JP3219124B2 - LAN-PBX communication device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a LAN-PBX communication apparatus, and more particularly to a personal computer (PC) or a WS (workstation) capable of inputting and outputting voice to and from a private branch exchange (PBX). LAN and PB in a communication device in which a local network (LAN) configured by various information processing terminals is provided in the same premises.
The present invention relates to a LAN-PBX communication device that communicates with X.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a PBX is a device which accommodates m public lines and n (n> m) private lines and can use the public lines efficiently. FIG. 10 shows a conventional PB.
The configuration of X is shown. One premises, for example, building 11
A PBX 12 is provided on the first floor of the PBX. The PBX 12 accommodates m public lines 13 as external lines and n private lines 14 as internal lines. When a call originated from the public line 13 which is an external line, the exchange judges that there is an empty line among the m lines 13 connected to the PBX 12, the call from that exchange to the vacant line of the PBX 12. Connected to a line, the PBX 12 connects a call connected from an outside line to a desired telephone 15 out of the telephones connected to the private line 14, and rings the ringer. The exchange has m public lines 1
If it is determined that all 3 are blocked, a busy tone is returned to the caller. When a call is made from the extension 14, the telephone 15 is connected to the PBX 12 via the private line 14. The PBX 12 determines the availability of the public line 13 connected to the PBX 12, and determines that the public line 13 is free. If it is not available, connect to the outside line.
Return busy tone to 5. By doing so, the public line 13 can be used effectively.

The building 11 has a private line 14
Ethernet LAN as LAN for data communication
The LAN 16 includes a personal computer (PC), a workstation (WS), and other information processing terminals 17 provided on each floor. It is assumed that TCP / IP is used as a communication protocol. Plural information processing terminals (hereinafter referred to as PC / WS) 17
Can exchange data with each other via the LAN 10. Usually, data is handled by a computer on the LAN 16, but in recent years PC / W
With the development of S17, an environment in which audio and video can be packetized and transmitted as audio / video data on a LAN is being improved. On top of that, with the digital transmission of public lines, digital PBXs capable of accommodating N-ISDN lines have appeared, and voice data on private lines has also been digitized. In an environment where you can Further, today, there is a tendency that one PC / WS 17 is installed per person.

[0004] On the other hand, a FAX is not a machine that is always used, unlike a telephone or a PC / WS installed in each individual, and therefore, one FAX is provided for each floor or section.
It is often installed at a rate of about one unit. Also, this FA
As for the X telephone number, there are a plurality of numbers different from the own telephone number. In recent years, storage-type telephone FAX or FAX
Connect the PC / WS with the modem to the LAN,
A configuration has also appeared in which a call is made to an external telephone FAX via WS. Referring to FIG. 11, FIG. 11 is a view for explaining the configuration of a conventional PC / WS 17 to which a FAX modem 110 is attached. By using the FAX modem 110, it is possible to make a call to an external FAX via the PC / WS17. At the time of an incoming call, if the automatic incoming call is designated, the FAX mode is automatically set, and the received FAX data is stored in the storage device of the PC / WS17.
At the time of a manual incoming call, after an incoming call is received, FAX software which is application software of the PC / WS 17 is started, and then FAX data is stored in the storage device of the PC / WS 17.

[0005]

Conventionally, the LAN 16 and the private line 14 are independent of each other and cannot exchange data with each other. That is, in recent years, PC / WS1
7 cannot be exchanged between digital voice data on a LAN, which has been made possible by the development of PCT7, and digital voice data on a private line via a digital PBX accommodating a digital public line based on N-ISDN. Has a problem with the user interface that the same digital voice data must be used on the digital private line using the digital telephone 15 and on the LAN using the PC / WS17.

In the building 11, although the purpose of the installation is different, considering the investment cost of the LAN to be installed at the same time, if only the voice is used, the digital private line and the LAN cannot be shared. There is a problem that the cost increases due to heavy investment. Here, as described above, an era has come in which a terminal such as a telephone or a PC / WS is installed in each individual. However, since fax machines are not machines that are always used, they are often installed and shared at a rate of about one for each floor or section. Must determine the destination and distribute it, and go to the recipient.

[0007] Even in the same section, the floor may be different, or when the number of persons in the section is large, a plurality of FAXs and FAX numbers are assigned. Because you can see more than one number, you may be wondering which number to send. In this case, a representative number function of assigning one representative number to the telephone numbers of a plurality of faxes can be employed. However, if the business section is different, a plurality of faxes are often installed at remote locations. When the numbers are set, there is a problem that it is not possible to know which FAX is called.

[0008] Also, the P
The configuration in which the C / WS is connected to a LAN and connected to an external fax via the PC / WS is such that when a call is received, the address of the received fax data is determined by converting the fax data into an image. If you do not use the PC / WS with the FAX modem for your personal use, except for the personal use of the FAX modem, if you use the FAX modem in common, the received FAX It becomes difficult to classify each.

Further, the FAX is an effective device for transmitting a message when the other party is absent. However, when the other party is absent during normal use of the telephone, if the user wants to leave a voice memo or a voice message, the facsimile is called. User must set the telephone to answering machine mode, and cannot leave a voice message in normal telephone mode. The present invention integrates a voice signal on a digital private line and voice data on a LAN, and receives a voice signal transmitted from a digital public line by a PC / WS or a PC / WS1.
7 provides a LAN-PBX communication device capable of making a call to a telephone on a digital public line, a PBX addition device accommodating a plurality of lines with a representative number and receiving FAX data and voice data. FAX is received from the public line by using the information processing terminal, and the received FAX is imaged and stored in the FAX mailbox of the information processing terminal. PC / W stored in the box and provided to each individual near the individual
S sends an e-mail via the LAN indicating that FAX data or voice data has been received and stored, and the individual
N, take out from the corresponding FAX mailbox or voice message mailbox, display the image using personal PC / WS for FAX data, and play back and listen to the voice message for voice message The present invention provides a LAN-PBX communication device that can perform the communication.

