Communication system

The invention relates to a communication system with subscriber terminals, which are at least a switching device coupled to one another and each of which several numbers, for the associated telecommunication parameters are defined, assigned.

Such a communication system is, for example, a PBX. Also several PBXs can make such a communication system. The invention is also applicable to public switching systems.

In ISDN systems ( "Integrated Services Digital Network"), there is the possibility of a subscriber line, and thus a subscriber terminal to assign several numbers of subscribers. Substituted a subscriber's location, it can activate a call diversion in the associated switching device so that its number is assigned to another subscriber and calls are diverted to his own user terminal to another user terminal. Furthermore, a user can define their own local loop telecommunications parameters, eg short-circuits or speed dial number directory, a personal phone number directory, a personal function key assignment, Call Statistics, or personal billing parameter. The Telekommunikatonsparameter a subscriber associated with the subscriber and stored in the switching device.

The invention is based on the communication system of the type mentioned to improve the subscriber mobility the task.

The object is achieved in that a retention of telecommunications parameters is provided in memory means of the subscriber terminals and that in an allocation change of a subscriber number from a first user terminal to a second user terminal a broadcast of belonging to this subscriber number Telecommunications parameter is provided to the second user terminal.

Telecommunications parameters for each authorized user of the communication system can be defined that the telecommunications to facilitate with other users of the communication system to the user and in particular the optionally also determine management operations, such as a special billing for each user. Also limiting the communication of a user with other participants of the telecommunication system is possible by means of telecommunications parameters. Our instant allocation change the subscriber number of a subscriber from the first to the second subscriber terminal when the subscriber wants to use the second user terminal instead of the first subscriber terminal and candidates registered as the current user. According to the invention this subscriber can also be made by the second subscriber terminal from its complete set of telecommunications parameters. addressed to this subscriber calls are forwarded to the second user terminal. The measures necessary for increasing the subscriber mobility technical changes of the communication system are focused on the subscriber terminals. The switching device can remain unchanged. The decentralized architecture of the communication system with respect to the communication of a participant with personal telecommunications parameters increases the reliability of the communication system and makes this easy for other participants expandable. Thus, the storage means for storing telecommunication parameters are arranged in the subscriber terminals.

In one embodiment of the invention, a third subscriber terminal is provided which includes storage means for continuously storing the belonging to this subscriber call number telecommunications parameters and from which in the allocation change the subscriber number to transfer the telecommunications parameters is performed to store the telecommunication parameters in the second subscriber terminal.

In this embodiment, after the transmission of telecommunications parameters and the allocation change of the terminal number is guaranteed to the second subscriber terminal, the telecommunication parameters are stored redundantly in two subscriber terminals. Compared to the loss of stored telecommunications data parameter is thus increased safety. By the third subscriber terminal for storage of telecommunications parameters of all participants will be provided the space required can be substantially on the third subscriber terminal concentrate (server principle). The redundant storage of telecommunications parameters can be realized at low cost in this way.

The invention is further advantageously configured that when the allocation change the subscriber number from the first to the second user terminal a broadcast of belonging to this subscriber number Telecommunications parameter is provided from the first to the second user terminal to store the telecommunication parameters in the second subscriber terminal.

This has the advantage that the telecommunications parameters no longer have to be continuously stored in a dedicated subscriber terminal. The measures provided for such continued retention of telecommunications parameters storage means can be saved.

In another embodiment of the invention, an input of the terminal number and a personal identification number is required for the assignment change of subscriber number for the second subscriber terminal and / or for a change in the members of the telecommunications subscriber number parameter.

In order for a change of assignment of a subscriber number and / or a change of personal telecommunications parameters can only be done by an authorized subscriber, must first enter a personal identification number, which is respectively made known only to the authorized subscriber, are entered. The input of the terminal number is necessary because such a number in each case the subscriber terminal, where the associated subscriber is registered and the corresponding telecommunications parameters of the participant are assigned. The subscriber number serves as a publicly accessible identification number of the subscriber.

The invention can also be characterized embellish that for a subscriber number of a subscriber in each case a subscriber terminal is provided which is used to receive calls for the subscriber and from which, where appropriate, these calls are diverted to the one subscriber terminal, which currently assigned to the subscriber number of the subscriber is ,

The reception of calls intended for the called subscriber subscriber terminal first receives all calls for such a subscriber and forwards these calls if necessary through the switching device to the one subscriber terminal further, where the subscriber has just registered. Will the participants use another subscriber terminal because of the change of its location, the assignment of the subscriber number must be adjusted only for receiving calls for this subscriber serving subscriber terminal.

