JP2977853B2 - Private branch exchange having extension telephone receiving method and automatic call receiving function in private branch exchange - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention] (Industrial application field) The present invention relates to a network for transmitting caller information to a called party at the time of an incoming call, for example, an electronic private branch exchange connected to an ISDN network. More specifically, the present invention relates to a private branch exchange having an extension telephone receiving method and a function of automatically allocating an incoming call, and more particularly, to an incoming call through the network, an extension telephone receiving method capable of receiving the call directly to an extension telephone to be received. And the implementation of the private branch exchange configuration.

(Prior Art) In an electronic private branch exchange connected to an ISDN network or the like, in general, an incoming call from a central office line (general public line) is received as a relay station or an extension number (a telephone of an extension telephone). Number and directory number DN) can be arbitrarily set by the user for each office line port number. Call Distr
ibution: ACD) and various service functions such as a dial-in system.

For example, in the ACD method, at the time of construction setting (at the time of initial condition allocation), the extension number is set in advance to an ACD group corresponding to a plurality of extension telephones, and the destination for a specific office line port number is set. The ACD group is set in advance. Thus, when there is an incoming call from the office line to the office line port number, the call can be received by one of the extension telephones belonging to the ACD group designated as the destination. In this case, the private branch exchange controls the destination of the calls so that the calls are evenly distributed and received to each of the extension telephones belonging to the ACD group.

In the ACD system, as described above, the destination of a call can be specified in a group unit, but the destination is not necessarily the extension telephone desired by the caller. For this reason, when a call is received at an extension telephone other than the extension telephone desired by the caller, the caller checks the extension number of the transfer destination specified by the caller and sends the call to the extension telephone of the extension number. Transfer the call.

It becomes necessary to perform such an arrangement, and only after this arrangement, the caller can make a call with the other party who wants to make a call.

On the other hand, in the dial-in system, a user sets a specific extension number in advance for each office line port number. Then, for an incoming call from the office line, the extension telephone of the specific extension number set above is made to receive the call directly.

As described above, according to the dial-in method, it is possible to specify the destination of a call to some extent. However, in a private branch exchange, since the number of extensions is usually larger than the number of office lines, it is impossible to assign office lines one-to-one to all extension telephones. Therefore, even when a call arrives by the dial-in method, the destination of the call is not always the extension telephone desired by the caller, and if the destination is another extension telephone, the same routing as described above is performed. It will be needed.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) As described above, in the electronic private branch exchange, the incoming call from the office line is preset for any extension telephone belonging to a specific ACD group or for each office line port number. However, since the called party is not necessarily the extension phone desired by the caller, it is often necessary to route the call to the called party. Occurs. Further, in such a case, the caller must wait for the transfer, and also checks the extension number of the transfer destination specified by the caller and calls the extension telephone of the number. A cumbersome operation such as transfer is forced.
For this reason, there has been a strong demand for an improved extension telephone receiving method for incoming calls from office lines.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and priority is given to the incoming call to the extension telephone which the caller desires, so that the work of dealing with the incoming call from the office line is greatly reduced, and hence the outgoing call is made. It is an object of the present invention to provide a private branch exchange having an extension telephone receiving method and a function of automatically arranging incoming calls in a private branch exchange in which the waiting time of a caller can be shortened well.

[Constitution of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, an invention according to claim 1 is connected to a network for transmitting caller information to a called party when a call is received, and comprises a plurality of extension telephones. A private branch exchange that stores a calling number, which is the telephone number of the caller, and an extension number, which is the telephone number of the extension telephone, and stores the calling number when receiving a call from the network. A function for automatically arranging an incoming call, wherein the extension number corresponding to the calling number of the incoming call included in the caller information is searched from the table, and the incoming call is preferentially assigned to the extension telephone of the searched extension telephone number and the incoming call is terminated. A private branch exchange having registration means for registering a calling number corresponding to the extension number in the table by inputting a specific special number from the extension telephone and inputting the calling number; When the calling number is registered from the extension telephone, it is checked whether the calling number is already registered in the table, and if it is already registered, the telephone number is registered for the registered extension telephone. And a notification signal transmitting means for transmitting a notification signal indicating the fact.

