JP2007049214A - Private branch exchange method for serving dgl services, and private branch exchange - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a private branch exchange method and a private branch exchange, capable of effectively informing the user of an extension terminal regarding a call in an unarrival state at the direct arrival of a call from an external line terminal to the extension terminal, such as the DGL service. <P>SOLUTION: In the private branch exchange method and the private branch exchange, wherein any one among a plurality of extension terminals accommodated in the private branch exchange, is connected to the external line terminal in response to a call arrival request from the external line terminal, the private branch exchange generates an arrival call information piece, corresponding to a call arrival request by every call arrival request and stores the arrival call information piece by means of a queue configuration. The private branch exchange manages the operating states of the extension terminals and allows a call arrival request, corresponding to the arrival call information piece existing at the head of the queue configuration to reach at least one extension terminal, when it detects at least the one extension terminal whose operating state is a free state. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a private branch exchange method and a private branch exchange in which a direct group line (hereinafter referred to as DGL) is formed by a plurality of extension terminals accommodated in the private branch exchange to establish a telephone connection.

  There are a normal dial-in method and an additional number type dial-in method for receiving a call directly from a public subscriber terminal to an extension terminal accommodated in a private branch exchange. Regarding the utilization of these methods, there is, for example, a form disclosed in Patent Document 1.

  As a method for making an incoming call directly to an extension terminal, one telephone number is assigned to one group consisting of a plurality of extension terminals, and any one of the groups in response to an incoming call from a public subscriber to the telephone number. There is a DGL system that allows an extension terminal to respond. In the DGL system, even if all terminals in the group are already in a call at the time of an incoming call, the incoming call is kept as “calling” without disconnecting the incoming call as “busy”. Such a DGL system is utilized in a form in which a large number of incoming calls are handled by a limited number of extension terminals, such as a telephone ticket reservation acceptance service.

In order to realize the DGL system, for example, an extension terminal is provided with a DGL incoming call lamp (see FIG. 9). Here, when the user of the extension terminal is in a call state with the public network subscriber A, even if there is an incoming call from another public subscriber B, the user is caused to turn on the DGL incoming lamp. Thus, the next incoming call can be notified visually. The user can accept an incoming call from the public subscriber B by operating the extension terminal after disconnecting or holding the call with the public network subscriber A. If the extension terminal is a conventional analog telephone that does not have a DGL incoming call lamp, the DGL incoming call lamp display board is provided separately from the terminal so that the user can visually recognize that there is the next incoming call. Can be recognized.
JP-A-10-940002

  However, in the conventional notification form of DGL incoming calls, all terminals are uniformly notified, so this notification is not only confusing for users of extension telephones already talking with other external lines, It is not intended to guide the user of the extension telephone that has become to receive the next incoming call smoothly. Further, in an environment where terminals such as conventional analog telephones are mixed with terminals capable of displaying DGL incoming calls, the display form of DGL incoming calls varies, and the user's usability is significantly impaired.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and its object is to provide an effect on a call of a call waiting state for an extension terminal user when an incoming call is made directly from an external terminal to an extension terminal as in the DGL service. It is to provide a private branch exchange method and a private branch exchange that can be notified automatically.

  The private branch exchange method according to the present invention is a private branch exchange method for connecting any one of a plurality of extension terminals accommodated in a private branch exchange to the external line terminal in response to an incoming call request from the external line terminal. Generating an incoming information piece corresponding to the incoming call request, holding the incoming information piece in a queuing configuration, managing the use state for each extension terminal, and setting the use state to an empty state. An incoming call request receiving step for causing an incoming call request corresponding to the first incoming call information piece in the queue configuration to be received by the at least one extension terminal when at least one extension terminal is detected. To do.

  A private branch exchange according to the present invention is a private branch exchange that connects any one of a plurality of accommodated extension terminals to the external line terminal in response to an incoming call request from the external line terminal. Incoming information holding means for generating a corresponding incoming information piece and holding the incoming information piece in a queuing configuration, and managing the use state for each extension terminal, and at least one extension in which the use state is free And an incoming call request receiving means for receiving an incoming call request corresponding to the first incoming call information piece in the queue configuration to the at least one extension terminal when the terminal is detected.

