coordinate that the subscriber 10 has created or modified via the human machine interface of the telephone handset 11. It should also be noted that the subscriber 10 can also select a coordinate of a correspondent stored in the memory 31 of his telephone handset 11 so that it be deleted from his phone book. When selecting a coordinate, the processor 30 goes to the next step E601. In step E601, the processor 30 determines a date and a time for the selected coordinate. The date and time correspond for example to the date and time of the selection of the coordinate. This operation carried out, the processor 30 passes to the next step E602. At this stage, the processor 30, if the contact's coordinate is in a form other than the format conforming to the vCard recommendation, creates an electronic business card conforming to this recommendation. To this electronic business card, the processor 30 associates the date and time previously determined and forms a short message, for example an EMS message comprising the electronic business card. The association can for example be carried out by inserting these in a predetermined field of the electronic business card. This field is of course known to the directory server 15 and to the computer device 12 of the subscriber 10.

The association can also be carried out by inserting in the EMS message including the electronic business card this date and time. The processor 30, in the same step, stores the coordinates in the form of electronic business cards in the memory 31 as well as the date and time associated with each electronic business card. It should be noted that in a particular mode and if the telephone handset 11 includes a unique identifier code, the code is also inserted in the EMS message. It should be noted that if coordinates have been selected by the user for deletion thereof, these coordinates are inserted in the short message with an identifier allowing the directory server 15 to recognize this information to erase information to be stored, as well as the date and time of the decision by the user to delete these contact details. When the short message has been correctly transferred, these coordinates are deleted from the directory stored in the memory 31 of the telephone handset 11. This operation carried out, the processor 30 in step E603 controls the modem 32 and the interface 35 to establish a communication with the directory server 15 so that the latter modifies the directory of the subscriber 10 stored in the data memory 45. The communication is carried out via the transit switch CTS 17 of the telecommunications network 13 and the SMSC server 14. The telephone number of the SMSC server 14 is thus dialed by the line interface 35. Once the communication has been established, the processor 30 transfers in step E604 to the modem 32 the previously formed EMS message which generates data frames modulated according to a modulation of type FSK (Frequency Shift Keying) at 1200 bits per second. The modem 32 is also capable of detecting, decoding signals conforming to the rules defined in the protocol standardized at ETSI (European Telecommunication Standards Institute) and described in the document ETSI EN 201 912. In parallel with this transfer, the telecommunications network 13, and more particularly the transit switch 17, communicates to the SMSC server 14 the telephone number of the recipient of the short message. This number is the telephone number of the directory server 15. When the short message has been transferred to the SMSC server 1, the communication between the telephone handset 11 and the SMSC server 14 is interrupted in step E605. Of course, a larger number of coordinates can be included in the same EMS message, or even the entire directory of the telephone handset 11 stored in memory 31 which can be transferred in one or more EMS messages. Fig. 6b represents the transfer algorithm from an SMSC server 14 to a directory server 15 of contact details according to the first embodiment of the invention. The SMSC server 14 receives in step E610 the short message transferred by the telephone handset 11 in step E604. The short message is then stored in step E611. The SMSC server 14 having obtained the telephone number of the directory server 15 of the transit switch 17, establishes in step E612, a connection with the directory server 15 in accordance with the UCP protocol or the SMPP protocol. The message stored in step E611 is transferred in step E613 to the directory server 15 as well as the telephone number of the telephone handset 11. When the short message has been transferred to the directory server 15, the communication between the SMSC server 14 and the directory server 15 is interrupted at step E614. Fig. 6c represents the algorithm for updating a directory of coordinates of correspondents in the directory server 15 according to the first embodiment of the invention. When the application is launched, the processor 41 reads from the memory 42, the program instructions corresponding to steps E620 to E630 of FIG. 6c and loads them into RAM 43 to execute them. The processor 41 establishes a connection at step E620 with the SMSC server 14 in accordance with the UCP protocol or the SMPP protocol. In the next step E621, the processor 41 stores in the RAM 43 the EMS message received. This message includes at least one electronic business card, the date and time associated with the or each electronic business card, or even the unique identifier of the telephone handset 11. Indeed, certain telephone handsets each include a unique identifier such as than DECT handsets acronym for Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications. The processor 41 also stores the telephone number of the telephone handset 11. This operation carried out, the processor 41 of the directory server 15 goes to the next step E622 which consists in identifying the subscriber 10. The identification of the client is carried out from the telephone number previously