CA2129547C

CA2129547C - A method of establishing a connection and a system for practicing the method

Info

Publication number: CA2129547C
Application number: CA002129547A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Bjorn Erik Rutger Jonsson
Original assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson AB
Current assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson AB
Priority date: 1992-02-17
Filing date: 1993-02-01
Publication date: 2000-10-03
Anticipated expiration: 2013-02-01
Also published as: EP0627146B1; WO1993016544A1; EP0627146A1; FI109744B; AU678349B2; SE9200469D0; CN1078588A; JP3441728B2; CA2129547A1; SE500819C2; DE69325015T2; FI943767A0; DK0627146T3; NO943027L; DE69325015D1; NO943027D0; CN1043284C; ES2133386T3; NO308150B1; FI943767A

Abstract

A method and a system for establishing in real time a connection between a first party and a second party via at least one telecommunication network. The invention is characterized in that the connection is initiated by sending a connection request containing the meeting reference of each party in the telecommunication network or networks to a third party, called the meeting organizer which, on the basis of the connection request and also on the basis of predetermined criteria, reaches a decision as to a favourable common meeting point in a telecommunication network for the first and the second parties. Instances of an assignment process which has the purpose of generating the connection request are used as a reference.

Description

'~r0 93/1654 ~ '~ ~ ~ .~ 7 '~ P~'/SE93/~~74 A T~O(D OF ESTA'~LIS~IIINC A CO~hIECTIOt~ AND A SYSTF..~ FO~t !'RACTICI~eG
T!-iE METHOD
a TECF1~ICF~Ia F'IEhlS
The present invention relates to a method for estab°
lisping a connection between two parties while using one or more telecommunication networks. More specifi- .
cally, although not e~clus~.~srel~, the in~rerat~.on relates to a method for establishing the aforesaid connection in the form of a meeting at a meeting point. The meeting point can be placed at any desired node in the nwtworlt. The method enables the meeting point to 3~e chosen with respect to the geographical location of ' the parties in 'the network~and with respect to current traffic conditions and in complete disregard of fixed routing tables.
The prresent invention as related to the following five Patent Applications, to wkxich the following descrip_ Lion refers:
(1) °'A Method of Establishing sn Intelligent Network Service°' , with Appl.icawt's reference LM 5515.
( ~ ) °'A l~9ethod of ~rganizing ~Corcuu~unication°' , with Applicant ° s reference 7f.~1 551x:
(~) °°A Method of Establishing cooperation with a Functionality°', with Applicant's reference LM 5510:
Person Paging Method'°, with Applicant's reference LM 551; and ( 5 ) °'A Me~ttaod of 'Supporting ~o~riunication" , with Applicant°s reference LM 5520;

~~'i~~9~/o~o~a These applications are enclosed as an annex to the present description and describe mechanisms which can be used in the method according to the present inven-Lion.
TE~~cPAT. ~Prf~ECGFdOU~ AIRT
By communicatiora services is meant conventional tehem phony services, teh2x services, datapaclc ser~r~.ces, datel services, telefax ser~rices, ~rideotext services, ~C,D~I-services, mobile telephony services, personal paging services, tele~point-services and general communication between two or more parties. The servic-es rec~.ted above are only examples of the services possible and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.
By telec_o_mmunica-t3.on networHc is normally meant the telephone networks, telex networks, circuit connected ZO data networks, picture information transfer networks, private telecommunication networks, radio networks, satellite communication networks and general. carriers of the communication services, such as analog trans-mission, digital transmission, synchronous, multiplex or asynchronous multiplex transmission, ATM, etc., for example. These networks are recited solely by way of example and the ~.nvention is not restricted thereto.
By functionality is meant the ability to perform an operation in a telecommunication network. Examples of functionality include activities and services that can be performed in the telecommunication network. Exam-ples of functionalities :Lnclude an enquiry tii estab-lish a connect~.on~ path or route between two p~.ar~~ies, digit analysis, billing or ticketing. Although not necessary, the functionality may require the avail-ability of dedicated equipment for carrying out the .. '> ':'- ,;: r.,'':

WO 9311.6 . ~ '~ ~~ ~ (~ ~ P~CT/~aE93/0~~74 functionality. For irastance, if the functionality is to receive tones and to analyze tones, it is necessary to make a tone receiver accessible. Other examples of functionalities include voice-controlled speech infor-mation, number translation service, conference calls.
Other examples of functionality include the function-alities described in the aforesaid five Swedish patent applications, namely communication in the form of a meeting, personal paging, a method of establishing cooperation with a functionality, meeting conneGtian establishment and communication via intermediaries.
Still another example of functional~.ty is the ability of being able to choose from among several alterna-Lives.
By connection is meant a circuit-coupled connection or a package-coupled connection. By t0 establish a gon-nection is meant in the circuit coupled case that a circuit-coupled connection is established between two hardware terminal de~rices for equipment) and in the package coupled case it is meant that a package-cou-pled connection creates relationships between logic channels on node-interconnecting physical links which.
By' ~o originate or. to terminate a conaaec-tg~n, it is 25- meant in the circuit-coupled case to connect origirxat-ing or terminating equipment to a circuit-coupled connection, and in the package-coupled case to create a session between applications in originating and terminating modes respectively.
~0 -By user is meant in the following a human user or a computer-based application which utilizes communica-tion services. '~Yae application may be achieved with hardware, software~and combinations 'thereof. the word 35 "part" is synonymous to the term user.
Dy terminal is meant equipment which is connected to a WO 93/965<t4 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ , f~'/5~93/~~74 telecommunication network and which makes the telecom-munication services of the network available to a user.
The term port either refers to an access port or to a transit port. An access port is a location where a dedicated terminal is connected to a telecommunication network. An access port is associated witty a destina-tion address which goes to an end user. In 'the case of a standard telephone network, the access ports are located in a telephone station. In the case of the IS~~1-network and the mobile ~telephane network, the access ports are found in a terminal_ A transit port ' is a port in a connection between nodes. A transit port is not associated with any particular destination address, and can be used to establish any selected connection with a final destination. The final desti-nation is given by the destination address. A transit port can transfer a call to another node or can re-ceive a call from another mode.
The final destination of a call is a terminal which xs identified by a destination identity_ The terminal can be present in the same node as a transit port or in 25' some other node to which the call shall be further connected.
one fundamental feature of present-day communication services is that when a party, hereinafter called A, wishes to communicate with another party, hereinafter called B, A sends a call to ~, whereupon a connection is established between A and B. The call and the establishment of a connection rowte is a coupled secyuence. F3y this a.s meant that the information which A uses in the call,' namely inforrcsation relating to the identification of ~°s access poiwt in the telecommuni-cation network, causes a connection route, or patty, to p~'/SE93/0(8074 9W~ 93/ ~ 6544 be established between the parties. This connection can either be circuit-coupled or, in the case of non-continuous transmission methods, a so-called virtual connection, e.g. a package-coupled network, ATM-net-5 work (synchronous transfer mode), e~tc. Traditionally, a connection is established by establishing a route from an or~.gin to a destination. The connection route through the telecommunication network is controlled by fixed, so-called routing tables wh~.ch are drawn up when configuring or reconfiguring the network. The routfng tables may sometimes permit alternative selections, based on local accessibility information.
The traditional communication network is encumbered with many drawbacks. A first problem concerns handling of the resources of the communication network. ~'.irst-the conununication network is, in itself, a re-source which as utilized uneconomically in the tradi-banal method of providing communication services. ~'or example, when party A calls party B, so as to estab-lish a connection through the network from A to B, and party B does not accept the call, the network resourc-es have been used unnecessarily. The same applies when party B is engaged. The case is dependent on the predominant use of present-day networks of channel-associated sigraallinr~. This involves establishing a signalling connection, which is then used for speech purposes. With common channel-signalling, which is used primarily in the long-distance network, the signal connection is established with the aid of the data package, or packet, whereas the speech connec-tion, the expensive part of the communication, is not established until B answers. ~omman channel-signalling is scarcely used xn local networks. Secondly, the majority of all established connections do not rer~uire party B 'to act immediately ora the information that A
will transfer.

