JPS6151818B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an answering machine system in which a telephone exchange is provided with a voice storage and reproduction processing device so that an answering machine service can be provided all at once on the exchange side.

Conventional answering machine systems include a centralized central office system as shown in FIG. 1, and an in-home system in which a home device consisting of an automatic answering device and a tape recorder is connected to a subscriber's telephone via a changeover switch.

In the centralized station installation system shown in FIG. 1, a dedicated area is provided on the magnetic drum 12 of the central office device 2 for subscribers who accept answering machine service, and information such as message patterns and contact numbers is registered in each area. , the registered area address information in the magnetic drum 12 of the information is registered for the subscriber in a translation device (not shown) in the exchange control unit 4, 20 of the terminal office 1, 14 accommodating the subscriber. For example, if the telephone 5-i housed in the terminal office 1 is a subscriber who is permitted to use the answering machine service, the start of the service is registered in the translation device by dialing a dedicated special number from the telephone 5-i. From now on, when there is an incoming call to the telephone 5-i, the exchange control unit 4 uses the translation device to identify that it is a registered subscriber of the answering machine service, and selects the registered area address information and the incoming call. For example, it is transferred to the central office device 2 via the trunk 8-1. The central office device control unit 11 includes a trunk 9-1 and a central office switch unit 10.
Based on the registered area address information added via It edits the response text and sends an answering message in response to an incoming call. In the same figure, 3 and 15 are call path switches, and 5-1 to 5
-n, 16-1 to 16-n are telephones, 6-1 to 6
-n, 17-1 to 17-n are local trunks, 7
-1 to 7-n, 18-1 to 18-n are incoming trunks, 8-1 to 8-n, 9-1 to 9-n, 19-1
~19-n is the trunk.

In the central station installation method, an answering message is sent out as described above, but since the answering message is created by editing the audio segments stored in the audio drum 13, it is difficult to provide the service. This system has the disadvantage that only certain types of standardized messages prepared by subscribers can be used, and also that messages from originating subscribers cannot be stored.

Furthermore, although the in-home installation system allows messages from calling subscribers to be stored, it has the drawback of forcing subscribers to bear the burden of maintaining the device and the financial burden of purchasing the device.

The present invention has improved the above-mentioned drawbacks, and its purpose is to eliminate the burden on subscribers.
To enable a calling subscriber to listen to voice messages from a registered subscriber of an answering machine service, and to store messages from the calling subscriber. Examples will be described in detail below.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a system implementing the present invention, in which 21-1 to 21-n are telephones, 22
23 is a communication path switch, 23 is an exchange control unit, and 24-
1 to 24-n are trunks, 25-1 to 25-n are bidirectional trunks, 26 is a voice storage and playback processing device control interface (hereinafter referred to as VSE control interface), 27 is a voice storage and playback processing device,
28 is a central control unit, 29 is a main storage device, 30 is a large-capacity file memory, 31-1 to 31-n are audio encoding/decoding units, 32-1 to 32-n are audio interfaces, and 33 is a switch control unit. Interface (hereinafter referred to as TDC control interface), 34 is a signal line. In addition, the exchange control unit 2
The translation device (not shown) in 3 has a storage area for answering machine service registration information indicating whether or not the subscriber is permitted to perform the answering machine service, corresponding to the subscriber terminal, and has a large capacity file memory 30. has a dedicated message registration area for subscribers who are allowed to perform the service, and also has a main memory 2.
9 stores message registration area address information in the large-capacity file memory of each permitted subscriber for each subscriber permitted to perform the service.

Now, if a dedicated special number requesting the start of the answering machine service is sent from the telephone 21-i that is permitted to implement the answering machine service, the exchange control unit 23 determines that the answering machine service start registration call is Based on information stored in the translation device (not shown), it is determined whether the message is from a terminal that is permitted to perform the service.
When it is determined that this start registration call is from a subscriber who is permitted to perform the service, the exchange control unit 23 controls the call path switch 22 and switches the telephone 2
For example, bidirectional trunk 25- with 2-i and empty selected.
1, and via the VES control interface 26, signal line 34, and TDC control interface 33 (hereinafter abbreviated as via the signal line 34) to the central control unit 28, the call is an initiated registration call. The connection information consisting of the call type indicating the call type, the calling party's telephone number, and the connection trunk number is sent. Based on the connection information, the central controller 28 connects the voice interface 32 corresponding to the bidirectional trunk 25-1.
-1. Voice guidance for the registration procedure is provided to the telephone 21-i via the voice encoding/decoding section 31-1.

