GB2345407A

GB2345407A - Private automatic branch exchange

Info

Publication number: GB2345407A
Application number: GB9923883A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hidenobu Arakawa
Original assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co Ltd
Current assignee: Panasonic Holdings Corp
Priority date: 1998-10-08
Filing date: 1999-10-08
Publication date: 2000-07-05
Anticipated expiration: 2019-10-08
Also published as: GB9923883D0; GB2345407B; DE19948594A1

Abstract

A private automatic branch exchange is provided having an automatic function of selecting the numbers from its memories in which the pre-assigned network line numbers are grouped as the caller and connected numbers to be advised in combination with the private line numbers, and releasing them toward a digital communications network, when a call is made from or received by a private line in-house terminal. It also have a manual function of selecting or setting the caller and the connected number to be advised arbitrarily by accessing from the in-house terminal.

Description

2345407

Title of the Invention

Private automatic branch exchange Background of the Invention

The present invention relates to a private automatic branch exchange having a function of advising the phone number of a caller to a party to be connected or the number of a connected party via a digital communication line.

As Internet and digital communications apparatuses have rapidly prevailed throughout the worldwide markets, a variety of functions on private branch exchanges linked to digital communication lines are demanded for sending and receiving more of information quickly, precisely, and inexpensively. For example, services over a network (which is substantially a digital communications network such as the integrated service digital network (ISDN) in the embodiments) include calling line identification presentation (CLIP) for advising the number of a caller to a party to be connected and connected line identification presentation (COLP) for advising the number of a connected party to the caller. The use of such advanced services allows the identification of a calling party or a connected party before starting the communications as well as a novel service for 1 subscribers with the aid of personal computers. The telephone number and the address of each client are stored in a phone-linked computer at the initial call by, for example, a pizza shop and at the second call from the client, no more inquiry for the address is needed and hence results in improved convenience.

A conventional private automatic branch exchange 500 for providing both the CLIP and COLP services is connected between a network 501 and a group of in-house terminals 502 as shown in Fig. 14 and holds in its storage the contents of a call analyzing data table 510 which lists the private line number of each in-house terminal associated with the telephone number of the network. The table 510 in Fig.14 shows that when a call from, for example, "092-111-1000" is received from the network, it is transferred to a corresponding in house terminal designated by a private line number 1100". The functions of calling line identification presentation and connected line identification presentation in such a conventional private exchange is now explained.

In a first case that a call is made from the in house terminal S02(l) to a network subscriber terminal at 503 (referred to as an external terminal hereinafter), the exchange 500 outputs the number "03 411-1111" toward the external terminal 503 and also 2 refers the table 510 to advice the number "092-111 1000" assigned to the in-house terminal 502(1) as a caller number over the network 501. The caller number is then received by the external terminal 503. This is the function of CLIP.

In a second case that a call is made from the external terminal 503 via the exchange 500 to an in house terminal, the external terminal 503 dials "092 111-1000", for example, and then, the exchange 500 receives from the network 501 a signal indicating that the call has been made, the called number "092-111 1000" and the number "03-411-1111" of the external terminal 503. The exchange 500 refers the table 510 to identify the in-house terminal number having "092-111 10OW. When it is acknowledged that the private line number of the in-house terminal number having "092-111 10OW is "100", the call is transferred to the in-house terminal 502(1). Also, the exchange 500 sends back the connected number "092-111-1000" of the in-house terminal 502(1) to the network 501. The connected number is then received by the external terminal 503.

In the latter case, if the in-house terminal 502(1) to be connected is busy, the call is transferred to another in-house terminal which has been designated as the destination of call transfer. For example, when the destination of call transfer is specified by "101", 3 the call is transferred to the in-house terminal 502(2) designated by the private line number "101".

Similarly, the exchange 500 refers the table 510 to identify the number "092-111-1001" of the in-house terminal 502(2) to which the call is transferred and advises via the network 501 the connected number "092 111-1001" which is then received by the external terminal 503. This is the function of COLP.

However, such a private automatic branch exchange has a number of problems stated below.

(1) Since the single network number is designated to each in-house terminal, it only is available and advised to the other party on the network when calling or called and no other number is permitted.

(2) When it is desired to modify the setting for calling line identification presentation and connected line identification presentation, a sort of specific knowledge for maintaining the conventional private automatic branch exchange is needed thus allowing some -enance specialists only to modify the setting. in maint other words, the setting for calling line identification presentation and connected line identification presentation will hardly be modified by any user of the in-house terminal to meet desired conditions.

