JPS59144257A - Voice mailing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the serviceability of voice mailing by displaying the termination time of voice mail, its originating terminal number, etc. CONSTITUTION:A voice mail center 5 is equipped with an automatic originating and terminating means 50 which sends and receives voice mail information to and from an automatic exchange 3, a storage means 51 which stores pieces of information on the termination time of the voice mail arriving at the means 50 and the number of the originating terminal in the aeea corresponding to an addressed terminal, and a transmitting means 53 which converts the contents of the means 51 into a PB signal and sends it to the exchange 3. The terminal 2, on the other hand, is equipped with an automatic terminating 53 which detects the incoming of the voice mail from the exchange 3, a receiving means 21 which receives the PB signal from the exchange 3, a storage means 22 which stores the output signal of the means 21, and a display means 24 which displays the contents of the means 22. Therefore, the termination time of the voice mail and the number of the originating terminal are displayed at the addressed terminal 2, and the importance and emergency of the voice mail are calculated to listen to it selectively, improving the serviceability of voice mailing.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to a voice mail system, and particularly to a voice mail system in which the arrival time and sender terminal number of a voice mail received at a voice mail center are displayed on a destination terminal. Regarding the system.

[Prior art and problems]

Generally, in a voice mail service, when a voice mail sender terminal A sends a voice mail to a destination terminal B, the terminal A
calls the voice mail center and records a message in the memory area allocated to the terminal B in the voice mail center (voice mail posting-0) The terminal B calls the voice mail center periodically or at any time. This is done by checking whether there is a voice mail addressed to you, and if there is, listening to the message using an attached telephone using an appropriate method such as operating a special number.However, even when the terminal B subscriber is away, the above voice mail Since the mail will be posted,
In order for the subscriber to go back and check whether or not a voice mail has been sent to him/her, he must access the voice mail center, which is inconvenient. Therefore, in order to improve this, a method was proposed in which a display was installed on the terminal B, and the number of voice mails sent was rewritten and displayed each time a voice mail was sent.
72 Proposed in ``Voice Mail Posting Display Method.''

However, with this method, only the number of voice mails sent to oneself is displayed, and even if multiple voice mails have been posted, it is not possible to know when and from where (or by whom) these voice mails were posted. Therefore, if you listen to the messages in the order in which they were posted without knowing the importance and posting time of the voice mail, you will not be able to selectively receive (listen to messages) according to the importance and urgency of the voice mail. There were drawbacks.

[Purpose of the invention]

The purpose of the present invention is to eliminate the above drawbacks by displaying the presence or absence of voice mail addressed to oneself, the arrival time of the posted voice mail, and the sender terminal number without accessing the voice mail center, and to enable selective listening of messages. The goal is to provide a convenient voice mail system that can be used.

[Summary of the invention]

A voice mail system according to the present invention includes a plurality of terminals and a voice mail center connected to the terminals via an automatic exchange, wherein the voice mail center exchanges voice mail information with the automatic exchange. an automatic call originating/receiving means for making and receiving calls; a storage means for accumulating information on the arrival time and sender terminal number of a voice mail received at the automatic call originating/receiving means in an area corresponding to a destination terminal; and a storage means for storing the contents of the storage means. and transmitting means for converting a PB double signal and transmitting the signal to the automatic exchange, and the terminal receives automatic call receiving means for detecting an incoming voice mail from the automatic exchange, and P and B signals from the automatic exchange. A receiving device, a storage device for storing an output signal of the receiving device, and a display device for displaying the contents of the storage device either automatically or by manual instruction, and the display device can display the arrival time of the voice mail and the sender terminal. It is characterized in that the number is displayed on the destination terminal. Further, the voice mail sending source terminal is a single PB telephone.

[Embodiments of the invention]

Next, the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the voice mail system of the present invention. In the figure, the voice mail system includes P and B telephones 1. A voice mail center (hereinafter referred to as MCTR) 5 connected to multiple terminals such as a terminal capable of displaying incoming voice mail (hereinafter referred to as TERM) 2, and these terminals via an automatic switchboard (hereinafter referred to as SW) 3 and a transmission line (hereinafter referred to as L) 4. It consists of Each of the terminals is assigned a unique terminal number (telephone number), and the access code (special number or MCTR unique number) used to access the MCTRZ must be known to each terminal. The TERM 2 previously registers in the MCTR 5 an arbitrary password to be used when issuing a voice mail addressed to the user.

