Transparent signaling for remote terminals

• US 5,185,742 A
• Filed: 12/31/1990
• Issued: 02/09/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Original Assignee: AT&T, Inc.
• Inventors: Thieler, Stephen M., Bales, Bruce M., North, Sandra S., Crumpley, Robert L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Olms, Douglas W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KIZOU, HASSAN
• Application Number:
  US07/636,522
• Time in Patent Office: 771 Days
• Field of Search: 370/110.1, 370/94.1, 370/94.2, 370/60, 370/60.1, 379/93, 379/96, 379/102
• US Class Current: 370/469
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0428 Integrated services digital network, i.e. systems for transmission of different types of digitised signals, e.g. speech, data, telecentral, television signals

Abstract

A remote telecommunication terminal providing telecommunication functions identical to those functions provided by local telecommunication terminal directly connected to a telecommunications system via a direct standard link using a standard protocol. The remote telecommunication terminal is interconnected to the telecommunication system through an intervening switching system such as the public telephone network. One such remote telecommunication terminal is a remote telemarketing terminal. A remote telemarketing terminal cooperates with the telemarketing system to establish a virtual interface on the telemarketing system. The telemarketing system views this virtual interface as being identical to a physical interface such as one connected to a local telemarketing terminal via a standard link. The remote telemarketing terminal then establishes a virtual link between itself and the virtual interface on the telemarketing system. The virtual link is established on transport channels of standard links that interconnect the remote telemarketing terminal to the switching system and from the switching system to the telemarketing system. The switching system is unaware of the establishment of a virtual link on these transport channels and does not respond to signaling information on a virtual signaling channel of the virtual link.

Claims

1. A remote telemarketing terminal for communicating with a telemarketing system over a connecting ISDN link, said ISDN link having a plurality of transport channels and a signaling channel for communication of ISDN signaling information, said remote telemarketing terminal comprising

means for establishing a virtual link between said terminal and said system over said transport channels, said virtual link including a virtual signaling channel established on one of said transport channels, and

means for using ISDN signaling information communicated to said terminal over said virtual signaling channel to control said remote telemarketing terminal to provide telemarketing functions, that ISDN signaling information being distinct from ISDN signaling information communicated to said terminal via said signaling channel of said connecting ISDN link.

2. The remote telemarketing of claim 1 further comprising a processor to control the operation of said remote telemarketing terminal by executing a plurality of software layers arranged in a hierarchical structure and said establishing means comprises an application software module in a highest software layer and a virtual interface software module in lowest software layers and said connecting ISDN link directly controlled by the lowest software layers.

said lowest software layers responsive to encapsulated information received in said one of said transport channels for communicating said encapsulated information to said application software module,

said application software module responsive to said encapsulated information from said one of said transport channels for recovering said ISDN signaling information from said virtual signaling channel and for transferring ISDN signaling information from said virtual signaling channel to said virtual interface software module,

said virtual interface software module responsive to said ISDN signaling information from said virtual signaling channel for transferring said ISDN signaling information from said virtual signaling channel to an intermediate software layer, and

said intermediate software layer through said highest software layer responsive to said ISDN signaling information from said virtual signaling channel to control said remote telemarketing terminal to provide said telemarketing functions.

3. The remote telemarketing terminal of claim 2 wherein said lowest software layers further responsive to other signaling information from said intermediate software layer designated for said signaling channel for communicating that signaling information on said signaling channel,

said virtual interface software module responsive to other ISDN signaling information from said intermediate software layer for receiving that information in the same manner as said lowest software layers and for transferring said other ISDN signaling information to said application software module, and

said application software module further responsive to said other ISDN signaling information received from said virtual interface software module for encapsulating that information for transmission on said one of said transport channels and for transferring said encapsulated other information to said lowest software layers for transmission on said one of said transport channels.

4. A remote telemarketing terminal for communicating with a telemarketing system over a connecting ISDN link, said ISDN link having a plurality of transport channels and a signaling channel for communication of ISDN signaling information, said remote telemarketing terminal comprising

means for dividing one of said transport channels into subchannels,

means for establishing a virtual link between said terminal and said system over said transport channels, said virtual link including a virtual signaling channel established on one of said subchannels, and

means for using ISDN signaling information communicated to said terminal over said virtual signaling channel to control said remote telemarketing terminal to provide telemarketing functions, that ISDN signaling information being distinct from ISDN signaling information communicated to said terminal via said signaling channel of said connecting ISDN link.

5. The remote telemarketing terminal of claim 4 further comprising a processor to control the operation of said remote telemarketing terminal by executing a plurality of software layers arranged in a hierarchical structure and said establishing means comprises an application software module in a highest software layer and a virtual interface software module in said lowest software layers and said connecting ISDN link directly controlled by the lowest software layers,

said lowest software layers responsive to encapsulated information received in said one of said subchannels for communicating said encapsulated information to said application software module,

said application software module responsive to said encapsulated information from said one of said subchannels for recovering said ISDN signaling information and for transferring ISDN signaling information to said virtual interface software module,

said virtual interface software module responsive to said ISDN signaling information for transferring said ISDN signaling information to an intermediate software layer, and

said intermediate software layer through said highest software layer responsive to said ISDN signaling information to control said remote telemarketing terminal to provide said telemarketing functions.

