JP2002111878A - Voice mail system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a voice mail system which eliminates complication that a man accustomed to operation must hear fixed guidance unnecessary to be heard whenever he records a voice mail. SOLUTION: By connecting a voice mail apparatus 7 and a PBX 1 through a LAN 8, information of operation content which an operator of an interposing B board 2 or a specified business extension 5 performs is transmitted to the voice mail apparatus 7 via the PBX 1 and the LAN 8. The voice mail apparatus 7 analyzes the information of operation content by the operator, and can perform operations according to the content. As a result, the fixed guidance in the case of recording can be saved when the B board 2 or the specified business extension 5 is interposed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a voice mail system, and more particularly to a voice mail system suitable for use in a hotel or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a voice mail system, a sender of a message records a message to one (or more) recipients (receivers). The other party (recipient) is a voice message system that enables the user to listen to the message at a convenient time or place. Such a voice mail system sends necessary messages at any time without confirming the location or convenience of the other party (recipient), and the recipient listens to the message sent according to his / her own convenience and sends a reply as necessary. Since it is a convenient system that enables it, it is widely used in hotels and the like. The prior art of such a voice mail system is disclosed in, for example,
No. 3,350,944 entitled "Voice input method and apparatus for implementing this method", Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-349755, "Voice Response Device" and Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 4-48757, "Voice Mail Device". I have.

In such a conventional voice mail system, at the time of recording, from the telephone of the other party, "I am out of the office now, please give me a message if you beep ..."
It is common to record a message after a "fixed guidance" such as the above flows, and after the guidance has been heard. According to this method, even if it is desired to leave a voice mail or is in a hurry when it is known that the other party is absent, a message cannot be sent until the fixed guidance has been heard.

[0004]

However, a person who is familiar with the operation of a voice message system must listen to "fixed guidance" which does not need to be heard every time a voice mail is sent (or recorded). It is bothersome and time consuming.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a voice mail system which can omit "fixed guidance" so that a voice mail can be sent without listening to "fixed guidance" recorded in advance. is there.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A voice mail system according to the present invention has a private branch exchange (PBX) to which a plurality of extensions, a relay station, and a voice mail device are connected. Is provided with a transmitting means for transmitting the content of the operation performed by the operator of the relay console to the voice mail device via the PBX.

[0007] According to a preferred embodiment of the voice mail system of the present invention, the transmitting means is a local area network (LAN). A specific business extension having a play button and a transfer button is connected to the PBX, and the user can record voice mail via the specific business extension. The voice mail device includes a main control unit, a message analysis unit, and an event analysis unit.The main control unit sends the message transmitted from the transmission unit to the message analysis unit and analyzes the message.
The event sent from the PBX via the telephone line is analyzed. The voice mail device further includes a mailbox management unit that manages the recorded voice mail for each extension number. Further, the plurality of extensions is a hotel voice mail system installed in a hotel guest room.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The structure and operation of a preferred embodiment of a voice mail system according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is an overall system configuration diagram of a hotel voice mail system which is a preferred embodiment of a voice mail system according to the present invention. This voice mail system includes a private branch exchange (hereinafter referred to as PBX) 1, an attendant console 2, a guest room extension 3, a general business extension 4, a specific business extension 5, an external line 6, a voice mail device 7, and a voice mail device 7 between the PBX 1 and the voice mail device 7. It is composed of a local area network (LAN) 8 which is an operation content transmitting means.

[0010] This voice mail system is composed of PBX1,
The relay console 2, the guest room extension 3, the general business extension 4, the specific business extension 5, the outside line 6, and the voice mail device 7 are connected by telephone lines (LC or line circuits). Furthermore, PBX1
And the voice mail device 7 is connected via the LAN 8. In addition, there are a plurality of telephone lines connecting the voice mail device 7 and the PBX 1 as shown in FIG. Further, the outside line 6 is connected to the PBX 1 by a central office trunk (COT).

