Method system and device for line monitoring

• US 6,608,885 B1
• Filed: 08/06/2001
• Issued: 08/19/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Computec Oy (YIT Oyj)
• Original Assignee: Computec Oy (YIT Oyj)
• Inventors: Hakulinen, Martti Juhani
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Quoc Duc
• Application Number:
  US09/831,938
• Time in Patent Office: 743 Days
• Field of Search: 379/1.01, 379/26.01, 379/27.04, 379/29.01, 379/32.01, 379/32.02, 379/32.03, 379/33, 379/37, 379/40, 379/43, 379/44, 340/870.09, 340/853.2, 340/502, 340/503, 340/504, 340/506, 324/512, 714/100, 714/1, 714/47, 714/48, 714/49, 714/57
• US Class Current: 379/32.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/30 for subscriber's lines , for the local loop

Abstract

A method, a system and a master terminal for line monitoring in system comprising a telephone network (ISDN), a master terminal (MASTER) connected to a place of reception (PR) of a response and to the telephone network (ISDN), and a slave terminal (SLAVE) connected to an object being monitored (OM) and to the telephone network (ISDN). The setup of a control call from the master terminal (MASTER) to the slave terminal (SLAVE) is started, the control call originated by the master terminal (MASTER) is identified by the slave terminal (SLAVE) on the basis of a predetermined ringing procedure before answering the call, the call setup procedure is terminated, the setup of an acknowledgment call from the slave terminal (SLAVE) to the master terminal (MASTER) is started upon the lapse of a suitable length of time after the control call, the acknowledgment call received from the slave terminal (SLAVE) is identified by the master terminal (MASTER) on the basis of a predetermined ringing procedure before answering the call, and the call setup procedure is terminated.

Claims

1. Method for line monitoring in a system comprising

an integrated services digital network (ISDN);

a master terminal (MASTER), which is connected to a place of reception (PR) of a response and to the integrated services digital network (ISDN); and

a slave terminal (SLAVE), which is connected to an object being monitored (OM) and to the integrated services digital network (ISDN),

wherein the method comprises the steps of;

starting a first call setup of a control call from the master terminal (MASTER) to the slave terminal (SLAVE);

identifying by means of the slave terminal (SLAVE) the control call originated by the master terminal (MASTER) on the basis of a predetermined ringing procedure before answering the control call;

terminating the first call setup procedure;

starting a second call setup of an acknowledgement call from the slave terminal (SLAVE) to the master terminal (MASTER) upon lapse of a suitable length of time after the control call;

identifying by means of the master terminal (MASTER) the acknowledgment call originated by the salve terminal (SLAVE) on the basis of a predetermined ringing procedure before answering the acknowledgement call; and

terminating the second call setup procedure.

2. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein a calling terminal is identified on the basis of an A-party number.

3. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the first and second call setups are terminated by an A-party'"'"'s terminal after the A-party has received an ALERTING message.

4. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the second call setup of the acknowledgement call is terminated by the master terminal (MASTER) after the master terminal has received a SETUP message.

5. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein a terminal adapter connected via an S-interface to a network termination unit comprised in the terminal equipment is indicated via multiple subscriber numbering.

6. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein properties of a B-party'"'"'s terminal are checked by means of a Low Layer Compatibility information element included in the call setup.

7. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein an alarm is issued when the ringing procedure deviates from a predetermined procedure.

8. Line monitoring system, comprising

an integrated services digital network (ISDN);

a master terminal (MASTER connected to a place of reception (PR) of a response and to the integrated services network (ISDN); and

at least one slave terminal (SLAVE) connected to an object being monitored (OM) and to the integrated services network (ISDN), wherein

the slave terminal (SLAVE) comprises means for identifying a control call originated by the master terminal (MASTER) before answering the control call;

the slave terminal (SLAVE) comprises means for starting the setup of an acknowledgement call from the slave terminal (SLAVE) to the master terminal (MASTER) upon the lapse of a suitable length of time after the control call; and

the master terminal (MASTER) comprises means for identifying the acknowledgement call originated by the slave terminal (SLAVE) before answering the acknowledgement call; and

the master terminal (MASTER) comprises means for executing an alarm function when a ringing procedure deviates from a predetermined procedure.

9. The line monitoring system as defined in claim 8, wherein the master terminal (MASTER) comprises means for ringing a control call at a predetermined instant of time.

10. Master terminal for a monitoring system, comprising:

a network termination unit (NT1) fitted for connection to an integrated services digital network (ISDN) via a U-interface;

a terminal adapter (TA1) connected to the network termination unit (NT1) via an S-interface; and

an element (RS1) connecting the terminal adapter (TA1) to a place of reception (PR) of a response, wherein the master terminal (MASTER) comprises,

means for establishing a control call to a slave terminal (SLAVE);

means for terminating the control call before the control call has been set up;

means for identifying an acknowledgement call originated by the slave terminal (SLAVE) and for leaving the acknowledgement call unanswered; and

means for executing an alarm function when a ringing procedure deviates from a predetermined procedure.

11. The master terminal (MASTER) as defined in claim 10, wherein the master terminal (MASTER) comprises means for identifying the slave terminal (SLAVE) on the basis of an A-party number.

12. The master terminal as defined in claim 10, wherein the master terminal (MASTER) comprises means for terminating the control call upon the reception of an ALERTING message.

13. The master terminal as defined in claim 10, wherein the master terminal (MASTER) comprises means for terminating the control call upon the reception of a SETUP message from the slave terminal (SLAVE).

14. The master terminal as defined in claim 10, wherein the master terminal (MASTER) comprises means for including a Low Layer Compatibility information element corresponding to properties of the slave terminal (SLAVE) in a setup message.

15. The master terminal as defined in claim 10, wherein the terminal adapter (TA1) connected via an S-interface to the network termination unit (NT1) is indicated via multiple subscriber numbering.

16. The master terminal as defined in claim 10, wherein the master terminal (MASTER) comprises means for ringing the control call at a predetermined instant of time.

17. Slave terminal for a monitoring system, comprising:

a network termination unit (NT2) fitted to be connected to an integrated services digital network (ISDN) via a U-interface;

a terminal adapter (TA2) connected to the network termination unit (NT2) via an S-interface; and

an element (RS2) connecting the terminal adapter (TA2) to an object being monitored wherein, the slave terminal (SLAVE) comprises,

means for identifying a control call originated by a master terminal (MASTER) and for leaving the control call unanswered; and

means for establishing an acknowledgement call to the master terminal (MASTER) in a predetermined manner.

18. The slave terminal as defined in claim 17, wherein the slave terminal (SLAVE) comprises means for identifying the master terminal (MASTER) on the basis of an A-party number.

19. The slave terminal as defined in claim 17, wherein the slave terminal (SLAVE) comprises means for terminating call setup upon reception of an ALERTING message.

20. The slave terminal as defined in claim 17, wherein the slave terminal (SLAVE) comprises means for disconnecting the control call when an unknown A-party is calling.