JP2012060296A - Presence server, communication system, communication method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technique that enables communication with a recipient using optimum communication means to avoid generation of a loss in time or labor in the communication, without a need for considering the presence of the recipient or a receiving tool possessed by the recipient or the like.SOLUTION: A presence server has receiving tool determination means that determines and specifies a receiving tool suitable for each caller in each presence, based on a rule for designating one or more receiving tools among a plurality of receiving tools possessed by the recipient, for each combination of the presence of the recipient and the caller or a group to which the caller belongs.

Description

  The present invention relates to a presence server, a communication system, a communication method, and a program.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a system using presence has a registration management memory for storing setting information including a plurality of IP telephones, telephone numbers assigned to the respective IP telephones and various setting information of the respective IP telephones, The IP phone includes a mobile phone charger connected to the connection port, mobile phone detection means for detecting that the mobile phone is set in the charger, and a mobile phone phone. When the mobile phone number acquisition means for acquiring the number and the mobile phone detection means detect the mobile phone set in the charger, the management server has transfer setting information for transferring the incoming call to the mobile phone to the IP phone. Transfer setting registration means for registering and registration control means for registering transfer setting information in the management server. The management server receives a mobile phone from an IP telephone connected to the IP telephone system. The incoming call to, when the mobile phone with reference to the registration management memory is set in the charger, IP telephone system connected to the IP telephone applicable is known (e.g., see Patent Document 1.).

JP 2007-318232 A

  However, in the conventional IP telephone system, it is possible to automatically transfer between a mobile phone and an IP telephone using presence, but in recent years, one person (receiver) In addition to telephones and IP telephones, it is common to have a variety of communication means (reception tools) such as IM (instant message), voice messages, and e-mails. The system did not offer any solution.

  Also, in recent years, users (recipients) can make outgoing calls from the caller using the optimal receiving tool according to their presence (at the desk, meeting, going out, etc.) and communication partner (sender). If you want to receive, for example, if the recipient's presence is in a conference, you want to receive a call from user A (caller) with a mobile phone, but want to receive a call from user B (caller) via email In this respect, the conventional IP telephone system did not offer any solution.

  Therefore, the present invention solves the conventional problems, that is, the object of the present invention is to achieve optimum communication without requiring consideration for the presence of the receiver, the receiving tool possessed by the receiver, and the like. It is intended to provide a technique for avoiding the occurrence of a time or labor loss in communication by communicating with a recipient using means.

  The presence server of the present invention is based on a rule for designating one or more receiving tools among a plurality of receiving tools of the receiver for each combination of the presence of the receiver and the caller or a group to which the caller belongs. The above-mentioned problems are solved by providing reception tool determination means for determining and specifying a reception tool suitable for each sender in each presence.

  The communication system of the present invention is connected to the presence server, a telephone exchange connected to the presence server, notifying the presence server of an incoming call from the caller and the caller's number information, and the presence server The above-described problem is solved by providing a client terminal for storing the rule.

  Further, the communication method of the present invention is based on a rule that specifies one or more receiving tools among a plurality of receiving tools of the receiver for each combination of the presence of the receiver and the sender or a group to which the sender belongs. Based on the above, the reception tool suitable for each caller in each presence is determined and specified, thereby solving the above-described problems.

  Further, the program of the present invention is based on a rule for designating one or more receiving tools among a plurality of receiving tools of the sender for each combination of the presence of the receiver and the sender or a group to which the sender belongs. Thus, the above-described problems are solved by causing a computer to execute processing for determining and specifying a reception tool suitable for each caller in each presence.

The “reception tool” in the present invention does not mean the receiving terminal itself possessed by the receiver, but means the receiving means (communication means) possessed by the receiver. For example, the call function of the mobile phone terminal and the e-mail function of the mobile phone terminal are treated as separate receiving tools.
The same applies to the “sending tool” referred to in the present invention.

  According to the present invention, when a recipient uses a plurality of receiving tools, one or more receiving tools most suitable from the plurality of receiving tools are automatically selected according to the presence of the recipient and each caller. Therefore, it is possible to communicate with the receiver using the optimal communication means without requiring consideration for the receiver's presence or the reception tool possessed by the receiver. It is possible to avoid occurrence of time or labor loss.

It is the schematic which shows the communication system which is one Example of this invention. It is a functional block diagram which shows a part of software configuration of a client terminal. It is a functional block diagram which shows a part of software configuration of a presence server. It is explanatory drawing which shows a part of information stored in the memory | storage part of a client terminal. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the list information of a communication means. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the rule set by the user.