received and a subscriber index. It should be noted that according to a particular mode, the identification is carried out on the basis of the unique identifier of the telephone handset 11 contained in the EMS message stored in step E621. It should also be noted that a subscriber index can include a plurality of telephone numbers associated with the same subscriber. A subscriber 10 can thus modify, consult his directory, for example from the telephone handset 11 of his home or the telephone handset of his workplace. This operation carried out, the processor 41 then passes to the next step E623. At this stage, the processor 41 determines the content of the stored EMS message. This EMS message can include one or more electronic business cards. For the or each of the electronic business cards contained in the short message, the processor 41 identifies a certain number of fields contained in the or each electronic business card. These fields are for example the name and first name of the correspondent. Then, in step E624, the processor 41 determines the date and time of the or each electronic business card contained in the EMS message stored in step E621. The processor 41 determines this date by reading in the EMS message the date and time associated with the or each electronic business card or determines this by reading a predetermined field of the or each electronic business card. As a variant, the processor 41 associates with the card or with each electronic business card, the date and time of storage of the EMS message. Indeed, it is possible that the clocks of the telephone handset 11 and the computer device 12 of the subscriber 10 are offset. According to the invention, the dating of the electronic business card allows updating of the subscriber's directory 10. If the directory server 15 associates the date and time with each business card that it receives, the offset clocks of the telephone handset 11 and the computing device 12 need not be considered. This operation carried out, the processor 41 loads in step E625 into the random access memory 43, the directory of coordinates of correspondents associated with the subscriber 10. The processor 41 determines in the next step E626 whether the electronic business card contained in the EMS message is a new electronic business card or not. For this, the processor 41 compares the fields of the electronic business card comprising the name and first name of the correspondent to which the electronic business card refers with the same fields of the corresponding electronic business cards contained in the directory of the subscriber 10 If the electronic business card is a new electronic business card, the processor 41 in step E627 stores this in the subscriber's directory 10. If the electronic business card has a predetermined field including the time and date of creation and / or modification and / or addition, they are also stored. If the electronic business card does not include a predetermined field comprising the time and date of creation and / or modification and / or addition in the directory, the processor 41 stores the date and time contained in the message short including the electronic business card or the date and time of receipt or storage of the electronic business card. This operation carried out, the processor 41 passes to step E630 which will be described later. If there already exists an electronic business card associated with the same correspondent, the processor 41 goes to step E628. At this stage, the processor 41 compares the date and time associated with the electronic business card received with the date and time associated with the electronic business card comprising the name and first name of the identical correspondent. If the date and time of the electronic business card received are older than the date and time of the electronic business card contained in the directory, the processor 41 deletes the electronic business card received and goes to step E630. If the date and time of the electronic business card received are more recent than the date and time of the electronic business card contained in the directory, the processor 41, in step E629, stores the business card received in place of the older electronic business card. In the next step E630, the processor 41 checks whether there are other electronic business cards contained in the received EMS message. If other electronic business cards exist, the processor 41 performs the loop consisting of steps E626 to E630 and thus processes each of the electronic business cards in accordance with what has been described above. It should be noted that if at least one coordinate includes an identifier representative of its deletion which is included in the short message, the processor 41 searches the subscriber's directory for the corresponding business card, compares the date and time of the coordinate received in the short message with the date and time of the corresponding business card that it stores in the subscriber's directory and deletes the corresponding business card if the date and time of the coordinate received in the short message are greater than the date and time of the corresponding business card that it stores. Fig. 7a represents the algorithm for updating a directory of contact details in the directory server 15 via a computer device 12 connected to the directory server 15 and for transferring the modifications to an SMSC server 14 according to the first embodiment of the invention. When the application is launched, the processor 41 reads from the memory 42, the program instructions corresponding to steps E700 to E714 of FIG. 7a and loads them into RAM 43 to execute them. In step E700, a connection is established between the computer device 12 of the subscriber 10 and the directory server 15 via the telecommunications network 16. The processor 41 of the directory server 15 identifies in the next step E701 l 'subscriber 10. This is for example done by obtaining from