  According to the private branch exchange method and the private branch exchange according to the present invention, even when there is an incoming call waiting request when using the DGL service, only the extension terminal ringing due to the disconnection due to the termination of the call is ringing A configuration for making an incoming notification such as is provided. As a result, when an incoming call is made directly from an external terminal to an extension terminal as in the DGL service, it is possible to effectively notify the user of the extension terminal of a call waiting for an incoming call.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
<First embodiment>
FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention and shows the entire configuration including a private branch exchange. A number of external line terminals 10 a to 10 c are connected to the private branch exchange 30 via the public network 40. In this embodiment, three external line terminals 10a to 10c are shown as an example. The private branch exchange 30 accommodates a plurality of extension terminals 20a to 20e. The extension terminals 20a to 20c form one group, and the extension terminals 20d and 20e form another group. Each group is assigned a group representative number and receives incoming calls from outside. In this embodiment, the extension terminals 20a to 20 forming two groups are shown. However, the present invention is not limited to the number of groups and the number of terminals, and the number of groups is one or more and one or more. The number of terminals is assumed.

  The private branch exchange 30 includes a public network interface 34 that performs communication control with the external terminals 10a to 10c via the public network 40, an intra-group terminal interface 35a that performs communication control with the extension terminals 20a to 20c, The intra-group terminal interface 35b that performs communication control with the extension terminals 20d and 20e, the CPU 32 that performs overall control of the private branch exchange 30 that is one computer device, and the MEM 33 that is a main storage device, They are connected to each other by a common bus 31.

  The software configuration loaded in the MEM 33 includes various software for telephone exchange executed by the CPU 32. When only the software configuration that characterizes the present invention is illustrated, the MEM 33 includes a DGL connection management unit 36, a DGL management table 60, and a terminal state table that manages whether each terminal is in a call or in an empty state. 70. The DGL connection management unit 36 is software for executing an outside line direct incoming call processing to each of the extension terminals 20a to 20e according to DGL, that is, a direct group line system. The DGL management table 60 is a table for managing incoming call information pieces, that is, incoming call information cells, which are created for each incoming call request from the external line terminals 10a to 10c, according to a waiting example configuration. The incoming call information cell holds the telephone number of the external line terminal together with the group representative telephone number that designates the group.

  FIG. 2 shows details of a configuration example of the DGL management table. It should be noted that the DGL management table 60 shown in this figure is shown only for one group of incoming information for ease of explanation. When the private branch exchange accommodates a plurality of groups of extension terminals, the DGL management table 60 includes a plurality of configurations described below corresponding to each group.

  Referring to this figure, the head waiting incoming call information address 61 of the DGL management table 60 indicates the address of the head incoming call information cell C1. The last waiting incoming call information address 62 indicates the address of the last incoming call information cell Cm. When there is no waiting for incoming call and the incoming call information is empty, “0” is set in the head waiting incoming call information information 61 and the tail waiting incoming call information address 62. Thereby, it is possible to recognize whether or not all the incoming information is empty by referring to the head waiting incoming call information address 61 or the tail waiting incoming call information address 62.

  A plurality of incoming information cells C1 to Cm (m is a positive number) are sequentially associated as a queue. In the queue, the incoming call information cell C1 is the head and the incoming call information cell Cm is the tail. Each of the plurality of incoming information cells C1 to Cm includes incoming information including a telephone number of an external terminal, a previous incoming information address, and a rear incoming information address. For example, the incoming information cell C1 includes incoming information C11, a previous incoming information address C12, and a rear incoming information address C13. The incoming information cell C2 includes incoming information C21, a previous incoming information address C22, and a rear incoming information address C23.

  Here, regarding the incoming call information cell C2, the previous incoming call information address C22 indicates the address of the incoming call information cell C1 lined up in the queue, and then the incoming call information address C23 lined up behind in the queue. The address is indicated. Incidentally, “0” is set in the previous incoming call information address C11 of the first incoming call information cell C1 because there is no incoming call information cell lined up in front. In addition, “0” is set in the subsequent incoming call information address Cm3 of the last incoming call information cell Cm because there is no incoming call information cell lined up later.

