Computer product for updating of centralised data related to telecommunication purposes

0001The invention relates to a computer product for upgrading Data, mainly for the production of telecommunication links, after according to the preamble of claim 1 and a computer the preamble of claim 10 and a telecommunications system according to the preamble of claim 12th

0002Nowadays telecommunications systems are increasingly using interfaces upgraded and appropriate softwares to the telecommunication system to a data network (LAN - Local Area Network) to connect to can. Such telecommunication systems support computer-controlled Phone Applications (CSTA - Computer Supported Telephony Application or CTI - Computer Telephony Integration). The merger of computer and telecommunications equipment found in the past because of the high costs incurred only in large plants instead of. At about the same to the popularization of computers (PC, Lap-top, etc.) yet spread telecommunication equipment had to use a few subscriber terminals and increasingly a computer supported. This is often the case in small and medium-sized Companies in which less than 50 subscriber terminals to are operated.

0003Computer-controlled telephone applications relate, for example applications Management of fax, e-mail or paging messages. The providers of such computerized telephone applications seek to program applications to develop that through a user-friendly graphical interface (GUI - Graphical User Interface) the editing of such phone applications permit with word processing.

0004An example of this is known from the journal AT & T Technology, Volume 10, 1995, Page 6-9 known in the mentioned product "Integrated Messaging" presented becomes. This product of AT & T / Lotus offers by means of software connect on between the different servers, can receive voice messages, e-mail and / or fax. All hosts are connected to one another via a data network (LAN). This software allows an exchange of messages between the computers and a connected from data network telecommunication system. It will Phone numbers and addresses of the various electronic mailboxes (E-mail) of the respective user-specific as well as optionally Parameters that user stored on a central computer (server). there a user can set a plurality of electronic mailboxes available get, for example, a first mailbox on a computer at work, a second mailbox on a portable computer (lap top) and a third mailbox on his wireless telephone. It deals then three distinctive from each other, ie three different devices stored mailboxes. The product "Integrated Messaging "performs periodically a synchronization cycle compiled by where the contents of three mailboxes by selectable criteria becomes. The subscriber can then from one of these subscriber terminals take access to a general mailbox, the contains the information of the three boxes.

0005Such a product facilitates the management of telecommunication messages which are allocated for the same participants, even when it comes to different kinds of messages (paging messages, E-mail or fax) and / or when they are in different boxes are stored. But this product only synchronizes inputs from Telecommunications Communication. This product has no direct access on the devices connected to the data network telecommunication system. Each subscriber terminal used for telecommunication purposes with the built z. B. a phone a telecommunications link is, must either have a private address or it remains the user does not save directly enter the phone number or email address.

0006The company Cobra GmbH provides a computer-product called - Address PLUS - with the leaves a phone from a computer to control. It is computers connected via a data network to a server, wherein the Server itself is connected to a telecommunications system. The telephone is then connected to the telecommunication system. From the Instructions for this product (see leaflet for ISDN telephony with Adress PLUS - pages 1-7, Stand 08.10.1998) is the automatic Select known a telephone number from the address book of a computer. For example, if a work with such a computer and a a corresponding telecommunication system connected phone stocked is a telephone connection at this workstation is set up, indem- Adress PLUS - the server notifies the user of this Workplace eg the number 12345 will call. The corresponding Software in the server logs of the telecommunications system that this user Select from the phone at his workplace the participants 12345 want. The telecommunications system establishes the connection between this User and the subscriber on 12345.

0007Here, the number 12345 of the called subscriber in a Storage either on the computer of the workstation of a user (eg. B. for private number) or on the server (eg. As business call number) be stored. this number is on a private Address on the user's computer, then this number is only selectable from this computer. In contrast, the numbers, which are stored in the general address on the server for everyone. These numbers are even all phones, which are connected to the telecommunication system, available posed. Thus, a user of such a phone, the z. B. a display having a phone number in this general address book Select this display.

