Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
179 words
A subscriber connection unit having independent routing ability for a telecommunications network (7' to 10') having an intelligent network structure, said network including exchanges (7') controlled by service control points (8') by means of predetermined operations called "intelligent network interface", and conveyed by protocols that are compatible with CCITT protocol No. 7; the subscriber connection unit being connected to a "parent" exchange (7') via telephone links (16') and to a service control point (8') via a first conventional No. 7 signalling link (17') for controlling subscriber access to the parent exchange (7'); the subscriber connection unit being characterized in that it is also connected to a service control point (8') via a No. 7 signalling link (39) conveying the intelligent network interface (IN) for the purpose of enabling said service control point (8) to control connections established by said unit (1', 2', 3') between subscribers connected to the same unit or connections (34, 35) established to another unit, or connections (36 to 38) established to the network (9') without these connections requiring a link via the parent exchange (7').
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
48 words
A connection unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the service control point (8') to which it is connected via a link (39) conveying the intelligent network interface is constituted by the control point (8') controlling the parent exchange (7') of said connection unit (1', 2', 3').
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
67 words
A connection unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the service control point (8') to which it is connected via a link (39) conveying the intelligent network interface is independent from the parent exchange of said unit (1', 2', 3'); and in that the service control point (8') is directly connected to a switched public network (9') via a conventional No. 7 signalling link (19', 20').
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
A connection unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the first and second No. 7 signalling links (17', 39) are physically conveyed by the same No. 7 signalling channel and by the same signalling point.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
74 words
A subscriber connection unit according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it is further connected via semi-permanent links (51, 52) to the parent exchange (7') and/or to one or more local exchanges (40, 41, 42) of the switched public network (9'), with channels of said connection(s) serving to convey tones and messages for transmission to subscribers from generators provided in said exchanges (53, 54), whenever operating conditions so require.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
107 words
A subscriber connection unit according to claim 4, characterized in that said first and second signalling links (17'/39) are not only physically conveyed by the same No. 7 signalling channel, but also use the same protocol between a single signalling point (4'/31) in the connection unit and a single signalling point (13'/43) in the service control point (8'), which protocol, for the purposes of enabling the connection to be remotely controlled, includes interface functions for giving access to the subscribers of the connection unit, e.g. GSM.interface A, and at least a subset of the functions of the intelligent network interface (IN) or of a functional equivalent thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
129 words
A subscriber connection unit according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the above-defined means are adapted to enable a transfer connection to be established under remote control of first and second connection units (1', 2') via the signalling links (17'/39) connecting them to their parent exchange (7'), to extend a call coming from a local exchange (40) and conveyed by a direct communication link (36) between said local exchange and said first connection unit (1') to the second connection unit (2') which may or may not depend from the same parent exchange, via a direct link between the two connection units under consideration, and then subsequently and in the same way, where applicable, to extend the calls to a third connection unit (e.g. 3').
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
62 words
A subscriber connection unit according to claim 7, characterized in that when said first and second connection units depend from different parent exchanges (such as 7'), then the parent exchanges are adapted to interchange the information required for remotely controlling the two connection units concerned (such as 1') by extending the signalling protocol conveyed over a signalling link (e.g. 21') interconnecting them.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
94 words
A connection unit according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the means defined therein are adapted to enable a transfer connection to be established under remote control of a first connection unit (1') via the signalling link (17'/39) from the parent exchange (7'), to extend a call from a local exchange (40) and conveyed via a direct communication link (36) between said local exchange and said first connection unit to the parent exchange (7') via an accessible communication link to enable said connection unit to reach the parent exchange.