AU595715B2 - A computer-controlled switching system, in particular a so-called key telephone switching system - Google Patents

Abstract

Controlled by the central control processing unit (ZSt), which is responsible for switching operations, not only audible but also independent visual communication is provided in an exchange (VE). This can be carried out in parallel with a call which has been set up or when the terminals concerned are idle. A specific information block, selected from several possible information blocks which are stored in listed form in a memory (T), is displayed selectively at the required terminal without affecting switching system operations. The information which corresponds or is to be allocated to the selected information block is presented, for example, on the display (DL). In the case of special user configurations (e.g. Manager/Secretary systems), the permanent address allocation is predefined in the customer data store (KD) for this visual communication, i.e. wherein the actual speech path (switching device, PCM highway) is not occupied. The individual texts which are to be presented on the display (DL) via the control channel (c/d) may be selected from all the stored texts by means of, for example, a key permanently assigned to each text or through a corresponding procedure. <IMAGE>

Description

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595715 S F Ref: 60267 FORM. COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1952 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

FOR OFFICE USE: Class Int Class ea

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it 0 Cc f C C C CC C Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: Priority: This document contains the utaendmnents made under Sectior 49 and is correct for printing Related Art: Name and Address of Applicant: Address for Service: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Wittelsbacher Platz 2 8000 Muenchen FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY Spruson Ferguson, Patent Attorneys Level 33 St Martins Tower, 31 Market Street Sydney, New South Wales, 2000, Australia

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I C CCC C Complete Specification for the invention entitled: A Computer-Controlled Switching System, In Particular a So-Called Key Telephone Switching System The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us 5845/3 I

ABSTRACT

A COMPUTER-CONTROLLED SWITCHING SYSTEM, IN PARTICULAR A SO-CALLED KEY TELEPHONE SWITCHING SYSTEM Under the control of a central control computer unit (ZSt) which is responsible for switching-orientated operations, in a SC C C S' switching device (VE) not only acoustic communication but an t C independent visual communication is enabled. This visual Scommunication can take place in parallel with a conversation connection or in the rest state of the participating terminal devices. Independently of the switching facilities of the switching device, one of a plurality of possible information blocks, stored in r the form of a list in a store is selectively displayed at the respective required terminal device. The information which t t C corresponds to and is to be assigned to the selective information block is displayed for example on the display unit In the case C C of special subscriber combinations executive/secretary) the tC C c CC permanent address assignment is predetermined in the customer data store (KD) for this visual communication, thus in which there is no load on the actual speech path (coupling device, PCM highway). The individual texts to be displayed on the display unit (DL) via the control channel can be selected, for example, from the total number of stored texts via a key permanently assigned to each text or via an appropriate procedure.

ii -1A A COMPUTER-CONTROLLED SWITCHING SYSTEM, IN PARTICULAR A SO-CALLED KEY TELEPHONE SWITCHING SYSTEM The invention relates to a computer-controlled switching system, such as a so-called key telephone switching system, comprising a programme store and a main store which contains inter alia information items specific to the system, and comprising a coupling device capable of providing, under the control of a control computer unit, a useful connection for transmitting items of useful information between two terminal devices, and in addition means for switching through, between the control computer unit and the r respective terminal devices, a control connection via which information items can be transmitted which are formed for eAdmple on the basis of th- impulses obtained by the actuation of digitfunction- and/or name keys and such that, on the basis of an information item transmitted in the opposite direction, information contents which correspond to or are assigned to this information item are displayed, preferably on the display unit of the respective terminal device, a system bus being provided which comprises a control- address- and data bus and which inter-connects components of the switching device or of the control computer unit.

The useful connection facility, which has been assumed to be provided, and the separate control connection facility can ibe physically constructed as useful channel and control channel I 'r r ,r -2respectively on the same transmission medium, separated by different time slots. This applies, for example, to an ISDN communications system in which these separate channels are separated from one another only logically and in which the two-wire subscriber line is used as transmission medium. The control channel undertakes, as signalling channel, the synchronising and signalling procedures ooo00 00oo necessary in association with a switching process.

