JP4208744B2 - Message exchange device and connection switching system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a message exchange device that relays messages exchanged between terminal devices.

  The conventional message exchange method uses an access information storage means that pre-stores the time to access a message for each user and the person with the highest probability of access in the group, and dynamically determines the destination of the message. By using the function of forwarding to a user who conforms to the above, it is possible to send a message to a person who has a high probability of accessing without having to send it to all the destination departments (for example, Patent Document 1).

However, in the conventional message exchange method, it is necessary to register the object to be accessed in advance and the access probability. The information registered in advance is based on the judgment. On the other hand, when sending a message, the state (presence information) indicating whether or not a person can currently respond is constantly changing. For this reason, there is a problem that a message cannot be assigned to a person who can reliably return a response at present.
JP-A-2-69043

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and sends a message to a person who can surely return a response regarding the dynamically changing conversational status of a person belonging to the organization. The purpose is to provide a system.

This message exchange device
The organization can communicate with the outside of the organization using terminal status information indicating whether or not each of a plurality of organization belonging terminals belonging to a predetermined organization is in a communicable state and the organization belonging terminal in a communicable state An organization state information storage unit that stores organization state information including organization communication state information indicating whether or not a state is present;
A message communication unit for receiving a message addressed to the organization to the organization transmitted from an external terminal different from the organization belonging terminal from the organization outside the organization;
When the message communication unit receives a message addressed to an organization, the organization can communicate with the outside of the organization by referring to the organization state information stored in the organization state information storage unit and the organization communication state information included in the organization state information If the organization is in a state where it can communicate with the outside of the organization, the organization belonging terminal that is in a communicable state among a plurality of organization belonging terminals according to the terminal state information included in the organization state information And a message relay unit that transmits a message addressed to the organization to the selected organization-affiliated terminal using the message communication unit.

  According to the present invention, a message can be transmitted to a terminal that can reliably return a response at present.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
The first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In the first embodiment, the message exchange device 1 that relays the message exchange between the terminal and the organization has information indicating whether or not the organization is capable of talking in addition to the conversation possible state of the terminals belonging to the organization. This is a featured embodiment.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a message exchange system according to the first embodiment. The message exchange system includes a message exchange device 1 that relays exchange of messages between terminals, an organization-affiliated terminal 2a that belongs to the organization 3, an organization-affiliated terminal 2b, and an external device that transmits messages addressed to the organization from the outside of the organization 3 to the organization 3. The terminal 2 is configured. In the organization 3, a network is formed by terminals belonging to the organization 3.

  The message exchange device 1 mediates communication between terminals. The external terminal 2 performs message input and display, state change, and notification. A plurality of organization affiliation terminals 2 a and 2 b belong to the organization 3.

  The message exchange device 1 includes a device-side message communication unit 11, a message relay unit 12, a terminal state processing unit 13, an organization state information processing unit 14, a terminal state information storage unit 15, an organization state information storage unit 16, and a terminal connection destination information storage. Unit 17, terminal registration unit 18, and organization information registration unit 19.

  The device-side message communication unit 11 performs message communication with the terminal. The message relay unit 12 uses the terminal connection destination information storage unit 17 to determine a connection destination terminal. The terminal state processing unit 13 stores the terminal state (“terminal state information” described later) notified from the terminal in the terminal state information storage unit 15. The organization state information processing unit 14 processes “organization state information”, which will be described later, and stores it in the organization state information storage unit 16. The terminal registration unit 18 registers a terminal in the terminal connection destination information storage unit 17. The organization information registration unit 19 registers the organization state information in the organization state information storage unit 16.

  The external terminal 2 includes a message display unit 21, a message input unit 22, a terminal-side message communication unit 23, and a status display unit 24. The message display unit 21 displays the received message. The message input unit 22 receives a message input from the user. The terminal-side message communication unit 23 transmits and receives messages. The status display unit 24 displays the status of other terminals. The state change unit 25 notifies the change of the “terminal state” of the own terminal (self). A plurality of organization affiliation terminals 2a and 2b belong to the organization 3.

  Next, the operation will be described. Terminal registration, terminal status registration, and organization status information registration will be described.

  First, terminal registration will be described. For registration of the external terminal 2, terminal registration information, which is information for registering the external terminal 2, is transmitted from the terminal-side message communication unit 23 of the external terminal 2 to the message exchange device 1. The message exchange device 1 receives the terminal registration information at the device-side message communication unit 11 and sends it to the terminal registration unit 18. The terminal registration unit 18 registers the external terminal 2 in the terminal connection destination information storage unit 17 based on the terminal registration information. The terminal registration unit 18 registers the organization-affiliated terminals 2a and 2b in the terminal connection destination information storage unit 17 in the same procedure.

  Next, registration of terminal state information will be described. The terminal state processing unit 13 receives “terminal state information” from the external terminal 2, organization belonging terminals 2 a, 2 b, etc., and stores the terminal state information in the terminal state information storage unit 15. Here, “terminal state information” is information indicating whether or not the terminal is in a communicable state. Hereinafter, the terminal state information may be referred to as “terminal conversation availability”.

