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Claims  |
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We claim:
1. An apparatus comprising:
a plurality of communication ports each addressable by an extension number;
and
means responsive to receipt of an extension number at an individual one of
the ports for assigning the received extension number to serve as an
address of the one port.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the assigning means include:
means for determining whether a port has an extension number assigned
thereto; and
means responsive to receipt of an extension number at an individual one of
the ports and a determination by the determining means that the one port
does not have an extension number assigned thereto, for assigning the
received extension number to the one port.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising
means responsive to receipt of a predetermined signal at an individual one
of the ports having an assigned extension number, for freeing the
extension number from its assignment to the one port.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein
the assigning means include:
means responsive to a first signal received at an individual one of the
ports, for determining whether the one port has an extension number
assigned thereto;
means responsive to a determination that the one port does not have an
extension number assigned thereto, for sending a second signal from the
one port to elicit supplying of an extension number for the one port to
the apparatus; and
means responsive to receipt at the one port of an extension number elicited
by the second signal, for assigning the received extension number to the
one port.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the assigning means further include:
means responsive to a determination that the one port has an extension
number assigned thereto, for sending a third signal from the one port to
elicit supplying of a response signal to the apparatus;
means responsive to receipt at the one port of the response signal, for
determining whether the response signal is a predetermined signal; and
means responsive to a determination that the response signal is the
predetermined signal, for freeing the extension number assigned to the one
port from the assignment to the one port.
6. The method of claim 4 wherein the step of assigning further includes the
steps of:
sending a third signal from the one port to elicit supplying of a response
signal, in response to a determination that the one port has an extension
number assigned thereto;
determining whether the response signal is a predetermined signal, in
response to receipt at the one port of the response signal; and
freeing the extension number assigned to the one port from assignment to
the one port, in response to a determination that the response signal is
the predetermined signal.
7. A communication switch comprising:
a plurality of communication ports addressable by extension numbers and for
interfacing communication lines to the switch;
means for switching communications among the plurality of ports in response
to communication destination extension numbers;
memory means for storing a plurality of translation tables each associated
with and addressed by a different extension number and having an entry for
identifying a port to which the associated extension number is presently
assigned; and
means responsive to receipt of an extension number at an individual one of
the ports, for causing the entry of the translation table associated with
the received extension number to identify the one port.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising:
means responsive to receipt of a predetermined signal at an individual one
of the ports having an assigned extension number, for causing the entry of
the translation table associated with the assigned extension number to
cease identifying a port.
9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein
the entry-causing means include:
means responsive to a first signal received at an individual one of the
ports, for determining whether the entry of any of the translation tables
identifies the one port;
means responsive to a determination that the entry of none of the
translation tables identifies the one port, for sending a second signal
from the one port to elicit supplying of an extension number for the one
port to the apparatus;
means responsive to receipt at the one port of an extension number elicited
by the second signal, for determining whether a translation table is
associated with the received extension number; and
means responsive to a determination that a translation table is associated
with the received extension number, for causing the entry of the
translation table associated with the received extension number to
identify the one port.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein
the entry-causing means further include:
means responsive to the entry of the translation table being caused to
identify the one port, for sending a third signal from the one port to
confirm assignment of the received extension number to the one port.
11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein
the means for sending a second signal comprise:
means responsive to a determination that the entry of none of the
translation tables identifies the one port, for sending a third signal
from the one port to elicit supplying of a password to the apparatus;
means responsive to receipt of a password elicited by the third signal, for
determining whether the received password is valid; and
means responsive to a determination that the received password is valid,
for sending the second signal from the one port to elicit supplying of an
extension number for the one port to the apparatus.
12. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein
the entry-causing means further include:
means responsive to a determination that the entry of a translation table
identifies the one port, for sending a third signal from the one port to
elicit supplying of a response signal to the apparatus;
means responsive to receipt at the one port of the response signal, for
determining whether the response signal is a predetermined signal; and
means responsive to a determination that the response signal is the
predetermined signal, for causing the entry of the translation table that
identifies the one port to cease identifying the one port.
