Abstract:
Telecommunication system servicing a plurality of telecommunication interface lines that allows improving a service quality by keeping connection on these lines in the case of computer freezing and during to its restart (reboot).

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is the first application filed for the present invention. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to the field of telecommunications networks and more specifically to a apparatus and a method for robustness telecommunication system during temporary computer freezing or overloading. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Today the majority of telecommunication systems dedicated for transmitting/receiving data or voice information are based on the personal computers or dedicated embedded computer systems. Those computers include one or more interface blocks connected to computer system (processor/control block) via a system bus (for example PCI, PCI express etc.). 
     PBX (Private branch exchange) can be a example of those telecommunication system. It allows connection between private organization (office, business etc.) to the PSTN (Public switched telephone network). The connection to PSTN or private organization can be via different interfaces includes analog telephone lines, ADSL, ISDN, T1, E1 etc. 
     Telecommunication systems are playing a very important role today. They allow voice/data connection between plurality clients around the world. Because of telecommunication system role today they have to meet special requirements for quality and robustness. A lot of engineering solutions are using for support those requirements. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,420,963 (Shanhar J. S., et al) describes an apparatus and a process of program testing an ERS (emergency response service) in a telephone-communication environment using processor means. This apparatus allows registering said responses, their processing and mapping a public emergency line to the test location. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,447,160 (Croak M., et al.) offers automating test procedure of EP systems by the injecting a plurality of test signaling error messages. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,630,963 (Ortiz H. B., et al) offers a system for monitoring electrical state of circuits in real time, but don&#39;t focus on the robustness of the interface operation. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,636,503 (Shiran M. G. et al) described communication system intended for serving of client-server architecture and using “watch dog” to detect a hang-up condition, to generate an alarm signal and can likewise reset communication server to avoid the telecommunications switch failure. This reset (reboot) function consequently disconnects all telecommunication interfaces and for example in case PBX will disabling phone service for a large number of users. 
     This condition when sometimes multiple of lines become physically disconnected may significantly impact the system operation on the next step. The case when all disconnected lines will try to establish connection again can cause overloading (bounce) of communication systems. 
     This bounce can significantly impact all emergency connections and real time communication. 
     From another side the time for restoring physical connection and the time for restoring connection on the protocol level is significantly more then the time that communication system needs for self repair or reboot. 
     Therefore, a need a method and apparatus that allows informing (“saying”) clients about a state of the communication system, keeps all telecommunication interfaces physically connected during communication system internal restart (reboot) due internal failures. It allows preventing an unnecessary physical disconnection of communication interfaces and improving a robustness and quality of service. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The first aspect of the offered invention consists in that the telecommunication system comprises an Analyzer that analyzes failure condition or “freezing” of this telecommunication system and controls of the repairing said telecommunication system. 
     The second aspect consist in that this Analyzer can generate control signals that will initiate system repairing (including reset, reboot, reinitialization etc. of the telecommunication system) and control of the interface apparatus operation during system repairing. 
     The third aspect consists in that in case failure Analyzer indicate failure condition and initiate switching said interface apparatus to the “busy” state. During this state said interface apparatus can indicate to remote interfaces the “busy” state by sending alarms on the physical level or sending predetermined information (special patterns) on the protocol level or sending prerecorded voice messages. 
     The forth aspect consists in that said telecommunication system comprises a list of predetermined clients (addresses). Said system stores information that is transmitted to said clients (addresses) and addresses of sources of this information during to predetermined period (system restart or reboot), and after finishing this period its transmit this information to predetermined clients (from said predetermined list). 
     The fifth aspect consists in that said Analyzer can block the system interface between said interface apparatus and computer system during said “busy” state. Said Analyzer can wait acknowledge signal from the computer system that said system is ready for normal operation after repairing. In case that Analyzer receive this acknowledge signal from the computer system it can switch said interface apparatus operation mode from “busy” state to “normal operation” state. 
