JP2004193927A - Telephone instrument with message transmission function - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To securely and speedily deliver a message that a caller desires to transmit to a called person. <P>SOLUTION: A telephone device such as a key telephone device 1 is equipped with a message speech storage part 17 storing speech messages to be transmitted and accommodates a plurality of trunk lines 3 to be connected to a switching network. The telephone device previously registers a plurality of telephone numbers of individuals to be called, for example, fixed telephone numbers and mobile telephone numbers in an address information multi-registration part 13. When a speech message stored in the message speech storage part 17 is sent out, trunk lines 3a and 3b are allocated to a plurality of telephone numbers registered as destination telephone numbers respectively, and nearly at the same time, the numbers are automatically dialed to send the speech message out only to the trunk line (e.g.) 3a corresponding to one telephone number which responds first. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention accommodates at least one telephone line on one side, and accommodates a plurality of office lines connected to a switching network on the other side, and performs inter-line communication based on a request received when a call connection request is received. A telephone device with a message transmission function for forming a communication path, recording a message in a message voice storage unit when a message transmission request is received from the telephone line, and transmitting the recorded message to a destination at a predetermined time. In particular, the present invention relates to a telephone device with a message sending function that can reliably and promptly transmit a message to a destination even from any of the telephone terminals connected to one telephone device even when a destination does not respond.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in this type of telephone device with a message sending function, a telephone with a message calling function that specifies a plurality of destination numbers and automatically makes a call repeatedly at a specified time has been disclosed (for example, see Patent Document 1). ).
[0003]
In this technique, as shown in FIG. 7, a telephone number storage unit 107 for storing a plurality of telephone numbers, a calling time counting unit 106, a voice storage unit 105, and these units are connected via a bus line 104. The control unit 109 is provided. The control unit 109 reads out the telephone number registered in the telephone number storage unit 107 and makes a call when the calling time counting unit 106 counts a predetermined time. Here, when the called party answers, the control unit 109 sends the call to the transmission voice line stored in the voice storage unit 105.
[0004]
When the called party does not answer, after executing the call termination operation, the control unit 109 repeats calling again by one means, reads another registered telephone number from the telephone number storage unit 107 by another means, and The above-described operation is repeatedly performed on the telephone number.
[0005]
In the technique of Patent Document 1 described above, a telephone makes a call to a plurality of telephone numbers and sends the same message stored in advance. Accordingly, the telephone has a function of storing and sending the message, and it is impossible to avoid an increase in the cost of the telephone.
[0006]
As a method that can reduce the telephone cost, there is disclosed a message registration method in which a telephone network is provided with a voice storage device and receives a message instead of a telephone (for example, see Patent Document 2).
[0007]
With this technology, a terminal connected to this telephone network can send a call-out to the telephone network at the time of outgoing call with the aim of saving the trouble of calling the caller again when the call destination cannot be connected. The caller dial information is temporarily stored, and when a message registration request is continuously received from the caller, a selection signal for connecting to the voice storage device is transmitted to automatically set a communication path with the voice storage device. The stored caller terminal number and control signal and temporarily stored caller dial information are automatically transmitted. The message stored in this way is called out by the voice storage device after a predetermined time and transmitted.
[0008]
Here, the telephone network including the voice storage device can be replaced with a key telephone device such as a key telephone or a telephone device such as a private branch exchange (PABX). Therefore, the message calling function of the telephone set of Patent Literature 1 can be provided in the key telephone apparatus or the private branch exchange to reduce the cost of the telephone set.
[0009]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-63-290052 (FIG.)
[0010]
[Patent Document 2]
JP-A-59-062264 (FIG.)
[0011]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
According to the function of the above-mentioned conventional telephone device having a message sending function, even if the telephone device accommodates a plurality of office lines connected to the switching network, a call is issued to the switching network with a destination attached and a call connection request is issued. If the connection cannot be established, the call is automatically made after a predetermined time has elapsed, and the call is repeated until the destination answers. However, there is still a problem that the stored message cannot be transmitted reliably and quickly.
[0012]
The reason is that only one destination telephone number is repeatedly requested for call connection by one office line. In the above-mentioned patent document 1, a call is made to a plurality of telephone numbers, but this is a broadcast system in which the same message is transmitted to all connected telephone numbers. That is, for example, a case where a conference is invited to a plurality of members. Therefore, the telephone device makes a call based on only one destination telephone number input from the caller to each member.