6. The remote telemarketing terminal of claim 5 wherein said lowest software layers further responsive to other signaling information from said intermediate software layer designated for said signaling channel for communicating that signaling information on said signaling channel,

said virtual interface software module responsive to other ISDN signaling information from said intermediate software layer for receiving that information in the same manner as said lowest software layers for transferring said other ISDN signaling information to said application software module, and

said application software module further responsive to said other ISDN signaling information received from said virtual interface software module for encapsulating that information for transmission on said one of said subchannels and for transferring said encapsulated other information to said lowest software layers for transmission on said one of said subchannels.

7. A remote telemarketing terminal for communicating with a telemarketing system over a connecting ISDN link, said ISDN link having a plurality of transport channels and a signaling channel comprising a plurality of logical links with one of said logical links utilized for communication of ISDN signaling information to control said connecting ISDN link, said remote telemarketing terminal comprising

means for establishing a virtual link between said terminal and said system, said virtual link is a virtual signaling channel established on another one of said logical links, and

means for using ISDN signaling information communicated to said terminal over said virtual signaling channel to control said remote telemarketing terminal to provide telemarketing functions, that ISDN signaling information being distinct from ISDN signaling information communicated to said terminal via said signaling channel of said connecting ISDN link.

8. The remote telemarketing terminal of claim 7 further comprising a processor to control the operation of said remote telemarketing terminal by executing a plurality of software layers arranged in a hierarchical structure and said establishing means comprises an application software module in a highest software layer and a virtual interface software module in lowest software layers and said connecting ISDN link directly controlled by the lowest software layers,

said lowest software layers responsive to encapsulated information received in said other one of said logical links for communicating said encapsulated information to said application software module,

said application software module responsive to said encapsulated information from said other one of said logical links for recovering said ISDN signaling information and for transferring ISDN signaling information to said virtual interface software module,

said virtual interface software module responsive to said ISDN signaling information for transferring said ISDN signaling information to an intermediate software layer, and

said intermediate software layer through said highest software layer responsive to said ISDN signaling information to control said remote telemarketing terminal to provide said telemarketing functions.

9. The remote telemarketing terminal of claim 8 wherein said lowest software layers further responsive to other signaling information from said intermediate software layer designated for said signaling channel for communicating that signaling information on said signaling channel,

said virtual interface software module responsive to other ISDN signaling information from said intermediate software layer for receiving that information in the same manner as said lowest software layers and for transferring said other ISDN signaling information to said application software module, and

said application software module further responsive to said other ISDN signaling information received from said virtual interface software module for encapsulating that information for transmission on said other one of said logical links and for transferring said encapsulated other information to said lowest software layers for transmission on said other one of said logical links.

10. A remote telemarketing terminal for communicating with a telemarketing system over a connecting ISDN link, said ISDN link having a plurality of transport channels and a signaling channel for communication of ISDN signaling information and a user-user temporary connection, said remote telemarketing terminal comprising

means for establishing a virtual link between said terminal and said system, said virtual link is a virtual signaling channel established using said user-user temporary connection in said signaling channel, and

means for using ISDN signaling information communicated to said terminal over said virtual signaling channel to control said remote telemarketing terminal to provide telemarketing functions, that ISDN signaling information being distinct from ISDN signaling information communicated to said terminal via said signaling channel of said connecting ISDN link.

11. The remote telemarketing terminal of claim 10 further comprising a processor to control the operation of said remote telemarketing terminal by executing a plurality of software layers arranged in a hierarchical structure and said establishing means comprises an application software module in a highest software layer and a virtual interface software module in said lowest software layers and said connecting ISDN link directly controlled by the lowest software layers,

said lowest software layers responsive to encapsulated information received on said user-user temporary connection from said signaling channel for communicating said encapsulated information to said application software module,

said application software module responsive to said encapsulated information for recovering said ISDN signaling information and for transferring ISDN signaling information to said virtual interface software module,

said virtual interface software module responsive to said ISDN signaling information for transferring said ISDN signaling information to an intermediate software layer, and

said intermediate software layer through said highest software responsive to said ISDN signaling information to control said remote telemarketing terminal to provide said telemarketing functions.

12. The remote telemarketing terminal of claim 11 wherein said lowest software layers further responsive to other signaling information from said intermediate software layer designated for said signaling channel for communicating that signaling information on said signaling channel,

said virtual interface software module resposive to other ISDN signaling information from said intermediate software layer for receiving that information in the same manner as said lowest software layers and for transferring said other ISDN signaling information to said application software module, and

said application software module further responsive to said other ISDN signaling information received from said virtual interface software module for encapsulating that information for transmission on said user-user temporary connection in said signaling channel and for transferring said encapsulated other information to said lowest software layers for transmission on said user-user temporary connection in said signaling channel.

