JP3844163B2 - Selective automatic incoming call method for communication system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention communicates with an automatic meter-reading gas meter, an electric meter, a water meter, a communication terminal, a sensor, etc. (hereinafter referred to as “terminal device”) installed in a customer's house using a telephone line. Other information is acquired by a specific sender (hereinafter referred to as “center”), various control signals are transmitted from the center to the terminal device, information is reported / displayed, or a third party is transmitted. from demand house telephone, to a selective automatic call how after ringing incoming when the signal enters the facsimile (hereinafter referred to as "subsequent terminal device").
[0002]
[Prior art]
In an automatic meter reading system using a telephone line, a T-NCU is attached to each customer's house, the telephone line is branched to a terminal device and a terminal device at this T-NCU, and a call is made from the center side at the time of automatic meter reading, etc. If there is, the T-NCU is activated so that the subsequent terminal equipment side does not ring.
[0003]
In this non-ringing incoming call system, when a terminal device is called from the center, the central office switchboard sends a non-ringing incoming signal (slow-polarity counter + NRS, 1300 Hz calling signal, etc.) to the customer's T-NCU. This is a method in which a ringing incoming call is not made by not sending a 16 Hz signal, which is a call signal.
[0004]
In addition, using a device (PBX) having an extension exchange function on the terminal device side, the PBX automatically arrives when a call signal is received, and then the PBX calls the target terminal device by a selection signal from the center to the extension. There is a method of connecting.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional ringing incoming call method, a ringing incoming call contract must be made separately from the line owner, and has the following disadvantages.
In the case of analog, there is a disadvantage that it depends on the function of the terminal adapter (TA) in the case of ISDN, and in the case of ISDN, it cannot be used if it does not correspond to these functions, and it does not depend on the exchange, There is a drawback that the PBX owner is charged.
[0006]
In order to solve such problems, when a call signal from the center or the like is detected for a certain time or more when a home or non-home switch is set and the home mode is set, the terminal and the center There is a proposal of a device that prevents the use of a no-ringing line by forming a communication loop (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-95455).
However, this method has a problem that it is difficult to adapt to automatic meter reading because it is necessary to request the user to operate the switch one by one.
An object of the present invention is to propose a selective automatic call how to build an automatic meter reading system or the like without non-ringing call (non-ringing) contract.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, in the selective automatic incoming call method for a communication system according to claim 1, a center, a T-NCU connected to the center via a telephone line, and the T-NCU are connected. A communication device comprising a terminal device connected to a telephone line via the T-NCU,
A call signal detection unit for detecting a call signal from the center, an off-hook unit for off-hooking a telephone line, an off-hook detection unit for detecting an off-hook of a subsequent-stage terminal device, a relay unit for disconnecting the subsequent-stage terminal device from the telephone line, and the off-hook An identification signal detection unit that detects a center identification signal from the center connected to the telephone line via the control unit, a control unit, and a signal that is connected between the telephone line and the subsequent terminal device and that can be separated by a control signal from the control unit. In the T-NCU composed of a signal attenuating unit to attenuate,
When a call is made from the center, a call signal is sent to the telephone line of the customer's house, and the T-NCU at the customer's house that detects the call signal by the call signal detection unit is off-hooked by the subsequent terminal device connected to the T-NCU. Then, the off-hook part is controlled by an off-hook detection signal from the off-hook detection part to control the off-hook part.
The center that detects the off-hook of the customer's house sends a center identification signal.
The T-NCU that has detected the center identification signal from the center at the identification signal detection unit disconnects the terminal device at the rear stage by a relay, and puts the center, the T-NCU, and the terminal device into a communication state,
Also, when calling from a third party, the T-NCU is attached to a circuit that bypasses the signal attenuating unit based on the detection of the center identification signal from the center or the detection of an identification signal from a third party other than the center. The signal attenuator is disconnected from the telephone line and the subsequent terminal device by controlling the bypass switch to ON, and the off-hook part on the T-NCU side that is electrically connected to the telephone line in parallel with the subsequent terminal device is controlled. Then, the line is on-hooked to pass through the third party and the subsequent terminal device .