0 00 0 Both the useful connection and the independent control e0 a connection can instead each be established by one pair of wires. This is the case in particular in switching devices in which the individual terminal devices are connected to the central device in a star formation via a connection line of this kind.

In association with the establishment of a connection in a switching system, the user is provided with optical and acoustic indications. Thus, for example, for the purpose of optical operator guidance, short information texts can be displayed on the display provided at the terminal. The information items required for this purpose are transmitted in ISDN communications systems via one of the two useful channels.

It is an aim of the invention is to expand the communications facilities of such switching systems.

According to this invention there is provided a computer-controlled switching device, such as a so-called key telephone switching device, comprising a programa -tro and a main I~ -3store which contains information items specific to the system, a coupling device capable of providing, under the control of a control computer unit, information connections for the transmission of signals of voice and/or data information between at least two terminal devices, and switching means for selectively interconnecting via individual control connections said control computer unit and each said terminal device, and through which information items can be transmitted, and whereby on the basis of an information item transmitted by a particular terminal device to said control computer unit, information contents which correspond to or are assigned to that particular information item are displayed, a means being provided for communication between said terminal devices which is independent of their switching states, and of switching facilities of the switching system, whereby one of several possible information blocks stored In list form in a store is selectively read out in response to initiation by a user of one of said terminal devices, said block being transmitted, exclusively via the existing control crnnection without the participation of the coupling device, as an item of digital information which can be recorded for display at a terminal device that is predetermined on the I Ut basis of a fixed address assignment or as'a result of an appropriately inputted address statement which supplements said initiation, so that as a o response from the respective subscriber terminal device an information block formed in'the same way can be displayed on the terminal device which initiated the original information.

C c 'Ic II I U 44E address assignment or as a result of an appropriatel f address statement which supplements the message at as a response from the respective subscriber e-minal device an information block formed in the same can be displayed on the terminal device which has Thus in addition to the customa:y acoustic communication, a 0 c further communication facility is provided without the participation l a e of the coupling device. This additional facility preferably consists e of a visual communication in which short information items are displayed in text form on the display of the respective terminal device. Fundamentally this can take place in parallel with a 0 o. conversation connection, which in extreme cases exists separately for each of the two terminal devices, or it can take place in the rest 00 0..0 state of the terminal devices. Thus, in particular in the case of special user configurations, it is possible to exchange information 00 items without impairing any conversation connection which may be in el t c SC existence.

In accordance with a further development the information items which, where necessary, are transmitted in two directions for the control connection and which are to be assigned to or represent different, specified information blocks, are displayed as text information on the display at the participating terminal device. In the event of a request for the display of information items which .AI '4 i relate to switching technology operating states and/or alarms, these alarms are given display priority in comparison to the information blocks which are likewise to be displayed, by means of a display control which is handled by the control computer unit. Thus priority-controlled procedures ensure, with the cooperation of the display control, that an information exchange via this second 4000 S° communications level takes place only when no superordinate 0 t0 0 0 information items, e.g. information items resulting from 0 0o *t"o switching-technology activities, are present.

4o 4 0 An embodiment of this invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which the sole figure is a block circuit diagram of a telecommunications system embodying this invention.

Referring to the drawing, a switching device VE is connected to subscriber terminal devices TO to Tn.

In the present embodiment of a switching device still based on analogue speech transmission, this connection is carried out in a star formation via respective four-wire connection lines each of which consists of a pair of speech wires a/b and a pair of signalling wires c/d.

SIn the case of an exclusively digital system, the control connection and the useful connection provided for the transmission of the items of speech Information would be established via one two-wire connection line in which case at least one useful channel and one control channel for each terminal device could be provided by respective time slots.

i II For a fundamentally procedural adaptation the subscriber terminal devices TO to Tn are connected to an electronic coupling device KN via a connecting unit AT which also includes a ringing circuit. For the lines L which lead to a public exchange OV or to a private network this is effected via connecting unit AL. The control functions of the system are carried out by a central control computer S unit ZSt which is connected via a system bus SB to a storage device SE, the connecting units AT and AL, and to other system components, S such as for example coupling device KN, a unit MZ which serves to a c form multi-frequency code signals, and a unit HZ which is responsible for the generation of the audible tones. In this embodiment the a functions of the central control unit ZSt are distributed between two oOo processors. In the computer unit ZSt processor U is to be used, for example, for switching-orientated ccntrol and processor DP is to a o o carry out signal processing with the assistance of a processing unit Ve which includes a transmitting section S and a receiving section E.

