JP2733867B2 - Private branch exchange system with e-mail device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an automatic private branch exchange system with an electronic mail device.

<< Prior Art >> In a facility equipped with a large number of terminal devices such as telephones, a private branch exchange (PBX) is generally used.
Recently, in order to make information transmission more convenient, this PB
X is equipped with an e-mail device.

An electronic mail device (hereinafter simply referred to as a mail device)
This is an apparatus in which information such as audio information converted into an electronic signal is stored, and can be transmitted to a desired destination as needed. A mail device is attached to the PBX, and a terminal device such as a telephone operates the mail device through the private branch exchange to register information in the mail device (operation for storing information and voice information. The recording device), the information extracting operation (reproducing operation in the case of voice information), the information erasing operation (the operation of erasing unnecessary information), and the like. Can be used for

Representative of these various uses are, for example, interception and broadcast. The alternate reception is performed by temporarily storing the contents to be transmitted in the mail device when the notification destination is absent, and calling the destination from this mail device later, or by calling the mail device later. , To convey the stored contents. In broadcast communication, the contents to be transmitted to a plurality of destinations are stored in a mail device, and those mail destinations are called from the mail device, or those destinations call the mail device so that all of them can be called. Is to be communicated to.

As a method of enabling the mail device to be operated from a terminal device such as a telephone, a service number (service code) is predetermined for each of various services (various operations) of the mail device, and the service number is determined by a push button signal. If a message is sent to a mail device (hereinafter referred to as a PB signal), the mail device is made to respond to it.

Therefore, in the conventional general operation method when using the mail device, the user operates the push button of the terminal device (that is, sends a PB signal) to call the mail device, and then pushes the push button. Was operated to transmit the service number as a PB signal.

<< Problems to be Solved by the Invention >> However, as described above, in the conventional private automatic exchange system with an e-mail device, if the e-mail device becomes more sophisticated and the type of service increases, it will respond accordingly. There has been a problem that the number of digits of the service number increases, which makes it difficult for the user to memorize all the numbers required for one operation. Therefore, there has been a contradiction that higher functionality of the mail device leads to lower operability.

Also, if the user on the information receiving side is informed that the information addressed to him / her is registered in the mail device, he / she may not be troubled to call the mail device and retrieve the information. However, if the user has to call the mail device repeatedly to confirm the presence or absence of the registration information addressed to him / her, and the registration information does not actually exist, the user's mental burden is large. . As a result, they tend to neglect to check for information,
As a result, non-delivery of information increases, and as a result, there is a problem that the mail device is not sufficiently used.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to make it possible to use an e-mail function with a simple operation and to easily confirm the registration status of information in an e-mail device. It is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic private branch exchange system with an e-mail device, which can be performed and therefore has excellent convenience.

<< Means for Solving the Problems >> In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a plurality of terminal devices, a private automatic exchange directly accommodating the plural terminal devices, and a device attached to the private automatic exchange. An electronic mail device having an information registering and reading function, wherein the terminal device has a plurality of operable keys and an operated one of the plurality of keys. An operation / display device comprising signal generating means for generating a signal in accordance with the key, and an externally controllable display means associated with the key; and the private branch exchange has the operation / display device. Key identification means for receiving an input key signal, and identifying an operated key among the plurality of keys of the operation / display device based on the received key signal; and the operation / display device Storage means for storing information indicating a function related to control of the electronic mail device assigned to each of the plurality of keys; and information indicating a function assigned to the key identified by the key identification means. Read from storage means,
A mail control signal generating unit that generates a mail control signal that is a signal corresponding to the information, the mail control signal being generated by the mail control signal generating unit; Signal sending means for sending to the device; and display control means for controlling the display means of the operation / display device according to the information registration state of a mailbox set in the electronic mail device. And

<< Operation >> According to the present invention, as described above, in order to allow the mail device to perform a desired service, a key on an operation / display device to which the service function is assigned may be operated. Thereby, a signal for causing the mail device to perform the service is transmitted from the signal transmitting means to the mail device. Therefore, a desired service can be provided to the mail device by performing a minimum key operation on the operation / display device in the terminal, and the operability when using the mail device is remarkably improved.

Also, according to the information registration state in each mailbox set in the mail device, the display control means provided in the private branch exchange controls the operation means of the terminal / display means of the display device. At a glance at the display means, it is possible to know the presence / absence of the registration information addressed to the user without any extra operation. Therefore, information can be easily and reliably transmitted through the mail device.

<< Example >> Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

1. Overall Configuration FIG. 1 is a relay system diagram showing a schematic overall configuration of a system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, a block 100 surrounded by a broken line is a private branch exchange, a broken block 200 is an electronic mail device, and each of the broken blocks 300-1 to 300-3 is a private branch exchange.
Terminals that are connected to 100 (these terminals are generally designated by reference numeral 300 in the following description).

1- (1) Private Branch Exchange (PBX) The private branch exchange (PBX) 100 includes a communication path unit 102, and a central processing unit (CC) 106 is connected to the communication path unit 102 via a bus 104. It is connected. The central processing unit 106 not only controls the entire PBX 100 but also
It also influences the mail device 200 and each terminal 300, which will be described in detail later.

The bus 104 is further connected to a storage device (MM) 108 for storing various control data, processing states, processing programs and the like, and an external input device 110 configured as a maintenance panel (MP) is connected to an input / output device. Equipment (IOC) 112
Connected through. The storage device 108 is
Not only data on its own operation, but also the mail device 20
0 and data relating to each terminal 300 are also stored, which will also be described in detail later.

The PBX 100 further includes a plurality of line circuits 11 for extension connections.
4. It has an attendant console controller 116, a central office trunk 118, a mail interface circuit (MIF) 120, a conference trunk (CFT) 122 used for three-party calls, etc. It is connected to the unit 102.

The PBX 100 is connected to the public network 404 via the line trunk 118, and what is schematically shown at 406 in the figure is an external telephone connected to the public network 404. Also this PBX10
To 0, a relay console 402 is connected via the relay console controller 116.

1- (2) Electronic Mail Apparatus The electronic mail apparatus (hereinafter referred to as mail apparatus) 200 is a so-called voice mail apparatus (VM) in the system of this embodiment.
S) is used.

The mail device 200 includes an information storage unit 202 and a controller.
204, and the information storage unit 202 is a PBX1
The controller 204 is connected to one of the 00 line circuits 114, and the controller 204 is connected to the MIF 120 of the PBX 100. A general charge management device or the like can be used as the controller 204, and a general charging adapter can be used as the MIF 120 to which the controller 204 is connected.

A plurality of mailboxes are set in the mail device 200. In particular, in the present embodiment, only a mailbox dedicated to the terminal used for information registration (recording) at a specific terminal or information transmitted from a specific information source terminal to a specific information destination terminal is stored. Various dedicated mailboxes, such as a dedicated mailbox for storing, are set. Each of these dedicated mailboxes can register a plurality of messages, and can selectively delete specific ones of the plurality of registered messages or transfer the messages to another mailbox. It has become. The type of the dedicated mailbox and its details will be described each time in a related part in the following description.

1- (3) Terminal Device Each terminal 300 is a general multifunctional telephone (hereinafter referred to as MF).
T) 302 and an operation / display device 304 formed as a separate unit are arranged side by side. The MFT 302 and the operation / display value 304 constituting one terminal are not connected to each other in the terminal, and they are connected to different line circuits 104 of the PBX 100.

The MFT 302 is used as a normal telephone when the mail service is not used, and registers the voice information and listens to the reproduction information via the handset when using the mail service.
The operation of the mail device is performed by the operation / display device 304. Therefore, the existing multi-function telephone can be used as it is without adding any special function to the MFT 302, which is advantageous in reducing the cost of the system.

Since the MFT 302 and the operation / display device 304 are connected to the ordinary line circuit 114 of the PBX 100, a large number of terminals can be easily connected to the PBX 100, but FIG. Only the terminal is shown. In the detailed description of the terminal and the specific example of the operation described later, the MFT302-
1 and an operation / display device 304-1,
A terminal 300-2 comprising an MFT 302-2 and an operation / display device 304-2 for use by an executive L of a certain company is used by a manager A of the company, and an MFT 302-3.
The terminal 300-3, which is composed of the terminal 300-3 and the operation / display device 304-3, will be described on the assumption that the terminal 300-3 is used by the secretary of the company.

2. Operation / Display Device (DSS) As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the operation / display device 304 provided for each terminal 300 includes a large number of keys (push buttons) arranged on the upper surface of the case. ) And a visual indicator 308 such as a light emitting diode associated with each of the keys. The operation / display device 304
When each of these keys is pressed, a PB signal indicating a code corresponding to the key and different for each key (that is, an identification code of the key) is generated and transmitted to the PBX 100. It has a circuit. In addition, each indicator light
Reference numeral 308 denotes an ignition, fire extinguishing,
Control such as blinking can be performed.

This type of function is provided by a direct station selection device (DS) widely used in ordinary telephone exchanges.
In this embodiment, DSS 304 is used for the operation / display device 304 because the operation / display device 304 has the same function as the function S). Therefore, the operation / display device 304 is hereinafter referred to as DSS 304.

According to this embodiment, the terminal can be configured by combining the general multi-function telephone as described above with the ordinary direct station selection device, which is advantageous in terms of further reducing the cost of the system. is there.

The use operation of the mail device 200 is performed by operating the DSS 304 of each terminal 300. In this case, the central processing unit 106 of the PBX 100 Connection, mail device 200
And control of the DSS 304 indicator lamp. This will be described later in detail.

2- (1) DSS key function assignment Next, referring to the DSS board diagrams in FIGS.
Three specific examples of the function assignment of each key 304 (hereinafter referred to as DSS key) will be described.

In order to easily understand the meaning of the function assignment of the DSS key, the configuration of the present embodiment will be described in the following 3 below.
Two points are described in advance.

First, the function assignment of the DSS key is performed in the form of setting data in the storage device 108 of the PBX 100. As described above, the original function associated with each DSS key itself is that, when a key is pressed, a PB signal indicating the identification code of the key is transmitted to the PBX 100. Then, the central processing unit 106 that has received the key identification code reads out the function of the pressed DSS key (hereinafter, referred to as a start key) with reference to the storage device 108,
PBX 100 and mail device 200 are controlled such that mail device 200 performs an operation corresponding to the read function. Therefore, in the storage device 108, for each key of the DSS of all terminals in the system, a dedicated storage position for writing the function is set (this will be described in more detail later). . In this way, the actual work is performed by the central processing unit 106. In the following description of the DSS key function assignment,
A description will be given in relation to a function obtained as a result of the pressing.

