JP3451982B2 - Distributed access method and method - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a distributed access method and method for a computer-telephony digital exchange, and more particularly to a distributed access method and method for a digital exchange that expands the use of PBX by a distributed management function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, telephone lines are in the middle of high-speed transmission using optical fibers, and in office buildings, each worker is provided with a personal telephone and all necessary telephone lines are purchased from a local telephone company. Instead, most offices have built their own private telephone network (PBX). A private telephone network can handle call origination and termination within offices in a building without going through the public switched telephone network (PSTN) provided by the telephone company. Therefore, each office need only purchase a small number of access lines, or trunk lines, to connect its private telephone network to the public switched telephone network (PSTN), which are typically private branch exchange facilities. Known as (PBX).

In addition to PBXs, modern offices also have many personal computers (PCs) typically connected by a local area network (LAN) or wide area network (WAN). The PC-LAN shares a data memory, a printer, and other computer peripheral hardware, and therefore PCs in the office are connected to each other by a hub or a switch to execute a data transmission control protocol.

Normally, LAN and PBX have different functions and have been developed as independent systems.
For example, a typical Ethernet LAN is capable of broadcasting digital data over a shared common bus to all network destinations at data rates of a few Mbits / sec. In case of this Ethernet LAN broadcast transfer method,
While many devices on a network can transmit data simultaneously, network transmission is prone to collisions and may even retransmit data.

On the other hand, the PBX establishes a separate point-to-point connection and operates at a low data transfer rate of, for example, several tens of kbits / second. The PBX must also handle the telephone management and signaling functions required to interface the PSTN and to handle calls within the local telephone network, and to implement the real-time telephone functions. Temporal event processing and audio distribution generally conflict with LAN architecture.

Attempts have been made to integrate this PBX with a LAN, for example Computer Telephone Integration (CTI), a system that uses a computer to enhance or control a telephone. It interfaces the PBX with a computer, directs caller information to the computer, and allows database lookup tables and screen pops to called agents.

Generally, a distributed access system of a digital exchange is a kind of integrated control system of a PBX and a LAN, and a third system is provided between a telephone connected to the PBX and the LAN.
It is used to control personnel. This conventional technique uses P
Connect the BX to the network and connect this PBX to the server PC
It was done by controlling from.

As shown in FIG. 2, a server CTI 30 is connected between the PBX 1 and the LAN 5, and a plurality of client PCs 41 and 42 are connected to the LAN 5, for example, a LAN.
When 300 client PCs 41 and 42 are connected in 5 and three dedicated lines are connected to the PBX 1 in the server CTI 30, the server CTI 30 uses the LAN 5
From the PBX1 to the PBX1 and the connection from the PBX1 to the LAN5 have high-level switch functions, address management, network management, and other functions. This CTI method has a management function and a connection function on the mutual network of the PBX 1 and the LAN 5, and the burden is heavy.

[0009]

However, this conventional technique has the following problems.

First, the load on the PBX is large. For example, when a status inquiry is made from several client PCs, the PBX must analyze the status at the interface part in the PBX and send it back.

This status inquiry uses an excessive amount of processing on the PBX side as compared with normal telephone control.
Can guarantee the operation of fewer terminals than the number of terminals that can be connected to. The present invention provides a distributed access method for a digital exchange (PBX) that solves the above problems, and provides a distributed access method for PBX and LBX.
An object is to reduce the load on the server CTI connected to the AN.

[0012]

According to the present invention, in a distributed access system in which computers distributed over a network are connected to a digital exchange , an interface comprising a telephone and a computer is provided between the digital exchange and the network. A server computer connected to a network has a management function of the digital exchange and computers distributed in the network ,
The server computer registers the interface
When you do, please write "My computer" in the registration request.
IP address "," port number "," available phone number "
No. ”together with the identification number in the resource,
When you register your computer, it will be written in the registration request.
"The IP address of the client computer
"Port" and "Port number" together with the identification number in the resource
Characterized in that it.

[0013]

[0014]

The invention is also distributed over a network.
In a distributed access method for operating a computer by connecting it to a digital exchange , an interface consisting of a telephone and a computer is provided between the digital exchange and the network, and a server computer connected to the network is connected to the digital exchange and the network. It has a management function with distributed distributed computers ,
The server computer is connected to the network, manages the digital exchange via the network, receives a call request from the distributed computer and the interface, performs a connection request process with the network, and the designated interface. Request processing to the network and the server computer
Connected to multiple interfaces connected to
From the distributed computer on the network.
If there is access to a specific interface
Confirm the IP address of the specified interface,
It characterized the this <br/> of finding and connecting to the telephone number of the constant of the interface.

Further, according to the present invention, a telephone (multifunctional telephone) connected from a computer (hereinafter referred to as PC) distributed over a network to a digital exchange (hereinafter referred to as PBX).
Is provided from the telephone side. Usually P
In the case of the BX distributed access method, the PBX is connected to the network and the PBX is directly controlled by the PC connected to this network. However, according to the present invention, as shown in FIG. Control each [PC and telephone] combination via.