  Next, registration of organization state information will be described. The organization information registration unit 19 registers “organization state information” by storing it in the organization state information storage unit 16. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an outline of registration of organization state information.

  “Organization status information” refers to terminal status information that indicates whether or not each of a plurality of organization-affiliated terminals belonging to an organization is in a communicable state and the organization belonging terminal that is in a communicable state. Information including “organizational communication status information” indicating whether or not communication with the outside is possible. The “organization communication state information” may be referred to as “organization conversation availability”. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of organization state information. As shown in FIG. 3, the organization status information includes the name of the organization (for example, organization 3), the organization affiliation terminals belonging to the organization (organization affiliation terminals 2a and 2b), and the conversation availability of each organization affiliation terminal (terminal status information). And whether or not the conversation of the organization (organization communication status information) is included. In FIG. 3, since the conversation permission of the organization-affiliated terminal 2a is “possible”, the “organization communication status information” of the organization 3 is “possible”. It should be noted that when the organization affiliation terminals 2a and 2b are both “permitted”, the “organization communication state information” may be “permitted.” This may be freely determined. As described above, the organization information registration unit 19 stores and registers the “organization state information” in the organization state information storage unit 16. As will be described later, when the terminal state information is subsequently changed, the organization state information is stored. The processing unit 14 receives the change of the terminal status information and sets It changes the state information, and stores the tissue state information after the change in tissue status information storage unit 16.

  Next, the “terminal state information confirmation request” by the external terminal 2 will be described. The status display unit 24 of the external terminal 2 can transmit a “terminal status information confirmation request” which is a signal for requesting confirmation of terminal status information for another terminal. This “terminal state information confirmation request” is notified from the terminal-side message communication unit 23 to the device-side message communication unit 11. The device-side message communication unit 11 sends the notified “terminal state information confirmation request” to the terminal state processing unit 13. The terminal state processing unit 13 registers a “terminal state information confirmation request” in the terminal state information storage unit 15. In response to the registered “terminal state information confirmation request”, the terminal state information storage unit 15 returns terminal state information about the requested terminal to the external terminal 2. The external terminal 2 displays the terminal status information returned to the status display unit 24. Thus, when the terminal which wants to know "terminal state information" is registered in the terminal state information storage part 15, the apparatus side message communication part 11 is used, and the terminal side message communication part 23 of the external terminal 2 is used, The “terminal status” of other terminals can be displayed on the status display unit 24.

  Next, the case where the terminal status information is changed for the external terminal 2 that does not belong to the organization will be described. The case where the terminal state information of the external terminal 2 is changed is a case where the external terminal 2 is changed from a communicable state to a non-communicatable state or vice versa. In the external terminal 2 that does not belong to the organization 3, when the “terminal state information” is changed by the state changing unit 25, the “terminal state information” is transferred from the terminal side message communication unit 23 to the device side message communication unit 11 of the message exchange device 1. Change notification "is sent. The device-side message communication unit 11 sends “terminal state information change notification” to the terminal state processing unit 13. Receiving this, the terminal state processing unit 13 stores the changed “terminal state information” in the terminal state information storage unit 15.

  Next, the case where the “terminal state information” of the organization belonging terminal 2a belonging to the organization 3 is changed will be described. It is assumed that the conversation permission / inhibition (terminal state information) of the organization-affiliated terminal 2a is changed from “possible” to “not allowed”. When the availability of the conversation of the organization-affiliated terminal 2a is changed from “Yes” to “No”, the status change unit 25a sends a “terminal status information change notification” for the organization-affiliated terminal 2a via the terminal-side message communication unit 23. The message is transmitted to the device side message communication unit 11. In the message exchange apparatus 1, in addition to the processing by the terminal state processing unit 13 described above (processing for storing the changed terminal state in the terminal state information storage unit 15), the organization state information processing unit 14 determines the “organization state information” of the organization 3 and stores it in the organization state information storage unit 16. That is, the organization state information processing unit 14 checks the organization state information storage unit 16 as to whether or not the terminal whose “terminal state information” has changed belongs to the organization as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4 (S31). If this terminal does not belong to an organization, the process ends.

  On the other hand, when the terminal whose “terminal state information” is changed belongs to the organization, the organization state information processing unit 14 performs a review process of the organization state information stored in the organization state information storage unit 16. Specifically, “terminal state information” of all terminals belonging to the organization is acquired from the organization state information storage unit 16 (S32), and it is confirmed whether or not each terminal belonging to the terminal can talk (S33). In other words, the conversation is checked for availability. In the case of FIG. 3, the organization state information processing unit 14 confirms whether or not the organization affiliated terminal 2b can converse.

  If all terminals cannot talk, the organization state information processing unit 14 disables the “organization state” of the organization (S34). In FIG. 3, when the conversation permission of the organization affiliation terminal 2 a is changed to “No”, the conversation permission of both the organization affiliation terminal 2 a and the organization affiliation terminal 2 b becomes “No”. Set whether or not the conversation of the organization 3 is possible (organization communication state) to “No”.

