Telephone network node system

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD [Detailed description of the invention]

【0001】

[Technical field to which the invention belongs]

The present invention relates to connecting a network to one or more radio frequency channels. In particular, the present invention relates to connecting a telephone network to one or more radio frequency channels.

【0002】

[Conventional technology]

See Figure 1. The use of telephone services has increased dramatically as a result of the popularity of the Internet. Homes with multiple telephone lines 135 in addition to a single telephone line for voice conversations are becoming more and more common, with a second line being used for business purposes or for internet connectivity. It is possible to do so.

【0003】

Wired residential telephone service essentially means connecting a twisted line 110 extending from a telephone company's telephone exchange to a physical wired line that connects to many of the residential 115's wired telephones. These twisted wires are bundled into bundles of up to thousands of wires and attached to the switch via a telephone exchange wiring frame. Outside the exchange, these bundles are erected between a number of utility poles 120. Outside a given dwelling, a particular twisted pair servicing that dwelling will exit the bundle, be drawn into the home, and be connected to an indoor line. Once the twisted pair is attached to the indoor line, it can be connected to a traditional wired telephone 125, such as that manufactured by Southwestern Bell, GE or Sony.

【0004】

Cordless telephones are terminals that can be attached to today's existing terrestrial (wired) networks. The cordless telephone 130 is composed of a second device, that is, a basic unit and a handset. The basic unit connects directly to one or two lines of the existing network and wirelessly extends them to the handset. Cordless phones provide full transparency, i.e., terrestrial networks do not recognize that they are terminated with cordless phones rather than traditional wired phones. The main functions of the basic unit are full dual voice channels between the ground line and the handset, wired network signaling, and in the handset, such as switches hooks, bells (alert devices) and dial pads. Provides an interface to and from the appropriate device. Various methods are used in cordless phones to provide security, which means protection of terrestrial channels from unauthorized use, and privacy, which means protection from eavesdropping. Cordless phones are typically sold in basic unit / handset pairs that can be set by the consumer to one of several code patterns (usually using a multi-contact switch bank). The radio frequency section of a cordless phone is low power and has no frequency variable capability, i.e. does not change frequency during a call, except for high-end devices that use spread spectrum frequency hopping technology as a security measure. In particular, cordless phones do not use the variable frequency capability as a means of improving the switching capabilities or services of the network to which they are connected.

【0005】

Although the cell telephone system is cordless, it is substantially different from cordless telephones. Cell telephone handsets are variable frequency and variable power and are always managed by the cell controller. They use even more frequencies than cordless phones. A fundamental feature of the cellular scheme is that it provides the mobility of the handset over a wide area of hundreds of miles. It is not possible to provide sufficient RF power to cover a large area, and when trying to service a large number of users on a per-user frequency basis, the allocated frequencies are inadequate. As a result, using a subset of all frequencies, all regions are divided into relatively small cells (each with a central antenna 140), allowing low power communication with the handset 145 within the cell boundaries. To do. Each cell adjacent to a given cell uses a different subset of frequencies (146, 147), and short-range cells reuse the same frequency due to the low RF power used in the cell. Control systems for cell telephone systems are extremely complex. Each cell controller constantly monitors the signal strength of all handsets in its own cell and in adjacent cells, thereby both cells as the handset moves to the boundary between the two cells. The controller recognizes where the handset is and in what direction it is moving. At the right moment, a "handoff" occurs when the cell controller commands the handset to change to the frequency used by the incoming cell. At the same time, the ground line connection is changed from the old cell to the new cell, providing continuity for voice connections.

【0006】

To provide wireless data access in crowded locations such as hotels and airports, companies like MobileStar (http://www.mobilestar.com) offer publicly accessible wireless LAN. Thereby, subscribers with the proper passwords, hardware and software for their laptops can communicate via wireless LAN technology and through gateways and routers to their corporate LANs and the Internet. Become. Wireless access points at airports or hotels are provided with broadband (T1 and above) wired channels to the network. These facilities are not dedicated and are shared with routers that function to forward packets to their appropriate destinations.

【0007】

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

Introducing and maintaining conventional wired telephone services, from utility poles to structures and even telephones within structures, is a labor-intensive task. To introduce the service, it is necessary to send personnel to the site. Also, in the event of a service failure, it is often necessary to send maintenance personnel to the home to inspect the line and repair it. This is expensive and time consuming and requires coordination with the resident to ensure that someone is at home.

【0008】

To provide standard wired telephone service, outside a given dwelling, a particular twisted pair of lines servicing that dwelling will come out of the bundle, be drawn into the home, and connected to an indoor line. If additional services are needed, unused pairs must be used. If an unused pair has not already been pulled from the bundle into the home, an additional pair must be pulled. Again, maintenance personnel, on-site work, and coordination with residents are required. If there are no unused pairs that can be pulled into the home, there will be significant delays for residents requesting new services and costs for telephone companies that have to provide new capacity for the area. Occurs.