[0010]

According to the present invention, there is provided a local area network comprising a plurality of information processing terminals.
LAN in which an AN and a private branch exchange PBX accommodating a plurality of digital telephones in a private line are installed in the same premises.
In the inter-PBX communication device, a PBX additional device is connected to at least one of the private lines connected to the PBX,
A digital voice signal input via the PBX is packetized from an incoming call to the PBX adding device to the information processing terminal corresponding to the subsequently input address and converted into a LAN.
By adopting a configuration transmitted via
And a digital PBX are connected via a PBX adding device, and a digital telephone or a digital extension telephone connected to the public line and a PC / WS connected to the LAN are connected to the P / P.
It is possible to provide a device for storing a call arriving on a digital private line to which a representative number is assigned as digital data, as well as a device for conversing via the BX adding device, to the PBX adding device connecting the LAN and the digital PBX. FAX data or voice data called from the public line with one representative number is called to the PBX adding device, the destination is determined from the sub address at the time of the calling, and the PC / WS to which the PBX adding device is connected. FAX data or voice data can be stored for each destination, and a message to that effect can be transmitted to the destination user by e-mail.

[0011]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Information processing terminal (PC / WS) constituting LAN 16
At 17, a microphone 21 and a speaker 22, which are audio input / output devices, are connected via an audio input / output unit 23. The k (k <n) lines 14c among the n digital private lines 14 accommodated in the PBX 12 are connected to the PC / WS 17
And (nk) lines 14t
Are assigned to ordinary digital telephones and other terminals for N-ISDN. The k lines 14c form a representative number in the PBX 12. Here, the representative number function in the PBX 12 will be described below.

FIG. 2B is a diagram for explaining the representative number function in the PBX 12. Representative numbers are formed by k PC / WS lines 14c among the private lines accommodated in the PBX 12, the representative numbers are K, and the individual numbers are k1, k2,... Kk. When a call is made to the representative number K from the public line, the PBX 12 makes a call to the line of k1 accommodated in the representative number K. If the line of k1 is busy, a call is made to the line of k2. If k2 is busy, call the line of k3. Like this
If each of the lines 14c is busy, a call is made to the vacant line 14c while slipping to the next number. P if all lines 14c from k1 to kk are busy
The BX 12 returns busy to the calling terminal.

The k private lines 14c are connected to the PBX adding device 2
5 and the PBX adding device 25 is connected to the LAN 16. Next, the PBX adding device 25 will be described with reference to FIG. 2A. The line interface unit 26 is a private line 14c.
And performs an interface between the sub address recognition unit 27 and the PAD (packet assemble / deassembly) unit 28. LAN interface unit 29 is PA
Provides an interface between D28 and LAN16. The sub address recognition unit 27, the PAD 28, and the LAN interface unit 29 are connected to the CPU 32 via the internal bus 31. The subaddress (extension number) -IP address conversion table 33 is connected to the subaddress recognition unit 27. As the destination address of the PC / WS 17, an IP address unique to the PC / WS 17, which is commonly used worldwide, is used.

Here, the sub-address is one of N-ISDN service functions that can make a specific terminal out of a plurality of terminals connected on one line, This function adds a unique number that identifies the terminal after the number. In the present invention, a telephone number of an extension telephone normally used by a user using each PC / WS 17 is specified as a subaddress. Thereby, a new service to be described later can be performed.

Hereinafter, the operation of the present invention will be described in detail for each call destination and call destination. TCP / as communication protocol
Assume IP. (1) External line (digital telephone) → internal line (PC / WS) From a digital telephone connected to N-ISDN to LAN
In this case, a call is made to the PC / WS 17 on the PC 16. From the digital telephone, dial (representative number K) + (destination extension number) of the PBX adding device 25. The destination extension is dialed as a subaddress. PBX12
Recognizes the representative number K, and connects the incoming public line to the PBX adding device 25 using the k private lines 14c. For example, when all the k private lines 14c are closed, a busy state is returned to the caller. If one of the k lines, for example, the k1st line is free, the public line is connected to the k1st line. The call signal output from the PBX 12 via the k1st line is input to the PBX adding device 25 and input to the line interface unit 26. The outgoing call signal input to the line interface unit 26 is sent to the subaddress
Using the IP address conversion table 33, an IP address is set from the subaddress following the representative number K. Next, the calling signal is packetized in the PAD unit 28.

FIG. 2B shows the structure of the voice packet. The voice packet includes control data 35 including a source address, a destination address and other information, a number 36, and a sequence number 3
7, audio data size 38, and audio data 39. Here, the packet at the time of calling is the control data 3
5, an IP address is set as a destination address, and for example, a silent signal is input as audio data 39. This voice packet is transmitted via the LAN 16 to the destination of the IP address recognized in the subaddress-IP address conversion table 33 via the LAN interface unit 29.

FIG. 3A shows a PC / W having a voice input / output function.
It is a figure showing the composition of S17. PC / WS17 is LA
The LAN interface 41 is connected to a bus of the LAN 16 via an N interface 41, and the LAN interface 41 is connected to an encoder / decoder 43 via a PAD (packet assemble / packet deassembly) 42 to perform encoding / decoding. Part 4
Reference numeral 3 is connected to the audio input / output unit 23, and a monitor 44 for displaying various images, figures, and characters as images is provided.

An outgoing voice packet transmitted via the LAN 16 is transmitted to the PC / WS 17 according to the IP address. The PC / WS 17 selects a packet having its own IP address from the LAN 16, and the selected call-out packet is input to the PC / WS 17 via the LAN interface unit 41. The PC / WS 17 knows that a call has arrived at its own terminal from the data of the outgoing call packet, and displays on the monitor 44 through the graphical user interface (GUI) that the user has received the call,
Notify the user by ringing ringtone. Instead of picking up the receiver, the user gives an intention to receive a call to the incoming information graphically displayed on the monitor 44. If you do not receive the call, it will be rejected as PBX
Reply to the additional device 25.