[0013]
It is an object of the present invention to provide a telephone device with a message sending function capable of solving such a problem and reliably and promptly delivering a message to a called party.
[0014]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a telephone terminal user owns a mobile telephone in addition to a telephone terminal having a fixed telephone number at home. In addition, there are many companies that have a mobile phone terminal for in-company communication and personal use in addition to a fixed telephone at a desk.
[0015]
The telephone device with a message sending function according to the present invention is a telephone device accommodating a plurality of office lines connected to a switching network, for example, a key telephone device, an automatic private branch exchange, and the like. Are registered in advance. The telephone device having such a configuration assigns each of the office lines to each of a plurality of telephone numbers registered as destination telephone numbers when sending the stored message, and makes a call to all the office lines almost simultaneously. The message is transmitted only to the office line corresponding to one telephone number to which a response has been made.
[0016]
With such a configuration, even if the fixed telephone cannot be answered because it is away when called, then the pre-registered fixed telephone and mobile telephone are called, so one of them is immediately To respond and receive the message.
[0017]
One specific configuration of the present invention is to provide a destination information multiple registering section in which a plurality of telephone numbers are registered in advance corresponding to a called party having a plurality of telephone numbers, When a call connection request is received with one of the destinations and this call connection is attempted and connection with the destination is not possible, if a request for a message service is further received, a caller terminal is connected to the message voice storage unit. After recording the message of the caller, at a predetermined time, a call is made to each of the plurality of telephone numbers registered in the destination information plural registration unit using each of the office lines, and only the first response is accepted. The message stored in the leverage office line is transmitted.
[0018]
The plurality of telephone numbers are, for example, a fixed telephone number and a mobile telephone number of the same called party.
[0019]
The control unit sets the non-connection condition with the destination to one of a busy state due to line congestion during connection, a call state of the called terminal, and a non-response, and a state in which the destination is unresponsive due to a non-response and cannot be connected. It is preferable to make the determination based on the passage of a predetermined non-response detection time. Further, it is preferable that the control unit is requested for the message service when the destination is unresponsive and connection is impossible after a predetermined unanswered detection time elapses.
[0020]
The control unit may be requested by a special number dial that further receives the message service from a caller. In addition, it is desirable that the control unit releases the line for the office other than the first response by the call termination processing.
[0021]
It is desirable that the control unit repeats the call at the predetermined time when the call at the predetermined time cannot be reconnected to the destination. At this time, the control unit further includes a counter that measures the number of calls made due to connection failure, sets a predetermined count value, and when the counter value reaches the set value, deletes all settings related to this call. It is preferable to notify the caller of this.
[0022]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0023]
As described above, the telephone device is a key telephone that connects a plurality of office lines (hereinafter abbreviated as office lines) to a telephone network, a private branch exchange, and the like. Pick up. Also, a signal message exchanged between the apparatuses is referred to as a "signal", a stored transmission message is referred to as a "message", and a voice guidance message is referred to as a "voice guidance".
[0024]
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. In the drawings, parts related to the present invention are mainly shown, and others are omitted.
[0025]
In the telephone device with a message sending function shown in FIG. 1, the key telephone device 1 includes a plurality of telephone terminals 2 including a telephone terminal with an identification code "LMN" and a plurality of office lines 3 including an office line "a, b". Is housed. The identification code is given to each telephone terminal as the key telephone device 1, and may be, for example, a telephone number.
[0026]
The key telephone device 1 includes a central control unit 10, a terminal IF (interface) 11, a station line IF 12, a plurality of destination information registration units 13, a transmission information storage unit 14, a response detection unit 15, a guidance voice registration unit 16, a message voice storage unit. 17, a timer 18, and an automatic call counter 19.
[0027]
The central control unit 10 is, for example, a processor unit controlled by a program, and controls the whole of the key telephone apparatus 1 by connecting to the above-mentioned components. , Non-response confirmation, voice guidance, message storage, message sending, etc. The terminal IF 11 accommodates the telephone terminal 2 including the telephone terminal “LMN”, and the office IF 12 accommodates the office 3 including the office “a, b,...”.