(3) With the conventional private automatic branch 4 exchange linked to two or more networks, when a call is made from an in- house terminal to a desired external terminal, the network used is not always the same and the caller number to be advised-may vary depending on the network used. Accordingly, the caller number advised to the external terminal will be different from a call to calls exhibiting a degree of trouble.

(4) When a call from an external terminal-to an in-house terminal is received and, by means of a busy line and call transfer scheme, transferred to another in-house terminal which is different from the desired in-house terminal to be connected, the number of the another inhouse terminal is advised as the connected line number to the external terminal. If the external terminal has a function of automatically storing the connected line number fo r future use, the number of the another in-house terminal or undesired number will be dialed at the next call hence resulting in confusion and mistake.

As explained above, any conventional private automatic branch exchange has the foregoing problems for the use of calling line identification presentation and connected line identification presentation services. On the contrary, the present invention is intended to provide flexible and user-friendly versions of the CLIP and COLP services while eliminating the foregoing problems of the conventional counterparts.

Summary of the Invention

It is an object of the present invention to eliminate the foregoing problems and to provide a private automatic branch exchange having a function of transmitting a caller number or a connected number to be advised in accordance with the public line number of a party as well as a function of easily selecting and setting for replacement the caller number or connected number to be advised by accessing from each private line in-house terminal.

The private automatic branch exchange according to the present invention allows the auto-dialing numbers at the in-house terminal to be grouped, each group denoted by a group number, and also the caller numbers to be advised to be grouped, each group denoted by a group number corresponding to the group number of the auto-dialing number group. The exchange includes an auto-dialing number storage and an advising caller number storage for holding the groups of the numbers.

The exchange further includes a controller which, when a call is made from the in-house terminal to the public line, accesses the auto-dialing number storage to find the auto-dialing number dialed by the in-house terminal and upon finding the auto-dialing number, selects the caller number to be advised which is listed in the 6 group of which the group number is identical to that of the auto-dialing number. Accordingly, a feature of the private automatic branch exchange of the present invention is that the caller number to be advised can be selected corresponding to the auto-dialing number dialed by the in-house terminal.

Also, the connected numbers to be advised are grouped by the same manner and saved in an advising connected number storage. When a call from the public line is received by the in-house terminal, the controller examines the caller number of the call and picks up the corresponding auto-dialing number from the auto-dialing number storage. The auto-dialing number found is then used by the controller to select the connected number to be advised which is listed in the group of'wh-ich the group number is identical to that of the auto-dialing number. Accordingly, another feature is that the connected number to be advised can be selected depending on the auto-dialing number dialed by the in-house terminal.

A further feature is that a call analyzing data storage is provided for holding the relation between the public line numbers and the private line numbers.

Accordingly, during a time from the arrival of a call from the public line to the response of the in-house terminal (more specifically, before the last connected 7 number to be advised is released), the connected number to be advised can be transmitted based on the data in the call analyzing data storage.

A still further feature is,that the advising caller number storage or the advising connected number storage is provided for each private line number hence allowing the caller number or the connected number to be advised to be selected depending on the involved private line number.

A still further feature is that a means is provided for selecting desired one of the caller numbers or connected numbers to be advised from the group saved in the advising caller number storage or the advising connected number storage by responding a request from the in-house terminal, whereby the caller number or the connected number to be advised can be released to the corresponding public line terminal regardless of the calling number.

A still further feature is that a means is provided for selecting desired one of the caller numbers or connected numbers to be advised from the group saved in the advising caller number storage or the advising connected number storage by dialing its selected number at the in-house terminal, whereby the caller number or the connected number to be advised can be released to the corresponding public line terminal 8 regardless of the calling number.

A still further feature is that a means is provided for selecting desired one of the caller numbers or connected numbers to be advised of the group saved in the advising caller number storage or the advising connected number storage by responding to a request from the in-house terminal, whereby the caller number or the connected number to be advised can be released to the corresponding public line terminal regardless of the calling number.

A still further feature is that a means is provided for changing the caller number or connected number to be advised by dialing at the in-house terminal a setting number determined corresponding to a public line terminal to be connected, whereby the caller number or the connected number to be advised can arbitrarily be changed directly by the in"house terminal.