When receiving a call, the PC / WS 17 responds via a GUI, and the PC / WS 17 transmits the response to the PBX adding device 25.
And then transit during communication. During communication, a voice packet is input to the PC / WS 17 via the LAN 16. The PC / WS 17 extracts only the audio data 39 from the input audio packet, deassembles it by the PAD 42, and transfers it to the encoding / decoding processing unit 43. The encoding / decoding processing unit 43 decodes the audio data 39,
This is input to the audio input / output unit 23. Voice input / output unit 23
Performs D / A conversion processing on the input audio data. D /
The A-converted audio data is reproduced from the speaker 22 as audio. Conversely, the sound sent from the terminal is input from the microphone 21 to the sound input / output unit 23,
After being D-converted, it is encoded in the encoding / decoding processing unit 43, further assembled as a voice packet in the PAD 42, and transmitted via the LAN 16 to the IP address of the PBX adding device 25 via the LAN interface unit 41. You.

The voice packet transmitted from the PC / WS 17 to the LAN 16 is received by the PBX adding device 25. The PBX adding device 25 determines that the received voice packet is L
The data is transferred to the PAD unit 28 via the AN interface unit 29. The PAD unit 28 extracts audio data 39 from the received audio packet.
Is transferred to the line interface unit 26 and transferred to the PBX 12. The PBX 12 transmits the transferred voice data via an external line of the caller, that is, a public line.

(2) Extension (PC / WS)-Extension (PC / WS)
WS) Next, a case where an extension call is made between PCs / WSs 17 connected to the LAN 16 will be described. Here, the calling PC / WS 17 is PC1, and the called PC / WS17 is PC / WS17.
WS17 is PC2. PC to be called from PC1
It is assumed that the IP address 2 is call data. In the PC 1, the call data is packetized by the PAD 42 and transmitted to the LAN 16 via the LAN interface unit 41.
The PC 2 selects a packet having its own IP address from the LAN 16, and the selected outgoing packet is transmitted to the LAN 16.
The data is input to the PC 2 via the interface unit 41. P
C2 knows from the call packet that a call has arrived at its own terminal, and informs the user that there is an incoming call by means of a graphical user interface and an incoming call bell. Instead of picking up the receiver, the user gives an intention to receive a call to the incoming call information graphically displayed on the screen. The processing from the time of the incoming call to the time of the communication is the same as in the case (1) described above.

(3) Extension (PC / WS) → Extension (Digital Telephone for Private Line) Next, a case where a call is made from the PC / WS 17 connected to the LAN 16 to the digital telephone 15 connected to the private line 14t will be described. I do. An extension number to be called is input from the PC / WS 17 and packetized as call data. At the time of packetization, the PBX adding device 25 is specified as the destination IP address in the control data 35 in the packet shown in FIG. 2B, and the destination extension number is specified in the number 36. This calling packet is sent out onto the LAN 16 via the LAN interface 41,
The BX adding device 25 receives the calling packet. The received calling packet is transmitted to the LAN interface unit 29.
Is input to the PAD unit 28 via the. The PAD unit 28 separates the destination extension number and voice data from the packet and sends them to the line interface unit 26. CPU32
Notifies the PBX 12 of the destination extension number via the line interface unit 26 and causes the destination digital telephone to receive a call via the PBX 12. If the call is answered, the subsequent packet from PC / WS 17 is PAD2
The voice data separated at 8 is input to the line interface unit 26 and transmitted to the digital telephone via the PBX 12.

(4) Extension (Digital Telephone for Private Line) → Extension (PC / WS)
A case where a call is made to the C / WS 17 will be described. In this case, as a function of the PBX 12, the condition is that a representative can be assembled by an extension number. The above-mentioned representative number K is a representative number seen from an outside line, that is, a public line, and the extension number is k1. k
,..., Kk are given independently. Therefore, the numbers K1, k2,... A condition is that the PBX can provide ex as an extension representative number.

An extension representative number K connected to the PBX adding device 25 from the private digital telephone. ex, followed by the desired extension number of the PC / WS 17 as a subaddress. PBX12 is the representative number K
After recognizing ex, the connection to the PBX adding device 25 is made.
The processing from the subsequent processing to during communication is the same as (1) described above.

(5) Extension (PC / WS) → External Line (Digital Telephone) Next, a case where a call is made from a PC / WS 17 connected to the LAN 16 to an external line will be described. PC / WS17
, Input the outside line number to be called and packetize it as call data. PB is added to the control data 35 in this packet.
The external address is designated as the IP address of the X adding device 25 and the number 36. This calling packet is sent out onto the LAN 16 via the LAN interface 41, and the PBX adding device 25 receives the packet. The received calling packet is transmitted to the PAD via the LAN interface unit 29.
Input to the unit 28. The PAD unit 28 separates the destination external line number and voice data from the packet and sends them to the line interface unit 26. The CPU 32 notifies the PBX 12 of the destination outside line number via the line interface unit 26, and the destination outside line number is sent out to the outside public line via the PBX 12. At this point, calls and communications are performed by the exchange according to the normal exchange procedure.

(6) Extension (PC / WS) → External Line (Public Line) → Extension (PC / WS) Next, from a PC / WS 17 connected to the LAN 16, a PBX adding device is connected to the LAN via a public line. A case where a call is made to another PC / WS 17 connected via the PC 25 will be described. Here, the calling PC / WS17 is PC1, and the called PC / WS17 is PC2. PC1
Input the external line representative number K to be called and the subaddress, and packetize it as call data. Here, the IP address of the PBX adding device 25 is specified in the control data 35 in the packet, and the destination representative number K and the subaddress are specified in the number 26. The calling packet 25 is sent out onto the LAN 16 via the LAN interface 41, and the PBX adding device 25 receives the packet. The received calling packet is transmitted to the PA
It is input to the D section 28. The PAD section 28 separates the destination external line representative number K (including the subaddress) and voice data from the packet and sends them to the line interface section 26.
The CPU 32 controls the PB via the line interface 26.
Notify X12 of the destination outside line representative number and subaddress,
The external line representative number and the sub address go to an external line, that is, a public line 13 via the PBX 12. A call is made to the desired representative number K from the public line via the exchange.
The PBX 12 of the other party called with the representative number recognizes the representative number, and connects the incoming external line to one of the k private lines to the PBX adding device 25. If all the k lines are blocked, the caller is returned to the caller. For example, on the k1st line, PBX12 to PBX
The call signal input to the additional device 25 is input to the line interface unit 26. The outgoing call signal input to the line interface unit 26 is processed by the subaddress recognizing unit 27 using the subaddress-IP address conversion table 33.
The IP address is recognized from the subaddress following the representative number K. Next, the call signal is packeted by the PAD unit 28 and sent out onto the LAN 16. PC2 is LAN
16, a packet having its own IP address is selected, and the selected outgoing packet is input to the PC 2 via the LAN interface unit 41. PC2 knows from the call packet that the telephone has arrived at its own terminal,
The user is notified that there is an incoming call by a GUI or an incoming call bell. Instead of picking up the handset,
In response to the incoming information graphically displayed on the screen, an intention to receive a call is displayed. The processing from the time of the incoming call to the time of the communication is the same as (1) described above.