A processing unit Ve of this kind is dssigned to each pair of 4 °signalling wires c/d.

Via the system bus SB the processors ZP and DP have access to the data stored in the storage device SE. These data items relate for example to the entire system programme and the operating technology data assigned thereto. The customer data, such as for example abbreviated dialling codes and the authorisations allocated to the individual subscriber terminal devices, are stored in storage section -1 o- 3~ 1~4 rU~ KD. The configuration of these data items can take place for example via the input keyboard of a terminal device used as operating terminal.

Additionally in such a customer data store any terminal device can be programmed as data station. For data transmission a modem is required to which the a/b-wires must be connected. Following the establishment of an appropriate connection a switch-over to the data transmission state can take place by means of a predetermined s jprocedure. As a sub-unit of main store A, storage section DS is to store those information items which are to be displayed as switching-orientated information on display DL of a terminal device.

Individual priorities can be specified for the individual information items to be displayed. The respective current items of signalling information are specified by the central control computer unit ZSt on the basis of the switching-orientated situation and are transferred from the store DS to the respective terminal device. This information c can, for example, include a statement relating to the state of a terminal device or a l.ine or can relate to an alarm triggered by a deadline input made by the subscriber.

In addition to the processing unit VeO to Ven, a further interface Sn can be provided which for example corresponds to CCITT recommendation V24 in respect of its physical properties. Via this interface, logging devices, such as for example a printer RE which is used in association with charge metering, can be connected.

In addition to the establishment of a conversation connection which extends via the a/b-speech wires and the coupling device KN, the possibility also exists that in a second communications level information can be transmitted to a subscriber terminal device or can be exchanged between two subscriber terminal devices. This communication is conducted exclusively via the control section of the switching device and thus imposes no load on the paths provided for a 0 ff speech connection. These transmitted information items are displayed t 0 in the respective terminal device T as a short item of text information on display DL. In addition to acoustic communication, visual communication is also possible. This visual communication can take place both in the rest state of a terminal device and during a conversation connection.

Individual function components have been indicated for the subscriber terminal device Tl. The items of speech information are transmitted via the respective a/b wire-pair. These speech wires are connected to speech circuit Sp. The speech circuit Sp is used, in association with handset HA, to process the transmitted speech information items and provides a line termination. Unit Ta indicates the presence of a keyboard which is coupled to control unit PE which is provided in each terminal device for the control of its functions and which takes the form, for example, of a processor. Key Tw symbolises the presence of a normal dialling keyboard. Key Tf is representative of a series of further keys whose actuation can I- i "-rrc~ activate specific function sequences. For example it can be signalled that transmilsion is required in the second communications level or a specific item of text information individually assigned to such a key can be called up for display on the display unit of an appropriately selected terminal device.

The respective information items are stored either in the terminal device itself or in the switching device VE and their display on display unit DL takes place by means of the control unit O PE. In the switching device this storage can take place, for example, in the form of a text list T in a storage zone assigned to customer data store KD.

In this embodiment the information items transmitted from the switching device VE to a terminal device via the signalling wires c/d are to be transmitted by binary voltage modulation, and the information items to be transmitted in the reverse direction are to be transmitted by binary current modulation. The latter serves to signal, for example, the actuation of individual keys effected on a terminal device. This is to be effected for example in association with the control unit PE by means of unit JR. The information bits which occur as a result of the voltage modulation on the respective c/d signalling wires are recorded in association with the control unit PE by means of unit UD and in the case of visual communication via the second communications level, following their analysis and decoding, the information items are displayed for example as text information on the display unit DL.