【0009】

Telephones inside homes can be wired or wireless, but wireless requires a dedicated base station. They are generally more expensive than wired telephones because they include the dedicated hardware needed to communicate with the handset over radio frequencies. In addition, these phones use more power than ordinary wired phones and generally need to draw power from different electrical systems (eg, home electrical wiring). They require battery backup to provide service in the event of a power outage.

【0010】

In addition, wireless phones share the disadvantages of wired phones that are connected to the same pair. That is, a conversation taking place on one wireless handset can be heard by someone using another telephone (wired or wireless) connected to the same pair. In existing systems, if many phones are connected to the same pair, there is no way to guarantee the privacy of the conversation.

【0011】

In the case of a dedicated pair, the user is guaranteed a connection path to the telephone exchange. With that dedicated pair, for traditional telephone services, the user is only guaranteed one connection path to the telephone exchange. There is no additional capacity that is temporary and specially available. For example, if someone is using the phone for a voice conversation or computer connection, an outbound or inbound call cannot be established. PBXs, such as those used in hotels, have similar problems. When hotels serve large groups such as business meetings or conventions, all outbound long-distance telephone lines are often in use. Customer dissatisfaction increases because many users cannot make phone calls.

【0012】

This dedicated resource service design also has drawbacks for carriers. Even with high demand, carriers cannot easily provide additional services (eg, shared lines, temporary excess capacity and new subscriber access). Carriers cannot expand their superior services, even if they have users who want them. Even in areas where many twisted pair pairs may be temporarily idle, carriers cannot use them to provide services because they are for absent users only.

【0013】

Cellular telephones have the advantage that there is no need to lay telephone lines in neighboring areas, not to mention homes. Cell phones do not support the temporary addition of outbound or inbound connections. In addition, cell phones are a relatively valuable and regulated resource that uses a frequency spectrum that is not quantitatively infinite. In many jurisdictions, regional carriers cannot offer this service without a cell phone license.

【0014】

Local telephone services do not support flexible business configurations. Services have been provided on a leased line basis or, in the past, on a joint line basis as a result of discussions by local residents. In addition, billing models for lifeline services (ie, services with high reliability that are always available, such as "911") and non-lifeline services (ie, services that may not always be available) have not been provided. In addition, services such as: 1) Multiple simultaneous calls with one phone number, both inbound and outbound (eg different calls to different phones in the home). 2) Best telephone connection based on the availability of one of the pools of lines to the telephone exchange. 3) Auction of available telephone resources. 4) Premier or Gold services (eg, the following available lines or features to interrupt an existing conversation).

【0015】

An object of the present invention is an improved device, system and method for connecting a network to one or more radio frequency channels.

【0016】

An object of the present invention is an improved device, system and method that allows multiple simultaneous calling functions by one telephone number (eg, different calls to different telephones in the home), both inbound and outbound.

【0017】

An object of the present invention is an improved device, system and method that enables the best telephone connection based on the availability of one of a pool of lines to a telephone exchange.

【0018】

An object of the present invention is an improved device, system and method that enables auction of available telephone resources.

【0019】

An object of the present invention is an improved device, system and method that enables a premire service or a gold service (eg, the next available line or function for interrupting an existing conversation).

【0020】

[Means to solve the problem]

The present invention is a network node device and method for connecting one or more telephone lines to one or more wireless connections. A network node device is a telephone line and wireless signal generator with one or more wireless signal generators that support one or more connections to one or more telephone lines and one or more wireless connections. Has one or more controllable interconnects between.

【0021】

The above and other objectives, aspects and advantages will be better understood by the non-limiting detailed description below of preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the drawings including:

【0022】

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

See Figure 2. The system 200 includes a number of wireless communication devices 205, most of which are wireless handsets that look similar to modern cordless telephones, but with a fixed version that provides speakerphone functionality and modem functionality. There is a version. Many wireless communication devices connect to nearby network nodes 250 by radio or other radiation (laser, infrared, etc.) over short distances (about 300 meters / 1000 feet in one preferred embodiment). To do. The network node provides a connection between the wireless device and a group of terrestrial telephone lines 260 extending from the node 250 to the telephone exchange. Ground telephone line 260 has several classes as follows: 1. The associated line is the same as a regular two-way telephone exchange line and typically has an associated telephone number. 2. Unrelated lines are only incoming calls to the central office (outgoing from network nodes) and can be temporarily associated with any wireless device. 3. Shared line. You can call from a central office (incoming a network node) and serve a large number of wireless devices. These are essentially ground-initiated PBX transit lines, where the telephone exchange communicates the desired destination to network nodes in DTMF tones. 4. Data line. The network node can communicate with the network node controller of the central office. The data line may be a leased line or can be "deriving" by data-under-voice technology applied to related or unrelated wire pairs. The data line describes the PIN 255 of the wireless communicator 205, which is allowed to interact with node 250, and the "class of service" that is associated with each PIN and describes which optional features each PIN-equipped device can use. Used to distribute operational data and programs, including values, to network node 250.

