JPH05145645A - Telephone conference equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To use a conference trunk corresponding to a conference menu identification number without reservation of the conference trunk by detecting the coincidence between a membership number stored in advance and a conference menu identification number. CONSTITUTION:When the user uses a telephone set 11 to make dialing to a telephone conference equipment, a control section 26 retrieves an idle message unit 23 and an idle DTMF reception circuit 24 and allows the user to input its membership number when they are idle. Furthermore, the inputs a conference menu identification number and takes part in a conference whose conference menu identification number is coincident with the conference menu identification number inputted by the user. In this case, the conference menu identification number of the conference into which the user takes part is registered in advance and only when the inputted conference menu number is coincident with the registered menu number, the user can take part in the conference. Furthermore, a conference held date is informed in advance, and each conference participant itself makes dialing to a telephone conference equipment 10 at that date to establish the conference.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a telephone conference apparatus in which a plurality of persons separated from each other hold a conference via telephone.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional conference call, an organizer contacts a station having a conference call function to reserve a conference trunk, informs each conference participant of the fact, and the reservation time is reached. A conference call can be held by calling the person so that the conference trunk reserved by the participant or the participant is captured.

If the date and time are fixed in advance and the participants also know it, as in regular meetings, each time,
The organizer reserves the conference trunk, and at the reserved time, the participants call and the conference call is held.

[0004]

In the past, the organizer had to make a reservation for at least the conference trunk each time, which was a problem.

[0005]

According to the present invention, an incoming trunk is connected to a telephone line network and a multi-frequency signal member number and a conference menu identification number are received and converted into a hexadecimal code. Frequency signal receiving circuit, conference trunk connecting up to n (n is an integer of 3 or more) voice communication paths,
A message unit for sending voice guidance can be connected to each other by a switch unit, the control unit controls the switch unit and the message unit, detects an incoming call, and stores a member number and a conference menu identification number in advance. When a match between this and the member number and the conference menu identification number received by the multi-frequency signal receiving circuit is detected, a telephone conference by the conference trunk corresponding to the conference menu identification number is enabled.

[0006]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In this example, the telephone conference device is connected to the INS net. User telephone 11 is user side line 1
2, the network 13 and the INS net 14 are connected to the telephone conference apparatus 10 of the present invention.

The telephone conference device 10 includes an INS Net 64 line trunk 15 and an INS Net 1500 line trunk 1
6, 8 person conference trunk 17, 2 person conference trunk 18, single telephone connection interface 19, personal computer interface 21, setting terminal interface 22, message unit 23, multi-frequency signal receiving circuit (hereinafter referred to as DTMF receiving circuit) 24, highway switch Control unit 25,
The controller 26 is provided with an external hold sound source device 27, a voice storage device 28, a personal computer 29, and a setting terminal 31. Trunks 16 and 17 are DSU (line termination unit) 32 for INS net 64 and INS net 15 respectively.
INS net 64 line 34 through the DSU 33 for 00,
It is connected to the INS Net 1500 line 35. Line 1
2, 34 and 35 are housed in the exchange 36.

INS net 64 line trunk 15 is IN
A maximum of two S-net 64 lines 34 are accommodated per unit to detect incoming calls and form a communication path. INS Net 1
500 line trunk 16 is INS Net 1500 line 3
One unit accommodates 5 lines and performs incoming call detection, call path formation, etc. The eight-party conference trunk 17 provides a conference call to a total of eight parties, that is, a line caller and an extension caller, a volume level automatic adjustment circuit, and a DT for controlling entry and exit of conference call participants.
It is equipped with an MF receiver circuit. The two-party conference trunk 18 provides a conference call to a total of two parties, that is, a line caller and an extension caller, and controls the entry and exit of the conference call participants.
It is equipped with an MF receiver circuit. The single telephone connection interface 19 is an extension unit that accommodates an interface with a single telephone in eight circuits, and is used to connect the call port of the voice mail device. PC interface 21
Performs serial communication with the personal computer 29. The setting terminal interface 22 is an extension unit that accommodates eight circuits of interfaces with a star wire type button telephone, and the message unit 23 is a guidance unit or the like.
The teleconference device 10 sends a message to an external user. The DTMF receiving circuit 24 receives a PB signal (multi-frequency signal) such as a membership number, a recitation number, a conference menu identification number, etc. and converts it into a hexadecimal code. Highway switch control unit 25 is INS Net 64 line trunk 1
5 and INS Net 1500 line trunk 16 establishes a call path to each of the conference trunks 17 and 18, and performs connection control such as sending guidance from the message unit 23 to the call path.

