JP2000125014A - Exchange and telephone exchange system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To actualize service provision not by a function which is fixedly incorporated in advance, but by a function which can be changed on a user side and is provided outside. SOLUTION: The exchange 10 provided with a service process part 20 which provides service for a control signal is equipped with a process location decision part 32 which decides the execution location of the process corresponding to the control signal, a control signal notification part 38 which notifies the control signal to the outside when it is decided that the process is performed outside, a data storage part 44 which stores data used when the process is executed, a data interface part 42 which refers the data stored in the data storage part 44 at a request accompanying the externally performed service process, and means (24, 46, and 48) which provide the service according to the result of the external process.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an exchange accommodating communication lines of a public network or a private branch exchange network, and a telephone exchange system for interconnecting the exchange and a computer to exchange telephones.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an exchange accommodating a communication line of a public network or a private branch exchange network returns an operation instruction or response to the communication line by fixed processing according to a control signal sent from the communication line. I was That is, in the exchange, an exchange processing program for realizing processing corresponding to the control signal is fixedly stored in a storage medium such as a ROM or a hard disk as a built-in type. The function of executing a service determination / instruction (execution of service processing) is realized.

[0003] For this reason, once the exchange is shipped, the processing cannot be easily changed in response to a request to change the processing on the user side.

[0004]

As described above, in the conventional exchange, since the exchange processing program is fixedly incorporated at the time of shipment, it is not possible to easily respond to a change request on the user side.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and is not provided with a function for executing service processing which is fixedly incorporated in advance, but with an externally provided function which can be changed by a user. An object of the present invention is to provide an exchange and a telephone exchange system capable of realizing service provision.

[0006]

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an exchange for providing a service relating to telephone exchange in response to a control signal received from a communication line. This exchange performs control signal receiving means for receiving a control signal from a communication line, and processing corresponding to the control signal received by the control signal reception means, inside the exchange, or in a processing device external to the exchange. A processing location determining means for determining whether to execute, and a control signal for notifying a processing device external to the exchange of the content of the received control signal when the processing location determining means determines that the processing is to be performed by the external processing device. A notification unit, and a service providing unit for providing a service based on a result of a process executed by a processing device external to the exchange in accordance with the content of the control signal notified by the control signal notification unit.

[0007] The exchange of the present invention may further include data storage means for storing various data used when executing processing for the received control signal.

The switch of the present invention notifies the processing unit outside the switch by the control signal notifying unit and responds to the request generated by the processing executed by the processing unit outside the switch according to the content of the control signal. Data interface means for outputting the data stored in the storage device to a processing device external to the exchange.

By providing the data interface means as described above, an external processing device can process a control signal using data in the exchange.

It is preferable that the service providing means includes an instruction transmitting means for transmitting an instruction to a communication line or another communication line.

[0011] With this configuration, based on the processing performed by the exchange or the external processing device in response to the control signal from the communication line, the communication line transmitting the control signal or another communication line different from this operates. Instructions can be sent.

The exchange according to the present invention further comprises a processing location storage means for storing information indicating whether the processing corresponding to the received control signal is executed internally or by an external processing device. The location determination means may make the determination based on the information stored in the processing location storage means.

Preferably, the exchange according to the present invention further comprises a processing location rewriting means for rewriting the information stored in the processing location storage means.

When the processing location rewriting means is provided as described above, the processing location can be rewritten according to the situation, and more flexible service can be provided.

[0015] The processing location storage means includes service corresponding processing location storage means for storing data of an execution location of the processing corresponding to the control signal for each service type, and the processing location determining means includes a service corresponding to the received control signal. Service type determining means for determining the type may be provided, and data of the execution location may be obtained from the service corresponding processing location storage means based on the service type corresponding to the received control signal.

With this configuration, the processing location can be changed for each service type. For example, when more advanced processing or faster processing is required, the processing can be performed by an external processing device.

The processing location storage means includes an arrival time corresponding processing location storage means for storing data of a processing execution location corresponding to the control signal for each time zone.
A control signal arrival time determining means for determining the arrival time of the received control signal may be provided, and data of the execution place may be acquired from the arrival time corresponding processing place storage means based on the arrival time of the received control signal. .

With this configuration, it is possible to change the processing location for each time zone. For example, in a time zone when the exchange function of the exchange is busy, the external processing device processes the control signal and the original exchange is performed. Functions can be prevented from being hindered.

The exchange according to the present invention further comprises an internal signal frame generating means for generating an internal signal frame based on a control signal sent from a communication line, wherein the internal signal frame is a processing location corresponding to the control signal. The processing location determination means may include a flag indicating the content of the control signal and a flag indicating the content of the control signal, and determine the execution location of the process corresponding to the control signal based on the flag.

The internal signal frame creating means executes processing corresponding to the control signal in a processing device external to the exchange when a control signal designated by a special number indicating processing by an external processing device is input. It may be configured to set a flag so as to indicate the fact.

According to this structure, the user can dial a special number to cause an external processing device to perform a process corresponding to the control signal.

The internal signal frame creating means indicates that, when the port to which the communication line that has notified the control signal is connected is a special port, processing corresponding to the control signal is executed by a processing device external to the exchange. The flag may be set as follows.

With this configuration, the control signal received through the special port can always be processed by an external processing device.

The internal signal frame creating means sets a flag so as to indicate that a process corresponding to the control signal is to be executed by a processing device external to the exchange when the communication line that has notified the control signal belongs to a specific group. It is good to configure to set.

With this configuration, the control signal from the telephone belonging to the specific group can always be processed by the external processing device.

