JPH11196196A - Selective automatic terminating method, network control unit, system using same device, and exchange system using selective termination system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable selective automatic reception by allowing a network control unit to detect a calling signal and switch a network to a specific automatic terminating terminal device when the calling signal is sent from a specific sender to a specific automatic originating terminal device having a certain pattern, and then starting a communication between the sender and specific automatic terminating terminal device. SOLUTION: To an automatic meter inspection system using a telephone network, a call detecting means 112, a network control part 113, and a selective terminating terminal 114 are further added in addition to an on-hook/off-hook detecting means 111. The call detecting means 112 detects a calling frequency or calling interval time so as to detect a certain calling pattern. An automatic metering center 2 repeatedly originates a call and stops it so that the certain calling pattern corresponding to an inspected meter 13 is sent from the telephone exchange to the network control unit 11 so as to communicate with the inspected meter 13. The network control unit 11 confirms that calling stops after sounding in response to the incoming call.

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 and remote control using a telephone line, a report, an announcement by voice, an automatic answering method such as an answering machine and a facsimile, and a network control device therefor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A network control device is a device that is connected between a telephone line and one or more terminal devices and switches the connection between the telephone line and the terminal device. Further, the network control device is connected to the central processing center via a telephone line, and has been used in a system for automatically performing communication between the central processing center and the meter reading terminal.

Conventionally, as a system using a network control device for selective automatic reception of a terminal device, there has been an automatic meter reading system for automatically reading and controlling a meter reading meter in a customer's house.

FIG. 18 is a configuration diagram of a conventional automatic meter reading system. The automatic meter reading system includes a customer house 1 to be meter-read, and an automatic meter reading center 2 connected to the customer house 1 via a telephone line 4. The customer house 1 includes a network control device 11 connected to the telephone line 4, a terminal device 12 and a meter reading meter 13 connected to the network control device 11. The terminal device 12 is, for example, a telephone or a facsimile, and the meter meter 13 is, for example, an electric, gas, or water meter.
The automatic meter reading center can provide a service for automatically acquiring a meter reading value of a meter meter or notifying a warning. For example, when the meter reading meter 13 is a gas meter, it is possible to check the usage state of the gas or to close the gas cutoff valve.

[0005] Such a network controller 11 has a telephone line 4
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-62 (1994) describes a method (automatic incoming call method) for switching and connecting to one of a telephone 12 and a meter reading meter 13.
There is a ringing communication method disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 132 and Japanese Patent Application No. 2-212895. The ringing communication method uses no ringing service and F-net service provided by a communication carrier,
The calling meter from the automatic meter reading center 2 reads and controls the meter meter 13 of the customer house 1.

[0006] In order to realize this ringing communication system, the conventional network control device 11 is connected to the terminal device 1 connected thereto.
2 for detecting on-hook and off-hook
An off-hook detection circuit 111 is provided.

FIG. 19 is an operation flowchart of the network control device in the conventional ringing communication system. Hereinafter, description will be made along the flow.

This flow chart is based on the automatic meter reading center 2
The flow starts in response to a call from (step 20)
1). First, since the network controller 11 connects the telephone line 4 and the telephone 12, ringing from the telephone line 4 is transmitted to the telephone 12 as it is and sounds (step 202).

Next, the on / off hook detection circuit 111 of the network controller 11 enters a waiting state (step 203) to detect the off hook of the telephone set 12. When the person at the customer's house off-hooks the telephone 12, the on / off-hook detection circuit 111 detects the off-hook (step 204).

Next, since the telephone line 12 and the telephone 12 are connected, the automatic meter reading center 11 notifies the telephone 12 of a message indicating that meter reading should be performed now and that the telephone 12 should be on-hook. (Step 20
5). The message is, for example, "This is Tokyo Gas. I called you for reading the gas meter. Please take the phone down as it is."

Next, the on / off hook detection circuit 111 of the network controller 11 enters a waiting state (step 206) to detect the on hook of the telephone 12. Then, in accordance with the above-mentioned message, the person who hooked the telephone 102 off-hook the telephone 12. Then, the on-hook detection circuit 111 detects the on-hook (step 207).

Next, the network control device 11 switches so that the telephone line 4 is connected to the meter reading meter 13 (step 208).

Finally, the automatic meter reading center 11 and the meter reading meter 13 are connected via the telephone line 4 and can communicate with each other.

[0014]

However, in the conventional automatic meter reading system, in order for the automatic meter reading center to communicate with the meter reading meter, the telephone connected to the network connection device must be turned on and off.
Since the off-hook operation is required, there is a problem that a person must be present at the customer's house. Also,
If no person was present, the telephone had to automatically perform an on-off hook operation upon receiving a call.

