Abstract:
The invention relates to a method and device for managing at least one capability characteristic (F 1 , F 2 , F 3 ), which is subject to license or for managing at least one group (G 1 , G 2 , G 3 ) of capability characteristics (F 1 , F 2 , F 3 ), which are subject to license, of a switching system of a telecommunications network. According to the invention, at least one use counter (C, E 1 , E 2 ) at a time is assigned to the at least one capability characteristic (F 1 , F 2 , F 3 ) and/or to the at least one group (G 1 , G 2 , G 3 ) of capability characteristics (F 1 , F 2 , F 3 ). Said use counter indicates the current number of uses of the capability characteristic (F 1 , F 2 , F 3 ) or of the group (G 1 , G 2 , G 3 ) of capability characteristics (F 1 , F 2 , F 3 ). A typical use of the invention involves the sharing of a switching system by an number of service providers.

Description:
CLAIM FOR PRIORITY 
     This application claims priority International Application No. PCT/DE01/04581 which was published in the German language on Jun. 20, 2002. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a method for managing at least one capability characteristic which is subject to a license or a least one group of capability characteristics which is subject to a license of a switching system of a telecommunications network. 
     The invention also relates to a switching system of a telecommunications network, whereby in the switching system at least one capability characteristic which is subject to a license and/or at least one group of capability characteristics which is subject to a license are implemented and the switching system is arranged so that at least one capability characteristic which is subject to a license and/or at least one group of capability characteristics subject to a license can be managed. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The manufacturers of switching systems wishing to supply and sell their systems worldwide must arrange their systems so that they can be flexibly adapted to customer-specific special requirements. Such adaptations are, for example, necessary to adapt the switching systems optimally to the network hierarchies of different network operators and enable them to be parameterized for different specific tasks. Often it is also necessary to adapt the exchanges to different national network signaling systems. Above and beyond this, exchange operators often have different ideas and requirements with regard to the capability characteristics that they want to offer their subscribers. 
     For the reasons just mentioned, well known switching systems, for example the EWSD and SURPASS switching systems from Siemens AG, are structured so that they are easily adaptable to special features or to special requirements. These switching systems are specially arranged in their software for this purpose and contain at least a greater number of capability characteristics than the network providers wish to offer their customers. 
     Capability characteristics in this document are taken to mean network capability characteristics and subscriber capability characteristics. 
     Network capability characteristics are, for example, the dynamic thinning out of traffic for mass calls, such as for tele-dialog surveys, known as TED surveys for short. TED surveys make it possible for radio listeners or TV viewers to take part in opinion polls by telephone, which can then be immediately analyzed. With TED surveys, the caller reaches a special directory number via a uniform prefix number that corresponds to their desired option. To prevent network overloading during TED surveys, the calls are no longer submitted to the TED destination address after a pre-specified number of TED calls is reached. 
     Another example for a network capability characteristic is the blocking of specific destinations on network overload. 
     Subscriber capability characteristics are taken to mean functionalities that can be made available to telecommunications terminals from the switching systems side. These capability characteristics can be service-independent and offer additional functions which, for example, facilitate and simplify the operation of the terminal. Subscriber capability characteristics can also add to service features. For telephones transfer, automatic ring-back or call forwarding represent capability characteristics. 
     Naturally, it is not in the interest of the switching system manufacturers to enable the network providers to use all capability characteristics and combinations of capability characteristics unless they buy or obtain a license to use these capability characteristics. 
     Thus, it is desirable on the part of the switching system manufacturer either only to enable the capability characteristics available in the relevant switching system in accordance with a negotiated license scope or to enable all capability characteristics and to apply license fees in accordance with their actual usage. 
     With switching systems reseller characteristics can also be supported. This function allows a number of network operators to share a switching facility and enables them to supply their relevant subscribers individually with capability characteristics. Here too it is desirable that either type and scope of the usable capability characteristics can be restricted by the switching system operator in to his various network operators in accordance with the license scope negotiated or that the capability characteristics that are implemented in the switching system are enabled and license fees are charged in accordance with their actual use. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the invention to create a way that allows the use volumes subject to a license of the capability characteristics implemented in a switching system to be optimally adapted to practical requirements and thus to increase the cost effectiveness of the switching system. 
