Telephone exchanges and telephone switching systems

Abstract

To provide a telephone exchange capable of specifying the terminal states of a plurality of called call terminals on the convening side when one-to-many call terminal connection is performed.SOLUTION: A telephone exchange that is connected to a call terminal that accommodates the telephone exchange, performs call control of the call terminal, and is connected to an external device includes a reception unit that receives a simultaneous call request from one call terminal to a plurality of other call terminals, and a call status notification unit that notifies the external device of the call status of each of a plurality of other call terminals included in the targets of the simultaneous call request.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a telephone exchange in a telephone switching system and to a telephone switching system. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, a technique has been known in which image information of a caller is displayed on the screen of a call terminal or a PC terminal to notify the caller of the call (see Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-129061 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Conventional technology was configured to notify a PC terminal of the call status of a one-to-one call and image information of the caller when a call came in, but mass calls (conference calls) were not subject to notification.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and aims to provide a telephone exchange and telephone exchange system that allows the inviting party to identify the terminal status of multiple called terminals when connecting one-to-many call terminals in a mass call. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The telephone switching system of the present invention comprises: A telephone exchange system having a telephone exchange connected to a call terminal accommodated therein and performing call control for the call terminal, an external device connected to the telephone exchange, and another external device connected to the external device, wherein the telephone exchange has a reception unit that receives a simultaneous call request from one call terminal to a plurality of other call terminals, a call status notification unit that notifies the external device of a call status related to each of the other plurality of call terminals included in the target of the simultaneous call request, a storage unit in which simultaneous call event information including the call status is recorded as a status table, and a voice synthesis unit that synthesizes voice data of calls communicated between the call terminals required for each of the call terminals, and wherein the reception unit receives a simultaneous call request from the one call terminal to a plurality of other call terminals, At a timing when the request is received, the call status notification unit transmits the simultaneous call event information including information on the start of a simultaneous call event to the external device, and at a timing when the telephone exchange executes a call to each of the other plurality of call terminals, the call status notification unit sequentially transmits the simultaneous call event information including each of the call start information to the external device, and at a timing when the telephone exchange receives a call OK response from each of the other plurality of call terminals, the call status notification unit sequentially transmits the simultaneous call event information including each of the call success information to the external device to notify the external device of a calling status, and the other external device has a display unit that displays the call status notified by the external device. It is characterized by: [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, in a telephone switching system, when a one-to-many call terminal is connected from one call terminal to multiple call terminals in the case of a mass call, the terminal status of the multiple call destination call terminals can be identified on the client terminal or other side of an external device related to the one call terminal. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing an example of the configuration of a telephone exchange system including a private branch exchange according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] 2 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration of a registered line table stored in a storage unit of the telephone exchange in the present embodiment. FIG. [Figure 3] 10 is a table showing an example of settings of groups of called terminals stored in a storage unit of the telephone exchange in the present embodiment. [Figure 4] 10 is a block diagram showing an example of the setting contents of a mass call event sent from a telephone exchange to a server in this embodiment. FIG. [Figure 5] 5 is a block diagram showing an example of detailed settings of the general call event information elements of the general call event shown in FIG. 4. FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram of a normal operation of calling a convener performed by the telephone exchange of the present embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram of normal operation of a conference call performed by the telephone exchange of the present embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram of a normal operation of disconnecting a conference call performed by the telephone exchange of the present embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, a private branch exchange (also called a PBX or telephone exchange) according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, in which one call terminal connects one to many call terminals, i.e., makes a general call. Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the following embodiment.

[0011] (Configuration explanation) FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of a telephone exchange system in this embodiment, including a telephone exchange 10 that controls the connection of call paths between the extension call terminals it accommodates, between extension lines and subscriber telephone lines, between extension lines and dedicated lines, etc., and controls call origination and termination.

[0012] The system configuration includes a telephone exchange 10 and multiple internal telephone terminals MKT1 and MKT2 communicably accommodated therein. The telephone exchange 10 is also connected to multiple telephone terminals MKTIP1 to MKTIPm (IP telephones) via an IP network IPN1, and to multiple telephone terminals CNV1 to CNVn via PBX1 to PBXn via another IP network IPN2 via SIP dedicated lines (dedicated lines for SIP interfaces). The telephone exchange 10 also accommodates one or more central lines of a communication network NW that can be connected to telephones, smartphones, and other communication devices (not shown) via a telephone exchange. Client servers PC1, PC2, and SV for data management are also connected to the telephone exchange 10. The server SV is connected to the telephone exchange 10 via its own TCP / IP interface.

