JP2001189948A - Key telephone system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To conduct various services using abundant information, without having to increase the scale of a system configuration. SOLUTION: A server control section 32 of a server 3 retrieves destination information, corresponding to an opposite party depending on a request from a master set 1, a function processing means 12A of the master set 1 uses a prescribed key telephone set 2 to display the arrival of an incoming call, in response to the arrival of the call to telephone line 10 and acquires destination information corresponding to its caller number from the server 3, on the basis of the caller number notified from the telephone line 10A and informs the key telephone set that receives the incoming call and displays the arrival of the incoming call about it and allows the telephone set to display the information.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a key telephone system, and more particularly to a key telephone system in which information stored in a server connected to a main unit is used by a key telephone.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, a key telephone system comprises a main unit connected to a telephone line and one or more key telephones connected to the main unit. Key phones detect key operations and handset status,
By transmitting these operation information to the main unit, the main unit performs various functions based on the operation information from the key telephone, thereby realizing various functions such as external calls to telephone lines and internal calls to other key telephones. It is something to do. 2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in offices and the like in which a key telephone and a personal computer are used in combination, an information processing terminal (hereinafter, referred to as a PC terminal) such as a personal computer is connected to a main device to provide advanced functions. CTI (Comp
Uter Telephony Integration
n) The system is becoming popular.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a conventional CTI system. The main device 91 is connected to a telephone line 90, and the key telephones 93A to 93N are connected to the main device 91 via an extension transmission line 92. Each button telephone 9
3A to 93N are associated with the PC terminals 9 respectively.
7A to 97N are provided side by side, and these PC terminals 97A
To 97N are connected to a server 95 via a LAN line 96. The main device 91 and the server 95 are connected via a data communication path 94, and exchange various kinds of information as needed.

[0004] In the server 95, personal information such as a name and work place is registered as a database in correspondence with the telephone number of the other party. In each of the PC terminals 97A to 97N, L
A list of database information of the server 95 connected via the AN line 96 can be displayed on the screen and searched, and a call can be made to the searched destination. For example, the PC terminal 97
When a call operation is performed to a destination selected from the list displayed on the screen in A, the server 95 extracts the destination telephone number from the database and requests the main device 91 to make a call. In response, main device 91 performs external line transmission processing based on the telephone number of the other party as if a transmission operation was performed by key telephone 93A installed in association with PC terminal 97A.

When a caller's telephone number is notified from the telephone line 90 when an outside line is received, the main device 91 notifies the server 95 of the caller's telephone number. The server 95 searches the database on the basis of the notified caller telephone number, and stores the obtained personal information on the caller in the PC terminal associated with the external telephone call, for example, the key telephone 93A. 97A is displayed on the screen.

[0006]

However, in such a conventional key telephone system, each key telephone 9
3A to 93N, PC terminals 97A to 97N need to be provided in association with each other.
To 97N need to be connected to the server 95 via the LAN line 96. Therefore, even a small-scale button telephone system having a relatively small number of telephone lines and key telephones requires such a configuration, which increases the overall configuration of the system and, of course, reduces the cost of the system itself. And the work load required for management and maintenance also increased. An object of the present invention is to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a key telephone system capable of performing various services using abundant information without increasing the scale of the system configuration.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, a key telephone system according to the present invention comprises a main unit connected to a telephone line and a main unit connected to a main unit via a data communication path. An information processing terminal having a storage unit for storing the other party's information, and one or more key telephones connected to the main device via an extension transmission line and having a screen display unit for displaying various information; In the terminal control unit of the terminal,
Search for desired destination information in response to a request from the main unit,
In the function processing means of the main unit, according to the incoming call to the telephone line,
While displaying the incoming call with a predetermined button telephone, acquiring the destination information corresponding to the caller number from the information processing terminal based on the caller number notified from the telephone line at the time of the incoming call, performing the incoming call display Incoming call button telephones are notified and displayed.

[0008] When the destination information corresponding to the caller number cannot be obtained from the information processing terminal, the caller number may be notified to the incoming call key telephone and displayed by the function processing means. When a plurality of pieces of destination information are stored separately from the information processing device in the main storage unit of the main device, the function processing unit searches for the destination information of the main storage unit and transmits the information from the main storage unit. When the destination information corresponding to the party number is obtained, the destination information may be notified to the incoming key telephone and displayed. At this time, the destination information corresponding to the caller number may be searched in the main storage unit, and when the destination information cannot be obtained, a search may be instructed to the information processing terminal.

[0009]

Next, the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a key telephone system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, a key telephone system includes a main device 1 connected to a telephone line 10, a key telephone 2 (2A to 2N) connected to the main device 1 via an extension transmission line 20, and a connection to the main device 1. And a server (information processing terminal) 3 having a database for storing various information. Hereinafter, a key telephone system in which a plurality of telephone lines 10 are connected and a plurality of key telephones 2 are connected will be described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention can be applied to a single key telephone.

