Method and system for setting up and/or clearing a communications link between two types of devices

• US 7,643,501 B1
• Filed: 09/13/2000
• Issued: 01/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Unify GmbH & Co. KG (Atos SE)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Emmerink, Antonius, Steffan, Andreas, Windecker, Rainer, Klein, Egon, Winkler, Steffi, Wahler, Josef
• Primary Examiner(s): Cho, Hong
• Assistant Examiner(s): Scheibel, Robert C
• Application Number:
  US10/088,683
• Time in Patent Office: 3,401 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/410
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13031 Pulse code modulation, PCM
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13104 Central control, computer control
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13107 Control equipment for a part of the connection, distributed control, co-processing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1322 PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1329 Asynchronous transfer mode, ATM
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13292 Time division multiplexing, TDM
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 LAN, internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/625 Arrangements in the private branch exchange

Abstract

A method and an arrangement are specified for setting up and clearing communications links via a private branch exchange. A number of types of communications device are driven via the same controller. New devices with a transport network for transporting the communications data can thus be integrated in a private branch exchange by using TDM-based devices. The central configuration of the controller allows already existing central interfaces and databases relating to subscribers to be used. If required, service feature controllers can still be used.

Claims

1. A method for setting up and/or clearing a communications link via communication devices of at least a first and a second type in a system including a control network and a separate data transport network based on the same physical network, the method comprising:

using the control network to signal the first and second types of communication devices to control the setting up and/or clearing of communications links between the first and second types of communication devices, wherein the control signals are communicated via a central device of the control network; and

using at least one decentralized switching device of the data transport network to provide data communication paths between the first and second types of communication devices, such that the data communications between the first and second types of communication devices are not routed through the central device of the control network.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connection is set up and/or cleared via a central device for the second type.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connection is set up via a transport network for the first type.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, in which the central device controls a decentralized switching device.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, in which communications data for the communications link is converted in the region of a decentralized switching device for communication devices of different types.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, in which the time slot control information is linked to a transport-network-specific information item and is transmitted to a decentralized device.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, in which an asynchronous transmission method is used for transmission via the communications link.

8. A system for setting up and/or clearing a communications link via communication devices of at least a first and a second type, comprising:

a transport network to provide the communications link between a first communication device of a first type and a second communication device of a second type;

a control network to control the setting up and/or clearing of the communications link between the first and second communication devices;

a switching matrix to provide the communications link between the first and second communication devices; and

means for controlling the setting up and/or clearing of connections in the transport network through the control network, the means being operatively connected to the switching matrix, and connection control information for the switching matrix being supplied to them as part of a control information item;

wherein the switching matrix is decentralized from a central device of the control network in order to provide a backup connection between the first and second communication devices independent of the central device of the control network.

9. The system as claimed in claim 8, in which the transport network has a different topology than the control network.

10. The system as claimed in claim 8, in which the transport network has at least one decentralized device for connection of a communications terminal, and has a switching device in the region of the decentralized device which provides the communications link in the transport network.

11. The system as claimed in claim 8, in which the communications device of the second type has at least one peripheral device with at least one device for connection of a communications terminal, and has a switching device to provide the communications link in the transport network.

12. The system as claimed in claim 8, which has a conversion apparatus for conversion of communication data, which conversion apparatus converts communication data in at least one data flow direction as a function of the type of communication device, with at least data types for a communication device of the first type and for a communication device of the second type.

13. The system as claimed in claim 12, in which the conversion apparatus is configured in the data flow in the immediate vicinity of a decentralized switching device.

14. The system as claimed in claim 8, which has central means for providing at least one connection-related service feature, the means being operatively connected to the central device.

15. The system as claimed in claim 8, which is in the form of a private branch exchange and has at least one decentralized device for connection of communications terminals.

16. The system as claimed in claim 8, which has a control device to provide the communications link in the region of the decentralized device, if a central control device is not available.