JPS61278260A - Terminal equipment for reserving automatically telephone call - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To attain quick, easy and accurate application of reservation by using a reservation card where reservation applicant ID information and opposite party telephone number information are stored. CONSTITUTION:A telephone automatic reservation terminal equipment 2 is connected to an external reservation registration device 1 of a medical agency via telephone line 3 and a repeater 4. The equipment 2 is connected to a telephone set 5 such as for each home or a public telephone set. The equipment 2 has a card loading slit 6 through which a reservation card RC is loaded. The reservation card RC stores reservation applicant ID information (clinic card number information) I1 and telephone number information I2 of an opposite medical agency. After the information such as the clinic card number information and the opposite telephone number information sent by the loading of the reservation card RC and the reservation applicant information sent by the operation of a keyboard 23 obtained from the equipment 2 is converted into a DTMF signal (analog signal), then the signal is outputted to the telephone line 3.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (Field of the Invention) The present invention is applicable to fields that require reservations, particularly medical institutions, hospital clinics, beauty salons, barber shops, hotels, etc.
The present invention relates to an automatic telephone reservation terminal that allows a reservation card to be used to automatically apply for a reservation using a telephone line to an external reservation registration machine installed in a "medical institution, etc." (hereinafter referred to as a "medical institution, etc.").

(Summary of the Invention) The present invention uses a reservation card in which reservation applicant ID information and destination telephone number information (i.e., card information) are stored, and includes a reservation card reader and an external reservation registration machine. a DTMF generator that converts the card information into a DTMF (Dual Tone Multiple Frequency) signal and sends it to the external reservation registration machine; and a DTMF generator that receives the DTMF signal sent from the external reservation registration machine. A DTMF receiver that converts into a digital signal, and a DTMF receiver that converts the signal into a digital signal.
An output unit that outputs the reservation information output from the MF receiver, stores card information, sends a connection signal to the telephone line, sends the destination phone number information based on dial tone detection, and detects an incoming signal. a processing control unit that transmits reservation application information based on the reservation information DTMF signal, transmits reservation applicant ID information based on reception of the reservation reception information DTMF signal, and outputs the reservation information based on reception of the reservation information DTMF signal. By automating the reservation application to an external reservation registration machine, it is possible to make a quick, easy, and accurate reservation application.

(Prior Art and its Problems) At current medical institutions, there are many cases in which reservation applicants go out in person and register for reservations at the counter.

However, I was told that the waiting time was 3 hours and the treatment took 3 minutes.
The psychological and physical pain of waiting is immeasurable.

There is also a telephone reservation system, but traditional telephone reservations are made on a one-on-one basis. In other words, call the other party's phone such as a medical institution using the button and handset of a button-type telephone, and in response to the reception of a reservation from the other party's phone, manually operate the button (key) to apply for a reservation. However, conventional examples having such a configuration have the following problems.

(i) To call the other party's telephone, the button must be manually operated. This operation is tedious and may result in entering the wrong phone number.

(ii) Even if you call the other party's telephone, if the other party's telephone is busy, you will have to hang up. If the call continues to be busy, you will have to change the line again and again.

(iii) In order to send the reservation applicant ID information to the external reservation registration machine, the user still has to manually operate the button, which is cumbersome and requires re-operation if a mistake is made. Sometimes it doesn't.

(iv) If the reservation applicant is a sick person, operating the button is extremely troublesome.

(Object of the Invention) The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides an automatic telephone reservation terminal that automates the reservation application to an external reservation registration machine and allows quick, easy, and accurate reservation applications. The purpose is to provide

(Configuration and Effects of the Invention) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has the following configuration.

That is, the automatic telephone reservation terminal of the present invention has a reservation applicant ID.
a reservation card reader that reads the reservation applicant ID information and the destination telephone number information from the reservation card storing the information and the destination telephone number information, and detects the dial tone and incoming call signal from the external reservation registration machine. a tone detection unit; a DTMF generator that individually converts the reservation applicant ID information 3 destination telephone number information and reservation application information into DTMF signals and sends them to the external reservation registration machine; a DTMF receiver that receives a DTMF signal of reservation reception information and reservation information transmitted to and converts it into a digital signal; an output section that outputs the reservation information output from the DTMF receiver; and a reservation card reading section that reads the reservation information. A reservation applicant [memorizes D information and destination phone number information, sends a connection signal to the telephone line, and connects the destination phone to the external reservation registration machine based on the dial tone detection operation by the tone detection section. The DTMF generator is instructed to send the number information, the DTMF generator is instructed to send the reservation application information to the external reservation registration machine based on the detection operation of the incoming signal by the tone detection section, and the DTMF receiver is instructed to send the reservation application information to the external reservation registration machine. Based on the reception of the reservation reception information DTMF signal from the external reservation registration machine, the D transmits the reservation applicant ID information to the external reservation registration machine.
and a processing control section that instructs a TMF generator and instructs the output section to output the reservation information based on the reception of the reservation information DTMF signal from the external reservation registration machine by the DTMF receiver.

