JP3278632B2 - Key telephone apparatus, electronic mail system using the same, and mail transfer method thereof - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to key telephone system, an electronic mail system and a method thereof mail transfer, button email especially coming into the mail server of the e-mail system built on the LAN using the same A key telephone device that can be confirmed and transferred by a telephone,
And e-mail system using the same, and a method feeding the mail transfer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A LAN (local area network) accommodating a client terminal such as a personal computer and a mail server is connected to an external LAN or a public network via a network, and mail messages (e-mail messages) are transmitted between terminals on the network via the mail server. An e-mail system that sends and receives e-mails has been constructed. Each user (user) who uses this e-mail system is assigned a unique e-mail address, and the destination of transmission / reception and transfer of e-mail is determined based on the e-mail address.

Conventionally, in order for each user to confirm receipt of an e-mail addressed to the user, it is necessary to operate e-mail software on a terminal (personal computer) to access a mail server. Transferring an e-mail to another user also requires a series of operations to operate the e-mail software, access the mail server, check the e-mail address of the transfer destination, and transfer the e-mail. Met.

[0004]

Generally, each user can use a telephone of a telephone system in addition to a terminal of an electronic mail system. For example, each user belonging to the same organization or premises can use each telephone housed in the same private branch exchange (key telephone device) exclusively, and can be identified by the extension telephone number assigned to the telephone. It is.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to dial an extension telephone number of a destination user without operating e-mail software and without checking the destination user's e-mail address. It is an object of the present invention to provide a key telephone device which enables transfer, an electronic mail system using the same, a mail incoming notification, and a transfer method.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a key telephone apparatus comprising: a plurality of key telephones each having a different extension number assigned thereto and a user specified; A key telephone device comprising:
N, which is connected to a mail server of the electronic mail system via N, and indicates a correspondence between an extension number for each key telephone and a mail address assigned to the user of the telephone on the electronic mail system. Having an address correspondence table, upon receiving an incoming notification of an e-mail including a received e-mail address from the mail server, search the extension number e-mail address correspondence table using the e-mail address as a key, and enter the extension number corresponding to the e-mail address. Upon detection, the mobile phone sends incoming display information based on the incoming notification of the e-mail to the key telephone to which the extension number is assigned, and sends e-mail
Of the key telephones used by the destination user to whom the
Dial information that indicates an email transfer request that includes a line number
Upon receipt, the extension number of the transfer destination user is extracted, and the
The extension number mail address correspondence table using the line number as a key
Search for the e-mail address corresponding to the extension number.
When the e-mail is received,
A mail transfer request indicating a transfer request to the
Sent to Rusaba, each key telephone set has a display unit for performing visual display of information, displayed from the main device to the display device and receiving said incoming call display information, wherein the user
Button used by the destination user to whom the email should be forwarded
Die indicating an e-mail transfer request containing the telephone extension
Upon receiving the dial information, the dial information is sent to the main unit .

[0007]

In a key telephone apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention, in the above configuration, the main apparatus includes a control means for controlling the entire main apparatus, and a key telephone interface means for interfacing with each of the key telephones. Message storage means for storing message contents to be displayed on each of the key telephones; display information generating means for generating display information to be displayed on each of the key telephones; and an interface with the mail server of the electronic mail system via a LAN And a main unit storage means for storing an extension number mail address correspondence table showing the correspondence between the extension number of each key telephone and the mail address of the user of the telephone.

An electronic mail system according to a third aspect of the present invention is connected to an external network and transmits an electronic mail.
And a LAN accommodated in the LAN to send e-mail.
A plurality of client terminals for reception and
And the subordinate button telephone and the client terminal
Extension uniquely assigned to each user who uses both
It has a correspondence table between numbers and e-mail addresses.
E-mail specified by the extension number entered from the telephone
Transfer request of the specified email address
3. The button according to claim 1, wherein the button is transmitted after being converted into a transmission request.
A telephone device and the external network housed in the LAN.
E-mail between work and each client terminal
Mediating the transmission and reception of the
When the e-mail addressed to the e-mail address
At the same time as the email address containing the email address.
Sends an incoming call notification to the key telephone device,
Other mail to the e-mail stored from the
When a transfer request to the e-mail address is received,
Mail server that forwards files to other specified email addresses
And a server .

