Method and configuration for providing performance features via a communications network

• US 6,546,008 B1
• Filed: 03/01/1999
• Issued: 04/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Enterprise Systems Technologies S.a.r.l. (Atos SE)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Wehrend, Klaus
• Primary Examiner(s): Kizou, Hassan
• Assistant Examiner(s): LOGSDON, JOSEPH B
• Application Number:
  US09/259,637
• Time in Patent Office: 1,499 Days
• Field of Search: 370/259, 370/271, 370/360, 370/384, 370/466, 370/904, 379/201.01, 455/414, 455/415, 455/416, 455/417, 455/466
• US Class Current: 370/384
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42314 in private branch exchanges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4234 Remote access to features of PBX or home telephone systems-teleworking in a PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/546 in private branch exchanges
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 370/904 Integrated Services Digital Network, ISDN

Abstract

When an external terminal is signed on to a communications system, a data link is set up between the external terminal and a teleworking subscriber line module of the communications system. Until the external terminal is signed off, terminal-oriented signaling information, such as is usually available within the framework of a signaling protocol between internal terminals and the communications system, is transferred between the external terminal and the communications system via the data link.

Claims

1. In a communications system with defined performance features available at internal subscriber terminals of the communications system, wherein the internal terminals of the communications system communicate within a framework of a defined signaling protocol, a method of rendering the performance features available at an external terminal via a communications network, the method which comprises:

providing a teleworking subscriber line module (SLMPX) having a switching device (SLMPX-KN) in the communications system;

establishing a data link on a user data channel (ISDN-B channel) of the communications system between the external terminal and the teleworking subscriber line module by signing on to the communications system with the external terminal; and

transferring to the external terminal, via the data link, signaling information usually available within the framework of the defined signaling protocol between the internal terminals and the communications system.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of establishing the data link between the external terminal and the teleworking subscriber line module comprises converting a data format of the user data channel to a data format of a local computer network connected to the teleworking subscriber line module.

3. The method according to claim 1, which comprises controlling the teleworking subscriber line module with a teleworking computer connected to a local computer network, and carrying the signaling information from and to the teleworking subscriber line module via the teleworking computer.

4. The method according to claim 3, which comprises transferring subscriber-specific data from the external terminal via the data link, and authorizing a sign-on with the teleworking computer by referring to the subscriber-specific data.

5. The method according to claim 4, which comprises, in the course of a sign-on operation, assigning to the external terminal a first virtual subscriber connection port of the teleworking subscriber line module with the teleworking computer, and rerouting signaling information routed by a control unit of the communications system to an internal subscriber terminating line identified by the subscriber-specific data to a virtual subscriber connection port.

6. The method according to claim 5, which comprises, while establishing a data link, subsequent to the sign-on, between the external terminal and a further terminal, setting up a first partial link between the further terminal and the first virtual subscriber connection port of the teleworking subscriber line module.

7. The method according to claim 3, which comprises deciding in the teleworking subscriber line module, with reference to destination address information contained in signaling information transmitted from the teleworking computer or from the control unit to the teleworking subscriber line module, whether the signaling information received by the teleworking computer is to be transferred on to the control unit, or the signaling information received by the control unit is to be transferred on to the teleworking computer.

8. The method according to claim 7, which comprises, while establishing a data link, subsequent to the sign-on, between the external terminal and a further terminal, setting up a first partial link between the further terminal and a first virtual subscriber connection port of the teleworking subscriber line module.

9. The method according to claim 8, which further comprises in the course of establishing the link, setting up a second partial link between a second virtual subscriber connection port of the teleworking subscriber line module and the external terminal.

10. The method according to claim 9, which comprises coupling the first and second partial links to one another in the teleworking subscriber line module, forming a link between terminals.

11. The method according to claim 8, which comprises simultaneously routing a plurality of terminal links in each case between one external terminal signed on to the communications system and one further terminal via the teleworking subscriber line module.

12. The method according to claim 1, which comprises setting up the internal subscriber terminating line merely in a form of a virtual connection port.

13. The method according to claim 1, which comprises connecting the external terminal to the communications system via a network selected from the group consisting of an ISDN-oriented communications network, an analog communications network, and a radio communications network.

14. The method according to claim 1, which comprises signing an internal terminal onto the communications system.

15. A teleworking subscriber line module in a communications system, the communications system having a control unit and a switching matrix unit with a bi-directional, time-division-multiplex-oriented port, comprising:

a LAN connection unit having a LAN interface for connecting to a local computer network;

a signaling unit having an HDLC interface for connecting to the control unit of the communications system;

a PCM connection unit having a PCM interface for connecting to the bi-directional, time-division-multiplex-oriented port of the switching matrix unit of the communications system, said PCM connection unit having a switching device (SLMPX-KN) for switching user data links routed via said PCM interface; and

a conversion unit connected to said signaling unit and to said PCM connection unit for converting and forwarding data between said signaling unit and said PCM connection unit in accordance with a given protocol.