JPH11289393A - Work environment embedded communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To utilize a highly flexible communication function to effectively execute a job by associating an item selected by a user with a communicating means on a computer screen and utilizing a program registration function provided by an AP, that shows the item or a communication function of the AP to an external program. SOLUTION: An AP execution control program 301 registers a communicating means control program 304 on an AP 300. The registers program 304 is designated by a person in charge, accesses internal data 302 and reads the value of a selected item on the window of the AP 300. When the value of the item is acquired, the program 304 accesses a client information DB 306 and reads client information corresponding to the value. In this way when the address of a communicating means is obtained, the program 304 instructs a communicating means control interface program 308 to operate a communicating means 312 to acquire a communicating means to be utilized.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a system using a communication means such as a telephone from a computer, and more particularly to a technique for associating communication with selection of a visual item displayed on a display screen of the computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There has conventionally been a technique for making a telephone call from a computer system. U.S. Pat. No. 5,621,790 "Met" describes a technology for automatically placing a call based on a prospect list in a system aimed at marketing to a customer and connecting to an appropriate operator when a telephone call is established.
hod and system for optimization of telephone conta
ct campaigns ".

As a technique for assisting a user to make a telephone call as appropriate, a PIM (Personal Injection) of Accu Knowledge, Inc. of the United States has been developed.
formation Manager; Personal Information Management Software) Products "
AIM96 "provides a function for selecting a customer name displayed in the electronic address book with a mouse and instructing a telephone call.

[0004]

The prior art telephone,
The operation of the communication means such as fax and e-mail from the computer screen has the following disadvantages. First, the communication means control function must be provided by the program as a function of the program. That is, in order for a program having no communication means control function to have a new communication means control function, it is necessary to recreate the program. Next, in a program in which the communication means control function is built, the operation of the communication means must be operated according to a predetermined procedure. That is, a program having a communication means control function of making a call to the telephone number given a telephone number cannot perform the same operation for the name without modifying the program. As mentioned above,
The conventional means for controlling the communication means from the program is inevitably restricted by a specific program and a specific operation, and lacks flexibility.

[0005]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a communication means control program for associating a communication means with an item selected by a user on a computer screen. The communication means control program obtains the contents of the item using a program registration function provided by the AP displaying the item, or a communication function with the external program of the AP, and stores the contents of the item as a key. To search for a communication partner and enable communication by a specified communication means.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an example of the configuration of a system using the technology according to the present invention. Here, a system 100 for a sales representative 102 to call a prospective customer (individual or company) with a telephone 104 while viewing various materials on a PC 106 will be described. PBX (Private
Branch Exchange) 108 is a customer 128 telephone 128
And the telephone set 104 of the person in charge 102 are connected via a public telephone network 134 and an extension network 124.

As described below, CTI (Computer Tele
phony Integration) Server 112 is PBX 108, PC 10
6 and a LAN (Local Area Network) to provide a function to control them in a unified manner. Person in charge 102 is PC10
From 6, the telephone 104 can be operated. For example, P
C106 requests the CTI server 112 to make a telephone call. If another configuration is used, the telephone 104 can be directly operated from the PC 106. Contact person 126 to customer 126
When a telephone call is established, the customer information DB is displayed on the PC 106 screen.
The data regarding the customer 126 stored in 118 is automatically displayed. Establish a telephone call from the CTI server 112 to P
C106 is notified. Further, by using the sales information DB 120 in the same manner, sales information can be displayed on the screen of the PC 106 in addition to the customer information. The means of communication with the customer 126 is not limited to a telephone, but may be a facsimile or an e-mail. The fax transmission request and the mail transmission request in this case are transmitted to the fax server 114 and the mail server 116, respectively. The customer 126 can use the PC 132 together with the telephone 128 to connect to the PC 106 of the person in charge 102 via the Internet 132. For example, the person in charge 102 is customer 1
When you interact with 26, the same web page is displayed on each PC1
06 and 132 to improve the understanding of the customer 126. In this case, the CTI server 112 cooperates with the web server 110 to provide synchronization of the web page display.

FIGS. 2 to 17 show a system 1 according to the present invention.
Screen 200 of PC 106 viewed by person in charge 102 at 00
An operation example of the system 100 will be described based on an example of the above display.

FIG. 2 shows a screen 200 seen by the person in charge 102 when starting work. Usually, some other display elements can be seen on the actual PC screen 200, but are omitted in this embodiment to avoid complication. Window 204 is sales promotion
It represents the AP and provides a list of materials 206 to be used for promotional activities as described above. The person in charge 102 uses the pointing device 202 on the screen 200 to select the appropriate material 20.
Select 6. After the selection, pressing a button 208 instructs execution of sales promotion work using the selected material 206. In the case of a button 210, the material list display ends and the window 20 is displayed.
4 is closed.