  On the other hand, when there is one or more terminals capable of talking, the organization state information processing unit 14 sets “conversation availability” of the organization 3 to “possible” in a conversationable state (S35). For example, when the organization-affiliated terminal 2b can talk, the “organization communication state” can talk.

  Note that the condition (an example of a review rule) of “Is all terminals incapable of talking?” Shown in S (step) 33 of FIG. 4 when reviewing whether or not the organization can talk is, for example, “two or more terminals talking. Various conditions such as “is it possible?” May be used. In this case, even if only one terminal can talk, whether or not the organization can talk is “No”. As for “organization status information”, not only the terminal status information of terminals belonging to the organization, but also the number of currently talking (number of terminals), location information, etc. are recorded, and the combined status is recorded. It may be held as organization state information.

  Next, terminal connection will be described.

  A case where the external terminal 2 connects to the organization 3 will be described. The external terminal 2 receives a message (message addressed to the organization) via the message input unit 22, and the input message is transmitted to the message exchange device 1 via the terminal-side message communication unit 23.

  Since the message exchange apparatus 1 is a message addressed to the organization 3, the message relay unit 12 refers to the organization state information stored in the organization state information storage unit 16 as shown in FIG. It is checked whether or not “can be talked” (S41). If the organization 3 is not capable of talking, the message relay unit 12 returns a “busy message” to the external terminal 2 (S43).

  When the organization 3 is capable of talking, the message relay unit 12 examines and selects a terminal that can talk among the terminals belonging to the organization 3 based on the terminal state information included in the organization state information. Then, the device-side message communication unit 11 transmits a message (S42). For example, if the organization-affiliated terminal 2a can talk as shown in FIG. 3, the message relay unit 12 transmits a message to the organization 3 to the organization-affiliated terminal 2a by the apparatus-side message communication unit 11. A message to the organization 3 is displayed on the message display unit 21a through the terminal-side message communication unit 23a. Thereafter, the message relay unit 12 stores all messages addressed to the organization 3 from the external terminal 2 so as to be transmitted to the organization affiliated terminal 2a.

  As described above, the message exchange apparatus according to Embodiment 1 has a state of the organization in addition to the state of the terminal itself, so that a message is transmitted to a terminal that can currently communicate among the terminals in the organization. Therefore, it is possible to reliably exchange messages with any terminal in the organization.

  Since the message exchange apparatus according to the first embodiment includes the organization state information processing unit, the latest organization state information can be stored by reviewing the organization state information.

  Since the organization state information processing unit of the message exchange apparatus according to Embodiment 1 has a review rule, the organization state information can be freely set.

  Since the organization state information processing unit of the message exchange apparatus according to Embodiment 1 reviews the terminal state information and the organization communication state information, it can obtain presence information about the organization and terminals belonging to the organization.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
The second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In the first embodiment, only a terminal belongs to a certain organization, and messages are exchanged with a terminal capable of conversation among the terminals. On the other hand, Embodiment 2 is an embodiment in which messages are exchanged with a terminal capable of conversation when an organization belongs to the organization.

  The system configuration of the second embodiment is the same as that shown in FIG. The structure that an organization further exists in the organization is different. Therefore, the organization state information stored in the organization state information storage unit 16 is different. Further, the organization 200 is the organization 200 (FIG. 7).

  Next, the operation will be described.

  When registering the organization state information, as shown in FIG. 6, the organization information registration unit 19 registers the organization state information in the organization state information storage unit 16. In this registration, the organization information registration unit 19 registers a terminal or another organization as a component.

  This will be specifically described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining an organization 200 having a hierarchical structure. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the organization state information 201 of the organization 200 as an example. FIG. 7 shows an example in the case where there are more organizations in the organization. In FIG. 7, there are three organizations, “Department”, “Section”, and “Team”. In addition, there are four terminals, which are “director's terminal”, “section manager's terminal”, “team member a's terminal”, and “team member b's terminal”. The organization information registration unit 19 registers the organization state information 201 shown in FIG. Set a terminal or other organization as an organization component. Specifically, for example, “department” is registered, and “department terminal” that is a terminal and “section” that is an organization are set as its constituent elements.

  When an organization is set in the organization status information 201, a lower organization or a terminal can be further set therebelow. In FIG. 8, when “Department” is set and “Department Manager's Terminal” and “Section” are set as its constituent elements, the “Department Manager's Terminal” and “Team” are also included in the section. Can be set recursively.