  In the configuration of the DGL management table 60 described above, the latest incoming call information is added at the end in response to a new incoming call request from an external terminal that occurs irregularly, while the incoming call is allocated while the extension terminal is free. As a result, the DGL connection management unit 36 (see FIG. 1) of the private branch exchange 30 performs update setting for removing the oldest incoming call information from the head.

  FIG. 3 shows details of a configuration example of the terminal state table. In the terminal status table 70, for each extension terminal identification 71, the usage status 72 is set from a set value such as “busy” or “empty”. The setting update of the terminal status table 70 is performed by managing the statuses of all the accommodated extension terminals accompanying the exchange operation of the private branch exchange, and is performed in response to connection notifications and disconnection notifications from the extension terminals. On the other hand, the DGL connection management unit 36 (see FIG. 1) of the private branch exchange 30 can detect the presence of an extension terminal that becomes idle due to a call disconnection by referring to the terminal state table 70. The terminal status table 70 shown in the figure is provided for each group.

  FIG. 4 shows a processing procedure of the telephone connection method according to the present invention. The processing procedure is executed when the DGL connection management unit in the private branch exchange according to the present invention operates in cooperation with the accommodated extension terminal and external external terminal.

  First, it is assumed that the external terminal 10a (hereinafter referred to as subscriber A) makes a call to the group of the extension terminals 20a to 20c, and an incoming request signal is provided to the private branch exchange 30 via the public network (step S1). ). At this time, the private branch exchange 30 returns a call response signal and a call signal in response to the incoming request signal (step S2). Thereby, the subscriber A can know that it is “calling” by listening to the RBT (ringback tone).

  Next, the private branch exchange 30 uses the DGL connection management unit to generate incoming information corresponding to the incoming call request, and updates and sets it in the DGL management table (step S3). Next, the private branch exchange 30 determines whether or not the incoming information of the subscriber A is the head (Step S4). If it is not the head, the waiting state is continued, and the state is reflected in the terminal state table in response to the change in the usage state of the extension terminal (step S5). As shown in the figure, for example, when the extension terminal 20a is busy, the state is detected by the private branch exchange 30 (step S6), and the use state corresponding to the extension terminal 20a is set to “busy” in the terminal state table. The Further, for example, if the extension terminal 20b is terminated and disconnected, the state is detected by the private branch exchange 30 (step S7), and the use state corresponding to the extension terminal 20b is set to “free” in the terminal state table. .

  On the other hand, if the incoming information of the subscriber A is the head in step S4, the terminal state table is referred to recognize an extension terminal that is in an empty state among a plurality of extension terminals, and is in an empty state by disconnection or the like. Is notified to all the extension terminals (step S8). According to the above-described example, the extension terminal 20b is in an “empty” state immediately after being disconnected, and therefore, an incoming call notification is given to the extension terminal 20b as illustrated. The incoming call notification sounds a ringing tone to all the extension terminals in the idle state. However, if the extension terminal has a DGL function, the DGL incoming call lamp may be lit together.

  In response to the incoming call notification, the extension terminal 20b makes a response notification to the incoming call notification from the subscriber A (step S9). The response notification is transmitted when the user of the extension terminal 20b performs an off-hook operation on the extension terminal 20b. The private branch exchange 30 selects the extension terminal that responded first from among the response notifications from at least one extension terminal that makes a response notification in response to the incoming call request (step S10). In the example of this figure, it is assumed that the extension terminal 20b responds first. Next, the private branch exchange 30 transfers the response notification from the extension terminal 20b to the outside line terminal 10a of the subscriber A (step S11). Thereby, the incoming call request of the outside terminal 10a arrives at the extension terminal 20b, and both can start a call (step S12).

