JPH11196188A - Call incoming method/device at communication start time between caller using exchange with provisional incoming function for telephone station and selection incoming terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the economy of metering in an automatic metering system, to realize a non-ringing incoming call, to improve the SN ratio at the time of a T-NCU calling and to eliminate malfunction. SOLUTION: When a call signal from a selection incoming terminal 5 for automatic metering installed at a customer is inputted from a center 1 via a public telephone line 2, an exchange with provisional function 3 in a telephone station transmits a call signal for provisional connection to T-NCU 4 with provisional incoming function at the customer. Upon receiving a provisional connection signal, T-NCU 4 executes off-hooking for provisional connection. The exchange 3, after transmitting the provisional connection signal, detects off-hooking and transmits a call signal from the center 1 to T-NCU 4 at the customer. Upon receiving the signal, T-NCU 4 connects the center 1 and the selection incoming terminal 5 so that they come into a communication mode. When the call signal comes from a third person 7 to a post stage terminal 6, a provisional connection or a provisional connection between the center 1 and the selection incoming terminal 5 is once released. A call between the third person 7 and the post stage terminal 6 is made preferential and provisional connection is executed again after the call terminates.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic meter reading gas meter, an electric meter, a water meter, a reporting device, a sensor, and the like (hereinafter referred to as a "selection terminating terminal") installed at a customer's house using a public telephone line. , The meter reading information and other information can be obtained by a specific sender (hereinafter referred to as “center”), various control signals can be transmitted from the center to the selected receiving terminal, More specifically, the present invention relates to a telephone line connection method (an incoming call method) and an apparatus, and more specifically, it is possible to economically perform automatic meter reading by using a provisional incoming call function possessed by both the exchange and the T-NCU. While the line is connected between the center and the selected receiving terminal, a telephone, a facsimile, etc. (hereinafter referred to as a "second terminal") at a customer's home from a third party other than the center. ) When the signal enters, it is intended selectively prioritize incoming way connection of the person and its device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the case of an automatic meter reading system using a public telephone line, a T-NCU (network control unit) is installed in each customer's home, and the T-NCU branches the telephone line into a terminal and a telephone. When a call is received from the center or the like at the time of meter reading, the T-NCU operates to prevent the telephone from ringing.

[0003] The following is a conventional non-ringing incoming call system (no ringing system). 1. When a call is made to the selected receiving terminal from the center or the like, the exchange of the central office transmits a non-ringing incoming signal (slow polar + NR
S, a 1300 Hz calling signal, etc.) is transmitted to the customer's house, and a 16 Hz signal, which is a normal calling signal, is not transmitted. 2. A device with a simple extension exchange function (P
BX), the PBX automatically receives an incoming call when a call signal is received, and then the PBX calls and connects a target selected terminating terminal according to a selection signal from the caller to the extension. 3. At the time of all incoming calls, the T-NCU goes on-hook in parallel and confirms the presence or absence of a T-NCU calling signal from the center or the like.

[0004]

However, the above-mentioned conventional non-ringing incoming call system has the following disadvantages. 1. In the case of analog, ISD
In the case of N, it depends on the function of the terminal adapter (TA), and if it does not correspond to these functions, it cannot be used. 2. It does not depend on the exchange, but since the simple PBX arrives, the caller is charged during the PBX call. 3. If the receiving side noise at the time of the incoming call is large, the T-NCU calling signal cannot be confirmed.

