Alcatel

Alcatel Alsthom Compagnie Generale D'electricite

Alcatel Lucent

Alcatel N.v.

Hartmut Weik

Wolfgang Lautenschlager

Uwe Stahl

Lothar Krank

Stephan G Rupp

Franz-Josef Banet

Heike Felbecker-Janho

Manfred Weiss

Johannes Schmechel

Nina Köstering

Rudiger Falkner

Manfred Laube

Sebastian Schoen

The invention relates to a method to provide an operator selection service for subscribers of a communications network (CN'), wherein the subscribers terminals (T, T, . . . , Tn) are connected to one local exchange (ILEX) of a first operator, wherein said local exchange (ILEX) detects, whether call handling of an incoming call request is to be performed within network devices of said first operator or to be passed to a second operator, wherein, if a call is to be passed to the second operator, the local exchange (ILEX) identifies the calling address and the called address and sends a call information (M) comprising said addresses to a call server (LS, LS) of the second operator, the call server (LS, LS) sends back a connection request (M) to establish a call connection between selected terminals (T, T, . . . , Tn) over a determined fixed connection (TC, TC) connecting an outgoing trunk (X, Y) and an incoming trunk (X, Y) of said local exchange (ILEX) and the local exchange (ILEX) establishes the requested call connection over said determined connection (TC, TC), and also to a communications network (CN&#x2032;) and a call server (LS, LS) therefore.

Method to provide an operator selection service as well as a communications network and a call server therefore

The invention relates to a method for transferring a call between a telecommunications network and a data network. Between the data network and the telecommunications network an internetwork computer (gateway) is arranged, by which voice data of the call is converted from a format used in the telecommunications network into a format used in the data network, and conversely. Signaling data of the call is processed by a data processing device arranged in the data network. In order to make full use of the available functions of a signaling channel in telecommunications networks, even with voice connections that are partially over a data network, it is proposed that the signaling data be transferred bit-transparently between the gateway and the data processing device.

Method for transferring a call between a telecommunications network and a data network

The invention concerns a method of providing a client () transparent access to storage space administrated by a storage service, as well as a client () and a storage system for performing this method. Data are exchanged between the client () and the storage system () providing the storage service via a communication network (). A client () invokes the storage service for providing the storage space. The storage space associated with the client () is located within the storage system (). A secure connection is established between the client () and a storage device () of the storage system () dedicated to store data assigned to said storage space. Data assigned to the storage space is stored in encrypted form in said storage device ().

Storage service

The invention concerns a method for supporting the communication of information via a communications system, as well as a service unit, an electronic agent, software products and servers for supporting the communication of information via a communications system which comprises communications networks of two or more network operators. The service unit passes a request for the communication of information to two or more electronic agents which interact with the service unit within the framework of a virtual electronic marketplace for information communication. The service unit prompts the electronic agents, once or several times, through interaction within the framework of the electronic marketplace for information, to submit offers for the execution of the requested communication of information. An offer submitted by one of the electronic agents in response to such a prompt, through interaction within the framework of the electronic marketplace for information, is confirmed to this electronic agent by the service unit, and the service unit initiates the communication of the information via the communications network of the assigned network operator. The electronic agent communicates to a network management unit of the assigned network operator negotiated conditions for the transmission of the information.

Method for supporting the communication of information via a communications system

The invention concerns a method of managing energy consumed by a group of energy consuming devices (to) and energy consuming devices (to) for executing this method. Energy consuming devices (to) of the group of energy consuming devices exchange messages according to an energy management control protocol via a communication media (). The energy management control protocol comprises an energy booking message type for announcing future energy consumption, an energy reduction indication message type for announcing possible reduction of energy consumption and a granting message type for granting an energy booking message and/or an energy reduction indication. The energy consuming devices (to) negotiate their energy consumption by means of the messages exchanged according to the energy management control protocol and control their energy consumption according to the result of this negotiation.

Power consumption management method

The present invention concerns a method for data transmission with assured quality of service, as well as a gateway program module (GWM) for it, a front-end facility program module (VVM) for it, a terminal program module (EM) for it, a gateway (UAG) for it, a front-end facility (INA) for it and a terminal (TERA) for it. According to the method, a terminal (TERA, TELA) requests from a gateway (UAG), connected to a data network (INT), a communication connection to a communication partner facility (TELB) with at least one predefined quality of service. The gateway (UAG) then requests from the data network (INT) the communication connection with the at least one predefined quality of service. The gateway (UAG) establishes the communication connection via the data network (INT) if the data network (INT) can provide at least the at least one predefined quality of service for the communication connection, or via a switched telecommunication network (PSTN), in particular, switching assured physical and/or logical communication connections, unless the data network (INT) can provide at least the at least one predefined quality of service for the communication connection.

Method, devices and program modules for data transmission with assured quality of service

The invention concerns a method for identifying the call of a subscriber calling, via a telecommunication network, a destination telecommunication device, in particular, a destination terminal of a called subscriber, a destination program module for it, a destination telecommunication device for it, a network device program module for it, a network device for it, a source program module for it and a source telecommunication device for it. According to the method, upon setup of a call connection, identification data for identification of the caller is transmitted to the destination telecommunication device. The destination telecommunication device outputs the identification data. It is proposed that the destination telecommunication device receives the identification data within a call setup signalling message and that the destination telecommunication device outputs the identification data, or output data generated from it, as acoustic and/or visual and/or mechanical call signals instead of an acoustic ringer tone selected by the destination telecommunication device.