When a call is to be made through a route such as extension (PC / WS) → external line (public line) → extension (PC / WS), the LANs are connected by a router and the WAN is connected.
(Wide area network),
A call can be made directly using the IP address of the other party. That is, a telephone call can be made in the same manner as the configuration of (2) extension (PC / WS) -extension (PC / WS).

In the configuration (6), the PCs / WSs 17 having telephone functions are connected to each other via a digital public line, so that not only digital voice data can be communicated with each other but also. It is needless to say that the data used in the PC / WS 17 can also be communicated if the data communication protocol is the same in the PC / WS 17.

As described above, according to the present invention, the PC / WS 17 having a voice input / output function can coexist with an ordinary digital telephone and can communicate with each other. In the above-described embodiment, only the respective calling and receiving operations between the PC / WS 17 and the ordinary digital telephone have been described. However, if various functions of the CPU of the PC / WS 17 are used, This can be used as an intelligent telephone. Hereinafter, this will be described.

The PBX adding device 25 used in this case
Will be described by assigning common reference numerals to parts corresponding to FIG. 2A in FIG. 3B. 2A is different from FIG. 2A in that a loopback processing unit 46 is inserted between the line interface unit 26 and the sub address recognition unit 27. (1) External line (digital telephone) → internal line (PC / WS) for the PBX adding device 25 having an intelligent function
FIG. 4 shows a processing procedure of the PBX adding device 25 at the time of connection.
According to the flow of this processing, although the PC / WS 17 is called but no one is present, the PBX adding device 25 automatically calls the extension number indicated by the sub address of the PC / WS 17 via the private line 14t, and normally, It enables conversations on telephones. Further, if no one is in the ordinary telephone, the connection is made to the PC / WS 17 again, and the caller's message is recorded on the hard disk of the PC / WS 17. Hereinafter, the details of this processing will be described with reference to FIGS.

This process starts from process (0). In process (1), the PBX 12 connects the PC / WS 17 from an external line.
Accept calls to. Processing (2) is performed by PBX12 and PBX12.
If at least one of the k lines with the BX adding device 25 is free, the external line is connected to the PBX adding device 25. if,
If all lines are closed, the process (3) returns a busy tone to the caller assuming that all lines are closed, and the process ends in the process (4). Processing (5)
Are connected to the PBX adding device 25 using one of the k lines. The process (6) uses the subaddress-subaddress-IP address conversion table for the subaddress of the outgoing call data.
Convert to P address. In the process (7), the outgoing call data is packetized and transmitted to the LAN 16 by the process (8).
In the process (9), the call data transmitted to the LAN 16 is selected by the PC / WS 17 and received. In the processing (10), the PC / WS 17
The user is notified of the incoming call by using I or a ring tone. In the process (11), the number of ringing bells is set to j, and j is compared with a predetermined number J of ringing bells.
If it is greater than or equal to, go to step (12), otherwise go to step (13). The process (13) is a case where the user responds to the incoming call less than J times, and thereafter, transitions to the communicating mode. The process (14) is a case where the communication is ended from the communication mode, is disconnected, and the process is stopped in the process (15).

In the process (12), the user does not respond even if the bell is sounded J times or more, so that the user
It is determined that the user is not in front of or is busy and cannot answer the call of PC / WS17. In process (16), PC /
WS 17 creates a user absence message. Processing (1
In 7), the PC / WS 17 packetizes the absent message, and processes (18) the P / B
Send it out to X12. Next, in process (19), PB
The X adding device 25 receives the absent packet. In this embodiment, since the subaddress expresses the extension number, in the process (20), the PBX adding device 25 uses the subaddress, that is, the remaining 1B channel of the line currently used for the extension number destination. , PBX12. The loopback processing unit 46 shown in FIG. 3B performs a loopback process on the voice data of the caller input from the line interface 26, and returns to P via the line interface unit 26 again.
BX12 is called using the 1B channel. The called party is an extension digital telephone. In the process (21), the call is connected to the extension number destination. In the process (22), the ringer of the connected telephone rings. In the process (23), the PBX adding device 2
5 is the ring back tone (RBT) of the connected telephone
Is counted (or a preset time is measured). In the process (24), if the RBT count p is equal to or larger than the preset RBT count P (or if it is equal to or longer than the preset time), the process proceeds to the process (25). Otherwise,
Proceed to processing (35). The process (35) is a case where the user has answered the telephone call (or answered within a preset time) with less than the number P of ringers, and is in communication. In the process (36), the communication is terminated, and the process (3)
Processing stops at 7).

In the process (25), the PBX adding device 25 determines that the telephone-side person is absent because the RBT has been performed P times or more (or because it has been longer than the preset time). Create an out-of-office message. In the process (26), the created telephone-side absence message is packetized, and in the process (27), the LA is sent to the IP address destination using the subaddress-IP conversion table.
Transmit via N16. In processing (28), PC / W
In step S17, the absent packet transmitted to the LAN 16 is selected and received. In the process (29), the PC / WS 17 does not sound, that is, does not display the GUI and does not sound the ringer, responds in the answering machine mode, and makes a transition during communication. In the process (30), the PC / WS 17 is out of absence,
Send a pre-recorded message to the caller, telling them to enter message recording mode. In the process (31), the caller conveys the business by voice according to the message. In the process (32), the PC / WS 17 records the voice transmitted by the caller in a storage device such as a hard disk, and at the same time, creates a time, a telephone number of the caller in a list and creates a file. . In the process (33), the caller records the message, disconnects the communication, and stops the process in the process (34).