     The sixth aspect consists in that the requirement to inform (“saying”) clients about a state of the communication system during communication system internal restart (reboot) because of internal failures are very important. Because if during internal restart (reboot) of said system all the physical connections and/or protocol connections without any data/voice communication to current clients will keep, said clients may interrupt communication by themselves and the benefits of the proposed system will be lost. 
     The seventh aspect consists in that said communication system includes an external interface that allows supporting redundant communication systems. In this case (redundant system) there is the second communication system that operates in the “IDLE” mode. This second system is able to replace first one and to continue operation in case the first system failures and/or can&#39;t be repaired. First communication system communicates with second one during normal operation via said external interface and informs second one when it can start to take over all connections and all information traffic. It can happen during the time that first system initially failed and doing restart (reboot) or when restart (reboot) doesn&#39;t help for repairing first system. During the time when the first system informing “saying” clients about a state of the communication system, second one can prepare itself to switching to the full operation mode. 
     The eighth aspect consists in that said communication system allows in “busy” mode transmit audio and/or video broadcast information that is receiving via audio and/or video tuner from external antenna or cable. 
     The ninth aspect consists in that said communication system can identify preferable language for transmitting in “busy” mode. 
     The tenth aspect consists in that said preferable language identification is based on the speech language identification, call zone recognition and/or predetermined setting. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Further feature and advantage of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in combination with the appended drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows an example of a telecommunication system according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  shows the example of the control block structure. 
         FIG. 3  shows the example of the communication block structure. 
         FIG. 4  shows the timing diagram describing the telecommunication system operation logic in the case of repairing. 
         FIG. 5  shows second example of said telecommunication system using an additional block. 
         FIG. 6  shows the example of redundant telecommunication system using an external interface. 
         FIG. 7  shows another example of improved telecommunication system. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       FIG. 1  represents an example of a telecommunication system. This telecommunication system includes a computer system  110  and a peripheral block  130  connected via a system interface  120 . Said peripheral block  130  includes a front-end interface block  131 , a control block  132 , an information source block  135 , an analyzer  160  and a communication block  134 . It is shown a plurality of telecommunication interface lines  141  that connect external serviced clients to the front-end interface block  131 . This front-end interface block  131  is connected to the control block  132  via a bus  1312 . Said control block  132  is connected to said computer system  110  via said communication block  134 , the system interface  120  and said bus  1342  correspondently. The analyzer  160  is connected to control block  132  via bus  1601  and to communication block  134  via a bus  1603  and a bus  1332 . This analyzer analyzes the conditions of the bus  120  and the state of computer system  110  correspondently. The computer system  110  may be connected to the analyzer  160  via bus  1101 . The information source block  135  is connected to control block  132  via two busses  1351  and  1352 . Said telecommunication system may have an external interface bus  150  connected to the control block  132  for increasing robustness of telecommunication system (for example, in case redundant telecommunication system). 
     As an example of said information source block  135  can be a radio tuner that directly connect via busses  1351  and  1352  to control block  132 . This embodiment makes it possible even in case when said computer system  110  fails to transmit audio/data information to the physically connected lines (for example “music on hold” in case audio communication). This will inform clients that system cannot service (it is in “busy” state) and will ask its serviced client to “stay on the line”. In this case clients will not disconnect communication during the time that computer system  110  needs for repair itself (restart). Another example of this information source block  135  can be ROM with prerecorded messages. 
     Various interfaces like T1, E1, J1, DS3, E3, ISDN, ADSL, analog telephone lines etc., can be used as said interface lines  141 . These interfaces are characterized in that they have significantly high connection time on the physical and/or protocol levels. Any system interfaces like PCI, PCI-X, PCI express, VME, USB, Ethernet etc. can be used as said system bus  120 . 
     The analyzer  160  analyses the state of said telecommunication system by continuous monitoring said system interface  120  via the system bus  1332  and said communication block  134 . The failure condition detecting will trigger system repairing depends on the control setting (program) of the block  160 . One of the examples of the possible failure condition can be absent acknowledge signals from the computer system  110  during to data transferring between control block  132  and computer system  110  (If the interface  120  is a PCI interface—the absence of the signal GNT# during to predefine specific time after the control block  132  has sent REQ# signal to computer system  110 ). Another example of the failure condition can be absent the interrupt acknowledge signal during to predefine period of time from the computer system  110  after the control block  132  has sent interrupt signal to it. 
