JPH08317084A - Telephone connection method and system therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To use a common telephone number database by interconnecting computers by a LAN and providing the common telephone number database to any of the computers and acquiring a dialing use telephone number from the database. CONSTITUTION: A user information display control section 103a requests user information to a user information storage section 102. Then the user identification information or the like is read by the user information storage section 102 and displayed on a display device 104a. Then a destination user command section 105a commands user information desiring transmission among the displayed user information. A dialing user command section 105 informs command information to a telephone number retrieval section 106a. The telephone number retrieval section 106a retrieves the user telephone number corresponding to the command information and informs it to a telephone line interface 107a. The telephone line interface 107a acquires and connects the line corresponding to the informed telephone number.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a telephone connection method and system, and more particularly to an L containing a personal computer or workstation having a telephone line interface.
In the AN system, a telephone connection method for utilizing the data sharing function and the data transfer function of the LAN and controlling the modem and the telephone line interface board directly from the personal computer or the workstation to improve the efficiency of making and receiving telephone calls. And the system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, by fusing a telephone with a computer,
Two methods have been mainly attempted as a method for making a telephone call convenient. The first method is to mount a modem or a telephone line interface hardware on a single computer device, display a telephone number list or the like on a display device of the computer, and select a calling user from a mouse or keyboard to select the calling user. The telephone number data of is sent to the hardware for the modem or the telephone line interface to perform the calling operation. An example of such a method is “Windows Te
There is lephony.

In the second method, the correspondence between the LAN terminal and the telephone under the PBX is clarified by exchanging data between the PBX and the server of the LAN, and the telephone of the user who performs the transmission operation on the computer is transmitted. Former phone
The PBX performs a telephone connection operation using the telephone of the user designated by the call operation as the destination telephone.
An example of this method is "Netware Tele" from Novell, Inc.
phony ”is known.

[0004]

However, in the first conventional method described above, it is necessary to store information such as a telephone number database in all the computers operating in the system, and the telephone number is corrected. When performing the above, there is the first problem that it is necessary to rewrite the telephone number database files of all computers.

In the second method, it is necessary to change the control program of the PBX when constructing the system, which requires a long development period and development cost, and it is difficult to change the service specifications. There is a problem. further,
As a problem common to the first and second methods described above, the flow of incoming and outgoing calls is the same as that of the conventional telephone sequence. When making a call, the other party is absent or a person other than the person is called. When answering, there is a problem that there is an unnecessary waiting time until the person can talk directly with the person, and there is a third problem that the person who answers the call is interrupted in work. .

Further, when the telephone is a general public line, there is an economical problem that the telephone charge increases even though the person is not talking to the intended person. The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and it is possible to use a common telephone number database and to deal with the second method in order to address the problems associated with the above-mentioned first method. It is an object of the present invention to provide a telephone connection method and system capable of providing a service for enhancing a telephone function without requiring a long development period such as correction / addition of PBX software.

A further object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned third problem by conducting negotiation between a caller and a callee before making an actual call. Another object of the present invention is to provide a telephone connection method and system capable of preventing an increase in waiting time, business interruption, and an increase in call charges.

[0008]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the first principle of the present invention. According to the present invention, a plurality of computers having a modem or a telephone line interface are interconnected by a LAN, a common telephone number database is provided in any of the computers, and a telephone number for calling is acquired from the telephone number database ( In step 10), the telephone number is called (step 11).

The present invention is also the first of the computers.
Established a common telephone number database on all computers,
The user information and the telephone number are stored, and the first computer can access the second computer,
The telephone number of the designated user is obtained from the second computer and transferred to the second computer, and the second computer makes a call to the obtained telephone number of the user.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the second principle of the present invention. According to the present invention, a plurality of computers having a modem or a telephone line interface are interconnected by a LAN, and the intention of a call destination is confirmed via the LAN before a direct telephone call is made (step 20). If the callee does not have the intention to respond, the call is stopped (step 21), and if the callee has the intention to respond, the call is made (step 22).

