JP2000236391A - Device for informing subscriber state - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a subscriber state informing device that informs a caller subscriber of the state of a subscriber to be called before the caller subscriber makes dialing in response to a request from the caller subscriber. SOLUTION: An object subscriber storage section 31 stores an object subscriber whose subscriber state in displayed for each request subscriber in advance, and a subscriber state storage section 32 stores the subscriber state for each object subscriber stored in the object subscriber storage section 31. When a transmitter side subscriber transmits a state request before dialing, a subscriber state analysis processing section 22 acquires a corresponding object subscriber from the object subscriber storage section 31 and acquires the acquired subscriber state of the object subscriber from the subscriber state storage section 32. Then a signal transmission processing section 4 informs the transmitter side subscriber of the acquired subscriber state by means of character information or voice information.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a subscriber status display service, and more particularly to a subscriber status notifying apparatus for displaying the status of a called subscriber on a telephone display or notifying by voice before a call.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when making a call, it is determined whether the user is on a call, is away, is busy, cannot answer the call, is temporarily out of the seat, or can answer. At least, you won't know unless you actually make a call.

[0003]

As described above, in the prior art, it is not possible to know whether the other party is away, busy or unable to release the hand, or during a call. There was a problem that could be done.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a subscriber status notifying apparatus which can notify the status of a destination subscriber before making a call in response to a request from a calling subscriber. The purpose is to:

[0005]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, according to the first aspect of the present invention, for each requesting subscriber,
Target subscriber storage means for storing a target subscriber for displaying a subscriber status; subscriber status storage means for storing a subscriber status for each target subscriber stored in the target subscriber storage means; First obtaining means for obtaining a corresponding target subscriber from the target subscriber storage unit in response to a state request prior to a call from the side subscriber; and a target subscriber obtained by the first obtaining means. A second acquisition unit for acquiring a subscriber status from the subscriber status storage unit; and a notifying unit for notifying the calling subscriber of the subscriber status acquired by the second acquisition unit. A subscriber status notification device, characterized in that:

Further, according to the invention described in claim 2, according to claim 1,
The subscriber status notifying apparatus according to the above, further comprising a target subscriber registration unit that registers the target subscriber in the target subscriber storage unit in response to a target registration request from the subscriber.

[0007] According to the third aspect of the present invention, the first aspect of the present invention.
The subscriber status notifying apparatus according to the above, further comprising status registration means for registering the subscriber status of the subscriber in the subscriber status storage means in response to a status registration request from the subscriber.

Further, according to the invention described in claim 4, according to claim 1,
In the subscriber state notifying device described in the above, the notifying means,
It is a voice notifying means for notifying the subscriber status as voice information.

Further, according to the invention of claim 5, according to claim 1,
In the subscriber state notifying device described in the above, the notifying means,
It is a character notifying means for notifying the subscriber status as character information.

In the present invention, for each requesting subscriber, a target subscriber for displaying the subscriber status is stored in the target subscriber storage means, and the target subscriber stored in the target subscriber storage means is stored. The subscriber status is stored in the subscriber status storage means for each user. When the calling subscriber sends a status request prior to calling, the first obtaining means obtains the corresponding target subscriber from the target subscriber storage unit,
Obtains the subscriber status of the target subscriber obtained by the first obtaining unit from the subscriber status storage unit. Then, the notifying unit notifies the calling side subscriber of the subscriber status acquired by the second acquiring unit. Therefore, the state of the called subscriber can be known before the call, and the call can be continued or disconnected in response thereto. Therefore, since it is possible to make a call after knowing the convenience of the other party in advance, it is possible to prevent useless calling.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. A. Configuration of Embodiment FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an entire system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the system comprises a subscriber 1 to be served and an exchange for connecting a line between the subscribers. The exchange includes a signal reception processing unit 2 for receiving a subscriber's operation signal, a storage device 3 for storing the status of the subscriber, and a signal transmission processing unit 4 for transmitting information on the called subscriber to the subscriber. Consists of

The signal reception processing unit 2 includes a target subscriber registration processing unit 21 and a subscriber state analysis processing unit 22. The target subscriber registration processing unit 21 analyzes a signal received from the subscriber 1 and performs necessary processing. The signals include a signal for registering the target of the called subscriber, a signal for registering the status of the subscriber, and a signal for requesting the status of the called subscriber. When receiving a signal requesting the status of the called subscriber from the subscriber 1, the subscriber status analysis processing unit 22 acquires the status of the called subscriber from the storage device 3, and executes necessary processing. Hereinafter, a specific description will be given.