【0023】

The PIN250 and class of service mark 256 are stored in the non-volatile storage of network node 250. In a preferred embodiment, supported classes of service include leased line service, shared incoming line service, shared outgoing line service, bridging and privacy. Figure 13 shows one possible configuration of a database table that associates a PIN with many service class marks. Although individual wireless devices typically contain one unique PIN, the present invention does not prohibit sharing of PINs among multiple handsets, and those handsets are interchangeable and indistinguishable to nodes. Therefore, the use of multiple PINs in the handset is not prohibited, and a multi-user type handset is formed.

【0024】

PIN255 identifies the handset 205 to network node 250, which uses the PIN of the handset requesting the service to determine if the handset is authorized to receive the service. .. In a preferred embodiment, the PIN is not transmitted in clear text but is encrypted because it is an important identifier. In a preferred embodiment, the handset is manufactured without a PIN, but with a PIN entered on a keypad or an encrypted PIN on an installable non-volatile storage device (eg, a Memory Stick or PCMCIA memory card). Has the function of receiving. The advantages of using removable media are the accuracy of eliminating human numeric input and the quick transfer of PINs to different handsets in the event of the original unit failing. In certain embodiments, PIN 255 is provided to handset 205 via node 250. An alternative embodiment is one in which the wireless device is manufactured with a unique hardware identifier.

【0025】

In Figure 10, one preferred process for obtaining a PIN is: A user purchases a handset from a retailer. The user contacts the telephone carrier servicing the place where the handset is used (typically a place of business or residence) by telephone, email or the Internet (801). The carrier assigns a PIN and builds a class of service database based on the subscriber's order for functionality (802). The carrier provides the PIN to the user by telephone, email or the Internet, and the user installs it by keystroke (803a). Alternatively, the PIN is provided to the user by shipping a removable storage device containing the PIN, and the user installs the storage device by inserting it into the handset (803b). A telephone carrier assigns one or more terrestrial telephone lines to a PIN or a group of PINs (representing a group of extension telephones) (805). This association between the telephone line and the PIN is stored by the carrier in the non-volatile storage of the network node controller 350. The telco also downloads the PIN and class of service information to the network node 250 that services the user (typically the node closest to the user's location) (804). Depending on the service provided, the carrier can download the PIN to multiple network nodes (eg, all nodes on the premises). In the case of a hardware PIN, the same process is performed except that the user provides the carrier with the PIN for the wireless device and the carrier uses that number.

【0026】

See Figure 3. Network node 250 is managed by one or more node controllers 350 located on the premises of telephone service provider 310. As shown in FIG. 3, they are general purpose computers (servers) that can be connected to node 250 by telephone lines (260, 360). Alternatively, they can bypass the exchange element 315 and be connected by a leased line (260, 365). The controller 350 holds the PIN 255, the service class 256 associated with the PIN, the PIN group list 355, and the node logical address 320, and can download information 375 to the node 250 as needed. The controller 350 also receives alarm, statistics and billing data and other node information 370 from the node. Connections to individual nodes may be periodic (360) or via leased line 365. When connected by a leased line, the node controller can be used as a means of granting all service authorization within a node, reducing its reliance on node storage. The network node controller uses modem signaling, data-under voice technology or DTMF tones to communicate with the network node, depending on the type of data line or other requirements.

【0027】

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the network node controller 350 begins downloading the configuration and database (601), and the network node initiates the upload of billing, traffic and alarm information 370 (701). However, each entity has the ability to invoke any kind of transaction. For example, if a network node discovers that its database is corrupted, it uses the process described in 602 to request a new download 375 from the controller and initiate a normal download 601. Similarly, the network node controller can use process 702 to initiate alarm and bill downloads when certain software triggers occur.

【0028】

The purpose of the wireless communication device (receiver) 205W is to provide wireless voice communication or data communication to the wireless network node 250. 6 and 7 show the components of the wireless device 205W and, in a preferred embodiment, handheld configuration A, desktop speakerphone configuration B, and desktop data terminal configuration C, depending on the primary user interface. It is possible to have two different configurations. The data output component can also be included in Configuration A for portable data devices or in Configuration B for combined desktop devices. In FIGS. 6 and 7, A indicates an arbitrary connection for configuration A, B indicates an arbitrary connection for configuration B, and the like.

【0029】

One "key" to the use of the device is the PIN number. If you have a valid PIN, the device is allowed to communicate with the pole-mounted network node and knows which optional services are available to the client device. Customers can obtain a PIN by communicating with the service provider, who can use voice communication (via telephone), email, communication via the internet, or a removable PIN with a pre-installed PIN. PIN is given by any of the provision of storage devices. Once the PIN is obtained, the customer uses the keypad 528 to install the PIN on the device, which resides in the non-volatile storage 506.

