Method for operating a private telecommunications network

• US 6,834,105 B2
• Filed: 02/20/2002
• Issued: 12/21/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Pfoertner, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Bui, Bing Q.
• Application Number:
  US10/082,827
• Publication Number:
  US 20020131577A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,035 Days
• Field of Search: 379/112.09, 379/114.24, 379/114.25, 379/221.15, 379/229, 379/233, 379/901
• US Class Current: 379/229
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/62 for connecting to private branch exchanges
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 379/901 Virtual networks or virtual private networks

Abstract

Method for operating a private telecommunications network which is connected via at least one multichannel private branch exchange or a comparable device, in particular a call server or a voice-over IP Gateway, with a plurality of real call numbers to a public telecommunications network, the private branch exchange or comparable device for a multiplicity of real call numbers being assigned a common virtual call number for access from the public network to which a call via a free real call number to the internal terminal of the direct dialing number is switched through.

Claims

1. A method for operating a private telecommunications network which is connected via a connection device having a plurality of real call numbers to a public telecommunications network, the connection device being one of a multichannel private branch exchange, a call server and a voice-over IP Gateway, for establishing a telecommunications link between an external terminal connected to the public network and a plurality of internal terminals connected to the private network, each of the plurality of internal terminals having a direct dialing number, the method comprising the steps of:

assigning the connection device a common virtual call number for access from the public network;

registering at least one of a busy state and a not-in-use state of each of the real call numbers from within the public network when the virtual call number is dialed by the external terminal; and

switching through a call to the internal terminal of the dialed direct dialing number via a free real call number.

2. A method for operating a private telecommunications network as claimed in claim 1, the method further comprising the step of forming a queue in response to the registration of the respective busy state and not-in-use state of all the real call numbers, wherein the call is switched through via the next real call number to become free.

3. A method for operating a private telecommunications network as claimed in claim 1, wherein the public network is a mobile radio network and the external terminal is a mobile telephone terminal, access to the connection device being established via a radio link to mobile telephone modules of the private branch exchange.

4. A method for operating a private telecommunications network as claimed in claim 1, the method further comprising the step of controlling the switching through of the call by an intelligent entity in the public network.

5. A method for operating a private telecommunications network as claimed in claim 4, the method further comprising the step of assigning the intelligent entity to a service management point/service control point of the public network, the public network being a mobile telephone network.

6. A method for operating a private telecommunications network as claimed in claim 1, the method further comprising the step of signalling the common virtual call number, in the case of outgoing calls from the connection device, optionally supplemented with the direct dialing number.

7. A telecommunications system, comprising:

a public telecommunications network;

a private telecommunications network;

a connection device having a plurality of real call numbers for connecting the public telecommunications network to the private telecommunications network, the connection device being one of a multichannel private branch exchange, a call server and a voice-over IP Gateway, the plurality of real call numbers of the connection device being assigned one common virtual call number;

a registration part in the public network for detecting at least one of a busy state and a not-in-use state of the real call numbers assigned to the virtual call number; and

a switching part in the public network connected downstream of the registration part for switching through a call, directed to the virtual call number, via a real call number which is detected as being free.

8. A telecommunications system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the registration part and the switching part are formed as part of an intelligent entity which is assigned to a service management point/service control point of the public network.

9. A telecommunications system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the public network is a mobile telephone network and an external terminal connected to the public network is a mobile telephone terminal, access to the connection device being implemented via a radio link to mobile telephone modules of the private branch exchange.

10. A telecommunications system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the switching part is provided with a queue device for forming a queue in response to the registration of the busy state of all the real call numbers in order to switch through incoming calls via the next real call number to become free, in an order in which the incoming calls are received.