JP7372411B2 - Automatic message system and method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a system (hereinafter referred to as an automatic message system) capable of sending a message to a target person through a communication network and automatically responding to a reply from the target person.

In the field of voice/telephone services, an autocall system is known that uses automated voice telephones to issue reminders to people who have not yet paid their ward, town, and village taxes, and to recommend health checkups (see Patent Document 1). There, a server equipped with an IVR (Interactive Voice Response) function makes a call to a target person's terminal via a public telephone network (PSTN) or an IP network. When the target person picks up the phone and becomes connected (calling), automatic voice guidance is provided to the target person.

On the other hand, in a service that utilizes the SMS (Short Message Service) function provided in a mobile terminal, a text message is automatically delivered to a specific target person from a server such as a company. When automatically transmitting a message to a user, a unique ID number (SIM number) of a SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card is added to transmission data, and SMS transmission is performed (see Patent Document 2). As a result, the SIM number is displayed on the user's mobile terminal as the sender's telephone number. The user performs a reply operation to the displayed telephone number.

Furthermore, a configuration is known in which a SIM card is provided in each port of a gateway that converts transmission data into SMS protocol data (see Patent Document 3). By adding a port number to the transmitted data, each port functions as a mobile terminal and sends messages to many users at once. On the mobile terminal of the user who received the message, the SIM number (telephone number) of the port that sent the message is displayed as the sender's phone number.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-011293 Patent No. 6114866 Patent No. 6202877

Even if an auto-call using IVR is made to the target person's terminal, the target person may not notice the incoming call due to reasons such as the vibration mode setting on the mobile terminal. In this case, it will be necessary to call the target person again. On the other hand, when a message is sent by SMS or the like, there is a possibility that the user may judge that the message is a special fraud message based on the content of the message and may not reply.

Therefore, there is a need to construct a system that effectively combines an automatic voice message service using IVR and a message service such as SMS that uses a telephone number as a destination.

The method of the present invention, in an automatic message system connected to a plurality of clients via a network, transmits message data including character information to a target terminal based on automatic message information received from a message instruction client. In this method, data of a client message is sent to a target person's terminal using the incoming telephone number of an IVR (Interactive Voice Response) that can notify a message addressed to the target person in automatic voice according to the target person's terminal as the sender ID.

For example, the data of the client message is transmitted to the target terminal using the incoming telephone number of the IVR selected by the message instruction client or the incoming telephone number of the IVR specified based on the automatic message information as the sender ID.

For example, multiple IVRs may be used depending on the number of languages in the message to the target audience, different sections of the message prompt client, different content of automated voice prompts, or the estimated number of return calls based on the number of target audiences. , located outside or within the system.

For example, a telephone number different from the incoming telephone number of the IVR is included in the text information of the client message.

An automatic message system that is another aspect of the present invention is an automatic message system that connects to a plurality of clients via a network, wherein the client requests a return call based on automatic message information received from a message instruction client. The transmission unit includes a transmitter that transmits message data to the target person's terminal, and the transmitter transmits the incoming telephone number of an IVR (Interactive Voice Response) that can notify the target person of a message according to the target person's terminal by automatic voice. The message data is sent to the target person's terminal as the sender ID.

Another aspect of the present invention is a method in which, in an automatic message system connected to a plurality of clients via a network, voice communication is connected to a public telephone network or an IP network based on automatic message information received from a message instruction client. A method for transmitting client message data including text information to a target terminal using a calling telephone number owned by the device and having an area code to which a message instruction client belongs as a sender ID. The device is a voice communication device used for making phone calls in an auto call system that makes automatic voice calls using IVR (Interactive Voice Response).

For example, a voice communication device owns multiple outgoing phone numbers, and based on the automatic message information, uses the outgoing phone number set among the multiple outgoing phone numbers as the sender ID, and sends the data of the client message to the target person's terminal. Send to.

An automatic message system that is another aspect of the present invention is an automatic message system that connects to a plurality of clients via a network, and connects to a public telephone network or an IP network based on automatic message information received from a message instruction client. Send client message data including text information to the target person's terminal using the originating telephone number owned by the connected voice communication device and having the area code to which the message instruction client belongs as the sender ID. The voice communication device includes a transmitter and is used for making phone calls in an autocall system that makes automatic voice calls using IVR (Interactive Voice Response).