0008All this results in that information on the formation of a telecommunication connection, such as phone numbers or email addresses on different Computers and / or telecommunication system are stored. Each user runs on his computer his own personal Directory. The extension number and email address of the respective Jobs are located either on a used as a server Computer or a memory of the telecommunication system. A complete Manage all information required for a construction of a telecommunication link may be needed with the help of this Produktes- Adress PLUS - are not ensured. The administration and the Update address books with the help of this product is in accordance with consuming. The registration of a new user, only the Assistant Manager of the telecommunications system along with the system carry Manager server. In addition, a user will be personal Address can query only from the computer at his workplace, which is clearly not satisfactory, if the user to be mobile wants and is working on several computers.

0009The invention is based on the object, a computer product for data to design for the production of telecommunication links, the a managing and deploying all possible addresses as extension numbers, Phone numbers or email addresses in the easiest way allows.

0010The object is inventively achieved by a computer product according to the Teaching of claim 1 and by a computer according to the teaching of claim 10 and a telecommunications system according to the teaching of claim 12 dissolved.

0011The central storage of all addresses on a computer used as a server, the connected to a telecommunications system and several computers is, allows different users to access it, to have. This access can be taken from different computers from will. Each user retains the option of a personal and just to make it accessible address. This address is According to the invention on the server, on the main parts of the computer product are stored. The personal address books of the respective Users form part of a centralized constructed in the server Directory.

0012A user may be personal address book from different Computers to consult and / or to control the next closest to him use lying phone. The user reserves the addresses store on a local computer. But through regular and automatic synchronization of content of all address books is assured, that the address in the server, the computer-product is managed, always contains the latest version. This regular synchronization can the manner of a back-up, for example, at night and in the background expire. Such computer-product offers considerable flexibility. For example, per registered entry in the memory it one hand, information such as work phone number, fax number, etc. anyone be made available and on the other information such as home phone made only specific users only. moreover can make changes to such information by a user directly on a computer used as a subscriber terminal which from Computer product is mentioned, are carried out. The flexibility, associated with such a centralized and updated address is not only allows data for manufacturing a telecommunications connection store per entry, but also other information such as store a mailing address or other personal characteristics.

0013Advantageous embodiments of the invention result from the dependent Claims, the following description and the drawings.

0014An embodiment of the invention will now with the aid of accompanying drawings, be explained further.

0015Show it:<dl tsize="6"><dt>Fig. 1</dt><dd>a schematic illustration of networked user terminals, as it is known from the prior art,</dd><dt>FIG. 2</dt><dd>a schematic representation of cross-linked according to the invention Subscriber terminals,</dd><dt>Fig. 3</dt><dd>a schematic illustration of the general architecture of the invention Computer product,</dd><dt>Fig. 4</dt><dd>a schematic representation of a specific architecture of the Computer product to Fig.3.</dd></dl>

0016In Fig. 1 is schematically shown an example of such subscriber terminals, thereof three computers 31, 33, 35, connected to a data network 30 are leading to a telecommunications system 10th This telecommunication system 10 is as usual via a telephone line 20 for Telecommunications purposes subscriber terminals such as phones used 21, 22. By the connection of the computers 31, 33, 35 via the data network 30 to the telecommunication system 10, a user can with one of these hosts one of the telephones 21, control 22nd Therefor but it requires a special software controlling the telecommunications system 10 permits from the computers 31, 33, 35th

0017The computer 31 is used as a server, and can in the memory 32 Data is stored, which via the data network 30 to other computers 33, 35 are provided. These data consist of a mixture of List of names, such as customer names with their respective addresses, phone numbers, Email, etc. This data, any user from his Computer 33, 35 query "b". Each user also has the option on his own computer 33, 35 to establish a personal address book. This is then on the respective memories 34, 36 of these computers 33, 35 stored.