     In the case that failure condition was “cached” by said Analyzer  160  it informs said control block  132  via said bus  1601  and said communication block  134  via said bus  1603 . The control block  132  in this case switches from “normal” operation mode to “busy” operation mode. The communication block  134  after receiving signal  1603  may disconnect interface block from computer system. At the same time said analyzer  160  may inform the computer system  110  about failure condition via bus  1101  or via buses  1332  and  120 . (As an example of bus  1101  implementation can be signal that can initiate the global “RESET” for restart said computer system  110 ). 
     The information that the computer system  110  finished repairing (restoration) itself may be send via bus  1101  to the analyzer  160  or buses  120  and  1332 . The analyzer  160  then informs said control block  132  and said communication block  134  via buses  1601  and  1603  correspondently about this condition. In this case the control block  132  and the communication block  134  both switch from “busy” state to the normal operation state. 
       FIG. 2  represents the control block  132 . As an example, said control block  132  includes a data processing block  1321 , a system interface block  1322 , and a microprocessor  1323 . Said control block  132  controls all functionality of the peripheral block  130 . The transmit/receive information to/from front-end interface block  131  via bus  1312  moves through the control block  132  (and via said data processing block  1321 ) from/to computer system  110 . The control block  132  keeps active telecommunication lines  141  (via front-end block  131 ) physically connected during normal communication. The control block  132  via bus  1601  informs said analyzer  160  about the status of the peripheral block  130  if it&#39;s necessarily. During failure condition of the computer system (the control block  132  getting an information from the analyzer  160  via bus  1601 ) the control block keeps lines  141  in the physical connection state, stops requesting to move information to/from computer system  110  via  1342  and  120  buses and starting transmitting information (that system  110  is on the “busy” state) to the clients via physically connected lines  141  from information source block  135  (via buses  1352  and  1351 ). When the analyzer  160  informs control block  132  about end of the repair interval (system restoration) the control block  132  stops sending “busy” information to the clients and switches to the “normal” operation mode. The external interface bus  150  connects to the microprocessor  1323  (it shown only in  FIG. 1 ), and it is used for exchange control/status information in case for an example of a redundant telecommunication system. 
       FIG. 3  represents an example of the communication block  134 . This communication block  134  can be implemented as a buffer block  1344  between the system interface  120  and the bus  1342 . The bus  1603  from the analyzer  160  connects to enable port of the buffer block  1344 . The bus  1332  connects this analyzer  160  to system interface  120 , for example. The bus  1332  can be incorporated all signals of the system interface  120  or part of it. Said analyzer  160  analyzes various conditions of said system interface  120  by analyzing signals on the bus  1332 . In case of said failure condition the signal  1603  disconnect at least a part of signals of the interface  120  by transmitting these signals to the bus  1342  (or modify them). This part can include, for example, controlling signals. 
       FIG. 4  shows an example of the timing diagram describing the telecommunication system operation logic in the case of repairing (restoration system). The failure condition initiates falling edge on the bus  1601  and  1603 . The analyzer switches the control block  132  (by signal  1601 ) and the communication block  134  (by signal  1603 ) to “busy” operation mode and sends the request repairing signal to computer system  110  via the bus  1101 , for example. After restoration the computer system  110  sends signal “end of restoration” via bus  1101  or via system interface  120 , for example. The analyzer  160  after receiving this signal from computer system  110  informs control block  132  and communication block  134  via buses  1601  and  1603  correspondently. After this the telecommunication system switches to the “normal” operation mode. 