13. A method of assigning an extension number to a communication port of an
apparatus having a plurality of communication ports each addressable by an
extension number, comprising the steps of:
receiving an extension number at an individual one of the ports; and
assigning the received extension number to serve as an address of the one
port, in response to receiving the extension number.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of assigning includes the steps
of:
determining whether the one port has an extension number assigned thereto;
and
assigning the received extension number to the one port, in response to a
determination that the one port does not have an extension number assigned
thereto.
15. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of
freeing the extension number from its assignment to the one port, in
response to receipt of a predetermined signal at the one port having the
assigned extension number.
16. The method of claim 13 wherein
the step of assigning includes the steps of:
determining whether the one port has an extension number assigned thereto,
in response to a first signal received at the one port;
sending a second signal from the one port to elicit supplying of an
extension number for the one port, in response to a determination that the
one port does not have an extension number assigned thereto; and
assigning an extension number elicited by the second signal to the one
port, in response to receipt at the one port of the elicited extension
number.
17. A method of assigning an extension number to a communication port of an
apparatus having a plurality of communication ports each addressable by an
extension number, comprising the steps of:
establishing a communication connection to the system through an individual
one of the ports;
sending an extension number that is to be assigned to the one port via the
communication connection to the system;
receiving the sent extension number at the one port; and
assigning the received extension number to serve as the address of the one
port, in response to receipt of the extension number at the one port.
18. A method of assigning an extension number to a port of a communication
apparatus having a plurality of ports, comprising the steps of:
initiating a call to the apparatus from a terminal connected to an
individual one of the ports that does not have an extension number
assigned thereto;
in response to receipt of a prompt from the apparatus at the terminal via
the initiated call, supplying the apparatus with the extension number from
the terminal via the initiated call, to cause the apparatus to assign the
extension number to the one port; and
terminating the call.
19. The method of claim 18 further comprising the steps of:
initiating a second call to the apparatus from a terminal connected to an
individual one of the ports that has an extension number assigned thereto;
in response to receipt of a prompt from the apparatus at the terminal via
the initiated second call, supplying the apparatus from the terminal via
the initiated second call with a signal to cause the apparatus to free the
assigned extension number from the assignment to the one port; and
terminating the second call.
20. The method of claim 18 further comprising the steps of:
initiating a second call to the apparatus from a terminal connected to a
port;
in response to receipt of a prompt from the apparatus at the terminal via
the initiated second call, supplying the apparatus from the terminal via
the initiated second call with both an extension number that is assigned
to an individual one of the ports and a signal to cause the apparatus to
free the assigned extension number from the assignment to the one port;
and
terminating the second call.
21. An apparatus comprising:
a plurality of addressable communication ports;
means responsive to a first signal received at an individual one of the
ports, for determining whether the one port has an address assigned
thereto;
means responsive to a determination that the one port does not have an
address assigned thereto, for sending a second signal from the one port to
elicit supplying of an address for the one port to the apparatus;
means responsive to receipt at the one port of an address elicited by the
second signal, for assigning the received address to the one port;
means responsive to a determination that the one port has an address
assigned thereto, for sending a third signal from the one port to elicit
supplying of a response signal to the apparatus;
means responsive to receipt at the one port of the response signal, for
determining whether the response signal is a predetermined signal; and
means responsive to a determination that the response signal is the
predetermined signal, for freeing the address assigned to the one port
from the assignment to the one port.
22. A communication switch comprising:
a plurality of addressable communication ports for interfacing
communication lines to the switch;
means for switching communications among the plurality of ports in response
to communication destination addresses;
memory means for storing a plurality of translation tables each associated
with a different address and having an entry for identifying a port to
which the associated address is assigned;
means responsive to a first signal received at an individual one of the
ports, for determining whether the entry of any of the translation tables
identifies the one port;
means responsive to a determination that the entry of none of the
translation tables identifies the one port, for sending a second signal
from the one port to elicit supplying of an address for the one port to
the apparatus;
means responsive to receipt at the one port of an address elicited by the
second signal, for determining whether a translation table is associated
with the received address; and
means responsive to a determination that a translation table is associated
with the received address, for causing the entry of the translation table
associated with the received address to identify the one port.