Here, the guest room extension 3 is a telephone installed in the guest room of the hotel and mainly used by hotel guests. In addition to a general telephone function, a message waiting lamp notifying a guest that a voice message has arrived and a play button pressed down when the guest listens to (plays) a voice message are provided. The general business extension 4 is a telephone located outside the hotel guest rooms, and is mainly used by hotel employees and the like. A business extension other than the specific business extension 5 has a message waiting lamp and a play button in addition to a general telephone function, and an absence setting can be performed by dialing an absent special number. The specific service extension 5 is provided with a play button and a transfer button in addition to a general telephone function.

Next, the voice mail device 7 shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. A plurality of telephone lines and a LAN 8 are connected to the voice mail device 7. The voice mail device 7 includes a main control unit 11, a screen control unit 1
2. It is composed of a message analysis unit 13, an event analysis unit 14, and a mailbox management unit 15. The main control unit 11 includes a screen control unit 12, a message analysis unit 13,
The event analysis unit 14 and the mailbox management unit 15 are interconnected.

In the voice mail device 7 shown in FIG.
The message analyzer 13 receives and analyzes a message transmitted from the PBX 1 via the LAN 8. The event analysis unit 14 receives and analyzes a call event transmitted from the PBX 1 via a telephone line. The mailbox management unit 15 creates a mailbox for each extension number,
Manage, search and delete recorded voicemails. Further, the main control unit 11 includes the above-described units 12 to 1
5 is started and terminated. Screen control unit 12
Controls the screen of the voice mail device 7.

The user of the voice mail system receives the voice mail device 7 via the console 2 or the specific business extension 5.
Call and record your voicemail (message). In addition, the user can directly enter from the guest room extension 3, the general business extension 4, or the outside line 6, or the attendant console 2 or the specific business extension 5,
, The user can make a call to the voice mail device 7 to reproduce his / her own voice mail. Voice mail device 7
Manages the recorded voice mail for each extension number, and reproduces or deletes the voice mail as needed.

Next, the operation of the voice mail system according to the present invention will be described. First, the recording operation will be described. In the case of voice mail recording to the guest room extension 3 via the attendant console 2, the user (mainly a guest) dials the number of the attendant console 2 from any telephone or external line telephone 6. The user notifies the operator of the attendant console 2 of the room extension number of the room extension 3. The operator calls the room extension.
If the guest room extension 3 has not responded or is busy for a certain period of time, the console 2 is called again and responds. Here, when the user tells the operator to record voice mail, the operator stops calling to the guest room extension 3, presses the record button, and inputs the extension number of the calling guest room extension 3.
At this time, a message indicating that the recording button has been pressed is transmitted from the relay console 2 to the PBX 1.

Therefore, the PBX 1 searches for the extension number information managed by the PBX 1 from the input extension number of the guest room extension 3. The information is added, and L is sent to the voice mail device 7.
A "recording notification message" is transmitted via AN8. On the other hand, an incoming event is transmitted from the PBX 1 to the voice mail device 7 via the telephone line. Voice mail device 7
The message analysis unit 13 receives and analyzes the “recording notification message” via the LAN 8. The event analysis unit 14 receives and analyzes an incoming call event via a telephone line. Then, it is determined whether or not the extension number of the line that has received the incoming call event matches the incoming call extension number of the information added to the recording notification message. When these two numbers match, the mailbox management unit 15 searches the mailbox memory of the guest room based on the room extension number of the information given to the “recording notification message”. Once you find the mailbox, prepare for recording. The operator issues an announcement urging the user to make a recording such as “Please record” and the console 2 is restored. At this time,
Sends a message indicating that the console 2 has been restored to the PBX 1. The PBX 1 transmits a “recording start notification message” to the voice mail device 7.

Message analyzer 1 of voice mail device 7
3 receives the "recording start notification message"
Information is transmitted to the event analysis unit 14 via the main control unit 11. Then, the event analysis unit 14 transmits a recording start sound “peep”. The user starts voice mail recording by using the recording start sound.