Second, DSS keys can be grouped according to their function. That is, (1)
A mail operation key for designating various operations (recording, reproducing, erasing, etc.) to be performed by the mail device; (2)
A terminal designation key for designating a mail destination terminal when registering mail information and a mail source terminal when reproducing mail information; and (3) other, for example, a terminal MFT and a mail device. And a key for causing the PBX 100 to perform various operations such as connection and disconnection between them. The terminal designation key is further subdivided into a single destination designation key for registration, a plurality of destination designation keys for registration, a transmission source designation key for reproduction, and the like. The details of these grouping will be described later with reference to FIG.

The third point is that, as described above, a dedicated mailbox used to store only mail information from a specific source terminal to a specific destination terminal is set in the mail device 200. That is. Each of these dedicated mailboxes corresponds to a specific combination of a source terminal and a destination terminal. Therefore, if there are m available terminals and n available terminals, at least mxn number of available terminals exist. A dedicated box is set. Therefore, as an example, if a terminal designating key for designating another terminal Y as a mail destination is set on the DSS board of a terminal X, the mail device 200 will send the terminal X to the terminal Y. A dedicated box is set for transmitting the information of
The DSS has a key for designating the terminal X as a transmission source. In the mail device 200, a mailbox corresponding to the priority of the mail information and a mailbox for recording and storage used for purposes other than information transmission are also set, and these will be described in detail at any time. .

The specific example of the key function assignment in FIGS. 2 to 4 is based on the assumption that the system of this embodiment is introduced into a company to which a considerable number of officers and department managers belong. . In this company, the officers L to V who tend to be absent in their rooms have issued instructions to the managers A to K, and conversely, the managers A to
In order for the department manager K to smoothly report to the officers L to V, and to leave a message from outside the company when the officers L to V are absent, as a message,
This is to adopt the system of this embodiment.

In particular, FIG. 2 is a DSS board view showing the function settings of the DSS 304-1 key placed on the desk of Officer L, and FIG. Figure 4, and Figure 4 shows DSS3 placed on the desk of a secretary who is mainly working on outside lines to officers L to V
It is a board diagram which shows the function setting of the key of 04-3.

All three DSSs use the same hardware. That is, these DSSs are provided with 48 push button-shaped keys on the upper surface of the case, and each of the keys is combined with an indicator light 308. Characters are written on the upper surface of the keys to which the functions are assigned, and keys without the characters are not registered in the storage device 108.

2- (2) First Example of Function Assignment of DSS Key In FIG. 2, DSS 304-1 on the desk of officer L is
Function assignments are made to 46 of the 48 keys, and the 46 keys are divided into four groups and 1 according to their functions.
Three special keys, the groups of which are indicated by imaginary lines 310, 312, 314, 316,
Here, the special key is a “mail call key” 318.

In FIG. 2, the third group 314 from the top is the mail operation key described above, while the other groups 310, 312,
316 is the terminal designation key described above.
A group 310 is a key for specifying a plurality of destinations at the time of registration, a group 312 is a key for specifying a single destination at the time of registration, and a group 316 is a key for specifying a transmission source at the time of reproduction.

First, a “mail call key” 318 and seven mail operation keys included in the group 314 (“record”, “confirm”, “delete”, “continue”, “play”, “save”, and “end” ) Will be described.

The “mail call key” 318 is transmitted from the terminal 300 to the mail device 20
0, that is, the terminal MFT302 and the mail device 2
This is a key for connecting to 00, and is the first key pressed when using e-mail.

A “record key” 320 is a key pressed when registering (recording) mail information in the mail device. The “confirmation key” 322 is a key that is pressed when reproducing and confirming information registered in the mail device. "Erase key" 324
Is a key to be pressed when deleting information registered in the mail device. The “continuation key” 326 is a key that is pressed when the user operates the mail apparatus to perform a service and then performs another service. A “reproduction key” 328 is a key to be pressed when receiving mail information addressed to the user registered in the mail device from another terminal as reproduction. A “save key” 330 is a key that is pressed when the received mail information is transferred to a storage mailbox and stored. An “end key” 332 is a key that is pressed to end use of the mail device.

When any one of the above seven mail operation keys is pressed, the central processing unit 106 responds by igniting the start key, igniting the indicator light, and executing the function assigned to the start key. Is transmitted to the mail device 200 in the form of a PB signal.

Next, 12 registration-time plural destination designation keys included in the group 310 will be described. These keys are used when the officer L sends the same mail information to a plurality of managers. Of these, the eleven keys except the lower right “multiple destination keys” 334 in the virtual line block 310 are:
This is a terminal designation key corresponding to each of the eleven department managers A to K that can be the destination of the mail. After recording the message, that is, registering the mail information, the officer L successively presses the “multiple destination key” 334. Further, for example, if the registered mail destination includes the manager A, the key 310A marked “Manager A” is pressed,
Further, the terminal designation keys corresponding to all the managers to whom the mail is addressed are pressed one after another.

When any one of the above-described single destination designation keys is pressed and activated at the time of registration, the central processing unit 106 responds by igniting the indicator light of the activation key and at the same time, activating the predetermined key corresponding to the activation key. A PB signal is sent to mail device 200.

In particular, when the “multi destination key” 334 is pressed,
The central processing unit 106 transfers the contents of the mailbox (that is, the mailbox dedicated to recording of the officer L) used for the information registration (that is, the message recording) performed by the officer L immediately before to another mailbox. Control command, PB
It is sent to mail device 200 by a signal. Next, the central processing unit 1
06 indicates the identification number (box number) of the dedicated mailbox that stores only the information addressed from the officer L to the manager corresponding to the activation key each time the terminal designation key corresponding to each manager is pressed. It is transmitted as a box number using a PB signal. Mail device 200 transfers information according to the box number.

Next, the eleven registration-only destination designation keys included in the group 312 will be described. These keys are used when the officer L sends mail information to a specific manager. Each of these eleven keys is a terminal designation key corresponding to each of the eleven department managers who can be the destination of the mail. After recording the message, the officer L successively selects and presses a key corresponding to the manager of the destination of the message. For example, if it is the manager A, the key 312A marked "Manager A" on the upper surface is pressed.

When any one of the above-mentioned 11 registration-only destination designation keys is pressed and activated, the central processing unit 106 responds thereto and ignites the indicator light of the activation key,
A predetermined PB signal corresponding to the activation key is sent to the mail device 200.
Send to

The PB signal transmitted when the single destination designation key is pressed at the time of registration will be described below in comparison with the signal when the multiple destination designation key is pressed at the time of registration.

That is, for example, in the case of the "manager A key" 312A of the single destination designation key at the time of registration, the PB signal is transmitted when the "multiple destination key" 334 of the multiple destination designation keys at the time of registration is pressed. This signal is the same as a signal generated by continuously pressing a “department A key” 310A of a plurality of destination designation keys at the time of registration. Therefore, with respect to the transmitted PB signal, the operation of pressing one key 312A is the same as the operation of pressing two keys 334 and 310A successively. In the example, the sole destination designation key is provided at the time of registration in order to simplify the operation for using the mail device as much as possible. Since the destination of the mail information is often a single destination, the fact that the destination can be specified with one touch is actually greatly welcomed.

Next, the fifteen reproduction source designation keys included in the group 316 will be described. These keys are used to send mail information registered at another terminal (in this case, one of the terminals of the manager A to the manager K or the terminal of the above-mentioned secretary) to the officer L. When the user operates the "reproduction key" 328 to reproduce and receive the information, it is used to specify from which source the registered mail information is reproduced. 4 in the top row of these 15 keys
The three keys 316-1 to 316-4 are for receiving mail information (priority will be described in detail later) registered with priority given to information at the secretary's terminal. The key 316-1 described as "priority 1" corresponds to a dedicated mailbox for storing only mail information addressed to the officer L and having the highest priority. It is used to specify and play the mail information in it. The other three keys 316
Similarly, -2 to 316-4 correspond to mailboxes with the second to lowest (fourth) priorities. The remaining 11 of the 15 keys are 11 directors A
~ K is a key that accumulates only e-mail information addressed to officer L from each of the dedicated mailboxes.
Used to specify each of those mailboxes during playback.

The indicator light 308 associated with each of the above-mentioned playback source designation keys blinks under the control of the central controller 106 when information is registered in the mailbox corresponding to the key. ing. Also, when any one of these 15 source designation keys is pressed and activated, the central processing unit 106 responds by igniting the indicator light of the activation key and responding to the activation key. A predetermined PB signal is transmitted to mail device 200.

The officer L can recognize that the mail information to be received exists and the source of the mail information by blinking the indicator light of the transmission source designation key at the time of reproduction. Then, to receive the mail information, MF of your terminal
Go off-hook T302-1 and DSS304-
The user presses the “mail call key” 318 of No. 1 to connect the MFT 302 and the mail device 200. Next, by pressing the source key at the time of reproduction whose indicator light is blinking, the mail information registered in the mailbox corresponding to the key and from the source corresponding to the key is reproduced. Ready (at this time, the indicator light of the pressed key changes from blinking to ignition). Then, by pressing the "play key" 328, the mail information in the mailbox is reproduced, and the mail information can be heard with the handset of the MFT 302-1. At this time, if a plurality of pieces of mail information are registered in the mailbox, each time the “play key” 328 is pressed, the mail information is played one by one in order.

As described above, the DSS 304- of the terminal 300-1 of the officer L in FIG.
This concludes the description of the DSS key function assignment for No. 1. As described above, since the function assignment of the DSS key is set based on the data in the storage device 108, the change of the function assignment is arbitrary and easy.

2- (3) Second Example of Function Assignment of DSS Key The function assignment in the DSS 304-2 used by the manager A shown in FIG. 3 is basically the same as that in the DSS 304-1 of the officer L in FIG. As before, there are only minor differences. Therefore, the DSS 304-2 shown in FIG.
Parts that are the same as or correspond to those of S304-1 are given the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted. In the following description, differences will be mainly described.

