JP2578643B2 - Control method of the number of lines and number of accepted terminals, and incoming call distribution method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a case where the number of operations of an incoming line and an accepting terminal in a switching system accommodating a relatively large number of incoming lines and accepting terminals is determined. The present invention relates to a method of automatically increasing or decreasing according to the amount of incoming and outgoing calls, and a method of distributing an incoming call to another switching system when the amount of incoming and outgoing calls exceeds the processing capacity of this switching system.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention is used for receiving a service request by telephone or data communication such as a seat reservation of a transportation agency, a telephone number for number guidance or a mail order.

〔Overview〕

According to the present invention, one or more switching devices are connected to a communication network having a traffic control station, the switching devices accommodate a plurality of reception terminals and a line from the communication network, and receive incoming calls from the communication network. In the communication method for connecting the receiving terminal to the receiving terminal, the switching device is provided with means for increasing and decreasing the number of receiving terminals according to the amount of incoming and outgoing calls, and means for requesting the communication network to increase or decrease the incoming call amount, and Control to increase or decrease the number of reception terminals, and to control the distribution of incoming calls in the communication network and distribute the calls to another switching device when the outgoing / incoming call volume among a plurality of switching devices is different. By doing so, the line efficiency and the use efficiency of the receiving terminal in the switching devices are improved, and the number of waiting calls is reduced to balance the load among the switching devices.

[Conventional technology]

In an exchange system such as a telephone exchange device installed for reception processing at a travel agency or a mail order company, which accepts calls from many customers, for example, the number of lines accommodated, reception desks, reception of telephones, etc. Many terminals are required.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

For this reason, in order not to reduce the service from the customer, the number of accommodated lines and the number of reception terminals are set to the numbers corresponding to the estimated maximum outgoing / incoming call volume.

However, in fact, the amount of incoming and outgoing calls fluctuates with time, and in particular, incoming calls tend to concentrate in a specific short period of time. When set, when the amount of incoming and outgoing calls decreases, the number of lines and the use efficiency of the reception terminal decrease. In particular, if the use efficiency of the line is viewed from the communication network side, the line efficiency is reduced, and there is a problem that the line configuration of the communication network is wasted.

In addition, when the number of operating reception terminals decreases for some reason, if the number of lines remains large, the incoming and outgoing call volume will exceed the total processing capacity of all operating reception terminals, and incoming calls exceeding the processing capacity On the other hand, the waiting time becomes extremely long, and there is a problem that the service cannot be reduced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above-described problems, and can control the number of lines and the number of reception terminals and the processing capacity, which can suppress a decrease in the use efficiency of lines and reception terminals even when the amount of incoming and outgoing calls changes. It is an object of the present invention to provide an incoming call distribution method capable of distributing concentrated incoming calls so that service does not deteriorate for incoming calls exceeding the limit.

[Means for solving the problem]

According to the present invention, at least one switching device is connected to a communication network provided with a traffic control station. The switching device accommodates a plurality of reception terminals and a line from the communication network, and receives an incoming call from the communication network. A communication system for connecting the reception terminal to the reception terminal, wherein the switching device constantly monitors an incoming / outgoing call volume passing through the line accommodated in the switching device and the number of operating the plurality of reception terminals, and the line When the number of used lines and the number of operating reception terminals are imbalanced with the current outgoing / incoming call volume, the information transmission / reception request information of the incoming call volume is transmitted to the traffic control station of the communication network, and Means for increasing or decreasing the number of operating reception terminals accommodated therein to a number suitable for the outgoing / incoming call volume, the traffic control station based on the incoming / outgoing traffic increase / decrease request information sent from the switching device. A means for increasing or decreasing the incoming call volume to the switching device is provided.

Further, a second configuration of the present invention includes a means for monitoring call volume information between a plurality of switching devices and a communication network, and judging the necessity of adjusting distribution of the call volume between the switching devices, Means for causing each of the switching devices to send information on a request to increase or decrease the incoming call volume to the communication network when the outgoing / incoming call volume between the switching devices becomes unbalanced. It is characterized by having.

[Action]

In a communication network constructed for communication between unspecified large numbers, such as a public telephone line network, the traffic volume passing through the network is monitored, and the traffic volume of the line is controlled according to the increase or decrease in the traffic volume.
In addition, a so-called traffic control function is provided in which, when the call volume in a certain area is extremely increased, the call is processed by bypassing the route on the other side.

