JP2828137B2 - Billing system for voice mail equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a billing system for a voice mail apparatus which provides a service via a private branch exchange having a billing apparatus for calculating a usage charge for a call to be billed for each extension. The present invention relates to a billing system for a voice mail apparatus that can unify billing information sent to a user and change the billing destination of accumulated and transmitted messages.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in this type of billing system for a voice mail apparatus, a technique of performing a billing process for each user using the voice mail apparatus by using the billing apparatus is disclosed in, for example, JP-A-4-235450. It is described in. In this method, as shown in FIG. 7, a billing device 3 for calculating a usage fee for a call to be charged for each extension is provided by a private branch exchange 8
The private branch exchange 8 further includes a communication network 4,
The voice mail device 9 and an extension terminal (not shown) are accommodated and connected.

The charging device 3 has a charging control unit 31 and a charging information storage unit 32. A destination terminal 51 that receives a message from the voice mail device 9 is connected to the communication network 4. The private branch exchange 8 has a main switch 81, an exchange control unit 82, and a call information storage unit 83. The voice mail device 9 includes a communication control unit 91, a voice mail control unit 92, a message storage unit 93, and a switching unit communication unit 9.
Four.

[0004] The call information storage unit 83 of the private branch exchange 8 stores, as call information, an extension number of a caller, a dial number of a destination, a call time and a call time for each call. Voice mail controller 92 of voice mail device 9
Stores, as a transmission record, a mailbox number which is an identification number of a user who has transmitted the message and predetermined call information corresponding thereto for all transmissions of the message.

The billing control unit 31 of the billing device 3 collects the call information to be charged by the call information storage unit 83 via the exchange control unit 82 of the private branch exchange 8, and collects all the call information stored in the voice mail device 9. Voice mail control section 9
2, the collected call information and outgoing call records are collated with each other, and the collected call information and outgoing call record are collated to calculate a charge and total for each user.

Next, the operation of transmitting the message stored in the message storage unit 93 to the destination terminal 51 will be described.

[0007] When a message is stored in the message storage unit 93, the voice mail control unit 92 dials the destination terminal registered by the user corresponding to the stored mailbox (hereinafter, the destination terminal). Number), starts the private branch exchange 8 via the communication control unit 91,
Sends the destination terminal number. The exchange control unit 82 determines the call to be charged based on the destination terminal number, dials the communication network 4 to form a communication path to the destination terminal 51, and controls the main switch 81 to transmit a voice to the communication path. Since the mail device 9 is connected, the communication control section 91 transfers the message voice of the message stored in the message storage section 93 to the destination terminal 51.

[0008] Since both the exchange control unit 82 and the voice mail control unit 92 can discriminate the call to be charged, when the transfer of the message is started as the call information, the transmission start time of the message is recorded. When the transfer of the message is completed, the transmission time of the message is recorded as the talk time.

[0009]

In the above-described conventional charging method for a voice mail device, the charging device collects call information to be charged in a call information storage section of a private branch exchange and stores the collected call information in the voice mail device. All the outgoing call records collected are collected, the collected call information and the outgoing call records are collated, and charge calculation and totalization for each user are performed.

With this configuration, if there is any inconsistency in the system constituted by the billing device for processing the billing information, the private branch exchange, and the voice mail device, there is a chance that the data cannot be matched by collation, and the billing process becomes impossible. There is a problem that there is a possibility of becoming.

[0011] Furthermore, since only the mailbox user who receives the message is charged, there is a problem that, for example, even if it is desired to charge the sender who transmitted the message to the mailbox, the charging destination cannot be changed.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a billing system for a voice mail device that can unify billing information sent to a billing device and can change a billing destination of stored and transmitted messages.

[0013]

A billing system for a voice mail apparatus according to the present invention provides a service via a private branch exchange having a billing apparatus for calculating a usage fee for a call to be billed for each extension. In the accounting method, the voice mail device may be configured to register an account code for each user who uses a mailbox as a charging destination corresponding to each mailbox number in advance.
A first registration area of the box corresponding provided, when transmitting to Shinsaki terminal sending a message to be chargeable in the mailbox, the user's mailbox to retrieve the message to be sent with the dialed number to call this destination terminal The private branch exchange outputs the account code registered to the private branch exchange to the private branch exchange, and the private branch exchange calls the destination terminal with the received dial number. Is transmitted to the billing device as a billing extension in the call information, and the billing device calculates a fee for each account code.