In the DSS 304-2 of FIG. 3, since the destinations for exchanging the mail information are the officers L to V, the DSS 304 of FIG.
In FIG. 1, keys corresponding to the respective keys described as department managers A to K are described as officers L to V here. However, this is not an essential difference merely because the name of the other party is different.

The “mail call key” 318, a group 310 of multiple destination designation keys at registration, a group 312 of single destination designation keys at registration, and a group 314 of mail operation keys also
The DSS user is the department manager A and the communication partner is the officer L
It is the same as that of FIG.

Substantial difference is the group of source key at playback
Regarding 316, the "priority keys" 316-1 to 316-4 provided in the DSS 304-1 in FIG. 2 are not provided in the DSS 304-2. This is because the secretary only relays messages from outside lines on the mail device, and the director's terminal does not need those keys.

The usage of each key of the DSS 304-2 is the same as that described with reference to FIG.

2- (4) Third Example of DSS Key Function Assignment The key assignment of the DSS 304-3 used by the secretary shown in FIG. 4 is considerably different from the DSS shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. This is because, in the case of a secretary, there is a special circumstance that the DSS 304-3 is used to register a message from the outside line to the officers L to V in the mail device.

In Fig. 4, DSS304-3 is placed on the desk of the secretary.
Has a function assigned to 23 of the 48 keys, and the 23 keys can be divided into three groups and three special keys according to their functions. The first of these groups is a group of destination designation keys at the time of registration, which is indicated by surrounding a virtual line 338 in the figure. Second
Is a group of priority assignment keys, which are indicated by imaginary lines 340. The third group is a group of mail operation keys, and this group is represented by a virtual line 314 corresponding to FIGS. 2 and 3. 3
Two special keys are a "mail call key" 318, an "automatic recording key" 342, and a "end key" 344.

First, the group 314 includes five mail operation keys ("record key" 320, "confirm key" 322, "delete key" 324, "play key" 328, and "end key" 33.
2) Each of these keys performs the same function as the key of the same name provided in DSS 304-1 in FIG.
Further, unlike the DSS of FIG. 2, the DSS 304-3 for the secretary is not provided with a “continuation key” and a “save key”.

The registration destination designation key group 338 includes 11 keys, and the keys have the destination name written on the upper surface of the key, and the single destination at the time of registration of the DSS 304-2 of the executive A in FIG. It is the same as that of the designated key. In addition, the function is the same in terms of function, and is a key for specifying a dedicated mailbox corresponding to a destination. However, the registration destination specification key 338 in the DSS 304-3 for secretary is pressed after it is pressed. The difference is that the designated mailbox is determined only by pressing one of the four priority assigning keys 340.

That is, the mail information addressed to any of the officers dispatched by the secretary is accumulated in a dedicated mailbox set corresponding to a specific combination of the destination officer and the priority of the mail information. This information priority is assigned to the mail information by the secretary who relays the information by individually determining the content and nature of the information and pressing one of the priority assignment keys. It has become.

There are four keys 340-1 in the priority assignment key group 340.
340-4 are included, and by pressing the key 340-1 marked "priority 1", the highest priority is given to the mail information registered prior thereto. You. In addition, the other three keys 340-2 to 340
Similarly, -4 is used to assign the priority from the second to the lowest (fourth) to the mail information.

When any of the mail operation key, the registration destination designation key, and the priority assignment key described above is pressed, the central processing unit 106 responds thereto and displays the pressed key. The lamp is ignited, and a predetermined signal corresponding to the pressed key is transmitted to the mail device 200 in the form of a PB signal.

Of the three special keys provided on the secretary DSS 304-3, the "mail call key" 318 has the same function as the key of the same name described for the DSS 304-1 for officer L in FIG. Yes, it is used to call the mail device 200 and connect to the MFT 302-3 of the secretary terminal. The “automatic recording key” 342 is also a key for calling the mail device 200, except that the secretary
Key used to call the mail device 200 from the busy state of talking to the other party using -3, and to make a three-way call between the secretary, the called party and the mail device 200 for recording It is. When the "automatic recording key" 342 is pressed, the central processing unit 106 responds by igniting the indicator light 308 of the key 342 and outputting a predetermined signal to the PB.
It is sent to mail device 200 in the form of a signal. The indicator light 308 of the "automatic recording key" 342 is kept in the ignition state while the three-party communication state is continued. "End key" 344
Is a key used to release the office line (the other party) from the three-way call state when terminating the three-way call recording service. When this "end key" 344 is pressed,
In response, the central processing unit 106 ignites the indicator light 308 of the key 344 and sends a predetermined signal corresponding to the key 344 to the mail device 200 in the form of a PB signal.

This concludes the description of the DSS key function assignment of the secretary DSS 304-3. In addition, this DSS304-3 for secretary also
As with DSS, the way functions are assigned can be varied and easily changed.

3. Registration Data in Storage Device Next, data registered or stored in the storage device 108 of the PBX 100 will be described.

The storage device 108 stores all data necessary for the operation of the central control unit 106.However, here, the operation relating to the operation as a normal private branch exchange is not described. Only relevant data will be described.

5 to 9 are diagrams showing various data registration memory areas in the storage device 108. FIG. The setting of various data will be described with reference to these figures, but before that,
The terms “key number” and “DSS number” will be explained.

As previously described, the DSS 304 has 48 keys each. The number assigned to each key in order to distinguish and identify those 48 keys in one DSS is a “key number”, for example, a continuous number from 1 to 48. In addition, each DSS 304 used in the system is distinguished from each other to identify each DSS 304.
The number assigned to the DSS is the “DSS number”, which may be a continuous number corresponding to the total number of DSSs.

If a key of a DSS in the system is depressed (ie, activated) and a PB signal corresponding to the key is transmitted to the PBX 100, the central processing unit 106 may execute a process based on the content of the received PB signal. , The key number of the activation key can be determined, and the line circuit that received the PB signal
By identifying 114, the DSS number of the DSS (activation DSS) for which the key was pressed can be determined. By combining the "DSS number" and the "key number", all the DSS keys in the system can be individually specified, so the start key is specified from the DSS number and the key number determined in this way. can do.

3- (1) Key Information and Key Types FIG. 5 shows, for all DSS keys in the system, a memory area 510 for registering key information of the key for each individual key. Change the memory area to "DSS
DATA ”. In the DSSDATA 510, key information of each key is sequentially stored, and key information of one key is stored in a group of four consecutive storage positions as shown in the figure, and
Necessary key information is searched using the DSS number and the key number.

The key type is registered in the first half of the first storage position among the four storage positions corresponding to one key, and the part consisting of the latter half of the storage position and the following three storage positions has the key's type stored therein. Depending on the function, the accommodation position information (512) indicating a specific accommodation position in the PBX 100 or the P to be transmitted
One of the dial information (514) indicating the B signal is registered as data content.

The types of keys to be registered are divided into eight types as shown in FIG.

Type 0 is an unregistered key, and its contents are not registered.

Type 1 is an extension calling key (however, FIG.
In the example of the function assignment of the DSS key shown in FIG. 4, a key corresponding to this type is not set), but the information registered as the content is the information on the accommodation position of the extension to be called.

Type 2 is an auto-dial key (this type of key is also not set in the above-described example of the DSS key function assignment), and registered as its contents is information indicating the dial number of the called party. is there.

Type 3 is a mail call key (31 in FIGS. 2 to 4).
8), and registered as the content is information on the accommodation position of the extension accommodating the mail device 200.

Type 4 indicates that the central processing unit 10
From 6 to the mail device 200, there are various keys from which a PB signal for transmitting an operation to be performed in the mail device 200 or specifying a mailbox to be operated is transmitted. , The remaining keys excluding the playback source designation key. In this case, prior to the transmission of the PB signal, the indicator light associated with the pressed key is turned on. More specifically, the keys corresponding to this type include a recording destination designation key (including a recording destination destination designation key and a recording destination designation key), a "recording key" and a "playback key". And various mail operation keys.

Type 5 is a reproduction source designation key excluded from Type 4, and when pressed, an indicator light associated with the pressed key is ignited, and is directed from the central processing unit 106 to the mail device 200. , A PB signal indicating the box number of the mailbox to be reproduced is transmitted.
The key is distinguished from the type 4 in that the indicator lamp associated with the key has a function other than ignition when the information is registered in the mailbox corresponding to the key.
It is necessary to make it blink.

 Type 6 is “automatic recording key” 342 (FIG. 4).

 Type 7 is "end key" 344 (FIG. 4).

It should be noted that all of the keys of type 4 to type 7 are registered as the contents thereof in the central processing unit 106.
Is dial information indicating a PB signal to be sent to the mail apparatus 200. In particular, for the recording destination designation key (type 4) and the reproduction source designation key (type 5), the dial information of the registered contents is the key information. Represents the box number of the mailbox corresponding to.

3- (2) Flag indicating presence or absence of registration in box FIG. 6 shows whether or not mail information is currently registered in each mailbox set in voice mail device (VMS) 200. Indicates a memory area 520 for setting a flag indicating “VMSFLG”.
Expressed by In the VMSFLG 520, for each of all the DSSs 304 used in the system, 48 bits corresponding to the individual keys of the DSS are assigned.
If the memory is in byte units, as shown in FIG.
Can be assigned to In addition, it is convenient for retrieval if the areas allocated to the respective DSSs are arranged sequentially.

As described above, each of the information transmission mailboxes set in the mail device 200 has a unique destination, and the DSS of the destination terminal has a reproduction time corresponding to the mailbox. One source designation key is provided. Therefore, the presence / absence of registration information in a specific mailbox is indicated by a bit flag in the VMSFLG corresponding to the playback source designation key corresponding to the box, which is provided in the DSS of the destination terminal of the box. It is.
When checking the corresponding flag, the corresponding assigned area is searched using the DSS number.

3- (3) Temporarily Stored Data Apart from the data registered at the time of setting the system, there is also data temporarily stored according to the operation of the system.
7 to 9 show the storage positions of such data.

FIG. 7 shows that a “takeover dial information” storage position 532 is provided in a work area (TEMBC) 530 for call processing.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of “start DSS accommodation position information (start D
Storage location 542 for temporarily storing “information of the storage location in the SS PBX 100” and storage location 544 for temporarily storing “activation DSS key number information (key number of the activation DSS key)”. Indicates where the と is provided.

