JP4836133B2 - Telephone system with simple mail communication function - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a telephone system having a simple mail communication function using an extension telephone.

  Traditionally, the e-mail system and the telephone system are independent systems. In order to take advantage of the immediacy of the telephone and the flexibility of e-mail, it is necessary to use the e-mail and the telephone separately for each requirement. The operation was troublesome. As a technique for improving this, there is a method in which an e-mail system and a telephone system are linked and each function can be utilized with a simple operation. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

  However, in Patent Document 1, it is mainly possible to search in association with a telephone number and an e-mail address, and it is possible to automatically insert an e-mail address searched by a telephone number into an e-mail. It is the same as that, and the creation of the mail text is troublesome.

  In addition, since each user needs an e-mail address, there is a disadvantage that the cost of acquiring a large number of e-mail addresses and maintaining and managing the e-mail addresses becomes expensive as in the conventional e-mail system.

JP 2002-330234 A

  Therefore, the present invention provides a telephone system having a simple mail communication function excellent in operability and economy, in which a mail text can be registered in advance or edited by a simple operation, and an e-mail address can be shared by a plurality of extension telephones. It is to be realized.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a telephone system comprising a main apparatus accommodating a plurality of extensions, an extension telephone connected to the extension, and a mail processing unit linked to the main apparatus. Processing
The knit is a mail receiving means that is the recipient of the mail processing unit itself, an extension telephone specifying means for extracting the extension number or code or name of the extension telephone from the received mail and specifying the corresponding extension telephone, Receiving mail exists to notify the presence of the received mail to the extension telephone designated by the extension telephone designation means.
Mail information display means for displaying presence or mail text of the received mail on the corresponding extension telephone when the main apparatus receives the received mail presence notification or mail text from the mail processing unit. And key operation information notification means for notifying the mail processing unit of key operation information of the extension telephone,
When a predetermined key operation is performed by the extension telephone while the received mail presence is displayed, the mail processing unit displays the corresponding mail text on the extension telephone, and the received mail presence notification means notifies the presence of the received mail. If there is no response from the extension telephone even after a predetermined time has elapsed, the main device accepts the extension telephone to the extension telephone.
The present invention is characterized in that the display of the presence of the received mail is stopped and the connection between the mail processing unit and the extension telephone is released, and the mail processing unit stores the received mail as unread mail .

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a telephone system having a simple mail communication function excellent in operability and economy, in which a mail text can be created by a simple operation and an electronic mail address can be shared by a plurality of extension telephones.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram according to an embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 1 denotes a main device of the telephone system, which accommodates a telephone line from the telephone network 5 and controls the extension telephones 2-1 to 2-n under its control. The mail processing unit 3 exchanges mail with a provider or an in-house mail server 4 via an IP (Internet Protocol) network 6 in conjunction with the main apparatus 1.

  Here, the mail processing unit 3 has a shared mail address as a sender or receiver of the electronic mail, and terminates mail communication via the mail server 4. That is, this mail address corresponds to a representative number in the telephone system. The mail processing unit 3 has a function of executing mail transmission in accordance with an instruction from each extension telephone 2 and delivering received mail from the partner terminal to a predetermined extension telephone. As a result, the mail address used in this telephone system may be one of the shared addresses, and the address usage fee paid to the e-mail service provider is only one address, which is economical and easy to maintain and manage the address. .

  In addition, although the main apparatus 1 and the extension telephone have been described as normal telephone line compatible devices, the present invention is not limited to this. The main apparatus 1 may be an IP exchange apparatus (so-called IP-PBX) that accommodates an IP external line from the IP network or an IP-compatible extension telephone, or a VoIP (Voice over IP) -compatible server or telephone apparatus. Further, the mail processing unit 3 may be built in the main apparatus 1.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the main apparatus 1. The central control unit 11, the highway 12, the external line circuits 13-1 to 13-m, the mail processing unit connection circuit 14, and the extension circuits 15-1 to 15-1. 15-n and the memory | storage part 16 are comprised. The central control unit 11 analyzes and determines input information from each circuit of the main device 1 (including information from the extension telephone 2), inputs and outputs information to the storage unit 16, and controls each circuit. The highway 12 performs exchange processing in the main device 1 (connection of the external lines 13-1 to 13-m and the internal lines 15-1 to 15-n, etc.). The external line circuits 13-1 to 13-n are interface circuits connected to the external line. The external line disclosed in this embodiment includes a general public line, a line of an IP telephone carrier, a dedicated line, a private line, a wireless line such as a mobile phone (using a wireless / wired conversion adapter), and the like. It is. The extension circuits 15-1 to 15-n are interface circuits for performing voice data communication with the extension telephone 2.