[0014] With this configuration, the billing device can perform the billing process using only the unified billing information from the private branch exchange.

Further, the voice mail system, set the second registration area of the message corresponding to register the account code as required corresponding to each stored message
When receiving a call from a PB (push button) telephone via the private branch exchange and receiving a predetermined billing destination change command together with a message, the account code specified by the push button is received from the PB telephone according to a predetermined procedure. Said
While registered in the second registration area, when sending a message <br/> over di consisting billable feed to Shinsaki terminal, account code to be sent along with the dialed number to call this destination terminal is,
The account code registered in the second registration area.

According to this configuration, the billing destination can be set not to the mailbox number for storing the message but to the user for the account code registered for each message.

Further, when the voice mail device receives an account code change command from the PB telephone via the private branch exchange, the voice mail device converts the account code designated by the push button from the PB telephone in accordance with a predetermined procedure. The account code is registered in place of the account code registered in advance corresponding to the mailbox number.

According to this configuration, the user of the mailbox can change and register the account code set in correspondence with the mailbox number, thereby changing the billing destination to its own account code.

[0019]

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. In the billing system of the voice mail device shown in FIG. 1, the private branch exchange 2 connecting the voice mail device 1 has a configuration similar to that of the related art in which the billing device 3 and the communication network 4 are connected. However, the difference from the conventional one is in the control of each of the voice mail device 1 and the private branch exchange 2. In addition, an account code is registered for each user who uses the voice mail, and this account code is stored in each mailbox and It is to register corresponding to each message.

As shown, voice mail device 1
Has a communication control unit 11, a voice mail control unit 12, a message storage unit 13, and an account code management unit 14. The private branch exchange 2 has a main switch 21, an exchange control unit 22, and a call information storage unit 23. Shall be
Each function is different from the conventional component described with reference to FIG.

The billing device 3 has a billing control unit 31 and a billing information storage unit 32 having the same functions as the conventional one. However, the billing information is only call information received from the private branch exchange 2, and does not receive a call record from the voice mail device 1. The call information includes an account code set and registered in the present invention, instead of an extension number to be charged. In addition, a PB telephone 52 connected to the communication network 4 is illustrated for explaining the operation of telephone transmission.

First, each functional block will be described with reference to FIG. The same functional blocks as those in the related art are assigned the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

The communication control unit 11 of the voice mail device 1
It is connected to the private branch exchange 2, receives control of the voice mail control unit 12, exchanges information with the private branch exchange 2, and transmits information including a voice message to the destination terminal 51 or the PB telephone 52 connected via the private branch exchange 2. Shall be given and received.

The voice mail control unit 12 adds to conventional functions such as registering, setting, and controlling an extension number, a mailbox number, a dial number of a destination terminal of a message, and the like. It has a function of controlling message transmission, account code change, and billing destination change as described with reference to each. The voice mail control unit 12 cooperates with the communication control unit 11 to activate the private branch exchange 2 in transmitting a message, and then sends out a connection destination dial number, as shown in FIG.
It is assumed that the connection destination dial number is controlled to be transmitted after the account code.

As shown in FIG. 2A, the message storage unit 13 stores a mailbox correspondence management table 61,
It has a message management table 62 and a message file 63. Further, as shown in FIG. 2B, the mailbox correspondence management table 61 includes a mailbox number and a mailbox number as mailbox correspondence management information.
The message management table 62 includes a mail block number, a message reception date and time, a next mail block number, and a message management information as shown in FIG. 2C.
It shall include the previous mail block number and message file name.

Each information data of the mailbox correspondence management table 61 and the message management table 62 is erased every time a message is registered and stored in the mailbox and after the registered message is sent out by an erasing procedure. Updated each time.