subscriber 10 the telephone number of his telephone handset 11 and checking that the password communicated by subscriber 10 is correct. This operation carried out, the processor 41 reads in step E702 from the data memory 45 the directory of the identified subscriber 10 and transfers in step E703 the electronic business cards contained in the directory to the computer device 12 which is more specifically a computer. Subscriber 10, thus having the telephone directory, then modifies this directory by including new coordinates and / or by modifying certain coordinates and / or by deleting certain coordinates. The user selects the coordinates which he wishes to memorize in his telephone handset 11 and the computer device 12 transfers the directory thus formed to the directory server 15. It should be noted that according to a particular mode, the computer device 12 inserts the date and the time of the modification of the directory in the modified electronic business cards or in the transferred message including the modified directory. The processor 41 of the directory server 15 receives this directory in step E704. In the next step E705, the processor 41 determines whether the first electronic business card contained in the message is a new electronic business card or not. For this, the processor 41 compares the fields of the electronic business card comprising the name and the first name of the correspondent to which the electronic business card refers with the same fields of the electronic business cards contained in the directory of the subscriber 10 read. in step E702. If the electronic business card is a new electronic business card, the processor 41 stores in step E706 this in the directory of the subscriber 10 in data memory 45. Then, the processor 41 stores the date and the time of the electronic business card in step E707. The date and time correspond to the date and time included in a predetermined field of the electronic business card or if the electronic business card does not include a predetermined field comprising the time and date of creation and / or modification and / or addition in the directory, the processor 41 stores the date and time contained in the received message or the time of reception of the message. This operation carried out, the processor 41 passes to step E710 which will be described later. If there already exists an electronic business card associated with the same correspondent, the processor 41 goes to step E708. At this stage, the processor 41 compares the date and time associated with the electronic business card received with the date and time of the electronic business card comprising the name and first name of the identical correspondent to whom the electronic business card refers to. If the date and time of the electronic business card received are older than the date and time of the electronic business card contained in the directory, the processor 41 deletes the electronic business card received and goes to step E710. If the date and time of the electronic business card received are more recent than the date and time of the electronic business card contained in the directory, the processor 41, in step E709, stores the business card received in place of the older electronic business card. In the next step E710, the processor 41 checks whether there are other electronic business cards contained in the received message. If other electronic business cards exist, the processor 41 performs the loop consisting of steps E705 to E710 and thus processes each of the electronic business cards in accordance with what has been described above. All the electronic business cards received having been processed, the processor 41 then goes to step E711. In step E711, the processor 41 determines whether the message received in step E704 from the computer device 12 includes information representative of electronic business cards to be deleted in the directory of subscriber 10. If not, the processor 41 go to step E713 which will be described later. If so, the processor 41 goes to step E712 which consists in erasing the electronic business cards to be deleted from the directory of the user included in the data memory 45. These operations performed, the processor 41 then proceeds to the next step E713. At this stage, the processor 41 forms a message intended for the telephone handset 11 for updating the telephone directory stored in the memory 31 of the telephone handset 11. This message includes the new electronic business cards to be stored, the business cards. electronic visit cards as well as information representative of the electronic business cards to be erased. This message also includes the date and time associated with each electronic business card. The formed message is then transferred to the SMSC server 14 with the identifier of the telephone terminal 11 of the subscriber 10 in the next step E714. The SMSC server 14 forms as many short messages as necessary and transfers these to the telephone handset 11. FIG. 7b represents the algorithm for updating a directory of contact details in a telephone handset 11 from information transmitted by an SMSC server 14 according to the first embodiment of the invention. When the application is launched, the processor 30 reads from the memory 31, the program instructions corresponding to steps E720 to E733 of FIG. 7b and loads them into RAM, not shown, to execute them. In step E720, the telephone handset 11 receives a telephone call from the SMSC server 14. Conventionally, the SMSC server 14 has generated a call to establish a communication with the telephone handset 11 recipient of the short message while communicating its identifier at the same time. With this identifier, the telephone handset 11 identifies the call and automatically takes the call in step E721. The short message is then transferred from the SMSC server 14 to the telephone handset 11 and the communication between the SMSC server 14 and the telephone handset 11 is