Method and arrangement in communication networks for managing user related features through a user interface

• US 6,744,737 B1
• Filed: 11/29/1999
• Issued: 06/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Optis Wireless Technology, LLC (Brevet Capital)
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Arkko, Jari
• Primary Examiner(s): Yao, Kwang Bin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Qureshi, Afsar M.
• Application Number:
  US09/449,861
• Time in Patent Office: 1,646 Days
• Field of Search: 379/88.17, 379/88.2, 379/88.23, 379/88.25, 379/93.01, 379/93.03, 379/93.05, 379/142.07, 379/142.15, 379/221.02, 379/221.08, 379/244, 379/247, 370/252, 370/353, 370/389, 370/401, 370/410, 709/203, 709/225, 709/229, 709/250, 707/512, 455/445
• US Class Current: 370/252
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/382 using authorisation codes or passwords
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42153 by subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42161 via computer interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4228 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 11/0457 Connection protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13109 Initializing, personal profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13175 Graphical user interface [GUI], WWW interface, visual indication
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13176 Common channel signaling, CCS7
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13204 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13209 ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13282 Call forward, follow-me, call diversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13287 Wake-up call service
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13345 Intelligent networks, SCP
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13349 Network management
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13377 Recorded announcement
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 LAN, internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0033 customer-controlled

Abstract

A communications network is managed so that a user is enabled to manage user-related features provided in the network through a user interface. A call is established to a server provided with a feature management service including an individual register of characteristics and available features for predetermined user interfaces. The user'"'"'s access to the network through the user interface to the server is then terminated. At least one characteristic of the user interface is used to identify the user interface. That characteristic is input into the server to enable the user to manage features associated with the characteristic.

Claims

1. A method for managing a communication network such that a user in a communication network environment is enabled to manage user related features provided in the network through a user interface, comprising:

initiating a call from the user interface to a server provided with a feature management service including an individual register of characteristics and associated available features for user interfaces;

establishing said call between the user interface and said server using a tunneling protocol;

identifying the user interface using at least one characteristic thereof transmitted to the server during the call initiating step; and

enabling the user to manage the features associated to said at least one characteristic using said user interface.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the communication network is a telecommunication network enabling a subscriber to the network to make voice and data calls.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the user interface is connected to the network via a subscriber line having a line identifier associated with it, and said at least one characteristic used to identify the user interface is the line identifier.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the connection between the user interface and the server is a point-to-point (PPP) connection and wherein the method further includes implementing said server in a protocol stack into which said point-to-point (PPP) connection is terminated.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the server is a WWW server and the user interface is a data processing device.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein management of the features is accomplished using at least one HTML-document retrieved from the server and presented to the user through a graphical display of the user interface.

7. A method for managing a communication network such that a user in a communication network environment is enabled to manage user related features provided in the network through a user interface, comprising:

initiating a call from the user interface to a server provided with a feature management service including an individual register of characteristics and associated available features for user interfaces;

establishing said call between the user interface and said server;

identifying the user interface using at least one characteristic thereof transmitted to the server during the call initiating step;

enabling the user to manager the features associated to said at least one characteristic using said user interface; and

wherein said characteristic of said user interface is associated with a plurality of interface terminals belonging to the same user.

8. Apparatus for enabling a user in a communications network environment to manage user related features provided in said network through a user interface, comprising:

a server provided with a feature management service including an individual register of characteristics and associated available features for user interfaces;

call connection means for initiating and establishing a call from the user interface to the server using a tunneling protocol;

means for identifying the user interface using at least one characteristic thereof transmitted to the server during call initiation;

the server being arranged to enable the user to manage the features associated to said at least one characteristic using said user interface.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the user interface is coupled to the communication network via a subscriber line having associated with it a line identifier, and the line identifier corresponds to said at least one characteristic.

10. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the connection between the user interface and the server is a point-to-point (PPP) connection and said server is implemented in a protocol stack to which said point-to-point connection is terminated.

11. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the server is a WWW server and the user interface is a data processing device.

12. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the interface comprises a display means arranged to display an HTML-document retrieved from said server to the user, the apparatus being such that the user is enabled to manage the features by means of said HTML-document.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the HTML-document forms a call forwarding table by means of which the user is enabled to manage call forwarding functions.

14. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the server is implemented in connection with a local exchange.

15. An arrangement according to claim 8, wherein the server is in a form of a centralized server arranged to serve user interfaces associated with at least two local exchanges.

16. A server for enabling a user to manage user related features provided in a communications network environment through a user interface, comprising:

a feature management service including a database containing an individual register of characteristics and associated available features for user interfaces,

wherein the server is arranged to identity the user interface using at least one characteristic of said user interface transmitted to the server during initiation of a call between the user interface and the server,

wherein said server is arranged to terminate the user'"'"'s access into said communication network and to enable the user to manage the features associated to said at least one transmitted characteristic through said user interface.

17. A server according to claim 16, wherein said database includes at least one managing document associated to said user and retrievable by said user through the user interface, the arrangement being such that the user is enabled to manage the features through a graphical display of the user interface.

18. A method for enabling an user in a communications network environment to manage user related features provided in said network through a user interface, comprising:

establishing a call to a server provided with a feature management service including an individual register of characteristics and available features for a predetermined user interface limitedly reachable to said server;

terminating the user'"'"'s access into the network through the user interface to said server;

identifying the user interface using at least one characteristic of said user interface;

inputting said characteristic into said server; and

enabling the user to manage the features associated to said at least one inputted characteristic through said user interface.

19. Arrangement for enabling a user in an open communications network environment to manage user related features provided in said network through a user interface, comprising:

a server provided with a feature management service including an individual register of characteristics and available features for predetermined user interface which are limitedly reachable to said server;

wherein the server is arranged to identify the user interface using at least one characteristic of said user interface and for inputting said characteristic into the server after the identification,

the arrangement being such that the user'"'"'s access into the network is terminated to the server and that said server is arranged to enable the user to manage the features associated to said at least one inputted characteristic through said user interface.

20. A server for enabling a user to manage user related features provided in a communications network environment through a user interface, comprising:

a feature management service including a database containing an individual register of characteristics and available features for predetermined user,

wherein the server is arranged to identify the user interface using at least one characteristic of said user interface,

wherein said server is arranged to terminate the user'"'"'s access into said communications network and arranged to enable the user to manage the features associated to at least one inputted characteristic through said user interface.