Further, the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1. The combination section 2 of the personal computer and the telephone is the PBX section 1.
At the same time, it is connected to the network.
The server PC unit 3 and the client PC unit 4 are both connected to the same network. When making a telephone control request, all the client PCs 41 and 42 make a telephone control request to the server PC 3. The server PC 3 identifies the combination of [personal computer and telephone] connected to the network and makes a processing request to the designated [personal computer and telephone]. This allows
Enables PBX distributed access.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A distributed access system of a digital exchange according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment] (1) Description of Configuration Referring to FIG. 1, the present embodiment is a digital exchange (P).
BX) 1 and PBX, which replaces the server CTI, and also serves as an interface between networks [PC and telephone]
The unit 2, the server PC 3, the client PC 4, and the network 5 are included.

Here, the PBX 1 is a [personal computer and telephone].
It is connected to the unit 2 to transmit / receive data to / from each client PC 4 of the LAN 5, and is also connected to a telephone not configuring the LAN 5 via a public line (not shown).

The interface 2 of the [personal computer and telephone] section is composed of a telephone 21 and a personal computer 22. The telephone 21 is connected to the digital exchange 1, and at the same time, is connected to the personal computer 22 by RS232C which is a standard interface for serial data transmission established by EIA. The telephone 21 also provides the handset and digital data transfer of an ordinary telephone (multi-function telephone), but the personal computer 2
It has a role of receiving the processing request from the device 2 and transferring the processing request to the digital exchange 1. Further, the personal computer 22 is connected to the network LAN 5, receives data including the destination address from the LAN 5, transmits the data together with the data to the destination address in the PBX 1, and the telephone 21
To PBX1 and vice versa.
Data is sent to N5 together with the destination.

The interface 2 of the [personal computer and telephone] section is connected to the LAN network 5 and has a function of receiving a processing request from the server PC 3 and transferring the processing request to the digital exchange 1.

The server PC 3 is connected to the network 5 and receives a processing request from the client PCs 41 and 42 connected to the network 5 and transfers the processing request to the [personal computer and telephone] section 2. The LAN network 5 and the PBX 1 may have a management function of the LAN network 5 and the PBX 1 in addition to the function similar to that of a normal personal computer.
It may be a dedicated machine having a management function with the BX1.

The client PC 4 sends a request for telephone control to the target [personal computer and telephone] section 2 to the server PC 3.

The network 5 is connected in the form of a wired Ethernet or token ring, and may be a bus type network, a star type network or a ring type network, which is applicable to this embodiment. (2) Description of operation [Personal computer and telephone] (hereinafter referred to as PC + Tel) Tel is connected to PBX1 and can use various operations and services of PBX1 as a normal telephone (multifunction telephone). Can be used. Also, Te
l is connected to the PC with an RS232C cable, and P
It is possible to control from C.

The PC is connected to the Tel with an RS232C cable, and the Tel can be controlled from the PC. For example, operations such as making a call from the PC, answering an incoming call, holding, transferring, conference, disconnecting, and inquiring about the status can be performed.

The PC is connected to the LAN 5,
It is possible to communicate with the server PC 3 on the LAN 5. The functions provided by connecting to the server PC 3 on the LAN 5 are as follows.

One is to make a connection request to the server PC 3 on the LAN 5. Two, when the connection to the server PC 3 on the LAN 5 is completed, registration is performed so that the server PC 3 on the LAN 5 can control its own PC. For example, the IP address, port number, usable telephone number, etc. of the own PC are registered.

[0029] Three from the server PC3 on the LAN5 own P
When C is controllably registered, the request from the server PC 3 on the LAN 5 is accepted. The request from the server PC 3 on the LAN 5 has the following contents, for example.

(A) Make a call (B) Hang up (hang up) (C) Answer the incoming call (answer) (D) Hold (E) Transfer (F) Meeting (G) Status inquiry Is a request.

Fourth, if the server PC 3 on the LAN 5 can register itself so as to be controllable, the server PC 3 on the LAN 5 controls another PC + Tel when another PBX is connected to this LAN. Make a request to do.

[Server PC 3] The server PC 3 is a LAN
5 is only connected to the PBX to manage the PBX via the LAN 5, and is not connected between the LAN and the PBX as in the conventional case, and is requested from the client PC (may be PC + Tel) 41, 42. Is received, and processing such as LAN connection request processing and request instruction processing to the designated PC + Tel is performed. Specifically, the following processing is performed.

Register PC + Tel. PC + Te
For the registration of l, a registration request is sent via the LAN, so this registration request is accepted, and "the IP address of the own PC", "port number" written in the registration request,
The "usable telephone number" is saved in a resource (memory or a recording device such as a hard disk) on the server PC3.
At the time of this saving, the identification number, the IP address of the own PC,
The port number and the usable telephone number are given as the following table (Table 1) and registered in the resource memory in the server PC3, from PC + Te1 to PBX1.
When there is a request to send data to the external client PCs 41 and 42, the data is transmitted to PC + Tel and a connection is established with the client PC via the server PC 3 to enable communication. The IP address of this own PC is L specified by the Internet protocol.
This is an address uniquely assigned within the AN.