The exchange according to the present invention has a processing location storage means for storing information indicating whether a process corresponding to a received control signal is to be executed internally or by an external processing device, and a transmission line from a communication line. And an internal signal frame generating means for generating an internal signal frame based on the received control signal, wherein the internal signal frame includes a flag indicating an execution place of a process corresponding to the control signal and information indicating a control signal content. Preferably, the processing location determination means makes the determination based on the information and the flag stored in the processing location storage means.

With this configuration, the processing location can be determined based on the information and the flags stored in the processing location storage means.

The processing location determination means is configured to determine the location at which the processing is to be performed based on the determination made based on the information stored in the processing location storage means, the determination made based on the flag, and the priority of the predetermined determination. Is preferably determined.

With this configuration, the processing location can be determined even if the determination made based on the information stored in the processing location storage means is different from the determination made based on the flag.

The priorities of the predetermined judgments are determined such that the judgment made based on the information stored in the processing location storage means is given priority, or the judgment made based on the flag is given priority. Alternatively, it may be determined in advance that execution of processing by an external processing device is given priority.

The instruction transmitting means sends an instruction to a communication line or another communication line based on a result of a process executed by a processing device outside the exchange, using the same instruction as when the process is executed internally. Preferably, it is transmitted.

As described above, even when processing is performed by an external processing device, an instruction is transmitted to a communication line or another communication line using the same instruction as when processing is performed internally. With this configuration, it is possible to perform processing as if the processing were performed inside the exchange. Thus, the control signal can be processed by the external processing device and the processing result can be returned to the communication line without making any change to the telephone connected to the communication line.

When the processing location determining means determines that the processing is to be executed inside the switching equipment, the exchange according to the present invention provides a second service for providing a service based on the result of the processing according to the content of the control signal. It is preferable to further provide a providing means.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a telephone exchange device which performs an operation related to telephone exchange in response to a control signal received from a communication line, and a control signal from the communication line notified from the telephone exchange device. There is provided a telephone exchange system including an external processing device for performing processing. The telephone switching device of the telephone switching system includes a control signal receiving unit that receives a control signal from a communication line, and a process that determines whether an external processing device executes a process corresponding to the control signal received by the control signal receiving unit. Processing location determining means for determining, control signal notifying means for notifying the external processing apparatus of the content of the received control signal when the processing location determining means determines that the processing is to be performed by the external processing device, and control signal notifying means Means for performing an operation related to telephone exchange based on the result of processing executed by the external processing device in accordance with the content of the control signal notified by the external processing device. Further, the external processing device of the telephone exchange system includes an external service processing means for performing processing based on the content of the control signal notified by the control signal notification means.

It is preferable that the telephone exchange system of the present invention further comprises a data storage means for storing various data used when executing processing for the received control signal.

The external service processing means includes means for requesting data necessary for processing based on the content of the control signal from the telephone exchange, and the telephone exchange stores the data in the data storage in response to a request from the data request. It is preferable to further include a data interface unit that outputs the data to the data request unit.

By providing the data interface means as described above, the external processing device can process the control signal by utilizing the data inside the telephone exchange.

The telephone exchange device has a processing location storage means for storing information indicating whether a process corresponding to the received control signal is to be executed internally or by an external processing device, and a processing location storage means. The external service processing means may further include a processing location rewriting means for instructing the processing location rewriting means to rewrite data of the processing location.

When the processing location rewriting means is provided as described above, the processing location can be rewritten according to the situation, and more flexible service can be provided.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a telephone having an exchange device for performing an operation related to telephone exchange in response to a control signal received from a communication line, and an external processing device for performing processing in response to the control signal. An exchange system is provided. The telephone switching system executes control signal receiving means for receiving a control signal from a communication line, and processing corresponding to the control signal received by the control signal receiving means, inside the switching device, or in an external processing device. A processing location determining means for determining whether to execute, and a processing executing means of the external processing device, which performs processing according to a control signal when the processing location determining means determines that the processing is to be performed by the external processing device,
Operating means for an exchange device for performing an operation relating to telephone exchange based on the result of the processing by the processing executing means.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an exchange device for performing an operation relating to telephone exchange in response to a control signal received from a communication line, and an external processing device for performing processing in accordance with the control signal. A telephone exchange system is provided. The telephone switching system executes control signal receiving means for receiving a control signal from a communication line, and processing corresponding to the control signal received by the control signal receiving means, inside the switching device, or in an external processing device. A processing location determining means for determining whether to perform the processing, and a processing performing means of the switching apparatus, which performs processing in accordance with the control signal when the processing location determining means determines that the processing is to be performed inside the switching device; and Operating means of the switching device for performing an operation related to telephone exchange based on a result of the processing.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, a telephone comprising an exchange device for performing an operation relating to telephone exchange in response to a control signal received from a communication line, and an external processing device for performing processing in accordance with the control signal An exchange system is provided. The telephone switching system includes a control signal receiving unit that receives a control signal from a communication line, a determination unit that determines whether or not to execute a process corresponding to the control signal received by the control signal receiving unit in an external processing device. Performing processing in accordance with a control signal when the determining means determines that the processing is to be performed by the external processing device, and performing an operation related to telephone exchange based on a result of the processing performed by the processing execution means. , Operating means of the switching device.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, an exchange apparatus for performing an operation related to telephone exchange in response to a control signal received from a communication line, and an external processing apparatus including a processing execution unit for performing processing in accordance with the control signal A switching device for use in a telephone switching system comprising: The switching device executes control signal receiving means for receiving a control signal from a communication line, and processing corresponding to the control signal received by the control signal receiving means, inside the switching device or in an external processing device. Processing location determining means for determining whether to perform
Operating means for performing an operation related to telephone exchange based on the result of the processing by the processing executing means.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an exchange device for performing an operation relating to telephone exchange in response to a control signal received from a communication line, and an external processing device for performing processing in accordance with the control signal. A switching device for use in a telephone switching system is provided. The switching device executes control signal receiving means for receiving a control signal from a communication line, and processing corresponding to the control signal received by the control signal receiving means, inside the switching device or in an external processing device. Processing place determining means for determining whether to perform the processing, when the processing place determining means determines that the processing is to be performed inside the switching device, a processing performing means for performing processing in accordance with the control signal, and based on a processing result of the processing performing means. Operating means for performing an operation related to telephone exchange.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, an exchange device for performing an operation related to telephone exchange in response to a control signal received from a communication line, and an external processing device including a process execution means for performing processing in accordance with the control signal A switching device for use in a telephone switching system comprising: The switching device is a control signal receiving unit that receives a control signal from a communication line, a determining unit that determines whether or not to execute a process corresponding to the control signal received by the control signal receiving unit in an external processing device, Operating means for performing an operation related to telephone exchange based on the result of the processing by the processing executing means.