【0030】

All operations are controlled by processor 502, which connects to all functional components by data bus 550. The processor has a volatile storage 504 for temporary functions, a non-volatile storage 506 for computer control codes and other information that needs to be retained even when the power is off, a plug-in PROM, and a memory stick. Uses three types of storage: any removable storage 508, including PCMCIA storage cards, smart cards, etc.

【0031】

Audio is received and transmitted by the loudspeaker and microphone of handset 520 or by the amplified loudspeaker and microphone of speakerphone function 522. The analog audio signals from 520 and 522 are converted to digital signals by codec 518, optionally encrypted by encryption function 516, converted to radio frequency signals by transmitter / receiver 512, and built-in antenna 540. Sent via. The frequency controller 510 determines which of several radio frequencies the wireless device uses for a given call. In a preferred embodiment, each frequency selection comprises a fixed set of frequencies, outbound for the transmitter and inbound for the receiver.

【0032】

The data configuration includes a data connector 526, which allows the connection of a standard computer data port to the data interface function 524. The digital signal from the computer bypasses the voice function (connection C) and is connected to the encryption device for final wireless transmission, as described above.

【0033】

The keypad 528 provides man-machine communication for entering PINs, selecting features to be used, etc., and provides numbering for outbound calls. The number input may be in the form of an abbreviation code that the processor converts to a complete digit string.

【0034】

For voice configurations A or B, the processor uses alert device 530 to alert the user to an incoming call, typically by bell or other audible signaling scheme. In data structure C, the processor causes data interface 524 to indicate the state of the ring indicator read to indicate an incoming call.

【0035】

Before an incoming or outgoing call occurs, the wireless device and network node must adjust certain variables such as permissions and the radio frequency used. This tuning is done using the command channel, for which there is a dedicated command channel transceiver 514. Since there may be multiple command channel frequencies, the transceiver is controlled by frequency controller 510, which produces radio frequency carriers during processor control. During the call, the command channel may be used to signal a user's request for additional features such as a three-way call, or to accept an incoming request such as call waiting.

【0036】

In the handheld configuration shown in FIG. 7, the device is powered by an internal battery 532, which is sometimes re-located by placing the device on a charger base that includes a battery charger 534 that is powered by AC power. It will be charged. In a desktop configuration, the device includes an AC powered power supply 536, which is plugged into a local distribution mechanism.

【0037】

Figures 4 and 5 show the components of network node 250. Network nodes provide wireless connectivity between many terrestrial telephone lines and many wireless communication devices (handsets) (205, 205W), with the handset connecting to the terrestrial line by a physical line. Try to provide services that you can get if you are.

【0038】

The network node is connected to many two-line analog telephone lines 409 extending from the telephone exchange. Lines are physically similar, but can be assigned to 1) a two-way line associated with a service to a particular handset or group of handsets, 2) a handset to provide outgoing services. It is divided into three logical classes: outgoing lines and 3) dedicated lines for data communication between the telephone exchange and network nodes for control, management and maintenance.

【0039】

The incoming call detector 410 senses the ring voltage of the telephone line and alerts the processor that a service is being requested on the line.

【0040】

The line termination 412 provides a processor-controlled DC shunt for the telephone line. In the case of an incoming call, the telephone exchange considers this to be answered, stops ringing, and connects the voice path to the caller. In the case of a call, the telephone exchange considers the phone to be "off-hook" and provides a dial tone. The shunt end has a high AC impedance, and the voice frequency signal is not attenuated very much. The termination includes a DC current detector, whereby the signal from the telephone exchange in the form of a loop interrupt can be detected by the processor. This allows the processor to detect the calling party disconnection at the telephone exchange and provide a "wink down" signal.

【0041】

The codec (coder / decoder) 414 converts an analog signal on the telephone line into a digital signal that can be processed more easily at the node.

【0042】

The switch 416, which provides interchangeability, may be a non-blocking, unspecified crosspoint switch that provides flexible interconnection between the telephone line and the node's radio frequency assets, tone generator and conference bridge. (Not required for all calls) is pooled and allowed to be inserted into the call when needed.

【0043】

The optional encoder / decryptor 418 encrypts the digital signal coming from the codec (codec output is a certified standard format) to protect the privacy of the user against eavesdropping in the radio frequency domain.

【0044】

Transceiver 420 converts a digital audio signal into a radio frequency signal for broadcast communication to the handset. The receiver of transceiver 420 monitors the radio carrier received from the handset and notifies the processor if it is lost. A transceiver having such a transmission / reception function is required for each handset.

【0045】

The frequency controller 422 allows the processor to select the radio frequency channel used by each radio frequency device within the node.

【0046】

The conference bridge 424 allows the processor to connect one or more telephone lines to one or more radio frequency links, providing the ability for three or more connected parties to have a normal conversation. This enables extension telephones and conference calls. Since the handset cannot perform a conference operation by transmitting and receiving at the same radio frequency, it provides signal synthesis that requires a bridge.

