FI106234B - Procedure for managing the service of the traceability service - Google Patents

Description

1 106234

A method for controlling the accessibility service

The invention relates to a method for implementing the accessibility service according to the preamble of claim 1.

5 Such methods may be used in connection with accessibility services provided over a telephone network. In most such reachability services, the client, such as the reachee, defines to the telecommunication operator providing the service at least one reach chain, whereby calls made to the call number associated with the reach service are connected to telephone lines. The availability chain 10 may include, for example, 1 to 5 telephone numbers. The call made to the called person's call number is first connected to the first number in the availability chain, and if the first number is not answered within a predetermined time, the call is connected to the second number in the availability chain. If no other number is answered, the call will continue to be connected in the chain. This is done until the call is connected to the last 15 digits of the availability chain, which is usually set to the voicemail or voicemail number. Naturally, the call connection in the availability chain is also terminated if the call is answered or the A-subscriber closes the call. At its simplest, there is only one response point in the reach chain.

• · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · To make the most of the availability service, there are usually several, eg two or three, accessibility chains defined for the accessibility service. The reach chains for the customer you reach in this way can be • 1 · ♦ J designed, for example, with one reach chain for work time ♦ ♦, another for commuting, and a third for leisure. Although there may be several availability chains associated with each · · 25 call number, only one of the reach chains can be active for the call to be dialed to the call number. Therefore, the aim is to control the accessibility service so that the most appropriate accessibility chain for each situation • · · '...: is set to active.

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According to the prior art, switching between the accessibility chain, i.e. changing the active access chain to another accessibility chain, is made, for example: by calling a particular service number where, after any password validation, 2 106234 are used to determine the current forward access chain. Switching between reach chains can also be done in a time-controlled manner, whereby the reach chain is always switched at predetermined moments.

A drawback of the prior art is that it is relatively difficult to change the active reach chain through the telephone interface. For this reason, the person being reached may not always bother to change their availability chain, for example, when leaving the workplace for a moment. The method is also susceptible to forgetting if the person to be reached rarely needs to change the active reach chain. In this case, restoring the 10 availability chains to normal can easily be forgotten and calls diverted for several days. Neither does the availability service time control or the good solution to these problems.

The object of the invention is to provide a completely new type of accessibility service in which the active accessibility chain can be changed automatically without the need for 15 separate accessibility chain changing operations.

The invention is based on establishing a communication link between the accessibility service and the access control system of the client organization of the accessibility service, through which the status of the reachable person, i.e. the client, in the access control system can be transmitted to the accessibility service. At least two accessibility chains are created for each of the 20 call numbers, i.e. the reach number, for the availability service. '' Further, each state of the access control system is set up to correspond to one a a '· 1 · 1 access chain. In addition, at least one of the access control system states is set to · · a · a | point to the reach chain alternately according to a predetermined control function • · · 'l / value. Subsequently, the availability service can receive • · · 25 access control system status information and activate an appropriate accessibility chain according to the changes announced by the access control system.

More specifically, the method of implementing the accessibility service in accordance with the invention is characterized by what is set forth in the characterizing part of claim 1 · 1 · ...

a • 1 · a a 30 a a a a a a a a 106234 3

The invention provides considerable advantages.

The invention provides flexibility in changing the active availability chain of the availability service. The accessibility chain automatically changes to correct when you access the access control system. This also improves the reliability of the accessibility service 5 control, since normally people are accustomed to using the access control system consistently and confidently, and forgetting is not common.

The invention also has a number of additional advantages or advantageous embodiments. For example, in the preferred embodiment of the invention using the web interface, there is an additional advantage that the persons accessed by the web interface can clearly change the configuration of their accessibility service from anywhere that provides communication to the system.

Since the linking of the accessibility chains in the context of the invention can be carried out automatically, the person being reached does not have to actively remember the accessibility chains optimized for different situations and to have them switched on actively. Thus, the invention also enables the meaningful implementation and use of accessibility service applications containing a wide variety of personal reach chains.

The invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 shows one method according to the invention and one suitable system for its use.

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Figure 2 illustrates one of the waste systems and methods by which the availability service can be updated.