For example, in a method that is one aspect of the present invention, in an automatic message system connected to a plurality of clients via a network, message data including text information corresponding to the content of automatic voice is received from a message instruction client, and the message Data on the target person's phone number and information regarding the call so that the call is made to the target person's terminal from a voice communication device that has the calling phone number of the area code to which the instruction client belongs and is connected to the public telephone network or IP network. When the data is sent to the message instruction client and a conversation is established with the target person's terminal, automatic voice data is sent to the message instruction client and the message is Transmission data based on the data and having the originating telephone number of the voice communication device as the transmission source ID is transmitted to the target person's terminal. The transmission data may be data in which the calling telephone number of the voice communication device is displayed on the target person's terminal as the transmission source telephone number, and for example, transmission data according to the SMS system can be used.

Considering the effective combination of automatic call and message sending, for example, if a target terminal does not reach the call state after receiving a call, send data with the originating phone number of the voice communication device as the sender ID to the target terminal. After transmitting data that can be transmitted to a terminal and having the originating telephone number of the voice communication device as the transmitter ID, data on the target person's telephone number and data regarding the call are transmitted to the message instruction client.

For example, if a voice communication device has a plurality of calling telephone numbers and sends transmission data with the calling telephone number used for the call out of the plurality of calling telephone numbers as the caller ID, to the target terminal. Bye.

For example, in a method that is one aspect of the present invention, in an automatic message system that connects to a plurality of clients, message data including character information is received from a message instruction client, and the calling telephone number of the area code to which the message instruction client belongs is received. In order for a voice communication device connected to a public telephone network or an IP network to make a call to the target person's terminal, data on the target person's phone number and data related to the call are sent to the message instruction client, and the target person When a call is established with the terminal, automatic voice data is sent to the message instruction client so that an automatic voice call using IVR (Interactive Voice Response) is performed through the voice communication device, and transmission data based on the message data is sent to the IVR. Transmission data whose sender ID is the incoming telephone number of an automatic response IVR different from the above is transmitted to the target person's terminal.

For example, it is possible to set up multiple IVRs outside the system and within the system depending on the language of the message or the section of the client, and it is possible to notify messages (necessary to the target person) according to the target user's terminal with automatic voice. 6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising transmitting the transmission data having the incoming telephone number of the IVR as the transmission source ID to the target terminal.

For example, in an automatic message system that is connected to multiple clients via a network, which is one aspect of the present invention, a call control unit receives message data including text information corresponding to the content of automatic voice from a message instruction client. and a transmission unit that transmits transmission data based on the message data to the target terminal, and the call control unit has a calling telephone number of an area code to which the message instruction client belongs, and is connected to a public telephone network or In order to make a call to the target person's terminal from the voice communication device connected to the IP network, data on the target person's telephone number and data regarding the call are sent to the message instruction client, and the call control unit sends the data to the target person's terminal. When the call state is established, automatic voice data is transmitted to the message instruction client so that an automatic voice call by IVR (Interactive Voice Response) is performed through the voice communication device, and the transmitting unit transmits the calling phone number of the voice communication device. Send data to be used as the original ID to the target person's terminal.

Further, for example, in an automatic message system that connects to a plurality of clients, which is one aspect of the present invention, a call control unit, data on a target person's telephone number, and message data including character information are sent from a message instruction client. The call control unit includes a message control unit that receives a message, and a transmission unit that transmits transmission data based on the message data to a terminal of a caller. In order to make a call to the target person's terminal from a voice communication device connected to a network or IP network, data on the target person's telephone number and data related to the call are sent to the message instruction client, and the call control unit When a call is established with the client terminal, automatic voice data is sent to the message instruction client so that an automatic voice call using IVR (Interactive Voice Response) is carried out through the voice communication device, and the transmitter sends automatic voice data to the message instruction client, which is different from the IVR. Send data with the incoming phone number of the IVR as the sender ID is sent to the target person's terminal.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to effectively provide an automatic voice message service using an IVR and a message service such as SMS that uses a telephone number as a destination.

1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a network system including an automatic message system and a client. 1 is a block diagram of an automated message system and client; FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating data communication between an automatic message system, a client, and a target person during execution of an automatic message. 1 is a flowchart of automatic message processing performed in an autocall SMS server. It is a figure which showed the incoming call history screen of the target person's terminal A3, and the list screen of SMS message reception. It is a flowchart of SMS transmission processing. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a screen displaying the contents of a target person's SMS message.

