JP4865752B2 - Telephone exchange system and method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a telephone exchange system and method for realizing a service for concealing a telephone number.

If you want to prevent incoming calls from unspecified parties by restricting the user to the minimum range necessary for close relatives or daily life without publicly disclosing the phone number, conventionally restricting who can tell the phone number In addition, measures were taken manually, such as making arrangements for the confidentiality of the other party with the telephone number as personal information. Furthermore, if a phone number leaks to a third party and an incoming call is received from a party that does not want to be received, it is necessary to perform complicated procedures such as using an incoming call rejection service from a specific phone number. An overview of the incoming call rejection service can be found in Non-Patent Document 1 below.
Nishi Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation, “Tanning Calling Service” [online], [February 18, 2008], Internet <URL: http://www.ntt-west.co.jp/flets/hikaridenwa/service /okotowari/index.html>

  The conventional incoming call rejection service can prevent incoming calls from the same telephone number after receiving a nuisance call, but it is necessary to raise the handset for the first time. In addition, there is a problem that cannot be prevented when the caller makes a call from a telephone having a different telephone number. In addition, it is necessary to request the other party who has given the telephone number to manage it as personal information, and there is a problem that management is a burden for the other party.

  In view of the above-described problems, the present invention has an object to provide a telephone exchange system and method capable of preventing an incoming call from an unspecified party and preventing leakage of personal information. And

  In the telephone exchange system for performing call connection between telephone terminals, the present invention provides, for each calling telephone number, temporary telephone number holding means for holding correspondence between the temporary telephone number and the incoming telephone number associated with the temporary telephone number; When receiving a temporary telephone number request signal that includes a calling telephone number, a called telephone number, and information on a notification destination and requests a temporary telephone number corresponding to the called telephone number, the temporary telephone number holding means is referred to and the calling telephone number holding means is referred to. A temporary telephone number that can be assigned to the telephone number is assigned, and the correspondence between the calling telephone number, the temporary telephone number, and the called telephone number is held in the temporary telephone number holding means, and designated by the temporary telephone number request signal Receiving the temporary telephone number assigning means for notifying the temporary telephone number and the call connection request including the information of the calling telephone number and the called telephone number, it is determined whether or not the called telephone number is the temporary telephone number. , If it is a temporary phone number, A telephone exchange means for reading out the incoming telephone number associated with the temporary telephone number from the holding means, and making a call connection between the telephone terminals corresponding to each of the read out incoming telephone numbers. This is a featured telephone exchange system.

  In the above invention, when the logical number holding means for holding the correspondence between the telephone number and a logical number different from the telephone number and the temporary telephone number request signal including the logical number information instead of the calling telephone number, Logical number conversion means for acquiring a calling telephone number corresponding to the logical number from the number holding means, and the temporary telephone number assigning means is obtained by the logical number conversion means with reference to the temporary telephone number holding means A temporary telephone number that can be assigned to the calling telephone number is allocated, the correspondence between the calling telephone number, the temporary telephone number, and the called telephone number is held in the temporary telephone number holding means, and the temporary telephone number request signal The temporary telephone number is notified to the notification destination designated by the above.

  The above invention is characterized by comprising means for deleting the temporary telephone number when the expiration date of the temporary telephone number is exceeded.

  In the above invention, there is provided a means for deleting the temporary telephone number when the number of searches for the temporary telephone number exceeds a certain number.

  In the above invention, the temporary telephone number assigning means receives the temporary telephone number request signal further including a temporary telephone number usage condition, and the temporary telephone number holding means receives the temporary telephone number and the temporary telephone number usage condition. The temporary telephone number is notified to the notification destination designated by the temporary telephone number request signal, and the telephone exchange means is the calling telephone number and the incoming telephone number in which the temporary telephone number is set. When the call connection request including the above information is received, the provisional telephone number use condition obtained from the temporary telephone number holding means is referred to determine whether or not the call connection can be performed.

  In the above invention, the temporary telephone number assigning means further notifies the use condition to a notification destination designated by the temporary telephone number request signal.

