WO2010057558A1

WO2010057558A1 - Individual network-based communications control

Info

Publication number: WO2010057558A1
Application number: PCT/EP2009/007557
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gerhard Kramarz - Von Kohout; Matthias RÖBKE
Original assignee: Deutsche Telekom Ag
Priority date: 2008-11-20
Filing date: 2009-10-22
Publication date: 2010-05-27
Also published as: DE102008058344A1

Abstract

Method and communications system for setting up a communications connection between the communications terminals (1, 2) of a calling A-subscriber and a B-subscriber of a communications system (10, 11, 12, 20, 21, 22) who is being called, especially of a fixed telecommunications network and/or a land mobile network and/or an internet protocol-based computer network or a combination of these networks, at least one subscriber number and/or other identification which is/are assigned to the B subscriber being transmitted as a parameter for setting up the communications connection to the communications system, using the subscriber number of the B subscriber as a parameter a database interrogation (3) taking place for the stored configuration data, depending on these configuration data on the side of the communications system (10, 11, 12, 20, 21, 22) a predefinable reaction being carried out, in the case in which no configuration data are stored, on the side of the communications system a connection to the terminal (2) of the B subscriber is set up.

Description

Individual network-based communications control

The invention relates to a method and a communications system for setting up a communications connection between the communications terminals of a calling A-subscriber and a B-subscriber of a communications system who is being called, especially of a fixed telecommunications network and/or a land mobile network and/or an internet protocol-based computer network or a combination of these networks.

In this case, at least one subscriber number or other identification which is assigned to the B subscriber is transmitted as a parameter for setting up the communications connection to the communications system. This is the known, conventional procedure for setting up a communications connection, for example a telephone connection, between the calling A subscriber and the called B subscriber.

For many mobile terminals different software applications such as "Smart Filter" or "Advanced Call Manager" are available which enable the user to evaluate calls which reach him rule-based, depending on the subscriber number.

In this way the user cannot accept calls of certain subscriber numbers (for example from contacts which he has marked accordingly) (so-called "black list"), but can relay them for example to the mobile box, or conversely he accepts only calls of certain subscriber numbers (for example, from contacts which he has marked accordingly) (so-called "white list"), all other calls are rejected. For calls in which the subscriber number of the caller is not signalled to the callee, there can be special handling.

Moreover, many software applications offer the option of additionally evaluating the diary kept on the terminal so that for example during the dates entered there no calls, therefore neither those from those callers whose subscriber number is listed in the "white list", are accepted. Instead, the callers receive a SMS with preconfigured contents.

The disadvantage is that the indicated software applications are only available for certain terminal types. Thus the program "Advanced Call Manager" assumes the Nokia S60 platform, the "Smartphone" program conversely assumes the PocketPC platform. For many mobile terminals which are currently being used, this software application is not available with a scope of services which is comparable to the above described features. For terminals which are used in a fixed network, this applies accordingly, here no such software applications are known.

Furthermore it is a disadvantage that terminal-based software applications are moreover a priori subject to certain restrictions. When the terminal for example does not have a connection to the network, calls do not arrive, and a terminal-based evaluation fundamentally cannot take place in this time. Dynamic call forwarding in which the number of the destination is not statically defined, but for example depends on the caller number, fundamentally cannot be implemented with a terminal-based software application since the mechanisms for call forwarding are in the network.

Furthermore the software application on the terminal can fundamentally evaluate only that information which is present on the terminal of the callee. The software application on the terminal cannot directly access information about the caller or callee which is only in the network.

The software applications which have been available for a long time moreover support only the viewpoint of the callee, i.e. of the B subscriber. For the user as caller, i.e. for the A subscriber, the corresponding programs are not available. If there were such programs, they would however of course be subject to the same restrictions as just described.

Finally, handling on the terminal in view of the conventionally compact keyboard and display can offer only moderate user comfort. For the user it can therefore become burdensome very quickly to have to update or undertake the required settings on his terminal. When the terminal is changed generally neither the software application itself nor the pertinent configuration data and user data are generally available.

