JPH09121246A - Traffic measuring system and line switching device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To share a line by performing the data communication performed by using a line switching device and conventionally using an exclusive line between a traffic measuring instrument and a center computer by utilizing the line to be measured of the traffic measuring instrument. SOLUTION: Switches (a) to (d) are turned on because current flows in relay coils A to D. The switch (a) selectively connects the line (the external line) on the side of a communication enterpriser with either one of the line on the side of a private branch exchange and the modem on the side of traffic measuring instrument. The switch (b) disconnects only the DC part of the line on the side of the private branch exchange from the external line. As for the AC part, the connection with the external line and the line on the side of the private branch exchange is held via capacitors 24 and 25. The switch (c) makes out an off-hook by being turned on in the on-hook on the side of the private branch exchange. When the switch (d) is closed, busy tone is supplied to the line on the side of the exchange. A CPU 80 turns on a relay (a), connects a modem with the external line and performs data communication.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a line switching device which is added to an analog telephone line traffic measuring device having a communication function to expand its function, and a traffic measuring system using the line switching device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, traffic measurement having a function of measuring traffic of a plurality of telephone lines and communicating with a center computer by using a data communication dedicated line provided separately from the measuring line There was a device.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned traffic measuring device, it is necessary to separately provide a communication dedicated line in addition to the measurement line, which imposes a burden on the user. Also, if the frequency of communication is relatively low,
The communication line will not be used effectively. Furthermore, since the telephone lines that can communicate are limited to specific lines, if the line becomes unavailable for some reason, it will not be possible to communicate with the center computer at all. More improvements were desired.

[0004]

In order to solve the above problems, in the line switching device according to claim 1, the first line connected to the telephone exchange of the telecommunications carrier is connected to the premises of the user. A second line which is connected to the exchange and whose usage is measured by the traffic measuring device; and a line connecting means which can be connected to both the modem connected to the traffic measuring device; A busy tone supply means for sending a busy tone signal to the second line when one line is connected to the modem. Here, the line connecting means normally connects the first line to the second line, and can connect the first line to the modem when a call request is issued from the modem. Is. Further, the line switching device further has means for detecting a signal supplied to the first line, and the line connecting means normally connects the first line to the second line, When the detection means detects that a predetermined signal is supplied to the first line, the first line is detected.
The line can be connected to the modem. Here, it is preferable that the predetermined signal includes at least one of push button signals “A”, “B”, “C” and “D”, and further, the predetermined signal is in a predetermined order. Is preferably a plurality of push button signals transmitted in.

A line switching device according to a sixth aspect is
A line connecting means for connecting a first line connected to a telephone exchange of a telecommunications carrier to a second line or a third line; a means for detecting a signal supplied to the first line; When the detecting means detects that a predetermined signal is supplied to the first line, the line connecting means is controlled so that the first line is connected to the third line, and otherwise. Controlling means for controlling the line connecting means so that the first line is connected to the second line;
Is provided.

A traffic measuring system according to a tenth aspect of the present invention is a traffic measuring device for measuring traffic on a line connected to a telephone exchange of a telecommunications carrier, and transmitting measurement data by the traffic measuring device to an external device via a telephone line. And a line connection device capable of connecting the line connected to the telephone exchange of the telecommunications carrier to either the private branch exchange or the communication unit, and when the communication unit communicates with the external device. The line connected to the telephone exchange of the telecommunications carrier is connected to the communication means,
In other cases, the line connected to the telephone exchange of the telecommunications carrier is connected to the private branch exchange.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram for explaining an overall configuration of a traffic measuring device system 100 that is an embodiment of the present invention. The traffic measuring system 100 has a center computer 1 and a measuring device 10. The measuring device 10 is connected to a plurality of analog telephone lines AL between a telephone exchange of a telecommunications carrier and a PBX (private branch exchange) on the side of a user, and the use state (use start date / time, use end date / time, (Phone number etc.)
Is measured and the measurement data is transmitted to the center computer 1.