Further, there is a problem that the no-ringing service and the F-net service do not operate when the exchange and the terminal adapter for ISDN do not support such a service. Japanese Patent Application No. 2212895
In this case, it is possible to receive a call when a person is absent from the customer, but this is invalid when a telephone, which is a subsequent-stage customer terminal device, automatically receives a call.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve this problem, and does not require the presence of a person at a customer's house.
Selective automatic call receiving method for automatically switching between a terminal device such as a telephone and a specific remote control device such as a meter reading meter for a telephone line, a network control device, and a system using the network control device And a switching system for a selective termination system.

[0017]

In order to solve the above problems, a selective automatic call receiving method according to a first aspect of the present invention comprises a network control device (hereinafter, also referred to as an NCU) connected to a telephone line.
And a plurality of terminal devices connected thereto, a selective automatic receiving method in a communication facility comprising: a call signal from a specific sender to a specific terminal device (automatic receiving terminal) having a specific pattern. Is sent, the NCU detects the call signal and the specific terminal device (automatic terminating terminal)
The communication is performed between the caller and the specific terminal device (automatic call receiving terminal).

A selective automatic call receiving method according to a second aspect of the present invention is directed to a communication system including a telephone exchange, an NCU connected to the telephone exchange via a telephone line, and a plurality of terminal devices connected to the NCU. When a selection signal is sent from a specific caller to the telephone exchange, the exchange sends a call signal of a specific terminal device (automatic termination terminal) having a specific pattern to the NCU. The NCU that has transmitted and received the call signal switches the network to the specific terminal device (automatic receiving terminal), and communication is performed between the caller and the specific terminal device (automatic receiving terminal). It is characterized by.

Further, the present invention provides a call detecting means for detecting that a specific terminal device and a specified call pattern correspond to each other in advance, and that the generated call signal is a call pattern, Specific terminal device (automatic incoming terminal) corresponding to the call pattern detected by the means
And switching means for switching so as to be connected to a telephone line. As a result, a network for automatically switching between a terminal device such as a telephone and a specific remote control device such as a meter reading meter for a telephone line without requiring the presence of a person at a customer's house or the like. A control device can be provided.

The present invention comprises a service control station (SCP),
A telephone exchange system comprising a destination exchange controlled by an SCP, wherein a call originating from a specific caller
P, in which case the switching system for the selective termination system is provided, which calls the called party with a specific calling pattern.

Further, the present invention is a telephone exchange system comprising a SCP and a destination exchange controlled by the SCP, wherein a call to a specific called party is identified by the SCP. An exchange system for a selective termination system that calls a called party to a destination exchange with a specific call pattern is provided.

Further, the present invention is a telephone exchange system comprising an SCP and a destination exchange controlled by the SCP, wherein a call from a specific caller to a specific callee is identified by the SCP. In this case, there is provided a switching system for a selective call receiving system in which a called exchange is called by a specific exchange pattern at the time of calling.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the call pattern may be defined by the number of calls and the call interval time. This allows control from the calling side.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the calling pattern is such that the calling is stopped after the calling signal has sounded a predetermined number of times, and the calling signal is again sounded a predetermined number of times within a predetermined time from the previous ringing. The pattern may be such that the calling is stopped after the ringing. This makes it possible to individually assign a call pattern to a plurality of terminal devices.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the call pattern may consist of a combination of several element patterns.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the switching means performs off-hook when a switching operation is performed to connect a telephone line and a specific terminal device (automatic incoming call terminal) corresponding to a call pattern. It is also preferable that control can be performed so that Thus, the switched terminal device does not necessarily need to have off-hook means.

[0027] According to another embodiment of the present invention, it is preferable that the call detecting means further comprises a call-back means capable of calling a specific telephone number when detecting a specific call pattern. . Thus, there is no danger of accidentally off-hooking a call made by a third party, and charging for communication can be borne by the customer's home.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the callback means stores the specific telephone number to be called by a specific terminal device (automatic receiving terminal) connected to the network control device.
It may be configured to be able to obtain by inquiring.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the call detecting means determines that the call pattern has been detected if a pattern of one or more elements of the call pattern is included in the call signal. It is preferred to be constituted. By implementing the present invention together with the callback means, it is possible to prevent a call pattern of an important communication from being overlooked without eliminating a call signal which deviates from a specific call pattern at all.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, normally, the generated call signal is controlled so as not to flow to the terminal device, and when the call detection means judges that the call pattern is not a specific call pattern, The paging signal is controlled to flow to the terminal device. Thus, it is possible to automatically communicate with the terminal device without the telephone in the customer's house ringing.