[0013] The originating or terminating subscriber transmits information using the access code AC to instruct the exchange of which signal it is. Access code A
As shown in FIG. 3A, "* 11" is used when the called subscriber sets its own state, and "*" used when the calling subscriber registers the called subscriber, as shown in FIG. 12 "and" * 13 "and" * 14 "used when the calling subscriber requests the status of the called subscriber. The access code "* 1" used when the called subscriber sets its own status.
In "1", in addition to transmitting only the access code to set the "empty" state, it is possible to set the state by attaching a state number XX thereafter. As shown in FIG. 3B, the state numbers XX include “empty” at “00”, “busy” at “01”, “absence” at “02”,
“03” is “busy”, “04” is “separated”, and “05” is “other”. It is also possible to set a state number indicating any other state.

In the access code "* 12", the code CC and the destination subscriber's telephone number XXXXXXXX are added to register the XXXXXXXXX as the destination subscriber's telephone number N in the code CC. It has become possible. In addition, access code "* 1
3), only the access code AC is transmitted,
While a status request is made to the called subscriber having the telephone number corresponding to the code "01", a code CC is added after the access code AC, and a status request is made to the called subscriber having the telephone number corresponding to the code CC. It is possible to do. Further, in the access code "* 14", by attaching the above XXXXXXXXX as the destination subscriber telephone number N, it is possible to directly designate the destination subscriber and make a status request.

The storage device 3 includes a target subscriber storage unit 31 and a subscriber status storage unit 32. The target subscriber storage unit 31 stores, for each subscriber, the telephone number of the designated destination subscriber when a signal for registering the target of the destination subscriber is received from the subscriber 1. When a signal for registering the status of the subscriber is received from the subscriber 1, the subscriber status storage unit 32 stores the status of the subscriber. The signal transmission processing unit 4 includes a subscriber status transmission processing unit 41 and an announcement connection processing unit 42. The subscriber status transmission processing unit 41 notifies the subscriber 1 of the status of the called subscriber obtained by the result of the analysis by the subscriber status analysis processing unit 22 by a message (character information). The announcement connection processing unit 42 notifies the subscriber 1 of the state of the called subscriber obtained as a result of the analysis by the subscriber state analysis processing unit 22 by announcement (voice).

B. Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described in detail. Here, FIGS. 2A to 2C are conceptual diagrams for explaining the operation of the present embodiment. B-1. FIG. 2A is a conceptual diagram for explaining the registration operation of the target of the called subscriber. As shown in FIG. 2A, the requesting subscriber A1 sends out a registration signal 51 for registering “subscriber a” as a destination subscriber. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the telephone number of the called subscriber is registered in the exchange using an access code AC for status registration or the like (step Sa1). Specifically, [Target A
C] + [Subject telephone number subject to status investigation] (for example, * 1
The registration signal 51 is transmitted in a format such as 2 * 9914724 #). Note that, among the above “* 12 * 9914724 #”, “9914724” is the telephone number of the called subscriber. Note that “#” is a data end symbol. FIG.
Receiving the registration signal 51, the signal reception processing unit 2 shown in (1) adds "subscriber a (called subscriber telephone number)" to the list of target subscribers A1 in the target subscriber storage unit 31. .

B-2. Registration Operation of Subscriber Status Next, FIG. 2B is a conceptual diagram for explaining the registration operation of the subscriber status. As shown in FIG. 2B, a subscriber a who wants to register a state sends a state registration signal 62 to register, for example, a state of "absence". For example, as shown in FIG. 5 (a), the access point notifies the exchange of its own state using an access code AC for state registration (step Sb1). Specifically, [Status setting A
C] + [state number] (for example, * 11 * 02 #), and sends the state registration signal 62. In addition, "*
In “11 * 02 #”, “02 (absent)” is the state number.