[ 0009 ]
【Example】
FIG. 1 shows an image of the entire communication system. 1 is an automatic meter reading center, 2 is a public telephone line, 3 is a telephone office (exchange), 4 is a T-NCU, 5 is an automatic connected to a T-NCU 4 A terminal device such as a meter-reading gas meter, 6 is a telephone terminal at a customer's house, a rear terminal device such as a fax machine, and 7 is a third party who wishes to communicate with the rear terminal device 6.
[ 0010 ]
In the communication system, as shown in FIG. 2 , the T-NCU 4 includes a call signal detection unit 4-1 for detecting a call signal from the center 1 , an off-hook unit 4-2 for off-hooking the telephone line 2, and a subsequent terminal. off-hook detecting unit 4-3 detects an off-hook of the device 6, a relay unit 4-4 to separate the subsequent terminal device 6 from the telephone line 2, from the center 1 is connected to the telephone line 2 via the off-hook portion 4-2 An identification signal detection unit 4-5 for detecting a center identification signal of the user and a control unit 4-6. When a call from the center 1 is made, a call signal is sent to the telephone line of the customer's house, and the call signal is detected by the call signal detection unit 4 demand house of T-NCU4 detected by -1, after being connected to the T-NCU4, subsequent terminal equipment hook detection signal from the off-hook detection unit 4-3 stage terminal device 6 is off-hook Off-hooks and controls the off-hook section 4-2 by.
[ 0011 ]
The center 1 detected an off-hook demand house sends a center identification signal, T-NCU4 to the center identification signal detected by the identification signal detecting section 4-5 from center 1, the relay unit 4-4 Thus, the rear terminal device 6 is disconnected, and the center 1, the T-NCU 4, and the terminal device 5 are made through to enter a communication state.
[ 0012 ]
Further, in a call from a third party 7 other than the center, a call signal is sent to the telephone line 2 of the customer's house by the call of the third party 7, and the demand detected by the call signal detection unit 4-1 T-NCU4 the house, when the rear stage terminal device 6 is off-hook, off-hook by controlling the off-hook section 4-2 by subsequent terminal equipment off-hook detection signal from the off-hook detection unit 4-3, T-NCU4 from center 1 The center identification signal is not detected or the identification signal from the third party 7 other than the center 1 is detected, and the off-hook unit 4-2 is controlled to on-hook the line, and the third party 7 and the subsequent terminal device 6 are passed through. It is to make.
[ 0013 ]
In addition, a call signal is sent to the telephone line 2 at the customer's house by a call from the center 1, and the T-NCU 4 at the customer's house that has detected the call signal by the call signal detection unit 4-1 is connected to the T-NCU 4. If the succeeding terminal device 6 is not off-hooked, the call signal is detected a predetermined number of times, or after a predetermined time has elapsed by the timer circuit of the control unit 4-6, it goes off-hook and enters the identification signal detection state. 1 detects the center identification signal sent from 1 and disconnects the post-stage terminal device 6 by the relay unit 4-4 so that the center 1 and the T-NCU 4 and the terminal device 5 pass through to be in a communication state.
[ 0014 ]
FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of a T-NCU incorporating a talkie sound transmission unit. This T-NCU 4 has a talky sound transmission unit 4-7 in addition to the functions described in FIG. In a call from a third party 7 other than the third party 7, a call signal is sent to the telephone line 2 of the customer's house by the call of the third party 7, and the customer's house detected by the call signal detecting unit 4-1 When the subsequent terminal device 6 connected to the T-NCU 4 does not go off-hook , the T-NCU 4 goes off-hook after a predetermined number of times of detection of the calling signal or the timer circuit of the control unit 4-6, and enters the identification signal detection state. There, T-NCU4 based on the detection of the identification signal from the center identification signal detected or a third party 7 other than the center, from the center 1 sends a T-NCU incoming call response signal to third parties 7, Off-hook part 4-2 Controls on-hook line with, or without providing the T-NCU incoming call response signal to third parties 7, is to hook the line by controlling the off-hook section 4-2.