According to the system using the network connection device of the present invention, the central processing center, the network control device connected to the central processing center via the telephone line, and the central control device connected to the network control device. A central processing center having a terminal device to communicate with the processing center, calling the central processing center with a specified call pattern corresponding to a specific terminal device (automatic receiving terminal) to the network connection device; The center and the terminal device can communicate with each other.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the telephone line is an ISDN line, a line termination device is connected to the ISDN line, and a network control device is connected to the line termination device. There may be.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the telephone line is an ISDN line, a line termination device is connected to the ISDN line, and a terminal adapter is connected to the line termination device. May be connected to a network control device.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a subaddress is set in the terminal adapter, and the central processing center attaches the subaddress and makes a call with a specific call pattern. As a result, a call can be made only to the network connection device connected to a specific port.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the central processing center is configured to call again without a sub-address when a call connection for a call with a specific call pattern fails. Is what it is. As a result, the call can be received at all ports, so that the call can be received even if the subaddress of the network connection device is changed.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of network control devices are connected in series, and the specific call pattern different for each network control device is set. Terminal device (automatic receiving terminal) connected to
Can also be selectively invoked by different specific said calling patterns. Alternatively, a plurality of specific terminal devices (automatic incoming terminals) are connected in parallel to the network control device, and the different specific calling patterns are set for each of the terminal devices. It is also preferable to selectively call according to the calling pattern.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a telephone switching system for a telephone line is constructed with IN facilities, and
It is also preferred that the service control station of the N equipment is configured to identify a call from the central processing center via the calling exchange and call the destination network control device from the called exchange with the specific calling pattern. This eliminates the need for the central processing center to control a complex call pattern only by calling and stopping.

[0038]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. In particular, an automatic meter reading system will be described as an example.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an automatic meter reading system using a telephone network according to the present invention. The network control device in the system includes a call detection unit 112, a network control unit 113 in addition to the conventional on / off hook detection unit 111,
It further includes a selective incoming call terminal 114. The call detecting means 112 detects the number of calls or the call interval time in order to detect a specific call pattern.

In order to communicate with the meter reading meter 13, the automatic meter reading center 11 initiates and stops calling so as to transmit the specified calling pattern corresponding to the meter reading meter 13 from the telephone exchange to the network control device 11. Must be repeated.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the call pattern. For example, from the automatic meter reading center 2 to the network control device 1 of the customer house 1
Call 1 and stop calling after the call rings once at the customer home. Next, a call is made again in 25 seconds from the start of the first ringing, and the call is stopped after one ringing.
Further, the pattern is such that a call is made again in 25 seconds from the start of the second ringing.

On the other hand, the network control device 11 confirms that the call is stopped after the call is received and the call rings once at the customer's house. Next, a call is received again within 25 ± 5 seconds from the start of the first ringing, and it is confirmed that the calling is stopped after one ringing. In addition, 2
It confirms that a call is received again within 5 ± 5 seconds, and detects that it is a specific call pattern.

As a specific method of stopping the call after the call rings once in the customer's house, the calling side stops the call within a predetermined time (for example, 3 seconds) after transmitting the selection signal on the calling side. Then, the call ringing on the customer side is made only once.

Further, for example, if the telephone exchange 3 used in the present invention is constructed with IN equipment,
The telephone exchange can identify that the call is originating from the automatic meter reading center and transmit a specific call pattern.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of a telephone exchange system constructed with IN facilities. The telephone switching system has a service control station for controlling a large number of telephone exchanges in an integrated manner by a common channel signaling network. Thus, by registering service control information for each user in a database or the like in advance, it is possible to identify a call from the automatic meter reading center and transmit a specific call pattern. Therefore, if a plurality of terminal devices are connected to the network control device 11 of the customer house 1, it is possible to select and transmit a plurality of call patterns corresponding to the terminal devices from the telephone exchange 3.

As a method for the service control station to identify a call from a specific caller, for example, a method in which a specific caller adds a specific selection signal to a normal selection signal to make a call. There is also. Alternatively, a specific caller may register the caller number in the service control station in advance.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of an automatic meter reading system using an ISDN network according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is different from the block diagram of FIG. 1 in that the DS connected to the ISDN line 4 in the customer house 1 is further shown.
It has a U (Digital Service Unit) 14 and a TA (Terminal Adapter) 15 connected to the DSU. The network control device 11 is connected to the port of the TA. The analog terminal device 16 such as a telephone is
The digital terminal 17 may be directly connected to the port of the TA, and the digital terminal 17 is directly connected to the DSU 14.

When one or more terminal devices connected to the DSU and the TA are called by the automatic meter reading center from the ISDN line, the call is made at the sub-address of the port corresponding to the terminal device, so that each of the terminal devices can be called. The device can be called. Therefore, when the automatic meter reading center makes a call at the subaddress of the port to which the network control device 11 is connected, the network control device can be called.

However, when the sub address of the TA 15 is changed or the connection is changed to a port without a sub address, even if a specific caller sends a call with a sub address, the call is sent to the network controller. May not. In this case, when retrying after the first incoming call failure, it is possible to send a selection signal without a sub-address, forcibly ring all terminal devices, and make a call to the network control device. .