The present invention utilizes the fact that the communication network itself has this traffic control function.

That is, in the first configuration of the present invention, the switching system is operated by being connected to the communication network. In the switching system, the total number of incoming and outgoing calls passing through the lines accommodated in the switching system and the number of operating reception terminals are determined. If the number of lines used and the number of accepting terminals operating at that time are imbalanced with the outgoing / incoming call volume, constantly monitor and send increase / decrease request information requesting an increase / decrease in the incoming call volume to the communication network. , The number of lines connected to the network and the number of operating reception terminals are controlled so as to be suitable for the total incoming / outgoing call volume at that time.

In the second configuration of the present invention, when an outgoing / incoming call volume exceeding the total capacity of the number of lines of the switching system occurs for the switching system, the communication network side receives the incoming call for the switching system by another switching system. A coordinating station, which controls traffic distribution between switching systems and adjusts the traffic distribution among the switching systems, is connected to a communication network, and the traffic volume from the coordinating station is adjusted. Based on the information,
Each switching system sends incoming / outgoing call increase / decrease request information to the communication network so that the loads among the switching systems are balanced.

In this way, the number of lines accommodated in the switching system and the number of operating reception terminals are automatically controlled to a number commensurate with the current outgoing / incoming call volume, and overflowing incoming calls are bypassed to other switching systems. Since the incoming call processing is performed, the load can be balanced among the plurality of switching systems, and the service does not deteriorate.

〔Example〕

 Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a communication network according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a switching system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

First, the configuration of the communication network will be described with reference to FIG.

This communication network includes a network A in which subscribers a ₁ , a ₂ ,... A _{i in} area A are accommodated, a network B in which subscribers b ₁ , b _{2 ,.} and the network C to the switching system X ₁ shown in FIG. 2 are coupled, the network D similarly has switching system X ₂ are coupled
And a network F to which a coordinating station G for adjusting the call volume between the switching systems X ₁ and X ₂ , which will be described later, exists. These networks A, B, C, and D are connected via a line l. _Ac , _lad , _lbc , and _lbd are linked. Although there are lines connecting the networks A and B and between the networks C and D, these lines are not shown in the figure and are omitted because they are not required in the operation of the present embodiment.

This communication network monitors the traffic volume passing through the networks A, B, C, and D, controls the traffic volume between the networks according to the traffic volume, and sets up a detour to set up a call. A control station E for performing distribution control is provided. And the control station E, the network A, B, C, between D are coupled by lines _{l ea, l eb, l ec} , l ed. Further, the switching system X _1, the switching system monitors the traffic intensity of X ₂ X _1, X ₂ adjustment station G for performing traffic density distribution adjustment of mutual
Is provided, and this coordinating station is connected via a network F
It is connected to the networks C and D by l _fc and l _fd .

Exchange system X ₁ for accommodating a plurality of reception terminal TM _1l to Tm _1h
Is a switching system which is connected to the communication network C constructed as described above by the line l _cx and accommodates the reception terminals TM _{2l to} TM _2k.
X ₂ is coupled by the line l _dx the network D.

The line l _ea connecting the networks of this communication network,
l _eb , l _ec , l _ed , l _fc , l _fd , l _cx , and l _dx include not only telephone lines but also data communication lines, and the above-mentioned communication network is an integrated service digital network (ISDN network). Is included. The networks A, B, C, and D are each configured to include a central office that accommodates a subscriber line in one area, and also include a circuit switching network for data communication that performs circuit switching in one area. There is also one network configuration.

Next, the switching systems X ₁ and X ₂ of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 2, the switching system X connected to the networks C and D includes a plurality of lines l _x1 , l _x2 ,.
and _xm, a plurality of reception terminal _{TM 1, TM 2, ... TM} n is accommodated. The switching system X is an interface with the lines l _{x1 to} l _xm and receives trunks (TRK) ₁₁ , 1 ₂ ,... 1 _m provided for each of the lines l _{x1 to} l _xm. Terminal T
Interfaces with M ₁ , TM ₂ ,... TM _n and accepting terminals
TM ₁ to Tm _n terminal connection unit provided for each (TCU)
2 _1, 2 _2, and ... 2 _n, controls the channel switch 3 and the passage way switch 3, line l _x1 to l _xm and a plurality of reception terminal TM ₁
And a central processing unit (CC) 4 for connecting control to Tm _n. The central processing unit 4 includes a line memory (LM) 41 for storing state data of the lines l _{x1 to} l _xm and reception terminals TM _{1 to} TM _n.
A terminal memory (TMM) 42 for storing the status data of the terminal is included.