The object of this invention is to overcome the described disadvantages.

This object is achieved as claimed in the invention with the method as claimed in claim 1 and with the communications system as claimed in claim 13. Other advantageous configurations of the invention are given in the dependent claims.

Thus, it is especially advantageous in the method for setting up a communications connection between the communications terminals of a calling A subscriber and a B subscriber of a communications system who is being called, especially of a fixed telecommunications network and/or a land mobile network and/or an Internet protocol-based computer network or a combination of these networks, at least one subscriber number assigned to the terminal of the B subscriber as the parameter for setting up the communications connection being transmitted to the communications system, that using the subscriber number of the B subscriber as a parameter a database interrogation takes place for the stored configuration data, depending on these configuration data on the side of the communications system a predefinable reaction being carried out, in the case in which no configuration data are stored, on the side of the communications system a connection to the terminal of the B subscriber being set up.

The communications connection is set up between the terminals of the users. This means only the set-up of a communications connection between two or more users, in the simplest case it is a matter of the call of the A subscriber (caller) at the B subscriber (callee), for which the A subscriber dials the telephone number of the B subscriber. The method as claimed in the invention can be used both in the fixed network and also in the mobile radio telephone service and in computer network-supported communications such as Internet telephony, so-called "voice-over-IP". Use is also possible when a communications connection is set up using different network types and/or technologies.

The communications connection can be a line-switched or packet-switched voice or data communications connection such as for example a voice connection, E-mail, DvI, SMS, MMS between the A and B subscribers.

Because the problems in principle cannot be comprehensively solved with terminal-based software applications, the design as claimed in the invention is network-based. With this approach a design is devised whose advantages can be used by the user with any terminal, regardless of whether it is a current model of the most recent generation or even an older model which is no longer marketed today. The user can also easily change his terminal; without time or other restrictions the functionalities of the network-based design are available to him even after changing equipment.

While the terminal-based software applications moreover are only available for mobile terminals for use in land mobile networks, this invention can be implemented not only in mobile radio telephone service, but also easily in the fixed network. Administration takes place preferably web-based and can therefore be individually and reliably undertaken by the user in a comfortable manner.

The idea of the invention moreover depending on the version enables consideration of information in the network, for example the network status of the callee, location information or presence information of the caller and of the callee so that functionalities can be implemented which in principle could not be implemented terminal-based. In addition, static and dynamic data and data files which are stored on the system side by the user or which can be accessed in some other way can be considered.

A user can profit from these designs both in the role of the callee and also the caller.

Preferably as the parameter the subscriber number and/or identification of the calling A subscriber is transmitted to the communications system and is used alternatively or cumulatively to the subscriber number of the B subscriber for database interrogation for the stored configuration data.

Thus, desired reactions can be controlled and influenced depending on the subscriber numbers and/or identifications of the caller and/or of the callee can take place. It is possible to consider one or both subscriber numbers and/or identifications and other parameters.

Any identification feature of a subscriber or of a terminal can be used as the identification / parameter. Possible identifications are for example IMSI, IMEI, E-mail address.

Especially preferably configuration data for predefinition of the reactions of the communications system can be stored on the side of the subscriber, especially that it can be configured whether the configuration data are to be used, when the subscriber as the A subscriber himself calls and/or if the subscriber as the B subscriber is called and/or always or temporarily. Hereinafter "class" is defined as a set which consists of one or more subscriber numbers which can be described explicitly (for example "subscriber numbers of the form +49190^*"; "01711234678") or implicitly (for example "subscriber numbers which are not transmitted to the callee at the request of the caller"). Here a "group" is defined as a class provided with a name.