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The system of Figure 1 comprises a central access control system 2 as well as this

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the associated access control system terminal 1. The system also comprises: • · ♦ · an access control service server 3 and a telephone network SCP exchange 4 1 · ·; (Service Control Point) and related database 5. Further, the system comprises • · · 4 106234 communication links established between the server 3 and the central unit 2, and the server 3 and the SCP exchange 4. The telecommunication connection is preferably a continuous connection and can be implemented, for example, as a modem connection or a fixed telecommunication network connection.

5 The system of Figure 1 can be used to change the active reach chain of a personal availability service, e.g., by performing the following steps: 11) The target person uses the access control system terminal 1 and changes his status in the access control system, e.g. In this case, the terminal 1 transmits a signal of the change of status information to the central unit 2 of the access control system.

12) The central unit 2 forwards the status information change signal to the server controlling the availability service 3. The signal to be transmitted includes at least information to identify both the client of the availability service and his new status. The server 3 receives the change signal and updates the change of status information to the control information of the correct 15 clients.

13) If the client state changed so that the change also requires changing the active • access chain, the server will change the correct availability chain: Y to active by notifying it to SCP 4. In this case, server 3 will send: '· SCP 4 a call control change request.

; 14) The SCP Center 4 sends a confirmation of receipt of the change request I! server 3. The SCP exchange 4 makes the requested changes to its call control information.

Thus, the invention can be used to integrate access control with an accessibility service in such a way that the validity of a person's access chains can be automatically controlled. This'; enables the smooth and timely control of the availability service. reliably. Let us consider the use of the invention in the following with a simple example.

«I · 5 106234

The person to be reached, i.e. the customer of the accessibility service, comes to work in the morning and enters the workplace with the help of the terminal 1 at the access control point. At the same time, the person in the example can also provide additional information to the Work Time Tracking System if the Ice System needs further information. In addition to the access control system, the stamping activates a change in the status of a person's access service, e.g., as shown in Figure 1. In this case, an individual can be set up to have an access chain designed for normal time spent at the workplace. Other accessibility chains may include, for example, chains designed for work time outside the workplace, for holidays or sick leave, and for business trips and meetings. For example, accessibility chains can be:

Tvö Tvö out Holiday / Sickness Business Job number cellphone voicemail number secretary number cellphone secretary number cellphone number number: secretary number voicemail number voicemail number '·. ·' Voicemail number * · 1 φ ·

When leaving the workplace for work, the person tags himself / herself with the appropriate code out of the access control system and, if necessary, enters additional information into the working time tracking system. Out-of-box activation then activates the availability service update e.g.

- · · 15 as shown in Figure 1, for work time outside the workplace * \. the planned reach chain is set to active. In the example in the table above, this means that the calls are routed according to the settings in the "Work Out" chain, that is, calls made to the "" call number are first connected to the person's mobile phone. If the call is not answered, the call is then routed to the secretary and then to 20 voicemails.

6 106234

The number of accessibility chains used in connection with the invention is not limited. There can be, for example, two, three or more accessibility chains. In addition, there is no limit to the number of telephone numbers, or answering points, in the availability chains. There may be one or more response points in the availability chain. 5 Thus, for the purposes of this application, the availability chain can also mean a single response point, which is used in the system in the same way as a longer availability chain. Although the reach chain can in principle be any length, in practice, very long reach chains with more than five answering points are generally not used because the call would often be disconnected before it could reach the end of the chain. 10 The number and length of accessibility chains can also vary between people using the same accessibility service. In addition, the same person may have multiple reach chains of different lengths, and the number of their reach chains may increase or decrease as needed.

Thus, the invention makes it possible to define own reach chains also for rare situations. The accessibility chains defined for these special cases can be triggered, for example, by abnormal stamping of access control and / or time tracking. Such stamping options can be eg Holiday (+ period), Business trip (+ period), Illness (+ period). Special cases. . For this purpose, the reach chain can also be switched on by the reach chain I 4. ' 1 20 via the control service without a change signal from the access control.

• 44: / · It should be noted that the access control system may have more stamping codes than a person has access chains. There can also be more V access chains than stamp codes. However, for system operation, it is preferable that each access control system stamp code is set to point to one of 25 uniquely defined accessibility chains. If there are more stamp codes, several different stamp codes of the person to be reached can be set to indicate • · • · ύ * ♦]; to the same reach chain or chains. If the system were to leave the accessibility service customers with stamping codes that do not indicate any accessibility chain, the accessibility chain 30, which is very unsuitable for the current situation, could remain active when using such stamping codes.

