JPS60142664A - Information processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To interchange a speech message freely with a telephone set connected through a communication controller by providing a work station with a speech input and output mechanism. CONSTITUTION:A transfer destination, ID number, message length, etc., are inputted by using the display device 10 and keyboard 11 provided to the work station 9 and then a speech message is inputted through a microphone 13. Then the message is AD-converted, data-compressed, and stored in speech data memory 8. This is read with a command READ from a CPU1 and stored in the speech mail box of an addressee through a main storage device 2. On the other hand, the selection number of a system is dialed on a telephone set to connect a circuit and then the ID number and memorized number of an addresser are inputted. The CPU1 checks the message of the addressee in the speech mail box on the basis of said input numbers and transfers it to the telephone set.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to an information processing system having a T-submail transmission function between workstations, and in particular, to an information processing system having a voice input/output function in a workstation.

The present invention relates to an information processing system that transmits messages using voice data in the same way as e-mails, and that allows inquiries about the status of incoming and outgoing calls from a telephone.

[Prior art]

In conventional information processing systems, code data is the main processing target, and voice data is almost irrelevant. However, as the digitization of audio signals and data compression technology progress, these functions have been changed to LS?
It became possible to

Recently, voice input/output has become possible with various devices including personal computers.

Regarding voice, data compression technology and voice recognition technology are being rapidly developed, but the former mainly generates voice by converting it into ROM, and the latter encodes voice. The main content of current audio processing devices is input/output conversion between audio and code, and the audio data itself.

There is no transfer to various worksites or terminals within the system.

On the other hand, in conventional e-mail systems, e-mails exchanged between multiple workstations or terminals connected via communication lines are difficult to communicate without looking at the workstations or terminals. The sender does not know whether the other party has seen the content or not.1
The receiving party does not know whether the email was delivered to him or not. However, workstations are not always nearby, and there is no way to check them when you are out and about.

[Object and main points of the invention]

A first object of the present invention is to provide a means that allows voice data to flow freely in a computer in the same way as code data. in particular.

A function that allows each workstation to be equipped with a microphone and speaker so that calls can be made between workstations in the same way as a telephone, and a function that temporarily stores voice mail in the form of secondary memory and can later recall and listen to it. It also has a broadcast notification function that sends the same audio to multiple departments.

In addition, a voice conversion circuit is added to one communication control device and connected to a private branch exchange or subscriber telephone line so that voice message transmission can be carried out even in places where there is no workstation. This makes it possible to exchange voice between local telephones, nationwide subscriber telephones, and each workstation.

A second object of the present invention is to make it possible to know the status of the other party's response to the outgoing e-mail, and the status of incoming e-mail to oneself, by voice using a telephone. Specifically, from Works Chiron's voice input mechanism during email registration.

Messages such as the sender's name, destination name, title 1, and a brief explanation are input by voice, and these messages are added to the code data of the e-mail.

In addition, the e-mail incoming and outgoing management function will be equipped with voice guidance and response functions for inquiries. As a result, the receiving party can hear the caller's name, title, and content through the telephone, and the calling party can confirm the call and know whether the receiving party has responded or not.

[Structure of the invention]

The structure of the present invention according to the above object is as follows.

(1) The CPU, main memory, secondary memory, workstations, and telephone set through the switchboard.

In an information processing system that includes a communication control device for transmitting and receiving audio signals, and that transmits e-mail between workstations, the workstation is provided with audio data input/output means, and further includes audio data input/output means for inputting data from the workstation or telephone. means for accumulating audio data in a secondary storage device;

It is characterized by comprising means for calling the voice data stored in the secondary storage device from another workstation or telephone and sending it as a voice mail, and further comprising (2) a CPU, a main storage device, and a secondary storage device. In an information processing system that includes a storage device, a group of workstations, and a communication control device for transmitting and receiving voice signals to and from a telephone set through an exchange, and transmits e-mail between workstations, voice data is input and output to the workstations. further comprising means for storing voice data input from the workstation or telephone in a secondary storage device;

means for transmitting the voice data stored in the secondary storage device by calling another workstation or telephone; and means for transmitting the voice data stored in the secondary storage device by calling another workstation or telephone. It manages the incoming and outgoing status of e-mail or voice mail transmitted between the means for sending e-mail and the workstation.

The present invention is characterized in that it includes a means for responding by voice to an appointment from a button-type telephone.

[Embodiments of the invention]

The details of the present invention will be explained below based on examples.

FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of a system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a CPU, 2 is a main storage device, 3 is a secondary storage device such as a disk device, 4 is a communication control device, 5 is a private branch exchange,
6 is a private telephone connected to the private branch exchange 5; 7 is a subscriber telephone exchange; 8 is a subscriber telephone; and 9 is a workstation having a voice input/output circuit.

FIG. 2 is a detailed view of the workstation 9. In the figure, 10 is a display, 11 is a keyboard, 12 is a workstation control unit, 13 is a microphone, and 14
1 is a speaker, 15 is an amplifier, 16 is an AD/DA conversion circuit, and 17 is an audio data compression/expansion circuit. 18
19 is a serial interface control circuit, and 20 is a cable.