Preferably the following can be stipulated as pre-definable reaction/reactions of the communications system, that a message is generated and is transmitted to the A subscriber and/or to the B subscriber, especially that this message is transmitted at a definable time, especially that it is a voice and/or audio and/or video and/or text and/or image message, therefore for example an E- mail, IM, SMS or MMS, and/or that call forwarding to another subscriber number is done, and/or that a conference call with more than two subscribers is set up, and/or that a connection set-up to the terminal of the B subscriber is triggered or that the call is rejected, and/or the subscriber number of the calling A subscriber is transmitted and displayed to the called

B subscriber or is not transmitted, and/or a designation of a predefined group of subscribers is transmitted and displayed to the called

B subscriber when the calling A subscriber is defined as belonging to the predefined group of subscribers.

Preferably the stored configuration data and/or completed changes of the configuration data and/or the reactions carried out on the side of the communications system are recorded and can be retrieved. In this way at a later instant at any time the configurations which have been set up and changed if necessary and the completed connection set-ups and completed network reactions can be understood.

Especially preferably the configuration data are stored and/or changed via a communications interface, especially over an Internet page.

In this way a very simple and user-friendly configuration is enabled which can be accessed at any time.

Preferably as the parameter for database interrogation for configuration data and/or for implementation of the reaction of the communications system the following are used alternatively or cumulatively the subscriber number and/or identification of the A subscriber and/or the identification of the terminal of the A subscriber and/or the subscriber number and/or identification of the B subscriber and/or the identification of the terminal of the B subscriber and/or the assignment of subscribers to subscriber groups and/or the instant of the call, especially the time and/or day and/or date, and/or the location of the A subscriber and/or the location of the B subscriber and/or the status of the terminal of the B subscriber, especially checked-in / not checked-in / busy / no calls accepted or the like.

Preferably database interrogation and implementation of the reaction take place by means of a server within the communications system, especially when the corresponding configuration data are available the communications connection can be set up by way of the server.

The server can constitute an independent system component or can be part of another component, for example of a network node which is used for connection set-up.

Depending on the configuration, one, several or all the networks participating in the communication have such a server as claimed in the invention.

The described databases can be implemented locally, i.e. network-specific/server-specific. Alternatively a central design with a trans-network database which can be used by all participating networks / servers is possible.

The server with the connected database is thus preferably a component of the communications system and directly assumes control of the set-up of the communications connection or of the reaction to be carried out, when the corresponding configuration data are in the database. If there are no configuration data in the database, a standard connection set-up takes place.

If configuration data both of the A and B subscriber are stored on the database, and a communications connection is to be set up, for which both the A and also the B subscriber have made determinations, if necessary contradictory determinations can be resolved in a rule-based manner. Thus for example it can be established that the determinations of the B subscriber always have priority.

If conversely one database stores configuration data of the A subscriber, another database stores configuration data of the B subscriber and a communications connection is to be set up, for which both the A and B subscribers have made determinations, first the determinations of the A subscriber are considered. Then the communications connection from the network of the A subscriber is relayed to the network of the B subscriber. The determinations of the B subscriber are considered there.

Preferably the configuration data are transmitted to the communications system and stored computer network-based on the side of an A and/or B subscriber, especially over a user interface which offers a server of the communications system over the Internet to the subscriber, and/or network-based within the communications system, especially by voice input and/or text message. In this way different user interfaces for setting-up and/or changing the configuration can be implemented and can also be used cumulatively.

In order to prevent misuse, in addition the authentication of the user is necessary, for example by inputting a predefined password, depending on the configuration of the user interface the input of the password taking place voice-based or via an input field on a certain Internet page.

Preferably in a failed or rejected connection set-up a message is generated and transmitted to the B subscriber, especially containing the subscriber number and/or identification of the A subscriber and/or the call date and call time, especially by SMS, MMS, EVl, E-mail or the like.

Preferably subscriber numbers and/or identifications of A subscribers whose calls are accepted or rejected without limitation or temporarily can be established by the B subscriber and can be stored in the database as configuration data.

Implementation of the method as claimed in the invention can take place in different versions which are described below.

The fundamental sequence can be configured as in the following embodiment.