  Hereinafter, a communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 1, a communication system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a presence server 110, a telephone switch 120, a database (server) 130, a directory (server) 140, and each client terminal 150. I have.
As shown in FIG. 1, these devices are connected to each other via a line such as a LAN.

The presence server 110, the telephone exchange 120, the database 130, the directory 140, and the client terminal 150 each include a control unit, a storage unit, an input unit, an output unit, a network interface, an auxiliary storage device, and the like, and the control unit is expanded in the storage unit. Each unit described below is realized by operating according to the software.
The control unit is configured by a CPU or the like, and the storage unit is configured by a ROM, a RAM, or the like.

In the following description, in order to facilitate understanding of the content of the invention, a person who receives a presence inquiry from another user and a person who receives a call from another user are referred to as a “recipient”. The person who inquires about the presence of the user and the person who makes a call to other users are referred to as “sender”, but the “recipient” is not limited to the meaning of the person who only receives, The “sender” is not limited to the meaning of a person who only makes a call.
Similarly, “reception tool” and “transmission tool” are not limited to the meanings of a tool that performs only transmission and a tool that performs only transmission.

Further, the “reception tool” does not mean the receiving terminal itself possessed by the receiver, but means a receiving means (communication means) possessed by the receiver. The telephone terminal telephone function and the mobile telephone terminal e-mail function are treated as separate receiving tools.
The same applies to the “sending tool” referred to in the present invention.

First, the client terminal 150 will be described below.
FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing a part of the software configuration of the client terminal 150.
Each client terminal 150 has a presence setting unit 151, a rule setting unit 152, and a communication means list setting unit 153.
Note that description of other software such as an OS that has little relevance to the present invention is omitted.

In this embodiment, in order to facilitate understanding of the technical contents, the client terminal 150a is a terminal owned by the user A, the client terminal 150b is a terminal owned by the user B, and the client terminal 150c is It is assumed that the terminal is owned by user C.
In this embodiment, each user A, B, C has a plurality of communication means (reception tools such as a mobile phone, an extension phone, an instant message, a voice message, and an e-mail). .

The presence setting unit 151 of the client terminal 150 accepts setting input related to presence information (location information and status information, for example, in a meeting, being present, going out, and going home) by a user.
This presence information is transmitted to and stored in the database 130.
In this embodiment, the presence information is described as being stored in the database 130, but the storage location of the presence information is not limited to this, but the presence server 110, the database 130, the client terminal 150, the network connection What is necessary is just to store in any one place or several places, such as other apparatuses.
In the present embodiment, the presence information of the user is described as being set from the client terminal 150 possessed by the user, but the method of acquiring presence information is not limited to the above.

The rule setting unit 152 of the client terminal 150 receives a setting input related to the rule.
This rule is transmitted to and stored in the database 130 and is also stored in the storage unit of the client terminal 150.
In this embodiment, the rule is described as being stored in the database 130 and the client terminal 150, but the storage location of the rule is not limited to this, and the presence server 110, the database 130, the client terminal 150, What is necessary is just to store in any one place or several places, such as another apparatus connected to the network.
The above rule specifies one or more receiving tools among a plurality of receiving tools possessed by the receiver for each combination of the presence of the receiver and the sender.

More specifically, a rule set by user A (recipient) (hereinafter referred to as rule A) is, for example, as shown in FIG. "Receiving tool desired with the caller is a mobile phone", "If own presence is in a meeting, the desired receiving tool with the user C (caller) is voice mail", "Own presence Is a desired receiving tool with the user C, it defines a condition such as “voice mail”.
Operations are also set in advance for combinations other than the above.
Here, the above-mentioned caller (partner) may be set, for example, in units of groups to which the user belongs, or may be set other than a specific user (for example, a user other than the user B).
Also, two or more desired receiving tools (for example, a mobile phone and an extension telephone) are designated, and a priority order is set between these two or more receiving tools (for example, the first desire is a mobile telephone and the second desire is an extension telephone). May be set.