Further, according to the present invention, before the call is started, the L
A message is sent from the source computer to the destination computer via the AN, the message is displayed on the display means of the destination, and the destination is inquired as to whether or not to respond to the user. The response is displayed on the display means of the caller. If the callee is not willing to answer, the call is stopped. If there is an intention to answer, the callee's phone number is stored in the common phone number database of the computer. Get and make a call.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the principle of the present invention. The present invention is a telephone connection system for connecting a telephone line in a communication system in which a plurality of computers having a modem or a telephone line interface are interconnected by a LAN, and is common to any of the plurality of computers. User information storage means 102 for storing user information, and a telephone number of a callee from the user information storage means 102,
It has a transmitting means 107 for transmitting to the telephone number.

Further, according to the present invention, the user information storage means is provided in at least one computer. Further, the present invention is a telephone connection system for connecting a telephone line in a communication system comprising a plurality of computers having at least a LAN interface means, a telephone line interface means and a display means, and at least one of the plurality of computers. User information storage means for storing user name or user identification information and user telephone number, and user information display control means for displaying the information stored in the user information storage means on the display means of at least one computer. A destination user instructing means for designating a destination from the information displayed on the display means by the source user, and a user information accumulating means based on the information of the destination specified by the source user instructing means. A telephone number search method to search a telephone number and a telephone number search method The retrieved telephone numbers sent to the telephone line interface means Ri, having connection means for performing a telephone call to the user indicated by the destination user indicating means.

FIG. 4 is a second principle configurational diagram of the present invention. The present invention relates to a telephone connection system for connecting telephone lines in a communication system in which computers having a modem and a telephone line interface are interconnected by a LAN, and the telephone connection system is provided via the LAN before a direct telephone call is made. Call destination intention confirmation means for confirming the intention of the call destination, and connection control for canceling the call if the call destination has no intention of answering, and making a call if the call destination has the intention of answering Have means.

Further, the present invention is a telephone connection system for connecting a telephone line in a communication system comprising a plurality of computers having at least a LAN interface means, a telephone line interface means and a display means, and at least one of the plurality of computers. User information storage means for storing user name or user identification information and user telephone number of each user on a table, and user information display control means for displaying information stored in the user information storage means on display means of at least one computer And a destination user instructing means for the source user to designate the destination from the information displayed on the display means, and a LAN interface means for transmitting to the computer of the destination user instructed by the destination user instructing means. Information about the original user is displayed and a message indicating that there is an incoming call is displayed. Message transfer means for transferring a message, a message display means for displaying the message transferred by the message transfer means, and whether or not the called user confirms the message displayed on the message display means and answers the incoming call. Response determination result input means for inputting a response determination result for determining whether or not, and response determination result notifying means for notifying the source computer of the response determination result input from the response determination result input means via the LAN interface means. A response determination result receiving means for receiving the response determination result notified by the response determination result notifying means,
Only when the response determination result display means for displaying the response determination result received by the response determination result reception means and the information displayed by the response determination result display means permit the response, the telephone number of the callee from the user information storage means And a calling means for making a telephone call to the user designated by the destination user instructing means.

[0016]

In recent years, personal computers (hereinafter referred to as PCs) and workstations (hereinafter referred to as WSs), especially at business establishments, are often connected to LANs via Ethernet or the like, and new investment for LANs is made. Often there is no need to do. Also, modem prices have fallen in recent years. In addition to the multimedia of PCs, the appearance of PCs with a built-in telephone line interface can be expected. Therefore, according to the present invention, LA is provided between the PC and WS.
Since a common telephone number database can be used on the premise of a system in which all computers are equipped with a modem and a telephone line interface as well as being interconnected with each other, telephone form reports can be obtained without increasing the financial burden. It is possible to provide advanced convenience functions.

Before entering a direct telephone call, LA
By confirming the intention of the call via N, without increasing the waiting time, interrupting the business, and increasing the call charge,
It is possible to start a call smoothly.

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. [First Embodiment] FIG. 5 shows the system configuration of the first embodiment of the present invention. The system shown in FIG.
01a has a user information storage unit 102 that stores a common user name, user identification information, etc., and another PC 101b,
PC 101c and PC 101d are server PCs as necessary
The user information storage unit 102 of 101a is accessed to acquire the telephone number of the other party to call.

Next, the configuration of each PC will be described. FIG.
It is a block diagram of the communication system of the 1st Example of this invention.
In the figure, the same components as those in FIG. 5 are designated by the same reference numerals. In the figure, a plurality of PCs or WS 101 are connected to the LAN. In the following description, it is assumed that the PC is connected to the LAN, but the WS also operates in the same manner.