Furthermore, a fixed subscriber terminal number is in addition to the respective subscriber numbers each subscriber terminal associated with the embodiment of the invention.

With the fixed subscriber terminal number can address a subscriber terminal regardless of the subscriber numbers in a simple manner. In a simple manner can thus be realized a diversion or transfer of telecommunications parameters between the subscriber terminals.

The communication system according to the invention is further designed such that storage means for storing telecommunication parameters for a limited communication of any subscriber are provided in each subscriber terminal.

Such definable and not related to a specific subscriber telecommunications parameters are any participants are at any subscriber terminal of the communication system available. The authorization for use of this telecommunications parameters is not checked. For example, can be limited to an exchange of information within the PBX when operating a PBX communication.

Embodiments of the invention are explained below with reference to the drawings.

Show it:<dl id="dl0001" compact="compact"><dt>Fig. 1</dt><dd>an inventive communication system having a plurality of subscriber terminals,</dd><dt>FIG. 2</dt><dd>is a block diagram for a subscriber terminal of the communication system, </dd><dt>Fig. 3</dt><dd>a flowchart for a registration at a user terminal and</dd><dt>Fig. 4</dt><dd>a flowchart for a call to a mobile user.</dd></dl>

The communication system shown in FIG. 1 includes a first switching device 1 and a second switching device 2. The switching devices can represent both private branch exchanges and a public switching device. In the present case, the first switching device 1 is an ISDN PBX (private branch exchange). The second switching device 2 is a public switching device which is coupled via the public telephone network to the first switching device first At the first switching device 1, a subscriber terminal ( "Terminal Visited" VT1) are 10 (HT, "Home Terminal") and a subscriber terminal 11 is connected. A subscriber terminal 12 (VT2) is coupled to the second switching device. 2 The illustration further possible switching devices or other linkable to the switching devices subscriber terminal has been omitted for clarity. At the site of the subscriber terminal 12 the subscriber is B. Subscriber A is a mobile subscriber, the example, the user terminal 11 only intermittently uses so that it is initiated by this from communications and accessible via this device. The subscriber A is assigned a directory number PN1 and telecommunications parameters. The telecommunications parameters for a subscriber are variable. Examples of telecommunication parameters are short-circuits or speed dial number directory, a personal phone number directory, a personal function key assignment, call statistics or personal billing parameter. Using the telecommunications parameters can also have permission to communicate, especially telephones, are limited with another participant. For example, communication can be excluded abroad. The telecommunications parameters of subscriber A are in a memory 13 (HUS. "Home User Store") of the subscriber terminal 10 stored permanently.

As long as the subscriber A is registered as a user for example, the subscriber terminal 11, the telecommunications parameters in the storage area 14 (VUS, "Visited User Store") of the user terminal 11 are stored. The registration of the subscriber A in the subscriber terminal 11 is stored as data information in the memory 13 of the subscriber terminal 10th The registration of the subscriber A in the subscriber terminal 11 will be explained later with reference to FIG. 3 in more detail. Arrows 3 to 9 serve to illustrate the processes that are executed when calling the subscriber B to subscriber A after such registration. These processes will be described later with reference to Fig. 4.

Fig. 2 shows a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the subscriber terminals 10, 11 and 12, which are in particular ISDN telephones. Such subscriber terminal includes a user interface 20 (UI, "User Interface"), through which a subscriber (user) can communicate this subscriber terminal with the device at the site. So the user can, for example, via a control panel data, such as a phone number or a speed dial number, enter or read information on a communication process via a display element. can Weitherhin a subscriber to register via the interface 20 as the current user at the subscriber terminal. The user interface 20 is coupled to exchange data with functional blocks 21, 22, 23 and 24th The functional block 21 is a User Profile Editor (UPE, "User Profile Editor"), with which the user profile of a subscriber, ie the telecommunications parameters of the operator be changed. For this purpose, the function block 21 is coupled to a memory unit 25, the storage regions 26, 27 and 28. In memory area 26 telecommunication parameters are stored, representing a simplified user profile and can be used by any user. The storage area 26 is designated PUS ( "Plain User Store"). The storage area 27 is used for permanent storage of telecommunications parameters of participants, which calls are supplied in principle this user terminal. Their subscriber numbers and their personal identification numbers are also stored here. If the appropriate participants are registered as a user on to another subscriber terminal, the subscriber terminal number of the other subscriber terminal is also stored in this memory area 27th The data stored in the memory area 27 telecommunication parameters are not deleted when a corresponding subscriber registers as a user on to another subscriber terminal. The storage area 27 is provided with HUS ( "Home User Store") called. By contrast, the storage area 28 serves for storing telecommunication parameters belonging to a participant who is temporarily registered as the current user in this user terminal. The number and personal identification number of such subscriber is also stored in the storage area 28th After deregistration of an only temporarily registered in this subscriber terminal user belonging to this subscriber telecommunications parameters are deleted.