Method and devices for call identification

The invention relates to a method of supporting the establishment of a telephone call from a calling terminal (TE ) through an IP network (IPNET) to a telephone terminal (TE ) of a telephone network (TELENET ), to a server (SERV) of an IP network, and to a computer product (CP) for carrying out the method. To route the call through the IP network (IPNET), the server (SERV) of the IP network (IPNET) is contacted, which controls the routing of the call through the IP network (IPNET). If the server (SERV) determines that the call is directed to a telephone terminal (TE to TE ) of a telephone network (TELENET , TELENET ), it will contact a server (NPS) of this telephone network (TELENET ). The server (SERV) of the IP network will request from the server (NPS) of the telephone network number portability information about the telephone terminal (TE ) to which the call is directed. Based on the requested number portability information, the server (SERV) of the IP network will determine from a set of VOIP gateways (GW , GW ) available between the IP network (IPNET) and the telephone network (TELENET ) that gateway (GW ) through which the call (VCON) is to be routed into the telephone network (TELENET ), and initiate the routing of the call through this VOIP gateway (GW ) into the telephone network (TELENET ).

Server for supporting the establishment of telephone calls through an IP network

Method for routing service calls in a telecommunication network, as well as a telecommunication network, switching center and program module therefor

The invention relates to a process for providing the subscriber number of the calling subscriber in connection requests routed from a private communications network (PRNET) into a public communications network (PUBNET), and to a service unit (SCP) and a private communications network (PRNET) for the implementation of the process. The service unit (SCP) of the public communications network is triggered for a connection request routed from the private communications network (PRNET) into the public communications network (PUBNET) if the connection request is routed from the private communications network (PRNET) into the public communications network (PUBNET) in a local network area (AREA to AREA ) which does not correspond to the local network area (AREA ) assigned to the calling subscriber (A). If the service unit (SCP) is triggered for such a connection request, it determines the local network area code assigned to the calling subscriber (A) and ensures that this code is entered in the connection request as local network area code of the calling subscriber.

Process for providing the subscriber number of the calling subscriber, service unit, and private communication network

A device and process for receiving and/or forwarding electronic mail (&equals;e-mail) are characterised in that, in the case of all the e-mail messages ( ) incoming in a receiving unit ( ), information is extracted automatically in accordance with predetermined search criteria, that as a function of the extracted information and predetermined assignment criteria, an automatic assignment of the incoming e-mail to at least one of a plurality of addresses takes place, and that the incoming e-mail is automatically stored in a storage area ( ) designated by the corresponding address(es) or forwarded to the address(es). In this way the incoming e-mail can be automatically pre-sorted and appropriately stored or forwarded to assigned addresses without the user having to perform manual tasks or the subsequent processing via a macro of the e-mail which has already arrived and been stored in a mailbox. (FIG. 1)

Device for automatically processing incoming electronic mail (&equals;e-mail)

A method and apparatus for establishing a connection from a calling A-subscriber to a called B-subscriber in a telecommunications TC network that offers IN (&equals;Intelligent Network) services, in particular in a multi-operator environment with IN-supported telephone number portability, is characterized in that upon determination of the target address of the called B-subscriber, a service requested for the current call by the calling A-subscriber is simultaneously compared to a stored service profile of the called B-subscriber and in the event of a determined incompatibility, a corresponding negative release message is sent to the calling A-subscriber. This permits the calling A-subscriber, before a possibly pointless connection is made to a called B-subscriber, who does not offer the services desired by the A-subscriber at all, to not even make the connection in the first place, which would be pointless for the calling A-subscriber.

Compatibility server with in-supported telephone number portablility

A method for procuring instructions regarding a target subscriber in a telecommunication network, who cannot be reached via the subscriber number dialed at a source terminal (TSRC). By dialing the subscriber number at the source terminal, a connection (CON , CON ) is established from the source terminal via a first nodal point (XSRC)&mdash;which can be connected with an intelligent network unit (SCP)&mdash;to a second nodal point (XDEST). The second nodal point sends the first nodal point an answer message that the desired subscriber number cannot be reached. The connection on a section (CON ) to the first nodal point is released, and after receiving the answer message, the first nodal point requests instructions from the intelligent network unit regarding the target subscriber unable to be reached via the dialed subscriber number. Using the instructions, the first nodal point supplies a speech announcement to the source terminal or it executes the instructions for charging. Nodal points (XSRC, XDEST) for this method are also disclosed.

Method for procuring instructions regarding a target subscriber in a telecommunication network and nodal points for this

The invention relates to a method for establishing a connection, an exchange and a service computer for carrying out the method and a communications network for establishing connections according to the method. A requesting terminal (TEA) signals a call request (CALL) to a control unit of a first communication network (NET,). The control unit then determines if sufficient free capacity is available in the first communication network (NET,) for establishing the connection requested by the call request. If the capacity is insufficient, then the control unit initiates an alternate setup of the requested connection via a different second communication network (NET,) based on the parameters (PA) assigned to the requesting terminal (TEA).

Growing community of inventors

Stuttgart, Germany

Hartmut Weik