In the configuration of FIG. 6, the PC 101a is assumed to be a server PC. The server PC 101a is L
User information storage unit 10 connected to the AN and telephone line
2, user information display control unit 103a, display 10
4a, sender user instruction unit 105a, telephone number search unit 1
06a, telephone line interface unit 107a, call unit 1
08a and a LAN interface unit 109a.

Further, each P other than the server PC 101a
The C101b, the PC 101c, and the PC 101d do not have the user information storage unit 102 in their own PCs, and the server PC 10
It is assumed that the common user information storage unit 102 included in 1a is accessed. The user information storage unit 102a stores user name or user identification information and telephone number information corresponding to each user. Therefore, the user information storage unit 102a retrieves the user's telephone number based on the user name or the user identification information.
It can be searched by a.

The user information display control unit 103a causes the display 104a to display the user name or the user identification information among the information stored in the user information storage unit 102a. In order for the caller user to perform the call operation, the user who wishes to connect is selected from the list of user names or user identification information displayed on the display 104a, and the user is instructed and input from the callee user instruction unit 105a.

The destination user instruction unit 105a does not need to be a special device, and can be easily configured by a device such as a keyboard or mouse used in a normal computer and its device driver. The telephone number search unit 106a uses the information input from the callee user instruction unit 105a or the callee user instruction unit 105 of another PC as information for instructing the callee user, that is, as a user name or user identification information. Interpret. The telephone number search unit 106a searches the data stored in the user information storage unit 102a based on the user name or user identification information input from the callee user instruction unit 105a or the callee user instruction unit 105 of another PC. Then, the telephone number of the designated destination user is acquired and transferred to another PC via the telephone line interface 107a and the LAN interface 109a.

After capturing the telephone line, the telephone line interface 107a sends a selection signal such as a PB signal corresponding to the originating user to the telephone line. After that, the calling user starts a call using the handset connected to the telephone line interface 107a or the call unit 108a such as a speaker and a microphone. In addition, the call unit 108
In addition to the above configuration, a telephone branch-connected to the telephone line can be used for a.

A PC other than the PC 101a, for example,
The configuration of the PC 101b is the above-mentioned user information storage unit 102.
In the following description, b is added to each component of the PC 101a. For example, the LAN interface that the PC 101b has is described as 109b.

FIG. 7 is a sequence chart for explaining the operation of the first embodiment of the present invention. In the following description, since the PC 101b shown in FIG. 6 does not have the user information storage unit 102 inside, it is assumed that the server PC 101a connected to the LAN is accessed.

Step 101) Telephone number search unit 106
b is the server P via the LAN interface 109b.
Access C101a. Step 102) Access the user information storage unit 102 from the LAN interface 109a of the server PC 101a via the telephone number search unit 106a.

Step 103) The telephone number search unit 106a of the server PC 101a uses the LAN interface 109
The retrieved user information is transferred to the requesting PC 101b via a. Step 104) When the LAN interface 109b of the PC 101b receives the transferred user information and transfers the user information to the user information display control unit 103b, the user information control unit 103b displays the acquired user name and user information on the display 104b. indicate.

Step 105) Display 104b
The user inputs a selection instruction from the user information displayed on the screen. Step 106) Here, based on the user name or user identification information input by the user, the user information storage unit 102a is accessed. In this case, the user information display control unit 103b to the LAN interface 109b
The name or user information to be searched is transferred to the telephone number searching unit 106a via the LAN interface 109a of the server PC 101a.

Step 107) As a result, the telephone number search unit 106a searches the user storage unit 102a. Step 108) The telephone number search unit 106a transfers the retrieved telephone number to the LAN interface 109b of the access request source PC 101b via the LAN interface 109a.

Step 109) The LAN interface 109b transfers the telephone number acquired from the server PC 101a to the telephone line interface 107b. Step 110) The telephone line interface 107b sends a PB signal to the telephone number.

Step 111) Telephone interface 1
A call is made to the destination using the call unit 108 via 07.
Accessing the data of the server via the LAN interface 109 can be easily configured by using a known technique.

Next, the PC 101a shown in FIG.
A case of calling 1b will be described. In this case, P
Since the C101a has the user information storage unit 102 in its own PC, the user information display control unit 103a requests the user information storage unit 102 for the user information. As a result, the user name and user identification information are read from the user information storage unit 102, and the user information display control unit 103a.
Is displayed on the display 104a.

