EP1625738A1

EP1625738A1 - Method and device for transfer of characteristics of a functionality

Info

Publication number: EP1625738A1
Application number: EP04733567A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Philippe Lottin; Jean Daouben; Eric Paillet; Yvon Guillot
Original assignee: France Telecom SA
Current assignee: Orange SA
Priority date: 2003-05-22
Filing date: 2004-05-18
Publication date: 2006-02-15
Also published as: WO2004105365A1; FR2855348A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for transfer of the characteristics of a functionality from a first telecommunication terminal, connected to a second telecommunication terminal, by means of a telecommunication network, the first telecommunication terminal receiving a message from the second telecommunication, communicating a request from the second terminal for a specific function and the method is characterised in comprising the steps of obtaining characteristics of the given specific function and transfer to the second telecommunication terminal of the obtained characteristics for the function, in a frame made up of a given number of signals at speech frequencies.

Description

Method and device for transferring characteristics of a functionality

The present invention relates to a method and a device for transferring at least one characteristic of a functionality of a telecommunications terminal.

Telephone terminals such as telephone handsets or videoconferencing terminals today have a large number of functionalities. These functionalities are for example the display of the telephone number of the caller on a screen, the display of messages comprising text associated with voice messages generated by voice servers, sound processing capacities according to different protocols, the possibility to reproduce or broadcast the sound on a more or less large number of voice channels. In the PCT patent application WO 02/41614, a telephone terminal is described which, in response to an S AT activation message sent by a voice server, activates its modem. The modem subsequently confirms its activation by generating a message for the voice server. This confirmation message can also include display format or display format type information in which written messages transferred by the voice server will be reproduced. The telephone terminal modem during transmission of the confirmation message deactivates the loudspeaker of the telephone terminal so that the confirmation message is not heard.

This confirmation message can then include a quantity of important information and thus require a significant transfer time.

This transfer time, depending on the additional information added to the confirmation message, is variable and generates different problems.

The voice server must, before transferring information to the telecommunications terminal, wait a time at least equal to the time necessary for the transfer, by the telecommunications terminal, of the confirmation and any information of display format or type of display format in which written messages transferred by the voice server will be reproduced. This time penalizes the other telephone terminals accessing the server and which transfer only a simple confirmation message. The number of functionalities available to telecommunication terminals constantly increasing with the new versions of products appearing on the market, the telecommunication server must be able to take into account all the signals indicating these functionalities and their characteristics. This further increases the wait time at the server. The invention aims to solve the drawbacks of the prior art by proposing a method for transferring the characteristics of a functionality of a first telecommunication terminal connected to a second telecommunication terminal via a network of telecommunication, the first telecommunication terminal receiving a message from the second telecommunication terminal representative of a request for a specific functionality, the first terminal upon receipt of the message determines the specific functionality and the method is characterized in that it comprises the steps obtaining characteristics associated with the specific functionality determined and transferring to the second telecommunications terminal, in a frame consisting of a combination of a predetermined number of voice frequency signals, characteristics obtained from the function.

Correlatively, the invention proposes a device for transferring the characteristics of a functionality of a first telecommunications terminal connected to a second telecommunications terminal via a network of telecommunications, the first telecommunications terminal receiving a message from the second telecommunications terminal representative of a request for a specific functionality, the first terminal upon receipt of the message determines the specific functionality and the first device is characterized in that it includes means for obtaining the characteristics associated with the specific functionality determined and means for transferring to the second telecommunication terminal, in a frame consisting of a combination of a predetermined number of voice frequency signals, the characteristics obtained from the function.

Thus, the first telecommunications terminal transfers its characteristics at the appropriate time and only the characteristics associated with a functionality requested by the second telecommunications terminal.

The second telecommunication terminal no longer has to wait for a variable time which depends on the characteristics of the functionalities of the first telecommunication terminal. The first telecommunications terminal transfers a frame consisting of a combination of a predetermined number of voice frequency signals. The duration of this frame is then easily quantifiable.

The second telecommunications terminal chooses the appropriate time to send the message representative of a request for a predetermined function. He can then transmit other higher priority messages before sending the request. No collision then exists with messages sent simultaneously by the two telecommunications terminals.

More precisely, the first telecommunication terminal on each reception of a request for a specific functionality received from the second terminal, determines the specific functionality, obtains the characteristics associated with the specific determined functionality and transfers to the second telecommunication terminal, in a constituted frame. of a combination of a predetermined number of voice frequency signals, characteristics obtained from the function.

Thus, a terminal having a large number of functionalities transfers the associated characteristics, at different times. The waiting time for the second telecommunications terminal then remains constant.

The invention also relates to a method for transferring messages from a first telecommunications terminal to a second telecommunications terminal via a telecommunications network, the first telecommunications terminal generating a message intended for the second communication terminal. telecommunications, the message being representative of a request for a specific functionality, characterized in that the method comprises the steps of:

- reception of a frame consisting of a combination of a predetermined number of voice frequency signals, - determination as a function of the message representative of the request for a specific functionality and of the frame consisting of a combination of a predetermined number voice frequency signals, characteristics of the second terminal associated with the functionality,

- adaptation of data according to the determined characteristics, - transfer of the adapted data to the second telecommunications terminal.

Correlatively, the invention provides a device for transferring messages from a first telecommunications terminal to a second telecommunications terminal via a telecommunications network, the first telecommunications terminal generating a message intended for the second communication terminal. telecommunications, the message being representative of a request for a specific functionality, characterized in that the device comprises:

- means for receiving a frame consisting of a combination of a predetermined number of voice frequency signals,

means for determining, as a function of the message representative of the request for a specific functionality and of the frame consisting of a combination of a predetermined number of voice frequency signals, characteristics of the second terminal associated with the functionality,

- data adaptation means according to the determined characteristics, - data transfer means adapted to the second telecommunications terminal.

Thus, by determining characteristics of the second terminal associated with the functionality as a function of the message representative of the request for a specific functionality and of the frame consisting of a combination of a predetermined number of voice frequency signals, the invention makes it possible to using only a limited number of voice frequency signals to nevertheless represent all the characteristics associated with all the functionalities of telecommunications terminals. Identical voice frequencies thus represent different characteristics associated with different functionalities. The first terminal telecommunications can nevertheless determine these functionalities thanks to the request that it previously transmitted. Thus, few voice frequency signals are required. The voice frequency frame is thus reduced.

The invention also relates to a signal transmitted by a first telecommunications terminal on a telecommunications network and intended for a second telecommunications terminal in response to a message representative of a request for a specific functionality transmitted by the second telecommunications terminal. , characterized in that the signal consists of a combination of a predetermined number of voice frequency signals representative of the characteristics of the first telecommunications terminal associated with the specific functionality.

The advantages of the signal being identical to those mentioned for the methods and devices, these will not be recalled.

The invention also relates to the computer program stored on an information medium, said program comprising instructions making it possible to implement the processing method described above, when it is loaded and executed by a computer system.

