JPH05344225A - Connection method for conference call - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To efficiently perform the connection processing of a terminal participating after a conference call starts, regarding the connection method for the conference call in a private branch exchange. CONSTITUTION:This connection method for conference call is provided with a conference call registration information storage means 1 storing a conference call connection number and a personal code number to be inputted from an arbitrary terminal 10 within a control part 11 of a private branch exchange, a conference call state storage means 2 storing that a conference call connection terminal 10a having the conference call connection number is in a conference call state, a conference call participation request processing means 3 confirming the conference call state of the conference call connection terminal 10a when the conference call connection number is inputted from a participation request terminal 10c after the conference call starts and connecting the participation request terminal 10c with a personal code number reception means 5 when the conference is in the process, a conference call connection control means 4 comparing the personal code number inputted from the participation request terminal with the personal code number stored in the conference call registration information storage means 1, connecting the participation request terminal 10c with a conference call circuit 13 when both of them coincide, and performing a connection regulation when the coincidence is not obtained.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method of connecting a conference call in a private branch exchange. In recent years, a private branch exchange having a conference call function that allows three or more terminals to make a call at the same time is becoming widespread.

The conventional method of connecting a conference call is generally such that the convener of the telephone conference calls the prospective participants of the conference sequentially, but when the call is made, the prospective participants of the conference are busy. In this case, the call must be made again, and if a conference call is started excluding the conference participants who are busy, the conference participants who were busy may join the conference call directly by dialing. As a result, the convener of the conference call has required a great deal of effort to bring all the scheduled participants into the conference call.

For this reason, a conference participant who was unable to attend the conference call at the start of the conference call can directly participate in the conference call by dialing, and the connection is restricted even if a person other than the conference participant dials. A method of connecting a conference call is required.

[0004]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a private branch exchange having a conventional conference call function. For simplification of explanation, one of a plurality of extension telephones (hereinafter simply referred to as telephones) 10 of the private branch exchange (hereinafter referred to as telephone A) serves as the convener of the conference call, and any three telephones 10 A method of connecting a conference call in the related art will be described on the assumption that the four parties of the telephones A to D make a conference call by calling (phones B to D).

When the telephone set A dials the extension number of the telephone set B as the first conference participant, the dial information is transmitted to the central control unit (hereinafter referred to as CC) 31 by a well-known method, and the CC 31 is a communication path drive unit. (Hereinafter, referred to as LSC) 17 controls a communication network (hereinafter, referred to as NW) 12, and a subscriber circuit (hereinafter, referred to as LC) 14 of a telephone B is provided with a call signal transmission circuit (hereinafter referred to as R).
G) 20 is connected and a call signal is sent to the telephone set B. Also, at this time, CC31 causes the telephone A to ring a ring circuit (hereinafter,
RBT) 21 is connected and a ringing tone is sent to the telephone set A.

When telephone B answers, CC31 identifies the response via LC14 and subscriber line scanning device (LSCN) 15 and controls NW12 via LSC16 to direct telephone B to the extension intercommunication circuit (hereinafter IOT). While connecting to 17,
Connect phone A to the same IOT17 (below, unless otherwise required, LC14, LSCN15, LSC16 and NW12
Is omitted). In this state, the telephone set A makes a two-party call via the telephone set B and the IOT 17, and notifies that a conference call will be made.

Next, when the telephone set A hooks, the telephone set A becomes dialable by a known method, and a holding tone circuit (hereinafter, HDT) 19 sends a holding tone to the telephone set B. In this state, the telephone set A calls the telephone set C as the next conference participant. At this time, a telephone number for identifying a request for a predetermined conference call (hereinafter referred to as a conference call special number) and the telephone set. Dial the extension number of C. When the telephone C is called by the processing similar to the above and the telephone C answers, the telephone A and the telephone C
Make a two-way call via 17. After phone A notifies phone C that a conference call will be made, and then hooking is performed,
The telephones A, B, and C are connected to a conference call circuit (hereinafter, CFT) 13 to enable a three-way call.

