GB2366127A

GB2366127A - Automatically configuring telephone apparatus connected to a digital network

Info

Publication number: GB2366127A
Application number: GB0110388A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hideyuki Imura; Masanori Yamashiro
Original assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co Ltd
Current assignee: Panasonic Holdings Corp
Priority date: 2000-04-28
Filing date: 2001-04-27
Publication date: 2002-02-27
Anticipated expiration: 2021-04-27
Also published as: DE10120658A1; JP2001313964A; GB0110388D0; GB2366127B; DE10120658B4

Abstract

Disclosed is a telephone apparatus for lessening the complicated setting operation for complying with the communication protocol of digital network, and a method for connection setting thereof. A table for automatic setting (16) stores parameters showing each line number, telephone number, and setting yes/no thereof. An automatic setting control unit (15) takes out a line number and telephone number not completed in automatic setting from the table (16), and transmits the telephone number taken out from the I/F circuit of the line number being taken out to a digital switching station (2). Then a return call-in is obtained from the digital switching station (2). According to this apparatus and method, the information for setting parameters necessary for protocol management is detected from the signal sent from the switching station (2) at the time of call-out and return call-in, and stored in a protocol parameter table (14). In the apparatus and method, various parameters of the digital network can be set automatically by input of telephone number and input of line number. May be used to configure a PBX connected to an ISDN switching system.

Description

2366127 Telephone apparatus and method for connection setting thereof

5 FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a telephone apparatus such as telephone set or Private Branch Exchange (PBX) mainly installed in a building and connected to a communication circuit such as integrated services digital network (ISDN), and a method for connection setting thereof BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various communication protocols are used in digital communication circuits such as ISDN. When connecting a telephone apparatus such as telephone set or PBX to such a digital communication circuit, the 15 communication protocol of the telephone apparatus needs to be matched with the communication protocol of the digital circuit.

Hitherto, at the telephone apparatus side, in order that the telephone apparatus may conform to the communication protocol designated from the switching station, each parameter of the communication protocol is set. If 20 there are plural circuits to be set as in the case of the PBX, the parameter of communication protocol must be set in each one of the circuits. If plural telephone numbers are assigned to one circuit, it is required to set which telephone line is connected to which circuit interface of the telephone apparatus in order to connect plural telephone lines each of which is assigned 25 to each of telephone numbers to the circuit interface of the telephone apparatus.

In such a conventional apparatus, however, the complicated operations as mentioned above are needed in order to match the telephone apparatus with the communication protocol of the digital communication circuit.

5 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In the light of the above problems, it is an object of the invention to present a telephone apparatus lessened in the complication of setting by automating setting of communication protocol parameters and others, and a method for connecting its setting.

10 In the telephone apparatus and method for connecting its setting of the invention, the telephone apparatus designates the telephone number included in the telephone apparatus to the call destination and transmits to the switching station in order to set parameters necessary for protocol management with the switching station. In the call-out state, or in the 15 return call-in state from the switching station, the information for setting the parameters is detected from the signal sent from the switching station, and stored in a parameter table.. As a result, the telephone apparatus automatically sets communication protocol parameters and others for connecting to the switching station.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a PBX in an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the detail of a protocol management 25 control unit of the PBX shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an explanatory diagram of composition of protocol parameter table of the PBX shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an explanatory diagram of contents stored in an automatic setting table of the PBX shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an explanatory diagram of composition of correspondence table of the PBX shown in Fig. 1.

5 Fig, 6 is a flowchart showing flow of processing for automatically setting telephone numbers of ISDN circuit and parameters for protocol management in the PBX shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a flowchart showing process of protocol parameter determining process A in the flowchart shown in Fig. 6.

10 Fig. 8 is a flowchart showing process of protocol parameter determining process B in the flowchart shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing contents additionally stored in the automatic setting table.

Fig. 10 is a flowchart showing operation for assigning line numbers to 15 all telephone numbers set as telephone numbers for automatic setting.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings, a preferred embodiment of the invention is described below.

20 <Configuration of PBX> Fig. I is a block diagram showing a configuration of a PBX in an embodiment of the invention.

