Computerized communication system for voice and data services

• US 6,360,245 B1
• Filed: 10/22/1998
• Issued: 03/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siemens Schweiz AG (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Schweiz AG (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Amstad, Kurt, Rippstein, Eugen
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Zarni
• Assistant Examiner(s): Barot, Bharat
• Application Number:
  US09/147,173
• Time in Patent Office: 1,244 Days
• Field of Search: 709/200-203, 709/206-207, 709/217-219, 709/238-239, 709/242, 709/246, 709/249-250, 370/338, 370/400-401, 455/412, 455/428, 455/461-465, 455/553-555, 455/557, 455/560-561, 379/88-3-, 379/88-7-, 713/200-201, 713/100, 235/374-380
• US Class Current: 709/200
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/51 Centralised call answering arrangements requiring operator intervention , e.g. call or contact centers for telemarketing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5183 Call or contact centers with computer-telephony arrangements

Abstract

The computer controlled communication system has communication devices (KE1, . . . , KEn) and has data devices (DE1, . . . , DEn) that are connected to a network server (SR) via a local network (LAN), of which devices at least one communication device (KE1, . . . , KEn) and one data device (DE1, . . . , DEn) are respectively associated with a user and are functionally coupled in order to fulfill technical communication performance characteristics. Via a technical communication interface subassembly (VBT), the communication devices (KE1, . . . , KEn) are connected to the network server (SR), which is connected to an open or private switching center (PBX) via a transit switch (ISDN-A/Q), which network server has a gateway (GW) to couple the local network (LAN) to the communication network (ISDN). In the communication system according to the invention, it is particularly advantageous that the open or private switching center (PBX) is connected to the network server (SR) and consequently to the entire communication system via only one line, e.g. a primary rate connection. Since the data devices or PCs (DE1, . . . , DEn) and the communication devices (KE1, . . . , KEn) are connected to the network server (SR), the connecting cables can be laid in common conduits, by means of which a lower cost is produced for the networking of the devices (DE, KE). All technical communication data of the computer controlled communication system can be stored up in the network server (SR) and can be called up from it.

Claims

1. A computer controlled communication system comprising:

a plurality of communication devices;

a plurality of data devices;

a network server, the plurality of communication devices and the plurality of data devices connected to the network server via a local area network, at least one of the plurality of communication devices and one of the plurality of data devices associated with a user, the at least one of the plurality of communication devices and the one of the plurality of data devices being functionally coupled to fulfill technical communication performance characteristics;

a technical communication interface subassembly, the plurality of communication devices connected to the network server via the technical communication interface, said technical communication interface subassembly being for providing a direction of additional data services via the local area network to at least one of said plurality of communication devices and at least one of said plurality of data devices; and

a transit switch, the technical communication interface connected to an open or private switching center via the transit switch, the open or private switching center being separate from the local area network, the network server including a gateway coupling the local are network to a communication network, said transit switch providing a listener function and switching in said technical communication interface subassembly the direction of the additional data services.

2. The computer controlled communication system according to claim 1, the plurality of communication devices comprising mobile telephones connected to the network server via one of a radio station, a cordless server, and the technical communication interface subassembly.

3. The computer controlled communication system according to claim 2, the radio station preferably functioning in accordance with a standard.

4. The computer controlled communication system according to claim 3, the standard comprising a DECT standard.

5. The computer controlled communication system according to claim 1, the network server capable of routing functions.

6. The computer controlled communication system according to claim 1, the communication devices comprising key telephone devices that preferably only have the real time functions required for telephoning.

7. The computer controlled communication system according to claim 1, an application module provided in the network server, technical communication routines being coupled with data applications in the application module.

8. The computer controlled communication system according to claim 7, the applications module comprising a database containing data records of a calling party, the data records transmitted to the data devices of the parties being called.

9. The computer controlled communication system according to claim 1, the plurality of data devices comprising personal computers.

10. The computer controlled communication system according to claim 1, wherein, during the listener function, said transit switch hears incoming calls on the open or private switching center and announces the incoming calls without affecting the open or private switching center.

11. The computer controlled communication system according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of communication devices and said plurality of data devices are synchronized in real time.