As described above, the flow of this processing is because the user is not near the PC / WS 17 in advance.
The procedure according to the mode in which the user sets the transfer to the normal telephone and if the normal telephone cannot be answered, the message is recorded in the PC / WS 17 is shown. Next, since the user is absent due to a business trip or the like, the PC / WS1
The message 7 will be described below answering machine mode for recording.

Steps (0) to (9) in FIG. 4 are the same as above. Next, the process proceeds from the process (9) to a process (29). In the process (29), the PC / WS 17 does not sound, that is,
The terminal responds in the answering machine mode without displaying the GUI and without ringing, and transitions during communication. In the process (30), a pre-recorded message to the effect that the PC / WS 17 is away is sent to the caller, and the next recording mode is notified. In the process (31), the caller conveys the business by voice according to the message. In the process (32), the PC / WS 17 records the voice transmitted by the caller in the hard disk, and at the same time, makes a list of the time, the telephone number of the caller, etc., and creates a file. Processing (3
In 3), the caller records the message, disconnects the communication, and stops the process in step (34).

As described above, when a call is first made to the PC / WS 17, the PC / WS 17 enters the answering machine mode, and all incoming calls can be recorded.
In the above description, a call from an ordinary telephone connected to the public line must use a digital telephone in order to use the subaddress information. Therefore, it is also possible to configure so that a call can be made not only from a digital telephone but also from an ordinary analog telephone. FIG. 6 shows the PB in that case.
Line interface unit 26 showing the configuration of the X adding device 25
3B is different from FIG. 3B in that a PB (push button signal) receiver 47 is connected between the PB and the internal bus 31. The procedure for calling from an analog telephone is described below as (1) external line (digital telephone) → extension (PC / WS) and (4) extension (digital telephone for private line) -extension (PC / W).
It is shown in the same manner as described in S).

(7) Outside line (analog telephone) → extension (P
C / WC) From analog telephone connected to general public line to LAN1
In this case, a call is made to the PC / WS 17 on the PC 6. From the analog telephone, dial (representative number) K connected to the PBX adding device 25. In the exchange which accommodates this analog telephone, since the called party is a digital line, the exchange converts A / D analog voice, converts it to a digital voice signal, and converts the calling line to the destination PBX1.
Connect to 2. The PBX 12 recognizes the representative number K and
The calling line is connected to the BX adding device 25 using k private lines. For example, if all k lines are blocked, the call is returned to the caller busy. One of the k
For example, if the k1th line is vacant, it is connected to the k1st line. The calling signal output from the PBX 12 on the k1st line is input to the PBX adding device 25 and input to the line interface unit 26. The signal input to the line interface unit 26 receives an incoming call from an analog telephone and changes during communication. Next, the PBX adding device 25
Sends a message to the caller, prompting them to enter the destination extension by PB. The caller enters the destination extension using the PB. The PBX adding device 25 uses PB
The receiver 47 recognizes the destination extension number, and uses the sub address (extension number) -IP address conversion table 35 to determine the IP address from the extension number recognized by the PB receiver 47. Next, the PBX adding device 25
Creates a call signal for performing a call process to the PC / WS17. The calling signal is packetized by the PAD unit 28. The packetized outgoing call signal is transmitted to the determined IP address via the LAN 16. Thereafter, the PC / WS 17 receives the transmitted packet, and the process of transitioning to during communication is the same as the process shown in (1).

(8) Extension (analog telephone for private line)
-Extension (PC / WS) Next, PC / W on LAN 16 from local analog telephone
A case where a call is made to S17 will be described. In this case, as in the case of the above (4), the function of the PBX 12 is a condition that a representative can be assembled with an extension number. From the premises analog telephone, the extension representative number K dial ex and PBX12
Connected to The PBX 12 recognizes the representative number and
It is connected to the X adding device 25 using k private lines.
For example, if all k lines are blocked, the call is returned to the caller busy. If one of the k lines, for example, the k1st line is free, it is connected to the k1st line. k1
The outgoing call signal output from the PBX 12 on the
X input device 25,
Is input to The signal input to the line interface unit 26 receives an incoming call from the analog telephone and changes during communication. Next, the PBX adding device 25 sends a message to the caller to urge the user to input the destination extension number by PB. The caller uses the PB to enter the destination extension. In the PBX adding device 25, the PB receiver 47 recognizes the destination extension number, and the subaddress (extension number) −
Using the IP address conversion table 33, the IP address is determined from the extension number recognized by the PB receiver 47. Next, the PBX adding device 25 creates a call signal for performing a call process to the PC / WS 17. The calling signal is
It is packetized by the PAD unit 28. The packetized outgoing call signal is transmitted to the determined IP address via the LAN 16. Thereafter, the PC / WS 17 receives the transmitted packet data, and the process of transitioning to during communication is the same as the process shown in (1).

In this embodiment, each PC / WS17 is used as a sub-address when a call is made to the PC / WS17.
User specifies the telephone number of the extension phone that is normally used. This is an example of a case where the normal extension phone and the telephone function of the LAN 16 coexist as an initial stage of development. In this case, of the conventional problems, if it is limited to voice, the digital private line and the LAN 16 cannot be shared, and the second problem of double investment cannot be solved. However, if this embodiment is developed, the user of the PC / WS 17 does not need the extension telephone, and the voice communication can be sufficiently performed only by the telephone using the PC / WS 17. In this case, PC / W
Since the user of S17 does not need to install an extension telephone, the installation cost can be reduced accordingly. That is, the present invention has an effect that double investment can be avoided and cost increase can be reduced. In this case, it is obvious that the present invention can be realized by a method such as using an IP address as it is instead of an extension telephone number as a subaddress.

