FI110654B - Telephone interface and method of controlling it - Google Patents

Description

110654

Telephone interface and method of controlling it

The invention relates to a telephone interface according to the preamble of claim 1.

The invention also relates to a method for controlling a telephone interface.

The purpose of the invention is to provide customers (e.g., office hotels, modern offices without designated workstations, companies with freelance staff etc.). a multi-user interface that allows multiple people to use workstation 10 phones as their own personal interface.

In addition, according to the invention, so-called users are provided to service users. a personal virtual number that can be activated on a multi-user interface, whereby calls to the virtual number are routed to the user's current subscription. Multi-user calls are billed to the virtual user instead of the owner of the multi-user.

According to the prior art, the costs of traffic departing from a telephone subscription may have been controlled to a person using the telephone instead of the owner of the subscription by means of various calling cards and the like.

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Another solution has been to charge for switching using the extension-specific call information.

Incoming telephone traffic may be directed to the user's subscription by making a call transfer from the user's own personal subscription or by using, for example, a "my number" service.

25 A problem with prior art is that the cost of making calls from a shared telephone subscription is charged to the subscriber, even if he or she wishes to allocate the cost of use to different individuals or organizations. In addition, in shared spaces, it must be possible to reach you with your own personal phone number, regardless of which workstation you have set up.

o 110654 In outgoing traffic, account call service, calling card, etc. solutions can be used to control the cost to the caller, but in practice the service is often not usable because you have to enter your own account number and password for each call. This is a far too cumbersome procedure if you need to make more calls within 5 business days. In addition, the account call will not work when using the modem and the communication software.

Charging using call data generated by PBXs is burdensome for the owner of the subscription and billing will result in additional costs. This option forces the use of named workstations and creates a risk of abuse. In some telephone systems the so-called.

the ability to use the project code limits the service to certain telephone systems, and does not eliminate the manual billing costs of the subscription owner.

The routing of incoming traffic to the user interface may in principle be controlled, for example, from the user's own home interface to the virtual interface in use, but there are several drawbacks to this solution: * For call forwarding, the user must have a switched telephone connection from which to transfer. Often this cannot be a home connection, because then the calls of family members who are at home will be diverted.

* When leaving home access, be sure to activate Immediate Call Transfer or use a paid '' Remote Transfer Service '' if available * when using Call Forwarding. each incoming call becomes a cost for the forwarded call to the forwarding subscriber

Another option is to take advantage of a self-numbering service, but because of its versatility, this service is an unnecessarily expensive solution for those who work only in a specific shared mode.

The object of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks of the above-described technology and to provide a completely new type of telephone interface and a method for controlling it.

The invention is based on providing a multi-user interface with a password-secured virtual number, upon activation of which the multi-user interface becomes a fully equivalent number for both outgoing and outgoing calls.

More specifically, the telephone interface of the invention is characterized by what is set forth in the characterizing part of claim 1.

The method according to the invention, in turn, is characterized by what is stated in the characterizing part of claim 3.

The invention provides considerable advantages.

By means of the invention, the implementation costs of the ad hoc subscriber are reduced to a fraction of what they were before, thereby improving economic efficiency and providing a more economical service to users, thus increasing service utilization.

You can't call anywhere from the UI without activating your own virtual number. This prevents you from using the subscription without knowing who the caller is.

; The invention solves the problem of billing for outbound traffic and call routing for inbound traffic.

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The complexity of using account calls is eliminated when the phone becomes one-to-one with a one-time activation I · '... down to the phone number.

• I · ..> The user of the phone does not need to have a separate own telephone line from which calls are routed '·; ·, 20 available subscriptions. This way you do not have to pay the cost of call forwarding.

The invention enables all virtual number services (call forwarding, speed dialing, »* '*; ·' home / business answering service, remote transmission, queuing, etc.).

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The virtual number can be activated in the new multi-user interface (and terminated in the previous multi-user interface), even if the virtual number has been forgotten to be active in the multi-user interface at another address.

Because the implementation is typically based on modern digital switching technology, a variety of terminal devices can be used in the multi-user interface: - Analogue telephone network terminals (telephones, CityPhones, telefaxes, modems, etc.).

- ISDN terminals (PC Cards, Routers, Video Conferencing Devices, Reporting Telephones, etc.) 10 The invention makes it possible to realize a modern production facility which is not a traditional factory hall but a space for start-ups, for example, and which is cost-effective, versatile telecommunication connections for everyone who wants to.

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

Fig. 1 is a flowchart illustrating one control of a multipurpose interface according to the invention.

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One way of implementing the service of the invention is to create a set of virtual telephone numbers which are in the telephone exchange of the location switching center, but are not defined in any physical interface.

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For example, a customer will receive a call bill tied to his virtual number in 2-month increments, but · _ 20 dialed calls may have been made from any physical subscription included in the service.

• »» 'In practice, for example, the multi-user interface shortcut position 1 is programmed with the IN-i ": 1! * Exchange number through which the user activates the multi-user interface for himself. Activation t I t ... takes place by requesting the customer's virtual number I · 110654 5 would like to activate that subscription and their personal password.

The multifunctional interface defined for the service has a telephone number with the full phone lock activated when in sleep mode. In addition, your hotline function is activated so that when the handset is picked up, the connection to the service equipment is immediately activated via a predefined 5 number.

