JPH0832696A - System and method for voice mail service - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain the system and method for a voice mail service, which is capable of flexibly setting an informing method when a caller gives information with a message to a callee by allowing the caller to select the way how to deal with contents stored in a voice storing means storing a voice mail from the caller. CONSTITUTION:The system is provided with the voice storing means 300 storing the voice mail from the caller 100, and a selection means 110 by which the caller 100 selects the way how to deal with the contents stored in the voice storing means 300. Then, the selection means 110 is provided with a first selection means 111 selecting whether to give information on a fact that a voice mail is stored to the side of the callee 400, an informing time specifying means 112 specifying an informing time at the time of giving information to the side of the callee 400, and a second selecting means 113 selecting an informing method. Then through the use of selection information obtained by selection, information with a message is sent to the callee at the time and by the informing method which are desired by the caller.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a voice mail service system and a voice mail service method, and more particularly to a voice call storage service of a public network and a private network for notifying a caller of information including stored voice mail. The present invention relates to a voice mail service system and a voice mail service method when doing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A voice mail that allows the called party to hear the contents of the recorded voice mail after the caller records the mail by voice when the caller is away from the telephone (callee). There is something called a service or a voice storage service.

FIG. 6 shows the configuration of a conventional voice mail system. The configuration shown in the figure includes a calling party 10, a storage section 21,
Voice storage device 20 having communication control unit 22 and callee 3
It consists of zero.

The caller 10 sends a voice mail to the callee 30 to the voice storage device 20. The sent voice mail is stored in the storage unit 21 via the communication control unit 22 of the voice storage device 20.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a conventional voice mail. When it is impossible for the caller 10 to directly convey information to the callee 30 by voice, the caller 10
Sends a voice mail to the voice storage device (step 1). The voice storage device stores the voice mail from the caller 10 (step 2). Next, when the call receiver 30 makes a call to the voice storage device at an arbitrary timing (step 3), a predetermined guidance is given from the voice storage device.
(Step 4). This allows the called party 30
Or the voice mail stored in the voice storage device is automatically sent to the called party 30 (step 5).

Next, the following method is used to notify the called party 30 that voice mail has been stored in the storage unit 21 (hereinafter, message notification).

As a first method, when the called party 30 connects (phones) to the voice storage device 20, the voice guidance is received from the voice storage device 20.

As a second method, the voice accumulator 20 turns on the lamp provided in the telephone set of the called party 30.

As a third method, there is a method of notifying that there is a message by a method such as ringing or displaying on a liquid crystal screen via a radio call service device carried by the called party 30.

[0010]

However, in the above-mentioned first conventional method, when the called party makes a call to the voice storage device, a message presence notification is received, and the called party does not make a call to the voice storage device. As long as it is impossible to know whether the voice mail addressed to the called party has reached the voice storage device, for example, even if it is an urgent voice mail, there is no guarantee that it will be delivered to the called party quickly and reliably. There's a problem.

In the second conventional method described above, it is impossible to know whether or not the voice mail addressed to the called party has arrived unless the called party confirms that the lamp of the telephone is turned on. Since it is not possible for the calling party to set how soon the voice mail will reach the caller, it may be left unattended even if the voice mail is an urgent requirement.

Further, the above-mentioned third conventional method is used when the called party does not carry a device for the radio paging service,
When the power of the device is off, the callee cannot know that there is a voice mail addressed to him. In other words, there is a problem that the caller cannot specify / select whether or not to notify the presence of the message, and when and when to notify the presence of the message, how and when to notify the called party.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and solves the above-mentioned conventional problems and flexibly sets a notification method when a caller notifies a called party of a message. It is an object of the present invention to provide a voice mail service system and a voice mail service method capable of performing the same.

Furthermore, after the caller records the voice mail in the voice storage device, the caller can specify the presence / absence of notification of the presence of the message, the time, and the method, and a voice mail service. The purpose is to provide a method.

