FR2601835A1 - DEVICE FOR ACCESSING A TELEPHONE NETWORK - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for accessing a network. It relates to a device 1 intended to be placed between a telephone apparatus 7 and a subscriber line of a first network. When the user presses a button 8, a connection is automatically established with a second network, through the first network. The calling station is recognized by the second network using personal identification data which is also transmitted automatically as soon as the connection is established. Application to the connection of telephone devices to several networks.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for accessing a network and more

  precisely such a device intended to facilitate an operation performed between

  networks and controlled by a subscriber.

  The liberalization of the telecommunications industry in the United Kingdom has revealed two distinct networks, the existing British telecommunications network and a parallel network, the Mercury network. It appears that for these two networks to operate efficiently, all network subscribers

  must have the ability to call all subscribers of the other network. As a result, both networks are interconnected at a number of locations.

  It must also be realized that all the subscribers 15 of the new network will not have, at least in the short term, direct access to this network but access to the new network via a switched routing

provided by the existing network.

  It should also be noted that the new network 20 must be able to identify its subscribers essentially for billing operations, but also for the limitation of access to the network by users

not allowed.

  Another problem is posed by different signaling standards between the two networks,

  especially when, as in the case described above, a first network operates with reception of dial pulses from the subscriber's apparatus and the other network prefers a faster multifrequency tone input signal.

  In the United Kingdom, the owners of the new network have partially solved the problems by assigning to each customer a dedicated telephone apparatus which can be used with the existing network 35 and containing a dial pulse generator for operation, to "number" through the existing network to a cross

  between the two networks, the item then allowing the client to enter the user's identity and password, followed by routing information.

  A number of problems are posed by this situation. First, the provision of one or more specialized devices to the customer who already has one or more devices for use with the existing network is a useless cost operation. Then and above all, the subscriber must know

  its identity and password which can be learned by an unauthorized person, which may be lost or forgotten, and thirdly the introduction of the additional information introduces additional complications for the user.

  An object of the present invention is therefore to provide a device for accessing a network,

  able to solve these problems.

  More specifically, the invention relates to a network access device for providing connection between a telephone set and a communication link with a central office of a first network, the device comprising a device for storing data from a network. identity and security, a first signaling device for transmitting line signals suitable for the first network, a second signaling device for transmitting line signals suitable for a second network, and a control device, and in which, during use, the control device is controlled by the signals input by the user so that it causes the first signaling device to transmit signals to the line so that the switching is performed with the second network through the first network, and then, it causes the transmission, by the second device. signaling, stored identity and security data and routing information to the second network. Preferably, the network access device comprises a device for storing routing information so that a switch is made to the second network via the first network, so that the operation of a single touch by the user causes

  establishing a connection with the second network.

  The controller may cause the insertion of a predetermined pause between the end

  signaling transmitted to the first network and the beginning of the signaling transmitted to the second network.

  Alternatively, the device may include a detector responsive to signals returned from the second network to recognize the connection to that network, the controller being itself controlled by a detected acknowledgment signal so that the second signaling device starts transmitting. Other features and benefits of

  the invention will become more apparent from the description which follows, made with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  in which: FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the inter-connection of the device between a telephone set and a line; and Figure 2 is a block diagram of the device. In FIG. 1, the access unit 1 to a network 30 is housed in a module intended to be introduced between a telephone set 1 and a contactor or line connection member (not shown). For this reason, the stacker comprises a female connector 2 of the same type as the connector of a normal line, intended to house the connection plug 5 to the line connected to a line cord 6 coming from the substation

telephone 7.

260 1835

  At the other end, the device has a line cord 3 connected to a plug 4 of the same type as the plug 5. The assembly 1 housing the network access device comprises a key 8 which is operated by the user when he wants to ensure a connection

  by another network than the local network to which the telephone 7 is normally connected.

  The assembly 1 may also comprise a keyboard 9 which may comprise the key 8, the keyboard being used in preference to the signaling device

  of the telephone 7 when a transmission operation on both networks is used. In a variant available to the keyboard 9, the circuit described in the following can be controlled by the signaling from the device 7 to fulfill its function.

  However, when the instrument 7 is of the type giving a signaling of the nature of a loop disconnection, the user may prefer the introduction

faster using the keyboard 9.

  Figure 2 is now considered; the network access device shown is intended to facilitate the connection to the network of the Mercury network subscribers, in the United Kingdom, via the network

"British Telecom".

  As previously stated, it is expected that

  the device 1 will be "separated" as shown in FIG. 1. However, the device may also be included in the telephone apparatus, if necessary.

  In the following description, it is assumed that item 1 must be used in separate mode.

  The network access device 1 draws its energy from the line connected to the central office, in a known manner, with the aid of a power supply 10 which transmits energy to the integrated circuits and other components of the circuit. The supply 10 can also be made so that it draws energy from an electricity supply network.

or a storage battery.

  During normal use of the telephone set 7, the network access device 1 is made so that it is "transparent", ie a telephone isolator 11 is mounted so that it allows the direct communication of the device

  7 at exit 3 through take 2.

  However, depression of the button 8 of the keypad 9 indicating a call request through the second network is detected by the control device 12 which causes the telephone isolator (an electronic switch) to disconnect. a branch

  line connected to the device 7.