As set forth above, the private automatic branch exchange according to the present invention has a function of storing the categorized data of the public line numbers (auto-dialing numbers) for public line terminals, the caller numbers to be advised, and the connected numbers to be advised into combinations at each private line in-house terminal and an automatic function of determining a corresponding group for the 9 in-house terminal when a call is made between the in house terminal and any public line terminals, selecting and sending the caller number and the connected number to be advised of the corresponding group for line identification presentation. Also, the private automatic branch exchange according to the present invention has an automatic function of, in"response to a request for selection or change from the in-house terminal, selecting or changing the caller number and the connected number to be advised of a corresponding group for line identification presentation regardless of the content of the call analyzing data storage.

Accordingly, the problems that conventional apparatuses own can be eliminated by the features of the present invention.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Fig. I is a block diagram of the arrangement of a private automatic branch exchange according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a telephone number assigning table for a digital communications network in the private automatic branch exchange of the embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 3 is a call analyzing table in the private automatic branch exchange of the embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 4 is a private line number managing table in the private automatic branch exchange of the embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 5 is an auto-dialing number table in the private automatic branch exchange of the embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 6 is an advising caller number table (1) in the private automatic branch exchange of the embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 7 is an advising connected number table (1) in the private automatic branch exchange of the embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 8 is a block diagram of the arrangement of a private automatic branch exchange according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention; Fig. 9 is an advising caller number table (2) in the private automatic branch exchange of Embodiment 2 of the present invention; Fig. 10 is an advising connected number table (2) in the private automatic branch exchange of Embodiment 2 of the present invention; Fig. 11 is a table showing the relation between the private line numbers and the CLIP/COLP specified numbers in the private automatic branch exchange of the embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 12 is a flowchart of selecting the caller 11 number to be advised in the private automatic branch exchange of Embodiments 1 and 2 of the present invention; Fig. 13 is a flowchart of selecting the connected number to be advised in the private automatic branch exchange of Embodiments 1 and 2 of the present invention; and Fig. 14 is a block diagram showing the function of a conventional private automatic branch exchange.

Description of the Preferred Embodiments

Before the description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention is commenced, a common structure of such private automatic branch exchanges will briefly be explained. Fig. 1 is a block diagram of Embodiment 1 of the present invention illustrating that a private automatic branch exchange includes two interface groups, more precisely, a group of private line interfaces 101 and a group of network interfaces 102 (as shown in Fig. 1, the private line interfaces are separately denoted by 101a to 101d but are expressed representatively like as 101 without subscripts; the same promise is applied to the network interfaces 102, network lines 106, and in house terminals 200). The private line interfaces 101 are linked by private telephone lines 104a to 104d to the corresponding in-house terminals 200 while the 12 network interfaces 102 are linked by the network lines 106a to 106d to a telephone station 300. The telephone station 300 is further linked to external terminals 400. The exchange 100 also includes an private line number manager 103 for administrating the private line numbers designated to their respective interfaces 101, a call analyzing data storage 105 for holding the relationship between the private line numbers and the network numbers corresponding to their respective network interfaces 102, an auto-dialing number storage 108 for holding auto-dialing numbers in combination with group numbers which are designated to groups of the auto-dialing numbers, an advising caller number storage 109 for saving the numbers of callers to be advised, an advising connected number storage for saving the numbers of connected parties, and a controller 107 for controlling the electrical action of each component of the exchange 100. During the Jnstallation of the exchange 100, the network lines 106a to 106d are assigned with groups of telephone numbers as shown in Fig. 2. For example, a pair of numbers "092-111-1000" and "092-111-1001" are assigned to the line 106a and another pair of "092-111-1002" and "092-111-1003"' to the line 106b. When a call for the number "092-111-1000" is received from an external terminal, it is analyzed with the data saved in the 13 storage 105 as shown in Fig. 3 and transferred to the in-house terminal designated by the private 14 Lne number "100". The private line number of the in-house terminal is administrated by the manager 103. For example, the private line number "100" is assigned to the in-hodse terminal 200a linked to the private line interface 101a as shown in Fig. 4.

The embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail referring to the relevant drawings.

Embodiment 1 Fig. 1 is a block diagram of Embodiment I of the present invention.