[0046]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the telephone exchange system according to the present embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, a telephone exchange system according to the present embodiment includes an exchange 10 to which communication lines such as a public line, a dedicated line, and an extension telephone line are connected, and an exchange 10 such as this exchange 10 and a local area network. It is configured by an external computer (external processing device) 12 connected via a data communication line 14.

The exchange 10 is connected to various communication lines.
The control circuit 10a performs a predetermined process on a control signal sent from a communication line, and includes a control circuit 10a, a storage device 10b,
Time switch circuit 10c, various line trunk circuits 1
0d and an external communication circuit 10e.

The control circuit 10a controls the entire operation of the exchange 10 to operate the same.
Various functions are realized by executing the exchange processing program stored in b in the internally provided CPU.

The storage device 10b stores various information for controlling the operation of the control circuit 10a, and includes various programs and data including an exchange processing program.

The time switch circuit 10c includes the control circuit 1
Under the control of 0a, the communication paths of the communication lines accommodated by the various line trunk circuits 10d are connected.
The communication lines are arbitrarily exchanged and connected by exchanging time slots.

The various line trunk circuits 10d accommodate various communication lines such as office lines (public network 16) and extensions (telephone terminals 18), and are interfaces for controlling signal conversion, state monitoring, signal transmission, and the like. is there.

The external communication circuit 10e performs control for communicating with an external computer 12 via a data communication line 14 by, for example, a local area network (LAN).

The computer 12 is used in place of the exchange 10 to execute processing on a control signal received from a communication line, and includes a control circuit 12a, a storage device 12b, and an external communication circuit 12c. .

The control circuit 12a performs overall control for operating the computer 12, and realizes various functions by executing various programs including an exchange processing program stored in the storage device 12b.

The storage device 12b stores various information for controlling the operation of the control circuit 12a, and includes various programs and data including an exchange processing program.

The external communication circuit 12c performs control for communicating with the exchange 10 via a data communication line 14 by a local area network (LAN), for example.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the telephone exchange system realized in the system configuration shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the exchange 10 is provided with functions of a service processing unit 20 and a terminal line control unit 24,
The computer 12 (external processing device) has a function of the external service processing unit 26.

Service processing unit 20 and terminal line control unit 24
Is realized by the CPU of the control circuit 10a executing a program stored in the storage device 10b.

The service processing section 20 performs an operation related to telephone exchange in response to a control signal sent from a communication line. The control signals received by the service processing unit 20 include an off-hook signal, a dial signal, an on-hook signal, and the like, and the services include many other services such as hold, transfer, and camp-on.

The service processing unit 20 includes a processing location determination unit 32, a processing location storage unit 34, an internal service determination / instruction unit 36, a control signal notification unit 38, a data interface unit 42, a data storage unit 44, and an external instruction reception unit. 46, a terminal operation instructing unit 48, and a processing location rewriting unit 50 are provided.

The processing location determination unit 32 is a terminal line control unit 2
The processing corresponding to the control signal from the communication line, which is input via the communication line 4, is executed by using the internal service determination / instruction unit 36 provided in the exchange 10 or the computer 12 (external processing device) An external service determination / instruction unit 54 (external service processing means) provided therein determines whether or not to execute. Note that the detailed configuration of the processing location determination unit 32 will be described later with reference to FIGS.

The processing location storage unit 34 processes the control signal sent from the communication line by the internal service determination / instruction unit 36 in the exchange 10 or the computer 1
2 stores information indicating whether or not to be processed by the external service determination / instruction unit 54.

The internal service determination / instruction unit 36 is realized by executing an exchange processing program preset in the storage device 10b of the exchange 10 by the control circuit 10a. If it is determined that the service corresponding to the control signal sent from the line is to be executed inside the exchange, processing corresponding to the control signal is executed.

The control signal notification unit 38
2, when it is determined that a service corresponding to the control signal sent from the communication line is to be executed by a processing device outside the exchange, the contents of the input control signal are determined by the external service determination / instruction of the external computer 12. Notify section 54.

The data interface unit 42 performs a request from the external service determination / instruction unit 54 when the external service determination / instruction unit 54 in the computer 12 executes a service corresponding to the control signal transmitted from the communication line. The data stored in the data storage unit 44 in the exchange 10 is output to the external service determination / instruction unit 54 in response to the request. Further, the data interface unit 42 rewrites data in the data storage unit 44 with data from the external service determination / instruction unit 54.

The data storage section 44 stores various data used when executing service processing for various control signals. The data storage section 44 is provided with the internal service determination / instruction section 36 or the data interface section 42 to control the computer 12. It is referred to by the external service determination / instruction unit 54.

The external instruction receiving section 46 is a computer
The result received by the external service determination / instruction unit 54 is received, and based on the content thereof, the same instruction used in the processing by the internal service determination / instruction unit 36 is used via the terminal operation instruction unit 48. Output instructions to the communication line.