The automatic message system according to this embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a network system including an automatic message system and a client.

The automatic message system 10 is connected to a plurality of clients 100, 200, 300, . . . via a closed network (here, a VPN (Virtual Private Network)). Here, the plurality of clients are administrative clients, and specifically, the clients are municipal governments such as city halls and town halls.

The client 100 includes a router 120, a gateway 140, a personal computer (PC) 160, etc., and can communicate with the automatic message system 10 between the PC 160 and the like. Other clients are similarly connected to automatic message system 10 via VPN.

A plurality of clients 100, 200, 300, etc., which are local governments such as cities, towns, and villages, are located in areas to which different area codes (area codes) are assigned. Here, for convenience, the area code of the client 100 is "00", the area code of the client 200 is "01", and the area code of the client is "02". The client 300 is designated by the client 100 as a place to make a telephone call, and is configured as a client subordinate to the client 100 (hereinafter referred to as a subordinate client).

The automatic message system 10 is capable of providing a message service that combines autocall and SMS (Short Message Service) message transmission in response to requests from each client. Specifically, we will send out automated voice and/or text messages to people who have not paid their taxes, non-tax credits such as school lunch expenses, or who are subject to health checkups by calling/SMSing them at a specified date and time. to make reminders, recommendations, etc. In addition, in response to a call back after a reminder or recommendation, it is possible to respond by telephone using IVR.

Each client creates in advance information (automatic message information) that includes message data in which the content of the automated voice/written message is written, the telephone number of the person to whom the automated message is sent, the date and time of execution of the automated message, etc. Send to. The automatic message system 10 executes automatic message processing according to the specified date and time. In addition, IVR will be used to respond to calls that are returned.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of automated message system 10 and client 100. Automated message system 10 can be built in the cloud.

The automatic message system 10 includes an autocall SMS server 20, a call control server 30, and also includes a switch circuit 40, a router 50, and an SMS transmission server 70. The autocall SMS server 20 has an IVR (Interactive Voice Response) function, controls the call control server 30, and instructs the call control server 30 to make a telephone call at a predetermined timing and to make an automatic voice call using the IVR. The autocall SMS server 20 also controls the SMS transmission server 70. The control program is stored in a memory or the like.

The call control server 30 includes a first call control server 30A that supports automatic voice in a first language (here, Japanese) and a first call control server 30A that supports automatic voice in a second language (here, English as a foreign language). 2 call control server 30B. While the autocall SMS server 200 generates automatic voice based on synthetic voice processing and recorded voice files, the call control server 30 exchanges control signals (signaling) and controls call origination, incoming call, line control, etc. Performs controls for making automatic voice calls with the target person, such as connection and disconnection.

The autocall SMS server 20 is equipped with an IVR that supports a first language (Japanese) and a second language (English), and the SMS sending server 70 is configured to send an SMS from the autocall SMS server 20 through the IVR. Receive message data. Note that it is also possible to provide an IVR in the call control server 30, or alternatively, the IVR may be provided independently from the autocall SMS server 20.

The switch circuit 40 transmits data sent from the client 100 via the router 50 to the autocall SMS server 20 or the first and second call control unit servers 30A and 30B. Signals output from the first and second call control servers 30A and 30B are output to the outside of the system via the ONU 60, which is a terminal device.

The SMS sending server 70 includes a sending data creation unit and a protocol conversion gateway, and upon receiving message data sent from a client, creates sending data with a sender ID added thereto. Then, the protocol conversion gateway converts the data into transmission data in the SMS protocol format, and transmits the data.

The sender ID (SenderID) is defined as the originating telephone number of the gateway 140, 240 of the client 100, 200, etc., as described later. The protocol conversion gateway is here constituted by a single gateway. Note that the SMS may be transmitted in a carrier (communication carrier) direct protocol format and transmitted through a protocol conversion gateway installed outside the system.

The automatic message system 10 is connected to the client 100 by the PVN, which functions as a private network that is not interfered with by a third party, as described above, and the router 120 of the client 100 is specified in the automatic message system 10. Further, encrypted packet communication is performed according to the IPsec method.

The router 120 of the client 100 receives data sent from the automatic message system 10 via the terminal device 110, and distributes the data to personal computers (PCs) 150, 160, gateway 140, and the like. The gateway 140 connected to the public switched telephone network (PSTN) or IP network functions as a voice communication device, and receives data (signals) regarding outgoing calls (hereinafter also referred to as outgoing calls) sent from the call control server 30 and automatic voice data. is converted into data etc. according to the PSTN.