The embodiment includes the auto-dialing number storage 108 for holding the group number of the auto dialing numbers in combination with the auto-dialing numbers, the advising caller number storage 109 for saving the group number of the caller numbers to be advised in combination with the caller numbers, and the advising connected number storage 110 for saving the group number the connected numbers to be advised in combination with the connected numbers. Those groups are predetermined in relation to each other; for example, an auto-dialing number table shown in Fig. 5, an advising caller number table (1) shown in Fig. 6, and an advising connected number table (1) are 14 contemplated and saved in the storages 108, 109, and respectively.

The description starts with a case that a call -s made from the in-house terminal 200a to the external terminal 400. The private line number of the in-house terminal 200a is "100" as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. When the in-house terminal 200a dials "03-5111-1000", for example, to call the external terminal 400, the controller 107 examines whether or not the called number dialed by the in-house terminal 200a is saved in the storage 108 (Fig. 5). Then, the controller 107 determines that the called number "03-5111-1000" is in Group 2 of the auto-diialing number group and picks up the caller number saved in the same group number, Group 2 of the advising caller number group in the storage 109 (Fig. 6). More particularly, the controller 107 selects "092-111-1004" of Group 2 as the caller number to be advised and transmits it via the network interface 102 to the network 106. This sequence of actions is shown in a flowchart of Fig. 12.

A case that a call is made from the external terminal 400 to the in-house terminal 200b is now explained. When the external terminal 400 dials "092 111-1001", for example, to call the in-house terminal 200b, its call signal is transferred via the network 106a to the network interface 102a and the called number "092-111-1001" along with the caller number "03 5111-1000" of the external terminal 400 are received.

The controller 107 then refers the call analyzing data storage 105 (Fig. 3) and picks up the private line number "101" assigned to the number "092-111-10011, to be connected. Also, the controller 107 refers the private line number manager 103 (Fig. 4), determines that the private line interface for connecting the private line number 101 is 101b, and drives the private line interface 101b to call the in-house terminal 200b designated by the private line number "101". At the same time, the caller number "03-5111-1000" of the external terminal 400 is transferred to the in-house terminal 200b. This is done before the in-house terminal 200b responds to the call or is hooked off.

As the in-house terminal 200b responds to the call (or is off-hook), the auto-dialing number storage 108 (Fig. 5) is accessed to find the group number of the auto-dialing number corresponding to the caller number ("03-5111-1000" at the external terminal 400) received from the network. Eventually, Group 2 where the number "03-5111-1000" is listed is selected. Then, the advising connected number table of Fig. 7 is examined for finding the connected number which is listed in the corresponding group and designated by the private line number "101". More particularly, the controller 107 16 picks up the number "092-111-1002" of Group 2 as the connected number and transmits it via the network interface 102 to the network 106. This sequence of actions is shown in a flowchart of Fig. 13.

Accordingly, this embodiment allows the caller number and/or connected number to be advised to be supplied to the external terminal 400 by a novel advising method which is different from any conventional, uniformly fixed method.

Embodiment 2 Fig. 8 is a block diagram showing Embodiment 2 of the present invention. This is differentiated from the first embodiment by the fact that the advising caller number storage, the advising connected number storage, and the controller are modified to those denoted at 111, 112, and 117 while a private line number versus specified number storage 113 is added. The other blocks are identical to those of Embodiment 1 and will be explained in no more detail.

The advising caller number storage 111 and the advising connected number storage 112 contain an advising caller number table (2) and an advising connected number table (2) respectively shown in Figs.

9 and 10. The advising caller number table (2) and the advising connected number table (2) shown in Figs. 9 and 10 list main groups (Group 1, Group 2,.... Group 17 N) and two types of sub groups (CLIP1, CLIP2,... and COLP1, COLP2, _).

The lists of the main groups (Group 1, Group 2, Group N) and the sub groups (CLIP1, CLIP2,... and CLOP1, CLOP2,.) in the advising caller number table (2) and the advising connected number table (2) shown in Figs. 9 and 10 are predetermined and saved by the user of the in-house terminal 200a. The lists may be made by entering desired sets of specific dial numbers (referred to as specific numbers hereinafter) when the in-house terminal 200a is a common subscriber line terminal (SLT). For example, dialing of "#521" at the in-house terminal 200a selects CLIP1. More specifically, "#521" is a specific number as its last digit "1" represents "1" in CLIP1 (Similar representation is eligible and its explanation will not be repeated). If the in-house terminal 200 is a private line telephone, its operation may be done with the use of a display and a set of control buttons. The private line numbers versus the specified numbers of CLIP and COLP are listed in a combination in a table as shown in Fig. 11 and saved in the private line number versus specified number storage 113. In this table, each of the private line numbers carries a combination of the CLIP specified number and the COLP specified number as is predetermined by the user. When a call is 18 made from any in-house terminal, the controller 107 refers this table and the advising caller number table (2) to pick up a corresponding caller number to be advised. When a call is received from any external terminal, the controller 107 also refers this table and the advising connected number table (2) to pick up a corresponding connected number to be advised.

