Administrative protection of groups in public switching systems

• US 20040013261A1
• Filed: 12/30/2002
• Published: 01/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Huttel, Joachim, Romanski, Irena
• Application Number:
  US10/221,493
• Publication Number:
  US 20040013261A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/242
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1305 Software aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13095 PIN / Access code, authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13104 Central control, computer control
• 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 2213/1322 PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13222 PBX circuits in public exchange, centrex
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13288 Closed user groups, CUG
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13342 Arrangement of switches in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13349 Network management
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13384 Inter-PBX traffic, PBX networks, e.g. corporate networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13399 Virtual channel/circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/007 customer-controlled
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/62 for connecting to private branch exchanges

Abstract

The invention relates to a switching centre (1) for connecting telephone objects (2a . . . 2n) to a telephone network, comprising a control device (3) wherein operational functions can be administered by authorized operators by inputting commands via a terminal (6), and verification means (4) for checking access authorization enabling certain operators to administer within a group (5). The invention also relates to a method for administering operations functions in the switching centre.

Claims

1. Switching center (1) for connecting telephone objects (2a . . . 2n) to a telephone network, part of the telephone objects (2a, 2b) being organized in a group (5), with

a control device (3) in which operating functions are administered by authorized operators, by means of inputting commands by way of a terminal (6), and

a checking device (4) for checking access authorization, which permits the administration of operating functions of the switching center (1) by authorized operators, characterized in that

the checking device (4) for checking an access authorization checks whether or not an accessing operator is permitted to administer the operating functions of the group (5).

2. The switching center (1) as recited in claim 1, characterized in that

a plurality of groups is present in a switching center (1), and that the checking device (4) for checking access authorization checks whether or not an accessing operator is permitted to administer the operating functions of a specific group (5).

3. The switching center (1) as recited in claim 2, characterized in that

the groups (5) are each provided with a group identifier, in order to identify them clearly.

4. The switching center (1) as recited in one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that

a group (5) in the telephone network extends over several switching centers (1).

5. The switching center (1) as recited in one of claims 1 to 4,

characterized in that

a group (5) consists of terminals that belong to a virtual private branch exchange.

6. The switching center (1) as recited in one of claims 2 to 5,

characterized in that

the checking device (4) for checking an access authorization undertakes a comparison association of the group ID and the user ID of the operator, in order to check whether or not an accessing operator is authorized to perform operating functions of a specific group.

7. The switching center (1) as recited in one of claims 1 to 6,

characterized in that

the administration takes place locally for one switching center (1).

8. The switching center (1) as recited in one of claims 1 to 7,

characterized in that

the administration takes place centrally for several switching centers (1).

9. Method for controlling operating functions in a switching center (1) for connecting terminals (2a . . . 2n) to a telephone network, in which operating functions are administered by authorized operators, by means of inputting commands by way of a terminal (6), part of the terminals (2a, 2b) being organized in a group (5), and in which a check takes place in the administration of operating functions of the switching center (1), to determine whether or not the operator in question is authorized to administer operating functions, characterized in that

a check takes place to determine whether or not an accessing operator is permitted to administer the operating functions of the group (5).

10. The method as recited in claim 9,

characterized in that

a check takes place to determine whether or not an accessing operator is permitted to administer the operating functions of a group (5), out of a plurality of groups.

11. The method as recited in claim 10,

characterized in that

the groups (5) are each provided with a group identifier, in order to identify them clearly.

12. The method as recited in claim 9, 10, or 11,

characterized in that

a group (5) extends network-wide over several switching centers (1).

13. The method as recited in claim 9 to 12,

characterized in that an association of the group ID and the user ID of the operator is undertaken, in order to check whether or not a specific operator is authorized to perform operating functions of a selected group.

14. The method as recited in one of claims 9 to 13,

characterized in that

the administration takes place locally for one switching center (1).

15. The method as recited in one of claims 9 to 14,

characterized in that

the administration takes place centrally for several switching centers.