FI106171B - Method and system for controlling the volume of a signal transmitted to a subscriber connection - Google Patents

Description

106171

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR THE SUBSCRIPTION INTERFACE

TO ADJUST THE LEVEL OF THE SIGNAL TO BE TRANSMITTED

The present invention relates to a method as described in the preamble of claim 1 and to a system as defined in the preamble of claim 7 for controlling the level of a signal to be transmitted to a subscriber interface, such as a Howler tone or a speech signal.

Open interfaces (V5.1 10 and V5.2) between a local exchange and a local area network or a subscriber network element are defined in the ETS 300 324 and ETS 300 347 series standards of ETSI (European Telecommunications and Standard Institute). V5 interfaces allow physically separate subscriber network subscribers to be connected to a PBX using a standard interface. For the purposes of this application, the V5 interface refers specifically to the dynamic hub interface (V5.2) defined by the standard series ETS 300 347, which consists of one or more (1-16) PCM (Pulse Code Modulation) wires. One PCM cable has a total of 32 channels or slots in its path, each having a rate of 64 kbit / s, or 2048 kbit / s in total. The V5.2 interface supports analogue public telephone networks, digital, such as ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) basic and system interfaces, and other analog or digital semi-fixed terminal devices.

In some countries (eg China, Malaysia, England, etc.) Howler-head for the purpose of having the subscriber shut down the phone, or insert the handset. This is normally used ** · when the analog subscriber is left on the desk. A strong signal is sent from the exchange to the subscriber's telephone line. The audio is generated by the signaling generators of the exchange and the volume of the audio is amplified at the end of the subscriber connection by the subscriber access device. Usually the volume is so strong that it comes from a handset left on a long table.

Similarly, long distance attenuation is used for analog call. The outgoing pu-5 signal of the long distance call is confirmed at the originating exchange. Thus, a sufficiently good signal-to-noise ratio is achieved despite long distances. In order for the terminating speech signal to be pleasing to the ear, i.e. not too loud, the signal level must be attenuated at the input center, in particular the subscriber interface device formed by the subscriber interface, which may be located in the local exchange or the access node. Signals transmitted to subscribers directly connected to the local exchange are attenuated by a subscriber interface as a control station of the exchange.

What is common to both of the signal level control arrangements described above is that the level is controlled by the subscriber interface. In the case of a subscriber interface device connected to a local area network element 20, which is further connected to a local exchange via a V5 interface, problems arise. The V5 standards do not describe how to transmit Howler sounds, especially how to adjust the Howler sound level. Also, the standards do not describe a method of transmitting control signals to a subscriber interface device connected to a subscriber-25 network element for the attenuation of a speech signal. Neither feature is described in the national V5 interface adaptations.

It is an object of the present invention to eliminate the above problems. In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a flexible: method and system for controlling the level of signals transmitted to a subscriber interface. It is also an object of the invention to enable the use of Howler tones and 35 long distance call suppression in a subscriber interface connected to a local exchange over a V5 interface.

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As regards the features of the present invention, reference is made to the claims.

The communication system of the present invention includes a local exchange, V5 interface-5, a local area network element connected to the local exchange via a V5 interface, and a local area network access device connected to the local area network element to provide a local area network. The V5 interface can be the V5.1 or V5.2-10 interface described in the above standards. A subscriber access device is a device that is connected to a local exchange or a local area network element and to which the subscriber line is connected. The subscriber access device establishes an interface between a terminal, such as a telephone, and the exchange.

In the method according to the invention, a voice signal, so called, is transmitted to the subscriber interface. Howler audio, or other necessary signals on a subscriber interface. The level of the transmitted signals may need to be adjusted to provide the desired level for transmission to the terminal and the handset. According to the invention, control information is transmitted for signal control over the V5 interface from the local exchange to the access node, and the level of the signal is adjusted according to the control information obtained and the characteristics defined for the access terminal.