The description starts with a case that a call is made from the in-house terminal 200a to the external terminal 400. The private line number of the in-house erminal 200a is "100" as apparent from Figs. 1 and 4.

When the in-house terminal 200a dials "03-5111-1000", for example, to call the external terminal 400, the controller 107 examines whether or not the called number dialed by the in-house terminal 200a is saved in the storage 108 (Fig. 5). Eventually, the controller 107 determines that Group 2 contains the auto-dialing number of "03-5111-1000" and picks up the caller number corresponding to Group 2 from the advising caller number table (2) shown in Fig. 9. More particularly, the controller 107 finds that the caller number associated with the private line number "100" is either "092-111-1005" or "092-111-2001" and picks up corresponding one which is predetermined. For example, in case that the number "092-111-1005" is specified by CLIP1, it is picked up and transmitted via the network 19 interface 102 to the network 106. The caller number transmitted is received by the external terminal 400 through the network.

The following is a case that a call is made from the external terminal 400 to the in-house terminal 200b. When the external terminal 400 dials "092-111 1001", for example, to call the in-house terminal 200b, its call signal is transmitted via the network 106a to the network interface 102a and the called number"092 111-1001" dialed by the external terminal 400 with the caller number "03-5111-1000" of the external terminal 400 are received. The controller 107 refers the call analyzing data storage 105 (Fig. 3) and picks up the private line number "101" associated with the dial number "092-111-1001" to be connected. Then, the controller 107 refers the private line number manager 103 (Fig. 4), determines that the private line interface used for calling the private line number "101" is 101b, and controls the private line interface 101b to connect the in-house terminal 200b designated by the private line number "101". Simultaneously, the caller number "03-5111-1000" of the external terminal 400 is given to the in-house terminal 200b. This is done before the in-house terminal 200b is hooked off.

When the in-house terminal 200b responds to the call (or is off-hook), the auto-dialing number storage 108 (Fig. 5) is accessed for finding the number of the group in which the auto-dialing number corresponding to the caller number (i.e. "03-5111-1000" of the external terminal 400) is saved and it is determined that the group is Group 2 where "03-5111-1000" is listed. Then, the called number which is associated with the private line number "101" and listed in the same group number is picked up from the advising connected number table (2) shown in Fig. 10. The controller 107 acknowledges that the called number associated with the private line number "101" is either "092-111-100.4" or "'092-111-1006" and selects predetermined one. For example, if the number "092-111-1004" is specified by COLP1, it is picked up and transmitted via the network interface 102 to the network 106. The connected number is received by the external terminal 400 through the network.

Accordingly, the private automatic branch exchange of this embodiment allows the caller number and/or connected number to be advised to be supplied to the external terminal 400 by a novel advising method which is different from any conventional, uniformly fixed method.

Embodiment 3 A private automatic branch exchange of Embodiment 3 is substantially identical to that shown in the block diagram of Fig. 1. The advising caller number storage 21 109 and the advising connected number storage 110 hold groups of the caller numbers and the connected numbers to be advised as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. This embodiment is differentiated from Embodiments 1 and 2 by the fact there is an additional function of selecting and setting the caller number and the connected number from their saved lists by dialing on any in-house terminal and modifying the setting, and will be described about the differentiated fact.

The description starts with a manner of selecting and setting a desired caller number in the advising caller number storage 109.

The in-house terminal 200a is hooked off to dial a specific number (for example, "#522"). The controller 107 acknowledges a request for caller number change via the private line interface 101a from the in-house terminal 200a dialing "#522". More particularly, the controller 107 finds that dialing "#522" requests a caller number change in Group 2 and shifts the caller number of the in-house terminal 200a saved in Group 2 of the storage 109 to "092-111-1004" (See Fig-6). This number is to be advisedvia the network 106 as the caller number. After then, the controller 107 upon finding that a call is made by the in-house terminal 200a releases the caller number "092-111-1004" to the network 106.

