Method and system for verifying a link between an application accessing a communications device and a device controlling the access

• US 20020078240A1
• Filed: 09/14/2001
• Published: 06/20/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Ehrlich, Michael, Schroter, Otto
• Application Number:
  US09/954,322
• Publication Number:
  US 20020078240A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/245
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/10 Providing fault- or trouble-signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/22 Arrangements for supervision, monitoring or testing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42323 PBX's with CTI arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 Directory assistance systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/523 with call distribution or queueing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13003 Constructional details of switching devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13034 A/D conversion, code compression/expansion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1305 Software aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13072 Sequence circuits for call signaling, ACD systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13093 Personal computer, PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13106 Microprocessor, CPU
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1313 Metering, billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13162 Fault indication and localisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13166 Fault prevention
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1322 PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 LAN, internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0075 Fault management techniques

Abstract

A method and system for verifying a link between an application accessing a communications device and a device controlling the access wherein operation-maintained messages are exchanged between the application and the device, and in cases in which no operation-maintained message has been received from the application and/or the device after a predefinable period of time has expired, configurable error recovery is initiated which includes, for example, terminating the link between the application and the communications device, restarting the application and issuing information about the failure or the malfunction of the application.

Claims

1. A method for verifying a link between an application accessing a communications device and a control device controlling the access, the method comprising the steps of:

exchanging operation-maintained messages between the application and the control device; and

initiating error recovery if no operation-maintained message is received for at least one of the application and the control device after a predefinable period of time is expired.

2. A method for verifying a link between an application accessing a communications device and a control device controlling the access as claimed in claim 1, the method further comprising the step of:

accessing the communications device, by the application, via a Telephony Application Programming Interface.

3. A method for verifying a link between an application accessing a communications device and a control device controlling the access as claimed in claim 1, the method further comprising the step of:

terminating, within a scope of the error recovery by the control device, the link between the application and the communications device and starting a communications-system-internal application.

4. A method for verifying a link between an application accessing a communications device and a control device controlling the access as claimed in claim 1, the method further comprising the step of:

transmitting, by the control device, a failure message to defined communications terminals via the communications device.

5. A method for verifying a link between an application accessing a communications device and a control device controlling the access as claimed in claim 4, wherein the failure message is transmitted in the form of a Short Message Service to a mobile phone.

6. A method for verifying a link between an application accessing a communications device and a control device controlling the access as claimed in claim 4, the method further comprising the step of:

displaying a failure message on a display device of a data processing device on which the application runs.

7. A method for verifying a link between an application accessing a communications device and a control device controlling the access as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control device enters an error message into a logbook.

8. A method for verifying a link between an application accessing a communications device and a control device controlling the access as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control device terminates the application and subsequently restarts it.

9. A system for verifying a link between an application accessing a communications device and a control device controlling the access, comprising a central unit implemented in the control device, the central unit for exchanging operation-maintained messages between the application and the control device, and for initiating error recovery when no operation-maintained message is received from the application after a predefinable period of time has expired.

10. A system for verifying a link between an application accessing a communications device and a control device controlling the access as claimed in claim 9, wherein the central unit has a configuration unit for setting up the error recovery to be performed.

11. A system for verifying a link between an application accessing a communications device and a control device controlling the access as claimed in claim 9, wherein the application is a Telephony Application Programming Interface.

12. A system for verifying a link between an application accessing a communications device and a control device controlling the access as claimed in claim 11, wherein the application is implemented in a data processing device connected to the control device via a local network.

13. A system for verifying a link between an application accessing a communications device and a control device controlling the access as claimed in claim 11, wherein the application is implemented in the control device.