The effects of this configuration are as follows.

When the reservation card is set in the reservation card reader, the reservation card reader reads the reservation applicant ID information and the other party's telephone number information. The processing control unit stores this information. Next, the processing control unit sends a connection signal to the telephone line, and the tone detection unit detects a dial tone indicating connection.

The processing control unit controls the transmission of destination telephone number information to the external reservation registration machine based on the dial tone detection operation.
Command the MF generator. The DTMF generator converts the destination telephone number information into DTM based on this command signal.
Convert it to an F signal and send it out.

The destination telephone number information arrives at the external reservation registration machine, and an incoming call signal is transmitted from the external reservation registration machine.

When the tone detection unit detects this incoming call signal, the processing control unit controls the transmission of the reservation application information to the external reservation registration machine.
Command the MF generator. The DTMF generator converts the reservation application information into DTMF based on this command signal.
Convert it to an F signal and send it out.

The reservation application information is received by the external reservation registration machine, and the reservation reception information DTMF signal is transmitted from the external reservation registration machine. When the DTMF receiver receives this reservation acceptance information DTMF signal, the processing control section instructs the DTMF generator to send the reservation applicant ID information to the external reservation registration machine. Based on this command signal, the DTMF generator converts the reservation applicant ID information into a DTMF signal and sends it out.

When the reservation applicant ID information is sent to the external reservation registration machine,
An external reservation registration machine executes reservation registration processing. After this execution, the external reservation registration machine transmits a reservation information DTMF signal indicating that reservation registration has been completed. When the DTMF receiver receives this reservation information DTMF signal, the processing control section instructs the output section to output the reservation information. Based on this command signal, the output unit outputs the reservation information to a display device or the like to notify the user.

From the above, according to the present invention, it is possible to automate the reservation application to the external reservation registration machine, and it is possible to make the reservation application quickly, easily, and accurately.

(Description of Examples) Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on examples shown in the drawings. Figures 1 and 2 relate to embodiments of the present invention; Figure 1 is a block diagram of an automatic telephone reservation terminal, and Figure 2 is a block diagram of the entire system including a perspective view of the automatic telephone reservation terminal. be.

First, the configuration shown in FIG. 2 will be explained.

An automatic telephone reservation terminal 2 according to the present invention is connected to an external reservation registration machine 1 in a medical institution via a telephone line 3 and a repeater 4. The automatic telephone reservation terminal 2 is connected to a telephone fi5 such as a telephone in each home or a public telephone.

The telephone 5 may be a push button type telephone or a dial pulse type telephone.

The automatic telephone reservation terminal 2 has a card insertion slot 6 into which a reservation card RC is inserted. Reservation card RC
The reservation applicant [D information (medical card number information) ++ and the other party's medical center telephone number information t-'1. It remembers things such as It. This reservation card RC may be a magnetic card or an IC card.

Next, FIG. 1 will be explained.

The automatic telephone reservation terminal 2 is provided with an automatic switching section 7 for selectively switching the connection between the telephone 5 and the telephone line 3 between the automatic telephone reservation terminal 2 and the telephone line 3. A line interface 8 is connected to the switching unit 7, and a tone detection unit 9 is connected to the line interface 8.

The tone detection section 9 detects dial tones, busy tones (busy), ringback tones (ringing) and incoming signals from the external reservation registration machine 1 and the automatic telephone reservation terminal 2.

The line interface 8 is also connected to a series circuit of a DTMF generator 10 and an amplifier 11, a dial pulse oscillator 12, and a series circuit of an amplifier 13 and a DTMF receiver 14.

Tone detection section 9. DTMF generator 10° dial pulse oscillator 12 and DTMF receiver 14
are respectively connected to the bus 15, and to this bus 15,
Microcomputer CPtJ (Central Processing Unit) 1
6. Program ROM17. RAM18. Reservation card reading section 19. Reservation card release control unit 20. Switching control section 21. A display device 22 and a keyboard 23 are connected.

The switching control section 21 is connected to the switching section 7.

A speaker 24 is connected to the keyboard 23.

Note that a piezoelectric buzzer or the like may be used instead of the speaker 24.

