WO2003028348A2

WO2003028348A2 - Information transmission in a telecommunication network

Info

Publication number: WO2003028348A2
Application number: PCT/DE2002/002271
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jörg ARNOLD; Ansgar Bergmann; Gero Frenck; Karl Eigler; Thomas Witthaut
Original assignee: Ip2H Ag
Priority date: 2001-09-20
Filing date: 2002-06-24
Publication date: 2003-04-03
Also published as: WO2003028348A3

Abstract

The invention concerns a method for transmitting information in a telecommunication network, designed to fulfill simple and reliable telecommunication service criteria. Therefore the invention is characterized in that a telecommunication network is provided with at least an addressable and configurable operating unit capable of communicating with at least another addressable operating unit and/or at least a terminal, and at least a telecommunication service is provided by the configurable operating unit and/or at least the other operating unit. The invention also concerns a telecommunication network, in particular, for implementing said method. The invention further concerns an operating unit in a telecommunication network, in particular, for implementing said method.

Description

"Method for transmitting information in one

Telecommunications network, a telecommunications network and one

Unit of work in a telecommunications network "

The invention relates to a method for transmitting information in a telecommunications network, a telecommunications network and a work unit in a telecommunications network.

Methods for transmitting information in a telecommunications network and telecommunications networks are known from practice. Such information transmission mainly takes place between subscribers in the telecommunications network. Known telecommunications networks are, for example, ISDN, PSTN, any existing mobile radio network, any third-generation mobile radio network - IMT-2000 network -, a network based on IP - Internet Protocol - and any combination of such networks. The telecommunications networks considered here also include future self-organizing and / or ad-hoc networks in the sense of self-configuring, for example self-organizing relay networks.

Telecommunications traffic directed to a subscriber and originating from other subscribers in conventional telecommunications networks usually falls into one of the following groups: Circuit Switched - CS -, Packet Switched - PS - and Short Message Service - SMS. A number of telecommunication services are implemented in the conventional telecommunication networks through network functions. This approach has some disadvantages. First of all, detailed specifications and extensive standardization activities are required so that a compatible cross-network introduction of these services is possible. Furthermore, the implementation requires complex technical changes in the networks involved. These technical changes further increase the complexity of network operation. After all, the services are inflexible and can hardly be designed by the user. The introduction of IN - Intelligent Network - did little to change this. To solve this problem, some of these services could be implemented by functions of intelligent and suitably programmed end devices - essentially without changing the telecommunication networks. The main advantages of this procedure are that the implementation is easier and cheaper and that the subscriber has a much greater freedom of design for the services.

With the last-mentioned procedure, however, there arises the difficulty that the intelligent terminal - especially in mobile radio - cannot be accessible. There are several reasons for this, in particular that the device is switched off or out of function, that the device has insufficient radio supply, that the device is busy with functions that make it impossible to be reached, that there is a short-term incongruity of the information in the end device and the network about the location of the end device, there is no capacity for additional information exchange between the network and the end device, the network at least partially refuses to use the end device or subscriber, and that there is some exceptional situation in the network.

The present invention is therefore based on the object of specifying a method for transmitting information in a telecommunications network and a telecommunications network and a working unit of the type mentioned at the outset, according to which at least one telecommunications service can be implemented simply and securely.

The object outlined above is achieved by a method and a telecommunications network and a work unit with the features of claims 1, 34 and 35. According to this, a method for transmitting information in a telecommunications network is characterized by the following method steps:

First of all, at least one addressable and configurable work unit is provided in the telecommunications network, which works with at least one further ren addressable work unit and / or at least one terminal can communicate. Finally, at least one telecommunication service is implemented by the configurable work unit and / or the at least one further work unit.

By providing the above work unit or work units in an existing telecommunication network according to the invention, it is no longer necessary to implement extensive changes and adaptations in the telecommunication network in order to implement telecommunication services. Furthermore, the accessibility of subscribers to whom a work unit is assigned, for example, is improved, which has great advantages, particularly in mobile radio. The work unit can take over the tasks of a preferably intelligent terminal.

Consequently, the method according to the invention specifies a method according to which at least one telecommunications service can be implemented simply and securely.

Specifically, the at least one addressable and configurable work unit and / or the at least one further addressable work unit could be assigned to a subscriber and / or a terminal. Even if the subscriber and / or the terminal device cannot be reached, the subscriber and / or the terminal device can be reached indirectly via the work unit, which can take over the tasks of the terminal device.