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One stamp code can be set to point to only one access chain at a time, since the active reach chain must be uniquely defined. If there are more accessibility chains than stamping codes, some of the accessibility chains are outside the control of access control. Chains that are not controlled by access control can be activated, for example, via the accessibility service control system.

5 In addition to the stamp code, other control conditions can be attached to the ice system. In such a case, a single stamping code may point to multiple access chains, but not at one time. One example of such a system is a system where activation of the access chain would be affected not only by the stamp code but also by the time. This means that a particular stamping code could be set to point, for example, at 10 in the morning to one reach chain and at other times to another reach chain.

Systems serving large organizations often need to take into account the physical location of the access control system terminal 1 used. If the stamping takes place in a unit of the organization other than the one where the person having the permanent address 15 is located, then another accessibility chain may need to be connected to the active accessibility chain than when stamping the terminal 1 of the same establishment. In this case, for example, stamping can activate a reach chain with its own location ·: * · in terminal 1 where the office phone number is first but at another location within the same organization • · 20 the same stamp can activate the reach chain with the cell phone number first.

• · • · • !! Delays can also be programmed into the system for certain availability chain changes. This is the case, for example, when the access control system terminal 1 is located far from the office of the person to be reached 25. In such a case, for example, calls to the office. *. · Access chain activation may be slightly delayed to allow the person time to move into their room. Thus, in the context of the invention, the change in the access control state can be | Set to change the active reach chain either in real-time or according to a set delay.

«· ·: * ·. The invention may also be applied in such a way that the information transmitted from the access control system 1,2 to the system 3 controlling the accessibility service is not transmitted in the actual state information format. The system may then be configured to operate such that the access control system central unit 2 converts the status information into other pointer information that defines a desired availability chain for activation of the accessibility service controlling system 3. Thus, in some embodiments, the central processing unit 5 2 of the access control system may also call access chains, e.g., by name or sequence number.

Thus, the method of implementing the availability service of the invention can generally be applied to methods of determining an access number for a target person and creating at least two accessibility chains, each having 10 at least one response point. In such a method, the reach chains are connected to the reach number in the call control system 3, 4 such that calls made to the reach number at any given moment can be routed to the answering positions as defined by one active reach chain. In the practice of the invention, in addition to the measures described above, a communication link is established between the call control system 3, 4 and the access control system 1,2 used by the target person and defining at least two states of the access control system 1,2 for each target person. After this, the call control system 3, 4 is set to «« »·. , receive data from the access control system 1, 2 over the communication link to determine the access chain indicated by the status of the access control system 1, 2, the call control system 3, 4

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I. The reach chain represented by the information sets the active reach chain.

Defining and modifying the availability chain access points or access control status codes and access chain correspondences can be made 25 per user, for example via the web interface, telephone tone dialing or SMS / NEW messages. The definition can also be done centrally e.g.

• 1 with access control or other external control or monitoring system. The system can also be designed so that the currently active '! 1 30 accessibility chains, regardless of the access control stamp code.

In order to provide the accessibility service over the telephone, the accessing service 4 must identify the caller to the control number and retrieve 9,106,234 from the customer's access chains. The customer's identity must also be verified, for example, with a password. In the preferred embodiment, the customer identification is implemented by assigning each accessibility service customer a unique accessibility service control number. In this case, the system controlling the availability service 5 already knows, based on the B-subscriber number, who the contact should be and the action taken is to retrieve that customer's information from the memory and verify the identity. Such an arrangement significantly reduces the load on the control system compared to the normal way of conducting similar customer searches, i.e., using only one control number and identifying customers calling to this 10 number, e.g. In the case of a single control number, the system would have to be overloaded with a search database and a large number of database searches. By using each reach number for its own reach service control number, it also gives the customer karm the advantage that authentication is already based on the B-subscriber number and that the client does not have to enter separate identifiers for identification.

Through the World Wide Web, programming can again be done from almost any terminal connected to the Internet. The use of the web interface update method is described in more detail

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,, in the following example.