13. A remote telemarketing terminal for providing telemarketing services identical to those services provided by a plurality of local telemarketing terminals each directly connected by a direct standard link to a telemarketing system using a standard protocol and said remote telemarketing terminal interconnected to said telemarketing system by a connecting standard link from a switching system to a physical interface on said telemarketing system and by another connecting standard link from said switching system to another physical interface on said remote telemarketing terminal and each connecting link has a signaling channel for communication of signaling information using said standard protocol and a plurality of transport channels, said remote telemarketing terminal comprising:

means within said remote telemarketing terminal for assigning transport channels from said connecting standard links for use as a virtual link to provide communication between said remote telemarketing terminal and said telemarketing system,

means within said remote telemarketing terminal for establishing a virtual signaling channel on said virtual link by using one of said transport channels of each of said connecting standard links in accordance with said standard protocol,

means within said remote telemarketing terminal for cooperating with said telemarketing system to establish a virtual interface on said telemarketing system and for identifying said assigned transport channels and said virtual signaling channel as said virtual link interconnecting said virtual interface to said remote telemarketing terminal, and

means in said remote telemarketing terminal for using signaling information communicated on said virtual signaling channel from said virtual interface utilizing said standard protocol and distinct from signaling information communicated via signaling channels of said connecting standard links to control said remote telemarketing terminal to provide telemarketing functions.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said standard protocol is the ISDN protocol.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said remote telemarketing terminal has a processor to control the operation of said remote telemarketing terminal by executing a plurality of software layers arranged in a hierarchical structure and said establishing means comprises an application software module in a highest software layer and said identifying means comprises a virtual interface software module in said lowest software layers and said other standard link directly controlled by the lowest software layers,

said lowest software layers responsive to encapsulated information received in said one of said transport channels of said other standard link for communicating said encapsulated information to said application software module,

said application software module responsive to said encapsulated information from said one of said transport channels of said other standard link for recovering said signaling information of said virtual signaling channel and for transferring that signaling information to said virtual interface software module,

said virtual interface software module responsive to said signaling information of said virtual signaling channel for transferring said signaling information of said virtual signaling channel to an intermediate software layer, and

said intermediate software layer through said highest software layer responsive to said signaling information of said virtual signaling channel to control said remote telemarketing terminal to provide said telemarketing functions.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said lowest software layers further responsive to other signaling information from said intermediate software layer designated for said signaling channel of said other standard link for communicating that signaling information on said signaling channel of said other standard link,

said virtual interface software module responsive to other signaling information for said virtual signaling channel from said intermediate software layer for receiving that information in the same manner as said lowest software layers and for transferring said other signaling information to said application software module,

said application software module further responsive to said other signaling information received from said virtual interface software module for encapsulating that information for transmission on said one of said transport channels of said other standard link and for transferring said encapsulated other information to said lowest software layers for transmission on said one of said transport channels of said other standard link.

17. A remote telemarketing terminal for providing telemarketing services identical to those services provided by a plurality of local telemarketing terminals each directly connected by a direct standard link to a telemarketing system using a standard protocol and said remote telemarketing terminal interconnected to said telemarketing system by a connecting standard link from a switching system to a physical interface on said telemarketing system and by another connecting standard link from said switching system to another physical interface on said remote telemarketing terminal and each connecting link has a signaling channel for communication of signaling information using said standard protocol and a plurality of transport channels, said remote telemarketing terminal comprising:

means within said remote telemarketing terminal for assigning transport channels from said connecting standard links for use as a virtual link to provide communication between said remote telemarketing terminal and said telemarketing system and for dividing one of said transport channels of each of said connecting standard links into subchannels,

means within said remote telemarketing terminal for establishing a virtual signaling channel on said virtual link via one of said subchannels of each of said connecting standard links in accordance with said standard protocol,

means within said remote telemarketing terminal for cooperating with said telemarketing system to establish a virtual interface on said telemarketing system and for identifying said assigned transport channels, the remaining subchannels, and said virtual signaling channel as said virtual link interconnecting said virtual interface to said remote telemarketing terminal, and

means in said remote telemarketing terminal for using signaling information communicated on said virtual signaling channel from said virtual interface utilizing said standard protocol and distinct from signaling information communicated by signaling channels of said connecting standard links to control said remote telemarketing terminal to provide telemarketing functions.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said standard protocol is the ISDN protocol.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said remote telemarketing terminal has a processor to control the operation of said remote telemarketing terminal by executing a plurality of software layers arranged in a hierarchical structure and said establishing means comprises an application software module in a highest software layer and said identifying means comprises a virtual interface software module in said lowest software layers and said other standard link directly controlled by the lowest software layers,