As apparent from the first embodiment described above, the DGL service level of the private branch exchange is further improved. According to the present invention, an extension terminal having a DGL incoming call lamp is uniformly notified of incoming calls, or without having a special DGL incoming call lamp display, and as soon as an extension terminal in which a call becomes idle occurs, the incoming call is ringed to the extension terminal. Can be notified by ringing. This form means that it is possible to provide a unified notification method in which a DGL incoming call is notified by sound even in an operation form including a terminal that cannot recognize that another incoming call has occurred during a call such as an analog telephone. . In addition, since the DGL incoming call is notified only when the call is completed without notifying the DGL incoming call to the terminal during the call, there is an advantage that the terminal user can concentrate on the current call. . Furthermore, since the private branch exchange does not need to notify all terminals including those during a call of the next DGL incoming call, the private branch exchange can further reduce the load.
<Second embodiment>
FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of the present invention and shows the configuration of the MEM in the private branch exchange. In the present embodiment, since the configuration of the entire system including the private branch exchange 30 is the same as that of the first embodiment, only different portions will be described. Referring to this figure, the MEM 33 of the private branch exchange 30 determines whether the DGL connection management unit 36, the DGL management table 60, and whether the terminal is in a call state or in an idle state, in the same manner as in the first embodiment. And a priority table 80 for managing the incoming call priority for each external terminal.

  The priority table 80 is set for each outside line terminal identification 81 such as a telephone number by a symbol indicating a level such as A to C. Such setting needs to be made in advance prior to the exchange operation. The priority level A is set for a high-priority external line terminal such as an emergency caller, for example, the priority level B is set for a slightly high-priority telephone line external terminal, and the priority level C is , Set to the outside line terminal of the normal phone. Of course, by not setting the priority in the priority table 80, it is possible to set the telephone source external line terminal having the lowest priority.

  FIG. 6 illustrates a procedure for updating and setting the DGL management table in accordance with the priority table shown in FIG. This figure shows how the order of incoming information is changed in accordance with the priority table on the premise of the configuration of the DGL management table shown in FIG. The head waiting incoming call information address 61 of the DGL management table 60 indicates the address of the head incoming call information cell C1. The last waiting incoming call information address 62 indicates the address of the last incoming call information cell Cn-1.

  Here, it is assumed that the corresponding incoming call information Cn is added to the tail of the queue due to the occurrence of the “latest incoming call” from the outside line terminal. The priority level of the incoming information Cn is assumed to be level “B” by referring to the priority table 80 (see FIG. 5). Normally, the incoming call information Cn is added to the end of the DGL management table 60, and the end waiting incoming call information address 62 should indicate the incoming call information Cn. However, since the priority level of the incoming call information Cn is “B”, the incoming call information Cn is linked by skipping the incoming call information of the lower priority level “C”. That is, the incoming call information Cn is linked behind the incoming call information C2 of the priority level “A”, and as a result, the incoming call information C3 is linked so as to shift backward in the forward direction. As a result, the incoming information Cn is delayed from the incoming information C1 and C2 with the priority level “A” in the queue in the DGL management table 60, but it comes to the head at a timing earlier than in the first embodiment. Can be.

In the second embodiment described above, by taking into account the priority of the outside line terminal, it is possible to provide a DGL service that minimizes the waiting time for an incoming call of a priority terminal such as an emergency caller. The setting of the incoming call priority for each external terminal is not limited to the method of selecting the incoming call priority in association with the entire sequence of telephone numbers of the external terminal, but the incoming call priority in association with the area code of the telephone number. It can take various forms such as a method of selecting the.
<Third embodiment>
FIG. 7 shows a third embodiment of the present invention and shows the entire configuration including the private branch exchange. The configuration surrounding the private branch exchange 30 is the same as that in the first embodiment. The private branch exchange 30 also includes a public network interface 34, two intra-group terminal interfaces 35a and 35b, a CPU 32, and a MEM 33. These parts are connected to each other by a common bus 31. This is the same as in the embodiment.

  The MEM 33 of the private branch exchange 30 includes a DGL connection management unit 36 that operates as one thread, and a DGL management table 60. On the other hand, the intra-group terminal interface 35a includes call processing threads 90a to 80c that perform state management corresponding to each of the extension terminals 20a to 20c. The intra-group terminal interface 35b includes call processing threads 90d and 90e that perform state management corresponding to each of the extension terminals 20d and 20e. Each of the call processing threads 90a to 90e is a task that is generated according to the operation of the extension terminal and executed by the CPU 32. In this figure, it is shown as belonging to the intra-group terminal interfaces 30a and 36b.