Also, the telephone for communicating with the PC / WS 17 has been described with respect to calling from a digital telephone or an analog telephone, but the calling from the PC / WS 17 to the analog telephone is performed by an exchange and an A / D conversion function of the PBX 12. , D /
It is apparent from the above-described configuration that mutual communication with the analog telephone can be performed using the A conversion function. In the above description, it is assumed that the user to whom the extension number is assigned uses PC / WS. That is, the PC / WS and the extension telephone set are provided as a pair near each other, and the same extension number is given to both. However, the PC / WS may be provided independently of the extension telephone and perform voice communication between the PC / WS and the extension or external telephone. In this case, without providing the sub-address-IP address conversion table 33, the IP address of the PC / WS may be dialed directly from the external line or extension telephone following the representative number. Also, even when the extension number and the IP address correspond,
If the P address is known, the IP address may be dialed directly instead of the extension number. However, since the IP address generally has a large number of digits, for example, 9 digits, the PC / WS is given the extension number or a unique number (sub address) having a small number of digits, and dialing is performed by using a sub address-IP address conversion table. The number of times is small.

The private line allocated to the PBX adding device 25 is not limited to a plurality. In other words, even with one line, the conventional LA
It is possible that voice communication between N and the internal telephone network or the external telephone network could not be performed. Furthermore, PBX addition device 2
The representative number K given to 5 is not limited to the case where a dial can be made directly from an outside line, but may be an extension representative number. In this case, for example, the PBX adding device 25 which continues to the representative number of the PBX 12
Dial the representative number, and then dial the sub-address.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, a PBX provided with a device for storing, as digital data, a call arriving on a digital private line to which a representative number is assigned.
The additional device 25 'will be described. 121 is a line interface unit, 122 is a sub address recognition conversion unit, 123
Is a sub address-unique address conversion table, 124 is a buffer memory unit, 125 is a SCSI interface unit, 126 is a CPU, 127 is a PB receiver unit, 128
Is an internal bus, 129 is a D / A converter, 130 is a modem, 131 is a memory, and 132 is SCSI. In addition,
The IP address of the user connected on the LAN is used as the unique address number.

By the way, in the digital public line, the terminal type (telephone, G3FAX, G4FAX, telex, etc.) and information transfer capability (voice, 3. Information such as 1 kHz audio, unrestricted digital) and progress identifiers (identifiers indicating that the incoming and outgoing users are not ISDN users) can be added. Calling user and PB
When communicating with the X adding device 20, the terminal type, the information transfer capability, and the progress identifier used in the call setting data are used.

Here, the operation of the PBX adding device 25 'when receiving a call is described as (1)' a call from a digital fax,
The following describes (2) an incoming call from a digital telephone and (3) an incoming call from an analog fax / analog telephone. (1) Incoming call from digital FAX From G4 FAX, which is a FAX connected to N-ISDN, dial (representative number) * (extension number of the destination). For example, if the representative number is 123-4567 and the extension number of the destination is 1122, 1234567 *
Dial 1122. Here, * is a sub-address identifier. The PBX 12 recognizes the representative number and
A connection is made to the additional device 25 'using k private lines 14. For example, if all k lines are blocked, busy is returned to the call destination. If one of the k lines, for example, the k1st line is free, it is connected to the k1st line. k
The signal output from the PBX 12 via the first line is input to the PBX adding device 25 ', and is input to the line interface unit 121. A response is returned to the calling signal input to the line interface unit 121. Here, as described above, the PBX adding device 25 'confirms that the information transfer capability is unrestricted digital and the terminal type is G4FAX from the information transfer capability and the terminal type included in the call setting data. Then, as communication between G4FAX,
Initiate negotiation with the calling terminal. Further, the sub-address recognition / conversion unit 122 refers to the sub-address-fixed address conversion table 123 and determines an IP address from an extension number which is a sub-address following the representative number. In this conversion table 123, the user name using the IP address is registered along with the IP address name. Thereafter, communication starts, and G is transmitted from the calling terminal.
4FAX data is transmitted. FAX data received by the PBX adding device 25 'is stored in the memory 131. C
The PU 126 transmits the facsimile data stored in the memory 131 together with the determined IP address name and user name to the PC / I / F via the internal bus 128, the buffer memory unit 124, the SCSI interface unit 125, and the SCSI 132.
Send to WS17. PC / WS17 is SCSI13
FAX data transmitted through the G2FA
Decoding is performed according to the encoding method specified by X. The imaged decrypted fax data is filed with the user name sent together and stored in the hard disk of the PC / WS17. Thereafter, the PC / WS 17 notifies the user name of the IP address destination that the fax has been received by e-mail. For example, the following message is transmitted by e-mail.

"Receiving FAX. Please store it in your FAX mailbox. Please take it out." The user accesses PC / WS 17 connected to PBX additional device 25 'from the user's terminal. And the applicable fax
Is transferred, for example, by FTP, which is a file transfer means defined by the TCP / IP protocol. The transferred fax image data is displayed by appropriate application software, and the fax can be read.

(2) 'Incoming call from digital telephone From a digital telephone connected to N-ISDN,
Dial (Representative number) * (Extension number of the other party). For example, when the representative number is 123-4567 and the extension number of the destination is 1122, 1234567 * 112
Dial 2. PBX12 recognizes the representative number,
A connection is made to the PBX adding device 25 'in the same manner as in (1)'. The incoming call signal is input to the PBX adding device 25 ', and is input to the line interface unit 121. The line interface unit 121 returns a response to the calling side. Here, as in (1) ', the PBX adding device 25' determines that the information transfer capability is unrestricted digital and the terminal type is telephone, based on the information transfer capability and terminal type included in the input call setting data. Make sure there is. Further, the sub-address recognition conversion unit 122 determines the IP address and the user name from the sub-address following the representative number with reference to the sub-address-fixed address conversion table 123. The CPU 126 informs the PC / WS 17 that the call is from the digital telephone based on the result of the recognition from the call type.
Notify via The PC / WS 17 confirms the call from the digital telephone, and converts the voice message stored in the hard disk in advance through the PBX via the SCSI 132.
It is sent to the additional device 25 '. The PBX adding device 25 '
The transmitted message is D / A converted to voice and notified to the caller. The message in this case is the following message, which is sent to the caller.