From the serial interface control circuit 19, audio data is transferred to the audio data memory 18, and code data is transferred to the control section 12.

FIG. 3 is a detailed diagram of one communication control device 4. As shown in FIG. In the figure, 22
2 is a common part of the communication control device, and 23 is a line corresponding part. In the line support section 23, 24 is a voice adapter (VOA)
, 25 is an automatic calling adapter (AC
A), 26 is an audio response unit (ARU) including an audio amplifier and a PB double signal receiving circuit, and 27 is a network control unit (NCU). 28 is a normal data transmission adapter (LA), and 29 is a modem (M). V.O.A.

ACA and LA can be installed together in the line support section 23.

FIG. 4 is a more detailed diagram of the audio adapter 24. In the figure, 30 is an AD/DA conversion circuit, 31 is a compression/expansion circuit,
32 is an audio data memory.

33 is a PB code reception register for receiving the PB multiple signal from the ARU 26, 34 is a VOA control circuit, and 35 is a common part interface circuit.

Next, the voice message transfer operation of this system will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. Let's take two arbitrary workstations and name them A and B.

Also, let C be one of the telephones in the premises or among the subscriber telephones. A
When operator B sends a voice message to B, the operator at B sends a voice message to B on display 10 on the workstation. After inputting information such as the transfer destination, ID number, password, message length, and whether to hold or call using the keyboard 11.

In accordance with an instruction sound (for example, a "beep" signal) indicating that input is possible from the speaker 14, a voice message is input from the microphone for a specified length.

After this is amplified by an amplifier 15, AD converted by 16, and further data compressed by 17, the audio data memory 1
It is stored in 8.

This is then read by a READ command from the CPUI, and stored in the recipient's voice mailbox in the secondary storage device 3 via the main storage device 2.

After this, if I had been instructed to stay in custody.

It is held in the secondary storage device 3 until it is listened to from workstation B (or another workstation).

After a person who is eligible to receive messages from workstation B enters their ID number and PIN, they check whether there are any incoming messages in their voice mailbox, and then 9 incoming calls appear on the display 10. A list of message senders 9, time of arrival, message length, etc. is displayed. Seeing this, operator B inputs the number of the message he wants to hear.

The CPUI retrieves audio data from the secondary storage device 3 according to instructions from workstation B.

WRI to audio data memory 18 of workstation B
Write by TE command. When the writing is completed, workstation B decompresses the compressed audio data and performs DA conversion at step 16.

Sound is emitted from the speaker 14 through the amplifier 15.

If the other side is not 1 reserved, workstation B
In response, the CPUI issues a command instructing the output of a ring tone. Then, via the serial interface control circuit '19 of workstation B, the speaker 14
A ring tone (for example, 1 peat, beep, beep") is output from the machine. People near work stage Jin B hear this.

By looking at the display 10, the user learns the name of the person who is calling and tells the person 2 (this is the same as when a normal telephone rings).

When the person enters his or her ID number and PIN, the CPUI transfers the audio data stored in the voice mail box of the secondary storage device 3, as in the case above, so the person 9 cannot listen to it. can. If it is an emergency, this calling method is used, and if it is not an emergency, it is left stored in the voice mailbox of the secondary storage device 3.

In case of emergency, if you want to notify phone C.

After sending the partner selection number from the automatic call adapter ACA25 of the communication control device 4 to the NCU 27 and connecting the two lines,
Send audio from the audio adapter VOA24.

When checking whether a message has arrived in your mailbox from telephone C, first dial the selected number of the connected system and connect the 9 lines. Then, input guidance is sent by voice from the communication control device 4.

Following this, the user inputs his or her ID number and password from telephone C (button type).

This signal is converted into code data by the PB signal receiving circuit of the ARU 26, and is notified to the CPU 1 via the VOA 24.

The CPUI checks whether there is a message in the voice mailbox based on this number, and if so, sends the code of the sender back to telephone C by voice. If you use the button to enter the number of the sender of the message you want to hear, the message will be forwarded and you can listen to it.

The above operations can be summarized into the combinations shown in Table 1.

Note that the telephone can also be the sender of messages.

Table 1 As described above, by providing the work stage machine with a voice input/output mechanism, it is possible to freely exchange voice messages with a telephone connected through the 9 communication control device. Also, since voice messages can be stored in the secondary storage device, if the message is not urgent, the receiving side can make a call and listen to the message.

Next, we will describe the operation of the voice response process for adjusting the status of a single call in the case of two-document e-mail. First, a document to be sent is created from the work stage engine 9. This is stored in the sender's file provided in the secondary storage device 3 in the data format shown in FIG. 36 is a header section containing the name of the sender of destination 1, a title, etc., and 37 is a main body section of the document.

Once the document creation is complete, enter the caller's name and title aloud from the microphone 13 of the work stage gin according to the instructions output from the speaker 1 (e.g. "Please enter the caller's name. beep"). . This audio is IS
The data is amplified in 16, AD converted in 16, compressed in 17, and stored in the audio data memory 18.
Read by EAD command. This is added as a voice message 38 after the document.

