JPH07254896A - Manageing method for voice mail password number - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the operation efficiency or system resources by automatically deleting the voice mail reproducing key (password number) of a user who doesn't use the system for a certain time or longer. CONSTITUTION:In the voice mail system using radio receivers whose call numbers can be freely set by users, the password number of the user who doesn't use the system for the certain time or longer is automatically deleted. That is, time information where the registration date or the voice mail reproducing completion date is recorded together with the password number and the user ID is set for each registered user on the user register table in a voice mail storage part 12 constituted in a voice mail center 1. Time information is periodically checked, and registration or the user who doesn't access the system for the certain time or longer is deleted. Consequently, the state that many password numbers which are not used for a long time remain in the system to reduce the operating efficiency of system resources or increase the system load is prevented.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a radio call service using a receiver (hereinafter referred to as an arbitrary ID setting type receiver) in which a user can freely set a call number (hereinafter referred to as an ID) of a radio receiver. The present invention relates to a linked voice mail system, and more particularly to a voice mail security code management method capable of improving the system resource operating efficiency of a voice mail system linked to a radio call service.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the conventional radio call service method, an ID for identifying a receiver (generally, an ID unique to the receiver is used).
One or two numbers) are given by the telecommunications carrier and written in advance in the read-only memory of the receiver, so that the user cannot freely set them. This method avoids assigning the same ID to multiple receivers in order to call only a specific individual, or by a third party deliberately writing the other person's ID into their own receiver. It was effective in preventing eavesdropping on communication and using it without paying.

On the other hand, according to this method, if the user cannot receive the service only by purchasing the receiver or if he / she wants to send the same message to a large number of the other parties, he / she has to repeat the transmission work by the number of the other parties. There was such a problem.

Therefore, the user himself / herself can freely set an arbitrary ID in his / her own receiver and can sufficiently maintain communication confidentiality.
As a method of solving the charge problem, a method of linking a voice call with a personal identification number to a wireless call service using a receiver with an arbitrary ID setting is effective.

[0005]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional technique, the user himself / herself receives an arbitrary ID in his / her receiver.
If you can freely set the ID, more IDs will be registered than necessary, and many infrequently used IDs and corresponding voicemail PINs will be left in the interlocking voicemail system for a long period of time. Therefore, there is a problem in that the operating efficiency of system resources decreases and the system load increases.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a technique capable of automatically erasing a user's voicemail personal identification number.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a technique capable of improving the operating efficiency of system resources.

The above and other objects and novel features of the present invention will be apparent from the description of this specification and the accompanying drawings.

[0009]

The outline of the representative ones of the inventions disclosed in the present application will be briefly described as follows.

[0010] In a voicemail security code management method in a voicemail system interlocking with a wireless call service using a receiver in which the user can freely set the calling number of the wireless receiver, a voice of a user who has not been used for a certain time or more. It is characterized by automatically deleting the mail replay key (personal identification number) and releasing the system resources allocated to the user.

A method of automatically erasing a voice mail reproduction key (personal identification number) of a user who has not been used for a certain period of time is as follows, on the user registration table built in the voice mail center, for each registered user. , PIN, user ID
At the same time, the time information indicating the registration date and time or the voice mail reproduction completion date and time is set, and this time information is regularly checked to delete the registration of the user who has not been accessed for a certain period (for example, 60 days) from that day. Is the way.

[0012]

According to the above-mentioned means, on the user registration table built in the voice mail center, for each registered user,
Set the time information that indicates the registration date and time or the voice mail playback completion date and time together with the personal identification number and user ID, check this time information periodically, and use it if there is no access for a certain period (for example, 60 days) from that day. By deleting the person's registration, it is possible to prevent a situation in which a large number of PINs that are not used for a long time remain in the system to reduce the operating efficiency of system resources and increase the system load. The operation efficiency of resources can be improved.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

In all the drawings for explaining the embodiments, those having the same function are designated by the same reference numerals, and the repeated description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining an outline of a voice mail system of an embodiment for carrying out a voice mail security code management method of the present invention. Reference numeral 1 is a voice mail service-linked voice mail center ( (Hereinafter referred to as a center), 2 is a wireless transmission station, 3 is an arbitrary ID setting type radio call receiver (hereinafter referred to as a receiver), 4 is a public telephone network, 5 is a telephone, and 11 is each block in the center 1. A data bus to be connected, 12 is a voice mail recording unit (hereinafter referred to as recording unit), 13 is a central control unit (CPU),
Reference numeral 14 is a signal transmission unit to a wireless transmission station, 15 is a telephone line corresponding unit including an exchange, 21 is an FM radio wave (radio call signal, text message, etc.), 31 is a display, and 32 is an operation button.

