Main device, program, and incoming call control method for the main device

Abstract

To provide a call control technology for a main device with excellent convenience.SOLUTION: A main device 1 stores a call history for each of telephones 2-1 to 2-n to be accommodated, and estimates an incoming call unanswerable time zone for each time zone type on the basis of the call history for each of the telephones 2-1 to 2-n. When a call is received with any of the telephones 2-1 to 2-n as a calling party, if the current time is time outside the incoming call unanswerable time zone of the calling party, the calling party is called, and if the current time is within the incoming call unanswerable time zone, a process (un answerable operation) according to a time zone type of the incoming call unanswerable time zone is performed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a main device, and more particularly to a technology for controlling incoming calls to a telephone accommodated in the main device as a call destination.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a mobile phone that can automatically notify a person who is about to make a call whether the person can answer the call and, if not, the time zone in which the person can answer. When this mobile phone receives an incoming call inquiry email, it checks the schedule of the user registered in itself and determines whether the user can answer the incoming call. Then, if the user can answer the incoming call, it replies with an email indicating that the user can answer the incoming call. If the user cannot answer the incoming call, it searches for the time zone in which the user can answer the incoming call from the user's schedule and replies with an email indicating that the user cannot answer the incoming call and showing the time zone in which the user can answer the incoming call.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, the mobile phone described in Patent Document 1 requires the user to register the schedule in advance, which is cumbersome.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a more convenient incoming call control technology.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, for each telephone accommodated by the main device of the present invention, based on the call history of this telephone, a time period during which this telephone cannot respond to an incoming call (incoming call response impossible time period) is estimated for each time period type (before going to work, after leaving work, lunch break, regular meeting, etc.). Then, when a call with any of the telephones as the destination arrives, if the current time is outside the incoming call response impossible time period of the destination, the destination is called, and if the current time is within the incoming call response impossible time period, processing corresponding to the time period type of this incoming call response impossible time period is performed. For example, automatically answer the incoming call and send out a voice message corresponding to Time zone type this incoming call response impossible time period.

[0007] For example, the present invention is a main device that accommodates a plurality of telephones, call history storage means for storing the call history for each of the telephones, for each of the telephones, estimation means for estimating an incoming call response impossible time period for each time period type based on the call history of the telephone stored in the call history storage means, when a call with any of the plurality of telephones as the destination arrives, if the current time is outside the incoming call response impossible time period of the destination estimated by the estimation means, the destination is called, and if the current time is within the incoming call response impossible time period, incoming call processing means for performing processing corresponding to the time period type of the incoming call response impossible time period, and is provided with Huh? The incoming call processing means As processing according to the time zone type of the in-call response unavailable time zone, while calling the call destination of the incoming call, automatically answering the call, and sending out a voice message according to the time zone type of the in-call response unavailable time zone .

Advantages of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, since the main device estimates the incoming call response impossible time period of the telephone based on the call history of the telephone, the user of the telephone does not need to register the schedule in advance in the telephone or the main device. Further, when a call arrives within the incoming call response impossible time period of the destination telephone, since processing corresponding to Time zone type this incoming call response impossible time period is performed, different responses can be taken for each time period type of the incoming call response impossible time period. Thus, according to the present invention, a highly convenient incoming call control technology can be provided.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0011] FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a telephone system according to the present embodiment.

[0012] As shown in the figure, the telephone system according to the present embodiment includes a main device 1 connected to an external telephone network 3 such as an IP (Internet Protocol) telephone network and a PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network), and an internal telephone network 4 composed of a LAN (Local Area Network), an analog line, etc., and a plurality of telephones 2-1 to 2-n (hereinafter, also simply referred to as the telephone 2) accommodated in the main device 1 via the internal telephone network 4.

[0013] The main device 1 cooperates with the telephone 2 to establish a communication path between the telephones 2 or between the telephone 2 and the external telephone network 3, and relays the call between the telephone 2 and the call partner through this communication path.

[0014] In addition, the main device 1 records the call history for each telephone 2, and for each telephone 2, estimates the time period (incoming call response unavailable time period) during which it is estimated that this telephone 2 cannot respond to an incoming call based on the call history of this telephone 2 for each time period type (before going to work, after leaving work, lunch break, regular meeting, etc.). When a call with any telephone 2 as the destination arrives, if the current time is outside the incoming call response unavailable time period of the destination, this destination is called, and if the current time is within the incoming call response unavailable time period, a process (response unavailable operation) corresponding to the time period type of this incoming call response unavailable time period is performed.