When the signal reception processing unit 2 shown in FIG. 1 receives the status registration signal 62 (for example, the "absence" status registration signal 62), the status of the subscriber a in the subscriber status storage unit 32 (for example, "absence" )). Similarly, in order for subscriber b to register, for example, a "busy" state, the state registration signal 6
When 2 is transmitted, the state of the subscriber b in the subscriber state storage unit 32 is set to “busy”. Specifically, FIG.
As shown in (b), when the received access code AC and the state number are identified and it is recognized that the state is registered, the state number is registered as the corresponding subscriber state (step Sc1).

B-3. Operation of Requesting Status of Called Subscriber Next, FIG. 2C is a conceptual diagram illustrating the operation of requesting the status of a called subscriber. As shown in FIG.
The requesting subscriber A1 sends a status request signal 71 to the target registered subscriber. For example, as shown in FIG. 6A, the status of the partner is requested to the exchange using an access code AC for requesting the status (step Sd).
1). Specifically, [status request AC] (for example, * 13
#, * 13 * CC #) in a format such as
Is sent. When the destination subscriber is directly specified, the requesting subscriber A1 sends a status request signal 71 specifying the destination subscriber c. For example, using an access code AC for status registration, [status request AC] +
[Subject telephone number subject to condition investigation] (for example, * 14 * 9
914724 #) is sent out. Note that, among the above “* 14 * 9914724 #”, “9914724” is the telephone number of the called subscriber.

When the signal reception processing unit 2 shown in FIG. 1 receives the state request signal 71, as shown in FIG.
Check the destination subscriber status stored in the main memory,
A message is sent to the calling side subscriber and displayed on the display, or the state of the called side is notified by voice (step Se1). Specifically, the signal reception processing unit 2
Upon receiving the status request signal 71, first, the target subscriber storage unit 31 searches the target subscriber list for the target subscriber A1. When the status request signal 71 is the access code "* 13
In the case of only "#", a list of subscribers of the telephone number corresponding to the code "01" is searched. If the access code AC is "* 13 * CC", a list of subscribers whose telephone number corresponds to the code CC is searched. For example, when a list of the targets of the requesting subscriber A1 is searched, information on the subscribers a and b is acquired. Next, the subscriber status analysis processing unit 22 causes the subscriber status storage unit 32
, The information of the subscriber a and the subscriber b is searched. Here, the status that the subscriber a is “absent” and the subscriber b is “busy” is acquired.

The access code AC is "* 14 * X".
In the case of "XXXXXX #", the information of the designated telephone number (for example, 9914724) is searched. For example, when the information of the subscriber c in the subscriber status storage unit 32 is searched, the status that the subscriber c is “vacant” is acquired.

Finally, the acquired state is passed to the signal transmission processing unit 4 shown in FIG.
1 returns the status signal 73 to the subscriber as shown in FIG. 6B, or notifies the requesting subscriber A1 of an appropriate announcement (voice) according to the acquired status by the announcement connection processing unit 42. I do.

C. Other Embodiments In the above-described embodiment, the calling subscriber or the called subscriber transmits the registration signal 51, the status registration signal 62, and the status request signal 71 using the access code AC. Here, if the subscriber is an analog subscriber, the ISD
An access code AC and an example of a designation method will be described for N subscribers and ETSI-ISDN subscribers.

FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram for explaining an access code AC and an example of a designation method in the case of an analog subscriber. In the figure, the access code "* 11" used when the called subscriber sets his / her own status can be set by adding a status number XX after that. In addition, access code "* 1
In "2", by attaching the called party telephone number N after that, the called party telephone number N can be registered, and the code CC and the called subscriber telephone number N can be registered. , The destination subscriber telephone number N can be registered in the code CC.

In the case of access code "* 13", if only one called subscriber is registered,
It is possible to transmit only the access code AC and make a status request, and when there are a plurality of registered called subscribers, a code CC is added after the access code AC, and It is possible to make a status request to the called subscriber of the corresponding telephone number. Further, in the access code "* 14", when the called subscriber is not registered, the receiving subscriber's telephone number N is added after that, thereby directly specifying the called subscriber and requesting a state. It has become possible. Also, the notification of the state of the called subscriber is provided only by announcement.

FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram for explaining an access code AC and an example of a designation method in the case of an ISDN subscriber. In the figure, the access code "* 11" used when the called subscriber sets his / her own status can be set by adding a status number XX after that. In addition, access code "* 1
In "2", by attaching the called party telephone number N after that, the called party telephone number N can be registered, and the code CC and the called subscriber telephone number N can be registered. , The destination subscriber telephone number N can be registered in the code CC.

In the access code "* 13", if only one called subscriber is registered,
It is possible to transmit only the access code AC and make a status request, and when there are a plurality of registered called subscribers, a code CC is added after the access code AC, and It is possible to make a status request to the called subscriber of the corresponding telephone number. Further, in the access code "* 14", when the called subscriber is not registered, the receiving subscriber's telephone number N is added after that, thereby directly specifying the called subscriber and requesting a state. It has become possible. The notification of the state of the called subscriber is provided by displaying the called party information on the terminal display.

FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram for explaining an access code AC and an example of a designation method in the case of an ETSI (European Telecommunications Standards Institute) -ISDN subscriber. In the figure, when the called subscriber sets his / her own state, the state can be set by setting the state number in the FAC message. In addition, when registering the status investigation target, the FAC message contains
By setting the code CC and the telephone number, the code C
It is possible to register the destination subscriber telephone number N in C. In the case of a status request, the code CC and the telephone number are set in the FAC message,
It is possible to make a status request to the called subscriber of the telephone number corresponding to the code CC. The notification of the state of the called subscriber is provided by displaying the called party information on the terminal display.

According to the above-described embodiment, the caller can know the state of the called subscriber before the call, and can continue the call or disconnect the call. Since it is possible to make a call after knowing the convenience of the other party in advance, useless calling can be prevented. Subscribers on the receiving side
Various states (“absent”, “busy”, “away”, etc.) can be set. If you are on a call, it is automatically set to "on a call".

[0030]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Since the status of the other party can be notified before calling in response to a request from the calling party, there is an advantage that a telephone call can be made in consideration of the convenience of the other party. Further, there is an advantage that the line hold up to the arrival at the destination can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an entire system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram illustrating the operation of the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing an access code and a state number.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining a registration operation of a target subscriber.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a registration operation of a subscriber state.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a status request operation of a called subscriber.

FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram for describing an access code AC and an example of a designation method in the case of an analog subscriber.

FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram for explaining an access code AC and an example of a designation method in the case of an ISDN subscriber.

FIG. 9 ETSI (European Telecommunications Standards Institute)
FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram for describing an access code AC and an example of a designation method in a case of an ISDN subscriber.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Subscriber 2 Signal reception processing part 21 Target subscriber registration processing part (target subscriber registration means, state registration means) 22 Subscriber state analysis processing part (first acquisition means, second acquisition means) 3 Storage device 31 Target subscriber storage unit (target subscriber storage unit) 32 Subscriber status storage unit (subscriber status storage unit) 4 Signal transmission processing unit (notification unit) 41 Subscriber status transmission processing unit (character notification unit) 42 Announce connection process Department (voice notification means)

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. Target subscriber storage means for storing a target subscriber for displaying a subscriber status for each requesting subscriber; and subscriber status for each target subscriber stored in the target subscriber storage means. A first state obtaining means for obtaining a corresponding target subscriber from the target subscriber storage unit in response to a state request prior to a call from a calling side subscriber; Acquiring the subscriber status of the target subscriber obtained by the obtaining unit from the subscriber status storage unit.
Acquiring means, and the subscriber state acquired by the second acquiring means,
Notifying means for notifying the originating subscriber. 2. The subscriber according to claim 1, further comprising a target subscriber registration unit that registers the target subscriber in the target subscriber storage unit in response to a target registration request from the subscriber. Status notification device. 3. A status registering means for registering a subscriber status of the subscriber in the subscriber status storage means in response to a status registration request from the subscriber.
The subscriber status notification device as described in the above. 4. The subscriber status notification device according to claim 1, wherein the notification unit is a voice notification unit that notifies the subscriber status as voice information. 5. The subscriber status notification device according to claim 1, wherein the notification unit is a text notification unit that notifies the subscriber status as text information.