[0010] The electronic mail system according to claim 4 of the present invention provides a LAN connection at a plurality of points physically far apart from each other.
Connected mail server, client terminal, and buttons
The electronic mail system according to claim 3, further comprising a telephone device.
Provided, and each mail server was connected via LAN.
Connect with the network for the e-mail system, and
A key telephone and a click
Unique to each user who uses both
Complete the correspondence table between the assigned extension number and email address.
In addition to registering for each point,
Is connected by the telephone system network, and the first point
From the key phone at the second point mail server
Extension in the first location for the stored and stored e-mail
A request to transfer an e-mail with a specified number
And a network for the telephone system and the telephone system.
To the key telephone device at the second point
The key telephone device at the second point receives the received
E-mail with extension number in the first location must be forwarded
The mail under the control of the mail server at the first point corresponding to the request.
Address to the specified transfer request
To the mail server at the point, and the mail server at the second point.
The server manages the received mail server at the first point.
Corresponding to the transfer request specifying the email address of
The email to be sent to the network for the email system.
Network to the mail server at the first point .

[0011]

[0012] According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mail transfer method using a key telephone apparatus, wherein the main unit of the key telephone apparatus performs outgoing / incoming control for a plurality of key telephones to which different extensions are assigned and a user is specified. , LA
A mail server of an electronic mail system is connected via N, and an extension number corresponding to an extension number for each key telephone and a mail address assigned to the user of the telephone on the electronic mail system A table is registered, and when an e-mail arrives at the mail server, an e-mail arrival notification including a received e-mail address is sent to the main device, and the main device uses the e-mail address as a key and When the extension number e-mail address correspondence table is searched and the extension number corresponding to the e-mail address is detected, incoming display information based on the incoming call notification of the e-mail is transmitted to the key telephone set to which the extension number is assigned, and the button On the telephone, the incoming call display information is visually displayed, and the use of a transfer destination to which the e-mail from the user should be transferred Upon receiving dial information indicating an electronic mail transfer request including the extension number of the key telephone used by the user, the dial information is transmitted to the main device, and the main device receives the dial information indicating the electronic mail transfer request from the dial information indicating the electronic mail transfer request. When the extension number is extracted, the extension number mail address correspondence table is searched using the extension number as a key, and the e-mail address corresponding to the extension number is detected, the e-mail notified of the incoming call notification is transferred to the e-mail address. Sending a mail transfer request indicating the request to the mail server.

[0013]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of an electronic mail system according to the present invention. In the following description, electronic mail may be simply abbreviated as mail. FIG.
, A personal computer (PC) is connected to a network 10 which is an aggregate of various data communication networks and data communication terminals in a wide area.
LAN (Local Area Network) 20 accommodating client terminals 31 and 32 and a mail server 40 are connected to form an electronic mail system. The mail server 40 includes a mail server HD (hard magnetic disk device) 41 for storing electronic mail data.

A key telephone device 50 constituting a telephone system is connected to the LAN 20 so that information can be exchanged with the mail server 40. In this example, the key telephone device is used, but the same applies to a private branch exchange (PBX) including an exchange and an extension telephone.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the configuration of the key telephone device 50. In FIG. 2, the key telephone device 50 includes key telephones 61 and 62 with LCD and a main device 51. The main device 51 includes a control unit 510 that controls the entire main device 51 and analyzes an access code, a key telephone interface circuit 511 that interfaces with the key telephones 61 and 62, and a message content displayed on the key telephones 61 and 62. Message memory 512 to be stored, and LCD (liquid crystal display) 6 of each key telephone 61, 62
11 and 621, a display device driver 513 for generating LCD display information, and a CTI (Computer Telephone) for interfacing between a telephone system and an e-mail system (LAN 20).
y Integration: computer telephony integration) interface unit 514,
A main unit HD (hard magnetic disk device) 52 storing an extension number mail address correspondence table 53 indicating the correspondence between the extension number of each key telephone and the e-mail address of the user of the telephone is provided.

The CTI interface unit 514 is a LAN
It connects to the mail server 40 using the communication protocol on the server 20, for example, the TCP / IP protocol, and transmits and receives information.

Each user (user) who uses the electronic mail system is assigned a unique electronic mail address, and the transmission, reception and transfer of the electronic mail are determined based on the electronic mail address. Each user is a client terminal 3 of the e-mail system.
The e-mail is transmitted to and received from the mail server 40 using the mail address by the mail software on the first and second mails 32. At the same time, each user can use either one of the key telephones 61 and 62 of the key telephone device 50 exclusively, and can identify the extension telephone number assigned to the telephone.

Next, an outline of the operation of the present invention will be described. The present invention provides a service for transferring an e-mail in the mail server 40 by operating one of the key telephones 61 and 62 (for example, the key telephone 61) connected to the main device 51 of the key telephone device 50. I do. To operate the key telephone 61, dial the access code M for an electronic mail transfer request from the key telephone 61,
This is the operation of dialing the extension number you want to transfer.