  A general case of registration of organization state information is described as follows. This will be explained in relation to FIG. 8 (“part”, “section”, etc.). The organization state information storage unit 16 can store and register organization state information having the following hierarchical structure. The first layer, which is the highest organization of the first layer (part of FIG. 8), is a terminal belonging to the first organization (department) (terminal of director, terminal of section manager, terminal of team member a, team member b A second terminal (department manager) having first organization communication status information (whether or not conversation is possible) indicating whether or not communication is possible using a terminal, and the second layer directly belongs to the first organization (department) Second terminal status information indicating whether or not the terminal is in a communicable state (whether or not the director terminal can talk) and the second organization (section) directly belonging to the first organization (section) belongs to the second organization At least the second organization among the second organization communication status information (section conversation availability) indicating whether or not communication is possible using the terminals (section manager's terminal, team member a's terminal, team member b's terminal) It has communication status information (conversation availability of section), and in turn, N-1 layer (however, N ≧ 3), The (N-1) th terminal status information indicating whether or not the (N-1) th terminal directly belonging to the (N-2) organization is in a communicable state, and the (N-1) th organization directly belonging to the (N-2) th organization It has at least N-1th organization communication status information among N-1th organization communication status information indicating whether or not it is in a communicable state using a terminal belonging to the organization, and the Nth layer Storing hierarchical data having N-th terminal state information indicating whether or not an N-th terminal directly belonging to one organization is in a communicable state as first organization state information indicating a state of the first organization (section); You can register.

  When registering the status of a terminal belonging to an organization, the organization status information processing unit 14 determines the status of the organization and stores it in the organization status information storage unit 16.

  When the organization state information processing unit 14 receives a notification of “change of terminal state information” from a terminal belonging to the organization, it checks whether the terminal belongs to the organization as shown in FIG. 9 (S61). If it does not belong, the process ends.

  When the terminal belongs to an organization (for example, “section”), the organization state information processing unit 14 acquires the conversation availability of all other terminals and organizations belonging to the organization (“section”) (S62). ). In the example illustrated in FIG. 8, the organization state information processing unit 14 also acquires the availability of a team conversation. If all the terminals and organizations cannot talk, it is determined that the organization can talk or not (S64). Otherwise, the state of the organization is set to a state where conversation is possible (S65). In the example shown in FIG. 8, when the section manager's terminal changes from “Yes” to “No”, the team status information processing unit 14 also determines “ Set the section's conversation permission from "possible" to "not". If there is a higher level organization, the status of the higher level organization is also set (S66). That is, in FIG. 8, the “section” has an upper organization called “department”. As for “Department”, “Conversation availability” is “No” for both “Director's terminal” and “Section”. Therefore, the organization state information processing unit 14 resets “conversation permission / inhibition” of “part” from “possible” to “not”.

  Note that the condition (an example of the review rule) of “is all terminals and organizations incapable of conversation” in S63 of FIG. 9 is set to various conditions such as “whether two or more terminals are capable of conversation?” Good. Further, not only the conversation availability information as the state of the organization or the terminal, but also, for example, “the number of people currently talking”, “position information”, etc. may be recorded, and the combined state may be provided as the organization information.

  Next, a case of terminal connection in which a terminal outside the organization is connected to the organization terminal will be described. Assume that a connection is made to a “department” (organization) having the hierarchical structure of FIG. When the external terminal 2 connects to the “department” (organization), the external terminal 2 inputs a message (message addressed to the organization) at the message input unit 22, and exchanges the input message through the terminal-side message communication unit 23. Transmit to device 1.

  Since the message exchange apparatus 1 is a message addressed to “department”, the message relay unit 12 can refer to the organization state information storage unit 16 and can talk about the state of “department” (organization) as shown in FIG. Find out if. If the conversation is not possible, the message relay unit 12 returns a “busy message” to the external terminal 2 (S73). If the conversation is possible, the terminal or organization in the conversation capable state is checked from the organization state information storage unit 16 (S72). If there is no conversational terminal in the upper organization but there is a conversational organization, the same operation is repeated until a conversational terminal is found (S74 → S72). For example, in FIG. 8, “part” can talk, but the director terminal, which is a component of the department, cannot talk. Only “sections” can talk in this hierarchy. In this case, the message relay unit 12 searches for a terminal capable of conversation among the constituent elements of the “section” one level below. When a terminal capable of repeating the conversation is found, a message is transmitted to the terminal and the process is terminated. In the example of FIG. 8, since the “section manager's terminal” can talk, the message relay unit 12 relays the message from the external terminal 2 to the “section manager's terminal”.

  Note that the process of checking a conversational organization or terminal in S72 in FIG. 10 may be preferentially connected to a terminal belonging to the organization by, for example, examining a conversational organization first. Or you may provide the process which preferentially connects to the terminal which does not belong to an organization by investigating the terminal which can talk previously.

  As described above, the message exchange apparatus according to Embodiment 2 has a hierarchical organization structure, so that it has a more organizational or terminal state within the organizational structure. Messages can be exchanged with a predetermined terminal capable of conversation.

Embodiment 3 FIG.
The third embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In the first embodiment, only a terminal belongs to a certain organization, and messages are exchanged with a terminal capable of conversation among the terminals. However, in the third embodiment, the connection is switched between the terminals in the organization. An embodiment for exchanging messages with terminals outside the organization is shown.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a message exchange system according to the third embodiment. 11 has a configuration in which a connection switching unit 110 is added to the message exchange device 1 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. Also, the organization affiliation terminals 2a and 2b in FIG. 11 have a configuration in which a switching instruction unit 26b is added to the organization affiliation terminal 2a and organization affiliation terminal 2b in the first embodiment shown in FIG.