said lowest software layers responsive to encapsulated information received in said one of said subchannels of said other standard link for communicating said encapsulated information to said application software module,

said application software module responsive to said encapsulated information from said one of said subchannels of said other standard link for recovering said signaling information of said virtual signaling channel and for transferring that signaling information to said virtual interface software module,

said virtual interface software module responsive to said signaling information of said virtual signaling channel for transferring said signaling information of said virtual signaling channel to an intermediate software layer, and

said intermediate software layers through said highest software layer responsive to said signaling information of said virtual signaling channel to control said remote telemarketing terminal to provide said telemarketing functions.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said lowest software layers further responsive to other signaling information from said intermediate software layer designated for said signaling channel of said other standard link for communicating that signaling information on said signaling channel of said other standard link,

said virtual interface software module responsive to other signaling information for said virtual signaling channel from said intermediate software layer for receiving that information in the same manner as said lowest software layers and for transferring said other signaling information to said application software module,

said application software module further responsive to said other signaling information received from said virtual interface software module for encapsulating that information for transmission on said one of said subchannels of said other standard link and for transferring said encapsulated other information to said lowest software layers for transmission on said one of said subchannels of said other standard link.

21. A remote telemarketing terminal for providing telemarketing services identical to those services provided by a plurality of local telemarketing terminals each directly connected by a direct standard link to a telemarketing system using a standard protocol and said remote telemarketing terminal interconnected to said telemarketing system by a connecting standard link from a switching system to a physical interface on said telemarketing system and by another connecting standard link from said switching system to another physical interface on said remote telemarketing terminal, and each connecting standard link has a plurality of transport channels and a signaling channel comprising a plurality of logical links with one of said logical links designated to carry signaling information of said connecting standard links in accordance with said standard protocol, said remote telemarketing terminal comprising:

means within said remote telemarketing terminal for assigning transport channels from said connecting standard links for use as a virtual link to provide communication between said remote telemarketing terminal and said telemarketing system,

means within said remote telemarketing terminal for establishing a virtual signaling channel on another one of said logical links of each of said connecting standard links in accordance with said standard protocol,

means within said remote telemarketing terminal for cooperating with said telemarketing system to establish a virtual interface on said telemarketing system and for identifying said assigned transport channels and said virtual signaling channel as said virtual link interconnecting said virtual interface to said remote telemarketing terminal, and

means in said remote telemarketing terminal for using signaling information communicated on said virtual signaling channel from said virtual interface utilizing said standard protocol and distinct from signaling information communicated by signaling channels of said connecting standard links to control said remote telemarketing terminal to provide telemarketing functions.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said standard protocol is the ISDN protocol.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said remote telemarketing terminal has a processor to control the operation of said remote telemarketing terminal by executing a plurality of software layers arranged in a hierarchical structure and said establishing means comprises an application software module in a highest software layer and said identifying means comprises a virtual interface software module in said lowest software layers and said other standard link directly controlled by the lowest software layers,

said lowest software layers responsive to encapsulated information received in said other one of said logical links for communicating said encapsulated information to said application software module,

said application software module responsive to said encapsulated information from said other one of said logical links for recovering said signaling information of said virtual signaling channel and for transferring that signaling information to said virtual interface software module,

said virtual interface software module responsive to said signaling information of said virtual signaling channel for transferring said signaling information of said virtual signaling channel to an intermediate software layer, and

said intermediate software layer through said highest software layer responsive to said signaling information of said virtual signaling channel to control said remote telemarketing terminal to provide said telemarketing functions.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said lowest software layers further responsive to other signaling information from said intermediate software layer designated for said signaling channel of said other standard link for communicating that signaling information on said signaling channel of said other standard link,

said virtual interface software module responsive to other signaling information for said virtual signaling channel from said intermediate software layer for receiving that information in the same manner as said lowest software layers and for transferring said other signaling information to said application software module,

said application software module further responsive to said other signaling information received from said virtual interface software module for encapsulating that information for transmission on said other one of said logical links and for transferring said encapsulated other information to said lowest software layers for transmission on said other one of said logical links.

25. A remote telemarketing terminal for providing telemarketing services identical to those services provided by a plurality of local telemarketing terminals each directly connected by a direct standard link to a telemarketing system using a standard protocol and said remote telemarketing terminal interconnected to said telemarketing system by a connecting standard link from a switching system to a physical interface on said telemarketing system and by another connecting standard link from said switching system to another physical interface on said remote telemarketing terminal and each connecting link has a signaling channel for communication of signaling information using said standard protocol and a plurality of transport channels and said standard protocol allows for a user--user temporary connection in said signaling channels of said connecting standard links in addition to said signaling information, said remote telemarketing terminal comprising:

means within said remote telemarketing terminal for assigning transport channels from said connecting standard links for use as a virtual link to provide communication between said remote telemarketing terminal and said telemarketing system,

means within said remote telemarketing terminal for establishing a virtual signaling channel on said virtual link using said user--user temporary connection in said signaling channels of said connecting standard links in accordance with said standard protocol,

means within said remote telemarketing terminal for cooperating with said telemarketing system to establish a virtual interface on said telemarketing system and for identifying said assigned transport channels and said virtual signaling channel as said virtual link interconnecting said virtual interface to said remote telemarketing terminal, and

means in said remote telemarketing terminal for using signaling information communicated on said virtual signaling channel from said virtual interface utilizing said standard protocol and distinct from signaling information communicated by signaling channels of said connecting standard links to control said remote telemarketing terminal to provide telemarketing functions.

26. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said standard protocol is the ISDN protocol.

27. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said remote telemarketing terminal has a processor to control the operation of said remote telemarketing terminal by executing a plurality of software layers arranged in a hierarchical structure and said establishing means comprises an application software module in a highest software layer and said identifying means comprises a virtual interface software module in said lowest software layers and said other standard link directly controlled by the lowest software layers,

said lowest software layers responsive to encapsulated information received by said communication of user information in said signaling channel of said other standard link for communicating said encapsulated information to said application software module,

said application software module responsive to said encapsulated information received by said communication of user information in said signaling channel of said other standard link for recovering said signaling information of said virtual signaling channel and for transferring that signaling information to said virtual interface software module,

said virtual interface software module responsive to said signaling information of said virtual signaling channel for transferring said signaling information of said virtual signaling channel to an intermediate software layer, and

said intermediate software layer through said highest software layer responsive to said signaling information of said virtual signaling channel to control said remote telemarketing terminal to provide said telemarketing functions.

28. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein said lowest software layers further responsive to other signaling information from said intermediate software layer designated for said signaling channel of said other standard link for communicating that signaling information on said signaling channel of said other standard link,

said virtual interface software module responsive to other signaling information for said virtual signaling channel from said intermediate software layer for receiving that information in the same manner as said lowest software layers and for transferring said other signaling information to said application software module,

said application software module further responsive to said other signaling information received from said virtual interface software module for encapsulating that information for transmission on said user--user temporary connection in said signaling channel of said other standard link and for transferring said encapsulated other information to said lowest software layers for transmission on said user--user temporary connection in said signaling channel.

29. A remote telecommunication terminal for communicating with a telecommunication system over a connecting ISDN link, said ISDN link having a plurality of transport channels and a signaling channel for communication of ISDN signaling information, said remote telecommunication terminal comprising

means for establishing a virtual link between said telecommunication terminal and said system over said transport channels, said virtual link including a virtual signaling channel established on one of said transport channels, and

means for using ISDN signaling information communicated to said telecommunication terminal over said virtual signaling channel to control said remote telemarketing terminal to provide telemarketing functions, that ISDN signaling information being distinct from ISDN signaling information communicated to said telecommunication terminal via said signaling channel of said connecting ISDN link.

30. The remote telecommunication terminal of claim 29 further comprising a processor to control the operation of said remote telecommunication terminal by executing a plurality of software layers arranged in a hierarchical structure and said establishing means comprises an application software module in a highest software layer and a virtual interface software module in said lowest software layers and said connecting ISDN link directly controlled by the lowest software layers,

said lowest software layers responsive to encapsulated information received from said virtual link of said one of said transport channels for communicating said encapsulated information to said application software module,

said application software module responsive to said encapsulated information from said one of said transport channels for recovering said ISDN signaling information of said virtual link and for transferring ISDN signaling information of said virtual link to said virtual interface software module,

said virtual interface software module responsive to said ISDN signaling information of said virtual link for transferring said ISDN signaling information of said virtual link to an intermediate software layer, and

said intermediate software layer through said highest software layer responsive to said ISDN signaling information of said virtual link to control said telecommunication functions provided by said remote telecommunication terminal.

31. The remote telecommunication terminal of claim 30 wherein said lowest software layers further responsive to other signaling information from said intermediate software layer designated for said signaling channel for communicating that signaling information on said signaling channel,

said virtual interface software module responsive to other ISDN signaling information from said intermediate software layer for receiving that information in the same manner as said lowest software layers and for transferring said other ISDN signaling information to said application software module,

said application software module further responsive to said other ISDN signaling information received from said virtual interface software module for encapsulating that information for transmission on said one of said transport channels and for transferring said encapsulated other information to said lowest software layers for transmission on said one of said transport channels.

32. A remote telecommunication terminal for communicating with a telecommunication system over a connecting ISDN link, said ISDN link having a plurality of transport channels and a signaling channel for communication of ISDN signaling information, said remote telecommunication terminal comprising

means for dividing one of said channels into subchannels,

means for establishing a virtual link between said terminal and said system over said one of transport channels, said virtual link including a virtual signaling channel established on one of said subchannels, and

means for using ISDN signaling information communicated to said terminal over said virtual signaling channel to control said remote telemarketing terminal to provide telemarketing functions, that ISDN signaling information being distinct from ISDN signaling information communicated to said terminal via said signaling channel of said connecting ISDN link.