[0005] In order to solve such a problem, a home / absent home switch is provided, and when a call signal from a center or the like is detected for a certain period of time or more when the home / absent home mode is set, a selection is made. There is a proposal for a device that prevents the use of a no-ringing line by forming a communication loop between a receiving terminal and a center (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-95455).
issue). However, this method has a problem in that it is necessary to request a switch operation from a customer each time, and it is difficult to use the automatic meter reading and the like. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for terminating a call at the start of communication between a caller and a selected terminating terminal using a provisional terminating function exchange of a central office, which solves all of the problems described in the above 1 to 3. It is.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the invention relating to the method for terminating a call according to the first aspect, the telephone is installed at a customer's house using a public telephone line in which an exchange having a provisional call receiving function is used. Provided with a provisional incoming call function, and in a system for performing communication between the selected incoming call terminal and the caller via the T-NCU to which the selected incoming call terminal and the subsequent terminal are connected, installed at the customer's house from the caller side When a call signal enters the exchange to the selected receiving terminal, the exchange transmits a call signal for provisional connection to the T-NCU in the corresponding customer house, and receives a call signal for provisional connection. The NCU performs an off-hook for the provisional connection, the exchange that has transmitted the call signal for the provisional connection, after detecting that the T-NCU has gone off-hook,
Transmitting the caller identification signal to the T-NCU at the customer's home, receiving the caller identification signal, passing through the selected receiving terminal and the caller, and entering a communication mode;
It is characterized by the following.

Further, in the invention according to claim 2,
2. The incoming call method according to claim 1, wherein the temporary exchange function-equipped exchange transmits a call signal for provisional connection, and a state in which the corresponding T-NCU is provisionally connected, or a state in which a connection between the selected receiving terminal and the caller is in a through state. If a call signal is received from a third party other than the caller to the exchange to a downstream terminal of the customer premises connected to the corresponding T-NCU, the exchange is provisionally connected to the T-NCU. The T-NCU that transmits the release signal, receives the provisional connection release signal, releases the provisional connection, and controls the subsequent terminal of the customer's house to be through. , Based on a call signal from the customer's house.

Further, in the invention according to claim 3,
In the terminating method according to claim 2, when the call between the subsequent terminal of the customer's house and the third party is terminated based on a call signal from the third party, the exchange transmits a signal for provisional connection to the T-NCU again. Then, the T-NCU performs off-hook for provisional connection, and after confirming the off-hook, the exchange transmits a caller identification signal to the T-NCU and receives the T-NCU.
The NCU is characterized in that the communication mode is established by passing through between the caller and the selected receiving terminal.

Further, in the invention according to claim 4,
In the incoming call method according to claim 1, if a call signal is received from a third party other than the caller to a downstream terminal of the customer's house via a public telephone line, the exchange is provisionally connected. The call signal of T-
The T-NCU that has transmitted the paging signal for the provisional connection, transmits to the NCU, goes off-hook for the provisional connection, and the switch that has transmitted the paging signal for the provisional connection has the T-NCU off-hook. Is detected, and an identification signal indicating that the communication is from a source other than the caller is transmitted to the T-NCU.
, The T-NCU that has received this signal goes on-hook, the exchange again transmits a call signal to the subsequent terminal of the customer premises, and the T-NCU transmits the call signal from the caller. It is characterized in that it is judged not to be the case, and the connection between the third party and the subsequent terminal of the customer's house is made through.

[0010] Further, in the invention related to the terminating device according to claim 5, there is provided a provisional incoming call function attached to a customer's house using a public telephone line using an exchange having a provisional incoming call function, In a system for communicating between a selected receiving terminal and a caller via a T-NCU to which a selected receiving terminal and a subsequent terminal are connected, a selected receiving terminal having a specific contract number from a caller having a specific contract telephone number And a function of transmitting a paging signal for provisional connection to the T-NCU with provisional termination function to which the selected terminating terminal is connected, and the T-NCU being off-hook by the provisional paging signal Exchange having a function of confirming whether the call has been made and a function of transmitting a caller identification signal unique to the caller to the T-NCU after the off-hook confirmation. Receiving a call signal for provisional connection from the exchange, a function of performing off-hook for provisional connection, and a communication mode between the caller and the selected called terminal based on a caller identification signal transmitted from the exchange. And a T-NCU having a function of shifting to T-NCU.