The control unit 26 has a built-in memory, collates the member number and the conference menu identification number, and controls the operation of each unit and system data control for determining system specifications. The external hold sound source device 27 sends a unique hold sound by an external input. The voice storage device 28 records and stores messages, etc., and reproduces and erases them. The personal computer 29 performs processing such as call detail management (incoming call date / time, call time, connection information) member management, charge calculation, and setting of system data. The setting terminal 31 is a telephone having a special function, and can display the line status, make and receive a line function, and set system data. The DSU 32 for the INS Net 64 converts from 2 lines to 4 lines, and the INS Net 64 line 34 can use two 64 Kb / s information channels (B channels) and one 16 Kb / s signal channel (D channel). .. The INS Net 1500 DSU 33 is a line terminating device for an optical cable line and converts an optical cable into four lines. INS Net 1500
The line 35 includes 23 of 64 Kb / s information channels (B channels) and 1 of 64 Kb / s signal channels (D channels).
It is available either as a satellite or as 24 information channels. The exchange 36 connects the user telephone 11 to the conference call device 10 by a digital exchange.

In the above description, when the user dials the telephone conference device 10 using the telephone 11, the exchange 36 is relayed and the INS net 64 line 34 or the INS net 15 is connected.
The DSU 32 for the INS net 64 or the DSU 33 for the INS net 1500 is relayed via the 00 line 35, and I
NS Net 64 line trunk 15 or INS Net 1
An incoming call is received on the 500-line trunk 16, the control unit 26 detects the incoming call, and the highway switch control unit unit 25 is used to search for a free space in the message unit 23 and a free space in the DTMF receiving circuit 24. In response to the automatic response, an incoming call guidance, for example, "Thank you for your use. It is a conference call." Is sent from the message unit 23. The user inputs the membership number, and the DTMF receiving circuit 24 receives the membership number from the user,
For each membership number, check whether the balance recorded by the personal computer 29 for each membership number is less than a certain amount,
When the amount is less than a certain amount, the message unit 23 sends out a balance guidance, for example, "The balance is running low. Please be aware that the call will be disconnected when the balance is exhausted."

If there is a balance, the message unit 23
Send a message to select more conference menu. As a conference menu, for example, Free Talk Box
The user can monitor the contents of the conversation of each BOX (conference), input the BOX number (conference menu identification number) that specifies the conference menu to be attended, and when the eight-party conference trunk 17 receives it. , That free talk BO
Those who participate in X and theme talk BOX, called a BOX number for designating the conference menu and the contents of the predetermined theme, and the user inputs the BOX number, and the eight-party conference trunk 17 When the BOX number is received, the theme talk box
There is something to participate in. Therefore, as a message for selection, for example, "Please use 0 # when using the free talk box, and press 1 # when using the theme talk box."
When OX is selected and the BOX number is entered, the message is received and a connection guidance, for example, "Connect to nth BOX." Etc. is sent from the message unit 23, and then 8 via the highway switch control unit 25. Conference trunk 17 receives the BOX number and one B
In OX, a maximum of 8 conference calls can be made.