The characteristics of the invention mentioned above, as well as others, will appear more clearly on reading the following description of an exemplary embodiment, said description being made in relation to the accompanying drawings, among which: FIG. . 1 represents a telecommunications network in which a telecommunications terminal communicates with a voice server of the telecommunications network or another telecommunications terminal according to the invention; Fig. 2 shows a schematic view of the telecommunications terminal according to the invention; Fig. 3 shows a schematic view of the voice server according to the invention; Fig. 4 shows the algorithm performed by the telecommunications terminal according to the invention; Figs. 5a and 5b represent the algorithm performed by the server according to the invention; Fig. 6 shows a table comprising the various elements of a V23 data frame sent by the server according to the invention; Fig. 7 represents a table summarizing the different types of connections included in the fourth byte of the V23 data frame of FIG. 6; Figs. 8a, 8b and 8c represent the correspondence tables between the different values of the DTMF signals from the predetermined set of DTMF signals transmitted by the telecommunication terminal and indicating the characteristics of the text functionality; Figs. 9a and 9b represent the correspondence tables between the different values of the DTMF signals from the predetermined set of DTMF signals transmitted by the telecommunication terminal and indicating the characteristics of the sound processing functionality.

Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of the invention in a telecommunications network in which a subscriber terminal communicates with a voice server of the telecommunications network or another telecommunications terminal according to the invention.

The telecommunication network 30 includes a voice server 20. The telecommunication network is for example a PSTN Switched Telephone Network. The network 30 can also be a network of ISDN type (Digital Network with Service Integration) or a cellular telephone communication network such as a network of GSM type (Global System for Mobile communications), UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System), GPRS (General Packet Radio Services), etc.

The voice server 20 broadcasts written messages associated with voice messages through the network 30.

By voice messages is meant sound sequences comprising recordings of human voice obtained by recording a person's voice or by voice synthesis. By written messages is meant data adapted to be viewed, for example, on a screen in the form of alphanumeric characters.

The voice server 20, such as for example an Audiotel server of the company France Telecom, is accessible via a public telephone network of the company France Telecom in which it is identified in a conventional manner by a telephone number. The voice server 20 comprises an interface means adapted to interpret DTMF (Dual Tone Modulation Frequency) commands or voice frequencies generated by the manipulation of the keys of the keyboard of a terminal. 10 and / or voice commands. The voice server 20 communicates with the caller using voice messages. Voice messages are sent in block form in response to commands transmitted by the caller. Each voice message block is prerecorded and memorized with an appropriate addressing in a storage means of the voice server 20. In general, a welcome voice message is emitted upon connection with the voice server 20 and the telecommunications terminal 10, then one or more specific messages are sent each time a key of the telecommunication terminal 10 is actuated, thus forming a command to the voice server 20. The voice server 20 also associates written messages with the voice messages.

These written messages are transferred before sending the voice message to be decoded by the telecommunications terminal 10 and reproduced on a display means.

The voice server 20 transfers messages to the telecommunications terminal 10 to select a specific function and processes the response to these messages.

The telecommunications terminal 10 is for example a telephone handset or a videoconferencing system.

A telecommunications terminal 33 is also shown in FIG. 1. It is for example a telephone handset or a videoconferencing system which establishes a communication with the telecommunications terminal 10 or that the telecommunications terminal 10 wishes to join.

This telecommunications terminal 33 has functionalities having certain characteristics. It can also generate calls to the telecommunications device 10 in the same way as the voice server 20 and transfer messages to the telecommunications terminal 10 to select a specific function and process the response to these messages.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic view of the telecommunications terminal according to the invention. The telecommunications terminal 10 is for example a telephone handset comprising a processor 11 connected to a memory 12, a screen 15, a keyboard 16, a means for detecting V23 frames and for generating DTMF signals 14 (Dual Tone

Frequency Modulation), a line interface 13 as well as a speaker 17 and a microphone 18. The memory 12 stores the program implementing the method according to the invention which will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 4.

The processor 11 executes the program instructions corresponding to the algorithm which will be described with reference to FIG. 4 and controls the line interface 13, the screen 15, the keyboard 16, the frame detection means N23 and generation of DTMF signals 14 and the activation of the loudspeaker 17 and the microphone 18.

The processor 11 is, for example and in a nonlimiting manner, capable of coding, decoding voice signals conforming to the recommendation G722 of LUIT (International Telecommunication Union) at a sampling frequency of 7 KHz and at a bit rate 56Kbit / s. It should be noted that, as a variant, the telecommunications terminal 10 includes an integrated circuit capable of carrying out the coding and decoding of the voice signals in accordance with the recommendation G722.

The keyboard 16 and the screen 15 provide the man-machine interface with the user. Via the screen 15, the processor 1 1 displays the characteristic or characteristics of functions available to the telecommunications terminal 33 or the voice server 20 with which it is in communication.

The keyboard 16 allows the user of the telecommunication terminal 10 to dial the telephone number of the voice server 20 according to the invention, or even to accept an operation of the telecommunication terminal 10 according to a predetermined characteristic.

The telecommunications terminal 10 has, for example, text functionality. It has in fact a screen 15. The screen functionality is associated with the following characteristics: screen of 16 lines, 120 columns, capable of reproducing bold, italic, underlined characters and acceptance of strings of character sequences.

The telecommunication terminal 10 includes a stereophonic link 19 making it possible to connect a stereophonic headset to the telecommunication terminal.

The signals transmitted on the stereophonic link are processed by the processor 11 which, from the signals received from the telecommunications network, if they are stereophonic, recreates for example a surround effect.

The sound processing functionality is associated with the following characteristics: stereophony and surround processing, coding decoding according to the recommendation ITU G.722 at a bit rate of 56Kbit / s. The telecommunications terminal 10 comprises a line interface 13 adapted to the telecommunications network 30. The line interface 13 comprises inter alia at least one relay controlled by the processor 11 allowing the connection or disconnection of the telecommunications terminal 10 to the network 30, at at least one transformer making it possible to isolate the telecommunication terminal 10 from the telecommunication network 30 and at least one 2-wire 4-wire converter circuit allowing the separation of the incoming and outgoing signals.

The telecommunications terminal 10 also includes a microphone 18 and a conventional speaker 17. It should be noted that the loudspeaker 17 and the microphone 18 can be deactivated by the processor 11 during the reception and / or the generation of DTMF signals or during the reception of frames V23 according to the invention.

The telecommunication terminal 10 also comprises a means of detecting V23 frames and generating DTMF signals 14. This means of detecting V23 frames and generating DTMF signals 14 is for example a modem or a DSP (Digital Signal Processor).

The means for detecting V23 frames and for generating DTMF signals 14 is capable of detecting, decoding signals conforming to the rules defined in the V23 transmission protocol standardized at ETSI (European Telecommunications Standards Institute) and described in the document ETSI EN 300 659-2 entitled Public Sitched Telephone Network (PSTN): Subscriber A protocol over the local loop for display and related services- Part 2: Off-hook data transmission and the document ETSI EN 300 659-3 entitled Access and Terminais (AT) ; Analogue access to the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN): Subscriber line protocol over the local loop for display and related services- Part 3: Data link message and parameter.

Fig. 3 shows a schematic view of the architecture of the server according to the invention.

The voice server 20 comprises a processor 21 connected to a ROM read-only memory 22, a random access memory 23, a voice memory 24, a data memory 25, a means of detecting DTMF signals 27 (Dual Tone Modulation Frequency) and of generating V23 frames and a line 26 interface.

