JP2001156917A - Service controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide services requested by a user as much as possible by preparing service providing parts more than the number of simultaneously connectable calls and to easily change the kind of service without affecting the numbering schedule of private branch exchange(PBX) devices. SOLUTION: Plural incoming extension numbers are assigned to respective extension interfaces while permitting overlapping and information for specifying the kind of service to be provided by each of extension interfaces is reported to a service providing device for each incoming call. One free extension interface is selected for the incoming extension number and the free service providing part for providing the reported service, which is specified by the information, is selected and connected through the correspondent service interface to this selected extension interface so that the service can be provided through the selected extension interface to the user. The service to be provided can be changed only by changing the relation of a service ID and the service in a service correspondence table.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a private branch exchange (P)
The present invention relates to a service control device connected to a BX or a key telephone device to provide a communication service such as a voice response service or a VOD (Video on Demand) service.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a conventional service control device.

An incoming call from a user arrives at a call control unit 13 through a switching unit 12 of a private branch exchange 10. Thereafter, the call control unit 13 uses the extension number table 14 as shown in FIG. 9 based on the dialed number (extension number) dialed to specify the service desired by the user.
, The corresponding extension interface is determined from the extension interfaces 151 to 15N. According to this determination, the switching unit 12 connects the incoming call to a corresponding extension interface, for example, the extension interface 151.

Here, the extension interfaces 151 to 15
N is connected to service interfaces 211 to 21N, which are interfaces of the service providing apparatus 20, in a one-to-one correspondence. Therefore, in the above example, the extension interface 151 is connected to the service interface 211, and the incoming call is connected to the service control unit 23 through the service interface 211 and the service selection unit 22.

[0005] The service control unit 23 holds the correspondence between each service interface and the service to be provided.
0 with reference to the service correspondence table 24 as shown in FIG.
A service providing unit to which the incoming call is to be connected is determined from the service providing units 251 to 25M.

[0006] The service selection unit 22 includes a service control unit 23.
According to the determination of the above, the call is applied to the corresponding service
It connects to the corresponding service providing unit in 25M, for example, the service providing unit 251. Here, the service providing unit 251
-25M can provide different services, or a plurality of service providing units can provide the same service.

[0007]

In the conventional service control apparatus as described above, the service interfaces 211 to 211 are used.
Since the type of service assigned to 21N is fixed as shown in FIG. 10, the service providing units 251 to 25M are fixedly associated with the service interfaces 211 to 21N.

For this reason, it has not been possible to flexibly provide a service by providing a service providing unit having N or more service interfaces (that is, the number of extension interfaces).

For example, when the number of extension interfaces is 10, 10 service providing units for providing the service A and 10 service providing units for providing the service B are prepared.
It was not possible to construct a system that could always provide either service A or B to a user.

In addition, it was not possible to prepare more than N types of services with the number of extension numbers (the number of extension interfaces).

Further, it is necessary to match the configuration of the service providing apparatus 20 with the extension number plan of the private branch exchange 10. For example, when the type of service provided by the service providing apparatus 20 is changed, the user distinguishes the service by the extension number, so that the contents of the extension number table 14 of the private branch exchange 10 and the service correspondence table 24 of the service providing apparatus 20 are changed. Both of the contents had to change.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a service providing unit which is more than the interface capability (the number of simultaneously connectable calls) between a private branch exchange and a service providing apparatus. We can provide the services requested by users as much as possible,
An object of the present invention is to provide a service control device capable of easily changing the type of service without affecting the numbering plan of the private branch exchange.

[0013]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is characterized in that a private branch exchange for connecting an incoming call to an extension interface and a service connected to the extension interface. In a service control apparatus having a service providing apparatus for connecting a service providing unit for providing a service to an interface, a plurality of extension interfaces assigned with extension numbers being allowed to overlap and a type of service specified by the extension number A first search means for searching for information; and a vacant extension interface among a plurality of extension interfaces searched by the first search means for the called extension number, and an incoming call is sent to this extension interface. The first control means to be connected and the extension number searched by the first search means The private branch exchange includes a service providing device that notifies the service providing device of the type information of the service to be performed and the extension interface selected by the first control unit, and corresponds to the extension interface notified by the notifying unit. A second search unit that searches for a service providing unit that provides a service of a type specified by the service interface and the notified service type information; and a service interface searched by the second search unit. A second control unit for selecting and connecting a vacant service providing unit from among the service providing units searched by the second searching unit.

[0014] The first search means according to the second aspect of the present invention comprises:
With reference to a table holding a service ID as the service type information corresponding to the extension number and a group of extension interfaces corresponding to the extension number, the extension interface group corresponding to the terminating extension number is referred to. The extension interface to which the terminal belongs is searched as a usable interface, and the service ID corresponding to the called number is searched.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the second search means includes:
A service type corresponding to the service type information notified by the notifying unit is searched by referring to a table holding a service type corresponding to the service type information, and the same type as the searched service type is searched for. Search for a service provider that provides the service.