A subscriber requesting registration for an answering machine service performs a registration operation according to the voice guidance. The answering machine message from the telephone 21-i is sent to the voice encoding/decoding section 31-1 via the communication path switch 22 and the two-way trunk 25-1, where it is converted into a PARCOR code,
It is converted into a digital code such as a PCM code, and is applied to the central control unit 28 via the audio interface 32-1. The central control unit 28 stores the digital information of this answering message in the message registration area assigned to the telephone 21-i of the large-capacity file memory 30. In this case, the central control device 28 refers to the main storage device 29 based on the calling party's telephone number included in the connection information, and retrieves the storage location information of the message registration area assigned to the telephone 21-i. This must be determined in advance. When the completion of the registration of the answering message is confirmed by, for example, an on-hook signal, the central control unit 28 notifies the exchange control unit 23 of this via the signal line 34 and restores the system. When the exchange control section 23 receives this notification, it registers in an internally provided translation device that the telephone 21-i is currently providing an answering machine service.

From now on, for telephone 21-i, trunk 2
4-1 to 24-n or via telephone 21-i.
When there is an incoming call from a subscriber telephone other than the telephone 21-i (the case where the incoming call is received via the trunk 24-1 will be explained below), the exchange control unit 23 searches the translation device and sends the telephone 21-i to the answering machine. Check whether telephone service is in operation. telephone 2
1-i confirms that the answering machine service is in operation, the exchange control unit 23 seizes an empty trunk among the two-way trunks 25-1 to 25-n, for example, the two-way trunk 25-1, and sends the next one. connection information consisting of the call type indicating that the call is an incoming answering machine call, the registered subscriber telephone number (the telephone number of the telephone 21-i), and the connection trunk number is sent to the central control unit 28 via the signal line 34. do.

Having received the connection information, the central control unit 28 refers to the main storage device 29 to prepare for sending a message, such as finding the address of the message registration area where the corresponding answering message is stored, and when the preparation for sending is completed, the signal line is Switch control unit 2 via 34
3, the connection preparation completion information is sent. When the exchange control section 23 receives the connection preparation completion information, it controls the communication path switch 22 and connects the trunk 24-1 and the bidirectional trunk 25-1. After a certain period of time has passed since the connection preparation completion signal was sent, the central controller 2
8 is a telephone 21- with a large capacity file memory 30;
The answering message stored in the i-compatible message registration area can be sent to the voice interface 32.
-1, voice encoding/decoding unit 31-1, bidirectional trunk 25-1, communication path switch 22, trunk 2
4-1 to the calling subscriber.

After sending the answering message, the central processing unit 8 sends the voice interface 32-1, voice encoding/decoding unit 31-1, bidirectional trunk 25-1,
A voice guidance indicating that it is ready to receive a message is sent to the trunk 24-1 via the communication path switch 32, and after that, a certain period of message reception timing is set, and the message sent via the trunk 24-1 is received. It is stored in the area of the large capacity file memory 30 corresponding to the telephone 21-i. During this message receiving service,
When trunk 24-1 is disconnected, switch control unit 2
3 confirms these, restores the communication path between the trunk 24-1 and the two-way trunk 25-1, and sends a disconnection order to the central controller 28 via the signal line 34. If the central control unit 28 receives a disconnection order before entering the message reception timing, it will inform the main memory that there is no message, and if it receives a disconnection order during the message reception timing, it will inform the main memory that there is a message. 29 in the area corresponding to the telephone 21-i, and then adds recovery information and information indicating the presence or absence of a message to the exchange control unit 23 via the signal line 34, thereby recovering itself. Also, trunk 24-
1 does not disconnect, when the message reception timing ends, the central control device 8 stores the fact that there is a message in the area corresponding to the telephone 21-i of the main storage device 29, and then transmits the message to the exchange via the signal line 34. Recovery information and information indicating that there is a message are added to the control unit 23, and recovery is performed.