iV~ 93/165A4 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ '~ ~ , f4~'l~lE~3l~D0~7d In the'aforesaid cases, the network resources are either used unnecessarily or are wtilized in real time, although it would be possible to utilize the resources at a later time.
Neither do present-day telecommua,ication services enable a party A to call a pasty D on a telecommunica-tion network and establish communication with party B
on a telecommunication network which is different to the first~mentioned network. If B has access points in several different telecommunication networks, it is necessary for party A to have knowledge of all these access points in order to be able ~to utilize alterna-tive methods of communicating with B. If party B does not answer in one telecommunication network, it is necessary for party A to attempt to reach party B in another communication network. This means that it is necessary for party A to call on network after network before finally reaching party B. Furthermore, it is also necessary, of course, for party A to have in his /her possession a list of party B°s access ports in the different networks at the disposal of party B.
Traditionally, a connection is established between two parties by a party who wishes to communicate with the other party making a call and giving the call destine-Lion address, whereafter a coupling route to the called party is established from node to node in a telecommunication network, until the destination node is reached. The calling party is connected to the called party at the destination node. In conventional teleconununication networks, the connection route follows fixed, predetermined routing tables. Tkaese routing tables are very seldom changed, and then normally only i~ahen extending the telecommunication network. The principle of establishing a connection with the guidance of routing -tables is encumbered with WO 93/1fj544 , ~ ~ ~ ~ -~ ~ ff:TlSE93/00074 several, drawbacks.
A first drawback is evident from the following discus-sion: Two parties who wish to communicate with one another are located on widely separated places in a telecommunication network. ~dhen the connection route is estabd.ished from the callisag party, wherein 'the connection passes from node to node inwardly tawards the centre of the network, tkaere are many different possibilities of choasing rautes to the destinatian nude. The more connection rautes that thereafter pass from the centre of the network ~ut towards the desti~-nation node, 'the fewer the possibilities of choosing a route to the destinatian node. Thus, although many routing possibilities are found in towards the cewtre of the network, the routing possibilities awtwards Pram the centre of the netwark became fewer and fewer.
This .is a drawback in itself. The trunk line on which 'the discussed connection arrives at the destination node may be congested or blocked while trunk lines in this same destinatian mode are idle. ~iecause of the routing tables, however, these idle trunk lines cannot be placed at the disposal of telephone calls in the da.rection from which the user connection route arrives 25. at the destination node.
Another drawback with establishing the connection from the node of the called party to the destinata.on node, by switching from node to node through the network in accordance with fiaced routing.tables, occurs when a nods has a fault or is congested, sa as to necessi~ta-te reversing the route in the network in order to reach a new node and to establish therefrom a new route which will circumvent the obstacle. The rau-ting tables are therefore partit=ularly comprehensive and, above all, - categoric, i.e. rigid, and cannot -therefore be adapted to cux~rewt 'traffic situations.

~\ WO 93/16544 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ p~ . ~~,f/5~93/~~074 A large sporting event of a temporary nature is an-other situation in which blocks can occur in a node.
iYnder such circumstances, there is a very great need for communication from the local node that serves the area or region in which the sporting event takes place. The public, press, radio and television load both the local telephone station and tine mobile radio base station serving the area or region in which the sporting event takes place. docks occur on the trunk lines to and from the local station/mobile base sta-tion, although it may still be gossible to establish connections with adjacent local nodes from which it should be possible to establish connections. This is not always possible, however, because of the fixed routing tables.
sn1~-1~.1-92/t7~.851~ relates to a communication arrangement using a callback feature. The origins°tor of a call places a first call to an intermediary, then the 2a originator sends target-identifying information, for example the telephone number, including relevawt country and/or area wades, to the intermediary. The originator also identifies himself to the intermedi-ary_ Then the originator hangs up. The intermediary then places a second call to the target, using the target-identifying information, and a third call, the call-back, to the originator, using the originator-identification. 3~Jhen tine target answers and the origi-nator answers the second and third calls are intercon-3~ nected, thus establishing a communication path between the originator and the target.
The drawback with °~lais cammunication arrangement is that the originator has to use special call routine, differing from'the~normal call routine, when he wants to use the communication arrangement. First he must dial a predetermined number, the one to the intermedi-'~' .~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~~ ~~es~9~»~a ~V~ 93/6544 , ary, then he must gi~re the target identification, them his own identification, then he roust hang up and wa:i-t for 'the call-back from the intermediary. a~~.so the intermediary has to follow a strict procedure in order for the communication arrangement to operate.
This is in contrast to the present invention in accor-dance with which the originator dials the telephone number to the target in the usual manner and the teletshone nytwork, not the originator, uses a spec~.a1 communication arrangement, dig~Eering :from the known described above, in order to es~a'b~.i;sh communication between the originator and the target.
In accordance with a fifth embodiment of the invention according to the aforesaid WO-.A1~92/0150 the first call is parked at a first intermediate after the originator has supplied the target-identifying infor-mation. This information is communicated to a second intermediate, situated close to the target. 'the second intermediator places a second call to -the target and a third call, the call-back, 'to the first intermediator holding the parked first call. When the second call is answered by the target the second and third calls are 25- interconnected and simultaneously 'the third cal3. is interconnected with the first parked call.
Tn accordance with this fifth embodiment the origina-tor does not need to hang up awaiting the connection ~0 with the originator. However. ~ti-ae originator has to follow a very specific procedure, dl.ff~erent from that used when making a call in tl-ae normal manner, which is awkward. .
~5 The manner in wtiichwthe -third call is interconnected with the parked first call is not disclosed by the patent specification and poses a technical problem in ° 'JVO 93/1654.1 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ . Pt ef15E93/0~~7~t that the first intermediate cannot differ between an incoming call from the target and an incoming call.
from anyone else dialling the originator°s telephone number.