The functional blocks 22, 23 and 24 as well as a functional block 29 control units are which are used to control the functions of the subscriber terminal and that can be realized for example by microprocessor technology. The control unit 23 (CTC, "Conventional Terminal Controller") summarizes the conventional control functions of a telecommunication terminal, in particular an ISDN telephone together. The controller 24 (AC, "Access Controller") checks when accessing a user via the user interface 20 to the subscriber terminal the access authorization of the subscriber. The review of a participant will be based on a personal identification number (PIN) of the subscriber that this participant has entered via the user interface 20th Is the access authorization of a user detected by the control unit 24, this information is transmitted to the control units 22 and 23, which control the user terminal so that the desired use is made possible by the participant. The control unit 22 (MC, "Mobility Controller") summarizes the control functions that are required to produce a user mobility. The control unit 22 controls both access to the storage unit 25 and stored there Telecommunications parameters as well as the functions of the subscriber terminal, which ensure that in this subscriber terminal registered users can initiate and perform communication using this subscriber terminal and can be accessed via this subscriber terminal. For this purpose, the control unit 22 to the function block 21, the control units 23 and 24 and coupled to a control unit 29th The control unit 29 (CC, "Communication Controller") is also connected to the control unit 23 and an interface coupled 30th Via the interface 30, the telecommunication terminal is connected to a switching device, such as the switching devices 1 and 2 of Fig. 1, coupled. The control unit 29 controls the access by the control units 22 and 23 to the interface 30. In addition by the control unit 29 control signals which have been received via the interface 30, distributed to the control units 22 and 23rd In the embodiment as an ISDN telephone 22 or 23 generated by the control units control signals via the control unit 29 and the interface 30 an available D-channel are supplied. Also by the control unit 29 set to the control units 22 and 23 to be distributed control signals represent control signals received over a D-channel. The interface 30 is in this case a S₀-Interface.

A coder-decoder (CODEC) 31, which is coupled to both the control unit 29 as well as with an audio interface 32 (AI), speech signals produced by a subscriber at the location of the subscriber terminal to be implemented in an appropriate data signal via the interface 30 is sent. Likewise, corresponding received data signals with the aid of the encoder-decoder 31 and the audio interface 32 are converted into speech signals to the subscriber terminal-use subscriber. When ISDN telephone such voice signals over B-channels are transmitted.

In Fig. 3, the processes in a registration of a subscriber using the example of the registration of the subscriber A with the subscriber call number PN1 the subscriber terminal 11 (V T1) are shown, wherein the subscriber A before the subscriber terminal 12 (VT2) was registered as a user. After registering at the subscriber terminal 11 is in addition to possible other subscriber numbers of other registered participants there then assigned to this also the subscriber number PN1. Each subscriber terminal is additionally each assigned to a subscriber terminal Call to the terminal 10 his number TN0, the terminal 11 his number TN1 and the terminal 12 his number TN2. The structure of the present example pertinent to the registering subscriber terminals 10, 11 and 12 corresponds to the structure of the subscriber terminal illustrated in Fig. 2. There are differences only relative to the storage unit 25th So lacking, to save space, in the present embodiment in the subscriber terminals 11 and 12 of the storage area HUS, but this is not mandatory. The saving of storage means HUS is possible in this particular constellation of the communication system, since the telecommunications parameters of all participants in the memory area HUS stored securely and always there was a transfer of telecommunications parameters when registering with other subscriber terminals (here 11 and 12) from the device 10 from.