23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein
the entry-causing means further include:
means responsive to the entry of the translation table being caused to
identify the one port, for sending a third signal from the one port to
confirm assignment of the received address to the one port.
24. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein
the means for sending a second signal comprise:
means responsive to a determination that the entry of none of the
translation tables identifies the one port, for sending a third signal
from the one port to elicit supplying of a password to the apparatus;
means responsive to receipt of a password elicited by the third signal, for
determining whether the received password is valid; and
means responsive to a determination that the received password is valid,
for sending the second signal from the one port to elicit supplying of an
address for the one port to the apparatus.
25. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein
the entry-causing means further include:
means responsive to a determination that the entry of a translation table
identifies the one port, for sending a third signal from the one port to
elicit supplying of a response signal to the apparatus;
means responsive to receipt at the one port of the response signal, for
determining whether the response signal is a predetermined signal; and
means responsive to a determination that the response signal is the
predetermined signal, for causing the entry of the translation table that
identifies the one port to cease identifying the one port.
26. A method of administering a communication apparatus having a plurality
of ports addressable by extension numbers, comprising the steps of:
establishing a communication connection to the system through an individual
one of the ports; and
sending an extension number that is to be assigned to serve as an address
of the one port via the communication connection to the system to cause
the system to receive the sent extension number at the one port and to
assign the extension number to the one port.
27. An apparatus comprising:
a plurality of communication ports each addressable by an extension number;
memory means for storing a plurality of translation tables each associated
with and addressed by a different extension number and having an entry for
identifying a port to which the associated extension number is presently
assigned; and
means responsive to receipt of an extension number for an individual one of
the ports, for causing the entry of the translation table associated with
the received extension number to identify the one port.
28. The apparatus of claim 27 further comprising:
means responsive to receipt of a predetermined signal for an individual one
of the ports having an assigned extension number, for causing the entry of
the translation table associated with the assigned extension number to
cease identifying a port.
29. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein
the entry-causing means include:
means responsive to a first signal received at an individual one of the
ports, for determining whether the entry of any of the translation tables
identifies the one port;
means responsive to a determination that the entry of none of the
translation tables identifies the one port, for sending a second signal
from the one port to elicit supplying of an extension number for the one
port to the apparatus;
means responsive to receipt at the one port of an extension number elicited
by the second signal, for determining whether a translation table is
associated with the received extension number; and
means responsive to a determination that a translation table is associated
with the received extension number, for causing the entry of the
translation table associated with the received extension number to
identify the one port.
30. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein
the entry-causing means further include:
means responsive to the entry of the translation table being caused to
identify the one port, for sending a third signal from the one port to
confirm assignment of the received extension number to the one port.
31. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein
the means for sending second signal comprise:
means responsive to a determination that the entry of none of the
translation tables identifies the one port, for sending a third signal
from the one port to elicit supplying of a password to the apparatus;
means responsive to receipt of a password elicited by the third signal, for
determining whether the received password is valid; and
means responsive to a determination that the received password is valid,
for sending the second signal from the one port to elicit supplying of an
extension number for the one port to the apparatus.
32. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein
the entry-causing means further include:
means responsive to a determination that the entry of a translation table
identifies the one port, for sending a third signal from the one port to
elicit supplying of a response signal to the apparatus;
means responsive to receipt at the one port of the response signal, for
determining whether the response signal is a predetermined signal; and
means responsive to a determination that the response signal is the
predetermined signal, for causing the entry of the translation table that
identifies the one port to cease identifying the one port.
