JP2008205894A - Telephone device having holding tone function - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a telephone device which can output to a specific caller such as an important customer an optimum holding tone according to the caller, and which can reduce annoyance due to waiting for a long time. <P>SOLUTION: A telephone device has a designation means F46 designating holding tone identifying information from among information registered in a private information database F47, a storage means F46 storing a correspondence between the designated holding tone identifying information and holding tone information, an acquisition means F44 acquiring a telephone number of a caller before start of communication, and a transmission means F45 retrieving the private information database based on the telephone number acquired by the acquisition means F44 upon holding, extracting the holding tone information corresponding to the holding tone identifying information, and transmitting the holding tone corresponding to the holding tone information to the caller. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a telephone device, and more particularly to a telephone device having a function of sending a hold sound to a call partner when a line is on hold during a call.

  Conventionally, when a call is temporarily held during a call using a telephone device, a hold sound (music or voice guidance) has been sent to the other party. This is to notify the call partner that the call is on hold and to avoid a boring silent state that is on hold. Note that a plurality of holding sounds are prepared in the telephone device, and can be selected according to the preference of the operator or administrator of the telephone device (hereinafter referred to as “operator etc.”).

  However, there is a problem of increasing the sensuous waiting time because the other party who frequently talks and the other party who has been waiting for a long time will hear the same hold sound when placed on hold during a call. . As a solution to this, there is disclosed means for reducing the sensory waiting time of the call partner by automatically switching a plurality of holding sounds prepared in the telephone device in sequence and sending them in a medley manner like BGM. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

  In addition, the operator or the like can select the hold sound that is sent out by the intention of the other party who is listening to the hold sound, rather than selecting the hold sound. Means for improving the quality of the image is also disclosed (for example, see Patent Document 2).

However, such a conventional telephone device has a problem that it is not intended for the other party, but is intended for an unspecified person.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-69991 JP-A-5-103062

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is to send an optimum hold sound according to the call partner to a specific call partner such as an important customer, and to reduce the discomfort of waiting for a long time. It is to provide a telephone device that can be used.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention specifies information used for music on hold identification from information registered in the personal information database in a telephone device having a plurality of music on hold and a personal information database. A storage means for storing in advance the correspondence between the information used for identifying the music-on-hold and the music-on-hold information specified by the designating means, and obtaining the telephone number of the other party before the call starts And the personal information database is searched based on the telephone number obtained by the obtaining means when the information is put on hold, and if the telephone number matches, the storage means responds based on the information used for identifying the holding sound. And sending means for extracting the hold sound information and sending a hold sound corresponding to the hold sound information to the other party.

  According to the present invention, in the telephone device, the designation means can designate a plurality of pieces of information.

  According to the present invention, the personal information database is searched based on the telephone number of the other party acquired at the start of the call, and when the telephone number is registered in the personal information database, it is recognized as a specific other party. , It is possible to send a holding sound according to the holding sound information (type of music, etc.) stored corresponding to the information used for holding sound identification from the information registered in the personal information database, The discomfort of the other party can be reduced.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described. In the following embodiments, a case where the present invention is applied to a key telephone device will be described as an example, and a key telephone main device and a wired button telephone connected to the key telephone main device will be described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a private branch exchange (PBX) and an extension telephone connected to the PBX, or a server constituting an IP (Internet Protocol) telephone apparatus and an IP telephone connected to the server can be used. Further, a wireless button telephone can be used instead of the wired button telephone.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a key telephone main device 10 and a key telephone 20 constituting a key telephone device according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the central control unit 11 and the storage unit 16 of the key telephone main device 10 according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic sequence diagram between components according to the present invention.

  First, the outline of the configuration of the key telephone main apparatus 10 and the key telephone 20 constituting the key telephone apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The key telephone apparatus includes a key telephone main apparatus 10 that accommodates one or more external lines and a plurality of extensions, and a plurality of key telephones 20-1 to 20-n connected to the key telephone main apparatus 10.

  The key telephone main device 10 includes at least a central control unit 11, a communication path 12, one or more external line circuits 13-1 to 13-n, a music on hold circuit 14, and a plurality of extension circuits 15-1 to 15-. n and a storage unit 16.

  The central control unit 11 analyzes and determines input information (including information from the key telephone 20) from each circuit of the key telephone main device 10, performs input / output of information to the storage unit 16, and controls each circuit.

  The communication path 12 is exchange processing in the key telephone main device 10 (connection between the external lines 13-1 to 13-n and the internal lines 15-1 to 15-n, the connection between the music on hold circuit 14 and the external lines 13-1 to 13-n. Connection, etc.).