FIG. 9 shows that outgoing dial information is temporarily stored in a register sender memory (RSM) 550, which is a memory for dial processing, which has been conventionally used for a private branch exchange.

When this information is registered and transferred,
Alternatively, whether the data is read out will be described in detail in the following description of the subroutine.

4. Subroutine The operation of the system of the embodiment described above will be described below. The central processing unit 106 plays a central role in the operation of the system, and among the processing executed by the central processing unit 106, there are five subroutines executed particularly frequently and repeatedly. First, they are shown in FIGS. 10, 11, 12 (a) and (b), FIGS. 13 (a) and (b), and FIGS. 14 (a) and (b), respectively. This will be described with reference to the flowchart and the sequence flow charts of FIGS. 15 (a) and (b).

4- (1) Key Information Extraction Subroutine FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a process of the central processing unit 106 showing a “key information extraction subroutine”.

When a certain DSS key provided in a certain DSS 304 in the system is pressed, it indicates that the DSS has been activated or that the DSS key has been activated. Thus, when a certain DSS 304 is activated, the line circuit 114 connected to the activated DSS 304 detects that the DSS key is pressed,
Then, the key is pressed to the central processing unit 106,
The key number of the key is notified. Upon receiving this notification, the central processing unit 106 enters a “key information extraction subroutine”.

Upon receiving the notification, the central processing unit 106 refers to the registration information of the line circuit 114 that has transmitted the notification and activates the DSS.
And the key number of the pressed DSS key is extracted from the notified contents (step 58).
0). Subsequently, DSSDATA510 (FIG. 5) is searched based on the extracted DSS numbers and key numbers (step 58).
2) Then, the key information of the depressed DSS key registered therein (that is, the key type and the accommodation position information or the dial information that is the registered content) is extracted (step 58).
Four). Upon completion of the above, the processing by the central processing unit 106 exits this subroutine and returns.

This “key information extraction subroutine” is a subroutine executed every time any key of any DSS in the system is pressed.

4- (2) PB Sending Subroutine FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a process of the central processing unit 106 showing a “PB sending subroutine”.

In response to the pressing of the DSS key, the above-described “key information extraction subroutine” is executed, and from the key information obtained thereby,
If it is determined that the activation DSS key is a key corresponding to any of the above-described types 4 and 5, the processing of the central processing unit 106 executes this “PB sending subroutine” or “ Subroutine of pressing PB transmission key during PB transmission ”.

When a key corresponding to either type 4 or 5 is pressed, the central processing unit 106
Since the PB signal is transmitted to the DSS key of type 4 and the DSS key of type 5 collectively, the key type name “PB transmission key” will be used hereinafter.

Which of the above two subroutines to enter is determined as follows. That is, before a certain PB transmission key is pressed and before the transmission of the PB signal from the central processing unit 106 to the mail apparatus 200 started in response thereto is completed,
If another PB transmission key is pressed during transmission of the B signal, the process proceeds to the "PB transmission key pressing subroutine during PB transmission" subroutine. When a certain PB sending key is simply pressed, the process enters a “PB sending subroutine”.

The purpose of these two types of subroutines is the same. That is, when any of the PB transmission keys is pressed, the indicator light associated with the pressed PB transmission key is lit, and a predetermined PB signal corresponding to the pressed key is centered. Processing unit 106
To the mail device 200.

Accordingly, the central processing unit 106 determines that the activation DSS key is PB based on the key type of the key information of the activation DSS key extracted in the “key information extraction subroutine” executed in response to activation of a certain DSS key. If it is determined that the key is the transmission key, and if the PB signal is not being transmitted at that time, the process enters the "PB transmission subroutine".

As shown in FIG. 11, upon entering this subroutine, the central processing unit 106 sets the key information extracted immediately before
Dial information (PB transmission key type 4
Alternatively, since the key is a type 5 key, this dial information includes the box number of the mailbox corresponding to the key) and transfers it to the takeover dial information area 532 of the TEMBC 530 (FIG. 7) (step 586).

Subsequently, the central processing unit 106 stores the activation DSS accommodation position information area and the activation DSS key number information in the activation DSS accommodation position information area of the TRM 540 (FIG. 8) corresponding to the MFT provided in the same terminal as the activation DSS. 542 and the activation DSS key number information area 544 (step 588).

Subsequently, the central processing unit 106 ignites the indicator light of the activation key based on the activation DSS accommodation position information and the activation DSS key number information saved in the TRM 540 (step 59).
0), the transfer dial information previously transferred to and registered in the transfer dial information area 532 of the TEMBC 530 is transferred to the transmission dial information area 552 of the register sender memory (RSM) 550 (FIG. 9) (step 592). And this RA
The contents of the outgoing dial information transferred and stored in the M550
The mail is transmitted as a PB signal to the mail device (VMS) 200 (step 594). When the above is completed, the process escapes from the “PB sending subroutine” and returns.

4- (3) PB Sending Key Pressing Subroutine During PB Sending FIGS. 12A and 12B are flowcharts of the processing of the central processing unit 106 showing the “PB sending key pressing subroutine during PB sending”.

For example, in a second operation example of a system operation example described later, an operation of pressing a destination designation key at the time of recording and subsequently pressing a priority order assignment key is performed in such a case. When the subsequent key is pressed, the PB signal is being sent from the central processing unit 106 to the mail device 200 in response to the pressing of the previous key. The “PB sending key pressing subroutine during PB sending” is to appropriately cope with such a situation.

The central processing unit 106 transmits another PSS signal to the mail apparatus 200 in response to the activation of a DSS key.
When the key is activated, the "key information extraction subroutine" is executed in response to the subsequent activation key. Then, if the subsequent activation DSS key is identified as a PB transmission key from the key type of the key information of the subsequent activation DSS key extracted thereby, the “PB transmission key pressing subroutine during PB transmission” Enter.

As shown in FIGS. 12 (a) and 12 (b), upon entering this subroutine, the central processing unit 106 extracts the key information of the immediately following DSS key extracted immediately before and the dial information of the registered contents thereof. Calculate the total number of digits (step 802),
Then, the dial information of the subsequent activation DSS key is stored in the RSM55
It is determined whether or not it can be stored in addition to the dial information already registered in the transmission dial information area of 0 (FIG. 9) (step 804). TEMBC530 Launch DSS key dialing information
It is transferred to the takeover dial information area (FIG. 7) (step 806).

Subsequently, the central processing unit 106, with respect to the subsequent activation DSS key, activate DSS accommodation position information and activation DSS key number information,
Support for MFT provided on the same terminal of DSS that is subsequently activated
In the TRM 540 (FIG. 8), the information is saved in the activation DSS accommodation position information area 542 and the activation DSS key number information area 544 (step 808).

Subsequently, the central processing unit 106 ignites the indicator light of the subsequent activation DSS key based on the activation DSS accommodation position information and the activation DSS key number information saved in the TRM 540 (step 810). The transfer dial information registered in the transfer dial information area 532 of the TEMBC 530 is registered in the register sender memory (RSM) 550.
It is added to the end of the transmission dial information registered in the transmission dial information area 552 (FIG. 9) (step 81).
2) Then, the contents of the transmission dial information of the RSM 550 are transmitted as a PB signal to the mail device (VMS) 200 (step 814).

If it is determined in step 804 that it is not possible to add further information to the RSM 550 to the outgoing dial information, the contents of the outgoing dial information of the RSM 550 are temporarily sent to the mail device 200 by the PB signal. Is performed (step 816), and dial information corresponding to the number of dial digits whose transmission has been completed is deleted from the dial information transmitted from the RSM 550 (step 81).
8) In step 804, it is determined again whether information can be added.

When the transmission of all PB signals is completed, the process exits this “PB transmission key pressing subroutine during PB transmission” and returns.

4- (4) PB Transmission Completion Blink / Fire Extinguisher Subroutine FIGS. 13A and 13B are flowcharts of the processing of the central processing unit 106 showing the “PB delivery completion blink / extinguishing subroutine”.

As described above, when the type 4 or 5 DSS key is pressed and the “PB sending subroutine” or “PB sending PB sending key pressing subroutine” is executed, the indicator light associated with the starting DSS key is ignited. After the mail device
The appropriate PB signal is sent to 200. When the transmission of the PB signal is completed, the subroutine for returning the previously lit indicator lamp to the blinking state or the extinguishing state is the "PB transmission completion blinking / extinguishing subroutine".

As shown in the figure, the central processing unit 106
When the transmission of the PB signal is completed, the central processing unit 106
Startup DS previously transferred and stored in TRM540 (Fig. 8)
The S accommodation position information is extracted (step 602), and subsequently, a key number (search target key number) for designating a search target key (search target key) in the work area of the storage device 108
The minimum key number is set at a predetermined position where is stored (step 604).

The central processing unit 106 first searches DSSDATA (FIG. 5) for the key identified by the combination of the extracted startup DSS accommodation position information and the set search target key number, and checks the type of the key. And the key is
In this subroutine, the processing branches depending on whether or not the indicator light is a processing target key (ie, a key of type 4 or 5) which is a key of a flash / extinguishing process (step 606). If the search target key at that time is a key that does not belong to the type 4 or 5 and is not to be processed, the process is skipped to step 616 described below,
In order to search for the next key provided in the same startup DSS, the search target key number is incremented.

On the other hand, if the search target key is a processing target key, it is further checked whether the search target key is a type 4 key or a type 5 key (step 60).
8).

As described above, the type 4 DSS key is a reproduction source designation key. Therefore, while the registration information exists in the dedicated mailbox corresponding to the key, the indicator must be blinked. Hence the step
If the search target key is found to be of type 4 in 608, then check whether there is information in the corresponding mailbox by referring to the flag of the bit corresponding to the key in VMSFLG (FIG. 6). (Step 610), and if the information exists, the indicator light of this search target key is made to blink based on the activation DSS accommodation position information and the search target key number at that time ( Step 612).

If it is determined in step 608 that the search target key belongs to type 5, the indicator light of the search target key is extinguished based on the activation DSSS accommodation position information and the search target key number (step 614). .

Further, in step 610, the search target key is type 4
Even if it is determined that the registered information does not exist in the corresponding mailbox even if the key is the key, the process also proceeds to step 614, and the indicator of the search target key is extinguished.