[0015] Next, the details of the main device 1 will be described.

[0016] Note that since the telephone 2 can use an existing push-button telephone or the like equipped with a display unit such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) that displays the display data sent from the main device 1, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0017] FIG. 2 is a schematic functional configuration diagram of the main device 1.

[0018] As shown in the figure, the main device 1 includes an internal telephone network interface unit 10, an external telephone network interface unit 11, a call control unit 12, a relay unit 13, an incoming call transfer setting storage unit 14, a call history recording unit 15, a estimation condition storage unit 16, a response unavailable operation storage unit 17, an estimation unit 18, and an incoming call response unavailable time period storage unit 19.

[0019] The internal telephone network interface unit 10 is an interface for connecting to the internal telephone network 4, and the external telephone network interface unit 11 is an interface for connecting to the external telephone network 3.

[0020] The call control unit 12 performs call control processing in cooperation with the telephone 2, thereby establishing and releasing a call path between this telephone 2 and a call partner (another telephone 2 or the external line telephone network 3). Further, when a call destined for a telephone 2 with call forwarding set arrives, the call control unit 12 performs call forwarding processing to call the call forwarding destination of this telephone 2. Furthermore, when a call destined for any telephone 2 arrives, if the current time is within the in-call response unavailable time zone of this destination, the call control unit 12 performs processing (unavailable operation) corresponding to the time zone type of this in-call response unavailable time zone.

[0021] The relay unit 13 relays a call between the telephone 2 and a call partner (another telephone 2 or the external line telephone network 3) via the call path established by the call control unit 12.

[0022] The call forwarding setting storage unit 14 stores, for each telephone 2, whether call forwarding is set or not, and further stores the call forwarding destination if call forwarding is set.

[0023] The call history recording unit 15 stores the call history for each telephone 2.

[0024] The estimation condition storage unit 16 stores the estimation conditions for the in-call response unavailable time zone for each telephone 2.

[0025] FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing an example of the stored content of the estimation condition storage unit 16.

[0026] As shown in the figure, in the estimation condition storage unit 16, an estimation condition table 160 is stored for each telephone 2. In the estimation condition table 160, records 161 of the estimation conditions for the incoming call response unavailable time zone are stored for each type of target time zone (for example, before going to work, lunch break, regular meeting (weekly meeting, monthly meeting, etc.), after leaving work) for extracting the incoming call response unavailable time zone. And the record 161 of the estimation condition has a field 162 in which the type of the target time zone (time zone type) for extracting the incoming call response unavailable time zone is registered, a field 163 in which the accumulation period of the call history (estimation target period) used for estimating the incoming call response unavailable time zone in the target time zone is registered, and a field 164 in which the target time zone (estimation target time zone) for extracting the incoming call response unavailable time zone is registered.

[0027] According to the example shown in FIG. 3, for the time zone type "before going to work", among the call histories for two weeks which is the estimation target period, the call histories whose call start time belongs to the estimation target time zone of 7:00 to 10:00 are used for estimating the incoming call response unavailable time zone. For the time zone type "after leaving work", among the call histories for two weeks which is the estimation target period, the call histories whose call start time belongs to the estimation target time zone of 17:00 to 19:00 are used for estimating the incoming call response unavailable time zone. For the time zone type "lunch break", among the call histories for two weeks which is the estimation target period, the call histories whose call start time belongs to the estimation target time zone of 12:00 to 14:00 are used for estimating the incoming call response unavailable time zone. And for the time zone type "regular meeting", among the call histories for one month which is the estimation target period, the call histories whose call start time belongs to within the working hours of each day of the week (for example, 9:00 to 17:00 from Monday to Friday. However, the lunch break time zone of 12:00 to 14:00 is excluded) which is the estimation target time zone are used for estimating the incoming call response unavailable time zone.

[0028] In the example shown in FIG. 3, the case where the time zone type "regular meeting" is a weekly meeting is shown. However, when the time zone type "regular meeting" is a monthly meeting, the estimation target period is set to multiple months, and the estimation target time zone is set within the daily working hours. Among the call histories for multiple months, the call history whose call start time belongs to within the daily working hours (for example, from 9:00 to 17:00 from the 1st to the end of the month. However, excluding the lunch break time zone from 12:00 to 14:00) is used for estimating the time zone when incoming calls cannot be answered.