[0013] Convener 1 operates extension call terminal MKT1, which initiates the mass call, and client terminal PC1. Convener 2 operates extension call terminal MKT2 and client terminal PC2. Call terminal MKT1 is the call terminal that receives the mass call for convenee 1. Client terminals PC1 and PC2 are assigned to conveners 1 and 2, respectively, so that they can monitor the mass call status along with call terminals MKT1 and MKT2.

[0014] The convenees 1 to m use call terminals MKTIP1 to MKTIPm, respectively, and the convenees 1 to n use call terminals CNV1 to CNVn, respectively.

[0015] The call terminals MKT1, MKT2, MKTIP1 to MKTIPm, and CNV1 to CNVn include call terminals such as multi-function telephones and ordinary fixed telephones, as well as wireless terminals connected via wireless base stations.

[0016] The telephone exchange 10 includes various functional modules such as a main control unit 10m that controls the entire device, an extension trunk module ISL that collectively controls groups of extension call terminals MKT1, MKT2, MKTIP1 to MKTIPm, and CNV1 to CNVn, an office line trunk module OSL that connects office line subscriber lines and leased lines, and a switch trunk module SWT that generates call paths.

[0017] Furthermore, the telephone exchange 10 includes a conference trunk CFT having a voice synthesis unit that synthesizes the necessary voice data for calls communicated between each of the call terminals MKT1, MKT2, MKTIP1-MKTIPm, and CNV1-CNVn. The conference trunk CFT is a functional module that mixes the voice data of a conference call obtained by subtracting the voice data of the call terminal from the voice data of the other call terminals. A simultaneous call can connect, for example, up to 31 terminals simultaneously, but by enlarging the circuit configuration of the conference trunk CFT, conference calls between more than 31 communication terminals are possible.

[0018] The main control unit 10m controls the central office trunk modules OSL, the internal line trunk modules ISL, the switch trunk modules SWT, and the conference trunks CFT, which are capable of communicating with the communication network NW, to perform outgoing and incoming call control. If the internal call terminals are multifunction telephones, the telephone exchange 10 can realize the internal line functions of each call terminal accommodated therein, such as ACR calling, PB calling, internal / external office line call control, call recording, call answering proxy, day / night switching, and call forwarding, via the corresponding internal line trunk modules ISL.

[0019] The main control unit 10m installed in the telephone exchange 10 is a type of computer device, and includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a memory unit such as a RAM (Random Access Memory), an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), or an SSD (Solid State Drive), which are not shown, and a network connection unit that communicates via a LAN cable or a serial cable, and is configured so that the CPU controls the various functional modules installed in accordance with the programs stored in the memory unit.

[0020] The memory unit of the main control unit 10m stores a line table TB used for connecting communication paths between extension call terminals in the telephone exchange 10, connecting communication paths between extensions and central office lines, and monitoring the status of extension call terminals.

[0021] 2 shows an example of a line table TB of registered call terminals stored in the storage unit of the main control unit 10m. The line table TB uniquely stores, in association with each extension number, the accommodation location information of the call terminal MFT as default information, the telephone numbers (extension numbers) assigned to the call terminals MKT1, MKT2, MKTIP1 to MKTIPm, and CNV1 to CNVn as registration information, department information, and person in charge information, as well as the terminal type and terminal status information such as free / busy / incoming call for each call terminal.

[0022] The storage unit of the main control unit 10m also stores a setting table OTG for the call destination terminal group in the telephone exchange 10.

[0023] Figure 3 shows an example of group settings for called terminals, showing an example of a called group number (GROUP NUMBER) of 01. There may be, for example, 1 to 32 groups, and the number of groups is not limited. The POS number in the setting table OTG indicates the position within the group, for example, 1 to 31, and a called number (CALLING-NUMBER) is set for each POS number.