33. A method of assigning an extension number to a communication port of an
apparatus having a plurality of communication ports each addressable by an
extension number and a plurality of translation tables each associated
with and addressed by a different extension number and having an entry for
identifying a port to which the associated extension number is presently
assigned, comprising the steps of:
receiving an extension number for an individual one of the ports; and
causing the entry of the translation table associated with the received
extension number to identify the one port thereby to assign the received
extension number as an address to the one port, in response to receiving
the extension number.
34. The method of claim 33 further comprising the step of:
causing the entry of the translation table associated with the assigned
extension number to cease identifying a port, in response to receipt of a
predetermined signal for the one port having the assigned extension
number.
35. The method of claim 33 wherein
the step of causing includes the steps of:
determining whether the entry of any of the translation tables identifies
the one port, in response to a first signal received at the one port;
sending a second signal from the one port to elicit supplying of an
extension number for the one port, in response to a determination that the
entry of none of the translation tables identifies the one port;
determining whether a translation table is associated with an extension
number elicited by the second signal, in response to receipt at the one
port of the elicited extension number; and
causing the entry of the translation table associated with the received
extension number to identify the one port, in response to a determination
that a translation table is associated with the received extension number.
36. The method of claim 35 wherein
the step of causing further includes the step of:
sending a third signal from the one port to confirm assignment of the
received extension number to the one port, in response to the entry of the
translation table being caused to identify the one port.
37. The method of claim 35 wherein
the step of sending a second signal comprises the steps of:
sending a third signal from the one port to elicit supplying of a password,
in response to a determination that the entry of none of the translation
tables identifies the one port;
determining whether a password elicited by the third signal is valid, in
response to receipt of the elicited password; and
sending the second signal from the one port to elicit supplying of an
extension number for the one port, in response to a determination that the
received password is valid.
38. The method of claim 35 wherein
the step of causing further includes the steps of:
sending a third signal from the one port to elicit supplying of a response
signal, in response to a determination that the entry of a translation
table identifies the one port;
determining whether an elicited response signal is a predetermined signal,
in response to receipt at the one port of the elicited response signal;
and
causing the entry of the translation table that identifies the one port to
cease identifying the one port, in response to a determination that the
response signal is the predetermined signal.
39. A method of assigning an address to a communication port of an
apparatus having a plurality of addressable communication ports,
comprising the steps of:
determining whether an individual one of the ports has an address assigned
thereto, in response to a first signal received at the one port;
sending a second signal from the one port to elicit supplying of an address
for the one port, in response to a determination that the one port does
not have an address assigned thereto;
assigning an address elicited by the second signal to the one port, in
response to receipt at the one port of the elicited address;
sending a third signal from the one port to elicit supplying of a response
signal, in response to a determination that the one port has an address
assigned thereto;
determining whether the response signal is a predetermined signal, in
response to receipt at the one port of the response signal; and
freeing the address assigned to the one port from the assignment to the one
port, in response to a determination that the response signal is the
predetermined signal.
40. A method of assigning an address to a communication port of a
communication switch having a plurality of addressable communication ports
for interfacing communication lines to the switch, an arrangement for
switching communications among the plurality of ports in response to
communication destination addresses, and a memory for storing a plurality
of translation tables each associated with a different address and having
an entry for identifying a port to which the associated address is
assigned, comprising the steps of:
determining whether the entry of any of the translation tables identifies
an individual one of the ports, in response to a first signal received at
the one port;
sending a second signal from the one port to elicit supplying of an address
for the one port, in response to a determination that the entry of none of
the translation tables identifies the one port;
determining whether a translation table is associated with an address
elicited by the second signal, in response to receipt at the one port of
the elicited address; and
causing the entry of the translation table associated with the received
address to identify the one port, in response to a determination that a
translation table is associated with the received address.
41. The method of claim 40 wherein
the step of causing further includes the step of:
sending a third signal from the one port to confirm assignment of the
received address to the one port, in response to the entry of the
translation table being caused to identify the one port.