When the voice server 30 is put into service, the program instructions corresponding to the algorithm of FIGS. 5a and 5b are loaded from the read-only memory 22 into random access memory 23 and are executed by the processor 21. The processor 21 is, for example and in a nonlimiting manner, capable of coding, decoding voice signals conforming to the recommendation G722 of LUIT (International Telecommunication Union) at a sampling frequency of 7 KHz and at a bit rate of 64Kbit / s , 56Kbit / s and 48Kbit / s. The processor 21 is also able to encode, decode voice signals in accordance with the recommendations G722.1, G729 and G711 of the ITU.

It should be noted that, as a variant, the voice server 20 includes one or more integrated circuits able to carry out the coding and decoding of the voice signals in accordance with these recommendations. The processor 21 controls, via a noted link 28, the line interface 30, the means 27 for detecting DTMF signals and for generating V23 frames and ensures the transfer of the information contained in the memories 24 and 25 to destination of the telecommunications terminal 10.

The voice server 20 comprises a line interface 26 adapted to the telecommunications network 30. The line interface comprises inter alia at least one relay controlled by the processor 21 allowing the connection or disconnection of the server to a calling telecommunications terminal 10, at least a transformer making it possible to isolate the voice server from the telecommunications network 30 and at least one 2-wire 4-wire converter circuit allowing the separation of the incoming and outgoing signals.

The voice server 20 also includes a means 27 for detecting DTMF signals and for generating V23 frames. This means 27 for detecting DTMF signals and for generating V23 frames is for example a modem or a DSP (Digital Signal Processor). The means 27 for detecting DTMF signals and for generating V23 frames also conforms to the ETSI standards mentioned with reference to FIG. 2. It will not be described further.

The means 27 for detecting DTMF signals and for generating V23 frames is connected to the line interface 26 so as to receive DTMF signals and / or send V23 frames according to the invention when a telecommunications terminal 10 is connected to the voice server 20.

Fig. 4 shows the algorithm performed by the telecommunications terminal 10 according to the invention. When the application is launched, the processor 11 reads from the memory 12, the program instructions corresponding to steps E400 to E424 of FIG. 4 and loads them into RAM, not shown, to execute them.

In step E400, the user of the telecommunications terminal 10 picks up his handset and for example dials the telephone number of a voice server 20. The processor 11 then generates a command intended for the line interface so that it ci takes the line, and the processor 11 generates a command for the means 14 for detecting frames V23 and for generating DTMF signals so that the latter dials the telephone number. This telephone number is then transmitted to the telecommunications network 30 and the telecommunications terminal 10 is put into communication with the voice server 20.

Once these operations have been carried out, the processor then goes to step E401 and checks whether the means 14 for detecting frames V23 and for generating DTMF signals has received from the telecommunications network 30 a signal S AT generated by the voice server 20. This signal SAT is a dual frequency signal (2130Hz and 2750 Hz) which is transmitted over a TSAT time between 80 and 85 milliseconds (ms).

If no SAT signal is received, this implies that the voice server 20 in communication with the telecommunications terminal 10 does not include V23 type modems, the processor 11 then stops the algorithm. If a SAT signal is received from the telecommunications network 30, the processor 11 goes to step E402 and generates a command intended for the means 14 for detecting frames V23 and for generating DTMF signals so that the latter generates the DTMF signal D. The function of this signal is to inform the voice server 20 that the SAT signal has been received and that the frame detection modem V23 is indeed activated.

Once this operation has been carried out, the processor 11 goes to step E403 which is a waiting loop for reception and decoding, by the means 14 of N23 frames and generation of DTMF signals, of a V23 frame. This frame complies with the rules defined in the V23 transmission protocol standardized at the ETSI (European Telecommunication Standards Institute) and described in the document ETSI EN 300 659-2 entitled Public Sitched Telephone Network (PSTN): Subscriber Une protocol over the local loop for display and related services- Part 2: Off-hook data transmission and the document ETSI EN 300 659-3 entitled Access and Terminais (AT); Analogue access to the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN): Subscriber Une protocol over the local loop for display and related services- Part 3: Data link message and parameter. This frame will be further explained with reference to Figs. 6 and 7.

The decoded frame is then analyzed by the processor 11. The processor l i in step E404 checks whether the first byte of this frame is equal to the value 40H in hexadecimal. This value 40H corresponds to a terminal functionality selection frame. If the decoded frame does not include this value, it is a V23 frame representative of information not processed by the present invention. The processor 11 then terminates the algorithm. If the first byte of this frame is equal to the value 40H in hexadecimal, the processor 1 1 continues the analysis of the frame, and in step E405, reads the fourth byte of this decoded frame, and according to its value, determines its meaning from the table described with reference to FIG. 7. This table is stored in memory 12 of the telecommunications terminal. This fourth byte represents the type of connection.

Once this step has been completed, the processor 11 in step E407 determines from this byte whether or not the function call implies approval by the user of the telecommunications terminal 10.

Indeed, the telecommunications terminal 10 has several functionalities. The text functionality as well as its characteristics related to what it brings to the user can be achieved in the invention as described without intervention by the user of the telecommunications terminal 10. The sound processing functionality, with which are associated the stereophony and surround processing characteristics necessarily imply the need for the user to connect his stereophonic headset to the link 19 of the telecommunications terminal 10. This, in certain cases, may not be desired by the user.

Thus, if the fourth byte of the decoded frame is equal to the value 07H representing the text functionality, the processor 11 goes to step E408. In step E408, the processor 11 transfers to frame detection means 14

V23 and DTMF signal generation command to generate DTMF signals representative of the characteristics of the screen 15. These characteristics are 16 lines, 120 columns, capable of reproducing bold, italic, underlined characters and acceptance of strings of character sequences . All these functionalities will be coded with a predetermined number of DTMF signals, in this case three DTMF signals.

The transcoding of these signals will be described in more detail with reference to Figs. 8a, 8b and 8c. Once these operations have been carried out, the processor then goes to step E409 and waits for reception by the means 14 of detecting frames V23 and of generating DTMF signals of a signal SAT generated by the voice server 20.

On receipt of this signal SAT, the processor 11 goes to step E410 and generates a command intended for the means 14 for detecting frames V23 and for generating DTMF signals so that the latter generates a DTMF signal D.

Once this operation has been completed, the processor 11 goes to step E41 1 and waits for the reception by the means 14 of detecting frames V23 and of generating DTMF signals of a frame V23 generated by the voice server 20.

The voice server 20 having received the characteristics of the text functionality transferred to step E408 transmits a frame V23 containing text information.

This frame is a Display information parameter type frame of the standard

ETSI EN 300 659-3, Access and terminais; Analog access to the public switch telephone network; subscriber A protocol over the local loop for display services;

Part 3 Data link message and parameter codings. This frame comprises a first byte of value 50H in hexadecimal.

On reception of the frame V23, the processor 11, in step E412, receives and processes the decoded bytes. The processor 11 reads in step E413, the second byte of the frame in order to determine the length of the frame. A maximum of 251 characters can be included in the V23 frame, or 250 if the V23 frames are chained. The processor 11 reads in step E414, the fourth byte of the frame in order to determine whether the frames are chained or not. The value of this character represents the number of chained V23 frames.

It should be noted here that the voice server knowing the characteristics of the screen 15 of the telecommunications terminal 10 has formatted the written message according to these characteristics by adjusting the number of characters transmitted in the frame V23 to its dimensions.