The voice mail recording unit 12 uses an electrically readable / writable storage device such as an optical disk, a magnetic disk, a magnetic tape, or a semiconductor memory as a recording medium.

The voice mail recording section 12 is composed of an index recording area, a message recording area, a response message (OGM) recording area, etc., which will be described later.

As shown in FIG. 1, a voice mail password management method according to an embodiment of the present invention is such that a user on the sending side calls the center 1 to call the calling number (ID) of a destination (receiver). Enter a text message (usually a message summary) and a voice message (detailed message).

In the center 1, the CPU 13 determines that the request is a transmission request, sends the call number and the text message of the destination to the wireless transmission station 2 via the transmission unit 14 and transmits them by FM radio waves.

On the other hand, the voice message is recorded in the voice mail recording unit 12
Record by recipient (by calling number).

On the receiving side, when the calling number received by the receiver 3 coincides with the preset calling number (ID), an electronic sound is emitted and at the same time the received text message is displayed on the display 31.

The recipient reads the text message and, if further information is needed, calls Center 1,
The voice message recorded in the voice mail recording unit 12 is reproduced and listened to using the calling number and the personal identification number as keys.

Next, the voice mail recording unit 1 will be described with reference to FIG.
The configuration in 2 will be described.

The voice mail recording section 12 of the present embodiment includes an index recording area 121 and a message recording area 1
22, response message recording area 123, oldest block number recording area 124, latest block number recording area 1
25, and the structure of each recording area will be described below.

First, the index recording area 121 is
This is created and registered when a voice mail is opened for each user, which will be described later. As shown in FIG. 2, a user index 121 (i) is assigned to each user, and the user index 121 (I) is the index number I (i), the calling number X (i), and the personal identification number A
(I), the number of accumulated voice messages N (i) and time information T
(I), voice message recording block pointer P (i), and the like.

The index number I (i) stores the identification number of the user who opened the voice mail and is set in the order of the opened users.

The calling number X (i) stores the calling number of the opened user (telephone number of about 10 digits).

The personal identification number A (i) stores the personal identification number (for example, 4 digits) of the user, and it is determined whether or not the person who has requested the reproduction of the voice message is the user. It is a thing.

The number of stored messages N (i) stores how many voice messages are stored in the opened voice mail without being reproduced.

The time information T (i) is for measuring the time when the voice mail is not used, and the opening time is stored at the first opening, and the number of accumulated messages becomes 0 thereafter. The time of day is stored. And, as I will explain in detail later, on a regular basis (for example, once a day)
The time (free time) having no message is checked and, for example, if 60 days or more have passed without being used, the user index 121 (i) is deleted from the index recording area 121.

The message recording block pointer P (i) contains:
The block number (youngest) of the head block of the voice message recording block (which will be described later) that has not been reproduced by the user is stored.

However, in this example, in order to save the memory area, the voice message recording block pointer P (i) and the time information T (i) are assigned to the same area, and even one voice message is stored. Time (when N (i)> 0) indicates the voice message recording block pointer P (i) (block number of the first voice message recording block), and when there is no voice message (when N (i) = 0) Is T (i) is the date and time (N =
The date and time when it becomes 0).

Next, in the message recording area 122,
The number of voice message recording blocks in which the above-mentioned messages to the user are stored are stored, and the blocks are stored in the order in which the messages were recorded.

In addition, each voice message recording block 1
22 (j) is a block number b (j), a next block pointer p (j), a previous block pointer q (j), a time series block pointer r (j), a block generation registration time t.
(J) and voice message storage area e (j). In addition, the voice message recording block 122 of the present embodiment.
Although (j) is a fixed length of length L, it can be applied to a variable length in which the length is changed according to the length of the message in order to save the memory area. When the length is variable, it is necessary to use the address (address) in the memory area of each block instead of the block number.

The block number b (j) stores the number of the recorded message (the generation registration order of the voice message recording block 122 (j)).

The next block pointer p (j) stores the block number b (j +) of the voice message recording block 122 (j +) in which the next message for the same user is stored. As a result, even if messages for a plurality of voice mail openers are confused and stored in the message recording area 122, the messages can be organized and managed for each opener (user).

The previous block pointer q (j) stores the block number (j-) of the voice message recording block 122 (j-) in which the previous message for the same user is stored. This is used in the timeout process described later.

The time-series block pointer r (j) stores the block number b (j +) of the voice message recording block 122 (j +) to be generated and registered next. This is stored using the latest block number recording area 125 described later.