In the main unit 1, reference numeral 11 denotes an external I / F for controlling the termination of the telephone line 10, reference numeral 13 denotes an internal I / F for transmitting data to and from each key telephone connected via an internal transmission line 20, and 12 Is an external line I / F section 11 and an internal line I / F section 13
And a main control unit 14 that performs various function processing based on control information of the entire system such as the state of each key telephone and the state of each telephone line. Main storage unit for storing information necessary for
Reference numeral 5 denotes a communication I / F unit which is connected to the main control unit 12 and performs data communication with the server 3 via the data communication path 30. In addition, as the extension transmission line 20 and the data transmission line 30,
Each may use a wired transmission path or a wireless transmission path.

The server 3 is composed of an information processing terminal such as a personal computer, 31 is a communication I / F section for performing data communication with the main unit 1 via the data communication path 30, 33 is composed of a hard disk device, etc. (Accumulation unit) 32 in which various kinds of information are stored, retrieves desired information from the database 33 in response to a request from the main device 1,
Server control unit for transmitting via communication I / F unit 31;
Denotes a server storage unit that stores information necessary for processing in the server control unit 32.

Each of the key telephones 2 (2A to 2N) has the same configuration. In these key telephones 2, reference numeral 21 denotes a transmission I / F unit for performing data transmission with the main device 1 via the extension transmission line 20, and 23 decodes audio information received by the transmission I / F unit 21 into an audio signal. Handset H
S and a speaker SP, an audio processing unit that encodes an audio signal input from the handset HS into audio information and outputs it to the transmission I / F unit, and 24 is an operation input unit that detects various key operations and hook states is there.

A transmission unit 22 transmits the operation information detected by the operation input unit 24 to the main unit 1 via the transmission I / F unit 21 and receives the operation information from the main unit 1 received by the transmission I / F unit 21. A slave unit control unit that controls each circuit unit of the key telephone set based on the control information, 25 is a control memory that stores various types of information necessary for control processing in the slave unit control unit 22, and 27 is a dot that displays various types of information using characters and patterns. A screen display unit such as an LCD for displaying a matrix is provided, and a screen memory 26 stores information to be displayed on the screen.

The main control section 12 of the main apparatus 1 is provided with a function processing means 12A. In the function processing means 12A,
Various functional processes including the functions of a general key telephone device are executed. The function processing includes, for example, an exchange control processing such as an outgoing call or an incoming call response performed in response to an operation on the key telephone 2 or a request from the server 3, and various function setting processing such as speed dial registration and key assignment registration. is there. In the server control unit 32 of the server 3, in response to various processing requests transmitted from the function processing unit 12A of the main device 1,
The requested processing is performed based on the information stored in the database 33 and the server storage unit 34. As this processing, for example, a destination search process for searching various destination information such as a destination name from a caller number is performed.

Next, data transmission / reception processing in the main control unit 12 of the main device 1 will be described. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of information exchanged between the main device 1, the key telephone 2, and the server 3. FIG. 2A shows an example of the format of information exchanged between the main device 1 and the key telephone 2, and here, it is composed of a command 28A and detailed data 28B. The command 28A indicates the content of the instruction (or request) indicated by the information, similarly to the operation information of FIG. 3, and the detailed data 28B indicates the detailed content of the command.

FIG. 2B shows a format example of information exchanged between the main device 1 and the server 3.
A telephone ID 28C is added to the format of FIG. Since information is exchanged between the main device 1 and the key telephone 2 using the respective extension transmission lines 20, there is no need to specify the transmission destination or the reception destination of the information. On the other hand, since information is exchanged between the main apparatus 1 and the server 3 using the common data communication path 30, it is necessary to specify a transmission destination or a reception destination of the information. Is performed by the main control unit 12.

Next, the operation of the entire key telephone system according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram showing an outside-line incoming call processing operation for notifying and displaying caller information to the key telephone at the time of an incoming call using the database of the server. First, when an incoming call is detected on any of the telephone lines 10 in the external line I / F unit 11 of the main apparatus 1, the function processing unit 12A of the main control unit 12 executes the key telephone 2
One or more key telephones selected from A to 2N, for example, the key telephone 2A, are notified that an outside line is being received, and a ringtone is output and a call is displayed (step 100).

When a caller's number is notified from the telephone line 10 at the time of an incoming call and detected by the external line I / F section 11 (step 101: YES), the function processing means 12A transmits the caller's number corresponding to the obtained caller's number. The server 3 is requested to search for the destination information (102). This search request is sent to the communication I / F unit 15,
The data is transmitted to the server 3 via the data communication path 30. The server control unit 32 of the server 3 receives the search request via the external line I / F unit 31 and searches the database 33 for destination information corresponding to the caller number included in the search request. As a result, the other party information is returned to the main device 1 along the route reverse to the search request. If the corresponding destination information could not be searched, a search failure is returned as a search result.

The function processing means 12A of the main device 1 receives the search result from the server 3 (step 103: YE).
S), it is determined whether or not the destination information has been obtained (step 104). If the destination information corresponding to the caller number is obtained (step 104: YES), the destination information is notified to the key telephone 2A displaying the incoming call, and the screen display unit 2 is displayed.
7 is displayed (step 105). FIG. 4 is a display example of the destination information. As the destination information, not only the destination name but also a telephone number may be displayed together. If the destination information cannot be obtained (step 104: N
O), only the caller number is notified to and displayed on the key telephone 2A (step 106).