  Since each of the DGL connection management unit 36 and the call processing threads 90a to 90e operates as a thread, the DGL connection management unit 36 and the call processing threads 90a to 90e operate in parallel, and any of them can refer to and update the DGL management table 60. The DGL connection management unit 36 has a function of adding an incoming information cell corresponding to an incoming call at the end of the DGL management table 60 every time an incoming call is received from any of the external line terminals 10a to 10c via the public network 40. Have. On the other hand, each of the call processing threads 90a to 90e has a function of managing the state of the corresponding extension terminal, and bears state information indicating whether the call is busy or idle according to the state transition of the extension terminal. ing.

  FIG. 8 shows a processing procedure in the third embodiment. The processing procedure is executed when the DGL connection management unit and the plurality of call processing threads in the private branch exchange according to the present invention operate in cooperation with the accommodated extension terminal and external external terminal.

First, it is assumed that the external terminal 10a (hereinafter referred to as subscriber A) makes a call to the group of the extension terminals 20a to 20c, and an incoming request signal is provided to the private branch exchange 30 via the public network (step S31). ). At this time, the private branch exchange 30 returns a call response signal in response to the incoming request signal (step S32).
At this time, the DGL connection management unit 36 of the private branch exchange 30 generates incoming call information corresponding to the incoming call request, and updates and sets it in the DGL management table (step S33).

  In this figure, the processing of the call processing threads 90a and 90b included in the intra-group terminal interface 35 of the private branch exchange 30 is shown as an example. The call processing thread 90a performs state management of the extension terminal 20a (at this time, state = busy) (step S34), and the call processing thread 90b performs state management of the extension terminal 20b (at this time, state = busy). (Step S35).

  Here, when the extension terminal 20b transitions to the idle state, a call disconnect signal is transmitted to the call processing thread 90b (step S36). The call processing thread 90b recognizes the extension terminal 20b as being free (step S37), then refers to the DGL management table 60, and if there is incoming information (here, there is an incoming call from the subscriber A), the extension The terminal 20b is notified of an incoming call (step S38). If there is a response notification from the extension terminal 20b (step S39), the call processing thread 90b acquires the incoming information of the first subscriber A in the DGL management table 60 and deletes the information from the DGL management table 60 (step S39). S40). Here, since the acquired information is assumed to be the subscriber A, the subscriber A is notified of the response together. Next, the call processing thread 90b manages the state of the extension terminal 20b as being in a call (step S41). The subscriber A can make a call with the extension terminal 20b in response to the response notification from the call processing thread 90b (step S42).

  In the processing procedure described above, an example in which only the call processing thread 90b is in an idle state is shown. However, when a plurality of call processing threads 90a and 90b are in an idle state, a plurality of call processing threads 90b and 90b are in an idle state. The processing threads 90a and 90b refer to the DGL management table 60 and make incoming requests in parallel to the extension terminals 20a and 20b. As a result, both the plurality of call processing threads 90a and 90b are in a contention state waiting for a response.

  Here, when the extension terminal 20a responds first, the call processing thread 90a operates in response. The call processing thread 90a acquires the top information of the DGL management table 60 (subscriber A's incoming information) and deletes the information from the table. Next, the same control as described above is performed to bring the subscriber A and the extension terminal 20a into a call state. On the other hand, when the extension terminal 20b responds with a delay, the call processing thread 90b confirms that there is no new head information and issues a disconnection request to the extension terminal 20b to stop the call. If there is new head information (for example, the incoming information of the subscriber B), the call processing thread 90b diverts it to a call with the extension terminal 20b.

  In the first embodiment prior to the third embodiment, the DGL connection management unit manages the entire DGL connection using the DGL management table and the terminal state table. In contrast to this, in the third embodiment, incoming calls from external terminals are managed by the DGL connection management unit, status management of each extension terminal is performed by a plurality of call processing threads, and these managements are performed in parallel. Done. With this configuration, a more efficient DGL connection can be made in response to a change in the state of the extension terminal.