interrupted. This type of transfer is in accordance with that described in standard ETSI EN 201 912. The processor 30 then stores in the next step E722 the content of the short message received. This short message is more particularly an EMS message. The processor 30 then determines in step E723 the number of electronic business cards contained in the EMS message. This operation carried out, the processor 30 determines in step E724 for each electronic business card the date and time of each electronic business card contained in the message. The date and time correspond to the date and time included in a predetermined field of each electronic business card or if an electronic business card does not include a predetermined field comprising the time and date of creation and / or modification and / or addition in the directory, the processor 30 stores the date and time contained in the EMS message received or the time of reception of the message. This operation performed, the processor 30 reads in step E725 the contents of the directory of contact details stored in the memory 31 of the telephone handset 11. In the next step E726, the processor 30 determines whether the first electronic business card contained in the message is a new electronic business card or not. For this, the processor 30 compares the fields of the electronic business card comprising the name and the first name of the correspondent to which the electronic business card refers with the same fields of the electronic business cards contained in the directory read in step E725. . If the electronic business card is a new electronic business card, the processor 30 in step E727 stores this in the directory in memory 31. Next, the processor 30 stores the date and time of the electronic business card in step E728. The date and time correspond to the date and time included in a predetermined field of the electronic business card or if the electronic business card does not include a predetermined field comprising the time and date of creation and / or modification and / or addition in the directory, the processor 30 stores the date and time contained in the received message or the time of reception of the message. This operation carried out, the processor 30 passes to step E731 which will be described later. If there already exists an electronic business card associated with the same correspondent, the processor 30 goes to step E729. At this stage, the processor 30 compares the date and time associated with the electronic business card received with the date and time of the electronic business card comprising the name and first name of the identical correspondent. If the date and time of the electronic business card received are older than the date and time of the electronic business card contained in the directory, the processor 30 deletes the electronic business card received and goes to step E731. If the date and time of the electronic business card received are more recent than the date and time of the electronic business card contained in the directory, the processor 30, in step E730, stores the business card received in place of the older electronic business card. In the next step E731, the processor 30 checks whether there are other electronic business cards contained in the EMS message received. If other electronic business cards exist, the processor 30 performs the loop consisting of steps E726 to E731 and thus processes each of the electronic business cards in accordance with what has been described above. All the electronic business cards received having been processed, the processor 30 then goes to step E732. In step E732, the processor 30 determines whether the message received in step E722 from the SMSC server 14 includes information representative of electronic business cards to be deleted from the directory of subscriber 10. If so, the processor 30 goes to step E733 which consists in erasing the electronic business cards to be deleted from the directory of the user included in the data memory 45. This operation performed, the directory of Subscriber 10 has been changed and only for electronic business cards to be changed. If not, the directory of subscriber 10 has been modified in accordance with the invention. The processor 30 returns to step E720 awaiting the reception of a new call. As a variant, the processor 31 generates an interrogation message to the subscriber 10 via the screen 34 inviting the latter to accept or not the storage of each business card in the telephone directory of the telephone handset 11. This variant can be implemented in combination with the method described above, in place of the latter, or when the memory of the telephone handset is full or almost full. Fig. 8a represents the algorithm for recording, dating and transferring to a directory server 25 the coordinates of a correspondent via a telephone handset 11 according to the second embodiment of the invention. When the application is launched, the processor 30 reads from the memory 31, the program instructions corresponding to steps E800 to E806 of FIG. 8a and loads them into RAM not shown to execute them. Subscriber 10, using the algorithm as described with reference to this FIG. 8a, will generate a communication in order to modify its telephone directory stored in the directory server 25. In step E800, the subscriber 10 selects in the same manner as that described in step E600 of FIG. 6 has at least one coordinate of a correspondent stored in the memory 31 of his telephone handset 11. It should be noted that subscriber 10 can also select a coordinate of a correspondent stored in the memory 31 of his telephone handset 11 so that it is deleted from his telephone directory. When selecting a coordinate, the processor 30 goes to the next step E801. In step E801, the processor 30 determines a date and a time for the selected coordinate in the same way as that described in step E601 in FIG. 6a. At this stage, the processor 30, if the contact's coordinate is