[0029] In the non-response operation storage unit 17, for each telephone 2, the non-response operation, which is the process for calls received during the time zone when incoming calls cannot be answered, is stored for each time zone type of the time zone when incoming calls cannot be answered.

[0030] FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing an example of the stored content of the non-response operation storage unit 17.

[0031] As shown in the figure, in the non-response operation storage unit 17, a non-response operation table 170 is stored for each telephone 2. In the non-response operation table 170, a record 171 of the non-response operation is stored for each time zone when incoming calls cannot be answered. The record 171 of the non-response operation has a field 172 in which the time zone type of the time zone when incoming calls cannot be answered is registered, a field 173 in which the presence or absence of a call to the destination as the non-response operation is registered, a field 174 in which the voice message to be sent to the source as the non-response operation is registered, and a field 175 in which the display message (message display data) to be sent to the source as the non-response operation is registered.

[0032] According to the example shown in FIG. 4, for the time zone types "before coming to work" and "after leaving work", since it is highly likely that the user is absent and cannot answer the phone, the presence or absence of a call to the destination is set to "none", and the voice message and the display message are for prompting the source to call again. Also, for the time zone types "lunch break" and "regular meeting", since there is a possibility that the user can answer the phone, the presence or absence of a call to the destination is set to "yes", and the voice message and the display message are to inform the source that there is a possibility that the phone cannot be answered.

[0033] For each telephone 2, the estimation unit 18 estimates the time zones when incoming call response is unavailable for each time zone type based on the call history of the telephone 2 stored in the call history recording unit 15 according to the estimation condition table 160 of the telephone 2 stored in the estimation condition storage unit 16.

[0034] In the incoming call response unavailable time zone storage unit 19, the time zones when incoming call response is unavailable estimated by the estimation unit 18 are stored for each telephone 2.

[0035] FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing an example of the stored content of the incoming call response unavailable time zone storage unit 19.

[0036] As shown in the figure, an incoming call response unavailable time zone table 190 is stored in the incoming call response unavailable time zone storage unit 19 for each telephone 2. In the incoming call response unavailable time zone table 190, records 191 of the time zones when incoming call response is unavailable are stored for each time zone type. And the record 191 of the time zones when incoming call response is unavailable has a field 192 in which time zone types such as before going to work, after getting off work, lunch break, regular meetings (weekly meetings, monthly meetings, etc.) are registered, and a field 193 in which the time zones when incoming call response is unavailable are registered. Further, the field 193 has a sub-field 194 in which the days of the week when the time zones when incoming call response is unavailable exist are registered, and a sub-field 195 in which the time information (start time, end time) of the time zones when incoming call response is unavailable is registered.

[0037] According to the example shown in FIG. 5, for the time zone type "before going to work", the time zones before 9:00 from Monday to Friday every week are registered as the time zones when incoming call response is unavailable. For the time zone type "after getting off work", the time zones after 18:00 from Monday to Friday every week are registered as the time zones when incoming call response is unavailable. For the time zone type "lunch break", the time zones from 12:00 to 13:00 from Monday to Friday every week are registered as the time zones when incoming call response is unavailable. Also, for the time zone type "regular meeting", the time zone from 15:00 to 16:00 on Tuesday every week is registered as the time zone when incoming call response is unavailable.

[0038] Note that, in the example shown in FIG. 5, the case where the time slot type "regular meeting" is a weekly meeting is shown. In the case of a monthly meeting, for example, a fixed day of the week such as "the first Monday" is registered in the sub-field 194 every month.

[0039] Note that, the functional configuration of the main device 1 shown in FIG. 2 is realized either hard by an integrated logic IC such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) or an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), or realized software by a computer such as a DSP (Digital Signal Processor). Alternatively, in a general-purpose computer such as a PC equipped with a CPU, a memory, an auxiliary storage device such as a hard disk or a flash memory, and a communication interface such as a NIC (Network Interface Card), the CPU loads a predetermined program from the auxiliary storage device onto the memory and executes it to realize the function.

[0040] FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the incoming call response unavailable time slot estimation process of the main device 1.

[0041] This flow starts when a predetermined event occurs, such as periodically for each telephone 2 or when a predetermined dial operation is received from the telephone 2.