From both steps 612 and 614, the process proceeds to step 616, where the central processing unit 106 increments the set search target key number. Subsequently, the incremented key number is the maximum key number of the DSS (for example, the DSS has 48 keys as in this embodiment, and these keys are numbered consecutively from “1” to “48”). If so, the maximum key number is "48"), and by checking whether or not it has exceeded, all keys provided in the startup DSS have been searched and necessary processing has been completed. (Step 61)
8.If it is found that there is a key that has not been searched yet, the process returns to step 606 to search for the next key, and that necessary processing has been completed for all keys. If it is determined, the process escapes from the “blinking / extinguishing subroutine upon completion of PB transmission” and returns.

4- (5) Flashing at Submission / Fire Extinguisher at Cancellation Subroutine FIGS. 14 (a) and (b) are flowcharts of the processing of the central processing unit 106 showing the "flashing at registration / extinguishing at cancellation" subroutine. Also, FIGS. 15 (a) and (b)
FIG. 9 is a sequence flow diagram showing signal transmission of an information registration / cancellation notification which is a condition for the processing of the central processing unit 106 to enter the “flashing at registration / cancellation at cancellation” subroutine.

As described above, the message (information) is stored in each dedicated mailbox set in the mail device 200.
Is displayed depending on whether the indicator of the sender's designated key during playback set on the DSS of the message receiver corresponding to the dedicated mailbox is blinking or extinguished . Therefore, when there is a change in the presence or absence of message registration, the state of the corresponding indicator light must be changed accordingly. for that reason,
When a message is registered in a certain mailbox (when a message is registered) and when all the messages in a certain mailbox are taken out and the box is emptied (when a message is released), the corresponding indicator lights The subroutine for performing the control is the "flashing at registration / extinguishing at cancellation" subroutine.

If either message registration or message cancellation is performed in the information storage unit 202, the mail device
The controller 204 of the 200 sends an “information registration / cancellation notification signal” to the central processing unit 106 via the interface circuit 120. This signal is a signal for notifying the registration or cancellation, and the box number of the corresponding mailbox,
Upon receiving this signal, the central processing unit 106 enters a "flashing at registration / extinguishing at cancellation subroutine". The information storage unit 2 of the mail device 200 when the above notification is performed
02 and the transmission of signals between the controller 204, the PBX 100, and the terminal 300 are shown in the sequence flow diagrams of FIGS. 15 (a) and 15 (b).

As shown in FIGS. 14 (a) and (b), “flashing /
Upon entering the "cancel upon extinguishing subroutine", the central processing unit 106 first reads the registration / cancellation notification and the mailbox number from the received "information registration / cancellation notification signal", and stores the information appropriately. It is stored in the position (step 634). This information is later provided in steps 644 and 642
And are referred to respectively.

Subsequently, the central processing unit 106 stores a DSS number (DSS number to be searched) specifying the DSS to be searched in the work area of the storage device 108
The minimum DSS number is set at a predetermined position for setting a key number (step 636), and then the key number (search target key number) for specifying a key to be searched is set to a predetermined position. , The minimum key number is set (step 638).

Next, the central processing unit 106 sets the search target D thus set.
Regarding the key (search target key) identified by the combination of the SS number and the search target key number, DSSDATA510 (5th
Figure) to check the type of the key, and
In the flashing at registration / extinguishing at cancellation subroutine, the process branches depending on whether or not the indicator light is a key to be processed (that is, a type 5 playback source designation key) (step 640). . If the search target key is not of type 5, that is, a key not to be processed, the process is skipped to step 650 described later, and the search target DSS is skipped.
The search target key number is incremented in order to perform a search for the key next to.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 640 that the search target key is a processing target key, the mailbox number corresponding to the search target key is further read from DSSDATA 510, and the reception number stored in step 634 earlier is read. Check with the mailbox number in the signal to see if they match (step 642).
The process is skipped to step 650.

If the mailbox numbers match, the mailbox previously notified by the information registration / cancellation notification signal from the controller 204 of the mail device 200 is assigned to the playback source designation key that is to be searched at this time. It turns out that it was a corresponding mailbox. Therefore,
It is checked whether the previously received signal indicates the message registration or the message cancellation notification (step 644), and if it is the registration notification, it is set at this time. DSS to be searched
The indicator light of the key is flashed based on the number and the key number to be searched (step 646), and if it is a release notification, the indicator light of the key is extinguished based on those numbers. (Step 648).

If the indicator is controlled as described above, the process proceeds to step 650. As described above, in this step, the central processing unit 106 increments the set search target key number. Subsequently, by checking whether or not the incremented key number exceeds the maximum key number of the DSS (step 652), all the keys of the DSS to be searched at that time are searched and necessary It is determined whether or not the processing has been completed. If it is determined that there is a key that has not been searched yet, the process returns to step 640 to search for the next key of the same DSS. On the other hand, if it is determined that the processing of the necessary indicator lights has been completed for all the keys of the DSS, the processing proceeds to step 654, where the central processing unit 106 increments the set search target DSS number. And then this incremented DS
By checking whether or not the S number exceeds the maximum DSS number in this system (step 656), it is determined whether or not all DSSs in the system have been searched and necessary processing has been completed. If it is found that there is a DSS that has not been searched yet,
Return to 38, set the search target key number again to the minimum value,
The central processing unit starts searching for the DSS key provided in the DSS of the next terminal, and if it is determined that the necessary processing has been completed for the DSSs of all terminals in the system.
The process of 106 escapes from the “flashing at registration / extinguishing at cancellation” subroutine and returns.

This concludes the description of the five frequently used subroutines relating to the processing executed by the central processing unit 106.

5. Specific Operation Example Next, as an example of a specific operation of the system of the embodiment described above, an operation of the system in the following three cases will be described.

(1) Example of system operation when officer L operates his own terminal and registers a message addressed to manager A in the mail device (No. 16)
Figures, 17 and 18 (a) and (b)). This operation example shows an example of a registration operation for exchanging mail information between ordinary terminals (office or manager's terminals) except for a secretary terminal.

(2) An example of a system operation when a secretary who receives the telephone call instead of the officer L registers a message to the officer L in the mail device when an external telephone call is received to the officer L who is not present in his room ( FIGS. 18 (a) and (b), FIGS. 19, 20, 21
Figures (a) and (b).

(3) Example of system operation when manager A plays and retrieves mail information from officer L registered to himself (FIG. 22,
(Figure 23).

5- (1) First Operation Example FIGS. 16, 17, and 18 (a) and (b) show the officer L
Shows a system operation example when a message addressed to the manager A is registered in the mail device, FIG. 16 is an operation procedure diagram showing an operation performed by an operator (officer L) and a DSS key to be pressed, and FIG. Flow diagram of the connection procedure between the mail device 200 and the terminal 300, and FIGS. 18 (a) and (b)
Is a state chart showing the connection state between each element in the system.

When this system operation is performed, the central processing unit 10
Since the main processing executed by 6 is a combination of the subroutines already described, the flowchart of the central processing unit 106 is omitted. In the following description, the description will proceed in the form of references to those subroutines.

In the following description, reference signs with a leading “M” are those in FIG. 16, reference signs with a leading “P” are those in FIG. 17, and reference signs with a leading “S”. The sign is Fig. 18 (a)
And (b).

To register a message, officer L first goes off-hook on MFT 302-1 of his terminal 300-1 (M10, P100,
S120), followed by the DSS 304 placed next to the MFT 302-1
The user presses the “mail call key” of −1 (318 / FIG. 2) (M12, P104).

Then, the line circuit 114 connected to the DSS 304 of the officer L
However, this key press is detected, and the key press and the key number are notified to the central processing unit 106. The central processing unit 106 that has received the notification executes the above-described “key information extraction subroutine” and presses the pressed key (at this time, the central processing unit 106 still determines that the pressed key is the “mail call key”). Key information (key type and its registered contents) are extracted.

The central processing unit 106 identifies, from the extracted key type information, that the pressed key is a “mail call key”, and according to the mail device accommodation position information that is the registered content of this key information, The mail device 200 is called (P106, S121).

The mail device 200 automatically responds to this call (P
108) Then, the response is detected by the line circuit 114 connected to the information storage unit 202 of the mail device 200, and the detection of the response is notified to the central processing unit 106. Upon receiving the notification, the central processing unit 106 sets off the MFT 302
-1 and the communication path between the mail device 200 are set (S12
2).

Officer L
Presses down the "record key" (320 / FIG. 2) of the DSS 304-1 (M14, P110).

Then, the line circuit connected to DSS304-1 of Officer L
114 detects this, notifies the central processing unit 106 of the key press and the key number, and notifies the central processing unit 1
06 enters the "key information extraction subroutine".

The central processing unit 106 identifies from the key information obtained by executing the “key information extraction subroutine” that the type of the pressed key corresponds to the type 4 described above, and then proceeds to the “PB transmission subroutine”. ". in this case,
By executing the “PB sending subroutine”, the indicator light 308 of the “recording key” 320 is ignited, and the registration content of the key information of the “recording key” 320 is transmitted from the central processing unit 106 to the mail device 200 by a PB signal. It is sent (P112, S123). The registered content of the "recording key" sent here is the mail device
This is dial information indicating a service number instructing the recording operation to be performed to 200 and a box number of a dedicated mailbox used by the officer L when performing recording.

When the transmission of the PB signal to the mail device 200 is completed, the central processing unit 106 enters a “blinking / extinguishing subroutine upon completion of PB transmission”. In this case, the execution of this subroutine extinguishes the indicator light 308 of the "record key" 320.

The mail device 200 that has received the box number of the dedicated mailbox for recording of the officer L by the PB signal opens the mailbox and starts the recording operation (S122). At the time of this start, a recordable sound is transmitted from the mail device 200 to the PBX 100 (P114), and the recordable sound is further transmitted to the terminal of the officer L.
Sent to MFT 302-1. Officer L starts recording when he hears the recordable sound through the handset of MFT 302-1 (M16).

The officer L who has finished the recording designates a destination by pressing a key corresponding to a destination to which the recorded information is to be sent, among the “address designation keys for recording” of the DSS 304-1. Here, since information is sent only to the manager A-person, the officer L makes the group 31 of the single destination designation key at the time of recording.
Press the "Manager A key" 312A (Fig. 2) in 2 (M1
8, P116).