in a form other than the format conforming to the vCard recommendation, creates an electronic business card conforming to this recommendation. To this electronic business card, the processor 30 associates the date and time previously determined and forms a short message, for example an EMS message comprising the electronic business card. The association can for example be carried out by inserting it in a predetermined field of the electronic business card. This field is of course known to the directory server 25 and to the computer device 12 of the subscriber 10. The association can also be carried out by inserting in the EMS message comprising the electronic business card these date and time. It should be noted that if coordinates have been selected by the user for deletion thereof, these coordinates are inserted in the short message with an identifier allowing the directory server 15 to recognize this information to erase information to be stored, as well as the date and time of the user's decision to delete these contact details. When the short message has been transferred correctly, these coordinates are deleted from the directory stored in the memory 31 of the telephone handset 11. This operation carried out, the processor 30 controls the modem 32 and the interface 35 to establish communication with the directory server 25 so that the latter modifies the directory of the subscriber 10 stored in the data memory 45. Unlike the first embodiment, the communication is established with the directory server 25. According to a first alternative embodiment, the directory server 25 includes a SMSC server and the transfer of the message is carried out in accordance with the ETSI standard EN 201 912. According to a second alternative embodiment, the subscriber 10 establishes a telephone communication with the directory server 25, identifies himself at step E804 by dialing on the keyboard 33 an identification code previously allocated and controls the transfer of the EMS message in step E805. It should be noted here that the transfer of the EMS message is transmitted during communication. The subscriber 10, by pressing a predetermined key on the keyboard 33, causes the generation of a predetermined signal on the telecommunications network 23 interpreted by the directory server 25 as a command for the transfer of a short message. The directory server 25 controls the network interface 54 so that it decodes data frames conforming to the ETSI standard EN 201 912 modulated according to a FSK type modulation at 1200 bits per second. Preferably, during the transfer of the EMS message in step E805, the loudspeaker 36 of the telephone handset 11 is deactivated by the processor 30. The transfer thus carried out, the subscriber 10 can stop the communication. It should be noted that the subscriber 10 can also wait for a voice confirmation from the directory server 25 of the modification of the directory. Fig. 8b represents the algorithm for updating a directory of coordinates of correspondents in the directory server 25 according to the second embodiment of the invention. When the application is launched, the processor 51 reads from the memory 52, the program instructions corresponding to steps E810 to E821 of FIG. 8b and loads them into RAM 53 to execute them. The processor 51 receives a call from the telephone handset 11 of the subscriber 10 in step E810. In the next step, the processor 51 identifies the subscriber 10. This identification is for example carried out using a password communicated by the subscriber 10. As a variant, if the telephone handset 11 has a unique identifier which has been inserted in the short message, the unique identifier is used to identify the subscriber 10. In the next step E812, the processor 51 stores in memory RAM 53 the EMS message received. This message comprises at least one electronic business card of a correspondent that the subscriber 10 wishes to include or modify in the directory stored in data memory 55. This operation carried out, the processor 51 then proceeds to step E813 and determines the contents of the stored EMS message. This EMS message can include one or more electronic business cards. For the or each of the electronic business cards contained in the short message, the processor 51 identifies a certain number of fields contained in the electronic business card. These fields are for example the name and first name of the correspondent to whom the electronic business card refers. The processor 51 then performs steps E815 to E820 in the same manner as that. performed by processor 41 for steps E625 to E630. Steps E815 to E820 being identical to steps E625 to E630, these will not be described further. When all the electronic business cards have been processed, the directory server 25 generates in step E821 a voice message intended for the telephone handset 11 confirming the modification of the directory stored in the data memory 55. Communication between the telephone handset 11 and the directory server 25 is then interrupted. The modification of the directory of contact details of subscribers 10 via the computer device 12 on the directory server 25 is identical to that as described with reference to FIG. 7a. It will therefore not be described further. The modification of the directory of contact details of subscribers 10 on the telephone handset 11 following the reception of an EMS type message from the SMSC server included in the directory server 25 is similar to that as described with reference to FIG. . 7b. It will therefore not be described further. Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described here, but encompasses, quite the contrary, any variant within the reach of ordinary skill in the art. For example, the present invention is also applicable to wireless telecommunication networks such as GSM networks. The directory of subscriber 10, stored in the memory 31 of the telephone handset 11, can also be stored in a memory card such as the SIM card.