The amplifier 11 is for controlling the impedance of the DTMF signal output from the DTMF generator 10 with respect to the telephone line 3, and for optimizing the signal level. The amplifier 13 performs impedance matching with the telephone line 3 for the DTMF signal output to the DTMF receiver 14, and optimizes the signal level.

Consultation card number information sent from the automatic telephone reservation terminal m, 2 by inserting the reservation card RC]1. The other party's phone number is l1lI! Information such as reservation application information I and the like sent out by operating the keyboard 23 is a digital signal. The DTMF generator 10 converts this digital signal into D
After converting to TMF signal (analog signal), amplifier 1
1. The signal is configured to be output to the telephone line 3 via the switching section 7.

Further, reservation reception information (2) and reservation information I are input from the telephone line 3 to the DTMF receiver 14 via the line interface 8 and amplifier 13.

etc. are DTMF signals (analog signals). DTMF
The receiver 14 is configured to convert this DTMF signal into a digital signal and then send it to the CPU 16.

The reservation card reading section 19 is provided at the back of the card insertion slot 6, and reads from the inserted reservation card RC the medical examination card number information 1 and the destination phone number terminal I stored therein.
It reads n I 2.

A reservation card release control section 20 is also provided at the back of the card insertion slot 6, and discharges the inserted reservation card RC to the outside. Since its specific structure is well known, its explanation will be omitted.

The switching control unit 21 drives the switching unit 7 based on the output signal from the reservation card reading unit 19 to automatically switch the connection with the telephone line 3 from the telephone 5 to the automatic telephone reservation terminal 2. be.

The keyboard 23 inputs reservation application information II to the RAM 18.
This is to input I3.

The display device 22 displays reservation information such as the reservation number and the number of remaining treatments (or waiting time) outputted from the DTMF receiver 14, and constitutes the output section A in the configuration of the invention. .

CPU16. The program ROM 17 and RAM 18 constitute a processing control section B according to the configuration of the invention. This processing control section B executes sequence control and processing of information. Its detailed functions are as follows.

(1) The RAM 18 stores the consultation card number information (1) and the other party's telephone number information (2) read by the reservation card reader 19.

(21CP U i 6 sends out a signal for connection to the telephone line 3.

(3+cPLlI6 instructs the DTMF generator 10 to send the destination telephone number information!17r2 to the external reservation registration device 1 based on the dial tone detection operation by the tone detection unit 9.

(41 CPU 16 instructs DTMF generator 10 to send reservation application information l to external reservation registration machine l, based on the detection operation of the incoming signal by tone detection unit 9.

(5) Based on the DTMF signal of the reservation reception information I4 from the external reservation registration machine 1 by the DTMF receiver 14, the CPU 16 sends the consultation card number information to the external reservation registration machine.
, to the DTMF generator 10.

The +61 CPU 16 outputs the reservation information fit ■s to the output unit A (
display 'Al22).

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained based on the flowchart of FIG.

When the reservation card RC is inserted into the card insertion slot 6 in step (2), the switching control section 21 drives the switching section 7 to automatically switch the connection with the telephone line 3 from the telephone 5 to the automatic telephone reservation terminal 2. In step ■, the reservation card reading unit 19 reads out the consultation card number information 11 and the telephone number information ■2 of the destination medical institution from the reservation card RC, and the CPU
16 into the RAM 18.

In step (2), the CPU I G controls the line to an off-hook state based on the output signal from the reservation card reader 19, and connects the automatic telephone reservation terminal 2 and the repeater 4.

In step (2), it is determined whether or not the tone detection section 9 detects a dial tone. If telephone line 3 is abnormal, the answer is NO and the process moves to step ■ to turn on the line.
After controlling to the hooked state and disconnecting from the repeater 4, the process returns to step (2). If telephone line 3 is normal, determine YES and proceed to step ■, RAM],
DTM the medical institution's phone number information read from 8.
It is sent to the external reservation registration machine 1 via the F generator 10. In addition, in the case of a DTMF line, the DT
Telephone number information I2 is sent out using an MF signal, and in the case of a pulse dial line, the dial pulse oscillator 12 is driven to send out telephone number information I2 using a pulse signal.

Start the timer in step ■. In step (2), the tone detection section 9 determines whether there is a ringback tone (calling) from the external reservation registration device 1. YES
In this case, the process moves to step (3), and the tone detection unit 9 determines whether there is an incoming call signal from the external reservation registration device 1. If NO, the process moves to step [phase] and it is determined whether or not time amplification has been performed. In the case of YES, the process moves to step (2), and after executing the line disconnection process, it is determined in step 0 whether or not the process should be reprocessed. If No, in step 0, the reservation card discharge control section 20 is driven to discharge the reservation card RC from the card insertion slot 6. YES
In the case of (reprocessing), return to step ■.

