Method and arrangement for connection of a computer to a computer network via a telephone exchange

• US 6,687,354 B1
• Filed: 03/31/1997
• Issued: 02/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Andreason, Per Tomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Thompson, Marc D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Prieto, Beatriz
• Application Number:
  US08/828,549
• Time in Patent Office: 2,500 Days
• Field of Search: 379/114, 379/88.14, 379/200, 379/207, 379/100.14, 379/199, 379/93.14, 379/93.01, 380/49, 380/23, 364/184, 709/229, 709/227, 370/352
• US Class Current: 379/198
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/6418 Hybrid transport
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6427 Subscriber Access Module; Concentrator; Group equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6443 Network Node Interface, e.g. Routing, Path finding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6472 Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6475 N-ISDN, Public Switched Telephone Network [PSTN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2254 in networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/12 for working between exchanges having different types of switching equipment, e.g. power-driven and step by step or decimal and non-decimal
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1302 Relay switches
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1304 Coordinate switches, crossbar, 4/2 with relays, coupling field
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13092 Scanning of subscriber lines, monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13093 Personal computer, PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13095 PIN / Access code, authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13106 Microprocessor, CPU
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1313 Metering, billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13163 Fault alarm
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13166 Fault prevention
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13199 Modem, modulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13204 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1322 : PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13292 : Time division multiplexing, TDM
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13298 : Local loop systems, access network
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 : LAN, internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/62 : for connecting to private branch exchanges

Abstract

The present invention refers to a telephone exchange, a telephone system comprising such an exchange as well as a method for connecting a computer to a computer network via an exchange and a telecommunication network, where the exchange comprises a switch core, a switch control means responsible for setting up connections between users of the exchange and at least one network connection device that is connected between the switch core and the computer network. The network connection device comprises a signal processing means that converts the signal structure of data signals, received from computers via the telecommunication network and the switch core, to data packets having a signal structure suitable for data communication and supplies these data packets to the computer network. The exchange comprises means for monitoring every connection set up between such a computer and the computer network.

Claims

1. A telephone exchange for connection of a computer to a computer network via a telecommunication network the telephone exchange comprising

a switch core;

a switch control means responsible for setting up connections between users of the telephone exchange;

at least one network connection device, in said telephone exchange, that is connected between the switch core and the computer network wherein the network connection device comprises a signal processing means that is arranged to convert the signal structure of data signals, received from a computer via the telecommunication network and the switch core, to data packets having a signal structure suitable for data communication and to supply these data packets to the computer network; and

means for monitoring every connection set up between the computer and the computer network, wherein said means for monitoring is connected to said at least one network connection device.

2. A telephone exchange according to claim 1, wherein the means for monitoring is arranged to monitor faults occurring when sending data packets to and from the network connection device and generate alarms if such faults occur.

3. A telephone exchange according to claim 1, wherein the switch control means or the network connection device comprises means for access control for at least some of the connections set up.

4. A telephone exchange according to claim 3, wherein a number used by the computer in dialing the exchange comprises an access code and the means for access control only connects the computer to the computer network if the access code corresponds to a correct code for the number dialed.

5. A telephone exchange according to claim 3, wherein the means for access control requests a password from the computer and allows the computer access to the computer network if that password is correct.

6. A telephone exchange according to claim 1, wherein the signal processing means is connected to the switch core via at least one signal shaping means arranged to demodulate modulated computer signals which have been supplied from said computer.

7. A telephone exchange according to claim 6, wherein the network connection device comprises means for selecting a type of demodulation or no demodulation for signals received from the computer.

8. A telephone exchange according to claim 1, wherein the network connection device comprises means for immediately selecting service in dependence of a number used by the computer when connecting to the exchange.

9. A telephone exchange according to claim 3, wherein the network connection device comprises means for access control in order to interrogate the computer before the connection is set up.

10. A telephone exchange according to claim 9, wherein the means for access control is arranged to interrogate the computer for at least one of the following details:

username, password and desired protocol, and to set up the connection to the computer network in dependence of the answer to the interrogation.

11. A telephone exchange according to claim 1, wherein the means for monitoring is arranged to monitor the set up of the connection and the quality of the connection to the computer network.