The main purpose o~ the communication arrangement in accordance with the GJO--Al-°9~/~J1350 a.s to reduce the costs of a call. If it is cheaper to make a call from e.g. USA to France than to make the same call from 10 France to USA then the intermediate is located in the USA and is used by French originators. If the situa-tion is reversed, ~..e. it may for example lie cheaper to call from France to the USA during nighttime in the France, then an intermediate is lr~cated in France and is used by US originators. Ira order to benefit from this known communication arrangement the parties 'themselves must keep track of the taxes used by the French and US telephone network operators. In other words an originator must not only use a different 2p communication procedure but must also know if a French or a US intermediate should be caJ.led. The situation gets more and more complex the larger is the number of states.
In accordance with applicant's invention the network and not the individual keeps track of the taxes and instructs either the originator to make a call to the target or the target to make a call to the originator or instructs both parties to make a call to a common telephone number belonging to.a telephone station some~akaere between the originator and the tare~e°t. 'JChe network makes its decisions not only with regard to the lowest call cost but also wi°th regard to use 'the available network hcesources in the most efficient way.
All decisions dre taken on a dynamic bases, meaning that the procedure °to follow for a specific call may vary depending on traffic intensity, °taxes, trunks W~ 93/16544 , ~ ~ ~ ~.~~ ~ ~~ ~ f~'/~E93/~0~74 ~.1 that ale available etcetera., at the time the call is to be setup betwreen the c~ri.ginatc~r and 'the target.
The communication arrangement according to ~D0-A7.-92/~1350 is using the or3.e~~.nators telephone number as originator-ID and the target's telephone number as target-ID. The t~~o IDos are used only for the purpose of placing a call. In accordance r~ith applicant's inventson special numbers, called gA-numbers, connect-ed to a teleptaone station are used fox several purpos-es amongst them for placing a call between two par-ties, for selecting the route fag a call as ttaouc~i~t by the present xnventx.on, for supporting c~mmunacat.~on ' betwreen a master and foreign users via an intermedia-I5 t~r as thought by our co-pending application with applicant's reference J~Nd 5520 , for implementing various services such as 800-services as described in our co-pending application raith applicant's reference ELM 55a5.
~Y ~F ~°~IE I1~I6Y~~t~1 One object of the present invention is to prcwide a communication method which gall enable tc~ao parties who raish to communicate ~aath each other 'to be mutually connected in a comn~con meeting point.
The advantage with dais method is that the number of rout~.ng p~ss~ba.l~.txes avaa.lable to each of the partges concerned are greater than when the one party is routed and connected to the ocher. Because the number of routing possibilities as greater, the chances of the parties being connected to one another are also greater.
85 Another object'o~f the present invention is to provide a communication method which will enable bot3x part3.es to call a node, referred tc~ as the meeting node, ~'ym's~smb~~'7~ifa3fn~~::~.~i~~c. ,~.. ~-~r>~~:=~:3~~..~
~. yd,0 93/ 16544 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ '~ pe , P~T/~'E93/~~D~74 which,~in principle, array be found anywhere in the network. °fhe choice of conr~ection route is therewith independent of fixed routing tables. The criteria governing the selection of this meeting node may, far instance, be minimum costs without meeting a block or congestion, the geographical location of the parties in the network, or the traffic load on the network at the time when 'the meeting shall take place.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a simplified communication method which will enable one or the other party, or both of said parties, to move while the connection is established.
A further object of the invention is to provide a communication method which will enable a meeting point in which the parties are mutually connected to move, wherein the parties are able to establish new connec-tions with the new meeting point.
A further object of the invention is -to provide a communication method which will enable the meeting point 'to be have as a first connectior~ receiver to the one party and as a second connection receiver to the second party, in accordance witty the teachings of our aforesaid patent application having Applicant°s refer-ence I°M 551, and to enable the meeting poiwt to mutually couple the.outgoing connections from the parties concerned to the incoming connections to the meeting point.
Yet another object of the in'ven'tion is to provide a communication method of the aforesaid kind which can be applied recursi~rely, so tkna~t a meeting node that has been chosen as a meeting point can, in turn, chose a new meeting node as a new meeting po~.n~t, which, in turn, can chose a new node as another new meeting .y .~ ~ n rf r~.
'WO 93/16541 , ~'C~'/SE93!~~~'~4 point, and~so on, in which the parties are finally connected one with the other.
The features characteristic of 'the present invention are set forth in the following Claims.
BYt~EF t~E sCR~PT~C~DIId OF TflE D~wIP3~E
The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a general view illustrating the mutual coaction o~ a network and nodes when prac-ticing the inventive communication methodi Figure 2 is a flow sheet illustrating the method according to Figure li Figure 3 illustrates a method in which the meeting point is placed on a connection between two ~0 nodesi Figure ~ illustrates a method in whi~ta the meeting point is placed on a connection between Se'v'eral nodes i a~
Figr.~re 5 illustrates a method in which the meeting point is placed on an end nodei F9.gure 6A-6C illustrate a method in which one party ~0 may be mobile while still retaining its meeting access point in a node (Figure ~,E). or shows how a meeting can be moved and the connection between 'the parties reestablishedo (Figure 6C)i Figure 7 is a block schematic illustrating the use of a number of ga'te--way"units between two dif--~. ~ ~ ~_ ~ P~.T/SF9~/0~~'74 W~ 93/16544 ' ferent telecommunication networks:
Figure 8 is a block schematic which illustrates an-other embodiment o~ the inventive comaarunica-tion method; and Figure ~ is a block schematic which illustrates a third embodiment of the inventive communica-Lion method.
~'E~T fIlaDE~ 0IE' cSL~ZdG ~IpT TfiE ~E~7~'a~~dP6 Figure 7. il~.ustrates a first party A who wishes to communicate with a second party B. ~°he par'ty A is found in a node X and the party ~ is found in a node Y. Elecause the parties A and 0 can be found in one and the same node, the node X may be the nodE~ Y. The reference MA idexxtifies a funct~.ona~.ity, hereinafter referred to as the meeting organizer z~r axrangex, located in a node of a schematically i~.l.ustaeated telecommunication network T. JA.ithougri not necessary, the nodes X and Y may be separate from the network T.
Each o~ the nodes X, Y and Npl. include a respective switch, symbolized by the mutually crossing lines.

The invention assumes that the following processes (~,) - (~4) have taken place before reaching the stage illustrated in Figure 3. or Figure (1) ~'he parties 1~ and B have. signalled over a signal-ing network (not shown in Figure 1) and are agreed that they both wish to establish a conaaection with each other and that this connection has resulted in a meetixxg request or'order of the kind described in our coterminous patent apph.cation having ~.pplican-t's reference 3~t 551'x.