FIG. 5A shows a telephone line 4 according to the present invention.
1 is a configuration diagram in which a plurality of network control devices 11 are connected in series.

[0052] Two network controllers 11 and 18 are connected in series to the customer house 1. The network controllers include a terminal device 12 such as a telephone and a terminal device 1 such as a meter meter.
3 and 19. Network control devices 11 and 18
Are on / off hook detecting means 111 and 18 respectively.
1 corresponding to different call patterns.

For example, the network controller 11 determines that the call signal is 1
After ringing, stop ringing and start from the first ringing 2
The calling pattern is such that the calling signal stops once after the ringing signal sounds once within 5 seconds ± 5 seconds, and the calling signal is transmitted again within 25 seconds ± 5 seconds from the start of the second ringing. On the other hand, the network control device 18 stops the call after the ringing signal sounds once, stops the ringing after the ringing signal once again within 35 seconds ± 5 seconds from the start of the first ringing,
This is a pattern in which the calling signal is transmitted again within 35 seconds ± 5 seconds from the start of the second ringing.

As described above, since a specific call pattern is set in advance for each of the plurality of network control devices, it is possible to selectively call one of the network control devices.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5B, a plurality of terminal devices (meters 13 and 19) are connected to the network control device 11 in parallel. Different specific call patterns are set for the respective terminal devices, and the connected terminal devices can be selectively called by the different specific call patterns. In this case, one network control device can handle two meter reading meters.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are flow charts of the network control apparatus of the present invention in response to the ring preemption ringing response.
Hereinafter, description will be given along a flow.

The call detecting means 112 of the network control device 1 is initially in a ring detection standby state (step 801). When a sound is generated (step 802), the sound is detected (step 803), and the time when the sound is generated is stored. Then, the number of sounds is counted (step 80).
4).

Next, it is determined whether or not the counted number is a part of a specific calling pattern, that is, a predetermined number of times (step 805). If the ringing does not stop after the predetermined number of times, it is determined that the incoming call is from a third party (step 82).
0). If the ringing is stopped less than the predetermined number of times, there is a possibility that the ringing pattern is a specific calling pattern, so that the state shifts to a self-off-hook standby state (step 806).

The self-off-hook standby state (step 80)
In 6), the apparatus is in a standby state to detect the sound again. Again, when a sound is generated, it is determined whether or not T ₁ = 25 ± 5 seconds from the generation of the first sound in that state (step 807). Unless T ₁ within, determines that the incoming call from the third party (step 820), if it is within T _1, counts the ringing number since there is a possibility a specific pattern (Step 808).

Next, it is determined whether or not the count is a predetermined number (step 809). If the ringing does not stop after the predetermined number of times, it is determined that the incoming call is from a third party (step 820). If the ringing stops after less than the predetermined number of times, it may be a specific pattern,
Again, the self-off-hook standby state (step 810) is continued.

[0062] is in a standby state to detect the ringing again, again, when the ringing occurs, it determines whether within T ₁ from generation of the first ringing (Step 81
1). Unless T ₁ within, determines that the incoming call from the third party (step 820), if it is within T _1, it is determined that the specific call out path <br/> turn, and Ofufufukku is the center Waiting for a signal from the caller (step 81)
2). It should be noted that the ringing of the T ₁ interval may not once.

When a signal from the center is not received (step 814) and a predetermined time has elapsed (step 81)
In 7), it is determined that there is an incoming call from a third party (step 81).
8) On-hook with no sound (step 819).

When a signal from the center is received (steps 813 and 814), the network control device performs switching control so that the telephone line and the meter are connected, and communication between the center and the meter is established. (Step 81
5). If the communication between the center and the meter has been completed normally (step 816), the routine shifts to the initial state. The communication time between the center and the meter is managed by a timer, and when a predetermined time has elapsed (step 82).
In 1), the process ends and shifts to the initial state.

FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 are flowcharts of the network control device of the present invention in response to the ring preemption non-ringing response. Hereinafter, FIGS. 8 and 9 will be compared with FIGS. 6 and 7 described above, and only differences due to silence will be described.

Steps 901 to 921 in FIGS. 8 and 9
And steps 801 to 821 in FIGS. 6 and 7, the parts other than steps 905 and 909 are completely the same. Steps 905 and 909 to silence
If the ringing is not stopped for less than the predetermined number of times, it is determined that a third party has called, but this time is different in that the on / off hook detecting means 111 operates.

If the ringing does not stop for less than the predetermined number of times, it is connected to a communication terminal device such as a telephone at the subsequent stage (step 930). Then, it is detected whether or not the telephone has gone off-hook (step 931). If the call is stopped without being hooked off (step 936), the processing is terminated and the state shifts to the initial state.

When the telephone goes off-hook (step 9)
Next, on-hook monitoring of the telephone set at the subsequent stage is started (step 932). If the subsequent telephone goes on-hook (step 933), the telephone line is disconnected from the telephone, and the on-hook monitoring of the subsequent telephone is terminated (step 934). Next, the off-hook monitoring at the subsequent stage is started again, and the process is terminated (step 935).

