JPS59214366A - Mail service system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To inform efficiently a subscriber of composite mail generated at a terminal by informing the arrival of the mail of media other than the 1st medium and mail control information simultaneously when informing the subscriber of the main generated by the 1st medium between plural media. CONSTITUTION:When a number corresponding to voice mail service is pressed, a control part 23 sends guidance to a connected telephone set 17. The guidance indicates the operation of the subscriber by voice. The subscriber uses Fax mail successively after the input of a message by voice mail is completed. Then, this Fax mail is composite service and the relation with specific voice mail becomes clear. Thus, the input of the mail is completed. At this time, said information is stored on a magnetic disk 25. Then, when the mail is outputted, the Fax mail is outputted firstly and the voice mail is then outputted at a subscriber's request. The subscriber after receiving the Fax mail looks at the guidance and calls the voice mail service.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Technical Field of the Invention] Akira Motoko has discovered that when he sends e-mails of various media created on various terminals such as voice, facsimile, and text, when the other party is busy, Voice mail services are being considered as a way to save you the trouble of making multiple phone calls when you are at home or away from home. In the voice mail service, a voice storage device connected to a telephone terminal is provided to the subscriber in the form of a mailbox, and the message of the caller is recorded and placed in the mailbox. 1
(Thus, the subscriber who receives this will be able to listen to the contents of his/her own mailbox, that is, the messages addressed to him/her, by receiving notification from the mail system at a later date, or by timing the subscriber's time with the mail system.) It was made in a similar manner.

In addition to the above-mentioned e-mail saying that the 4-episode machine is completely prostituted,
There are facsimile mails using facsimile machines as terminals, text mails using printers, CRT keyboard terminals, etc., and some of them are already on the verge of being commercialized.

Although these fake emails differ depending on the device and the email media is voice, facsimile, or text, the content of the email service is functionally similar in many ways.
Instead of processing each mail service using an independent mail device as in the past, studies are underway to process the mail services in a unified manner using a single mail device.

By the way, when processing e-mail for voice, facsimile, text, etc. on one or more terminals, it is necessary to use only the conventional independent mail services for voice, facsimile, and text. It would be very convenient for subscribers if a composite email service that combines emails created in different media such as ?, facsimile, voice, and text into a single email would be extremely convenient for subscribers. You can view documents received by facsimile using the email service.
However, subscribers can listen to explanations and supplements of the content in audio, allowing them to understand the content more quickly and accurately than in email.

However, when using a complex email service like the one above,
For subscribers, the following inconveniences arise. In other words, if the terminals necessary to use a combined mail service, such as a telephone and a facsimile machine, are installed next to the mail service user, the user can receive the received facsimile without disconnecting the line. ``Hang up the phone from the facsimile machine''> (In addition, you can receive voice mail.

However, when such a mail system is installed on a company's premises, even if telephones are installed for each individual, facsimile machines and text terminals are installed in each department, one or several at a time. Currently, only one is installed. Therefore, in a voice mail service that uses a telephone as a terminal, the mail is sent directly to the person in question, whereas with facsimile mail, the mail is delivered by a third party after the mail arrives from the mail system. must go to the location where the facsimile is installed and retrieve the mail directly. Due to these circumstances, if the email system sends a unilateral email notification, it will cause the inconvenience of being notified of a voice email even though the facsimile email has not reached the person in question, which will reduce the effectiveness of the combined email service as described above. It's gone now.

[Purpose of the invention]

This invention was made in consideration of the above circumstances.
The purpose of the present invention is to provide a mail service method for efficiently notifying subscribers of composite mails created on terminals such as voice, facsimile, text, etc.

[Summary of the invention]

In this invention, a single email consisting of multiple different media created on a terminal such as voice, facsimile, and text is registered in a mail system, and when the mail system services this email to a subscriber, the first Emails created in media are automatically notified to subscribers from the email system along with email management information, and emails created in other media are sent by subscribers to the email system based on email management information. It is designed to notify you only when it occurs.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the present invention, in a composite mail service such as voice, facsimile, and text, when notifying a subscriber of a mail created in the first medium of multiple media, the arrival of the mail of the other medium, and this At the same time, we notify the subscriber of the email management information for retrieving the email.
For example, in the case of a combination of facsimile and voice mail,
After receiving the received facsimile image, the subscriber can receive an explanation of the content of the received facsimile image using the voice mail service from the telephone using the e-mail management information added to the received image. .

Therefore, even if all media terminals, such as facsimile terminals, are not installed near the subscriber, an efficient multi-mail service can be provided.

[Embodiments of the invention]

Next, examples will be described. In the example below,
A system for providing voice mail and facsimile (hereinafter abbreviated as Fax) mail services in a private branch exchange network will be explained.

