JP3228491B2 - Multipath connection method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention is used for a special telephone service using an intelligent network. In particular, it relates to a call connection control technique.

[0002]

^2. Description of the Related Art Various services using an intelligent network such as dial Q ² (registered trademark) and toll free (registered trademark) are known. The conventional example will be described with reference to FIG. Figure 7 shows the intelligent
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a network. Intelligent
The network employs a system in which a subscriber line exchange GC inquires a network service control station NSP for each call from a telephone terminal in order to obtain data for supporting various special services. Control station NSP
Due to the limitations of the processing capacity and the line capacity on the way, it tends to be difficult to respond to each inquiry. For this reason, the problem of an increase in traffic required for inquiring of the network service control station NSP is dealt with by temporarily transferring data from the network service control station NSP to the subscriber line exchange GC. The outline is shown in FIG. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a transfer state from the network service management station NSSP to the local exchange GC. In this way, it is also possible to transfer the data directly from the network service management station NSSP, which is an upper node of the network service control station NSP, to the subscriber line exchange GC.

[0003] In such an intelligent network enabling various services, a large amount of information services are provided. The conventional example will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram of the mass information service. As advance preparation, the service content of the contractor is set from the terminal device of the mass calling center to the network service management station NSSP. The network service management station NSSP is the network service control station N
Subscriber line exchange GC in the service providing area via SP
Transfer service contents to

[0004] A user dials a mass calling number (a number to be heard). The subscriber line exchange GC performs a connection process to the plan provider terminal IP via the relay exchange ZC for the first call (at the time of the first call) for the corresponding number. When the second and subsequent calls for the corresponding number occur consecutively in the local exchange GC, the transit exchange ZC, and the destination local exchange GC, the node performs multipath distribution connection. As a result, even if there are a large number of outgoing calls, the sound source on the plan provider side can provide the service even with one line. here,
In the multipath distributed connection, since the call (voice) is a digital signal, the distributed connection is performed by copying the signal. The suspension or restart of the service and the notification of traffic and other instructions are performed with the planning provider terminal IP through the packet network (customer control).

FIG. 10 is a diagram conceptually showing the structure of the mass information service shown in FIG. For the sound source device (hereinafter referred to as IP sound source) prepared by the plan provider,
Information is provided by multiple connections from each telephone terminal. That is, in the mass information service, information (guidance, etc.) is provided to the caller by connecting a plurality of connection request calls to the IP sound source prepared by the plan provider and the like by multipath. If the IP sound source is not connectable, all of the calls requested to be connected until the IP sound source is restored will be encountered during the terminal busy, and the busy sound connection will be made.

In a telephone voting service in which voting is performed by a telephone terminal, when a telephone voting is accepted, fixed guidance "Thank you, your telephone has been accepted" is sent from the network side. Some plan providers and users have commented that they are "quick" or "I want to respond with a voice of their personality" and others, and even in the telephone voting service, there is a demand for multiple connections to IP sound sources that allow the plan provider to freely set the language. Have been.

[0007]

However, in a special service, such as a telephone voting service, in which peak traffic is generated almost at the same time as the start of a project, as described above, the multipath is set during the first call. Alternatively, the number of calls that are encountered during the restoration of the IP sound source and become a busy tone connection is extremely large, and the conventional method cannot be applied.

[0010] The cause of the recovery of the IP sound source is that when the connected multipath is disconnected (the incoming call is interrupted), a busy tone is connected to the IP sound source from the communication network side, and the IP sound source receives the talk. There may be a case where an attempt is made to recover by detecting the middle sound.

The problem of this conventional example will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining a problem of the conventional example. As shown in FIG. 11A, when the caller finishes listening to the information and disconnects the line, if there is no other caller calling the IP sound source (that is, an incoming call arrives). If not, the destination local exchange GC connects the busy tone (BT) to the IP sound source. The IP sound source receiving this shifts to the cueing or other recovery state. At this time,
Even if another caller makes a call, connection cannot be established because the IP sound source is being restored, and as shown in FIG. 11B, the calling subscriber line exchange GC gives a busy tone to the caller. Is connected and the caller cannot hear the information. After the IP sound source is restored, information is again provided from the IP sound source to the newly called caller.