  The external line circuits 13-1 to 13-n are interface circuits connected to the external line. The external line disclosed in the present invention includes a general public line, a line of an IP telephone company, a dedicated line, a private line, a wireless line such as a mobile phone (using a wireless / wired conversion adapter), and the like. .

  The music on hold circuit 14 controls the melody used as the music on hold, the announcement indicating that the music is on hold, or the voice input from the key telephone 20 as encoded data, and the volume of the music on hold. Circuit. Note that the data as the hold tone may be obtained from an external music distributor through the Internet or the like.

  The extension circuits 15-1 to 15-n are interface circuits for communicating voice data and control data with the key telephones 20-1 to 20-n.

  In addition to functioning as a normal storage unit, the storage unit 16 stores a telephone book and music on hold information (including at least the type of music on hold) corresponding to each telephone number registered in the telephone book. The

  The key telephone 20 includes at least a control unit 21, a data transmission / reception circuit 22, a voice processing unit 23, a handset 24, a speaker 25, a dial key 26, an outside line key 27, a function key 28, An LCD display 29 is included.

  The control unit 21 analyzes and determines input information from each circuit in the key telephone 20 and controls each circuit.

  The data transmission / reception circuit 22 is an interface circuit for communicating voice data and control data with the key telephone main device 10 via an extension.

  The voice processing unit 23 controls voice / digital / analog conversion, analog / digital conversion, call path switching between the handset 24 and the speaker 25 in the key telephone 20, and sound volume.

  The handset 24 is a handset for performing transmission and reception during a general call.

  The speaker 25 is used for sending an outside line ringtone and for receiving a loud voice by the speaker.

  The dial key 26 is a means for inputting a telephone number, and is also used as an input means for various settings generally used in a button telephone apparatus.

  The outside line key 27 is a plurality of buttons for selecting an outside line to be used from one or more outside lines, and an LED display for displaying the state of the outside line (incoming, in use, on hold, etc.) corresponding to the button. Equipped with a bowl.

  Of the outside line key 27, an unused button is used as an input means for designating information used for identifying outside line holding sound (hereinafter referred to as holding sound identification information). For example, when 15 external line keys 27 are provided and 10 of them are used for selecting an external line, for example, “Birthplace”, “Birthday” are used for specifying the music on hold identification information for the remaining buttons. "," Corporate name ", etc. can be allocated. Further, a dedicated button may be allocated for designating the holding tone identification information without using the unused button. In any case, it is possible to determine whether or not the designation is valid by turning on the LED display.

  A plurality of function keys 28 are provided and are input means such as a “hold” button, a “loud reception” button, and a “setting” button which are generally used in a button telephone apparatus.

  The LCD display 29 displays caller information and the like when an incoming call is received, and displays a dialed number and a call duration when making a call.

  Next, functional configurations of the central control unit 11 and the storage unit 16 of the key telephone main device 10 according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the key telephone main device 10, the central control unit 11 includes at least an outside line control unit F40, a communication path control unit F41, a hold tone control unit F42, a data transmission / reception unit F43, an acquisition unit F44, and a transmission unit F45. , A designation unit F46, and the storage unit 17 includes at least a personal information database F47 and a storage unit F48.

  The outside line control means F40 has a function of controlling outside line transmission and outside line incoming calls to the outside line circuits 13-1 to 13-n, and notifying the obtaining means F44 when a caller number is detected when the outside line is received.

  The speech path control means F41 has a function of controlling the speech path 12 to control connection / disconnection of the speech path. The communication path control means F41 has a communication path between the extension circuit 15 (button telephone 20 connected via the extension circuit 15) and the external circuit 13 (call partner connected via the external circuit 13). When a hold instruction is received from the sending means F45 during connection (during a call), the call path between the extension circuit 15 and the outside line circuit 13 is disconnected, and the outside line circuit 13 and the hold sound circuit 14 are connected.

  The on-hold tone control means F42 has a function of controlling the on-hold tone circuit 14 to control the type and volume of the on-hold tone to be sent to each connection destination. When the hold sound control means F42 receives a hold sound sending instruction from the sending means F45, the hold sound control means F42 performs control to send a hold sound according to the type and volume instructed to the corresponding call path.

  The data transmitting / receiving means F43 has a function of transmitting / receiving control data to / from the key telephones 20-1 to 20-n by controlling the extension circuits 15-1 to 15-n. The data transmission / reception means F43 analyzes the received data from the key telephones 20-1 to 20-n, and if it detects that it is a destination telephone number at the time of outgoing line transmission, notifies the acquisition means F44 of the telephone number, When it is detected that the request is a hold request, it is notified to the sending means F45, and when it is detected that the hold sound identification information (for example, the input means using the unused button of the external line key 27 described above) is notified to the specifying means F46.