W~ 9311b54=l . ~ ~ ~ v~ ~ ~~ ~ P~Cd'/SE93,d(9~~'~4 (2) Party A has called party ~ while giving ms's destination address_ Node X has received the call and has initiated an assignment process in nade ~C in response to the call. An assignment process is begun 5 each time a call arrives at node ~, 'the purpose o~
this assignment process being to establish a connec-tion ~rri~ttx the called party. The assignment process creates a connectx.on establxsh~ng xnrl~.~~du~a.l, also referred to below as a connection establishing in-10 stance, which is specific to the individual call.
Expressed more simply, it can be said that the indi-vidual assignment process is gXVen an individual name, an ind.i~ar3.dual reference, which is used when other assignment processes in other nodes wish to refer to 15 this indi~cridual conrnection establishing individtaal.
Thus, in this particular case, the assignment process has created a connection establishing individual which has a name or a reference hereinafter called PA (as-signment process concerning party A). In addition to referring to the connection establishing iaad:~~ridaaal, the reference PA also refers to the node concerned.
(3) As a result of the signalling process, party B
has also made a call and has arrived at his xaode Y, 25- wherewith an assignment process similar to the a~ore--described has created a further connection establish-ing individual, hereinafter referred to as Pl~ (assign-went process concerning party H).
3n (~) Party A and party ~3 shall establish the connec-tion in 'the form o~ a meeting and still another as-signment process has been signalled via a signalling netvaor~C 4 not shown ) to a node called a ~eetirig arrang-er or organizer 1~RA; which org~arai~es a meeting. °~3ae 35 meeting organizer is described in our patent applica-tion having Applicant' s reference L.N~ 5517 . ~7ore spe-cifically, the meeting shall take place between party ~~rs~~3/~o~o'a 'i3~0 93/16544 ~ .~ w ~ ;~ -~. ' A and party B. The assignment process PA handles -the connection with A in the node X and 'the assignment process PB handles the connection with S in the anode Y. The references PA and PB have been signalled to the meeting organizer MA.
According to a first embodiment of the invention, there is now established a connection between A and H
in the following manner: ((5) - (~)v this description being made generally and without: reference to any Figure).
(5) tnihen the meeting organizer MA receives the con-nection order or request. the meeting organizer begins an assignment process whose purpose is (a) to allot to the node X and the note y a respective interaction reference both of which address a common node. (b) to command node X to call the interaction reference X
allatted thereto and to command node Y to call the interaction reference allotted thereto, and (c) to couple together the parties connections in the common node, subsequent to each of said parties having estab-lished a respective connection with said common node.
The meeting organizer may select the common node on 25° the basis of different criteria r3escribed in our aforesaid patent application having Applicant's refer-ence LM 5517. Each assigaaanent process commenced in MA
creates a unique meeting individual whicfi. is given a name or a reference that points to the individual ~0 meeting to which the meeting request or order refers.
Far the safe of simplicity, the reference to the meeting request or order concerning A and H is abbrev-iated to MI (meeting individual). This reference could equally as well be ~M1A8 ( rn_ee~t~.ng individual concerning 35 ~ttae meeting bwtiaeen~ the mutually coasting assignment processes PA and PB, which correspond to 'the meeting between A and B).

~7V~ 93/6$44 . ;~ d r ~, ~ ~, ~'~/5~~310~~74 ~.~.~~3'-~ ~
m (6) When the meeting organizer has created the meet-ing individual MI and has chosen the common node.
called the meeting node, iwrhich the parties shall be mutually connected, the assignment process in the meeting organizer signals the meeting node, over a signal network (not shown), to reserve two interaction references for the meeting concerned. Interaction references are described in our coterminous patent appl~tcation having Applicawt°s reference 1~M 5518.
expressed more simply, an interaction reference can be said to be a reference which addresses a specified node, for instance in the network T or in some other telecommunication network, informing the node that the parties wish to communicate with one another in the last-mentioned network. The assignment process in the meeting organizer tdlA requests the meeting node to signal the reserved interaction references back to the meeting organizer MA, so that the meeting organizer is able to signal ane interaction reference to node X and the other interaction reference to node Y.
(71 The assignment process in node X then calls the meeting node and uses the first interaction reference as ttae destination address, and connects internally party A with the connection to the meeting node estab-lished from the node X. The assignment process in node Y calls the meeting node and uses the second interac-tion reference as the destination address, and con-nects internally party k3 in node Y with the connection 80 in the meeting node establa.s~aed from the node Y.
(8) An assignment process is started in the meeting node upon receipt of the request for a reserved inter-action refe~cence.~ ~ihen the connec~t~.ons arra.ve at the meeting node,~these connections referring respectively to 'the first and 'the second interaction references, the assignment process mutually couples the latter ~~'/5~;93/00074 W~ 93/16544 connections in the meeting node, thereby connecting the parties A and B so ttaat they can converse with one another.
The aforedescribed first embodiment of the process of .
establishing a meeting connection will now be des-cribed in detail. The process is described initially witty reference to Figure 1 which illustrates a parti-cular case, namely the case when the common node, the meeting node, is placed in the meeting organizer and not in any other node in the network T.
The assignment process in the meeting organizer cre-ates MI and relates MI to PA and PB. The meeting organizer then reserves two interaction references IA(MX and IA(MY), which are chosen from the reference series of MA and which are so configured that remain-ing nodes in the network T will "believe" that the references shall be routed to the mode MA of the meeting organizer. The reference IA(MX) shall, be interpreted as meaning that the ~.nteraction reference relates to a meeting individual generated by an as-signment process that cooperates with an assignment process in node %, whereas the reference IA(M'~) shall be interpreted as meaning that the interaction refer-ence relates to a aneeting individual generated by an assignment process which cooperates with an assignment process in node Y.
The assignment process in the meeting organizer 'then signals IA(MX) to the node x over a signall~.ng net-work, as illustrated schematically by tine broken arrow 2. Upon receipt of IA(M~C), tkae assignment process PA
mabces .a call using IA(M.X) as the destinatian address, therewith establishing a connection from x to MA, as illustrated schematically by the full arrow 3.

~' W~ 93/D654~1 , ~' ~ ~ ~ ~ l~ r~ P~''flS~E93/~0~7~1 The assi.gnmewt process in the meeting organizer sig-nals IA(MY) to the node Y over a signalling network shown schematically by the broken arrow ~- subsequent to receipt of IA(MY), the assiga~ent process makes a call using IA(MY) as the destination address, thereby establishing a connection frown Y to MA, as shown schematically by the full arrow 5.
The assignment process MI in the meeting organizer MA
monitors the activity on the incoming ports of the meeting organizer. and discovers an incoming call which refers to IA(M3~). The assignment process an the meet-ing organizer then initiates a reference analysis. The result of this analysis shows that the incoming call refers to ~CA(MX) which, in turn, is related to a meeting individuai.which, in turn, has a re7.a~tioc~ship with IA(MY). The meeting organizer now awaits an incoming call which refers to IA(MY) and when this call arrives, the assignment process in 'the aneeting organizer couples -the connection from A to the connec-tion from ~ and the parties A and ~ are now mutually connected.
The functionalities of the meeting organizer and those 2S functionalities with which MA coasts in the nodes x and Y axe implemented in the force of software which controls conventional communication equipment in the various nodes.
The references PA arid PB can.be taken to be signal references which are used when signalling baetween assignment processes, in order to identify separate requesting individuals. The references 7CA(MX) and IA(M5~) are conn~c~aon references which are used by assignment processes to establish connections.
Figure 2 is a flow sheet which illustrates the method ~ ~ ~ ~. ~ .. ' ? ~

' ' S.. . .~ ., :~ ,s;. .. '~ ' ..~ 'i s ~ . ~ . . . . , . . .;: .. .
' ..