The registration process by the subscriber A on the subscriber terminal 11 is initiated by the generation of a registration signal that is transmitted at step 40 via the user interface 20 to the control unit 24th The registration signal containing the subscriber number PN1 of the subscriber A, to distinguish it from other participants. This is followed by a query belonging to the subscriber telephone number PN1 of subscriber A personal identification number (PIN), known only to authorized persons. For this purpose, the control unit 24 transmits at step 41 an appropriate interrogation signal via the user interface 20 to the subscriber A. This transmits the requested personal identification number (PIN) at step 42 via user interface 20 to the control unit 24, which then generates in step 43 a registration signal, the parameters as the subscriber number PN1 and the associated personal identification number contains and which is transmitted to the control unit 22nd The control unit 22 now generates a so-called Location Update signal and transmits it at step 44 to the control unit 29, from where it is transferred to the steps 45 and 46 via the switching devices 1 and 2 to the subscriber terminal 10th The Location Update signal contains as parameter the number TN1 of the subscriber terminal 11, the subscriber number PN1 of the subscriber A and the personal identification number (PIN) of the subscriber A. The Location Update signal in the subscriber terminal 10 received by the control unit 29 and in fed step 47 the local control unit 22nd This uses the information stored in the memory area HUS the subscriber terminal 10, if the correct personal identification number has been entered for the subscriber number PN1 and also the number TN2 of the subscriber terminal 12, in which the subscriber A is currently registered under the subscriber number PN1. This is summarized in step 48th

In steps 49, 50 and 51, a cancellation signal via the control unit 29 of the subscriber terminal 10 and the switching devices 1 and 2 is transmitted to the subscriber terminal 12 after step 48th The cancellation signal contains as parameter the subscriber number PN1 of the subscriber A. It is received by the control unit 29 of the subscriber terminal 12 and passed there in step 52 to the local control unit 22nd This control unit 22 deletes the telecommunications parameters using the registry information of the subscriber A, under the subscriber number PN1 in the not shown in Figure 3 storage unit 25 of the subscriber terminal 12 (or more precisely in the local storage area VUS) in step 53 are stored.. After deletion of the telecommunications parameters, the control unit 22 generates a cancellation confirmation signal as a parameter to the subscriber number PN1 of subscriber A contains and in steps 54, 55 and 56 via the control unit 29 of the subscriber terminal 12 and the switching devices 1 and 2 to the control unit 29 of the subscriber terminal 10 is transmitted. From there, this deletion confirmation signal from the control unit 22 of the subscriber terminal 10 is supplied in step 57th This now saves the user terminal 10 (in the storage area HUS) the number TN1 of the subscriber terminal 11 as the number of that subscriber terminal, where the subscriber A is currently registered with the subscriber number PN1 as an authorized user (step 58). Thereafter, the for subscriber number PN1 belonging telecommunications parameters from the storage area HUS of the terminal 10 is read and at steps 59, 60 and 61 together with an acknowledgment signal for the registration change in the subscriber A or its subscriber number PN1 via the control unit 29 of the subscriber terminal 10 and the switching devices 1 and 2 is transmitted to the subscriber terminal 11th There, the confirmation signal from the control unit 29 of the telecommunication terminal containing the telecommunications parameters 11 is received and forwarded at step 62 to the local control unit 22nd This saves the telecommunications parameters with respect to the subscriber number PN1 in the local storage area VUS the storage unit 25 (step 63).

The so carried out registration of the subscriber A with the subscriber number PN1 in the subscriber terminal 11 is displayed in step 64 by one of the control unit 22 generated, and via the user interface 20 outputted display signal on a display device such as a display. Subscriber A can now make taking advantage of its telecommunications parameters from the subscriber terminal 11 from communication with other participants. In addition, calls are forwarded to him to the subscriber terminal 11, which will be described with reference to FIG. 4.

In the communication system according to the invention, a de-registration of a subscriber without any associated registration of the subscriber is possible.

Such Deregistrierungsvorgang is not introduced with a registration signal as in step 40 of FIG. 3, but with a corresponding Deregistrierungssignal. When Deregistrierungsvorgang only the subscriber terminal 10 and another subscriber terminal involved. The steps can be made of the embodiments with reference to FIG. 3 are derived by the steps for the deregistration of the subscriber A in the subscriber terminal over 12 and the steps to enroll in the subscriber terminal 11 are omitted. Such pure deregistration example used when a subscriber for a long time is absent and during which does not occur as a user of the communication system. If a participant indefinite resign as a user of the communication system, an advanced deregistration is provided in which a cancellation of belonging to this subscriber or to its subscriber number Telecommunications parameters is provided in all subscriber terminals.