As described above, some IP sound sources have a considerably long recovery time, and a busy tone is connected to a caller who has made a call during that time, so that service cannot be provided. Also, in services such as a telephone voting service where connection requests are generated at a peak almost at the same time as the start of a project, a large number of callers can be set even during multi-path setup after receiving the first incoming call. It is possible that the busy tone is connected.

[0011] The present invention has been made in such a background. Before the start of a project, an exchange sets an advance multipath to a plan provider and holds the multipath until the end of the project. An object of the present invention is to provide a multipath connection method capable of reliably transmitting guidance to a call from a user. An object of the present invention is to provide a multipath connection method in which the multipath is not disconnected during the continuation of the project.

[0012]

According to the present invention, a multipath is set from a certain time to a certain time irrespective of the presence or absence of an incoming call according to a prior meeting with a plan provider.

That is, a first aspect of the present invention relates to a plurality of exchange-capable exchanges in which a plurality of incoming lines are connected to a single outgoing line, and an incoming call received by each of the exchanges, which is stored in one switch. This is a multipath connection system including a connection line connected to two sound sources, and control means for controlling the exchange and the connection line.

Here, it is a feature of the present invention that the control means includes means for controlling connection between a preset line among the incoming lines and the sound source before an incoming call arrives. There. As a result, it is possible to set a multipath and wait before starting the project. Therefore, it can be used for a mass information service or a telephone voting service.

Preferably, the sound source is voice information, the preset lines are lines corresponding to subscriber telephone numbers, and the connection control means is activated by an operation input.

Preferably, the means for controlling the connection includes means for releasing the connection between the exchange and the connection line at a preset time or by an operation input. As a result, the multipath can be released after the end of the project.

A second aspect of the present invention is a mass information service system including the multipath connection system.

A third aspect of the present invention is a telephone voting service system including the multipath connection system.

A fourth aspect of the present invention is an exchange comprising an incoming line to which a plurality of incoming calls are respectively connected, an information source, and connection means for connecting the output of the information source to the incoming terminal. Device.

Here, a feature of the present invention is characterized in that the connection means connects and releases the output of the information sound source to the incoming line according to instruction information from a host device regardless of the presence or absence of the incoming call. It is provided with a means for performing.

[0021]

[Function] According to a prior meeting with the plan provider, a multi-path can be set before the start of the plan, so, for example, by using for a mass information service, even if the incoming call is interrupted, the plan is continued. It is possible to avoid a situation in which the caller becomes a busy tone connection without restoring the IP sound source. Alternatively, by using the telephone voting service, an IP sound source can be connected to a large number of incoming calls almost simultaneously with the start of a project.

The sound source is voice information, and the preset lines correspond to subscriber telephone numbers, respectively, and the caller can request a line connection by using the subscriber telephone number.

Further, according to a prior meeting with the plan provider, the setting of the multipath can be canceled after the plan is completed.

A timer function may be provided in the exchange to set or release a multipath.

[0025]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration and operation of the embodiment of the present invention.

According to the present invention, a plurality of subscriber line exchanges GC capable of multiple connection in which a plurality of incoming lines are connected to a single outgoing line, and incoming calls respectively received at the subscriber line exchanges GC are provided. This is a multipath connection system including a connection line connected to one IP sound source, a subscriber line exchange GC, and a network service control station NSP as control means for controlling the connection line.

Here, a feature of the present invention is that the network service management station NSSP includes a means for controlling connection of a preset line and an IP sound source among the incoming lines before an incoming call arrives. It is in the prepared place.

The IP sound source is voice information, the previously set lines are lines corresponding to subscriber telephone numbers, and the network service control station NSP is activated by an operation input.

The network service management station NSSP includes means for releasing the connection between the subscriber line exchange GC and the connection line at a preset time or by an operation input.

Next, the operation of the embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1A, at the stage before the start of the planning, the advance multipath setting is triggered by the schedule start of the network service management station NSSP managing the plan data, and the service provision start is started. Ten minutes ago, a pre-multipath setting instruction is issued to the originating local exchange GC.

Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 1 (b), if the user makes a call during the continuation of the planning, the incoming call is connected to the already set (prior) multipath. I do. At this point, even if there is no call from the user at all, since the multipath set in advance is alive, the IP
The sound source will not be restored.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1 (c), when the project is completed, the network service management station NSSP issues an instruction to release the multipath in advance.

A description will be given of a mass information service as an example. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing plan data created by the network service management station NSSP based on information input from the customer terminal. The transmission area code is an area code in which the mass information service can be used, and can be arbitrarily specified by the plan provider. The network service management station NSSP extracts the exchange GC to be provided for the plan from the transmission area code, and transfers connection data (FIG. 3) described later.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing connection data transferred to the exchange GC of the plan provider. The pre-multipath setting flag becomes “1” (setting) when the pre-multipath setting of the present invention is completed. The service start flag is
It becomes "1" (start) when this project starts. Also,
The through cycle and the repetition cycle include the time (through cycle) for connecting the incoming call of the service telephone number to the predetermined IP sound source after the exchange GC receives the service start instruction from the network service management station NSSP, and the next through start. (Switching cycle) is defined, and each exchange GC executes an operation of through → pause → through based on this time.

(Operation of Network Service Management Station NSSP) Next, the network service management station NSSS based on these data
The operation of the exchange GC will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the network service management station NSSP. The connection data is created from the plan data created based on the data input from the customer terminal of the contractor (Sa1). This data creation process differs from the related art in that the telephone number of the IP sound source is added to the plan data and the connection data, and that a pre-multipath setting flag is added to the connection data. Next, the created connection data is sent to the subscriber line exchange GC of the plan provider. This subscriber line exchange GC is extracted from the transmission area code of the plan data as described above (Sa2). Next, the service start time of the planning data and the network service management station NSSP
When the clock time of the network service management station NSSP becomes slightly earlier than the service start time (for example, 10 minutes before the service start time) or manually by the contractor terminal, When the multi-path setting is sent (Sa3), the multi-path setting is instructed to each exchange GC via the network service control station NSP (Sa).
4). Next, the service end time of the plan data is compared with the clock time of the network service management station NSSP, and when the clock time of the network service management station NSSP exceeds the service end time, or the plan provider terminal IP (IP terminal) When a pre-multipath release is sent manually from (Sa5),
Each local line exchange GC via the network service control station NSP
Is instructed to release the multipath in advance (Sa6).

(Operation of Exchange GC) FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the subscriber line exchange GC of the plan provider. When the "connection data" transmitted from the network service management station NSSP is received (Sb1), the connection data is stored in the memory (Sb2). Network Service Management Station NSSP
When the "pre-multipath setting instruction" transmitted from the network service control station NSP is received (Sb3), the connection is made using the internal resource for the telephone number of the IP sound source in the connection data, and the connection to the IP sound source is performed. A pre-multipath is set (Sb4). Next, upon receiving a pre-multipath release instruction from the network service management station NSSP (Sb5), the pre-multipath to the IP sound source is released (Sb8).

When accessing the information of the IP sound source during the implementation of the project, the caller must use a predetermined service number (0180-XX).
When (XXXX) is dialed, the service telephone number is received by the subscriber line exchange GC, and the service number dialed by the caller matches the service telephone number of the connection data by referring to the connection data (Sb6). If the pre-multipath setting flag of the connection data is "1" (set), the connection to the already set multipath is established (Sb7).
The multipath connection method is the same as the conventional incoming multipath connection method.

As described above, the network service management station NSSP instructs the subscriber line exchange GC to set a multipath in advance based on the service start time of the plan data, and the subscriber line exchange GC sends the multipath setting from the network service management station NSSP. Is received, the multipath is set to a predetermined IP sound source in advance, and the multipath to the IP sound source is not released until a multipath setting release instruction is received from the network service management station NSSP. Therefore, unlike the related art, even if there is no outgoing call to the IP sound source, the multipath to the IP sound source is not released.

Next, an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a telephone voting service will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a telephone voting service.
There is a "telephone voting service" as a service for connecting a large number of calls to the IP sound source in a multipath manner. What is a telephone voting service?
This service accepts options for answering questions by several service telephone numbers and immediately provides the number of answers received to the plan provider.

