JPH0591197A - Telephone set with retrieval function - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To retrieve the information of a destination extension number stored in a memory with a few key touch number by retrieving the information through narrow-down by buttons in common use for a display section. CONSTITUTION:Information of department and name is registered in a memory 16 built in a telephone set as a hierarchical menu and an extension telephone number is registered corresponding to all names is a master database connected to a work station. Even an object is narrowed down up to a name in the retrieval mode of the telephone set, the master database is accessed from a line control deice 17 via a line and a telephone number corresponding to the name is retrieved. In this case, the destination extension number information stored in the memory 16 of each telephone set is retrieved by the narrow-down by a button 13 in common use for a display section, and a host computer is connected to a PBX and the data master database built in the telephone set is simultaneously revised via an inpremises line from the host.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a function of searching an extension number by using a dial button of an extension telephone, a function of searching a database and a centralized management of the extension number by a host computer. The present invention relates to a telephone with a search function having a function of

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a telephone having a telephone number search function, for example, there is a telephone number search system described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-90771. In this method, the telephone number information of the telephone housed in the exchange is stored in advance in the memory of the exchange, and when the telephone number is searched from the telephone, the telephone number search request is made after setting the search mode. By sending the signal and the scroll signal to the exchange,
In the exchange, while receiving the scroll signal, the information stored in the memory is continuously transmitted in the order of telephone numbers, and these telephone numbers are displayed on the display attached to the telephone.
The memory stores, for example, the user name of the telephone, the affiliation name (business division name, division name, section name, staff name, etc.), the latest extension telephone number, etc. Information is transmitted until the scroll signal is stopped.
If you want to search only within a specific business division, if you stop the scroll signal and then enter the division number of that business division using the key on the telephone, you can send the scroll signal again. The exchange returns the telephone number information of the department.

[0003]

As described above, when performing a telephone number search, a method of registering in a dedicated key and a method of sending a search signal by a general-purpose key and searching in the CPU are considered. .. However, if the number of phone numbers to be searched exceeds 100, the method using the dedicated key will
Is too realistic to be realistic. Various search algorithms are conceivable for the search signal transmission method using a general-purpose key, but in the method of sequentially scrolling by pressing the scroll key as in the telephone number search method described above, It takes too much time to search, and the number of key touches increases. Further, in the case where the CPU for searching is provided on the central PBX side, when the search traffic is concentrated, it causes a delay in the search time. After all, in the conventional telephone number search method, when registering a telephone number, it is possible to arbitrarily set a telephone number for each telephone, but there is a limit to the number of numbers that can be set and registered. , It is impossible to efficiently search for extension numbers of 100 or more. Further, when the telephone number is changed due to personnel movement or change of organization, it is extremely difficult to update the changed telephone number in the memory quickly and accurately. As a result, the phone numbers do not match between the phones and the updates are delayed because the phones are in use,
There was a risk that it would not be updated. As described above, there are problems of poor operability and forgetting to update the telephone number registration, search, and update aspects. An object of the present invention is to solve these conventional problems, to minimize the number of keys when searching for a telephone number, to improve operability, and to prevent data from being updated or between telephones. An object of the present invention is to provide a telephone with a search function capable of eliminating data deviation and improving search response.

[0004]

In order to achieve the above object, the telephone with a search function of the present invention is (a) a digital P
In a plurality of multifunction telephones connected to the BX via a private line, a switching button for switching from a normal telephone mode to a search mode for searching a telephone number and a telephone connected to a digital PBX are used. Information that includes all the names and affiliations of those who are registered as a hierarchical menu, when you switch to the search mode, the hierarchical menu registered in the internal memory is displayed on the dial buttons of the telephone. It is characterized in that display means is provided for narrowing down from the upper hierarchy to the lower hierarchy by pressing and selecting to sequentially change and display the screen. Also, (b) PBX
When the telephone number is changed due to personnel changes or organizational changes, the host computer transmits update data to each telephone via the premises line and is built into each telephone. Another feature is the simultaneous updating of the telephone directory database. In addition, (C) Search mode
When switching to the mode and searching for a database, the last searched data is displayed in the initial menu, and even if it is canceled or the time is over in the middle. ,
There is also a feature in returning to the initial menu. Furthermore, when switching to (d) search mode and performing a database search, the extension number corresponding to the name is set to the center data when the selection of the name as the final menu is completed. −
It is also characterized in that a means for automatically dialing by using the extension number is provided so as to read out from the table.