Then, the processor 1 1 goes to step E415 and processes the first byte of data included in the frame V23. The first data byte is the fifth of the V23 frame if the telecommunications terminal 10 has the chaining characteristic or the fourth if it does not.

The processor 11 performs the loop consisting of steps E415 and E416 until all the characters have been processed. This number of characters is equal to the value of the second byte of the frame read in step E413.

It should be noted that in this loop, the processor 1 1 searches for the sequences of characters , and . The processor 11, upon detection of these sequences, does not transfer these to the screen 15, but transfers the characters included between these sequences to the screen in an appropriate attribute such as the underlined, italic or bold attribute. All the characters contained in the frame having been processed, the processor 11, in step E417, checks whether all the frame strings V23 have been processed.

If not, the processor 11 returns to step E41 1 and waits for the next chained frame V23. The loop consisting of steps E412 to E417 is executed as many times as there are frames in the chain. When all the frames have been processed, the processor goes to step E418 which consists in checking whether the communication is interrupted or not.

If the communication is interrupted, the algorithm stops. Otherwise, the processor 11 returns to step E403 previously described and waits for a new frame V23 to be processed. The voice server 20 transfers a new frame V23 via the telecommunications network 30 to the telecommunications terminal 10.

On receipt of this frame, the processor 11 goes to step E404.

The processor 11, in step E404, checks whether the first byte of this frame is equal to the value 40H in hexadecimal. This value 40H corresponds to a terminal functionality selection frame. If the decoded frame does not include this value, it is a V23 frame representative of information not processed by the present invention. The processor 11 then terminates the algorithm.

If the first byte of this frame is equal to the value 40H in hexadecimal, the processor l lc continues the analysis of the frame, and in step E405, reads the fourth byte of this decoded frame, and according to its value, determines to step E406, its meaning from the table described with reference to FIG. 7 and stored in memory 12. This step carried out, the processor 11, in step E407, determines from this byte whether or not the function call involves the user of the telecommunications terminal 10. For example, the fourth byte of the frame is equal to the value 01H corresponding to a selection frame of the sound processing functionality. This functionality, as we mentioned earlier, involves user intervention. The processor 11 therefore goes to step E419. In step E419, the processor 11 transfers to the frame detection means 14

N23 and DTMF signal generation a command to generate DTMF signals representative of the characteristics of the sound processing functionality. These characteristics are the stereo processing, the surround effect as well as the G722 recommendation at 56Kbit / s. All these functionalities will be coded with a predetermined number of DTMF signals, in this case three DTMF signals.

The transcoding of these signals will be described in more detail with reference to Figs. 9a and 9b.

Once these operations have been carried out, the processor then goes to step E420 and waits for the reception by the means 14 of detecting frames V23 and of generating DTMF signals of a signal SAT generated by the voice server 20.

On reception of this signal SAT, the processor 11 goes to step E421 and generates a command intended for the means 14 for detecting frames V23 and for generating DTMF signals so that the latter generates a DTMF signal D. This operation performed, the processor 11 proceeds for example to the display on the screen 15 of the functionality involving the user. In our example, this is a sound functionality with listening via a stereo headset.

The processor 11, in the next step E423, interrogates the keyboard 16 of the telecommunication terminal 10 in order to determine whether or not the user accepts the operation of the telecommunication terminal according to this functionality. If not, the processor returns to step E404 of the algorithm. If so, the processor 11 controls the activation of the sound processing functionality in step E424 and then returns to step E404 previously described.

It should be noted here that the activation of the functionality involving the user can also be carried out on the basis of an exchange of voice information between the telecommunications terminal 10 and the voice server 20. Figs. 5a and 5b represent the algorithm performed by the server according to the invention.

When the application is launched, the processor 21 reads from the memory 22, the program instructions corresponding to steps E500 to E532 of FIGS. 5a and 5b and loads them into RAM 23.

The server is for example a voice server 20.

In step E500, a call from a telecommunication terminal is detected by the line interface 26 connected to the telecommunication network 30. The voice server 20 then establishes a communication with the calling telecommunication terminal. Once this step has been completed, the processor 21, in step E501, controls the means 27 for detecting DTMF signals and for generating frames V23 so that the latter generates, via the line interface 26, a signal SAT intended for the calling telecommunications terminal, for example the telecommunications terminal 10. The SAT signal is a dual-frequency signal (2130Hz and 2750 Hz) which is transmitted over a TSAT time comprised between 80 and 85 milliseconds (ms). This signal is transmitted by the voice server 20 via the telecommunications network 30.

Following the sending of the SAT message, the processor 21 goes to step E502 which consists in verifying whether a DTMF response signal D has been received by the means 27 for detecting DTMF signals and for generating frames V23.

If not, the processor 21 goes to step E503 which consists in checking whether the time allocated for receiving the response signal DTMF D has elapsed or not.

The time allocated for receiving the DTMF D response signal following the sending of the SAT message is for example 200 ms.

If this time has not elapsed, the processor 21 returns to step E502 previously described.

The processor 21 performs the loop consisting of steps E502 and E503 as long as a DTMF D response signal has not been received or until the time allocated for the reception of the DTMF D response signal.

If the timer has elapsed, this means that the telecommunications terminal 10 does not have a means of generating frame detection N23. The processor 21 then goes to step E504. In step E504, the processor 21 reads a voice message in the form of blocks from the voice memory 24 and transfers it to the line interface 26.

The voice message is sent in the form of blocks in response to commands issued by the caller. Each voice message block is prerecorded and stored with an appropriate address in the voice memory 24. In general, a welcome message is sent upon connection between the voice server 20 and the telecommunications terminal 10, then a specific message is issued each time the user of the telecommunications terminal 10a presses a key on the keyboard 16a forming a command to the voice server 20 or each time that the user of the telecommunications terminal 10b presses a key on the telephone handset 35 forming a command to the voice server 20.

This generation of voice messages is classic. It will not be described further.

If a DTMF response signal D has been received by the means 27 for detecting DTMF signals and for generating frames V23 in step E502, the processor 21 goes to step E705.

At step E505, the processor 21 controls the means 27 for detecting DTMF signals and for generating frames N23 so that the latter generates a sequence of signals constituting a data frame V23 intended for the telecommunications terminal 10 by the via the network interface 26 and the telecommunications network 30.

This data frame consists of a set of four bytes.

The data frame is a frame allowing to select a terminal with a specific function. This data frame will be described with reference to Figs. 6 and 7. By way of example, this frame is a frame representative of a request for the call function associated with text.

Once this step has been completed, the processor 21 then goes to step E506 which consists in verifying whether a DTMF response signal has been received by the means 27 for detecting DTMF signals and for generating frames V23. This response signal is a signal

DTMF indicating that the message transmitted in step E505 is taken into account by the telecommunication device 10.

If not, the processor 21 goes to step E507 which consists in verifying whether the time allocated for receiving the DTMF response signal has passed or not. The time allocated for receiving the DTMF response signal following the sending of the SAT message is for example 200 ms.

If this time has not elapsed, the processor 21 returns to step E506 previously described. The processor 21 performs the loop made up of steps E506 and E507 until a DTMF response signal has not been received or until the time allocated for receiving the DTMF response signal has elapsed.