  The present invention provides a telephone exchange method for performing call connection between telephone terminals, provided for each calling telephone number with provisional telephone number holding means for holding correspondence between the temporary telephone number and the incoming telephone number associated with the temporary telephone number. When the temporary telephone number assigning means receives the temporary telephone number request signal for requesting the temporary telephone number corresponding to the called telephone number, the temporary telephone number assigning means includes the calling telephone number, the called telephone number, and the notification destination information. Referring to the number holding means, a last-use temporary telephone number that can be assigned to the calling telephone number is assigned, and the correspondence between the calling telephone number, the temporary telephone number, and the called telephone number is assigned to the temporary telephone number holding means. When the telephone exchange means receives the call connection request including the information on the calling telephone number and the called telephone number, it notifies the destination specified by the temporary telephone number request signal. Determine whether the phone number is a temporary phone number In some cases, the calling telephone number and the incoming telephone number associated with the temporary telephone number are read out from the temporary telephone number holding means, and the telephone terminal corresponding to each of the outgoing telephone number and the read incoming telephone number A telephone exchange method characterized in that a call connection is made between the two.

  According to the present invention, a temporary phone number with a restricted use, which is different from the phone number normally used by the subscriber, is notified to another subscriber who wants to contact the subscriber, and the phone number normally used is kept secret. can do. Since a temporary phone number with usage restrictions is assigned to each caller, even if the temporary phone number leaks to a third party, the third party cannot use the temporary phone number. Further, depending on the purpose of use of the temporary telephone number, it is possible to limit the usage conditions such as the validity period, and it is possible to prevent unintended use to some extent.

  According to the present invention, by converting the calling telephone number into a number that can be called back temporarily and transferring it to the partner terminal, it is possible to call back from the partner terminal without the calling terminal number being known to the partner terminal. Become.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, 1a is a telephone terminal of a telephone subscriber A, 1b is a telephone terminal of a service provider B, 2 is a telephone exchange unit, 3 is a temporary telephone number database, 4 is a temporary telephone number assignment unit, and 5a is a telephone subscriber A. The web client 5b is a web server of service provider B, 6 is a service duration timer, and 7 is a service usage counter.

  The telephone subscriber 1 operates the telephone terminal 1a and the Web client 5a. Service provider B operates telephone terminal 1b and Web server 5b. The Web client 5a is a computer device such as a personal computer or a mobile phone terminal.

  The telephone exchange unit 2 is connected to each telephone terminal (the telephone terminal 1a and the telephone terminal 1b in the figure) and the temporary telephone number database 3. The telephone exchange device can be realized by, for example, a landline telephone or a mobile phone telephone exchange, a service control point (SCP), an IP telephone call control device, or the like.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, when the telephone exchange unit 2 receives a call connection request including information on the calling telephone number and the called telephone number, it determines whether the called telephone number is a temporary telephone number and is the temporary telephone number. In this case, the calling telephone number and the incoming telephone number associated with the temporary telephone number are read out from the temporary telephone number database 3, and a call connection is made between the telephone terminals corresponding to the outgoing telephone number and the read incoming telephone number. .

  The temporary telephone number database 3 can be constituted by a database server, for example, and is connected to the telephone exchange unit 2 and the temporary telephone number assignment unit 4. As shown in FIG. 2, the temporary telephone number database 3 is configured as a database that holds a temporary telephone number, a corresponding incoming telephone number, and usage conditions for each outgoing telephone number. For example, “use count” can be “only once”, “use period” can be “until January 1, 2009”, and “transmission available time zone” can be “only daytime”. Other conditions may be used.

  The temporary telephone number assigning unit 4 can be realized by a computer device such as a server, for example, and is connected to a Web client (Web client 5a in FIG. 1) and a Web server (Web server 5b in FIG. 1).

  When the temporary telephone number assigning unit 4 receives the temporary telephone number request signal for requesting the temporary telephone number corresponding to the called telephone number, the temporary telephone number assigning unit 4 includes the calling telephone number, the called telephone number, and the notification destination information of the temporary telephone number. Referring to the number database 3, a temporary telephone number that can be allocated to the calling telephone number is assigned, and the correspondence between the calling telephone number, the temporary telephone number, and the called telephone number is stored in the temporary telephone number database 3. The temporary telephone number is notified to the notification destination specified by the number request signal.

  The service duration timer 6 is connected to the temporary telephone number assigning unit 4 and the telephone exchange unit 2 and counts the duration of service for each temporary telephone number. The service usage counter 7 is connected to the temporary telephone number assignment unit 4 and the telephone exchange unit 2 and counts the number of times the service is used for each temporary telephone number.

  Any two or more of the temporary telephone number assigning unit 4, the temporary telephone number database 3, and the telephone exchange unit 2 may be realized by the same device.

  As the service provider B, for example, a merchandise store is assumed, and the telephone subscriber A is assumed to be a purchaser of the merchandise. The service provider B needs to know the telephone number of the telephone subscriber A who purchases the product for communication. However, if the telephone subscriber A gives the telephone number to the service provider B, the telephone number may be leaked and a nuisance call may be made.