~ 1d . . t ' ..w . , .

~1~~~~~'~
WO 93/165A4 . P~T/SE93/00~74 according to Figure 1.- As illustrated in box 6, the meeting organizer receives a meeting request which contains the references PA and PB relating to assign-ment processes of the parties concerned. In response 5 to this meeting request, the software in MA starts up .
the assignment process which initiates the meeting individual MI, this individual being a data reword symbolically identified by the reference numeral 7 in Figure 2. The meeting individual MI is related solely 10 to the meeting concerned and includes a number of fields in which the assignment process writes in information. Among other things, the meeting individ-ual includes a first field in which the reference PA
to the assignment process o~ one party is written, and 15 a second field in which the reference PB to the as-signment process of the other party is written. in the next stage o~ the process, box B, the meeting organiz-er selects the two IA-references called IA(T~~c) and IA(NIY) chosen in the a~oredescribed manner- In the 20 next stage o~ the process, box 9, the meeting organiz-er sends IA(IvJX) to the node X whale commanding the node X to call the meeting node and 'to state IA(MX) as the destination address when making the call. IA(M)c) is also noted in a field in the meeting individual. In 2r a similar manner,. the meeting organizer sends IA(MY) to the node Y and commands the node Y to call ~ttne meet~.ng node and to give IA(MY) as t'he destination address. IA(MY) is also noted in a field in the meet-ing individual MI.
The ne7Ct stage in the proCesS, box 10, involves two activities. In one activ3.ty, the assignment process in the meeting X makes an outgoing ca3.1 while giving IA(I~C) as the destination address, and couples A9s connect9.on with its node X and with the outgoing connection 3. In the other of these activities, the assignment process in the node Y makes a call while ~

. W~ 93l1654d . ~ ~ ~ ~ ''~ a ~ ~~°/5~93/~~~7~8 giving IA(MY) as the destination address, and couples H°s connection to node Y with the outgoing connection 5.
In the last stage of the process, bo~c 11, °the assign-ment process in the meeting organizer monitors the activity on the ports of the meeting anode i~iA. As soon as a call is made which gives an TA~reference, the meeting organizer searches through its meeting indi-viduals and marks as present the party concerned with ° the meeting. This marking is~effected in a separate field in a corresponding meeting individual. '~kaen both parties of a meeting are present in the meeting node, the assignment process in the meeting organizer will be aware of the ports on which the connection of respective parties have arrived and will couple these ports together and thereby establish the connection between the parties.
In the Figure 3 illustration, the meeting organizer P9A
Uf Fl.gure 1 has been given the purpose of organizing a meeting between party A, located in a node X close to A, and party B, located in another node Y close °to ~.
ivlA does not decide how the connection route through 25' the intermediate network between X and 1' shall be established. Instead, l~iA sends a new meeting request t~ a new meeting organizer MAl in Figure. 3, together with references to the assignment processes PA and F$
that are to be coupled together. ~A assigns the selec-~0 tion of a route between the lcacal stations X and '~ to MAl. The new mee°ting organizer YHAI can now choose to place the meeting at the node in wt°aich I~l is located, by applying the same method as that described~with reference to Figure ~.. MAl then chooses two TA-~5 references, IA(~NIX ) ~ and IA( ~' 1, and sends TA( N1X ) to node X and TA( Ml' ) to node 51., 'Phis °transmission of the IA-references is marked by the broken arrows 12 and 13 -\ vvo 93ir6saa ~~ ~ ~ ~ v ~ r~ . ~c:risE~~io~~~

and takes place on a signalling network. fhe assign-ment process a.n node X and the assignment process in node Y then call the new aneeting organizer MA1 and connection routes are established from X to MA.1 and from Y to ~.1, as illustrated by the full arrows 14, 15. The assignment process in the node X couples the connection from A to the node X with the outgoing connection 14, and the assignment process in the node Y couples the connection from ~ to the node Y with the outgoing connection 15. Finally, the connections 14 and 15 are coupled together internal3.y within the node in which the meeting organizer.NlAl is found.
Instead of placing the meeting in the meeting node N1.A1, it may be found after analyzing the traffic load on the own node N1A1 and after analyzing the traffic load on node X, and analyzing the traffic load on the node Y, or after analyzing the traffic load on other nodes, that the meeting should take place i node X, in node Y or perhaps in one of the other nodes.
If the meeting is to take place in one of the other nodes, the principle of establishing a meeting connec-tion in accordance with Figure 3 can be applied recur-sively, as illustrated in Figure 4.
The method illustrated in Figure 4 takes as its start-ing point the assumption that a meeting node M~.1 is aware of the references PA and P~ of the assignment processes in the nodes X and ~Y respectively.. The nodes X and Y are called end nodes. The meeting node ~.1 chooses two nodes X° and Y° respectively to which the connection f~com X and the connection from Y shall be delivered. MA1 turns to node x° asking for an IA~-reference, here called IA(MX'), to be reser~sed. The node X° sends this reference to P~1 over a signalling network, as shown symbolically by 'the broken arrow lE~.

'' 1W~ ~3>l~~ . ~ ~ ~ ~ ) ~ ~~ ~~.'I'/~~93/OQ07Q

similarly, MAl asks node Y' to resea°ve an :Lp.-reference called IA(MY'), and this LA-reference is signalled from Y' to MA1 over a signalling network, as shown symbolically by the broken arrow L~. This signalling network may be identical with the signalling network lfi, although not necessarily so. MAl 'then sends IA(MX') to the node X together with PA as a meeting reference, and commands the nude X to call node X°
while giving IA(MX°) aS the destination address. H~A~
commands node X° t0 park an incoming Call which gauss IA(MX°) as a reference and to await further instruc-tions. The transmission of IA~MX°) to node X is sym-bolized by the broken arrow 7.~. ~:orrespondingly, IA( MY' ) is transmitted to the node Y ~toget3aer with PB, as shown symbolically by the broken arrow ~.9. MAl then transfers the roll of meeting organizer to a ~aew meeting organizer MA2 and transfers the references IA(MX') and IA(MY') to MA2 over a symbolically shown signalling network 20. At the same time, the meeting organizer MAi commands the meeting organizer MA2 to organize a meeting with the meeting references given.
bode X then calls node X' while giving IA(MX') as the destination address, and node Y calls node Y° while giving IA(MY') as the destination address. Party A has Z5 now been connected up to A' and party B has been connected up to B'. The aforedescribed procedure is then repeated, by MA2 turning to a meeting node and requesting two IA-references, Called IA(MX°') and TA(M'Y'°), these IA~-references being transmitted by MA2 to X' and Y' respectively, together ~aitta the earlier references IA(M~C°) and IA(MY') respectively. X' then calls the meeting organizer M while giving IA(MX°') as the destination address, and connects the parked call from A' with the outgoing connection to M. The node Y°
carries out a.corresponding procedure. As a result, A' connects with A°° in the meeting node M and B° connects ~axt~ta B°' ~.n the same node M. ~ihen the assignment pro-°