FIGS. 10 and 11 are flowcharts on the center side with respect to the flowchart of the network control device described above. Hereinafter, the description will be made along the flow.

First, when a communication request from the control part of the center to the meter reading meter is generated (step 1001),
Dialing is performed to the call destination (step 1002), and the call is made a predetermined number of times (step 1003). At this time, even if the telephone and the network control device at the customer's home are off-hook, the center is on-hook and does not perform communication. According to a particular calling pattern, T ₀ = 2 from the first dialing
When 5 seconds have elapsed, dialing is performed again (step 1004). Then, calling is performed for a predetermined number of times of ringing (step 1005).

Again, when T _{0 has} elapsed from the second dialing, dialing is performed again (step 100).
6). At this time, it is detected whether or not the network controller at the customer's house has gone off-hook (step 1007).

If off-hook is not performed after a predetermined time has elapsed (step 1008), it is determined that the incoming call sequence has failed (step 1014), and on-hook (step 1017) is performed to end the sequence. At this time, if the number of retries is equal to or more than a predetermined number (step 1018), communication failure is displayed (step 1019). If the number is less than the predetermined number, a call to the customer's house is made again.

If the network controller at the customer's home goes off-hook (step 1007), the modem calls the network controller and waits for a response from the network controller (step 1007).
9).

When a response from the network control device is not notified even after a predetermined time has elapsed (step 1011)
In step (1013), it is estimated that a telephone or the like connected to the network controller is off-hook (step 1013), and the process ends without notifying of a talk key. The talkie here is
"This is Tokyo Gas. I called you for the meter reading of the gas meter. Please do not take the phone when you call next time."
In this way, the telephone goes on-hook (step 1017) without notifying the talkie, and if the number of retries is equal to or more than the predetermined number of times (step 1018), the communication failure is displayed (step 1019), and the processing ends.

When a response from the network control device is notified (step 1010), communication is performed between the network control device and the center (step 1012). If the communication has been completed normally (step 1015), the communication terminal goes on-hook (step 1016), shifts to the initial state, and ends. If the communication has not been completed normally, it goes on-hook (step 1017), and if the number of retries is equal to or greater than a predetermined number (step 1018), communication is disabled (step 1019), and the process ends.

If the number of retries is less than a predetermined number,
First, display of communication impossible retry request (step 1020)
I do. Then, when 30 seconds or more have passed since the last call (step 1021), the call is made again. Where I
If an SDN line is used and a call is made using the subaddress in the first call pattern transmission stage, then the call is made without using the subaddress (step 1022). As a result, even if the subaddress of the network connection device to be connected has been changed, the call can be connected.

In another embodiment, if the network controller determines that some of the signals of the specific call pattern or one of the elements of the specific call pattern match, the network controller does not go off-hook and the call is not off-hook. There is a way to call back to a specific caller when done. That is, the network control device stores the telephone number of the automatic meter reading center, or can call back by obtaining the telephone number by inquiring the connected communication terminal device.

Even if all the specified call patterns are matched, the network controller may call back without going off-hook. This is because, for example, if an attempt is made to exclude a pattern that deviates from a specific call pattern even slightly, an urgent important communication is missed and a call cannot be received. If the discrimination of the specific call pattern is loosened in order to prevent such important communication from being missed and received, the risk of the network controller erroneously going off-hook by the third party by the network controller increases.

However, by performing the callback,
There is no danger that the network controller will off-hook a third party's call by mistake, and the danger of overlooking an urgent important communication can be eliminated at the same time.

FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 are flowcharts of the ringback call back. Hereinafter, description will be made along the flow.

The call detection means 112 of the network control device 1 is initially in a ring detection standby state (step 1101). When a sound is generated (step 1102), the sound is detected (step 1103), and the time when the sound is generated is stored. Then, the number of times of sounding is counted (step 1104).

Next, it is determined whether or not the counted number is a part of a specific calling pattern for connecting the telephone line to the meter reading meter, that is, a predetermined number of times (step 110).
5). If the sound does not stop after the specified number of times,
It is determined that there is an incoming call from a third party (step 1126). If the ringing is stopped less than the predetermined number of times, there is a possibility that the pattern is a specific pattern, so the state shifts to a callback standby state (step 1106).

Waiting for callback (step 110)
In 6), the apparatus is in a standby state to detect the sound again. When a ringing occurs again, 25 ± from the occurrence of the first ringing
It is determined whether it is within 5 seconds (step 110)
7). If it is not within 25 ± 5 seconds, it is determined that there is an incoming call from a third party (step 1126). If it is within 25 ± 5 seconds, there is a possibility that the pattern is a specific pattern, so the number of ringing is counted (step 1108). ).