Claims

1) Method for updating a directory comprising the coordinates of correspondents of a subscriber (10) to a telecommunications network, a first directory being stored in a first telecommunications terminal, a second directory being stored in a second terminal telecommunications, characterized in that the method comprises the steps carried out at the first telecommunications terminal of: - reception (E620, E720, E810) of coordinates transmitted by the second telecommunications terminal in the form of electronic business cards, - determination (E626, E628, E726, E729, E816, E818) of electronic business cards to be included or deleted in the first directory among the electronic business cards received, - insertion (E627, E629, E727, E728, E817, E819) or deletion of electronic business cards in the first directory. 2) Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the electronic business cards transmitted by the second terminal are included in at least one short message.

3) Method according to claim 2, characterized in that the or each short message comprises date and time information associated with each electronic business card included in the short message.

4) Method according to claim 3, characterized in that the date and time information are included in a predetermined field of each electronic business card.

5) Method according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that date and time information is associated with the electronic business cards included in the directory of the first telecommunications terminal.

6) Method according to claim 5, characterized in that the date and time information are representative of the date and time of storage of the card of electronic visit in the directory or of the date and time of a modification of one of the subscriber's directories or of the date and time of reception of the electronic visit card by the first telecommunications terminal or the date and time of removal of the business card from one of the subscriber's directories.

7) Method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the first terminal is a telephone handset (11) and the second terminal is a directory server (15, 25) of the telecommunications network. 8) Method according to claim 7, characterized in that the directory server

(15, 25) is connected to a computer device (12) of the subscriber (10) and the second directory is modified according to information transmitted by the computer device. 9) Method according to claim 8, characterized in that the directory server

(15, 26) following a modification of the second directory transmits (E714) coordinates of the second directory to the telephone handset.

10) Method according to claim 9, characterized in that the transmission to the telephone handset is carried out via an SMSC server (14).

11) Method according to claim 9, characterized in that the transmission to the telephone handset (11) is carried out during a telephone call previously established with the telephone handset (11) following acceptance of the transmission by the subscriber .

12) Method according to any one of claims 7 to 11, characterized in that one determines each electronic business card to be included in the first directory by comparison of predetermined information in each electronic business card stored in the first directory and predetermined information in the electronic business card received and the electronic business card received is inserted if there is no electronic business card contained in the first directory relating to the same correspondent or if the information date and time associated with the electronic business card contained in the first directory relating to the same correspondent is older than the date and time information associated with the electronic business card received.