In Fig. 1, the public branch exchange is an embodiment of the telephone apparatus of the invention. The PBX 1 is connected to an ISDN 25 exchanging system 2 as the switching station through ISDN circuits 2a, 2b, 2d.

The PBX 1 comprises a control unit 11, a call processing control unit 12, a protocol management control unit 13, and a protocol parameter table 14. The control unit 11 controls the entire PBX 1. The call processing control unit 12 exchanges call information with the ISDN exchanging system 2 through the ISDN circuits 2a, 2b,..., 2d.

5 The protocol management control unit 13 makes a protocol management between the ISDN exchanging system 2 and call processing control unit 12.

The protocol parameter table 14 stores parameters necessary for protocol management, which is referred to by the protocol management 10 control unit 13.

The protocol management control unit 13 and ISDN circuits 2a, 2b, 2d are connected via interface (I/F) circuits 15a, 15b,..., 15d.

The PBX I further comprises an automatic setting control unit 15, a table for automatic setting 16, and a correspondence table 17.

15 The automatic setting control unit 15 automatically sets parameters necessary for protocol management.

The table for automatic setting 16 stores telephone numbers (subscriber numbers) of the ISDN circuits 2a, 2b,..., 2d, and physical numbers (line numbers) assigned individually to the I/F circuits 15a, 15b, 20 15d.

The correspondence table 17 stores the correspondence between the telephone numbers of the ISDN circuits 2a, 2b,..., 2d set automatically by the automatic setting control unit 15, and the line numbers of the I/F circuits 15a, 15b,..., 15d.

25 Herein, the correspondence table 17 and table for automatic setting 16 may be composed as a telephone number table combining the both.

Further, in the PBX 1, a personal computer (PC) terminal 3 is connected through a PC interface 18. The PC terminal 3 is a computer device used in general, and stores a program for various settings of the PBX 1. The PC interface 18 is not particularly limited, including RS-232C and Universal Serial Bus (USB) interfaces in general. The PC interface 18 may be also 5 connected through LAN-I/F or the like.

<Configuration of protocol management control unit> Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the detail of the protocol management control unit 13.

The protocol management control unit 13 comprises, as shown in Fig.

10 2, a Terminal Endpoint Identifier (TEI) management unit 20 for managing the TEI, a layer I (L1) protocol management unit 21, a layer 2 (L2) protocol management unit 22, and a layer 3 (M) protocol management unit 23. Herein, the TEI is the identification number of each terminal when seeing the terminal side from the ISDN circuit, and it refers to the number assigned to 15 each terminal for identifying plural terminals connected to one bus wiring. The TEI management unit 20 stores the TEI assigned to each terminal.

In the ISDN circuits 2a, 2b,..., 2d shown in Fig. 1, up to eight terminals can be connected to each one of the ISDN circuits for making communications. In each telephone terminal connected to the same circuit, a 20 different TEI is assigned through the ISDN switching system 2.

In the ISDN circuit, one control channel (D-channel) and plural communication channels (B-channels) are assigned in one circuit. The ISDN can call out from the communication channel of one circuit, and call in other communication channel of the same circuit. Control data about callout and 25 call-in between the ISDN switching system and ISDN terminal device is exchanged through one control channel of the same circuit.

The protocol of the ISDN circuit is a layered structure of Ll to L3 corresponding to lower three layers of OSI hierarchical model. The Ll protocol management unit 21, L2 protocol management unit 22, and L3 protocol management unit 23 manage the protocol of L1, L2, and L3 used in the ISDN circuits 2a, 2b,..., 2d, respectively. The protocol management 5 control unit 13 establishes the link sequentially from the lower layer, that is, the Ll protocol management unit 21. The protocol management control unit 13 establishes each link sequentially at higher layers, that is, the L2 protocol management unit 22 and L3 protocol management unit 23, and builds up the communication state with the ISDN switching system 2. At the end of the 10 communication, basically, the protocol management control unit 13 releases the links from the higher layers sequentially.