42. The method of claim 40 wherein
the step of sending a second signal comprises the steps of:
sending a third signal from the one port to elicit supplying of a password,
in response to a determination that the entry of none of the translation
tables identifies the one port;
determining whether a password elicited by the third signal is valid, in
response to the receipt of the elicited password; and
sending the second signal from the one port to elicit supplying of an
address for the one port, in response to a determination that the received
password is valid.
43. The method of claim 40 wherein
the step of causing further includes the steps of:
sending a third signal from the one port to elicit supplying of a response
signal, in response to a determination that the entry of a translation
table identifies the one port;
determining whether the response signal is a predetermined signal, in
response to receipt at the one port of the response signal; and
causing the entry of the translation table that identifies the one port to
cease identifying the one port, in response to a determination that the
received response signal is the predetermined signal. |
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Claims |
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Description |
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TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention relates to communication systems in general, and particularly
relates to the administration of telecommunication systems.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The administration of a telecommunication system involves providing the
system with information that (a) specifies, for each extension, the system
port to which the extension is assigned, and (b) describes service
features associated with that extension. The former information is
conventionally referred to as a "hardware translation," while the latter
information is commonly referred to as a "software translation" or a
"terminal translation." The terminal translation typically specifies the
name of the user to whom the extension is assigned, the class(es) of
service and the class(es) of restriction to which the extension is
entitled, and the feature information about the user's terminal equipment
(e.g., does the terminal equipment communicate voice or data, does it use
multifrequency or message signaling, does it have a "send-all-calls"
feature button, etc.) Creating an association, or correspondence, between
a terminal translation and a system port is referred to as "linking" or
"hardware/software merging."
The system administration, done at system initialization, i.e., when the
system is first being provided with the translations, is referred to as
"provisioning." Linking is typically done as part of provisioning.
Subsequent changes made in the hardware translation are referred to as
"station moves." Station moves typically involve changes in linking.
Conventionally, provisioning is accomplished as follows: The communication
system vendor's personnel determine the customer's needs, and on the basis
thereof specify the system hardware and the terminal translations required
by the customer. Upon customer approval of the specifications, the
terminal translations, and an order for the hardware, are sent to the
vendor's or vendor's supplier's factory.
In one scenario, the factory builds the system, links the terminal
translations with the system ports, and provisions the system with the
linked translations. The customer's building is then wired accordingly.
Also, when the system is delivered to the customer's premises, the
building wiring is connected to the system in a manner that corresponds to
the linked translations.
Alternatively, the factory builds and supplies the system unprovisioned.
The building is wired and then connected to the system in any desired
manner, thereby defining the linking between system ports and terminal
translations. The linking is then specified based on the actual
connections, and the system is provisioned with linked translations. The
linking and provisioning task is typically done by a qualified system
administrator from an administrative console in a serial manner--one
extension at a time.
Once the connections to the system are made and the system is provisioned,
modifications are made in the connections and to the linked translations
to effect changes requested by the customer and to correct errors. Also,
the installation personnel run tests to make sure that each terminal is
connected to the correct port and that each port is linked with the
correct terminal translation, i.e., that the actual wiring matches the
provisioned linked translations. Subsequent station moves are accomplished
in the same manner.
As the above discussion shows, system administration is a
time-and-labor-intensive process. Administrative activities must be
performed in proper order, i.e., sequentially, and by skilled personnel.