Next, a description will be given of a case where voice mail is recorded to the guest room extension 3 via the specific business extension 5. First, a user (mainly a guest) dials a specific business extension number from an arbitrary telephone or an outside line telephone. The user notifies the operator of the specific service extension 5 of the room extension number of the room extension 3. The operator calls the room extension number. When the guest room extension 3 is unanswered or busy, the specific service extension 5 disconnects the line calling the guest room extension 3 and talks with the original user. Here, when the user tells the operator to record the voice mail, the operator presses the transfer button. Then, the user enters the recording special number and the extension number of the called room extension 3. At this time, a “transfer button press and recording special number dial message” is transmitted from the specific service extension 5 to the PBX 1. The PBX 1 searches for extension number information managed by the PBX 1 from the extension number of the guest room extension 3 that has been input. Then, the “recording notification message” is transmitted to the voice mail device 7 via the LAN 8 with the information added thereto. On the other hand, an incoming event is transmitted from the PBX 1 to the voice mail device 7 via the telephone line.

In the voice mail device 7, the message analyzer 13 receives and analyzes the "recording notification message" via the LAN 8. Further, the event analysis unit 14 receives and analyzes an incoming call event via the telephone line. Then, it is determined whether the extension number of the line that has received the incoming call event matches the incoming extension number of the information added to the “recording notification message”. If these numbers match, the mailbox management unit 15 searches the mailbox memory of the room based on the room extension number of the information given to the “recording notification message”. Once you find the mailbox, prepare for recording. The operator makes an announcement to prompt the user to record, and the operator at the specific service extension 5 hangs up the handset. At this time, a message for the restoration of the specific service extension 5 is transmitted from the relay console 2 to the PBX 1. The PBX 1 transmits a “recording start notification message” to the voice mail device 7. Therefore, the message analyzer 13 of the voice mail device 7 receives the “recording start notification message”. The message analysis unit 13 transmits information to the event analysis unit 14 via the main control unit 11. The event analysis unit 14 emits a recording start sound “peep”. The user starts recording the voice mail using the recording start sound.

Next, a case of recording a voice mail to the general service extension 4 via the relay console 2 will be described. First, a user (mainly a hotel employee) dials an attendant number from any telephone or external telephone. The user notifies the operator of the attendant console 2 of the business extension number of the general business extension 4. The operator calls the extension number. If the business extension 4 is not responding, busy or absent for a certain period of time, the console 2 is called again and responds.

Here, the user tells the operator to record the voice mail. The operator stops calling the general business extension 4, presses the record button, and inputs the extension number of the general business extension 4 that has been called. At this time,
"Recording button pressed message" from console 2 to PBX1
Is sent. PBX1 is the general business extension number 4
, The extension number information managed by the PBX 1 is searched. The information is added, and LA mail is sent to the voice mail device 7.
A "recording notification message" is transmitted via N8. On the other hand, the voice mail device 7 from the PBX 1 via the telephone line
Send an incoming event to. The message analyzer 13 of the voice mail device 7 receives and analyzes the “recording notification message” via the LAN 8. Event analysis unit 14
Receives and analyzes incoming events via the telephone line. It is determined whether the extension number of the line that has received the incoming call event matches the incoming call extension number of the information added to the “recording notification message”. If these numbers match,
Based on the business extension number of the information added to the “recording notification message”, the mailbox management unit 15 searches the memory of the mailbox of the business. Once you find the mailbox, prepare for recording.

Next, the operator makes an announcement to prompt the user to record, and the console 2 is restored. At this time, an “attachment console recovery message” is transmitted from the hop console 2 to the PBX 1. The PBX 1 transmits a “recording start notification message” to the voice mail device 7. Voice mail device 7
Receives the "recording start notification message". The message analysis unit 13 transmits information to the event analysis unit 14 via the main control unit 11.
The event analysis unit 14 emits a recording start sound “peep”. The user starts recording voice mail by using the recording start sound.