22 In case that the in-house terminal 200 is a private line telephone, its request for caller number change may be done by pressing a request start button and entering the number of a target group.

The caller number "092-111-1004 to be advised when having been set may be replaced by performing the above procedure. For shifting to "092-111-1000" saved in Group 1, for example, the in-house terminal 200a is hooked off and dialed "#521". Then, the caller number to be advised via the network 106 is shifted to "092 111-1000" (See Fig. 6).

A manner of selecting and setting a desired connected number in the advising connected number storage 110 is now explained. The in-house terminal 200a is hooked off and dialed a specific number (for example, "#532"). The controller 107 acknowledges a request for connected number change given via the private line interface 101a by the in-house terminal 200a diaiing "#532". As it is judged that dialing fllrS32" requests a connected number change to the number in Group 2, the connected number of the in-house terminal 200a saved in Group 2 of the storage 110 is shifted to "092-111-1003" '(Fig. 7). This number is to be advised via the network 106 as the connected number.

After then, the controller 107 upon finding that a call .s received by the in-house terminal 200a releases the 23 connected number "092-111-1003" to the network 106.

In case that the in-house terminal 200a is a private line telephone, its request for connected number change may be done by pressing a request start button and entering the number of a target group.

The connected number "092-111-1003 to be advised when having been set may be replaced by performing the above procedure. For shifting to "092-111-1002" saved in Group 1, for example, the in-house terminal 200a is hooked off and dialed "#531". Then, the connected number to be advised via the network 106 is shifted to "092-111-1002" (See Fig. 7).

This embodiment allows the in-house terminal to select and set in a convenient manner a desired caller and/or connected number to be advised by dialing the specific number.

Embodiment 4 A private automatic branch exchange of Embodiment 4 is substantially identical to that shown in the block diagram of Fig. 1. The advising caller number storage 109 and the advising connected number storage 110 hold groups of the caller numbers and the connected numbers to be advised as shown in Figs. 9 and 10. This embodiment is differentiated from Embodiments 1 to 3 by the fact there is an additional function of selecting and setting the caller number and the connected number 24 not by dialing on any in-house terminal but by directly shifting to desired numbers, and will be described about the differentiated fact.

The description starts with a manner of changing the caller number in the advising caller number storage. The in-house terminal 200a is hooked off and dialed consecutively two numbers, a specific number predetermined for starting the change of the caller number to be advised and a desired caller number to be set (for example, "#123" and "'092-477-1424"). The controller 107 acknowledges a request for caller number change given via the private line interface 101a by the in-house terminal 200a dialing the specific number "#123" (the last numeral "Y' in the specific number "#123" representing the caller number), and shifts the caller number to be advised of the in-house terminal 200a saved in the storage 109 to "092-477-1424". After then, the controller 107 upon finding that a call is made from the in-house terminal 200a releases the newly set caller number to be advised to the network 106.

In case that the in-house terminal 200a is a private line telephone, its request for call number change may be done by pressing a request start button and entering desired one of the caller numbers.

A manner of changing the connected number to be advised saved in the advising connected number storage is now explained. The in-house terminal 200a is hooked off and dialed consecutively two numbers, a specific number predetermined for starting the change of the connected number to be advised and a desired connected number to be set (for example, "#124" and "092-4771425"). The controller 107 acknowledges a request for connected number change given by the in- house terminal 200a dialing the specific number "#124" and shifts the connected number to be advised of the in-house terminal 200a saved in the storage 110 to "092-477-1425". After then, the controller 107 upon finding that a call is received by the in-house terminal 200a releases the connected number newly set and saved in the advising connected number storage 110 to the network 106.

In case that the in-house terminal 200a is a private line telephone, its request for connected number change may be done by pressing a request start button and entering desired one of the connected numbers.

This embodiment allows the in-house terminal to arbitrarily set the caller number and/or connected number to be advised by direct dialing.

