JP3367707B2 - Private branch exchange - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention divides a plurality of extension terminals into a plurality of groups, and receives incoming calls from outside lines among the extension terminals belonging to the corresponding group. The present invention relates to a private branch exchange having a function of selectively distributing and connecting to any one of them, and a function of suppressing connection to an extension terminal in which a fixed time has not elapsed after a call ends. 2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a private branch exchange has various service functions, one of which is automatic call distribution (AC).
D: Automatic Call Distribution) function. AC
The D function is to configure a single ACD group with a plurality of extension terminals and to distribute incoming calls from outside lines evenly to the extension terminals in the ACD group, thereby preventing concentration of incoming calls to a specific extension terminal. Thus, incoming calls can be processed efficiently. Usually, one representative number is given to the ACD group, and the caller can connect to an extension terminal in the ACD group by dialing this representative number. [0003] Among private branch exchanges having such an ACD function, there is a private branch exchange having an Afetr Call Work Time (ACWT) function as a function for facilitating operator's convenience. The ACWT function suppresses connection to an extension terminal in which a fixed time has not elapsed after the end of a call, thereby giving the operator time to take a memo or the like after the end of one call. Since the period during which the ACWT function operates is set in advance, there is a case where an operator of an extension terminal whose ACWT function is operating and whose connection is suppressed may be able to receive a call. Therefore, in general, the operator can arbitrarily cancel the ACWT function using a predetermined ACWT cancel key. [0005] However, in this case, if the ACWT function in operation is canceled and a call is received, the operator needs to use the ACW function.
After canceling the ACWT function with the T cancel key, the user must respond by pressing the DN key.
If there is no ACWT cancel key, ACW
It is necessary to input a T-cancel special number, temporarily go on-hook and wait for an incoming call. This makes the operation complicated,
It is troublesome and may cause erroneous operation. [0006] As described above, in the conventional private branch exchange, when the ACWT function is canceled and the ACWT function is canceled to receive an incoming call from the state in which the ACWT function is operating, an operator's operation is required. However, there is a problem that the operation becomes troublesome and troublesome and an erroneous operation is caused. The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a private branch exchange which can reduce the trouble of an operator and prevent occurrence of erroneous operation. It is in. In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a method for detecting whether or not each of a plurality of extension terminals is idle, such as an idle state monitoring means. In addition to providing a state detecting means, for each of the plurality of extension terminals, an off-hook detecting means such as a hook state monitoring means for detecting that an off-hook has been performed is provided. In a state where there is an incoming call that is not connected to the extension terminal and all of the extension terminals belonging to the group corresponding to the incoming call cannot be connected, belonging to the group, the connection is suppressed, and the idle state detection means The off-hook detecting means does not perform the off-hook operation for the extension terminal that has been detected as being idle by the In response to the detection, the suppression of the connection to the extension terminal is released, and the incoming call is connected to the extension terminal. By taking such measures, there is an incoming call that is not connected to any extension terminal, and all the extension terminals belonging to the group corresponding to the incoming call cannot be connected. In other words, in a state where there is an incoming call in the queue, the off-hook detection unit detects that the extension terminal belongs to the above group, the connection of which is suppressed, and the idle state detection unit detects that it is idle. As a result, the suppression of connection to the extension terminal is released, and the incoming call is connected to the extension terminal. In other words, if the extension terminals belonging to the group corresponding to the incoming call in the queue and the connection is suppressed and the idle state is taken off-hook, the suppression of the connection to the extension terminal is released and The incoming call is connected to the extension terminal. An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram showing a functional configuration of a private branch exchange according to the present embodiment. Referring to FIG. 1, a private branch exchange EX includes a switching circuit 1, a plurality (n × m) of extension interface circuits (LC) 2, and a plurality (k) of local line interface circuits (TRK) 3 (3). -1 to 3-k) and a memory 4. These circuits are respectively connected to a control unit 5 via a control bus.
It is connected to the. The extension interface circuit 2 has m
M ACD groups 2
1 (21-1 to 21-m). Each of the extension interface circuits 2 is connected to one of the n × m extension terminals 7 via one of the n × m extensions 6. Each extension interface circuit 2 performs an extension interface operation such as monitoring the state of the connected extension 6 and transmitting an incoming signal to the connected extension terminal 7, and is involved in the extension interface operation with the control unit 5. Transfer of control information is performed. The extension terminals 7 are grouped into m groups of n pieces each, similarly to the extension interface circuit 2, and the m ACD groups 71
(71-1 to 71-m). Each of the office line interface circuits 3 is connected to one of k office lines 8 (8-1 to 8-k), and these office lines 8 are respectively connected to a public network (not shown). Have been. Each office line interface circuit 3 performs office line interface operations such as monitoring of the state of the connected office line 8 and transmission of various signals to the public network. Is transmitted and received. In the switching circuit 1, any two of the plurality of extension interface circuits 2 and the plurality of office line interface circuits 3 are switched under the control of the control unit 5. The memory 4 uses a semiconductor memory such as a ROM and a RAM, or a magnetic disk as a storage medium, and these storage mediums store a control program and various data tables required for controlling the control unit 5. Has been accumulated. This data table includes a queue table 4a, an ACWT status table 4b, an empty status table 4c, and a hook status table 4d. FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing a memory map of the queue table 4a. As shown in the figure, a plurality of areas for registering a queue are set in the queue table 4a. FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing a memory map of the ACWT status table 4b. As shown in FIG.