The invention of claim 2 is the invention according to claim 1,
When the calling number is registered from the extension telephone, when the calling number is already registered in the table, the registration means notifies the registered extension telephone to that effect. A signal is transmitted, and then the special number is input again to enable registration of another calling number.

(Operation) According to the invention of claim 1, when registering in the table, a specific special number is input from an extension telephone and a calling number is input, so that a calling number corresponding to the extension number is registered in the table. At the same time, when the calling number is registered from the extension telephone, it is checked whether the calling number is already registered in the table. If the calling number is already registered, the fact is notified to the registered extension telephone. Is transmitted.

Further, according to the invention of claim 2, when the calling number is registered from the extension telephone, when the calling number is already registered in the table, the telephone number is registered to the registered extension telephone. A notification signal indicating that effect is transmitted, and then the special number is input again to enable registration of another calling number.

According to such a configuration, by performing a simple registration operation from any of the plurality of extension telephones, the troublesome agency work and the like are not required, and the caller does not have to wait for the agency. Operability becomes very good.

(Embodiment) FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a private branch exchange having an automatic call assignment function according to the present invention.

First, the configuration of the private branch exchange according to the embodiment will be described.

In FIG. 1, reference numerals 11 to 1n denote extension telephones made up of an electronic key telephone (EKT), which are connected to the communication network 3 via line circuits 21 to 2n dedicated to the exchange. Call network 3
Is an ISDN interface circuit supporting up to layer 3
It is connected to the ISDN network via 41-4m.

In addition, the communication path network 3 and the line circuits 21 to
The 2n and ISDN interface circuits 41 to 4m are further connected to the central controller 6 via the control data bus line 5. The central control unit 6 transmits and receives necessary data to and from the communication line network 3 including the storage device 7, the line circuits 21 to 2n, and the ISDN interface circuits 41 to 4m each time. The central control unit 6 controls the exchange of the communication network 3 through the exchange control of the extension telephones 11 to 11.
Each communication path is formed between 1n or between the extension telephones 11-1n and the ISDN network.

Similarly, the relay console 8 is also connected to the central control unit 6 via the control data bus line 5, and similarly through the exchange control of the communication network 3 by the central controller 6, the relay console 8 and the line circuit 21 are connected. ~ 2n or the relay stand 8
A communication path is formed between the network and the ISDN interface circuits 41 to 4m.

It should be noted that the ISDN interface circuits 41 to 4m support up to layer 3 (network layer) as described above, control all layers 1 (physical layer) and layer 2 (data link layer), and further control the ISDN network. The connection between the B channel and the communication network 3 and the transmission and reception of layer 3 information between the D channel of the ISDN network and the central controller 6 are performed.

Next, a description will be given of an automatic incoming call allocating function executed by the private branch exchange according to this embodiment every time there is an incoming call.

In an ISDN network, usually, a calling number, which is the telephone number of the caller, can be added to the call information. Therefore, in the private branch exchange of this embodiment, the calling number of an arbitrary calling source and the extension number of the extension telephone from which a call from this calling source is to be directly received are associated with each other in a predetermined manner, and these are previously stored in the storage device 7. When a call is received through the ISDN network, the call is first searched through the central control unit 6 as to whether or not the call is a call whose calling number has been registered in the storage unit 7. When the incoming call is a registered call, the private branch exchange extracts an extension number corresponding to the calling number in the storage device 7, and a line circuit and a telephone call corresponding to the extracted extension number. The exchange control of the route network 3 is performed through the central control device 6, whereby the incoming call is preferentially assigned to the extension telephone having the extension number. In this case, the registration of the number in the storage device 7 is performed by each of the extension telephones.
Can be done through 11-1n.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a calling number-extension number registration table formed in the storage device 7 in the private branch exchange according to the embodiment.