Next, it is determined whether or not the count is a predetermined number (step 1109). If the ringing does not stop after the predetermined number of times, it is determined that the incoming call is from a third party (step 1126). If the ringing stops after less than the predetermined number of times, it may be a specific pattern,
Again, the callback waiting state (step 1110) is continued.

Next, it is determined whether or not the occurrence of the second ringing is within 25 ± 5 seconds (step 1111).
If it is not within 25 ± 5 seconds, it is determined that there is an incoming call from a third party (step 1126). If it is within 25 ± 5 seconds, there is a possibility that the pattern is a specific pattern, so the number of ringing is counted (step 1112). ).

Next, it is determined whether or not the count is a predetermined number (step 1113). If the ringing does not stop after the predetermined number of times, it is determined that the incoming call is from a third party (step 1126). If the ringing stops after the predetermined number of times, the second dial for callback is read from the meter reading meter (step 1114).

Next, the user goes off-hook and dials the center with the second dial read (step 1115). Then, it is detected whether the center goes off-hook (step 1116). If the center does not go off-hook even after the predetermined time has elapsed (step 1117), it is determined that the dial is wrong (step 1124), and if the number of retries is equal to or more than the predetermined number of times (step 1125), the processing is terminated. Shift to the initial state. If the number of retries has not reached the predetermined number, the process waits for the center to go off-hook (step 1116).

When the center goes off-hook for a call from the network controller (step 1116), the network controller sends a specific signal to the center (step 111).
8). The center responds with a specific signal to the specific signal from the network control device. When the specific signal is received (step 1119), communication is performed between the center and the network control device (step 1121). If the communication ends normally (step 1122), the process ends, and the process shifts to the initial state. If the predetermined time has elapsed without normal termination of the communication (step 1123), it is determined that the dial is wrong (step 1124), and if the number of retries is equal to or more than the predetermined number (step 1125), the processing is terminated. , Shifting to the initial state.

FIG. 14 and FIG. 15 are flowcharts of the network control device of the present invention in the case of the ringing non-ringing callback. Hereinafter, FIGS. 14 and 15 will be compared with FIGS. 12 and 13 described above, and only differences due to silence will be described.

Steps 1201-1 in FIGS. 14 and 15
226 and steps 1101 to 11 in FIGS.
26, the flowcharts other than steps 1205 and 1209 are exactly the same. If the ringing in steps 1205 and 1209 is not stopped for less than a predetermined number of times in order to eliminate the ringing, it is determined that a third party's call has been received. They differ in that they operate.

Steps 1230 to 1 in FIGS. 14 and 15
236 and steps 930 to 936 in FIGS. 8 and 9 are exactly the same flow.

FIG. 16 and FIG. 17 are flowcharts on the center side with respect to the flowchart of the network control device that performs the above-described callback. Hereinafter, the description will be made along the flow.

First, when a communication request from the control part of the center to the meter reader is generated (step 1301),
Dialing is performed to the call destination (step 1302), and the call is made a predetermined number of times (step 1303). At this time, even if the telephone and the network control device at the customer's home are off-hook, the center is on-hook and does not perform communication. Specific call
According to the output pattern, dialing is performed again when 25 seconds have elapsed from the first dialing (step 130).
4). Then, it is called for a predetermined number of times of ringing (step 1305).

Again, when 25 seconds have passed since the second dialing, dialing is performed again (step 130).
6), call up a predetermined number of times (step 130)
7).

Next, it waits for a callback from the network controller (step 1308). If the network controller has called back (step 1317), it waits for a call from the network controller by a modem (step 130).
9). If the callback has not been made after a predetermined time has elapsed (step 1323), it is estimated that the incoming call sequence has failed (step 1314), and the terminal goes on-hook to end the processing. At this time, if the number of retries is equal to or more than a predetermined number (step 1318), communication failure is displayed (step 1319). If the number of retries is less than the number, the call to the customer's house is made again.

While waiting for a call from the network controller by a modem (step 1309), if no response is notified after a predetermined time has passed (step 1311),
It judges that there is an incoming call from a third party (step 1313), and waits for a callback from the network control device again (step 1308). When the response is notified (step 1310), the network control device switches so that the telephone line and the meter are connected, and communication is established between the center and the meter (step 1312). If the communication is normally completed (step 1315), the process goes off-hook (step 1316) to end the processing, and shifts to the initial state.

In the above description, an automatic meter reading system has been described as an embodiment of the system using the network control device of the present invention. However, the application of the present invention to various selective automatic incoming call control devices will be described. Various changes, modifications, and omissions in the scope of ideas and viewpoints can be easily made by those skilled in the art. Therefore, the above description is merely an example and is not intended to be limiting. The invention is limited only as defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereof.