In Fig. 2, the call processing control unit 12 controls the L3 protocol management unit 23. On the other hand, the automatic setting control unit controls the Ll protocol management unit 21, L2 protocol management 15 unit 22, and L3 protocol management unit 23. That is, at the time of automatic setting of PBX 1, the automatic setting control unit 15 controls the protocol management units 21, 22, 23, and processes linking and synchronization of the L1, L2, L3.

<Composition of protocol parameter table> 20 Fig. 3 shows a composition of protocol parameter table 14 in Fig. 1.

As shown in Fig. 3, the protocol parameter table 14 stores interface mode 31, Ll activation mode 32, L2 activation mode 33, and TEI assignment mode 34 corrsponding to line number 30. Herein, the interface mode 31 shows the type of interface in the ISDN circuits 2a, 2b,..., 2d. The Li activation mode 25 32 shows the activation method of the Ll protocol management unit 21. The L2 activation mode 33 shows the activation method of the L2 protocol management unit 22. The TEI assignment mode 34 shows the TEI assignment method of the TEI management unit 20.

The interface mode 31 has two types, that is, point-to-point (P-P) interface, and poinf-to-multipoints (P-MP) interface. Each line number is set whether or not to communicate according to either P-P interface or PMP 5 interface.

The Ll activation mode 32 and L2 activation mode 33 have two modes, each, that is, permanent activation and call-by-call activation. In call-bycall activation, after the link is released in the circuit indicated by line number 30, the procedure for stopping the linking or synchronization is executed. In 10 permanent activation, the linking or synchronization is not stopped.

The TEI assignment mode 34 has two modes, that is, the automatic assignment mode for assigning the TEI automatically, and the nonautomatic assignment mode for not assigning the TEI automatically.

<Composition of table for automatic setting> 15 Fig. 4 is an explanatory diagram of contents stored in the table for automatic setting 16 in Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 4, the table for automatic setting 16 stores the line number 30 being set automatically, and telephone numbers 35 of the ISDN circuits 2a, 2b,..., 2d. Further, the table for automatic setting 16 stores a parameter showing Setting Yes/No 36 about line 20 number 30, and a parameter showing Setting Yes/No 37 about telephone number 35.

Herein, the line number 30 and telephone number 35 can be entered through the PC terminal 3.

<Composition of correspondence table> 25 Fig. 5 is an explanatory diagram of composition of the correspondence table 17 in Fig. 1.

As shown in Fig. 5, the correspondence table 17 stores the correspondence between the line number 30 set by the automatic setting control unit 15, and the telephone number 35 of the ISDN circuits 2a, 2b,. .., 2d. At the time of operation of the PBX I in this embodiment, the call processing control unit 12 refers to this correspondence table 17, and 5 establishes the communication state between each internal circuit and ISDN circuits 2a, 2b,..., 2d. In this embodiment, in the correspondence table 17, the telephone number 35 corresponding to the line number 30 is set automatically, but it may be also set manually through the PC terminal 3.

<Procedure and operation of automatic setting, basic type: automatic 10 setting of telephone number in free circuit> The procedure and operation of automatic setting by installing the PBX 1 having such configuration in user's office and connecting to the ISDN circuits are explained below by referring to the flowcharts in Fig. 6 to Fig. 8.

Fig. 6 is a flowchart showing flow of processing for automatically 15 setting telephone numbers of ISDN circuits 2a, 2b,., 2d and parameters for protocol management in the PBX 1 shown in Fig. 1.

Once automatic setting is started, at step S101, the automatic setting control unit 15 refers to the contents in the table for automatic setting 16 shown in Fig. 4, and takes out a line number 30 not completed in automatic 20 setting from the table 16. For example, line number C01 of No in Setting Yes/No 36 in Fig. 4 is taken out. If there is no line number 30 not completed in automatic setting, the automatic setting is over.

At step S102, the automatic setting control unit 15 takes out the telephone number 35 not completed in setting. For example, telephone 25 number 477-1424 of No in Setting Yes/No 37 in Fig. 4 is taken out. The control unit 15 transmits the telephone number 477-1424 to the ISDN circuit as a call destination, from the I/F circuits 15a to 15d of the line number C01 taken out at step S101.