 Next, the operation of the switching system X of the present embodiment will be described.

(Shown. Below be either l _x1 to l _xm, the same symbols, trunk 1, the terminal connection unit 2, also. Showing the same for the reception terminal TM) line l _x- Incoming Calls When the central processing unit 4, the line l _x- trunks 1 _- to detect incoming via a free reception terminal TM _- the terminal unit corresponding to the identification based on the air-busy data in the terminal memory 42 2 _- start, empty reception terminal TM _- displays an incoming call, and controls the channel switch 3 trunk
1 _- a terminal connection unit 2 _- the speech path is formed between the. By the above operation, the line l _x- is reception terminal TM _- is connected to,
Call or data communication is possible between both parties.

Furthermore, the reception terminal TM _- originating from the reception terminal to the central processing unit 4 selects an empty line l _x- based on the air-busy data in the line memory 41, after capturing the line l _x-, make outgoing TM _-
This is possible by transmitting a dial signal from the telephone line _lx- .

All of the lines l _{x1 to} l _xm accommodated in the switching system X are not always in a usable state, and the number of lines lx1 to lxm can be used according to the amount of incoming and outgoing calls under the control of the central processing unit 4. It is controlled so that The number of incoming calls to the switching system X is controlled by the instruction of the control station E of the communication network to a number corresponding to the number of lines made available by the control of the central processing unit 4. Also, is set by the central processing unit 4 to the reception terminal TM ₁ to Tm _n number operation number is also commensurate to prevailing incoming and outgoing call amount similar.

Now, there are M lines that are receiving calls to the switching system X (however, here, lines that have been received but have not yet reached a telephone call), and N vacant reception terminals are in operation. If there shall, when M = N may be any reception terminal TM to the line of the incoming call _- because everything is responsive, this condition is accepted in operation and the number of available lines and traffic intensity In this state, the number of terminals is balanced.

If it is assumed that M> N, in this state, it is not possible to immediately respond to (MN) lines during the incoming line, and a waiting call occurs. The number of reception terminals is insufficient. By the time this happens, the central processing unit 4, in order to reject any further incoming of the line l _x1 to l _xm, trunks 1 line l _x- is an empty at this point _- the occlusion information The line _lx- is transmitted, the line _lx- is closed, the line blocking data is stored in the line memory 41, and the reception during blocking is performed based on the terminal blocking data in the terminal memory 42 in order to cope with an increase in incoming calls. terminal TM _- releases the (M-N) base of the closure of was carried over to the operation reception terminal, and accordingly, rewrites the terminal blockage data in the terminal memory 42.

Further, the central processing unit 4 includes a control station E of the communication network.
The request information for reducing the number of incoming calls is sent to
If X ₁ to the network C, and sends the occlusion indication information of the line corresponding to the decrease of the above-described line. This and request information for an incoming call number, down the line close instruction information is, for example, assuming that sent from the switching system X _1, the request information, the line l _cx,
Is transmitted to the control station E via the network C line l _ec,
The control station E controls the number of incoming calls to the network C based on the above-mentioned request information for reducing the number of incoming calls, and substantially reduces the number of lines _lcx that can be used. This Koryou coming into the switching system X ₁ via a network C is reduced, and the number of lines between the network C and the switching system X ₁ by the occlusion indication information is reduced.

The control, the waiting call in the switching system X ₁ is reduced. Incidentally, with respect to the call beyond the processing capacity of the time of the switching system X _1, by the number of lines l _cx is less, does not reach the switching system X _1, for the caller spoke whether a mid-back, or other switching system by the distribution processing of the incoming call in a communication network that will be described later, the call is controlled so as to call, for example, in X _2.