  The connection switching unit 110 is a part that switches the message transmission destination. The switching instruction unit 26a and the switching instruction unit 26b are parts that instruct the connection switching unit 110 to perform switching.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a flowchart of the operation of the switching instruction units 26a and 26b.

Next, the operation will be described.
(1) For example, when messages are exchanged between the external terminal 2 and the organization affiliation terminal 2a (first organization affiliation terminal) in the organization 3, the switching instruction unit 26a of the organization affiliation terminal 2a Is sent to the organization belonging terminal 2b (second organization belonging terminal), the switching instruction is notified to the connection switching unit 110 of the message exchange device 1. The connection switching unit 110 instructs the message relay unit 12 to transmit a message sent from the external terminal 2 to the organization 3 in the future to the organization belonging terminal 2b. The message relay unit 12 stores this instruction.
(2) When a message from the external terminal 2 to the organization 3 is transmitted, the message relay unit 12 transmits the message to the organization belonging terminal 2b according to the stored instruction.

  As described above, according to the third embodiment, since the message transmission switching within the organization can be performed by switching the connection destination of the organization, the organization structure is utilized more and is equivalent to the conventional transfer telephone. The function can be realized by message exchange.

Embodiment 4 FIG.
In the third embodiment, the connection is switched. Next, when messages are exchanged between the external terminal 2 and the organization belonging terminal 2a (first organization belonging terminal) in the organization 3 In this embodiment, after the organization-affiliated terminal 2a exchanges with the organization-affiliated terminal 2b (second organization-affiliated terminal), the terminal that exchanges messages with the external terminal 2 is switched from the organization-affiliated terminal 2a to the organization-affiliated terminal 2b. After switching between the switching source (organization affiliation terminal 2a) and the switching destination (organization affiliation terminal 2b) before switching (message exchange between terminals in the same organization is referred to as “exchange”), the switching source An embodiment in which switching from (organization affiliation terminal 2a) to a switching destination (organization affiliation terminal 2b) is shown. After exchanging between the organization affiliation terminal 2a and the organization affiliation terminal 2b, the terminal that exchanges messages with the external terminal 2 is switched from the organization affiliation terminal 2a to the organization affiliation terminal 2b. For this reason, the organization-affiliated terminal 2b can start exchanging messages after obtaining prior information that switching is performed from the organization-affiliated terminal 2a that is the switching source.

  The system configuration is the same as in FIG. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a flowchart of the operation of the switching instruction unit 26a. The switching instruction unit 26b also performs the same operation.

  Next, the operation will be described.

  For example, when messages are exchanged between the external terminal 2 and the organization affiliation terminal 2a in the organization 3, in the switching instruction unit 26a of the organization affiliation terminal 2a, messages from the external terminal 2 are thereafter sent to the organization affiliation terminal 2b. When instructed to transfer, first, a message input from the message input unit 22a of the organization-affiliated terminal 2a (an example of prior information) is transmitted to the terminal-side message communication unit of the organization-affiliated terminal 2b through the message relay unit 12 of the message exchange device 1. 23b (S111). Thereby, the exchange between the organization affiliation terminal 2a (switching source) and the organization affiliation terminal 2b (switching destination) becomes possible. When the organization affiliation terminal 2b replies to the message, the reply is transmitted to the organization affiliation terminal 2a, and thereafter, exchange is performed between the organization affiliation terminal 2a and the organization affiliation terminal 2b.

  When the exchange between the organization-affiliated terminals 2a and 2b is completed, the switching instruction unit 26a of the organization-affiliated terminal 2a sends a connection from the external terminal 2 to the organization 3 to the connection switching unit 110 of the message exchange device 1 in the future. An instruction is given to switch from the affiliated terminal 2a to the organizational affiliated terminal 2b (S112). Thereafter, a message from the terminal 2 to the organization 3 is transmitted to the organization belonging terminal 2b.

  As described above, in the fourth embodiment, since the message transmission switching within the organization can be performed by switching the connection destination of the organization, the function equivalent to that of the conventional transfer telephone is utilized by utilizing the organizational structure more. Can be realized by message exchange.

Embodiment 5 FIG.
Next, the fifth embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. The fifth embodiment is similar to the second embodiment. In the second embodiment, information on whether or not a conversation is allowed is given to an organization and an individual (terminal), and the connection destination is dynamically changed according to the conversation availability information. On the other hand, the fifth embodiment is an embodiment in which priority information is added to the organization and the individual (terminal) in addition to the conversation availability information, and the individual (terminal) to be preferentially connected is designated. Other points are the same as in the second embodiment. The system configuration is the same as in FIG. However, with respect to the organization 3 of the first embodiment, a hierarchical organization 500 (part) shown in FIG. 14 is a message exchange destination organization. FIG. 15 is a diagram showing the organization state information 501 for the organization 500.