When transmitting to the ISDN circuit, at step S103, the protocol parameter determining process A of the ISDN circuit is executed, and the information for setting is detected. The detail of the protocol parameter 5 determining process A is explained later.

After determination of protocol parameter, when the parameter is determined at step S104, step S105 is executed.

At step S105, it is checked whether the call transmitted at step S102 has reached any one of the I/F circuits 15a to 15d of the predetermined line 10 number 30 or not.

Suppose, for example, to be called in at line number C02. From the ISDN switching system 2, the call destination telephone number, that is, 477 1424 is sent as call-in signal. This telephone number 477-1424 is detected as information for setting, and is set in the line number C02 (see Fig. 5).

15 Further, by executing the protocol parameter determining process B of the ISDN circuit, the information for setting is detected (step S106). The detail of the protocol parameter determining process B at step S106 is explained later.

After determination of protocol parameter, when the parameter is 20 determined at step S107, step S108 is executed.

At step S108, the specified parameter is registered as information for setting in the protocol parameter table 14 shown in Fig. 3. Again, the process returns to step S101.

If the parameter is not determined at step S104 or S107, at step 109 or 25 110, it is stored to display "urging of manual setting" after automatic setting operation, and the process returns to step SIOL If, at step S105, the call does not reach the specified line number 30, at step S111, it is stored to display "wrong telephone number" after automatic setting operation, and the process returns to step S101.

<Procedure and operation of automatic setting, an supplemental explanation to the basic type: assignment of plural telephone numbers in one 5 line number> In this explanation, it is assumed that the number of line numbers 30 and the number of telephone numbers 35 are the same. However, in the ISDN circuits 2a, 2b,..., 2d, up to eight terminals can be connected in one circuit, and therefore up to eight telephone numbers may be assigned.

10 Accordingly, if there is no line number 30 not completed in automatic setting, a telephone number 35 not completed in setting may be left over. In this case, using one line number 30, by executing the step about the telephone number 35 not completed in setting, plural telephone numbers can be assigned in one line number.

15 <Procedure and operation of automatic setting: procedure of automatic setting of new telephone number in a circuit> In the embodiment, from the table for automatic setting, both the line number 30 not completed in automatic setting and the telephone number 35 not completed in setting are taken out, and the telephone number 35 not 20 completed in automatic setting is assigned in the line number 30 not completed in automatic setting in the procedure of automatic setting.

Instead, the line number 30 may be assigned in the telephone number not completed in automatic setting. The procedure of operation is explained by referring to the flowchart in Fig. 10.

25 The outline of procedure of this operation is explained in (1) to (3) below.

(1) The telephone number for automatic setting is written into the table for automatic setting 16 from the PC terminal 3, and automatic setting starts.

(2) The I/F circuit of one arbitrary line number 30 calls out sequentially to all telephone numbers 35 for automatic setting. In return 5 call-in to the I/F circuit corresponding to the call-out, the specified parameter and telephone number sent as call-in signal are set in the protocol parameter table 14 corresponding to each I/F circuit and the correspondence table 17 showing the correspondence between the line number and telephone number, by the protocol parameter determining process B. 10 (3) For all I/F circuits being set at (2) above, the telephone number corresponding to each I/F circuit is taken out from the correspondence table 17 sequentially. Each I/F circuit transmits a call to the ISDN circuit by using the telephone number 35. In this call-out operation, the protocol parameter determining process A is executed to set the result in the protocol parameter 15 table 14.

In this procedure of operation, the line numbers can be assigned to all telephone numbers set as the telephone numbers for automatic setting.

The detail of the operation is explained below by referring to the flowchart in Fig. 10.

20 The telephone number 35 for automatic setting is written into the table for automatic setting 16 from the PC terminal 3, and automatic setting is started.

At step S401, the automatic setting control unit 15 refers to the content in the table for automatic setting 16 shown in Fig. 4, and the 25 telephone number 35 not completed in automatic setting is taken out from the table for automatic setting 16. For example, telephone number 477-1424 of No in Setting Yes/No 36 in Fig. 4 is taken out. At this time, if there is no telephone number 35 not completed in automatic setting, the automatic setting is over.

