JPH05344222A - Group automatic answering service system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make it possible to leave a message by a transmitter after he recognizes whether all of the group are absent or not and the reason a designated person is absent by one time telephone, regarding a group automatic answering service system by an exchange and a voice storage device connected with this exchange. CONSTITUTION:In an automatic answering service system realizing the automatic answering service by jointing an exchange 1 with a voice storage device 2 connected with the exchange 1, a group is formed by gathering some of telephone terminals 3, an incoming is made to the free telephone terminal 3 when the incoming exists for the telephone terminal 3 for which the automatic answering is registered before the automatic answering registration is performed for the whole telephone terminal 3, and a message is returned and the message of a transmitter is allowed to be recorded when an incoming exists for the telephone terminal 3 after the automatic answering registration is performed for all of the whole telephone terminals 3.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a group answering service system using an exchange and a voice storage device connected to the exchange. In recent years, the positioning of telephones within a company is very effective as a means of mutual contact and has an important position, but since the contact person often encounters absence, absence, etc., At that time, there is a demand for an answering service when the user is out of the office, which does not bother the respondent.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the past, the answering machine registration was on a telephone (terminal) unit basis, and the telephones of the entire group were not registered as an answering machine.

[0003]

Accordingly, in such a conventional group answering service system, the contact person often encounters absence, absence, etc., which imposes a heavy burden on the respondent and hinders business. The current situation is to cause That is, there is a problem for the caller to speak a message or disconnect and call again when the telephone is registered as an answering machine, regardless of who is in the group.

Whether all members of the group are out
There is a problem that no one answers the call when the telephone is not registered in the answering machine, or when all the telephones are tried and all of the telephones are registered in the answering machine.
The present invention was devised in view of such problems, and the caller can know whether or not all the group is out and the reason for the absence of the designated person by one call, and further The purpose is to provide a group answering service system that allows messages to be left.

[0005]

Therefore, in the group answering service system of the present invention, in the answering service system for realizing the answering service by the switch and the voice accumulating device connected to the switching device, the switch is accommodated in the switch. Some telephone terminals are collected to form a group.

Then, in the above-mentioned group structure, the following steps are performed depending on the case. That is, when there is an incoming call to a telephone terminal registered in the answering machine before all telephone terminals belonging to this group are registered in the answering machine, (1) the other telephone terminals not registered in the answering machine are called.

Alternatively, after all the telephone terminals belonging to this group have been registered in the answering machine, if there is an incoming call to the telephone terminals registered in the answering machine, (1) the answering machine reply message registered in the group is returned. (2) The recording of the message of the caller is permitted (the above is claim 1). Further, when there is an incoming call to a specific telephone terminal registered in the answering machine, (1) the answering machine reply message registered in the specific telephone terminal is returned.

(2) There is a free telephone terminal which is not registered in the answering machine in the group. (3) A call is made to this empty telephone terminal. Then, in the above item (2), when there is no available telephone terminal, that is, when all the telephone terminals belonging to this group are registered in the answering machine, the next processing step is performed.

(3 ') The answering machine reply message registered in the group is returned. (4) Allow recording of the message of the sender (above, claim 2). Further, when there is a message addressed to the group at the time of access from the telephone terminals in the group to the voice storage device, (1) notification that there is a message addressed to the group.

(2) Anyone in the group is allowed to receive the message (above, claim 3).

[0011]

In the group answering service system of the present invention described above, a group is formed by collecting some telephone terminals accommodated in the exchange, and the exchange and the voice storage device connected to the exchange cooperate with each other. Realize an answering service. Then, the operation of the answering service will be specifically described as follows. That is, if there is an incoming call to a telephone terminal registered in the answering machine before all the telephone terminals belonging to this group are registered in the answering machine, the other telephone terminals not registered in the answering machine receive the incoming call.

On the other hand, when all telephone terminals belonging to this group have been registered as an answering machine and an incoming call arrives at a telephone terminal registered as an answering machine, the answering machine reply message registered in the group is returned and the caller's message is returned. Allow recording of. Also, when an incoming call arrives at a specific telephone terminal that is registered as an answering machine, the answering machine reply message registered at the specific telephone terminal is returned, and then there is a free telephone terminal that is not registered as an answering machine in the group. And, it makes an incoming call to this empty telephone terminal.