0018In addition, the telecommunication system contains 10 separate memory 11, 12 where phone numbers of users are stored. These stored Telephone numbers are all for telecommunications Subscriber terminals used, in this case, telephones 21, 22, which at the telephone line are connected 20, are provided. Accordingly, they are then in the centralized storage 11 stored. But you may also stored in the divided memory 12 are to be retrieved only by individual subscriber terminals to will. Thus, any user of these phones 21, 22 a personal Directory of 12 own, whose contents completely or partially only can be read to him and / or amended.

0019As per workplace both a computer 33 or 35 as well as a Telephone 21 and 22 is, with both the computer and the telephone as shown on the Fig. 1, to the telecommunication system 10 connected are, the user of such a job several has Options to dial a phone number or choose to let. If the telephones 21, 22 is provided with a display, the user can directly from his phone 21, 22 phone number from either the general telephone directory in the memory 11 of the telecommunication system 10 stored, or from his personal telephone directory, which is stored in the memory 12 of the telecommunication system 10, Select "a". On the other hand, the user can on the computer 33, 35 of his Workplace either directly from his personal address book in the respective memory 34, 36 of his computer 33, stored 35, or general questions over the data network 30 from the available Address, which is stored in the memory 32 of the server 31, a telephone number choose. It will also use a provided software forwarded to the telecommunication system 10th The telecommunications system 10 this selected telephone number is then used, a telecommunication connection to the phone 21, 22 the user of the workstation build.

0020In FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of the interconnection of subscriber terminals together with an inventive telecommunication system 40 disclosed. At the subscriber terminals include three Computer 33, 35, 50, connected together and to the telecommunication system 40 are connected via a data network 30th One of the three computers 33, 35, 50 is used as an inventive server 50th additionally include to the subscriber terminals two telephones 21, 22, via a Telephone line 20 with each other and with the telecommunications system 40 are connected. As in Figure 1, a typical workstation with one of Computer 33, or 35, and one of the telephones 21, and 22 are fitted.

0021In contrast to the prior art 2 in Fig. Of a computer product exercised, which offers the possibility of all the different Address directories and telephone books centrally Save 51, 52 the server 50 store. No phone book of the telecommunication system 40 will now be used to create a telecommunication link build. The information required for this is centrally on the server 50 stored. The telecommunication system 40 is accordingly completely controlled by the server 50th Such telecommunications system 40 is commonly referred to as CSTA telecommunications system (Computer Supported Telephony Application) referred. Compared to the prior Technology allows the user on the phone 21 a phone number from a telephone directory Select "c", on the memory 51 of the server 50 the is filed. This phone directory can eg as a personal telephone directory be built up, and accordingly the portion of the memory 51 be stored, which was assigned. Furthermore, the user has the Ability of the computer 35 of his workplace information, such as address query or phone number from his personal address book and / or to change "e". This also applies to information that is generally in the Memory 52 of the server 50 are stored.

0022The computer product according to the invention is a regular Update the address books in the memories 51, 52 of the server 50 are constructed, performed. For this purpose, by means of requests of this Computer product checked for new data by the user on the his computer 33, 35 have been entered, and to the corresponding Memory 34, 36 of the computer 33, 35 are stored. If new data were found, they will be over the data network 30 to the server 50 sent "d" in order stored in the address books therein to become.

0023In Fig. 3 is the general architecture of the computer product of the invention shown. As an example, the telecommunication system 40, the computer used as a server 50 and a 33 of the other two to the data network 30 connected computers 33, 35 described in Figure 2. Since they need to communicate over the data network 30, they need each an interface 42, 55, 61 for this data network 30. The server 50 in addition to the usual management unit 53 and d contains em standard protocol 54 more memories 51, 52a, 52b. How to Figure 2 is a Memory 51, where the personal address books are stored, in the Number of these address books divided. On the other hand, in contrast to Fig.2 the memory 52 which is accessible to anyone, in two parts 52a and 52b divided. The one part 52a is reserved for data, the telecommunication system the 40 required, such as extension number of telephones 21, 22, which are connected to the telecommunication system 40th The other Part 52b is reserved for general information such as phone numbers or Email addresses that are freely available.