[ 0015 ]
FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of a T-NCU having the functions of the invention described in claim 1, and in addition to the functions shown in FIG. 2, a control unit 4- connected between the telephone line 2 and the subsequent terminal device 6. 6 is composed of a signal attenuating unit 4-8 for attenuating a signal that can be separated by a control signal from 6, a call signal is sent to the telephone line 2 of the customer's house by a call from the center 1, and the call signal is detected by the call signal detecting unit. demand house of T-NCU4 detected by 4-1, the subsequent terminal device 6 connected to the T-NCU4 goes off hook, off-hook portion 4-2 by subsequent terminal equipment off-hook detection signal from the off-hook detection unit 4-3 and off-hook and control, center 1 detected an off-hook demand house sends a center identification signal, the center identification signal to T-NC detected by identification signal detecting section 4-5 from the center 1 U4, disconnect the subsequent terminal device 6 by the relay unit 4-4, and the center 1 and the T-NCU4 and between terminal device 5 through to the communication state.
[ 0016 ]
At the time of calling from the third party 7, the T-NCU 4 controls the signal attenuating unit 4-8 based on the detection of the center identification signal from the center 1 or the detection of the identification signal from the third party 7 other than the center 1. When the switch 4-10 of the bypass circuit 4-9 is controlled to be ON by the control from the unit 4-6, the telephone line 2 and the subsequent terminal device 6 are disconnected, and the off-hook unit 4-2 is controlled to control the T-NCU4 side. Control the line on-hook. As a result, since the T-NCU 4 and the subsequent terminal device 6 are electrically connected in parallel, the third party 7 and the subsequent terminal device 6 are made through.
FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of the signal attenuating unit 4-8. However, a directional coupler may be inserted in addition to the signal attenuation unit 4-8.
[0017]
FIG. 6 shows a reference example of the T-NCU. In addition to the functions shown in FIG. 2, a call signal is sent to the telephone line 2 of the customer's house by a call from the center 1, and the call signal is detected by the call signal. When the back-end terminal device 6 connected to the T-NCU 4 goes off-hook, the T-NCU 4 detected by the unit 4-1 is detected by the back-end terminal device off-hook detection signal from the off-hook detection unit 4-3. The identification signal detector 4-5 is set in the operating state in the high impedance state, the center 1 detecting the off-hook of the customer's house sends a center identification signal, and the center identification signal from the center 1 is transmitted to the identification signal detector 4- 5, the T-NCU 4 detected by the relay unit 4-4 is disconnected from the subsequent terminal device 6, and the off-hook unit 4-2 is controlled to be off-hooked. And between 6 to slew to the communication state.
[ 0018 ]
Further, at the time of call from a third party 7, T-NCU4 based on the detection of the identification signal from the center identification signal detected or center 1 a third party other than 7, from the center 1, identification by the signal detection unit 4 -5 is set to a non-operating state.
Next, a communication flow based on the function of the T-NCU 4 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.
[ 0019 ]
FIG. 7 shows an example of the operation of the exchange 3. When a call request signal is input (100) and a call is made from the center 1 (101), the receiving T-NCU 4 The device 5 and the subsequent terminal device 6 are off-hooked in parallel to confirm this (102), send a T-NCU call signal (103), and then send a talkie sound (104).
[ 0020 ]
When a communication preparation completion signal is received from the T-NCU 4 (105), communication with the T-NCU 4 is started (106), and when communication with the T-NCU 4 is normally completed (107), the initial state is restored ( 108).
[ 0021 ]
If it is determined in step 102 that no off-hook has occurred, it is determined whether or not the number of ringing times or the connection waiting time has exceeded a predetermined value (109). If NO, the process returns to the receiving side off-hook (102).
On the other hand, if NO in step 105, it is determined whether or not a timeout has occurred (111). If NO, the process returns to step 105.
If NO in step 107 and YES in step 109, it is determined whether or not the retry is a predetermined number of times (112). If YES, an abnormality is displayed (113), and if NO, the process returns to step 110.
[ 0022 ]
FIG. 8 shows an operation flow of the T-NCU 4. When a ring tone is received (201) in the ring tone detection standby state (200), the ring tone is counted (202), and the subsequent terminal device 6 is off-hook. (203). If NO, it is determined whether or not it is a predetermined number of times or more (204). If YES, self-off hook is performed (205). If NO, the process returns to step 202.
On the other hand, if “YES” in the step 203, the operation proceeds to the subsequent off-hook operation (206).
[ 0023 ]
FIG. 9 is an operation flow at the time of self-off-hook, which is self-off-hook (300), waiting for receiving a call signal from the center 1 (301), and when an identification signal is sent from the center 1 (302), It is determined whether or not an identification signal from 1 has been input (304). If YES, a response signal is sent to the center 1 side (313), the center communication mode is entered (305), and if NO, step is performed. In 303, it is determined whether or not a timeout has occurred.