  Registration of the organization state information 501 will be described. At the time of registration of the organization state information 501, the organization state information 501 is registered in the organization state information storage unit 16 by the organization information registration unit 19 as shown in FIG. When registering the organization state information 501, a terminal or other organization is set as a component. Here, the organization state information 501 in which priority order information is added to the terminal and the organization is registered in the organization state information storage unit 16. FIG. 14 corresponds to FIG. FIG. 15 corresponds to FIG. As shown in FIG. 15, each organization and terminal has “priority” information in addition to the “conversation availability” state. The point of having this “priority” information is different from the case of the second embodiment.

  Next, the operation will be described.

  The operation is similar to that of the second embodiment, except that priority is taken into consideration. FIG. 17 shows a flowchart of the message relay unit 12. For example, when the external terminal 2 requests the organization 500 to exchange messages, the message relay unit 12 can talk with the “part” (organization) of the transmission destination with reference to the organization state information storage unit 16. To check. When the “department” is capable of talking, the message relay unit 12 checks the organization or the terminal having the highest priority that can be conversed, and determines whether the conversation belongs to the “department” and has the highest priority. It relays messages to it. This will be specifically described with reference to FIG. The organization state information storage unit 16 stores organization state information 501 including the priority order information of FIG. The message relay unit 12 refers to this. In FIG. 1, first, “part” can talk and the priority is “1”, and the message relay unit 12 confirms one layer below “part”. In this hierarchy, all of the “manager's terminal”, “section A”, and “section B” can talk, but “section A” has the highest priority. For this reason, the message relay unit 12 goes to the level below “section A”. In this case, Team A has the highest priority, but the conversation availability is “No”. Therefore, the message relay unit 12 refers to the team B. Therefore, go down one level below Team B. In this case, both the team member c and the team member d can talk, but since the priority of the team member c is high, the message relay unit 12 transmits a message from the external terminal 2 to the terminal of the team member c. .

  In addition, it is assumed that the terminal is connected to a terminal that has a high priority and is capable of talking when relaying a message, but a person (terminal) with the same priority is set, and among them, the round robin and the person with few conversations automatically You may make it allocate to.

  As described above, according to the fifth embodiment, by giving priorities to organizations and terminals, it is possible to designate a preferentially connected organization or terminal, so that a receiving terminal that efficiently receives a message within the organization Can be specified. In addition, it is possible to make a setting such that the subordinates first respond as in an actual organization, but if the subordinates cannot respond, a connection to the supervisor is made.

Embodiment 6 FIG.
Next, Embodiment 6 will be described with reference to FIGS. The above-described first embodiment searches for a terminal capable of conversation and relays the connection. In contrast to the first embodiment, in the sixth embodiment, when all the terminals belonging to the organization are not capable of talking, the message waiting queue 151 (message storage unit) provided in the message exchange device 1 receives messages from the external terminal 2. This is an embodiment in which messages are stored and the stored messages are relayed to the conversational terminals when a conversationable terminal is generated.

  FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a message exchange system according to the sixth embodiment. The message exchange device 1 of FIG. 18 has a message waiting queue 151 for storing messages from the external terminal 2 and an automatic response unit 152 (response unit) for transmitting an automatic response message to the message exchange device 1 of FIG. It is the structure which added and.

  Next, the operation will be described. FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing the operation of the message relay unit 12 in the sixth embodiment. The operation will be described with reference to FIG.

  At the time of message transmission, as shown in FIG. 19, when there is a terminal capable of talking in the destination organization 3, the message relay unit 12 can talk a message from the external terminal 2 as in the first embodiment. Send to the terminal. However, if the destination organization 3 is not capable of transmission (conversation is possible), the message from the external terminal 2 is placed in the message waiting queue 151.

  The message waiting queue 151 notifies the automatic response unit 152 that the message has been stored. The automatic response unit 152 transmits the waiting state in the message waiting queue 151 such as the length of the message queue and the average waiting time as an automatic response message to the external terminal 2 in the waiting state of the transmission source. Then, "message end" is relayed via the device side message communication unit 11 of the message exchange device 1 from the terminal side message communication unit of the terminal (terminal other than the external terminal 2) that has exchanged messages with the organization 3 until now. When notified to the unit 12, the message relay unit 12 checks whether there is a message in the message waiting queue 151 for the organization that has become capable of conversation, and if it exists, the message can be conversed. To terminals belonging to the organization 3.

  As described above, in the sixth embodiment, when there is no terminal capable of talking in the organization, by putting a message to the organization in the message waiting queue 151, the organization does not become busy like a telephone, Since the terminal of the transmission source is kept waiting until a terminal capable of conversation is created, and messages are exchanged after the terminal capable of conversation is formed, more efficient message exchange can be performed.

  In addition, when the sender terminal is made to wait, the current congestion status is sent as an automatic response, so that the sender terminal in the waiting state can know the current state of the organization that wants to interact with the organization. In contrast, it is possible to know how much a message that has already been transmitted is transmitted.