     According to one aspect of the invention, at least one capability characteristic subject to a license and/or at least one group of capability characteristics subject to a license are each assigned at least one use counter which specifies the current number of uses of the capability characteristic or of the group of capability characteristics. 
     This solution allows a switching systems manufacturer to concurrently monitor licenses of all capability characteristics which is subject to a license. 
     If there is no intention on the part of the manufacturer to enable all capability characteristics on an restricted basis, an advantageous variant of the invention consists of the use counter being compared with at least one threshold value, and when this threshold value is exceeded by the use counter, no further uses of this capability characteristic and/or group of capability characteristics being allowed. 
     It is also of advantage if the threshold value is compared with a capacity value which specifies the physically maximum possible number of uses of the capability characteristic and/or the group of capability characteristics in the switching system. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, the current value of the use counter and/or information on the capability characteristic assigned to the use counter and/or the group of capability characteristics assigned to the use counter within the switching system is created in the form of data. 
     If the capability characteristic is released on an unrestricted basis, license monitoring using periodic spot checks can be implemented; this is done by buffering the data within the switching system at specified intervals. 
     According to a further aspect of the invention, a data table is created from the data. For further evaluation by the manufacturer or exchange operator, the data can be dumped to an external storage medium. 
     Another option of transferring the data to the manufacturer or to the exchange operator comprises exchanging the dump to data between the switching system and a telecommunications terminal via a data link. 
     To implement the method in accordance with the invention a switching system of the type mentioned at the beginning is particularly suitable in which at least one capability characteristic subject to a license and/or at least one group of capability characteristics subject to a license are each assigned at least one use counter in the exchange which specifies the current number of uses of at least one capability characteristic subject to a license and/or at least one a group of capability characteristics subject to a license. 
     With concurrent license monitoring it is useful for the switching system to be set up to compare the use counter with the least one threshold value and, if this threshold value is exceeded by the use counter, not to allow any further uses of the associated capability characteristic and/or the group of capability characteristics. 
     Furthermore, for the form of embodiment of the invention just mentioned it is of advantage if the switching system is designed to compare the threshold value with a capacity value that specifies the physically maximum possible use number of at least one capability characteristic which is subject to a license and/or at least one group of capability characteristics which is subject to a license. 
     Preferably the switching system is arranged to generate the current value of the use counter and/or information about the capability characteristic assigned to the use counter and/or the group of capability characteristics assigned to the use counter in the form of data. If at least one capability characteristic subject to a license or at least one group of capability characteristics subject to a license are released without restriction, license monitoring can be undertaken on the basis of periodic spot checks; for this purpose the switching system is designed to buffer the data at specified intervals. 
     To facilitate the further analysis of the data, the switching system is arranged to generate a data table from the data. 
     Advantageously the switching system is arranged in such a way as to transfer the data onto an external storage medium. 
     For convenience the exchange is arranged to transmit the stored data to a telecommunications terminal over a data connection. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Further features and advantages of the invention are disclosed in the following description of the exemplary embodiments, with reference to the drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1 . shows a telecommunications network with a first variant of a switching system used in conjunction with the invention; 
         FIG. 2 . shows a first variants of a data table created in conjunction with the invention with capability characteristics and their assigned counters; 
         FIG. 3 . shows the telecommunications network from  FIG. 1  with a telecommunications terminal and a second variant of a switching system used in conjunction with the invention; and 
         FIG. 4 . shows a second variant of the data table from  FIG. 2 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In accordance with  FIG. 1 , an Exchange VER used in conjunction with the invention preferably features a memory SPR in which there is provision for a database DAT which can contain the data of all subscribers, network operators, exchange operators and capability characteristics. Advantageously, the database DAT may be based on a semi-permanent database, i.e. it may have a backup copy on a hard disk of the switching system VER to allow it to be restored if necessary, but can be changed during ongoing operation. 