On the other hand, when all the telephone terminals belonging to this group are registered in the answering machine, the answering machine reply message registered in the group is returned to allow the caller to record the message. Also, if there is a message addressed to the group at the time of accessing the voice storage device 2 with the telephone number in the group, after notifying that, any person in the group is allowed to receive the message. Do (above, claim 1,
2, 3).

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 is a private branch exchange (PBX), which is a main control unit (CC) 4 and a main storage unit (M).
M) 5 and the voice storage device 2 and the file 6 installed therein. And this private branch exchange 1
Means to connect a plurality of telephones (telephone terminals) 3 to each telephone 3
It is accommodated via the trunk circuit 7 provided in the.

The private branch exchange 1, together with the voice storage device 2, collects some telephones 3 housed therein to form a group, and further, the voice storage device 2
It is designed to realize an answering service in cooperation with. Therefore, in the private branch exchange 1, as shown in FIG. 2, the line control unit 1-1 and the voice storage device control unit 1-
2, a connection control unit 1-3 and a data control unit 1-4.

Here, the line control unit 1-1 is connected to the telephone and the other exchange to control the connection between the telephone 3 and the voice storage 2, or to control the connection between the other exchange and the voice storage 2. It controls the connection. The voice storage device control unit 1-2 controls communication with the voice storage device 2, that is, a processing unit for activating and disconnecting a line with the voice storage device 2 and controlling information. Is.

The connection control unit 1-3 performs a connection process between the telephone 3 and the voice storage device 2, and the data control unit 1-4.
Is a processing unit for performing management and control of various data (eg, user data, belonging group data, etc. shown in FIG. 4) necessary for performing the exchange processing.
By the way, the voice storage device 2 shown in FIG.
At the same time, some telephones 3 accommodated in the private branch exchange 1 are collected to form a group, and in cooperation with the private branch exchange 1, the answering machine service is realized.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2 described above, the voice storage device 2 has a procedure control section 2-1, a line control section 2-2.
It has a data control unit 2-3, a voice data control unit 2-4, a message management unit 2-5, and a disk (DK) 2-6. Here, the procedure control unit 2-1 is a processing unit that controls the service provided by the voice storage device 2 according to a predetermined procedure. The line control unit 2-2 controls communication with the private branch exchange 1, that is, is a processing unit that activates and disconnects a line with the private branch exchange 1 and controls information.

The data control unit 2-3 manages and controls various data (eg user data, belonging group data, etc.) necessary for realizing various services provided by the voice storage device 2, and also a private branch exchange. It is a processing unit for also performing the control of data exchange with 1. The voice data control unit 2-4 is a processing unit that performs management control regarding voice message data in the disk 2-6, which is necessary to realize various services provided by the voice storage device 2.

The message management unit 2-5 has a procedure control unit 2
-1 and the control information of the audio data control unit 2-4, the specified information in the disk 2-6 is put in and taken out. The disk 2-6 is for recording voice message data. Here, the voice message data includes an individual response message, an individual message message, a group response message, a group message message, etc. corresponding to each subscriber and group.

Each user data is stored in the user data area A1DV shown in FIG.
1DV is an answering machine display area (EXCV), belonging group area (GRPV), group message presence area (MS
GN), personal response message required / unnecessary area (IRMS)
G), personal response message area (IMSG), message message head area (IMSGH), message message tail area (IMSGT).

Each belonging group data is stored in the belonging group data area GDV of FIG. 3, and the belonging group data area GDV includes common response message existence / non-existence area (GRMSG) and common response message area (GR).
SG), message message head area (GMSGH),
It has a message message tail area (GMSGT), a group registration number area (NV), and a group membership area.

By the way, the main control unit 4 shown in FIG. 1 is a main processor for executing the control of the system, and the main storage unit 5 stores programs and data necessary for the processing of the main control unit 4. Is. The data registered in the main storage device 5 is as shown in FIG.
User data of each subscriber corresponding to a telephone number required for processing on the side of the private branch exchange 1 and data of each group to which the subscriber belongs are registered.

