Alcatel

Alcatel Alsthom Compagnie Generale D'electricite

Alcatel Lucent

Alcatel N.v.

Alcatel Sel Aktiengesellschaft

Uwe Stahl

Wolfgang Lautenschlager

Hartmut Weik

Lothar Krank

Matthias M Horrer

Harald Orlam&uuml;nder

Stephan G Rupp

Gerd Siegmund

Franz-Josef Banet

Nina Köstering

Gerhard Tessmar

Rudiger Falkner

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 of listening in to calls between two or more subscribers of a communications network comprising one or more IP networks as well as to a listening server, a call control server, and an IP router for carrying out the method. When the listening server detects a request to monitor one of the subscribers, it determines at least one call control server assigned to the subscriber. Further, at least one IP router is determined which is responsible for a network access point of the subscriber to the IP network or IP networks. The listening server causes the at least one determined call control server to acquire call data associated with calls in which the subscriber is involved. Further, the at least one determined IP router is caused to acquire contents data associated with calls in which the subscriber is involved.

Method of listening in to calls

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 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

The invention concerns a method for controlling the setting-up of a communication connection by a communication network (TELENET), as well as a service unit for implementing the method. During the call set-up a service request message (SR) for requesting an IN service is transmitted to a network server (SCP to SCP ) if the communication connection that is to be set up fulfils predetermined trigger conditions. The service request message (SR) transmitted to the network server (SCP to SCP ) is classified by a service unit (SSP; LLIN) as essential or non-essential. The operability of the network server is monitored by the service unit (SSP; LLIN). If the service unit (SSP; LLIN) determines that the operability of the network server (SCP to SCP ) is impaired, it initiates the further call set-up of the communication connections if it has classified the service request message (SR) as non-essential and initiates the termination of the further call set-up of the communication connections if it has classified the service request message (SR) as essential.

Service unit using essential and non-essential service request message classifications

The invention concerns a method of charging for the use of an internet service (SERV) by a subscriber of a communications network (KN), plus a service unit (SERV_IN) of this communications network and a service provider unit (SERVU) which furnishes the internet service (SERV). The subscriber accesses the internet service (SERV) by means of a terminal (TE) of the communications network. Establishing a communication connection between the terminal (TE) and the internet (INT) triggers the service unit (SERV_IN) of the communications network (KN). When the internet service (SERV) is accessed via this communication connection, an additional control connection (KOMM) is established between the internet service (SERV) and the service unit (SERV_IN). Fee charging data which identify the fees for the use of the internet service by the subscriber are transmitted to the service unit (SERV_IN) of the communications network (KN) via the control connection (KOMM), and the service unit (SERV_IN) of the communications network (KN) then controls the charging of the fees in the communications network (KN).

Method of charging for the use of an internet service plus a service control unit and a service provider unit

A method for setting up a telecommunications connection from a calling subscriber (A) to a called subscriber (B) who is assigned to a numbering-plan area (AREA ) shared by two or several subscriber line networks (KN , KN , KN ) of different network operators (OP , OP , OP ) as well as a communications network (KN ) and a service control point (SCP) for implementing the method. A call request (CR) from subscriber line network (OP ) of the calling subscriber is routed to the communications network (KN ), which is assigned to a long distance carrier (OP ), and the connection between the calling subscriber (A) and the called subscriber (B) is set up via this communications network (KN ). The arrival of the call request (CR) at the communications network (KN ) of the long distance carrier (OP ) triggers an IN service. The IN service executes for the call request both an access monitoring function that monitors access to the communications network (KN ) of the long distance carrier (OP ) and a number portability function that determines the subscriber line network (KN ) of the called subscriber (B).

Connection setup method, service control point, and communications network

The invention concerns a method of establishing a connection via a communications network to a called terminal (TE) which is geographically located in the area (AREA) of two or more local line networks (LNA to LNC), as well as an exchange and a service control point for carrying out this establishment of a connection. A calling terminal requests a connection to the called terminal (TE) by means of a call request (CALL(N)) which is provided with a called number (N) assigned to the called terminal (TE). To establish the connection, that of the two or more local line networks (LNA to LNC) via which the called terminal (TE) can be reached, is determined by means of a learning procedure using the called number (N).

Method of establishing a connection, as well as an exchange and a service control point

A communication terminal (MT) is equipped with a first communication unit (KOM,) for communicating with radio network base stations (DECTS) via a first radio interface (RI,), and with a second communication unit (KOM,) for communicating with a mobile radio network (MN) via a second radio interface (RI,). The terminal (MT) determines whether it has moved into the range covered by the radio network base stations. If it has moved into the range (RADECT) covered by a selected radio network base station (DECTS), it initiates a switch-over of the network-side routing of connection requests which are directed to the terminal (MT), and routes them via the selected radio network base station (DECTS). The initiation of the switch-over takes place by signalling the mobile radio network (MN).

Method of controlling call routing and a communication terminal

The invention concerns a method of making changes in a directory number administration (DNA), a directory number administration facility whereby changes are made in accordance with this method, and a method for providing a directory number administration service via such a directory number administration. The directory number administration (DNA) manages the assignment of a quantity of subscriber stations to call numbers. To make a change in this assignment, a change order is entered into the directory number administration and the change takes place when the change order is executed by the directory number administration (DNA). However the change order is not executed immediately by the directory number administration (DNA) when a change order is entered. A connection is established between a subscriber terminal (TE) and the directory number administration (DNA), and a trigger message (TRIG) is sent from the subscriber terminal (TE) to the directory number administration (DNA) via the established connection. The execution of the change order is finally released when the trigger message (TRIG) is received.

Method of making changes in a directory number administration, and directory number administration facility

The invention relates to a method of providing charge information and to a service control unit (SCP) for carrying out the method. During the establishment of a call from a calling subscriber (A) to a called subscriber (B), the service control unit (SCP) is triggered. From a plurality of network operators (OP,to OP,) to whose tariff model data it has access, the service control unit (SCP) selects one or more network operators that provide a service for the call. Based on the tariff model data of the selected network operator or the selected network operators and on data about the calling and called subscribers (A, B), the service control unit (SCP) calculates a tariff for the call. It sends a signaling message (SM) containing a tariff identification assigned to the tariff to the terminal exchange (SUBSW) of the calling subscriber (A), which then sends charge information (SCP) to the calling subscriber (A) according to the tariff identification received from the service control unit (SCP).

Charge information method

A requesting terminal signals a call request (CALL) to a control unit of a first communications network. The control unit then determines whether sufficient capacity is available in the first communications network to establish the connection requested by the call request. In the event of insufficient capacity, the control unit transmits an overload message (DAT) to the requesting terminal. It only initiates an alternative establishment of the requested connection via another, second communications network after it receives an acknowledge message (ACK) issued by the requesting terminal.

Method of establishing a connection as well as an exchange, service computer and communications network

For the establishment of a call in a communications network (KN), one of two or more different subscriber identifications (UA) which all address the called subscriber (B) is sent from a terminal (T1) of a calling subscriber (A) to a service unit (SU) of the communications network (KN). The service unit (SU) accesses a database (DB) which manages different types of subscriber identifications (UA) and in which groups of two or more different subscriber identifications are assigned to one called subscriber (B) each. Via the database access, the service unit (SU) determines from the received subscriber identification (UA) a network address (RN) assigned to the called subscriber (B) which addresses a terminal (T2) of the called subscriber (B) in the communications network (KN). The call between the calling subscriber (A) and the called subscriber (B) is then established by means of the network address (RN).

Growing community of inventors

Leonberg, Germany

Uwe Stahl