If the determination in step 0 is NO, the process returns to step (2). If the determination in step (2) is NO, the process moves to step (2), where the tone detection section 9 determines whether or not there is a busy tone. If YES, the process moves to step (2) and line disconnection processing is executed. If NO, return to step [phase].

If there is an incoming signal as determined in step ■, go to step ■1.
Make multiple lines and resent the timer. D in step ゛[phase]
The TMF generator 10 is driven to send reservation application information 13 to the external reservation registration machine 1. This reservation application information I3 is also information indicating that the reservation is not a reservation made by a manual processing process, but an automatic reservation made from the automatic telephone reservation terminal 2.

Start the timer at step O, and D at step [phase].
"Reservation reception from external reservation registration machine 1 to TMF receiver 14" information 1. DTMF signal is present. If NO, it is determined whether or not time has elapsed in step [phase]. If NO, the process returns to step O, and if YES, the process returns to step (2) to execute line disconnection processing.

If it is determined in step [phase] that there is a DTMF signal of reservation reception information 4, the process moves to step [phase] and the timer is reset. DTMF generator 1 at step 0
0 is driven to send the medical card number information (■) to the external reservation registration machine 1.

The external reservation registration machine 1 compares the received medical card number information 1 with the registered medical card number, and if there is a corresponding one and a reservation can be made, executes a reservation registration process. Then, information on the reservation number and the number of remaining treatments (or waiting time), that is, reservation information 15, is sent to the automatic telephone reservation terminal 8!12.
Send to.

In the automatic telephone reservation terminal 2, a timer is started in step 0, and in step O, the DTMF receiver 14 determines whether a DTMF signal of reservation information I has been received. If NO, determine whether time amplification has been performed in step ■; if NO, return to step 0, and then
In the case of ES, the process returns to step (2) and the line disconnection process is executed.

If a DTMF signal of reservation information I is received in step 0, the timer is reset in step [phase], and it is determined whether there is a data error in step [phase]. If YES, the process returns to step (2) and the line disconnection process is executed. If no, move to step 0 and
Reservation information received by the TMF receiver 14, D
After performing predetermined processing on the TMF signal, the display device 22 is driven in step [phase] to display reservation information I, such as the reservation number and the number of remaining treatments (or waiting time).

In step 0, the speaker 24 is driven to notify that the reservation operation has been completed. Next, the program returns to step 0, executes the process of releasing the reservation card RC, and ends the program.

After releasing the reservation card RC, the switching control section 21 drives the switching section 7 to automatically switch the connection to the telephone line 3 from the automatic telephone reservation terminal 2 to the telephone 5.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 to 3 relate to embodiments of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an automatic telephone reservation terminal, FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of the entire system including a perspective view of the automatic telephone reservation terminal, Third
The figure is a flowchart. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...External reservation registration machine, 2...Telephone automatic reservation terminal, 9...Tone detection unit, 10...DTMF generator, ]4...DTMF receiver, 19...Reservation card reading Part, A...Output part, B...Processing control part, R
C...Reservation card

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A reservation card reader that reads the reservation applicant ID information and the destination telephone number information from the reservation card in which the reservation applicant ID information and the destination telephone number information are stored; and a dial from the external reservation registration machine. a tone detection unit that detects tones and incoming signals; a DTMF generator that individually converts the reservation applicant ID information, destination telephone number information, and reservation application information into DTMF signals and sends them to the external reservation registration device; a DTMF receiver that receives DTMF signals of reservation acceptance information and reservation information individually transmitted from the external reservation registration machine and converts them into digital signals; and an output section that outputs the reservation information output from the DTMF receiver; The reservation card reading section stores the reservation applicant ID information and the destination telephone number information, sends out a connection signal to the telephone line, and registers the external reservation based on the dial tone detection operation by the tone detection section. instructing the DTMF generator to send the destination telephone number information to the machine; and instructing the DTMF generator to send the reservation application information to the external reservation registration machine based on the detection operation of the incoming signal by the tone detection section; , the transmission of the reservation applicant ID information to the external reservation registration machine based on the reception of the reservation reception information DTMF signal from the external reservation registration machine by the DTMF receiver;
A processing control unit that instructs a TMF generator and instructs the output unit to output reservation information based on reception of a reservation information DTMF signal from the external reservation registration machine by the DTMF receiver. .