Each user data area is A1 in FIG.
As shown in D and A2D, the answering machine display area (EX
C), belonging group area (GRP), and personal response message required / unnecessary area (IMSG). The affiliation group data area is composed of an in-group registration number area (N) and an affiliation group area, as shown by GD in FIG.

In the present invention, each operation as described below is executed by using the system having the above-mentioned configuration and the data registered in this system.
As a result, the group answering service system is implemented. That is, regarding the user's answering machine registration / cancellation method required when performing the group answering machine service method, it is necessary to make both the private branch exchange 1 and the voice storage device 2 recognize the presence or absence of the user's answering machine registration setting ( (Both group voice mail registration / cancellation and individual voice mail registration / cancellation), therefore, one of the following methods is executed.

Method (1). As shown in FIG. 5, the user A1 who desires the answering machine registration (group answering machine registration or individual answering machine registration) accesses the voice storage device 2 and notifies that he / she wants the answering machine registration (see FIG. 5). Then, the voice storage device 2 having received the access from the user A1 performs the answering machine registration of the user A1 according to the answering machine registration procedure instructed by the procedure control unit 2-1 in the own apparatus (see FIG. 5). That is, the answering machine display area (EXCV) of the user data area A1DV of the user A1 shown in FIG. 3 is switched from OFF to ON.

After that, the voice storage device 2 activates the private branch exchange 1 from the procedure control unit 2-1 via the line control unit 2-2, and the data control unit 2-3 sends the data (telephone) of the user A1. Number) and an answering machine registration (see FIG. 5). The private branch exchange 1 that has received the instruction to register the answering machine turns the answering machine display area (EXC) of the user data area A1D of the user A1 shown in FIG. 4 from OFF to ON,
The user A1 is registered as an answering machine, and this is notified to the voice storage device 2 (see FIG. 5). After receiving this notification,
The voice storage device 2 records the answering machine response message from the user A1 (see FIG. 5). Also,
Answering machine cancellation is carried out in the same manner.

Method (2). As shown in FIG. 6, when the private branch exchange 1 receives a specific telephone number from the user A1 (see FIG. 6), the data shown in FIG. 4 ahead of the caller (user A1), that is, the data of the user A1. The answering machine display area (EXC) of the user data area A1D is turned ON from OFF.
Then, the answering machine is being registered (group answering machine or personal answering machine registration) (see FIG. 6).

After that, the voice storage device 2 is activated (see FIG. 6), and the voice storage device 2 follows the answering machine registration procedure of the procedure control section 2-1 to show the user A1 shown in FIG. The answering machine display area (EXCV) of the user data area A1DV is switched from OFF to ON and the answering machine is registered (see FIG. 6). Then, after such operation is completed, an answering machine response message is recorded (see FIG. 6). Also, the answering machine cancellation will be carried out in the same manner.

As in each of the above-described examples, the answering machine registration / cancellation by the group formed by the telephones 3 and some individuals is registered. By using the answering machine registration / cancellation method as described above, the private branch exchange 1 and the voice storage device 2 cooperate with each other to perform registration / cancellation for a desired user, and when the user calls, the answering machine is registered. Carry out the service.

That is, as shown in FIG. 7, when the user A1 is in the answering machine registration, the private branch exchange 1 which manages the data (see FIG. 4) for each user (telephone 3) is the user A1. The display during the answering machine registration is set in the above data of. That is, the answering machine display area (EXC) of the user data area A1D of the user A1 shown in FIG. 4 is turned on (see FIG. 7).

After that, when the user B2 dials the user A1 and calls the user A1 (see FIG. 7),
The private branch exchange 1 corresponds to the corresponding data of the user A1 in the user management data (the data for which the display during the answering machine registration is set first, that is, the user data area A1D of the user A1 shown in FIG. 4). Is confirmed (see FIG. 7).