FIG. 3 shows a case where one document 206 is used as the pointing device 202.
And the corresponding portion is highlighted 212.

In FIG. 4, a button 208 is
By pressing, execution of the operation using the selected material 206 is instructed.

FIG. 5 shows a state in which the selected material 206 is displayed as a window 214 on the PC 106 screen 200. The window 214 is created by an AP for operating the material 206, and the configuration of the user interface provided by the AP corresponding to the material is different.
The user interface of the window 214 of the present embodiment is simplified for explanation. Document 206
Are displayed in the format of Table 222. The window 214 includes a menu instruction area 216 and tool buttons 218 and 220 for AP operation. As will be seen later, when the pointing device 202 points to the menu pointing area 216, a pull-down menu appears, and tool buttons 218, 220 are displayed.
Is assigned, the assigned function is executed.

Here, the tool button 218 provides a telephone calling function as described later, and is added by the operation of the present invention. Tool button 220 is for window 2
A function of erasing 14 and ending the operation is provided. Table 222
Is an example of data indicating the sales status, in which the sales date, item, customer name, cumulative sales for the current term, and the like are visible. The person in charge 102 conducts sales activities by calling a promising customer while watching these data.

The window 214 is created by selection from the list of materials in the window 204. When the same material 206 is displayed without passing through the window 204, the window 214 is as shown in FIG. The difference between the window 214 and the window 215 is the window 215
Has no tool button 218 according to the present technology.

FIG. 7 returns to the description of the sales promotion operation starting from the window 204 again. The figure shows the person in charge 10
In this state, the customer has selected the customer name 224 with the pointing device 202 in order to make a call to a certain customer (East and West Bussan).

In FIG. 8, after selecting the customer name 224, the person in charge 1
Reference numeral 02 denotes a pointing device 202 which indicates a tool button 218 for making a telephone call. By pressing the tool button 218, the operation of making a telephone call to the selected customer 224 starts.

Before a call is made, a confirmation dialog 226 is displayed on the screen 200 to confirm the destination (FIG. 9). The confirmation dialog 226 indicates the name of the customer 224 and the telephone number to be called to the person in charge 102. The confirmation dialog 226 has several buttons 22
8, 230, 232, 234. The “execute” button 228 is used by the person in charge 102 to instruct a telephone call. "Cancel" to cancel calling to customer 224
Press button 234. In this embodiment, the tool button 21
When the user presses 8, the telephone number assigned by the system 100 and the telephone as the communication means are adopted, but these can be changed when the confirmation dialog 226 is displayed. It becomes possible to directly input the telephone number to be used by using the “another number” button 230 and to change the communication means to be used by using the “another means” button 232. There are various procedures for input and change, which will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and thus description thereof is omitted in this embodiment. Confirmation dialog 2
26 provides a telephone number to connect to the "purchase clerk", but if you want to talk to another person,
The above-mentioned change function is effective when the user wants to send only the data by using. The telephone number and communication means proposed in the confirmation dialog 226 can be changed by setting.

As shown in FIG. 10, a confirmation dialog 2
When the telephone call is instructed from 26 and a telephone call is established with the customer 224, detailed customer information 236 about the customer 224 to be called is displayed on the screen 200. The customer information 236 is placed on the screen 200 until the conversation with the customer 224 is completed unless otherwise instructed by the person in charge 102, and the person in charge 102 uses the information to execute the sales promotion activity efficiently and effectively. In this embodiment, the customer information 236 appears after the telephone call is established. However, the customer information 236 may be shown at the same time as the telephone call instruction.

In FIG. 7, one customer 224 is selected.
Multiple targets may be selected at once. FIG. 11 shows a case where three customers 238 (Daiichi Shosha, Tozai Bussan, and North-South Machinery) have been selected at a time by the pointing device 202. Thereafter, by instructing the tool button 218, the three customers 23
8, the same telephone call as above can be made.

Further, as shown in FIG. 12, when the tool button 218 is designated without selecting a customer, all the customers (the table displayed on the window 214) described in the target table 222 are displayed. If it is data, telephone calls will be made to Dai-ichi Shosha, Tozai Bussan, Tohoku Kikai, and Kanto Shoten in that order.