That is, in FIG. 2, the memory block MB1
Is an area in which the calling number is registered and stored, and the memory block MB2 is an area in which the extension number is registered and stored. The calling number registered in the memory block MB1 and the extension registered in the memory block MB2. The numbers are in a corresponding relationship with the table index index (i) [where i = 0, 1,...] As an intermediary. And ISDN
When there is an incoming call from the network, the central control unit 6 reads the calling number of the call from the layer 3 message, and if the same calling number is registered in the memory block MB1, the same index number is used. i memory block
The extension number registered in the MB2 is read out from the table, and the line circuit and the telephone line network 3 are exchange-controlled so that the extension telephone having the read out extension number receives the call.

Further, in this embodiment, numbers can be freely registered in the memory block MB1 and the memory block MB2 by performing a registration operation of a predetermined procedure through the extension telephones 11-1n.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a calling number-extension number registration process executed by the private branch exchange (more precisely, the central controller 6) in accordance with the registration operation of the predetermined procedure by the extension telephones 11-1n.

Hereinafter, the calling number-extension number registration processing procedure by the central control device 6 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

Now, after the DN (directory number) button is pressed or goes off-hook at the extension telephone that is to be designated as the destination of a call from a specific destination, the special number for the above-mentioned number registration is made. For example, "# 10"
(A number that is not normally used is preset for this purpose) is input, then the calling number (telephone number) of the specific call destination is input, and furthermore, the input of the calling number is completed. A specific code number to indicate, also for example "# 10"
If a number (such as a number that is also not normally used) is entered for this purpose-this may be the same as the special number for the registration, as in this example, the central control The device 6 starts the calling number-extension number registration processing in the modes listed below.

(1) Based on the DN button operation information or off-hook-on-hook management information, the extension number (directory number DN) of the extension telephone is set to what number (step S101 in FIG. 3). .

(2) The calling number registration mode is set based on the input of the calling number (step S102 in FIG. 3), and the input calling number is accepted (step S103 in FIG. 3). For this purpose, for example, the input calling number is temporarily stored in a built-in register or the like (not shown).

(3) It is recognized that the registration operation has been completed based on the input of the code number indicating the completion of the registration (step S1 in FIG. 3).
04) Then, it is checked whether or not the input calling number is already registered in the memory block MB1 of the table (storage device 7) (step S105 in FIG. 3).

(4) If not registered, the memory block MB1
Next, it is further checked whether or not an area for registering a new calling number is free (step S106 in FIG. 3).

(5) If it is vacant, it is determined that a new registration of the calling number is possible. In this case, the index number i of the free area of the memory block MB1 is obtained, and the calling number (temporarily stored in a register or the like) input at this time is registered in that area,
In the area of the same index number of the memory block MB2, the captured extension number (see step S101 in FIG. 3) is registered. At the same time, by sending a dial tone to the handset of the extension phone,
The completion of the registration processing is notified to the person handling the extension telephone (step S107 in FIG. 3).

(6) If the operator of the extension telephone confirming such a dial tone notification terminates the operation or goes on-hook and abandons the subsequent call (steps S108 and S109 in FIG. 3). ), The calling number-extension number registration processing by the central control device 6 also ends at that time.

(7) If the operator of the extension telephone confirms the notification by the dial tone (step S107 in FIG. 3),
Subsequently, when dialing is performed to request a call to an arbitrary destination (step S108 in FIG. 3), the processing shifts to calling processing to the designated destination (step S110 in FIG. 3), and this calling is performed. Is terminated (step S11 in FIG. 3).
1), the calling number-extension number registration processing as the central control device 6 is terminated.

(8) On the other hand, the process of the above (3) (Step S105 in FIG. 3)
In, the input calling number is already in memory block MB1
If it is confirmed that there is no free area in the memory block MB1 in the process (4) (step S106 in FIG. 3), it is confirmed that the input source is registered. It is determined that the registration of the number is impossible, and an overflow tone is transmitted to the handset of the extension telephone (step S112 in FIG. 3).

(9) In this case, by the notification by the overflow tone, the operator of the extension telephone terminates the operation or goes on-hook and abandons the subsequent operation (step S113 in FIG. 3). ,
The calling number-extension number registration processing as the central control device 6 is terminated.

