FI104453B - Method and apparatus for connecting calls and for conveying messages during a call to an A and a B subscriber - Google Patents

Description

104453

The present invention relates to a method for connecting calls and transmitting call time information to subscriber A and B, according to the preamble of claim 1.

The invention also relates to apparatus for connecting calls and transmitting on-call information to subscribers A and B.

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In accordance with the prior art, subscriber A may be relayed when he or she dials a number assigned to subscriber B by a relay to be transmitted to the relay information equipment. A subscriber can also be assigned a note, which, for example, when the telephone handset is lifted when the exchange function of the exchange is activated for this particular subscription. It is not known to connect calls with an external exchange device which also acts as a source of information.

·, Exchanges call and information solutions today work in the graph

Ia as described, whereby two separate calls are formed.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the above-described technology and to provide an entirely new type of method and apparatus for connecting calls and transmitting information during a call to subscribers A and B.

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The invention provides considerable advantages.

The invention is useful because it can be used to implement e.g. switching services for patio grinders and, for example, ad-funded ad call in 5 very simple ways. If, for example, it is desired to monitor the duration of a forwarded call, it is simple to do so by means of a device according to the invention.

The device's interface is a standard analog interface, so its interface is well-established throughout the world, and allows the invention to be used on all 10 telephone networks that use group call functionality in exchanges.

The invention is easily scalable, since several parallel devices can be made to perform the same task, and thus the invention does not limit the connection technology used.

An advantage of the invention is that the relay communication device is connected as part of a group call, and thus the standard switching functions in all types of exchanges in Finland and in most other countries can be used to configure call forwarding, billing, switching call forwarding. Call forwarding and repetition of messages to subscribers A and B, as well as time tracking of calls, can be accomplished by 20 very simple methods. Since the device is a group call originator, the call is discharged in both A and B directions when the device of the invention terminates the call. It is also central to the invention that it is possible for anyone to carry out the call forwarding and • · · .1 'information service by means of the invention only by ordering a standard subscription from a telecommunications operator.

= ··· 25 • · 1 · · · \ Because simple, standard computers without expensive expensive · · · · ... 1 interface components can be used as part of a public telecommunications network, the cost of implementing the solution is narrowly linked to how many calls and announcements are transmitted simultaneously .

The invention also makes it possible for a subscriber A to forward a free call to a subscriber B if the information device is behind a free connection.

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The invention will now be further explored by way of exemplifying embodiments of the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1a illustrates a prior art way of implementing a call containing information.

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Figure Ib shows one embodiment of the invention according to the invention.

Figure 2 illustrates in more detail one embodiment of the invention.

Figures 3a and 3b show a flow diagram of an embodiment of the method according to the invention.

Figure 4 shows a flow chart of an embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention.

According to the invention, a computer with audio frequency features is connected to a telephone interface. When an A-subscriber dials this connection, the computer can give notifications and connect the call to the A-subscriber's selected number. The device either identifies the B-subscriber from the dialing number provided by the A-subscriber, to whom he wants to call or asks for it. during the initial dialog, where the A subscriber can enter the B subscriber number. Thereafter, if the selected B-subscriber number 20 is in the allowed number direction (see more detailed description of the service), the device switches the so-called call centers. utilizing the group call function for the A-subscriber, the B-subscriber and himself / herself for the same call.

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The device according to the invention thus acts as one party to the so-called. • · 2 5 and your device can play the announcements while the call is in progress.

• · · • · 9 »m ....... --------: ---- - · # ·

The method / device according to the invention can be used to transmit e.g. Free calls to the A-subscriber if the subscriber on which the device of the invention operates is on a subscriber line in the free numeric direction.

The device can analyze both the A-subscriber number and the B-subscriber number and, on the basis thereof, select the bulletin (s) to be transmitted to the A- and B-subscribers during the call.

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1a, in the prior art infrared systems, the message relay is implemented in such a way that the A-subscriber 100 calls through the telephone exchange 102 to the call control device 103, making the first call pl. The call control device 103 establishes a call p2 through the exchange 102 to the B subscriber 101. The call control device 102 repeats messages to 5 A 100 or B 101 or both.