  The command 12 then causes the transmission of an access code (including routing digits 15 for the first network) from a permanent memory 14 to a dual signaling circuit. By means of a pause control arrangement 16, the control 12 causes the signaling circuit 15 to transmit the access code in the form of loop disconnection pulses to the central station of the first network, so that it causes a call to be switched to

  the second network through the first.

  When the aforementioned access code has been transmitted, the command 12 causes the start of the timing of a predetermined period by the pause control 16 so that the switching can be performed via the first network. The signaling circuit 15 is then controlled so that it switches to the multifrequency signaling suitable for the second network. When the timing of the circuit 16 has expired, the command 12 causes the transfer of a personal identification code (PIN) from the memory 14 to the circuit

signaling.

  This signaling circuit transmits the PIN code to the second network and thus uniquely identifies the subscriber for the network. After the transmission of the PIN code, routing digits from the keypad 9 are transmitted by the command 12 to the signaling circuit 15 and are also transmitted using

multifrequency tones.

  It should be noted that although memory 14 has been previously described as being permanent,

  a permanent-power memory device can be used provided that the power supply 10 comprises a storage battery capable of supplying the power supply to the memory 14 even when the network access device 10 1 is not connected to line.

  A common input line 17 is arranged so that the network operator can program the access code and the personal identification number when the set is provided to the customer so that the memory 14 can be programmed. In an alternative embodiment of a wired device, the circuit may comprise a socket in which a previously programmed device (for example a ROM)

  can be plugged into the set.

  In the latter case, several users can use the same device 1, each still being unambiguously identified by the provision of the connection socket outside the box and by providing the subscriber with a pluggable read-only memory 25 containing the number original identification of the user. Under these conditions, the access code can be programmed in the user's plug-in memory or can be programmed separately in another memory

(not shown) of the device.

  In an alternative to the introduction of a fixed pause between the signaling of the two networks, the access device 1 to the network may comprise a tone detector (not shown) controlled by the signals returned by the second network as a result of 35 the connection. The detector may be arranged to transmit a signal to the control 12, indicating a satisfactory connection through the first network, the control 12 then causing the switching of the signaling device 15 and the transmission of the personal code of the signal. identification and routing figures indicated by the keypad. When a detector of the type described is incorporated in the circuit, the control 12 may comprise a timing device such that, when an acknowledgment signal from the second network is not received during the timing period, a attempt to establish the call via the first network is repeated by new transmission of the code

access to the line.

  It should be noted that the keypad 9 can be used to control the call transmission through the first network only because when

  the key 8 is not depressed before the introduction of other digits from the keyboard 9, the command 12 causes the transmission of the digits entered as loop disconnect signals by the signaling circuit.

  It should also be noted that, although the signaling circuit, as previously described, uses signaling with disconnection of loops followed by signaling by multifrequency tones, this circuit can be realized in such a way that

  uses different tone signaling references between the first and the second transmission.

  Alternatively, the same multifrequency tone signaling reference may be used in both transmission periods, the network access device 1 being configured to input the personal identification number from

  memory 14 between the two transmissions.

  A more complex detector and control device 12 may be used to allow the second network to use signaling by request.

numbers, if any.

  A detector can be mounted at the input 2 so that it detects the numbers entered from the keyboard or the dial of the associated telephone device 7, so that when the key 8 has been used for the control of the connection via the first network, additional user signaling can be carried out directly from the apparatus 7. It should be noted that the network access unit 1

  can only include the key 8, the keyboard or dial of the telephone device 7 being used for all the signaling of the routing figures.

  It should be noted that when the control 12 has caused all forwarding information to be transmitted to the line, the telephone isolator 11 is again switched so that the network access device 1 again becomes " transparent".

  When the second network can provide additional services during the execution of a call, the command 12 can be realized so that it is sensitive to the subsequent operation of the keys of the keyboard 9 (for example a special service key 18 of Figure 1) for a service request, followed by a service number subsequently entered in

  from the keyboard, is transmitted, causing the use by the signaling circuit 15 of the signaling reference suitable for the second network.

Claims (6)

  1. Device for accessing a network, intended to be connected between a telephone set (7) and a communication link with a central office of a first network, characterized in that it comprises a device (14) intended to transmit identification and security data, a first signaling device (15) for transmitting line signals suitable for the first network, a second signaling device (15) for transmitting line signals suitable for a second network, and a control device (12), and in that, during operation, the control device (12) is controlled by signals inputted by the user so as to cause transmission, on the line, by the first signaling device, signals intended to cause switching to the second network, through the first network, then causes transmission, by the second signaling device , identity and security data and routing information, to the second network.   2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises a device (14) for storing routing information.   to provide switching to the second network through the first network, so that the maneuvering a single key by the user. causes the establishment of a connection to the second network.   3. Device according to one of the claims   1 and 2, characterized in that the control device (12) is intended to cause the insertion of a predetermined pause between the end of the signaling transmitted to the first network and the beginning of the signaling transmitted to the second network.   4. Device according to one of the claims   1 and 2, characterized in that it comprises a detector controlled by signals returned by the second network as an acknowledgment indicating the connection to the second network, the control device (12) being controlled by a detected signal acknowledgment of receipt and causing the transmission of the second signaling device.   5. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the device 10 (14) for transmitting the identity data and   Security is a permanent memory.   6. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises a socket in which a permanent memory can be introduced, and a device connecting the socket.   to the controller (12) so that information stored in the permanent memory is transmitted to the second signaling device so that this one transmits them.