  Further, when the data transmission / reception means F43 receives a notification from the designation means F46 that the LED display corresponding to the input means corresponding to the holding tone identification information is turned on or off, the LED of the key telephone 20 is connected via the extension circuit 15. It has a function of instructing the display to turn on or off.

  The acquisition unit F44 acquires, as the telephone number of the call partner, the caller number at the time of the incoming call received from the external line control unit F40 or the callee number at the time of the outgoing line notification notified from the data transmission / reception unit F43. When there is a request from the means F45, it has a function of notifying the sending means F45 of the telephone number.

  When the sending means F45 is notified of the hold request from the data transmitting / receiving means F43, the external telephone circuits 13-1 to 13-n in which the key telephones 20-1 to 20-n making the hold request are talking to the obtaining means F44. When the telephone number notification of the call partner corresponding to the request is received and the notification of the telephone number is received from the acquisition means F44, the personal information database F47 is searched, and if the telephone number exists in the personal information database F47, the storage means Based on the holding tone identification information stored in F48, the corresponding information in the personal information database F47 is determined, and the holding tone information corresponding to the information is extracted from the storage means F48. And it has a function which notifies holding sound control means F42 of holding sound transmission with the said holding sound information.

  The sending unit F45 has a function of notifying the speech path control unit F41 of a hold instruction.

  The determination method of the holding sound identification information in the sending means F45 will be described as a representative example for each holding sound identification information.

  First, if “Birthplace” is valid as the hold sound identification information, and “Prefectural = Folk song” is registered as the hold sound information corresponding to the birthplace, the place of birth is determined. , Hokkaido = Soran Bun, Aomori Prefecture = Tsugaru Jongara Bun, Miyagi Prefecture = Sansa Toro, Akita Prefecture = Akita Ondo, Yamagata Prefecture = Hanagasa, Fukushima Prefecture = Aizu Bandaisan, Gunma Prefecture = Yagibushi, etc. Will be notified as music on hold information. As a result, the other party recognizes that he / she remembered his / her hometown and is impressed.

  Next, if “birthday” is valid as the hold tone identification information and “match on the day = birthday celebration” is registered as the hold tone information corresponding to the birthday, the current date is the birthday ( It is determined whether or not it coincides with (month / day), and if it coincides, the music of “Happy Birthday Toe Yu” which is the holding sound information is notified as the holding sound information. As a result, the other party recognizes that he / she remembered his / her birthday and is impressed.

  If “corporation name” is valid as the holding tone identification information and “corporation name = CM song” is registered as the holding tone information corresponding to the corporation name, the corporation name is determined, For example, XX Electric = XX Electric Song, □□□ Wireless = □□□ Wireless CM Song, △△△△ = △△△△ Sound Logo, ◇◇◇◇◇ = ◇◇◇◇◇ Song, Etc. are notified as music on hold information. Thereby, when the other party is an employee of the corporation, the CM song of the company is recognized and impressed.

  Note that the determination order when a plurality of hold tone identification information is valid is registered and stored in advance in the storage means F48. According to the above-described example, the order of birthday> birthplace> corporate name is set, but this order may be changed as appropriate.

  When the holding means identification information is notified from the data transmitting / receiving means F43, the designation means F46 stores the holding sound identification information as valid in the storage means F48. And it has a function which notifies the data transmission-and-reception means F43 the instruction | indication which lights the LED indicator according to the input means corresponding to the said holding | maintenance sound identification information.

  If the music on hold identification information is already valid, it is regarded as the release of the music on hold identification information, and the music on hold identification information is stored in the storage means F48 as invalid and corresponds to the music on hold identification information. The data transmission / reception means F43 is notified of an instruction to turn off the LED display corresponding to the input means.

  The personal information database F47 in the storage unit 16 stores telephone numbers, names, addresses, birthplaces, birthdays, company names, etc. as personal information. The personal information database may be provided outside the key telephone main device 10 (for example, a computer or a server memory).

The storage unit F48 of the storage unit 16 stores valid / invalid for each holding sound identification information and holding sound information corresponding to the holding sound identification information. Hereinafter, the hold sound information for each hold sound identification information will be described.
(1) In the case of the hold tone identification information “birthplace”, “prefecture = folk song” is registered. For example, in Hokkaido = Soran Bun, Aomori Prefecture = Tsugaru Jongara Bun, Miyagi Prefecture = Sansa Toro, Akita Prefecture = Akita Ondo, Yamagata Prefecture = Hanagasa, Fukushima Prefecture = Aizu Bandaisan, Gunma Prefecture = Yagibushi is there.
(2) In the case of the hold tone identification information “birthday”, “same day coincidence = birthday celebration” is registered. For example, “Happy Birthday Too Yu”.
(3) In the case of holding tone identification information “corporate name”, “corporate name = CM song” is registered. For example, XX Electric = XX Electric Song, □□□ Wireless = □□□ Wireless CM Song, △△△△ = △△△△ Sound Logo, ◇◇◇◇◇ = ◇◇◇◇◇ Song, Etc.

