Method and device for administering a multiplicity of terminals

• US 20020025813A1
• Filed: 08/08/2001
• Published: 02/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Boehmer, Bernhard, Vogel, Arnim, Kim, Peter, Kastelewicz, Georg
• Application Number:
  US09/923,800
• Publication Number:
  US 20020025813A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/435.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4523 using lightweight directory access protocol [LDAP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4557 Directories for hybrid networks, e.g. including telephone numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/493 Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries ; Arrangements therefor, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] systems or voice portals

Abstract

A central entity for administering terminals of a user is introduced. Terminals of the respective user register with this entity and leave information on the manner in which applications can interact with them and the methods of information exchange which are supported by them (protocols, data exchange formats, address information). Applications initiating interaction with terminals inquire from the central entity via which terminals a certain user can be reached. As a result of the inquiry, the application (if it is authorized to receive this information) receives a list of the terminals of the user. This list includes address information and information on possible data exchange formats and protocols supported by the terminal for each terminal.

Claims

1. A method for administering terminals in communication networks, comprising:

registering at least one terminal with a central registration entity;

communicating at least one application with the at least one terminal;

performing an inquiry at the central registration entity; and

performing at least one action on the basis of the result of the inquiry.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the registering of the terminal with the central registration entity is not carried out by the terminal to be registered.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein registration information is updated.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

performing the inquiry for the user of the terminals by the application; and

supplying a list of terminals allocated to the user back to the application.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein an interrogation is permitted if the application has authority for the interrogation.

6. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein in the registration information, preferences relating to the terminals are specified as:

an order of priority in which individual terminals are to be addressed,

data formats to transmit voice and/or data to the corresponding terminal, and

transmission standards for the transmission.

7. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the application decides from the registration information supplied back which terminal establishes contact.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the application establishes contact with a number of terminals.

9. A device for administering terminals in communication networks, comprising:

at least one terminal registered with a central registration entity; and

at least one application to communicate with the at least one terminal,

the application performs an inquiry at the central registration entity, and

the application performs at least one action on the basis of the result of the inquiry.

10. The device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the registering of the terminal with the central registration entity is not carried out by the terminal to be registered.

11. The device as claimed in claim 9, wherein registration information is updated.

12. The device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the application perfoms the inquiry for the user of the terminals, and supplying a list of terminals is allocated to the user is supplied back to the application.

13. The device as claimed in claim 12, wherein an interrogation is permitted if the application has authority for the interrogation.

14. The device as claimed in claim 11, wherein in the registration information, preferences relating to the terminals are specified as:

an order of priority in which individual terminals are to be addressed,

data formats to transmit voice and/or data to the corresponding terminal, and

transmission standards for the transmission.

15. The device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the application decides from the registration information supplied back which terminal establishes contact.

16. The device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the application establishes contact with a number of terminals.