[0034]

[Table 1] A registration request from a client PC (may be PC + Tel) is accepted. Since the registration request is sent via the LAN, the registration request is accepted, and the "IP address of own PC" and "port number" written in the registration request are used as resources (memory or hard disk) on the server PC3. Etc. recording device). At this time, an identification number is given. As an example in this case, if a table (Table 2) is registered, the search in the resource becomes faster.

[0035]

[Table 2] A telephone control request from a registered client PC (may be PC + Tel) is accepted. For example, from the registered client PC (identification number: PC1),
When there is a request to make a call from the telephone number 5000 of the registered PC + Tel (identification number: Tel1) to the telephone number 5010, the request of the PC1 is transferred to the PC + Tel1. The request command format example in this case is as follows.

[Request command] PC1 → Server PC: Target PC + Tel command number (outgoing) + command data (5010) Server PC → PC + Tel command number (outgoing) +
Command data (5010) As described above, the server PC 3 has the same function as the conventional server CTI, and does not exist between the PBX and the LAN, but has the same connection relationship as one client PC of the LAN. Since the registration function and the mutual communication function are managed as described above, even if the number of client PCs connected increases, it is possible to easily put them under the control of the server PC, and also to connect other LANs. Even if the PBX is added, the PC + Tel can be easily managed, and the expandability and the load of the PC + Tel can be taken over.

[Second Embodiment] Next, the second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
Will be described. This system is the same as that shown in FIG. 1, and a duplicate description will be omitted.

In this embodiment, the transformation of the system described in the first embodiment will be briefly described.

The client PC which is also the above [telephone + PC] may be a client PC (PC + Tel) connected to the Internet. The Internet is an international high-bandwidth network, and (PC + Te
l) When the server itself is registered as a provider and is connected to the Internet from within the PBX, by setting a server PC in the Internet, (PC + T of PBX)
El) register and client PC on the Internet
By also registering, it is possible to manage as in the first embodiment.

In addition, the connection form between the client PC and the server PC is not limited to a telephone line, an ISDN, a mobile phone, a radio, a satellite, etc., and may be any form.

The PC + Tel to be controlled may be an automatic voice response device. In the case of the automatic voice response device, the client PC can obtain the received digit code (for example, the user ID such as "0200356") via the server PC by responding with the automatic voice response device. Further, at that time, it becomes possible to request to connect (transfer) the call connected to the automatic voice response device to the designated telephone.

The contents requested via the server PC may be statistical information managed by each PC other than telephone control. Embodiments in this case include call processing statistics resulting from execution on PC + Tel, such as how many calls were made, average time of the calls, minimum call time, maximum call time, PBX connected to LAN or Internet. It is possible to measure the work hours for performing the work, the leaving time of the person in charge of managing the PBX or the person who is a telephone operator with each PC + Tel, and collect this information via the server PC. Based on the result of this aggregation, it can be used, for example, for confirmation of PBX billing.

[0043]

According to the present invention, the first effect is that by sending a request command to the server PC, all PC + Tel connected to the network can be controlled. This allows you to centrally manage your telephone controls, and
Telephone control can be performed without using the PBX.

The second effect is that the telephone control can be performed without using the PBX, so that the load on the PBX can be reduced. Normally, when such telephone control is performed, the PBX is connected to the network, and a telephone control request is made directly from the client PC on the network to the PBX. Therefore, the load of the PBX, especially the load of the device serving as the interface is large. For example, when a number of client PCs make a status inquiry, the PBX must analyze and send back the status within the PBX, but in the case of this method, the status held by each PC + Tel is sent back via the server PC. Therefore, there is an advantage that a load is not applied to the PBX.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a distributed access system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a conventional PBX access system.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 PBX (digital exchange) 2 Phone + PC (PC + Tel) 21 telephone 22 PC 3 server PC 41,42 Client PC 5 LAN

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── --Continued from the front page (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04L 12 / 28,12 / 44-12/66

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A computer distributed in a network
A distributed access method connected to a digital exchange
Between the digital exchange and the network.
Equipped with an interface consisting of a phone and a computer
A server computer connected to the network
To the network that is distributed between the digital exchange and the network.
To have a management function of a client computer, wherein when the server computer to register the interface are written in the registration request "of the own computer I
"P address", "port number", "available phone number"
With the identification number in the resource, and the client
When you register your computer, are written in the registration request, "IP address of the client computer",
A distributed access method characterized in that a "port number" is registered in a resource together with an identification number. 2. Computers distributed over a network
Distributed access method to connect and operate digital exchange
In addition , a telephone is provided between the digital exchange and the network.
An interface comprising a computer,
The server computer connected to the network should
Digital switch and distributed computer distributed over the network
To have a management function with Yuta, the server computer is connected to the network
And connect the digital exchange through the network.
The distributed computer and the interface.
The call request is accepted from the
Request processing, request instruction processing to the specified interface
And the server computer is connected to a plurality of interfaces connected to the network, and when the distributed computer on the network accesses the specific interface, the IP address of the specific interface. Is confirmed, the telephone number of the specific interface is searched, and the connection is made.