  The mail processing unit connection circuit 14 is an interface circuit for connecting to the mail processing unit 3, transmits key operations and specific commands from the extension telephone 2 to the mail processing unit 3, and mail information from the mail processing unit 3. Receive.

  The storage unit 16 is a storage unit such as an abbreviated dial, and a predetermined telephone number or the like is read out by a key operation of each extension telephone 2.

  FIG. 3 shows an example of an internal block configuration of the extension telephone 2, and includes a control unit 21, a data transmission / reception circuit 22, a voice input / output unit 23, a numeric key 24, a function key 25, an LCD 26, a built-in sensor 27, An external device connection circuit 28 is included.

  The control unit 21 performs analysis and determination on input information from each circuit in the extension telephone 2 and controls each circuit. When the built-in sensor 27 or the external device 29 detects an abnormality or a predetermined state change, a specific command is notified to the main apparatus 1 via the data transmission / reception circuit 22. The external device connection circuit 28 is an interface for connecting to an external sensor device or alarm device.

  The data transmission / reception circuit 22 is an interface circuit for communicating audio data and control data with the main apparatus 1 via an extension line and receiving display data to be displayed on the LCD 26.

  The voice input / output unit 23 controls voice / digital / analog conversion, analog / digital conversion, call path switching between a handset and a speaker (not shown) in the extension telephone 2, and sound volume.

  The numeric keypad 24 is a key for inputting numeric information. The function key 25 is a function key for registering abbreviated dialing and various functions, a key for executing an outside line selection, a holding operation, and the like. It has the same function as the key telephone. When the telephone user operates these keys of the extension telephone 2, the extension telephone 2 notifies the main device 1 of the type of the pressed key.

  The LCD 26 displays caller information and the like when a call is received, and displays a dialed number and a call time when calling. In addition, a message and a mail text from the mail processing unit are displayed via the main device 1.

  The built-in sensor 27 is a human sensor mounted on the extension telephone 2, for example, and automatically notifies the main apparatus 1 when a person is detected.

  The extension telephone 2 may be a normal key telephone without the built-in sensor 27 or the external device connection circuit 28.

  FIG. 4 is an internal block configuration example of the mail processing unit 3 according to the present invention, and includes a control unit 31, a key information receiving unit 32, a telephone number receiving unit 33, and a sensor information receiving unit 34 that control the whole. The main device connection unit 35, the information storage unit 36, and the WAN / LAN connection unit 37 are configured.

  The control unit 31 executes information search processing, mail generation, character information output processing to the extension telephone 2, etc., and control of the entire mail processing unit 3, communication control, mail transfer, etc. A communication processing unit 312.

  The information storage unit 36 includes a common data unit 361 that stores electronic mail addresses and fixed-form mail sentences that are commonly used by all the extension telephones 2, and an individual data unit 362 that stores individual information of each extension telephone 2.

  The common data part 361 may be further divided into groups so as to be associated with the group of the extension telephone 2 or the group of the mail transmission partner.

  Various data registered in the information storage unit 36 can be input in advance by an external personal computer (not shown). It is also possible to register a mail text generated by each person editing a standard mail as a new standard mail text.

  Hereinafter, the processing content of each part is demonstrated using a sequence diagram.

  FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram of mail transmission from the extension telephone 2 using a specific standard mail text. It is assumed that a function for selecting and transmitting a standard e-mail message is set to one of the function keys 25 of the extension telephone 2, and the user presses the key (S501) or the sensor 27 or sensor function built in the extension telephone 2 is provided. This sequence starts from the point where the external device 29 is automatically activated in response to an abnormality or a predetermined state change, and the extension telephone 2 sends a predetermined specific command to the main device 1.

  The extension telephone 2 notifies the key information or the specific command to the main apparatus 1 (S502). When the main apparatus 1 recognizes that the key information or the specific command is information related to the mail communication, the key information or the specific command is directly received. The data is transferred to the mail processing unit 3 (S503). The mail processing unit 3 searches the information storage unit 36 for a standard mail text and a mail transmission address registered in advance by using the key information or the specific command (S504). As a result of the search, if the key operation or the specific command is a request for sending an emergency call mail (S505, Yes), each step described later is omitted and the process jumps to S523.

  If it is not a request for sending an emergency call mail (S505, No), the mail processing unit 3 notifies the main apparatus 1 of a standard mail text (S506), and the main apparatus 1 transfers the information to the extension telephone 2 as display data. (S507) The extension telephone 2 displays the information on the LCD 26 (S508). The user looks at the search result displayed on the LCD 26, selects a desired standard mail text, and performs a predetermined key operation in accordance with the guidance displayed on the LCD 26 (S509), the extension telephone 2 receives the key information. Is sent to the main apparatus 1 (S510), and the main apparatus 1 transfers the key information to the mail processing unit 3 as it is (S511).