The terminal operation instructing section 48 is instructed based on the contents of the processing result by the internal service judging / instructing section 36 and the contents of the processing result by the external service judging / instructing section 54 received by the external instruction receiving section 46. Instructions
The data is transmitted to the communication line through the terminal line control unit 24.

The processing location rewriting section 50 stores the contents of the information stored in the processing location storage section 34 indicating the location where the processing for the input control signal is to be executed, from the processing location rewriting instructing section 56 or an exchange (not shown). It has a function of rewriting in accordance with instructions from the ten maintenance consoles.

More specifically, the rewriting method by the processing location rewriting instructing section 56 will be described. When a user inputs a rewriting command through a keyboard (not shown) of the computer 12, the computer 12 enters a rewriting mode, and the user is in a rewriting mode. The user is prompted via a screen on a display (not shown) to enter a service and information specifying the processing location of the service. Thereafter, when the user inputs information specifying the service and the processing location of the service, the processing location rewriting instructing unit 56
Causes the processing location rewriting section 50 of the exchange 10 to rewrite the content of the information indicating the location to be executed for each control signal stored in the processing location storage section 34.

The terminal line control unit 24 controls a communication line connected to the system, and includes an internal signal frame creation unit 52 and a control signal determination information storage unit 53.

The internal signal frame creation section 52 generates an internal signal frame in accordance with the control signal sent from the communication line, and notifies the processing location determination section 32 of the service processing section 20 of the control signal. In accordance with the input control signal, a predetermined signal indicating whether to process the control signal in the internal signal frame internally (internal service determination / instruction unit 36) or externally (external service determination / instruction unit 54) The processing location is determined by the processing location determining unit 32 by outputting the mark. For example, when a specific number (hereinafter referred to as a special number) indicating that a service is to be processed by the computer 12 is input by a user, the port to which the communication line to which the control signal has been sent is connected is a special port. In the case where the communication line to which the control signal is sent belongs to a specific group, for example, by attaching a flag indicating the external processing device to the internal signal frame and outputting it, the service processing for the control signal can be performed outside the switchboard. Notify that it is executed by the processing device.

The control signal determination information storage unit 53 is referred to when the internal signal frame generation unit 52 generates an internal signal frame, and stores information for determining the processing location of the input control signal. You.

On the other hand, the external service processing unit 26 of the computer 12 is provided with an external service determination / instruction unit 54, a service information storage unit 55, and a processing location rewrite instruction unit 56.

The external service determination / instruction unit 54 is realized by executing an exchange processing program preset in the storage device 12b of the computer 12 by the control circuit 12a. When it is determined that the service corresponding to the control signal sent from the line is to be executed by the external processing device, the control signal processing is performed according to the control signal notified by the control signal notification unit 38.

The service information storage unit 55 performs processing on the input control signal by the external service determination / instruction unit 54.
Stores, for example, information in which a telephone terminal number and a registrant's name are associated with each other.

The processing location rewriting instruction section 56 is for instructing the computer 12 to change information stored in the processing location storage section 34 of the service processing section 20.
According to the operation on the computer 12 by the user,
The processing location rewriting section 50 in the service processing section 20 rewrites the content of the information indicating the location to be executed for each control signal stored in the processing location storage section 34.

Next, two detailed configurations of the processing place determination section 32 will be described.

FIG. 3 shows a processing location determination unit 3 according to the first configuration.
2 is shown. The processing location determination unit 32 shown in FIG.
A function of the comprehensive determination unit 32a and a function of the service type determination unit 32b are provided. The overall determination unit 32a finally determines the processing location of the control signal based on the processing location determination by the internal signal frame creation unit 52 and the processing location determination by the service type determination unit 32b, and the service type determination unit 32b The service type corresponding to the signal is determined.

As shown in FIG. 3, the processing location storage section 34 is provided with a default processing location storage section 34a and a service corresponding processing location storage section 34b. The default processing location storage unit 34a indicates whether the default processing location when the processing location corresponding to the transmitted control signal is not defined is inside the exchange or an external processing device. The information is stored in advance, and the service corresponding processing location storage unit 34b stores information indicating whether the processing for the control signal is executed by the processing device inside or outside the exchange for each service type. The information stored in the service corresponding processing location storage unit 34b is arbitrarily rewritten by the processing location rewriting unit 50.

FIG. 4 shows the service corresponding processing location storage unit 3
4B shows an example of information stored in 4b. As shown in FIG. 4, the service corresponding processing location storage unit 34b stores various services and information indicating processing locations (internal or external) corresponding to each service in association with each other. For example, message waiting (MW)
The control signals of
Is set in the external service determination / instruction unit 54 to indicate that processing is to be performed.

FIG. 5 shows a processing location determination unit 32 according to the second configuration. The processing location determination unit 32 illustrated in FIG. 5 includes a function of the general determination unit 32c and a function of the arrival time determination unit 32d. The overall determination unit 32c finally determines the processing location of the control signal based on the processing location determination by the internal signal frame creation unit 52 and the processing location determination by the arrival time determination unit 32d. Determine the arrival time of the signal.

In this case, the processing location storage section 34 stores
As shown in (1), a default processing location storage unit 34a and an arrival time corresponding processing location storage unit 34c (time zone corresponding processing location storage means) are provided. Default processing location storage unit 34
a stores, in advance, information indicating whether the default processing location in the case where the processing location corresponding to the sent control signal is not defined is inside the exchange or in a processing device outside the exchange. The arrival time correspondence processing location storage unit 34c stores information indicating a location where the control signal is executed for each time zone. Arrival time correspondence processing location storage unit 34c
Can be arbitrarily rewritten by the processing location rewriting unit 50.