A call to the target person's terminal and an automatic voice conversation with the target person are performed based on call-related data and automatic voice data sent from the call control server 30 to the client 100, respectively. Note that it is also possible to install an audio communication device other than the gateway, and the connection with the client may be a computer (such as a workstation) other than the PC.

The client 100 is located in a location belonging to area code 01, and accordingly, the gateway 140 is assigned a telephone number (calling telephone number) starting with area code 01. Further, the gateway 140 has a plurality of calling telephone numbers, and can make a call by switching between the calling telephone numbers. When a call is made to a client using a selected or specified calling telephone number, the calling telephone number is displayed on the display section of the terminal of the recipient of the call. Here, sections 100A and 100B are configured to make calls using different calling telephone numbers.

In the client 100, different tasks are performed in sections 100A and 100B. For example, section 100A corresponds to the health insurance premium collection section, and section 100B corresponds to the health support section. Section 100A and section 100B include PCs 150 and 160, respectively, and work on automatic messages, respectively.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the flow of executing an automatic message, that is, messaging, between the automatic message system 10, the client 100, and the message recipient. Note that similar automatic messages are sent to other clients as well.

In the client 100, information regarding health insurance collection, health checkups, etc. regarding residents of the client 100 is stored in the data management system 190. The data management system 190 is not connected to a network accessible by an external unspecified person, and the computers 160 and 150 installed in sections 100A and 100B are also not connected to the data management system 190.

An operator belonging to section 100A of client 100 creates automatic message information using PC 160. The operator imports into the PC 160 the portable memory DM in which the addresses of automatic message recipients, such as a list of delinquents, are recorded, and reads the data. Data stored in the data management system 190 is recorded in the portable memory DM.

When the operator opens a screen (site) for inputting automatic message instruction contents, the operator specifies the date and time for automatic message execution, and inputs a document for an automatic voice scenario (script) and a document for SMS transmission. Furthermore, the user specifies and selects the calling phone number when making a call. For example, the calling phone number is set depending on the section's business, the language of the automatic voice, etc. It is also possible to set the originating telephone number of the gateway 340 of the dependent client 300.

Data of automatic message information including these contents is created as a CSV file, for example, and uploaded to the automatic message system 10. Such automatic message information created on the client side can also be created in section 100B.

When the automatic message system 10 receives an instruction to send an automatic message from the client 100, it sends data regarding the call to the client 100 at the specified date and time. The gateway 140 makes a telephone call to the person to whom the automatic message is sent (such as a delinquent person) via the public switched telephone network (PSTN) or an IP network. At this time, the gateway 140 makes a call using the telephone number corresponding to the section executing the automatic message.

When the target person's terminal A1 enters an incoming call state and the target person picks up the phone, an automatic voice call is made based on synthesized voice data sent from the automatic message system 10. When the automatic voice call by the terminal A1 is completed, the next terminal A2 is called and the call is made. Note that the target person's terminals A1 and A2 may be any device having a telephone function, and may be either a landline telephone or a mobile telephone.

When an automatic voice call is made to the target person using the gateway 140 as the starting point, the call is made from the gateway 140 installed in the client 100, so the display of the target terminals A1 and A2 shows the area code "01". The starting phone number will be displayed.

When the client 100 is an administrative system such as a local government, the people who receive automatic messages are various, such as those who have not paid taxes and other public dues, and those scheduled for health checkups, but they are all limited to those who receive administrative services. . Therefore, when the recipient of the automatic message sees the display of the telephone number of the client 100 on his or her own terminal, he/she recognizes that the call is from the same local government or a neighboring local government with the same area code. As a result, when the target person's terminal A1 enters the incoming call state, in most cases the terminal advances to the talking state (picks up the phone). As a result, an automated voice call is started, and many target persons receive messages from the client 100.

Further, the automatic message system 10 is capable of sending an SMS via a public telephone network/IP network in accordance with an SMS sending instruction from the client 100. In sections 100A and 100B, text messages corresponding to the contents of the automated voice document of each section are created and uploaded to the automated message system 10 together with the automated voice scenario document. When the message execution date and time arrives, the automatic message system 10 transmits SMS transmission data to the target person's terminal, if necessary.