As a result, in the case where the answering machine registration display is set, such as this user A1, the private branch exchange 1 is forced to the voice storage device 2 after recognizing that the answering machine is being registered. Connecting. Then, the voice storage device 2 connected to the call implements the answering service for the user B2 (see FIG. 7). As in the above examples, the answering service is activated, but the private branch exchange 1
A plurality of telephones 3 accommodated in the private branch exchange are gathered as desired by the user to form a group, and then the private branch exchange 1
When this is carried out in an answering machine service system that realizes an answering machine service by cooperating with the voice storage device 2 connected thereto, the following processing is performed.

Details of such an answering machine service will be described below for each individual case. First, when the personal response message is not returned, each operation of steps S1 to S10 as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 8 is performed. That is, in step S1, the sender (user B1)
Access the private branch exchange 1, and dial the telephone number of the other party (user A1). After that, the operations of the following steps S2 to S5 are executed in the private branch exchange 1.

In other words, the private branch exchange 1 determines the called party (user A) from the received dial number in step S2.
The data of 1), that is, the contents of the answering machine display area (EXC) of the user data area A1D shown in FIG. 4 provided to the private branch exchange 1 side is obtained, and it is confirmed whether or not the answering machine is registered. Do. As a result of the confirmation, if the registration cannot be confirmed, an exchange connection process is performed in step S2 '. If the answering machine is registered, in step S3, a group () including the called party is added from the group area (GRP) of the user data area A1D of the called party (user A1) shown in FIG. (Group data)

As a result, if it does not belong to any group, in step S3 ', the voice storage device 2 is accessed to activate the personal answering service, and the personal reply message is returned. Then, if necessary, messages are accumulated. Further, as a result of step S3, if the user belongs to a certain specific group, in step S4, the belonging group data area GD indicating the state of the group (here, the belonging group data area GD shown in FIG. 4 is assumed. Then, a search is made for a telephone 3 that is in an empty state in the group and does not implement the answering service.

As a result, if there is a telephone 3 which is free and has not been registered as an answering machine, the telephone 3 is exchange-connected and received in step S4 '. If there is a telephone 3 that is not registered as an answering machine, but there is no free space, the caller is notified of busy. As a result of step S4,
If there is no telephone that has not been registered as an answering machine, step S5.
At, the voice storage device 2 is accessed to activate the voice mail service of the group. Then, as a result, the voice storage device 2 executes the operations of the following steps S6 to S10.

That is, the voice accumulator 2 operates in step S.
6, from the belonging group area (GRPV) of the user data area A1DV of the user A1 shown in FIG.
The group to which this user A1 belongs and the group data to which it belongs are obtained. As a result, the common response message area (GMSG) is checked from the obtained belonging group data area GDV (here, the belonging group data area is GDV according to the example of FIG. 9), and this group response message is Check if it is prepared.

As a result, if the group response message GRMSG is prepared (here, the group response message is GRMSG, due to the example of FIG. 9), the voice storage device 2 executes the step S7. It will be returned to the caller. If there is no message, the process proceeds to step S8. When the caller receives the group response message GRMSG or recognizes that this message is not registered, in step S8, the message is stored in the group or the designated telephone if necessary. Then, in step S9, the message message is connected to the end of the link.

When the connection is completed, step S1
At 0, the group message presence / absence area (MSGN) of the data areas of all users belonging to the group is turned from OFF to ON to indicate that there is a group message (see user data areas (A1DV, A2DV) in FIG. 9). In each of the above operations, the group answering machine registration process when the personal response message is not returned is completed.

That is, the steps S1 to S10 in the case where the above personal response message is not returned are summarized as follows.
If there is an incoming call to the telephone set 3 registered in the answering machine before all the telephone sets 3 belonging to this group are registered in the answering machine, the other telephone set 3 which is not registered in the answering machine is called. On the other hand, if all the telephones 3 belonging to this group are registered in the answering machine, and then there is an incoming call to the telephones 3 registered in the answering machine, the answering machine reply message registered in the group is returned and the message of the caller is recorded. Is allowed.