As described above, the destination information corresponding to the caller number notified at the time of the incoming call, such as the destination name, is acquired from the server 3, and is notified to the key telephone displaying the incoming call and displayed. So, like a traditional system,
An advanced service using abundant information can be provided without requiring an increase in the scale of a system configuration such as providing an information processing terminal for each key telephone.

In the above, the case where the destination information corresponding to the caller number is searched only in the server 3 has been described as an example. However, the case where the main storage unit 14 of the main device 1 also has the destination information will be described. I do. FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram showing another example of the outside line receiving processing operation of notifying and displaying the caller information to the key telephone at the time of receiving a call using the database of the server, and is the same as or equivalent to the above description (see FIG. 3). Portions are given the same reference numerals. Here, step 10 in FIG.
1 and step 102, a destination information search process in main device 1 is inserted.

In step 101, when a caller number is received at the time of an incoming call (step 101: YES), first, destination information stored in the main storage unit 14 is searched (step 110). If the destination information corresponding to the caller number is obtained by this search (step 111: YE
S), Step 105 without making a search request to the server 3
Then, the destination information is notified to and displayed on the key telephone 2A displaying the incoming call. If the search in the main storage unit 14 has failed (step 111: NO), the process shifts to step 102 and requests the server 3 for the search.

Normally, the main storage unit 14 of the main device 1 has a smaller storage capacity than the database 33 of the server 3, and the search performed by the main device 1 requires more search than the search performed by the server 3. Time is short. Further, it takes time to transmit and receive information between the main device 1 and the server 3. Therefore, when the main apparatus 1 also has the destination information, the search is performed with priority given to the destination information of the main apparatus 1. You can save time. The search may be performed in parallel between the main device 1 and the server 3, and the average search time may be reduced.

[0024]

As described above, according to the present invention, the main control unit of the main unit displays an incoming call on a predetermined key telephone in response to an incoming call to the telephone line, and notifies the incoming call from the telephone line at the time of the incoming call. Based on the received caller number, the destination information corresponding to the caller number is acquired from the information processing terminal and notified to and displayed on the incoming call button telephone that displays the incoming call. As in the system, it is possible to provide a more advanced service using abundant information without increasing the scale of the system configuration such as providing an information processing terminal for each key telephone.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a key telephone system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of information exchanged between a main device, a key telephone, and a server.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an outside line incoming call process.

FIG. 4 is a screen display example of an incoming call display.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating another example of an outside line incoming call process.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional CTI system.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Main apparatus, 10 ... Telephone line, 11 ... External line I / F part, 1
2 ... Main control unit, 12A ... Function processing means, 13 ... Extension I /
F section, 14: Main storage section, 15: Communication I / F section, 2, 2A
.About.2N button telephone, 20 extension line, 21 transmission I / F unit, 22 slave unit control unit, 23 audio processing unit, 24
... operation input unit, 25 ... control memory, 26 ... screen memory,
27: screen display unit, HS: handset, SP: speaker, 3: server, 30: data communication path, 31: communication I /
F section, 32: server control section, 33: database, 34
... Server storage unit.

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Hironori Tanaka 2-3-2 Shimomeguro, Meguro-ku, Tokyo F-term in Tamura Electric Co., Ltd. (Reference) 5K024 AA71 BB04 CC04 DD04 FF03 GG01 GG07 5K026 CC07 EE06 FF02 FF23 GG12 HH02 LL01 5K036 AA12 BB04 JJ04 JJ12 5K049 AA01 BB05 BB17 EE02 FF01 FF32 KK02 KK12

Claims (4)

[Claims] An information processing terminal connected to the main device via a data communication path, the information processing terminal having a storage unit for storing a plurality of destination information, and an extension transmission line. At least one key telephone connected to the main device and having a screen display unit for displaying various information, the information processing terminal searches for desired destination information in response to a request from the main device. In response to an incoming call to the telephone line, the main device performs an incoming call display with a predetermined key telephone, and based on a caller number notified from the telephone line at the time of the incoming call, A key processing unit for obtaining destination information corresponding to the caller number from the information processing terminal and notifying and displaying the incoming call key telephone displaying the incoming call; Temu. 2. The key telephone system according to claim 1, wherein the function processing unit is configured to, when the destination information corresponding to the caller number cannot be obtained from the information processing terminal,
A key telephone system, wherein the caller ID is notified to the receiving key telephone and displayed. 3. The key telephone system according to claim 1, wherein the main device has a main storage unit that stores a plurality of pieces of destination information separately from the information processing device. Searching for the destination information in the main storage unit, and when the destination information corresponding to the caller number is obtained from the main storage unit, notifying the destination information to the incoming call key telephone and displaying the same. Key telephone system. 4. The key telephone system according to claim 3, wherein the function processing unit searches the main storage unit for destination information corresponding to the caller number, and when the destination information is not obtained. And a retrieval instruction to the information processing terminal.