The short items of text information provided for display on the display unit DL can be stored in the form of predetermined, unchanging texts either in storage device Se of the individual terminal device or centrally in the text list T of the storage device SE. Then it is only necessary, by means of an appropriate message, to select the required short information item from the total number of possible items of short information on the basis of an input made at the terminal device. In addition to permanently stored text variants, u° the possibility can also be provided for the required item of text r t information to be individually assembled by the subscriber who wishes to store this information.

This can take place, for example, in that specific words or

SC

a word combinations already stored in the system are linked to one another in the respective required sequence. Each word or word Cj combination could, for example, be assigned a digit so that then, as a result of the consecutive actuation of the respective assigned digit key of the dialling keyboard, the text information can be I i0 assembled. When an alpha numerical keyboard is provided the text I 'information could also be provided by the input of the associated individual letters from the respective terminal device. These inputs can firstly be intermediately stored in an appropriate store in the terminal device and then stored in the central storage device SE.

In addition to the selection and assembly of information which is to be displayed, also required is an item of _r_ -llinformation as to which of the terminal devices TO to Tn is to provide a display of this text information, independently of its switching state. In a switching system for which so-called subscriber keys are provided in the individual terminal devices, at least for a part of the existing terminal devices, this addreus assignment can take plcct by actuating the respective subscriber key. Such subscriber keys, by the direct actuation of which- bypassing the dialling keyboard a connection can be established to another subscriber are basically provided, for example, in the so-called key switching systems.

If the information transmitted via the signalling wires c/d leads, on its evaluation by the central control unit ZSt, to the result that at the location of the desired partner th- predetermined text information is stored not centrally in the switchlng device but in the store Se of the respective terminal, only a message •characterising this information is transmitted to this terminal. As a result of this message the display then takes place on the display unit DL. The transfer of the information items from the central control unit to the control unit of the respective terminal device can fundamentally take place in packet switching mode. Ir the case of smaller switching systems, however, this standardisation can be dispensed with. Instead, for the text information which is to be transmitted, for example an information block of a predetermined length of for example four bytes can be transmitted. If this is -12insufficient for the information which is to be displayed, a corresponding chaining of such information blocks can be provided.

If, in the switching device VE, a special mutual constellation is provided for specific subscriber stations, as is the case, for example, with so-called executive/secretary stations, no additional address assignment ieed take place for the visual communication which is conducted via the control connection, or in fb° the case of another type of system via the control channel. This 1 fixed assignment is achieved by the read-out of the information items, contained in this respect in the customer data store KD, by the central control unit ZSt. This determines the respective partner.

Following the information that an information item is to be transmitted via the second communications level, the subscriber must now only input the type of the infurmatkon. This again can take place either via a fixed procedure by the actuation of the appropriate digit keys or a key permanently assigned to a specific item of text information can be actuated. In such a case every information item to Sbe displayed on a display unit would require a key.

However, it would also be conceivable for individual, different items of text information to be called up from the text list T by the multiple actuation of such a text key. This must take place in association with a time analysis in order to ascertain single or multiple actuation. However, the use of such keys provided for the call-up of text information would be effective only in the 0 0 V DOOo 1g 1 00 0 o 0 0 00 oC .0 0.~ O o o 04o 044040 o o S 00 4 0 0 0 0 4000 -13event of a small overall number of such possible items of text information. For example the secretary can transfer a short item of information to the executive station independently of whether an internal or external speech connection exists via this station. Thus, for example, by the depression o' a key the information relating to an awaiting call can be transmitted via a display. The subscriber station which receives this information can then give a response to the display of the subscriber station giving the information. In this way short information items can be exchanged without impairing in any way conversation connections which exist for the respective subscriber stations.

An item of information relating to this second communications path can also be provided without the manual influence of a subscriber. By in appropriate specification each call provided for a specific subscriber station can lead to the fact that under the control of the control device ZSt a predetermined item of text information is read from the text list T and displayed on the display unit of that subscriber station which has requested a conversation connection. Thus by means of such an automatic response facility a calling subscriber can be informed, for example, that the required subscriber is on holiday or that he can be reached from a specific time onwards. The text information for such an automatic response can be assembled individually by a subscriber from a specific number of words which are stored in the system and which are to be chain-linked i. c~e~-r: -14to one another. When an alpha numerical keyboard is provided the text information can be transferred by the individual input of letters from the respective terminal device to the central control device ZSt for purposes of storage.

