DE19706000A1 - Communications system for dialling connections with person orientated addresses - Google Patents

Abstract

The system has the dialling connections built-up between persons or groups, for information transmission. The build-up starting person uses a person oriented address instead of one belonging to an apparatus. The location of the called person, or apparatus address referring to its locating, is not known to the initiator. Preferably the system provides the person's address, and a maximum permitted cost factor for the connection, according to the called person's location. The location determination is carried out by extension of existing communication components and/or by installation of new ones, such as mobile and stationary radio stations, for the identification and localising of persons, as well as a computer coupled to the stationary stations.

Description

Disadvantages of previous systems

In the previous communication systems for dial-up connections, the connection-building entity must address a device. The devices can be mobile (e.g. cell phones or order picking trolleys in a warehouse system), but information is always exchanged between the explicitly addressed devices. This has the following disadvantages:

• - When a connection is requested, neither the addressee nor the recipient is known. Even with ISDN, the target device is only given the device address of the source. Ultimately, must the actual sender and recipient are determined each time at the beginning of a connection will.
• - The technically complex, z. Sometimes heavy and in certain situations unwieldy Devices must be carried around at all times. Doctors in a hospital therefore often have just a "beeper".
• - The actual exchange of information often has to take place at a high data rate, which is why Frequency ranges are used that are at least controversial in terms of health and are often on can influence other devices (e.g. in aircraft or in hospitals).
• - Existing hardware can often no longer be used and has to be replaced the.
• - Eavesdropping cannot generally be ruled out in pure radio networks.

Position detection systems are also known which enable specific people to be localized. However, these have the following basic disadvantages:

• - The privacy of the people is z. T. considerably restricted. The people involved can be monitored at any time and possibly even unnoticed.
• - If you want to connect, you first have to find out the location of the partner to be able to search for a device in its vicinity.

possible solutions

The solution is to continue using the individual end devices (intercoms, telephones, fax machines, computers) and to replace or reprogram existing switching computers, coupled with logic to determine the end devices closest to each instance. In principle, this can be done in a wide variety of ways:

• - Position detection by means of transmitting and receiving devices for mobile entities (people or mobile devices) as well as transmitting and receiving devices at certain points that lead to a enable sufficient position determination. The transmitting and receiving devices can like in turn use the most varied frequencies, whereby infrared light is currently the probably cost represents the cheapest and most suitable medium.
• - Position recognition by means of image and / or voice recognition. This solution poses of course represents a high technical effort and will probably not be implemented in the near future the.

The first variant is therefore used in the following. Another option is that Connection to an access system, which is also taken into account here.

Advantages of the new system

The new system offers the following advantages:

• - The actual sender and recipient are known before the connection is established. This eliminates the need to exchange this information at the beginning of a connection.
• - Every person is wherever required and with all media (telephone, fax, Computer) can be reached through a single address. By awarding different Addresses (e.g. one each for employees, business partners, acquaintances, friends, etc.) accessibility can be restricted individually and depending on the situation.
• - Connection requests can be communicated discreetly via the mobile radio station. The ge called person can then z. B. go to an adjoining room during a meeting, to accept the call there, or reject the connection and call back later. When you call back, the person who originally called will be reached even if they are theirs Position itself has changed.
• - Since only a relatively short range is required for the mobile radio stations, the Transmission power and thus power consumption can be restricted.
• - The amount of data to be exchanged via radio is limited to the connection parameters, which means relatively slow transmission speeds and thus frequency areas that do not affect other devices can be used.
• - The mobile radio stations can be dimensioned very small and with a relatively small technical effort can be realized.
• - When employees move to other rooms or when moving privately, the Addresses are not changed.
• - Existing end devices can continue to be used. The previous device addresses or telephone numbers can be retained. This ensures that not all people need a mobile radio station. Existing switching computers can ever may be reprogrammed after execution and also re-used in order to achieve the To be able to keep costs as low as possible. The position detection system communicates then via a new interface with the switching computer.

Description of the new system

In detail, the solution provides the following components. The new components are highlighted in bold. ( Fig. 1).

Fig. 1 Switching systems of the telephone companies

Fig. 1.1 local network provider (Telekom, AT, etc.)