dV0 93/165444 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~ . ~C."~/SE93/~0074 cars in the node M discovers that Moth of the assign-ment processes concerning A°' and B" refer to the same assignment process in M, the assignment process in node M couples the connections together, as shown by the full line 21.
It will thus be clear that the principle of establish-ing a meeting connection is a highly efficient mecha-nism which enables a meeting point t~ be located in a i0 connection between one, two or more nodes by applying a recursive procedure.
Figure 5 illustrates the case in which the assignment process in the meeting node MAl chooses to place the meeting at node X. In this case, MAl requests from node X an IA-reference, called IA(MY), and node X
sends this IA-reference to MAl over a signalling route symbolised by the broken arrow ~2. MAI, which is aware of the parties' respective reference PA and PB, sends IA/t~IY) and the reference PA to the meeting node '~
while asking the node t~ connect the parked call from .. A with an incoming call which gives IA(MY) as the destination address. At the sane tire, MAl sends the IA-reference IA.( I~SP ) to the node '~, over a signalling a5 path symbolically shown by the broken arrow 23, and also sends PB as a reference t~ the assignment process in node 5C. At the same time, M~l commands the mode Y
to make an outgoing call with IA(Pfi1) as the destina-tion address and to connect the parked connection from ~0 H with the port that has the~owtgoing connection with the eiestination address IA(MY). The assignment process in node 'Y then establishes a coupling route 'to node X
and gives IA(MY) as the destinati~n address.'The coupling route is ~identif3.ed by the full line 24. ~.'he ..35 connection route 24 represents a connection which may either be physical or virtual, depending on whether a circuit-oriented network or a packet-oriented network ~'~'1SE93IOtl~74 WO 93116-'~ .
is used. When the assignment process in nade X ze-ceives the aforesaid call with destination address IA( LftY ) , the node X connects the port on ~al'xicl~x this call arrives with the parked call from party A, as 5 marked by the full line 21, therewith establishing the connection between A and B and placing the meeting point in the node to which A belongs.
I~ the meeting is to be placed in node '~ instead, MA1 10 takes out an IA--reference in Y and the described pro-.
cedure is repeated, but with the difference that in this case it 3s node X that makes an outgoing call to Y.
15 mhe traffic load in different nodes can be made the basis for the selection of meeting organizer and meeting point. ~t"he meeta.ng organiser and the. meeting point can also be chosen on the basis of the cost of the connection. For instance, if party A washes to 20 establish a connection with party ~, it is reasonable to expect party A to pay for the connection. It is then appropriate to choose the node which is nearest B
as the meeting point. If party B wishes to call party A, it is reasonable to expect party ~ to pay for the 25 call and then to choose the node located closest to A
as tt~e meeting poiwt. 3f party B wishes to establish connection uaith party A but party s does not wish to pay for the call, it is still possible to organise the conraection by a method similar to present-day "collect" or °'reversed charges°' calls. If parties A
and B are located far away from one another and both W3.Sh for the coraTtectiOn '~O be ~=stablished, it iS
reasonable for bolls parties to share the costs arad to place 'the meeting~point somewhere between A and 13. It ~5 is not necessary ~to change the existing telecommunica°
lion networks when practicing such a method. and the costs can be shared by practicing the inventive meth-fVO 93!16544 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ,~ '~~ . F~'f/~~93/0007g od. .As mentioned by way of introduction, it is also possible to select a meeting point so that the cost of establishing the connection will be the cheapest possible. By way of an additional criterion, the cost of the connection shall be the cheapest possible in the absence of congestion. Another alternative is to use toll-ticketing and to chagge the ,~.-subscriber with a charge which does not depend on the meeting point but solely on the geographical location of party A and party D3.
As will be seen from the eacample illustarated in Figure 4, and also indirectly from the example-illustrated in..
Figure 3, it is not necessary for 'the meeting organiz-er to be a switching node, i.e. the meeting organizer need not include a switch. It is sufficient for the meeting organizer to include a computer and associated software which is capable of administrating a meeting.
2~J Figures 6A-6C illustrate different possibilities of moving a connection with one meeting point from one node to another, or from moving a meeting point from one node to another. Figure f~A as identical to Figure 1, whereas Figure 6~ illustrates how the node X is 25- able to transfer the connection from one subscriber A
in node X to another subscriber A1 in another node Xl, from where a connection is coupled to the assignment process in the meeting organizer t~lA. Thus, in Figure 6E, the meeting organizer has first assigned the interaction reference IA(NIX) to the connection deliv--ering node X, wherea~ter tine connection delivering node X has transferred, via a signalling networl~ (not shown ) , the interaction reference IA( 1~~C ) to a new node Xl, from wheaee a new connection is established with ~5 the sarne, origiixal 'meeting node 4~ by giving lA( I~ ) as the destination address. The transfer of the interac-~tion reference from node X to node X1 can be initiated ~ ( , r r.

