DE19901205B4 - Subscriber-side line termination module of an ISDN communication system with extended features - Google Patents

Abstract

Subscriber-side line termination module (NT module) of an ISDN communication system with an office-side interface (U interface) (11), a subscriber-side interface (S interface) (12), a microcontroller (15) and optionally an analog connection part (13) and a data interface, characterized in that it contains additional communication components for carrying out additional communication functions and one of the communication components embodies a fax switch, the incoming calls, in the case of fax calls, to a fax machine connected to the line termination module, and if they are normal telephone calls acting on one or more connected to the line termination module phones or to the internal answering machine (16, 17) of the line termination module forwards.

Description

The The present invention relates generally to integrated services digital Communication systems, so-called ISDN systems, and in particular Improvements in their subscriber line termination module, the so-called NT module or network termination module.

The DE 40 18 685 C2 describes a Teilnehmeranschlusseinrichtung for a broadband communication network, each with at least one video channel for incoming and outgoing video signals, each having at least one audio channel for incoming and outgoing audio signals, at least one signaling channel and with a controller.

The DE 195 43 038 A1 describes a network termination device with integrated charge meter for a telecommunications system, in particular an ISDN system.

The GB 2 232 324 A describes a fax machine with input terminal, a switching unit, a call acceptance device, an image processing unit, a signal detection unit and with a control unit.

ISDN communication systems are systems that provide a digital network for simultaneous transmission of language and data. You have in recent years found an ever wider spread. On the participant page is the line running from the central office to the subscriber with a subscriber line termination module, a so-called Completed NT block.

At this NT block can now directly digital devices, like digital phones, digital answering machines, digital fax machines or be plugged into computer ISDN adapter cards. For connection of analog terminals, like analog telephones, analogue answering machines, analog fax machines or a modem has to Device for an analog-to-digital conversion and a digital-to-analog conversion, for example in the form of a telecommunications system, between analogue terminals and the NT module are switched. The NT module is currently in two different embodiments before, namely the NT1 and the intelligent NT, the function of the NT1 and a Terminal adapter includes.

Of the NT1 consists of a so-called U-interface to the trunk towards and a so-called S-interface to the subscriber. Of the NT1 leads mainly a data conversion by.

Of the intelligent NT still has an analog connector, on the analog subscriber-side terminals, as previously customary telephone and fax machines, can be connected. The analog connection part is connected to an analog / digital converter, which is the analogue Signals from the analog subscriber-side terminals in the digital signals of the Network converts. additionally The intelligent NT can also have a data interface.

For the controller is a so-called microcontroller necessary for both NT modules, the complete ISDN transmission protocol can handle.

For the network participant there is the disadvantageous situation of being in favor of advanced telecommunications functions, such as an answering machine function, a fax switching function etc. either a rather complicated and therefore expensive multifunction device, the under includes an integrated answering machine, or buy several individual devices had to. Since an ISDN connection several Supports phone numbers, have to then, if several phones with different numbers to operated this connection several phones will be provided with answering machines, because the single phone with integrated or separate answering machine only for his phone number accepts certain phone calls. It is not possible, from a telephone to receive a call over another phone too stop or over the other phone guided conversation overhear.

at a previous ISDN system, it was also not possible to realize a fax switch. A Fax switch recognizes that it is on an incoming call the caller to a fax machine and automatically routes the call to the connected one fax machine around. For this, however, it is necessary in the previous ISDN system, to accept the call. Once the call is accepted, the caller becomes connected. If the caller is a fax machine, the call can be forwarded directly to the connected fax machine become. Is it the caller but not a fax machine and is even nobody at home, so far the call was accepted, though he can not be served, both at cost and for annoyance of the caller leads.

Object of the present invention is therefore to provide an advanced NT module in an ISDN communication system that can perform additional communication functions, thus it saves the network subscriber to purchase a variety of devices and this under a cumbersome wiring with the bis Her known NT block to connect to get the desired communication functions.