【0047】

The tone generator 426 allows the processor to send a signal tone to the selected telephone line (via switch 416) for call control.

【0048】

The processor sends maintenance information and alarms to the central maintenance function, sends call records to the central billing system, receives databases or updates to databases, and receives computer programs or updates to computer programs. The purpose is to connect the data interface 428 to a telephone line to communicate with an external server.

【0049】

The command transceiver 430 provides a special radio frequency link to all handsets (205, 205W) serviced by a particular network node device 250. The processor and handset use this link to initiate all calls and interrupt / reconfigure ongoing calls. A special identification code (PIN) in a short data message on this link allows each device to recognize the intended recipient of the message.

【0050】

Radio frequency transmitters and receivers are connected to the common antenna 440 and optionally to the auxiliary space diversity antenna 444.

【0051】

Processor 402 provides control over network node 250. Processor 402 communicates with individual functions via bus 408. The processor runs on the program contained in the volatile storage 404, which is backed up in the non-volatile storage 406. Other information contained in one or both storage devices is 1) status of all functions, 2) a list of PINs authorized to use this node, 3) each PIN is authorized to use. A list of features (also known as service class marks), 4) call records and statistics. The call record is the predecessor of the telephone bill, and the generation of records for a particular call can be controlled by the service class mark for the PIN associated with the call.

【0052】

The power of the node is supplied by the battery 454. Batteries can be charged by an AC power source 456, a solar panel 452, or a charging circuit 450 that draws power from one or more telephone lines. The charging circuit is set to draw a current that does not interfere with the dial tone from the telephone exchange.

【0053】

The incoming call operation will be described in detail in the flow chart of FIG. Each incoming line 409 is associated with a destination that is one or more wireless telephones in the case of a node and each has a unique PIN. PINs and their associated telephone lines were downloaded from the central office server to the node. The telephone exchange indicates an incoming call by placing a ring voltage (typically 90 volts 20 Hz) on the telephone line and superimposing it on a nominal 48 volt DC loop voltage. The incoming call detector 410 recognizes the ring voltage and interrupts the processor via bus 408. The processor determines the PIN associated with this telephone line using the incoming call detector number as an index into the allocation table in storage 404, 406. The processor chooses an idle transceiver 420 and then chooses an idle frequency equal to the number of PINs (1001). Using the command transceiver 430, the processor sends a multicast or some unicast message to the PIN (1002), instructing them to alert (ring the phone) (1003), and its handset. Gives each a unique frequency to be sent back to the node when the operator of is pressed the response key. The processor then initiates scanning a set of return frequencies 1006 using frequency control 422 for the selected transceiver 420.

【0054】

If no handset responds to the alert, the caller eventually disconnects. It indicates to the processor (via the incoming call detector 410) that the ring voltage will stop and the alert will stop. If the caller disconnects during a 4-second silence period in the ringing cycle, the signal to the processor will be delayed by up to 4 seconds, which is a generally unavoidable aspect when using ring detection only. If the telephone exchange can provide a grounding start line, the loss of the start signal is immediately detected by the line terminator 412, thereby removing the ring window. Using either method of detecting the caller's disconnection, the processor sends an "alert stop" signal to each PIN via the command transceiver 430 to end the call attempt and end the other call. Release reserved transmitter / receiver and return frequency for use by.

【0055】

If one or more handsets answer (1004), each begins transmitting carriers on its assigned frequency (1005). Even if the handset starts at the same time, the processor first finds one of these signals, preferably because it scans the frequency in round robin (1006). The processor sets the first received PIN as the responder, initiates a handshake with that PIN, and sets the node to the handset frequency used. The processor transmits the code at that frequency (1007) and looks for the returning code on the receiver (ie, indicating that the handset will be properly tuned and two-way voice communication will be successful) (. 1008).

【0056】

When communication with the handset is established (1009), the processor causes the line termination device 412 to place a DC shunt on the telephone line, which causes the telephone exchange to stop ringing and the caller's voice path. To the line. The voice frequency signal is transmitted to the codec 414 via a line terminator, and the digital output of the codec is connected via the switch 416 to the encoder 418 associated with the selected transceiver 420. The transceiver converts voice into radio frequencies, which are broadcast by common antennas 440, 444 to the complementary functions of the handset.

【0057】

A carrier can associate multiple telephone lines with a given PIN, or, in the more general case, for a PIN group containing multiple PINs, more telephone lines than the number of PINs. Can be related. This can be done by setting up rotation groups at the telephone exchange or by assigning multiple telephone numbers to a single PIN.