That is, the user has registered the member number in the telephone conference device 10 in advance, and only the registered user can participate in the telephone conference. In addition, the user inputs the conference menu identification number and participates in the conference with the conference menu identification number that matches this. At this time, the conference menu identification number of the conference that the user can join must be registered in advance so that the conference can be joined only when the entered conference menu identification number matches the registered one. You can It should be noted that the conference participants are informed or know in advance of the date and time of the conference that they do not attend or must attend, and at that date, each conference participant voluntarily dials the telephone conference device 10. The meeting is established by doing. It is also possible to use the recitation numbers so that only those with the same recitation number are allowed to have a conference.

The personal computer 29 is the personal computer interface 2
The member number is registered, the member number is managed, the usage fee is managed, and the operation status is managed with respect to the control unit 26 via 1. To manage the usage fee, payment processing from the member and fee calculation processing based on the call time or the number of calls are performed. In this example, a two-party conference is also possible. In the two-party conference, when the user dials the conference call device as before, the control unit 26 detects the incoming call, and the incoming call guidance such as "Thank you for waiting. Please input your membership number. "From the message unit 23, and the user inputs the membership number and the recitation number, and when these are received by the DTMF receiving circuit 24, the balance of that member is below a certain amount. At that time, from message unit 23, for example, "The balance is running low.
Please be aware that the call will be disconnected when the balance is exhausted. , Etc., and when there is a balance, the message unit 23 sends a recitation number input guidance, for example, “Please input the recitation number”, and the same recitation number input from another line is input. The control unit 26 searches for a number waiting for a connection, and if there is no waiting for a connection, a waiting guidance, for example, "The other party is not calling. Please wait. Wait." , Please press “#” ”
The number of trunks for two-party conference set by the setting terminal 31,
An internal melody IC or an external hold sound source device 27 based on system data such as whether or not to use a code number during an eight-party conference
When a message is transmitted by sending the hold tone of No. to the line and making a waiting state, the user presses “#” and then the message is recorded in the voice storage device 28 via the single telephone interface 19.
The next incoming call having the same code number is reproduced, and if a line having the same code number is input, both lines can be voice-combined by the two-party conference trunk 18 to enable conversation. To do. At the time of connection, a connection message with voice guidance, for example, "You can talk with the other party. Please talk." Is sent to each line for a certain period of time.

When the called number notification service of the INS net line is provided at the time of making a call from a digital terminal that subscribes to the INS net line, the member number registered in the control unit 26 can be changed to a telephone number. It is also possible to hold an eight-party conference without collating numbers or the like and without receiving a DTMF signal. The maximum number of people who can participate in one conference is not limited to eight. The present invention can be applied not only to the INS net but also to an analog telephone network.

[0015]

As described above, according to the present invention, by registering the member number and the conference menu identification number, it is possible to reserve a conference trunk each time,
By sending the member number and the conference menu identification number at a previously known time, the participant can hold a telephone conference by using an empty conference trunk at that time.

If the member number is not registered or the conference menu identification number is not known, the conference cannot be attended.
Confidentiality is maintained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Hiroshi Toriumi 1-1-6 Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Nihon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Instructor Yasuharu Okumoto 1-1-6 Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo No. Japan Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Inventor Go Watanabe 1-1-6 Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Nihon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Inventor Hirofumi Kozu 1-1-6 Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo No. Japan Telegraph and Telephone Corp. (72) Inventor Koichi Yajima 1-1-6 Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Nihon Telegraph and Telephone Corp.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An incoming trunk connected to a telephone line network, a multi-frequency signal receiving circuit for receiving a member number of a multi-frequency signal and a conference menu identification number and converting the hexadecimal code, and a maximum of n (n: 3). A conference trunk that connects voice communication paths up to the above integer), a message unit that outputs voice guidance, the above-mentioned incoming trunk, the above-mentioned multi-frequency signal receiving circuit, the above-mentioned conference trunk, and the above-mentioned message unit. Switch unit capable of detecting incoming calls, detecting the incoming call, controlling the switch unit, controlling the message unit, and pre-storing the member number and the conference menu identification number, and the member number received by the multi-frequency signal receiving circuit and When a match with the conference menu identification number is detected, the conference Teleconferencing apparatus comprising a control unit for enabling a conference call by click.