Next, a description will be given of a case of voice mail recording to the general business extension 4 via the specific business extension 5. First, a user (mainly a hotel employee) dials a specific business extension number from any telephone or outside line telephone. The user notifies the operator of the specific service extension 5 of the service extension number of the general service extension 4. The operator calls the extension number. If the business extension has been set to no answer, busy or absent for a certain period of time, the operator of the specific business extension 5 disconnects the line calling the general business extension 4 and talks with the original user. Here, the user tells the operator to record the voicemail. The operator presses the transfer button, and inputs the recording special number and the extension number of the general business extension 4 which has been called. At this time, a “recording special number dial message” is transmitted from the specific service extension 5 to the PBX 1. The PBX 1 searches for extension number information managed by the PBX 1 from the input extension number of the general service extension 4 and adds the information. Then, a “recording notification message” is sent to the voice mail device 7 via the LAN 8.
Send

On the other hand, an incoming call event is transmitted from the PBX 1 to the voice mail device 7 via the telephone line. The message analysis unit 13 of the voice mail device 7 analyzes the “recording notification message” received via the LAN 8. Also,
The event analysis unit 14 receives and analyzes an event via a telephone line. Then, it is determined whether or not the extension number of the line that has received the incoming call event matches the incoming extension number of the information added to the “recording notification message”. If these numbers match, the mailbox management unit 15 searches the mailbox memory of the service based on the service extension number of the information added to the “recording notification message”. When the mailbox is found, prepare for recording.

The operator makes an announcement to prompt the user to record. The operator of the specific service extension 5 hangs up the handset. At this time, a “specific business extension restoration message” is transmitted from the specific business extension 5 to the PBX 1. PBX1 is
A “recording start notification message” is transmitted to the voice mail device 7. The message analyzer 13 of the voice mail device 7 receives the “recording start notification message”. Therefore, the message analysis unit 13 sets the main control unit 1
1 to the event analysis unit 14. The event analysis unit 14 emits a recording start sound “peep”. The user starts recording voice mail by using the recording start sound.

The configuration and operation of the preferred embodiment of the voice mail system according to the present invention have been described above in detail. But,
It should be noted that such embodiments are merely examples of the present invention and do not limit the present invention in any way. It will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made in accordance with the particular application without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the preferred embodiment described above is a hotel voice mail system, but it is needless to say that the present invention can be applied to other than a hotel.

[0027]

As will be understood from the above description, the voice mail system according to the present invention has the following practically significant effects. Even when the user goes through the intermediary console 2 or through the specific service extension 5, the operator of the intermediary console 2 or the specific service extension 5 serves as a fixed guidance for prompting recording, so that the user is not bothered by the recording operation. Furthermore, since an operator can intervene flexibly, it is possible to provide additional services that cannot be provided by the "fixed guidance". Employees who are skilled in operation do not have to listen to unnecessary “fixed guidance” and the processing of the intervening operator is simple, so it is possible to eliminate the trouble of recording voice mail. is there.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall system configuration of a preferred embodiment of a voice mail system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the voice mail device in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 PBX (Private branch exchange) 2 Attendant stand 3 Guest room extension 4 General business extension 5 Specific business extension 6 Outside line 7 Voice mail device 8 LAN (transmission means) 11 Main control unit 12 Screen control unit 13 Message analysis unit 14 Event analysis unit 15 Mail Box management department

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A voice mail system having a private branch exchange (PBX) to which a plurality of extensions, a relay console, and a voice mail device are connected, wherein an operation performed by an operator of the relay console is provided between the PBX and the voice mail device. A voice mail system comprising transmission means for transmitting contents to the voice mail device via the PBX. 2. The voice mail system according to claim 1, wherein said transmitting means is a local area network (LAN). 3. A specific business extension having a play button and a transfer button is connected to the PBX, and a user can record voice mail via the specific business extension. 2. The voice mail system according to 2. 4. A voice mail device comprising: a main control unit;
A message analysis unit and an event analysis unit, wherein the main control unit sends a message transmitted from the transmission unit to the message analysis unit for analysis, and the event analysis unit is sent from the PBX via a telephone line. 4. The voice mail system according to claim 1, wherein events are analyzed. 5. The voice mail system according to claim 1, wherein the voice mail device includes a mailbox management unit that manages the recorded voice mail for each extension number. 6. The voice mail system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of extensions are a hotel voice mail system installed in a hotel guest room.