【0058】

In any case, a call may arrive at network node 250 when all associated PINs are in use on another line. When the processor indexes a line terminator into its database, it obtains the PIN associated with that line. In a preferred embodiment, if all relevant handsets are determined to be busy, the processor momentarily disconnects the inbound voice path of one or more connected handsets and connects them to the tone generator for a moment. , Make the "call waiting" notification tone audible to the handset user. The service class mark determines how to choose which handset is notified, but may be all handsets, a handset with the longest or shortest time call, or any other choice. A user who hears the notification tone and wishes to answer a new call presses a key on keypad 528 to indicate that he or she wants to answer the call. The handset processor recognizes the key and sends a response request message through the handset command transceiver 514, which is received by the node command channel transceiver 430 and passed to the node's processor. The node processor checks the PIN of the requesting handset and, if allowed, 1) directly connects to the codec if there is only one handset on the first call, or 2) multiple On the first call, disconnect the requesting handset's encrypter / decryptor from the current connection, which is one of the conference bridges if the handset is currently in a conference. In 1) above, the node does not release the DC shunt on the line termination of the first call, effectively putting the first call on hold. The node processor then responds to the second call by activating the DC shunt at its line terminator, and the associated codec output is now associated with the requesting handset via the switch. Connect to the encryption device you are using. When multiple handsets answer the call waiting tone, the node processor makes the request, except for the first one.

【0059】

The introduction of wired telephones generally includes extension telephones. The present invention can provide extension telephone emulation. If one handset is already involved in an incoming or outgoing call, the user of the other authorized handset can use the handset keypad to "join request" via the command transceiver 430. You can send a message to a node. When translating the request, the processor uses the PIN number to see if the requester is allowed to generate a join request, and if so, which existing call the user is allowed to join. To determine. The processor then checks to see if the current user calling has a privacy code in the database (see next paragraph). In the absence of a privacy block, it selects an idle transceiver 420 and frequency pair, sends frequency information to the combined handset via the command transceiver 430, and performs negotiations as described above. Once the wireless connection is established, the processor uses switch 416 to direct the codec output to the idle conference bridge 424, for which the conference bridge 424 is coupled with the original encryptor 418. Also connect both with the encryption device associated with. Thus, three callers can be involved in the call as if both handsets were extensions in a wired environment. The tone generation is performed by the tone generator and is transmitted to the first caller to inform the caller that someone has joined the call.

【0060】

The flowcharts of the "private" function and the "privacy disconnection" function are shown in FIGS. 15, 16 and 17. Extensions can be a privacy breach if used without the recognition and consent of other callers in the call. The present invention includes the ability for a wireless handset user to press a "private" key during or before a call (1301). The output of this key causes the wireless handset to send a "private" message (1302) over the command channel (1303) to the wireless network node device (1305), where the privacy attribute is wireless handset. Stored in the database associated with the PIN (1310). Step 1304 verifies that the network node is responsive. If it does not respond, step 1303 is repeated. Step 1306 checks if the request is a privacy request. If the PIN database has permission to store attributes (this feature may be optional), it will only store the attributes. If a key is pressed and a message is recorded in the database and is involved in a call (1307), assuming the requesting PIN group is idle (1308), the network node will call the handset. A confirmation tone can be output to the audio path (1309). If the PIN group is not idle, control is passed to step 1311.

【0061】

Step 1311 finds out if the requested PIN has a higher privacy priority than the PIN in use. If the priority is high, the PIN in use will be disconnected (1312), connected to the drop tone (1313), and then idled (1314). If step 1311 has a lower priority than the PIN in use, the requesting PIN is disconnected (1315), connected to the reject tone (1316), and reconnected to the conversation (1317).

【0062】

Privacy modifies the incoming call process, as described in FIG. For a single PIN environment (1401), this process is bypassed. In a multi-PIN environment (1401), incoming calls are passed only to the highest priority PIN among the selected PINs with the active "privacy" attribute in the database (1402-1404). At step 1405, the flag is set to ring a single PIN.

【0063】

The calling process (typically performed at a network node) is shown in FIG. First, an off-hook request is received from the command channel (1501). Check 1502 is performed to confirm whether all lines are in use. If all lines are not in use, the process is skipped and the call continues. If all lines are in use, check if the PIN has a privacy disconnect (1503). If there is no privacy disconnect, a "line in use" message is sent to the handset (1508). If there is a privacy disconnect, other PINs on the line will be disconnected (1504), the drop tone will be sent to the disconnected PIN (1505), and the ground line will be set to idle.