When the telephone A performs hooking to call the telephone D of the next conference participant, the telephone A becomes in a dialable state, the HDT 19 is doubly connected to the telephones B and C, and the hold tone is transmitted. It

The telephone set A dials the extension number of the telephone set D, and when the telephone set D answers, the two-party call is made via the IOT 17 as described above. When the telephone A hooks, the telephone A and the telephone D are connected to the CFT 13, and the HDT 19 that has transmitted the hold tone to the telephones B and C is disconnected. Therefore, the telephones A to D make a four-way call, that is, a conference. The call starts.

Next, a case will be described in which, for example, since telephone D cannot be connected because it is busy, telephones A to C start a conference call for the time being, and telephone D joins later.

Since the telephone conference is usually notified in advance by a document or the like, the telephone D is not called even if the telephone conference holding time has passed, or was not called because the user was busy. I can understand that. In such a case, the telephone D is called by the telephone caller A of the convener.
Dial the extension number. At this time, since the telephone set A is in a conference call, the CC 31 connects the telephone set D to the second dial tone circuit (SDT) 18 so that the telephone number can be received.

When the telephone D dials a number (hereinafter referred to as a participation request special number) for identifying that the telephone D is a request for participation in a predetermined conference call, the CC 31 causes the telephone A to interrupt the tone circuit (hereinafter referred to as an interrupt sound circuit). , OVT) 32 is connected for a few seconds to send an interrupt sound, and the extension number of telephone D is displayed on the display unit (not shown) of telephone A.

Telephone A knows that telephone D has requested participation in the conference call from the interruption sound and the extension number displayed on the display. When the telephone D joins the conference call, the telephone A hooks and the other telephones B,
After C is put on hold, a number (hereinafter, additional connection request special number) for identifying an additional connection request for a predetermined conference call is dialed. When CC31 receives this request, it connects telephone D to CFT13. When the telephone A hooks, conference calls can be made by the telephones A to D.

As described above, in FIG. 4, it is possible to join a telephone that could not participate at the beginning of the conference call later, but telephone A, the convener of the conference call, joins later during the conference call. Check whether the extension number of the requested telephone is the extension number of the other party to join the conference call, and when joining, it is necessary to perform operations such as dialing an additional connection request special number and There is a problem of interruption.

[0015]

When a conference call is held in the prior art, there is a telephone that cannot be connected at the beginning of the conference call due to busy or the like, and the telephone later requests to participate in the conference call. In this case, the convener of the conference call needs to confirm the participant who requested participation by the extension number displayed on his / her own telephone during the conference, and to request an additional connection for that telephone by dial operation, which makes the operation complicated. Moreover, there is a drawback that the conference call is interrupted. Further, there is a restriction that the telephone used by the convener of the conference call must be a telephone with a display in order to display the extension number of the telephone requesting participation later.

An object of the present invention is to efficiently perform connection processing of terminals that participate after a conference call is started.

[0017]

FIG. 1 illustrates the principle of the present invention. In the figure, 10 and 10a to 10d are terminals accommodated in a private branch exchange having a conference call function, 11 is a control unit for controlling the private branch exchange, 12 is a communication path network, and 13 is a conference call circuit.

Reference numeral 1 is a conference call registration information storage means for storing a conference call connection number and a personal identification number inputted from an arbitrary terminal 10 prior to holding a conference call, and 2 is a conference call connection terminal 10a having the conference call connection number. The conference call state storage means 3 for storing whether or not the conference call is in progress is provided when the conference call connection number is input from the participation request terminal 10c for requesting participation in the conference call after the conference call is started. Whether or not the conference call connection terminal 10a is in a conference is confirmed via the storage means 2, and if the conference call connection terminal 10a is in the conference, the telephone network 12
To control the participation request terminal 10c to access the personal identification number receiving means 5
The conference call participation request processing means 4 connected to the conference call registration request processing means 4 receives the personal identification number input from the participation request terminal 10c from the personal identification number receiving means 5 and stores the personal identification number stored in the conference call registration information storage means 1. In comparison, if the two match, the participation request terminal 10c is connected to the conference call circuit 13, and if they do not match, the conference call connection control means 5 for restricting the connection of the participation request terminal 10c receives the password. It is a personal identification number receiving means.