On the other hand, the target person who received the message via SMS transmission can call back and confirm the contents of the message if necessary. In this case, the IVR 80 and IVR 90, which are capable of providing an automatic voice response to a call back, handle the telephone call. This is achieved by the client 100 setting the SMS sender ID to the incoming telephone number of the IVR 80, 90.

The IVR 80 and IVR 90 are connected to the automatic message system 10 through a communication network, and are configured here as an IVR compatible with a first language (Japanese) and an IVR compatible with a second language (English), respectively. Additionally, by equipping a service provided by an external carrier with a function that forwards the message to a terminal installed on the desk of the person in charge, it is possible to connect directly to the person in charge of the section that executed the automated message.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of automatic message processing executed in the autocall SMS server 20. An example of automatic message processing will be explained using FIG. 4.

As described above, before executing automatic message processing, for example, the operator of the client 100 displays an automatic message reservation setting screen in an operator-specified language, inputs an automatic voice scenario document, an SMS transmission document, and executes message transmission. Specify the date and time, select the caller's phone number, etc. When the input operation is completed, data related to automatic message information such as list data of message recipients, scenario document data, SMS transmission document data, automatic message designation date and time, and caller's telephone number are uploaded.

Note that the calling phone number for auto-calls and SMS may be automatically set by the automatic message system 10 instead of being selected by the client. For example, in the automatic message system 10, a calling telephone number determined for each client or each section of a client is stored in advance in the memory, and when an automatic message execution instruction is received, the message instruction client (section) is specified. , just set the calling phone number.

When automatic message information is received from the client, automatic message processing by the call control server is set according to the designated language, and the call control server enters a standby state (S101 to S104). That is, an automatic message is set by the call control server in the language corresponding to the reservation setting screen where the input operation was performed, of the first call control server 30A corresponding to Japanese and the second call control server 30B corresponding to foreign languages. .

When the automatic message designated date and time arrives (S105), the call control server according to the designated language transmits data on the telephone number of the first target person in the destination list and data regarding the call to the client 100 (S106). The gateway 140 makes a call to the target person's terminal using the caller's telephone number designated by the operator based on the target person's telephone number data.

When the target person receives a call and enters a conversation state (S107), a voice synthesis process is performed to convert automatic voice document data into voice data (S108). The speech synthesis process here is performed using a corpus-based speech synthesis (CTTS) method. When the call ends, the automatic message execution result data such as the calling time, the call time, and the reason for disconnection (call disconnection, no response, etc.) are collected and recorded in the automatic message server 20 (S110).

On the other hand, if the target person recognizes the call as a suspicious call, does not notice the incoming call due to the manner mode setting, or does not have the device A3 in his or her possession, the SMS cannot be sent. (S114). The SMS sending server 70 creates sending data to which the calling telephone number selected by the client is added as a sender ID, converts it into data in the SMS protocol format, and sends the data to the target person.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the incoming call history screen and the SMS message reception list screen of the target person's terminal A3. As a result of the previous auto call, the calling telephone number of the gateway 140 is displayed in the top column A1 of the screen D. However, here, the phone number with the area code "042" is displayed. On the other hand, when the target person sets the SMS message receiving screen, the SMS originating telephone number is displayed in the top column B1 of the screen D, and the telephone number having the same area code "042" as the previous incoming call history is displayed.

Because the incoming call history and the calling phone number on the SMS reception screen are the same, the target person comes to recognize that the caller and the SMS caller are the same and that the caller and SMS are related, and are unable to receive the SMS. Learn the contents by reading the message. There will be no situation where the target person assumes it is a special scam and does not return the call or leaves the SMS message unread. Here, a text message with almost the same content as the automated voice call is sent.

When the phone call ends for one person, a call is made to the next person. Steps S106 to S109 are repeated until the telephone calls to all the persons on the destination list are completed (S111). After the automatic message has been sent to all targets, the operator downloads the automatic message execution result (transmission result) information from the client 100 in response to a request from the client (S112, S113).

In the automatic message processing shown in FIG. 4, SMS is sent only to callers who are not in a call state, but SMS may be sent to all recipients. For example, the text of the SMS message may include the content that an auto call will be executed later, and the SMS may be sent, and the auto call may be executed after a predetermined period of time has elapsed. In this case, since the calling phone number of the auto call is the same as the calling phone number of the previously received SMS message, the certainty that the target person will reach the call state increases.