  The embodiment of the present invention notifies the service provider B of a temporary phone number with a use restriction different from the phone number normally used by the telephone subscriber A, and conceals the phone number normally used. It prevents unwanted calls from unspecified parties and prevents the leakage of personal information.

  In the following, the temporary telephone number of the telephone terminal 1a that can be used by the service provider B is issued from the temporary telephone number assignment unit 4 to the Web server 5b, and then the service provider B calls the telephone subscriber A using the temporary telephone number. An example of operation up to this point will be described.

  When the telephone subscriber A accesses the Web server 5b using the Web client 5a, the Web server 5b reads the URL indicating the registration destination of the temporary telephone number, the telephone number of the telephone terminal 1b of the service provider B, and the transaction The identifier is notified to the Web client 5a, and a temporary telephone number that can be contacted to the telephone subscriber A is requested.

  When the Web client 5a receives the temporary telephone number request from the Web server 5b, the Web client 5a connects to the temporary telephone number assigning unit 4 and uses the URL, the transaction identifier, the telephone number (the called telephone number) to which the temporary telephone number is assigned, and the use thereof. The temporary telephone number assignment unit 4 is notified of the conditions and the telephone number (calling telephone number) of the service provider B who wishes to permit transmission using the temporary telephone number, and a request for paying out the temporary telephone number is made.

  The temporary telephone number assigning unit 4 performs the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. That is, in FIG. 3, when the temporary telephone number assigning unit 4 receives a temporary telephone number payout request (temporary telephone number request signal) from the Web client 5a, the temporary telephone number database 3 sends the temporary telephone number to the requested calling telephone number. The temporary telephone number to be associated is read (step S1), and the temporary telephone number to be used at the end is assigned. The temporary telephone number assigning unit 4 registers the requested outgoing telephone number, the assigned temporary telephone number, the requested incoming telephone number, and the use conditions in the temporary telephone number database 3 in association with each other (step S2). The Web server 5b is accessed using the URL in the request, and the temporary telephone number, the transaction identifier in the request, and the use conditions are notified (step S3). Also, the service duration timer 6 is started in correspondence with the temporary telephone number.

  The Web server 5b identifies, based on the transaction identifier in the notification received from the temporary telephone number assigning unit 4, that the temporary telephone number in the notification is a contact address for the telephone subscriber A of the telephone terminal 1a. Remember.

  In this way, the service provider B acquires the temporary telephone number of the telephone subscriber A's telephone terminal 1a. After that, the service provider B calls the telephone subscriber A using the temporary telephone number.

  The telephone exchange unit 2 performs the process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4 in response to the call from the telephone terminal 1b of the service provider B. That is, in FIG. 4, when the telephone exchange unit 2 receives a call connection request in which a calling telephone number and a called telephone number are set, it analyzes whether the called telephone number is a temporary telephone number (step S11). For example, it can be distinguished from other telephone numbers by a special number prefix. If the called telephone number is not a temporary telephone number (step S11: NO), the telephone exchange unit 2 performs normal call setting (step S12).

  If the incoming telephone number is a temporary telephone number (step S11: YES), the telephone exchange unit 2 uses the outgoing telephone number and the incoming telephone number associated with the temporary telephone number from the temporary telephone number database 3 and uses them. The conditions are read (step S13), and the use conditions are analyzed (step S14). For example, it is analyzed whether a condition such as “usage count” indicated by the service usage counter 7 is within “usable count” or whether the current date and time is “usage period” or “usable time zone” is satisfied. . If the use condition is satisfied as a result of the analysis (step S14: YES), the service use counter 7 corresponding to the temporary phone number of the called telephone number is incremented (step S15), and the “use count” indicated by the service use counter 7 is increased. "Is greater than or equal to a preset threshold value (step S16). If the “usage count” indicated by the service usage counter 7 is greater than or equal to a preset threshold value (step S16: YES), the temporary telephone number associated with the calling telephone number in the temporary telephone number database 3 is deleted (step S17). ). If the service usage counter 7 is not equal to or greater than the preset threshold value (step S16: NO), the temporary telephone number set as the incoming telephone number in the call connection request corresponds to the outgoing telephone number and the temporary telephone number. Then, a call connection is made in place of the incoming telephone number read from the temporary telephone number database 3. Thus, between the telephone terminal 1b and the telephone terminal 1a corresponding to the calling telephone number (the telephone number of the telephone terminal 1b) in the call connection request and the incoming telephone number (the telephone number of the telephone terminal 1a) associated with the temporary telephone number. A call is set to (step S18).