[0098]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, a plurality of communication terminal devices at a customer's house are specified in correspondence with the communication terminal devices without being limited to a center with no ringing contract. , A selective automatic incoming call operation can be performed. For this reason, it is possible to selectively automatically receive a call regardless of whether or not there is a person in the customer.

Further, even if the pattern deviates from the specific pattern, communication with a specific sender can be performed without erroneous off-hook and without overlooking.

Further, when the network control device detects a specific call pattern, the network control device can automatically go off-hook without ringing a telephone or the like as a subsequent communication terminal device. Therefore, the network control device can perform communication between the center and the communication terminal device without transmitting the call signal to the subsequent terminal device.

Further, when it is determined that the call signal is not a specific call pattern, the network control device determines that the call is from a third party, and transmits the call signal to a subsequent communication terminal device. The terminal will ring normally. At this time, if there is a person at the customer's home or a telephone terminal device having an automatic call receiving function is connected, the communication between the communication terminal device and the center is performed by off-hook of the subsequent communication terminal device. Can be.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an automatic meter reading system having a network control device connected to a telephone line according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a call pattern according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a telephone exchange system having IN facilities.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of an automatic meter reading system having a network control device connected to an ISDN line according to the present invention.

FIG. 5A is a configuration diagram of an automatic meter reading system in which network connection devices according to the present invention are connected in series. (B) is a configuration diagram of an automatic meter reading system in which two meter reading meters are connected in parallel to one network control device according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a first part of a flowchart of a ring preemption ringing response of the network control device according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a second half of a flowchart of a ring preemption ringing response of the network control device according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a first part of a flowchart of a ring preemption non-ringing response of the network control device according to the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart subsequent to the flowchart of the ring preemption ringing response of the network control device according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a first part of a flowchart of a ring preemption ringing / non-ringing response of the automatic meter reading center according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a second half of a flowchart of a ring preemption ringing / non-ringing response of the automatic meter reading center according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a first part of the flowchart of the ringing callback of the network control device according to the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart subsequent to the flowchart of the ringing callback of the network control device according to the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a first part of a flowchart of a ringing non-ringing callback of the network control device according to the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a flowchart subsequent to the flowchart of the ringing non-ringing callback of the network control device according to the present invention.

FIG. 16 shows a ring sound of the automatic metering center according to the present invention;
It is the former part of the flowchart of the non-ringing callback.

FIG. 17 shows ringing of the automatic meter reading center according to the present invention.
It is the latter part of the flowchart of the non-ringing callback.

FIG. 18 is a configuration diagram of an automatic meter reading system using a conventional network control device.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart for automatic meter reading using a conventional network control device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Consumer house 2 Automatic meter reading center 3 Telephone exchange 4 Telephone line 5 ISDN exchange 6 ISDN line 11, 18 Network control device 12 Communication terminal device, Telephone 13, 19 Meter meter 14 DSU 15 TA 16 Analog communication terminal device, Telephone 17 Digital communication Terminal device 111, 181 On / off hook detecting means 112, 182 Call detecting means

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Fumihiko Tada 70, Yanagicho, Saiwai-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture Inside the Toshiba Yanagimachi Plant Co., Ltd. Inside

Claims (26)