The time at which the voice message recording block 122 (j) was created and registered is stored in the block creation registration time t (j). Then, the block generation registration time t
When (j) has passed a predetermined time (for example, 24 hours), the voice message recording block 122 (j) is deleted.

The message from the sender to the user is stored in the voice message storage area e (j).

Next, the response message (OGM) recording area 123 stores voice guidance when the sender registers the message or when the user (receiver) reproduces the message.

The oldest block number recording area 12
4, the block number b (j) of the oldest registered voice message recording block 122 (j) at each time is stored as the oldest block number R. This is used in the timeout process described later.

Finally, the latest block number recording area 12
5 includes the voice message recording block 122 that was registered last.
The block number b (j) of (j) is stored as the latest block number S.

This is the time series block pointer r described above.
It is used when the block number b (j +) is stored in (j), and when the voice message recording block 122 (j) is generated and registered, the storage is performed in the latest block number recording area 125 described later. Block 122 (j)
The block number b (j) of the above is stored as the latest block number S, and the voice message recording block 122 to be generated and registered next
When (j +) is created and registered, the block number b (j +) is stored in the time-series block pointer r (j) of the latest block number S.

The above-mentioned symbols i and j both take natural number values, i is the number of users, and j is the number of messages.
The symbol j-indicates the block number of the previous message, and the symbol j
+ Indicates the block number of the next message.

Next, the operation of each process of the voice mail password management method of this embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the message recording process of the voice mail password management method of this embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 3, in the operation of the message recording process of the voice mail security code management method of this embodiment, first, the sender sends a DTMF (Dial Tone Multi Fr.
When the calling number of the receiver (user) is input by the "equency" signal, the signal reaches the CPU 13 through the line interface 15 and the data bus 11 and is collated with the index recording area 121 of the recording unit 12.

Then, if there is a match with the calling number X (i) in the index recording area, the CPU 1
3 selects voice guidance (OGM) requesting recording from the response message recording area 123 of the recording unit 12 and outputs it to the line interface 15 via the data bus 11 (step S2).

Next, from the message recording area 122, a new (usually the youngest numbered address) empty block (q
Select (i) = 0, r (i) = 0 block) (step S3) and record the message.

The input voice message is subjected to analog / digital conversion in the line interface 15 and the voice message storage area e (i) of the selected voice message recording block 122 (i).
(Step S4).

When the message (voice message) is completed, the sender, for example, presses the # button to notify the CPU 13 of the completion of recording by the DTMF signal (step S5).

At this time, in the message recording area 122, the block number b (j) is the next block pointer p (j-) of the immediately preceding voice message recording block 122 (j-).
Will be filled in.

Next, in the previous block pointer q (j),
The immediately preceding block number b (j-) is entered. When the block number b (j) corresponds to the head block number of the block number string of the receiver (user) (j = 1), the block number b (1) is the user of the index recording area 121. Index 121 (i) for the message recording block pointer P (i) and the previous block pointer q of the voice message recording block 122 (1).
(1) is the index number I (i) of the user index 121 (i) in the index recording area 121.
Will be filled in.

The latest block number recording area 12
The voice message recording block 122 (j-) generated immediately before in time series is searched for from the value S of 5 and the voice message recording block 122 is located at the time series block pointer r (j-).
Enter the block number b (j) of (j). Then, the value S in the latest block number recording area 125 is rewritten to the block number b (j) of the voice message recording block 122 (j) (step S6).

After that, the recording completion date and time is entered in the block generation time t (j) of the voice message recording block 122 (j), and the number N (i) of the stored user index 121 (i) in the index recording area 121 is stored. ) Is counted up (step S7), and the CPU 13 outputs the block number b (j) to the line interface 15. This is transmitted as a message number to the sender, and serves as a kind of inquiry personal identification number when the sender confirms that the message was definitely recorded. The recording operation ends here, and C
The PU 13 issues a line disconnection command (step S9).

FIG. 4 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the message reproduction process of the voice mail password management method of this embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 4, in the message reproduction process of the voice mail password management method of this embodiment, first, the voice mail user (receiver) performs the same procedure as the message recording process by the mailbox center. It starts from accessing 1 and requesting reproduction (step S10).

The recipient (user) calls the calling number X (i).
And the personal identification number A (i) are input, and these are collated with the index recording area 121 by the same procedure as the collation of the calling number at the time of recording described above (step S11).

When the matching user index 121 (i) is found in the index recording area 121, the number of stored voice messages N (i) is output to the line interface 15 (step S12).