Then, the line circuit connected to DSS304-1 of Officer L
114 detects this, notifies the central processing unit 106 of the key press and the key number, and notifies the central processing unit 1
06 enters the "key information extraction subroutine".

The central processing unit 106 identifies from the key information obtained by executing the “key information extraction subroutine” that the type of the pressed key corresponds to the type 4 described above, and then proceeds to the “PB transmission subroutine”. ". in this case,
By executing the “PB transmission subroutine”, the indicator light 308 of the “manager A key” 312A is turned on, and the registration contents of the key information of the “manager A key” 312A are stored in the central processing unit 10
6 to the mail device 200 as a PB signal (P118, S12
3). At this time, the registered contents corresponding to the "department manager A key" 312A include a service number indicating that the transfer service for transferring the information recorded in the dedicated box by the officer L to another box is to be executed, and a service number indicating the service number. Should be the destination,
Dial information indicating the box number of a dedicated box for sending a message from the officer L to the manager A.

When the transmission of the PB signal to the mail device 200 is completed, the central processing unit 106 enters a “blinking / extinguishing subroutine upon completion of PB transmission”. In this case, the execution of this subroutine causes the display light 308 of the “manager A key” 312A. Is extinguished.

On the other hand, the mail device 200 that has received the PB signal from the central processing unit 106 transfers the information in the dedicated box of the officer L to the dedicated box for registering information from the officer L to the manager A according to the content of the signal. After that, it waits for reception of a service number designating a service to be executed next (S12
2).

Next, the officer L receives the “end key” 332 of his DSS 304-1.
Is pressed (M20, P120), and the MFT 302-1 is hooked on (M22).

Then, the line circuit 114 connected to the DSS 304-1 detects the press of this key, and notifies the central processing unit 106 of the press of the key and the key number. Key information extraction subroutine ".

The central processing unit 106 identifies that the type of the pressed key is the aforementioned type 4 from the key information obtained by executing the “key information extraction subroutine”, and enters the “PB sending subroutine”. In this case, by executing the “PB sending subroutine”, the indicator light 308 of the “end key” 332 is ignited, and the registration contents of the key information of the “end key” 332 are transmitted from the central processing unit 106 to the mail device 200. It is transmitted as a PB signal (P122, S123). The registration content corresponding to the “end key” transmitted at this time is dial information indicating a kind of service number for notifying the mail device 200 of the end of the service.

When the above-mentioned PB signal has been completely sent to the mail device 200, the central processing unit 106 enters a “blinking / extinguishing subroutine upon completion of PB sending” subroutine. Is extinguished.

On the other hand, mail device 200 that has received the PB signal corresponding to this “end key” from central processing unit 106 automatically performs on-hook and ends the call (P128). Also, the on-hook of the mail device 200 is detected by the line circuit 114 connected to the information storage unit 202 of the mail device 200 and notified to the central processing unit 106.
In step 06, the communication path between the MFT 302-1 of the officer L and the mail device 200 is released to end the communication.

By the above operation, the information from the officer L to the manager A is registered in the mail device 200.

Thereafter, subsequently, the previously described "flashing at registration / extinguishing at cancellation subroutine" (FIGS. 14 (a) and (b) and FIGS. 15 (a) and (b)) are executed. That is, first, in the mail device 200, the information has been registered from the information storage unit 202 to the controller 204, and the registered mailbox (in this case, the officer L to the manager A
Box number of the dedicated box). When the controller 204 receives the notification, the interface circuit 1
By sending an "information registration / cancellation notification signal" to the central processing unit 106 via the central processing unit 20, the registration of this information and the box number are notified to the central processing unit 106, and the central processing unit 106 receiving the notification is notified. Enters the "flashing at registration / extinguishing at release" subroutine. In this operation example, the reproduction source designation key corresponding to the dedicated box from the officer L to the manager A in which the information is registered is the DSS 304-2 (FIG. 3) of the terminal of the manager A on the information receiving side. ) Is an “executive L key” 316L included in the reproduction source designation key group 316.
Accordingly, in this case, the execution of the "flashing at registration / extinguishing at cancellation subroutine" causes the indicator light 308 of the "executive L key" 316L of the DSS of the terminal of the manager A to flash.

Therefore, the manager A can easily know that the message from the officer L has been registered simply by looking at the indicator light 308 of the “officer L key” 316L.

This concludes the description of a system operation example when officer L registers a message addressed to manager A in the mail device.

5- (2) Second Operation Example FIGS. 18 (a) and (b), FIGS. 19, 20, and
21 (a) and (b) show that when an outside call is made to the officer L who is not present in his / her room, the secretary who receives the call instead of the officer L sends a message to the officer L by e-mail. 1 shows an example of a system operation when registering in a.

As described above, FIGS. 18 (a) and (b) are state charts showing the connection state between the elements in the system.
FIG. 19 shows the operation performed by the operator (secretary) and press.
FIG. 20 is a sequence flow diagram of a connection procedure between the PBX 100, the mail device 200, and the terminal 300, and FIGS. 21 (a) and (b) show the operation of this system. 7 is a flowchart of a process executed by the central processing unit 106 from when the “automatic recording key” is pressed to when the three-way communication ends and the indicator light is controlled.

In the following description, the reference signs with "M" at the beginning are those in FIG. 19, those with "P" at the beginning are those in FIG. 20, and those with "S" at the beginning. The sign is Fig. 18 (a)
21 and (b), and the reference numerals in parentheses and starting with numbers are those in FIGS. 21 (a) and (b).

In order to perform the system operation of the second specific example, first, an incoming call is received from a telephone 406 connected to the public network 404, and this is detected by the central office trunk 118 and notified to the central processing unit 106. The device 106 receives an incoming call from this office line,
The relay console 402 is notified through the relay console controller 116, and the relay console 402 that has received the notification responds, so that a call is made between the operator of the relay console 402 and the caller of the telephone 406. And. The operator of the relay console 402 transfers the incoming call to the MFT 302-3 of the secretary terminal 300-3.

According to the above procedure, the secretary MFT30 indicated by M30 in FIG.
The local line communication between 2-3 and the telephone 406 is performed. And the secretary, DSS304-3 of his terminal (4th
The contents of this central office call are transmitted as message information to the officer L by operating the FIG.
Register with.

That is, first, the secretary is talking on his own MFT302-3 (S12
In 4), the user also presses the "automatic recording key" 342 of the DSS 304-3 of his own terminal (M32, P130).

Then, the line circuit 114 connected to the DSS 304-3
Detects this, notifies the central processing unit 106 of the key press and the key number, and the central processing unit 106 that has received the notification enters a "key information extraction subroutine" (690).

The central processing unit 106 identifies that the pressed key is the “automatic recording key” 342 from the key type of the key information obtained by executing the “key information extraction subroutine”. At this time, the registration contents corresponding to the "automatic recording key" obtained together with the key type are stored in the mail device
Represents the extension number of 200, a kind of service number for instructing the mail device 200 to start recording, and a box number of a dedicated mailbox used only when information is registered by operating a secretary terminal. , Dial information.

The central processing unit 106 extracts the extension number of the mail device 200 from the information (692).

Subsequently, the central processing unit 106 transmits the dial information other than the extension number of the mail device 200 among the dial information indicating the registered contents of the “automatic recording key” to the TEMBC530.
Transfer to the takeover dial information area (Fig. 7) (69
4) Then, subsequently, the activation DSS accommodation position information area and the activation DSS key number information are combined with the activation DSS accommodation position information area 542 and the activation DSS key number information of the TRM 540 (FIG. 8) corresponding to the secretary MFT302-3. Save to area 544 (696).

Next, the central processing unit 106 displays the indicator light 308 of the "automatic recording key" 342 of the secretary DSS 304-3, which is the activation key, based on the activation DSS accommodation position information and the activation DSS key number information saved in the TMR 540. (698) and captures a conference trunk (CFT) 122 for a three-way call (70
0, P132), and calls the mail device 200 based on the previously extracted extension number of the mail device 200 (702, P1).
34, S125).

The mail device 200 that has received the call automatically answers (P13
6) Then, the line circuit 114 that has detected the response notifies the central processing unit 106 of the response (704).

Upon receiving this notification, the central processing unit 106 first sends the TEMBC53
The transfer dial information registered by transferring it to 0 (FIG. 7) is transmitted to the RSM550 (FIG. 9).
706 (706), and the contents of the outgoing dial information transferred and registered to the RSM 550 are transmitted to the mail device (VM).
(S) Send out to PB signal to 200 (708, P138, S12)
6).

When the central processing unit 106 completes the transmission of the PB signal, the secretary's MFT 302-3, the telephone 406 of the other party,
Then, a three-way communication path is set using the CFT 122 for the three parties composed of the mail apparatus 200 (710, S127).

On the other hand, mail device 200 opens the dedicated secretary's mailbox in accordance with the received PB signal, and starts a recording operation in a three-way communication state. The secretary makes a three-way recording (M34), and when it is finished, presses the "end key" 344 (FIG. 4) of DSS 304-3 (M36).

Then, the line circuit 114 connected to the DSS 304-3
Detects this, notifies the central processing unit 106 of the key press and the key number (712, P140), and the central processing unit 106 that has received the notification enters a "key information extraction subroutine" (71).
Four).

The central processing unit 106 identifies that the pressed key is the “end key” 344 from the key type of the key information obtained by executing the “key information extraction subroutine”. And the "end key" of this DSS304-3 34
The indicator light 308 of No. 4 is ignited, and the CFT 122 is released (P142) and the line trunk 118 (and thus the telephone 406) is released (P144) in accordance with the key information and registered contents of the "end key".
Then, a communication path between the secretary's MFT 302-3 and the mail device 200 is set (716, S122).

Next, the central processing unit 106 enters a “blinking / extinguishing subroutine upon completion of PB transmission” (718). In this case, by executing this subroutine, the indicator light 308 of the “instruction recording key” 342 ignited at the start of recording and the indicator light 308 of the “end call key” 344 that has just been ignited are both set. Extinguished. The flowcharts of FIGS. 21 (a) and (b) have been described so far. Since the following processing is mainly a combination of subroutines, the flowchart is omitted.

When the above processing is completed, the secretary's terminal MFT302
In this state, the secretary can record additional information such as supplementary comments on the previously recorded three-way recording information, if necessary. Start (M38).