As shown in Figure 2, the accessibility chains of the accessibility service can be updated by means of a web-based or equivalent user interface on a system which «« t.i. comprising a client terminal 7, a public network such as the Internet, a provider 7, an access service provider server 3 connected to a public network network 6, a SCP device 4 connected to a server 3, and a SCP device 4 connected to the database 5.

V. In the method of Figure 2, the following steps are performed to update the accessibility chains of the accessibility service • · * 4 »4 · *: t * 4 *! * 21) The client accesses the accessibility service control service on the terminal 7: '· WWW page.

t · »· •%% 10 106234 22) Customer is identified by the control service.

23) Server 3 provides the customer with his or her personal availability chain.

24) Customer changes their availability chain to their liking.

25 25) The client sends the modified availability chains to the server 3.

26) Server 3 verifies that changes are allowed and sends a request to update the availability chains to the SCP center 4.

27) The SCP Center 4 sends an acknowledgment of receipt of the update request to the server 3. The SCP Center 4 updates the availability chains.

28) Server 3 informs the client that an update request for the changes made by the client has been forwarded to the SCP center 4.

Within the scope of the invention, solutions other than those described above may also be contemplated: .v. For example, the tasks described above in the SCP exchange. The control functions can be implemented on the IP device or on the external 1 · ': server instead of the SCP exchange. In principle, the availability chain can also be implemented by placing two parallel subscriptions in a single response location of the '· * · * availability chain, whereby the call to be connected will ring simultaneously in both of these subscriptions.

Further, the invention can be applied such that calls to, for example, a small or medium-sized business 20 call number are routed to specific telephone numbers, depending on who or who is present in the workplace according to the company's access control system. This type of application can be used, for example, in a small company, ...: where possible to receive all calls to the company number whenever an employee is at work. In this case, the .25 system could work so that when an employee comes to work over the weekend and * «·: Stamps himself in the access control system,« «· Π 106234 calls are routed to that employee instead of the corporate answering machine. When the workplace becomes empty again, calls would be redirected to the answering machine.

It is essential in the invention that the information collected by the access control system is used to control the accessibility service.

Claims (6)

5. Creating at least two accessibility chains for the target person, each having at least one response location, - connecting the accessibility chains in the call control system (3, 4) to the reach number at each instant so that the number of calls can be reached. direct one active reach chain to 10 answering points or answering points, characterized by establishing a communication link between the call control system (3,4) and the access control system (1,2) used by the target person, defining at least two access control systems 1, 2 space to assign each to a reachable person's reach chain such that at least one of the states in the access control system (1, 2) to the person's reach chain variable, which ...: for variable pointers • · * * · · '·' - defines a control function that is bound to, for example, the time of day, and * ·. · 20 - defines the status of the access control system (1,2) to point to the reachability chain, such that the assigned explicit reachability chain • ·: Ύ: is determined by the value obtained by the control function, ... - sets the call control system (3, 4) to receive the communication t via the access control system (1, 2), to determine the access chain indicated by the access control system '' ', and the status of the access chain indicated by the received information. • »« • • • * · · • • • 13 106234 A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the communication link between the call control system (3,4) and the access control system (1,2) is a continuous connection, e.g. a modem connection or a fixed communication network connection. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by defining each state of the access control system (1,2) for the person to be reached to each point to one of the access chains of the target person, such that there are at least two access chains indicated by one or more access control systems. 1,2) status. 10 A method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by defining the states of the access control system (1, 2) for pointing to the access chains in the call control system (3,4) and setting the call control system (3,4) to receive from the access control system (1,2). status information of the access control system (1,2) for the person to be reached. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: V. setting the call control system (3, 4) to receive a second active access control signal, such as a control signal to be transmitted over a public data network, and to determine the last access signal indicated by the last received signal, either: V: status information or another control signal. • · · • ♦ · «· · • · · Method according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a condition whose fulfillment depends, for example, on the use of the access control system · · · * ... (1,2), and • · • » If the specified condition is met in the event of a change in the active reach chain, a predetermined delay time is expected before the reach chain indicated by the received information is set to active. T t «« «♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ · · · · · · i • · «« • * * * * * * ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ tt tt tt tt tt tt tt tt tt tt tt tt · · «« • · · «· 106234 15