Embodiment 7 FIG.
Next, Embodiment 7 will be described with reference to FIG. In the first embodiment described above, the organization state information storage unit 16 has the organization state information including whether or not the organization conversation is possible (organization communication state information). Embodiment 7 discloses an embodiment in which organization state information of an organization stored in the organization state information storage unit 16 is disclosed and can be referred to from the outside of the message exchange device 1. It is assumed that the organization status information can include not only the possibility of conversation but also the congestion status when sending a message to the organization, the number of terminals in conversation in the organization, and the like.

  FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating a message exchange system according to the seventh embodiment. FIG. 20 differs from the system of FIG. 1 in that the message exchange apparatus 1 includes an organization state information disclosure unit 171 and the external terminal 2 includes an organization state information display unit 172. The organization state information disclosure unit 171 is a part that acquires the organization state information stored in the organization state information storage unit 16. The organization state information display unit 172 is a part that displays the organization state information acquired by the organization state information disclosure unit 171 in the external terminal 2.

  Next, the operation will be described.

  When the external terminal 2 (requesting terminal) requests the organizational status information display unit 172 to acquire the organizational status information stored in the organizational status information storage unit 16 of the message exchange device 1, the acquisition request is transmitted to the organizational status information disclosure unit 171. It is done. The organization state information disclosure unit 171 acquires the organization state information from the organization state information storage unit 16 and sends it to the external terminal 2. The organization state information is displayed on the organization state information display unit 172.

  As described above, in the seventh embodiment, it is possible to confirm whether or not the organization is in a conversational state from the terminal by disclosing the organization state information to the outside. In addition, before talking to the organization, it is possible to know, for example, the state of congestion or the number of people who can talk. For this reason, it is possible to perform more efficient communication as compared with a telephone that cannot be understood without making a call.

Embodiment 8 FIG.
The eighth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 21 is a diagram showing a message exchange system according to the eighth embodiment. The eighth embodiment is different from FIG. 1 showing the system of the first embodiment in that the message exchange device 1 includes a time storage unit 181. The time storage unit 181 is a part that records the content of a communication message (including a message addressed to an organization) and the time when the message was transmitted (for example, the time when the device-side message communication unit 11 received the message). The time storage unit 181 stores the message to be exchanged.

  Next, the operation will be described.

  Messages exchanged between terminals pass through the device-side message communication unit 11. Therefore, the time storage unit 181 records a message together with the time.

  As described above, in Embodiment 8, a communication message can be recorded as a proof of conversation by recording it together with a time stamp. For example, a conversation can be reliably recorded when it is necessary to keep a conversation record such as a business transaction.

Embodiment 9 FIG.
Embodiment 9 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 22 is a diagram showing a message exchange system according to the ninth embodiment. The ninth embodiment is different from FIG. 1 showing the system of the first embodiment in that the message exchange apparatus 1 includes a fixed message storage unit 191. Others are the same as in the first embodiment. Embodiment 9 shows an embodiment in which a fixed format registered in advance is transmitted by the fixed message storage unit 191 of the message exchange apparatus 1. The fixed message storage unit 191 is a part that stores messages in a fixed format in advance.

  Next, the operation will be described.

  For example, the external terminal 2 instructs the fixed message storage unit 191 to display a pre-registered fixed format. Upon receiving this instruction, the fixed message storage unit 191 transmits the registered fixed format to the external terminal 2. The external terminal 2 that has received the transmission in the fixed format transmits a message using this fixed format to the organization 3.

  As described above, in the ninth embodiment, regarding a communication message, not only a text message input in real time but also a message in a predetermined fixed format can be transmitted, so that the input of the message can be omitted on the terminal side. Messages can be exchanged efficiently and smoothly.

1 is a diagram showing a message exchange system according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the operation of the organization information registration unit 19 in the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing organization state information in the first embodiment. 4 is a flowchart of the operation of the tissue state information processing unit 14 in the first embodiment. 4 is a flowchart of the operation of the message relay unit 12 in the first embodiment. 10 is a flowchart of the operation of the organization information registration unit 19 in the second embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the structure | tissue 200 in Embodiment 2. FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of organization state information in the second embodiment. 10 is a flowchart of the operation of the tissue state information processing unit 14 in the second embodiment. 10 is a flowchart of the operation of the message relay unit 12 in the second embodiment. FIG. 10 illustrates a message exchange system according to a third embodiment. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a switching instruction unit in the third embodiment. 10 is a flowchart showing an operation of a switching instruction unit in the fourth embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an organizational structure in a fifth embodiment. FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating an example of organization state information in the fifth embodiment. 14 is a flowchart of the operation of the organization information registration unit 19 in the fifth embodiment. 10 is a flowchart of the operation of the message relay unit 12 in the fifth embodiment. It is a figure which shows the message exchange system which concerns on Embodiment 6. FIG. 18 is a flowchart of the operation of the message relay unit 12 in the sixth embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a message exchange system according to a seventh embodiment. FIG. 10 illustrates a message exchange system according to an eighth embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a message exchange system according to a ninth embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Message exchange apparatus, 11 Apparatus side message communication part, 12 Message relay part, 13 Terminal state processing part, 14 Organization state information processing part, 15 Terminal state information storage part, 16 Organization state information storage part, 17 Terminal connection destination information storage Part, 18 terminal registration part, 19 organization information registration part, 110 connection switching part, 151 message waiting queue, 152 automatic response part, 171 organization state information disclosure part, 172 organization state information display part, 181 time storage part, 191 fixed message Storage unit, 2 External terminal, 2a, 2b Organization belonging terminal, 21, 21a, 21b Message display unit, 22, 22a, 22b Message input unit, 23, 23a, 23b Terminal side message communication unit, 24, 24a, 24b Status display Part, 25, 25a, 25b state changing part, 26a, 26b switching instruction part 200 tissue, 201 tissue condition information, 3 tissue 500 tissue, 501 tissue condition information.