The main unit 51 analyzes the access code from the key telephone 61 and issues an electronic mail transfer request to the mail server 40 when it can determine that the access code is an electronic mail transfer request access code M. At that time, the transfer destination e-mail address is also passed as additional information. The e-mail address of the transfer destination is determined based on the extension number added to the access code M input from the key telephone 61.
The extension number mail address correspondence table 53 stored in the main device HD52 is searched.

A mechanism for notifying that an e-mail has arrived is also one of the features of the present invention. When an e-mail has arrived, the main unit 51 is notified of the fact. The main apparatus displays the title of the e-mail and the sender of the e-mail on the LCD 611 of the key telephone 61 indicating that the e-mail has arrived.

Next, the operation and signal flow of the electronic mail system and the key telephone apparatus of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

Step 1-1: An e-mail addressed to the user (e-mail address) arrives at the mail server 40 from a terminal in the network 10 or the LAN 20.
The e-mail data is stored in the mail server HD41.

Step 1-2: The mail server 40 notifies the main device 51 of the key telephone device 50 of the arrival of the electronic mail as an electronic mail arrival signal A. The e-mail incoming signal A includes, in addition to the e-mail address, the subject of the e-mail and information on the sender of the e-mail as a mail subject. In addition, as described later, when a plurality of e-mails are to be notified or forwarded, an e-mail identification number is assigned. FIG. 4A shows a configuration example of the electronic mail incoming signal A.

Step 1-3: The main unit 51 receives the incoming e-mail signal A, and searches the extension number mail address correspondence table 53 in the main unit HD 52 for a corresponding extension number. FIG. 3 shows a configuration example of the extension number mail address correspondence table 53.

Step 1-4: The main unit 51 sends an e-mail arrival display request signal B to the key telephone (for example, the key telephone 61) to which the searched extension number is assigned, to notify that the e-mail has arrived. Let them know. FIG. 4B shows an electronic mail arrival display request signal B.
An example of the configuration will be described.

Step 1-5: The key telephone 61 sets the L
The CD 611 displays that there is an incoming e-mail, and displays the title of the e-mail and the name of the sender.

FIG. 5 shows a display example on a key telephone. This example shows a case of a 24-digit, 3-line display LCD. LCD
Can display alphanumeric characters, but if it supports kanji and katakana,
Furthermore, they (kanji and katakana) can also be displayed. When the display characters exceed the display digits, the characters can be scrolled and viewed by a well-known scroll technique. In FIG. 5, "EM" at the top of the first line indicates the arrival of an electronic mail (E-Mail). Next "1/3"
Indicates that there are three unread mails, of which the first is currently displayed. The next "weekly ..." is the title of the mail. “Mitsui” on the second line is the name of the sender.

Step 1-6: The user of the key telephone 61 sees the display on the LCD 611 to confirm that the e-mail addressed to the user has arrived at the mail server 40 without operating the client terminals 31 and 32. You can know. Also, it is possible to determine from the title and the sender's name whether it should be read directly or transferred to another user.

Step 1-7: When the user directly reads, the mail server 40 is accessed by the appropriate client terminals 31 and 32.

Step 1-8: If it is determined that the transfer should be made to another user, the user enters an access code M from the dial button of key telephone 61 and issues an e-mail transfer request. At this time, the extension number of the transfer destination is additionally dialed as additional information. The key telephone 61 transmits to the main device 51 as an electronic mail transfer access code signal C based on the information input by the user. FIG. 4C shows a configuration example of the access code signal C for electronic mail transfer.

Step 1-9: Main device 51 transmits access code signal C for electronic mail transfer from key telephone 61
Receives the access code M and analyzes it.

Step 1-10: If the analysis result is an e-mail transfer request, main device 51 searches extension number mail address correspondence table 53 in main device HD 52 for an e-mail address corresponding to the extension number of the transfer destination. .

Step 1-11: The main unit 51 issues an electronic mail transfer request to the mail server 40. That is, an e-mail transfer request signal D to which a transfer destination e-mail address is added as additional information is transmitted to the mail server 40. At this time, if a plurality of incoming e-mails are notified (for example, the state shown in FIG. 5), the key telephone 6
The identification number of the e-mail displayed in 1 (the one included in the e-mail incoming signal A) is given. FIG. 4D shows a configuration example of the electronic mail transfer request signal D.