[0042] First, the estimation unit 18 refers to the estimation condition storage unit 16 and extracts one record 161 of the estimation conditions from the estimation condition table 160 of the telephone 2 (referred to as the target telephone) for estimating the incoming call response unavailable time slot (S100).

[0043] Next, the estimation unit 18 refers to the call history of the target telephone recorded in the call history recording unit 15 and determines whether the call history for the estimation target period registered in the field 163 of the extracted record 161 is accumulated (S101). If the call history of the target telephone is accumulated for the estimation target period (YES in S101), the process proceeds to S102; if not (NO in S101), the process proceeds to S111.

[0044] In S102, the estimation unit 18 analyzes the time zone type registered in the field 162 of the extracted record 161. When the time zone type is "before going to work" (in S102, "before going to work"), the estimation unit 18 extracts the call history for the estimation target period from the call history of the target telephone recorded in the call history recording unit 15, and further extracts from the extracted call history for the estimation target period the call history whose call start time belongs to the estimated target time zone registered in the field 164 of the extracted record 161. Then, among the further extracted call histories, the call history with the earliest call start time is specified (S103).

[0045] Next, the estimation unit 18 newly registers or updates and registers the record 191 of the time zone type "before going to work" in the incoming call response unavailable time zone table 190 of the target telephone stored in the incoming call response unavailable time zone storage unit 19 (S104). Specifically, it is determined whether the record 191 with the time zone type "before going to work" registered in the field 192 is already registered in the incoming call response unavailable time zone table 190 of the target telephone. When the record 191 with the time zone type "before going to work" registered in the field 192 is not registered, the record 191 is added to the incoming call response unavailable time zone table 190 of the target telephone, the time zone type "before going to work" is registered in the field 192 of this record 191, and the working days (for example, from Monday to Friday) are registered in the sub-field 194 as the days of the week of the incoming call response unavailable time zone. Further, in the sub-field 195, the earliest call start time specified in S103 or a time earlier than that is registered as the end time of the incoming call response unavailable time zone. On the other hand, when the record 191 with the time zone type "before going to work" registered in the field 192 is already registered, the earliest call start time specified in S103 or a time earlier than that is registered in the sub-field 195 of this record 191 as the end time of the incoming call response unavailable time zone. Then, the process proceeds to S111.

[0046] Also, in S102, when the time zone type registered in field 162 of the extracted record 161 is "after leaving the company" (in S102, "after leaving the company"), the estimation unit 18 extracts the call history for the estimation target period from the call history of the target telephone recorded in the call history recording unit 15, and further extracts, from the extracted call history for the estimation target period, the call history whose call start time belongs to the estimation target time zone registered in field 164 of the extracted record 161. Then, among the further extracted call histories, the call history with the latest call start time is specified (S105).

[0047] Next, the estimation unit 18 newly registers or updates and registers a record 191 of the time zone type "after leaving the company" in the incoming call response unavailable time zone table 190 of the target telephone stored in the incoming call response unavailable time zone storage unit 19 (S106). Specifically, it is determined whether a record 191 with the time zone type "after leaving the company" registered in field 192 is already registered in the incoming call response unavailable time zone table 190 of the target telephone. If a record 191 with the time zone type "after leaving the company" registered in field 192 is not registered, record 191 is added to the incoming call response unavailable time zone table 190 of the target telephone, the time zone type "after leaving the company" is registered in field 192 of this record 191, and the working days (for example, from Monday to Friday) are registered in sub-field 194 as the days of the week of the incoming call response unavailable time zone. Further, in sub-field 195, the latest call start time specified in S103 or a time after that is registered as the start time of the incoming call response unavailable time zone. On the other hand, if a record 191 with the time zone type "after leaving the company" registered in field 192 is already registered, the latest call start time specified in S103 or a time after that is registered in sub-field 195 of this record 191 as the start time of the incoming call response unavailable time zone. Then, it proceeds to S111.

[0048] Also, in S102, when the time zone type registered in field 162 of the extracted record 161 is "lunch break" (i.e., "lunch break" in S102), the estimation unit 18 extracts the call history for the estimation target period from the call history of the target telephone recorded in the call history recording unit 15. The extracted call history is compared with the estimation target time zone registered in field 164 of the extracted record 161 to identify the time zone in which there is no call history during the estimation target time zone (S107).