  When the service duration timer 6 corresponding to each temporary telephone number of each calling telephone number expires, the temporary telephone number associated with the calling telephone number set in the temporary telephone number database 3 is deleted.

  In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the effective period of the temporary phone number is limited by time and the number of times of use is shown. Or it does not need to restrict | limit.

  In addition, the Web server 5b notifies the Web client 5a of the telephone number of the telephone terminal of the service provider B. Instead, the temporary telephone number assignment unit 4 responds to the telephone number of the telephone terminal of the service provider B. Another number (logical number) that can be taken may be notified.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 5, unlike the telephone number and the telephone number, there is provided a logical number database 8 that holds the correspondence between the telephone numbers and the logical numbers corresponding 1: 1 or 1: multiple. In addition, when a temporary telephone number request signal including logical number information instead of the calling telephone number is received, a logical number conversion unit 9 is provided that acquires the calling telephone number corresponding to the logical number from the logical number database 8. .

Thereby, the Web server 5b notifies the logical number of the telephone terminal 1b to the Web client 5a instead of the telephone number of the telephone terminal 1b of the service provider B, and requests a temporary telephone number that can be contacted to the telephone subscriber A. . The Web client 5a connects to the temporary telephone number assigning unit 4, notifies the logical number of the telephone terminal 1b instead of the telephone number of the telephone terminal 1b of the service provider B, and requests the provision of the temporary telephone number.
When the temporary telephone number assigning unit 4 receives the temporary telephone number payout request from the Web client 5a, the logical number converting unit 9 acquires the telephone number corresponding to the received logical number from the logical number database 8. Thereafter, the obtained telephone number is used as the calling telephone number, and the same operation as in FIG. 3 described above is performed. That is, the temporary telephone number assigning unit 4 assigns a temporary telephone number that can be assigned to the calling telephone number acquired by the logical number converting unit 9 and assigns the calling telephone number, the assigned temporary telephone number, the called telephone number, The usage conditions are associated with each other, registered in the temporary telephone number database 3, accessed to the Web server 5 b using the URL for which a payout request is made, and the temporary telephone number, the transaction identifier in the request, and the usage conditions are notified. .

  In addition, the telephone exchange means determines that the caller terminal and the called terminal are connected by a temporary telephone number using a talk key and the use conditions when a call is connected between the telephone terminals corresponding to the calling telephone number and the called telephone number. You may be notified.

As described above, in the embodiment of the present invention, a temporary phone number with usage restrictions is assigned to each caller. Therefore, even if the temporary phone number leaks to a third party, the third party You cannot use a phone number.
Further, depending on the purpose of use of the temporary telephone number, it is possible to limit the usage conditions such as the validity period, and it is possible to prevent unintended use to some extent. An example is shown below.

(1) When using as a contact in a long-term contract such as when opening a bank account, the validity period and the number of times of use are unlimited, the time zone is during the day, etc.
(2) When a product is purchased and used as a contact for delivery, the valid period is the scheduled delivery date and the number of uses is unlimited.
(3) If you purchase an electrical product and use it as a contact when you find out about a design defect, the validity period is unlimited, and the number of uses is two.

  Further, by using a logical number to identify the calling telephone terminal when paying out the temporary telephone number, it is possible to conceal the calling telephone number.

  From the viewpoint of the user of the temporary phone number, the management of confidentiality may be simpler than that of a normal phone number, and there is an effect of less damage in case of loss. As a telephone company, it can be provided as an additional service.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and applications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

  The telephone exchange unit 2 and the temporary telephone number assigning unit 4 described above have a computer system inside. The operation processes of the telephone exchange unit 2 and the temporary telephone number assigning unit 4 described above are stored in a computer-readable recording medium in the form of a program, and this program is read and executed by the computer system. The above processing is performed. Here, the computer system includes a CPU, various memories, an OS, and hardware such as peripheral devices.

  Further, the “computer system” includes a homepage providing environment (or display environment) if a WWW system is used.

  The “computer-readable recording medium” refers to a storage device such as a flexible medium, a magneto-optical disk, a portable medium such as a ROM and a CD-ROM, and a hard disk incorporated in a computer system. Furthermore, the “computer-readable recording medium” dynamically holds a program for a short time like a communication line when transmitting a program via a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line. In this case, a volatile memory in a computer system serving as a server or a client in that case, and a program that holds a program for a certain period of time are also included. The program may be a program for realizing a part of the functions described above, and may be a program capable of realizing the functions described above in combination with a program already recorded in a computer system.