In the above, only the telephone call instruction from the tool button 218 has been seen, but a similar operation can be instructed from the menu 216 (FIG. 13). When the menu 216 is pointed by the pointing device 202, a pull-down menu 240 appears. When an item 242, 244, 246, 248, 250, 252 described in the pull-down menu 240 is selected, a corresponding function is executed. The first three are general functions for the AP, "Open" 242 is a function for specifying a file to be edited, "Close" 244 is a function for ending the file editing operation, and "Save" 246 is a function for ending the file editing operation. It corresponds to the function of saving the contents of the file being edited. Since a normal AP which operates the material 206 does not have a communication means control function, for example, in the pull-down menu 240, “telephone” 248, “FAX” 250, “mail” 25
Item 2 is an item added according to the present invention. According to each instruction, the person in charge 102 can make a telephone call, send a facsimile, and send an e-mail to an object selected, for example, the customer 224 in the same procedure as described above.

FIG. 14 shows an example of the contents 254 of the pull-down menu corresponding to the menu 216 when the material 206 is opened without going through the window 204. Until now, the operation of displaying the material by selecting from the material list in the window 204 has been described. However, even when the material is opened as usual independently of the window 204, the AP can register the program. If provided, it is possible to add the communication means control function of the present invention during operation.
FIG. 15 shows an example 256 of the content of the pull-down menu corresponding to the menu 216 when the AP displaying the material 206 has a program registration function. "Program registration"
Reference numeral 258 denotes a program registration function, and “program deletion” 260 activates a registered program deletion function. There are various procedures for designating a program to be registered or deleted, and it is clear to those skilled in the art that the description is omitted in this embodiment.

The following operations are performed on the selected item: "make a call", "make a fax",
Alternatively, after registering the "send mail" program, the contents of the pull-down menu corresponding to the menu 216 are, for example, 264 (FIG. 16).

In the above description, the execution of the communication means control function is instructed from the windows 214 and 215. The execution instruction may be issued from another window. FIG.
Reference numeral 7 denotes a state in which the communication means control dialog 266 is used. The communication means control tool button 218 does not appear in the window 214. Similarly, although not visible in the figure, items for controlling communication means (for example, 248, 250, and 252) are not added to the contents of the pull-down menu 216.
Instead, a communication means control dialog 266 is provided, and when the customer 224 is selected in the table 222 and the "phone" button 268, "FAX" button 270, and "mail" button 272 are pressed, the customer 224 is called. Over, FA
You can send X and send mail. Although not described again, the operation when the communication means is activated by the buttons 268, 270, and 272 without selecting a plurality of customers or without selecting the customers is also possible.

FIGS. 18 to 20 show a system 1 according to the present invention.
00 shows an example of a software configuration for realizing 00. These softwares are placed on the PC 106. Target AP
There are some configuration examples depending on whether or not allows addition of functions.

FIG. 18 shows an example of a configuration in which an AP having a communication means control function has a program registration function. The AP execution control program 301 corresponding to the program for displaying the window 204 for starting the AP 300 provided with the communication unit control function registers the communication unit control program 304 for realizing the function in the AP 300 (313). The registered communication means control program 304 is the person in charge 102
The execution of the communication means control function is instructed by the AP 300 when the input to the AP 300 is performed (314). The communication means control program 304 stores the internal data 30 of the AP 300
Access to AP2 (316), AP2 window 2
14 to read the value of the item 224 selected on (3
18). Upon acquiring the value of the item 224, the communication means control program 304 accesses the customer information DB 306 (320) and reads out the customer information corresponding to the value (3).
22). When the address of the communication partner such as the telephone number is obtained in this manner, the communication means control program 304 operates the communication means 312 for providing the communication means to be used. Device control interface program 3
08 to issue a control instruction for the communication means device 312 (32
4). The instruction is sent via OS (Operating System) (32
6) The information is transmitted to the communication means device 312 (328), and the desired operation occurs.

FIG. 19 shows an example of a configuration in a case where a program for providing a communication means control function is not registered in the AP. The AP execution control program 301 corresponding to the program for displaying the window 204 for starting the AP 300 provided with the communication means control function starts the communication means control program 304 for realizing the function (315). The started communication means control program 304 is instructed to execute the communication means control function when the person in charge 102 inputs the communication means control dialog 266 or the like (314).
The communication means control program 304 requests the external interface function 330 provided for the AP 300 to communicate with an external program to read the value of the item 224 selected on the window 214 of the AP 300 (332). . External interface function 330
Accesses the internal data 302 of the AP 300 (33
6), read out the value (338). The read value is reported to the communication means control program 304 via the external interface function 330 (334). Upon acquiring the value of the item 224, the communication means control program 304 accesses the customer information DB 306 (320),
The customer information corresponding to the above value is read (322). When the address of the communication partner such as the telephone number is obtained in this way, the communication means control program 304 operates the communication means device 312 for providing the communication means to be used.
It issues a control instruction for the communication unit 312 to the communication unit control interface program 308 which is a program interface on the PC 106 side (324). The instructions
Via the OS (326), it is transmitted to the communication means device 312 (328), and the intended operation occurs.