At step S402, the call-out I/F circuit is determined. This I/F circuit sends the telephone number 477-1424 to the ISDN circuit, and request the 5 ISDN switching system to connect to the telephone number 477-1424.

Herein, the call-out I/F circuit is determined by selecting one of the I/F circuits that can be synchronized with layer I out of the I/F circuits 15a to 15d of the PBX 1. The same I/F circuit is used until the operation of automatic setting is over.

10 At step S403, it is checked whether the call transmitted at step S202 has reached any one of the I/F circuits 15a to 15d of the specified line number or not.

Suppose the ISDN circuit of telephone number 477-1424 is connected to line number C02. At this time, to the I/F circuit of line number C02, the 15 call destination telephone number, that is, telephone number 477-1424 is sent from the ISDN switching system 2 as a call-in signal. This telephone number 477-1424 is detected as information for setting, and is set in the line number C02 (see Fig. 5).

Later, the protocol parameter determining process B of the ISDN 20 circuit is executed (step S405).

The detail of the protocol parameter determining process B at step S205 is described later.

At step S406, when the parameter is determined, going to step S208, the determined parameter is registered as information for setting in the 25 protocol parameter table 14 shown in Fig. 3. Then the process returns to step S401.

Incidentally, if called in from outside at this time, by analyzing this call, the process is normally continued. This call-in is made during automatic setting, and is hence released without coming into communication.

If the parameter is not determined, No at step S406, going to step S407, it is stored to display "urging of manual setting" after automatic setting 5 operation, and the process returns to step S401.

If, at step S203, the call does not. reach the specified line number 35, at step S204, it is stored to display "wrong telephone number" after automatic setting operation, and the process returns to step S401.

At step S401, if there is no longer telephone number 35 not completed 10 in automatic setting, step S409 is executed.

At step S409, from the I/F circuit in which the specified parameter has been already registered at step S408 as information for setting in the protocol parameter table 14, the telephone number 35 corresponding to the line number 30 of this I/F circuit in the correspondence table is taken out, and 15 transmitted to the ISDN circuit.

When calling out to the ISDN circuit, at step S410, the protocol parameter determining process A of the ISDN circuit is executed.

The detail of the protocol parameter determining process A is described later.

20 After determination of protocol parameter, if the parameter is determined at step S411, step S412 is executed.

At step S212, it is checked whether there is any I/F circuit not finished in parameter determining process A (any I/F circuit having the specified parameter already registered in the protocol parameter table 14 as 25 information for setting at step S408). If there is any I/F circuit not finished in process A, steps s409 to S411 are processed sequentially.

If there is no longer I/F circuit not finished in process, the automatic setting is over (step S214).

If the parameter is not determined at step S411, going to step S413, it is stored to display "urging of manual setting" after automatic setting operation, and the process returns to step S409.

5 [Protocol parameter determining process A: when calling out] Fig. 7 is a flowchart showing process of protocol parameter determining process A in Fig. 6. Herein, in a call-out state, information for setting is detected for setting the protocol parameter. The call-out state means the state of exchange of signal between the telephone apparatus and 10 the switching station followed by transmission of a call.

In order that the PBX 1 can communicate with the ISDN switching system 2, first, layer 1 needs to be synchronized. At step S201, the protocol management control unit 13 executes the sequence for establishing the synchronization by the specified protocol, and a synchronization request of 15 layer 1 is sent out to the ISDN circuit.

At step S202, when the protocol management control unit 13 judges that the synchronism is established, going to step S203, the TEI is assigned.

If the synchronism is not established, going to step S204, the malfunction is processed and the automatic determination is over. Such malfunction may 20 occur, for example, if the ISDN circuits 2a, 2b,., 2d are not connected to the PBX 1, or if there is any trouble in the ISDN switching system 2, I/F circuits 15a to 15d of the PBX 1, or protocol management control unit 13.

In the TEI assignment process at step S203, the TEI management unit 20 of the protocol management control unit 13 generates a message for 25 TEI assignment request, and sends it out to the ISDN switching system 2.