FIG. 6 shows an arrival time correspondence processing location storage unit 3.
4C shows an example of information stored in 4c. As shown in FIG. 6, the arrival time correspondence processing location storage unit 34c stores information indicating time zones and processing locations (internal or external) corresponding to the respective time zones in association with each other.
For example, for a control signal arriving at the time “19:00” included in the time zone “17: 00-0: 00”, the setting indicating that the control is to be processed externally, that is, by the external service determination / instruction unit 54 of the computer 12, Have been.

Next, an outline of the operation in this embodiment will be described with reference to the diagram showing the signal flow between the telephone terminal 18, the exchange 10, and the computer 12 shown in FIG.

First, a control signal is generated when a one-touch key (not shown) is pressed on the telephone terminal 18 or a special number is input by pressing a dial key (not shown), and the control signal is generated by various line trunk circuits 10d.
Through the terminal line controller 24 of the control circuit 10a.

The internal signal frame generator 52 of the terminal line controller 24 generates an internal signal frame in a format as shown in FIG. 8, for example, to notify the service processor 20 of the arrival of the control signal. The internal signal frame shown in FIG. 8 includes notification content data for notifying the content of the control signal and information indicating the control signal request source (the number of the telephone terminal 18), and the control signal. And a flag that is provided with a mark for notifying which of them is to be executed.

At this time, the internal signal frame creating section 52
In accordance with the input control signal, it is determined whether the processing is to be performed inside the exchange or by an external processing device, and a mark is added to the internal signal frame according to the determination result, and the processing location determining unit 32. In the present embodiment, a flag is set to indicate that processing is performed by a processing device external to the exchange.

Here, it is assumed that the determination can be made by selectively using the following three methods. That is, when a special number indicating that the service is processed by the computer 12 is input by the user as the first method, as a second method, the port to which the communication line to which the control signal is sent is connected is special. In the case of a port, there is a third method corresponding to a case where a communication line to which a control signal has been sent belongs to a specific group.

According to the first method, when a special number is designated by the user, the internal signal frame creating section 52 recognizes the special number by performing dial analysis, and determines that the request is to be processed by the external computer 12. The determination is made, and a flag indicating that the processing location for the control signal is an external processing device is added to the flag portion of the internal signal frame (flag on), and the internal signal frame is generated.

By using the first method, when the user needs the processing by the computer 12, for example, when the service processing unit 20 tries to execute advanced processing which is not prepared in advance, By specifying a special number, it is possible to receive a high-level service executed in the computer 12. Even if the user is not informed of the existence of the computer 12, if the user is informed of only specifying a special number when receiving a specific service, the user can be aware of the computer 12 without being aware of the computer 12. Service is available.

In the second method, when a control signal is notified from a special port, the internal signal frame creation unit 52
Referring to the information (port number table 53a) stored in the control signal determination information storage unit 53, the signal received from the outside is from a special port, and it is necessary to execute processing in the external computer 12. Is determined.

FIG. 9 shows an example of the port number table 53a stored in the control signal determination information storage section 53. In the port number table 53a illustrated in FIG. 9, the port numbers of the ports to which the terminal line control unit 24 can receive signals are stored in association with information indicating the corresponding processing locations.

For example, when a control signal is sent from a line connected to the port having the port number “003”, the internal signal frame creating section 52 sets the port number table 53a.
, It is determined that it is necessary to perform processing by an external processing device, and a flag indicating that the processing location for the control signal is an external processing device is added to the flag portion of the internal signal frame (flag on). Generate an internal signal frame. In the second method, the computer 12 is caused to execute processing for a control signal using the telephone terminal 18 connected to a specific port.

In the third method, when a control signal is notified from a telephone terminal 18 (or a communication line) belonging to a specific group, the internal signal frame creation section 52 transmits the information stored in the control signal determination information storage section 53. With reference to the (terminal attribute table 53b and the group table 53c), it is determined whether or not the telephone terminal 18 that has transmitted the control signal belongs to a specific group and needs to execute processing in the external computer 12.

FIG. 10 shows a terminal attribute table 53b (FIG. 10 (a)) stored in the control signal determination information storage 53.
And an example of the group table 53c (FIG. 10B).

The terminal attribute table 53 shown in FIG.
“b” stores information indicating various attributes of a telephone terminal transmitting a control signal to the terminal line control unit 24, and includes information indicating a group to which the terminal belongs. FIG.
(A) shows attribute information relating to one telephone terminal (telephone terminal 18), in which attribute information indicating that the terminal belongs to "extension group A" is registered.

The group table 53 shown in FIG.
In c, information indicating various groups and processing locations corresponding to the respective groups are stored in association with each other.

For example, when a control signal is input from a telephone terminal belonging to “extension group A”, internal signal frame creating section 52 needs to perform processing by an external processing device by referring to group table 53c. It is determined that there is, and a mark indicating that the processing location for the control signal is an external processing device is added to the flag portion of the internal signal frame (flag on), and the internal signal frame is generated.

By using the third method, a customized service can be provided to a specific group, and the provision of the service prepared in the computer 12 can be received on a group basis.

When the internal signal frame is generated by the internal signal frame generating section 52 in this way, it is output to the processing location determining section 32. The processing location determination unit 32 refers to the internal signal frame and determines whether the processing for the control signal indicated by the notification content data is performed inside the exchange or externally (computer 12) (see FIG. a)).

For example, when the processing location judging section 32 is configured as shown in FIG. 3 (first configuration), it operates as follows.

The service type determining unit 32b determines the service type corresponding to the received control signal from the notification content data of the internal signal frame, and refers to the service corresponding processing location storage unit 34b based on the service type. It is determined whether the process for providing the service for the control signal is performed internally (internal service determination / instruction unit 36) or externally (external service determination / instruction unit 54 of computer 12).