In the present embodiment a clock generator TG is provided Lor the overall clock supply and a unit SV serves for supply of current.

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Claims (9)

1. A computer-controlled switching system, such as a so-called key telephone switching system, comprising main store which contains information items specific to the system, a coupling device capable of providing, under the control of a control computer unit, information connections for the transmission of signals of voice and/or data information between at least two terminal devices, and switching means for selectively interconnecting via individual control connections said control computer unit and each said terminal device, and through which information items can be transmitted, and whereby on the basis of an information item transmitted by a particular terminal device to said control computer unit, information contents which correspond to or are assigned to that particular information item are displayed, a means being provided for communication between said terminal devices which is independent of their switching states, and of switching facilities of the switching system, whereby one of several possible information blocks stored in list form in a store is selectively read out in response to initiation by a user of one of said S terminal devices, said block being transmitted, exclusively via the existing control connection without the participation of the coupling device, as an item of digital information which can be recorded for display at a terminal device that is predetermined on the basis of a fixed address assignment or as a result of an appropriately inputted address statement which supplements said initiation, so that as a response from the respective subscriber terminal device an information block formed in the same way can be disrlayed on the terminal device which initiated the r,,r original information.

2. A switching system as claimed in claim 1, whereIn said information items are formed by the actuation of one or more functional keys of said terminal devices.

3. A swithcing system as claimed in claim i or 2, wherein said information contents are displayed on a display unit of the particular S terminal device.

4. A switching system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the information items which are transmitted via the control connection, possibly In two directions, and which are to be assigned to or already represent different specific information blocks are displayed as 16 text information on the display unit provided in the participating terminal devices and in the event of a request for the display of information items which relate to switching-orientated operating states and/or alert signals, these are given display priority in comparison to the information blocks which are likewise to be displayed by means of a display control function which is carried out by the control computer unit. A switching system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein following the initial transmission of an information item, by means of further actuation of said functional key(s) of said terminal device, one of the storage positions provided for the function blocks or sub-units stored together in list form, is purposively driven for the read-out of the assigned item of store information.

6. A switching system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the storage in list form of the information blocks or their sub-units takes place centrally in a specified sub-zone of the existing main store.

7. A switching system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the storage in list form of the information blocks and of the sub-units by which they are formed takes place in a storage unit provided in the respective terminal S device and that as a result of the information item which is transmitted by the control computer unit and which characterises the respective list position, the content thereof is read-out for display on a display unit. S8. A switching system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein both the initial transmission of an information item and also the selection of the required information block take place as a result of the actuation of one and the same function key and when an address assignment is not predetermined in a customer data store, with the subsequent actuation of a name key by the control computer unit which records and evaluates this key depression, the respective transmission target assigned to this key in the customer data store is determined. S°9. A switching system as claimed in any one of the preceding ,flalms, wherein a result of the actuation of a specific function key, both S a desired message and the selection of the information block are determined, and the respective information block is transmitted to a plurality of targets contained in the main store as system-specific information. rri ;l ii 17 A switching system as claimed in claim 6 or 7, wherein the information blocks stored in list form in the store comprise previously input information items.

11. A switching system as claimed in claim 6 or 7, wherein when a transmission is intended by the subscriber an information block is assembled and stored directly prior to the required transmissioii.

12. A switching system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the information connections and the control connections are each formed by a line connection.

13. A computer-controlled switching system, such as a so-called key telephone switching system, said switching system being substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawing. DATED this SEVENTEENTH day of JANUARY 1990 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft ooo o o o 0 Patent Attorneys for the Applicant o 0 0 0 0 0 SPRUSON FERGUSON 0 0 0 00 0 0 0 0 o o 0000 O o 0 0 0 0 0 0 aLC L