·. An advantage of the invention is that the features of a subscriber access device can be utilized efficiently to provide the best possible service to telecom operators and subscribers. A further advantage of the invention is that it can be used to adjust the level of signals transmitted to the handset on the one hand to make the subscriber's ear a * * / and on the other hand to be high enough to alert the subscriber. In addition, the invention makes it possible to use signal level control, even though level control in the V5 specifications is not described.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the features defined for the subscriber network element in the access network element are determined on a case-by-case basis, and based thereon, a signal for the subscriber interface is transmitted to the access device. This avoids, for example, a conflict which may result from an attempt to use a feature that is not configured or defined in the UE.

Various situations in which level control can be used include, for example, the use of long-distance attenuation in an analog call. In this case, if the local exchange detects that the long distance call attenuation is in use, a notification of the required attenuation and its level is sent from the local exchange. On the other hand, the subscriber terminal may need to transmit information on using Howler voice. In this situation, a notification of the required confirmation is transmitted from the local exchange to the access network element. Based on the II-20 reps, the gain or attenuation level is determined in the AN and implemented in the signal. This control information can be transmitted with the value of the V5 standard PSTN signaling signal message information element.

According to the invention, a system for adjusting the level of a signal transmitted to a subscriber interface includes means for transmitting control information from a local exchange to a local area network element and means for adjusting the level of a signal according to the characteristics and control information of the subscriber interface. Preferably, the means may be implemented by a program block or device implementing V5- * standard PSTN signaling. Similarly, in the subscriber network element, the PSTN signaling program block-35 receives the control information message and reads from the parameter files of the subscriber network element whether signal gain or attenuation is used and based on this, writes instructions to the subscriber interface device to attenuate or amplify the signal. The properties of the subscriber interface device are usually stored in a parameter file of the access network element.

The invention will now be described, by means of preferred embodiments, in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 illustrates a communication system in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 illustrates signaling in the system of Figure 1 according to a preferred embodiment; and Figure 3 illustrates signaling in the system of Figure 1 according to another preferred embodiment.

The communication system shown in Figure 1 includes a local exchange LE and a local area network element AN. A V5 interface V5 is provided between the local exchange LE and the access node AN, which may be a V5.1 or V5.2 interface. The subscriber network element further comprises a subscriber interface device 2, by means of which a subscriber interface element 1 is formed in the subscriber network element AN. The system shown in the figure exemplifies the subscriber terminal TE connected to the subscriber interface 1, which may be an exemplary telephone. In Fig. 1, a subscriber network consists of a subscriber network element AN and a subscriber terminal TE connected thereto and the lines between them. The function of the access network element is to transparently transmit the signaling between the local exchange LE and the terminal TE. Depending on the V5 interface used, the allocation of the V5 interface capacity to the subscriber may be dynamic or static.

The local exchange 35 shown in Figure 1 includes a PSTN signaling program program block 3 which reads from the local exchange LE parameter file whether the voice signal needs attenuation and whether the subscriber interface 1 capable of implementing the attenuation feature is provided at one end of the V5 interface. The subscriber network element also includes a program block 5 on the PSTN signaling program's subscriber network element side 5, which receives control information from the local exchange and reads from the subscriber network element parameter file 6 whether the subscriber interface device 2 is capable of implementing the attenuation feature. The respective program blocks 3 and 5 implement the transmission of Howler-10 audio to the subscriber interface 1. If the mute feature is enabled, the internal signal of the subscriber network element is transmitted to the subscriber interface signaling program 4 which reads the attenuation level suppression -so is set to subscriber interface 1 of the subscriber.

Figure 2 illustrates an example of implementing Howler voice to a subscriber interface 1. During a conversation, Howler voice is not required. When the local exchange 20 terminates a LE clear call, the PSTN protocol sends a call termination message to the subscriber interface 1. At the same time, a timeout is initiated to monitor whether the subscriber hangs up. When the timeout is triggered and the subscriber 25 has not lowered the handset, the Howler tone amplification is started.

