Replacement device, replacement program, and replacement method

Abstract

To provide a replacement device which allows a user to intuitively understand transmission to a terminal at each base point and which takes into consideration operability and maintainability of the terminal at each base point.SOLUTION: The present invention relates to a replacement device, comprising: a first processing part configured to confirm whether or not character information in information of a calling notification received from a first terminal device includes information of a name of a first base point for identifying the replacement device; a second processing part configured to perform a call connection processing with a second terminal device, which is a call destination managed by the replacement device, when the first processing part confirms that the character information includes the information of the name of the first base point; and a third processing part that transfers the information of the call notification to a management device that manages the replacement device and another replacement device when the first processing part confirms that the character information does not include the information of the name of the first base point.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an exchange device, an exchange program, and an exchange method. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, when connecting exchanges between bases to build an in-house network, a base number was set on the exchange at each base, and calls were made to extensions at other bases using either the "open number method" or the "closed number method" (Non-Patent Document 1).

[0003] In the open number system, when calling an extension at another location, you dial the location number + extension number to call the extension at that location. For example, to call a terminal with location number 10 and extension number 200, you dial 10 + 200.

[0004] On the other hand, the closed number system is a system in which extension numbers between bases are set so that they do not overlap, and extensions at other bases can be called using the same operations as at one's own base. [Prior art documents] [Non-patent literature]

[0005] [Non-Patent Document 1] "Telephone Switching System [UNIVERGE SERISE]" [Retrieved January 26, 2024], [Online], INTERNET,<URL: https: / / kosnetwork.co.jp / kos-pbx / univerge-serise / > Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] In the conventional methods described above, both the open number system and the closed number system required management using numbers made up of numbers, and there was a problem in that it was difficult for users to intuitively understand which extension number belonged to which location just from the combination of numbers.

[0007] Furthermore, the closed number system does not allow the duplication of extension numbers at all locations, which can lead to problems such as a shortage of extension numbers and problems with maintainability and operability.

[0008] For example, if a closed number of 2000 is set as an extension number at base A, calls can be made from base B by dialing 2000. However, base B cannot be set as an extension number of 2000. Due to this restriction, the closed numbers of other bases must be known, and they cannot be used at the base itself, so if there are too many closed numbers, the base itself may run out of numbers. Furthermore, closed numbers cannot be freely changed at each base, which poses a maintenance issue.

[0009] Therefore, there is a demand for a switching device, a switching program, and a switching method that allow users to intuitively understand calls to terminals at each location and that take into consideration the operability and maintainability of the terminals at each location. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] The first invention is an exchange device characterized by having: (1) a first processing unit that confirms whether character information in information on a call notification received from a first terminal device includes information on the name of a first location for identifying the exchange device; (2) a second processing unit that, if the first processing unit confirms that the character information includes information on the name of the first location, performs call connection processing with a second terminal device that is the destination managed by the exchange device; and (3) a third processing unit that, if the first processing unit confirms that the character information does not include information on the name of the first location, transfers the information on the call notification to a management device that manages the exchange device and other exchange devices.

[0011] The second exchange program of the present invention is characterized in that it causes a computer installed in an exchange device to function as: (1) a first processing unit that confirms whether the character information in the call notification information received from a first terminal device includes information on the name of a first location for identifying the exchange device; (2) a second processing unit that, if the first processing unit confirms that the character information includes information on the name of the first location, performs call connection processing with a second terminal device that is the destination managed by the exchange device; and (3) a third processing unit that, if the first processing unit confirms that the character information does not include information on the name of the first location, transfers the call notification information to a management device that manages the exchange device and other exchange devices.

[0012] A third aspect of the present invention is a switching method used in an exchange device, the exchange device comprising a first processing step, a second processing step, and a third processing step, (1) the first processing step confirms whether character information in the call notification information received from a first terminal device includes information on the name of a first location for identifying the exchange device, (2) the second processing step, if it is confirmed by the first processing step that the character information includes information on the name of the first location, performs call connection processing with a second terminal device that is the destination managed by the exchange device, and (3) the third processing step, if it is confirmed by the first processing step that the character information does not include information on the name of the first location, transfers the call notification information to a management device that manages the exchange device and other exchange devices. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a switching device, a switching program, and a switching method that allow a user to intuitively understand calls to terminals at each base and that take into consideration the operability and maintainability of the terminals at each base. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an exchange system according to an embodiment. [Figure 2]1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a base exchange management device according to an embodiment; [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a switch according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a location name / location number conversion table according to the embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a terminal name / terminal number conversion table according to the embodiment; [Figure 6] 1 is a sequence diagram (part 1) showing a characteristic operation of the exchange system according to the embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram (part 2) showing the characteristic operation of the exchange system according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] (A) Main embodiment Hereinafter, an embodiment of a switching device, a switching program, and a switching method according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0016] (A-1) Configuration of the embodiment <Overall structure> FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an exchange system according to an embodiment.