[0049] Next, the estimation unit 18 newly registers or updates and registers a record 191 of the time zone type "lunch break" in the incoming call response unavailable time zone table 190 of the target telephone stored in the incoming call response unavailable time zone storage unit 19 (S108). Specifically, it is determined whether a record 191 with the time zone type "lunch break" registered in field 192 already exists in the incoming call response unavailable time zone table 190 of the target telephone. If a record 191 with the time zone type "lunch break" registered in field 192 does not exist, record 191 is added to the incoming call response unavailable time zone table 190 of the target telephone, the time zone type "lunch break" is registered in field 192 of this record 191, and the working days (e.g., from Monday to Friday) are registered in sub-field 194 as the days of the week of the incoming call response unavailable time zone. Further, in sub-field 195, the start time and end time of the time zone in which no call history was identified in S103 are registered as the start time and end time of the incoming call response unavailable time zone. Also, if a record 191 with the time zone type "lunch break" registered in field 192 already exists, the start time and end time of the time zone in which no call history was identified in S103 are registered in sub-field 195 of this record 191 as the start time and end time of the incoming call response unavailable time zone. Then, it proceeds to S111.

[0050] Also, in S102, when the time zone type registered in the field 162 of the extracted record 161 is "regular meeting" (i.e., "regular meeting" in S102), the estimation unit 18 extracts the call history for the estimation target period from the call history of the target telephone recorded in the call history recording unit 15. Then, the extracted call history is compared with the estimation target time zone registered in the field 164 of the extracted record 161 to identify the time zone in which no call history exists during the estimation target time zone (S109).

[0051] Next, the estimation unit 18 newly registers or updates and registers a record 191 of the time zone type "regular meeting" in the incoming call response unavailable time zone table 190 of the target telephone stored in the incoming call response unavailable time zone storage unit 19 (S110). Specifically, it is determined whether a record 191 with the time zone type "regular meeting" registered in the field 192 is already registered in the incoming call response unavailable time zone table 190 of the target telephone. If a record 191 with the time zone type "regular meeting" registered in the field 192 is not registered, the record 191 is added to the incoming call response unavailable time zone table 190 of the target telephone, the time zone type "regular meeting" is registered in the field 192 of this record 191, and as the day of the week of the incoming call response unavailable time zone in the sub-field 194, the day of the week to which the time zone specified in S109 belongs (if the regular meeting is a monthly meeting, it is the first Tuesday, etc., a fixed day of the month) is registered. Further, in the sub-field 195, the start time and end time of the time zone in which no call history was specified in S103 are registered as the start time and end time of the incoming call response unavailable time zone. On the other hand, if a record 191 with the time zone type "regular meeting" registered in the field 192 is already registered, the day of the week to which the time zone specified in S109 belongs is registered in the sub-field 194 of this record 191 as the day of the week of the incoming call response unavailable time zone, and in the sub-field 195, the start time and end time of the time zone in which no call history was specified in S103 are registered as the start time and end time of the incoming call response unavailable time zone. Then, it proceeds to S111.

[0052] In S111, the estimation unit 18 determines whether all the record 161 of the estimation conditions have been extracted from the estimation condition table 160 of the target telephone stored in the estimation condition storage unit 16. If there is an unextracted record 161 of the estimation conditions (NO in S111), it returns to S100. If all the records 161 of the estimation conditions have been extracted (YES in S111), this flow ends.

[0053] FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the incoming call process of the main device 1.

[0054] This flow is started when a call destined for any telephone 2 arrives from the external telephone network 3 or the internal telephone network 4.

[0055] First, the call control unit 12 refers to the incoming call transfer setting storage unit 14 and checks whether an incoming call transfer is set for the destination of the incoming call (S120). If no incoming call transfer is set (NO in S120), it proceeds to S121. If an incoming call transfer is set (YES in S120), it proceeds to S124.

[0056] In S121, the call control unit 12 refers to the incoming call response unavailable time zone table 190 of the destination stored in the incoming call response unavailable time zone storage unit 19 and checks whether the current time (incoming call time) is within the incoming call response unavailable time zone specified by the information registered in the field 193 of any record 191. If the current time is not included in the incoming call response unavailable time zone registered in any record 191 (NO in S121), the call control unit 12 performs a normal incoming call process. That is, it calls the destination and causes an incoming call ring (S122).