[0011] Further, in the invention relating to the receiving device according to claim 6, the provision of a provisional incoming call function which is attached to a customer's house using a public telephone line using an exchange having a provisional incoming call function, In a system for communicating between a selected called terminal and a caller via a T-NCU to which the selected called terminal and a subsequent terminal are connected, when a call signal from a caller is received, a call signal for provisional connection is changed to a corresponding T.
-Transmit to the NCU, and connect to the T-NCU from a third party other than the caller in a state where the corresponding T-NCU is provisionally connected or in a state where the communication between the selected receiving terminal and the caller is through. When a paging signal is received toward the subsequent terminal of the customer's home, the connection release signal is transmitted to the T-NCU to release the provisional connection, and then the demand is determined based on the paging signal from the third party. When a call is made to the rear terminal of the house and the call between the third party and the rear terminal is terminated, a signal for provisional connection is transmitted to the T-NCU again to perform off-hook for provisional connection. After confirming that the caller identification signal is transmitted to the T-NCU, and receiving a call signal for provisional connection from the provisional incoming call switch from the provisional incoming call switch, the provisionally connected state or In a state where the call between the selected receiving terminal and the caller is made through, a call signal is sent from the third party other than the caller to the subsequent terminal to the exchange, so that a temporary connection release signal is transmitted from the exchange. In this case, the provisional connection with the selected receiving terminal is released, the subsequent terminal is controlled to be through, and the communication between the third party and the subsequent terminal is enabled,
When the call between the third party and the subsequent terminal is terminated and a signal for provisional connection is transmitted from the exchange, off-hook is performed and a provisional call receiving function T for controlling through between the caller and the selected call receiving terminal is performed. -NCU.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows a basic configuration of an automatic meter reading system using an ISDN line, wherein 1 is a center (caller), 2 is a public telephone line, and 3 is a provisional telephone installed at a telephone station. An exchange having an incoming call function (a function of temporarily off-hook the T-NCU and then passing through the center and the selected incoming terminal), and 4 is a provisional incoming call function installed at the customer's house at a position closest to the center 1 side. Attached T-NCU, 5 is a selective incoming terminal for automatic meter reading, 6 is a downstream terminal (telephone) of the customer's home, and 7 is a third party. The public telephone line 2 of the present invention includes a CATV telephone line and an Internet telephone line.

An incoming call method according to the present invention applied to the automatic meter reading system will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. First, in FIG. 2, the exchange 3 is in a state of waiting for an incoming call (100), and when there is an incoming call input from the center 1 (101), it is determined whether or not there is an incoming call from the center 1 (10).
2) In the case of an incoming call from the center 1, it connects to the designated number (selected incoming call terminal 5) and sends out a call signal (10
3), and enters an off-hook signal detection standby state from the T-NCU 4 (104).

When the T-NCU 4 goes off-hook (10
5), the exchange 3 transmits an identification signal indicating communication from the center 1 to the T-NCU 4 (106), and when there is a response signal from the T-NCU 4 (107), the center 1 side A connection is made (108), the call release monitoring is started (109), and when the call is released (110), the state returns to the initial state (111). If no off-hook is detected in step 105, a time (or the number of ring tones) is detected.
If no time-out has occurred, step 105 is entered.

FIG. 3 shows a flow on the selective receiving terminal 5 side. When a call signal for provisional connection is input from the exchange 3 to the T-NCU 4, the T-NCU 4 is in a ring tone standby state ( 200), when a ring tone is input (201), the ring tone is counted (202),
At the stage of counting the predetermined number of times (203), off-hook is performed (204), and the center identification signal receiving state is entered (20).
5).

If the center identification signal is received without time out (207) (217), the center communication mode is entered (218), and the communication returns to the initial state after the end of communication. Timeout (207) or after receiving the disconnection signal (210),
When the T-NCU 4 goes on-hook (208) and the subsequent stage goes off-hook (210), it enters the latter stage on-hook monitoring state (211). When the latter stage goes on-hook (212), it returns to the initial state (213).

If the hook is not off-hook in step 210 and this state times out (214), the state returns to the initial state (213). If not, the flow returns to step 209. When the disconnection signal transmitted in step 304 of FIG. 2 is received (215), the process proceeds to step 206, and when the disconnection signal is not received (216), the process may enter step 217.