The account code management unit 14 is configured as shown in FIG.
As shown in (A), it is assumed that a code management table 64, a mailbox correspondence registration table 65, and a message correspondence registration table 66 are provided. The code management table 64 includes the account code, the management password, and the user name as the account code management information as shown in FIG. 3B, and the mailbox correspondence registration table 65 stores the mail as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3D, the message correspondence registration table 66 includes a mail block number and an account corresponding to each message as the message correspondence account code registration information. Code.

Each information of the code management table 64 and the mailbox correspondence registration table 65 is assumed to be registered when a user who uses the mailbox is registered. In the code management table 64, a management password is registered in order to avoid use by others, and a mailbox correspondence registration table 65 of correspondence information of mailbox numbers used by users is separated. For example, FIG.
In the case where the account code corresponding to the user is changed by the predetermined code change procedure shown in (1), after the management passcode is confirmed by the code management table 64, the account code is registered only in the mailbox correspondence registration table 65. Shall be updated.

The message correspondence registration table 66
For example, by registering an account code of a billing destination in each message by a predetermined billing destination changing procedure shown in FIG. You can specify the destination.

Returning to FIG. 1, the private branch exchange 2 will be described. In the private branch exchange 2, a function is added to the conventional function only when there is a call from the voice mail device 1. That is, the exchange control unit 22 of the private branch exchange 2
When a dial tone is transmitted in response to a call from the voice mail device 1, a dial call having a dial format in which an account code as shown in FIG. Therefore, the exchange control unit 22 registers the received account code in the call information storage unit 23 instead of the billing extension number. As a result, there is no need to change the conventional functions in the call information storage unit 23.

Next, referring to FIGS. 1 to 4 together,
An operation procedure for sending a message stored in the voice mail device 1 to a preset destination terminal 51 will be described focusing on the operation of the voice mail control unit 12.

First, when confirming the message storage registration in the message storage unit 13 (step S1), the voice mail control unit 12 extracts the dial number of the destination terminal 51 based on the stored mailbox number (step S1). S
2) It is checked whether or not this dial number is to be charged (step S3).

If the procedure S3 is "YES" and the billing target,
The voice mail control unit 12 includes the account code management unit 1
An account code is searched from the message correspondence registration table 66 of No. 4 based on the mail block number in which the corresponding message is stored (step S4).

If there is an account code registered in the message correspondence registration table 66 (YES in step S5), the voice mail control unit 12 indexes this account code (step S6) and enters the previously extracted transmission destination dial number. An outgoing dial number having an outgoing dial format as shown in FIG. 1 (B) is created as a connection destination dial number (step S7), the private branch exchange 2 is activated by making a call, and a dial tone is received (procedure). S8).

Next, the voice mail control section 12 sends the created outgoing dial number to the private branch exchange 2 (step S9). The ringing tone is stopped by the response (step S10).

In this step S10, a communication path between the communication control section 11 of the voice mail apparatus 1 and the destination terminal 51 is set by the private branch exchange 2 and the communication network 4 based on the dial number sent out in the step S9. And private branch exchange 2
In, call information is stored in the call information storage unit 23 by the exchange control unit 22.

When the ringing tone stops in step S10, that is, when the destination terminal 51 responds, the voice mail control unit 12
Retrieves the message from the corresponding mailbox and reproduces the message. As a result, a voice message is transmitted to the destination terminal 51 (step S11).

If the above step S3 is "NO" and the destination dial number is not a charging target, the procedure proceeds to step S8 for starting the private branch exchange 2.

If the above step S5 is "NO" and the account code is not registered in the message correspondence registration table 66, the voice mail control unit 12 determines from the mailbox correspondence registration table 65 based on the mailbox number in which the corresponding message is stored. To search for an account code (step S12), and check for the presence or absence of registration (step S13).

If step S13 is "YES" and the account code is registered, the procedure proceeds to step S6 for indexing the account code. On the other hand, if the step S13 is "NO" and the account code is not registered, a predetermined abnormal process is performed (step S14).

When the transmission of the message in step S11 is completed, a disconnection signal is received from the voice mail device 1 and the end of the call is confirmed. The time is added to the corresponding call information in the call information storage unit 23 and sent to the charging device 3 together with information necessary for other charging processing. The billing destination of this call information is determined in step S
This is the account code indexed in 6. The billing device 3 receives the call information from the private branch exchange 2, and performs a billing process for each user based on the call information collected by the billing control unit 31,
The result is stored in the charging information storage unit 32.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 and FIG. 5, a procedure for changing the own account code registered in advance for use of the mailbox will be described.