The e-mail thus created is transferred to the destination file (mailbox) in the secondary storage device 3. If the destination is a system located at another remote location, the data is transferred through one communication line. If the sender wants to check whether the e-mail has been read by the recipient, they can check the transmission status from their workstation, but if they do not have a workstation nearby, they can use a private telephone (button-type telephone). ) to make time.

First, when the telephone number of this system is input, a line is connected via the NCU 27. Then, the CPU 1 writes audio guidance audio data to the audio data memory 32 in the VOA 24 using a WRITE command according to the program, and when the program is finished, the vOA control circuit 34 expands and restores the data from the beginning.

It is DA converted and sent to the ARU 26 (voice response unit).

The ARU 26 outputs the audio signal to the telephone line after magnifying it with an amplifier. For example, the phone may display a message such as ``This is the e-mail center.'' You will hear a message similar to "Please enter your PIN."

Next, the caller enters his or her personal identification number using the button. This is coded by the multi-frequency signal receiving circuit in the ARU 26, received by the PB code receiving register 33 of the audio adapter VOA 24, and then read into the CPUI. As a result, if the other party is suitable for communication, a voice response will be sent again saying, ``Please enter '0'' to confirm an outgoing call, and '1' to confirm an incoming call. Then input '0'.

The CPU 1 refers to the incoming/outgoing call management table provided in the secondary storage device 3, and reports the result by voice, for example, 1'title name' has not been referenced yetJ. The 'title name' is the voice message 38 read out from the e-mail data and converted into voice.

Next time, when you want to know the status of incoming calls to your mailbox, check the above-mentioned message.''
Enter 1'. Then the CPUI.

Refer to the incoming/outgoing call management table and hear the result, for example, ``An e-mail with the title ``name of the sender'' has been received.'' The level of urgency is FBI. Report as j.

'Sender's name' and 'Title name' are the voice message (38) part of the e-mail data.

For e-mails between systems in remote locations, the sending/receiving and reference status of the e-mails is constantly notified every time there is a change through the communication line, so that the latest information is registered in the sending/receiving management table.

Also, when you create an e-mail and want to send it urgently,
If you just put it in the mailbox, you don't know when the other person will see it, so you need to proactively notify them.

In this case, the automatic dialing adapter ACA25 automatically dials and calls the other party via one communication control device without making a separate telephone call. The voice then says, ``An email from (sender name) with (title name) has arrived at (destination).

The level of urgency is IA/. If the other party is busy or answered but is not referred to, the call will be automatically dialed again after a certain period of time.

If the telephone is connected to an outside line, similar operations can be performed from the subscriber telephone.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, e-mail and voice data can be handled similarly and freely as message transmission means, and in particular, in the case of voice data, it is possible to use a telephone, thereby increasing the usability. is significantly improved. Furthermore, with conventional e-mails, the incoming and outgoing status could only be confirmed from a workstation computer or terminal device, but with the present invention, it is possible to confirm the status of incoming and outgoing e-mails by voice from any telephone, improving the reliability of e-mail transmission. Transmission time can be shortened.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a system according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
The figure is the fuB diagram of the workstation. FIG. 3 is a detailed diagram of the communication control device, FIG. 4 is a detailed diagram of the audio adapter, and FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the data format. In the figure, 1 is a CPU, 2 is a main storage device, 3 is a secondary storage device, 4 is a communication control device, and 5 is a private branch exchange. 6 is a private telephone, 7 is a subscriber telephone exchange, 8 is a subscriber telephone, 9 is a workstation, 10 is a display, 1
1 is a keyboard, 13 is a microphone, 14 is a speaker, 16 is an AD, DA conversion circuit, 17 is a compression/expansion circuit, 18 is an audio data memory, 23 is a line support section, 24
is a voice adapter (VOA), 26 is a voice response unit,
27 indicates a network control unit (NCU). Patent applicant Fujitsu Ltd. Representative Patent Attorney Fumihiro Hase (1 other person) -17ra-

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) CPU, main storage, and secondary storage. telephones through workstations and switchboards. In an information processing system that includes a communication control device for transmitting and receiving audio signals and transmits e-mail between workstations, the workstation is provided with audio data input/output means, and further includes audio data input/output means for inputting audio data from the workstation or telephone. means for accumulating audio data in a secondary storage device; An information processing system characterized by comprising means for calling voice data stored in the secondary storage device from another workstation or telephone and sending it as a voice mail. (2) CPU, main storage, and secondary storage. An information processing system comprising a group of workstations and a communication control device for transmitting and receiving voice signals to and from a telephone set through a switchboard, and transmitting e-mail between the workstations, further comprising: providing voice data input/output means in the workstations; means for storing voice data input from the workstation or telephone in a secondary storage device; means for transmitting the voice data stored in the secondary storage device by a call from another workstation or telephone; A means for calling voice data stored in a secondary storage device to another workstation or telephone and sending it as a voice mail; An information processing system characterized by comprising a means for responding by voice to an appointment from a button-type telephone.