[ 0024 ]
When a communication signal is transmitted (314), it is determined whether or not a communication start signal has been received. If NO, it is determined whether or not a timeout has occurred (306). If YES, a ready signal is sent. Transmit (308), disconnect the rear stage 5, enter the rear stage off-hook monitoring state (309), and start communication (310).
If timed out in step 303, a response signal is sent as a call from the third party 7 (311) and on-hook is performed (312).
[ 0025 ]
FIG. 10 shows an operation flow at the later stage off-hook.
Upon calling from the center 1, the T-NCU 4 connects the terminal device 5 and the subsequent terminal device 6 in parallel (400), is waiting to receive the identification signal from the center 1 (401), and the identification signal from the center 1 is input. If it is done (403), it is determined whether or not a time-out has occurred (402). If YES, the call signal waiting state from the center 1 is stopped (413), the on-hook of the subsequent terminal device 6 is detected, and the initial state is detected. Return to state. When the identification signal from the center 1 is input, the center communication mode is entered (405) and a response signal is sent (412). If no, return to step 404. When a communication start signal is input (407), it is determined whether or not the communication start signal has been received (408). If YES, a ready signal is transmitted (409), the subsequent stage is disconnected, and the subsequent stage is disconnected. A re-off hook monitoring state is entered (410), and communication is started (411). If NO, it is determined whether or not a timeout has occurred (406). If YES, the process goes to the self-off hook (415). If YES, the process returns to step 408.
If the time-out is YES at step 402, the call signal reception waiting from the center 1 is stopped (413), the on-hook of the rear terminal device 6 is detected, and the process returns to the initial state (FIG. 7).
[ 0026 ]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, the selective automatic incoming call operation is performed by the above-described method, so that the selective automatic incoming call is possible without affecting the operation of the terminal device and the subsequent terminal device during normal use without a no-ringing contract. It is also possible to receive a call without a dial-in contract.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of an automatic meter reading system embodying the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a T-NCU.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a T-NCU incorporating a talkie sound transmission unit.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment of a T-NCU according to the invention described in claim 1;
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a signal attenuating unit.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a reference example of T- NCU.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of an operation flow on the center side.
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of an operation flow at the time of ring tone selection detection, self-off hook, and subsequent off-hook.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of an operation flow at the time of self-off hook.
FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of an operation flow at a later stage off-hook.

Claims (1)

Communication comprising a center, a T-NCU connected to the center via a telephone line, a terminal device connected to the T-NCU, and a subsequent terminal device connected to the telephone line via the T-NCU A system,
A call signal detection unit for detecting a call signal from the center, an off-hook unit for off-hooking a telephone line, an off-hook detection unit for detecting an off-hook of a back-end terminal device, a relay unit for disconnecting the back-end terminal device from the phone line, and the off-hook An identification signal detection unit that detects a center identification signal from the center connected to the telephone line via the control unit, a control unit, and a signal that is connected between the telephone line and the subsequent terminal device and that can be separated by a control signal from the control unit. In the T-NCU composed of a signal attenuating unit to attenuate,
When a call is made from the center, a call signal is sent to the telephone line of the customer's house, and the T-NCU at the customer's house that detects the call signal by the call signal detection unit is off-hooked by the subsequent terminal device connected to the T-NCU. Then, the off-hook part is controlled by an off-hook detection signal from the off-hook detection part to control the off-hook part,
The center that detects the off-hook of the customer's house sends a center identification signal.
The T-NCU that has detected the center identification signal from the center at the identification signal detection unit disconnects the terminal device at the rear stage by a relay, and puts the center, the T-NCU, and the terminal device into a communication state,
Also, when calling from a third party, the T-NCU is attached to a circuit that bypasses the signal attenuating unit based on the detection of the center identification signal from the center or the detection of an identification signal from a third party other than the center. The signal attenuator is disconnected from the telephone line and the subsequent terminal device by controlling the bypass switch to ON, and the off-hook part on the T-NCU side that is electrically connected to the telephone line in parallel with the subsequent terminal device is controlled. Then, a selective automatic incoming call method for a communication system, characterized in that a line is on-hooked and a third party and a subsequent terminal device are made through.

Images