33. The remote telecommunication terminal of claim 32 further comprising a processor to control the operation of said remote telecommunication terminal by executing a plurality of software layers arranged in a hierarchical structure and said establishing means comprises an application software module in a highest software layer and a virtual interface software module in said lowest software layers and said connecting ISDN link directly controlled by the lowest software layers,

said lowest software layers responsive to encapsulated information received in said one of said subchannels for communicating said encapsulated information to said application software module,

said application software module responsive to said encapsulated information from said one of said subchannels for recovering said ISDN signaling information of said virtual link and for transferring ISDN signaling information of said virtual link to said virtual interface software module,

said virtual interface software module responsive to said ISDN signaling information of said virtual link for transferring said ISDN signaling information of said virtual link to an intermediate software layer, and

said intermediate software layer through said highest software layer responsive to said ISDN signaling information to control said telecommunication functions provided by said remote telecommunication terminal.

34. The remote telecommunication terminal of claim 33 further responsive to other signaling information from said intermediate software layer designated for said signaling channel for communicating that signaling information on said signaling channel,

said virtual interface software module responsive to other ISDN signaling information from said intermediate software layer for receiving that information in a similar manner as said lowest software layers and for transferring said other ISDN signaling information to said application software module,

said application software module further responsive to said other ISDN signaling information received from said virtual interface software module for encapsulating that information for transmission on said one of said subchannels and for transferring said encapsulated other information to said lowest software layers for transmission on said one of said subchannels.

35. A remote telecommunication terminal for communicating with a telecommunication system over a connecting ISDN link, said ISDN link having a plurality of transport channels and a signaling channel comprising a plurality of logical links with one of said logical links utilized for communication of ISDN signaling information to control said connecting ISDN link, said remote telecommunication terminal comprising

means for establishing a virtual link between said terminal and said system, said virtual link is a virtual signaling channel established on another one of said logical links, and

means for using ISDN signaling information communicated to said terminal over said virtual signaling channel to control said remote telemarketing terminal to provide telemarketing functions, that ISDN signaling information being distinct from ISDN signaling information communicated to said terminal via said signaling channel of said connecting ISDN link.

36. The remote telecommunication terminal of claim 35 further comprising a processor to control the operation of said remote telecommunication terminal by executing a plurality of software layers arranged in a hierarchical structure and said establishing means comprises an application software module in a highest software layer and a virtual interface software module in said lowest software layers and said connecting ISDN link directly controlled by the lowest software layers,

said lowest software layers responsive to encapsulated information received in said other one of said logical links for communicating said encapsulated information to said application software module,

said application software module responsive to said encapsulated information from said other one of said logical links for recovering said ISDN signaling information of said virtual link and for transferring ISDN signaling information of said virtual link to said virtual interface software module,

said virtual interface software module responsive to said ISDN signaling information for transferring said ISDN signaling information of said virtual link to an intermediate software layer, and

said intermediate software layer through said highest software layer responsive to said ISDN signaling information of said virtual link to control said remote telemarketing terminal to provide said telemarketing functions.

37. The remote telecommunication terminal of claim 36 wherein said lowest software layers further responsive to other signaling information from said intermediate software layer designated for said signaling channel for communicating that signaling information on said signaling channel,

said virtual interface software module responsive to other ISDN signaling information from said intermediate software layer for receiving that information in the same manner as said lowest software layers and for transferring said other ISDN signaling information to said application software module,

said application software module further responsive to said other ISDN signaling information received from said virtual interface software module for encapsulating that information for transmission on said other one of said logical links and for transferring said encapsulated other information to said lowest software layers for transmission on said other one of said logical links.

38. A remote telecommunication terminal for communicating with a telecommunication system over a connecting ISDN link, said ISDN link having a plurality of transport channels and a signaling channel for communication of ISDN signaling information and user information, said remote telecommunication terminal comprising

means for establishing a virtual link between said terminal and said system, said virtual link is a virtual signaling channel established using a user-user temporary connection in said signaling channel, and

means for using ISDN signaling information communicated to said terminal over said virtual signaling channel to control said remote telemarketing terminal to provide telemarketing functions, that ISDN signaling information being distinct from ISDN signaling information communicated to said terminal via said signaling channel of said connecting ISDN link.