  The present invention can be applied not only to ticket reservation reception work by telephone, but also to local telephone equipment for duty for reception of time-limited telephone and FAX questionnaire surveys. Further, the application of the present invention makes it possible to easily introduce a DGL connection service environment at a low cost even in a telephone facility that leaves a conventional analog telephone.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a block diagram which shows the 1st Example of this invention and shows the whole structure containing a private branch exchange. It is a figure which shows the detail of the structural example of a DGL management table. It is a figure which shows the detail of the structural example of a terminal state table. It is a sequence diagram which shows the process sequence of the telephone connection method by this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the 2nd Example of this invention and shows the structure of a private branch exchange. It is explanatory drawing explaining the process sequence which updates and sets a DGL management table according to the priority table shown by FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the 3rd Example of this invention and shows the whole structure containing a private branch exchange. It is a sequence diagram which shows the process sequence in a 3rd Example. It is a figure which shows the conventional DGL connection method.

Explanation of symbols

10a to 10c External terminal 20a to 20e Extension terminal 30 Private branch exchange 31 Common bus 32 CPU
33 MEM
34 Public network interface 35a and 35b Intra-group terminal interface 36 DGL connection management unit 40 Public network 60 DGL management table (TB)
70 Terminal status table (TB)
80 Priority table (TB)
90a-90e Call processing thread

Claims (7)

A private branch exchange method for connecting any one of a plurality of extension terminals accommodated in a private branch exchange to the external line terminal in response to an incoming call request from the external line terminal,
An incoming information holding step for generating an incoming information piece corresponding to the incoming request for each incoming request, and holding the incoming information piece in a queue configuration;
The usage status is managed for each extension terminal, and when at least one extension terminal in which the usage status is idle is detected, an incoming request corresponding to the incoming call information piece at the head in the queue configuration is An incoming request receiving step for receiving at least one extension terminal; and
A private branch exchange method characterized by comprising:   In response to a response notification to the incoming call request from the at least one extension terminal, one of the at least one extension terminals is selected with the earliest extension terminal with the earliest response notification, and the selected one extension terminal 2. The private branch exchange method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of connecting the external terminal to the outside line terminal.   The incoming call request incoming step sets the result of the transition in a terminal state table in accordance with the transition of the usage state of each of the plurality of extension terminals, and refers to the extension terminal that has transitioned to a free state with reference to the terminal state table. The private branch exchange method according to claim 1, wherein the private branch exchange method is a detecting step.   The incoming request receiving step is generated for each of the extension terminals, and is managed by a plurality of call processing threads that detect the transition of the use state of the corresponding extension terminal, and detects the extension terminal that has transitioned to the idle state. 2. The private branch exchange method according to claim 1, wherein the incoming call request is received at the extension terminal by the call processing thread.   Preliminarily including a step of holding priority information that defines the incoming call priority for each of a plurality of external line terminals, wherein the incoming call information holding step determines the order of the incoming call information pieces in the queue configuration, the incoming call priority of the external line terminal The private branch exchange method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of changing according to the degree. Each of the plurality of extension terminals is grouped by group representative telephone number,
The incoming call information holding step is a step of holding the queue configuration for each group corresponding to a group representative telephone number specified by the incoming call request;
The incoming request reception step manages the usage status of the extension terminals included in the group for each group, and waits for the group when at least one extension terminal in which the usage status is idle is detected. The private branch exchange method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is a step of causing the at least one extension terminal to receive an incoming call request corresponding to the first incoming information piece in a matrix configuration. A private branch exchange that connects any one of a plurality of accommodated extension terminals to the outside line terminal in response to an incoming call request from the outside line terminal,
An incoming information holding means for generating an incoming information piece corresponding to the incoming request for each incoming request, and holding the incoming information piece in a queue configuration;
The usage status is managed for each extension terminal, and when at least one extension terminal in which the usage status is idle is detected, an incoming request corresponding to the incoming call information piece at the head in the queue configuration is An incoming request receiving means for making an incoming call to at least one extension terminal;
A private branch exchange characterized by including

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