The TERM 2 includes an automatic receiving section (hereinafter referred to as DET) 20 that detects the incoming voice mail from the SWa, and a receiving section (hereinafter referred to as DET) that receives the PB double analog signal from the SW 3 via the DET 20, encodes it, and outputs it. 21 (hereinafter referred to as REC), a memory (hereinafter referred to as MEM) 22 for storing the coded digital signal, and the above-mentioned DET
20 detects an incoming call, the terminal control unit (hereinafter referred to as CNT) 2
4. A display section (hereinafter referred to as DP
Y) 23, the TCNT 24 which is connected to these parts and performs necessary sequence control, and the PB telephone 25 which receives messages (analog voice) from the SWa. Note that the PB telephone 25 is also used to send out PB signals such as the access code and password.

The MCTR 5 also includes an eye-operated call originating/receiving unit (hereinafter referred to as ACE) 50 corresponding to a so-called telephone circuit that controls the originating/receiving of voice mails to/from the L4; A storage unit (hereinafter referred to as M) 51 that stores control information such as a terminal number and messages (digitized audio signals) to be described later, and the ACE 5
0. A voice processing section (hereinafter referred to as VPRC) 52 which is interposed between the M51 and performs A/D and D/A conversion of the transmitted and received voice signals, and a voice processing section (hereinafter referred to as VPRC) 52 which is interposed between the M51 and A/D and D/A conversion of the transmitted and received voice signals;
A transmitting unit (hereinafter referred to as 5ND) 53 that transmits data to the E50, a control unit (hereinafter referred to as CNT) 54 that is connected to each of these units and performs necessary sequence control, and a control unit that writes the arrival time of the voice mail to the M51 through the CNT 54. A clock section (hereinafter referred to as CLK) 55 is provided. Furthermore, the ACEs
o is an interface circuit (hereinafter referred to as INF) 500 that interfaces with the L4, a PB receiver (hereinafter referred to as PBR) 501 that receives the PB rough signal from the INF 300, and
An incoming call detection circuit (hereinafter referred to as RDET) 502 detects incoming calls to the NF 300 (detects a ringing signal from the NF 300, detects ringing stop, etc.), and controls outgoing calls to the L4 via the NF 300 (sends an off-hook signal, Transmission control circuit (hereinafter referred to as 0CNT) that performs terminal selection signal transmission, etc.
503, and the M51 includes a voice memory (hereinafter referred to as VM) 510 that stores various messages, and the control information (VM) 510 that stores various messages.
The time of arrival of the call.

A control memory (hereinafter referred to as CM) 511 stores digital signals including a sender terminal number.

Next, FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b) are diagrams showing an example of the configuration of the voice memo IJVM and control memo SCM in FIG. 1, respectively. In the figure, the 7M510 has a user message (hereinafter referred to as UMS) area and a guided message (hereinafter referred to as GMS) area. ) are accumulated sequentially,
In the GMS area, there are m GMSs that guide the terminal by prompting the required dialing, etc.
CMS2. - Accumulate GMSIne6 in advance. For example, these GMSL, GMS2. ~GMSm are digitized voice signals that prompt service types, voice mail number dialing, sender terminal number dialing, password dialing, voice mail retrieval, etc., respectively. Also, 0M511 is service type 2.
n consisting of the sender terminal number, destination terminal number, voice mail arrival time, and other management information (for example, the destination terminal number corresponding to the voice mail number and registered password lock 9, etc.)
control message (hereinafter referred to as CMS) CMS, , CMS2
．． It has an area for accumulating ~CMSn. In addition to the above-mentioned mailbox service, the service types generally include a mail delivery service that automatically delivers voice mail sent to a destination terminal periodically or each time it is posted, and a stock market service.

There are guidance services that provide information on weather, etc.

Next, FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the terminal side memory MEM in FIG. 1. In the figure, the MEM 22 contains r pieces of mail information #1, each consisting of information on the number of incoming mails and the sending terminal number at the time of mail arrival. #2.
~#r can be stored.