The above-mentioned work units could also be referred to as Virtual Intelligent Terminal (VIT) or as a virtual intelligent terminal.

Depending on the requirement, several participants and / or end devices could each be assigned a work unit. However, as an alternative or in addition, several work units could also be assigned to at least one subscriber and / or at least one terminal. In order to implement a telecommunications service securely, at least some of the work units and preferably all work units could communicate with one another. Corresponding configurations of the work units would have to be carried out for this.

As an alternative or in addition to this, the work unit or the work units could communicate with the terminal or the terminals. In this case, too, corresponding configurations would have to be carried out on the work units.

In a structurally particularly simple manner, the work unit or work units could be implemented in a terminal or integrated into a terminal. It would also be conceivable for the work unit or work units to be implemented as a preferably removable component of a terminal. The latter options offer a particularly simple provision of the work units in the telecommunications network.

Alternatively or in addition to the above possibilities, the work unit or work units could be implemented in a component of the telecommunications network. No separate configuration of end devices would be required here.

Overall, the work unit or work units could also be partially implemented in the area of a terminal and partially in a component of the telecommunications network. In other words, mixed realizations of the work unit or work units are conceivable. This is based on the respective application. When implementing a work unit in a terminal, this could be done, for example, in a host computer. When implemented in a component of the telecommunications network, the work unit could be in the form of a unit that can be addressed as a terminal. Overall, it should be noted that each work unit could be addressable as the terminal device of the telecommunications network used. A work unit or the work area formed by the work unit could also be called an instance.

At least some of the work units in their entirety could form a platform for preselectable applications. This could be done without extensive changes or standardization activities in the network.

The configurability of at least one work unit is essential for the individual design of the implemented telecommunications service. To provide a particularly convenient telecommunications service, at least one of the further addressable work units could also be configurable.

Depending on requirements, one or more of the work units can be operated by the participant and / or a third party at a given time. These work units are referred to here as the work units used by the participant and / or a third party. However, the subscriber and / or the third party can also optionally use a terminal that is not a work unit or to which no work unit is assigned. The configuration can be carried out on special work units, whereby - as mentioned above - all work units could possibly be configurable. With regard to the most versatile and unrestricted design of the telecommunication service, the provision and / or configuration of the work unit or work units could be carried out by a subscriber and / or a third party. The work unit or work units can also be operated by a participant and / or a third party.

Basically, the configuration could include programming desired functions. Programming could be done in different ways. On the one hand, programming could take place via a suitable user interface. Appropriate menu navigation and / or macros could be used for this. A program code could be in a suitable program programming language can be entered. Alternatively or additionally, at least one suitable program could be loaded for programming and / or downloaded via the telecommunications network and / or another network. There could be telecommunications between several networks.

Finally, at least one suitable program could also be preset and / or pre-installed in the work unit and / or in the work units. In general, any combination of the last-mentioned methods is suitable for programming, depending on the individual application.

For a safe overall function within the framework of the telecommunication network, suitable programs could be exchanged and / or compared between work units and / or end devices. This ensures smooth cooperation between the work units and / or end devices.

In principle, all programs used could run on all work units. If necessary, at least one program could access information belonging to predefined categories and accessible to at least one work unit and preferably utilize this information. Such information could include the events occurring in the work units resulting from the communication. Furthermore, the information could include all information accessible via AT commands, the time, information from the operating system and address and routing information.

Depending on the application, at least one program could generate at least one event of a predefined category. This event could serve to control communication. The events could include, for example, all AT commands and / or events for controlling the operating system supported by the device, as well as address and routing information. The accessibility of the information and / or the ability to generate an event could depend on the work unit. Any possible specification is conceivable here. In a particularly simple manner, the working units could automatically compare information, in particular configurations and status information. Here, the participant and / or a third party could intervene in a controlling manner. Such a comparison could take place periodically and / or triggered by certain events. The networks to which the work units belong could be used as a means of communication. Integrity protection and / or authentication and / or encryption could be used here. Furthermore, methods for maintaining data consistency in the different work units could be used.

In particular, the programming of the work units - based on the configuration of the work unit or work units configurable by the participant and / or third parties - could be updated.

It is essential that a work unit of a subscriber B can be reached by another subscriber A, whereby this could depend on the telecommunication networks used and their configuration. In particular, the address of a work unit that is constantly accessible and assigned to subscriber B could be used by subscriber A. As an alternative or in addition to this, subscriber B could set up suitable call forwarding - call forwarding - offered by the network operator to a work unit that can always be reached.

