Distinctive ringing

0001The invention relates to a method for selecting a terminal to analog subscriber lines according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

0002In the digital telecommunications network (eg ISDN), it is possible by selecting up to ten so-called <img file="EP0941008A2_D0001.tif" />Multiple subscriber numbers (so-called MSN) "to call certain terminals at the destination terminal. These MSNs are assigned to the customer by the network operator (for example, 3000, 3001, 3002). Usually the normal ISDN connection offers three MSN per connection. Only the terminal (s) that are tuned to this MSN supplied in the D-channel of the ISDN will be activated on an incoming connection, ie they ring or automatically go into the communication state (eg Fax machines, answering machines). These MSNs can also be used in a telecommunication system (hereinafter referred to as the TK system), which is operated in the multi-device connection, to call specific extensions to which these MSNs are assigned. In this case, several terminals may have the same MSN.

0003Alternatively, a customer who has a so-called system connection to which a PBX is operated by dialing the number of the system connection (for example, 58 10) and a corresponding extension number (extension number, for example, 11, 12, 13, 17) a specific extension dial directly in the PBX. The direct dialing code can be determined by the customer. With call number and extension number together (called extension), here the extension is dialed directly. Again, multiple devices may have the same extension.

0004In ISDN, however, it is also possible by the distinction of services of the terminals (for example, FAX, telephony, video telephony, PC card, etc.) and terminal devices that have the same MSN or extension to selectively select, if they differ by their service ,

0005In the German patent application no. 19729126.0 a method is proposed, with the above services can also be signaled to analog subscriber lines. This so-called service identifier is sent before or during the connection setup by the calling party to the telephone network and transmitted via this to the called subscriber line. From the calling party to the telephone network, this is done using DTMF coded characters and from the telephone network to the called party using FSK-coded signals.

0006The disadvantage is that it is currently not possible in the analog domain to select or select a particular terminal connected in the destination terminal independently of its service before the connection is accepted. Devices that provide the same service are all activated. If, for example, several telephones that are located in different rooms are operated on an analogue connection, they will all ring when they are called.

0007In the future, although it is planned for analog dial-up, several destination numbers (similar to MSN in ISDN, therefore hereafter called analog MSN) introduce. However, the selection should take place here by means of different call sequences on the connection line to the called party. Since the phones otherwise differ only by different rings, the called party must distinguish the selected destination number indirectly based on different ringing signals by tone sequence and pitch (for example, for the one analog MSN one short and two long ringtones, and for the second analog MSN two short and two long ringtones).

0008Although this type of device selection from the origin (calling party dials different numbers) her simple, but difficult to distinguish for the customer in the call destination. A particular disadvantage is that the called party may u a whole series of different call signals must memorize, in particular behind a TK-plant with many branches. Another disadvantage is that, unlike ISDN, it is not possible to selectively select devices with different services but the same analog MSN or extension.

0009It is therefore an object of the invention, starting from the German Patent Application No. 19729126.0, to provide a method for the targeted selection of terminals to analog subscriber lines, which includes both the planned analog MSN, as well as provides a possibility without special analog MSN work. The process should be as simple as possible for the calling and the called party.

0010This object is solved by the characterizing features of claim 1.

0011In the method according to the invention, the calling subscriber, who can have both an analog and a digital (ISDN) subscriber line, sends device selection information from his terminal in addition to the actual telephone number of the subscriber line of the called subscriber. This device selection information is forwarded to the called subscriber line to which various terminals are connected. The terminals evaluate the received device selection information and compare it with a stored in a memory own device selection information. If the device selection information of a terminal matches the received one, this terminal is activated and performs its specific functions (for example, a telephone rings or a fax machine switches to reception). The other devices are not responding!

0012The embodiment according to claim 2 describes how the device selection information from an originating node assigned to the calling subscriber (for example a local exchange) to a destination network node assigned to the called subscriber (eg also a local exchange) is passed on and how this converts the device selection information into an FSK-modulated signal. This FSK-modulated signal is transmitted after the first call signal to the called subscriber line, and thus the device selection information can be evaluated by the connected terminals.

0013In a further embodiment according to claim 3, the data of this FSK-modulated signal contain a special parameter, here <img file="EP0941008A2_D0002.tif" />Targeted call selection ", as well as the actual parameter for selecting the terminal, a device selection code number This device selection code number is assigned to one or more terminals at the B subscriber.