When a call is initiated - A would like to call B, A dials and sends his subscriber number to the pertinent communications network -, the reactions to the call should take place rule-based in the communications system (therefore not only in the terminal of the callee). The parameters which control the desired reactions can be fundamentally all static and dynamic information (subscriber number, hardware identification, location information, ...) which is known in the communications system about the caller and the callee and can be evaluated.

Preferably the user of the service configures the reactions desired by him beforehand via a Web interface which belongs to the system, i.e. over a user interface via the Internet. In the configuration, depending on the embodiment of the system, he can configure reactions for him as the callee and/or for him as the caller.

Preferably the configuration data are on a local or central database, the servers being connected within the communications system to a local or central database. Each time a communications connection is set up the network nodes used for connection set-up access the server assigned to them. There it is checked whether on the database which belongs to the server there are the configuration data for one of the communications partners. If this should be the case, the server assumes further control of the communications connection. Otherwise the pertinent network nodes handle the communications connection in the conventional manner.

In one preferred embodiment the server records all steps so that the user of the service can subsequently see how his communication was controlled (for example, "call of number +49 17112345678 on (date) at (time) not accepted and ended".)

Configuration takes place preferably in several steps. An exemplary sequence is indicated below. Sequences for set-up and configuration which differ from it can also be implemented.

The user of the service first organizes his subscriber numbers known beforehand to him and as wished also other subscriber numbers according to certain rules. In this connection he can establish groups and classes for subscriber numbers for which he can later define uniform reactions as necessary.

This division can for example follow the following pattern: individual known subscriber numbers = l,...n (therefore other subscriber numbers known beforehand to the user, for which his own reaction can be defined for each) groups such as "family", "friends", "colleagues" consisting of a name of the group and the pertinent subscriber numbers, also with jokers (for example "colleague T-Mobile Bonn -

+49228936^*) individual joker subscriber numbers = 1...m (subscriber numbers with joker such as for example +49190^*) other subscriber numbers which are not listed in any of the previous groups and classes

(therefore subscriber numbers not known beforehand to the user) subscriber numbers which at the request of the caller are not transmitted to the callee.

Afterwards information is acquired for display.

For each subscriber number or also group of subscriber numbers the user in addition to the subscriber number can acquire a name and other text information (and if necessary other static or dynamic data and data files such as for example a video data file or a program data file or presence information or location information of the caller) which can be later evaluated in the terminal of the callee or displayed to the callee in a call with the corresponding subscriber number or from the corresponding group.

The user can decide in this connection whether he is the caller or whether he is the callee, and his determinations apply to both cases as required.

Finally the reactions are established. The user has the opportunity to establish the network-based reactions desired by him for his own incoming and/or outgoing calls: announcement, i.e. generation and transmission of a voice message (contents as desired depending on the subscriber number, the group or class of the communications partner) call forwarding (destination number as desired depending on the subscriber number, group or class of the communications partner) setting up a conference call (additional subscriber numbers, as desired depending on the subscriber number, group or class of the caller) accept call attempt, call is connected end call attempt sending at a definable instant a text message and/or video message such as

SMS/MMS/EVI/E-mail or the like (content, instant and destination address as wished depending on the subscriber number of the communications partner or his group or class) audio message (especially according to DE 10161660A 1 ) at a definable instant (contents, instant and destination address or addresses as wished depending on the subscriber number of the communications partner or his group or class)

The subscriber number of the caller (A subscriber) is to be displayed to the communications partner (B subscriber).

The subscriber number of the caller (A subscriber) is not to be displayed to the communications partner (B subscriber).

Instead of the subscriber number (or depending on the embodiment, in concert with the subscriber number) of the caller (A subscriber) / callee (B subscriber) his name or the name of his group is to be displayed to the communications partner. transmission of other text information / presence information / location information / images or others which are to be displayed on the terminal of the communications partner transmission of program data files which are to be evaluated in the terminal of the communications partner.

There is the further possibility of selecting and predefining combinations thereof (for example, end call attempt, additionally SMS transmission).

The user furthermore has the opportunity to make his determinations depending on the specific type of telecommunications connection. Thus he can treat calls differently than data communications. He can for example make specific determinations for SMS or E-mail. Thus he can establish that E-mails are only delivered to him when the respective sender has been entered by him on a white list.