In conventional telecommunications networks such as PSTN and ISDN, routing for CS traffic is based on the number. The routing is determined by the phone number. A call number conversion can take place, which could be realized for example by IN functions.

In a mobile radio network, the routing for CS traffic is also partly based on the call number, to the point where a component of the network is reached that can initiate an interrogation of databases. Two types of databases are often used, the Home Location Register - HLR - and the Visitors Location Register - VLR. A further routing then takes place on the basis of the information obtained by the interrogation, typically on the basis of a newly provided "roaming number", which then again defines the routing. A call number conversion can also take place in mobile radio networks. SMS routing is carried out in the mobile radio networks on the basis of SCCP and using the databases.

For PS traffic realized in conventional telecommunications networks, the routing is carried out on the basis of the underlying packet data network protocols - in mobile radio, partly with the aid of information from the databases.

In general, routing takes place in conventional telecommunications networks such as PSTN, ISDN and mobile radio networks on the basis of routing information that is stored and managed in the network and is not directly accessible to the subscriber. Ownership of and access to this routing information constitutes an essential basis for the charging of telecommunication services.

In the context of the method according to the invention for the transmission of information in a telecommunications network, routing functions could be carried out by means of the working units. These could be based on the routing provided by the conventional telecommunication networks such as PSTN, ISDN and mobile radio networks if the subscriber uses one of these networks. If the subscriber uses a future self-organizing network, for example a self-organizing relay network, the routing could take place instead of such a routing provided by the conventional telecommunication networks such as PSTN, ISDN and mobile radio networks. The advantage in the case of building on the routing provided by the conventional telecommunication networks is that the subscriber could influence the routing in a flexible manner and thus certain wishes, such as, for. B. can realize a cheaper charging. In other words, routing can be influenced by the work units by a participant, in particular with regard to the charging.

As part of the routing, a connection from a calling subscriber to at least one work unit to a called subscriber could be established. The work unit quasi connects two connections, namely the connection from a calling subscriber to the work unit and a connection from the work unit to the called subscriber.

As an alternative to this, information about the establishment of a connection to a called subscriber could be transmitted to a calling subscriber by at least one work unit. The calling subscriber who originally called the work unit can then independently establish a connection to the desired called subscriber.

In a further alternative, a connection to a calling subscriber could be established by the called subscriber on the basis of a transmission of information by at least one work unit to the called subscriber. The calling subscriber is thus called back by the called subscriber when the called subscriber has received appropriate information from the work unit.

In all of the aforementioned connection methods, an additional information transfer could take place between the at least one work unit and the calling and / or called subscriber. In this case, the necessary charging and / or connection parameters could be transmitted.

As an alternative or in addition to this, in the aforementioned methods, instead of the called subscriber or in addition to the called subscriber, at least one work unit assigned to the called subscriber could participate in the connection or the connection process. In the same way, in addition or as an alternative to this, instead of the calling subscriber or in addition to the calling subscriber, at least one person calling the calling subscriber could orderly work unit to participate in the connection or connection process. The work unit or work units could practically work for the respective participant.

Suitable search engines and / or information distributed in the telecommunications network could be used to establish the connection or routing from a calling subscriber or a work unit of the calling subscriber to a work unit assigned to a called subscriber. Such a connection establishment or such a routing could more precisely take place via suitable search engines and / or via information distributed in the telecommunications network.

In a further embodiment, routing could take place via a network in which routing is possible on the basis of e-mail addresses. In a further embodiment, messaging and / or multi-messaging could take place by means of work units. In a further embodiment of the method, work units could take over tasks of the HLR - Home Location Register - and VLR - Visitors Location Register - in the GSM system or in another mobile radio system.

With regard to a telecommunications network, the above object is achieved by a telecommunications network, in particular for carrying out the above method, which is characterized in that at least one addressable and configurable work unit is provided in the telecommunications network, which has at least one further addressable work unit and / or at least one Terminal can communicate, and that the configured work unit and / or the at least one further work unit implements at least one telecommunication service.

With regard to the possible configuration of the telecommunications network, reference is made to the above description, in which various configuration options for a telecommunications network have already been described. The associated design features can be used individually or in a suitable neten combinations can be realized. The telecommunications network according to the invention is used in particular to carry out the method described above.

A work unit according to the invention in a telecommunications network, in particular for carrying out the above method, is characterized in that the work unit is addressable and configurable and can communicate with at least one further addressable work unit and / or at least one terminal device and that by the configurable work unit and / or the at least one further work unit is implemented at least one telecommunications service. The working unit according to the invention can have one or more of the features set out above in the description of the method according to the invention.