Next, assuming that M <N, in this state,
Among the operating reception terminals, (NM) reception terminals are always vacant. In this state, since the incoming call of (NM) can be further accepted, the central processing unit 4 determines, based on the line blocking data in the line memory 41, of the blocked line l _x- NM) The blockage is released to increase the number of usable lines, and request information of the number of incoming calls is transmitted to the control station E of the communication network in the same manner as described above. Further, it transmits to the network to which the switching system X is connected, the line release instruction information corresponding to the line increase. This example acceptable number of incoming calls in the switching system X ₁ via network C is increased.

As described above, from where to control the number of lines that can be used for the switching system X in the communication network side based on the operation number reception terminal in the switching system X, in exchange system X ₁ shown in FIG. 1 for example, when all of the available line of the circuit l _cx is used for outgoing or incoming calls, further incoming call can not be accepted in the switching system X _1, If it is the normal processing, the incoming of the overflow On the other hand, the busy tone return process is performed for the caller. However, for example, when the same company has a plurality of switching systems X, if another switching system has a margin for accepting an incoming call, an unacceptable incoming call generated for one of the switching systems is generated. By distributing the call to another switching system, it is possible for the same company to accept the call, which is convenient for the caller.

In the present invention, the incoming call distribution control is also performed from the communication network side using the control station E, and the operation will be described with reference to the configuration of FIG.

Now, as the transmission from the subscriber a ₁ ~a _i of A region coming into switching system X _1, originating from the subscriber b ₁ ~b _j of the B region is coming respectively to the switching system X _2, incoming Processing shall be performed. In this example, for example, in the order receiving system of the mail-order company, the charge region A region of stores switching system X ₁ is installed, charge area stores switching system X ₂ is installed is defined in the B region Suppose

What now, calling to the exchange system X ₁ from the subscriber a ₁ ~a _i of the A region is concentrated, at that time there was a line l available line equal to or greater than the number of incoming _cx of to the exchange system X ₁ And

Control station E of the communication network, stores the number of available lines of the line l _cx, determines an overflow condition of the incoming call to the switching system X _1. Control station E
It comes to this overflow condition, via a line l _ea, to the network A, and sends the instruction information to incoming outgoing against switching system X ₁ to the switching system X _2. Thus, for example, an outgoing call made by the subscriber a _i to the switching system X ₁ is converted into an outgoing call to the switching system X ₂ in the network A, and is transmitted via the network A, the line l _ad , the network D, and the line l _dx . and, coming into the exchange system X _2.

Accordingly, since the exchange system X ₂ with a line margin that can accept a call from a subscriber of another region,
Even when calls originating from one area are concentrated in one switching system, the incoming calls can be distributed to another switching system that can afford.

By the way, in the above-mentioned control distribution of incoming calls by the control station E, the control station E controls the traffic of each of the switching systems X ₁ and X ₂ (this control controls the number of usable lines of the switching system). ), But does not monitor the mutual relationship between the switching systems X ₁ and X _2. For example, when the traffic of the switching system X ₁ is close to the maximum value of the available capacity at that time, the switching system X ₂ as that traffic intensity is less than half of the available capacity at that time, which may imbalance the load occurs between switching systems X _1, X ₂ mutually. Therefore, in the present invention, the switching system
An adjustment station G that monitors the load between X ₁ and X _{2 and} adjusts the load is connected to a communication network to adjust the load between the switching systems X ₁ and X ₂ . That is, the information on the current call volume in the switching systems X ₁ and X ₂ is as follows: line l _cx , network C, line l _fc , network F, line l _fg and line l _dx , network D, line l _fd , network F, which is sent to the coordinating station G via the line _lfg . The coordinating station G monitors the transmitted and received call volume information, and the transmitted information causes an imbalance in the loads of the two switching systems X ₁ and X ₂ , and it is necessary to adjust the traffic distribution. When it is determined, traffic control information is sent to each of the switching systems X ₁ and X ₂ . On the basis of the traffic volume adjustment information from the coordinating station G, the switching systems X ₁ and X ₂ respectively provide increase / decrease request information for requesting the control station E to increase or decrease the number of incoming calls by the above-mentioned incoming / outgoing call volume control. Send out. As a result, the control station E increases or decreases the incoming call volume to the lines l _cx and l _dx in the same manner as described above.
It is possible to balance the mutual loading of the X ₁ and switching system X _2. For this reason, it is possible to prevent a phenomenon in which the load is concentrated on only one switching system, and it is possible to balance the loads among the plurality of switching systems in a telephone guidance or the like that is received by a plurality of switching systems.