Next, automatic voice response when receiving a call back from a target person will be explained. As described above, in this embodiment, after the SMS is sent, the IVR 80, 90 outside the system can automatically answer a call back by the target person. The client may select the option to perform SMS sending only during automatic message execution.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of SMS transmission processing.

The autocall SMS server 20 receives automatic message information including message delivery date and time, SMS document, and sender ID (telephone number) from the client (S201). As a result, automatic message processing by the call control server according to the designated language is set, and the standby state is entered (S202 to S204). Then, when the automatic message specified date and time comes (S205), an SMS message is sent (S206). At this time, when the SMS sending server 70 sends the SMS message created on the automatic message input screen in the first language (Japanese), it sends the incoming phone number of the IVR 80 and the automatic message input screen in the second language (English). When sending an SMS message created in , the incoming telephone number of the IVR 90 is added to the sending data as the sender ID.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a screen displaying the contents of the SMS message of the target person. The originating telephone number displayed at the beginning of the message corresponds to the terminating telephone number of the IVR 80 (gateway) here. Additionally, in order to deal with carriers (communications carriers) that cannot display the calling phone number at the beginning of messages, a call-back phone number is also included in the message document. This telephone number is the same as the calling telephone number, but it may be a different number. The content of the SMS message here includes, for example, a request to call back the displayed phone number.

When the target person taps the outgoing phone number at the beginning or the call-back number in the document, the call is automatically made. When the IVR 80, 90 receives a call from a called party, it starts an automated voice message. Regarding the content of the automatic voice message, a standard scenario such as a recommendation for a health checkup may be prepared and sent to the IVR 80, 90, or may be set in advance. Alternatively, by connecting the IVRs 80, 90 and the automatic system message 10 through a closed network such as VPN, each client can send scenarios containing personal information such as reminders to the IVRs 80, 90. The IVRs 80 and 90 can be installed as dedicated IVRs, and IVRs of other systems can also be used together. It is also possible to place IVRs 80, 90 within the system.

By installing an IVR that automatically answers callbacks outside the system and setting the outgoing phone number of the SMS message to the incoming phone number of the automatic answering IVR, client personnel are freed from the task of responding to callbacks. It is possible to prevent business stagnation caused by responding to callbacks. In particular, even if a large number of recipients call back immediately after sending an SMS, waiting calls and abandoned calls can be prevented by installing multiple IVRs or by providing IVRs with multiple incoming phone numbers. This makes it possible to do so, and there is no need to impose restrictions on outgoing calls.

Here, IVRs 80 and 90 are installed according to the number of languages used, but multiple automatic response IVRs are installed according to differences in client sections (differences in business content), differences in the content of automatic voice guidance, etc. You may. Further, a plurality of automatic response IVRs may be installed in accordance with the number of callbacks estimated according to the number of target persons.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the automatic message system 10 connected to the clients 100, 200 via VPN receives automatic message information from the clients 100, 200, and when the specified automatic message date and time arrives, the sender of the transmitted data The ID (calling telephone number) is made the same as the calling telephone number of the voice communication device, and auto-calls and SMS transmissions are performed. Further, when only SMS transmission is performed, the SMS transmission is performed using the incoming telephone number of the IVR 80 or 90 outside the system that can handle callbacks as the sender ID.

As a result, an automatic message system will be constructed in which autocall, SMS, and automatic voice response work together, making it possible to efficiently notify and encourage target patients, and improve collection and consultation rates. Improvements will be made. Note that the system may be configured to adopt one of the SMS transmission specifications.

Regarding automatic voice, it is possible to use not only the synthetic voice method but also the recording method, and the client can select between the synthesized voice and the recorded voice. In this case, the standard language and the dialect (Tsugaru dialect, etc.) may be switched. Further, automatic speech obtained by synthetic speech may be converted into a recording file and registered.

In this case, an automatic voice in a second language (such as English) can be created using a synthetic voice method inside or outside the system, converted into a recording file, registered, and provided by sending it to the automatic response IVR. Just do it. This can be done within the automated message system or outside the system.

As a result, even in the environment of one IVR (incoming telephone number), automatic response can be achieved by introducing language switching using tone signals, automatic response using both languages, etc. That is, it is not necessary to prepare an IVR for automatic response for each language. Note that the recording file may be created using the user's real voice.

In this embodiment, the caller telephone number of the gateway is switched for each section, but a plurality of caller telephone numbers may be used differently within the same section. Further, caller telephone numbers may be selected and set across multiple sections. Alternatively, different calling phone numbers may be used depending on the language.