[Claims] 1. A selective automatic receiving method in a communication facility comprising a network control device (hereinafter also referred to as NCU) connected to a telephone line and a plurality of terminal devices connected thereto; When a call signal is sent from a person to a specific terminal device (automatic receiving terminal) having a specific pattern,
The NCU detects the call signal, switches the network to the specific terminal device (automatic receiving terminal), and performs communication between the caller and the specific terminal device (automatic receiving terminal). Selective automatic incoming call method. 2. A selective automatic call receiving method in a communication system comprising a telephone exchange, an NCU connected to the NCU via a telephone line, and a plurality of terminal devices connected to the NCU; When a selection signal is sent from a specific sender to the exchange, the exchange sends a call signal of a specific terminal device (automatic receiving terminal) having a specific pattern to the N.
The NCU that has transmitted the call signal to the CU and switches the network to the specific terminal device (automatic receiving terminal), and performs communication between the caller and the specific terminal device (automatic receiving terminal). Selective incoming call method characterized by being called. 3. A request for calling the NCU connected to a TA (terminal adapter) for which a subaddress has been set, wherein the line is a digital line and the telephone exchange transmits a call signal having a specific pattern with a subaddress. Item 3. The selective automatic incoming call method according to Item 1 or 2. 4. The selective automatic call receiving method according to claim 3, wherein if the communication fails, the call is recalled without adding a subaddress. 5. The specific pattern according to claim 1, wherein the specific caller or the telephone exchange terminates the call after a lapse of a predetermined time after transmitting the selection signal.
Or the selective automatic call receiving method according to 2. 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the specific pattern comprises a combination of several element patterns, and when one or more of the element patterns are not included in a call signal, the specific caller is called back. Item 6. The selective automatic incoming call method according to any one of Items 1 to 5. 7. The selective automatic call receiving method according to claim 6, wherein a telephone number of the specific caller to be called back is confirmed to the specific terminal device (automatic call receiving terminal). 8. The NCU waits in a state where a call signal to a terminal device connected to a subsequent stage is not always transmitted, and transmits the call signal to a subsequent stage when reception is determined to be other than a specific pattern. The selective automatic call receiving method according to any one of the preceding claims. 9. The selective automatic incoming call method according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of said specific patterns are prepared, and a specific NCU can be selectively called even when a plurality of NCUs are installed. 10. A network control device connected between a telephone line and one or more terminal devices for switching connection between the telephone line and the terminal device, wherein a specific terminal device (automatic incoming terminal) The specified call patterns correspond to each other in advance, call detection means for detecting that the generated call signal is the call pattern, and the call pattern corresponding to the call pattern detected by the call detection means. A network control device comprising: a specific terminal device (automatic incoming call terminal); and switching means for switching so as to be connected to the telephone line. 11. The call pattern is defined by the number of calls and the call interval time, or the call pattern stops calling after the ringing signal rings a predetermined number of times, and stops the ringing from the previous ringing. 2. The pattern according to claim 1, wherein the calling is stopped after the calling signal sounds a predetermined number of times again within a predetermined time.
0. The network controller according to 0. 12. The network control device according to claim 11, wherein said call pattern is formed by a combination of patterns of several elements. 13. The switching means, when performing a switching operation to connect the telephone line and the specific terminal device (automatic incoming call terminal) corresponding to the call pattern,
13. The device according to claim 10, wherein the device can be controlled to go off-hook. 14. The system according to claim 10, further comprising: a callback unit capable of calling a specific telephone number when said call detection unit detects said specific call pattern. The network control device according to claim 1. 15. A configuration in which the callback unit can obtain the specific telephone number to be called by inquiring of the specific terminal device (automatic receiving terminal) connected to the network control device. 15. The network control device according to claim 14, wherein: 16. The call detecting means is configured to determine that a call pattern has been detected if a pattern of one or more elements of the call pattern is included in the call signal. 16. The method according to claim 14, wherein:
Network control device as described. 17. Normally, control is performed so that the generated call signal is not sent to a subsequent stage. When the call detection means determines that the call pattern is not the specific call pattern, the call signal is transmitted to a subsequent stage. The network control device according to any one of claims 10 to 16, wherein the network control device is controlled to flow to the network. 18. The network control device according to claim 10, wherein said network control device is connected to said central processing center via said telephone line, and said network control device is connected to said network control device. A central processing center having the specific terminal device (automatic incoming terminal) to communicate with, and the central processing center having the specified call pattern corresponding to the specific terminal device (automatic incoming terminal). A system configured to make a call to the network connection device so that the central processing center and the specific terminal device (automatic receiving terminal) can communicate with each other. 19. The system according to claim 18, wherein said telephone line is an analog telephone line. 20. The telephone line is an ISDN line,
A line termination device is connected to the ISDN line, a terminal adapter is connected to the line termination device,
19. The system according to claim 18, wherein the network controller is connected to the terminal adapter. 21. The system according to claim 20, wherein a sub-address is set in said terminal adapter, and said central processing center attaches said sub-address and makes a call according to said specific call pattern. 22. The central processing center, when a call connection for a call with the specific call pattern fails,
The system of claim 21, wherein the system is configured to place the call again without the subaddress. 23. A plurality of the network control devices are connected in series, a specific call pattern different for each of the network control devices is set, and a specific terminal device connected to each of the network control devices. The system according to any one of claims 18 to 22, wherein the (automatic incoming call terminal) can be selectively called according to a different specific calling pattern. 24. A plurality of specific terminal devices (automatic call receiving terminals) are connected in parallel to the network control device, and the specific call pattern different for each of the specific terminal devices (automatic call receiving terminals) is set. 23. The system according to claim 9, wherein a specific terminal device (automatic incoming call terminal) can be selectively called according to a different specific calling pattern. 25. The central processing center is an automatic meter reading center, a specific terminal device (automatic incoming call terminal) is a meter reading meter, and the network control device is configured to communicate with the automatic meter reading center and the meter reading meter. The system according to any one of claims 18 to 24, wherein is controlled. 26. Service control station (hereinafter referred to as SCP)
When, a switching system for telephone exchange comprising a destination switching stations controlled by the SCP, a call from a particular caller identified in SCP, in particular call out pattern wearing switching center in this case Calling the called party, or identifying the outgoing call to the specific called party by the SCP, in which case the destination exchange calls the called party with a specific calling pattern, or a specific incoming call from a specific calling party An outgoing call to the called party is identified by the SCP, and in this case, at the time of outgoing call, the switching system for the selective incoming call system in which the called exchange calls the called party with a specific call pattern.