The whole process is susceptible to errors, e.g., miswiring. And
implementation of customer changes requested since the order for the
system was placed may require significant system reconfiguration, and
typically is a further source of errors. Minimization and elimination of
errors in turn require the existence and use of provisioning support tools
and testing procedures, which are costly in time or money.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention is directed to solving this and other problems of the prior
art. Illustratively according to the invention, a communication system is
initially provisioned with unlinked terminal translations, and the linking
of terminal translations to ports is accomplished by the system
automatically, in response to initial calls--illustratively made by the
users themselves--each one of which calls informs the system of the
call-originating terminal's extension, and thereby specifies to the system
the requisite information for linking the terminal translation of the
originating terminal--and hence also its extension--with the call's
incoming port. Station moves are also accomplished automatically, through
similar calls. Generally according to the invention, in an apparatus, such
as a communication switch, that comprises a plurality of addressable
ports, linking of an address--such as an extension number--to a port is
accomplished by the apparatus automatically: the system receives an
address at one of its ports, and responds by assigning the received
address to the port at which the address was received. The port is
henceforth addressable by, i.e., accessible via, this address. This
process is repeated for each linking that needs to be accomplished. To
effect a station move, the system receives a predetermined signal at one
of its ports that has an assigned address, and responds by freeing the
assigned address from its assignment to the one port, thereby unlinking
the address from the port. Alternatively, the system receives a
predetermined signal and an assigned address at any one of its ports, and
responds by freeing the assigned address from its assignment to whichever
port it is actually assigned to. A new linking is then established in the
manner characterized above.
The invention offers numerous advantages. Provisioning of the system with
unlinked terminal translations may be done at the factory, thereby
avoiding the need to do so in the field using an expert administrator and
a serial process. Wiring of the customer's building and connection thereof
to the switching system may be done without concern for, and independent
of, linking, and hence may be done substantially arbitrarily.
(Substantially the only remaining concerns affecting connection of the
building wiring to the switch are that the correct type of port must be
connected to each line, i.e., analog to analog and digital to digital, and
that distribution of line connections among port circuit boards is needed
to reduce load balance problems). Because provisioning and wiring may be
done independently of each other, they may be done in parallel as opposed
to sequentially, thereby saving time between the placing of the order for
the system and completion of system installation. And because provisioning
and wiring are independent of each other, there is less opportunity for
miswiring the lines to the switch. Furthermore, customer changes in the
location of extensions (i.e., changes in which line is associated with
which extension) during the manufacture, delivery, and installation of the
system have no present effect on the system, and hence require no changes
in either translations or connections to be made. Consequently, these
changes do not contribute to errors, nor is any time or effort required to
physically effect them. Because the system performs linking automatically
and based on the actual system configuration, neither provisioning tools
to effect the linking, nor tests to determine whether wiring actually
corresponds to the linking, are required. And because linking is effected
by the mere placing of a call, provisioning and station moves may be
completed by the users themselves without intervention from a system
administrator. All of these advantages result in a communication system
that can be built, delivered, installed, and put to use faster yet at a
lower cost than conventional systems, and that can be reconfigured by the
system users themselves without assistance from a system administrator.
These and other features and advantages of the invention will become more
apparent from the following description of an illustrative embodiment of
the invention considered together with the drawing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an illustrative communication system which
uses an illustrative example of the invention;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of contents of the memory of the system of FIG.
1;
FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of modified actions of the conventional
call-processing functions of FIG. 2, and of user interactions therewith;
FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of the actions of the default call-processing
functions of FIG. 2, and of user interactions therewith; and
FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of the actions of the disassociation function of
FIG. 2, and of user interactions therewith.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
FIG. 1 shows an illustrative private telephone communication system. It
includes a plurality of phone jacks 140 that are physically located in
various places (e.g., in various rooms) on the premises of the
communications system owner. Various types of stations or terminals
170--such as analog and digital telephone station sets, data terminals,
and personal computers equipped with modems or AT&T PC/PBX circuit
cards--are plugged into jacks 140. Each jack 140 is connected by a
different one of a plurality of phone lines 100-130 through cross-connects
150 to a switch 160. Switch 160 is a private branch exchange (PBX) such as
an AT&T Definity.TM. or System 75 or 85. Switch 160 includes a
conventional switching fabric 161, a processor 163--including a memory
164--for controlling switching fabric 161, and a plurality of conventional
port circuits, or ports, 162 for interfacing switching fabric 161 to phone
lines 100-130 and to trunks 131 that connect switch 160 to other switches.