Next, in FIG. 1, when a call signal is input to the exchange 3 from a third party 7 other than the center 1 (30)
0), the exchange 3 determines whether or not there is an incoming call from the center 1 as shown in FIG. 2 (102), and if it is other than the center 1, connects to the designated number and sends a call signal (30).
1) T-NCU 4 waits for off-hook detection (30)
2) If an off-hook is detected (303), the center 1
(304), sends a signal to the third party 7 during a call (305-1), and confirms that the on-hook line of the T-NCU 4 has been restored (305-2). It connects to the number and sends a call signal (306), and enters an off-hook detection standby (307). If an off-hook is detected (308), the third party 7 is connected (309) and the call release monitoring is started. (310) When the call is released (31)
1) Return to the initial state (111). If no off-hook is detected in step 308, the process returns to the initial state (111) if a timeout occurs (313), and returns to the off-hook detection standby if no timeout occurs (307).

If no off-hook is detected in step 203, it is determined whether a timeout has occurred (31).
2) If timeout occurs, return to the initial state (111),
If no timeout occurs, the process enters a state of waiting for off-hook detection in step 302. If no off-hook is detected in step 308, a timeout is detected (313),
In the case of timeout, the process returns to the initial state.

Further, the center 1 performs steps 101 to 11
In the case where an interruption in step 300 for calling the downstream terminal 6 from the third party 7 occurs during the operation to the terminal 1, the exchange 3 forcibly transmits the provisional connection release signal, releases the call, and releases the operation to step 301. Then, the T-NCU 4 shifts from the step 221 to the on-hook operation of the step 208 to realize the second aspect. At this time, the exchange 3 confirms the shift to step 111 and forcibly enters the routine of step 103, thereby realizing claim 3. At this time, the center 1 may call again or wait on a temporary connection.

[0021]

According to the present invention, the following effects are obtained by adopting the method and apparatus for receiving a call using the temporary connection as described above. 1. The center can call the selected terminating terminal without being conscious of the incoming call by the T-NCU, and does not charge for T-NCU off-hook. 2. The customer can receive a call without ringing. 3. Since the S / N at the time of receiving the T-NCU paging signal is better than in the case of the parallel incoming call, malfunctions are reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a provisional incoming call system (automatic meter reading system) to which the present invention is applied and its explanation.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of an operation flow on the exchange side.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an operation flow on a T-NCU (selection receiving terminal) side.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Center 2 Public telephone line 3 Exchange 4 T-NCU 5 Selective receiving terminal 6 Subsequent terminal 7 Third party