[0005]

In the present invention, (a) in order to efficiently retrieve 100 or more extension telephone numbers registered in the memory with a small number of key touches,
The target data is segmented into departments, departments, and sections, and each screen corresponds to dials 1 to 9 and one screen 9
It is possible to display up to individual items, and the target data is narrowed down from the upper hierarchy to the lower hierarchy by the menu system. At the end of the menu, the name of the person you want to call is displayed, and by pressing the dial button corresponding to this display position, the corresponding telephone number is called from the database and automatic dialing is performed. .. (B) When there are nine or more data in one segment, the target data is displayed by pressing the display key on the next screen. However, if the next screen display function is used, the number of key touches will increase. Therefore, in order to reduce this number, the last searched data path (search route) is stored for each menu. Even if each segment has 9 or more data, the previously searched data is retrieved.
If this is the case, always display it on the first screen. As a result, the number of key touches can be at most 5 before searching the target data. (C) When the telephone number or department name is changed due to personnel movement or organizational change, the function of collectively updating the telephone number of each telephone is required. Therefore, the telephone directory database is centrally managed by the host computer connected to the private network. When there is a new addition or change, first change the contents of the database by the host computer, then
Next, the contents are updated by batch transmission to the data bases in all the telephones via the private network. For a telephone set that is accessing the database, after the host computer receives a signal indicating whether or not the database access is completed, the telephone set for the telephone set is sent to the database. Start transmission.
If an attempt is made to search for a database while updating the database, a message indicating that the database is being updated is displayed on the liquid crystal display section to allow access until the update is completed. Do not allow (D) Automatic dialing is possible. For this reason, when the selection of the name is completed at the end of the menu, the automatic dialing program is activated to exchange the signal with the PBX, and then the dial information is searched from the database. Then, this is transmitted to the PBX, and a series of operations until the calling of the partner telephone is automatically executed.

[0006]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 3 is a plan layout view of a telephone with extension number search function showing an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a display state diagram when FIG. 3 is a search mode, and FIG. 5 is a telephone mode shown in FIG. It is a display state diagram at the time of -de. In FIG. 3, 30 is a telephone with a search function, 31 is a liquid crystal display display unit, and 32 and 3
Reference numeral 3 is a mode switching button, 32 is a button pressed when the search mode is set, 33 is a button pressed when the telephone mode is set, and 34 is a handset.
Normally, the telephone mode is set as shown in FIG. 5, and at this time, the lamp of the button 33 is turned on and the liquid crystal display display section 31 displays the dialed numbers like an ordinary telephone. , You can make a call by pressing a button on the touch-tone image. Next, when searching for a telephone number, search mode button 3
By pressing 2, the search mode is displayed as shown in FIG.
The lamp of the button button 32 lights up, and the liquid crystal display display section 31 displays a guide for searching for the department name and the like.
The “Previous” and “Next” displays indicate departments that are not displayed.
This button is used to change to the previous or next page when the user clicks.

FIG. 6 is a transition diagram of the display guidance during the search in FIG. The liquid crystal display display unit 31 when searching for a telephone number transits in the order of to in FIG. Here, a case is shown in which the telephone number of Mr. Aoki of the second section of the second business section is searched. In the initial screen, the largest division of departments (by headquarters such as sales and personnel) is displayed, so by pressing the "Sales" button,
The following screen will be displayed. Then, since each part in the sales headquarters is displayed, the screen of is displayed by pressing the button of "second part". Since each section in the second sales department is displayed on the screen, the last screen is displayed by pressing the "third section" button. Since the personal name is displayed here, by pressing the "Aoki" button here, the automatic dialing program is activated and the dial is transmitted.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing signal transmission / reception during the automatic dialing operation in FIG. As described above, in the memory built in each telephone, the telephone directory database, that is, the affiliation is hierarchically registered and registered, and the name is registered at the bottom. Further, in the master database of the center, each telephone number is registered in correspondence with the person using the telephone, that is, the name. In the search mode, the affiliation and name are first searched for on each telephone, and dialing is started when the name is displayed. When a dial call is made, as shown in FIG. 7, a search signal is transmitted to the CPU and the memory provided in the center (exchange). The CPU and memory retrieve Mr. Aoki's extension number and return the dial number and the automatic dial instruction signal to the telephone.
This allows automatic dialing. If the number of guidance menus exceeds the number of display panels, you can search for the target one by scrolling the screen one step up or down using the "Next" and "Previous" buttons. it can.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a premises network system including the telephone of the present invention. The configuration scale here is n telephones with a telephone number database search function,
It consists of one digital PBX and one master database management workstation. In FIG. 8, 30 is a telephone with a search function and 40 is a digital P
BX and 50 are workstations for managing the master database. The master database management work station 50 is installed in a department that manages the extension telephone number in the company, for example, the general affairs department. In the workstation 50, when the personnel movement or the organizational change occurs, the master database is updated, and then the update information B is transmitted to each telephone 30 via the private line, so that the telephone 30 can be operated. Automatically updates the internal memory. In that case, the update information is transmitted using a band different from that of the dial signal so that the update information can be simultaneously transmitted on the same line as the dial information A. As a result, it is not necessary to set the update time zone at night or on holidays, and the update data can be transmitted even during the normal telephone use time zone. If the telephone set to which the updated data is being sent is in use by another person, such as during a call or during a data base access, the re-transmission function provided on the workstation 50 side will be used later. resend. For example, if a telephone is accessing the database, the database
A signal indicating whether the access is completed
This will be sent to Work Station 50 and the work station
After the application 50 receives the update information, the update information is retransmitted. A signal indicating whether or not the call has been terminated is transmitted to the work station 50 also to the telephone that is in a call with another person, and the signal is updated after the work station 50 receives this signal. Resend the information. Further, when a telephone is accessed to retrieve a database while updating the database, a message indicating that the database is being updated is displayed on the liquid crystal display 31 of the telephone. By displaying the message, you cannot access until the update is completed.

FIG. 1 is an internal block diagram of a telephone with a search function showing an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 11 is C
PU, 12 is a receiver, 13 is a display unit, 1
4, 15 are mode switching buttons, 16 is a built-in memory, 17
Is a line control mechanism, and LINE is a line. The central processing unit (CPU) 11 performs all control in the telephone. Normally, it becomes the telephone mode and the mode switch button 1
The lamp 5 is lit. When not in a call, the department menu is displayed on the liquid crystal display display unit 13. However, as with a normal telephone, when a call is received, the call can be made by picking up the handset as it is. When the mode switch button 14 is pressed, the database search mode is entered, and even if a call is received from the other party in this state, the call is in progress. However, when the menu is not selected for a certain period of time, the initial menu is displayed and the call becomes possible. Even if the mode switch button 14 is pressed to enter the database search mode, if the final dialing is not reached, that is, the mode is canceled or the time-out mode is started.
When the initial menu display is returned by the bar, the previous search history is not updated and remains as it is. When the other party happens to be in a call when finally dialing,
Even if the call is unsuccessful, the search path to the other party is registered as a history and the minimum key is required when searching again.
Searching and dialing are possible by the number of touches. As described above, the information of the affiliation and name is registered in the memory 16 built into the telephone as a hierarchical menu, and all the names are stored in the master station database connected to the workstation. The extension telephone number is registered correspondingly. When the name is narrowed down in the telephone search mode, the line control mechanism 17 accesses the master database through the line to retrieve the telephone number corresponding to the name.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of the search operation in FIG. When transmitting from the telephone (step 101), it is determined whether or not the mode switching button 14 has been pressed to enter the search mode (step 102). As a result, the control is passed to the CPU 11 and the display content of the display unit 13 is controlled. Search menu on display 13
Is displayed (step 103), and then the button DK of the display unit 13 is pressed (step 104), the CPU 11
Determines the address of the pressed button and
A menu is retrieved from the memory 16 and displayed again on the display unit 13 (steps 105 and 103). In this way, after displaying on the display unit 13 sequentially, the display unit 13
The data for pressing the button is the final data (dial data)
If it is determined to be (step 105), the CPU
11 transfers control to the line control mechanism 17 and shifts to the dial transmission state (step 108). Then, a call is made (step 111). In case of reception, (step 10
1), the line control mechanism 17 receives the signal received from the line LINE, the CPU 11 analyzes the signal, and then sends the signal to the receiver 12 to ring the bell (step 109).
If the handset is picked up (step 110), the call is started (step 111).

