Communication system and method for controlling features in a communication system

• US 7,139,386 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2001
• Issued: 11/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Unify GmbH & Co. KG (Atos SE)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Aicher, Helmut, Hierholzer, Peter, Windecker, Rainer, Winkler, Steffi
• Primary Examiner(s): Bui, Bing Q.
• Application Number:
  US10/381,787
• Publication Number:
  US 20040037411A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,897 Days
• Field of Search: 379/142.15, 379/225, 379/229, 379/265.02, 379/265.09
• US Class Current: 379/225
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42323 PBX's with CTI arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/009 in systems involving PBX or KTS networks

Abstract

Features available in one communication installation of a communication system are made available system-wide by transmitting an item of feature control information for a subscriber line of a first communication installation to a second communication installation. The item of feature control information is converted into at least one function call, whose associated function is provided by a computer telephony integration (CTI) interface. The function call is transmitted via the CTI interface to the first communication installation. At least one feature control instruction contained in the function call is executed by an administration and maintenance device of the first communication installation. The first communication installation depicts a controlled instance with regard to a feature control, while the second communication installation depicts a controlling instance. This makes it possible to render a feature control existing in the second communication installation usable for the first communication installation.

Claims

1. A method for controlling features in a communication system, comprising:

transmitting an item of feature control information input for a subscriber line of a first communication installation to a second communication installation;

converting the item of feature control information into at least one function call, an associated function of which is supplied by a computer telephony integration interface;

transmitting the at least one function call via the computer telephony integration interface to the first communication installation; and

executing at least one feature control instruction contained in the at least one function call by an administration and maintenance device of the first communication installation.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said converting of the item of feature control information into the at least one function call is performed by one of the first communication installation and the second communication installation.

3. A method according to claim 2,

further comprising determining executability by the first communication installation of the at least one feature control instruction assigned to the item of feature control information, and

wherein said transmitting of the item of feature control information from the first communication installation to the second communication installation and said converting are performed only if it is determined that the at least one feature control instruction assigned to the item of feature control information is not executable by the first communication installation.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein said executing of the at least one feature control instruction is performed when said determining determines that the at least one feature control instruction is executable by the administration and maintenance device of the first communication installation.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the associated function is implemented according to a computer supported telecommunications application protocol.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the associated function is implemented according to a protocol for intelligent networks recommended by the International Telecommunications Union.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein communication links within the first communication installation are packet-based and communication links within the second communication installation are connection-based.