[0057] On the one hand, if the current time is included in the incoming call response unavailable time zone specified by the information registered in field 193 of any record 191 (YES in S121), the call control unit 12 identifies the time zone type registered in field 192 of the record 191 in which the incoming call response unavailable time zone to which the current time belongs is registered in field 193. Then, referring to the call recipient's response unavailable operation table 170 stored in the response unavailable operation storage unit 17, it performs the response unavailable operation specified by the record 171 in which the identified time zone type is registered in field 172 (S123).

[0058] In the example shown in FIG. 4, if the identified time zone types are "before going to work" and "after leaving work", since it is highly likely that the call recipient is absent and cannot answer the phone, without calling the call recipient, it automatically answers the incoming call and transmits a voice message and a display message prompting the caller to call again to the caller. Also, for the time zone types "lunch break" and "regular meeting", since there is a possibility that the call recipient can answer the phone, while calling the call recipient, it automatically answers the incoming call and transmits a voice message and a display message informing the possibility that the call cannot be answered to the caller. And when the call recipient answers, it connects the caller and the call recipient.

[0059] In S124, the call control unit 12 refers to the incoming call transfer destination's incoming call response unavailable time zone table 190 stored in the incoming call response unavailable time zone storage unit 19, and checks whether the current time (incoming call time) is within the incoming call response unavailable time zone specified by the information registered in field 193 of any record 191 of the incoming call response unavailable time zone. And if the current time is not included in any incoming call response unavailable time zone specified by the information registered in field 193 of any record 191 (NO in S124), the call control unit 12 performs normal incoming call transfer processing. That is, it calls the incoming call transfer destination to ring the incoming call (S125).

[0060] On the one hand, when the current time is within the incoming call response unavailable time zone specified by the information registered in the field 193 of any record 191 (S124 YES), the call control unit 12 identifies the time zone type registered in the field 192 of the record 191 in which the incoming call response unavailable time zone to which the current time belongs is registered in the field 193. Then, referring to the incoming call transfer destination's response unavailable operation table 170 stored in the response unavailable operation memory unit 17, it performs the response unavailable operation specified by the record 171 in which the identified time zone type is registered in the field 172 (S126).

[0061] In the example shown in FIG. 4, when the identified time zone types are "before going to work" and "after getting off work", since it is highly likely that the user at the incoming call transfer destination is absent and cannot answer the phone, without calling the incoming call transfer destination, it automatically answers the incoming call and transmits a voice message and a display message prompting the caller to call again to the caller. Also, for the time zone types "lunch break" and "regular meeting", since there is a possibility that the user at the incoming call transfer destination can answer the phone, while calling the caller, it automatically answers the incoming call and transmits a voice message and a display message notifying the possibility that the phone cannot be answered to the caller. And when the incoming call transfer destination answers, it connects the caller and the incoming call transfer destination.

[0062] As described above, one embodiment of the present invention has been explained.

[0063] In this embodiment, the main device 1 estimates the incoming call response unavailable time zone for each telephone 2 to be accommodated for each time zone type (before going to work, after getting off work, lunch break, regular meeting, etc.) based on the call history of this telephone 2. Therefore, the user of the telephone 2 does not need to register the schedule in advance in the telephone 2 or the main device 1. Also, when a call with any telephone 2 as the caller arrives, if the current time is a time outside the incoming call response unavailable time zone of the caller, it calls this caller, and if the current time is a time within the incoming call response unavailable time zone, it performs a response unavailable operation according to the time zone type of this incoming call response unavailable time zone. Therefore, different responses can be taken for each time zone type of the incoming call response unavailable time zone.

[0064] For example, when the time zone type is "before going to work" or "after leaving work", it is highly likely that the called user is absent and unable to answer the phone. Therefore, without calling the called party, an automatic answer is made to the incoming call, and a voice message and a display message that prompt a callback are sent to the calling party. Also, for the time zone types "lunch break" and "regular meeting", there is a possibility that the user at the incoming call transfer destination can answer the phone. Therefore, while calling the called party, an automatic answer is made to the incoming call, and a voice message and a display message that inform the possibility of being unable to answer the phone are sent to the calling party.

[0065] As described above, according to this embodiment, a highly convenient incoming call control technology can be provided.

[0066] Also, in this embodiment, the main device 1 automatically answers a call received during the time zone when the called party cannot answer the call, and transmits a voice message corresponding to the time zone type of the time zone when the called party cannot answer the call to the calling party, and also transmits a display message corresponding to this time zone type. As a result, the message is both voice output and displayed on the calling party's telephone, so that the user of the calling party can easily grasp the situation of the called party, and the convenience is improved.