Other possible parameters can be used. In addition to the subscriber numbers of the participating communications partners, other parameters can control the desired reaction, especially the parameters indicated below: instant of the call: date, time, weekday instant of the reaction: absolute or also relative (x minutes, hours, days after the call) location (of the caller, of the callee); depending on granularity of the current location information: absolute (at home, at the office, at the opera, in the home region, abroad,....) or also relative (caller and callee "near" one another,...) status of the callee (checked-in, not reachable, busy, calls not accepted...) presence information of the callee and/or the caller and/or third parties identification of the terminal (for example IMEI) of the callee or of the caller. Furthermore the transmission of text information, video data files, etc. can be induced and/or controlled.

Signalling in telecommunications networks of subscriber numbers for display at the callee has been oriented for a long time to transmission of purely numerical character sequences. In order to be able to use names and other text information in the described manner, the transmission mechanisms which have been standardized worldwide and which have been conventionally used for a long time can be expanded (change of the field for the subscriber numbers with respect to allowable number of characters and allowable character set or introduction of an additional field especially for the name or other text information).

Smaller video data files can be transmitted as MMS. In general, video data files, program data files, etc. can be transmitted over a data circuit which can be set up separately if necessary. Display, evaluation or execution of the received data files takes place over the respective application in the terminal.

For example, some possible applications of this invention in practice are described below. When B receives a call from A, B not having consented to transmission of his subscriber number, B does not accept the call, instead A receives a certain announcement, i.e. a voice message.

When A dials a subscriber number from a group of friends (which is defined beforehand by A) his name is transmitted, A also having the opportunity to have both his subscriber number and also his name transmitted. When A dials a subscriber number from a group of his colleagues (which is defined by A beforehand), his subscriber number is transmitted. Otherwise A rejects transmission of his subscriber number to the communications partner.

A calls B, (especially after evaluation of presence information) a conference call to other third parties (who have signalled their readiness for this accordingly) is set up.

A calls certain subscriber numbers of B for download of terminal-specific or other software, in the network an identification such as for example the IMEI of the terminal of A is evaluated. The call is ended, the software stored in the network beforehand by B is sent to the terminal of A.

A calls B, but only wants to be connected to B when B is in his vicinity, otherwise A receives an announcement that B is not in his vicinity.

Callers from a group of "colleagues" in a certain time window (for example October 1 - 5,

2007) receive an audio message, announced with a SMS one hour after expiration of the time window.

Friends (callers from the predefined group "friends") who call the private fixed network subscriber number of the user during the day are rerouted to the service fixed network subscriber number of the user, all other callers are forwarded to the mobile box which belongs to the cell phone number of the user. In the evening all callers, also friends, are forwarded to the cellular subscriber number.

A sends an E-mail to B. B has defined a white list on which the address of A is not entered.

The corresponding message is then not delivered.

A sends a SMS to B. B has defined that he would like to receive SMS messages only between 8 A.M. and 4 P.M. According to this definition the SMS is delivered depending on the time of day or buffered. In the case of buffering A receives a SMS which discloses to him when the original message is being delivered.

Two embodiments of the invention are described and detailed below in the figures.

Figure 1 shows a schematic of a connection set-up over two telecommunications networks with a centralized database;

Figure 2 shows a schematic of a connection set-up over two telecommunications networks with one local database each.

In both these cases, proceeding from the telecommunications terminal 1 of the caller, a call is initiated on the telecommunications terminal 2 of the callee. The telecommunications terminal 1 of the caller is checked-in in a first telecommunications network (TK network) 10 or is connected to it, while the telecommunications terminal 2 of the callee is checked into a second TK network 20 or is connected to it.

Proceeding from the telecommunications terminal 1 of the caller the connection to the telecommunications terminal 2 of the callee will take place over the network node 11 of the telecommunications network 10. The telecommunications terminal 2 of the callee is in turn checked-in in the telecommunications network 20 over the network node 21.