       FIG. 5  represents an example of an advanced version of the peripheral block  130  that has additional functionality compare to original one on the  FIG. 1 . This version of the peripheral block  130  includes an additional block  136  that is intent to store the “specific” addresses of the clients (like emergency, police etc) and specific operation algorithms dedicated for operation with those clients during computer system “busy” operation mode via bus  1361 . If said peripheral block  130  switches to the “busy” operation mode and front-end interfaces block  131  receive information from predetermined list of “specific” addresses, the control block  132  can stores this information in block  136  via bus  1361  for future analyze and use. 
     The peripheral block  130  that comprises said front-end interface block  131 , said control block  132 , said communication block  134 , said analyzer  160 , the information source block  135  and the additional block  136  can be implemented, for example, in the form of a microprocessor. These blocks can be integrated so that, for example, a common memory can be used by different blocks. 
     If said “busy” operation mode remains longer than a predetermined time then all clients that are waiting to continue their communication can get the updated information about the system status. 
       FIG. 6  represents an example of redundant telecommunication system based on the two ordinary telecommunication systems. The first telecommunication system includes peripheral blocks  130 _ 1  and computer system  110 _ 1 , and second telecommunication system includes peripheral blocks  130 _ 2  and computer system  110 _ 2  correspondently. Each of said peripheral blocks  130 _ 1  and  130 _ 2  unites said front-end  131 , the control block  132 , said analyzer  160  and said communication block  134  correspondently (as in  FIG. 1 ). The information source block  135  can be included into said peripheral block, but not necessarily. The external interface bus  150  connects both said peripheral blocks  130 _ 1  and  130 _ 2  together. The interface lines  141  are connected to the both peripheral blocks  130 _ 1  and  130 _ 2  in parallel. The “spare” peripheral block  130 _ 2  in the “normal” operation mode only receives information from interface lines  141 . The “main” peripheral block  130 _ 1  is operating in the “normal” operation mode and can exchange status information with “spare” peripheral block  130 _ 2  via external bus  150 . In case when “main” peripheral block  130 _ 1  switches to the “busy” mode the status information will be send to the “spare” peripheral block  130 _ 2 , and the redundant system will going to operate as described in the paragraph [0020]. Ports for connecting said external interface  150  inside peripheral blocks  130 _ 1  and  130 _ 2  are not shown. The second telecommunication system (spare system) can include or not include said analyzer and communication block and corresponding buses. 
       FIG. 7  represents another example of improved telecommunication system. This telecommunication system includes a computer system  110  and a peripheral block  130  connected together via system interface  120 . Said peripheral block  130  includes a interface block  170  (combining said front-end and said control blocks), a tuner block  171 , a language analyzer  172 , an analyzer  160  and a communication block  134 . It is shown a plurality of telecommunication input interface lines  141  connected to the interface block  170  (as in  FIG. 1 ). Said interface block  170  is connected to said computer system  110  via said communication block  134 , a bus  1342  and via said system interface  120 . The analyzer  160  is connected to said interface block  170  via bus  1602  and to communication block  134  via the bus  1603  and the bus  1332 . This analyzer analyzes the conditions of the bus  120  and the state of computer system  110 . The computer system  110  is connected to the analyzer  160  via bus  1101 . The tuner block  171  is connected to interface block  170  via bus  1711 . The input of said language analyzer  172  is connected to the interface block  170  via bus  1702  and the output of said language analyzer  172  is connected to the tuner block  171  via a bus  1721 . Said tuner block  171  has connection to the external antenna and/or cable  173 . 
     This example of said telecommunication system allows to transmit auxiliary information (text, music in the “busy” mode) to the input lines that already have connected and allows to choose preferable language of said information. This language can be previously defined. This language can be set on the base of telecommunication zone address (the main language for to each address zone). The speech language identificator  172  can identify corresponding language based on statistical models (auto regression or other) and turns on corresponding channel of tuner block  171  (through  1721  bus). Said tuner block  171  can receive transmitted information from corresponding radio (TV) station from the antenna (or cable)  173  to the input interface lines  141 . 
     All real statistical models allow to identify used language with some reliability and require significant number of sound phonemes for analyze. On real system can be used combination of strategies for language recognition.