The service type determination unit 32b determines whether a processing location cannot be determined by referring to the service corresponding processing location storage unit 34b, that is, if a processing location for an input control signal has not been defined. Is
By referring to the default processing location storage unit 34a, a default processing location of the system is determined as a location for executing a process for providing a service.

Next, the comprehensive judgment section 32a judges the processing location by the internal signal frame creation section 52 and the service type judgment section 3
Based on the processing location determination by 2b, the processing location of the control signal is finally determined. That is, the processing location indicated by the flag of the internal signal frame and the service type determination unit 3
The processing locations determined in 2b are compared, and if both are the same, the location is determined as a processing location, and if they are different, the processing location is determined according to a predetermined priority.
For example, if it is predetermined that the determination by the internal signal frame creation unit 52 is prioritized, the flag of the internal signal frame is set to indicate processing by the external device, and the determination by the service type determination unit 32b is If the processing is performed internally, the processing location is determined by the external device. Note that this priority can be changed according to the situation.

When the processing location judging section 32 is configured as shown in FIG. 5 (second configuration), it operates as follows.

The arrival time determination unit 32d refers to the arrival time correspondence processing location storage unit 34c based on the time at which the control signal was received, and internally performs processing for providing a service for the input control signal. It is determined whether the processing is performed by the internal service determination / instruction unit 36) or externally (by the external service determination / instruction unit 54 of the computer 12).

The arrival time determination unit 32d cannot determine the processing location by referring to the processing location storage unit 34c corresponding to the arrival time, that is, the processing location for the control signal reception time zone is not defined. In this case, by referring to the default processing location storage unit 34a, the default processing location of the system is determined as the location where the process for providing the final service is executed.

Next, the comprehensive judgment section 32c determines the processing place by the internal signal frame creation section 52 and the arrival time judgment section 32d.
, The processing location of the control signal is finally determined. That is, the processing location indicated by the flag of the internal signal frame is compared with the processing location determined by the arrival time determination unit 32d, and if both are the same, the location is determined as the processing location; The processing place is determined according to the priority. For example,
If it is predetermined that the processing by the external device is given priority over the processing by the inside of the exchange, the flag of the internal signal frame is set to indicate the processing by the external device. If the processing is performed internally, the processing location is determined by the external device.

Here, when the processing location determination unit 32 determines that the processing location is inside the exchange, the processing location determination unit 32 notifies the internal service determination / instruction unit 36 of the content of the input control signal and performs processing. Request execution. The internal service determination / instruction unit 36 executes processing for the input control signal with reference to the data stored in the data storage unit 44 as necessary, and instructs the communication line to operate through the terminal operation instruction unit 48. And a response signal.

On the other hand, when the processing location determining unit 32 determines that the processing location is an external processing device, the processing location determining unit 32 determines whether or not the external service of the computer 12 is determined by the control signal notifying unit 38.
The instruction unit 54 is notified of the content of the input control signal, and requests execution of the process (FIG. 7B).

The external service determination / instruction unit 54 starts a process corresponding to the input control signal (FIG. 7 (e)), and refers to the data stored in the service information storage unit 55 as necessary. While executing the processing on the input control signal. When it is necessary to read / write data stored in the data storage unit 44 inside the exchange 10 ((f) in FIG. 7), the external service determination / instruction unit 54 sends the data interface unit 42 of the service processing unit 20 to the data interface unit 42. Requests data input / output from

The data interface unit 42 reads and writes data from and to the data storage unit 44 in response to a request from the external service determination / instruction unit 54 (FIG. 7C).

The external service determination / instruction unit 54
As a result of executing the processing for the control signal, when it is necessary to give an instruction or a response to a communication line such as the telephone terminal 18, the external instruction receiving unit 46 of the exchange 10 is provided with a function corresponding to the processing result. The execution of the operation is instructed ((g) in FIG. 7).

The external instruction receiving unit 46 of the exchange 10 executes a predetermined function in response to an instruction from the external service determining / instructing unit 54, and is used in the processing by the internal service determining / instructing unit 36. Using the same instructions as
An operation instruction and a response signal are transmitted to the communication line through the terminal operation instruction section 48 (FIG. 7 (d)).

In this way, the control signal input to the exchange 10 is not only executed by the internal service determination / instruction unit 36 provided inside the exchange, but also provided to the computer 12. The processing can be executed by the external service determination / instruction unit 54.

Since the computer 12 can be freely managed by the user, for example, an exchange processing program capable of providing an advanced service to the input control signal is prepared, and an external service judgment is performed based on the exchange processing program. The processing can be executed by the instruction unit 54. Therefore, it is possible to easily cope with a request for changing the processing content on the user side.

Next, an example of a specific operation when a control signal is input will be described with reference to message waiting (M
W) A case where there is a request will be described as an example. FIG.
FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining an operation when a message waiting request is input, and shows only a component for explaining a series of operations.

First, from the telephone terminal 18A to the telephone terminal 18B
When an incoming call request is made, a service request is notified to the service processing unit 20 via the calling terminal line control unit 24a (terminal line control unit 24). At this time, if the telephone terminal 18B is in a call with another telephone terminal or the like and the incoming call request to the telephone terminal 18B is not accepted, the service processing unit 20 responds to the telephone terminal 18A that the telephone is busy. In response to this, it is assumed that a message waiting request has been instructed from telephone terminal 18A to exchange 10. The outgoing terminal line controller 24a and the incoming terminal line controller 24b are realized in various line trunk circuits 10d.