Database interrogation and implementation of the reaction take place by means of a server 12 and 22 within the communications system 10 and 20, in particular when the corresponding configuration data are present the communications connection can be set up over the server 12, 22. The servers 12, 22 are coupled to the network nodes 11, 21 respectively and likewise integrated into the respective TK network 10 and 20.

Depending on the configuration, one, several or all networks 10, 20 participating in the communication have such a server 12, 22 as claimed in the invention. In the version shown in Figure 1 , a central approach takes place with a trans-network database 3 which can be used by all participating networks 10, 20 or servers 12, 22. Alternatively several databases 13, 23 can be implemented locally, i.e. network-specific and/or server-specific, as is shown in Figure 2.

The server 12, 22 with the connected database 3 (centrally) and 13, 23 (decentralized) is thus preferably a component of the communications system and directly assumes control of the setup of the communications connection or of the reaction to be implemented, when the corresponding configuration data are in the database 3 and 13, 23. If there are no configuration data in the database 3 and 13, 23, a standard connection set-up between the terminals 1 and 2 takes place over the network nodes 11 and 21.

In the embodiment as shown in Figure 1, the configuration data are on a central database 3, the servers 12, 22 within the communications system 10, 20 being connected to the central database 3. For each set-up of a communications connection, the network nodes 1 1, 21 used for connection set-up access the database 3 over the server 12 and 22 assigned to them. There it is checked whether on the database 3 which belongs to the servers 12, 22 there are configuration data on one of the communications partners. If this should be the case, the server 12 or 22 assumes further control of the communications connection. Otherwise the pertinent network nodes 11, 21 handle the communications connection in a conventional manner.

In the embodiment as shown in Figure 2, conversely the configuration data are on the local databases 13, 23, i.e. decentralized, the servers 12, 22 being connected within each communications system 10, 20 to the local database 13, 23, respectively.

If on the database 3 and 13, 23 configuration data both of the A and also the B subscriber are stored and a communications connection is to be set up, for which both the A and also the B subscribers have made determinations, possibly contradictory determinations can be resolved rule- based. Thus, for example it can be established that the determinations of the B subscriber always have priority.

If conversely configuration data of the A subscriber are stored on one database 12, on the other database 23 the configuration data of the B subscriber, and a communications connection is to be set up, for which both the A and also the B subscribers have made determinations, first the determinations of the A subscriber are considered. Then the communications connection is relayed from the network 10 of the A subscriber to the network 20 of the B subscriber. The determinations of the B subscriber are considered there.

TK networks 10, 20 and the respective network nodes 11 and 21 as well as the pertinent servers 12 and 22 here form the communications system. In the illustrated examples the two networks 10, 20 are land mobile networks. In alternatives which are not shown they are one or two fixed networks and/or computer networks such as the Internet.

Claims

1. Method for setting up a communications connection between the communications terminals (1, 2) of a calling A-subscriber and a B-subscriber of a communications system (10, 11, 12, 20, 21, 22) who is being called, especially of a fixed telecommunications network and/or a land mobile network and/or an internet protocol-based computer network or a combination of these networks, at least one subscriber number and/or other identification which is/are assigned to the B subscriber being transmitted as a parameter for setting up the communications connection to the communications system, characterized in that using the subscriber number of the B subscriber as a parameter a database interrogation (3) takes place for the stored configuration data, depending on these configuration data on the side of the communications system (10, 11, 12, 20, 21, 22) a pre- definable reaction being carried out, in the case in which no configuration data are stored, on the side of the communications system a connection to the terminal (2) of the B subscriber is set up.

2. Method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the communications connection can be a line- switched or packet-switched voice or data communications connection such as for example a voice connection, E-mail, IM, SMS, MMS or the like.

3. Method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein as the parameter the subscriber number and/or identification of the calling A subscriber is transmitted to the communications system and is used alternatively or cumulatively to the subscriber number of the B subscriber for database interrogation for the stored configuration data.