Next, the user designates the user information desired to be transmitted from the user information displayed on the display 104a from the destination user instruction unit 105a. As a result, the destination user instruction unit 105 notifies the telephone number search unit 106a of the instruction information. Phone number search unit 106
The a retrieves the telephone number of the user corresponding to the instruction information from the user information storage unit 102 and notifies the telephone number to the telephone line interface 107a.

The telephone line interface 107a captures the line corresponding to the notified telephone number and connects.
When the PC 101a acquires the telephone number of the callee, the user information storage unit 102 is displayed on the display 104a.
In addition to the user name and user identification information, a telephone number is also displayed, the user is designated by the destination user instructing unit 105a, and the corresponding telephone number is set through the telephone line interface without using the telephone number quarreling unit 106a. It may be configured to notify 107a.

Next, the operation shown in FIG. 7 will be described using a specific example. First, the PC 101a is set as the server-side PC, and P
Let C101b be the other (client) PC. In addition, the user information storage unit 102 is the server PC 10
1a is assumed to have. The contents of the user information storage unit 102 included in the server PC 101a are as shown in the table below.

[0037]

[Table 1]

(1) First, from the PC 101b to the server P
The C101a is accessed via the LAN interfaces 109b and 109a to obtain the user name or user identification information. (2) The PC 101a accesses the user information storage unit 102a and transfers the user information to the PC 101b.

(3) The PC 101b acquires the user names "AAAAA", "BBBBB", "CCCCC" as user information,
A list is displayed on the display 104b of the own PC. (4) The user name "AAAAA" is designated as the destination designated by the user from the destination user instruction unit 105 of the PC 101b.

(5) LAN interface 109b
Transfers the user selection information "AAAAA" to the PC 101a via the LAN interface 10a. (6) As a result, the telephone number search unit 1 of the PC 101a
06a accesses the user information storage unit 102a, searches for the telephone number "03-1234-5678" corresponding to "AAAAA", and then uses the PC 1 via the LAN interface 109a.
01b.

(6) The telephone line interface 107b of the PC 101b captures the telephone line corresponding to the telephone number "03-1234-5678" acquired via the LAN interface 109a and sends a PB signal or the like to the telephone line. Send a selection signal. (7) Furthermore, the telephone line interface 107b of the PC 101b starts a call with the destination user using the handset of the call unit 108b or the like.

In the above operation, the user information storage unit 102 is provided only in the server PC 101a and commonly used by other PCs. However, the user information storage unit 102 is provided in all the PCs 101 and A method in which the user individually manages the data is also feasible.

[Second Embodiment] Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the present embodiment, a case will be described in which the intention of the call is confirmed with the call destination before the start of the direct call by telephone.
FIG. 8 shows the configuration of a source / destination computer according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the PC is described as being connected to the LAN as in the first embodiment, but WS or a hybrid thereof may be used.
Further, in the figure, the configurations of the transmission source PC and the transmission destination PC are illustrated individually for the sake of simplicity, but originally, each PC has both configurations.

In FIG. 8, the sender PC 201 includes a user information storage unit 202, a user information display control unit 203, a sender display 204, a destination user instruction unit 205,
Message transfer unit 206, sender LAN interface 208, response determination result receiving unit 215, telephone number search unit 2
16, a caller telephone line interface 217, and a caller 218.

The destination PC 207 has the message receiving unit 2
09, destination LAN interface 210, incoming message display control unit 211, destination display 212, response determination result input unit 213, response determination result notification unit 214,
It is composed of a destination telephone line interface 219 and a destination telephone unit 220.

As in the first embodiment, the user information storage unit 202 stores user name or user identification information and telephone number information corresponding to each user. Therefore, according to the user information storage unit 202, the user's telephone number can be searched based on the user name or the user identification information.

The telephone number retrieving unit 216 retrieves the designated telephone number from the user information accumulating unit 202 in the same manner as the telephone number retrieving unit 106 of the first embodiment. The user information display control unit 203 causes the sender display 204 to display the user name or the user identification information among the information stored in the user information storage unit 202.

The destination user instructing section 205 selects a user who desires a connection from the user name displayed on the source display 204 or a list of user identification information, because the source user performs a transmission operation. , Input instructions. The destination user instruction unit 205 does not need to be a special device, and like the first embodiment described above, a device such as a keyboard or mouse used in a normal computer, and
It goes without saying that the device driver can be easily configured.