The traffic measuring system 100 of FIG.
Has a first line connection unit 11 provided with terminals connected to a plurality of analog telephone lines connected to a telephone exchange of a telecommunications carrier. It also has a second line connection section 13 provided with terminals to which a plurality of lines connected to the private branch exchange on the user side are connected. The plurality of measurement lines ML of the measuring device 10 are connected to the plurality of lines AL between the first line connection unit and the second line connection unit in a one-to-one relationship. The measuring device 10 sequentially measures the usage status of each line AL and stores it in the storage device as measurement data. The data stored in the storage unit is connected to one of the measured lines AL via a modem 12 as a communication means on the measuring device side and a line switching device 20 described later, and further via a telephone exchange network of a communication carrier. The data is transferred to the center computer 1 via a modem 15 as a communication means connected to the center computer 1.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the line switching device 20. The line switching device 20 is connected to one of the plurality of measured lines AL by disconnecting one measured line AL and connecting each to the terminals 21 and 22. The line switching device 20 has switches a to d, and these switches a to d are relay coils A.
As a result of the flow of current through to D, the ON state is moved from the OFF state shown in FIG. 2 in the direction indicated by the arrow. The switch a is a switch for selectively connecting a line on the telecommunications carrier side (hereinafter abbreviated as an external line) to either the line on the private branch exchange side or the modem on the traffic measuring device side. When the relay coil A is off, the line on the private branch exchange side is selected, and when the relay coil A is on, the modem on the measuring device side is connected.

The switch b disconnects the line on the private branch exchange side from the external line only for the DC component and maintains the connection between the external line and the line on the private branch exchange side via the capacitors 24 and 25 for the AC component. At this time, a voltage of 48 V is supplied from the power source 60 to the line on the private branch exchange side of the switch b, which is disconnected from the external line. Switch c
Creates a state similar to off-hook by turning on when the private branch exchange is on-hook. That is, when the switch c is closed in the on-hook state, the voltage between the lines L1 and L2 is lowered and the line on the communication carrier side is held.

When the switch d is closed, the busy tone generated by the busy tone generator 70 for generating the busy tone is supplied to the line on the private branch exchange side. This is because, when the user uses the receiver of the private branch exchange in the state where the switch a is switched to the modem, there is a possibility that the line is erroneously recognized as a line failure if no signal is supplied to the receiver.
It is provided to supply the busy tone to the private branch exchange side in order to avoid it.

In the figure, reference numeral 30 is a detection circuit for detecting the PB signal (push button signal) input to the lines L1 and L2, which is composed of a resistor and a capacitor. The PB signal detection circuit is connected to the lines L1 and L2 by a high impedance connection in order to detect the input PB signal without affecting the original line (that is, the lines L1 and L2). Line L1
When a signal is input to -L2, the PB receiver 31 in the circuit identifies whether it is a PB signal and the type of the PB signal.

Reference numeral 40 is an on-hook detection circuit for detecting the use / non-use of the line. A voltage of 48 volts is normally applied to the telephone line (between the lines L1 and L2). Therefore, 48V is detected in the illustrated on-hook state. When the handset of the telephone on the private branch exchange side is picked up, a closed loop in which a predetermined resistance is inserted is formed between the lines L1 and L2, and the voltage between the lines L1 and L2 drops to about several volts. Therefore, by detecting this voltage, it is possible to determine the on-hook state or the off-hook state.

The input / output circuit 50 is a circuit for turning on / off the relay coils A to D based on the signal input from the PB receiver 31 and the on-hook detection circuit 40. Details of the operation will be described later.

FIG. 3 is a main flow for explaining the operation of the line switching device for the traffic measuring device according to the present invention.
This process is a process executed by the CPU 80 based on the signal input to the input / output circuit 50 and the state of the modem 12.

First, when the power is turned on, initialization in the apparatus,
The relay coils A to D are turned off (S
1). When the initialization is completed, it is monitored based on the state of the modem 12 and the detection signal of the PB receiver 31 whether there is an external call or a call request of the modem 12 (S3). If there is a call request from the modem 12, the call sequence is executed (S5). Next CPU80
When there is a call request from the outside, whether or not the private branch exchange picks up the handset and goes into the off-hook state based on the signal from the on-hook detection circuit 40.
It is monitored whether the calling signal from the receiver 31 does not exceed 20 times or whether the circuit is disconnected (S7). When the call signal exceeds 20 times, the incoming call switching sequence (no PBX response) is executed (S
8). When off-hook is detected, it is then determined whether a special signal has been transmitted (S9).