39. The remote telecommunication terminal of claim 38 further comprising a processor to control the operation of said remote telecommunication terminal by executing a plurality of software layers arranged in a hierarchical structure and said establishing means comprises an application software module in a highest software layer and a virtual interface software module in said lowest software layers and said connecting ISDN link directly controlled by the lowest software layers,

said lowest software layers responsive to encapsulated information received on said user-user temporary connection from said signaling channel for communicating said encapsulated information to said application software module,

said application software module responsive to said encapsulated information for recovering said ISDN signaling information of said virtual link and for transferring ISDN signaling information of said virtual link to said virtual interface software module,

said virtual interface software module responsive to said ISDN signaling information of said virtual link for transferring said ISDN signaling information of said virtual link to an intermediate software layer, and

said intermediate software layer through said highest software layer responsive to said ISDN signaling information to control said remote telemarketing terminal to provide said telemarketing functions.

40. The remote telecommunication terminal of claim 39 wherein said lowest software layers further responsive to other signaling information from said intermediate software layer designated for said signaling channel for communicating that signaling information on said signaling channel,

said virtual interface software module responsive to other ISDN signaling information from said intermediate software layer for receiving that information in the same manner as said lowest software layers and for transferring said other ISDN signaling information to said application software module,

said application software module further responsive to said other ISDN signaling information received from said virtual interface software module for encapsulating that information for transmission on said user-user temporary connection is said signaling channel and for transferring said encapsulated other information to said lowest software layers for transmission on said user-user temporary connection in said signaling channel.

41. A method for operating a remote telemarketing terminal to communicate with a telemarketing system over a connecting ISDN link, said ISDN link having a plurality of transport channels and a signaling channel for communication of ISDN signaling information, said method comprising the steps of

establishing a virtual link between said terminal and said system over said transport channels, and virtual link including a virtual signaling channel established on one of said transport channels, and

using ISDN signaling information communicated to said terminal over said virtual signaling channel to control said remote telemarketing terminal to provide telemarketing functions, that ISDN signaling information being distinct from ISDN signaling information communicated to said terminal via said signaling channel of said connecting ISDN link.

42. The method of claim 41 wherein said remote telemarketing terminal has a processor to control the operation of said remote telemarketing terminal by executing a plurality of software layers arranged in a hierarchical structure and with an application software module in a highest software layer and a virtual interface software module in lowest software layers, said connecting ISDN link directly controlled by the lowest software layers and said establishing step comprises the steps of

communicating encapsulated information from said one of said transport links to said application software module by said lowest software layers in response to said encapsulated information being received in said one of said transport channels,

recovering said ISDN signaling information of said virtual link and transferring said ISDN signaling information of said virtual link to said virtual interface software module by said application software module in response to said encapsulated information from said one of said transport channels,

transferring said ISDN signaling information of said virtual link to an intermediate software layer by said virtual interface software module in response to said ISDN signaling information of said virtual link, and

said using step comprises the step of controlling said remote telemarketing terminal to provide said telemarketing functions, by said intermediate software layer through said highest software layer in response to said ISDN signaling information.

43. The method of claim 42 wherein said establishing step further compries the steps of

communicating other signaling information on said signaling channel by said lowest software layers in response to said other signaling information from said intermediate software layer designated for said signaling channel,

receiving other ISDN information in the same manner as said lowest software layers and transferring said other ISDN signaling information to said application software module by said virtual interface software module in response to that information from said intermediate software layer, and

encapsulating said other ISDN signaling information for transmission on said one of said transport channels and transferring said encapsulated other information to said lowest software layers for transmission on said one of said transport channels by said application software module in response to said other ISDN signaling information being received from said virtual interface software module.

44. A method for operating a remote telemarketing terminal to communicate with a telemarketing system over a connecting ISDN link, said ISDN link having a plurality of transport channels and a signaling channel for communication of ISDN signaling information, said method comprising the steps of

dividing one of said transport channels into subchannels,

establishing a virtual link between said terminal and said system over said transport channels, said virtual link including a virtual signaling channel established on one of the subschannels, and

using ISDN signaling information communicated to said terminal over said virtual signaling channel to control said remote telemarketing terminal to provide telemarketing functions, that ISDN signaling information being distinct from ISDN signaling information communicated to said terminal via said signaling channel of said connecting ISDN link.

45. The method of claim 44 wherein said remote telemarketing terminal has a processor to control the operation of said remote telemarketing terminal by executing a plurality of software layers arranged in a hierarchical structure and with an application software module in a highest software layer and a virtual interface software module in lowest software layers, said connecting ISDN link directly controlled by the lowest software layers, and said establishing step comprises the steps of

communicating encapsulated information to said application software module by said lowest software layers in response to said encapsulated information being received in said one of said subchannels,

recovering said ISDN signaling information of said virtual link and transferring said ISDN signaling information of said virtual link to said virtual interface software module by said application software module in response to said encapsulated information from said one of said subchannels,

transferring said ISDN signaling information of said virtual link to an intermediate software layer by said virtual interface software module in response to said ISDN signaling information of said virtual link, and

said using step comprises the step of controlling said remote telemarketing terminal to provide said telemarketing functions, by said intermediate software layer through said highest software layer in response to said ISDN signaling information.