The source telephone line interface 217 is
When the response to the incoming call from the source is permitted, the telephone line is captured, and then a selection signal such as a PB signal corresponding to the destination user is transmitted to the telephone line. The source call unit 218 is a handset, a speaker, a microphone, or the like, and makes a call with the destination user. It is also possible to substitute a telephone branch-connected to the telephone line.

The message transfer unit 206 is the PC 20 of the callee user instructed by the callee user instruction unit 205.
A message indicating that there is an incoming user name or user identification information and an incoming call from the originating user is transferred to 7. The response determination result receiving unit 215 determines that the destination P
The response judgment result notified from the C207 via the transmission source interface 208 is received.

The message receiving unit 209 of the destination user's PC 207 is the message transfer unit 2 of the source PC 201.
The user name of the caller, or the user identification information sent from 06 via the caller LAN interface 208 and a message indicating that there is an incoming call from the caller user are sent via the callee LAN interface unit 210. The received message is received and the received message display control unit 211 receives the information.
Transfer to.

The incoming message display control unit 211 displays the received message on the destination display 212. The answer determination result input unit 213 receives the result of the callee user's confirmation of the message displayed on the callee display 212 and determines whether or not to answer the incoming call, and transfers the result to the answer determination result notification unit 214. To do.

The response determination result notifying unit 214 sends the response determination result input from the response determination result input unit 213 to the sender P.
Notify the source LAN interface 208 of C201. The destination telephone line interface 219 connects the telephone line and the destination communication unit 220.

The destination call section 220 is a source call section 21.
Similar to the reference numeral 8, it is a handset, a speaker, a microphone, or the like, and talks with the destination user. It is also possible to substitute a telephone branch-connected to the telephone line.
FIG. 9 is a sequence chart for explaining the operation of the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In the flowchart shown below, it is assumed that the sender PC 201 has the user information storage unit 202. Also, the destination PC is a PC
207.

Step 201) The user information display control unit 203 of the sender PC 201 causes the user information storage unit 202 to
The user name or the user identification information among the user information accumulated in (1) is displayed on the sender display 204.
From the list of user names or user identification information displayed on the originator display 204, the user designates a user who desires connection from the destination user instruction unit 205. As a result, the destination instruction unit 205 transfers the designated information to the message transfer unit 206.

Step 202) Message transfer unit 20
6 interprets the information designated in step 201 as information for instructing the destination user, that is, user name or user identification information, and means that the information further includes an incoming call from the source user. A message is added and transferred to the address in the network (LAN) corresponding to the user name or the user identification information via the source LAN interface 208.

Step 203) The message receiving unit 209 of the destination PC 207 receives the message from the source PC 201 via the destination LAN interface 210 and transfers it to the incoming message display control unit 211.
The incoming message display control unit 211 displays the received message on the destination display 212. The display content is a user name, or user identification information and a message indicating that there is an incoming call from the originating user.

Step 204) The user of the destination PC 207 confirms the message displayed on the destination display 212 and inputs the result of determining whether or not to answer the incoming call from the response determination result input unit 213. . For example, at this time, if the person who needs to make a call to the incoming call is absent, or if the call cannot be made during a conference, the call can be refused.

Step 205) The input contents are transferred to the response determination result notifying section 214, and the source L of the source PC 201 is transmitted via the destination LAN interface 210.
It is transferred to the AN interface 208. Step 206) The source PCa proceeds to step 206 when the received information has a content permitting the response, and proceeds to step 207 when not permitting the response.

Step 206) When permitting the response at the destination PC 207, the telephone number search unit 216 searches the information stored in the user information storage unit 202 based on the destination user name or the user identification information. , Gets the telephone number of the specified destination user. Go to step 208.

Step 207) If the response is rejected by the destination PC 207, the fact is displayed on the source display 204. Step 208) The telephone number search unit 216 passes the acquired telephone number to the source telephone line interface 217. As a result, the source telephone line interface 217
After capturing the telephone line, sends a selection signal corresponding to the destination user such as a PB signal to the telephone line.