As described above, in the answering service system in which the exchange 1 and the voice storage device 2 cooperate to realize the answering service, some telephones 3 are collected to form a group, and all the telephones 3 register the answering machine. If there is an incoming call to the telephone set 3 that has been registered as an answering machine before it is sent, the empty telephone set 3 will receive the incoming call, and if there is an incoming call after all the telephone sets 3 have been registered as answering machine, the answering machine response registered in the group By sending back a message and allowing the caller's message to be recorded, if the caller can be anyone in the group, even if they call the phone 3 in the group that is in the answering machine, the answering machine is registered in the group. If you have a phone 3 that you have not done, you can directly use the available phone 3 without having to speak a message or disconnect and call again.
You can talk to people in the group. Also, this telephone 3
If is busy, it can be recognized.

Further, even when all the members of the group are out of the office, the caller can receive the group response message, so that it is possible to recognize that all the members are out of the house with only one access. .. By the way, when returning the personal response message, each operation as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 10 is performed.

That is, when the caller (user B1) accesses the private branch exchange 1 and dials the telephone number of the other party (user A1), the private branch exchange 1 returns the above personal response message in steps T1 to T3. If not, the process is performed in the same manner as steps S1 to S3. Then, by such processing, the called party (user A1)
When a group (belonging group data) including is obtained, the process proceeds to step T4.

The private branch exchange 1, in step T4,
When the group including the callee is recognized, the contents of the personal response message required / unnecessary area (IMSG) of the user data area A1D of the user A1 shown in FIG. 4 are confirmed. As a result, if the personal response message of the user A1 is not requested, the process proceeds to step T5, and if it is requested, the process proceeds to step T4 '.

If a personal response message is requested,
In step T4 ', the called party number is set to the voice storage device 2
And the voice storage device 2 is accessed and the voice mail service of the group is activated. As a result, the voice accumulating device 2 performs the operations of steps T7 to T17 in the figure. That is, when the voice mail service of the group is activated, the voice storage device 2 at step T7, the user data area A of the user A1 shown in FIG.
1DV is calculated from the called party number.

Then, from the belonging group area (GRPV) of this data area, the group to which the user A1 belongs and the belonging group data thereof are obtained (now,
Here, the belonging group data area obtained is referred to as GDV in FIG. 11). Further, the personal response message area (IRMSG) of this data is checked to confirm whether or not this group response message is prepared.

As a result, if the personal response message is prepared, the voice storage device 2 registers the personal response message area (IMSG) of the user data area A1DV of FIG. 11 in step T8. The response message A1IMSG is returned. On the other hand, if the personal response message is not prepared, the previous step T8 is skipped, and the voice storage device 2 proceeds to step T8.
9, the personal message message from the sender to the recipient is recorded in the message message head area (IMSGH) and the message message head tail (IMSGT) of the user data area A1DV of FIG.

After that, the voice accumulator 2 operates at step T.
In step 10, the telephone group 3 which is empty and is not registered in the answering machine is searched from the belonging group data area GDV obtained in step T7. As a result, if the telephone 3 which is not registered in the answering machine is found, the private branch exchange 1 is requested to connect to the telephone 3 in step T16. Then, the private branch exchange 1 that has received the request for connection from the voice storage device 2 performs a connection process to the designated telephone 3 in step T17.

On the other hand, when the telephone 3 which is not registered in the answering machine cannot be found, the voice accumulating device 2 proceeds to step T.
11, belonging group data area GD of FIG.
The presence / absence of the response message of the belonging group is confirmed from the common response message presence / absence area (GRMSG) of V.
As a result, when the response message is confirmed, the voice storage device 2 determines in step T12 the common response message area (G) of the belonging group data area GDV of FIG.
Group response message G registered in MSG)
Return RMSG. If it cannot be confirmed, the process in step T12 is skipped and the process proceeds to step T13.

If the response message cannot be confirmed in the previous step T11, or if the group response message GRMSG is returned in step T12, the voice accumulating device 2 follows these processes in step T13. , Record a message from the caller. After that, the voice storage device 2 performs the step T
In 14, the message message is connected to the end of the link, and in step T15, the group message presence / absence area (MSGN) of the data areas of all users belonging to the group is turned from OFF to ON, and the group message is present. (User data area (A1DV,
A2DV))).