As illustrated in Ib, subscriber A 100 dials through a telephone exchange 102 to a call control device 105 which connects B subscriber 101 to a group call, whereby the calls are joined by exchange 102 as a single group call p 1. The call control and information device 105 informs 10 100 that Bile 101.

As shown in Figure 2, the call protection unit 105 includes in practice a telephone interface unit 108 connected to the exchange 102 by a desired number of, for example, PCM lines. The telephone interface unit 108 thus functions as an interface between the exchange 102 and the control unit 107 of the call control device 108. The interface unit 108, in turn, is connected to the control unit 107, typically via a local area network protocol (LAN). The control unit 107 is typically a standard computer whose operating system may be Unix, Windows, DOS, etc. The control unit comprises a voice processing unit 109 and this voice processing application 110, typically implemented in software.

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FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating one possible way of implementing voice processing software 110. In blocks 1-4, a subscriber analysis is performed and the identity and * * * * * * 'of the A-subscriber are verified. If the A-subscriber is invalid (no contract has been concluded) the call is terminated. In blocks 5-9, the A subscriber is given an initial message, and in block 10, the B subscriber is tested to see if the • 25 subscriber is within the contract. If the answer is "no", the call will be terminated after informing 11. Positive * · · • · t *. after the answer, a group call is established to the B subscriber. If no connection is made to subscriber B, it will be informed and the call will be terminated according to blocks 13 and 14. If a group call is established, it is monitored when the A subscriber terminates the connection in block 16 and the call is terminated if the A subscriber is no longer present. The mu-30 channel status of the B-subscriber is monitored in block 17, and if the B-subscriber has terminated, proceeds through the final announcement 24 to either call termination 34 or a new group call, if desired by the A-subscriber. If both the subscriber A and the subscriber B are involved in the group call, it is monitored whether 5,104,4453 talk times remain in block 18. The ended talk time results in the same end action as the termination of the B subscriber call. If there is still talk time, interim announcements are always made as required in blocks 19-21 and 35.

According to Figure 4, the apparatus 50 according to the invention can also be illustrated in block diagram form. One subset is the group call set-up 51, where block 52 shows a successful short talk set up. Blocks 53-58, in turn, describe the procedures in the event of a failed group call. The apparatus comprises counters 59 for measuring and adjusting the interval between announcements according to block 60 and, respectively, block 10 61 for measuring and adjusting the total call time. The call termination conditions are defined in sub-blocks 63-65 of block 62. These conditions may thus be terminating the A or B subscriber or terminating the talk time. The selection and control of the release to be used is again described in the blocks below block 66. The announcement is accompanied by a beep according to block 67. The acoustic signal can be given in conjunction with either Interim 68 or Final 69 69. The presentation of the bulletin is executed in block 70 and the bulletin menu is presented in block 71,

The announcement selection, in turn, is made according to the sub-blocks of block 81. The subsets of block 82 make a selection based on subscriber analysis as to whether the service is allowed to subscribers. The analysis also provides information on which service groups the subscribers belong to according to blocks 91-94.

* * * V 'Below section 72, steps for retrieving a bulletin according to sections 73-80 are shown.

The invention is not hardware dependent, but can be, for example, a standard private interface,

Behind Centrex or ISDN, provided the central provider's software supports Three Party Call. The function of the invention may be:.:.: Also implemented in a local area network, if your group call function is feasible in this environment.

Claims (5)

6 104453 A method for connecting calls and transmitting on-call communications to subscriber A (100) and subscriber B (101) via a exchange (102), characterized in that: - subscriber A (100), subscriber B (101) and communication equipment ( 105) a group call function is established between the two. 10 Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that the information function is implemented by a single call (p1). Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that the control unit (107) of the information equipment 15 (105) is connected to the exchange (102) by means of LAN technology. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the pricing is determined on the basis of the pricing between the A-subscriber (100) and the information device (105). Apparatus for connecting calls and transmitting information during a call to subscriber A (100) and subscriber B (101), the apparatus comprising: a telephone exchange (105) and a telephone control apparatus (105). ), Characterized in that the voice control unit (105) comprises a telephone interface unit (108), a voice processing unit (109), and voice processing software (110) which enables the delivery of announcements to subscribers (100, 101) during a single call (pl).