46. The method of claim 45 wherein said establishing step further comprises the steps of

communicating other signaling information on said signaling channel by said lowest software layers in response to said other signaling information from said intermediate software layer designated for said signaling channel,

receiving other ISDN information in the same manner as said lowest software layers and transferring said other ISDN signaling information to said application software module by said virtual interface software module in response to that information from said intermediate software layer, and

encapsulating said other ISDN signaling information for transmission on said one of said subchannels and transferring said encapsulated other information to said lowest software layers for transmission on said one of said subchannels by said application software module in response to said other ISDN signaling information being received from said virtual interface software module.

47. A method for operating a remote telemarketing terminal to communicate with a telemarketing system over a connecting ISDN link, said ISDN link having a plurality of transport channels and a signaling channel comprising a plurality of logical links with one of said logical links utilized for communication of ISDN signaling information to control said connecting ISDN link, said method comprising the steps of

establishing a virtual link between said terminal and said system, said virtual link is a virtual signaling channel established on another one of said logical links, and

using ISDN signaling information communicated to said terminal over said virtual signaling channel to control said remote telemarketing terminal to provide telemarketing functions, that ISDN signaling information being distinct from ISDN signaling information communicated to said terminal via said signaling channel of said connecting ISDN link.

48. The method of claim 47 wherein said remote telemarketing terminal has a processor to control the operation of said remote telemarketing terminal by executing a plurality of software layers arranged in a hierarchical structure and with an application software module in a highest software layer and a virtual interface software module in lowest software layers, said connecting ISDN link directly controlled by the lowest software layers, and said establishing step comprises the steps of

communicating encapsulated information to said application software module by said lowest software layers in response to said encapsulated information being received in said other one of said logical links,

recovering said ISDN signaling information of said virtual link and transferring said ISDN signaling information of said virtual link to said virtual interface software module by said application software module in response to said encapsulated information from said other one of said logical links,

transferring said ISDN signaling information to an intermediate software layer by said virtual interface software module in response to said ISDN signaling information of said virtual link, and

said using step comprises the step of controlling said remote telemarketing terminal to provide said telemarketing functions by said intermediate software layer through said highest software layer in response to said ISDN signaling information.

49. The method of claim 48 wherein said establishing step further comprises the steps of

communicating other signaling information on said signaling channel by said lowest software layers in response to said other signaling information from said intermediate software layer designated for said signaling channel,

receiving other ISDN information in a similar manner as said lowest software layers and transferring said other ISDN signaling information to said application software module by said virtual interface software module in response to that information from said intermediate software layer, and

encapsulating said other ISDN signaling information for transmission on said other one of said logical links and transferring said encapsulated other information to said lowest software layers for transmission on said other one of said logical links by said application software module in response to said other ISDN signaling information being received from said virtual interface software module.

50. A method for operating a remote telemarketing terminal to communicate with a telemarketing system over a connecting ISDN link, said ISDN link having a plurality of transport channels and a signaling channel for communication of ISDN signaling information and user information, said method comprising the steps of

establishing a virtual link between said terminal and said system, said virtual link is a virtural signaling channel established using a user-user temporary connection in said signaling channel, and

using ISDN signaling information communicated to said terminal over said virtual signaling channel to control said remote telemarketing terminal to provide telemarketing functions, that ISDN signaling information being distinct from ISDN signaling information communicated to said terminal via said signaling channel of said connecting ISDN link.

51. The method of claim 50 wherein said remote telemarketing terminal has a processor to control the operation of said remote telemarketing terminal by executing a plurality of software layers arranged in a hierarchical structure and with an application software module in a highest software layer and a virtual interface software module in lowest software layers, said connecting ISDN link directly controlled by the lowest software layers and said establishing step comprises the steps of

communicating encapsulated information to said application software module by said lowest software layers in response to said encapsulated information being received as said user information from said signaling channel,

recovering said ISDN signaling information of said virtual link and transferring said ISDN signaling information of said virtual link to said virtual interface software modulue by said application software module in response to said encapsulated information on said user-user temporary connection of said signaling channel,

transferring said ISDN signaling information of said virtual link to an intermediate software layer by said virtual interface software module in response to said ISDN signaling information of said virtual link, and

said using step comprises the step of controlling said remote telemarketing terminal to provide said telemarketing functions by said intermediate software layer through said highest software layer in response to said ISDN signaling information of said virtual link.

52. The method of claim 51 wherein said establishing step further comprises the steps of

communicating other signaling information on said signaling channel by said lowest software layers in response to said other signaling information from said intermediate software layer designated for said signaling channel,

receiving other ISDN information in a similar manner as said lowest software layers and transferring said other ISDN signaling information to said application software module by said virtual interface software module in response to that information from said intermediate software layer, and

encapsulating said other ISDN signaling information for transmission as said user information on said signaling channel and transferring said encapsulated other information to said lowest software layers for transmission as said user information on said signaling channel by said application software module in response to said other ISDN signaling information being received from said virtual interface software module.