Upon receiving the recovery information and the information indicating the presence or absence of a message from the central control unit 28, the exchange control unit 23 recovers the bidirectional trunk 25-1 and sets the trunk 24-1 to a busy tone trunk (not shown).
At the same time, information indicating the presence or absence of a message is stored in an area corresponding to the telephone 21-i of a translation device (not shown) provided therein. From then on,
A similar process is performed for an incoming call request to the telephone 21-i, and the message is linked and saved. When the number of messages accumulated in the large-capacity file memory 30 reaches a predetermined amount, the central control unit 28 sends connection rejection information to subsequent connection request calls from the exchange control unit 23, and sends connection rejection information to the exchange control unit 23. 2
3, upon receiving the connection refusal information, performs control to send a ring tone to the telephone set 21-i by normal incoming call control.

When a dedicated special number requesting reproduction of a message is sent from the telephone 21-i, the exchange control unit 23 confirms that the call is from a subscriber who allows answering machine service, and then switches the call path switch 22.
, and connects the telephone 21-i and the audio storage and playback processing device 27 via the communication path switch 22 and an empty selected two-way trunk 25-1,
Next, to the central controller 28 via the signal line 34,
Connection information consisting of the call type indicating that the call is a message reproduction request call, the calling party's telephone number (in this case, the telephone number of the telephone 21-i), and the connecting trunk number is transmitted.

Upon receiving this connection information, the central control device 28 searches the area of the main storage device 29 corresponding to the telephone 21-i based on the caller's telephone number, and checks whether there is a message. If there is a message, central control unit 2
8 is a telephone 21- with a large capacity file memory 30;
Read the message from the i-compatible area and press the telephone 21-
i, a voice interface 32-1, a voice encoding/decoding unit 31-1, a bidirectional trunk 25-1,
The message sent via the communication path switch 22 is erased from the large capacity file memory 30.
A subscriber using a pushphone can also request that messages be kept by pressing the function button "#" or "*". In this case, when the exchange control unit 23 identifies that the function button has been pressed, it sends a message to this effect to the central control unit 28 via the signal line 34 and requests that the message be retained.

In addition, if there is no message, the central control device 28
Voice guidance to that effect will be sent to the voice interface 32.
1. It is sent to the telephone 21-i via the voice encoding/decoding unit 31-1, the bidirectional trunk 25-1, and the communication path switch 22.

If the telephone 21-i is turned off while the message is being retrieved, the same recovery process as described above when receiving an answering machine call is performed, but the central control unit 28
Messages sent before receiving the disconnection order from the exchange control unit 23 are deleted from the large-capacity file memory 30, and messages that have not been sent, including messages that have only been partially sent, are saved. Furthermore, even if the telephone 21-i is not turned on-hook, the central control unit 28 adds recovery information to the exchange control unit 23 via the signal line 34 after a certain period of time has passed after sending out all messages, and automatically will also be restored. When the exchange control unit 23 receives the restoration information, it restores the bidirectional trunk 25-1 and connects a busy tone trunk (not shown) to the telephone 21-i.

Next, the case of canceling the implementation of the answering machine service will be explained. When a dedicated special number requesting cancellation of the answering machine service is sent from the telephone 21-i which is implementing the answering machine service, the exchange control unit 23 receives this and determines that the telephone 21-i is implementing the answering machine service. It is determined whether there is a message or not by referring to an internal translation device (not shown).