[0024] The storage unit of the main control unit 10m also stores a status table CB (information on a simultaneous calling event, which will be described in detail later) that indicates the status of the call destination terminals called by the telephone exchange 10.

[0025] The information in the line table TB, setting table OTG, and status table CB in the storage unit of the telephone exchange 10 can be partially rewritten by an authorized user via, for example, the client servers PC1, PC2, and SV shown in Fig. 1. The same information can also be partially rewritten by the main control unit 10m.

[0026] 1, each of the client terminals PC1 and PC2 and the server SV is a computer device that includes a storage device such as RAM, HDD, or SSD, a CPU that executes device setting functions in accordance with programs stored in the storage device, and a network connection unit that communicates via a LAN cable, all of which are connected to each other via an internal bus (not shown). The client terminals PC1 and PC2 also include an operation unit that accepts input from users, such as a display, keyboard, and mouse, and a display unit that displays information to users.

[0027] The overall operation of the client / server PC1, PC2 and SV is controlled by a CPU that follows the operating system (OS) software program and device setting application (hereinafter referred to as device setting application) installed in the storage device of the server SV. The server SV, connected to the telephone exchange 10 via a unique TCP / IP interface, controls the client terminals PC1 and PC2.

[0028] The server SV functions as, for example, a Web server, and can notify the user via the client terminal of the usage status of the call terminals MKT1, MKT2, MKTIP1 to MKTIPm, and CNV1 to CNVn, based on data (information on a mass call event) such as the usage status of the call terminals from the telephone exchange 10. That is, in this embodiment, the telephone exchange 10 and the client terminal PC1 share common call destination information (information in FIG. 3), and a message (a mass call event, which will be described in detail later) from the telephone exchange 10 to the client terminal PC1 includes the "position in the group (1 to 31)" and the "call destination status (vacant, ringing, busy, etc.)," ​​and the message is notified to the client terminal PC1, allowing the user to specify the destination.

[0029] In this embodiment, the telephone exchange 10 and the server SV are connected via a unique TCP / IP interface, and notification of the status of the general call to the server SV is an event dedicated to the general call. The server SV functions as a device that notifies the call status of each of the other multiple call terminals MKT2, MKTIP1 to MKTIPm, and CNV1 to CNVn based on notification from the telephone exchange 10. The display unit of the client terminal PC1, which is another external device, is connected to the server SV and displays the call status that the server SV should notify.

[0030] In this embodiment, a mass call event is sent from the telephone exchange 10 to the client terminals PC1 and PC2 via the server SV at the start and end of the mass call and when the status of the called parties is notified.

[0031] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the message of the mass call event has a "header / message type / information element" structure, with the header / message type having the same settings as existing events, and the information element having unique settings for the mass call event.

[0032] 4 shows the setting contents of the mass call event (mass call event frame) sent from the telephone exchange 10 to the server SV. The setting contents of the header section are, from the beginning, the application identifier, information length, application system version number, application identification number, message type, and request number. Next, the setting contents of the message type are, in order, the service identifier and message identifier (message identifier for mass call event). Next, the setting contents of the information element (mass call event setting contents) are the group number, execution status, notification target location, called party status 1 to called party status 31, and time information.

[0033] Figure 5 shows the details of the settings of the information elements of the mass calling event in Figure 4. Figure 5 is a table listing the settings of the "information elements" of the mass calling event, and also serves as a status table CB recorded in the memory unit of the main control unit 10m of the telephone exchange 10 and indicating the status of the called terminals to be called.

[0034] The setting ranges and descriptions corresponding to the setting contents of the "information element" numbers are as follows: The convener extension number of number 1 is an extension number (see FIG. 3), and is the extension number of the convener who will be making the mass call. The group number of number 2 is any one of 1 to 32, and is the group number to be called all at once. The general call execution status numbered 3 has a value of 0, which indicates start, indicating the start of general calls. The number 3, the execution status of the general call, has a value of 1, which means it has ended, and indicates that the general call has ended when the convener hangs up. The mass call execution status of number 3 indicates that the value 2 is continuous and indicates the time to notify the status of the invited persons (such as when the call was successful or when they responded). The notification target position numbered 4 is one of the values ​​1 to 31, and indicates the position within the group of the person to be invited that has changed when answering, disconnecting, etc. (see FIG. 3). Number 5, called statuses 1 to 31, always indicate that information for 31 people (communication terminals) is set for each simultaneous calling event. The value of the call destination status is 0 for free / disconnected, and the location of the called party is notified as 0 at the start, and the non-callee is notified as 0 at the time of disconnection while on the call. A value of 1 in the call destination state indicates that a call operation was performed at call initiation. A callee status value of 2 indicates that the call was successful. A callee status value of 3 indicates that the call has been answered. The call destination status value 4 indicates that the call is not allowed and the person being called is not available for call, for example, because the person being called is on a call. The call destination status value 255 is unregistered and indicates an unregistered position among call destinations 1 to 31. The time information numbered 6 is time information and indicates the time when the message was sent.