Turning to FIG. 2, memory 164 of processor 163 of switch 160 includes a
plurality of translation tables 200. Tables 200 are used to represent
translations--both hardware translations 204 and terminal translations
205--for extension numbers of the communication system of FIG. 1. There is
one table 200 for each active extension number. A table 200 includes an
entry 201 for storing the extension number to which it corresponds. It
also includes an entry 202 for storing the identity--the number--of the
one of the ports 162 to which the extension number is assigned. Entries
201 and 202 together form a hardware translation 204. A table 200 further
includes a plurality of entries 203 for storing information that specifies
the service features that are assigned to the extension number. These
include both the class-of-service and class-of-restriction to which the
extension number is assigned, as well as functional features of the
terminal 170 that is to be connected to the one of the lines 100-130 with
which the extension number is associated. Entries 201 and 203 together
form a terminal translation 205. A hardware translation 204 and a terminal
translation 205 are linked by being included within the same table 200 and
sharing entry 201. As shown and described so far, the communication system
of FIG. 1 is conventional.
According to the invention, switch 160 is shipped to the customer and
installed on the customer's premises with entries 201 and 203 of tables
200 filled in with the requisite information, but with entries 202 left
empty of information. In other words, switch 160 is shipped and installed
provisioned with terminal translations 205, but unprovisioned with
hardware translations 204, and hence the extension numbers are not linked
to ports 162 and lines 100-130 at this time. Unlike a conventional switch
which has software that would prevent a table 200 from having translation
205 filled with information without entry 202 also being filled, i.e.,
software that would prevent the storage of unlinked translations in memory
164, switch 160 explicitly permits translation 205 to be filled with
information without entry 202 also being filled.
Further according to the invention, the customer's premises are wired with
phone lines 100-130 prior to installation of switch 160 and independently
of linking. This makes orderly wiring possible. Upon installation of
switch 160, lines 100-130 are connected to ports 162 also independently of
linking, attention being paid only to connecting the correct type of port
162 to each line 100-130 (i.e., analog port to analog terminal line,
digital port to digital terminal line, etc). Additionally, care may be
taken to distribute the line connections among port 162 circuit packs to
reduce circuit pack load balance problems. The connections between lines
100-130 and ports 162 define the linking between extensions and ports 162,
as well as the linking or association between the extensions and lines
100-130. This condition is used by users and switch 160 to define hardware
translations 204 and to actually link the hardware translations 204 with
software translations 205, in the following manner.
Memory 164 of processor 163 of switch 160 includes modified but
conventional call-processing functions 210, a default call-processing
function 220, and a disassociation function 222, as shown in FIG. 2.
Operations of call-processing functions 210 that are relevant to an
understanding of this invention are shown in FIG. 3.
At system initialization, switch 160 and all of its ports 162 are powered
up. Switch 160 is enabled thereby to detect, and to respond to, an
"off-hook" signal incoming on any line 100-130 to a port 162, in a
conventional manner.
Each system user is given a telephone extension number. Each user connects
his or her terminal 170 to jack 140 of the one of the lines 100-130 with
which he or she wants his or her assigned extension number to become
associated. To cause a hardware translation 204 to be defined and linked
to a software translation 205 by switch 160 for his or her extension
number, a user first establishes a communication connection to switch 160
by taking his or her terminal 170 off-hook, as shown by step 300 of FIG.
3. This condition is detected at switch 160 by functions 210, at step 301.
Functions 210 respond thereto by identifying the one of the ports 162 at
which the off-hook condition was detected, at step 302. Functions 210 then
search entries 202 of tables 200 for the number of the identified port
162, at step 303. If the number of the identified port 162 is found in
entry 202 of a table 200, at step 304, this means that a hardware
translation 204 for the extension number corresponding to this table 200
has already previously been defined and linked to a software translation
205, and hence calls may be made to and from this extension number.