It is a block diagram used for description of the structure of the telephone exchange system of one Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the list in the temporary telephone number database in the telephone switching system of one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart used for description of the process of the temporary telephone number allocation part in the telephone exchange system of one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart used for description of the process of the telephone switching part in the telephone switching system of one Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram used for description of the structure of the telephone exchange system of other embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1a, 1b: Telephone terminal 2: Telephone exchange unit 3: Temporary telephone number database (temporary telephone number holding means)
4: Temporary telephone number assignment unit 5a: Web client 5b: Web server 6: Service duration timer 7: Service usage counter

Claims (7)

In a telephone exchange system that performs call connection between telephone terminals,
Temporary telephone number holding means for holding a correspondence between the temporary telephone number and the incoming telephone number associated with the temporary telephone number for each calling telephone number;
When receiving a temporary telephone number request signal that includes a calling telephone number, a called telephone number, and information on a notification destination and requests a temporary telephone number corresponding to the called telephone number, the temporary telephone number holding means is referred to and the calling telephone number holding means is referred to. A temporary telephone number that can be assigned to a telephone number is assigned, and the correspondence between the calling telephone number, the temporary telephone number, and the called telephone number is held in the temporary telephone number holding means, and the temporary telephone number request signal Temporary telephone number assigning means for notifying the designated notification destination of the temporary telephone number;
When a call connection request including information on the calling phone number and the called phone number is received, it is determined whether or not the called phone number is a temporary phone number. A telephone exchange means for reading out the incoming telephone number associated with the telephone number and the temporary telephone number, and performing call connection between the outgoing telephone number and the telephone terminal corresponding to each of the read incoming telephone numbers;
A telephone exchange system comprising: Logical number holding means for holding a correspondence between a telephone number and a logical number different from the telephone number;
Logical number conversion means for obtaining a calling telephone number corresponding to the logical number from the logical number holding means when receiving the temporary telephone number request signal including logical number information instead of the calling telephone number;
The temporary telephone number assigning means refers to the temporary telephone number holding means, assigns a temporary telephone number that can be assigned to the calling telephone number acquired by the logical number conversion means, and assigns the temporary telephone number and the temporary telephone number. The correspondence between a telephone number and the called telephone number is held in the temporary telephone number holding means, and the temporary telephone number is notified to a notification destination designated by the temporary telephone number request signal. The telephone exchange system described in 1.   2. The telephone exchange system according to claim 1, further comprising means for deleting the temporary telephone number when an expiration date of the temporary telephone number is exceeded.   2. The telephone exchange system according to claim 1, further comprising means for deleting the temporary telephone number when the number of searches for the temporary telephone number exceeds a certain number. The temporary telephone number assigning means receives the temporary telephone number request signal further including a temporary telephone number usage condition, and causes the temporary telephone number holding means to respond to the temporary telephone number and the temporary telephone number usage condition. Hold the notification to the notification destination specified by the temporary telephone number request signal, the temporary telephone number,
When the telephone exchange means receives a call connection request including information on the calling telephone number and the called telephone number in which the temporary telephone number is set, the telephone exchange means refers to the use condition of the temporary telephone number obtained from the temporary telephone number holding means. And determine whether the call connection can be performed,
The telephone exchange system according to claim 1.   6. The telephone exchange system according to claim 5, wherein the temporary telephone number assigning means further notifies the use condition to a notification destination designated by the temporary telephone number request signal. In a telephone exchange method for performing a call connection between telephone terminals,
For each calling telephone number, provisional telephone number holding means for holding the correspondence between the temporary telephone number and the incoming telephone number associated with the temporary telephone number is provided,
When the temporary telephone number assigning means receives the temporary telephone number request signal for requesting the temporary telephone number corresponding to the called telephone number, including the information of the calling telephone number, the called telephone number, and the notification destination, the temporary telephone number holding means A temporary telephone number that can be assigned to the calling telephone number is assigned, and the correspondence between the calling telephone number, the temporary telephone number, and the called telephone number is held in the temporary telephone number holding means, Notify the temporary telephone number to the notification destination specified by the temporary telephone number request signal,
When the telephone exchange means receives a call connection request including information on the calling telephone number and the called telephone number, it determines whether the called telephone number is a temporary telephone number, and if it is a temporary telephone number, the temporary telephone number is retained. From the means, the called telephone number and the incoming telephone number associated with the temporary telephone number are read out, and the call connection between the outgoing telephone number and the telephone terminal corresponding to each of the read incoming telephone numbers is performed.
A telephone exchange method characterized by that.

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