As shown in FIG. 1, this system consists of a private branch exchange network (11) and a mail device (13). The private branch exchange network (11) is composed of a central exchange (15), a number of telephones (17), and fax terminals (19). These telephones (17) and fax terminals (19) exchange @ (15)
) Normal communication is carried out using analog signals. The mail device (13) has a voice interface (
21) for a significant number of lines. This number is determined depending on the traffic. This audio interface (
21) converts the audio signal transmitted as an analog signal into PC
M (Pulse Code Mode7ution
) It has the function of code conversion and inverse conversion, and the function that a normal telephone has. The latter functions include, for example, a network control function that connects and disconnects lines when making and receiving calls, a telephone (17), an F'ax terminal (19) (detects a double-frequency signal from the D pushbutton) In other words, in the system configuration of the embodiment, for the exchange (15), the mail device (13)
is the equivalent of a telephone (17) and a fax terminal (19). In other words, the exchange (13) makes no distinction between terminals such as telephones (17) and mail devices (13).

On the other hand, a Fax interface (27) is provided for Fax mail. This Fax interface (
27) has a -7 fax transmission control means and modem based on the G11 standard.

Fax interface (27) to 11 control unit (23
) is a digital signal, and the output to G, M, H (
Modified hahoon) It can be expressed with signs etc. 9, P
Like the CM code, it is a digital signal.

The data from the fax interface (27) and voice interface (21) are digital signals, and are subjected to predetermined processing by the control unit (23).
and stored on the magnetic disk (25) together with the mail management information. The control unit (23) is composed of a minicomputer or the like.

Control unit (23) and voice interface (21)
, and the Fax interface (27), first and second media converters (29) and (31) are provided.

First and second media converters (29), (31)
sends guidance to the telephone (17) and fax terminal (19) to guide the operator's operating procedures at the telephone (17) and fax terminal (19).

The operation of such a system will be explained. First, I will explain how to receive voice mail service. The telephone (17) is of the button type. Voicemail.

Since a number is set corresponding to the service, the subscriber presses that number. Then, the mail device (13) is called by the normal line connection, and the telephone device (17),
A transmission path between the exchanger (15), the audio interface (21), and the control unit (23) is established.

Then, from the control unit (23), the connected Tuna 1 talk machine (1
7), guidance will be provided. The guidance refers to instructions for the subscriber's operations, and in this embodiment, the guidance is given by ShinP.

Example 1f, rThis is a voice mail service.

Please enter your desired service code. '' is sent to the subscriber via the telephone (17). The following guidance is the same, but this message is sent by the CPV in the Masen J section (23) and sent out from the memory as data.

This data is converted into a PCM code representing one voice in a media converter (29). This encoded signal is converted into an analog signal for transmission by an audio interface (21). This signal is transmitted to the exchanger (15)
is sent to the telephone (17) via.

Thus, when the first message is sent to the subscriber,
The subscriber enters a code corresponding to the voice mail service or composite service using the pushbutton. For example, in a composite service, a button 1loo1 is operated.

The control unit (23) receives this service code via the transmission line. In response, the following guidance:
The subscriber will be informed of the reception number. For example, [The reception number for this composite service is 8304151. ” message will be sent. Subscribers should record their reception number.

Next, the message ``Please enter your phone number'' is sent as guidance. Subscribers follow this message and ask themselves? -=Enter the episode number. next,
[Please enter the email destination number.] ” send a message. In response, the subscriber inputs the telephone number of the other party.

When the operations up to this point are completed, the subscriber inputs the message of the other party 6. In this embodiment, it is assumed that, prior to entering a message, the subscriber enters a specific code on the pushbutton.

For example, when the button i 1 is pressed, the control unit (23) determines that the subscriber's message has started. When the subscriber has finished inputting the message, he inputs a specific code using the pushbutton and notifies the control section (23) of the end of the message. If the subscriber wishes to change the message, the subscriber inputs a specific code using the pushbutton and informs the control section (23) of this fact.

As is well known, the above operations using the button are processed by software in the control section (23).

After inputting the message by voice mail in this manner, the subscriber then uses fax mail. To enter a fax email, use the fax
(19), you can follow the voice guidance as in the case of voice mail. If a telephone is not installed, operations are usually performed without guidance. Of course, the guidance may be output by fax. In this input, first, the controller (23) is instructed to receive decryption service.

This is realized by a push button or the like. At this time, in addition to receiving voice mail, the subscriber must use the open side (
23) Enter the number given by using the All Buttons button. Thus, this fax mail is a composite service, and its relevance to a specific voice mail is clearly established. In this way, email input is completed. At this time, the above information is stored on the magnetic disk (25). This stored data is called a catalog. The contents include the date and time when the email was received, the date and time when it was sent, the reception number, the number of the caller and the called party, the password for confidential information, the address of the message (or fax information), and the number of the recipient. Data length, number of attempted calls (trial status), etc. are stored.

Next, email output will be explained. In this embodiment, a fax mail is first output, and then a voice mail is output after waiting for a subscriber's request.

The output of fax mail will be explained. The processing in the control unit (23) at this time is as shown in FIG.
Check for presence of compound email. If it is a compound email,
Check to see if the fax email has been output. If there is no composite mail, the process returns to other mail service processing. If the fax email is not yet output, use the fax interface (27) to send the fax.
Call x(19) and establish a line connection. Guidance is then output from the second media converter (31). An example of this guidance is, ``This fax email requires an explanation of voice mail scrap 8304151.''
That is what it is. This guidance is based on the character pattern memory of the second Methia transformation Bi (3]) f) F
ax (19) uke (fi is reproduced as a character in the picture).