[0035] In the telephone exchange 10, the operation of sending a mass call event to the server SV (described in detail later) is controlled by a CPU that follows an operating system (OS) software program and an application for device settings (hereinafter referred to as a sending setting application) installed in the memory unit of the main control unit 10m.

[0036] The sending setting application is installed in the main control unit 10m and stored in the storage unit, and constitutes a reception unit RC, a call status notification unit CC, and a determination unit JM.

[0037] The reception unit RC receives, via the network connection unit of the telephone exchange 10, for example, a general call request from one call terminal MKT1 to a plurality of other call terminals MKT2, MKTIP1 to MKTIPm, and CNV1 to CNVn.

[0038] The call status notification unit CC notifies the server SV, which is an external device, of the call status (see the simultaneous call event in Figures 4 and 5) relating to each of the other multiple call terminals MKT2, MKTIP1 to MKTIPm, and CNV1 to CNVn included in the targets of the simultaneous call request. The call status includes data on the identification of the single call terminal MKT1 that sent the simultaneous call request, the identification of the other multiple call terminals MKT2, MKTIP1 to MKTIPm, and CNV1 to CNVn, the execution status of each call terminal, and time information. The call status notification unit CC has a function of notifying each of the call statuses of the other multiple call terminals MKT2, MKTIP1 to MKTIPm, and CNV1 to CNVn.

[0039] When the above-mentioned determination unit JM receives a simultaneous call request from one call terminal MKT1, it determines whether or not a call can be made with respect to each of the other multiple call terminals MKT2, MKTIP1 to MKTIPm, and CNV1 to CNVn. The determination unit JM controls the call status notification unit CC based on the determination result.

[0040] (Explanation of operation) figure 6 The normal operation sequence of the telephone exchange 10 of this embodiment is shown in Figure 1. Here, the two call terminals MKTIP1 and MKTIP2 of the called parties 1 and 2 (positions 1 and 2 in the group) are assumed, and an operation example is shown in which the call from call terminal MKT1 to both the called parties is successful and they respond.

[0041] The convener 1 starts a general call from the server SV (client terminal PC1) side using the call terminal MKT1, and calls the convenees (see FIG. 1).

[0042] In step S1, the convener 1 makes the server SV (client terminal PC1) issue a call request (extension number, special number for mass calling destinations, and group number). As the call request, the convener 1 sends information on the extension number, the special number for mass calling destinations, and the group number to the telephone exchange 10.

[0043] In step S2, the telephone exchange 10 sends an approval response to the server SV (client terminal PC1).

[0044] In step S3, a call request is received from the telephone exchange 10. Call terminal MKT1 is sent to.

[0045] In step S4, the convener 1 sends a call initiation request (group number) to the telephone exchange 10 using the call terminal MKT1.

[0046] In step S5, the telephone exchange 10 sends a general call event (start) to the server SV (client terminal PC1).

[0047] In step S6, the telephone exchange 10 executes a call to the call terminal MKTIP1.

[0048] In step S7, the telephone exchange 10 sends a simultaneous call event (call destination state: 1 (call activation), notification target location: 1) to the server SV (client terminal PC1).

[0049] In step S8, the telephone exchange 10 executes a call to the call terminal MKTIP2.

[0050] In step S9, the telephone exchange 10 sends a simultaneous call event (call destination state: 1 (call activation), notification target location: 2) to the server SV (client terminal PC1).

[0051] In step S10, the telephone exchange 10 receives a call OK response from the call terminal MKTIP1.