【0064】

When a join request is made to a node (1509), a check is made to see if the terrestrial line is in use (1510). If the line is not in use, the wrong join is considered an off-hook request (1511). If the line is in use, the process is in privacy mode Check if it is set for the PIN group (1510A). If privacy is not set, the "Bridge to existing call" flag is set (1515). (This flag only tells the processor not to try to establish a new pager, but only to bridge the user to an existing call). The call continues to be processed as usual. If privacy is set, the process checks for the presence of the privacy attribute of the handset that is already in use, that is, whether the PIN has a priority equal to or higher than the PIN for which privacy is set to active. (1512). If the priority is low, the process does not allow the requester to join the call (1514). This is done by sending a privacy denial message to the requesting handset via the command channel. Members of a PIN group (whose members share access to one or more phone lines) may wish to make a new call instead of trying to join an ongoing call, or a new user. However, the combination may be blocked due to privacy requirements for ongoing calls. If no new user has an available phone line, the user's PIN includes the "camp on" permission and can wait for an available line. When the user presses a key combination indicating a camp-on wish, the combination is converted by the handset processor. The processor sends a message over the command channel to the network node indicating that the transmit PIN must be notified when an authorized line becomes available. The node processor marks the line in use (the caller who is camping on is eligible to use it), and when one of them becomes idle, the node is new to the camp PIN. Alert as if the call had arrived. This process is the same as the incoming call process described above. When the camped handset answers, The node connects it to a telephone line, which provides a dial tone to allow the handset to be called. If multiple PINs camp on a busy line (or its group), the idle line assignments are random or on a first-come, first-served basis, or the camp-on priority is included in each PIN's class of service. This allows a particular PIN to select an idle line first.

【0065】

As an additional feature, privacy disconnect is feasible. If privacy is required by the caller, it is configured to release all other connected callers from the call. If privacy is not set when a particular handset initiates a call, other authorized callers can join the call. To restore privacy, the handset user presses the privacy key (1301) and sends a message to the network node via the command channel (1305). The processor checks the handset PIN to determine if this feature is possible, and if so, releases the other caller (1312) and releases the conference bridge in use. Then, it returns to the direct connection from the codec through the switch to the encoder. The permission to drop a call, as contained in the PIN database, can be as simple as someone dropping someone else, or level 1 drops all other levels and level 2 has permission. It may be hierarchical, such as dropping only lower levels (1311). An alternative procedure may be to define a separate "privacy disconnect" key on the wireless handset keypad so that only this key can cause the disconnect, rather than the basic "privacy" key. The privacy key sends a unique "privacy disconnect" message via the command channel to trigger the disconnect procedure described above. The term "key" used above can include a combination of keystrokes as well as a single key operation. It is also possible to use a PIN to include the right to preferentially use an ongoing call when the handset requests a call (1501-1506) in the class of service for that PIN. The process is essentially an automatic privacy disconnect, which works as soon as the PIN's class of service is determined by the node processor.

【0066】

Calls are further described in the flow diagram of FIG. The user initiates a call by pressing a keypad key to request service. The handset processor decrypts the key and sends a "call request" message, including a PIN, to the command transceiver 430 on the network node via the handset command transceiver 514 (901). The call request message contains only an encrypted PIN and a code indicating what type of call is being requested (eg, "new call" or "join"). The network node processor translates the message and checks the requesting PIN and associated class mark. If the class of service indicates that the requesting PIN is authorized to make the requested call (902), the node processor chooses an idle transceiver 420 and a frequency pair, Initiates sending the requesting PIN through the encoder 418 and transceiver 420 (903). The handset scans the receiver frequency (904), and if it finds its own PIN, it loops back the signal to that transmitter, and the transmitter broadcasts the looped back signal to the node receiver. (905). The node monitors the expected return frequency and, if it recognizes that the requesting PIN is returning, accepts that the negotiated channel is functioning properly and accepts the telephone line or other requested service. It is possible to perform processing by making a connection to (906). This handshake determines the frequency and checks the voice path without using a command channel. Once the wireless path is established, the processor uses a table in storage to associate the calling PIN with the ground telephone line. Thereby, the line is held down (off-hook) by instructing the line termination to apply a DC shunt to the line. The telephone exchange responds to the dial tone. Dial tone to codec 414, switch 4 It is passed via 16 to the previously selected transceiver 420 and associated cipher 418, and via antennas 440, 444 to complementary functions in the handset. The user hears the dial tone, presses a key on the handset to generate audible tone (DTMF), and is taken to the telephone exchange via the outgoing voice path to complete the call. The processor may or may not create a call record to connect the wireless device to its dedicated line, depending on whether the operator uses flat rates or message ratio billing. To do.

【0067】

Each group of PINs (Personal Identification Numbers) has at least one telephone line (shared, dedicated, or both) associated with it for incoming calls. A line assigned to a single PIN represents a guaranteed line for that PIN so that no other PIN can be used. The present invention can also provide additional outgoing lines to a PIN group, and if one handset is using the associated line, the other handset is an unrelated terrestrial line connecting to the node. Calls can be made through one of the pools of. This process is similar to the process of making a call, but the processor checks the authority to add the line, and if it is allowed by the service class database, the idle unrelated ground line 409 is used. Is selected for. The processor can generate a call record, which can result in a per-use charge to the user for this feature. The class of service mark allows a PIN group to limit the number of simultaneous calls available, which ensures that all shared resources represented by a set of outgoing lines are fairly available. .. This makes it possible to provide different degrees of service that will be available next. Carriers can also provide a guaranteed number of bridged calls, dedicating one or more outgoing lines to a particular PIN. This concept can be extended to include a priority system that allocates idle lines, where the processor compares the priority associated with the idle line with the priority of the requesting user and requests. Process only if the original priority matches the priority of the line. In addition, a priority use priority system can be provided so that a particular PIN can capture the line in use from a PIN with a lower priority. Once the line is captured by a member of the PIN group, other authorized features such as join, privacy, and privacy disconnect are available to other members of the group.