By the way, in the previous step T4, when the personal response message of the user A1 is requested, the private branch exchange 1 and the voice storage device 2 perform the processing of the following step T5 and thereafter. That is, in step T5, the private branch exchange 1 determines from the belonging group data area GD (tentatively, here, the belonging group data area GD shown in FIG. 4) indicating the state of the group of the called party, within the group. It's empty,
Moreover, the telephone 3 which does not provide the answering service is searched.

As a result, when there is a telephone 3 which is free and has not been registered for answering machine, the private branch exchange 1 proceeds to step T.
At 5 ', the telephone 3 is exchanged and connected to receive the call. If there is a telephone that has not been registered as an answering machine, but there is no free space, the caller is notified of busy. On the other hand, as a result of step T5, when there is no telephone that has not been registered in the answering machine, the private branch exchange 1 accesses the voice storage device 2 and activates the answering machine service of the group in step T6. Then, the voice storage device 2 executes the processes of steps T11 to T15 described above.

In each of the above operations, the group answering machine registration process when the personal response message is returned is completed. Then, the steps T1 to T15 in the case of returning the above personal response message are summarized as follows. That is, when there is an incoming call to a specific telephone terminal that is registered as an answering machine, the answering machine reply message that is registered in the specific telephone terminal is returned, and then there is a free telephone terminal that is not registered as an answering machine in the group. And, it makes an incoming call to this empty telephone terminal.

On the other hand, when all the telephone terminals belonging to this group are registered in the answering machine, the answering machine reply message registered in the group is returned to permit the recording of the message of the caller. In this way, in the answering service system in which the exchange 1 and the voice storage device 2 cooperate to realize the answering service, some telephones 3 are collected to form a group, and the specific telephones 3 registered in the answering machine 3 When there is an incoming call, the telephone 3 sends back the answering machine reply message, and when there is an empty telephone 3, the incoming call is made to this, while when all the telephones 3 belonging to this group are registered in the answering machine, By allowing the caller to record the message by sending back the reply message of, even if the caller is any of the group, even if the call is placed on the telephone 3 in the group where the answering machine is registered, After listening to the person's personal response message, if there is a telephone 3 that is not in the answering machine in the group, speak the message or disconnect and call again. That need not, directly using the telephone 3 of the free, it is possible to call the people of the group. Further, when the telephone 3 is busy, it can be recognized.

Even when all members of the group are out of the office, the caller can receive both the personal response message and the group response message of the designated person with only one access. By the way, next, a case where a person in a group receives a message addressed to his / her group will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

That is, the sender, in step U1,
The voice storage device 2 is accessed by the telephone number in the group. Then, in step U2, the voice storage device 2 indicates whether or not the telephone subscriber belongs to the group, as shown in FIG.
It is determined by V). As a result, if the user does not belong, the personal answering service is performed, and then the process ends.

However, if it is recognized that the accessed telephone subscriber belongs to the group, the voice storage device 2
In step U3, the presence or absence of a message addressed to the group is checked, and if there is a message addressed to the group as a result, this is notified to this telephone subscriber. After that, the voice storage device 2 sends the access person
Check whether you need or do not need to receive the message. As a result, if unnecessary, the process is terminated. When the accessor requests the reception of the message message, the group message message is reproduced in step U5.

In each of the above operations, anyone in the group is allowed to receive the message. In this way, the process is completed when the person in the group receives the message addressed to his / her group. Step U in the case of receiving such a message addressed to the group
The summary of 1 to U5 is as follows.

That is, if there is a message message addressed to the group at the time of accessing the voice storage device 2 with the telephone number in the group, after notifying that, a message message can be sent to any person in the group. Is allowed to be received. In this way, if there is a message addressed to the group when accessing the voice storage device 2 with the telephone number in the group, after notifying that, anyone in the group is allowed to receive the message. By doing so, only the people in the group can freely listen to the message message applied to their own group.