The special signal is a signal which is not used for ordinary communication and is received only when the center computer calls the measuring device. In this embodiment, a PB signal which is a signal not normally used in Japan and can be easily output by a general modem is used.
Either A "," B "," C "," D ", or some combination of these signals is used.
These signals are defined below as a composite of two different frequency sine waves. "A" signal 697Hz + 1633Hz "B" signal 770Hz + 1633Hz "C" signal 852Hz + 1633Hz "D" signal 941Hz + 1633Hz When off-hook, the center computer side provides voice guidance in addition to the above special signal. Flush and explain that the call is for data communication and prompt the responder to return the handset. When a special signal is detected in the off-hook state, the incoming call switching sequence (with PBX response)
Is executed (S10).

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the calling sequence (S5). When there is a call request from the modem 12 on the measuring device side, the CPU 80 turns on the A relay (S
51) Switch a to the modem side to connect the modem to an external line. At this time, the line on the private branch exchange side is disconnected, so the D relay is turned on (S52), and the busy tone generation circuit 70 supplies the busy tone to the private branch exchange side. The modem 12 monitors the communication state to determine whether the data communication is completed (S53). When the data communication is completed (YES: S53), the A relay and the D relay are connected.
The relay is turned off, the line on the private branch exchange side is connected to the external line, and the process ends.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart for explaining the processing of the incoming call switching sequence (no PBX response) (S8). This process is executed when the ring tone exceeds 20 times without any response to the call from the center computer. Since the call from the center computer is intended for data communication, it may be possible to connect to the modem 12 on the measuring device side even when the handset on the private branch exchange side cannot be picked up for the call. desirable. This processing makes it possible.

This process is executed when the number of calls exceeds 20 times. First, the C relay is turned on and the switch c is closed, so that a state physically similar to on-hook is configured (S
61). The center computer sends a special signal with the on-hook as a trigger. Detection circuit 30 and PB
When the CPU 80 receives the special signal via the receiver 31 (YES: S62), the process proceeds to S64. However, if 8 seconds elapse without receiving the special signal, it is considered that the call is not from the center computer, so the C relay is turned off to release the holding of the external line, and the processing ends.

When the special signal is received (S62), the transmission request is turned on (S64), the A relay and the D relay are turned on, and the external line is connected to the modem 12,
A busy tone is sent to the private branch exchange side. Since the modem 12 is connected to the external line, the C relay is turned off and the switch c is opened. By monitoring the communication state of the modem 12, it is determined whether or not the data communication is completed (S68). When the communication is completed, the switch d is opened to stop the sending of the busy tone (S69) and the switch a. To connect the private branch exchange side line and the external line (S70),
The transmission request is turned off (S71), and the communication ends.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the processing of the incoming call switching sequence (with PBX response) (S10). This process is a process executed after a special signal is detected in an off-hook state in response to a call from the center computer in FIG.

After turning on the C relay, the B relay is turned on to disconnect the connection between the line on the private branch exchange side and the external line for the DC component. Since switch c is closed, b
The connection with the external line is maintained even if the switch is switched. As described above, when the handset on the private branch exchange side is picked up for the call from the center computer, voice guidance is played from the center computer side. A voltage of 48 volts is supplied from the power supply 60 as described above, and the capacitors 24 and
The voice signal is transmitted as it is to the private branch exchange side via 5.
The guidance urges the user to go on-hook, and waits for being on-hook in this state (S84).

When the on-hook detection circuit 40 detects the on-hook, the transmission request is turned on, and the switch a is switched to the modem 12 side (S86). Next, the switch b is returned to the position shown in FIG. 2 (S87). The switch 4d is switched, the busy tone is sent to the private branch exchange side (S88), and the switch c is opened (S89). By monitoring the communication state of the modem 12, it is determined whether or not the data communication is completed (S90). When the communication is completed, the switch d is switched to stop the busy tone transmission (S91), and the switch a is switched on. The private branch exchange side line and the external line are connected by switching (S92), the transmission request is turned off (S93), and the communication ends.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a sequence on the side of the center computer when the center computer makes a call to the measuring device. First, modem 1
5 is initialized and a call is started (S101). When the number of calls is within 20 and there is a response, a special signal and voice guidance are transmitted (S105). If the number of calls exceeds 20, only a special signal is sent (S10).
4). Wait until the transmission request is turned ON on the measuring device side (S
106), a data communication start signal is transmitted (S107),
Data communication is performed (S108). When the data communication ends, an end signal is sent (S108), the line is disconnected, and the process ends.