The total number of answers is calculated by the network service control station NSP.
Polls the subscriber line exchange GC for a report on the number of responses, and the polled subscriber line exchange GC sequentially returns the number of responses. When the network service management station NSSP receives a request for counting the number of responses from the terminal of the planning provider, the subscriber line exchange GC transmits the number of responses already collected to the network service management station NSSP.

In addition, the subscriber line exchange GC provides a guidance "Thank you. I have. In the present invention, since the multipath is not set until the multipath is set in advance and the multipath release instruction is received, there is no problem that the connection to the IP sound source cannot be made as described in the mass information service.

Further, in the present invention, since the "IP telephone number of the IP sound source" for setting the multipath is provided in advance in the connection data to be transferred to the subscriber line exchange GC, other than the IP sound source 2 which is fixedly assigned. Can be connected to the IP sound source 3 prepared by the plan provider, and a service corresponding to the request of the plan provider, "I want to respond with the voice of personality" can be provided. In the telephone voting service, several service telephone numbers AN1, AN corresponding to the options are provided.
Since 2,..., ANn are prepared, connection data is also prepared for each service telephone number. Therefore, by setting a different telephone number of the IP sound source for each service telephone number, it is possible to provide guidance corresponding to the request of the plan provider.

As described above, the connection data of the present invention includes "I
Since the "phone number of the P sound source" is provided, it is possible to connect to the IP sound source 3 prepared by the plan provider other than the fixedly assigned IP sound source 2.

Further, since connection data is prepared for each service telephone number corresponding to the answer, a different IP sound source telephone number can be set for each service telephone number, and guidance corresponding to the request of the plan provider can be provided. Can be provided.

[0045]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Prior to the start of the project, the exchange sets an advance multipath to the plan provider and holds the multipath until the end of the project, so that guidance can be reliably sent to a call from the user. According to the present invention, the multipath is not disconnected during the continuation of the project. Therefore, guidance can be reliably transmitted to a call from a user.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration and operation of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing plan data created by a network service management station based on information input from a customer terminal.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing connection data transferred to an exchange of a plan provider.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of a network service management station.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the subscriber line exchange of the plan provider.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a telephone voting service.

FIG. 7 is an overall configuration diagram of an intelligent network.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a transfer state from a network service management station to a local exchange.

FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram of a mass information service.

FIG. 10 is a diagram conceptually showing the mass information service shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining a problem of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2,3 IP sound source BT Busy tone GC Subscriber line exchange IP Planning provider terminal NSP network service control station NSSP network service management station NW Common line signal network ZC relay exchange

Continuing from the front page (72) Inventor Isao Takei 1-1-6 Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Inventor Kenji Aoyagi 1-1-6 Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Stock Inside the company (72) Inventor Masataka Kato 1-6-1, Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Inventor Fumiaki Okawara 1-6-1, Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Inventor Jun Funako 1-6-6 Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (56) References JP-A-61-126854 (JP, A) JP-A-5-56171 (JP, A (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04M 3/42-3/58

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. A plurality of exchanges capable of multiple connection in which a plurality of incoming lines are connected to a single outgoing line, a connection line for connecting incoming calls respectively received by the exchanges to one sound source, In a multipath connection system including a control unit for controlling the exchange and the connection line, the control unit connects a preset line among the incoming lines and the sound source before an incoming call arrives. A multipath connection method comprising a control unit. 2. The multi-function device according to claim 1, wherein the sound source is audio information, the preset lines are lines corresponding to subscriber telephone numbers, and the connection control unit is activated by an operation input. Path connection method. 3. The connection control means includes means for releasing the connection between the exchange and the connection line at a preset time or by an operation input.
Multipath connection method described. 4. A mass information service system including the multipath connection system according to claim 3. 5. A telephone voting service system including the multipath connection system according to claim 3. 6. An exchange apparatus comprising: an incoming line to which a plurality of incoming calls are respectively connected; an information sound source; and connection means for connecting an output of the information sound source to the called terminal. A switching device for connecting the output of the information sound source to the incoming line and releasing the output of the information sound source in accordance with instruction information from a host device regardless of the presence or absence of the incoming call.