Abstract: A license protection system for licensing a software installation comprising a license server and an installed software, preferably a billing software, wherein the license server stores encrypted license information for the software, and the software comprises a retrieval means for retrieving license information from said license server and a decryption means for decrypting the license information is characterized in that the license information contains a volume limit for the use of said software, the software comprises measurement means for measuring the volume of use of the software and control means for allowing the use of the software depending on said volume limit. The volume limit is preferably a data limit per time unit, corresponding to an amount of data processed by the software per time unit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process, an exchange (SW1), a charge computer (BS1), a charge billing computer (BC) and a program module in each case for an exchange (SW1), for a charge computer (BS1) and for a charge billing computer (BC) for the processing of charge data. A first exchange (SW1) sends first charge source data for telecommunications services to a charge computer (BS1) which converts the first charge source data into first charge billing data detectable by a charge billing computer (BC). The charge computer (BS1) sends the first charge billing data to the charge billing computer (BC).

Abstract: The invention relates to a process to support the installation of first program codes on network elements of one or more telecommunication networks, and a utility server and a network management server of a network management system for performance of the process. The utility server stores a set of first program codes intended to be integrated in second program codes installed on network elements. The utility server restricts access to the set of first program codes and allows the two or more network management systems access to first program codes of the set of first program codes after performance of an authentication procedure. One of the network management systems on access selects a first program code from the set of first program codes. The utility server transmits the selected first program code to the network management server of this network management system.

Abstract: A method for controlling the installation of first program codes on network elements of a telecommunications network using a network management system, and a network management server. Upon a first instruction of an operator of the telecommunications network, the network management system causes a first program code, to be transmitted from a service server to the network management server. The network management server transmits the first program code to one or more network elements of the telecommunications network and causes the first program code to be integrated into the second program code already installed on the respective network element. Upon a second instruction of the operator, the network management system activates this installation of the first program code for a limited area of the telecommunications network. Upon a third instruction of the operator, the network management system activates the installation of the first program code in the active network area of the telecommunications network.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for installation of a first program code on a server which is connected via a communication network with an installation server and on which a second program code is already installed. The invention further relates to the server and the installation server for performance of this process. A first data set containing the first program code is sent by the installation server via the communication network to the server. A second data set containing a test code for the first program code to be installed is sent by the installation server via the communication network to the server. Before integration of the first program code in the second program code, the server by means of the test code checks the second program code on the server to establish whether it is compatible with the first program code. Only if the result of this check is positive does the server integrate the first program code in the second program code already on the server.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process, an exchange (SW1), a charge computer (BS1), a charge billing computer (BC) and a program module in each case for an exchange (SW1), for a charge computer (BS1) and for a charge billing computer (BC) for the processing of charge data.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for tying additional function modules into a control facility of a switching system and to a switching system. A switching system comprises a control facility (CONTR) provided with a plurality of basic function modules (APP1 to APP3, BP1 to BP4) which are mutually coupled to each other, for controlling the switching functions of the switching system. The basic function modules (APP1 to APP3, BP1 to BP4) are coupled to one or more access modules (ACC). The additional function modules (APP11 to APP23, KONVERT1, KONVERT2) access the basic function modules (APP1 to APP3, BP1 to BP4) only via the access modules (ACC), such that at any given time each of the access modules (ACC), depending on the accessing additional function module (APP11 to APP23, KONVERT1 , KONVERT2), provides the additional function modules (APP11 to APP23, KONVERT1, KONVERT2) with only one individual logical access interface (INT1 to INT4) to the basic function modules (APP1 to APP3, BP1 to BP4).

Abstract: A method of controlling an exchange (NE), and a communications system which comprises at least one such exchange (NE) and a management system (OS). The exchange (NE) is controlled by a number of application programs. The application programs are assigned to two different control units (CONTR1; CONTR2), namely a first and a second control unit (CONTR1; CONTR2), with different operating system platforms. One part of the application programs runs on an operating system platform of the first control unit (CONTR1), which is specifically adapted for the performance of switching functions. The other part of the application programs which is assigned to the second control unit (CONTR2), runs on a universal operating system platform. In this case the application programs of the first control unit (CONTR1) cooperate with the application programs of the second control unit (CONTR2) to provide switching functions.