FIG. 8 is an example of a flow chart showing the procedure for confirming the reception of the special signal. Here, an example in which it is determined that the special signal is received only when the four types of push button signals PB of “A”, “B”, “C”, and “D” described above are received in a predetermined order Indicates. The receiver 31 monitors whether or not the signal supplied to the line is a push button signal and its type, and every time the push button signal is detected, the first push button signal (S20) is detected.
It is determined whether 2), the second push button signal (S204), the third push button signal (S206), and the fourth push button signal (S208) are supplied in the correct order. The above S202, S204,
The determination of NO even once in S206 and S208 is made when the order of the signals is different or when different PB signals are supplied, in which case it is determined that the special signal is not received. As described above, the push button signal may be any one of “A”, “B”, “C”, and “D”, or a combination of some signals.

As described above, by using the line switching device of the present invention, the data communication which is conventionally performed using the dedicated line between the traffic measuring device and the center computer can be measured by the traffic measuring device. You will be able to do it using the line. In particular, when a call is made from the center computer, the special signal is detected and the PBX and the measuring device are switched, so that the switching operation can be performed with high reliability. Further, even when a call is made from the traffic measuring device, the call can be made in the same manner as when a dedicated line is used, without imposing any burden on the user.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a traffic measurement system.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of a line switching device for a traffic measuring device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a main flowchart showing a process of a line switching device for a traffic measuring device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a calling sequence.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an incoming call switching sequence when there is no PBX response.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an incoming call switching sequence when there is a PBX response.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a calling sequence on the side of the center computer.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing determination of a PB signal (special signal).

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Center Computer 10 Traffic Measuring Device 11 First Line Connection Unit 12 Modem 13 Second Line Connection Unit 14 Line Power Supply Unit 15 Modem 20 Line Switching Device

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Masaru Yasuda 6-104 Sakurayama-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya City EXING Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Mamoru Hirudo 5-3-2, Shiba 5-chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo Shiba Daiichi Buildings Tracks Co., Ltd.

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A second line which is connected to a telephone exchange of a telecommunications carrier and which is connected to a private branch exchange on the user side and whose usage is measured by a traffic measuring device, A line connecting unit that can be connected to any of the communication units connected to the traffic measuring device, and a busy tone signal to the second line when the first line is connected to the communication unit. A busy sound supplying means for transmitting
A line switching device for a traffic measurement system, comprising: 2. The line connecting means normally connects the first line to the second line, and when the call request from the communication means occurs, the line is connected to the communication means. The line switching device of the traffic measuring system according to claim 1, wherein the line switching device is connected. 3. The line switching device further comprises means for detecting a signal supplied to the first line, and the line connecting means normally connects the first line to the second line. However, the first line is connected to the communication unit when the detection unit detects that a predetermined signal is supplied to the first line, and the first line is connected to the communication unit.
The line switching device of the traffic measurement system described in. 4. The traffic measurement according to claim 3, wherein the predetermined signal includes at least one of push button signals “A”, “B”, “C”, and “D”. System line switching device. 5. The line switching device of a traffic measuring system according to claim 4, wherein the predetermined signal is a plurality of push button signals transmitted in a predetermined order. 6. A line connecting means for connecting a first line connected to a telephone exchange of a telecommunications carrier to a second line or a third line, and detecting a signal supplied to the first line. Means for controlling the line connecting means so that the first line is connected to the third line when the detecting means detects that a predetermined signal is supplied to the first line. And a control means for controlling the line connecting means so that the first line is connected to the second line otherwise. 7. A busy tone supply means for sending a busy tone signal to the second line when the first line is connected to the third line. The line switching device according to claim 6. 8. The line switch according to claim 7, wherein the predetermined signal includes at least one of push button signals “A”, “B”, “C”, and “D”. apparatus. 9. The line switching device according to claim 8, wherein the predetermined signal is a plurality of push button signals transmitted in a predetermined order. 10. A traffic measuring device for measuring traffic of a line connected to a telephone exchange of a telecommunications carrier, a communication means for transmitting measurement data by the traffic measuring device to an external device through a telephone line, and the communication. The telephone exchange of the telecommunications carrier has a line connection device capable of connecting a line connected to the telephone exchange of the operator to either the private branch exchange or the communication means, and when the communication means communicates with the external device. The traffic measurement system is characterized in that the line connected to the communication means is connected to the communication means, and in other cases, the line connected to the telephone exchange of the communication carrier is connected to the private branch exchange.