When the output of the guidance is finished, the message part of the fax mail is then output, and the guidance and the message of the fax mail are output as one received image from the fax (19). This received picture of ``Work X'' is later not delivered to the subscriber of the '1, 1 telephone machine (17) by the fax operator or the like.

After receiving the F'ax mail, this subscriber sees the above-mentioned kaidance and calls the voice mail service. Here, the guidance may be output after outputting the message part of the Fa mail.

When outputting a voice mail, there are cases in which the mail is notified after waiting for a request from the subscriber, and cases in which the subscriber is called from the mail device (13) at a time specified by the sender. In the case of this composite email, it is the former.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing this operation.

It is immediately checked whether there is a call from the subscriber, that is, whether there is an incoming call to the voice interface (21). 11-
If there is a voice mail service, 1. Have the subscriber input the voice mail service type code from the pushbutton, etc., and press
Receive it with the E-detector and confirm that it is an e-mail output request. If the output is not an e-mail, the process returns to the requested service.

If you are outputting an email, you will need to wait for the reception number to be input.
If this is not input as shown by the broken line, a normal voice mail addressed to this subscriber is output.

When the subscriber inputs a reception number, it is checked whether a fax mail corresponding to this reception number has been output.

If fax mail is output, voice mail is output. If no fax mail is output, no voice mail will be output.

In this way, if the fax mail is first notified and the voice mail is notified at the request of the subscriber, the sender (person A) can send an explanation as a voice mail message while looking at the drawing, and the recipient can send the explanation as a voice mail message while looking at the drawing (person A). Users can receive audio explanations (via voice mail) while viewing the fax (via fax mail), improving their understanding.

[Embodiments of the invention]

In the embodiments described above, the mail device is referred to as a terminal for the exchange (a suspended floor), but the mail device can also be configured as a part of the exchange.

As shown in FIG. 4, a mail device (41) is provided for the exchange network (11). This mel device (41) is representative of the interface (43) (the audio interface (21) and the F"ax interface (27) in the above-mentioned embodiment). To the machine (29), (31)
shall also be included. ), magnetic Tisph (45), and jJ41 CPV (4,7). The feature is that the first CPV (47) in this mail device (41)
) and the second CPV (4) that controls the functions of the exchange (15)
9) is the interface (CPV - CPV Int
erface is hereinafter abbreviated as CCI. ) (51) for a distance of 1 m.

Here, call control information such as call origination, call reception, disconnection, etc., terminal number 111, mail service such as mail type, etc. ↑ "f-report is sent via CCI (51) to Naoto J Concubine CPv (47)
, (49). Then, only the message information (voice information, fax information) is transferred to the exchange (15
) via the trunk interface (43). Such books have been published, especially CPv (47
), (49) can be directly connected to improve operability and responsiveness when using mail services. Additionally, the configuration provides excellent expandability for self-answering mail services.

In the above embodiments, the mail device notifies the fax mail first, and the voice mail waits for a request from the subscriber, but the reverse may be used.

Further, although the guidance as mail management information was notified at the same time as the email body, the guidance may be notified without being combined, and the email body may be notified by voice or fax after a request is made by the subscriber.

Furthermore, when selecting e-mail notifications from the e-mail system, select those with a low device penetration rate (whether the device is close to the subscriber), and select e-mails regarding devices with a higher penetration rate.
Preferably, the selection criterion is to wait for the subscriber's request before outputting.

As described above, it is natural that any modifications are included in the present invention as long as they do not depart from the spirit of the invention.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a system according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIGS. 2 and 3 are flowcharts for explaining the processing steps in the system shown in FIG. 1,
FIG. 4 is a power diagram of another embodiment of the system. (13)...Mail device, (15)...Switchboard, (
One...', siphone, (19) -Fax, (
23) ...control unit, (25)-magnetic disk. Agent: Patent Attorney Noriyuki Yu Chika (and 1 other person) Go to Figure 2 Figure 3

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) First and second terminals into which emails of the first and second media are input; a storage device that stores emails from the terminals; and an output of emails stored in the storage device. and a third and fourth terminal, and when inputting mail of the first medium into the first terminal, the first and second
means for instructing that the Mechiia's e-mails are mutually related compound e-mails; means for detecting a compound e-mail instruction signal from the means; and when the compound e-mail instruction signal is detected by the means, 1 and 8+! According to the registration means to record that Mechiia's email in 2 is a compound email, and the contents of this registration means,
a notification means for notifying the third terminal of the existence of the composite email together with the email in the first or second medium of Section 11J, and after notification by the notification means, ()1. A requesting means for requesting the output of the mail of the second or first medium, and a request signal from the requesting means,
and output means for outputting the mail in the second or first medium from the storage device to the fourth terminal. (2) Claim 1, wherein the first media is non-audio and the second medium is audio.
Email service method described in section. (3J 54't A patent characterized in that the terminal for outputting the e-mails of the media of i is a terminal with a low penetration rate, and the terminal for outputting the e-mails of the second medium is a terminal of high penetration rate. A mail service method according to claim 1.