0024Access to all these memories via an access interface 56. Data, for example, by the computer 33 via the data network 30 to the server sent 50, after it from the interface 55 the data network were 30 recorded, the access interface 56 transferred and distributed to the memory 51, 52a, 52b. This client / server Access interface 56 enables the reading, writing, modifying and delete entries in the address books, in the memories 51, 52a, 52b are stored. It is also possible with the aid of this access interface 56 or to search all address books for an information.

0025The right to access to the personal directories that the in Memory 51 of the server 50 are stored, is from an access module 57 of the computer product determines that a direct access to this Memory 51 has.

0026The telecommunications system 40 includes, in addition to a call control 41 a common operating interface 45 and line 46 sets for connecting the subscriber terminal used for telecommunications, such as telephone or fax machine. Directly to the interface 42 to the data network 30, a user interface 43 is connected to the Telecommunications purposes, and subscriber terminals, with a display are provided, offers the opportunity to the general Address, which is stored on the server 50 to browse. The Telecommunication system 40 also includes a software - management module 44 - that the general administration of the telecommunication system 40 takes over. This management module 44 and the user interface 43 consist of records that portions of this invention make computer product. Via the management module 44 automatically updated in the address books Server 50th This is done, for example, when a new subscriber terminal used for telecommunication purposes connected to the telecommunication system 40 is, and corresponding extension number in the address in the memory 52a must be entered.

0027The subscriber terminals used as a computer 33, 35 that the data network 30 connected and the inventive computer product be addressed, in addition to the usual units as a message interface 62 (MAPI - Messages Application Programming Interface), and a separate management unit 63, into their Memory 34 Undocked address and an application-oriented software 65 for managing messages. In addition to the computers 33, 35, a synchronization module 66 stored that the invention Computer product belongs. With this synchronization module 66 is a match of the contents of all addresses in both the server 50 as also guaranteed in computer 33rd To this end, comprises synchronization module 66 an interface for the user, with the all entries are read into the memory 34 of the subscriber terminal 33, and on the server 50 is reproduced. Thereby it is ensured that the Entries in the memories 51, 52a, 52b of the server automatically on 50 be brought to date and the user's own entries on his computer 33 also included.

0028A typical example of the architecture of the computer product of the invention for a medium-sized telecommunications system is shown schematically represented by means of the communication platform in FIG. 4. These Communications platform includes the telecommunication system 40 and using the computer as a server 50 of Figure 3. This communication platform to communicate with various application-related software can. In this case, it is a unified messaging system 81, a remote access to 82 for telecommunications used subscriber terminals, an Internet connection 83 and call turns 84 in the server (TAPI - Telephony Application Programming Interface) connected. The management module 44 of the telecommunication system 40 and the management unit 53 of the server 50 of Figure 3 are in this example summarized in a data interface 70. The latter allows access to the access interface 56 of the server to take 50, to entries relating to new users of the telecommunication system establish or renew items of already entered users 40 "F".

0029In parallel, regularly the compliance of the content of the personal Address books carried out by the users, on the one hand centrally in the memory 51 of the server 50, and the other part locally in the memory 34, 36 of the respective computer 33, 35 the user are stored. The synchronization module 66 in the computer 33 may optionally with a user-friendly graphical user interface (GUI - Graphical User Interface) be provided. This synchronization unit 66 works directly with the application-specific software 65 (MAPI) of the computer 33 together, in turn, with the internal address of the computer management 63 33 cooperates.

0030The computer 33 also includes a software 67 for general address management, such as Micro Soft Outlook Address Book. This software 67 together with a specific protocol 68 (LDAP - Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) allows the user from his computer 33, 35 access to all data from the server 50, which are freely available to him to get. If the user eg prior to a special information, which is stored in a memory 51, 52a, 52b to look, he is can do so from his computer 33, 35th For this is the standard protocol 54 in the server from the specific protocol 68 of the computer 33 enabled "i" to an eg parallel search in the three memories 51, 52a, 52b perform.