Note that although the MCTR 5 in FIG. 1 has a function fee that provides all of the above types of services, since the present invention relates to the mailbox service, parts related to other service types are omitted.

Next, the mailbox service operation of this embodiment will be explained using FIGS. 1 to 3.

For example, when PB telephone 1 sends a voice mail addressed to TERM 2 (posts it to a mailbox), first the MC
An access operation to TR5 is performed.

That is, the PB telephone 1 makes a call and the MCTR 5
When you send the access code (FB signal) to SW
3 makes a commonly known switching connection and sends a paging signal to the MCTR 5 via L4. In the MCTR5, IN
The RDET 502 detects the paging signal and notifies the iCNT 54 via the FSOOL. After Sono, MS
Specify the address of eCNT54UVPRC52KVM510 and read the required GMS,
converts the GMS into analog and transmits it to the L4 via the INF 300. Note that the VPRC52 is connected to the G
The MS end mark is detected and the CNT 54 is notified of the end of OMS reading. The PB telephone 1 is connected to the GMS
When the MCTR5 listens to the message and sends the PBli number indicating the mailbox service, the PBR5Ql is
Since the CNT 54 receives the B-fold signal and informs the CNT 54 of this fact, the CNT 54 specifies the address of the CMS11 and writes management information such as the service type. Then the CNT5
In accordance with the instructions in step 4, the required GMS messages are sequentially transmitted in the same manner as in step 4 to prompt the PB telephone 1 to dial the voice mail number and the sender's terminal number. Similarly, the PB double signal indicating the voice mail number and sending terminal number from the PB telephone 1 is received by the PBR 5Ql, and the CNT 54 transmits the CM
A control message (e.g. C
MSl) is written.

At this time, destination terminal number information is extracted from the voice mail number information of the CM 81. Furthermore, when the MCTR 5 similarly prompts the transmission of a message using the required GMS, the PB
A user message (analog voice) from the telephone 1 is converted into digital data by the VPRC 52 via the INF 300-q, and stored in the UMS area at the address designated by the CNT 54. When receiving the USM accumulation completion notification, the CNT 54 writes the time information (voice mail arrival time) from the CLK 55 to the CM 511 as the CMS1. Therefore, voice mail control information and messages from the PB telephone 1 are stored in designated areas of the CM 511 and VM 510, respectively.

When this storage is completed, mail information (mail arrival time and sender terminal number information) is sent from MCTR5 to TERM2.
transmission is performed. That is, in the MCTR5, CN
T54 transmits an off-hook signal from 0CNT5Q3 based on the destination terminal number information of cMS1 read from CMS11, followed by a destination terminal selection signal (PB double signal or DP double signal to L4 via INF300. SW3 is generally known. The DET 20 in the TERM 2 detects an incoming call (the calling signal) and sends a response signal back, and in the 8W3 The transmission of the ringing tone is stopped. In the MCTR5, the RDET5Q2 detects the stoppage of the ringing tone and sends a message to that effect to the CNT5.
4, the CNT 54 sequentially reads out the sender terminal number and voice mail arrival time information of the CMS 1.
The ND 53 converts the signal into PB times and transmits it to the above 4 via the INF 300. In TERM2, these PB
The REC 21 receives the doubled signal via the DET 20, encodes it, and stores it in a designated area of the MEM 22 as e.g. mail information #1 according to instructions from the TCNT 24. The TCNT 24 causes the DPY 23 to display the contents of the specified area of the MEM 22 automatically or at any time when a voice mail is received by specifying the mail information number by operating a keyboard (not shown). Also, the TC
The NT24 has a general counter for the number of incoming mails, and updates the count value each time a mail arrives and each time a mail is retrieved as described later, and always displays the current number of incoming mails in the MEM22.
and display it on the DPY 23.