If N (i) = 0 is not satisfied (step S13), the voice message recording block pointer P (i) is traced to the first voice message recording block 122 (j), and the voice message storage area is reached. The information e (j) is output to the line interface 15 to reproduce the voice message (step S1).
4).

After reproduction, the voice message recording block 122
If the value of the next block pointer p (j) of (j) is not 0, this value (next voice message recording block 122 (j +)
Block number b (j +) of the previous block pointer q
(J) is traced and copied to the voice message recording block pointer P (i) of the user index 121 (i) in the index recording area 121.

Next, the value of the previous block pointer q (j) is traced to the block number b (j +) stored in the next block pointer p (j), and the previous voice message recording block 122 (j +) is searched. Copy to block pointer q (j +). Here, if the value of p (j) is 0, the voice message recording block 122 (j) is the last block of the receiver, and the pointer replacement work is not necessary.

When the pointer replacement work described above is completed, the value of the previous block pointer q (j) is cleared to 0 and the voice message recording block 122 (j) is erased (step S15).

Then, the value of the accumulated number N (i) is counted down (step S16), and when a reproduction interruption instruction is given from the receiver (step S17), the line is immediately disconnected and the reproduction operation is terminated (step S17). S19).

If there is no instruction from the receiver to suspend reproduction, N
Until (i) = 0, the voice output and the message reproduction of the number N (i) are repeated.

When N (i) = 0, the time is entered in T (i) as the completion time of all message reproduction, the line is disconnected, and the reproduction operation is terminated (step S19).

The value of q (j) becomes 0 when the voice message recording block 122 (j) is not used, when the reproduction is completed, or when it is erased, and q (j) at step S15. ) = 0, the block is deleted and the voice message cannot be played back.
Since the time-series pointer r (j) is not replaced (live), the voice message recording block 122 (j) cannot be immediately reused as an empty block for the next voice message storage.

The time-series block pointer r (j) = 0 becomes reusable as an empty block only by the time-out processing described later.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the time-out process of the voice mail password management method of this embodiment.

The time-out process of the voice mail password management method of this embodiment will be described below.

The voice message recording block 122 is used for the time-out processing of the voice mail password management method of this embodiment.
(J) Deleter and user index 121
Some erase (i).

First, the voice message recording block 122 (j)
Is a fixed time after generation (message valid time, for example, 24 hours)
Is deleted when the time elapses. This is performed in the order of the time-series block pointer r (j), and regardless of the user, from the value R of the oldest block number recording area 124 to the oldest block number b (j). ) Is designated (steps S20, S
21), the value of the generation time t (j) of the voice message recording block 122 (j) is checked (step S22),
When the valid time has passed, first, the value of the time-series block pointer r (j) of the voice message recording block 122 (j) (the next voice message recording block 122 (j in time sequence).
+) Block number b (j +)) is the oldest block number R
Is stored in the oldest block number recording area 124 (step S23).

Next, the voice message recording block 122.
After confirming whether (j) has already been played back (q (j) = 0) (step S24), if it has not been played back,
Prior to the block erasure, the pointer replacement processing is performed.

The processing is performed by the voice message recording block 122.
If the value of the next block pointer p (j) of (j) is not 0, the value is traced to the previous block pointer q (j),
Copy to P (i) of the user index 121 (i) in the index recording area 121, and move to the previous block pointer q of the voice message recording block 122 (j).
(J)) value (usually the index recording area 121
The index number I (i) of the user's index 121 (i) is traced to the next block pointer p (j) and copied to the previous block pointer q (j +) of the subsequent voice message recording block 122 (j +). (Step S2
5), the previous block pointer q (j) and the time series block pointer r of the voice message recording block 122 (j).
Write 0 in (j) (step S26), and the index 121 for the user in the index recording area 121.
The value of N (i) in (i) is subtracted by 1 (step S2
7).

Here, the voice message recording block 122
If the value of the next block pointer p (j) of (j) is 0, it is the last block, so there is no need to transmit the index number I (i) to the succeeding voice message recording block 122 (j +), and N ( Since i) = 0, the date and time is entered in T (i) (step S29).

User index 121 (i) among all users registered in the index recording area 121
T (i) is checked regularly (for example, once a day), and the user index 121 (i) is deleted from the index recording area 121 after 60 days or more have passed.

As described above, during the time-out processing, the voice message recording block 122 (j) after a certain time (for example, 24 hours) has elapsed after the generation or after the opening or after the entire message is reproduced is used for a certain period. Delete the non-existing user index 121 (i) to create a voice mail recording unit 1
It makes effective use of the two resources.