[0015]

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

The voice mail service system of the present invention is
The voice mail from the caller 100 is stored in the voice mail service system in which 100 voice mails from the caller are stored in the voice storage means 300 connected to the exchange 200, and the callee 400 listens to the voice mails. It has a voice storage means 300 and a selection means 110 for the caller 100 to select how to handle the content stored in the voice storage means 300.

The selecting means 110 also informs the callee side 4 that voice mail has been stored in the voice storing means 300.
First selecting means 111 for selecting whether to notify 00
When the first selection unit 111 notifies the called party side 400, the notification time designation unit 1 that designates the notification time.
12 and second selection means 113 for selecting a method of notifying the called party side 400.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart for explaining the principle of the present invention.

The present invention is a voice mail service method in which voice mail from a caller is stored in a voice storage means connected to an exchange, and the callee listens to the voice mail. The caller selects a method of handling the voice mail.

Further, when the handling of voice mail is selected, it is selected whether or not to notify the called party that the voice mail has been accumulated (step 10). Specifies the notification time (step 20) and the notification method (step 30).

[0021]

The present invention provides a method for selecting whether or not to notify the presence of a message after recording a voice mail of a calling party, designating how many minutes after the completion of recording the notification of presence of a message, and notifying the presence of a message. By making a selection and sending it to the voice mail system, the voice mail system uses the selection information obtained by the above selection to notify the called party of the presence of a message at the time and notification method desired by the calling party. It becomes possible to send.

[0022]

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

FIG. 3 shows the configuration of a voice mail service system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The system shown in the figure is
Telephones 10, 30, PBX (private branch exchange) 200, voice storage system 300, facsimile terminals 340, 3
1, personal computers 350 and 32, a user information storage unit 500, and a control signal line 600. Of these, the telephone 10 is the telephone of the calling party, and the telephone 30, the facsimile terminal 31, and the personal computer 32 are those of the called party. In this embodiment, the telephones 10 and 30 having push buttons are used.

The voice storage system 300 includes a voice interface unit 310 for transmitting and receiving voice information, and a voice storage unit 3 for storing voice information transmitted from a caller on a magnetic disk.
30, voice guidance storage unit 360, and control unit 320
It is composed of The voice storage unit 330 stores the voice mail information sent from the caller, and the voice guidance storage unit 3
It is assumed that 60 stores voice information for voice guidance to be sent to a caller or the like.

It is assumed that the user information storage unit 500 stores the user's telephone number, the presence / absence of another terminal device, the identification number of the terminal device, and the like.

FIG. 4 is a sequence chart showing the operation of the voice mail system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Step 101) The telephone set 10 on the caller side makes a call to the telephone set 30 on the callee side.

Step 102) When the telephone set 30 of the called party is busy or when the ringing signal is transmitted for a certain time or longer, the PBX 200 automatically connects the telephone set 10 on the calling side and the voice storage system 300. To do.

Step 103) Voice storage system 300
Reads out a voice guidance instruction (voice mail recording request) from the voice guidance storage unit 360 and sends it to the telephone set 10 on the caller side via the voice interface unit 310.

Step 104) The calling party stores the voice mail of the calling party from the telephone 10 in the voice storing section 330 of the voice storing system 300 via the voice interface section 310.

Step 105) Next, the calling party makes the telephone 1
After recording the voice mail from 0 to the voice storage unit 330 via the PBX 200 and the voice interface unit 310, the voice storage system 300 reads the voice guidance instruction from the voice guidance storage unit 360, and via the voice interface unit 310. It is sent to the telephone set 10 on the calling side.

Step 106) The calling party selects whether or not to notify the called party of the presence of a message according to the voice guidance by a push button signal of the telephone set 10 or the like.

Step 107) In this step, a message presence notification selection signal is sent to the voice storage system 300 as "message presence notification".

Step 108) The voice storage system 300 provides the caller with information about how much time should elapse after recording the voice mail to notify the callee.
Send to.

Step 109) The calling party inputs a desired time from the telephone 10 by a push button signal or the like according to the voice guidance. In the specific example described below, 120
If the voicemail for a minute is not heard by the called party,
Notification with message shall be given.