【0068】

The physical facility between the telephone exchanges and the network nodes can include relay lines as well as lines. This allows network nodes to take advantage of certain enhanced services available on telephone exchange switches, allowing multiple wireless handsets to share incoming lines. The switch recognizes whether a particular dedicated terrestrial line is in use, thereby rolling a second call to that line to a shared relay line and using a signal to give the node a destination number. I can inform you. There may be a large number of shared transit lines for a given network node, and the telephone exchange knows which ones are available and which ones are available in the idle state. If the relay line is not idle, the telephone exchange supplies the caller with a busy tone. In this embodiment, the network node performs additional functions when the call is initiated by a telephone exchange. Upon detecting the start (off-hook) on the relay line, the incoming call detector 410 interrupts the processor 402 via the bus 408. The processor connects the codec 414 associated with the incoming relay line to the idle tone detector / generator by switch 416. When this connection is made, the processor sends a signal to the telephone switch at the end of the line, indicating that the node is ready to receive destination information in the form of DTMF tones on the transit line. The relay line may simply send a digit after a certain time interval, eliminating the need for a response from the end. In any case, the tone detector encodes the received digits and sends them over the bus to the processor. The received digit becomes the telephone number that the telephone exchange wants to connect to. In effect, a relay line represents a shared line whose destination can change from call to call. When the processor owns the called number, it processes it as if it were an incoming call. That is, the incoming line (in this case, the incoming number) is associated with the PIN and processed according to the service class mark assigned to that PIN. At this point, for example All the functions mentioned above for incoming calls are possible, such as priority answering, privacy control and combined calls. Figure 14 shows one possible configuration of a database table that allocates shared and leased lines. Line 1201 indicates a (dedicated) line that serves only PIN xxxx. Line 1202 shows how the line is dedicated to a group of PINs, in this case aaaa, yyyy and zzzz. These three PINs provide equivalent access to this line, as if it were a wired extension. Line 1203 shows the shared line assigned to PIN bb bb only if the incoming code is xxxx. If the incoming code is yyyy, PIN cccc will be associated with this line during the call. Line 1204 indicates a second shared line. If the incoming code is xxxx, this line is available by PIN bbbb, but PIN cccc and dddd are not allowed to use this line. Also, if a shared line is given a priority P, preferred use and other service levels can be passed to the PIN that shares each line. cccc is associated with this line during the call. Line 1204 indicates a second shared line. If the incoming code is xxxx, this line is available by PIN bbbb, but PIN cccc and dddd are not allowed to use this line. Also, if a shared line is given a priority P, preferred use and other service levels can be passed to the PIN that shares each line. cccc is associated with this line during the call. Line 1204 indicates a second shared line. If the incoming code is xxxx, this line is available by PIN bbbb, but PIN cccc and dddd are not allowed to use this line. Also, if a shared line is given a priority P, preferred use and other service levels can be passed to the PIN that shares each line.

[Simple explanation of drawings]

[Figure 1]

It is a block diagram of the prior art.

[Figure 2]

It is a block diagram of the system of a network node and a wireless communication device.

[Fig. 3]

It is a block diagram of the network node controller which connects an intelligent network to the system of invention.

[Fig. 4]

It is a block diagram of a part of a telephone network node device.

[Fig. 5]

It is a block diagram of the rest of the telephone network node device.

[Fig. 6]

It is a partial block diagram of a wireless communication device.

[Fig. 7]

It is a block diagram of the remaining wireless communication device.

[Fig. 8]

It is a flow diagram of communication between a network node controller and a network node apparatus activated by the controller.

[Fig. 9]

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of communication between a network node controller and a network node device activated by a network node.

[Fig. 10]

It is a flow diagram of the initial setting of the PIN to the network node and the wireless communication device.

[Fig. 11]

It is a figure of the outgoing connection method from a wireless communication device to a network node.

[Fig. 12]

It is a figure of the incoming call connection method from a network node to a wireless communication device.

[Fig. 13]

A description of the service table class elements associated with the PIN number in the network node.

[Fig. 14]

A description of the line allocation table in the network node.

[Fig. 15]

It is a flowchart of privacy processing including what happens in the instruction channel of a network node in a wireless communication chart when privacy is required at the time of a call.

[Fig. 16]

It is a continuation of the privacy process, including what happens in the incoming call handler of the network node when the privacy request is received.

[Fig. 17]

Includes calling processing of network nodes when processing privacy.