Fig. 1.2 Radio network provider (D network, etc.)

Fig. 2 Complete switching equipment (can possibly be split up :)

Fig. 2.1 Existing switching computers (private branch exchanges) can possibly continue to be used if they can be expanded and reprogrammed by an interface for automatic call forwarding

Fig. 2.2 New switching computer for position detection and for the control and configuration of the existing network computer

Fig. 3 Existing terminals:

Fig. 3.1 intercom station

Fig. 3.2 telephone (analog or digital or ISDN telephone)

Fig. 3.3 Mobile phone

Fig. 3.4 fax machine (analog or digital or ISDN Facsimile)

Fig.3.5 Printer

Fig. 3,6 Computer with modem, ISDN card or network card

Fig. 3.7 mobile computer

Fig. 3.8 Access Control Terminals with turnstile

Fig. 4 Stationary radio stations to determine the mobile radio stations staying in a room or in a certain environment. The term "stationary" relates to a terminal that can, however, change spatially. (e.g. in a car) The radio stations can be connected to various existing lines:

Fig. 4.1 Radio station for connection to the power supply

Fig. 4.2 Radio station for connection to a telephone line

Fig. 4.3 Radio station for connection to an ISDN line

Fig. 4.4 radio station (z. B. ethernet or token ring) for connection to a network

Fig. 4.5 Radio station for expanding a mobile telephone

Fig. 4.6 Radio station for an access control terminal

Fig. 5 Mobile radio stations for identifying people or mobile devices. Possible versions of the mobile radio stations are shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 Charging station for replacing the mobile radio stations.

For clarity, the following terms are introduced and explained. The term "address" is used with preference in order to avoid being restricted to a specific number of the respective components.

Instance A person or group of people who can be restricted to a certain situation (e.g. a workgroup at a workplace) or a mobile device (e.g. a notebook or special hardware that is used in different locations). mobile radio station A transceiver used to identify a person or a mobile device. stationary radio station A transceiver to identify the nearby mobile radio station. Identification address Unique address of the mobile radio station that can be assigned to one or more specific entities. Throughput Describes how to react to a connection request: If you put through "immediately", the next terminal is put through immediately (the phone rings). If the call is put through "Query", a connection request is initially displayed to the user, who can then manually put through or reject the call. If the connection is "off", all connection requests that are not given the priority "urgent" are rejected. Preset The default setting is set for the mobile radio station and is used to generally change the transfer of calls. (e.g. default setting "idle": → extension "off" "busy": → extension "query" "ready": → normal transfer) Use of space Classification of a situation in a specific space. (e.g. "meeting", "occupied", "free") The use of the room is set at a mobile or stationary radio station and is used to generally change the respective default settings for all people in the room. (e.g. room use "meeting": → default setting "rest") situation Situation in which a person can be. It defines a combination of presetting, use of space and position. position Unique address that can be assigned to one or more stationary radio stations. Device address Unique address of an existing device. (e.g. telephone number, Ethernet address, Internet address) Device type Classification of the end devices used. (Intercom, analog telephone, etc.) Device status To determine the state of a terminal device. ("free", "occupied" or "cannot be determined directly") Information type Classification of the information to be transmitted for the selection of the device types. (e.g. announcement, conversation, text, graphic, etc.) A standard value should be configured for each end device as far as possible. A manual entry or correction should be made possible so that existing devices can continue to be used. Cost factor Maximum allowable tariff. (the respective tariff can of course be different for the same instances depending on where you are). A standard value and a maximum value can be configured for each calling entity or, if this is not known, alternatively for each terminal device. configuration Configurable, fixed information for assigning the components. State Variable information about the assignment of the components.