Upon completion of the additional recording, the secretary selects and presses the recording destination key corresponding to the destination to which the above three-party recording information and the additional recording information are to be sent, and further makes his own decision. A priority assignment key corresponding to the priority of the information is pressed. Here, it is assumed that the destination of the recording information is the officer L, and that the secretary determines that the highest priority should be given to the priority. Therefore, in this case, when the additional recording is completed, the secretary sets the “officer L key” 338L (the fourth key) in the recording destination addressing key group 338 set in the DSS 304-3 of his / her terminal.
FIG.) Is pressed (M40), and subsequently, the “priority 1 key” 340-1 in the priority assignment key group 340 is pressed (M42).

In this way, if the secretary successively presses one of the recording destination designation keys and one of the priority assignment keys set in his / her DSS 304-3 in succession,
Transfer of information between mailboxes and its attendant
Control of the DSS key indicator light is performed, and these processes are performed when the single address designation key 312 for recording set in the DSS for the officer or the DSS for the manager described above is pressed after recording the information. And so on.

That is, when the secretary presses the “officer L key” 338L of the DSS 304-3 (P146), the line circuit 114 connected to the DSS 304-3 detects this and the central processing unit 106 detects the “key”. The program enters an "information extraction subroutine", and subsequently enters a "PB sending subroutine" according to the key information obtained by executing the "key information extraction subroutine".

In this case, the execution of the “PB sending subroutine” ignites the indicator light 308 of the pressed “officer L key” 338L, and the registered contents of the key information of the “officer L key” 338L are stored in the central processing unit. The PB signal is sent from 106 to the mail device 200 (P148). The registered contents of the key information corresponding to the “officer L key” transmitted at this time are stored in the dedicated mailbox of the secretary (that is, the three-way recording and the additional recording described above, which are used when the secretary performs recording). The service number of the transfer service that transfers the information in the (used mailbox) to another box, and the box of the dedicated mailbox used to send information from the secretary to a specific officer to which the information is to be transferred This is dial information representing a number.

However, there are four dedicated mailboxes from the secretary addressed to one specific officer, one for each of the four priority levels, for a total of four mailboxes. The box numbers of these four mailboxes are the last one digit Only different from each other. The box number of the transfer destination registered in the key information of the “executive L key” 338L exemplified above is the number of a part common to the four boxes corresponding to the officer L excluding the last one digit number It is. And the last one digit number required to fix one specific destination box is
Each of the priority assignment keys is registered as key information.

In addition, the secretary presses the “Priority 1 key” 340-1 continuously after pressing the “Executive L key” 338L (P150).
When the subsequent “priority 1 key” is pressed, the transmission of the PB signal from the central processing unit 106 to the mail device 200, which has been started in response to the pressing of the previous “executive L key”, is still completed. Normally, the PB signal is being sent. actually
If the PB signal is being sent, the processing of the central processing unit 106 is "PB
The process enters the “PB sending key pressing subroutine during sending”, and otherwise enters the “PB sending subroutine”.

As described above, when any of these subroutines is executed, the functions achieved as a result are the same. That is, the indicator light of the pressed "priority 1 key" 340-1 is ignited, and the registration contents of the key information of the "priority 1 key" 340-1 are sent from the central processing unit 106 to the mail device 2
The PB signal is sent to 00 (P152). At this time, the registered contents of the "priority 1 key" are the last one digit of the box number of the information transfer destination box as described above, so that the mail apparatus 200 executes the transfer service. You will receive all the information you need.

When the transmission of all the PB signals to the mail device 200 is completed, the central processing unit 106 enters a “blinking / extinguishing subroutine upon completion of transmission of PB”, in which case the execution of this subroutine causes the “Executive L key” 338L to be displayed. The light 308 and the indicator light 308 of the "priority 1 key" 340-1 are both extinguished.

On the other hand, the mail device 200 that has received all the above PB signals from the central processing unit 106, according to the content of the signals,
The information registered in the secretary's dedicated box is transferred to the dedicated box for the officer L and for registering the highest priority information.

The secretary who finished the key operation for information transfer,
Press the "End key" 332 of DSS304-3 (M44, P154),
Then, the MFT 302-3 is hooked on (M46, P158).

In response to the pressing of the “end key” 332, the central processing unit 1
The processing executed by 06 is as described in the first operation example. That is, dial information representing a kind of service number for notifying the mail device 200 of the end of the service, which is the registered content of the key information of the "end key" 332, is illuminated by igniting the indicator light 308 of the "end key" 332. The PB signal is transmitted to the device 200 (P156), and the indicator light 308 of the "end key" 332 is extinguished.

On the other hand, mail device 200 that has received the PB signal corresponding to this “end key” from central processing unit 106 automatically performs on-hook and ends the call (P162). The line circuit 114 connected to the information storage unit 202 of the mail device 200 detects the on-hook of the mail device 200 and notifies the central processing unit 106 of the detected on-hook.
Releases the communication path between the secretary's MFT 302-3 and the mail device 200 and ends the call.

By the operation so far, the information to the officer L is sent to the mail device.
Registered at 200.

Subsequently, as in the case of the above-described first operation example, the registration of this information and the box number thereof are notified from the controller 204 of the mail device 200 to the central processing unit 106, and the central processing unit 106 that has received the notification A group of playback source designation keys set in DSS 304-1 of Officer L, which is a playback source designation key corresponding to the dedicated box that has been registered and has the highest priority to Officer L. The indicator light 308 of the “priority 1 key” 316-1 in 316 blinks.

This concludes the description of the system operation example when the secretary who receives the telephone call from the outside in place of the absent officer L registers the message to the officer L in the mail device.

5- (3) Third Operation Example FIGS. 22 and 23 show an example of a system operation when the manager A reproduces and retrieves mail information from the officer L registered for himself. Is an operation procedure diagram showing the operation performed by the operator (manager A) and the DSS key pressed, and FIG.
FIG. 7 is a sequence flow diagram of a connection procedure among the BX 100, the mail device 200, and the terminal 300.

When this system operation is performed, the central processing unit 10
Since the main processing executed by 6 is a combination of the subroutines already described, the flowchart relating to the processing of the central processing unit 106 is omitted here.

In the following description, quotation marks prefixed with [M] are the 22nd.
The reference numerals with "P" at the beginning in the figure are those in FIG.

In the operation described below, the pressed DSS
Procedure when the central processing unit 106 ignites the indicator light of the key,
The procedure for extinguishing the lit indicator light again is the same as that described in the first and second operation examples, and therefore, in the description of the third operation example, for simplicity, A detailed description of those processing procedures will be omitted.

Further, when the pressed DSS key is a request for transmitting a PB signal from the central processing unit 106 to the mail device 200, the PB signal transmission procedure is also described in the other operation examples described above. The procedure is basically the same as that of the first embodiment except for the content of the transmitted PB signal and the operation of the mail device 200 performed in response to the content. Therefore, in the following description, the difference will be mainly described.

Listening operation (information receiving operation) shown as the third operation example
Is performed by the manager A looking at the board of his own DSS 304-2 (FIG. 3), and displaying the indicator light 308 of the "executive L key" 316L at the center of the group 316 of the reproduction source designation key.
Is blinking, and thereby the information is sent from the officer L.

The manager A goes off-hook the MFT 302-2 of his own terminal to reproduce and listen to the information (M50, P170), and then inputs the “mail call key” 318 of the DSS 304-2 of his own terminal. Press (M52, P174).

Then, the line circuit 114 connected to the DSS 304-2 detects the press of this key, and thereafter, as in the first operation example, the central processing unit 106 calls the mail device 200 (P176). A communication path between the MFT 302-2 of A and the mail device 200 is set.

If the manager A is in a state of talking with the mail device 200 via the MFT 302-2, the "Executive L key" where the indicator light 308 is blinking on the DSS 304-2 panel as described above. Press 316L (M54, P180).

Then, in response to this, the central processing unit 106 ignites the indicator light 308 of the "officer L key" 316L, and transmits the registered contents of the key information of the "officer L key" to the mail device 20.
Transmitted to PB signal to 0 (P182). P sent in this case
The B signal is dial information indicating a box number of a dedicated mailbox for registering information from the officer L to the manager A.

On the other hand, from the mail device 200, a voice signal notifying the number of messages registered at that time in the mailbox specified by the PB signal by voice is sent to the PBX1.
00 (P1F84), and this audio signal is
Is sent to the MFT 302-2 of the manager A, and the manager A listens to it.

Next, the manager A presses the “play key” 328 in the mail operation key group 314 of his / her DSS 304-2 (M5).
6, P186).

Then, in response to this, the central processing unit 106 ignites the indicator light 308 of the "reproduction key" 328, and sends the registered content of the key information of the "reproduction key" to the mail device 200.
Transmitted as B signal (P188). The PB signal transmitted in this case is dial information indicating a service number for instructing mail device 200 to perform a reproducing operation.

When the transmission of the PB signal to the mail device 200 is completed, the central processing unit 106 executes the “blinking / extinguishing subroutine upon completion of transmission of the PB” to perform control processing of the indicator light on the board of the DSS 320-2. . In this case, the execution of this subroutine extinguishes the indicator light 308 of the "regeneration key" 328, which was ignited immediately, and the indicator light 308 of the "executive L key" 316L, which was previously ignited, blinks. Is returned.

The PB signal corresponding to the "play key" is sent to the central processing unit 10
The mail device 200 received from 6 starts the operation of reproducing the registration information in the dedicated box from the officer L to the manager A. When a plurality of pieces of information are registered in this box (that is, when officer L has registered a message to manager A more than once), the first registered message is played first. Is done. The manager A listens to the reproduced information via the MFT 302-2 (M58).

When the "play key" 328 is pressed again after listening to the playback information (M60), the second registered message can be played back and listened to. By repeatedly pressing the "play key" 328, the registration information in this box can be played one after another in the order of registration in an endless format.

If the manager A wants to save the information he has listened to, he or she can press the “save key” 330 of the DSS 340-2.
Then, a PB signal indicating the service number indicating the transfer service and the box number of the dedicated mailbox for storing the manager A is sent to the mail device 200. As a result, the information is transferred and stored in the storage box of the manager A.