There are now various possibilities for advantageously designing and developing the teaching of the present invention. To this end, reference is made to the subordinate claims, on the one hand, and to the following explanation of exemplary embodiments of the method according to the invention. In connection with the explanation of the preferred exemplary embodiments of the method according to the invention, generally preferred refinements and developments of the teaching are also explained.

Example 1

According to FIG. 1, a work unit 11 of a subscriber B is reached by a subscriber A on the basis of the routing of the conventional telecommunication networks used. The work units of subscriber B are configured in such a way that an incoming CS call from subscriber A is rejected or accepted, in the latter case a further suitable connection from 11 to a terminal G2 of subscriber B determined by the programming is possibly established. The two connections from A to 11 and from 11 to G2 are interconnected. In both cases, 11 can be configured so that additional information exchange with A and / or G2 takes place automatically. The response of Figure 11 may depend on the information available.

Example: 2

According to FIG. 2, a work unit 11 of a subscriber B is reached by a subscriber A on the basis of the routing of the conventional telecommunications networks used. The work units of subscriber B are configured such that when subscriber A receives an incoming CS call, the subscriber A is rejected or accepted briefly and then dismantled and suitable information is generated for subscriber A, on the basis of which subscriber A connects to one of the parties Programming in 11 determined device G2 can build.

11 can be configured so that additional information exchange with A and / or G2 takes place automatically. The response of Figure 11 may depend on the information available.

In particular, subscriber A can also use a work unit that is configured in such a way that a suitable information transfer to 11 takes place instead of a call set-up to 11 and / or the call set-up to G2 is set up automatically as a function of the information accessible to the work unit.

Example 3

A work unit 11 of a subscriber B is reached by a subscriber A on the basis of the routing of the conventional telecommunications networks used. The work units of subscriber B are configured so that when subscriber A receives an incoming CS call, the subscriber A is rejected or at short notice is accepted and then dismantled and suitable information is generated to a work unit 12 of the participant B determined by the programming, on the basis of which 12 can establish a connection to A - FIG. 3a.

11 can be configured so that additional information exchange with A and / or 12 takes place automatically. The response of Figure 11 may depend on the information available. In particular, according to FIG. 3b, subscriber A can also use a work unit J1 and this can be configured such that instead of a call setup to 11, a suitable information transfer to 11 takes place and / or a terminal device H2 is determined in the information exchange between J1, 11 and 12 the 12 establishes the connection.

According to the method shown in FIG. 3a, the so-called "roaming leg" can be prevented in conventional mobile radio networks. More specifically, it can be prevented that a subscriber located in any country can only make a connection to a subscriber located in the same country via his home country. The called subscriber can make a direct call to the originally calling subscriber based on the information transmitted. The disadvantage here is that the whereabouts become known.

In the context of the example method shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b, depending on the starting situation, more favorable charging can be achieved, specifically for subscriber B and / or subscriber A and / or in total for B and A, in particular if reverse charging can be used. Furthermore, the routing can be optimized with the method and call forwarding can be implemented. The mobility of subscriber B can be achieved or improved. Furthermore, a suitable selection of the terminals can be made, for example a selection that is suitable for the desired service. Other design options

In particular, in the method described here, a subscriber A can reach a work unit 11 of a subscriber B via a network which masters routing on the basis of e-mail addresses. Then a telecommunication connection can be established on the basis of the e-mail address without subscriber A knowing a telephone number or generally the address of subscriber B used by the telecommunication connection. In particular, this can be implemented in such a way that participants can only call using the e-mail address.

For optimization, the assignments of e-mail addresses to telephone numbers or other addresses in the terminals and / or work units can be stored by a subscriber A. More generally, this procedure can be used to convert between different addressing schemes.

The method also enables the selection of favorable tariffs in the case of roaming and if several SIM and / or USIM cards are used.

When used with WLL, wireless PABX or wireless LAN, there is an automatic booking and location update so that the subscriber can be reached on the go.

Messaging in the context of the patent application is understood to mean the possibility of sending messages to suitable recipients. Multi-messaging is understood here as the possibility of sending one or more messages to several or many recipients. This function can be realized with the concept of the work unit by appropriately programming the work units. In addition, several work units can be transmitted and receiving work units can distribute the information to several recipients and work units in an avalanche form, so that a multiplier effect arises and the distribution can be very fast. In the relay system this this multiplier effect become particularly effective, since the information takes the shortest possible paths.