If the timer has expired, this means that the telecommunications terminal 10 does not have the functionality presented in the message sent in step E505. The processor 21 then goes to step E508.

In step E508, the processor 21 reads a voice message in the form of blocks from the voice memory 24 and transfers it to the line interface 26 in a similar manner to that described previously with reference to step E504.

If at least one DTMF response signal has been received by the DTMF signal detection means 27 and the generation of frames V23 in step E506, the processor proceeds to step E509. As is the case in our example, the telecommunications terminal 10 has a screen 15. It can therefore process text.

At this step, the processor 21 checks the number of DTMF signals received in step E506 in response to the signal frame V23 transmitted in step E505. If only one DTMF signal has been received, processor 21 proceeds to step E518.

At this stage, the processor 21 transfers the written message to the means 27 for detecting DTMF signals and for generating frames V23 which generates the corresponding frame V23. This frame is transmitted to the telecommunications terminal 10 via the line interface 26 and the telecommunications network 30. It should be noted that the written message is not adapted to the characteristics of the screen 15 of the telecommunications terminal 10. Indeed, by responding with a DTMF D signal, the telecommunications terminal 10 has confirmed that it has the display function, but is not able to transfer the characteristics of the latter.

Once this operation has been completed, the processor goes to step E519 and reads a voice message in the form of blocks from the voice memory 24 and transfers it to the line interface 26 in a similar manner to that described previously with reference to step E504.

If more than one DTMF signal has been received, implicitly the telecommunication terminal 10 has received the signal frame V23 transmitted in step E505. he has this functionality and moreover, it transfers the characteristics of the functionality into its response. According to our example, the telecommunications terminal 10 has a screen of 16 lines, 120 columns, capable of reproducing bold, italic characters, underlined with acceptance of strings of character sequences.

If the test in step E509 is positive, the processor 21 goes to step E510 and controls the means 27 for detecting DTMF signals and for generating frames

V23 so that it generates, via the line interface 26, a signal

SAT to the calling telecommunications terminal, for example telecommunications terminal 10.

Following the sending of the SAT message, the processor 21 goes to step E511 which consists in verifying whether a DTMF response signal D has been received by the means 27 for detecting DTMF signals and for generating frames V23.

If not, the processor 21 goes to step E512 which consists in checking whether the time allocated for receiving the response signal DTMF D has elapsed or not.

If this time has not elapsed, the processor 21 returns to step E511 previously described.

The processor 21 performs the loop consisting of steps E51 1 and E512 until a DTMF D response signal has not been received or until the time allocated for receiving the DTMF D response signal has elapsed.

If the timer has expired, the processor 21 then goes to step E513. In step E513, the processor 21 reads from the voice memory 24 a voice message in the form of blocks and transfers it to the line interface 26 in the same manner as in step E504 previously described.

If a DTMF D response signal is received in step E511, the processor 21 proceeds to step E514. The processor 21, in step E514, determines, as a function of the message representative of the request for a specific functionality, and of the frame consisting of a combination of a predetermined number of voice frequency signals, the characteristics of the telecommunications terminal 10 associated with functionality. In our example, the functionality transmitted in step E505 being a text functionality, the processor 21 decodes these DTMF signals using the tables shown in FIGS. 8a, 8b, 8c and stored in the RAM 23.

This operation carried out, the processor 21 goes to the next step E515 and formats the written messages according to the characteristics of the screen 15.

For example, the processor 21 inserts in the written messages markers delimiting the characters to be displayed in bold, italic or underlined characters. Markers such as , , may for example indicate that the following characters must be reproduced in underline, in italics and in bold respectively. This is particularly interesting when viewing. Indeed, the user of the telecommunication terminal thus quickly visualizes the important information contained in the message.

The processor 21 also adapts the content of the message to the size of the screen, whether or not using abbreviations if the screen is small. This operation of adapting written messages to the characteristics of the screen

15 of the telecommunications terminal 10 being carried out, the processor goes to step E516.

At this step E516, the processor transfers a written message to the means 27 for detecting DTMF signals and generating V23 frames which generates the corresponding V23 frame. This frame is transmitted to the telecommunications terminal 10 via the line interface 26 and the telecommunications network 30.

This frame conforms to a frame of parameters and display information. This frame complies with standard ETSI EN 300 659-3 Access and Terminais; analog Access to the public switched Telephone Network; Subscriber line protocol over the local loop for display and related services; Part 3 Data link message and parameter codings. This frame consists of a header byte at the value 50H in hexadecimal.

In the written message, the processor 21 inserts the number of written messages which will be transmitted subsequently since the telecommunication terminal 10 accepts the chaining of frames V23. It should be noted that the processor 20 may also include in the following written messages other information such as the date and time of the sending.

Once this has been done, the processor goes to step E517 and reads a voice message in the form of blocks from the voice memory 24 and transfers it to the interface. line 26 in a similar manner to that described previously with reference to step E504.

This step carried out, the processor proceeds to step E520 of FIG. 5b.

In step E520, the processor 21 controls the means 27 for detecting DTMF signals and for generating frames V23 so that the latter generates a sequence of signals constituting a data frame N23 intended for the telecommunications terminal 10 by the via the network interface 26 and the telecommunications network 30.

This data frame consists of a set of four bytes. The data frame is a frame allowing to select a terminal with a specific function. This data frame will be described with reference to Figs. 6 and 7. By way of example, this frame is a frame representative of a request for the call function of sound processing functionality.

Once this has been done, the processor 21 then goes to step E521 which consists in verifying whether a DTMF signal has been received by the means 27 for detecting DTMF signals and for generating frames N23. This response signal is a signal

DTMF indicating that the message transmitted in step E520 is taken into account by the telecommunication device 10.

If not, the processor 21 goes to step E522 which consists in checking whether the time allocated for receiving the DTMF response signal has elapsed or not.

The time allocated for receiving the DTMF response signal following the sending of the SAT message is for example 200 ms.

If this time has not elapsed, the processor 21 returns to step E521 previously described.

The processor 21 performs the loop made up of steps E521 and E522 until a DTMF response signal has not been received or until the time allocated for the reception of the DTMF response signal has elapsed.

If the timer has expired, this means that the telecommunications terminal 10 does not have the functionality presented in the message sent in step E520. The processor 21 then goes to step E523.

In step E523, the processor 21 reads from voice memory 24 a voice message in the form of blocks and transfers it to the line interface 26 in a similar manner to that previously described with reference to step E504. If at least one DTMF response signal has been received by the DTMF signal detection means 27 and the generation of frames V23 in step E521, the processor proceeds to step E524. As is the case in our example, the telecommunications terminal 10 has a sound processing functionality and associated characteristics.

At this step, the processor 21 checks the number of DTMF signals received in step E521 in response to the signal frame V23 transmitted in step E520.

If only one DTMF signal has been received, the processor 21 goes to step E525, the processor 21 reads from voice memory 24 a voice message in the form of blocks and transfers it to the line interface 26 intended for the telecommunications terminal. 10.

If more than one DTMF signal has been received, implicitly the telecommunication terminal 10 has received the signal frame V23 transmitted in step E520. It has this functionality and moreover, it transfers the characteristics of the functionality into its response. According to our example, the telecommunications terminal 10 has a sound processing functionality with which the following characteristics are associated: stereophony, surround processing, able to code decode signals according to the recommendation G722 at 56Kbits / s.