FIG. 20 shows an example of a configuration in which a program for providing a communication means control function is not registered in the AP, and it is not possible to query the AP for the value of internal data of the AP. The AP execution control program 301 corresponding to the program for displaying the window 204 for starting the AP 300 provided with the communication means control function starts the communication means control program 304 for realizing the function (315). The started communication means control program 304 is the person in charge 102
The execution of the communication means control function is instructed by input to the communication means control dialog 266 or the like by the user (314). The communication means control program 304 displays the screen 2
A request is made to the OS 310 that manages the data displayed on the window 00 to read the value of the item 224 selected on the window 214 of the AP 300 (342). OS3
10 is the data 3 displayed on the screen 200 by the AP 300
40 is accessed (346), and the above value is read (3
48). The read value is reported to the communication means control program 304 via the OS 310 (344). Upon acquiring the value of the item 224, the communication means control program 304 accesses the customer information DB 306 (32
0), the customer information corresponding to the above value is read (32)
2). When the address of the communication partner such as the telephone number is obtained in this manner, the communication means control program 304 operates the communication means 312 for providing the communication means to be used. Device control interface program 30
8 to the communication means 312 (32)
4). The instruction is sent via the OS (326).
2 (328) and the desired action occurs.

FIG. 21 shows an AP provided with a communication means control function.
The processing flow of the AP execution control program 301 corresponding to the program that displays the window 204 for starting the 300 will be described. The AP execution control program 301 waits for a request to start the execution of the AP (400). When the end request is received (402), the process ends. When the AP execution start request arrives (400), the designated AP 300 is started (40).
4). If the communication means control program 304 has not been registered in the AP 300 (406), if it can be registered (4)
08) Register the communication means control program 304. If registration is not possible, the communication means control program 304 is started (412).

FIG. 22 shows the overall movement of the AP 300.
Particularly, a description will be given of a flow of processing in which the execution of the communication means control program 304 is started when the communication means control program 304 is registered in the AP 300. The AP 300 always waits for an input to arrive (500). If the arrived input is for the menu 216 (502), the value of the item specified in the menu 216 is analyzed (504). If the arrived input is related to the tool buttons 218, 220 (506), the function corresponding to the designated tool button is specified (508). For other inputs including keyboard and mouse inputs (510), the contents of the input data are analyzed (512). If the input content thus obtained is a termination request (514), the AP 300
Terminates execution. If the input content is a registered program execution command (516) and the execution target program is the communication means control program 304 (520), the registered communication means control program 304 is executed (524). If the input content is not a registration program execution instruction (51
6) Process as other types of input contents (51)
8) Or, if the execution target program indicated by the input content is not the communication means control program 304 (52
0), processing is performed as input contents for instructing execution of other registration programs (522). If the input is not as expected (510), other processing is performed (5).
26).

FIG. 23 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the communication means control program 304 for providing the communication means control function according to the present invention. The communication means control program 304 waits for an incoming call instruction (600). When the instruction is received (600), if an item indicating a communication partner to be executed using communication means device 312 has already been selected (6).
01) Read out all the selected items (6)
02). If a call is instructed (600) and no item is selected (601), all candidate items are read from the target AP 300 (604). As a result, an item list serving as a key of the communication partner search is created (606), and the items of the list are sequentially processed (608). First, one item is extracted from the list (610), and the customer information DB 118 is searched for customer information corresponding to the item (612). If the customer information includes a communication address that can be used by the communication means device 312 (614), communication is started via the communication means device control interface program 308 (616).
If the communication is actually established with the other party (61
8) The previously acquired customer information and other sales information are displayed on the PC 106 screen 200 (620). When the communication is completed (622), the information displayed on the PC 106 screen 200 is deleted (624).

FIG. 24 shows an example of the data format of customer information stored in the customer information DB 118. Customer information data 70
0 is composed of the following items. The management number 702 is an identifier assigned to a customer who is a company or an individual using a system 100, and the name 704 is the name, name, and address 70 of the customer.
6 is the customer's address, phone number 708 is the customer's phone number, FAX number 710 is the customer's fax phone number, email address 712 is the customer's email address, industry 714 is the customer's profession and business type, The transaction status 716 is the status of the transaction between the company and the customer, the transaction product 718 is the name of the product traded between the company and the customer, and the transaction history 720 is the transaction status between the company and the customer. History of transactions made, contact person 72
2 is the name of a person who is in charge of dealing with the company on the customer side. These data contents are examples, and for example, it is possible to have a plurality of telephone numbers 708 or to provide the contents of a transaction in progress.