[0017] In FIG. 1, multiple bases A to C are provided with exchanges 200-1 to 200-3, each accommodating terminals 300-1 to 300-5, and a base exchange management device 100 that manages the exchanges 200-1 to 200-3 at each base, and these devices are connected via a network N.

[0018] In the following, for ease of explanation, when there is no need to distinguish between the terminals 300-1 to 300-5, they will be simply referred to as terminals 300. Similarly, the exchanges 200-1 to 200-3 will be simply referred to as exchanges 200.

[0019] There are no particular limitations on the protocols, configurations, etc. applied to the network N. For example, the network N is an IP network, and packets of VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) communication, etc. are transmitted and received over the network N.

[0020] The local exchange management device 100 is connected to the exchanges 200 at each of the locations, enabling mutual communication and the exchange of various information. As shown in Fig. 4, which will be described later, the local exchange management device 100 holds the location numbers and location names of each exchange 200 as an internal table (location name-location number conversion table T), and associates the location numbers with the location names. The local exchange management device 100 can use this internal table to determine the location of the destination of a call.

[0021] The exchange 200 accommodates the terminal 300. As shown in Fig. 5, which will be described later, the exchange 200 holds the terminal numbers and terminal names of the terminals 300 accommodated therein as an internal table (terminal name-terminal number conversion table U), and associates the terminal numbers with the terminal names. The exchange 200 can use this internal table to determine the destination terminal of a call.

[0022] <Branch switch management device> FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a branch exchange management device according to the embodiment.

[0023] 2, the local exchange management device 100 has a communication unit 101, a destination allocation processing unit 102, and a storage unit 103. The local exchange management device 100 may be configured entirely in hardware (for example, using a dedicated semiconductor chip), or part or all of the components other than the communication unit may be configured in software.

[0024] The communication unit 101 is a communication interface that connects to the network N.

[0025] For example, when the destination allocation processing unit 102 receives a call originating request (a call originating request including a base name) addressed to another exchange 200 from an exchange 200, it converts the base name of the destination into a base number using the base name / base number conversion table T, and forwards the call originating request to the exchange 200 with the destination base number.

[0026] The storage unit 103 is a storage means for storing data and the like that are applied to various processes in the local exchange management device 100. The storage unit 103 stores, for example, a location name / location number conversion table T.

[0027] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a location name / location number conversion table according to the embodiment.

[0028] In Figure 4, the location name / location number conversion table T has an "exchange location" indicating the location where each exchange 200 is installed on the exchange system 1 (Figure 1), a "location name" indicating the name of each location (letters or a combination of letters and numbers), and a "location number" indicating the location number that identifies each location.

[0029] 4, the name of point A where exchange 200-1 is located is "area-a" and its point number is "210." The name of point B where exchange 200-2 is located is "area-b" and its point number is "220." The name of point C where exchange 200-3 is located is "area-c" and its point number is "230."

[0030] For example, when the destination allocation processing unit 102 receives a call request with the destination location name "area-a", it converts the location name "area-a" to the location number "210" using the location name / location number conversion table T. Then, the destination allocation processing unit 102 performs control to transfer the call request to the exchange 200-1 with the location number "210".

[0031] <Switches and terminals> FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the exchange according to the embodiment.

[0032] In FIG. 3, the exchange 200 includes a communication unit 201 , a terminal accommodation unit 202 , a call control unit 203 , and a storage unit 204 .

[0033] The exchange 200 may be configured entirely in hardware (for example, using dedicated semiconductor chips), or part or all of the components other than the communication unit may be configured in software.

[0034] The communication unit 201 is a communication interface that connects to the network N.

[0035] The terminal accommodation unit 202 accommodates the terminal 300. Here, the terminal 300 accommodated in the terminal accommodation unit 202 corresponds to, for example, a softphone or an IP telephone, but may be other terminals. For example, the concept of a terminal in this embodiment also includes a case where a mobile terminal is connected to the exchange 200 via an access point device or the like.

[0036] The call control unit 203 controls each unit to execute call processing. For example, the call control unit 203 performs call connection processing between the terminals 300 accommodated in the terminal accommodation unit 202 or between the terminals 300 accommodated in other exchanges 200.

[0037] Furthermore, when the call control unit 203 receives a call request specifying a terminal name instead of a terminal number (extension number) from a terminal 300 accommodated in its own exchange, it converts the terminal name of the called party into a terminal number using a terminal name / terminal number conversion table U described later, and performs call connection processing for the destination terminal number.