"This telephone is a voice storage device. After the signal" P ", record the voice message. When the recording is completed, please leave the telephone." Then, the PBX adding device 25 'stores the voice message in the memory 131. accumulate. The CPU 126 determines the determined IP
The audio data stored in the memory 131 together with the address name and the user name are transmitted to the SCSI interface 125, S
The data is transmitted to the PC / WS 17 via the CSI 132. PC
The / WS 17 receives the audio data transmitted via the SCSI 132, creates a file based on the user name transmitted together, and stores the file in the hard disk of the PC / WS 17. Thereafter, the PC / WS 17 notifies the user name of the IP address destination that the voice message has been received by e-mail. In this case, the following message is transmitted by e-mail.

[Receiving a voice message. It is stored in the mailbox of your name, so please take it out.]
Access the PC / WS 17 connected to 5 'and transfer the corresponding voice message file by FTP. The transferred voice data can be D / A converted at the user's terminal and converted to analog voice for listening.

(3) 'Incoming call from analog FAX / analog telephone From G3 FAX connected to analog public telephone network, P
Dial the BX adding device 25 '. For example, if the representative number is 123-4567, the FAX mode is switched to manual, dial 1234567, and a connection is made to the PBX adding device 25 'in the same manner as in (1)' above. Similarly, in the case of an incoming call from an analog telephone,
Dial from the analog telephone to the PBX adding device 25 '. For example, if the representative number is 123-4567, dial 1234567 and the PBX adding device 25 '
Is connected in the same manner as in (1) ′ above. Here, the PBX adding device 25 'confirms that the calling terminal is a call from the analog network based on the progress identifier included in the call setting data, and the CPU 126 sets the PC / WS17.
Is notified via the SCSI 132 that the call is from the analog network. The PC / WS 17 confirms the call from the analog network, and transmits the voice message stored in the hard disk in advance via the SCSI 132 to the PBX adding device 2.
Send to 5 '. The PBX adding device 25 'D / A converts the transmitted message to voice and notifies the calling party. Alternatively, text data is stored as a voice message on the hard disk, and the text voice message is transmitted to the PBX adding device 25 'via the SCSI 132. The PBX adding device 25' converts the transmitted text message by the text voice synthesizer. The synthesized voice is converted and notified to the caller. In this case, the following message is sent to the calling party.

[This phone is a fax or voice storage device. After the signal "P", press 1 * to store a fax or 2 * to store a voice message. Press the extension number of the person you want to send a voice message to, then press * again, then press the FAX communication button for FAX storage, or enter a voice message for voice messages. Here, FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of the transmission type. Assuming the extension number is 1122, the user signals the peak after the message, and 1 * 1122 * in the case of fax storage.
Press 2 * 1122 * for voice message storage. The pressed number is decoded by the PB receiver 127, and is recognized as a storage type and a sub address. The recognized sub-address is sent to the sub-address recognition conversion unit 122.
The sub address-fixed address conversion table 12
3 to determine the IP address and the user name. Next, in the case of FAX accumulation, the PBX addition device 25 'starts negotiation with the call destination FAX, and starts reception in the G3 mode. In the case of voice message storage, storage of the received voice message is started. PBX adding device 25 '
The FAX data and voice message data received by are stored in the memory 131. The CPU 126 determines the determined I
FAX data and voice message data stored in the memory 131 along with the P address name are transmitted to the PC / WS 17 via the SCSI interface 125 and the SCSI 132. The PC / WS 17 receives the FAX data and the voice message data transmitted via the SCSI 132, and decodes the FAX data in accordance with the encoding method specified by G3FAX. The decoded facsimile facsimile data is converted into a file with the user name sent together, and is stored in the hard disk of the PC / WS17. The PC / WS 17 is similarly connected to the SCSI1
32, if the data transmitted via the P.32 is audio data,
It is filed as it is with the user name sent together and is stored in the hard disk of PC / WS17. Thereafter, the PC / WS 17 notifies the user name of the IP address destination by e-mail that the fax / voice message has been received. In this case, the following message is transmitted by e-mail.

In the case of FAX storage: "A FAX is being received. Please take it out because it is stored in the FAX mailbox of your name." In the case of voice message storage: "A voice message is being received. Please take it out because it is stored in the mailbox of the name. ”The user accesses the PC / WS 17 connected to the PBX additional device from the user's terminal and transmits the corresponding FAX data or voice message data to the TCP / IP protocol. The file is transferred by FTP, which is a file transfer method specified in the above. Transferred data is FAX data.
X image data can be displayed on appropriate application software to read a fax. In the case of voice message data, the transferred voice data can be D / A converted at the user's terminal and converted to analog voice for listening.

[0052]

As described above, according to the present invention, when a digital PBX and a LAN are connected via a PBX adding device and dialed from a digital telephone connected to a public line, the PBX is added via the PBX. Connected to a PC / WS connected to the public telephone line, and transmitted from the PBX adding device to the PC / WS corresponding to the address from the telephone as a voice packet via the LAN, and from the digital telephone connected to the public line to the PC / WS connected to the LAN. A call can be made to the WS to conduct a two-way conversation.

Then, voice packet data is transmitted from the PC / WS to the PBX adding device, and a call is made to the PBX by the telephone number transmitted together with the voice packet data.
You can connect and talk with the desired telephone. Naturally, a LAN that is not connected between the PC / WS and another PC / WS via the LAN, between the PC / WS and a digital telephone connected to the private line, or between the PC / WS and the router. Conversation with a PC / WS connected to the PC.

Also, by adding a PB receiver to the PBX adding device, a call can be made from an analog telephone. On top of that, the PBX additional device and PC / WS C
By using PU function, high-performance answering machine,
A high-performance transfer telephone can be realized by using a private telephone together. Thereby, the digital voice on the conventional digital private line and the LAN by PC / WS can be used.
The user interface is improved because digital voices transmitted above can be connected. Further, in the future, the user of the PC / WS connected to the LAN will not need to perform the work of wiring the private telephone, and the installation cost can be reduced.