At step S205, the automatic setting control unit 15, when-receiving the TEI assignment response message from the ISDN switching system 2, judges to be the automatic assignment mode.

At step S206, the control unit 15 registers the information showing the automatic assignment mode in the item of TEI assignment mode 34 of the protocol parameter table 14 shown in Fig. 3. Then, the protocol parameter 5 determining process A is terminated.

On the other hand, when receiving a TEI assignment rejection message at step S205, the process at step S207 is executed.

At step S207, the automatic setting control unit 15 judges to be nonautomatic assignment TEI mode, and registers the information showing non- 10 automatic assignment mode in the item of TEI assignment mode 34 of the protocol parameter table 14. Then, the protocol parameter determining process A is terminated.

[Protocol parameter determining process B: when called in] Fig. 8 is a flowchart showing process of protocol parameter 15 determining process B in Fig. 6. Herein, in call-in state, information for setting is detected for setting the protocol parameter. The call-in state is the state of exchange of signal between the telephone apparatus and the switching station followed by incoming of a call.

At step S301, based on the call-in signal sent from the ISDN switching 20 system 2, it is judged whether the interface mode is information frame (I frame) or unnumbered information frame (UI frame). A call-in message (setup: layer 3 message) is transmitted from the ISDN switching system 2 to the PBX I as call-in signal. This call-in message is transmitted in the I frame of layer 2 in the case of P-R In the case of P-MP, the call- in message is 25 transmitted in the UI frame.

At step S301, the type of this call-in message is determined.

At steps S302 and S303, the received call-in frame type is registered in the item of interface mode 31 of the protocol parameter table 14 shown in Fig.

3. That is, in the case of I frame, the item of interface mode 31 is set in P-P, and in the case of UI frame, the item of interface mode 31 is set in P-MP.

Next, activation mode of layer 2 (data link layer) is determined.

5 When releasing the communication (call), at step S304, a communication (call) release message (layer 3 release signal) is transmitted from the line number of the call-origination or line number of call- destination to the ISDN switching system 2. Usually, the call is cut off in the procedure of transmission of disconnect signal, reception of release signal, and 10 transmission of release complete signal. In this embodiment, to avoid complicated procedure, the call is released in the procedure of transmission of release signal and transmission of release complete signal.

After transmission of release signal, at step S305, it is monitored for a specific time whether the layer 2 is released or not from the ISDN switching 15 system 2. Vy'hether layer 2 is released or not is determined by monitoring if the disconnect (DISC) message is sent.

Herein, 1) when layer 2 is released from the ISDN switching system 2, the activation mode is judged to be call-by-call activation, and 11) when not released within a specified time, it is judged to be permanent activation.

20 At steps S306 and S307, these activation modes are registered in the item of L2 activation mode 33 of the protocol parameter table 14 in Fig. 3.

That is, in the case of i), the item of L2 activation mode 33 is set in call-by-call activation, and in the case of ii), the item of L2 activation mode 33 is set in permanent call. Also in the case of 11), layer 2 cut-off is requested to the 25 ISDN switching system 2.

Next, the activation mode of layer 1 is determined.

At step S308, the link of layer 2 is released.

At step S309, whether layer 1 is released from the ISDN switching system 2 or not is determined by monitoring the call-in signal for a specified time. Herein, a) when layer 1 is released from the ISDN switching station 2, the activation mode is judged to be call-by-call activation, and b) when not 5 released within a specified time, it is judged to be permanent activation.

At steps S310 and S311, these activation modes are registered in the item of Ll activation mode 32 of the protocol parameter table 14 in Fig. 3. That is, in the case of a), the item of Ll activation mode 32 is set in call-by-call activation, and in the case of b), the item of Ll activationmode 32 is set in 10 permanent call. Also in the case of b), layer 1 cut-off is requested to the ISDN switching system 2.

This brings to the end of protocol parameter determining process B. <Explanation of extension of circuits after automatic setting> Once the PBX 1 is installed and set up automatically, it may be 15 necessary to extend the ISDN circuits. In this case, automatic setting is executed by entering additional line numbers and additional telephone numbers.