  Moreover, the memory | storage means F48 has memorize | stored the determination order in case two or more is effective as hold sound identification information. According to the above-mentioned example, it is stored in the order of birthday> birthplace> corporate name. This order can be changed as appropriate.

  Next, referring to FIG. 3, a schematic sequence between the communication partner, the key telephone main device 10 (hereinafter referred to as “main device”), and the key telephone 20 (hereinafter referred to as “button telephone”) will be described.

  First, an operation for designating hold tone identification information is performed with a key telephone (S60). The main apparatus that has received this validates the hold tone identification information registered in the storage means (S61). Although not shown, if the music on hold identification information is already valid, it is regarded as cancellation of the music on hold identification information and is invalid. In addition, although not shown in the drawing, whether the hold tone identification information is valid / invalid is instructed to be turned on / off to the LED display corresponding to the operation input means of the key telephone that has performed the operation.

  Thereafter, the processing in the main device acquires the telephone number of the other party before the start of the call (S62), and then the key telephone and the other party are in a call state (S63).

  When the key telephone performs a hold operation during a call (S64), the processing of the main unit sets the default hold sound information in the temporary storage (S65), and searches the personal information database using the telephone number of the other party as a key. A match with the telephone number is determined (S66).

  If they match (Yes side of S66), the hold tone information corresponding to the valid hold tone identification information is extracted, and the temporary storage is updated and set (S67). If the telephone number of the other party is not registered in the personal information database (the telephone number of the other party does not match the telephone number registered in the personal information database), the process proceeds to the next step (No in S66). .

  In the process in the main unit, a hold sound corresponding to the hold sound information stored in the temporary storage is sent to the calling party (S68).

Schematic diagram of the configuration of the key telephone main device 10 and the key telephone 20 constituting the key telephone device according to the present invention. Functional block diagram of central control unit 11 and storage unit 16 of key telephone main device 10 according to the present invention. Schematic sequence diagram between components according to the present invention

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Button telephone main unit 11 Central control part 12 Communication path 13 External line 14 Music-on-hold circuit 15 Extension circuit 16 Memory | storage part 20 Button telephone 21 Control part 22 Data transmission / reception circuit 23 Voice processing part 24 Handset 25 Speaker 26 Dial key 27 External line key 28 Function Keys 29 LCD Display F40 External Line Control Means F41 Call Path Control Means F42 Music On Hold Control Means F43 Data Transmission / Reception Means F44 Acquisition Means F45 Sending Means F46 Designation Means F47 Personal Information Database F48 Storage Means

Claims (4)

In telephone devices with multiple music on hold and personal information databases,
Designation means for designating information used for music on hold identification from information registered in the personal information database;
Storage means for storing in advance the correspondence between the information used for holding tone identification specified by the specifying means and the holding tone information;
An acquisition means for acquiring the telephone number of the other party before the start of the call;
When the personal information database is searched based on the telephone number acquired by the acquisition means when the holding means is put on hold, and the telephone number matches, the holding sound corresponding to the storage means based on the information used for identifying the holding sound A telephone apparatus comprising: a sending unit that extracts information and sends a hold sound according to the hold sound information to the other party. The telephone device according to claim 1, wherein
The telephone device characterized in that the designation means can designate a plurality of information. In a local telephone device comprising a main device accommodating one or more external lines and a plurality of extensions and having a plurality of music on hold, a database connected to the main device, and a telephone connected to the extension,
The database includes a personal information database,
The telephone includes input means for specifying information registered in the personal information database,
In the main device, designation means for validating the information specified by the input means as information used for music on hold identification from information registered in the personal information database;
Storage means for storing in advance correspondence between information used for holding tone identification enabled by the designation means and the holding tone information;
An acquisition means for acquiring the telephone number of the other party before the start of the call;
When the personal information database is searched based on the telephone number acquired by the acquisition means when it is put on hold, and the telephone numbers match, the corresponding holding sound from the storage means based on the information used for identifying the holding sound A private telephone apparatus, comprising: a sending means for extracting information and sending a holding sound according to the holding sound information to the other party. The local telephone apparatus according to claim 3,
The local telephone apparatus characterized in that the specifying means can specify a plurality of information.

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