     Each capability characteristic subject to a license can be assigned the use counter in the exchange VER. This counter specifies the current number of uses of a licensed capability characteristic or of a licensed group of capability characteristics by an exchange operator. 
     For concurrent license monitoring, the number of current uses of a capability characteristic subject to a license and, as described in more detail below, further information, for example in the form of the table TAB, may be included. 
     In accordance with  FIG. 2 , each capability characteristic F 1 , F 2 , F 3  in the table TAB may be assigned a use counter C. This counter preferably specifies the current number of uses of a licensed capability characteristic F 1 , F 2 , F 3  or of the group G 1 , G 2 , G 3  of capability characteristics F 1 , F 2 , F 3  by an exchange operator. 
     The creation, i.e. making a capability characteristic F 1 , F 2 , F 3  usable for a subscriber or a network operator is subject to a license, but not the actual use in a sense of a use of capability characteristic F 1 , F 2 , F 3  or group G 1 , G 2 , G 3  of capability characteristics F 1 , F 2 , F 3  by a subscriber or network operator. The current number of uses of a capability characteristic F 1 , F 2 , F 3  or group G 1 , G 2 , G 3  of capability characteristics F 1 , F 2 , F 3  is thus taken to mean in this document the number of created, i.e. usable capability characteristics F 1 , F 2 , F 3  or groups G 1 , G 2 , G 3  of capability characteristics F 1 , F 2 , F 3 . 
     The actual use of these capability characteristics F 1 , F 2 , F 3  or groups G 1 , G 2 , G 3  of capability characteristics F 1 , F 2 , F 3  by subscribers or network operators is preferably, by contrast, not recorded. 
     In other words, the use counter C specifies the number of created capability characteristics F 1 , F 2 , F 3  which is subject to a license in the switching system VER. 
     The obvious choice is to group service features F 1 , F 2 , F 3  which have already found a high level of market acceptance and in many markets have almost or actually become standard capability characteristics, such as the “Standard” or “Komfort” ISDN service features offered by Deutsche Telekom, into groups G 1 , G 2 , G 3 . New or very complex capability characteristics F 1 , F 2 , F 3 , which are only offered individually on the market, are licensed as individual capability characteristics F 1 , F 2 , F 3 . 
     If a subscriber or a network operator wishes to use a capability characteristic F 1 , F 2 , F 3 , it is usually necessary to create this capability characteristic F 1 , F 2 , F 3  in the switching system of the Telecommunications Network to which the subscriber belongs for this subscriber or network operator. The request to create this subscriber capability characteristic F 1 , F 2 , F 3  is usually made by a corresponding application on the part of the subscriber or network operator. This application can be made in writing to the switching system operator who then undertakes to create the corresponding capability characteristic F 1 , F 2 , F 3 . 
     To create a capability characteristic F 1 , F 2 , F 3  for a subscriber or a network operator, a special command can be provided by the exchange operator, for example “CREATE”. Likewise, to delete a capability characteristic F 1 , F 2 , F 3  for a subscriber, a command, for example “DELETE”, can be provided on the exchange operator side. 
     Typically, as already explained above, the subscriber and network operator data are stored in a database of the switching system. 
     A command to create a capability characteristic F 1 , F 2 , F 3  or a group G 1 , G 2 , G 3  of capability characteristics F 1 , F 2 , F 3  for a subscriber or network operator causes a corresponding entry to be made in the area of the database that is assigned to this subscriber or network operator, for example in the form of a variable which is assigned to a specific capability characteristic F 1 , F 2 , F 3  or a group G 1 , G 2 , G 3  of capability characteristics F 1 , F 2 , F 3 . 