[0038] It is assumed that each base exchange 200 can know its own base name from internal information, but does not know the names of other bases. Therefore, when a call request includes information including the name of another base, the call control unit 203 transfers the call request to the base exchange management device 100, which knows the names of other bases.

[0039] The storage unit 204 is a storage means for storing data and the like that are applied to various processes in the exchange 200. The storage unit 204 stores, for example, a terminal name / terminal number conversion table U.

[0040] FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a terminal name / terminal number conversion table according to the embodiment.

[0041] In Figure 5, the terminal name / terminal number conversion table U has a "terminal name" that indicates the name (letters or a combination of letters and numbers) of the terminal 300 accommodated by the exchange 200, and a "terminal number" that indicates the terminal number (extension number, etc.) that identifies each terminal.

[0042] Fig. 5 shows an example of terminals 300 and the like accommodated in exchange 200-1. As shown in Fig. 5, the terminal name of terminal 300-1 is "ext1" and its terminal number is "311." Furthermore, the terminal name of terminal 300-2 is "ext2" and its terminal number is "312." Furthermore, the terminal name of terminal 300-3 is "ext3" and its terminal number is "313."

[0043] For example, when the call control unit 203 receives a call request from the terminal 300-2 with the destination terminal name "ext1", the call control unit 203 converts the terminal name "ext1" to the terminal number "311" using the terminal name / terminal number conversion table. Then, the call control unit 203 performs a call connection process between the terminal 300-2 and the terminal 300-1 with the terminal number "311".

[0044] In addition, in the terminal name / terminal number conversion table U, it is possible to group multiple terminals 300 by specifying the terminal name. For example, in Fig. 5, terminals 300-2 and 300-2 with terminal numbers "312" and "313" are specified for the terminal name "group."

[0045] Furthermore, instead of an actual terminal, it is also possible to specify an IVR (Interactive Voice Response System) (not shown). For example, in Figure 5, an IVR (not shown) with a terminal number (internal logical number) of "400" is specified for the terminal name "ivr."

[0046] (A-2) Operation of the embodiment Next, the operation of the exchange system 1 of the embodiment having the above configuration will be described.

[0047] (A-2-1) Flow of calls made and received within the same location FIG. 6 shows the flow (sequence) of operations when a call is made from terminal 300-1 at point A to terminal 300-2 at the same point A.

[0048] First, when terminal 300-1 makes a call to terminal 300-2, it can specify either "312" or "ext2.area-a" as the destination terminal number. Here, it is assumed that terminal 300-1 makes a call specifying the terminal name (ext2.area-a) (S101).

[0049] When the exchange 200-1 receives a call origination request from the terminal 300-1, if a terminal name is specified, it extracts the base name (area-a) from "ext2.area-a" and determines whether it is its own base name (S102). Here, it is assumed that it is its own base, but if it is another base (when the call origination request is transferred to the base exchange management device 100), it will be explained later with reference to FIG.

[0050] The exchange 200-1 refers to the terminal name "ext2" in the terminal name / terminal number conversion table U, determines the terminal number (312), and determines the destination terminal (S103).

[0051] The exchange 200-1 terminates the call at the terminal 300-2 in its own exchange, whose terminal number is 312 (S104). If the exchange 200-1 receives a call request specifying a terminal number, it will terminate the call at the terminal 300-2 in its own exchange in the same manner as in the conventional case.

[0052] The example in Figure 6 above shows an incoming call to terminal 300-2, but if terminal 300-1 makes a call to "group.area-a", exchange 200-1 can similarly refer to terminal name / terminal number conversion table U and have the call terminate at terminals 300-2 and 300-3, thereby enabling group incoming calls.

[0053] Also, when the terminal 300-1 makes a call to "ivr.area-a," it is possible to have the call arrive at an IVR device (not shown) in the exchange 200-1 and automatically respond to the call.

[0054] (A-2-2) Flow of calls between different locations FIG. 7 shows the flow (sequence) of operations when a call is made from terminal 300-4 at point B to terminal 300-1 at point A.

[0055] First, when terminal 300-4 makes a call to terminal 300-1, it can specify either "210-311" or "ext1.area-a" as the terminal number of the call destination. Here, it is assumed that terminal 300-4 makes a call specifying the terminal name (ext1.area-a) (S201).

[0056] When the exchange 200-2 receives a call request from the terminal 300-4, if a terminal name is specified, it extracts the location name (area-a) from "ext1.area-a" and determines whether it is its own location name (S202). Here, it is assumed that it is a different location, but if it is its own location, the process will be as explained in Figure 6 above.

[0057] If the call origination request specifies a terminal number, the exchange 200-2 determines whether the terminal number is its own location number based on the terminal number.

[0058] If the exchange 200-2 does not determine in step S202 that the destination is its own base (that is, if it determines that the destination is another base), it transfers the call origination request to the base exchange management device 100 (S203).