Step 209) Thereafter, the caller user starts a call with the callee user using the caller 218 such as a handset connected to the caller telephone line interface 217 or a speaker. In addition, in the above step 205, when the call is refused, for example, "I am currently in a meeting, so I cannot answer the call." We will call you from here in 30 minutes. It is also possible to transfer a message such as “” to the originating PC 201.

Further, as the source call section 218 and the destination call section 220, in addition to the above configuration, it is possible to substitute a telephone branch-connected to the telephone line. Also,
When a PC or WS other than the server uses the above service, the telephone number search unit 216 accesses the user information storage unit 202 of the server via the transmission source LAN interface 208, and the user of the designated transmission destination is instructed. Get a phone number. Accessing the data of the server via the transmission source LAN interface 208 can be easily realized by using a known technique.

Next, a specific example of the second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the following description, a case where a call is made from the caller PC 201 to the callee PC 207 will be described. Here, the user name of the destination PC 207 is "DDDDDD" and the telephone number is "03-5555-1111".

(1) The user of the transmission source PC 201 selects and inputs the user name “DDDDDD” of the transmission destination PC 207 from the transmission destination user instructing unit 205 from the user list displayed on the transmission source display 204. (2) As a result, a message indicating that an incoming call has arrived is sent to the destination LAN interface 21 via the source LAN interface 208 via the message transfer unit 206.
Transfer to 0.

(3) Upon receiving the message via the destination LAN interface 210, the message receiving unit 209 transfers the message to the incoming message display control unit 211. (4) By the incoming message display control unit 211, the message on the destination display 212 is, for example, “There is an incoming call from the sender xxx. Do you want to respond? Is displayed.

(5) The callee user confirms the message, and if he / she responds from the response judgment result input section 213, for example, "YES" from the keyboard or the like, and "NO" if he / she does not respond. Enter ". In this example, it is assumed that "NO" is input because the call cannot be answered immediately because the conference is in progress. At this time, the sender PC 201 asked, "Thank you for calling. Since we are in a meeting right now,
Please call us later. It is also possible to input “” as a message.

(6) The response determination result input unit 213 transfers the input response “NO” and the message to the source LAN interface 208 via the response determination result notifying unit 214 and the destination LAN interface 210. (7) The source LAN interface 208 transfers the received response determination result to the response determination result receiving unit 215.

(8) When the response determination result receiving unit 215 transfers the response determination result to the user information display control unit 203, the user information display control unit 203 displays a message “NO” as a response determination result from the transmission destination on the transmission source display 204. Is displayed. (9) The originating user confirms the response determination result and cancels the origination.

In the above embodiment, the sender PC
Although only the components necessary for the outgoing call operation are shown in 201 and only the components necessary for the incoming call operation are shown in the destination PC 207, a single device often uses both outgoing calls and incoming calls. Considering this, it is considered that it is common to have both constituent elements on the calling side and the called side. Also, there is no problem with having both components.

Although the source and destination are PCs in the above embodiment, they may be WSs. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the user information storage unit 202 is stored in the server PC 20.
Although the method of providing the user information storage unit 202 to all of the computers has been described, the user information storage unit 202 is commonly used by other computers.
It is also possible to implement in C or WS.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but various modifications and applications are possible within the scope of the claims.

[0073]

As described above, according to the present invention, a common telephone number is provided on the premise of a system in which computers are interconnected by a LAN and all computers have a modem or a telephone line interface. By being able to use the database, it is possible to provide an advanced convenience function such as a telephone directory transmission without increasing the financial burden.

Before entering a direct telephone call, L
By confirming the intention of the call destination via the AN, the call can be smoothly started without increasing the waiting time, interrupting the work, and increasing the call charge.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a first principle of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the second principle of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a first principle configuration diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a second principle configuration diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a system configuration diagram of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of a communication system according to the first embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 7 is a sequence chart for explaining the operation of the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of a source / destination computer according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a sequence chart for explaining the operation of the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[Description of Reference Signs] 101 personal computer (PC) 102 user information storage unit, user information storage unit 103 user information display control unit 104 display 105 destination user instruction unit 106 telephone number search unit 107 telephone line interface, transmission unit 108 call unit 109 LAN interface 150 Call intention confirmation means 160 Connection control means 201 Originator PC 202 User information district form 203 User information display controller 204 Originator display 205 Destination user instruction section 206 Message transfer section 208 Originator LAN interface 209 Message reception Part 210 Destination LAN interface 211 Incoming message display control unit 212 Destination display 213 Response judgment result input unit 214 Response judgment result notification unit 215 Response judgment Result receiving unit 216 telephone number search unit 217 originating telephone line interface 218 originating the call section 219 call destination telephone line interface 220 destination call unit