[0028]
In the destination information multiple registration unit 13, a plurality of telephone numbers owned by one called party and transmitted to the local line are registered in advance as destination telephone numbers. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, a fixed telephone number is assigned to a fixed telephone at a first destination telephone number corresponding to a personal name "ABC", and a mobile telephone is assigned as a second destination telephone number. Mobile phone numbers are registered. In correspondence with the personal name "DEF", a telephone number "A" assigned to the fixed telephone as the first destination telephone number and a telephone number "B" as the second destination telephone number are registered. The registration method may be any known method. The personal name area may be blank, but recording it is convenient for registration confirmation.
[0029]
The registration may be performed by the user who is the called party, or the user who is the calling party may register the called party who is a customer, for example. Here, one fixed telephone and one mobile phone are used, but another combination may be used.
[0030]
The transmission information storage unit 14 shown in FIG. 3 is an example of a case where a telephone terminal “LMN” having an identification code “LMN” calls the name “DEF” via a telephone network and is requested to store a message. . When the telephone terminal "LMN" calls the telephone number "A" and the called party with the name "DEF" does not answer, as described later, the telephone number "B" for automatically calling the stored message. Is transferred from the destination information plural registration unit 13 to this location. If there is a response in this area, the symbol "R" is marked as one of the response telephone numbers among the plurality of destination telephone numbers. Also, the number of continuous automatic calls, which will be described later, is recorded.
[0031]
The response detector 15 detects a response from a response signal received from the station line 3, for example, a billing signal. The guide voice registering section 16 registers in advance a guide voice to be transmitted when connected to the telephone terminal 2. For example, when the key telephone device 1 receives a message special number dial for a message service request from the caller's telephone terminal 2, the central control unit 10 connects the telephone terminal 2 to the guidance voice registration unit 16 and It is possible to cause the voice registration unit 16 to transmit a synthesized voice requesting a message to the caller such as "The message will be stored, so please speak after the beep."
[0032]
The message voice storage unit 17 is, for example, a RAM, is connected to the caller, and stores a voice input by the caller from the telephone terminal 2 as a message. The timer 18 is used for a non-response detection timer for presetting and detecting a time for determining a non-response, and for an automatic call timer for presetting and detecting an automatic call interval.
[0033]
The automatic call counter 19 measures the number of repetitions when the automatic call is continuously repeated, and notifies the central control unit 10 of the number. When a predetermined number of times has been reached, the central control unit 10 performs, for example, a predetermined call termination process.
[0034]
Next, a main operation procedure of the central control device 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6 and FIGS. In this operation procedure, procedures that are not directly related to the present invention, such as a call termination procedure by an on-hook operation of a caller on the way or an operation procedure by a failure, are omitted.
[0035]
It is assumed that the telephone terminal 2 “LMN” originates a call off-hook and dials out with a telephone number “A” transmitted from a local line.
[0036]
When the terminal IF 11 detects an off-hook of the telephone terminal 2 “LMN”, the central control device 10 knows the identification code “LMN” from the caller's telephone terminal 2 “LMN” and transmits the telephone terminal 2 “LMN”. It connects to the information storage unit 14 and sets the area of the caller identification number "LMN". Next, the central controller 10 receives the telephone number "A" of the called party dialed from the telephone terminal 2 "LMN", and stores it in the transmission information storage unit 14 (procedure S1).
[0037]
The central controller 10 identifies that the received telephone number "A" is an originating line transmission, calls a vacant central line 3a, and starts the timer 18 as a non-response detection timer (step S2).
[0038]
As a result, when a response signal is received from the called party to the response detector 15 via the office line 3a (YES in step S3), the non-response detection timer is initialized and the transmission information is deleted (step S4). ). When the call information in this procedure is used for another service, it is not necessary to delete the call information until the call is terminated. Simultaneously with this procedure, a communication path between the telephone terminal 2 "LMN" and the office line 3a is formed, and a communication state between the calling party and the called party is formed. Further, a normal telephone call processing procedure (procedure S5) in which the call termination processing is performed by receiving the call termination signal is executed.
[0039]
If either the message special number reception (YES in step S6) or the non-response detection timer time limit is reached (YES in step S7) before the response signal is received in step S3 of "NO", the central control is performed. The device 10 initializes the non-response detection timer and releases the station line 3a (procedure S11). At the same time as this procedure, the central control device 10 connects the receiving path from the caller's telephone terminal 2 “LMN” to a predetermined area of the message voice storage unit 17 to form a message storage path, and The transmission path to the caller's telephone terminal 2 "LMN" is connected to the guidance voice registration section 16 to form a message guidance path, and the guidance voice registration section 16 transmits a guidance voice for guiding a message transmission request (procedure). S12).