.. ;( ri J'. . v ~JVO 93/iøS44 , ~ ~ ? ~ ~ t~ ~ ~'~'/SF93100074 from either MA or from the party A.
Finally, Figure 6C illustrates how the meeting orga-nizer MA is able to transfer the meeting in the meet-s ing nade MA to a new node MA1 in a manner similar to that described with reference to Figure ~, where MA1 transfers the meeting between pad A' and party H' to a new meeting mode M.
then practicing the me°thod according to the invention, a meeting is continued until both parties A and ~4 are decided that the connection therebetween shall be released or disconnected. The eneet~.ng is also main-tained irrespective of whether the telecommunication network T tatil.3.zes single-path callf.ng party release or not. Single-path connection re~.ease means that a connection between two parties is released when one o~
the parties breaks the connection, e.g. by replacing the telephone receiver, in that case when the network ~0 is a conventional telephone network PSTN. Consider Figures CA and 6m and assume that the network is a telephone network which uses single-path connection release. When subscriber .~ in Figure 6A replaces the telephone receiver, the connection between A and MA ais released but the meeting in MA prevails. The user A is now able to command, e.g. via a signalling network, user A1 present in another node X1, shown in Figure ~H, 'to phone user D while using the same lA-reference IA(MX) as that earlier used by' user A. When A1's call arrives at MA, the assignment process in MA will note that part~r A1 has used the lA-reference lA(MX). MA
then searches ~.ts meeting individuals to ascertain °the purpose for which this lA-reference has been allotted and finds that a gall which uses this IA-reference.
shall be coupled with the call which uses the 1A~-reference 1.4(MY). The assignment process in CIA thus couples the incoming connection from Al to -the e~ist-!~"~ 93/1654 ~ ' ~ . &'C.I~/..'~'aE93/0~~7~d ing incoming connection from B.
Figure 7 illustrates two different telecoz~munication networks 25 and 25, for instance a te~.ephoray network and a circuit-oriented data network. The signals in the network 25 are o~ a kind which differ ~roan the signals in the other network .26, thereby making direct communication between the nets~orks 25 and 2C~ is~possi-ble. However, signals in one nwtwork can be converted to signals o~ 'the type used an the other ne~twoxl~, and vice versa, writh the aid o~ a number o~ so-called gateways shown symbolically by.re~erence numerals 27, 28, 29. This enables users an the two networks to communicate with one another via a gateway. F. meeting organ5.~er i~ is awaa~e o~ the geographical location o~
each o~ these gateway units 27-29. ~.ssume that MA has received a connection request in which I~fA i.s asked to connect A to B. Initially, lMt~ selects a suitable gateway with regard to the geographical location o~
party A and o~ party B. It is assumed in Figure 7 that the gateway 27 is the a~sost suitable gateway. M3~ then turns to gateway 27, via a signalling network shown symboAically by the broken arrow 30, and requests two meeting references. Gateway 27 reserves two meeting references and sends these references to P~ over the signalling network. These references are two L~--references o~ the 3~ind described in our aforesaid Patent ~.pplication LM 553.8, and are designated I15.(MX) and IP.( MY ) . M~ sends IA( MAC ) to the node X and ~a~( MY ) to the node Y and commands respective nodes 'to call while giving respective Il~.-references. When gateway 27 discovers that there is an incoming call 31 which refers 'to IA(M~t) and another incoming call 32 which x~e~ers to I,~( NTY ) , the two incoming calls are couplei9 together, thereby ~s~tablishing a connection between party A and party B--, WO 93/1.65 ~ fC.'i'/5~93/~0~74 Instead of each party A and B establishing a coaanec--tion to the meeting node in accordance with features (5) - (8) above, ft is possible, in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention, for ara assignment process in the meeting organizer to coa~unand the meet-ing node to establish two outgoing connections, one to the node X of party A and another to the node Y of party B. A particular eaeample ~f this second embodi-went is illustrated in ~"igure 8, where the meeting node is placed at the meeting organizer. The same conditions apply as those according to features (4) abo~are, i.e. that the-meeting organizer is aware that party A and party B shall be connected to one another and that the meeting organizer is also aware of the assignment processes PA and PB.
Instead of the meeting organizer MA, according to feature (6) above, signalling the interaction numbers to respective nodes X and Y and the nodes calling in accordance with feature (7) above, the meeting broker MA, after hating received the connection request, assigns a meeting node and reserves a respective interaction number in each node X and Y. Mode X sends the interaction reference IA( i~tX ) to hiA on a signalling path 33, and the node Y sends the reserved interaction reference IA(i~iY) to MA on a signalling path 34. The meeting organizer MA. is aware of the assignment pro-cesses PA and PB and creates a first relationship between IA(MX) and PA, a second relationship between IA(I~9Y) and PB, and a third relationship between PA and PB. The assignment process in I~~A then sets-up two outgoing connections, one, referenced 35, to the node X and the other, referenced 3fi, to the node Y and mwtua~.ly couples the connections 35 and 36 internally in MA, as illustrated by the curved line in the rect-angle representing 3dA. When the node X terminates the connection 35, a typical reference analysis is per-~ ~ '~ °"~ pe~'1SE93/O~D~7~
~~' WO 9~/165~W ' ~. w formed'in the node. The result of this reference analysis shows that an incoming connection which gives IA(I~9X) as the destination address shall be lined to the assignment process PA. The node X then couples the 5 terminated connection 35 internally with party Aw as indicated lby the curved line in the rectangle symbol-izing node X. Corresponding processes ta3ce place in node Y, in which the connection 36 is terminated and coupled worth the call from par't~ H internally in the 10 node Y. The parties A and B are now coranected together and are able to converse witt'mone another. The method according to this second embodiment of the invention differs frorn the first embodiment in that the interac-tion references are not reserved in the meeting node 15 but that an interaction reference is reserved in the reference series of the node X and another interaction reference is reserved in the reference series of node Y. Another difference is that the meeting node sets up two outgoing, so-called originating connections, one ~0 to the node X and the other to the node Y.
According to a third embodiment of the invention, the connection between A and 8 is established by means of a method which can be said to comprise a combination 2~ of the method according to Figure ~. and the method according to Figure 8. This third embodiment of the invention is described with reference to Figure 9. The starting point of the method according to Figure 9 is the same as that described above with reference to 30 features (1) -- (4) and with reference to Figua'e 1. In order to mabce the description easier, it is also as-sumed in this case that 'the meeting node is placed in the meeting organizer. When the assignment process in the meeting organizer 2~A receives a connection re-quest, the meeting organizer turns 'to node X and requests the rese~c~'ation of an interaction reference, here designated IA( idlX ) . IVOde X signals IA( b2X ) to the ~. W~p 93/1544 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~(.'T/~E93/~874 meeting organizer MA, via the signaZ~.ing connection 33. The assignment process in t~ reserves an interac-tion reference, designated lA(?~) from its o~an refer-ence series and signals lA( P~1'i~ ) to the node y via a signalling connection 37, and coc~ands the assignment process in node Y to make a call whi:L~: easing IA( 3~Y ) as the destination address. The assignment process in t~IA
then calls the node 3C While giving IA( ) as the destination address. A re&ereince analysis is carried out in node X in the same Way as that described above With reference to Figure ~, When the connection 35 is terminated and the connection from party A is coupled internally in the node X With the conraection 35, as indicated by the swung ~.ine ~aittain the rectang~.e 35 representing node X. 1~"hen -the assignment process PB in mode X maDces a call While giving lA( T~fdY ) as the desti-nation address, a connection 33 With the meeting orga-nizer MA is established. The party B is coupled inter-nally in the node Y With the outgoing connection 3~, ~0 as indicated by the curved line Within the rectangle representing the node Y. A reference analysis is performed When 'the melting ~rf.~~Il~.~e~T CIA terminates the connection 38. The result of the reference analysis discloses that a call Which uses lA(i~Y) as the desti-25' nation address shall be linked to the assignment process in MA Which Was commenced When MA received the connection request. The assignment process in M~ is thus aware that the connection 38 shall be linked 'to 'the meetisag individual MI, and therefore couples the 30 connection 3~ terminated in l~A~internally With the connection 35 originating from DMA. This internal connection is represented by the curved line in the rectangle that represents MA. The parties A arid B are now mutually connected and can communicate With one 35 another.
Thus, according to this third embodiment oaf tlxe inven-~. !~O 93J1b544 ~ ~ ~~ r~ . ~'~'d'/51E93/iD0074 tion, one interaction reference is reserved in node X
and another interaction reference is reserved in the node in which the meeting organizer NlA as found°
' According to the third embodiment of 'the invention, the meeting organizer terminates a connection and originates a connection.
As a variant of this third embodiment of the inven-tion, the meeting organizer MA may originate a connec-tion to node Y and terminate a connection from node X.
In this case, ~ has reserved an IA-reference IA( Y~tS~' in node Y and another IA-referexice IA(P~) in its own node CIA. Thus, according to this variant, a first connection from X to t~ and a second connection from MA to Y are coupled together. These two connections are coupled together internally in 1~1. A is coupled internally in X with the first connection to 6~IA, and B
is coupled witty the second connection internally in Y.
In this case, the difference between the inventive technique and the traditional switching technique is that the node MA can be freely chosen or chosen on the basis of the traffic load on the nodes X, Y, ~iP., as described in Figure 3, or on the basis of the billing of the connection, as described with reference to 25. Figure 5, arid that the technique is not governed by conventional, fixed routing tables.
Although not described above, it will be understood that when both parties A and B have terminated the call, the established connections are released and the connection requesting individuals PA and PB and ~t~ae meeting individual tag are annulled.
:It will also be. understood that the aforedescribed embodiments of tine invention can be modified and varied within the scope of the following Claims.