[0012]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Since the extension number information stored in the memory is searched for by narrowing down the button that is also used as the display,
Even when searching from the number of extension numbers of 100 or more, it is possible to search with a fixed small number of key touches. Further, since the display part for retrieval also uses a display part which is also used as a normal dial button, the number of buttons can be as small as about 10 to 12, and the number of keyboards can be minimized. It is possible and easy to operate. further,
When updating the contents of each phone's internal memory after updating the data base, such as changing the telephone number, etc., the update is missed because it is updated by batch simultaneous transmission from the host computer. And data disagreement between telephones disappears. Further, since the database is also provided in the telephone, the response of retrieval can be improved.

[0013]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an internal configuration diagram of a telephone with a search function showing an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is an operation flowchart of the telephone with search function in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a plan layout view of a telephone with search function showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a display content diagram when the display unit in FIG. 3 is in a search mode.

5 is a display content diagram when the display unit in FIG. 3 is in a telephone mode.

FIG. 6 is a transition diagram of display guidance during search according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing transmission / reception of signals between a display unit, a CPU, and a memory in the telephone of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a configuration of a network including the telephone of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 CPU 12 Receiver 13 Display Display 14, 15 Mode Switch Button 16 Memory 17 Line Control Mechanism 30 Telephone with Search Function 31 Liquid Crystal Display Display 32 Search Mode Button 33 Telephone Mode Button 34 Handset 40 Digital PBX 50 Master Mode -Workstation for database management

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of multi-function telephones connected to a digital PBX via a private line, a switching button for switching from a normal telephone mode to a search mode for searching a telephone number, which is connected to the digital PBX. Built-in memory that stores information including all names and affiliations of those who are using the telephone as a hierarchical menu, the hierarchy registered in the built-in memory when switching to the search mode A telephone with a search function, characterized in that a display display means is provided for narrowing the target menu from the upper hierarchy to the lower hierarchy by pressing the dial button of the telephone to select the desired menu and sequentially changing the screen. 2. The telephone with a search function according to claim 1, wherein a host computer is connected to the PBX, and when the telephone number is changed due to personnel movement or organizational change, the host computer is connected to the premises. A telephone with a search function, characterized in that update data is transmitted to each telephone via a line and the telephone directory database built in each telephone is updated at the same time. 3. In the telephone with search function according to claim 1, when the database is searched by switching to the search mode, the last search is made in the initial menu. Data is displayed, and it is canceled or time over in the middle.
A telephone with a search function, which is characterized in that it returns to the initial menu even when it becomes. 4. In the telephone with a search function according to claim 1 or 3, when the database is searched by switching to the search mode, the selection of the name which is the final menu is completed. At that time, a telephone with a search function is provided, which is provided with means for reading an extension number corresponding to the name from a database built in the telephone and automatically dialing using the extension number.