If the test in step E524 is positive, the processor 21 goes to step E526 and controls the means 27 for detecting DTMF signals and generating V23 frames so that the latter generates, via the line 26 interface, a signal

Following the sending of the SAT message, the processor 21 goes to step E527 which consists in verifying whether a DTMF response signal D has been received by the means 27 for detecting DTMF signals and for generating frames V23.

If not, the processor 21 goes to step E528 which consists in verifying whether the time allocated for receiving the response signal DTMF D has elapsed or not.

If this time has not elapsed, the processor 21 returns to step E527 previously described.

The processor 21 performs the loop consisting of steps E527 and E528 as long as a DTMF D response signal has not been received or until the time allocated for the reception of the DTMF D response signal has elapsed.

If the timer has expired, the processor 21 then goes to step E529. In step E529, the processor 21 reads from the voice memory 24 a voice message in the form of blocks and transfers it to the line interface 26.

If a DTMF D response signal is received in step E527, the processor 21 proceeds to step E530. The processor 21, in step E530, determines according to the message representative of the request for a specific functionality, and of the frame consisting of a combination of a predetermined number of voice frequency signals, the characteristics of the telecommunications terminal 10 associated with functionality.

In our example, the functionality transmitted in step E520 being a speech functionality, the processor 21 decodes these DTMF signals using the tables shown in FIGS. 9a and 9b and stored in the RAM 23. The processor 21 decodes the DTMF signals received in step E521, deduces the following characteristics: stereophony, surround processing, coding decoding according to the recommendation G.722 at 56Kbit / s. Once this operation has been carried out, the processor 21 goes to the next step E531 and formats the voice messages according to the characteristics of the telecommunications terminal 10. For example, formatting consists in doubling the voice message with a stereophonic signal and in coding voice messages according to G.722 recommendation at a speed of 56Kbit / s. This operation carried out, the processor 21, in step E532, transfers the stereophonic voice message to the line interface 26.

Thus, the telecommunications terminal receives data from the voice server adapted to its characteristics of both text and voice processing.

Fig. 6 shows a table comprising the various elements of a V23 data frame sent by the server according to the invention.

The data frame V23 transmitted by the voice server in step E505 of FIG. 5a and received by the telecommunications terminal 10 in step E403 consists of four bytes of data.

The table in FIG. 6 is made up of four columns denoted 61 to 64 and four rows 65 to 68.

Column 61 contains the number of the byte in the V23 frame considered, column 62 contains the binary value of the byte considered, column 63 contains the hexadecimal value of the byte considered and column 64 the meaning of the byte considered. The first byte in line 65 has a binary value of 0100 0000 or 40H in hexadecimal. This byte represents a code indicating that the content of the frame is a request from the voice server 20 to interrogate the telecommunications terminal 10 if it has a predetermined function. The second byte in line 66 counts the bytes composing the message which follow this byte. In our example, this byte has a binary value of 0000 0010 or 02H in hexadecimal.

The third byte in line 67 determines the type of information in this frame.

This byte can be representative of a connection type as in our case and is then equal to the binary value of 0000 0001, ie 01 H in hexadecimal. This third byte allows in other applications to define for example the number of multiple subscribers or Multiple Subscriber Number MSN.

The last byte in line 68 contains the code associated with the type of connection. This code takes the different values described with reference to FIG. 7. The frame V23 transmitted in step E505 of FIG. 5a as well as the frame sent in step E520 of FIG. 5b are made up of four bytes, the first having the value 40H, the second having the value 02H and the third having the value 01 H. The value of the fourth byte will be explained with reference to FIG. 7.

Fig. 7 represents a table summarizing the different types of connections included in the fourth byte of the V23 data frame of FIG. 6.

The table in FIG. 7 consists of three columns denoted 701 to 703 and eight rows 704 to 711.

Column 701 contains the possible binary value of the byte considered, column 702 contains the hexadecimal value of the byte considered and column 703 the meaning of the byte considered.

Lines 704 to 711 are standard and described in standard ETSI EN 300 659-3 Access and Terminal; Public Switch Telephone Network; Subsciber line protocol over the local loop for Display (and related) services; Data link message and parameter codings. The fourth byte of the V23 frame transmitted in step E505 of FIG. 5a is at the value 07H in hexadecimal and corresponds to a text call in accordance with line 711 in FIG. 7. The fourth byte of the V23 frame transmitted in step E520 of FIG. 5b is at the value 01H in hexadecimal and corresponds to a voice call in accordance with line 705 in FIG. 7.

Fig. 8a represents a table of correspondence between the different values of the first DTMF signal of the predetermined set of DTMF signals transmitted by the telecommunication terminal and indicating the characteristics of the text functionality.

This predetermined set of DTMF signals is transmitted by the telecommunications terminal 10 in step E408 of the algorithm of FIG. 4. This predetermined set of DTMF signals is received by the voice server in step E506 of the algorithm of FIG. 5a.

The DTMF signal represents a four-bit word. In our embodiment, only the two most significant bits are used, the two least significant bits are reserved and set to the value 0. Of course, the two least significant bits can be used for the transmission of 'other types of features.

The table in FIG. 8a is made up of three columns denoted 801 to 803 and four rows denoted 804 to 807.

Column 801 contains the different values of the first DTMF signal. Column 802 contains information representative of the possibility of formatting the data. Here we mean as the possibility of formatting the data, the characteristic of the telecommunications terminal to be interpreted and reproduced on the screen 15 underlined characters and / or in italic characters and / or in bold characters.

Column 803 contains information representative of the possibility of chaining the V23 data frames transmitted by the server 20.

On line 804, the first DTMF signal is at value 0. This value indicates to the server that the telecommunications terminal 10 does not have the characteristic for formatting received text characters and that the telecommunications terminal 10 does not have the chaining characteristic of received V23 frames. On line 805, the first DTMF signal is at value 4. This value indicates to the server that the telecommunications terminal 10 does not have the characteristic for formatting received text characters and that the telecommunications terminal 10 has the characteristic of chaining of received V23 frames. On line 806, the first DTMF signal is at the value 8. This value indicates to the server that the telecommunications terminal 10 has the characteristic of formatting of the received text characters and that the telecommunications terminal 10 does not have the characteristic of chaining of received V23 frames. On line 807, the first DTMF signal is at the value C. This value indicates to the server that the telecommunication terminal 10 has the characteristic of formatting of the text characters received and that the telecommunication terminal 10 has the chaining characteristic of the V23 frames received.

According to our example, the telecommunication terminal 10 having the characteristics of formatting of the received text characters and of chaining of the received V23 frames, the first DTMF signal is at value C.

Fig. 8b represents a correspondence table between the different values of the second DTMF signal from the predetermined set of DTMF signals transmitted by the telecommunication terminal and indicating the characteristics of the text functionality.

This predetermined set of DTMF signals is transmitted by the telecommunications terminal 10 in step E408 of the algorithm of FIG. 4. This predetermined set of DTMF signals is received by the voice server in step E506 of the algorithm of FIG. 5a. A DTMF signal can represent a four-bit word. In our embodiment, only the three least significant bits are used, the most significant bit is set to 0. Of course, the most significant bit can be used for the transmission of other types of characteristics.