Consequently, functions 210 continue conventional call-processing
activities, at steps 310 et. seq., and thereafter return to the point of
their invocation, at step 316.
If the number of the port 162 identified at step 302 is not found by
functions 210 in entry 202 of any table 200, at step 304, this means that
the port 162 has not yet been assigned to an extension number.
Conventionally, this would mean that calls cannot be made using this port
162 and hence the off-hook signal detected at this port would simply be
ignored by functions 210. However, according to this invention, a call can
be made using this port 162, but only a "default" call to prompt switch
160 to establish and link a hardware translation 204 for this port 162.
Hence, instead of ignoring the off-hook signal, functions 210 invoke
default call-processing function 220, at step 306, and then return to the
point of their own invocation, at step 307. The number of the port 162
identified at step 302 is passed to function 220 as a parameter upon its
invocation.
The activities performed by function 220 are shown in FIG. 4. Function 220
may perform these activities either automatically or in response to
accessing an optional default translation table 221 in memory 164 (see
FIG. 2) and determining therefrom actions that it should undertake. Table
221 is different from tables 200 in that it does not have entries 201 and
202--it is automatically associated with all ports 162 that are not
identified by entries 202 of tables 200.
When function 220 starts executing in response to being invoked, at step
391, it receives the number of port 162 that was passed to it as a
parameter, at step 392, and then sends a dial prompt (e.g., a dial tome)
to the user via the incoming port 162, at step 393, as for a conventional
call.
The user receives the dial prompt, at step 394, and in response enters a
provisioning access code, at step 395. The code may be any predetermined
code. Its purpose is to indicate to function 220 that the user intends to
provision the system for his or her terminal.
Function 220 receives the user's response to the dial prompt, at step 396,
and checks whether it is the valid provisioning access code, at step 397.
If it is not the proper code, function 220 sends an "invalid" indication
to the user via the incoming port 162, at step 398, and then exits, at
step 399. The "invalid" indication is illustratively either an intercept
tone, or a recorded announcement informing the user that the access code
is invalid, and asking the user to please hang up and try again or contact
the system administrator for assistance.
The user receives the "invalid" indication, at step 400, and in response
hangs up the terminal, at step 401. The user can now return to step 300
(see FIG. 3) to try again.
If the entered access code is found to be valid, at step 397, function 220
then sends a prompt via the incoming port 162 to cause the user of the
off-hook terminal to enter a translation password, at step 402. The prompt
can be a signal such as dial tone, or a recorded message inviting the user
to enter the password. The password may be any predetermined password. All
users of the system may use a common password, or each user may have a
separate password. The purpose of entering the password is twofold: it
indicates that the user intends by this call to define and link a hardware
translation, and it also indicates that this is a user who is authorized
to do so.
The user receives the prompt, at step 403, and in response thereto enters
the password, at step 404.
Function 220 receives the password, at step 405, and checks whether it is
valid, at step 406. If it is not valid, function 220 sends the "invalid"
indication to the user via the port 162, at step 407, and then exits, at
step 408.
The user receives the "invalid" indication, at step 409, and in response
hangs up the terminal, at step 410. The user can now return to step 300
(see FIG. 3) to try again.
If the entered password is found to be valid at step 406, function 220
sends a prompt via the port 162 to cause the user to enter the extension
number of the off-hook terminal, at step 420. Again, the prompt can be a
signal such as a dial tone, or a recorded message inviting the user to
enter his or her extension number.
The user receives the prompt, at step 421, and in response thereto enters
an extension number, at step 422.
Function 220 receives the entered extension number, at step 423, and then
searches entries 201 of translation tables 200 (see FIG. 2) for this
extension number, at step 424. If function 220 does not find the extension
number in a table 200, at step 425, it sends an "invalid" indication to
the user via the port 162, at step 426, and then exits, at step 427. The
"invalid" indication is illustratively again either an intercept tone, or
a recorded announcement informing the user that the extension numb | | |