As set forth above, the preferred embodiments of the private automatic branch exchange of the present invention shown in Figs. 1 to 13 are featured in that each in-house terminal is assigned with a set of the 26 external telephone line numbers (auto-dialing numbers) for calling, the caller numbers to be advised, and the connected numbers to be advised which are grouped in relation to each other, and when calling to or called from the external line identifies each group of the numbers and automatically select and transmits the caller number and the connected number in the identical groups. This hence eliminates the problem that the telephone line number which is fixedly associated with a private line number and preliminarily saved at the time of installation into the call analyzing data storage of a conventional exchange can be transferred to a connected party.

The private automatic branch exchange of the present invention also has a function of, when a request of selection is made by any in-house terminal, selecting and transmitting desired ones of the caller numbers and the connected numbers to be advised which are saved in the storages as the categorized groups, regardless of the contents of the call analyzing data storage.

Also, the private automatic branch exchange of the present invention provides a function of, when a request for changing the numbers change is made from any in-house terminal, arbitrarily rewriting the contents of the storages which holds the numbers to be 27 changed and another function of allowing the user of any in-house terminal to easily change the setting of the in-house terminal without the help of relevant mr aintenance specialists, as compared to the prior art.

Moreover, the private automatic branch exchange of the present invention provides an advantage that works for fee accounting and tele-marketing (secretary outsourcing) can be performed with much ease.

28

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A private automatic branch exchange disposed across the communications lines between a digital communications network and private line in-house terminals with auto-dialing function comprising electric components of:

(a) network interfaces linked to the digital' communications network; (b) private line interfaces linked to the in-house terminals; (c) a call analyzing data storage for holding the relation between the network line numbers on the digital communications network and the private line numbers assigned to the in-house terminals; (d) an auto-dialing number storage for holding the relation between the auto-dialing numbers and the group numbers which designate the groups of the auto-dialling numbers; (e) an advising caller number storage for holding the relation between the caller numbers to be advised and the group numbers which designate the groups of the caller numbers to be advised; and (f) a controller for, when a call is made from one of the in-house terminals to the digital communications network by a corresponding auto-dialing number, retrieving from the storage (d) the group number of the 29 group in which the auto-dialing number is listed, and selecting from the storage(e) the caller number to be advised which group number is identical to the retrieved group number as well As controlling the other electrical action of the above mentioned components.

2. A private automatic branch exchange disposed across the communications lines between a digital communications network and private line in-house terminals with auto-dialing function comprising electric components of:

(a) network interfaces linked to the digital communications network; (b) private line interfaces linked to the in-house terminals; (c) a call analyzing data storage for holding the -elation between the network line numbers on the digital communications network and the private line numbers assigned to the in-house terminals; (d) an auto-dialing number storage for holding the relation between the auto-dialing numbers and the group numbers which designate the groups of the auto-dialing numbers; (e) an advising connected number storage for holding the relation between the connected numbers to be advised and the group numbers which designate the groups of the connected numbers to be advised; and (f) a controller for, when a call from the digital communications network is received by corresponding one of the in-house terminals, retrieving from the storage (d) the group number of the group in which the auto dialing or caller number, and selecting from the storage(e) the connected number to be advised which group number is identical to the retrieved group number as well as controlling the other electrical action of the above mentioned components.

3. A private automatic branch exchange according to claim 1, further comprising the components (e) and (f) defined by claim 2.

4. A private automatic branch exchange according to claim 1 or 3, further comprising an electric means for, when a call is made from the in-house terminal to [-he digital communication network, releasing the selected caller number to be advised to the digital communications network.

5. A private automatic branch exchange according to claim 2, further comprising an electric means for, when a call from the digital communication network is received by the corresponding in-house terminal, releasing the selected connected number to be advised to the digital communications network.

6. A private automatic branch exchange according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising an electric means 31 for, before the corresponding in-house terminal responds to the call from the digital communications network, advising the network line number of the corresponding in-house terminal saved in the call analyzing data storage.

7. A private automatic branch exchange according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the advising caller number storage is provided for each private line number.

8. A private automatic branch exchange according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the advising connected number storage is provided for each private line number.

9. A private automatic branch exchange according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a means for, in response to a request from the in-house terminal, selecting desired one of the caller numbers to be advised which are saved as one group in the advising caller number storage.

10. A private automatic branch exchange according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a means for, in response to a request from the in-house terminal, selecting desired one of the connected numbers to be advised which are saved as one group in the advising connected number storage.

11. A private automatic branch exchange according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a means for selecting desired one of the caller numbers to be 32 advised which are saved as one group in the advising caller number storage by dialing a specific number at the in-house terminal which is provided for selection of the caller number.

