Switching device and method for parallel connection of subscriber terminal devices

• US 6,937,581 B1
• Filed: 03/16/2000
• Issued: 08/30/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Enterprise Systems Technologies S.a.r.l. (Atos SE)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Berger, Harald, Jabs, Markus, Scharfen, Gerhard
• Primary Examiner(s): Duong, Frank
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jagannathan, Melanie
• Application Number:
  US09/527,140
• Time in Patent Office: 1,993 Days
• Field of Search: 370/401, 370/328, 370352-356, 370/420, 455/414, 455/422, 455/425, 455/462, 455/555, 4554121-4141, 455415-417
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42314 in private branch exchanges

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a switching device and to a pertaining method for parallel connection of subscriber terminal devices having complex performance features. Subscriber terminal devices connected in parallel are thereby driven in an interface driver via a principal subscriber control and at least one subsidiary subscriber control. Due to the realization of a logical and physical interface between the principal and subsidiary subscriber control, the subscriber terminal devices are connected to one another both connection-oriented as well as with respect to their performance features.

Claims

1. A switching device for parallel connection of a plurality of subscriber terminal devices, said switching device comprising:

a plug-in module having a plurality of subscriber interfaces, each connected to one of the subscriber terminal devices; and

a control unit having;

a central control unit for controlling central switching events in said switching device; and

a peripheral control unit for controlling linking of said subscriber interfaces to said subscriber terminal devices, said peripheral control unit having an interface driver for controlling at least two of said subscriber interfaces, said interface driver having;

a master subscriber control unit for controlling a principal subscriber terminal device;

at least one subsidiary subscriber control unit for controlling at least one subsidiary subscriber terminal device;

a central driver control unit for central controlling of administration events in said interface driver;

a first connection device physically connecting said master subscriber control unit and said at least one subsidiary subscriber control unit; and

a second connection device logically connecting said master subscriber control unit to said at least one subsidiary subscriber control unit separately from said first connection device.

2. The switching device according to claim 1,

wherein said master subscriber control unit comprises:

a first line process unit for linking to said central control unit;

a first connection process unit for controlling a connection setup for a first subscriber terminal device;

a first terminal device process unit for generating logical messages for controlling the first subscriber terminal device; and

a first key converter process unit for converting said logical messages into functional messages for direct control of the first subscriber terminal device; and

wherein said subsidiary subscriber control unit comprises;

a second line process unit for linking to said central control unit;

a second connection process unit for controlling a connection setup for a second subscriber terminal device;

a second terminal device process unit for generating logical messages for controlling the second subscriber terminal device; and

a second key converter process unit for converting said logical messages into functional messages for direct control of the second subscriber terminal device.

3. The switching device according to claim 2, wherein said first connection device comprises an internal connection process unit for physically connecting said first connection process unit to said second connection process unit.

4. The switching device according to claim 2, wherein said second connection device comprises a message interface for logically connecting said first terminal device process unit to said second terminal device process unit.

5. The switching device according to claim 1, wherein the subscriber terminal devices are connected in parallel to said switching device and include at least one digital wire-bound subscriber terminal device and a cordless subscriber terminal device, and

wherein said switching device is a private branch exchange.