0014In the embodiment according to claim 4 different destination numbers are used as device selection information. These may be, for example, the analog MSN described above. The necessary information is passed from the source network node to the destination network node.

0015A reproduced in claim 5 variant does not use different destination numbers but the calling party sends in addition to the dialing information (for example, the number of the called subscriber line) a string as a device selection information.

0016Claims 6 and 7 relate to codes for the device selection information.

0017Claim 8 refers to terminals to analog subscriber lines and claim 9 to terminals on digital terminals.

0018Claim 10 relates to a specially trained terminal, which is suitable for carrying out the method at the called party.

0019The claims 10 and 11 relate to the design of telecommunications facilities (such as network nodes) for carrying out the method according to the invention.

0020Reference to exemplary embodiments in conjunction with the drawings, the solution according to the invention will be described in detail. Show it<dl id="dl0001"><dt>FIG. 1</dt><dd>the scheme of a connection via a telecommunication network of calling subscribers to called subscribers,</dd><dt>FIG. 2</dt><dd>Flowcharts of the method, and</dd><dt>FIG. 3</dt><dd>the waveforms at both the calling and the called connection</dd></dl>

0021In Figure 1, the calling party are marked with 3 and 4, while the subscriber 4 is to be connected via an ISDN connection and the subscriber 3 via an analog connection to the source network node 1 of the telecommunications network. On the other hand, the called subscribers 5 and 6 have analog connections to the destination network node 2. In this case, a PBX 10 is connected between the local exchange 2 and the various extensions 61, 62 at the called subscriber 6.

0022When called party 5, however, two phones 63, 64 are connected directly to the destination network node 2.

0023The terminals 61, 62, 63 or 64 at the called subscribers 5 and 6 are selectively selected by means of device selection information. The manner in which the calling party 3 or 4 must transmit the device selection information depends on the type of connection at the called party 5 or 6. The called subscribers 5 and 6 can either have one or several different multiple subscriber numbers (such as the analog MSN in future, for example) per subscriber line. In the case of analog MSN, the terminals 61, 62, 63 or 64 at the called party 5 and 6 are selected using these numbers. In the other case with only one phone number, the terminals 61, 62, 63 or 64 using character codes that are sent in addition to the actual phone number from the calling party 3 and 4, selected.

0024In the case of transmission of character codes to called party 5 or 6 with only one phone number must still be distinguished whether the calling party 3 or 4 has an analog or digital connection. In the calling party 3 with analog connection, the character codes are transmitted by means of DTMF coded characters. The calling party 4 with digital connection (here the example ISDN) uses the so-called keypad strings, via the signaling via the D-channel, for example with the help of the keyboard of the terminal is possible. The procedure is similar to the DTMF procedure for the user. The originating network node 1 must therefore be able to recognize the device selection information contained in the DTMF coded characters and keypad strings and to forward same as the call number to the destination network node 2.

0025The destination network node 2 outputs the device selection information obtained to the terminals 61, 62, 63 or 64 of the called users 5 or 6 in the form of FSK-coded signals. For the called party 5 without a PBX, the terminals 63 and 64 themselves must evaluate this FSK-coded device selection information. When called party 6 with PBX 10, this can also take over the PBX 10.

0026The method according to the invention will be explained in more detail by way of example with reference to the flow charts in FIG. FIGS. 2 a and 2 b show the sequence at the calling subscriber 3 or 4 including originating network node 1 and FIG. 2 b the sequence at the called subscriber 5 or 6 including destination network node 2.