[0019]

In FIG. 1, the convener of the telephone conference registers the conference call connection number and the personal identification number from the arbitrary terminal 10 in advance in the private branch exchange before the conference is held. The conference call connection number input at this time specifies the extension number of the terminal used by the convener during the conference call, for example, the terminal 10a. In the private branch exchange, the conference call registration information storage means 1 in the control unit 11 stores the conference call connection number and the personal identification number.

When the time for holding the conference call arrives in this state, the convener of the conference call has the terminal having the extension number designated by the conference call connection number, that is, the conference call connection terminal 10a and the terminal 10b (1 Or show multiple terminals)
And sequentially call the terminal 10c. When the call is completed, the called terminals 10a and 10b are connected to the conference call circuit 13
To connect to and make a conference call.

In the above, for example, if the terminal 10c cannot be called because the terminal 10c is busy and a conference call is started excluding the terminal 10c, the conference call state storage means 2 has the conference call connection number as an extension number at that time. It is remembered that the telephone 10a is in a meeting.

When the terminal 10c that could not participate in the conference call at the start of the conference call sends the conference call connection number to request the participation in the conference call afterwards in order to participate in the conference call,
The conference call participation request processing means 3 receives this request and, via the conference call state storage means 2, the conference call connection terminal.
It is confirmed whether or not 10a is in a conference, and if it is in a conference, the call path network 12 is controlled to connect the participation requesting terminal 10c to the personal identification number receiving means 5.

When the participation request terminal 10c is notified of the connection of the personal identification number receiving means 5 by means not shown and the participation request terminal 10c sends the personal identification number, the personal identification number receiving means 5 is received.
Receiving this, the conference call connection control means 4 in the control unit 1
Send to. The conference call connection control means 4 compares the received personal identification number with the personal identification number registered in advance in the conference call registration information storage means 1.

As a result of the comparison, if they match, the conference call connection control means 4 connects the participation request terminal 10c to the conference call circuit 13 and the other terminals 10a, 10b that have already started the conference call.
Add the participation request terminal 10c to the conference call. If the comparison results do not match, the conference call connection control means 4 restricts the connection without connecting the participation request terminal 10c to the conference call circuit 13.

In FIG. 1, as described above, it is possible to participate in the conference call only by operating the terminal which will participate later, and it is possible for a person other than the conference participant who does not know the personal identification number to participate in the conference. In this case, since the connection is restricted, the convener of the conference call does not need to perform an operation for adding an additional participant during the conference call, and the conference call is not interrupted. That is, the connection process of the participation request terminal after the start of the conference call is efficiently performed.

[0026]

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a flow chart of an embodiment of the present invention. Throughout the drawings, the same symbols represent the same object, 1 is a conference call registration information storage unit, 2
Is a conference call state storage unit, 3 is a conference call participation request processing unit,
4 is a conference call connection control unit, 5 is a personal identification number receiving unit (hereinafter,
PSR), 10 is a telephone, 11 is a CC (central control unit, which corresponds to the control unit 1 in FIG. 1), 12 is a NW (call path network),
13 is a CFT (conference call circuit), 14 is a subscriber circuit (L
C), 15 is LSCN (subscriber line scanning device), 16 is LSC
(Call path drive), 17 IOT (extension intercommunication circuit), 18 SDT (second dial tone circuit), 19 HDT
(Holding tone circuit), 20 is RG (ringing signal sending circuit), 21 is RBT (ringing tone circuit), 22 is OVT (interrupting tone circuit), 23
Is a ROT (restricted sound circuit) and 24 is a BT (busy sound circuit).

Hereinafter, referring to FIG. 2, one of the telephones 10 (corresponding to the terminal 10 in FIG. 1, but hereinafter referred to as telephones A to N when referring to individual telephones) (telephone A
And 1 corresponds to the telephone 10a) and serves as a convener of the conference call, and any three of the telephones 10 (phones B to D. equivalent to the telephones 10b to 10c in FIG. 1) and a conference call with four parties. The operation when performing is described.