Step 1-12: The mail server 40
Upon receiving an electronic mail transfer request signal D from the main device 51,
The corresponding electronic mail in the mail server HD41 is transferred based on the contents (transfer destination mail address). In this way, it is possible to know the arrival of an e-mail and transfer it to another user only by operating the telephone of the telephone system without using any client terminal of the e-mail system.

Step 1-13: If this transfer destination mail address belongs to a user in LAN 20, mail server 40 sends an incoming e-mail signal A specifying the mail address to main device 51 of key telephone device 50. By doing so, the above processing is repeated.

Next, the flow of signals inside main device 51 of key telephone device 50 will be described in detail.

Step 2-1: The control unit 510 receives an electronic mail incoming signal A from the mail server 40 via the CTI interface unit 514.

Step 2-2: The control unit 510 stores the title of the e-mail and the information of the sender of the e-mail added to the e-mail incoming signal A in the message memory 512, and displays the display device driver 513. To L
A CD display signal E is issued. At this time, if a plurality of incoming call notifications (unread incoming calls) are received, their identification numbers can be managed. FIG. 4E shows a configuration example of the LCD display signal E.

Step 2-3: The display device driver 513 sends an e-mail incoming display request signal B to the key telephone 61 using the information in the message memory 512.

Step 2-4: The control unit 510 receives the access code signal C for electronic mail transfer from the key telephone 61 via the key telephone interface circuit 511.

Step 2-5: The control unit 510 analyzes the access code, and when it determines that the access code is an electronic mail transfer access code, the control unit 510 determines the transfer destination extension number added to the electronic mail transfer access code signal C and The electronic mail address is searched from the extension number mail address correspondence table 53, the information is added, and an electronic mail transfer request signal D is sent to the electronic mail server 40 (including the mail identification number).

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 6, the mail server 4 is located at two physically distant points (X point and Y point).
LANs 25 and 26 that house client terminals 35 and 46 and client terminals 35 and 36 and transmit and receive e-mails,
Button telephone devices 55 and 56 including main devices 551 and 561 and key telephones 552 and 562 connected to the AN are arranged. The LANs 25 and 26 are connected by an electronic mail system network 15, and the main units 551 and 561 of the key telephone units 55 and 56 are connected by a telephone system network 75.

Main unit 55 of each key telephone unit 55, 56
1, 561 is a key telephone (552, 56
Not only the extension number of 2) but also the extension number of the key telephone (562, 552) of the partner device and each mail server 4
Correspondence information with mail addresses managed by 5, 46 is registered.

Normally, when a user using the key telephone apparatus 55 at the X point and the mail server 45 (and the terminal 35) moves to the remote Y point, the user operates the key telephone 562 of the key telephone apparatus 56 at the Y point. Then, the main device 561,
Via the telephone system network 75, it is possible to request the key telephone device 55 at the point X to confirm the arrival of the e-mail to the mail server 45 and to make a transfer request.

At this time, if the user has also been assigned a mail address under the management of the mail server 46 at the Y point (and the extension number of the key telephone device 56), the transfer destination of the e-mail is set to that and the terminal 36 Can be read.

As described above, an electronic mail confirmation request is issued from the telephone connected to the remote main unit, and if there is an electronic mail, an electronic mail transfer request is further issued, and the electronic mail is transmitted to the remote electronic mail. You can transfer it to a server and read the email remotely.

[0048]

According to the present invention, the user does not operate the e-mail software on the client terminal such as the personal computer of the e-mail system, and does not operate the e-mail of the destination user.
From a key phone without looking up your email address
Simply dial the extension number of the user you are forwarding to,
Email can be forwarded .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing an example of an electronic mail system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a key telephone device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an extension number mail address correspondence table.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of various signals.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a display example of a key telephone.

FIG. 6 is a system configuration diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 network 20, 25, 26 LAN 31, 32, 35, 36 client terminal 40, 45, 46 mail server 50, 55, 56 button telephone device 51, 551, 561 main device 61, 62, 552, 562 button telephone

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04M 3/42-3/58 H04L 12/54 H04L 12/58 H04Q 3/58-3/62 H04M 3 / 00