Messaging and multi-messaging can be effectively implemented in connection with GPS - Global Positioning System - for telecontrol systems and applications such as freight tracking, fleet control - also for taxi companies - and mother care. Since work instances are realized by intelligent devices, control functions, automatic information acquisition, monitoring functions and diagnostic functions can be realized with messaging and multi-messaging.

With the method according to the invention, the telecommunication network according to the invention and the working unit according to the invention, call forwarding can be implemented, for example, as already implemented in conventional telecommunication networks. Depending on the request, mandatory call forwarding can take place, call forwarding can take place if the called subscriber is already maintaining another telecommunications connection, call forwarding can take place if the called subscriber does not pick up his phone, for example, and call forwarding can take place if the called subscriber cannot be reached, for example is outside the required radio range.

Disadvantages of the conventional implementation of call forwarding are that conventional call forwarding costs network resources. Furthermore, the user is very severely restricted in his freedom of design. In addition, the associated protocols lead to operation that is difficult for the user to understand, since, for example, a distinction is made between registration and activation, since only one number can be registered for a group of basic services, since different treatment of calling subscribers is not possible because of the interactions between call forwarding services are difficult to understand and - in general - because these additional services are defined in their logic in specifications. Changes, in particular improvements to the services in conventional networks, require complex changes to specifications, in particular standards, a coordinated introduction to the networks and complex tests and improvements. Another possible disadvantage is that the cost of call forwarding is borne by the called party. This then has no influence on the tariffs that are used.

All of these disadvantages are eliminated by the integration of work units according to the invention.

With GSM or in another mobile radio system, work units of subscriber B can take on the role of HLR and VLR.

Furthermore, the CCBS service - Call Completion to Busy Subscriber - can be implemented within the scope of the method according to the invention. In conventional telecommunications networks, a subscriber A sets up a CS call to a subscriber B who is busy, with a "network determined user busy" (NDUB) situation for this subscriber to be more precise.

Participant A can then activate CCBS for destination B. This causes the network to monitor when subscriber B is no longer busy. As soon as B is no longer busy, the network waits for a short time. If B does not initiate a call during this time, the network automatically calls subscriber A. A can then accept the CCBS callback within a specified period of time. If he does so, the network automatically places a CCBS call on B.

Both subscriber A's network and subscriber B's network must support CCBS. Subscriber A must subscribe to the service. Participant A cannot select the basic services for which CCBS is to be used. Subscriber B has the option of generally rejecting the use of CCBS for all calls. Differentiated treatment of calls is not possible. The introduction of CCBS requires complex technical changes in the networks of participants A and B. The implementation of CCBS costs network resources. In particular, queues must be managed and time conditions monitored. In mobile radio networks, an implementation is particularly complex since both subscriber A and subscriber B may have changed their position and thus the switching center - mobile switching center - even the network and the country in the time until the CCBS callback is suspended. Participants A and B have little influence on the design of the service.

When implementing the method with the work units according to the invention, CCBS is implemented by functions in the work unit of subscriber B and optionally by functions in the work unit of subscriber A. Subscriber A places a CS call on subscriber B. The work unit of subscriber B that can be reached by A could on the one hand be the work unit used by B, in which case it is assumed that the additional service "Call Wait" can be used for subscriber B. Alternatively, the work unit of subscriber B that can be reached by A could be another work unit, in which case this work unit exchanges information with the work unit used by B.

In both cases, the work unit of subscriber B used by B then registers the call number of A. This presupposes that the call number of subscriber A is transmitted, for example because the additional service "Calling Line Identification Presentation" - CLIP - is used.

Two methods can then be used to implement the CCBS:

Method I: If the work unit of participant B used by B is no longer occupied, depending on the configuration by participant B, it establishes the connection to A automatically or after consultation with participant B. Method II: If the work unit of participant B used by B is no longer occupied, depending on the configuration by participant B, it informs participant A automatically or after consultation with participant B that a connection can be established. This can e.g. B. happen via SMS. Optionally, subscriber A can use a work unit that offers the option of automatically initiating the establishment of the connection.

This implementation is much less complex than the implementation in conventional telecommunications networks. It allows both participants great freedom of design. For example, both subscriber A and subscriber B can make the use of CCBS dependent on the basic service used - for example a different treatment for faxes and telephony - or on the phone numbers. A possible disadvantage is that subscriber B has to use network services in order to inform subscriber A. This is not necessary for the implementation in conventional telecommunication networks.