Thus, in this embodiment, the central control unit 6
The extension number of the extension telephone to which the calling number has been input is automatically registered in the table (storage device 7) in correspondence with the input calling number in the calling number-extension number registration processing through When the registration of these numbers is completed normally, a dial tone signal is issued to the extension telephone, and the extension telephone automatically shifts to a callable state.

Next, the processing and operation of the private branch exchange when a call is received will be described.

First, the configuration of the calling number information element included in the layer 3 information (SETUP message) in the ISDN network will be described with reference to FIG.

The processing in this embodiment is based on the premise that the "calling number information element identifier" as shown in FIG. 4 exists in the layer 3 information (SETUP message) of the setting request from the ISDN network. Becomes

If the "calling number information element identifier" is present in the SETUP message, the "calling number information element identifier"
Is located in octet 1 of the calling number information element, as shown in FIG. If this "calling number information element identifier" is present, if the eighth bit of octet 3 in the calling number information element is 1 and the calling number content length of octet 2 is 2 or more, or If the eighth bit of octet 3 is 0, the display identifier of octet 3a is displayable ("00"), and the calling number content length of octet 2 is 3 or more, octet 4 exists and the calling number is there. Number digits are encoded with IA5 characters.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the “calling number information element identifier” is
If it is determined that it exists in the SETUP message, check whether octet 4 exists in the calling number information element,
When the octet 4 exists, the calling number is read from the octet 4.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a process for automatically arranging an incoming call at the time of receiving a call by the private branch exchange according to the embodiment, which is executed based on the search and reading of the calling number. Referring to FIG. The incoming call automatic assignment processing procedure mainly executed by the central control device 6 will be described in detail.

Now, if a call is received from the ISDN network to the private branch exchange and the layer 3 information (SETUP message) of the setting request is transferred to the central control unit 6 through the ISDN interface circuits 41 to 4m, The central control device 6 having received the information starts the incoming call processing in the following manner.

(1) Based on the received SETUP message, it is checked whether or not the “calling number information element identifier” exists in the message (see step S201 in FIG. 5).

(2) Here, the “calling number information element identifier” is the same as the SETU
If it is determined that the calling number exists in the P message, it is further checked whether or not octet 4 exists in the calling number information element, that is, whether or not the calling number exists (step S202 in FIG. 5).

(3) If octet 4 exists, the calling number coded therein is read from octet 4 (step S203 in FIG. 5).

(4) It is checked whether or not the same calling number as the read number is registered in the memory block MB1 of the table (storage device 7) (step S204 in FIG. 5).

(5) When the same calling number is registered, the index number i of the area of the memory block MB1 where the calling number is registered is obtained, and the call is received from the area of the other memory block MB2 having the obtained index number i. The extension number of the extension telephone to be assigned first is read out (step S2 in FIG. 5).
05).

(6) Next, it is checked whether or not the extension telephone having the read extension number is idle (step S206 in FIG. 5).
A state management table as illustrated in FIG. 6 is used for such state management of the extension telephone. The electronic private branch exchanges of interest here typically also have such tables in the storage device 7 or in the central controller 6.
The central control device 6 is preset in itself, and determines whether each extension telephone is in the idle state or the busy state based on the presence or absence of the flag as illustrated in FIG.

(7) If the extension telephone is idle (Idle), the call is received by the extension telephone (step S207 in FIG. 5).

(8) Layer 3 information (ALERT message) during calling of the called party is sent to the ISDN network by the ISDN interface circuits 41 to 4m.
(Step S208 in FIG. 5), and terminates the incoming call automatic assignment process as the central control device 6. Through such processing, an incoming call from the ISDN network is automatically received at the extension telephone having the extension number registered corresponding to the calling number.

(9) On the other hand, if there is an incoming call from the ISDN network, but there is no "calling number information element identifier" in the SETUP message, or the same calling number as the calling number of the incoming call is registered in the memory block MB1. If not, or if the extension telephone designated as the destination in the memory block MB2 is not empty, in any case, a preset destination, for example, an attendant console or a specific extension telephone (Step S209 in FIG. 5). In this case, the destination
It may be selected and determined by the ACD method described above.