Or only the telephone numbers may be added, and additional line numbers may not be entered. In this case, it is made in the same way as in 20 the case of automatic setting without input of line number as mentioned above.

Fig. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing contents additionally stored in the table for automatic setting 16.

In Fig. 9, flags of Setting Yes/No 36 are already set up in the 25 automatically set line numbers C01 to C04. In the extended circuits, that is, line numbers C05 and C06, automatic setting is not finished yet. Therefore, by executing automatic setting, these new line numbers C05 and C06 are set automatically.

Automatic setting is also possible by transmitting new telephone numbers, such as 477-1430 and 477-1431 from an arbitrary ISDN circuit capable of calling out.

5 In the embodiment, the line number 30 and the protocol parameter shown in Fig. 3 are set in each one of the ISDN circuits 2a, 2b,..., 2d.

However, first, the line number 30 may be set in all ISDN circuits 2a, 2b, ..., 2d, and then the protocol parameter may be set in each preset line number 30. In this case, for example, by transmitting the telephone number 10 (subscriber number) of the ISDN line number C01 from the circuit of the line number COI, the same circuit can be called in. Therefore, the protocol parameter may be set in one circuit only.

That is, instead of the ISDN system having plural circuits as in the PBX 1 explained in the embodiment, the invention may be also applied in the 15 ISDN system having only one circuit such as terminal adapter installed in a general household.

According to the invention, when setting parameters necessary for protocol management with the switching station, the information for setting parameters in the call-in state or call-out state is detected, and stored in the 20 parameter table. Therefore, the communication protocol parameters and others for connecting to the switching station can be set automatically. It hence alleviates the complicated procedure of manual setting.

It is also possible to set the telephone number of the telephone line connected to the circuit interface of the telephone apparatus automatically in 25 relation to the circuit interface of the telephone apparatus, and therefore complicated setting or setting error can be eliminated.

Claims

1. A telephone apparatus coupled to a switching station comprising:

a) a protocol management control unit (13) for making a protocol management with said switching station (2), 5 b) a protocol parameter table (14) storing a parameter necessary for the protocol management, and c) an automatic setting control unit (15) for detecting information for setting the parameter and storing the parameter in said parameter table, wherein said automatic setting control unit detects a telephone 10 number not completed in automatic setting, transmits the telephone number to the switching station (2) as a call-in destination, detects the information for setting from the signal sent from the switching station in a call-in state of a call from the switching station to the telephone number, and stores in the parameter table.

2. The telephone apparatus of claim 1, wherein the information for setting is detected from another signal sent from the switching station in a call-out state to the switching station, and is stored in the parameter table.

3. The telephone apparatus of claim 1 or 2, further comprising:

a telephone number table (16, 17) for storing a telephone number, wherein said automatic setting control unit detects the telephone number not completed in automatic setting, out of a telephone number stored 25 in said telephone number table.

4. The telephone apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the telephone number includes plural telephone numbers, and said automatic setting control unit detects the information for setting in a call-out state to the switching station of each one of the plural telephone numbers.

5. The telephone apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the telephone number includes plural telephone numbers, and said automatic setting control unit detects the information for setting in a call receiving state from the switching station to each one of the plural 10 telephone numbers.

6. A telephone apparatus coupled to a switching station via a transmission line comprising:

a) a protocol management control unit (13) for making a protocol 15 management with said switching station, b) a protocol parameter table (14) storing a parameter necessary for the protocol management, which is referred to by said protocol management control unit, c) an interface (I/F) circuit (45a to 45d) for coupling between the 20 protocol management control unit and the transmission line, d) an automatic setting control unit (15) for setting automatically th e parameters necessary for protocol management, and e) a telephone number table (16, 17) storing a telephone number for coupling with the I/F circuit, 25 wherein said automatic setting control unit transmits the telephone number stored in the telephone number table to the transmission line through said I/F circuit, determines the protocol parameter in a call-in state to the telephone apparatus from said switching station to the telephone number, and stores a determined parameter in the protocol parameter table as information for setting.

