SK101197A3 - Method of initiating remote maintenance of a private branch exchange - Google Patents

Abstract

In a method of initiating remote maintenance of a private branch exchange (N) connected to a public telephone network (VSt) by a servicing unit (SPC) which is also connected to the public telephone network (VSt), a password is generated in the master terminal which is also connected to the public telephone network (Vst). The password is forwarded both to the private branch exchange (N) and to the servicing unit (SPC). Only when the servicing unit (SPC) forwards to the private branch exchange (N) a password which matches the password stored there can the servicing unit carry out remote maintenance. This prevents remote maintenance activities in a private branch exchange (N) by non-authorised servicing units (SPC).

Description

For remote maintenance of telephone extension equipment (N) connected to the public telephone network (VSt), the service equipment (SPC) connected also to the public telephone network (VSt) is at a control point connected also to the public telephone network (VSt), created a password that is forwarded to both the telephone extension device (N) and the service facility (SPC). Only after the service facility (SPC) has given the telephone extension (N) a password that matches the stored password can remote maintenance be performed by the service facility (SPC). In this way, remote maintenance work in the telephone extension equipment (N) is prevented from being performed by an unauthorized service facility (SPC).

i ¢ Procedure for - establishing remote maintenance of telephone extension equipment

Technical field

The invention relates to a method for introducing remote maintenance of a telephone extension device connected to a public telephone network, wherein the remote maintenance is performed by a service device connected to a public telephone network, and a connection can be established between the telephone extension device and the service device. reports, data, etc.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Unnecessary working methods that maintenance is carried out by service personnel

In order to save on travel costs and hours, it is increasingly being switched to telephone branch equipment of equipment that are connected via a public telephone network to a maintained telephone branch equipment. Remote should be understood as testing of functional branch equipment, performance characteristics of branch equipment, etc.

Maintenance does not include any alarm messages that are independently reported to the service facility by the telephone branch equipment due to malfunctions.

maintenance with telephone assignment of telephone reading to certain ability programs, connections

Under the name remote

DE 36 31 168 A1 describes a remote maintenance process for a microprocessor-controlled digital mediation system in which an external subscriber device can be connected to a personal computer, and information can be exchanged between the personal computer and the mediation system controller.

If a public telephone network is now being established to build a connection between a service facility and a telephone extension device, there is a risk that remote maintenance work of the telephone extension device may also be carried out by unauthorized service facilities. Such maintenance may be in the interests of the operator of a telephone extension for economic reasons, but the manufacturer of a telephone extension or an authorized service facility is in opposition.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method as described above which prevents unauthorized remote maintenance of a telephone extension device.

This task is solved according to the features of claim 1.

Only if the password passed by the service facility to the telephone extension device matches the password that is stored in the telephone extension device, the service device can perform remote maintenance on the respective telephone extension device. It must only be ascertained safely that no unauthorized service facility has any possibility of being recognized as an authorized service facility at the control point.

A preferred further construction of the invention results from the subclaims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is explained in more detail by way of an exemplary embodiment, which is shown in the figure.

Examples

The public telephone exchange VSt (Vermittlungsstelle) is connected to the telephone extension N, the first SPC (Serviceeinrichtung) and the LS (Leitstelle). Meanwhile, the connection of the telephone extension device N takes place via the so-called. The service line, the SPC service facility and the LS control point are connected to the VST public exchange as a normal subscriber. The public switchboard VSt can be either an analogue or a digital connection device, as well as the mentioned connection lines made as an analogue or also digital connection lines. It is only to be assumed that the connection lines of all the above devices are capable of transmitting digital information. For analog connection lines, this can be done using a modem.

In FIG. however, it is conceivable that a large number of telephone extension devices are connected to the public VSt. Similarly, multiple SPC service facilities may be available that cooperate with one common LS control point. Furthermore, the use of the invention is not yet limited to the arrangement according to the block diagram shown in the figure, rather than a public telephone exchange VST may also be an entire public telephone network, which consists of a relatively large number of public telephone exchanges. where for example one LS control point is connected to one control panel and an SPC service device and a telephone extension device N are connected to various other control units.