These The object is extended by the NT module according to the invention Communication functions solved. This NT module contains to the already known, above-mentioned components of an NT device, namely the U interface, the S interface, the microcontroller and, if necessary the analog connection part and the data interface, additional Communication components for the execution additional Communication functions, such as the function of a Answering machine or a fax switch.

Provided the components located within the NT device a Setting or control from the outside, this is done by the Actuate the keys of a connected standard touch-tone telephone. The Input and output of messages is also done via the Microphone and the earpiece or the speaker of the connected phone.

alternative The extended NT block can also function keys and Have display elements, so that its operation or not only partially access the phone (s) connected to it must become.

The in the extended NT module according to the invention For example, provided answering machine can be a user of address each phone and the messages stored on it listen. Alternatively, an adjustment may be provided in which only the messages can be intercepted by means of the phone they are destined for So for the phone number is received, under which the corresponding phone can be addressed. Furthermore, other features can be provided, which one of usual Answering machines ago, such as listening during the Recording.

All in all offers the solution according to the invention a ISDN system with enhanced NT chip a concentration of Performance features in a central building block, namely the extended NT module. this leads to to a reduction in costs, increased clarity, less "cable salad" and thus Overall, more comfort on the user side.

following is an embodiment of a extended according to the invention NT module based on a block diagram again schematically shown.

The block diagram of the single drawing figure shows the intelligent NT module at the top center 10 , on its left side the U interface 11 to the trunk line and on his right side the S-interface 12 pointing to the participant. The U interface 11 is connected to the outside line. To the S interface 12 digital subscriber-side terminals can be connected. In addition, an analog connector 13 provided, can be connected to the analog subscriber-side terminals. The analog signals of these terminals are in the subsequent analog / digital converter 14 converted into digital signals. The extended NT module also contains a microcontroller 15 who takes over the control of the entire building block. In addition, a digital answering machine is here in the extended NT module according to the invention 16 with associated memory 17 intended. An integrated fax routing function can be provided by software and be taken over by the built-in microcontroller. The individual blocks within the extended NT block are provided by one or more bus systems 18 connected.

It will now briefly in the following the function of the answering machine and the fax switch in accordance with the invention extended NT module are described.

An incoming call is registered and the connected phones ring. After a certain adjustable time an incoming voice call is accepted and from the answering machine module 16 processed. The announcement stored in advance is output and the incoming message is recorded and stored in memory 17 saved. By a display device on the NT module, such as an LED, it is indicated that received calls are present. In addition, when the handset is picked up, a voice prompt may be issued, such as "Three new calls present". By operating the buttons on the phone, it is now possible to listen to these messages to delete or save.

is in the extended NT module additionally one Fax routing function provided, it is checked for an incoming call, if it is a fax call. If so, it checks to see if a fax machine is connected is. If a fax machine is connected, the call is forwarded to the fax machine. If no fax machine is connected is, the call will not be accepted. If the call is not for a fax machine, So the normal phones ring and after the set time the caller is put through to the answering machine.

Overall, the inventive, extended subscriber line line termination module offers a cost-effective, easy-to-use and compact device that provides the participant with versatile additional communication options.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

intelligent NT module

11

U interface

12

S interface

13

analog Connection

14

A / D converter

15

microcontroller

16

digital Answering machine

17

Storage of the answering machine

18

bus systems

Claims (4)

Subscriber-side line termination module (NT module) of an ISDN communication system with an office-side interface (U interface) ( 11 ), a subscriber-side interface (S interface) ( 12 ), a microcontroller ( 15 ) and optionally an analogue connector ( 13 ) and a data interface, characterized in that it contains additional communication components for carrying out additional communication functions and one of the communication components embodies a fax switch, the incoming calls, in the case of fax calls, to a fax machine connected to the line termination module, and if normal telephone calls, to one or more telephones connected to the line terminator or to the internal answering machine ( 16 . 17 ) for the line termination module. Line termination module according to claim 1, characterized in that one of the communication components is a digital answering machine ( 16 . 17 ). Line terminating module according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the function of the fax switch in the form of a program which is provided by the microcontroller ( 15 ) is processed. Line termination module according to one of the preceding claims, characterized that he has external display and controls, with the in him contained communication components can be controlled.

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