[0040]
As a result, the voice reached from the caller's telephone terminal 2 "LMN" to a predetermined area of the voice message storage unit 17 is stored as a message (step S13). When the message ends, the caller ends the call on-hook. In addition, the message special number is set in advance as the key telephone device 1 and may be a procedure by button operation other than the number.
[0041]
Therefore, the central control device 10 executes a release process (procedure S14) of the telephone terminal 2 “LMN” that has received the on-hook signal at the terminal IF 11.
[0042]
If the procedure S6 and the procedure S7 are both “NO” and no change occurs in the situation, the procedure returns to the procedure S3 and is repeated.
[0043]
When the release processing of the telephone terminal 2 "LMN" is completed in the above step S14, the central control device 10 starts the automatic call timer with the timer 18 and stores the telephone number "A" of the receiving destination from the transmission information storage unit 14. Is searched by the destination information multiple registration unit 13 to confirm the registration of multiple pieces of destination information (step S21).
[0044]
In the example of FIG. 2, since the telephone number “A” is registered as the telephone number “B”, a plurality of registrations are made (YES in step S22). Therefore, central controller 10 transfers the registered telephone number "B" to transmission information storage unit 14 (procedure S23), and waits for the automatic call timer to reach the time limit (procedure S24). If the procedure S22 is “NO” and there is no multiple registration, the procedure S23 is omitted.
[0045]
If the time limit of the automatic call timer has been reached in step S24 with "YES", the central control device 10 initializes the automatic call timer (step S25) and sets the above-mentioned one to a vacant office line (for example) 3a. A call is made with the telephone number "A", and the timer 18 is started as a non-response detection timer (step S26). In the above-described embodiment, since a plurality of destination telephone numbers are registered (YES in step S27), a call is made to the next office line 3b with the next telephone number "B" (step S28) and a response signal is received (step S28). Wait for (YES in S29).
[0046]
If the step S27 is “NO” and a single telephone number is not registered in the destination information plural registration unit 13, the step S28 is omitted.
[0047]
If this step S29 is "NO" and the non-response detection timer reaches the time limit before receiving the response signal (YES in step S30), the central controller 10 counts up the automatic call counter 19 (step S31). Then, the count value is compared with a preset value (step S32).
[0048]
If this step S32 is "NO" and the count value is less than the set value, the central controller 10 initializes the non-response detection timer, and releases the outgoing call corresponding office lines 3a, 3b (step S33). The procedure returns to step S21 and is repeated.
[0049]
If this step S32 is "YES" and the count value has reached the set value, central controller 10 releases and initializes all relevant call settings (step S34) to indicate that the message could not be transmitted. , The caller's telephone terminal 2 "LMN". This notification may be by any means. Well-known means can be used.
[0050]
If the response detection unit accepts the response signal in step S29 of “YES”, the central controller 10 sets the station line (for example) 3a of the first priority in the sequential reception or the predetermined highest priority in the simultaneous reception, The telephone line is left as a response line, the call being executed on the other office line 3x is stopped, and the corresponding office line 3x is released. At the same time, the central controller 10 initializes the non-response detection timer (step S41), connects the transmission path of the response station line 3a to the message transmission path of the message voice storage unit 17, and stores the response. The message is transmitted (procedure S42).
[0051]
When receiving an end signal from the response destination that has listened to the message via the station line 3a, the central control device 10 executes a predetermined end process (procedure S43).
[0052]
In the above description, the procedure for transition to message storage is the case where the message special number is received before the response signal is received or the non-response detection timer reaches the time limit. However, "the line is busy due to local congestion" or "the called party is busy" In this case, the message special number reception or the non-response detection timer time limit arrival may be included. Alternatively, the process may be shifted to the message accumulation operation by only one of the reception of the message special number and the arrival of the non-response detection timer.
[0053]
In the above description, the number of automatic calls for sending the stored message is measured by providing the automatic call counter, but the procedure may be repeated without providing the automatic call counter until there is a response. In addition, when a plurality of telephone numbers are registered, the number can be switched between a small number, and a single telephone number can be switched between a large number or an unlimited number. This improves the reliability of message transmission to the called party.