It is now assumed that a large number of telephone branch N devices belong to one or more SPC service devices. which can enter a connection to the telephone extension equipment N for remote maintenance via the public telephone network. The telephone extension device has a special maintenance connection to this telephone, which is connected to a public telephone exchange VST, or is connected to an unspecified connection field of the telephone equipment, which is optional by entering a subscriber number in the telephone extension N.

The introduction of the remote maintenance into the telephone extension N is first initiated from the SPC service device to the telephone connection to the control point LS via the public telephone exchange VSt. During the connection, the identity of the SPC is transmitted immediately by the SPC service device, and immediately thereafter, the subscriber number of the telephone extension equipment N to the control point LS. This information will be checked and a far-reaching examination will be carried out to determine whether the relevant SPC service facility is authorized to carry out maintenance work at the appropriate telephone extension N. If such an authorization exists, a password is created at the LS control point and appropriate connections (LS, SPC) to disconnect the connection.

The control point LS now independently instigates the connection between the control point LS and the corresponding telephone device N, to the corresponding maintenance connection. Once the connection is established, the password is transferred from the LS control point to the telephone extension device and stored there, either to its central storage device or to its maintenance device. Immediately thereafter, at the instigation of the control place LS, the connection is switched off, which may be followed by a confirmation of receipt of the password. Now, at the instigation of the LS control point, a connection is established between it and the SPC service facility via the VSt public switchboard. thereby transferring the password from the LS control point to the SPC service facility. Immediately afterwards, the connection between the two LS and SPC connections is switched off again.

Only now is the SPC service capable of performing remote maintenance in the telephone extension N. At the instigation of the SPC service, a connection is made through the public telephone exchange VST to the telephone extension N to its maintenance connection and immediately afterwards the password from the service Only if both passwords match, the SPC service device can perform the corresponding maintenance work on the telephone extension device.

If the operator in the SPC service equipment is given the appropriate keypad control to initiate a connection to the LS control point, the processes described below run entirely separately. The operator in the service facility receives the corresponding notification as soon as the password has been stored from the LS control station. Only then can the SPC service be remotely maintained in the telephone extension N as soon as a new connection is required between the SPC service and the telephone extension N for a new remote maintenance process, a new password is required. For added security, the password stored in the PAB may also be marked as invalid within the PAB after a period of time, so the SPC service device is forced to perform the described processes again.

It goes without saying that service calls are logged, and for the sake of added security, all SPCs in the LS are captured by the identity of the respective SPC service facility and the corresponding telephone extension device N. In this way, remote maintenance attempts by unauthorized SPC service facilities can be easily identified. in a N. phone extension

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PATENT CLAIMS

Claims (4)

1. Procedure for establishing remote maintenance of a telephone extension device connected to a public telephone network, wherein the remote maintenance is performed by a service device connected to a public telephone network, and a connection for the exchange of information can be established between the telephone extension device and the service device , reports, data, etc. characterized in that the service device (SPC) first initiates a connection to the control point (LS), that the device identity information (SPC) is transferred from the service device (SPC) to the control point (LS), and immediately thereafter the number is transferred the telephone line maintenance (N) maintenance connection, that this information is checked at the control point (LS), that at the control point (LS) a positive password is generated that the connection between the control point (LS) and the service device (SPC) ) it is turned off that the control point (LS) initiates a connection between it and the telephone extension device (N), that the password is transmitted to the telephone extension device (N) and stored there, that the connection is immediately switched off again, the control point (LS) initiates a connection from the service facility (SPC) that the password is transmitted from the control point (LS) to the service facility (SPC) and stored there and The device (SPC) only then receives access through the maintenance connection to the telephone extension device (N) if the password passed from it matches the password stored in the telephone extension device (N). Method according to claim 1, characterized in that a new password is required for each connection between the service facility (SPC) and the telephone extension device (N). Ί Method according to either of Claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the control point (LS) is designed as a control point for a plurality of first service devices (SPCs). Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the password stored in the telephone extension (N) is marked as invalid after a certain time.