Upon receipt of a call, the control equipment verifies from the a-number list that it is a multi-user interface. If the number is not in the multi-user interface list, the control system will know that it is a multi-user interface deactivation or a change in settings. If the a-number is neither a multi-access interface nor a virtual number, the voice prompts will say "Service unavailable" and the connection 10 will be disconnected and proceed to the multi-user interface activation procedure. Activation is done by asking the customer for a virtual number, which he / she wants to activate with the voice command. sign up as well as your personal password.

The control device then swaps the technical interfaces of the multi-user interface identified by the a-number and the virtual number provided by the customer. All functions related to the virtual-15 number will be transferred to the multi-user interface to be activated.

'; . To terminate the multi-user interface, I use the customer to dial a preset number programmed into speed dial location 1] (= same as for Hotline activation).

: · ·: Based on the a-number, the control unit recognizes that the call came from a virtual number and provides; : For 20 users, two options are available::: 1. Stop operation immediately 2. Change end time • · • ·., ..: If option 1 is selected, the control unit will deactivate the multi-user interface by resetting »·, · · *. a virtual number immediately to their home subscription.

• · · 25 For additional security, the control equipment will stop operating at a user-defined time • · 6 110654 (for example, up to 24 hours maximum) by changing the virtual number back to its virtual home interface. The time is user-set and can be changed by selecting option 2, either during activation or by dialing from the active multi-user interface to speed dial 1.

In more detail, the invention may be described as a flow chart in accordance with Figure 1, as follows:

In block 1, a user is welcomed to the service. In block 2, the caller identity is checked based on the a-number. If the number is a multi-user interface, we move to branch 2. If the a-number is a virtual number, we move to branch 3. If a-number is a virtual number, then if 10-number is neither a virtual number nor a multi-user interface. In this branch follows the notification in block 4, which states that the service is not in use. The connection is then disconnected in step 6. If the a-number is identified as a virtual number, the selection in block 5 is prompted to select whether to immediately terminate access by selecting 1, changing the end time by selecting 2, or exiting the service by selecting 3.

Selection 1 is followed by a termination notice in block 8, and the connection is terminated in block 6. Selection 3 leads directly to a termination block 6. Selection 2 goes to information in block 9, where a PIN is requested. The key is checked in block 10 and, if the key is correct, the end time in block 11 is requested. End time format check; · · In block 12 and if the format is not properly returned to block 11. If the format is <*; i: 20 correct, announces the new end time in block 13 and the connection is terminated in block 6.

If the key figure was incorrect in block 10, proceed to block 14, where the number of attempts of the key is checked. If there were fewer than 3 attempts, a new attempt is allowed and ['return to block 9. If there were three attempts, then go directly to block t »• · 6.

If, in block 2, a subscriber is identified as a multi-user interface, proceed from branch 2 to block 3, where a virtual number is requested. In block 15, a code is requested, and in blocks 16 '* and 17, a code check routine, previously described for blocks 10 and I ·' ·; · * 14 connection. If the key is found to be correct, it is continued to block 18, which checks for | | If so, follow * · 7 110654 message in block 19 and block 20 to enable this virtual number to be dormant by selecting 1. The selection is tested in block 21 and the selection other than one leads directly to termination of the connection in block 6. If the virtual number is put to sleep, this will be notified in block 22 and, in turn, block 23 will be prompted to activate the virtual number with a new connection to the multi-user interface in question, after which the connection will be terminated in block 6.

If it has been found in block 18 that the second virtual number is not active, block 24 asks if option 1 wants to start operation or change the end time with option 2. Option 1 follows the virtual number end time in block 26, followed by 10 notification of activation of the virtual number after disconnection. The connection is then disconnected in block 6. If block 2 proceeds in block 25, the routine described in blocks 28 and 29 in connection with blocks 11 and 12 is followed, which in the case of correct time input goes to block 27.

According to the invention, the virtual interface can typically be activated only for pre-defined multi-user interfaces.

The solution according to the invention can also be built entirely by intelligent switching technology (IN technology), but in this case all the switching centers to which the multi-user interface • ·::: service or to be provided must be equipped with SSP capability. This is only relevant after the introduction of Euro-IN.

a <· 1 · 20 By modifying the TIVE command generator so that the a- '"number of the predefined subscriptions and the outgoing call barring classification can be manipulated from the IN, the service can be built without high development costs.

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Claims (4)

110654 1. A telephone subscription is guarded by a plurality of users, comprising a terminal for which a user-specific telephone number can be assigned to the subscription for outgoing and incoming traffic 5, characterized in that:: - the number is predetermined for a predetermined time, and • * I * · '· · * - In inactive mode, the telephone interface has full phone lock activated. The subscription according to claim 1, characterized in that the active telephone number of the subscription 10 can be deactivated from another subscription. «· · <* · * 0 [3. A method for controlling a telephone subscriber method, which processes the data of multiple outgoing traffic users in the same physical interface, which method ... * checks the subscriber a subscriber number, I« »· • ·»>: ·· · Characterized in that the 15th dial-up connection normally keeps the phone lock active, and - based on the a-subscriber number identification, it is possible to activate a user-specific telephone number by speed dialing to personalize the subscription for incoming and outgoing traffic. A method according to claim 3, characterized in that the user 20 is asked for a code number. 110654