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of computers having a modem or a telephone line interface are interconnected by a LAN, a common telephone number database is provided in any of the computers, and a telephone number for calling is acquired from the telephone number database. Then, the telephone connection method is characterized by making a call to the telephone number. 2. A common telephone number database is provided in a first computer of the computers to store user information and a telephone number, and the first computer is accessed by a second computer, The telephone connection according to claim 1, wherein the telephone number of the designated user is acquired from the second computer and transferred to the second computer, and the second computer makes a call to the acquired telephone number of the user. Method. 3. A plurality of computers having a modem or a telephone line interface are interconnected by a LAN, and the intention of the call destination is confirmed via the LAN before a direct telephone call is made. A telephone connection method, characterized in that the call is stopped when the destination has no intention of answering, and the call is made when the destination has an intention of answering. 4. Before starting a call, a message is sent from the source computer to the destination computer via the LAN and the message is displayed on the display means of the destination, Inquires the callee whether or not to answer the user, displays the response from the callee on the display means of the caller, and if the callee does not intend to answer, cancels the call and decides to answer. 4. The telephone connection method according to claim 3, wherein in some cases, the telephone number of the callee is acquired from the telephone number database common to the computers to make a call. 5. A telephone connection system for connecting a telephone line in a communication system in which a plurality of computers having a modem or a telephone line interface are interconnected by a LAN, and a user common to any of the plurality of computers. A telephone connection system comprising: a user information storage means having information; and a transmission means for acquiring a telephone number of a destination from the user information storage means and transmitting to the telephone number. 6. The telephone connection system according to claim 5, wherein the user information storage means is provided in at least one computer. 7. A telephone connection system for connecting a telephone line in a communication system comprising a plurality of computers having at least a LAN interface means, a telephone line interface means and a display means, wherein at least one of the plurality of computers. User information storage means for storing user name or user identification information and user telephone number in the computer, and user information display control means for displaying the information stored in the user information storage means on the display means of at least one computer. A destination user instructing means for the source user to specify the destination from the information displayed on the display means; and the user information accumulation based on the information of the destination specified by the source user instructing means. Telephone number search to retrieve the telephone number of the sender by means of 6. The telephone according to claim 5, further comprising: a stage; and a connection means for transmitting the telephone number retrieved by the telephone number retrieval means to the telephone line interface means and for making a telephone call to the user designated by the destination user instruction means. Connection system. 8. A communication system in which a computer having a modem or a telephone line interface is interconnected by a LAN, which is a telephone connection system for connecting a telephone line, and through which the direct telephone call is made via the LAN. Call destination intention confirming means for confirming the call intention of the call destination, and if the call destination does not have the intention to answer, the call is stopped, and if the call destination has the intention to answer, the call is made. A telephone connection system having a connection control means for performing the following. 9. A telephone connection system for connecting a telephone line in a communication system comprising a plurality of computers having at least a LAN interface unit, a telephone line interface unit and a display unit, wherein a user connects to at least one of the plurality of computers. User information storage means for storing user name or user identification information and user telephone number for each, and user information display control means for displaying the information stored in the user information storage means on the display means of at least one computer, A destination user instructing means for the source user to designate a destination from the information displayed on the display means, and a computer of the destination user instructed by the destination user instructing means using the LAN interface means. There is an incoming call, including the information of the originating user Message transfer means for transferring the message, message display means for displaying the message transferred by the message transfer means, and the callee user confirms the message displayed on the message display means to receive a call. Response determination result input means for instructing and inputting a response determination result for determining whether or not to respond, and the response determination result input from the response determination result input means to the source computer via the LAN interface means. A response determination result notifying unit for notifying, a response determination result receiving unit for receiving the response determination result notified by the response determination result notifying unit, and the response determination result received by the response determination result receiving unit are displayed. A response determination result display means, and a display screen displayed by the response determination result display means. A calling means for acquiring the telephone number of the callee from the user information accumulating means and making a call to the user designated by the callee user instructing means only when the response judgment result permits the response. Item 8. A telephone connection system according to item 8.