Step 110) Finally, the caller selects a message presence notification method with a push button according to the voice guidance from the voice storage system 300.

Step 111) Voice storage system 300
Receives a message presence notification method selection signal from the caller, and provides a voice mail service to the callee according to the instruction from the caller.

Step 112) The call connection between the telephone set 10 of the caller and the voice storage system 300 is disconnected.

Next, the control unit 3 of the voice storage system 300.
20 searches the user information storage unit 500 for the information (telephone number) of the called party who is the destination that the calling party first called.

Here, it is assumed that the called party at step 101 of the above sequence chart has the facsimile terminal device 31, and the voice storage system 300.
The control section 320 searches the user information marking section 500 for an identification number corresponding to the facsimile terminal device 31.

When the facsimile terminal device is selected by the communication method selection signal from the telephone set 10 of the call destination, the control unit 320 of the voice storage system 300 causes the user information storage unit 500 to display the facsimile terminal of the callee. Device 3
Search for the identification number 1. The control unit 320 of the voice storage system 300 controls the facsimile terminal device 340 to send the facsimile terminal device 3 of the callee via the control signal line 600.
A message addressed to the called party is output to the identification number 1.

Further, when the personal terminal device is selected by the notification method selection signal from the telephone 10 of the call destination, the control unit 320 of the voice storage system 300 causes the user information storage unit 500 to notify the callee of the callee. The identification number of the personal computer terminal device 32 is searched. The control unit 320 of the voice storage system 300 controls the personal computer terminal 350 via the control signal line 600 to output the message addressed to the called party to the identification number of the personal terminal device 32 of the called party.

Next, a specific example will be described. Figure 5
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a specific example of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In the following specific example, when the voice mail is not heard by the callee for 120 minutes after the completion of the recording in the voice storage unit 330, the message presence notification is given. In this case, the caller inputs "1", "2", "3" from the push button of the telephone 10. Further, it is assumed that the facsimile terminal device is selected for the message presence notification method.

Step 201) The calling party makes a call from the telephone set 10 to the called party's telephone set 30.

Step 202) Here, if the voice storage system 300 detects a signal that the telephone set 30 of the called party is busy, or if the calling signal is sent for a predetermined time or longer, the calling party is called. The voice guidance that was read out from the voice guidance storage unit 360 was displayed as "A-san cannot wait." Send me a message "to the caller.

Step 203) When the caller receives the voice guidance via the telephone 10, it sends a voice message to the voice storage system 300. As a result, the voice storage unit 330 stores the received voice message.

Step 204) Next, the voice storage system 300 selects a message "Notify message present?" From the voice guidance storage unit 360 to select a message present notification. Read "1" for yes, press "2" for no "and send to caller.

Step 205) The caller receives the message presence notification from the voice accumulation system 300, and according to the voice guidance, "1" (message presence notification).
Is input from the push button, and the voice storage system 300
Send to.

Step 206) Voice storage system 300
Is a guidance for selecting a notification time from the voice guidance storage unit 360, "How many minutes after recording will the message be notified?" Is read out and sent to the calling party.

Step 207) The caller follows "1" according to the voice guidance received from the voice storage system 300.
"20 minutes" is input by pressing the push buttons "1, 2, 0" and sent to the voice storage system 300.

Step 208) Voice storage system 300
Reads the guidance for selecting the notification method from the voice guidance storage unit 360, "Please press" 1 "to send a message notification to a fax machine, and press" 2 "to send it to a PC." Send to.

Step 209) The caller selects a facsimile machine according to the voice guidance received from the voice storage system 300 and pushes the push button "1" to send it to the voice storage system 300.

Step 210) Voice storage system 300
From the voice guidance storage unit 360, a message "Message has been accepted that all the above selection information has been received." Thank you very much. Is read out and sent to the calling party.

After the above processing, the voice storage system 300
Sends a message to the called party according to the information instructed by the calling party.

For example, when the caller selects the message presence notification and gives an instruction to output the message by the facsimile machine 120 minutes after recording,
The voice storage system 300 sends a message to the called party by the method selected by the calling party in step 208 (facsimile terminal in this example). The procedure is controlled by the control unit 320 as follows.