In the above embodiment, when the communication network is configured by an ISDN network or a data communication line, the above-described incoming call number increase / decrease request information, line blocking instruction information, or outgoing / incoming call amount information of the switching system, etc. Data can be exchanged via the data channel. Further, in the above embodiments, two switching systems have been described. However, the present invention can be applied to a case where two or more switching systems are connected to a communication network. In the case where the traffic intensity adjustment among a plurality of switching systems is performed by the station G, the effect increases as the number of switching systems increases.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, in the present invention, based on the total amount of incoming and outgoing calls occurring in the switching system coupled to the communication network, the number of accepted terminals and the number of lines used are automatically controlled to appropriate numbers, If an incoming call that cannot be dealt with within the controlled range occurs, the call is distributed to another switching system, and the coordinating station adjusts the load among the plurality of switching systems so as to balance the load. Therefore, the line efficiency and the use efficiency of the receiving terminal in the communication network and the switching system are increased, the number of waiting calls is reduced, and the load can be balanced between the switching systems. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a communication network according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the switching system according to the embodiment of the present invention. ₁ 1 ~1 _m ...... trunk _{(TRK), 2 1 ~2 n} ...... terminal connection units (TCU), 3 ...... channel switch (SW), 4 ...... central processing unit (CC), 41 ...... line Memory (LM), 42 Terminal memory (TMM), A, B, C, D, F ... Network, E ...
Control station, G ...... adjustment _{station, X, X 1, X 2} ...... exchange _{system, TM 1 ~TM n, TM 1l} ~TM 1h, M 2l ~TM 2k ...... reception terminal.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Takashi Kano 1-1-6 Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Kazuo Yamagoku 5-33-1, Shiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo Japan Electric Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-54-72607 (JP, A) JP-A-54-4006 (JP, A)

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] At least one switching device is connected to a communication network having a traffic control station. The switching device accommodates a plurality of reception terminals and a line from the communication network, and receives an incoming call from the communication network. A communication system for connecting the reception terminal to the reception terminal, wherein the switching device constantly monitors the incoming / outgoing call volume passing through the line accommodated in the switching device and the operating number of the plurality of reception terminals, When the number of used lines and the number of operating reception terminals are imbalanced with the current outgoing / incoming call volume, the information transmission / reception request information of the incoming call volume is transmitted to the traffic control station of the communication network, and Means for increasing or decreasing the number of operating reception terminals accommodated therein to a number suitable for the outgoing / incoming call volume. The traffic control station, based on the incoming call volume increase / decrease request information sent from the switching device, Line number and the reception terminal number of the control system, characterized in that it comprises means for increasing or decreasing the incoming call volume to said switching apparatus Te. 2. A plurality of switching devices are connected to a communication network having a traffic control station. Each of the switching devices accommodates a plurality of reception terminals and a line from the communication network, and receives an incoming call from the communication network. A communication system for connecting the reception terminal to the reception terminal, wherein the switching device constantly monitors the incoming and outgoing call volume passing through the line accommodated in the switching device and the operating number of the plurality of reception terminals, When the number of used lines of the line and the number of operating reception terminals are imbalanced with the current incoming / outgoing call volume, the information transmission / reception request information of the incoming call volume is transmitted to the traffic control station of the communication network, and Means for increasing / decreasing the number of operating reception terminals accommodated to the number of transmissions / receptions that match the outgoing / incoming call volume, wherein the traffic control station is based on the incoming / outgoing traffic increase / decrease request information sent from the switching device. Above In a communication system having means for increasing and decreasing incoming call volume to a switching device, information on a call volume between the plurality of switching devices and the communication network is monitored, and distribution of call volume between the switching devices is adjusted. Means for judging the necessity of; and means for causing each of the exchanges to send request information to increase or decrease the incoming call volume to the traffic control station when the outgoing / incoming call volume among the plurality of exchanges becomes imbalanced. An incoming call distribution system, characterized in that a coordinating station device equipped with (1) is connected to the communication network.