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A key telephone device comprising: a plurality of key telephones each assigned a different extension number and specifying a user; and a main device for controlling calling / incoming / outgoing calls for the plurality of key telephones. An extension mail connected to the mail server of the e-mail system via the LAN and indicating the correspondence between the extension number for each key telephone and the e-mail address assigned to the user of the telephone on the e-mail system Having an address correspondence table, upon receiving an incoming notification of an e-mail including a received e-mail address from the mail server, search the extension number e-mail address correspondence table using the e-mail address as a key, and enter the extension number corresponding to the e-mail address. Upon detection, the telephone number is transmitted to the key telephone assigned the extension number. Sending incoming display information based on the email arrival notice, the buttons electrostatic
The destination user who should forward e-mail from the handset
Request to send an e-mail containing the extension of the
Receiving the dialing information indicates the extension number of the destination user
Number and extract the extension number using the extension number as a key.
Search the address correspondence table, and correspond to the extension number
When the e-mail address is detected, the
A message indicating a request to transfer a child mail to the mail address
Sends Le transfer request to the mail server, the buttons phone has a display that performs visual display of information, displayed from the main device to the display device and receiving said incoming call display information from the user Should forward the email
Including the extension of the key telephone used by the forwarding destination user
Before receiving dial information indicating an e-mail transfer request
A key telephone device for sending to a key device. 2. The main device, wherein the main device controls the entire main device, a button telephone interface device for interfacing with each of the key telephones, and a message storage for storing message contents to be displayed on each of the key telephones. Means, display information generating means for generating display information to be displayed on each of the key telephones, CTI interface means for interfacing with the mail server of the electronic mail system via a LAN, and an extension number of each of the key telephones. key telephone system according to claim 1, characterized in that it has a main unit storage means for storing an extension number email address correspondence table showing the correspondence between the user's email address of the phone. 3. An electronic mail connected to an external network.
A LAN for transmitting e-mail, and a plurality of LANs for transmitting and receiving e-mails accommodated in the LAN.
Client terminal, a key telephone housed in the LAN, and
Clients that use both
There is a correspondence table between assigned extension numbers and e-mail addresses
The extension number input from the key telephone.
The e-mail address corresponding to the specified e-mail transfer request
The request is converted into a designated transfer request and transmitted.
Or the key telephone device according to claim 2, which is housed in the LAN,
Mediates sending and receiving e-mail between client terminals
The email address uniquely assigned to each user
When receiving an e-mail addressed to
Notification of incoming e-mail including the e-mail address
To the key telephone device, and
To other email addresses for emails
When the transfer request is received, the corresponding e-mail is specified
An e-mail system comprising: a mail server that transfers the mail to another mail address . 4. At a plurality of points physically far apart from each other,
Mail server, client terminal,
4. The electronic mail system according to claim 3, further comprising:
Systems are provided, and a LAN is connected between the mail servers.
Network connection for email system through
And a button telephone for each point
Each user who uses both the device and the client terminal
Between the extension number and email address uniquely assigned to
In addition to registering the correspondence table for all points, these buttons
Connect the telephone devices with a telephone system network,
From the key telephone at the first point, the mail service at the second point
First location for e-mail received and stored by the server
The first e-mail transfer request that specifies the extension number within the point
Button telephone device at a point and a network for the telephone system.
To the key telephone device at the second point through the network
This allows the key telephone device at the second point to receive a call.
An e-mail specifying the extension number within the first point
Of the mail server at the first point corresponding to the transfer request of the file
Converts the email address under management to the specified transfer request and
Sending to the mail server at the second point,
Of the first point received by the mail server
Email address under the server
Corresponding email for the email system
Mail server at the first point through the network
An e-mail system characterized by forwarding to 5. A mail server of an e-mail system is connected via a LAN to a main unit of a key telephone apparatus for performing call control for a plurality of key telephones to which a different extension number is assigned and a user is specified, Register an extension number e-mail address correspondence table indicating the correspondence between the extension number for each of the key telephones and the e-mail address assigned to the user of the telephone on the e-mail system. When there is an incoming call, an incoming notification of an e-mail including a received e-mail address is sent to the main device, and the main device searches the extension number e-mail address correspondence table using the e-mail address as a key, and When the corresponding extension number is detected, the electronic mail is sent to the key telephone to which the extension number is assigned. The call display information is transmitted based on the incoming call notification, and the call display information is visually displayed on the key telephone, and the extension number of the key telephone used by the transfer destination user to which the e-mail from the user is to be transferred. When receiving the dial information indicating the e-mail transfer request including the e-mail transfer request, the main device transmits the extension information to the main device. The main device extracts the extension number of the transfer destination user from the dial information indicating the e-mail transfer request. Searching the extension number e-mail address correspondence table using the number as a key, and detecting the e-mail address corresponding to the extension number, sends a mail transfer request indicating a transfer request to the e-mail address of the e-mail notified of the incoming call to the e-mail address. A mail transfer method using a key telephone device, wherein the mail is transmitted to a mail server.