Our clients include not only local governments at the municipal level, but also local governments at the prefectural level, national public organizations, educational corporations such as universities and high schools, religious corporations, special corporations, and other public interest organizations, as well as auto call and / It is also effective for clients such as private companies that provide message service services such as SMS distribution. In this case, the client and the automated message system may be connected via a communication network other than a closed network, depending on the protection level of the information being handled.

The automatic message system 10 of this embodiment is a system that has both an auto call and SMS sending function, but the auto call system and the SMS sending system may be configured separately. In this case, the SMS transmission system may create transmission data using the originating telephone number of a voice communication device such as a gateway used in the auto call system as the originating party ID. In other words, in a transmission system that transmits message data using a telephone line, the originating telephone number of the voice communication device used to make a telephone call in an automatic call system that uses an IVR to make an automated voice call is used as the originating telephone number. It is possible to provide a method, program, and system for transmitting transmission data displayed on a target person's terminal as a message to the target person's terminal. This makes it possible to provide a transmission system that cooperates with the autocall system.

Similarly, even if the SMS sending system and IVR are configured as separate systems, in the sending system that sends message data using a telephone line, the incoming telephone number of the IVR that can automatically answer a call back for message data. It is possible to provide a method, program, and system for transmitting transmission data displayed on a target person's terminal as a sender's telephone number to the target person's terminal as a message. This makes it possible to provide a transmission system that cooperates with the autocall system. This makes it possible to provide a transmission system that cooperates with an automatic voice call system.

In this embodiment, SMS is applied as a text message sending means using a telephone line, but it is also possible to apply a message service that incorporates image information other than text, such as MMS (Multimedia Massage Service). Any message method that can specify a number as a destination and use a telephone number as a sender ID is applicable.

10 Automatic message system 20 Autocall SMS server (IVR)
30 Call control server 30A First call control server 30B Second call control server 70 SMS transmission server 80, 90 IVR
100 Client 140 Gateway (voice communication device)

Claims (8)

In an automated message system that connects multiple clients over a network,
A method for transmitting client message data including character information to a target terminal based on automatic message information received from a message instruction client, the method comprising:
The data of the client message is transmitted to the target person terminal using the incoming telephone number of an IVR (Interactive Voice Response) that can notify the target person according to the target person terminal by automatic voice as the sender ID. How to do it. Send the data of the client message to the target terminal using the incoming telephone number of the IVR selected by the message instruction client or the incoming telephone number of the IVR specified based on the automatic message information as the sender ID. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that: Multiple IVRs may be used depending on the number of languages of the message addressed to the target audience, differences in the sections of the message instruction client, differences in the content of the automatic voice prompt, or the number of callbacks estimated according to the number of targets. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is located outside or within the system. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein a telephone number different from the incoming telephone number of the IVR is included in the text information of the client message. An automated messaging system that connects to multiple clients over a network, the system comprising:
A transmitting unit that transmits client message data including character information to a target terminal based on automatic message information received from a message instruction client,
The transmitting unit sends the data of the client message to the target person terminal using the incoming telephone number of an IVR (Interactive Voice Response) that can notify the target person according to the target person terminal by automatic voice as the sender ID. An automatic message system featuring sending. In an automated message system that connects multiple clients over a network,
Based on the automatic message information received from the message instruction client, the originating telephone number owned by a voice communication device connected to a public telephone network or an IP network and having an area code to which the message instruction client belongs is identified as the sender ID. A method of transmitting client message data including character information to a target terminal,
A method characterized in that the voice communication device is a voice communication device used for making phone calls in an auto call system that makes automatic voice calls using IVR (Interactive Voice Response). the voice communication device owns a plurality of calling telephone numbers;
7. Based on the automatic message information, data of the client message is transmitted to the target terminal using a calling telephone number set among the plurality of calling telephone numbers as a sender ID. Method described. An automated messaging system that connects to multiple clients over a network, the system comprising:
Based on the automatic message information received from the message instruction client, the originating telephone number owned by a voice communication device connected to a public telephone network or an IP network and having an area code to which the message instruction client belongs is identified as the sender ID. The device is equipped with a transmitting unit that transmits client message data including character information to the target person's terminal,
An automatic message system characterized in that the voice communication device is a voice communication device used for making telephone calls in an automatic call system that performs automatic voice calls by IVR (Interactive Voice Response).

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