In order for the manager A to be able to always accept the message from the officer L addressed to him / her, the fact that the message from the officer L is newly registered should be easily known from the DSS indicator lamp. For this purpose, it is preferable to return the mailbox to empty after reproducing and listening to the registration information. To do so, after listening to the information, the necessity of storing the information was determined, and if necessary, the information was deleted from the registered box by transferring it to the storage box, and it was determined that it was unnecessary. Then, "Erase key" 32
By pressing 4, the information is simply deleted from the registered box. This erasing operation is performed by transmitting a PB signal instructing the operation from central processing unit 106 to mail device 200, as in the case of other mail operation keys.

If the above operation is performed for all the registered information in the dedicated box from the officer L to the manager A, this box becomes empty. If the manager A knows that the box is empty by the fact that the information is not reproduced even when the “play key” 328 is pressed or by voice notification from the mail device 200, the manager A Press the "End key" 332 (M62, P192) to end the call,
On-hook 02-2 (M64, P196).

In response to the pressing of the "end key" 332, the central processing unit 106 sends a PB signal notifying the end of the service to the mail device 200 (P194). The mail device 200 that has received this PB signal automatically performs on-hook and ends the call. The on-hook of the mail device 200 is notified to the central processing unit 106 (P200), and the central processing unit 106 having received the notification releases the communication path between the MFT 302-2 of the manager A and the mail device 200.

As a result of the above operation, one of the mailboxes of the mail device 200 is newly emptied (that is, the information has been released).
It will enter into the "fire extinguishing subroutine".

To this end, first, inside the mail device 200, the information storage unit 202
The fact that there is a mailbox whose information has been canceled and the box number of the box (in this case, a dedicated box from the officer L to the manager A) are notified. This notification is transmitted from the controller 204 to the central processing unit 106 via the interface circuit 120 by an “information registration / cancellation notification signal”, and upon receiving this notification, the central processing unit 106 “flashes / cancels upon registration”. Enter the "Time Extinguishing Subroutine". In this operation example, the reproduction source designation key corresponding to the box from which the information has been released is the “executive L key” 316L (set in DSS 304-2 of the terminal of the manager A who is the information receiving side). FIG. 3). Therefore, in this case, the “flashing at registration / extinguishing at cancellation” subroutine is executed, whereby the “officer L key” 316L indicator light 308L is provided.
Is extinguished.

By this processing, the manager A, when new information addressed to himself from the officer L is registered, uses the “executor L key” 31
By watching the 6L indicator light 308 flashing,
You can know it easily.

This concludes the description of an example of a system operation when the manager A reproduces and retrieves a message from the officer L registered to himself.

In the system of the embodiment described above, the terminal is equipped with a multifunctional telephone and the mail device is a voice mail device. However, the system to which the present invention can be applied is limited to that type. Not done. That is, the present invention can be applied to various systems including, for example, a terminal equipped with a facsimile apparatus and a mail apparatus using a facsimile mail apparatus.

<< Effects of the Invention >> As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, a plurality of operable keys, and a signal generating means for generating a signal corresponding to an operated key among the plurality of keys, An operation / display device having externally controllable display means combined with the keys, provided in the terminal, and receiving a key signal generated from the operation / display device, based on the received signal. The private branch exchange is provided with key identification means for identifying an operated key of the plurality of keys of the operation / display device, and the electronic device assigned to each of the plurality of keys of the operation / display device is further provided. Storage means for storing information representing functions relating to the control of the mail device; and a function assigned to the key identified by the key identification means being read from the storage means and corresponding to the read function. Signal sending means for sending a signal to the electronic mail device, and display control means for controlling the display means of the operation / display device according to the information registration state of a mailbox set in the electronic mail device. Therefore, in order to make the mail device perform a desired service, a key on the operation / display device to which the service function is assigned may be operated, and thereby, the mail device is provided with the service. A signal is sent from the signal sending means to the mail device. Therefore, the mail device can be provided with a desired service by performing a minimum key operation on the operation / display device in the terminal, and the operability when using the mail device is remarkably improved.

Further, the display control means controls the operation means of the terminal / display means of the display device according to the information registration state in each mailbox set in the mail device, so that the user of the terminal glances at the display means. Thus, it is possible for both the senders of the information to know the presence or absence of the registration information addressed to the user without any extra operation. Therefore, there is an excellent effect that information can be easily and reliably transmitted via the mail device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a relay system diagram showing an overall schematic configuration of a private automatic exchange system with an e-mail device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a function setting of DSS keys placed on the desk of officer L. Fig. 3 is a DSS board view showing the function settings of the DSS keys placed on the desk of the manager A. Fig. 4 is a DSS board view showing the function settings of the DSSN keys placed on the secretary's desk. FIG. 5 to FIG. 9 show the storage device in the private branch exchange.
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a memory area for data registration, FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a process of a central processing unit of a private automatic exchange, showing a “key information extraction subroutine”, and FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a “PB sending subroutine”. 12 (a) and 12 (b) are flowcharts of the processing of the central processing unit of the private automatic exchange, showing the "PB sending key pressing subroutine during PB transmission". FIGS. 13 (a) and 13 (b) are flowcharts of the processing of the central processing unit of the private branch exchange, showing the “blinking / extinguishing subroutine upon completion of PB transmission”. FIGS. 14 (a) and (b) 15 (a) and 15 (b) are flowcharts showing the processing of the central processing unit of the private branch exchange, which shows the "flashing / extinguishing fire extinguishing subroutine".
FIG. 16 is a sequence flow chart showing transmission of an information registration / cancellation notification signal, which is a condition for entering the “flashing at registration / cancellation at cancellation” subroutine of FIGS. FIG. 17 is an operation procedure diagram showing an operation performed by an operator and a DSS key to be pressed in the first operation example of the system of FIG.
FIG. 18 (a) and (b) are state charts showing connection states between elements in the system of the above embodiment in the first operation example. FIG. 19 is an operation procedure diagram showing an operation performed by an operator and a DSS key to be pressed in the second operation example of the system of the above embodiment, and FIG. 20 is a PBX, mail device,
And FIG. 21 (a) and (b) are sequence flow diagrams of a connection procedure between the terminal and the terminal.
FIG. 22 is a flowchart of a process executed by the central processing unit from the time when the “automatic recording key” is pressed to the time when the three-way call ends and control of the indicator lamp is performed. FIG. 23 is an operation procedure diagram showing an operation performed by an operator and a DSS key to be pressed in the third operation example. FIG.
FIG. 7 is a sequence flow diagram of a connection procedure between a terminal and a terminal. 100… Private branch exchange (PBX), 106… Central processing unit (CC), 108… Storage device (MM), 200… Email device (VMS), 300… Terminal (terminal device), 302… … Multi-function telephone (MFT), 304… Operation / display device (DSS), 308… Indicator, 310, 312… Destination designation key at registration, 314… Mail operation key, 316… Source at playback Designated key.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-57-202156 (JP, A) JP-A-63-217857 (JP, A) JP-A-2-14657 (JP, A) JP-A 63-217 122346 (JP, A) JP-A-63-174459 (JP, A) JP-A-61-167257 (JP, A) JP-T-61-502367 (JP, A)

Claims (7)

(57) [Claims] 1. An electronic system comprising: a plurality of terminal devices; a private branch exchange which directly accommodates the plurality of terminal devices; and an electronic mail device having a function of registering and reading information attached to the private branch exchange. In the private branch exchange system with a mail device, the terminal device has a plurality of operable keys, a signal generating means for generating a signal in accordance with an operated key among the plurality of keys, and An operation / display device comprising a combination of externally controllable display means; and a private branch exchange that receives a key signal generated from the operation / display device and performs the operation based on the received key signal. Key identifying means for identifying an operated key of the plurality of keys on the display device; and controlling the e-mail device assigned to each of the plurality of keys on the operation / display device. Storage means for storing information indicating a function related to the key, and information indicating a function assigned to the key identified by the key identification means is read from the storage means, and a signal corresponding to the information, Mail control signal generating means for generating a mail control signal recognizable by the electronic mail device; signal sending means for sending the mail control signal generated by the mail control signal generating means to the electronic mail device; And a display control means for controlling the display means of the operation / display device according to the information registration state of the mailbox set in the mail device. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the mailbox set in the electronic mail device includes a dedicated mailbox for registering information transmitted from a specific terminal, and the plurality of keys of the operation / display device. At least some of the keys are assigned a function of a sender specification key corresponding to the dedicated mailbox, and the information registration state in the dedicated mailbox is changed to a source specification key corresponding to the mailbox. 2. The automatic private branch exchange system with an electronic mail device according to claim 1, wherein the display control means is configured to be displayed on the display means combined with the electronic mail apparatus. 3. The operation / display, wherein the mailbox set in the electronic mail device includes a dedicated mailbox for registering information transmitted from a specific terminal to another specific terminal. At least a part of the plurality of keys of the device is assigned a function of a source designation key corresponding to the dedicated mailbox, and the information registration state in the dedicated mailbox is set to the mailbox. 2. The automatic private branch exchange system with an electronic mail device according to claim 1, wherein said display control means is configured to be displayed on said display means combined with a corresponding transmission source designation key. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the mailbox set in the electronic mail device includes a dedicated mailbox for registering information given a specific priority, and the plurality of mailboxes of the operation / display device. At least some of the keys are assigned a function of a source designation key corresponding to the dedicated mailbox, and the information registration state in the dedicated mailbox is changed to a source designation corresponding to the mailbox. 2. The automatic private branch exchange system with an electronic mail device according to claim 1, wherein the display control means is configured to be displayed on the display means associated with a key. 5. A dedicated registration mailbox for registering information at a specific terminal and a dedicated transmission mailbox for registering information transmitted from a specific terminal to another specific terminal in the electronic mail device. And the signal transmission means is configured to be capable of transmitting a signal for causing the electronic mail device to transfer registration information from the dedicated registration mailbox to the dedicated transmission mailbox. 2. The automatic private branch exchange system with an electronic mail device according to claim 1, wherein: 6. The terminal device comprises a telephone and the operation / display device, wherein the telephone and the operation / display device in each terminal are independent units, and
2. The private automatic exchange system with an electronic mail device according to claim 1, wherein the private automatic exchanges are connected to each other independently of each other. 7. The private branch exchange system with an electronic mail device according to claim 6, wherein said operation / display device is constituted by a direct station selection device (DSS).