The calling terminal line control unit 24a
With respect to the message request input from 8A, an internal signal frame is generated by the method described above, and is notified to the processing location determination unit 32 ((1) in FIG. 11).

The processing location determination unit 32 determines whether to execute the processing for the message waiting request inside the exchange or in an external processing unit based on the internal signal frame from the originating terminal line control unit 24a. Is determined.

For example, when processing is performed by an exchange processing program (internal message waiting processing program) prepared in the exchange 10, that is, when processing is performed by the internal service determination / instruction unit 36,
A service of displaying a message waiting display for notifying that there is an incoming call request can be provided on a display (for example, an LED) provided in the telephone terminal 18B that is the incoming call destination.

Here, it is assumed that a process provided for an input message waiting request is performed by a device provided outside of exchange 10. The processing location determination unit 32
The input message waiting request is notified to the external service determination / instruction unit 54 of the computer 12 through the control signal notification unit 38 ((2) in FIG. 11).

For example, when processing is performed by an exchange processing program (external computer message waiting processing program) prepared in the computer 12 in response to a user's request, that is, the external service determination / instruction unit 5
In the case where the processing is executed by the communication terminal 4, a message waiting display for notifying that there is an incoming call request is displayed on a display (for example, an LED) provided in the telephone terminal 18B which is the destination of the call. A service of displaying the name and telephone number of the message waiting registrant on the display device (for example, LCD) of 18B can be provided.

First, the external service determination / instruction unit 54
In response to the message waiting request, a message waiting display for notifying that an incoming call request has been made is provided to an LED provided on the telephone terminal 18B through the external instruction receiving unit 46 and the terminal operation instruction unit 48 of the exchange 10. (3) (4) in FIG. 11 to the incoming terminal line controller 24b (terminal line controller 24). This instruction is notified from the receiving terminal line control unit 24b to the telephone terminal 18B.

The external service determination / instruction unit 54
The data interface unit 42 is requested to read the telephone number of the telephone terminal 18A, which is the source of the message waiting request ((5) in FIG. 11). In response to the request from the external service determination / instruction unit 54, the data interface unit 42 acquires the corresponding telephone number from the data storage unit 44 and responds to the external service determination / instruction unit 54 ((6) in FIG. 11). ).

The external service judging / instructing unit 54 determines, based on the telephone number of the telephone terminal 18A acquired from the exchange 10,
The name corresponding to the telephone number of the telephone terminal 18A is read from the service information storage unit 55 ((7) in FIG. 11). In the service information storage unit 55, a telephone number of each telephone terminal and a corresponding name are stored in association with each other. For example, a program for a message waiting request for the computer 12 (external computer message waiting processing program) ) Are prepared together as data necessary for executing the processing.

When the external service determination / instruction unit 54 obtains the name corresponding to the telephone number of the telephone terminal 18A from the service information storage unit 55, the external instruction reception unit 4 of the exchange 10
6. Incoming terminal line control unit 2 via terminal operation instructing unit 48 to display the name and telephone number of incoming call requesting telephone terminal 18A on the LCD provided in telephone terminal 18B.
4b ((8) and (9) in FIG. 11). This instruction is notified from the receiving terminal line control unit 24b to the telephone terminal 18B.

Thus, in the telephone terminal 18B, the fact that there is a message waiting request is indicated by LE.
D can be identified from the display, and the number and name of the telephone terminal that made the incoming call request can be recognized from the LCD display.

As described above, the message waiting request is notified to the computer 12 instead of processing the message waiting request by the internal service determination / instruction unit prepared in advance in the service processing unit. In the external service judgment and instruction unit 5
4 allows this request to be processed. Since the external service determination / instruction unit 54 can be prepared in response to a service change request by the user, the telephone number and name of the telephone terminal 18A are displayed in addition to the message waiting display as described above. It is also possible to provide advanced services that cannot be provided by the internal service determination / instruction unit 36, such as displaying on the 18B.

In the above embodiment, the case where there is one external processing device has been described. However, two or more external processing devices are provided, and each external processing device is provided based on a special number, service type, arrival time, and the like. You may comprise so that it may process with an apparatus.

Further, the methods described in the above-described embodiments include, as programs that can be executed by a computer, for example, a magnetic disk (floppy disk, hard disk, etc.), an optical disk (CD-ROM,
DVD and the like, and can be written to a recording medium such as a semiconductor memory and provided to various devices. Further, it is also possible to transmit the data via a communication medium and provide it to various devices. A computer that implements the present apparatus reads the program recorded on a recording medium or receives the program via a communication medium, and executes the above-described processing by controlling the operation of the program.

[0134]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, a service can be provided by notifying an external computer of a control signal sent from a communication line and processing the control signal. Also, at this time, since the external computer can read and write the data inside the exchange provided in the exchange, it is possible to flexibly execute the processing and provide the service. Therefore, it is possible to more quickly and flexibly respond to a service change request from the user, and to directly change the service by the user, thereby improving the exchange service.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a telephone exchange system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration realized in the system configuration shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a processing location determination unit 32 according to a first configuration.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of information stored in a service corresponding processing location storage unit 34b.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a processing location determination unit 32 according to a second configuration.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of information stored in an arrival time corresponding processing location storage unit 34c.