The convener of the conference call is
Register the conference call schedule in advance. Register any phone 1
0, for example, dials a predetermined conference schedule registration special number from the telephone set A, and then dials a conference call connection number and an arbitrarily determined secret code number. The conference call connection number is the extension number of the telephone used by the convener when making a conference call, and when making a conference call by having a person other than the conference call participant join the conference room, etc. Specify the extension number of the telephone installed in the conference room.
Here, from the convenience of the explanation, the extension number of the telephone A is used as the conference call connection number.

The conference call connection number and the personal identification number dialed by the telephone set A are received by the CC 11 by a known method and stored in the conference call registration information storage unit 1. Even if a plurality of registrations are made, the conference call registration information storage unit 1 stores the personal identification number corresponding to the conference call connection number, so that no confusion occurs.

The convener of the telephone conference performs the above registration and informs the prospective participants of the conference of the date and time of the conference, the conference call connection number, the personal identification number, etc. in advance by a document or telephone.

When the time for starting the conference call arrives, the convener of the conference call sequentially calls the prospective participants of the conference (phones B to D in this case) from the telephone A having the conference call connection number. Since the contents are the same as those described in the technology, detailed description will be omitted. If all the participants in the conference call respond, the telephones A to D are CF
Start a conference call in the form of a four-way call via T13.

In the above, when the telephone set A sequentially calls the telephone sets B to D, a part of the telephone set, for example, the telephone set D cannot be called because the telephone set is busy. For the time being, the three parties of the telephone sets A to C start a conference call. It is assumed that The operation when the telephone D participates in the conference call in this state will be described below with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. Note that S1 to S15 are shown in FIG.
Each step in is shown.

At the time when the telephones A to C start a conference call, the telephones A to C are connected to the CFT 13 as described in the prior art, and when the telephone A performs hooking, the three telephones A to C are connected. The conference call is started (S1 in FIG. 3). At this time, the conference call state storage unit 2 in CC11 stores that the conference call connection number corresponding to the extension number of the telephone set A is in the state of conference call.

In this state, in order for the telephone D to participate in the conference call, a predetermined conference participation request identification number (hereinafter referred to as a participation request special number) and a conference call connection number previously notified, that is, When the extension number of the telephone A is dialed (S2), the conference call participation request processing unit 3 in CC11
The conference call connection number is sent to.

Upon receiving this conference call connection number, the conference call participation request processing unit 3 accesses the conference call state storage unit 2 to determine whether or not the telephone (phone A) having the received conference call connection number is in a conference call. Is confirmed (S3).

As described above, the telephone A is in the conference call, but if it is not in the conference call, the conference call participation request processing unit 3 shifts to the same process as the normal connection process (S4 → S).
5). That is, if the telephone set A is idle, the NW 12 is controlled via the LSC 16 and the RG 20 is connected to the telephone set A to set up the telephone set A.
A call signal is sent to the telephone D and the RBT 21 is connected to the telephone D to send a ring tone (S5 → S6). If telephone A is busy, BT24 is connected to telephone D to send a busy tone (S7).

The telephone D dialed in order to participate in the conference call later. By receiving these signal tones, it is possible to know that the conference call is not started. When listening to, it is possible to wait for a response from the telephone A and directly check the start prospect of the conference call or the like by calling.

When the telephone A is in the conference call, the conference call participation request processing unit 3 sets the PSR 5 to the telephone D via the NW 12.
Then, the conference call connection number received earlier at this time is transferred to the conference call connection control unit 4 (FIG. 3).
(Not shown). The PSR 5 sends out a predetermined signal tone, for example, a second dial tone, to the telephone D (S8). When the telephone D hears the second dial tone and dials the previously notified personal identification number, the personal identification number is sent to the conference call connection control unit 4 in CC11 via PSR5 (S).
9).

Upon receiving the personal identification number, the conference call connection control unit 4 accesses the conference call registration information storage unit 1 and reads the personal identification number number corresponding to the conference call connection number transferred from the conference call participation request processing unit 3. The received password is compared (S10).