The table in FIG. 8b consists of two columns denoted 808 and 809 and sixteen rows denoted 810 to 825.

Column 808 contains the different values of the second DTMF signal. Column 809 contains information representative of the number of lines available on the screen 15 of the telecommunications terminal 10.

On line 810, the second DTMF signal is at the value 0. This value indicates to the server that the screen 15 of the telecommunication terminal 10 has a line.

On line 81 1, the second DTMF signal is at value 1. This value indicates to the server that the screen 15 of the telecommunications terminal 10 has two lines.

On line 812, the second DTMF signal is at value 2. This value indicates to the server that the screen 15 of the telecommunications terminal 10 has three lines. On line 813, the second DTMF signal is at value 3. This value indicates to the server that the screen 15 of the telecommunication terminal 10 has four lines.

On line 814, the second DTMF signal is at value 4. This value indicates to the server that the screen 15 of the telecommunications terminal 10 has six lines. On line 815, the second DTMF signal is at value 5. This value indicates to the server that the screen 15 of the telecommunications terminal 10 has eight lines.

On line 816, the second DTMF signal is at value 6. This value indicates to the server that the screen 15 of the telecommunications terminal 10 has twelve lines.

On line 817, the second DTMF signal is at the value 7. This value indicates to the server that the screen 15 of the telecommunications terminal 10 has sixteen lines.

Lines 818 to 823 have DTMF signal values of 8, 9, A, B, C, D respectively. These values are reserved. They can of course be used for different screen sizes.

Lines 824 and 825 have DTMF signal values at * and # respectively. These values are prohibited to avoid any conflict with other services.

According to our example, the screen 15 of the telecommunications terminal 10 having 16 lines, the second DTMF signal is at the value 7.

Fig. 8c represents a table of correspondence between the different values of the third DTMF signal from the predetermined set of DTMF signals transmitted by the telecommunication terminal and indicating the characteristics of the text functionality.

A DTMF signal can represent a four-bit word. In our embodiment, only the three least significant bits are used, the most significant bit is set to 0. Of course, the most significant bit can be used for the transmission of other types of characteristics. The table in FIG. 8c consists of two columns denoted 826 and 827 and sixteen rows denoted 828 to 843.

Column 826 contains the different values of the third DTMF signal. Column 827 contains information representative of the number of columns available to the screen 15 of the telecommunications terminal 10. On line 828, the third DTMF signal is at the value 0. This value indicates to the server that the screen 15 of the telecommunication terminal 10 has twelve columns.

On line 829, the third DTMF signal is at the value 1. This value indicates to the server that the screen 15 of the telecommunication terminal 10 has sixteen columns.

On line 830, the third DTMF signal is at the value 2. This value indicates to the server that the screen 15 of the telecommunication terminal 10 has twenty columns. On line 831, the third DTMF signal is at value 3. This value indicates to the server that the screen 15 of the telecommunications terminal 10 has twenty four columns.

On line 832, the third DTMF signal is at value 4. This value indicates to the server that the screen 15 of the telecommunications terminal 10 has thirty two columns.

On line 833, the third DTMF signal is at value 5. This value indicates to the server that the screen 15 of the telecommunications terminal 10 has forty columns.

On line 834, the third DTMF signal is at value 6. This value indicates to the server that the screen 15 of the telecommunications terminal 10 has eighty columns.

On line 835, the third DTMF signal is at value 7. This value indicates to the server that the screen 15 of the telecommunications terminal 10 has one hundred and twenty columns. Lines 836 to 841 have DTMF signal values of 8, 9, A, B, C, D respectively. These values are reserved. They can of course be used for different screen sizes.

Lines 842 and 843 have DTMF signal values at * and # respectively. These values are prohibited to avoid any conflict with other services. According to our example, the screen 15 of the telecommunications terminal 10 having one hundred and twenty lines, the third DTMF signal is at the value 7.

Fig. 9a represents the table of correspondence between the different values of the first DTMF signal of the predetermined set of DTMF signals transmitted by the telecommunications terminal and indicating the characteristics of the sound processing functionality.

This predetermined set of DTMF signals is transmitted by the telecommunications terminal 10 in step E419 of the algorithm of FIG. 4. This predetermined set of DTMF signals is received by the voice server in step E521 of the algorithm of FIG. 5b.

A DTMF signal can represent a four-bit word. In our embodiment, only the two most significant bits are used, the two least significant bits are reserved and set to the value 0. Of course, the two least significant bits can be used for the transmission of 'other types of features.

The table in FIG. 9a is made up of two columns denoted 901 and 902 and four rows denoted 904 to 907.

Column 901 contains the different values of the first DTMF signal. Column 902 contains information representative of the different types of sound data transmission modes.

On line 904, the first DTMF signal is at value 0. This value indicates to the server that the telecommunications terminal 10 is capable of processing sound signals according to the recommendation G722 of the ITU. According to this recommendation, the audio signals are coded at a frequency of 7 KHz at a rate of 64Kbit / s, 56Kbit / s, 48Kbit / s.

On line 905, the first DTMF signal is at value 4. This value indicates to the server that the telecommunications terminal 10 is capable of processing sound signals according to ITU recommendation G722.1. According to this recommendation, the audio signals are coded at a rate of 24 and 32 Kbit / s for systems operating in hands-free mode.

On line 906, the first DTMF signal is at value 8. This value indicates to the server that the telecommunications terminal 10 is capable of processing sound signals according to the recommendation G729 of the ITU. According to this recommendation, speech is coded at a rate of 8 Kbit / s using linear prediction with code excitation (CS-ACELP).

On line 907, the first DTMF signal is at value C. This value indicates to the server that the telecommunications terminal 10 is capable of processing sound signals according to the ITU recommendation G711. According to this recommendation, the speech is coded in Pulse Coding Modulation (MIC) at a speed of 64 Kbit / s.

According to our example, the telecommunications terminal 10 being able to code decode signals according to the G722 recommendation, the first DTMF signal is at value 0.

Fig. 9b represents the table of correspondence between the different values of the second DTMF signal from the predetermined set of DTMF signals transmitted by the telecommunication terminal and indicating the characteristics of the sound processing functionality. This predetermined set of DTMF signals is transmitted by the telecommunications terminal 10 in step E419 of the algorithm of FIG. 4. This predetermined set of DTMF signals is received by the voice server in step E521 of the algorithm of FIG. 5b.

A DTMF signal can represent a four-bit word. In our embodiment, only the three least significant bits are used, the most significant bit is set to 0. Of course, the most significant bit can be used for the transmission of other types of characteristics.

The table in FIG. 9b consists of two columns denoted 908 and 909 and sixteen rows denoted 910 to 925. Column 908 contains the different values of the second DTMF signal. Column 909 contains information representative of the type of coding used by the telecommunications terminal 10.

On line 910, the second DTMF signal is at the value 0. This value indicates to the server that the telecommunication terminal 10 is capable of processing signals coded in modulation by coding pulse.

On line 91 1, the second DTMF signal is at the value 1. This value indicates to the server that the telecommunication terminal 10 is capable of processing coded signals at a rate of 8Kbit / s.

On line 912, the second DTMF signal is at the value 2. This value indicates to the server that the telecommunication terminal 10 is capable of processing coded signals at a rate of 24Kbit / s.