Further, the present invention relates to a local area network LAN composed of a plurality of information processing terminals having voice input / output devices, and a plurality of telephones connected to a private branch exchange P.
L installed in the same premises as the premises line network accommodated in BX
In the AN-PBX communication device, a device for storing, as digital data, a call arriving on a digital private line to which a representative number is assigned is added to the PBX adding device, so that the arriving FAX or voice data can be transmitted. Information processing terminal PC / W connected to PBX additional device
The information is accumulated on S, and the corresponding user can be notified of the accumulation by e-mail. The user who has received the notification can transfer the FAX data and the voice data stored by the FTP via the LAN, thereby promoting office efficiency.

Also, since this PBX addition device accommodates a plurality of lines with representative numbers, it is as if a plurality of FAX
Has the effect of being installed. And, while having a configuration in which a plurality of faxes are installed,
Since the destination data can be transferred via the LAN by the respective destination users by FTP,
The inconvenience of not knowing that the AX has been called is eliminated.

Further, since the destination user can be specified by the sub-address, the fax can be classified for each destination user and stored in the mailbox of the user without forming the facsimile. Then, when trying to convey a message by telephone, if the other party is absent, the voice data can also be stored as a voice message in the voice mailbox in the same manner as when storing the fax.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the present invention.

FIG. 2A is a block diagram showing a configuration of a PBX adding device 25, and FIG. 2B is a diagram showing a structure of a voice packet.

3A is a block diagram showing a configuration of a PC / WS 17 having a voice input / output function, and FIG. 3B is a block diagram showing a PBX adding device used in an embodiment of the invention according to claim 6;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining a processing procedure of a PBX adding device 25 according to the invention of claim 6;

FIG. 5 is a continuation of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a PBX adding device 25 according to claim 8;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing another overall configuration of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating another PBX adding device.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a transmission type.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional PBX.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing the entire configuration of a conventional example.

Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Toru Sakatani 1-6-6 Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (56) References JP-A-59-11053 (JP, A) JP-A-7-170288 JP-A-7-212494 (JP, A) JP-A-8-32652 (JP, A) JP-A-61-30148 (JP, A) JP-A-1-165243 (JP, A) JP-A-62-130049 (JP, A) JP-A-4-310049 (JP, A) JP-A-6-245243 (JP, A) JP-A-7-58861 (JP, A) JP-A-7-143167 ( JP, A) JP-A-7-154481 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04L 12/66 H04L 12/56 H04M 3/00

Claims (8)

(57) [Claims] 1. A local area network comprising a plurality of information processing terminals having voice input / output devices and performing packet communication, and a local line network which accommodates a plurality of private telephones in a private branch exchange and handles digital voice signals. A LAN-to-PBX communication device installed in the same premises, wherein the LAN-to-PBX communication device is a PBX adding device that is assigned a representative number and connects a local area network and a private branch exchange. Has a transmission system conversion device for mutually converting a voice packet in a local area network and a digital voice signal from a private branch exchange. The PBX adding device comprises: a unique address assigned to the information processing terminal; An address indicating the correspondence with the extension number for the private line accommodated in the circuit switch A conversion table, and based on the address conversion table,
The PBX adding device has a function of performing an address conversion between an extension number and a unique address. The PBX adding device is a device that wraps the input digital voice signal when the called information processing terminal is busy or does not answer, and Characterized by a device for calling a private branch exchange so as to deliver the digital voice signal to a private telephone of a private network having an extension number corresponding to the unique address of the destination information processing terminal. An inter-PBX communication device. 2. The LAN-PBX communication device according to claim 1, further comprising a device that receives the voice packet transmitted to the local area network by the information processing terminal and stores the voice packet in the storage device. LAN
An inter-PBX communication device. 3. The LAN-PBX communication device according to claim 1, wherein the PBX addition device performs a loopback process, and when a private telephone called from the private branch exchange is busy or does not answer, A LAN-PBX communication device comprising a device for sending an absence message as a packet to an information processing terminal of a first destination. 4. A local area network comprising a plurality of information processing terminals having voice input / output devices and performing packet communication, and a local line network which accommodates a plurality of private telephones in a private branch exchange and handles digital voice signals. A LAN-to-PBX communication device installed in the same premises, wherein the LAN-to-PBX communication device is a PBX adding device that is assigned a representative number and connects a local area network and a private branch exchange. Has a transmission system conversion device for mutually converting a packet in a local area network and a digital voice signal from a private branch exchange, and the PBX adding device converts a call arriving on a digital private line to which a representative number is assigned. A PBX adding device for storing the digital data as digital data; An address conversion table for converting the sub-address of the destination address of the call that is incoming to Le private telephone recognizing the subaddress recognizing unit, the unique address that is given a sub-address to the information processing terminal,
A conversion unit for converting the sub-address into a unique address by referring to a conversion table, wherein the information processing terminal stores a call data received on the digital private line with the converted unique address name; And a device for transmitting a message notifying that the data of the incoming call has been stored on the local area network.
BX communication device. 5. The LAN-PBX communication apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the PBX adding device recognizes a subaddress received on the digital private line and receives the subaddress based on the data type data transmitted together with the subaddress. A LAN-PBX communication device comprising a device for identifying the type of digital data obtained. 6. The LAN-PBX communication apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the information processing terminal decodes the facsimile data when the digital data received on the digital private line is data from a digital facsimile. A LAN-PBX communication device having a device for storing image data in an information processing terminal. 7. The LAN-PBX communication apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the PBX adding device converts the received data to analog data when the digital data received on the digital private line is data from an analog facsimile. A LAN-PBX communication device having a D / A conversion unit for converting, and the information processing terminal having a device for decoding FAX data converted to analog and storing the decoded FAX data as image data in the information processing terminal. 8. The LAN-PBX communication device according to claim 4, wherein the PBX addition device receives and decodes a push button signal of the analog telephone when the incoming call is a call from an analog network. A LAN-PBX communication device comprising a device.