According to the method according to the invention, the telecommunication network according to the invention and the working unit according to the invention, services such as "multiparty", "optimal routing", "virtual home environment" and "call deflection" can be implemented simply and flexibly.

In self-organizing and / or ad-hoc networks, devices can be configured automatically by a work unit automatically configuring another device as a work unit based on parameters, events and network information. As a result, a location or address-variant population of work units with predetermined functions can be generated in a - partially or completely - moving system by appropriately passing on the work unit functions.

Claims

claims

1. A method for transmitting information in a telecommunications network, characterized in that at least one addressable and configurable work unit is provided in the telecommunications network that can communicate with at least one further addressable work unit and / or at least one terminal, and that the configurable work unit and / or the at least one further work unit is implemented at least one telecommunications service.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the work unit is assigned to a subscriber and / or a terminal.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that several participants and / or terminals are each assigned a work unit.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that at least one participant and / or at least one terminal are assigned several work units.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that at least some of the work units and preferably all work units can communicate with each other.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the work unit or work units can or can communicate with the terminal or the terminals.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the work unit or the work units realized in a terminal or is or are integrated into a terminal.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the work unit or work units is or are realized as a preferably removable component of a terminal.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the work unit or work units is or are implemented in a component of the telecommunications network.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that at least some of the work units form a platform for preselectable applications.

11. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that at least one of the further addressable work units is configurable.

12. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the provision and / or configuration of the work unit or work units is carried out by a participant and / or a third party.

13. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the configuration comprises programming desired functions.

14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that the programming is carried out via a suitable user interface.

15. The method according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that for programming at least one suitable program is loaded and / or downloaded via the telecommunications network and / or another network.

16. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that at least one suitable program is preset and / or pre-installed in the work unit and / or in the work units.

17. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that suitable programs are exchanged and / or compared between work units and / or terminals.

18. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 17, characterized in that at least one program can access information belonging to predefined categories and accessible to at least one work unit and can preferably utilize this information.

19. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 18, characterized in that at least one program can generate at least one event of predefined category.

20. The method according to claim 18 or 19, characterized in that the accessibility of the information and / or the producibility of an event depend on the work unit.

21. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 20, characterized in that the working units automatically compare information, in particular configurations and status information.

22. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 21, characterized in that routing functions are carried out by means of the working units.

23. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 22, characterized in that routing by means of the work units can be influenced by a participant, in particular with regard to the charging.

24. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 23, characterized in that a connection is established from a calling party via at least one work unit to a called party.

25. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 24, characterized in that information about the establishment of a connection to a called subscriber is transmitted to a calling subscriber by at least one work unit.

26. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 25, characterized in that a connection to a calling subscriber - based on a transmission of information by at least one work unit to the called subscriber - is established by the called subscriber.

27. The method according to any one of claims 24 to 26, characterized in that additional information transfer takes place between the at least one work unit and the calling and / or called subscriber.

28. The method according to any one of claims 24 to 27, characterized in that instead of the called subscriber or in addition to the called subscriber, at least one work unit assigned to the called subscriber takes part in the connection or the connection process.

29. The method according to any one of claims 24 to 28, characterized in that instead of the calling subscriber or in addition to the calling subscriber, at least one work unit assigned to the calling subscriber takes part in the connection or the connection process.

30. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 29, characterized in that routing from a calling subscriber or a work unit of the calling subscriber to a work unit assigned to a called subscriber takes place via suitable search engines and / or via information distributed in the telecommunications network.

31. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 30, characterized in that routing is carried out over a network in which routing is possible on the basis of e-mail addresses.

32. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 31, characterized in that a messaging and / or multi-messaging takes place by means of work units.

33. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 32, characterized in that work units take over tasks of the HLR (Home Location Register) and VLR (Visitors Location Register) in the GSM system or in another mobile radio system.

34. Telecommunications network, in particular for performing the method according to one of claims 1 to 33 and preferably with one or more of the features mentioned in claims 1 to 33, characterized in that at least one addressable and configurable work unit is provided in the telecommunications network, which with can communicate at least one further addressable work unit and / or at least one terminal, and that the configurable work unit and / or the at least one further work unit realizes at least one telecommunication service.

35. Work unit in a telecommunications network, in particular for performing the method according to one of claims 1 to 33 and preferably with one or more of the features mentioned in claims 1 to 33, characterized in that the work unit is addressable and configurable and with at least one other addressable work unit and / or at least one terminal can communicate and that the configurable work unit and / or the at least one further work unit realizes at least one telecommunication service.