4. Method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein configuration data for predefinition of the reactions of the communications system (10, 11, 12, 20, 21, 22) can be stored on the side of the subscriber, especially wherein it can be configured whether the configuration data are to be used, when the subscriber as the A subscriber himself calls and/or if the subscriber as the B subscriber is called and/or always or temporarily.

5. Method as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein the following can be stipulated as pre-definable reaction/reactions of the communications system (10, 11, 12, 20, 21, 22), that a message is generated and is transmitted to the A subscriber and/or to the B subscriber, especially that this message is transmitted at a definable time, especially that it is a voice and/or audio and/or video and/or text and/or image message, therefore for example an E- mail, DM, SMS or MMS, and/or that call forwarding to another subscriber number is done, and/or that a conference call with more than two subscribers is set up, and/or that a connection set-up to the terminal (2) of the B subscriber is triggered or that the call is rejected, and/or the subscriber number of the calling A subscriber is transmitted and displayed to the called

6. Method as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein the stored configuration data and/or completed changes of the configuration data and/or the reactions carried out on the side of the Communications system are recorded and can be retrieved.

7. Method as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein the configuration data are stored and/or changed via a communications interface, especially Web-based over an Internet page.

8. Method as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein as the parameter for database interrogation for configuration data and/or for implementation of the reaction of the communications system (10, 1 1, 12, 20, 21, 22) the following are used the subscriber number and/or identification of the A subscriber and/or the identification of the terminal of the A subscriber and/or the subscriber number and/or identification of the B subscriber and/or the identification of the terminal of the B subscriber and/or the assignment of subscribers to subscriber groups and/or the instant of the call, especially the time and/or day and/or date, and/or the location of the A subscriber and/or the location of the B subscriber and/or the status of the terminal of the B subscriber, especially checked-in/not checked-in/busy/no calls accepted or the like.

9. Method as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein data base interrogation and implementation of the reaction take place by means of at least one server (12, 22) within the communications system (10, 11, 12, 20, 21, 22), especially wherein the communications connection is set up by way of the server (12, 22).

10. Method as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein the configuration data are transmitted to the communications system (10, 11, 12, 20, 21, 22) and stored or modified on the side of an A and/or B subscriber computer network-based, especially over a user interface which offers a server of the communications system web-based over the Internet to the subscriber, and/or network-based within the communications system, especially by voice input and/or text message.

11. Method as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein in a failed or rejected connection set-up a message is generated and transmitted to the B subscriber, especially containing a subscriber number and/or identification of the A subscriber and/or the call date and call time, especially by SMS, MMS, IM, E-mail or the like.

12. Method as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein subscriber numbers and/or identifications of A subscribers whose calls are accepted or rejected without limitation or temporarily, can be established by the B subscriber and can be stored/are stored in the database (3, 13, 23) as configuration data.

13. Communications system, especially fixed telecommunications network and/or land mobile network and/or Internet protocol-based computer network or a combination of these networks, which is suitable for setting up a communications connection between the communications terminals (1, 2) of a calling A subscriber and a B subscriber who is being called, to set up a communications connection between the communications terminals (1, 2) of a calling A subscriber and a B subscriber to be called at least one subscriber number and/or another identification which is/are assigned to the B subscriber as the parameter for setting up the communications connection being transmitted to the communications system, wherein the communications system has at least one database (3, 13, 23), and the system is set up such that using the subscriber number and/or the identification of the B subscriber as a parameter a database interrogation (3) takes place for the stored configuration data, depending on these configuration data on the side of the communications system (10, 11, 12, 20, 21, 22) a pre-definable reaction being carried out, in the case in which no configuration data are stored, on the side of the communications system a connection to the terminal (2) of the B subscriber being set up.

14. System as claimed in claim 13, wherein the system has at lest one server (12, 22) which is set up such that database interrogation and implementation of the reaction take place by means of the server (12, 22) within the communications systems (10, 11, 12, 20, 21, 22), especially wherein the communications connection is set up over the server (12, 22).