     The use counter C mentioned above can adjust itself automatically in the exchange VER. Each create a command that allocates a capability characteristic F 1 , F 2 , F 3  to a subscriber or a network operator increments the use counter C of the corresponding capability characteristic F 1 , F 2 , F 3  or of the group G 1 , G 2 , G 3  of capability characteristics F 1 , F 2 , F 3 . Each deletion command that deletes a capability characteristic F 1 , F 2 , F 3  for a subscriber or network operator again decrements the use counter C accordingly. To implement the incrementation or decrementation of use counter C, a program can be provided that is started by the deletion or creation command. 
     Each capability characteristic F 1 , F 2 , F 3  can be assigned further values or counters. 
     Thus a capacity value A gives the maximum usable number of the relevant capability characteristic F 1 , F 2 , F 3  which is produced from the current memory and database configuration of the exchange. The capacity value A is computed automatically by the exchange in accordance with the current memory and database configuration and automatically adjusts itself after memory or database expansions during operation. This capacity value A is designated as the capacity threshold and basically functions as a threshold value for the service personnel to define the maximum extent of any increase in the number of licensed capability characteristics F undertaken during operation, before the memory or database has to be expanded. 
     The capacity value A can be obtained as the result of a generation run of an office data generation program used in the relevant exchange. These types of programs are normally used to calculate the available memory capacity for switching systems and are known to experts. 
     The threshold value B specifies the maximum licensed use number of the relevant capability characteristic F for the exchange operator. This threshold value represents a license threshold for capability characteristic F. When the value of use counter C exceeds this license threshold any further creation command for this capability characteristic F is rejected. When the license threshold is reached in the capability characteristic use further capacity can be obtained for customers by deleting capability characteristics F 1 , F 2 , F 3  or groups G 1 , G 2 , G 3  of capability characteristics to enable these capability characteristics F to be assigned to other customers. If the demand for capability characteristics F 1 , F 2 , F 3  is so great that not enough new capacity can be created to satisfy demand for customers by removing created capability characteristics F 1 , F 2 , F 3 , the exchange operator must have the license increased by the manufacturer. 
     Threshold values B can be advantageously modified from the manufacturer&#39;s side. Such changes can be made during operation by the service personnel of the manufacturer in accordance with the license scope negotiated with the relevant exchange operator. 
     To avoid misuse by the exchange operator or third parties, the modifications can be made under password protection. This typically involves using passwords that dynamically/automatically change in accordance with an algorithm known on the manufacturer side. The capacity value A, which specifies the physically maximum usable number of a capability characteristic as well as the threshold value B and use counter C are, like the database mentioned at the beginning, semi-permanent. 
     The following relationship can be established between the use counter C, the threshold value B and the capacity value A: A&gt;=B&gt;=C. 
     For an expanded use of the invention within the framework of the reseller concept mentioned there are two further semi-permanent values/counters—a further threshold value D 1 , D 2  and a further use counter E 1 , E 2 , provided for each exchange operator occurring in the exchange. 
     The further threshold value D 1 , D 2  specifies the maximum number of licensed uses of a capability characteristic F by a reseller in respect of a further exchange operator and thus corresponds to a license threshold set by reseller. Any further threshold value D 1 , D 2  can, for example, be modified on the part of a manufacturer or the reseller. Changes can be made in ongoing operation by the relevant service personnel in accordance with the license scope negotiated with the relevant exchange operator. 
     The further use counter E 1 , E 2  preferably specifies the number of capability characteristics F 1 , F 2 , F 3  actually used by the relevant exchange operator. The further use counter E 1 , E 2  can automatically adjust itself for use/creation of a capability characteristic F 1 , F 2 , F 3  for a customer of an exchange operator in exchange system. 
     In the case of reseller who provides a number of exchange operators with capability characteristics F 1 , F 2 , F 3 , the use counter C for one of these capability characteristics F 1 , F 2 , F 3  corresponds to the sum of the further use counter E 1 , E 2  which are assigned to this capability characteristic. 
     In general, the following relationships between the individual counters or values can be established 
             A   ≥   B   ≥       ∑     n   =   1     i     ⁢     D   n       ≥       ∑     n   =   1     i     ⁢     E   n             
and D n ≧E n  for n=1, 2, . . .