FIG. 25 shows an example of a setting data format for defining the operation of the communication means control program 304. The setting data 800 includes the following items. The priority selection communication unit 802 is a communication unit that is presented to the person in charge 102 as the first candidate when the person in charge 102 instructs the customer corresponding to the selected item, and the item data format 804 is the item number of the selected item. Data for the contents to be interpreted by the communication means control program 304, a search item 806 is a candidate for an item that can be used as a key corresponding to a customer when communication is instructed without selecting an item, and a DB data format 808 is selected. Customer information DB 118 using the content of the selected item or search item 806 as a key.
The data format of the customer information DB 118 and the AP identifier 810 used for searching for
Is data for identifying the AP 300 providing the communication means control function. By appropriately setting the setting data 800, the communication means control program 304 can support various types of combinations of the AP 300 and the customer information DB 118.

[0035]

According to the present invention, based on an arbitrary item displayed on a computer screen, an AP displaying the item is displayed.
Without the involvement of the communication partner, it is possible to determine the communication address with the communication partner and communicate with the communication partner using the designated communication means. As a result, any AP without communication function
The work can be effectively performed by utilizing the flexible communication function in the work in.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a system.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an appearance of a work target data menu.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an operation of selecting work target data.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an operation of instructing display of work target data.

FIG. 5 is a view showing a state in which work target data is displayed.

FIG. 6 is a view showing a difference in a form when work target data is displayed for normal work.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an operation of selecting a contact partner.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an operation of instructing contact with a selected partner.

FIG. 9 is an exemplary view showing the appearance of a dialog for confirming that a contact has been performed.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a state where customer information is displayed.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an operation of selecting a plurality of contact partners at a time.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an operation of selecting an entire window.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an operation of instructing a contact from a menu.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing menu contents during normal work.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an operation of registering a program in an AP.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a screen after executing a registered program.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an appearance of a communication means control dialog.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a software configuration of a system when a communication unit control program is registered in an AP.

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating a software configuration of a system when a communication unit control program is not registered in an AP.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing a software configuration of a system when an OS function is used.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart illustrating processing of an AP execution control program.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart for explaining how a communication unit control program registered in an AP is executed.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart for explaining processing of a communication means control program.

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing an example of a customer information data format.

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing an example of a data format for setting the operation of the communication means control program.

[Explanation of symbols]

102: person in charge, 104: telephone, 106: PC, 11
8: customer information DB, 126: customer, 224: selected item, 300: AP, 301: AP execution control program,
304: Communication means control program.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification symbol FI H04M 3/42 H04M 3/42 Z (72) Inventor Makoto Ujiie 216 Totsuka-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Hitachi, Ltd. Information Telecommunications Division

Claims (11)

[Claims] In a computer system to which communication means is connected, items such as characters, graphics, images, and combinations thereof displayed on a screen, particularly an area such as an area which can be regarded as a meaningful group for a user, and communication means. Associating a control program, a step of selecting the item by the user, a step of instructing the user to execute communication associated with the item, and a step of determining a partner associated with the item,
A communication system embedded with a work environment, comprising: a step of determining communication means used by a user for communication with the other party; and a step of executing communication using the communication means with the other party. 2. The work environment embedded communication system according to claim 1, wherein said communication means control program has a step associated with said items via an operating system for controlling said computer system. 3. The work environment embedded communication system according to claim 1, wherein said communication means control program has a step of associating with said item through a program for displaying said item. 4. The communication system according to claim 1, further comprising the step of simultaneously selecting a plurality of the items. 5. The work environment embedded communication system according to claim 1, further comprising a step in which a part of the data constituting the item is used to determine a communication partner. 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein when the computer system has a function of displaying a plurality of windows, the item has a step of being a window.
The work environment embedded type communication system according to 1. 7. When the item is a window,
The communication system according to claim 6, further comprising a step of performing communication based on data associated with the window. 8. When the item is a window,
The communication system according to claim 7, further comprising a step of performing communication based on data associated with the program that displays the window. 9. The work environment embedded type communication system according to claim 1, further comprising a step of instructing a user to execute communication associated with the item by selecting from a menu. 10. The work environment embedded type communication system according to claim 1, further comprising a step of instructing a user to execute communication associated with the item by key input. 11. The work according to claim 1, wherein a user operation for instructing execution of communication associated with the item has a step defined as a series of operations together with an operation for selecting the item. Environment embedded type communication system.