  In the case where the transmission address is also fixed, the transmission address associated with the fixed mail sentence is also presented when the fixed mail sentence is presented in S506, and the fixed mail sentence and the transmission address can be designated by the key operation in S509.

  When the standard e-mail text to be transmitted with the key information S511 is not confirmed (S512, No), an information search corresponding to S511 (S513) is executed, and S506 to S511 are repeated until it is confirmed.

  By the way, in the standard mail presentation of S506, when the extension telephone 2 and the mail transmission partner (not shown) are grouped, the standard mail text of the corresponding group of the common data part 361 divided into groups is displayed. You may make it present preferentially.

  In addition, the mail processing unit 3 reads the standard mail text of S506 in the order according to the frequency of use of the standard mail text for each extension telephone or each destination or the latest usage history in the history information of the information storage unit 36. You may make it show.

  If the standard e-mail text to be transmitted is confirmed with the key information S511 (S512, Yes), and editing is not required (S514, No), the process jumps to S523 described later.

  When the standard mail text to be transmitted is confirmed by the key information S511 (S512, Yes), and when the standard mail text is edited (S514, Yes), the mail processing unit 3 edits the selected standard mail text. The possible parts are presented (S515), the main device 1 transfers the information as display data to the extension telephone 2 (S516), and the extension telephone 2 displays the information on the LCD 26 (S517). Then, the user designates the editing content by a key operation while looking at the display screen of the LCD 26 (S518). If the editing contents are not completed (S521, No), the mail processing unit 3 edits the contents of the standard mail according to the key information S520 (S522), and performs S515 to S520 until the editing is completed (S521, Yes). repeat.

  Here, as editing contents, for example, the text of the standard mail text and the title “XX” or “△△ hour □□ min” ○, △, □ can be specified by key operation, or the standard mail text Replace any character with the character that you enter with keystrokes. The outgoing mail address can also be specified by a telephone number or partially changed. As this editing method, a known editing method used for e-mail transmission by a mobile phone can be applied.

  When the mail text and the transmission address to be transmitted are determined as described above, the mail processing unit 3 searches the user information in the individual data section 362 of the storage section 36 from the extension number of the caller extension telephone 2, and identifies the identification code, name, etc. Is generated and added to a predetermined part of the mail text (S523), and then transmitted to the mail server 4 (S524).

  Although not shown in the drawings, in each processing step, if the step is not completed even after a predetermined time has elapsed, the processing step is interrupted to avoid the influence on the outgoing / incoming call of the extension telephone 2. The telephone 2 may return to the standby state.

  By the way, although S501 in FIG. 5 is described as key operation or sensor activation, this sensor activation is when the built-in sensor 27 of the extension telephone 2 or the external device 29 having the sensor function reacts to an abnormality or a predetermined state change. The extension telephone 2 automatically notifies the mail processing unit via the main unit 1 of a specific command notification predetermined for each sensor. Since this method can send a standard mail to a predetermined destination in response to a change in the state of various sensors without using a person, it is suitable for an automatic alarm mail for reporting an emergency.

  In the case of an extension telephone that does not have a specific command transmission function by this sensor activation, it is possible to instruct the mail processing unit to transmit an emergency call mail by a specific key operation.

  In addition, as a sensor activation of the extension telephone 2, a predetermined mail may be transmitted when an absence recording is made.

  In S501, by specifying frequently used standard e-mail texts in association with, for example, one-touch buttons, the standard e-mail texts corresponding to the e-mail transmission addresses corresponding to the telephone numbers registered in the one-touch buttons can be simultaneously confirmed. Is possible.

  However, when sending an emergency call mail with a one-touch button, the key must be pressed for a certain period of time (for example, 5 seconds or more) or repeatedly pressed (at least twice a second) within a certain period of time to avoid false alarms. When there is an emergency call mail, it may be sent.

  FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram in the case where the received mail from the mail server 4 is distributed to the extension telephone 2. This sequence starts from the place where the mail processing unit has downloaded the received mail to the extension telephone 2 received and stored in the mail server 4 (S601). The extension telephone 2 does not have a mail address, and the mail transmission source transmits to the mail address of this mail processing unit. Further, the mail processing unit 3 periodically checks whether there is a new incoming mail in the mail server 3.

  When there is a newly received mail, the mail processing unit 3 extracts the extension number, code or name associated with the extension telephone 2 from the title or the mail text of the received mail, and selects the extension telephone 2 that should receive this mail. It identifies (S602), and notifies the main device 1 that there is a received mail to the identified extension telephone 2 (S604). Then, the main device 1 makes an incoming call to the specified extension telephone 2, displays the presence of mail (S605, S606), and waits for the user's response operation (S608).

