Abstract: A method for transmitting equipment-specifying program parameter data from a communications installation to communications terminal equipment. The method provides for transmitting program parameter data from a communications installation to a plurality of communications terminal equipment connected thereto and is based on a message-oriented transmission protocol that is used in the sense of an information exchange in the signalling channel between the equipment. In the communications equipment, the input and output devices as well as the procedures of performance features and local performance features are essentially controlled with the assistance of the program parameter data. A transmission of program parameter data is initiated either by a parameter request message transmitted from the communications terminal equipment or by an internal request of the communications installation.