In the CWT state table 4b, an area for storing information indicating the operation state of the ACWT is set in association with each of the extension terminals 7. FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing a memory map of the empty state table 4c. As shown in this figure, an area for storing information indicating an empty state is set in the empty state table 4c in association with each extension terminal 7. FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing a memory map of the hook state table 4d. As shown in this figure, in the hook state table 4d, an area for storing information indicating the hook state is set in association with each extension terminal 7. The control unit 5 includes, for example, a microcomputer as a main control unit.
In addition to the normal switching connection control means relating to incoming and outgoing calls, an idle state monitoring means 5a, a hook state monitoring means 5b, an ACWT
It has processing means 5c and incoming call processing means 5d. Here, the free state monitoring means 5a monitors whether each extension terminal 7 is in a free state or in a call state. The hook state monitoring means 5b monitors whether each extension terminal 7 is in the on-hook state or the off-hook state. The ACWT processing unit 5c performs a process of suppressing the connection to the extension terminal 7 in which the fixed time has not elapsed after the end of the call, and is for realizing the ACWT function. Then, the incoming call control means 5 d
It performs processing for connecting an incoming call from the terminal 7 to the terminal 7, and also performs processing for realizing the ACD function. Next, the operation of the private branch exchange constructed as described above will be described. First, the control unit 5 monitors the state of each extension terminal 7 by performing an empty state monitoring process and a hook state monitoring process. Also, the ACWT processing is performed, and A
The CWT function is realized. Hereinafter, each of these processes will be described. In the idle state monitoring process, as shown in FIG. 6, the control unit 5 determines whether or not there is an extension terminal 7 which has changed from the idle state to the talk state (step 6a), and determines from the idle state to the idle state. It is determined whether or not there is an extension terminal 7 that has changed to (step 6b). If there is an extension terminal 7 that has changed from the idle state to the talking state, the control unit 5 determines in the empty state table 4c of the memory 4 that the extension terminal 7 has changed to the talking state.
Is updated to "busy" (step 6c). If there is an extension terminal 7 that has changed from the call state to the empty state, the control unit 5 sets the information of the area corresponding to the extension terminal 7 that has changed to the empty state in the empty state table 4c to “empty”. Update (step 6d). Then, the extension terminal 7 which has changed to the talking state
If there is no extension terminal 7 that has changed to the idle state, or if the processing in steps 6c and 6d is terminated, the control unit 5 terminates the idle state monitoring processing and shifts to another processing. This vacancy monitoring process is performed by the vacancy monitoring unit 5a. In the hook state monitoring process, the control unit 5
As shown in FIG. 7, the terminal determines whether there is an extension terminal 7 on-hook (step 7a) and determines whether there is an extension terminal 7 off-hook (step 7b). If there is an extension terminal 7 on-hook, the control unit 5 updates the information of the area corresponding to the extension terminal 7 on-hook in the hook state table 4d of the memory 4 to "on-hook". (Step 7c). If there is an extension terminal 7 off-hook, the control unit 5 updates the information of the area corresponding to the extension terminal 7 off-hook in the hook state table 4d of the memory 4 to "off-hook" (step 7c). . If neither the on-hook extension terminal 7 nor the off-hook extension terminal 7 is present, or if the processes in steps 7c and 7d are completed, the control unit 5 terminates the hook state monitoring process and executes another process. Move on to processing. This hook state monitoring processing is performed by the hook state monitoring means 5b. In the ACWT processing, the control unit 5
As shown in (1), it is determined whether or not there is an extension terminal 7 for which a call has been completed (step 8a) and whether or not there is an extension terminal 7 for which a predetermined time has elapsed after activation of the ACWT (step 8b). If there is an extension terminal 7 for which the call has ended, the control unit 5 stores the information of the area corresponding to the extension terminal 7 for which the call has ended in the ACWT status table 4b of the memory 4 as "ACWT in operation. (Step 8
c). If there is an extension terminal 7 whose predetermined time has elapsed after the activation of the ACWT, the control unit 5 stores the information of the area corresponding to the extension terminal 7 whose predetermined time has elapsed in the ACWT status table 4 d of the memory 4 as “ACWT”. It is updated to "end" (step 7c). If there is no extension terminal 7 for which a call has been terminated and no extension terminal 7 for which a predetermined time has elapsed after the ACWT is activated, or step 8c and step 8
When the processing of d is completed, the control unit 5 ends the ACWT processing and shifts to another processing. This ACWT processing is
This is performed by the ACWT processing means 5c. Now, while the above processing is being performed,
The control unit 5 performs the incoming call processing as follows. That is, as shown in FIG. 9, first, it is determined whether or not there is an incoming call (step 9a). If there is an incoming call, the control unit 5 determines whether or not there is a connectable extension terminal 7 (step 9b). If there is a connectable extension terminal 7, the control unit 5 performs a well-known ACD process to connect to the extension terminal 7 in the group corresponding to the incoming call (step 9c).