Next, for example, when TERM2 retrieves a voice mail addressed to itself (for example, listens to the UMS of mail information #1), it accesses MCTR5 after the PB telephone 25 makes a call, and uses PBR5Ql to access the PB double signal indicating the service type. The operations until reception are performed in the same manner as in the case of sending a voice mail as described above. Next, the CNT 54 reads out the required GMS and transmits it to the L4 via the VPRC 52 and NF 300, prompting the PB telephone 25 to dial the PIN number and then the voice mail number. The PIN information and voice mail number information from the PB telephone 25 (both PB double signals are sequentially transferred to the CNT 54 via the PBR5Ql, the CNT 54 reads out the information from the CMSl1 based on these PB@ numbers) Required CMS (here CM
Verify the PIN against the registered PIN information (S1). If there is a match, the MCTR 5 similarly transmits the required GMS to the PB telephone 25 to prompt it to retrieve the voice mail. The voice mail retrieval signal (PB signal) from the PB telephone 25 is eventually transmitted to the CNT 54, and the CNT 54 instructs the VPRC 52 to read the UMS of the address corresponding to the voice mail number. The audio is converted into analog audio and is eventually heard by the PB telephone 25 via the INF 300. In the TERM2, upon completion of retrieval of the voice mail, the mail information #1 of the MEM22 is deleted, and the mail information #2. The TCNT 24 controls the rewriting of addresses from ~#γ to sequentially smaller addresses.

As is clear from the above explanation, claim No.
The automatic call originating/receiving means, storage means, and transmission means of the voice mail center described in section 1) are each referred to as ACE5 in FIG.
0. M51 and 5ND53, and the automatic call reception means, reception means, storage means and display means of the terminal are respectively DET20°REC21 and MEM22 in FIG.
and DPY23 compatible.

It should be noted that each of the constituent elements shown in this embodiment can be easily realized using conventional techniques. For example, REC21
, 5ND53 are generally known PB receivers and PB transmitters with A/D and D/A conversion functions added, respectively, and DPY23 is a general indicator using a required number of light emitting diodes, etc. It is.

This example does not limit the invention. That is,
Although the sender terminal is shown as a single PB telephone, it may also be a terminal capable of displaying incoming voice mail. In addition, the bit configuration of the memory of the terminal and the storage section of the voice mail center is arbitrarily determined.
It is sufficient that each has the required capacity. Furthermore, it goes without saying that the automatic exchange may include a relay staircase.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As is clear from the above explanation, according to the voice mail system of the present invention, the arrival time and sender terminal number of the voice mail are displayed on the called terminal, so that the called party, who is not a subscriber, can It becomes possible to selectively listen to necessary voice mail messages in consideration of the importance and urgency of the voice mail, and the convenience of the voice mail service is improved.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the voice mail system of the present invention, and FIG.
A diagram showing an example of the configuration of the voice memory VM and control memory CM in the figure, and FIG. 3 are the memo 1 on the terminal side in FIG.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of 7MEM. In the figure, 1.25...PB telephone, 2...
...Terminal capable of displaying N voice mail messages TERM, 3...
...Automatic exchange SW, 4...Transmission line, 5
...Voice mail center MCTR, 20...
...Automatic receiving section DET, 21... Receiving section REC
, 22... Memory MEM, 23... Display unit DPY, 24... Terminal control unit TCNT, 5
0... Automatic call/receiver section ACE, 51...
Storage unit M152...Voice processing unit VPRC, 53
......Transmitter SND. 54...Control unit CNT, 55...Clock unit CLK, 500...Interface circuit INF, 501...PB receiver PBR, 502
...Incoming call detection circuit RDET, 503...
- Transmission control circuit 0CNT, 510...Voice memory VM, 511...Control memory CM.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) In a voice mail system consisting of a plurality of terminals and a voice mail center connected to the terminals via an automatic switchboard, the voice mail center sends and receives voice mail information between the automatic switchboard and the automatic switchboard at double speed. an automatic call originating/receiving means, a storage means for accumulating information on the arrival time and sender terminal number of a voice mail received at the automatic call originating/receiving means in an area corresponding to the destination terminal, and a storage means for storing the contents of the storage means in a PB@ number. and transmitting means for converting into voice mail and transmitting the voice mail to the automatic converter, and the terminal includes an automatic receiving means for detecting an incoming voice mail from the automatic exchange, and a receiver for receiving P and B signals from the automatic exchange. means, storage means for storing the output of the receiving means;
It is characterized by comprising display means for displaying the contents of the storage means either automatically or by manual instruction, and displaying the arrival time of the voice mail and the sender terminal number on the destination terminal. Voice mail system. (2) The voice mail system according to claim α), wherein the voice mail sender terminal is a single P8 telephone.