0027In principle, in this method, as described above, there are two possibilities for the type of call for the called subscriber 5 or 6:<ul id="ul0001" list-style="none"><li>Figure 2a) Multiple Subscriber Number (Analog MSN): The called party 5 or 6 has two or more analog MSN's for its analog dial-up connection (e.g., 01234/12340, 01234/12341, etc.). The analog MSN are assigned to the various terminals 61 to 64 of the called party 5 or 6, so the device selection information is the analog MSN itself. The calling party 3 or 4 directly dials the corresponding analog MSN, the connection is established. The source network node 1 forwards this analog MSN to the destination network node 2, which processes the device selection information (as shown in FIG. 2c) described). ,</li><li>• Figure 2b) Device selection code: A subscriber does not have an analogue MSN, but only a single phone number under which he can be reached. The terminals 61, 62, 63 or 64 at the called party 5 or 6 are specifically addressed in this case only on device selection codes. Calling party 3 or 4 must hereby execute a procedure for the service feature<img file="EP0941008A2_D0003.tif" />Perform targeted call selection "(GAs), by means of which the device selection code (GaK) of the corresponding terminal 61, 62, 63 or 64 at the called party 5 or 6 is communicated to the originating node 1 before the actual destination number. The calling party 3 or 4 executes first the GAs / GaK procedure and then the dialing procedure (DTMF or keypad strings). The terminals 61, 62, 63 or 64 to be selected have, for example, the device selection codes GaK1 = 1, GaK2 = 2 to GaK9 = 9. By way of example, two possibilities are shown.<ul id="ul0002" list-style="none"><li>a) A two or more digit service feature code is used in which the service feature code, consisting of a digit / digit sequence (in the example the digit 8), is directly combined with the device selection code: Generally written, the service feature code here is * DK #, where <img file="EP0941008A2_D0004.tif" />D "is a characteristic service feature number / code sequence for the service <img file="EP0941008A2_D0005.tif" />Targeted Call Selection "and <img file="EP0941008A2_D0006.tif" />K represents a device selection code number sequence for the terminal to be selected at the called party <img file="EP0941008A2_D0007.tif" />*" and the <img file="EP0941008A2_D0008.tif" /># "signify the beginning and the end of the service <img file="EP0941008A2_D0009.tif" />targeted call selection "with respect to the originating network node 1. For example<ul id="ul0003" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li>Terminal GaK1 = * 81 #</li><li>Terminal device GaK2 = * 82 #</li><li>...</li><li>End device GaK9 = * 89 #</li></ul></li><li>b) A one or more-digit service feature code for the service feature code / number sequence (here 80) is used, with the device selection code / number sequence, by a delimiter (eg <img file="EP0941008A2_D0010.tif" />* ") decoupled, is supplemented: Generally written, the service feature code here is * DD * K #, where <img file="EP0941008A2_D0011.tif" />DD "is a characteristic number for the service feature <img file="EP0941008A2_D0012.tif" />Targeted Call Selection "and <img file="EP0941008A2_D0013.tif" />K "represents a device selection code number for the terminal to be selected at the B subscriber <img file="EP0941008A2_D0014.tif" />*" and the <img file="EP0941008A2_D0015.tif" /># "signify the beginning and the end of the service <img file="EP0941008A2_D0016.tif" />targeted call selection "with respect to the originating network node 1.<ul id="ul0004" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li>Terminal device GaK1 = * 80 * 1 #</li><li>Terminal GaK2 = * 80 * 2 #</li><li>...</li><li>End device GaK9 = * 80 * 9 # or</li><li>End device GaK15 = * 80 * 15 # (two-digit device selection code)</li></ul></li></ul>The necessary service feature codes can also be stored in the terminal of the calling party, so that the calling party the procedure for the <img file="EP0941008A2_D0017.tif" />Targeted Call Selection "does not need to be executed manually, eg in a speed dial memory, which today's analog and digital phones usually possess. In the method according to the invention, the calling subscriber 3 or 4 first transmits the service feature code and the device selection code to the originating network node 1. This data is cached there. Thereafter, the calling party 3 or 4 dials the actual destination number of the called party 5 or 6, the connection is established Within the method for establishing a connection, the originating node 1 transmits, inter alia the information regarding Device selection code to the determined by the destination number destination network node 2 on. For this purpose, a corresponding protocol element is required in the transmission protocols between the source 1 and destination network node 2. In FIG. 2c), in the destination network node 2, the selected analog MSN (destination telephone number) or the device selection code number is converted into an FSK-coded signal (for example together with the standard CLIP information). The called party 5 or 6 is called with the corresponding analog MSN or the simple call number, wherein after the 1. Ring signal the FSK-coded signal is transmitted. If a terminal 61 to 64 recognizes the device selection information assigned to it from the transmitted data (analog MSN or device selection code), this is activated. Depending on the type and setting of the terminal 61 to 64 this now signals the call (for example, a phone) or it automatically receives this connection (fax, answering machine).</li></ul>

0028FIG. 3 shows how the signal course with device selection code number is constructed schematically at the calling subscriber (FIG. 3 a) and at the called subscriber (FIG. 3 b) plotted over a time axis t.