0031Collecting all the electronic data from different address books on the server 50 should not cause any user from any connected to the data network 30 or on the telephone line 20 Subscriber terminal access to all this data gets. Especially is important that the personal address books, the personal in a Part of the memory 51 of the server 50 are stored, only users accessible that it has the authorization. For this, the server 50, 57 of the computer product according to the invention deposited the access module, to determine access rights. This allows the server in Read 50 stored personal address books only as a password edit and / or. Each time the user access to will have information of his personal address, he must then this Enter the password to a subscriber terminal. An alternative solution would arise if a personal address by only one is predetermined and workplace accessible. For this purpose, would each in Server 50 stored personal address with an identification number the workplace, such as the identification number of the corresponding Computer linked. In this case, the entry of a password is omitted.

0032This computer product according to the invention eliminates any contains address in the telecommunication system 40. Typically, a telecommunications system with an address at least all extension numbers, the devices connected to the telecommunication system Telephones 21, 22. Now the required extension number at Demand from switching module 44 of the telecommunication system 40 over the user interface 43 brought in Server 50th For this purpose, the user interface 43 communicate with the search interface 73 of the server 50 " H ". The extension number is then from memory read out 52a of the server 50, and the telecommunication system 40 to hand over.

0033An application of this computer product in an environment where many Jobs over a data network and a telephone line to the computer product are connected, could look as follows: In general, Memory 52b from the server 50 are all names of users the jobs with possibly some accessible for everyone Informations. In allocated for the telecommunication system 40 memory 52a of the server 50 is the respective extension number the jobs that user. If a user on the computer his Workplace additional personal information regarding an in Server will store 50 already registered user, these are pass information to the server 50, and in the accessible only by him Personal Address Book in the server 50 is stored. The on this Personal Address associated user can eg stored therein Information about the display of the phone from his workplace . Check

0034Will the user A, the user B, for example, Schmidt, Carmen is called, at their private and known only by the user A telephone connection call, the user A is on the phone from his workplace as the first Enter four letters "jewel" of the name Schmidt. On display his softphone appears containing the name of a third user C Schmidt, Albert. By means of a button on the phone, the user A can generally, scroll as alphabetical telephone directory, which is stored in the server 50, to the name of the user B called Schmidt, Carmen appears on the display of his telephone.

0035The user A will then select the name of Schmidt, Carmen, for example, by pressing a button - OK -. It then appears on the display the phone number the workplace this user B. After another leaves all stored phone numbers, such as the phone's and the Fax of the user B, the user A on the display of softphone is the private number of the user B can see. In this case, the User A, even if this private number of User B only accessible to him, no particular difference as you scroll all numbers of the user B notice.

0036The use of such a computer product according to the invention allows more data to link even if they have different have access rights, and / or in different directories the server 50 are stored. In addition, since the computer product serves the data stored in the server 50 data to date to hold, for example, the user A can be sure that the private number of the user B, which he entered on the computer at his workplace and is stored in the memory of this computer, and the server 50 was transferred. This inventive computer product offers still be able to use different address books, with the considerable advantage that all address books to each other and automatically are updated. It also facilitates the design of a computer-controlled Telecommunication system. You can completely in the server be integrated, in which the essential parts of the invention Computer product are stored. In contrast to those described herein Examples, and the server 50 may be connected to the telephone line 20 be at which the telephones 21, 22 and the telecommunication system 40, if she is not integrated in the server 50, connected are.

0037The computer product consists solely of records that in several modules are divided. It is therefore quite possible that computer product be stored on a storage medium such as a floppy disk. The customer, who purchased this disk, the different modules are with the help of additional software on their networked computer and telecommunication system charge. Instead of the floppy disk can also the Computer product offered to customers via the Internet. This illustrates, that the inventive computer product without large Effort can be installed even if the telecommunication system and the networked computers are already operating. This facilitates a subsequent improvement and / or expansion of the computer product.