First, when the account code is changed, the voice mail device 1 is called from the PB telephone 52 via the private branch exchange 2 with a predetermined dial number.
The voice mail device 1 accepts the incoming call and performs a predetermined incoming call process (step S21). At this time, the communication control unit 11 of the voice mail device 1 analyzes the MF (multi-frequency) PB signal sound from the push button (PB) dial received from the PB telephone 52 and sends it to the voice mail control unit 12. Voice mail control unit 12 performs a login process based on the instruction of the PB signal tone.

Next, when an account code change command is received from the PB telephone 52 by a PB signal tone (procedure S22), for example, after checking the collation of the account code and the management password before the change, the mailbox correspondence registration is performed. A predetermined registration code change process is performed to update the account code in the table 65 and make the account code after the change (step S23).

Next, referring to FIG. 6 together with FIGS. 1 to 3, the registrant who registers the message sets the billing destination of the message instead of the user who has previously registered for using the mailbox. The main operation procedure of changing the charging destination to be a registrant will be described.

Also in this case, similar to the above-described code change procedure,
The voice mail device 1 is called from the PB telephone 52 via the private branch exchange 2 using a predetermined dial number. The voice mail device 1 accepts the incoming call and performs a predetermined incoming call process (step S31). At this time, the communication control unit 11 of the voice mail device 1 analyzes the PB signal sound received from the PB telephone 52 and sends it to the voice mail control unit 12. The voice mail control unit 12 receives a message recording command based on the PB signal tone (step S32).

Next, the message is stored in the message storage 1
3 is recorded (recorded) (step S33). After recording, the voice mail control unit 12 accepts commands for re-listening, re-recording, discarding, etc., based on the PB signal tone, but here accepts a command for registration confirmation (step S3).
4). The recorded message is registered and confirmed by the operation of the voice mail control unit 12 in response to the registration confirmation command.
And the message management table 62 registers data relating to this message (procedure S35).

If there is a request for registration of an account code corresponding to the message in a predetermined message receiving procedure (YES in step S36), voice mail control unit 12
Is stored in the message correspondence registration table 66 according to a predetermined procedure.
(Step S37). Next, the voice mail control unit 12
The message is transferred and stored in the message file 63 of the predetermined mailbox number in the message storage unit 13 (step S38), and the mailbox correspondence management table 6
1 and the message management table 62, the information such as the mail block number and the time is rewritten, and the registration of the message is completed. The confirmation of this message registration starts the procedure S1 in FIG.

According to the above configuration, the registration change of the account code can be performed at any time from the PB telephone using the management passcode as long as the user is registered as a user of the mailbox.

In the above description, the account code is set independently. However, the account code may be linked to the extension number of the user to relieve the shortage of the code.

In the above description, the functional blocks and the operation procedure have been illustrated and described. However, the distribution of functions such as separation and merging of functions, the exchange of operation procedures before and after, the parallel processing operation, and the like are free as long as the above functions are satisfied. Yes, the description is not intended to limit the invention.

[0053]

As described above, according to the present invention, the voice mail apparatus registers the account code of each user who uses the mailbox in advance in each mailbox number as a charging destination, and stores the message in the mailbox. When sending to the destination terminal to be charged, the dialing number for calling the destination terminal and the account code registered for the user of the mailbox from which the message is to be sent out are output to the private branch exchange. The private branch exchange calls the destination terminal with the received dial number, and when the call is terminated, sends the received account code to the billing device as a billing extension together with call information for billing. We calculate each fee.

With this configuration, the billing device can perform the billing process using only the unified billing information from the private branch exchange.

Further, the voice mail device has a registration area for registering the account code for each of the stored messages, and receives a call from the PB telephone via the private branch exchange and receives a charging destination change command together with the message. At this time, the account code specified by the push button from the PB telephone is registered in the registration area according to a predetermined procedure, and when the message is transmitted to the destination terminal to be charged, the message is transmitted together with the dial number for calling the destination terminal. The account code to be registered is an account code registered in this registration area.