[0059] When the local exchange management device 100 receives the call origination request from the exchange 200-2, it refers to the location name / location number conversion table T to determine the destination (S204). In this case, the destination is the exchange 200-1 of the location A, which has location number "210" corresponding to "area-a."

[0060] The local exchange management device 100 transfers the call origination request to the destination (exchange 200-1) determined in the above-mentioned step S204 (S205).

[0061] When the exchange 200-1 receives the call origination request from the local exchange management device 100, it refers to the terminal name "ext1" in the terminal name / terminal number conversion table U to determine the terminal number (311) and determine the destination terminal (S206).

[0062] The exchange 200-1 terminates the call at the destination determined in the above step S206 (the terminal 300-1 in its own exchange whose terminal number is 311) (S207).

[0063] The local exchange management device 100 may directly accommodate the terminal 300, or the exchange 200-3 at the local point C may be a virtual exchange. In this case, the exchange 200-3 does not exist as a physical exchange, and the terminal 300-5 is directly accommodated in the local exchange management device 100, but is registered as a local point as the local point C. In this case, when calling the terminal 300-5, the call can be made by using "ext.area-c".

[0064] As described above, the local exchange management device 100 distributes destinations of incoming and outgoing calls between the local exchanges 200-1 to 200-3.

[0065] (A-3) Effects of the embodiment As described above, this embodiment provides the following advantages.

[0066] Terminal numbers and terminal names can be used together in the switching system 1. For example, a terminal that can only dial, such as a telephone, can make a call using the softphone's terminal number, and conversely, a softphone can make a call to a telephone using the telephone's terminal name.

[0067] This allows users to make and receive calls using the device name, allowing them to intuitively understand which location and which device they want to call. However, calls can still be made using the current number.

[0068] In addition, unlike the closed number system, there is no need to manage the system's terminal numbers as a whole, and they can be freely set within each location, eliminating problems with operability and maintainability.

[0069] (B) Other embodiments Although various modified embodiments have been mentioned in the above-described embodiment, the following modified embodiments can also be applied.

[0070] (B-1) In the above-described embodiment, the switching system 1 has one base switching management device 100 and three switching devices 200, but the number of each device is not particularly limited. Furthermore, the number of terminals 300 accommodated in the switching device 200 is not particularly limited. [Explanation of symbols]

[0071] 1...exchange system, 100...site exchange management device, 101...communication unit, 102...destination allocation processing unit, 103...storage unit, 200 (200-1 to 200-3)...exchange, 201...communication unit, 202...terminal accommodating unit, 203...call control unit, 204...storage unit, 300 (300-1 to 300-5)...terminal, T...site number conversion table, U...terminal number conversion table.

Claims

1. 1. An exchange device, comprising: a first processing unit that checks whether character information in the information of the call notification received from the first terminal device includes information of the name of the first location for identifying the exchange device; a second processing unit that performs call connection processing with a second terminal device that is a destination managed by the exchange device when the first processing unit confirms that the character information includes information on the name of the first location; a third processing unit that, when it is confirmed by the first processing unit that the character information does not include information on the name of the first location, transfers information on the call notification to a management unit that manages the exchange device and other exchange devices; An exchange device comprising:

2. The exchange device described in claim 1, characterized in that when the character information includes character information indicating the name of the second terminal device, the second processing unit identifies the second terminal device by confirming the terminal number of the second terminal device using first table information that corresponds the terminal name and terminal number of the second terminal device.

3. The exchange device described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that when the character information includes information on the name of the second location, the management device uses second table information that corresponds the name of the second location with the location number to confirm the location number of the second location, and transfers the call notification to the second exchange device with the confirmed location number of the second location.

4. The computer installed in the switching device is a first processing unit that checks whether character information in the information of the call notification received from the first terminal device includes information of the name of the first location for identifying the exchange device; a second processing unit that performs call connection processing with a second terminal device that is a destination managed by the exchange device when the first processing unit confirms that the character information includes information on the name of the first location; a third processing unit that, when it is confirmed by the first processing unit that the character information does not include information on the name of the first location, transfers information on the call notification to a management unit that manages the exchange device and other exchange devices; An exchange program characterized by functioning as a

5. 1. A switching method for use in a switching device, comprising: the exchange device includes a first processing step, a second processing step, and a third processing step; The first processing step includes confirming whether character information in the information of the call notification received from the first terminal device includes information of the name of the first location for identifying the exchange device; the second processing step, if it is confirmed in the first processing step that the character information includes information on the name of the first location, performs a call connection process with a second terminal device that is a destination managed by the exchange device; In the third processing step, if it is confirmed in the first processing step that the character information does not include information on the name of the first location, the information on the call notification is transferred to a management device that manages the exchange device and other exchange devices. An exchange method characterized by:

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