The PSTN signaling program reads from the parameter list of the local exchange that the Howler tone is enabled and that there is a feature at the other end of the V5 interface, i.e. the subscriber interface of the access node, for amplifying the Howler tone. If so, according to the call phase, the signaling program transmits a V5-PSTN signal message with the information element (IE) Autonomous signaling sequence to the subscriber-35 network element. In the subscriber network element, the PSTN signaling program receives the message and reads from the parameter file of the subscriber network element whether the How-106171 ler tone is enabled. If audio is enabled, information on howler voice gain is sent to the subscriber interface signaling program as an internal signal of the access node. The subscriber interface signaling program 5 further reads the gain level from the parameter file and forwards it to the subscriber interface 2. The subscriber interface sets the message level of the message to the subscriber interface of that subscriber, with 10 amplified high Howler tones from the handset off-hook. When the subscriber hangs up, a notification is sent through the subscriber network element and the local exchange to the PSTN protocol. Thereafter, the PSTN protocol sends a disconnect req (FE disconnect req) from the local exchange 15 LE to the access node AN, which acknowledges the request for disconnection by saying disconnect complete and forwarding information to the PSTN protocol (FE disconnect complete ind). Howler audio is stopped.

Figure 3 shows an example of voice-20 attenuation in a long distance call. When the subscriber initiates a call, a call setup message (ESTABLISH) is sent from the access node AN to the local exchange LE. The local exchange LE acknowledges the call set-up initiation for the access node AN 25 (ESTABLISH ACK). Thereafter, the local exchange LE generates a dial tone, which is transmitted to the UE. The subscriber gives a choice to indicate to which subscriber number the call is to be made. Based on this selection, the local center detects that 30 are long distance calls. Based on this, the local exchange LE parameter file checks if "* is used to suppress and whether long distance mute is enabled. If enabled, the VU signaling program V5-PSTN-signal-35 sends an Autonomous Signaling Sequence message 2 to the subscriber network element AN Based on this, the access node transmits an internal signal to the subscriber network element ti-wide interface signaling program, which further reads the suppression level from the parameter file and passes it to the access node.

The invention is not limited to the above embodiments only, but many modifications are possible within the scope of the inventive idea defined by the claims.

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Claims (10)

A method for controlling a signal level to be conveyed to a subscriber connection (1) with a subscriber connection device (2) in a telecommunication system, to which is a local exchange (LE), a V5 interface (V5), a subscriber network element (AN ), which is connected to the local exchange via the V5 interface and a subscriber connection device (2), which is connected to the subscriber network element for forming a subscriber connection therein, characterized in that control data is transmitted to the control of the signal via the V5 interface from the local exchange The subscriber network element (AN) and the signal level are controlled according to the characteristics and control data of the subscriber connection device. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the characteristics determined for the subscriber connection device (2) are read in the subscriber network element and because of them a signal intended for the subscriber connection is transmitted to the subscriber connection device. 3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that in case the signal to be transmitted to the subscriber connection is required attenuation, then a message about the required attenuation is sent from the local exchange (LE) to the subscriber network element (AN). 4. A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that in case of the signal to be transmitted to the subscriber connection (1), amplification is required, then a message about the necessary amplification is sent from the local exchange (LE) to the subscriber network element (AN). Method according to any one of the preceding claims 1 - 4, characterized in that the level of the gain or attenuation is determined in the subscriber network element (AN). 12 106171 Method according to any of the preceding claims 1 - 5, characterized in that control data is transmitted with the value of a V5 standard PSTN signaling signal message information element (IE). A signal level control system to be conveyed to a subscriber connection (1) with a subscriber connection device (2), to which a system includes a local exchange (LE), a V5 interface (V5), a subscriber network element (AN), which is connected to the local exchange via the V5 interface and a subscriber connection device (2), which is connected to the subscriber network element for forming a subscriber connection therein, characterized in that the system includes means (3) for transmitting control data to the control of the signal via The V5 interface from the local exchange (LE) to the subscriber network element (AN) and means (4) for controlling the level of the signal according to the characteristics and control data of the subscriber connection device. 8. A system according to claim 7, characterized in that the system comprises means (5) for reading the characteristics determined for the subscriber connection device and for transmitting a signal for the subscriber connection device to the subscriber connection device. 9. A system according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the system includes means (6) for saving and reading the characteristics of the subscriber connection device. System according to any one of the preceding claims 7 - 9, characterized in that the V5 interface is a standard V5.1 or V5.2 interface.