0029When calling party 3 or 4 (see Figure 3a) is first the line (analog dial), in an ISDN connection mutatis mutandis occupied a B-channel. Thus, the terminal is connected to the source network node 1. Now the procedure becomes<img file="EP0941008A2_D0018.tif" />Targeted call selection "is carried out and transmitted as special signals 12 (DTMF-coded character string or as keypad string) These special signals 12 are decrypted and buffered by the originating network node 1. Thereafter, dialing information 13 (called subscriber line number) is transmitted; directly in time to the procedure for the service feature <img file="EP0941008A2_D0019.tif" />The originating network node connects to the destination network node 2 by means of the dialing information 13 and passes on the signals 12 and 13. These are thus available for output at the called subscriber line 5 or 6. At a certain point in time the connection is accepted 17 by the called party 5 or 6.

0030For the called party 5 or 6, the signal course looks as shown in FIG. 3b:

0031The destination network node 2 first sends a 1. Call signal 21 to the called subscriber line 5 or 6. The information for the device selection identifier, the special signals 12, are converted by the destination network node 2 and sent together with the standard CLIP information as FSK-modulated signals 22 to the called subscriber line 5 or 6. There, the FSK-modulated signals 22 are evaluated by the terminals 61 to 64 or the PBX 10 and based on the Geräteauswahlkennziffer a terminal 61, 62, 63 or 64 of the called party 5 or 6 is activated and signals the call or takes this connection automatically counter. Until this aforementioned evaluation has been completed, one or more ringing signals 23 to 24 may follow until the connection is accepted or the calling party 3 or 4 releases the line. After connection acceptance, either manually by the called party 5 or 6 or automatically by a terminal 61 to 64, the signals 25 of the communication link are replaced until the connection is triggered by one of the participants.

0032It can be seen from the above descriptions that devices for carrying out the method according to the invention have to be provided both in the terminals of the subscribers and in the network nodes.

0033In order to carry out the method according to the invention, a query of the device selection code can be implemented in the terminal of the calling party 3 or 4, as well as a memory for storing the service feature code or this service feature. The terminals 61 to 64 at the called party 5 or 6, however, require a device that after the 1. Ringing signal recognizes the FSK-modulated signals and the data contents contained therein, evaluates and processes in order to respond according to their own preselected device selection code or MSN. The network nodes 1 and 2 must be able to transmit the DTMF coded signals or Passing keypad strings, as well as the transmitted protocol elements in FSK-modulated signals, for example, in a CLIP data format to convert and output.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

0034<dl id="dl0002" compact="compact"><dt><b>t</b></dt><dd><b>timeline</b></dd><dt><b>1</b></dt><dd><b>Originating network node</b></dd><dt><b>2</b></dt><dd><b>Destination network node</b></dd><dt><b>3</b></dt><dd><b>calling subscriber at the analog connection</b></dd><dt><b>4</b></dt><dd><b>Calling subscriber on the digital connection (ISDN)</b></dd><dt><b>5</b></dt><dd><b>called subscriber without PBX at the analog connection</b></dd><dt><b>6</b></dt><dd><b>called subscriber with telecommunications system at the analog connection</b></dd><dt><b>10</b></dt><dd><b>PBX</b></dd><dt><b>12</b></dt><dd><b>special signals (DTMF characters or keypad strings)</b></dd><dt><b>13</b></dt><dd><b>election information</b></dd><dt><b>17</b></dt><dd><b>connection</b></dd><dt><b>21</b></dt><dd><b>1. ringing</b></dd><dt><b>22</b></dt><dd><b>FSK-modulated signal</b></dd><dt><b>23.24</b></dt><dd><b>further call signals</b></dd><dt><b>25</b></dt><dd><b>connection</b></dd><dt><b>61.62</b></dt><dd><b>Terminals on a PBX at the called party 6</b></dd><dt><b>63.64</b></dt><dd><b>Terminals at the called party 5</b></dd></dl>