  Here, the mail processing unit 3 has started a response timer (S603), and when the timer expires before the response from the user (S608) (S607, Yes), the received mail is processed as an unread mail ( Along with S621), the main apparatus 1 is notified of the display stop (S618). Then, the main device 1 stops the incoming call to the extension telephone 2 and displays the presence of unread mail on the extension telephone 2 (S619, S620). Note that the response timer is, for example, about 3 minutes to prevent the connection state between the mail processing unit 3 and the extension telephone 2 from continuing without a user. You may make it stop and return the extension telephone 2 to a standby state.

  If the extension telephone 2 responds before the response timer expires (S607, No) (S608, S609), the main device 1 notifies the mail processing unit of the response of the corresponding extension telephone 2 (S610). Then, the mail processing unit 3 presents the contents of the received mail such as the title and the mail text to the extension telephone 2 via the main device 1 (S611, S612). The user performs an end operation after viewing the contents of the mail displayed on the LCD (S613) (S614).

  This end operation includes information on whether to store or discard the received mail, and according to the content, the mail processing unit 3 executes the process of storing or discarding the mail as already read (S617). .

  In S614 to S617, the process may continue to return processing and transfer processing (not shown).

  FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram when an emergency call mail is received from another device. This sequence starts from the place where the mail processing unit has downloaded the received mail to the extension telephone 2 received and accumulated in the mail server 4 (S701).

  The mail processing unit 3 checks whether or not the downloaded received mail is a predetermined emergency call mail. If it is not an emergency call mail (S702, No), normal mail processing is executed (S712).

  If it is an emergency call mail (S702, Yes), the mail processing unit 3 responds to this mail by extracting the extension number, code or name associated with the extension telephone 2 from the title or mail text of the received mail. The extension telephone 2 is specified (S703), and the main device 1 is notified that there is an emergency call mail to the specified extension telephone 2 (S704). The main device 1 performs preset emergency call control for the identified extension telephone 2 (S705), and the extension telephone 2 follows the S705 to display an emergency call on the LCD 26 (S706) and sound an emergency call (S707). ). Further, when the external device 29 related to the emergency call is connected, a control command is sent to control the external device 29 (S709). In this case, the external device 29 is a device for reporting an emergency to surrounding persons such as a patrol light and an alarm sound generator, and is associated with an emergency notification mail in advance.

  When the user performs a response operation (S709), the response information is notified to the mail processing unit 3 (S710, S711), and the mail processing unit 3 notifies the processing result to the sender of the emergency call mail (S712). This emergency call processing is completed.

Overall configuration diagram according to an embodiment of the present invention Internal block diagram of main unit 1 Example of internal block configuration of extension telephone 2 Example of internal block configuration of mail processing unit 3 according to the present invention Sequence diagram for sending mail from extension telephone 2 Sequence diagram for distributing received mail to extension telephone 2 Sequence diagram when an emergency call mail is received from another device

Explanation of symbols

1 Main device 2 Extension telephone 3 Mail processing unit 3
4 mail server 5 telephone network 6 IP network 11 central control unit 12 highway 13-1 to 13-n external circuit 14 mail processing unit connection circuit 15-1 to 15-n extension circuit 16 storage unit 21 control unit 22 data transmission / reception circuit 23 Voice input / output unit 24 Numeric keypad 25 Function key 26 LCD
27 Internal Sensor 28 External Device Connection Circuit 29 External Device 31 Control Unit 32 Key Information Receiving Unit 33 Telephone Number Receiving Unit 34 Sensor Information Receiving Unit 35 Main Device Connection Unit 36 Information Storage Unit 37 WAN / LAN Connection Unit

Claims (1)

A telephone system comprising a main unit accommodating a plurality of extensions, an extension telephone connected to the extension, and a mail processing unit linked to the main unit,
The mail processing unit includes: a mail receiving unit that is the recipient of the mail processing unit itself; and an extension telephone designating unit that extracts the extension number, code, or name of the extension telephone from the received mail and designates the corresponding extension telephone And receiving mail presence notification means for notifying the presence of the received mail to the extension telephone designated by the extension telephone designating means,
The main apparatus includes: a mail information display means for displaying the presence of a received mail or a mail text on the corresponding extension telephone when a received mail presence notification or a mail text is received from the mail processing unit; and a key operation of the extension telephone Key operation information notification means for notifying the mail processing unit of information,
When a predetermined key operation is performed by the extension telephone during the received mail presence display, the mail processing unit displays a corresponding mail text on the extension telephone ,
If there is no response from the extension telephone even after a predetermined time has elapsed since the reception mail presence notification means has notified the reception mail existence notification, the main device
The display of the received mail is stopped, the mail processing unit is disconnected from the extension telephone, and the mail processing unit has a simple mail communication function for storing the received mail as unread mail Phone system.

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