If it is confirmed that telephone 21-i is running an answering machine service and there is a message,
The exchange control unit 23 connects the telephone 21-i to an empty selected two-way trunk 25-1, for example, and executes an answering machine service stored in the area corresponding to the telephone 21-i of the translation device (not shown). The information indicating the presence or absence of registration and messages is erased, and then the call type and caller telephone number (in this case, Telephone 21-
i's telephone number) and the connection trunk number. When the central control unit 28 receives this connection information, it sends the message stored in the large-capacity file memory 30 to the telephone 21-i in the same manner as when retrieving the message described above, and erases the sent message. . However, in this case, even if the central control unit 28 receives a disconnection order from the exchange control unit 23 while the message is being sent, it erases all messages stored in the large-capacity file memory 30. After erasing all the messages stored in the large-capacity file memory 30, the central control unit 28 sends recovery information to the exchange control unit 23 via the signal line 34 to restore the system. This results in
The exchange control unit 23 connects the telephone 21-i to a tone trunk (not shown) and notifies the telephone 21-i that the answering machine service registration has been canceled.

Also, when it is confirmed that telephone 21-i is using answering machine service and there are no messages,
The exchange control unit 23 erases the answering machine service implementation registration and the information indicating the presence or absence of a message stored in the area corresponding to the telephone 21-i of the translation device (not shown) provided therein, and then Then, the communication path switch 22 is controlled to connect the telephone 21-i to a tone trunk (not shown), and notify the telephone 21-i that the answering machine service registration has been canceled.

In the embodiment, messages received while the user is away from the office are listened to from a telephone that is allowed to have an answering machine service, but messages are also listened to from a telephone that is not allowed to have an answering machine service. This is also possible, for example, as described below. In other words, if you want to listen to a message from a telephone that does not allow answering machine service, dial the telephone number of the telephone that allows answering machine service in addition to the designated special number. If a telephone number is sent to the central control unit 28, the exchange control unit 23 sends the connection information consisting of the telephone number, the call type indicating that the call is a message playback request call, and the connection trunk number.
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As explained above, the present invention includes a registration means (in the embodiment, the exchange control unit 23 and a translation device) for registering and canceling an answering machine service in an exchange, and a voice storage and playback processing device. Messages from registered subscribers of the answering machine service are stored in the voice storage and playback processing device, and the messages stored in the voice storage and playback processing device are sent to the outgoing subscriber who made a call to the registered subscriber of the answering machine service, and the message is sent to the voice storage and playback processing device. Messages from subscribers are stored in the voice storage and playback processing device, and the messages are played back and sent out in response to a playback request from a subscriber registered with the answering machine service, so there is no need to impose an economic burden on the subscriber. This system has the advantage that the subscriber's voice message can be heard by the originating subscriber, and the message from the originating subscriber can also be heard.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining the conventional system, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a system implementing the system of the present invention. 1, 14 are terminal stations, 2 is central station equipment, 3, 15,
22 is a communication path switch, 4, 20, 23 are exchange control units, 5-1 to 5-n, 16-1 to 16-n,
21-1 to 21-n are telephones, 6-1 to 6-n,
17-1~17-n are trunks within your own station, 7-1~
7-n, 18-1 to 18-n are incoming trunks, 8-
1-8-n, 9-1-9-n, 19-1-19-
24-1 to 24-n are trunks, 10 is a central office switch section, 11 is a central office device control, 12 is a magnetic drum, 13 is an audio drum, 25 is a bidirectional trunk, 26 is a VSE control interface, 27
28 is a voice storage and playback processing device; 28 is a central control device;
29 is a main storage device, 30 is a large capacity file memory, 31-1 to 31-n are audio encoding/decoding units,
32-1 to 32-n are audio interfaces, 3
3 is a TDC control interface, and 34 is a signal line.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A switchboard is provided with a registration means for registering and canceling the answering machine service, and a voice storage and playback processing device, and the voice storage and playback processing device and the voice mailing service are registered and subscribed to the answering machine service. Messages from the subscriber are stored, and when an incoming call to the subscriber is received, the voice storage and playback processing device is connected to the originating subscriber by referring to the registration means. The voice storage and playback processing device reproduces and transmits messages stored by the registered subscriber of the answering machine service to the subscriber, stores messages from the calling subscriber, and responds to a playback request from the registered subscriber of the answering machine service. An answering machine system that is characterized by reproducing and transmitting messages from calling subscribers that have been stored in the system.