5

7. The telephone apparatus of claim 6, wherein a first protocol parameter determining process is implemented in the call-in state to the telephone apparatus, a second protocol parameter determining process is implemented in the call-in state to the telephone apparatus, and the parameter determined by the first and second 10 protocol parameter determining processes is stored as the information for setting in the protocol parameter table.

8. The telephone apparatus of claim 7, wherein according to the first protocol parameter determining process, 15 i) when receiving a terminal endpoint identifier (TEI) assignment response message from the switching station responsive to the message requesting the TEI assignment transmitted by the protocol management control unit, the automatic setting control unit judges to be automatic assignment mode, and ii) when receiving a TEI assignment rejection message, the automatic setting 20 control unit judges to be non-automatic assignment mode.

9. The telephone apparatus of claim 7 or 8, wherein the second protocol parameter determining process determines a type of a call-in message sent from the switching station.

10. The telephone apparatus of any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the second protocol parameter determining process further transmits a layer release request to the switching station, and detects the information for setting depending on presence or absence of synchronization release from the switching station.

5

11. The telephone apparatus of any one of claims 6 to 10, wherein plural I/F circuits are provided, plural telephone numbers are stored in the telephone number table, and said automatic setting control unit sets automatically by taking out a telephone number not completed in automatic setting, out of the plural telephone numbers.

12. The telephone apparatus of any one of claims 6 to 11, wherein said automatic setting control unit, when a telephone number is newly added to the telephone number table, calls out to the switching station by using the added telephone number.

13. The telephone apparatus of any one of claims 6 to 12, wherein the telephone number table includes a table for automatic setting (16) storing information showing Setting Yes/No corresponding to each line number and each telephone number, and said automatic setting control 20 unit takes out a line number or a telephone number not completed in automatic setting from the table for automatic setting, and sets an I/F circuit of the line number being taken out as said I/F circuit, and the telephone number being taken out as the telephone number.

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14. The telephone apparatus of any one of claims 6 to 13, wherein said switching station includes an integrated services digital network (ISDN) switching station.

15. A method for setting connection of telephone apparatus coupled to a switching station via a transmission line, comprising the steps of a) calling out to said switching station by using a predetermined 5 telephone number, b) detecting information for setting a parameter necessary for making a protocol management during a time from call-out to the switching station until the call to the telephone number is received from the switching station, c) storing the detected information for setting, 10 d) detecting further information for setting parameters necessary for making a protocol management within a predetermined time after the call to the telephone number is received, and e) storing the further detected information for setting.

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16. The method for setting connection of claim 15, wherein a request signal for terminal endpoint identifier (TEI) assignment is sent to said switching station, and the information for setting is detected by a TEI assignment response message from the switching station to the request signal.

17. The method for setting connection of claim 15 or 16, wherein the information for setting is detected by a type of a call-in message from the switching station.

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18. The method for setting connection of any one of claims 15 to 17, wherein the information for setting is detected by presence or absence of release of the link of the layer from the switching station after sending a call release request to the switching station.

19. The method for setting connection of any one of claims 15- to 18, wherein the information for setting is detected by presence or absence 5 of synchronization release from the switching station after sending a layer release request to the switching station.

20. The method for setting connection of any one of claims 15 to 19, wherein a telephone number of a call-in destination included in a call 10 in signal from the switching station is detected, and set in a correspondence table of line numbers and telephone numbers.

21. The method for setting connection of claim 15, wherein said step a) includes the steps of 15 1) referring to a table for automatic setting, and taking out a line number not completed in automatic setting from the table for automatic setting, ii) taking out a free telephone number as the predetermined telephone number, 20 111) designating an I/F circuit corresponding to the line number being taken out, and iv) transmitting the taken-out free telephone number as the call destination to the switching station through the designated I/F circuit, wherein in said step c) the detected information for setting is stored in 25 a protocol parameter table in relation to the line number, in said step d), further a telephone number showing a call- destination sent from the switching station is detected, and in said step e) the detected further information for setting is stored in the protocol parameter relating to the line number.

22. The method for setting connection of any one of claims 15 to 21, wherein the switching station includes an integrated services digital network (ISDN) switching station.