After the voice mail is recorded, a timer (not shown) measures 120 minutes.

After 120 minutes, the user information storage unit 5
00, the identification number of the facsimile terminal 32 of the called party is searched.

A paper on which a message notification to the called party is printed (for example, a voice mail addressed to "A" is about 12
It arrived 0 minutes ago. Facsimile data of paper printed with "" is output from the facsimile terminal 340.

As a result, the facsimile terminal device 32 on the receiving side can receive the message sent from the voice storage system 300. For example, even if the original callee, Mr. A, does not see the facsimile information of this message presence notification, a person in the same workplace (third party using the facsimile terminal device 32) sees this facsimile output. By doing so, it is possible to notify Mr. A that there is a message.

In the above embodiment, an example of transmitting from the voice storage system 300 to the called party using the facsimile terminal 340 is shown, but the present invention is not limited to this example.
It is also possible to use the personal computer terminal 350 connected to the LAN or the like to output a predetermined message presence notification to the personal computer terminal 32 of the called party.

The message content of the message presence notification can be set arbitrarily.

In the voice storage system 300, the voice storage unit 330 and the voice guidance storage unit 360 are used separately, but since they have the same function in storing voice information, they are stored in one file. Good.

Further, in the above embodiment, the user information storage unit 500 is provided. However, when the caller selects the message presence notification and selects the notification method, the facsimile communication method is selected. May select the caller's facsimile identification number or the personal computer terminal's communication method to enter the caller's personal computer terminal identification number by the caller himself. Does not require the user information storage unit 500.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications and applications are possible within the scope of the claims.

[0065]

As described above, according to the present invention, the caller can select whether or not to notify the presence of a message after the completion of the voice mail recording, and the message presence notification time after the completion of the voice mail recording. For example, for voice mail with a high degree of urgency, the caller can select to execute the message notification and specify the message notification time immediately after the mail recording is completed. By selecting the facsimile terminal device in the called party's workplace as the message presence notification method, the message presence notification can be transmitted to the called party at the other end more quickly and more reliably.

On the contrary, for voice mails of low urgency, the message notification time or the message notification method can be set at an appropriate time and method even if the message notification is not performed or even if the message notification is performed. . That is, the caller himself / herself has a message or not,
Since it is possible to flexibly set the message notification time and the message notification method, it is possible to increase the degree of selectivity on the caller side, which brings great advantages to the user.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a principle configuration diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart for explaining the principle of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a voice mail service system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sequence chart showing an operation of the voice mail system according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a specific example of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a conventional voice mail system.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a conventional voice mail.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10, 30 Telephone 31, 340 Facsimile terminal 32, 350 Personal computer terminal 100 Caller 110 Selection means 111 First selection means 112 Notification time designation means 113 Second selection means 200 Switching exchange 300 Voice storage means, voice storage system 310 voice interface unit 320 control unit 330 voice storage unit 360 voice guidance storage unit 400 callee 500 user information storage unit

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A voice mail service system in which voice mail from a caller is stored in voice storage means connected to an exchange, and the voice mail is heard by a called party, wherein the voice mail from the caller. A voice mail service system having the voice storing means for storing the call, and the selecting means for allowing the caller to select how to handle the contents stored in the voice storing means. 2. The first selecting means, the first selecting means selecting whether or not to notify a called party that the voice mail is stored in the voice storing means, and the first selecting means. 2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising notification time designating means for designating a notification time and second selecting means for selecting a method of notifying the called party when the notification is made to the called party. Voice mail service system. 3. A voice mail service method in which voice mail from a calling party is stored in a voice storing means connected to an exchange, and the voice mail is heard by a called party. A voice mail service method, wherein the caller selects a method of handling the voice mail. 4. When selecting a method of handling the voice mail, selecting whether to notify the called party that the voice mail has been accumulated, and when notifying the called party. Is a voice mail service method according to claim 3, wherein a notification time and a notification method are designated.