Claims (5)

The organization can communicate with the outside of the organization using terminal status information indicating whether or not each of a plurality of organization belonging terminals belonging to a predetermined organization is in a communicable state and the organization belonging terminal in a communicable state An organization state information storage unit that stores organization state information including organization communication state information indicating whether or not a state is present;
A message communication unit for receiving a message addressed to the organization to the organization transmitted from an external terminal different from the organization belonging terminal from the organization outside the organization;
When the message communication unit receives a message addressed to an organization, the organization can communicate with the outside of the organization by referring to the organization state information stored in the organization state information storage unit and the organization communication state information included in the organization state information If the organization is in a state where it can communicate with the outside of the organization, the organization belonging terminal that is in a communicable state among a plurality of organization belonging terminals according to the terminal state information included in the organization state information select, Rutotomoni a message relay unit for transmitting a tissue destined message using the message communication unit selected organizations affiliated terminal,
The message exchange device further includes:
In response to a request from a requesting terminal that requests transmission of the organization status information, the system includes an organization status information disclosure unit that transmits organization status information stored in the organization status information storage unit to the requesting terminal. Message exchange device. The first layer has first organization communication state information indicating whether the first organization, which is the highest organization, is in a state where communication is possible using a terminal belonging to the first organization,
The second layer includes second terminal status information indicating whether the second terminal directly belonging to the first organization is in a communicable state, and the second organization directly belonging to the first organization is a terminal belonging to the second organization. Using at least second organization communication status information and second organization communication status information indicating whether or not communication is possible,
The N-1th terminal state information indicating whether the N-1th layer (where N ≧ 3) and the N-1th terminal directly belonging to the N-2 organization are in a communicable state; At least the N-1 organization among the N-1 organization communication state information indicating whether or not the N-1 organization directly belonging to the 2 organization is in a communicable state using a terminal belonging to the N-1 organization. Communication status information
Hierarchical data having Nth terminal state information indicating whether or not the Nth terminal directly belonging to the (N-1) th organization is in a communicable state is used as the first organization state indicating the state of the first organization. An organization state information storage unit for storing information;
A message communication unit for receiving a message addressed to the first organization to the first organization transmitted by an external terminal outside the first organization;
When the message communication unit receives a message addressed to the first organization from the external terminal, each organization communication in the first to N-1th layers included in the first organization state information stored in the organization state information storage unit Based on the state information and all the terminal state information stored in the organization state information storage unit, a message is sent to the selected terminal by selecting a terminal in a communicable state among the terminals belonging to the first organization. A message exchange apparatus comprising: a message relay unit that transmits a message addressed to the first organization using a communication unit. Each organization communication status information in the first to (N-1) th layers included in the first organization status information stored in the organization status information storage unit, and all terminal status information stored in the organization status information storage unit Is given a priority when sending messages addressed to the first organization,
The message relay unit
Selecting a terminal in a communicable state among terminals belonging to the first organization based on the priority order, and causing the selected terminal to transmit a message addressed to the first organization using a message communication unit. The message exchange device according to claim 2 . A message exchange device that relays message exchange between terminals;
A first organization belonging terminal that belongs to a predetermined organization and receives a message addressed to the organization from the message exchange device;
A second organization belonging terminal that belongs to the same organization as the first organization belonging terminal and receives a message addressed to the organization from the message exchange device;
The first organization belonging terminal is:
A switching instruction unit that issues a switching instruction to switch the transmission destination of the message addressed to the organization to the second organization belonging terminal when the message addressed to the organization is received from the message exchange device;
The message exchange device
A connection switching unit that switches a transmission destination of a message addressed to an organization from the first organization affiliation terminal to the second organization affiliation terminal based on a switching instruction issued by the first organization affiliation terminal. Connection switching system. The first organization belonging terminal is:
Switching the transmission destination of the message addressed to the organization to the second organization-affiliated terminal is transmitted as prior information to the second organization-affiliated terminal via the message exchange device, and a switching instruction unit is transmitted after the advance information is transmitted. The connection switching system according to claim 4 , wherein a switching instruction is issued by.

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