[0061]

As described above in detail, according to the group answering service system of the present invention, in the answering service system for realizing the answering service by the switch and the voice storage device connected to the switch working together. If you receive an incoming call to a telephone terminal that is registered as an answering machine before all the telephone terminals that belong to this group are registered as an answering machine, another telephone answering machine will be collected. When an incoming call is made to an unregistered telephone terminal while all the telephone terminals belonging to this group have been registered as an answering machine, and there is an incoming call to a telephone terminal that is registered as an answering machine, an answering machine reply message registered in the group By sending back a call and allowing the caller's message to be recorded, the caller knows with a single call whether everyone in the group is out. It can, it is possible to leave a message, if there is a space of a telephone terminal, can also be advantageously to incoming therein.

In the answering service system in which the exchange and the voice storage device connected to the exchange cooperate to realize the answering service, some telephone terminals accommodated in the exchange are collected to form a group. When an incoming call arrives at a specific telephone terminal that is registered as an answering machine, after returning an answering machine reply message registered at the specific telephone terminal, if there is a free telephone terminal that is not registered as an answering machine in the group, this empty While making an incoming call to the telephone terminal,
If all the telephone terminals that belong to this group are registered in the answering machine, the answering message registered in the group is returned to allow the caller to record the message, so that There is an advantage that you can know whether or not you are away from a designated person individually with a single phone call, and you can leave a message for both the entire group and the designated person. Even if the telephone terminal that received the call is an answering machine registration, if there is an empty telephone terminal in the group, there is an advantage that the telephone call can be received there.

Further, if there is a message addressed to the group at the time of accessing the voice storage device with a telephone number within the group, after notifying that, a person within the group allows reception of the message. This has the advantage that only people in the group can hear the recorded message in their own group.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a network according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configurations of a private branch exchange and a voice storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating disc registration data according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating data held by a private branch exchange according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an operation of an answering machine registration method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an operation of an answering machine registration method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an operation in one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating registration data of a disc according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating registration data of a disc according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Private Branch Exchange (Exchange) 1-1 Line control unit 1-2 Voice storage device control unit 1-3 Connection control unit 1-4 Data control unit 2 Voice storage device 2-1 Procedure control unit 2-2 Line control unit 2- 3 data control unit 2-4 voice data control unit 2-5 message management unit 2-6 disk 3 telephone (telephone terminal) 4 main control unit 5 main storage unit 6 file 7 trunk circuit

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Katsuaki Tachain 3-9-18 Shin-Yokohama, Kohoku Ward, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture Fujitsu Communication Systems Ltd.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An exchange (1) and an audio storage device (2) connected to the exchange (1) cooperate with each other, and are accommodated in the exchange (1) in an answering service system for realizing an answering service. Several telephone terminals (3) are collected to form a group, and before all the telephone terminals (3) belonging to this group are registered in the answering machine, there is an incoming call to the telephone terminal (3) registered in the answering machine. And another empty telephone terminal (3) not registered in the answering machine is called, while all the telephone terminals (3) belonging to this group are all registered in the answering machine, and then the telephone terminals (3) registered in the answering machine. When there is an incoming call, the group answering service system is characterized in that the answering machine reply message registered in the group is returned to allow the caller to record a message. 2. An exchange (1) and an audio storage device (2) connected to the exchange (1) cooperate with each other, and are accommodated in the exchange (1) in an answering service system for realizing an answering service. When several telephone terminals (3) are collected to form a group and an incoming call arrives at a specific telephone terminal (3) that is registered as an answering machine, an answering machine response that is registered at the specific telephone terminal (3). After returning the message, if there is a vacant telephone terminal (3) in the group that is not registered as an answering machine, the vacant telephone terminal (3) receives the call, while all telephone terminals (3) belonging to this group A group answering machine service method characterized in that when all the answering machines are registered, the answering machine reply message registered in the group is returned to allow recording of the message of the caller. 3. A telephone set (3) in the group, when accessing the voice storage device (2), if there is a message addressed to the group, after notifying that, any telephone in the group The group answering service system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein reception at the terminal (3) is permitted.