[0054]
In the above description, reference is made to the illustrated functional blocks and procedures. However, changes such as allocation or separation and replacement of procedures by separating and merging functions are free as long as the above functions are satisfied, and the above description limits the present invention. However, the present invention can be applied to general telephone apparatuses accommodating lines for multiple stations.
[0055]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to obtain an effect that a message to be transmitted by a calling party can be delivered to a called party reliably and quickly.
[0056]
The reason for this is that a telephone device that has a function of storing voice messages to be transmitted and accommodates a plurality of office lines connected to the switching network, such as a key telephone device and a private branch exchange, etc. This is because a plurality of telephone numbers owned by each are registered in advance. With such a configuration, when transmitting the stored voice message, each of the office lines is assigned to each of a plurality of telephone numbers registered as destination telephone numbers, and calls are made almost simultaneously to all the office lines. This is because the message can be sent only to the office line corresponding to the one telephone number that responded first. That is, even if the fixed telephone cannot be answered because it is away when called, then the pre-registered fixed telephone and mobile telephone are called, so immediately On the other hand, the opportunity to receive a message in response is extremely high.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing one embodiment of a functional block according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a destination information multiple registration unit in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing one embodiment of a transmission information storage unit in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing one embodiment of a message storing procedure in the central control unit of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of an automatic calling procedure for a called party in the central control unit following FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of a stored message sending procedure in the central control unit following FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a conventional functional block.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Button telephone apparatus 2 Telephone terminal 3, 3a, 3b Office line 10 Central control unit 11 Terminal IF
12 Station line IF
13 destination information multiple registration unit 14 transmission information storage unit 15 response detection unit 16 guidance voice registration unit 17 message voice storage unit 18 timer 19 automatic call counter

Claims (10)

At least one telephone line is accommodated and connected on one side, and a plurality of office lines connected to the switching network are accommodated on the other side, and a communication path between the lines is formed based on a request received when a call connection request is received. When a message transmission request is received from the telephone line, the message is recorded in a message voice storage unit, and the recorded message is transmitted to a destination at a predetermined time. A destination information multiple registration unit is provided in which a plurality of the telephone numbers are registered in advance in correspondence with the called party having a call connection request with one of the telephone numbers as a destination. If a message service request is further received, a caller terminal is connected to the message voice storage unit to record the message of the caller, and then the destination information is registered at a predetermined time. Multiple phone numbers registered in the department A telephone device with a message transmission function, comprising: a control unit for making a call using each of the plurality of office lines, receiving only the first response, and sending the message stored in the office line. . 2. The telephone device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of telephone numbers are at least a fixed telephone number and a mobile telephone number of the same called party. 2. The message transmission method according to claim 1, wherein the control unit sets a disconnection condition with the destination to one of a busy state due to line congestion during connection, a busy state of a called terminal, and a non-response. Telephone device with functions. 4. The telephone device with a message transmission function according to claim 3, wherein the control unit determines a state in which the connection is disabled due to a non-response based on a lapse of a predetermined non-response detection time. 5. The telephone device according to claim 4, wherein the control unit requests the message service when a destination is unresponsive and connection is impossible after a predetermined unanswered detection time elapses. 2. The telephone device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is requested by a special number dial which further receives the message service from a caller. 2. The telephone device with a message sending function according to claim 1, wherein the control unit repeats the call at the predetermined time when the call at the predetermined time cannot be reconnected to the destination. 8. The control unit according to claim 7, wherein the control unit further comprises a counter for measuring the number of calls made due to connection failure, setting a predetermined count value, and when the counter value reaches a set value, all of the calls related to this call are set. A telephone device with a message sending function, wherein settings are deleted and a caller is notified of the deletion. 2. The telephone device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit releases the line for the office other than the first response by the call termination processing. At least one telephone line is accommodated and connected on one side, and a plurality of office lines connected to the switching network are accommodated on the other side, and a communication path between the lines is formed based on a request received when a call connection request is received. A message transmission function for recording a message when a message transmission request is received from the telephone line and transmitting the recorded message to a destination at a predetermined time. Registering means for registering a plurality of telephone numbers in advance corresponding to a plurality of office lines, and assigning office lines to each of a plurality of telephone numbers registered as destination telephone numbers when sending stored messages, and Message sending means for sending a message to only the office line corresponding to one of the telephone numbers to which a response has been made. Noh with telephone equipment.

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