13) Method according to any one of claims 7 to 11, characterized in that each electronic business card to be deleted is determined in the first directory by comparing whether the date and time information associated with the card electronic visit contained in the first directory relating to the same correspondent is older than the date and time information associated with the electronic visit card received.

14) Method according to any one of claims 7 to 13, characterized in that the determination of electronic business cards to be included or deleted in the first directory includes for each electronic business card received a step of interrogating the subscriber to authorize or not the inclusion or deletion of the electronic business card in the first directory.

15) Method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the first terminal is a directory server (15, 25) of the telecommunications network and the second terminal is a telephone handset (11).

16) Method according to claim 15, characterized in that each electronic business card to be included in the first directory is determined by comparison of predetermined information in each electronic business card stored in the first directory and predetermined information in the received electronic business card and the received electronic business card is inserted if there is no electronic business card contained in the first directory relating to the same correspondent or if the date and time information associated with the electronic business card contained in the first directory relating to the same correspondent are older than the date and time information associated with the electronic business card received.

17) Method according to claim 15, characterized in that one determines each electronic business card to be deleted in the first directory in comparing whether the date and time information associated with the electronic business card contained in the first directory relating to the same correspondent is older than the date and time information associated with the received electronic business card.

18) Method according to any one of claims 15 to 17, characterized in that the directory server receives the coordinates transmitted by the first terminal via an SMSC server (14). 19) Method according to any one of claims 15 to 17, characterized in that the directory server (25) receives the coordinates transmitted by the telephone handset (11) during a telephone call previously established with the telephone handset. 20) Device for updating a directory comprising the coordinates of correspondents of a subscriber to a telecommunications network, a first directory being stored in a first telecommunications terminal, a second directory being stored in a second telecommunications terminal, characterized in that the device comprises: - means for receiving coordinates transmitted by the second telecommunications terminal in the form of electronic business cards, - means for determining electronic business cards to be included or deleted in the first directory among electronic business cards received, - means of inserting or deleting electronic business cards in the first directory.

21) Electronic business card comprising contact details of a correspondent, characterized in that the electronic business card comprises a predetermined field comprising date and time information.

22) Electronic business card according to claim 19, characterized in that the date and time information are representative of the date and time of the creation of the electronic business card in the directory or of the date and Of time inclusion of the electronic business card in a subscriber directory or reception of the electronic business card by a telecommunications terminal.

23) Method for updating a directory comprising the coordinates of correspondents of a subscriber to a telecommunications network, a first directory being stored in a first telecommunications terminal, a second directory being stored in a second telecommunications terminal, characterized in that the method comprises the steps carried out at the first telecommunication terminal of: - reception of contact details in the form of electronic business cards transmitted by a computer device for updating the first directory, - determination of electronic business cards to be included or deleted in the first directory among the electronic business cards received, - insertion or deletion of the electronic business cards in the directory of the first telecommunications terminal, - transfer of each electronic business card inserted or deleted in the directory e from the first telecommunication terminal to the second telecommunication terminal for updating the directory of the second telecommunication terminal.

24) Device for updating a directory comprising the coordinates of correspondents of a subscriber to a telecommunications network, a first directory being stored in a first telecommunications terminal, a second directory being stored in a second telecommunications terminal, characterized in that the device comprises: - means for receiving contact details in the form of electronic business cards transmitted by a computer device for updating the first directory, - means for determining electronic business cards to be included or deleted in the first directory among the electronic business cards received, - means for inserting or deleting electronic business cards in the directory of the first telecommunications terminal, - Means for transferring each electronic business card inserted or deleted in the directory of the first telecommunication terminal to the second telecommunication terminal for updating the directory of the second telecommunication terminal.

25) A computer program stored on an information medium, said program comprising instructions making it possible to implement the method according to any one of claims 1 to 19, when it is loaded and executed by a computer system.

26) A computer program stored on an information medium, said program comprising instructions making it possible to implement the method according to claim 23, when it is loaded and executed by a computer system.