FIG. 7 shows a telephone terminal 18, an exchange 10, and a computer 12 for explaining an outline of an operation in the present embodiment.
The figure which shows the flow of the signal between.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a format of an internal signal frame generated by an internal signal frame creation unit 52.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a port number table 53a stored in a control signal determination information storage unit 53.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a terminal attribute table 53b and a group table 53c stored in a control signal determination information storage unit 53.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an operation when a message waiting request is input.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Exchange 10a ... Control circuit 10b ... Storage device 10c ... Time switch circuit 10d ... Various line trunk circuits 10e ... External communication circuit 12 ... Computer 12a ... Control circuit 12b ... Storage device 12c ... External communication circuit 14 ... Data communication line 16 ... Public network 18 telephone terminal 20 service processing unit 24 terminal line control unit 26 external service processing unit 32 processing location determination unit 32a comprehensive determination unit 32b service type determination unit 32c comprehensive determination unit 32d arrival time determination Unit 34 processing location storage unit 34a default processing location storage unit 34b service corresponding processing location storage unit 34c arrival time correspondence processing location storage unit 36 internal service determination / instruction unit 38 control signal notification unit 42 data interface unit 44: Data storage unit 46: External instruction receiving unit 48: End instructing section 50 ... processing location rewriter 52 ... internal signal frame creation unit 53 ... control signal determining information storage unit 54 ... external service determination, instructing unit 55 ... service information storage unit 56 ... processing location rewrite instruction unit

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An exchange for providing a service related to telephone exchange with respect to a control signal received from a communication line, wherein the control signal receiving unit receives a control signal from the communication line, and the control signal receiving unit receives the control signal from the communication line. A processing location determining means for determining whether the processing corresponding to the control signal is to be executed inside the switching equipment or a processing equipment external to the switching equipment; and the processing location determining means executes the processing in the external processing equipment. Control signal notifying means for notifying the content of the received control signal to a processing device external to the exchange, and a processing device external to the exchange in accordance with the content of the control signal notified by the control signal notification means. And a service providing means for providing a service based on the result of the processing executed in (1). 2. A telephone exchange device for performing an operation related to telephone exchange in response to a control signal received from a communication line, and an external processing device for processing a control signal from the communication line notified from the telephone exchange device. A telephone exchange system comprising: a telephone exchange device, a control signal receiving unit that receives a control signal from the communication line; and a process corresponding to a control signal received by the control signal receiving unit. A processing location determining means for determining whether or not to execute the processing in the external processing device; and when the processing location determining means determines that the processing is to be performed in the external processing device, the content of the received control signal is transmitted to the external processing device. Control signal notifying means for notifying the external processing device of the external processing device according to the content of the control signal notified by the control signal notifying means. The basis of, and means for performing an operation related to the telephone exchange, the external processing device, a telephone switching system and an external service processing means for processing based on the content of the notified control signal by said control signal notifying means. 3. A telephone exchange system comprising: a switching device that performs an operation related to telephone exchange according to a control signal received from a communication line; and an external processing device that performs processing according to the control signal. Control signal receiving means for receiving the control signal from a line, and processing corresponding to the control signal received by the control signal receiving means, whether to be executed inside the switching device or to be executed by the external processing device A processing location determining means for determining; a processing performing means of the external processing device for performing processing in accordance with the control signal when the processing location determining means determines that the processing is to be performed by the external processing device; A telephone exchange system comprising: an operation unit of the exchange device that performs an operation related to telephone exchange based on a result of processing by the unit. 4. A telephone switching system comprising: a switching device that performs an operation related to telephone switching according to a control signal received from a communication line; and an external processing device that performs processing according to the control signal. Control signal receiving means for receiving the control signal from a communication line, and processing corresponding to the control signal received by the control signal receiving means to be executed inside the switching device or to be executed by the external processing device A processing location determining means for determining, when the processing location determining means determines that the processing is to be executed inside the switching device, a processing performing means of the switching device, which performs processing in accordance with the control signal; and A telephone exchange system comprising: an operation unit of the exchange device that performs an operation related to telephone exchange based on a result of processing by the unit. 5. A telephone exchange system comprising: a switching device that performs an operation related to telephone exchange according to a control signal received from a communication line; and an external processing device that performs processing according to the control signal. Control signal receiving means for receiving the control signal from a line; determining means for determining whether or not to execute processing corresponding to the control signal received by the control signal receiving means in the external processing device; When it is determined that the processing is to be performed by the external processing device, a process execution unit of the external processing device that performs a process according to the control signal, and performs an operation related to telephone exchange based on a result of the process of the processing execution unit And a telephone exchange system comprising: an operation unit of the exchange device. 6. A telephone switching system comprising: a switching device for performing an operation relating to telephone switching in response to a control signal received from a communication line; and an external processing device including processing execution means for performing processing in response to the control signal. A switching device to be used, comprising: a control signal receiving unit that receives the control signal from the communication line; and a process corresponding to the control signal received by the control signal receiving unit, which is executed inside the switching device. Or a processing location determining means for determining whether the processing is to be executed by the external processing device, and an operation means for performing an operation related to telephone exchange based on a result of the processing by the processing executing means. 7. An exchange used in a telephone exchange system comprising an exchange device for performing an operation relating to telephone exchange in response to a control signal received from a communication line, and an external processing device for performing processing in accordance with the control signal. A control signal receiving unit that receives the control signal from the communication line; and a process corresponding to the control signal received by the control signal receiving unit, which is executed inside the switching device or the external process. Processing place determining means for determining whether to execute the processing in the apparatus; processing performing means for performing processing in accordance with the control signal when the processing place determining means determines that the processing is to be performed inside the switching device; Operating means for performing an operation related to telephone exchange based on a result of processing by the means. 8. A telephone exchange system comprising: a switching device that performs an operation related to telephone exchange according to a control signal received from a communication line; and an external processing device that includes a processing execution unit that performs processing according to the control signal. A switching device for use, comprising: a control signal receiving unit that receives the control signal from the communication line; and whether or not a process corresponding to the control signal received by the control signal receiving unit is performed by the external processing device. An exchange device comprising: a determination unit configured to determine whether the operation is performed; and an operation unit that performs an operation related to telephone exchange based on a result of the processing performed by the processing execution unit.