This results in dynamic, configuration-dependent and static assignments:

The actual switching task must take place in a reverse assignment, based on the desired instance, the information type and a maximum cost factor to a selection of device addresses:

• - The desired instance initially allows a selection of identification addresses.
• - Based on the respective positions of the identification addresses, a first selection of possible devices (device addresses).
• - This selection is based on the respective possible device types through the information type and further restricted as far as possible by the device status.
• - The respective tariff can be determined on the basis of the device addresses. This allows the Looking for the cheapest tariff and making another restriction. By specifying a maximum cost factor could come to an end here.
• - If several devices come into question as a result of this selection, the possible ones become Identification addresses sought the one in the best situation. Get the situations so one rating to determine the best situation in each case.
• - If there are several identification addresses in the same situation, you can now search for a Rotation or priority principle the final identification address can be selected.
• - If several end devices come into question, any device can be switched off to get voted. For an even more convenient selection, several stationary Radio stations are installed in a room in order to use the best field strength to determine the actual to be able to determine the closest terminal device.

The individual steps are briefly summarized again to provide an overview:

Instance → possible identification addresses × respective positions → possible device addresses × information type → possible device addresses × cost factors → cheapest tariff × respective situation → best situation × rotation / priority → next processor × field strength → closest device.

Of course, the first four search algorithms cannot lead to any result (i.e. none Corresponding address was found; z. B. "No employee of the department at a suitable Workplace "," no device nearby "," no suitable free device "," too high Costs")

If the called instance describes a person whose position is not known at the moment, can a standard device defined for this case (e.g. private telephone) can be addressed. if the person is not in the vicinity of a suitable device or is not through a If you want to be disturbed by the telephone, you can first use the mobile radio station Connection request are signaled. The called person can then decide for himself whether or not she answers the call. During this time the calling entity will communicated this if possible and signaled a "callsign". In other cases and after a manual rejection of the connection request will be followed by the calling entity Possibility of returning exact information and signaling a "busy signal".

Detailed solutions

The respective transmission protocols between the switching computer and the stationary ones Radio stations are essentially predetermined by the respective network. The trans transmission protocol between the stationary and mobile radio stations, however, must be re-conci be pated.

First the different address areas have to be defined:

Addresses of the mobile radio stations: (identification addresses)
In principle, the addresses of the mobile radio stations are not subject to any requirements. However, they should be optimized for processing in computers. Since the addresses are configured and managed in the switching computer, an officer should be able to assign them when configuring the system. A division into a "network address" and a "sub-address" is appropriate here. The address assignment is suggested as for Internet addresses in the Internet Protocol (IP):

Class A: Network: 0 to 127, Sub-address: 0.0. 1 to 255.255.254 Class B: Network: 128.0 to 191.255, Sub-address: 0.0 to 255.254 Class C: Network: 192.0.0 to 223.255.255, Sub-address: 0 to 254

Addresses of the stationary radio stations:
The stationary radio stations already receive appropriate addresses for their connection to an existing network. However, for a heterogeneous network in which the existing networks are to be used, a consistent form of addressing for all radio stations makes sense. IP addresses are also useful here. To simplify matters, the addresses of the mobile and stationary radio stations form a common address space. Since it is a virtual network, existing IP addresses do not have to be excluded.

Instance addresses:
These addresses should be exchanged between people and can be entered using a telephone keypad (characters "0" to "9", and optionally "*" and "#"). Since the instance addresses must be managed in a limited number of central switching computers, a division into a "network address" and a "sub-address" also makes sense here. As a result, the computer for position detection can first be addressed. The number of digits should not be predefined in order to avoid a restriction of the address area. For the reuse of an existing PBX, the telephone number of the PBX can be used as the "network address". The "sub-addresses" can be introduced by a combination of characters that has not yet been used in the private branch exchange. The number of places in the "sub-addresses" depends on the desired or expected number of instances to be set up. For a company with 100 employees, for each of which 10 addresses are to be made possible, there are 1000 instances that can be addressed with 3 digits.

example

Telephone number of the private branch exchange: +49 (30) 123456
previous extensions: 0, 100.. .799
free character combinations: 8, 9
→ Network address: 0049 30 123456
→ Sub-addresses: 800.. .899, 9000.. .9999
→ Instance addresses: 0049 30 123456 800. . . 49 30 123456 899
and: 049 30 123456 9000.. .49 30 123456 9999.

