# US 5,708,713 A · Method for monitoring a signal to be transmitted via at least one telecommunication link, a monitoring system, a monitor controlling device and processing means > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,708,713 A - Document ID: US5708713A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/639,036 - Filed: 1996-04-16 - Granted: 1998-01-13 - Earliest claimed: 1995-04-27 - Assignees: Koninklijke PTT Nederland N.V. - Inventors: Rene Antonie Harte - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5708713A ## CPC - H04M 3/2254: {in networks} - H04Q 11/045: {Selection or connection testing arrangements} - H04Q 2213/1302: Relay switches - H04Q 2213/1304: Coordinate switches, crossbar, 4/2 with relays, coupling field - H04Q 2213/13092: Scanning of subscriber lines, monitoring - H04Q 2213/13095: PIN / Access code, authentication - H04Q 2213/1316: Service observation, testing - H04Q 2213/13176: Common channel signaling, CCS7 - H04Q 2213/13209: ISDN - H04Q 2213/1332: Logic circuits - H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08) - H04Q: SELECTING (switches, relays, selectors H01H; wireless communication networks H04W) ## Abstract Prior art methods used for monitoring, via monitoring means, signals which are to be transmitted via telecommunication links and with said signals each comprising a signalling signal and a content signal, require that the processing means which are required for monitoring are either situated in the vicinity of the monitoring means or must be coupled to the monitoring means via leased-lines. By having the monitoring means generate a further signalling signal, dependent upon a code word related to a signalling signal, and consequently transmitting, dependent upon the further signalling signal, a content signal which is to be monitored to the processing means, a substantial more efficient method is obtained as both means can be coupled via a public telephony network. Furthermore, the possibility arises not only to transmit a content signal which is to be monitored to the processing means but also a signalling signal, especially if the telephony network is a so-called ISDN network which uses one or two B channels and one D channel for each telecommunication link which has been established and has to be monitored. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for monitoring, via monitoring means, a signal which is transmitted via at least one telecommunication link and with said signal comprising at least a signalling signal and a content signal, wherein the method comprises the steps of: detecting, by the monitoring means, at least one code word situated in the signalling signal so as to form a detected word code; monitoring, by the monitoring means and in response to the detected code word, at least a part of the content signal; generating, by the monitoring means and in response to the detected code word, a further signalling signal; and transmitting, by the monitoring means and in response to the further signalling signal, the part of the content signal which is monitored to processing means defined by the further signalling signal. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising the steps of: transmitting a first authentication code from one side to another side; generating, at the other side and in response to a key code and the first authentication code, a second authentication code; transmitting the second authentication code from the other side to the one side; generating, at the one side and in response to the key code and the first authentication code, a third authentication code; comparing the second and the third authentication codes at the one side; and transmitting, in case of equality of the second and the third authentication codes, the part of the content signal which is monitored to the processing means. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising the steps of: generating, by the monitoring means and in response to the detected code word, a describing signal, before the part of the content signal which is monitored is transmitted to the processing means; and transmitting, by the monitoring means, the describing signal to the processing means. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising the steps of: buffering in a memory, by the monitoring means, the part of the content signal which is monitored; and reading, by the monitoring means, the part of the content signal which is to be monitored from the memory and transmitting, in a delayed manner in time, the part of the content signal so read out to the processing means. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the further signalling signal comprises a destination code which defines the processing means, a monitor code related to the code word and a signal type code which defines a signal type. ### Claim 6 A monitoring system having monitoring means for monitoring a signal transmitted via at least one telecommunication link which signal comprises at least a signalling signal and a content signal, and having processing means which can be coupled to the monitoring means, said monitoring means comprising: a detecting device for detecting at least one code word situated in the signalling signal so as to form a detected code word; and a monitoring device for monitoring, in response to the detected code word, at least a part of the content signal; and said processing means comprises: a processing device for processing at least the part of the content signal which is monitored; and wherein the monitoring means further comprises a controlling device comprising: a generating device for generating in response to the detected code word, a further signalling signal; and a transmitting device for transmitting, in response to the further signalling signal, at least the part of the content signal which is monitored to the processing means as defined by the further signalling signal. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The monitoring system in accordance with claim 6 wherein the monitoring device further comprises: an authentication receiving device for receiving an authentication code originating from the processing means; an authentication calculating device for calculating, in response to a key code and the first authentication code, a second authentication code; an authentication transmitting device for transmitting the second authentication code to the processing means; and a further authentication receiving device for receiving an authentication permission code originating from the processing means; with the processing means further comprising: an authentication generating device for generating the first authentication code; a further authentication calculating device for calculating, in response to the key code and the first authentication code, a third authentication code; a still further authentication receiving device for receiving the second authentication code originating from the monitoring device; an authentication comparing device for comparing the second and the third authentication codes; and a further authentication transmitting device for transmitting, in case of equality of the second and the third authentication codes, to the monitoring device, the authentication permission code for granting permission for transmitting at least the part of the content signal which is monitored to the processing means. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The monitoring system in accordance with claim 6 wherein the monitoring device further comprises: a further generating device for generating, in response to the detected code word and before at least the part of the content signal which is monitored is transmitted to the processing means, a describing signal; and a further transmitting device for transmitting the describing signal to the processing device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The monitoring system in accordance with claim 6, wherein the monitoring device further comprises: a memory device for buffering at least the part of the content signal which is monitored; and a memory controlling device for reading out the part of the content signal which is to be monitored from the memory device and for transmitting delayed in time at least the part of the content signal so read out to the processing device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The monitoring system in accordance with claim 6 wherein the monitoring device further comprises: a first code generating device for generating a destination code which defines the processing device; a second code generating device for generating a monitor code related to the one code word; and a third code generating device for generating a signal type code which defines a signal type, with the processing means further comprising: a first code detecting device for detecting the monitor code related to the one code word; and a second code detecting device for detecting the signal type code. ### Claim 11 Apparatus for a monitor controlling device and monitoring means, the monitoring means being coupled to the monitor controlling device and monitoring a signal transmitted via at least one telecommunication link wherein the signal comprises at least a signalling signal and a content signal, wherein said monitoring means comprises: a detecting device for detecting at least one code word situated in the signalling signal so as to form a detected code word; and a monitoring device for monitoring, in response to the detected code word, at least a part of the content signal wherein the monitor controlling device comprises: a generating device for generating, dependent on the detected code word, a further signalling signal; and a transmitting device for transmitting, in response to the further signalling signal, at least the part of the content signal which is monitored to processing means defined by the further signalling signal. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus recited in claim 11 wherein the monitor controlling device further comprises: an authentication receiving device for receiving a first authentication code originating from the processing means; an authentication calculating device for calculating, in response to a key code and the first authentication code, a second authentication code; an authentication transmitting device for transmitting the second authentication code to the processing means; and a further authentication receiving device for receiving an authentication permission code, originating from the processing means, for obtaining permission for transmitting at least part of the content signal which is monitored to the processing means. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The apparatus recited in claim 11 wherein the monitor controlling device further comprises: a further generating device for generating, in response to the detected code word and before at least the part of the content signal which is monitored is transmitted to the processing means, a describing signal; and a further transmitting device for transmitting the describing signal to the processing means. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The apparatus recited in claim 11 wherein the monitor controlling device further comprises: a memory device for buffering at least the part of the content signal which is monitored; and a memory controlling device for reading out the part of the content signal which is monitored from the memory device and for transmitting the part of the content signal so read out delayed in time to the processing device. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The apparatus recited in claim 11 wherein the monitor controlling device further comprises: a first code generating device for generating a destination code which defines the processing device; a second code generating device for generating a monitor code related to the one code word; and a third code generating device for generating a signal type code which defines a signal type. ### Claim 16 Apparatus having processing means and monitoring means, the processing means being coupled to the monitoring means and monitoring a signal transmitted via at least one telecommunication link, the signal having at least a signalling signal and a content signal, wherein said monitoring means comprises: a detecting device for detecting at least one code word situated in the signalling signal such as to form a detected code word; and a monitoring device for monitoring, in response to the detected code word, at least a part of the content signal; and wherein said processing means comprises: a processing device for processing at least the part of the content signal which is monitored; and a first code detecting device for detecting a monitor code originating from the monitoring means and related to the one code word. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The apparatus recited in claim 16 wherein the processing means further comprises: a second code detecting device for detecting a signal type code originating from the monitoring means and defining a signal type. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The apparatus recited in claim 16 wherein the processing means further comprises: an authentication generating device for generating a first authentication code; a further authentication calculating device for calculating, dependent on a key code and the first authentication code, a third authentication code; a still further authentication receiving device for receiving a second authentication code originating from the monitoring means; an authentication comparing device for comparing the second and the third authentication codes; and a further authentication transmitting device for transmitting, in response to equality of the second and third authentication codes, an authentication permission code to the monitoring means for granting permission for transmitting at least the part of the content signal which is monitored to the processing means.