In the present invention, a plurality of called numbers are assigned to each communication interface while allowing duplication, a service to be provided by each communication interface is notified to a service providing apparatus for each incoming call, and the communication interface is adaptively desired. The main feature is to connect to the service provider.
The difference from the conventional technique is that a service providing unit is not fixedly assigned to each called number, and that the private branch exchange notifies the service providing apparatus of a service to be provided.

According to the present invention, since a plurality of communication interfaces are allocated to each service (that is, a called number) while permitting duplication, the allocated communication interface has a free space and a corresponding service providing unit of the service providing apparatus. As long as there is a vacancy, the requested service can be provided. Further, since the private branch exchange specifies the service to be provided to the service providing apparatus by using the service ID, even when the configuration of the service providing apparatus is changed, only the service table of the service providing apparatus is changed. Can respond.

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a service control device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The service control device includes a private branch exchange device 100 and a service providing device 200. Private branch exchange 10
Reference numeral 0 denotes a switching unit 2 for connecting an incoming call to the extension interfaces 61 to 6N. The switching operation of the switching unit 2 is controlled with reference to the extension number table 4 and the extension group management table 5, and the extension is transmitted to the service providing apparatus 200. A call control unit 3 for notifying and specifying an interface and a service ID; an extension number table 4 for holding a correspondence relationship between a dialed extension number, an extension group to be received, and a service ID representing a service to be provided; a plurality of extension interfaces Are grouped into an extension group, and have an extension group management table 5 and extension interfaces 61 to 6N that hold the correspondence between the two.

The service providing apparatus 200 includes service interfaces 71 to 7N, service interfaces 71 to 7N, and service providing units 1 to MA, which are connected one-to-one with the extension interfaces 61 to 6N of the private branch exchange 100.
, MA + 1 to MA + Mb,..., A service selection unit 8, an interface connection table 10, and a service ID
A service control unit 9 for controlling the connection operation of the service selection unit 8 with reference to the service correspondence table 11, an interface connection table 10 showing service interfaces connected to the extension interfaces 61 to 6N,
The service ID / service correspondence table 11 indicating the type of service specified by the service ID and the service providing units 1 to provide a plurality of types of services A, B,.
MA, MA + 1 to MA + Mb,...

FIG. 2 is a table showing an example of the configuration of the extension number table 4. The correspondence between the extension group corresponding to the extension number and the service ID is shown. In the extension number table 4, for example, the service ID of the service to be provided corresponding to the extension number 1001 is “1”, and the extension group that can be used to provide this service is the extension group 1.

FIG. 3 is a table showing an example of the configuration of the extension group management table 5. An extension group and an extension interface belonging to the extension group are shown. In the extension group management table 5, for example, the extension group 1 has extension interfaces 1 to m.
In addition, the extension group 2 corresponds to the extension interfaces 1 to n, and duplication of both is permitted. For example, the extension interface 2 belongs to both the extension group 1 and the extension group 2, and the service ID = 1
And the service of service ID = 2 can be provided.

FIG. 4 is a table showing an example of the configuration of the interface connection table 10. The service interface connected to the extension interface is shown. In the interface connection table 10, a service interface 71 is connected to the extension interface 61, for example.

FIG. 5 is a table showing an example of the configuration of the service ID / service correspondence table 11. The type of service specified by the service ID is shown. In the service ID / service correspondence table 11, for example, the service corresponding to the service ID “1” is the service A.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. An incoming call from a user arrives at the call control unit 3 through the switching unit 2, and thereafter, the user dials an extension number to specify a service to be used. The call control unit 3 inputs the dialed number (extension number) (step 60).
1) After referring to the extension number table 4 based on the input extension number and searching for an extension group and a service ID corresponding to the received extension number (step 602),
By referring to the extension group management table 5 and searching for the extension interface belonging to the searched extension group (step 603), the applicable extension interface and the service ID indicating the type of service to be provided are eventually obtained.
Search for.

Further, the call control unit 3 determines an extension interface to be used from the searched applicable extension interfaces based on the availability of extension interfaces obtained from the switching unit 2 (step 604).

Next, the call control unit 3 sends the extension interface to be used and the retrieved service ID to the service providing apparatus 200.
(Step 605). At this time, the call control unit 3 controls the switching unit 2 to connect the incoming call to the extension interface determined above (step 606).