12. A private automatic branch exchange according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a means for selecting desired one of the connected numbers to be advised which are saved as one group in the advising connected number storage by dialing a specific number 1.0 at the in-house terminal which is provided for selection of the connected number.

13. A private automatic branch exchange disposed across the communications lines between a digital communications network and private line in-house terminals comprising electric components of:

(a) network line interfaces linked to the digital communications network; (b) private line interfaces linked to the in-house terminals; (c) a call analyzing data storage for holding the relation between the network line numbers on the digital communications network and the private line numbers assigned to the in-house terminals; (d) an advising caller number storage for holding a plurality of caller numbers to be advised; (e) an electric means for, in response to a 33 request from the in-house terminal, selecting corresponding one of the caller numbers to be advised; and (f) a controller having a function of controlling the electrical action of the components.

14. A private automatic branch exchange disposed across the communications lines between a digital communications network and private line in-house terminals comprising electric components of:

(a) network line interfaces linked to the digital communications network; (b) private line interfaces linked to the in-house terminals; (c) a call analyzing data storage for holding the relation between the network line numbers on the digital communications network and the private line numbers assigned to the in-house terminals; (d) an advising connected number storage for holding a plurality of connected numbers to be advised; (e) an electric means for, in response to a request from the in-house terminal, selecting corresponding one of the connected numbers to be advised; and (f) a controller having a function of controlling the electrical action of the components.

15. A private automatic branch exchange disposed 34 across the communications lines between a digital communications network and private line in-house terminals comprising electric components of:

(a) network line interfaces linked to the digital communications network;, (b) private line interfaces linked to the in-house terminals; (c) a call analyzing data storage for holding the relation between the network line numbers on the digital communications network and the private line numbers assigned to the in-house terminals; (d) an advising caller number storage for holding a plurality of caller numbers to be advised; (e) an advising connected number storage for holding a plurality of connected numbers to be advised; (f) an electric means for, in response to a request from the in-house terminal, selecting corresponding one of either the caller numbers to be advised or the connected numbers to be advised; and (g) a controller having a function of controlling the electrical action of the components.

16. A private automatic branch exchange a.ccording to claim 13 or 15, wherein the advising caller number storage is provided for each private line number.

17. A private automatic branch exchange according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the advising connected number storage is provided for each private line number.

18. A private automatic branch exchange disposed across the communications lines-between a digital communications network and private line in-house terminals comprising electric components of:

(a) network line interfaces linked to the digital communications network; (b) private line interfaces linked to the in-house terminals; (c) a call analyzing data storage for holding the relation between the network line numbers on the digital communications network and the private line numbers assigned to the in-house terminals; (d) an advising caller number storage for holding a plurality of caller numbers to be advised; (e) an electric means for changing the caller number to be advised by dialing at the in-line terminal a specific number for command to start the change of the caller number to be advised and a desired caller number to be newly set; and (f) a controller having a function of controlling the electrical action of the components.

19. A private automatic branch exchange disposed across the communications lines between a digital communications network and private line in-house 36 erminals comprising electric components of:

(a) network line interfaces linked to the digital communications network; (b) private line interfaces linked to the in-house terminals; (c) a call analyzing data storage for holding the relation between the network line numbers on the digital communications network and the private line numbers assigned to -the in-house terminals; (d) an advising connected number storage for holding a plurality of connected numbers to be advised; (e) an electric means for changing the connected number to be advised by dialing at the in-house terminal a specific number for command to start the change of the connected number to be advised and a desired connected number to be newly set; and (f) a controller having a function of controlling the electrical action of the components.

20. A private automatic branch exchange disposed across the communications lines between a digital communications network and private line in-house terminals comprising electric components of:

(a) network line interfaces linked to the digital communications network; (b) private line interfaces linked to the in-house terminals; 37 (c) a call analyzing data storage for holding the relation between the network line numbers on the digital communications network and the private line numbers assigned to the in-house terminals; (d) an advising caller number storage for holding a plurality of caller numbers to be advised; (e) an advising connected number storage for holding a plurality of connected numbers to be advised; (f) an electric means for changing the called number or the connected number to be advised by dialing at the in-house terminal a specific number for command k-o start the change of the called number or the connected number to be advised and a desired called or connected number to be newly set; and (g) a controller having a function of controlling the electrical action of the components.

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