The additional information (cost factor, information type, etc.) must be able to be added to the instance address. It is proposed that this information be specified optionally and that a standard value be used in each case in the event that it is omitted (such as the information type "conversation" for a telephone). Since this information must be looped through in existing systems of the telephone company, it can at least not be entered before specifying the "network address" of the instance address. The specification in front of the "sub-address" requires a separate introductory sequence, which is necessary for differentiation, whereas the specification after the "sub-address" requires a terminating character which enables the system to recognize the end of the character string and which is specified for each entry must become. These two possibilities are clarified again by a syntactic notation. Information in square brackets [] is optional:

• - <Network address <[<Introduction <<Additional information <] <Sub-address <
• - <network address <<sub-address <[<additional information <] <termination <

The second option appears to be more suitable for the following reasons:

• - The instance addresses are not "torn apart",
• - Instance addresses can be saved in telephones as speed dial numbers and Additional information can be attached after dialing a speed dial number.
• - When using a uniform terminator (e.g. #), instance addresses are as such are recognizable and become generally known as the system spreads accordingly.
• - The lack of a terminator can also be defined in switching computers after a ten waiting time or z. B. be added automatically after lifting the handset. Existing PBXs are usually not affected by additional characters.

The individual additional information can be selected with a number and with a String to be set. If the string to be set affects several characters, de If the larger number cannot be foreseen, it must be marked by a separate terminator (e.g. *) be marked.

The following numbers are suggested for the selection of additional information:

Information type 1 priority 2 Cost factor 3rd own device address 4th special device address 5 special instance address 6th

The following numbers are suggested for the values to be set:

Cost factor: The following tariffs are available for Deutsche Telekom AG:

free (internal) 0 City tariff 1 Region 50 2 Region 200 3rd Remote tariff 4th Euro 1 6th Euro 2 7th no limit (world 4) 9 Border area vis-à-vis 1 51 Border area vis-à-vis 2 52 Border area vis-à-vis 3 53 Euro City 54 World 1 81 World 2 82 World 3 83

Information type: (for setting "Info" and for devices that cannot be clearly verified)

Info (callback number only) 0 announcement 1 conversation 2 Fax group 3 3rd Fax group 4 4th Text (alphanumeric) 5 Data (free format) (free for other types: 7, 8, 9) 6th

Priority: The specification of a so-called priority serves the following purposes:

• - Advance information for the partner ("business" / "private")
• - Restriction of the device types ("confidential": not via an intercom)
• - Overriding a presetting ("urgent": with presetting "quiet" or room When using "Meeting" the call is received anyway shown).

These three details can be freely combined with one another and together form the priority. The following values are provided:

urgent, business 1 urgent, private 2 urgent, confidential, sch. 3rd urgent, confidential, private (free for your own coding: 0, 9) 4th confidential, business 5 confidential, private 6th business 7th Private 8th

Own device address:
In the case of an outgoing call, the calling entity cannot always be clearly identified. In order to avoid the necessary dialogue with the possible mobile radio stations (see example below, menu B3), your own device address can be used. This additional information is not followed by any further input.

Special device address and instance address:
If your own device address cannot be transmitted and your own instance address cannot or should not be transmitted via the mobile radio station or a desired callback is to be made under a different number, a special device or instance address can be specified for the callback . Since the addresses have different lengths, they must be specified as the last piece of additional information or terminated with a separator.

The following example is intended to illustrate the input options:
(The separator * is generally used for better readability)

Addresses:

A - Instance "Department A at a workplace": 0049 30 123456 812 # B - instance "known B": 0049 30 123456 9325 # C - "Boss" instance: 004930 1234569333 # D - "Supervisor of department A" instance: 004930 1234569812 E - private telephone number: (device address) 0049 30 7654321

Addressing and additional information:

Telephone call E → A: 123456 812 # (next freelancer) Fax E → A: 123456 812 * 13 # (Information type "Fax Group 3") E → B: 123456 9325 # (normal call) E → B, B in discussion: 123456 9325 * 21 # ("urgent business" priority) B → E: 0 7654321 # (sender not to be transmitted) B → C: 9333 * 4 # (own device address for callback) C → A, announcement from the boss: 812 * 11 # (information type "announcement") C → B, callback "superior": 9325 * 6 9812 # (sender instance "superior") C → B, callback only: 9325 * 10 # (sender via mobile radio station, see example menu B3)

configuration

The system must first be configured for use. In doing so, the individual Devices their respective addresses, type classification and position information. The stationary Radio stations can, as far as possible, via the control center (e.g. using the "reverse address resolu tion protocoli "- RARP) or otherwise configured via a PC interface. The mobile radio stations are configured via the infrared interface.