Next, the procedures for voice mail opening (user registration) and voice mail use in the voice mail security code management method of the embodiment will be described.

To open a voice mail, (1) First, when the user (receiver) purchases the receiver 3, he / she uses the operation button 32 as a calling number of his / her own telephone number (for example, from a 10-digit number). Set).

(2) Next, call the registration window of the center 1 and input his / her own telephone number (that is, user ID) according to the guidance (OGM) of Talkie.

(3) When the telephone is hung up and waited for a while, the call back confirms the calling number and inquires about the personal identification number.

(4) Here, for example, if a personal identification number consisting of four digits is input, there is a response to confirm the personal identification number, it is registered in the index recording area 121, and a voice mail is opened.

At this time, the number of message registrations N (i) of the user in the index recording area 121 is 0, and the time information T
The registration date and time is set in (i).

The procedure for using voice mail is as follows: (1) The sender calls the message corner of the center 1
When the digit call number (recipient's ID) is entered, the center 1 determines that the sender has sent it and prompts the user to enter a text message and voice message.

(2) Input a text message, and
When a voice message is input, a message number is given to the sender, and after the effective time of the message is notified, the receiver 3 of the ID is called by the FM radio wave and the display 1 of the receiver 3 is displayed.
A text message is displayed at 31.

(3) The recipient who receives the call and sees the text message calls the message corner of the voice mail center and inputs the four-digit personal identification number. Number).

(4) When the ID is entered here, the index recording area 121 is searched using the password A (i) and the ID (call number X (i)) as keys, and the corresponding message recording in the message recording area is performed. Block pointer P
By tracing (i), the accumulated voice messages are reproduced in order from the oldest one.

When all the accumulated voice mails have been reproduced, the value of the message registration number N (i) becomes 0, and the reproduction completion date and time is set in the time information T (i).

Therefore, on the index recording area (user registration table) built in the voice mail center, the time when the registration date or the voice mail reproduction completion date and time is recorded together with the personal identification number and the user ID for each registered user. Set information, check this time information regularly,
By deleting the registration of the user who has not been accessed for a certain period (for example, 60 days) from that day, a large number of PINs that are not used for a long time remain in the system to reduce the operating efficiency of system resources and reduce the system load. Since it is possible to prevent such a situation from increasing, it is possible to improve the operating efficiency of system resources.

As described above, the invention made by the present inventor is
Although the specific description has been given based on the above-described embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and it goes without saying that various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0092]

The outline of the representative one of the inventions disclosed in the present application will be briefly described as follows.

That is, the user personal identification number that has not been used for a long period of time is automatically erased to prevent a decrease in the operating efficiency of system resources and increase the system load without requiring special human operation. Can be prevented.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block configuration diagram for explaining an outline of a voice mail system of an embodiment for carrying out a voice mail security code management method of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a configuration inside a voice mail recording unit of the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of a message recording process of the voice mail password management method of this embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of a message reproduction process of the voice mail password management method of the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the time-out process of the voice mail password management method of this embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Center, 2: Radio transmitter station, 3 ... Radio call receiver with arbitrary ID setting, 4 ... Public telephone network, 5 ... Telephone, 11 ...
Data bus, 12 ... Voice mail recording section, 13 ... Control section, 14 ... Transmission section, 15 ... Line corresponding section, 121 ... Index recording area (user registration table), 122 ... Message recording area, X ... Call number, A … PIN code,
N ... Number of accumulated voice messages, T ... Time information, P ... Message recording block pointer, p ... Next block pointer, q ... Previous block pointer, r ... Time series block pointer, t ... Block generation time, e ... Voice message accumulation area .

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Internal reference number FI Technical display location H04Q 7/06 7/08 7/12 H04M 3/42 102 3/50 B (72) Inventor Sakai Yoichi 22-22 Nagaike-cho, Abeno-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Prefecture Sharp Corporation (72) Inventor Kikuko Shibata 22-22 Nagaike-cho, Abeno-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A method of managing a voice mail password in a voice mail system linked to a radio call service using a receiver, which allows a user to freely set a call number of a radio receiver, who has not been used for a certain period of time or more. A method for managing a voicemail PIN, which is characterized by automatically erasing the voicemail playback key (PIN) of. 2. A method of automatically erasing a voice mail reproduction key (personal identification number) of a user who has not been used for a certain period of time is as follows. For each time, set the time information that indicates the registration date and time or the voice mail playback completion date and time together with the personal identification number and user index calling number, and periodically check this time information, and there was no access for a certain period from that date and time. The method for managing a voice mail password according to claim 1, wherein the registration of the user is deleted.