Further, when the voice mail device receives an account code change command from the PB telephone via the private branch exchange, the account code specified by the push button is transmitted from the PB telephone to the mailbox number according to a predetermined procedure. Is registered in place of an account code registered in advance in correspondence with.

According to this configuration, the billing destination can be set not to the mailbox number for storing the message but to the user for the account code registered for each message. By changing and registering the set account code by the user of the mailbox, the billing destination can be changed to its own account code.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing one mode of a message storage unit in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing one form of an account code management unit in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing one mode of a main operation procedure of message transmission according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing one mode of a main operation procedure in code change according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing one embodiment of a main operation procedure in changing a charging destination according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram showing an example of the related art.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 voice mail device 2 private branch exchange 3 charging device 4 communication network 11 communication control unit 12 voice mail control unit 13 message storage unit 14 account code management unit 21 main switch 22 exchange control unit 23 call information storage unit 31 charging control unit 32 charging information Storage unit 51 Destination terminal 52 PB telephone 61 Mailbox correspondence management table 62 Message management table 63 Message file 64 Code management table 65 Mailbox correspondence registration table 66 Message correspondence registration table

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A billing method for a voice mail device that provides a service via a private branch exchange having a charging device for calculating a usage fee for a call to be charged for each extension, wherein the voice mail device uses a mailbox. First registration that registers in advance the account code of each user to be charged as a billing destination corresponding to each mailbox number
Area and stored messages, and
A second registration area to register the account code
Only, when transmitting to the accounting subject to send a message <br/> Shinsaki terminals in the mailbox, whereas pairs message to be sent at
In response, the account code is registered in the second registration area.
If so, this account code
Wherein for the user's mailbox to retrieve the message <br/> over di in the case of non-registered in the second registration area of the di corresponding first
Account code that is registered to one of the registration area, both have the
While outputting either one or a dial number for calling the destination terminal to the private branch exchange, the private branch exchange is
Call the destination terminal with the received dial number, and when this call is ended, send the received account code to the billing device as a billing extension in the call information for billing,
A billing system for a voice mail device, wherein the billing device calculates a fee for each account code. 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the voice mail system, when subjected to a predetermined charging destination change command with the message before SL receives an incoming call from the PB (push button) phone through a private branch exchange, the Enter the account code specified by the push button from the PB telephone according to the prescribed procedure.
Charging method of the voice mail system and wherein that you registered in the second registration area. 3. The voice mail device according to claim 1, wherein the voice mail device receives an account code change command from a PB telephone via the private branch exchange and changes the account code designated by a push button from the PB telephone. A charging method for a voice mail device, wherein registration is performed in accordance with a predetermined procedure in place of an account code registered in advance corresponding to the mailbox number. 4. A billing system for a voice mail device that provides a service via a private branch exchange having a billing device for calculating a usage fee for a call to be charged for each extension, wherein the voice mail device uses a mailbox. A code management table for pre-registering account codes for each user, a mailbox correspondence registration table for registering account codes for each registered user's mailbox, and a mail block for each stored message An account code management unit including a message correspondence registration table having a registration area for registering an account code, a message storage unit for storing messages stored via the private branch exchange, and an incoming call from a user who uses a mailbox Received an account code change command at The account code previously registered in the mailbox correspondence registration table is replaced with a newly designated account code according to a predetermined procedure, and a charging destination change command is received by a call from a user who has registered the account code. Is received together with the message, the account code specified in the registration area of the message correspondence registration table is registered in a predetermined procedure, and, when the message is transmitted, when activating the private branch exchange, A voice mail control unit that sends the account code registered in the message correspondence registration table and, if there is no registration, the account code registered in the mailbox correspondence registration table to the private branch exchange together with the dial number of the message destination. Wherein the private branch exchange comprises the voice mail device When receiving the activation, the destination terminal is called with the received dial number, and when the call is ended, the exchange control unit sends the received account code to the charging device as a charging extension in the call information for charging. And a charging control unit for calculating a charge for each received account code.