12. A telephone exchange according to claim 1, wherein the switch control means comprises the means for monitoring.

13. A telephone exchange according to claim 1, wherein local control means comprises the means for monitoring.

14. Telephone exchange for connection of a computer to a computer network via a telecommunication network the telephone exchange comprising:

a switch core;

a switch control means responsible for setting up connections between users of the exchange;

at least one network connection device, in said telephone exchange, that is connected between the switch core and the computer network wherein the network connection device comprises a signal processing means that is arranged to receive data packets having a signal structure suitable for data communication from the computer network, to convert the signal structure of these data packets to a signal structure suitable for communication of data over a telecommunication network and to supply the converted signals to a computer via the switch core and the telecommunication network; and

means for monitoring every connection set up between the computer and the computer network, wherein said means for monitoring is connected to the at least one network connection device.

15. Telephone system comprising an exchange and, a server for connection of a computer to a computer network via a telecommunication network, wherein the exchange comprises;

a switch core;

a switch control means responsible for setting up connections between users of the exchange;

at least one network connection device, in said exchange, that is connected between the switch core and the computer network wherein the network connection device comprises a signal processing means that is arranged to convert the signal structure of data signals, received from a computer via the telecommunication network and the switch core, to data packets having a signal structure suitable for data communication and to supply these data packets to the computer network, and

means for monitoring every connection set up between the computer and the computer network, wherein said means for monitoring are connected to the at least one network connection device, and the server together with the switch control means or the network connection device comprises means for access control for at least some of the connections set up.

16. Telephone system according to claim 15, comprising a computer network that connects the exchange with a server.

17. Telephone system comprising an exchange and a server for connection of a computer to a computer network via a public switched telephone network, wherein the exchange comprises:

a switch core;

a switch control means responsible for setting up connections between users of the exchange;

at least one network connection device, in said exchange, that is connected between the switch core and the computer network, wherein the network connection device comprises a signal processing means that is arranged to receive data packets having a signal structure suitable for data communication from the computer network, to convert the signal structure of these data packets to a signal structure suitable for communication of data over the public switched telephone network and to supply the converted signals to a computer via the switch core and the public switched telephone network, and

means for monitoring every connection set up between the computer and the computer network, wherein said means for monitoring is connected to the at least one network connection device, and the server together with the switch control means or the network connection device comprises means for access control for at least some of the connections set up.

18. Method of connecting a computer to a computer network via a telephone exchange comprising the steps:

receiving, in the telephone exchange, data signals sent from the computer, wherein the data signals are sent from the computer over a public switched telephone network;

converting, by a signal processing means in a network connection device, the signal structure of the data signals to data packets having a signal structure suitable for data communication;

supplying these data packets to the computer network;

monitoring, by a local control means in the network connection device in the telephone exchange, every connection set up between a computer and the computer network.

19. Method according to claim 18, wherein the step of monitoring comprises monitoring of faults occurring when sending data packets to and from the network connection device and generating alarms if such faults occur.

20. Method according to claim 18, comprising the further step of controlling the right to access for at least some of the connections set up.

21. Method according to claim 20, wherein the number used by a computer in dialing the exchange comprises an access code and the step of controlling of right to access comprises connecting the computer to the computer network only if the access code corresponds to a correct code for the number dialled.

22. Method according to claim 20, wherein at least part of the controlling of the right to access is performed by interrogating the computer for a password and only allowing the user access if that password is correct.

23. Method according to claim 18, further comprising the step of demodulating the data signals from the computer.

24. Method according to claim 23, further comprising the step of choosing a type of demodulation or no demodulation for signals received from the computer.

25. Method according to claim 18, further comprising the step of immediately selecting service in dependence of the number used by the computer when dialing the exchange for a connection to the computer network.

26. Method according to claim 18, wherein said step of controlling the right to access comprises the step of interrogating the computer before a connection is set up.

27. Method according to claim 26, wherein the step of interrogating comprises requesting from the computer at least one of the following details:

username, password and desired protocol and effecting the connection to the computer network in dependence of the answer to the interrogation.

28. Method according to claim 18, wherein the step of monitoring comprises monitoring of the setting up of the connection and the quality of the connection to the computer network.