As described above, according to this embodiment, for each extension telephone, if the calling number of the frequently called party or the specified called party is registered in the table, these If there is a call from the other party,
The call is directly received by the extension telephone in which the extension number is registered corresponding to the calling number. At least in such a case, the above-mentioned agency etc. becomes unnecessary,
There is no need to make the caller wait for a call. In rare cases, the mode (9) (step S209 in FIG. 5)
Although the destination may be determined in (2), the work of handling the incoming call is greatly reduced as a whole, and the waiting time of the caller is greatly reduced.

By the way, in the above-described embodiment, at the time of calling number-extension number registration processing, if the input calling number has already been registered in the memory block MB1 in the table (the storage device 7), it is stored in the memory block MB1. Even if there is an empty area, an overflow tone is transmitted and the subsequent number registration operation becomes impossible (see step S105, step S107 and step S112 in FIG. 3). If the procedure related to the processing is executed in the mode shown in the drawing, such inconvenience is also resolved.

That is, in the procedure shown in FIG. 7, if the input calling number has already been registered in the memory block MB1 (step S105 in FIG. 7), the busy tone is transmitted (step S105 in FIG. 7). S114), then
If the special number is re-entered (step S115 in FIG. 7) without being abandoned (step S116 in FIG. 7), an input operation for another calling number (see step S103 in FIG. 7) becomes possible. Like that. Thus, when the input calling number is already registered in the memory block MB1 and another calling number is to be registered, it is not necessary to press the DN button again or to repeat the on-hook-off-hook operation. become. In FIG. 7, the same processes as those shown in FIG. 3 are denoted by the same step numbers, and redundant description of these processes will be omitted.

In some cases, even if the same calling number is duplicated in the memory block MB1, there may be a situation in which a plurality of extension telephones are desired to correspond to the calling number. For example, there is a case where a plurality of persons are in charge of a certain destination (call destination) such as Company T, and a different extension telephone is used for each of the plurality of persons.
In such a case, when a call from this company T is received, the highest area in the above table among a plurality of extension numbers registered corresponding to the calling number of this company T The incoming call is first allocated to the extension telephone of the extension number registered in the table, and if the extension telephone is busy, the extension telephones of the extension numbers registered in the higher area in the same table thereafter are sequentially assigned. The incoming call is assigned.

It is desirable that the private branch exchange performs the incoming call processing in such a procedure.

For example, as a calling number-extension number registration process,
The processing in the form in which step S105 is deleted in FIG. 3 is executed, and the processing in the form illustrated in FIG. 8 may be executed as the incoming call processing.

That is, in FIG. 3, by deleting the processing in step S105, it is possible to register the same calling number repeatedly, and as shown in FIG. 8, when the extension telephone designated as the called party is busy. (Step S20 in FIG. 8)
6) The table search (step S204 'in FIG. 8) is again executed for the same calling number (more precisely, the corresponding extension based on the scanning of the calling number from the table upper registration area). The desired incoming call processing is achieved by ensuring that the sequential determination of numbers is performed. In FIG. 8, the same processes as those shown in FIG. 5 are denoted by the same step numbers, and redundant description of these processes will be omitted.

Further, in the above embodiment, whether or not to receive a call to the designated extension telephone is determined by whether or not the calling number in the SETUP message and the calling number registered in the memory block MB1 are the same. In comparing the calling number in the memory block MB1, not all the digits of these numbers need to be the same. That is, the memory block MB1
Compare the calling number in the SETUP message by the number of digits of the calling number registered for each index of, for example, if the calling number is registered as "01234" in the memory block MB1, an incoming call from the ISDN network Are compared by the upper 5 digits of the calling number, and the upper 5 digits are "01234".
It is also possible to make all the calls "01234 *" that are called to the corresponding extension telephone.

