Method for the establishment of conference connections in a processor controlled communication system

Claim 1

Method for setting up conference calls in a communication system which has a programmable digital computer system ASt used for controlling the communication system, comprising at least one system memory MEM for storing program modules and data and device-related units (PS) for connecting terminal equipment (KE) in a manner individually associated with the signalling type, and comprising a switching network (SN) for switching-through the communication paths, the computer system making use of device-related information stored within the database (DB), which relates, among other things, to authorizations, services, physical functions and special device configurations, at least one group consisting of at least one first communication terminal (KE-A, secretarial subscriber station) and a second communication terminal (KE-E, manager's subscriber station) being provided as such a device configuration, and an attempt at setting up a call intended for the second communication terminal KE-A being simultaneously signalled at the communication terminals belonging to this group and, from the first communication terminal KE-A as convener, a conference call between a number of further terminals (KE-B, KE-C, KE-D) and/or via exchange circuits and having been set up by the computer system on the basis of the procedures input, characterized in that, in as much as the conference call between the remaining conferees has been transferred into the hold state from the first communication terminal (KE-A) due to its status as convener and a call has been set up to the second communication terminal (KE-E), after this call has been set up, both the clear down (message AN1 to AN4) of the connection existing between the first (KE-A) and the second communication terminal (KE-E) and simultaneously the transfer of a special signalling information item (special status STS) to the second communication terminal (KE-E) is initiated by the actuation of a special function key (ST) due to the key identification information (TID) transmitted by this means to the communication system and due to the switching procedures thereupon read out of the associated permanent memory area (KD) of the database (DB) by the computer control (ASt), in that due to this special signalling information (special status STS) a message (CT) corresponding to the call acceptance is automatically generated and thus the call set up procedure -is initiated and thus the switching-through to the conference call held between the remaining terminals (KE-B, KE-C, KE-D) of the original conferees is effected and that the convener status is allocated to the second communication terminal (KE-E) instead of the first communication terminal by the computer control.