[0052] In step S11, the telephone exchange 10 sends a simultaneous call event (call destination status: 2 (call successful), notification target location: 1) to the server SV (client terminal PC1).

[0053] In step S12, the telephone exchange 10 sends a call OK response (RBT) to the call terminal MKT1.

[0054] In step S13, the telephone exchange 10 receives a call OK response from the call terminal MKTIP2.

[0055] In step S14, the telephone exchange 10 sends a mass calling event (called destination status: 2 (call successful), notification target location: 2) to the server SV (client terminal PC1). This completes the calling of the convenees 1 and 2.

[0056] FIG. 7 shows a normal operation sequence for establishing a busy state when the called party responds after calling the called party in the telephone exchange 10 of this embodiment.

[0057] In step S20, the telephone exchange 10 receives an off-hook response from the call terminal MKTIP1 by the called party 1.

[0058] In step S21, the telephone exchange 10 sends a general call event (call destination status: 3 (answered), notification target location: 1) to the server SV (client terminal PC1).

[0059] In step S22, the telephone exchange 10 sends a response to the call to the call terminal MKT1.

[0060] In step S23, the telephone exchange 10 receives an off-hook response from the call terminal MKTIP2 by the called party 2.

[0061] In step S24, the telephone exchange 10 sends a simultaneous call event (call destination status: 3 (answered), notification target location: 2) to the server SV (client terminal PC1).

[0062] FIG. 8 shows a normal operation sequence in which a conference call is terminated when the convener disconnects after a call is in progress in the telephone exchange 10 of this embodiment.

[0063] In step S30, the telephone exchange 10 receives a disconnection of the on-hook call by the convener 1 from the call terminal MKTIP1.

[0064] In step S31, the telephone exchange 10 sends a disconnection (BT) to the call terminal MKTIP1 of the called party 1.

[0065] In step S32, the telephone exchange 10 sends a disconnection (BT) to the call terminal MKTIP2 of the called party 2.

[0066] In step S33, the telephone exchange 10 sends a general call event (end) to the server SV (client terminal PC1), which ends the conference call.

[0067] (Explanation of effect) As described above, by connecting the telephone exchange 10 and the client terminals PC1 and PC2 with a unique TCP / IP interface and notifying the server SV (client terminal PC1) of the status of the mass call, it becomes possible to grasp the status of the mass call on the screen of the client terminal PC1.

[0068] It is also possible to record the history of the mass call (start time, end time, number of responses, etc.) on the client terminals PC1 and PC2 side.

[0069] In this way, while conventional technology could only notify client terminals of one-to-one calls, this embodiment makes it possible to notify client terminals of the call status of mass calls (one-to-many), and also makes it possible to monitor the call status of the called call terminal. [Explanation of symbols]

[0070] 10 Telephone exchange 10m Main control unit RC Reception CC Call Status Notification JM Judgment Department MKT1, MKT2 calling terminal SV Server PC1, PC2 client terminals TB Line Table OTG Settings Table CB State Table

Claims

[Claim 1] A telephone exchange system having a telephone exchange connected to a call terminal that accommodates the call terminal and performs call control of the call terminal, an external device connected to the telephone exchange, and another external device connected to the external device, The telephone exchange a reception unit that receives a simultaneous call request from one call terminal to a plurality of other call terminals; a call status notifying unit that notifies the external device of a call status related to each of the other plurality of communication terminals included in the target of the simultaneous call request; a storage unit in which call event information including the call status is recorded as a status table; a voice synthesis unit that synthesizes voice data of a call communicated between the call terminals, which is necessary for each of the call terminals; and When the reception unit receives a simultaneous call start request from the one communication terminal, the call status notification unit transmits the simultaneous call event information including start information of the simultaneous call event to the external device; When the telephone exchange executes a call to each of the other plurality of call terminals, the call status notification unit sequentially transmits the simultaneous call event information including each call activation information to the external device; When the telephone exchange receives a call OK response from each of the other plurality of call terminals, the call status notification unit sequentially transmits the simultaneous call event information including each of the call success information to the external device, thereby notifying the external device of a call in progress state; The other external device has a display unit that displays the call status notified by the other external device. A telephone switching system characterized by:

Images