If there is no connectable extension terminal 7, the control unit 5 registers the incoming call in the queue table 4a of the memory 4 (step 9d). If there is no incoming call in step 9a, the control unit 5 determines whether there is an incoming call in the queue (step 9e). When the incoming call is registered in the queue table 4a and there is an incoming call in the queue, the control unit 5 determines whether the extension terminal 7 in which the ACWT is activated and the idle state is off-hook is stored in the memory 4.
(Steps 9f to 9h). Here, the extension terminal 7 that satisfies the above conditions
If there is, the control unit 5 connects the incoming call at the head of the queue to the extension terminal 7 satisfying the above condition (step 9).
i). If there is no incoming call in the queue, A
When the extension terminal 7 in which the CWT is running and is idle is not off-hook, or when the process of step 9d or step 9i is completed, the control unit 5 terminates the incoming call process and shifts to another process. Note that this incoming call processing
This is performed by the incoming call processing means 5d. Thus, when the extension terminal 7 that is activated and the idle state is off-hook, the ACWT of the extension terminal 7 is canceled and the incoming call at the head of the queue is connected. Therefore, when the operator can be connected during the ACWT period, the operator can receive the next incoming call only by performing the off-hook operation. Since the operator only needs to perform the off-hook operation in this manner, the operation is extremely easy and can be performed quickly and accurately. The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. According to the present invention, for each of a plurality of extension terminals, there is provided a free state detecting means such as a free state monitoring means for detecting whether or not the plurality of extension terminals are free. For each of the extension terminals, an off-hook detection unit such as a hook state monitoring unit for detecting that an off-hook has been provided is provided. In a state in which all of the extension terminals belonging to the group corresponding to the incoming call cannot be connected, belonging to the group, the connection is suppressed, and it is detected that the connection state is empty by the empty state detecting means. When the off-hook detecting means detects that the extension terminal is off-hook with respect to the Since the suppression of the connection to the extension terminal is released and the incoming call is connected to the extension terminal, a private branch exchange which can reduce the trouble of the operator and prevent occurrence of erroneous operation can be provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram showing a functional configuration of a private branch exchange according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing a memory map of a queue table 4a. FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing a memory map of an ACWT status table 4b. FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing a memory map of an empty state table 4c. FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing a memory map of a hook state table 4d. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the control unit 5 in the free state monitoring processing. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a control unit 5 in a hook state monitoring process. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the control unit 5 in the ACWT processing. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the control unit 5 in the incoming call processing. [Explanation of Reference Codes] EX Private Branch Exchange 1 Switching Circuit 2 Extension Interface Circuit 21 ACD Group of Extension Interface Circuit 3 Office Line Interface Circuit 4 Memory 4 a Queue Table 4 b ACWT State Table 4 c Empty State Table 4d ... Hook state table 5 ... Control unit 5a ... Free state monitoring means 5b ... Hook state monitoring means 5c ... ACWT processing means 5d ... Reception processing means 6 ... Extension 7 ... Extension terminal 71 ... Extension terminal ACD group 8 ... Station line

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04Q 3/58 101 H04Q 3/58 106

Claims (1)

(57) Claims 1. A plurality of extension terminals are divided into a plurality of groups, and an incoming call from an outside line is selectively distributed to one of the extension terminals belonging to the corresponding group. In a private branch exchange having a function of connecting to a plurality of extension terminals, and a function of suppressing connection to an extension terminal that has not passed a fixed time after the end of the call, whether or not each of the plurality of extension terminals is idle Idle state detecting means for detecting whether or not, for each of the plurality of extension terminals, off-hook detection means for detecting that an off-hook has been performed, there is an incoming call that is not connected to any extension terminal,
And, in a state where all of the extension terminals belonging to the group corresponding to the incoming call cannot be connected, the extension terminals belonging to the group, the connection of which is suppressed, and which is detected as being idle by the idle state detecting means. Connection control means for releasing the suppression of connection to the extension terminal and connecting the incoming call to the extension terminal in response to detection of the off-hook being detected by the off-hook detection means. A private branch exchange.