The communication means list setting unit 153 of the client terminal 150 accepts setting input related to list information of a plurality of communication means possessed by the user.
The list information of the communication means is transmitted to and stored in the directory 140 and the database 130 and is also stored in the storage unit of the client terminal 150.
In this embodiment, the list information of the communication means is described as being stored in the database 130, the directory 140, and the client terminal 150. However, the presence information storage location is not limited to this, and the presence server 110 The database 130, the client terminal 150, the directory 140, other devices connected to the network, etc. may be stored in one or a plurality of locations.
Here, the list information of the communication means, specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of communication means possessed by the user A (extension phone, mobile phone, voice mail, email, instant message), It defines the contact information (phone number, address, etc.).

Next, the presence server 110 will be described below.
FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing a part of the software configuration of the presence server 110.
The presence server 110 includes a reception tool determination unit 111, a response unit 112, a transfer instruction output unit 113, a character conversion unit 114, and a voice conversion unit 115.
Note that description of other software such as an OS that has little relevance to the present invention is omitted.

  The reception tool determination unit 111 of the presence server 110 determines and specifies a reception tool suitable for a caller in a specific presence based on the rules set by the receiver.

Specifically, when the user B makes an inquiry request regarding the presence of the user A, if the presence of the user A is in a meeting and the rule A shown in FIG. The presence information of the user A is read from the database 130, and the rules are read from the database 130 or the client terminal 150. The reception tool determination unit 111 determines that the reception tool suitable for the user B is the mobile phone of the user A. Identify.
Similarly, when a call is made from the extension telephone of user B to the extension telephone of user A, the telephone exchange 120 sends the presence server 110 the number information of the extension telephone of user B and the extension of user B. The presence server 110 is notified of the incoming call from the telephone, and with reference to the list information of the communication means stored in the directory 140 or the database 130 in response to the notification, the presence server 110 specifies that the call is from the user B to the user A. Further, the presence information of the user A is read from the database 130, and the rules are read from the database 130 or the client terminal 150, and the reception tool determination unit 111 determines that the reception tool suitable for the user B is the user A's mobile phone. To identify.

The response unit 112 of the presence server 110 receives a reference request from the client terminal 150 (for example, the client terminal 150b) possessed by the caller (for example, the user B) regarding the presence of the receiver (for example, the user A). The client terminal that possesses the caller (user B) the presence information of the caller (user A) and the reception tool (for example, mobile phone) suitable for the caller (user B) determined by the reception tool determination unit 111 It responds to 150 (client terminal 150b).
In the above description, the response unit 112 responds to the client terminal 150 when there is a presence inquiry request from the client terminal 150. However, the client terminal 150 possessed by the caller (user B) has been described. When the (client terminal 150b) monitors the presence of the receiver (user A) and the presence of the caller (user A) is changed (for example, changed from a meeting to being present), the caller (user B) Receiver terminal (client terminal 150b), the presence information of the receiver (user A), and a reception tool suitable for the caller (user B) determined by the reception tool determination unit 111 (mobile phone) ) May be notified.

The transfer instruction output unit 113 of the presence server 110 determines the receiving tool of the receiver and the receiving tool when a call is made from the calling tool (information type is voice information) to the receiving tool of the receiver. When the receiving tool determined by the receiver 111 is different from the receiving tool of the receiver, a transfer instruction for transferring the outgoing call from the sender to the receiving tool of the receiver determined by the receiving tool determining unit 111 is output to the telephone switch 120. To do.
Specifically, when a call is made from the extension telephone of user B to the extension telephone of user A, the presence of user A is in a meeting, and rule A shown in FIG. If there is an incoming call from the telephone exchange 120 to the presence server 110 from the extension telephone of the user B to the extension telephone of the user A and the number information of the extension telephone of the user B, the presence server 110 is notified. The presence server 110 refers to the list information of the communication means stored in the directory 140 or the database 130 to specify that the transmission is from the user B to the user A, and the reception tool determination unit 111 receives the desired reception by the user A. It is determined that the tool is a mobile phone, and user B's call is sent to user A's mobile phone To forward, it outputs a transfer instruction to the telephone exchange 120.
In the above description, the transmission from the transmission tool whose information type is voice information has been described. However, the transmission from the transmission tool (for example, e-mail) whose information type is character information is transferred. May be.
In that case, the presence server 110 receives a notification of an incoming call from the user B to the user A from a device (for example, a mail server) other than the telephone switch 120, and outputs a transfer instruction to the device (for example, a mail server). do it.

