Communication system consisting of at least two private branch exchanges with a team function

• US 6,320,954 B1
• Filed: 02/26/1999
• Issued: 11/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Enterprise Systems Technologies S.a.r.l. (Atos SE)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Wille, Klaus
• Primary Examiner(s): Matar, Ahmad
• Assistant Examiner(s): Deane, Jr., William J.
• Application Number:
  US09/254,154
• Time in Patent Office: 998 Days
• Field of Search: 379/225, 379/219, 379/220.01, 379/229, 379/230, 379/216.01, 379/221.01, 379/231, 379/232, 379/198, 379/265, 379/264, 379/309
• US Class Current: 379/225
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42314 in private branch exchanges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/465 Arrangements for simultaneously calling a number of substations until an answer is obtained
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/62 for connecting to private branch exchanges

Abstract

A communication system consisting of at least two private branch exchanges with switching nodes is indicated, whereby in one of the private branch exchanges a team function controlling is provided for the realization of a team function between team terminal apparatuses. Team terminal apparatuses belonging to this team are connected to the second private branch exchange as remote subscribers, and are connected into the team function via a hotline connection between the first communication apparatus and the second communication apparatus. The team function controlling effects, for incoming calls, an automatic call forwarding to team substitute subscriber terminal apparatuses, if it recognizes that the hotline connection to the second private branch exchange is disturbed.

Claims

1. A communication system comprising:

at least one first private branch exchange, having a switching controlling and at least one first switching node, which is connected, via a first network terminal, to at least one higher-level communication network, and is connected, via at least one subscriber terminal, to terminal apparatuses;

at least one second private branch exchange with a switching controlling and at least one second switching node, connected via a second network terminal to the higher-level communication network, and connected via at least one subscriber terminal to terminal apparatuses the first private branch exchange having a team function controller, which controls, according to a team function, particular terminal apparatuses as team terminal apparatuses of a team, which apparatuses are callable via the first switching node, the team function controller effecting a signaling to other team terminal apparatuses dependent on a switching-oriented state of individual team apparatuses, and influencing the switching-oriented state thereof;

at least one first team terminal apparatus of the team connected immediately, via a subscriber terminal, to the first switching node as a terminal apparatus, and at least one second team apparatus connected, as a remote subscriber of the team, to the second switching node via a subscriber terminal unit, the at least one second team apparatus being reachable via the first switching node, a hotline connection between the first switching node and the second switching node, the team function controller of the first private branch exchange effecting for incoming calls an automatic call forwarding to team substitute subscriber terminal apparatuses, if the team function controller of the first private branch exchange recognizes that the hotline connection to the second private branch exchange and thus to the remote team terminal apparatuses is disturbed.

2. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the team function controller of the first private branch exchange effecting checks an availability of the hotline connection between the first switching node and the second switching node by checking a signaling connection required for transparent transmission of subscriber-to-subscriber messages for remote, subscribers.