Referring to FIG. 4, the process roughly illustrated already in FIG. 1 will now be described, in which the subscriber B from the subscriber terminal 12 settles from a call to the subscriber A, who is registered as an authorized user of the subscriber terminal 11. For this purpose, the participant B in step 3 (see. FIG. 1) at the subscriber terminal 12 to the subscriber number PN1 of subscriber A a, which then leads to the generation of a call request signal through the user interface 20, which contains as a parameter the subscriber number PN1. The call request signal is sent in step 70 to the control unit 24, the evaluation of the Telekommunikatonsparameter of the subscriber B that are stored in the memory VUS of the subscriber terminal 12, in such a way performs, in step 83, that a control and / or restriction and / or facilitating access is made by the subscriber B. A control can be, for example, by a user interface on a display device of the terminal 12th One limitation of access, for example, a restriction of a communication to the national territory. Facilitating the access is implemented by means of a matched to the subscriber B speed dial directory. If access from the control unit 24 have been found acceptable, in steps 71, 72 and 4, the call request signal from the control unit 24 via the control units 23 and 29 of the subscriber terminal 12 is transmitted to the switching device 2, which then generates a Rufauslösesignal with PN1 as a parameter that is transmitted via the switching device 1 in the step 6 to the subscriber terminal 10th

The choice of the subscriber terminal 10 as the destination device for the transmission of Rufauslösesignals in this embodiment, regardless of the subscriber number (here: PN1). Come another subscriber terminal as the destination device in question (not shown here), the respective subscriber number is assigned to one of the next as the target device in question subscriber terminals fixed, for example in accordance with the present embodiment, the subscriber number PN1 the subscriber terminal 10th

The Rufauslösesignal is supplied via the control unit 29 of the subscriber terminal 10 in steps 73 and 74, first the control unit 23 and then the control unit 22 of the subscriber terminal 10th These checks at step 75, wherein the subscriber terminal of the subscriber A is registered under his subscriber number PN1 as an authorized participant. For this purpose, the memory unit 25 of the telecommunication terminal 10 is read out, the corresponding telephone number TN1 of the subscriber terminal 11 from the storage area HUS, wherein at that time the subscriber A is registered as the current user. Furthermore, it is checked whether with respect to the subscriber number PN1 in the storage area of ​​the subscriber terminal HUS 10 restrictions are stored, which serve to prevent the forwarding of the call to the subscriber terminal 11th For example, its accessibility are limited to a certain time of day using a telecommunications parameter of subscriber A at this point.

If no such restrictive telecommunications parameters determined in step 75, the controller 22 generates a Rufumleitungssignal which contains as parameters the number TN1 of the subscriber terminal 11 and the subscriber number of the subscriber A PN1. This Rufumleitungssignal is transmitted in steps 76, 77, 7 and 8 on the control units 23 and 29 of the subscriber terminal 10 and the switching devices 1 and 2 to the subscriber terminal 11th There it is supplied via the control unit 29 and the control unit 23 to the control unit 22 of the subscriber terminal 11, where it is possible to further limiting telecommunications parameters that are stored in the subscriber terminal 11, checked in step 80th If in step 80 no rejection of Rufumleitungssignals, the control unit signals 22 at steps 81, 82 and 9 of the control unit 23 and the user interface 20 a call to the subscriber A. The signaling can both audibly and visually done.

The communication system can also be designed so that no permanent storage of telecommunications parameters is provided in one of the subscriber terminals used, as here in the storage area 13 (HUS) of the subscriber terminal 10. If in this case triggered by the registration of a subscriber to change the assignment of a subscriber number from the first subscriber terminal, where the subscriber was registered up to that point, to a second subscriber terminal, where the participants re-registered, so the telecommunications parameters of the subscriber from the first to the second user terminal by means of a third subscriber terminal (here are: the user terminal 10 or HT) transmitted and then deleted in the first subscriber terminal. The third subscriber terminal is used in this embodiment, only for the storage of subscriber numbers and the corresponding numbers of the subscriber terminals, in which the respective participants are registered at the time under consideration. In a redundant storage of telecommunications parameter is omitted it. The memory area 13 (HUS) can be saved. When registering, the allocation change of subscriber number is recorded by changing the associated subscriber terminal directory number in the third subscriber terminal 10th

In another embodiment, the storage area 13 (HUS), in which the telecommunications parameters of all users are stored permanently, distributed among several subscriber terminals. This solution is advantageous for communication systems in which there is a large memory requirement for permanent storage of telecommunications parameters of the participants due to a very large number of participants, the required memory (HUS) can not be provided by a single subscriber terminal available. In addition, the forwarding calls can be performed in parallel from multiple devices.