In the character conversion unit 114 of the presence server 110, the information type of the transmission tool is voice information (for example, extension telephone), and the information type of the reception tool specified by the reception tool determination unit 111 is character information (for example, email). In the case of the above, when the above transfer is performed, the voice information is recognized and converted into character information.
Note that this character conversion function may be installed in another device connected to the presence server 110 without being installed in the presence server 110.
In that case, the presence server 110 may output a character conversion instruction to the device.

In the voice conversion unit 115 of the presence server 110, the information type of the outgoing tool is text information (for example, e-mail), and the information type of the receiving tool specified by the receiving tool determination unit 111 is the voice information (for example, extension telephone). If the above-mentioned transfer is performed, the character information is recognized and converted into voice information.
The voice conversion function may be installed in other devices connected to the presence server 110 without being installed in the presence server 110.
In that case, the presence server may output a voice conversion instruction to the device.

  If the information type of the transmission tool and the information type of the reception tool specified by the reception tool determination unit 111 are different from each other, the reception specified by the reception tool determination unit 111 is performed without conversion between the information types. Information regarding the tool (telephone number, address, etc.) may be set so as to make an announcement such as “Please contact phone number 090-xxx-yyyy” to the caller.

  In the present invention thus obtained, when the recipient uses a plurality of receiving tools, one or more most suitable from the plurality of receiving tools depending on the presence of the recipient and each sender. Because the receiving tool is automatically identified, communication with the recipient is performed using the optimum communication means without requiring consideration for the presence of the recipient or the receiving tool possessed by the recipient. It is possible to avoid occurrence of time or labor loss in communication.

  In detail, when the present invention is used, when the sender does not know the receiving tool (communication means) possessed by the receiver, or the specific content of the receiver's presence (importance of the conference, etc.) is transmitted. Even if the person does not know, the sender can make a call to the receiving tool desired by the receiver without giving any consideration to these.

  Also, for example, the presence of the recipient is in a meeting, and contact with the user B is more important than the meeting, and the user B wants to be contacted even during the meeting, but other users (for example, The contact from the user C) can easily realize the receiver's desire to receive a contact by voice mail, e-mail, etc. without causing any burden, and more detailed communication is possible.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Communication system 110 ... Presence server 111 ... Reception tool judgment part 112 ... Response part 113 ... Transfer instruction output part 114 ... Character conversion part 115 ... Voice conversion part 120 ··· Telephone exchange 130 ··· Database 140 ··· Directory 150 (150a, 150b, 150c) · · · Client terminal 151 · · · Presence setting unit 152 · · · Rule setting unit 153 · · · Communication means list setting unit

Claims (8)

  For each combination of the presence of the receiver and the caller or the group to which the caller belongs, each caller in each presence is based on a rule that specifies one or more receiving tools among the plurality of receiving tools of the receiver. A presence server comprising: a reception tool determination means for determining and specifying a reception tool suitable for the device.   The presence server according to claim 1, further comprising response means for responding to the reception tool information specified by the reception tool determination means in response to an inquiry from the caller.   3. The presence according to claim 1, further comprising transfer instruction output means for outputting a transfer instruction for transferring a call made by the caller to the receiving tool specified by the receiving tool determining means. server.   When the information type of the transmission tool is voice information and the information type of the reception tool specified by the reception tool determination means is character information, the voice information is recognized and converted into character information, or The presence server according to claim 3, further comprising character conversion means for outputting a character conversion instruction for recognizing voice information and converting it into character information.   When the information type of the transmission tool is character information and the information type of the reception tool specified by the reception tool determination means is voice information, the character information is converted into voice information, or the character information is voiced. 5. The presence server according to claim 3, further comprising voice conversion means for outputting a voice conversion instruction for converting the information into information.   The presence server according to any one of claims 1 to 5, a directory connected to the presence server, and storing a reception tool held by the receiver and a list information of the transmission tool held by the caller A server, a telephone exchange connected to the presence server and notifying the presence server of incoming calls from the caller and number information of the caller, and a rule setting input by the receiver connected to the presence server A communication system characterized by comprising a client terminal for receiving.   For each combination of the presence of the receiver and the caller or the group to which the caller belongs, each caller in each presence is based on a rule that specifies one or more receiving tools among the plurality of receiving tools of the receiver. A communication method characterized by determining and specifying a receiving tool suitable for the user.   For each combination of the presence of the receiver and the caller or the group to which the caller belongs, each caller in each presence is based on a rule that specifies one or more receiving tools among the plurality of receiving tools of the caller. A program for causing a computer to execute a process of determining and specifying a reception tool suitable for a computer.

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