After inputting the extension interface and the service interface notified from the call control unit 3 of the private branch exchange 100 (step 701), the service control unit 9 of the service providing apparatus 200 refers to the interface connection table 10 and A service interface corresponding to the extension interface notified from the call control unit 3 is determined (step 702), and a service corresponding to the service ID notified from the call control unit 3 is referred to by referring to the service ID / service correspondence table 11. The type is determined (step 703).

If the call control unit 3 retrieves, for example, the service ID "1" and determines that the extension interface 61 is to be used, the service control unit 9 The interface 71 is searched to determine the service A for the service ID “1”.

Next, the service control unit 9 sets the service selection unit 8
To connect a vacant service providing unit that provides the determined service to the determined service interface (step 704). Here, in the case of the above example, the service selecting unit 8 sets the service interface 71
, A vacant service providing unit in the service providing units 1 to MA for providing the service A, for example, the service providing unit 1 is connected.

According to the present embodiment, a specific extension group and a service ID are determined corresponding to an extension number, and an extension interface belonging to an extension group belongs to another extension group in an overlapping manner. , And the types of services to be provided are not fixed, and the service providing units 1 to MA, MA + 1 to MA + MB,... More than the number of extension interfaces 61 to 6N can be prepared. The service requested by the user can be provided as much as possible. For example, if N service providing units for providing the service A and N service providing units for providing the service B are prepared, the service A or the service B can be provided to the user through all extension interfaces.

The type of service to be provided can be changed only by changing the type of service corresponding to the service ID in the service ID / service correspondence table 11 of the service providing apparatus 200. Since it is not necessary to change the contents of the fourth item, it is possible to easily achieve service control in which a change in the configuration of the service providing apparatus 200 does not affect the numbering plan of the private branch exchange 100.

In the above embodiment, the private branch exchange 1
Although 00 is used, a similar effect can be obtained by applying the present invention as a configuration using a key telephone device instead.

[0033]

As described above in detail, according to the service control apparatus of the present invention, the service providing unit is prepared and used more than the interface capability (the number of simultaneously connectable calls) between the private branch exchange and the service providing apparatus. The service requested by the user can be provided as much as possible, and the type of service can be easily changed without affecting the numbering plan of the private branch exchange.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a service control device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a table showing a configuration example of an extension number table shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a table diagram showing a configuration example of an extension group management table shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a table showing an example of the configuration of an interface connection table shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a table showing an example of the configuration of a service ID / service correspondence table shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of a call control unit illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of a service control unit illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a conventional service control device.

9 is a table showing a configuration example of an extension number table shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a table showing an example of the configuration of a service correspondence table shown in FIG. 8;

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 to MA, MA + 1 to MA + Mb,... Service providing unit 2 Switching unit 3 Call control unit 4 Extension number table 5 Extension group management table 61 to 6N Extension interface 71 to 7N Service interface 8 Service selection unit 9 Service control unit 10 Interface Connection Table 11 Service ID / Service Correspondence Table 100 Private Branch Exchange Device 200 Service Provision Device

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Masayuki Ito 3-19-2 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo F-term within Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation 5K024 AA51 CC01 DD04 GG08 5K026 AA01 BB01 EE05 EE06 FF23 GG12 HH11 LL07 5K049 AA18 BB04 EE15 FF01 FF15 FF38 FF40 9A001 HH34 JJ72

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A service control apparatus comprising: a private branch exchange for connecting an incoming call to an extension interface; and a service providing apparatus for connecting a service providing unit for providing a service to a service interface connected to the extension interface. A first search means for searching for a plurality of extension interfaces assigned to an extension number and a service type information specified by the extension number; and a first search means for an incoming extension number. First control means for selecting a vacant extension interface from the plurality of extension interfaces searched by the search means and connecting an incoming call to the extension interface; and the incoming call searched by the first search means. The type information of the service specified by the extension number and the information selected by the first control means Notifying means for notifying an extension interface to the service providing apparatus is provided in the private branch exchange apparatus, and a service interface corresponding to the extension interface notified by the notifying means and a type specified by the notified type information of the service are provided. A second search unit that searches for a service providing unit that provides a service; and a service interface that is searched by the second search unit is empty among the service providing units searched by the second search unit. A service control apparatus, comprising: a second control unit for selecting and connecting a service providing unit to the service providing apparatus. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first search unit refers to a table holding an extension interface group obtained by grouping a plurality of extension interfaces corresponding to extension numbers and a service ID as the service type information corresponding to the extension number. 2. The service control device according to claim 1, wherein an extension interface belonging to an extension interface group corresponding to the called extension number is searched as an available interface, and the service ID corresponding to the called number is searched. . 3. A service type corresponding to the service type information notified by the notifying means, with reference to a table holding a service type corresponding to the service type information. And searching for a service providing unit that provides a service of the same type as the type of the searched service.
A service control device as described.