[0067] Also, in this embodiment, when call transfer is set for the called party of the incoming call, if the current time is outside the time zone when the call transfer destination cannot answer the call, the call transfer destination is called, and if the time is within the time zone when the call cannot be answered, an inoperable response operation corresponding to the time zone type of this time zone when the call cannot be answered is performed. Therefore, even when call transfer is set, when a call is received during the time zone when the call cannot be answered, different responses can be taken for each time zone type, and a more convenient incoming call control technology can be provided.

[0068] Note that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and numerous modifications are possible within the scope of the gist thereof.

[0069] For example, in the above-described embodiment, the main device 1 automatically answers a call received during the incoming call response unavailable time zone of the called party, and sends a voice message corresponding to the time zone type of the incoming call response unavailable time zone to the calling party. At this time, the end time of the incoming call response unavailable time zone, that is, the time when the called party becomes available for response, may be included in the voice message. By doing so, the user of the calling party can grasp the timing to call again. Therefore, the trouble of repeatedly calling again due to the absence of the called party can be saved, and the convenience can be further improved.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0070] 1: Main device 2, 2-1 to 2-n: Telephones 3: External telephone network 4: Internal telephone network 10: Internal telephone network interface unit 11: External telephone network interface unit 12: Call control unit 13: Relay unit 14: Incoming call transfer setting memory unit 15: Call history memory unit 16: Estimation condition memory unit 17: Unanswerable operation memory unit 18: Estimation unit 19: Incoming call response unavailable time zone memory unit

Claims

1. A main device for accommodating a plurality of telephones, call history storage means for storing a call history for each of the telephones, estimation means for estimating, for each of the telephones, an unavailable call answering time zone for each time zone type based on the call history of the telephone stored in the call history storage means, when a call with any of the plurality of telephones as the destination arrives, if the current time is outside the unavailable call answering time zone of the destination estimated by the estimation means, the destination is called, and if the current time is within the unavailable call answering time zone, incoming call processing means for performing processing according to the time zone type of the unavailable call answering time zone, wherein the incoming call processing means as processing according to the time zone type of the unavailable call answering time zone, calls the destination of the incoming call, automatically answers the call, and sends a voice message according to the time zone type of the unavailable call answering time zone The main device is characterized by this.

2. The main device according to claim 1, wherein the voice message includes a notification of the time when the unavailable call answering time zone ends and the destination becomes available for answering. The main device is characterized by this.

3. The main device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the incoming call processing means as processing according to the time zone type of the unavailable call answering time zone, when automatically answering the incoming call and sending the voice message, also sends display data of a message according to the time zone type of the unavailable call answering time zone. The main device is characterized by this.

4. The main device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the incoming call processing means when call forwarding to another telephone is set as the call forwarding destination for the telephone that is the destination of the incoming call, if the current time is outside the unavailable call answering time zone of the call forwarding destination estimated by the estimation means, the call forwarding destination is called, and if the current time is within the unavailable call answering time zone, processing according to the time zone type of the unavailable call answering time zone is performed. The main device is characterized by this.

5. A program for causing a computer to function as a main device for accommodating a plurality of telephones, call history storage means for storing a call history for each of the telephones, estimation means for estimating, for each of the telephones, an unavailable call answering time zone for each time zone type based on the call history of the telephone stored in the call history storage means, and When a call with any one of the plurality of telephones as the destination arrives, if the current time is outside the in-call response unavailable time zone of the destination estimated by the estimation means, the destination is called; if the current time is within the in-call response unavailable time zone, a computer functions as an incoming call processing means for performing processing according to the time zone type of the in-call response unavailable time zone. The incoming call processing means As processing according to the time zone type of the in-call response unavailable time zone, while calling the destination of the incoming call, automatically answer the call and send a voice message according to the time zone type of the in-call response unavailable time zone. A program characterized by the above.

6. An incoming call control method for a main device that houses a plurality of telephones, The main device Records the call history of each telephone, and for each telephone, estimates the in-call response unavailable time zone for each time zone type based on the call history of the telephone. When a call with any one of the plurality of telephones as the destination arrives, if the current time is outside the in-call response unavailable time zone of the estimated destination, the destination is called; if the current time is within the in-call response unavailable time zone, the destination is called and the call is automatically answered, and a voice message according to the time zone type of the in-call response unavailable time zone is sent. An incoming call control method for a main device characterized by the above.

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