Claims

1. A method of establishing in real time a connection between a first party (A) and a second party (B) via at least one telecommunication network, said connection being initiated by sending a connection request containing the meeting reference (PA,PB) of each party in the telecommunication network or networks to a third party, called the meeting organizer (MA) charazterized in that the meeting organizers - decides on the basis the connection request on the basis of predetermined criteria a meeting point (MA;
MAl; M) common to the first and second parties, said meeting point below referred to as a meeting node, - decides the connections to and from the access nodes (X, Y) of each party and to and from said meeting mode (X, MA, MAl, Y) which are required in order to establish said real. time connection, by pointing out those of said nodes which shall originate connections and those of said nodes which shall terminate connections, - initiates reservation of idle interaction numbers (IA(MX), IA(MY)) in nodes, selected among said nodes, which shall terminate connections, said interaction numbers being selected in the number series of the nodes which are to terminate connections, - commands each terminating node to monitor its input ports and detect the one at which there is a call which as address has the interaction number reserved by the same node, - sends, to each node which is to originate connections, one interaction number per each connection to be originated as well as a command to initiate the corresponding calls by using said interaction numbers.

2. A method according to Claim 1, characterized in that the common meeting point is placed at one of those meeting paints selected from the group of meeting points comprised of:
(a) the access node (X) of one party (A) in the telecommunication network;
(b) the access node (Y) of the other party (B) in the telecommunication network; and (c) some other point in a telecommunication network.

3. A method according to Claim 2. characterized in that the common meeting point is obtained by (a) placing a first meeting point in a first switching node to which the one party has a first connection;
(b) placing a second meeting point in a second switching node to which the second party has a second connection; and (c) initiating a connection between the first and the second meeting points.

4. A method according to Claim 2, characterized in that the meeting reference (PA or PB) is created by an assignment process in the node to which one party has access and contains at least one reference to the desired meeting and one reference to said node to which one party has access.

5. A method in accordance with claim 2, wherein the meeting node is in s node which is located between the access nodes (X, Y) of the parties, charazterized in that the meeting organizer (MA) reserves two interaction numbers (IA(MX), IA(MY)) in the number series of the meeting node (MA), associates the meeting reference (PA) of the first party (A) with the first interaction number (IA(MX)) and associates the meeting reference (PB) of the second party (B) with the second interaction number (IA(MY)), in that the access node (X) of the first party (A) establishes a first originating connection towards the meeting node using the first interaction number (IA(MX)), in that the access node (Y) of the second party (B) establishes a second originating connection towards the meeting node using the second interaction number (IA(MY)), and in that the meeting node terminates the first and second connections and interconnects them internally in the meeting node.

6. A method in accordance with claim 2, wherein the meeting node is located in the access node (X) of the first party (A) and the node in which the meeting organizer is located does not form any part of the connection between the first and second parties, characterized in that the meeting node reserves an interaction number (IA(MY)) in the access node of the first party and associates the interaction number with the connection request (PA) of the first party, that the meeting organizer sends the first interaction number to the access node of the second party, that the access nod (Y) of the second party originates a connection towards the meeting node using the interaction number (IA(MY)) as address, and that the meeting node terminates the connection from the access node of the second party and interconnects it with the first party (A).

7. A method in accordance with claim 3, wherein a first meeting node is located in the access node (X) of the first party (A), a second meeting node is located in the access node (Y) of the second party (B) and the node in which the meeting organizer (MA) is located forms a part of the connection between the first and second parties (A,B). chatacterized in that the meeting organizer reserves a first interaction number (IA(MX)) in the meeting node (X) and a second interaction number in the access node (Y) of the second party, that the meeting organizer originates two connections, a first one towards the first meeting node using the first interaction number as address arad a second one towards the second meeting node using the second interaction number as address, that the meeting organizer :internally in its node interconnects the two originating connections, heat the first meeting node terminates the first connection and internally interconnects it with the first party (A), and in that the second meeting node terminates the second connection and internally interconnects it with the second party (B).

8. A method in accordance with claim 2, wherein the meeting node is located in the access node (X) of the first party (A) and the node in which the meeting organizer is located is a part of the connection between the first and second parties, characterized in that the meeting organizer reserves a first interactson number (IA(MX)) in the meeting node (x) and a second interaction number (IA(MY)) in its own node (MA), that the meeting organizer sends the second interaction number and said command to the access node (Y) of the second party, that the meeting organizer teraninates a first connection originated from the access node of the second party, originates a second connection towards the meeting node and internally interconnects the terminated first connection with the originated second connection.

9. A method according to Claim 1, characterized an that said predetermined criteria involves the meeting organizer (IdIA) collecting information concerning the traffic load on other nodes.

10. A method according to Claim 9, characterized in that a new meeting organizer (MAl) is chosen with the intention of keeping the cost of the connection at a minimum.

11. A method according to Claim 10, characterized in that a new meeting organizer (MAl) is chosen with the additional condition that the cost of establishing the connection shall be a minimum cost an the absence of congestion.

12. A method according to Claim 11, characterized in that on the basis of the aforesaid predetermined criteria, the meeting organizer decides whether or not to transfer the connection request to another meeting organizer (MAl) optionally located in another telecommunication network.

13. A system for practicing the method according to Claim 1, characterized in that the meeting organizer (MA) includes a program-controlled computer having software for determining the common meeting point.