 
     In which A is the capacity value described above, E is the threshold value for the maximum use number, D n  is the relevant reseller license threshold for a specified number of further exchange operators and E n  is the reseller use counter belonging to the individual reseller or license thresholds. Each command to create a capability characteristic F 1 , F 2 , F 3  for a customer of an exchange operator increments use counters C, E 1 , E 2  of the relevant capability characteristic F 1 , F 2 , A 3  or of the group G of capability characteristics F 1 , F 2 , F 3 . When the counter status of the further use counter E 1 , E 2  exceeds the reseller license threshold D, the corresponding command is rejected. Each command to delete a capability characteristic for a customer decrements the reseller use counters E 1 , E 2  accordingly. 
     When the license threshold of a reseller is reached in the use of a capability characteristic, further capacity can be obtained by deleting those capability characteristics of this reseller to enable these capability characteristics F 1 , F 2 , F 3  to be assigned to other customers of the same reseller. If necessary, the reseller must have the licenses increased by the exchange operator. 
     Another embodiment of the invention in accordance with  FIG. 3  consists of all capability characteristics F 1 , F 2 , F 3  being enabled without restriction of license monitoring and being undertaken on the basis of periodical spot checks or memory dumps of switching system VER. In this case the license threshold of a capability characteristic F 1 , F 2 , F 3  is the same as the capacity value A which defines the physically maximum possible number of uses of this capability characteristic F 1 , F 2 , F 3 . 
     If all capability characteristics F 1 , F 2 , F 3  are enabled without restriction, further capacity can be obtained for customers, as with the concurrent license monitoring mentioned above, by deleting capability characteristics F 1 , F 2 , F 3 , in order to assign these capability characteristics F 1 , F 2 , F 3  to other customers. 
     License monitoring on the basis of periodic spot checks is based on the fact that a data collector on request or at specified intervals searches through the semi-permanent database of the data bank of an exchange system VER for created capability characteristics F 1 , F 2 , F 3 . This data collector can be implemented in the form of a program that records all the network operators, subscribers and exchange operators that occur within the exchange. Furthermore, the data collector explicitly knows all capability characteristics F 1 , F 2 , F 3 , that are implemented within the exchange. In the data collector, each capability characteristic F 1 , F 2 , F 3  is represented by separate use counter C or, in case of a number of exchange operators, by a further use counter E, which specifies the number of current uses, i.e. the created capability characteristics F 1 , F 2 , F 3  or the groups G 1 , G 2 , G 3  of capability characteristics F 1 , F 2 , F 3 . 
     It is useful to collect the results of this database evaluation in a data table TAB 1 , of which an example is shown in  FIG. 4 , within the exchange. In this data table TAB 1 , each capability characteristic is represented by its use counters or its further use counters E 1 , E 2 . After complete evaluation of the database, this data table TAB 1  contains the complete information about all capability characteristics of switching system VER used at the time that the data was dumped. 
     Data table TAB 1  can be extracted for further evaluation onto an external storage medium EXT or transmitted via a data link to other telecommunications systems TEK, for example a computer. The number of uses determined from data table TAB 1 , the capability characteristics F 1 , F 2 , F 3  subject to a license or the groups G 1 , G 2 , G 3  of capability characteristics F 1 , F 2 , F 3  subject to a license then form the basis for calculating the license fees. Data table TAB 1 , in a manner of speaking, represents a snapshot of the capability characteristics F 1 , F 2 , F 3  of the exchange VER which is subject to a license. The frequency with which this data table TAB 1  is created and is extracted from exchange by the manufacturer is basically subject to an agreement between the exchange operator(s) and the manufacturer. The procedure just described for monitoring capability characteristics F 1 , F 2 , F 3  which are subject to a license is based on the practical assumption that the number of created capability characteristics F 1 , F 2 , F 3  remains approximately constant in the period between two data dumps. 
     An advantage of the invention is that capability characteristics F which is subject to a license are billed in the switching systems in accordance with their actual use.