On line 913, the second DTMF signal is at value 3. This value indicates to the server that the telecommunication terminal 10 is capable of processing coded signals at a speed of 32Kbit / s. On line 914, the second DTMF signal is at the value 4. This value indicates to the server that the telecommunication terminal 10 is capable of processing coded signals at a speed of 56Kbit / s.

On line 915, the second DTMF signal is at value 5. This value indicates to the server that the telecommunications terminal 10 is capable of processing coded signals at a speed of 64Kbit / s.

Lines 916 and 917 have DTMF signal values of 6 and 7 respectively. These values are not used. They can of course be used for different types of coding. Lines 918 to 923 have DTMF signal values of 8, 9, A, B, C, D respectively. These values are reserved. They can of course be used for different types of coding.

Lines 924 and 925 have DTMF signal values at * and # respectively. These values are prohibited to avoid any conflict with other services. According to our example, the telecommunication terminal 10 being able to code decode signals at a speed of 56Kbit / s, the second DTMF signal is at value 4.

The third DTMF signal not shown represents other characteristics such as the number of channels. More precisely, the characteristics of the telecommunications terminal are described here in terms of the possibility of monophonic, stereophonic or three-dimensional reproduction such as the surround effect.

In the third DTMF signal, only the three least significant bits are used, the most significant bit is set to 0. Of course, the most significant bit can be used for the transmission of other types of characteristics.

It should be noted that the characteristics of other functionalities can be transmitted by the telecommunications terminal. By way of example, on reception of a V23 frame conforming to FIG. 6 and having its fourth byte at any one of the values, representative of functionalities, included in the table of FIG. 7, or even other predetermined values, the telecommunication terminal 10 transfers, in response to this frame V23, a predetermined number of DTMF signals representative of the characteristics associated with the functionality contained in the frame N23.

By way of example, to a command processing functionality, the telecommunications terminal 10 responds for example by a combination of three DTMF signals with the associated characteristics which it has, for example, the characteristic visual signal generation, the characteristic of generating an audio signal or initiating a delayed telephone number call.

It should also be noted that the telecommunications terminal 33 in FIG. 1 is able to generate V23 frames in the same way as the server 20 and implement the steps of the algorithm of Figs. 5a and 5b, apart from the fact that, like generating voice messages, the communication terminal 33 connects the users of the telecommunications terminals 10 and 33.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described here, but encompasses, quite the contrary, any variant within the reach of ordinary skill in the art.

Claims

1) Method for transferring the characteristics of a functionality of a first telecommunications terminal connected to a second telecommunications terminal via a telecommunications network, the first telecommunications terminal receiving a message from the second representative telecommunications terminal of a request for a specific functionality, the first terminal on receipt of the message determines the specific functionality and the method is characterized in that it comprises the steps of:

- obtaining (E406) of the characteristics associated with the specific functionality determined, - transfer (E408, E419) to the second telecommunication terminal, in a frame made up of a combination of a predetermined number of voice frequency signals, of the characteristics obtained from functionality.

2) Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the message representative of a request for a specific functionality is a frame conforming to the V23 protocol.

3) Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first telecommunications terminal on each reception of a request for a specific functionality received from the second terminal, determines the specific functionality (E405), obtains (E406) the associated characteristics to the specific functionality determined and transfers (E408, E419) to the second telecommunications terminal, in a frame consisting of a combination of a predetermined number of voice frequency signals, the characteristics obtained from the function.

4) Method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the predetermined number of voice frequency signals is equal to three.

5) Method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the method further comprises the step (E423) of an interrogation of the user of the first telecommunication terminal. 6) Method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the specific functionality is a text functionality and that the associated characteristics are part of the group of V23 frame chaining characteristics, character formatting, size of the screen.

7) Method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the specific functionality is a sound processing functionality and that the associated characteristics are part of the group of coding, decoding and stereophonic characteristics.

8) Method for transferring messages from a first telecommunication terminal to a second telecommunication terminal, via a telecommunication network, the first telecommunication terminal generating a message intended for the second telecommunication terminal, the message being representative of a request for a specific functionality, characterized in that the method comprises the steps of:

- reception (E506, E521) of a frame consisting of a combination of a predetermined number of voice frequency signals,

- determination (E514, E530) as a function of the message representative of the request for a specific functionality and of the frame consisting of a combination of a predetermined number of voice frequency signals, of the characteristics of the second terminal associated with the functionality,

- adaptation (E515, E531) of data as a function of the determined characteristics, - transfer (E516, E523) of the data adapted to the second telecommunications terminal.

9) Method according to claim 8, characterized in that the message representative of a request for a specific functionality and adapted data transferred are frames conforming to the V23 protocol.

10) Method according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the predetermined number of voice frequency signals is equal to three. 1 1) Method according to any one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the method further comprises a step of checking (E509, E524) the number of voice frequency signals received in the frame.

12) Method according to any one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that the specific functionality is a text functionality and that the associated characteristics belong to the group of V23 frame chaining characteristics, character formatting, size of the screen.

13) Method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the specific functionality is a sound processing functionality and that the associated characteristics belong to the group of coding, decoding and stereophonic characteristics.

14) Device for transferring the characteristics of a functionality of a first telecommunication terminal connected to a second telecommunication terminal, via a telecommunication network, the first telecommunication terminal receiving a message from the second telecommunication terminal representative of a request for a specific functionality, the first terminal on receipt of the message determines the specific functionality and the first device is characterized in that it comprises:

- means for obtaining (11, 12, 14) the characteristics associated with the specific functionality determined,

- Transfer means (14, 15) to the second telecommunication terminal, in a frame consisting of a combination of a predetermined number of voice frequency signals, of the characteristics obtained from the functionality.

15) Device according to claim 14, characterized in that it comprises means for implementing the method according to any one of claims 2 to 7.

16) Device for transferring messages from a first telecommunications terminal to a second telecommunications terminal, via a telecommunications network, the first telecommunications terminal generating a message intended for the second telecommunications terminal, the message being representative of a request for a specific functionality, characterized in that the device comprises:

- means for receiving a frame (26, 27) consisting of a combination of a predetermined number of voice frequency signals,

- means for determining (27, 21, 23, 22) as a function of the message representative of the request for a specific functionality and of the frame made up of a combination of a predetermined number of voice frequency signals, of the characteristics of the second terminal associated with the functionality, - data adaptation means (21) according to the determined characteristics,

- data transfer means (27, 26) adapted to the second telecommunications terminal.

17) Device according to claim 16, characterized in that the device is a server of a telecommunications network.

18) Device according to claim 16, characterized in that it comprises means for implementing the method according to any one of claims 8 to 13.

19) Signal transmitted by a first telecommunications terminal over a telecommunications network and intended for a second telecommunications terminal in response to a message representative of a request for a specific functionality transmitted by the second telecommunications terminal, characterized in that that the signal consists of a combination of a predetermined number of voice frequency signals representative of the characteristics of the first telecommunications terminal associated with the specific functionality.

20) Computer program stored on an information medium, said program comprising instructions making it possible to implement the processing method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, when it is loaded and executed by a computer system . 21) Computer program stored on an information medium, said program comprising instructions making it possible to implement the processing method according to any one of claims 8 to 13, when it is loaded and executed by a computer system .