Use in practice

In practice, all employees who should be reachable via the system receive one each configured, mobile radio station. This can then be used at any time to charge the battery to ei be exchanged at a charging station. When exchanging all information about taken (identification address, callback list and manual settings), whereby an un complicated procedure e.g. B. is made possible before each start of work. Likewise, a The radio stations are exchanged between employees, which means that when a corresponding Discharge the management staff is spared a trip to the charging station. In a sick person house, for example, could be a doctor who once again forgot to charge his radio station or to exchange his (almost) discharged device with the device of a nurse who will soon pass a charging station anyway, swap. The remaining charge must be of course, sufficient for the necessary communication between the devices. To one To avoid data loss in the event of complete discharge or when changing the battery, the data should be saved in stored in a flash PROM.

Operation of the mobile radio stations

Referring to the left exemplary embodiment of a mobile radio station in Fig. 2 with a two-line display and three control buttons, menu-controlled operation is proposed. The lower line shows the possible menu options that can be selected with the three buttons. The symbols "←", "| ←" and "|| ←" identify the key for jumping back to a higher-level menu. The symbols "←" and "→" identify the keys for shifting the text on overlong lines. The arrows disappear when the beginning or end of the text is reached or are replaced by their standard assignment. The code numbers below the display indicate the next menu.

Ready mode: (B)

When a call is made to a device address, All will appear the mobile radio stations that are in ready mode (for all in the vicinity of the Persons standing on the telephone) menu B2.

Incoming call with previous query: (menu B2b)

Please note the double assignment of the middle button: If you press it once, the Call accepted (the call is transferred to the set shown on the display posed, d. H. the phone "rings") if you press it twice, the conversation is canceled for a late one callback rejected. This enables the device to be operated without paying attention to the Display, because the middle button is raised and can also be used in a shirt pocket, for example can be. The right button is used to reject the call without entering it in the callback list.

Outgoing call (menu B3)

If a call is made without specifying the own device or instance address, it is appears at all mobile radio stations in question that are in standby mode (for everyone standing near the phone) menu B3. The one who the conversation is actually going on, can first select a special sender address in order to z. B. to enable immediate transfer for a callback. After confirming the The sender address or after the connection is established is automatically assigned to all mobile Radio stations jumped back to menu B1. To begin with an ambiguity To be able to close, the menu can also be selected before lifting the handset. To distinguish between manual and automatic specification of the sender address, the sender name or the sender address can be used in the call menu.

Callback list: (R)

All calls that have been rejected are saved in the callback list. The recall is carried out by lifting the handset (menu R2), after which menu H resp. B1 is jumped back.

Claims (4)

1. Communication system for the purpose of establishing dial-up connections between entities Transmission of information, whereby the entity that wants to establish a connection instead of the usual device addressing, person-oriented or instantaneous can use oriented addressing. The whereabouts of the remote station or the Device address, which allow conclusions to be drawn about the whereabouts, must be connected The establishment-building authority must not be known. 2. Communication system according to claim 1, which also instead of setting up a connection the device address (such as with ISDN) announces the instance address to the partner. 3. Communication system according to claim 1, which gives the calling entity the opportunity to specify a maximum allowable cost factor for the connection, since the connection away depending on the location of the called entity with the same addressing can be and thus different tariffs are possible. 4. Communication system according to claim 1, which allows the called entity various options for restricting connections:

• 4.1 General rejection (for meetings or during leisure time)
• 4.2 Rejection of specific addresses. (Restriction to one group of people)
• 4.3 Restriction to certain device types (e.g. to reject confidential calls via an intercom)
• 4.4 Signaling a connection request in a discrete way for manual rejection in certain situations. (For example, connection requests should first be signaled acoustically and visually and only after confirmation from the person called does the phone closest to him / her ring. A rejection does not have to be made during the call.)