As a result of the comparison, if the personal identification numbers do not match, the conference call connection control unit 4 connects the ROT 23 to the telephone D, and informs that it cannot participate in the conference call by the restriction sound (S11 → S12). If the personal identification numbers match, the conference call connection control unit 4 calls OVT22 on the telephone A.
Then, the OVT 22 and the telephone set A are disconnected after a few seconds (S13). Next, the conference call connection control unit 4 connects the telephone D to the CFT 13 (S14). As a result, a conference call is made by the four parties including the telephone D (S15).

As described above, in FIG. 2, since the telephones that could not participate in the conference at the start of the conference call can participate in the conference call later by their own operation, the convener of the conference call can add additional participants. There is no need to interrupt the conference to take action.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, FIGS. 2 and 3 merely describe one embodiment of the present invention. It is needless to say that the contents are not limited to those shown in FIG.

For example, in FIG. 2, the conference call registration information storage unit 1 and the conference call state storage unit 2 are provided in CC11, but they are usually connected to CC11 via a bus or the like. It is clear that the effect of the present invention does not change even if it is stored in (not shown).

2 and 3, telephone D
Explained that when dialing a request to join, the normal ringing tone or busy tone is returned if the telephone number A of the conference call connection number is not in a conference call. A talkie sound notifying that it has not started is returned to the telephone D, and a talkie sound notifying that the conference call cannot be joined instead of transmitting the restriction sound when the personal identification numbers do not match is given to the telephone D. Even if it is returned, the effect of the present invention does not change.

In addition, the configuration of various circuits shown in FIG.
The name and connection relationship are modified according to the private branch exchange to which the present invention is applied, for example, a PB receiver is connected to SDT18 or PSR5, or the function of PSR5 accommodated in NW12, that is, the personal identification number receiving unit is CC11. Installed inside, telephone D
Even if the personal identification number sent from the personal computer is received by the personal identification number receiving unit in CC11 via LSCN15, the effect of the present invention does not change.

[0046]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Phones that could not join the conference at the beginning of the conference call due to reasons such as being busy can use the PIN code and can later join the conference call only by their own operations. This eliminates the need to interrupt the conference and perform operations. In addition, since it is not necessary to determine whether the phone to be joined later is a conference participant based on the extension number of the participation request phone, the burden on the convener of the conference call is reduced and the conference call is used. Since the convener's telephone does not have to be a telephone with a display, there are less restrictions on holding a conference call.

As described above, the present invention greatly contributes to reducing the burden on the user of the conference call in the private branch exchange, improving the efficiency of the conference call, and reducing the constraint conditions for holding the conference call.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of the principle of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 conference call registration information storage means 2 conference call state storage means 3 conference call participation request processing means 4 conference call connection control means 5 personal identification number receiving means 10, 10a to 10d terminals 11 control unit 12 call path network 13 conference call circuit

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A conference in which a control unit (11) for controlling a private branch exchange having a conference call function stores a conference call connection number and a personal identification number input from an arbitrary terminal (10) prior to holding a conference call. Call registration information storage means (1), and a conference call connection terminal (10a) having the conference call connection number
Conference state storage means (2) for storing whether or not the conference call is in progress, and a participation request terminal for requesting participation in the conference call after the conference call is started.
When the conference call connection number is input from (10c),
The conference call status storage means (2) is used to check whether the conference call connection terminal (10a) is in a conference, and if it is, the call network (12) is controlled to join the conference. Request terminal (1
0c) is connected to the personal identification number receiving means (5), the conference call participation request processing means (3), and the personal identification number input from the participation requesting terminal (10c) is received from the personal identification number receiving means (5). The conference call registration information storage means (1) is compared with the personal identification number, and when the two match, the participation request terminal (10c) is connected to the conference call circuit (13). Participation request terminal (10
c) The conference call connection control means (4) for restricting the connection is provided, and whether or not the conference call participation of the conference call participation request terminal after the start of the conference call is determined by the secret code, and the connection or the connection is regulated. How to connect a conference call.