Further, in the above embodiment, the extension telephones 11 to 1n are all electronic key telephones, but these extension telephones do not necessarily have to be such key telephones. That is, even with a standard type telephone,
Alternatively, the present invention can be applied to a case where the electronic key telephone and the standard telephone are mixed. The point is that it is only necessary to be able to input the code number indicating completion of the preset special number and calling number input through these telephones, and that the central control device can recognize the input special number and code number.

In the embodiment, the extension number of the extension telephone that has performed the operation of registering the calling number is automatically registered in the table (storage device 7) in association with the registered calling number. Is not limited to this. That is, a calling number is registered from a certain extension telephone to the extension number of another extension telephone as a registration target, or a specific input terminal is provided separately from these extension telephones, and the calling number and the extension number are registered. both,
Of course, it is also possible to input through the input terminal. Particularly, this input terminal is shown by a broken line in FIG. 1 for reference. As this input terminal, a personal computer or the like can be adopted.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, there is provided a private branch exchange that is connected to a network that transmits caller information to a called party when a call is received and accommodates a plurality of extension telephones. It has a table for storing the calling number, which is the original telephone number, and the extension number, which is the telephone number of the extension telephone, in correspondence with the incoming call from the network when the call is received from the network. In the private branch exchange having an automatic call allocating function in which the corresponding extension number is searched from the table and the incoming call is preferentially allocated to the extension telephone of the searched extension telephone number and the call is received, a specific special number is inputted from the extension telephone. Registering means for registering a calling number corresponding to the extension number with respect to the table by inputting a calling number,
When the calling number is registered from the extension telephone, it is checked whether the calling number is already registered in the table. If the calling number is already registered, the fact is indicated to the registered extension telephone. Since the system is provided with the notification signal transmitting means for transmitting the notification signal, the troublesome agency work and the like described above are unnecessary only by performing a simple registration operation from any one of the plurality of extension telephones, and furthermore, it is necessary to start the service for the agency. Since the caller does not have to wait, the operability is greatly improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of a private branch exchange according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a calling number-extension number table stored in a storage device shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a calling number-extension number registration process executed in the private branch exchange according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating layer 3 information (SETUP) in an ISDN network.
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of a calling number information element included in the message, and FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a procedure of automatic incoming call assignment processing to an extension telephone executed in the private branch exchange of the embodiment. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an extension telephone status table used by the control device in the private branch exchange to manage the status of each extension telephone, and FIG. 7 is a calling number-extension number registration shown in FIG. A flowchart exemplifying another procedure for the processing, FIG.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating another example of the process for automatically assigning an incoming call to an extension telephone shown in FIG. 11-1n… extension telephone, 21-2n… line circuit, 3…
Communication channel network, 41 to 4 m ISDN interface circuit, 5 Control data bus line, 6 Central control device, 7 Storage device, 8 Relay stand.

Continuation of the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) H04M 3/42-3/58 H04Q 3/58

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A private branch exchange which is connected to a network for transmitting caller information to a called party when a call is received and accommodates a plurality of extension telephones, wherein a calling number which is a telephone number of a caller and a telephone number of the extension telephone are provided. It has a table for storing an extension number corresponding to a telephone number, and when receiving an incoming call from the network, an extension number corresponding to the calling number of the incoming call included in the caller information is searched from the table. In the private branch exchange having an automatic call receiving function of assigning the incoming call to the extension telephone of the searched extension telephone number preferentially and receiving a call, inputting a specific special number from the extension telephone and inputting the calling number Registering means for registering a calling number corresponding to the extension number with respect to the table, wherein the registering means, when the calling number is registered from the extension telephone, the calling number is already A notification signal transmitting means for transmitting a notification signal to the registered extension telephone to check whether the information is registered in the table and, if the information has already been registered, Private branch exchange with assignment function. 2. The registration means, if the calling number is registered from the extension telephone, when the calling number is already registered in the table, the registration means 2. The private branch exchange having the automatic incoming call assignment function according to claim 1, wherein a notification signal indicating that effect is transmitted, and then the special number is input again to enable registration of another calling number.