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A T-NCU with a provisional incoming call function attached to a customer's house using a public telephone line in which an exchange having a provisional incoming call function is used, to which a selective incoming call terminal and a subsequent terminal are connected. In a system in which communication is performed between a selected receiving terminal and a caller, if a call signal enters the exchange from the caller toward a selected call terminal installed at the customer's house, the exchange sets a call signal for provisional connection. Is transmitted to the T-NCU of the corresponding customer house. The T-NCU that has received the paging signal for provisional connection performs off-hook for the provisional connection. The exchange that has transmitted the paging signal for provisional connection is: , The T
Transmitting a caller identification signal to the T-NCU at the customer's house after detecting that the NCU has gone off-hook, and receiving the caller identification signal, the T-NCU passes through between the selected receiving terminal and the caller. Receiving a call at the start of communication between the caller and the selected receiving terminal using the exchange with a provisional call receiving function of the central office. 2. An exchange having a provisional terminating function transmits a call signal for provisional connection, and in a state in which a corresponding T-NCU is provisionally connected or in a state in which a connection between a selected terminating terminal and a caller is through, said exchange is provided. When a call signal is received from a third party other than the caller toward the downstream terminal of the customer premises connected to the corresponding T-NCU, the exchange sets the T-
The provisional connection release signal is transmitted to the NCU. The T-NCU that has received the provisional connection release signal releases the provisional connection and controls the downstream terminal of the customer's home to be through. 2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising, after confirmation, calling a subsequent terminal of the customer's house based on a call signal from a third party. Incoming call method at the start of communication. 3. When the call between the downstream terminal of the customer's house and the third party is terminated based on a call signal from the third party, the exchange transmits a signal for provisional connection to the T-NCU again, −
The NCU goes off-hook for provisional connection, and after confirming the off-hook, the exchange sends a caller identification signal to the T-NC.
U. The T-NCU that has transmitted the call to the U and receives the call passes through between the caller and the selected receiving terminal to enter a communication mode. An incoming call method at the start of communication between the used sender and the selected receiving terminal. 4. When a call signal is received from a third party other than the caller to a subsequent terminal of the customer's house via a public telephone line, the exchange sets a call signal for provisional connection at the customer's house. The T-NCU that has transmitted the paging signal for the provisional connection goes off-hook for the provisional connection, and the exchange that has transmitted the paging signal for the provisional connection
-After detecting that the NCU has gone off-hook, it transmits an identification signal to the T-NCU that the communication is from a source other than the caller. The T-NCU that has received this signal goes on-hook. A call signal is transmitted to a rear terminal of the house. The T-NCU determines that the call signal is not a call from a caller, and makes a call between a third party and a rear terminal of the customer house through. An incoming call method at the start of communication between a caller and a terminal using the exchange with a provisional incoming call function of a telephone station according to claim 1, 2 or 3. 5. A T-NCU having a provisional incoming call function attached to a customer's house using a public telephone line in which an exchange having a provisional incoming call function is used, to which a selective incoming call terminal and a subsequent terminal are connected. In a system for performing communication between a selected receiving terminal and a caller via a terminal, when a call signal to a selected receiving terminal having a specific contract number is received from a caller having a specific contract telephone number, the selected receiving terminal is A function of transmitting a call signal for provisional connection to the connected T-NCU with provisional reception function;
An exchange having a function of confirming whether or not the NCU has gone off-hook by the provisional call signal, a function of transmitting a caller-specific caller identification signal to the T-NCU after the off-hook confirmation, and Upon receiving a call signal for provisional connection, a function of performing an off-hook for provisional connection, and a function of shifting to a communication mode between a caller and a selected receiving terminal based on a caller identification signal transmitted from the exchange. T with
A terminating device that enables communication between a caller and a selected terminating terminal using an NCU and an exchange with a provisional terminating function of a central office comprising: 6. A T-NCU with a provisional call receiving function attached to a customer's house using a public telephone line using an exchange having a provisional call receiving function, wherein a selective call receiving terminal and a subsequent terminal are connected. When a call signal from a caller is received in a system for performing communication between a selected called terminal and a caller via a terminal, the call signal for provisional connection is converted to a corresponding T-
The T-NCU is transmitted to the T-NCU from a third party other than the sender in a state in which the corresponding T-NCU is provisionally connected or in a state in which the selected destination terminal and the sender are in a through state. When a paging signal is received toward the subsequent terminal of the customer's home, the connection release signal is transmitted to the T-NCU to release the provisional connection, and then, based on the paging signal from the third party, the customer's home is released. When the call between the third party and the subsequent terminal is terminated, a signal for provisional connection is transmitted to the T-NCU again to perform an off-hook for provisional connection, and the off-hook is performed. After confirmation, a temporary exchange function-equipped exchange for transmitting the caller identification signal to the T-NCU, and a temporary connection call signal is received from the temporary exchange function-equipped exchange to provide a temporary connection state or In a state where the call between the selected receiving terminal and the caller is made through, a call signal is sent from the third party other than the caller to the subsequent terminal to the exchange, so that a temporary connection release signal is transmitted from the exchange. In this case, the provisional connection with the selected terminating terminal is released, the communication between the third-party terminal and the subsequent terminal is controlled by allowing the latter terminal to be through, and the communication between the third party and the latter terminal is terminated. As a result, when a signal for provisional connection is transmitted from the exchange, off-hook is performed, and a provisional receiving function-equipped T-NCU for controlling through between the caller and the selected receiving terminal is provided.
And a terminating device between the caller and the selected terminating terminal using the exchange with a provisional terminating function of the central office comprising: