KR20010040284A - A method and system for automatic answering and recording of messages in a telephone system - Google Patents

Abstract

In the automatic answering method in the telephone system, an incoming call from the calling party A is detected at the answering subscriber terminal B (201; 301; 401; 501). The code is then detected (302; 402, 403; 503, 504) and the voice message is played back by the responding subscriber station B according to the code (202; 303; 409, 410; 502).

Description

A METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATIC ANSWERING AND RECORDING OF MESSAGES IN A TELEPHONE SYSTEM}

Background Art [0002] Modern telephone systems or telecommunication networks consist of three types of general equipment, namely, termination equipment, transmission equipment, and switching equipment. Next, each of these three kinds of devices includes a number of subcatagories or technologies. For example, terminal equipment includes telephone sets, wiring, and other components as well as recording, answering, and voice mail equipment. In addition, both public and private networks are available.

Various subscriber services are provided to the telephone system. These services are available for public switched telephone networks as well as mobile telephone networks such as GSM systems. According to the basic calling procedure, a useful service called "Call Waiting (CW)" is provided to the subscriber while the communication channel is not available for incoming call, i.e. while the subscriber is already busy. The incoming call can be notified. The subscriber can then accept or reject the incoming call or ignore it. This service works when subscriber B's communication channel is unavailable, that is, when B is communicating with subscriber A. When the calling party C, which is a third party, attempts to make a call to subscriber B, the subscriber B receives the appropriate instructions for the incoming call notification. In addition, a notification is sent back to the calling party C that the call is on standby. In general, the maximum number of calls that can be queued simultaneously is one. Thus, while one call is waiting, no further call is provided to subscriber B. If either subscriber A or subscriber B requests termination of the call, it ends as a basic call. Then, when subscriber B is notified that there is a new call, the network provides subscriber C with an indication, such as a ring tone, in a regular call. Before the timeout set to 0.5 to 2 minutes ends, B can accept C's call. However, Subscriber B can also use another service called “Call Hold”, where Subscriber B makes the pending call from Subscriber C before the timeout ends. I can accept it.

In another case, subscriber B may release or suspend the connection to subscriber A to accept the pending call from subscriber C.

The call on hold service allows subscriber B to interrupt the currently called communication and then reestablish the communication if desired. If the call is in a held state, the subscriber can retrieve the held call, set up another call, or hang up the held call. If a subscriber is connected to an active call and put another call on hold, the subscriber can change from one call to another, hang up the held call, or hang up both calls. have.

However, if the subscriber cannot respond immediately or does not want to respond, but wants to leave a message to the calling subscriber, none of the above services are suitable for situations where the subscriber is called during a meeting or similar activity.

In this situation, a conventional telephone answering machine can be used. However, no matter who calls it, you can leave only one general message to all callers.

Another service is available in the prior art system, where the subscriber can press a key on the telephone to generate a busy tone that is sent to the calling party.

In various situations, the solution is insufficient and the subscriber cannot be satisfied.

The present invention relates to a method and system for automatic answering and message recording in a telephone system.

1 is a schematic diagram of a communication network;

2 is a flow diagram of a general embodiment of a voice response service in accordance with the present invention.

3 is a flow diagram of a first preferred embodiment of a voice response service in accordance with the present invention.

4 is a flow chart of a second preferred embodiment of a voice response service in accordance with the present invention.

5 is a flow chart of a third preferred embodiment of a voice response service in accordance with the present invention.

The present invention aims at a new service that can satisfy subscribers in the situation described above or in a similar situation. This is achieved using a service where the calling party receives a suitable voice message operated by the called party or the subscriber terminal itself.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a designated message to different persons. This is done by identifying the calling party's telephone number, which, depending on the number, causes the system to play a predetermined voice message, a general message, or continue to indicate that the telephone has an incoming call.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a mode in which a calling party receives a voice message, wherein the voice message is informed that the called subscriber is still on the call by entering an identification code although the called subscriber is busy. It includes.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a preprogrammed telephone number code hierarchy. For example, Level 1 may be passed by all subscribers, Level 2 may be passed by coworkers and family, Level 3 may be passed by boss, secretary and family, and Level 4 may be passed by family respectively.

Another optional object of the present invention is to provide two different numbers with separate hierarchies, for example, the first level corresponds to all friends, the second level corresponds to the family and the boss and the secretary, and the third level. Is assigned a personal number for family only and a work number as described above.

Another optional object of the present invention is to provide a voice message recording function together with other functions of the present invention.

The advantages of the present invention appear when a subscriber is in a meeting and is unlikely or does not want to answer an incoming call but wants to leave a message of the calling party. In accordance with the present invention, the subscriber can control who can or cannot access him in a suitable and just manner.

In order to explain the present invention in more detail, to explain the advantages and features of the present invention, preferred embodiments will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The present invention relates to an automatic answering method in a telephone system, which enables a subscriber to answer an incoming call, thereby recording a message left by the calling party.

1 is a schematic diagram of a communication network or telephone system. Conventional communication networks include three types of general purpose devices: terminal devices such as conventional telephones A, B, C and D and / or mobile telephones E and F, and physical links 1, 2, 3 and 4 In addition, it is composed of a transmission device represented by a network cloud 5 and a switching device such as a switch 6.

In the following description, a mobile communication network or telephone system is used as an example of a network and is not intended to be limited to the concept. Accordingly, the network may include terminal devices (such as: computer terminals, facsimile machines, video conferences, etc.), switching devices (: PBXs), and transmission devices (e.g., wireless networks such as cellular networks, satellite communications networks, and local area networks). It may be provided.

Telephone systems and switching equipment in particular provide different kinds of services. In order to support the new service according to the present invention, the system must support conventional telephone services, such as regular telephone call setup and disconnection, and prior art services, which in some embodiments are called hold services.

Further, the system according to the present invention further comprises means for reproducing a voice message, means for placing an incoming call on hold, means for detecting a telephone number of a calling party terminal, means for checking whether a current number is authorized to pass. Means for reproducing a predetermined voice message according to the detected telephone number, means for detecting a predetermined key sequence input on a voice subscriber terminal, means for detecting a code input on a calling subscriber terminal, calling Means for establishing a connection between the subscriber station and the responding subscriber station, means for disconnecting the connection, and / or means for recording a voice message, all of which are included in the network or in the terminal device. However, not all of these means need to be available at the same time in the system.

In the method according to the invention, subscriber A makes a telephone call to subscriber B, who is in a conference and is unlikely to answer an incoming call and does not want to do so, I want to leave a message. Appropriate steps for the method according to the invention are described by the flowchart voice response 200 of FIG. In a first step 201, subscriber B finds an incoming call using a ring signal and a light signal on the telephone. The voice message is played back in step 202 according to some conditions which will be described later, where subscriber A receives a predetermined message such as "leave message after waiting or otherwise a tone has occurred". If no message is recorded in step 202 ', the call from subscriber A is put on hold in step 203. In step 204, subscriber B can then establish a connection with subscriber A within a prescribed time controlled by the timeout. Finally, in step 205 the connection is disconnected in the usual manner, and in step 206 the sequence ends. However, if a message is recorded in step 202 ', the telephone call is completed by an on-hook action from subscriber A in step 206.

A first preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention is shown in FIG. 3. The voice response 300, which is the method of the above embodiment, begins at step 301 by detecting an incoming call at subscriber B. If subscriber B finds an incoming call and does not want the subscriber to answer the call, for example during a meeting, enter a key sequence at step 302. As a result, the pre-recorded voice message is played in step 303, such as "leave message after waiting or otherwise a tone has occurred". If no message is recorded in step 303 ', the call from subscriber A is put on hold in the next step 304. Subscriber B, at step 305, ends the conference and picks up the call (off hook) to establish a connection between A and B. At the end of the call, both subscribers A and B hang up to disconnect at step 306 and the method is completed at step 307.

4 is a flowchart showing a second preferred embodiment of a voice response service according to the present invention. In the above embodiment, messages specified for different persons are provided. This is done by identifying the telephone number of the calling party, and according to the number the system plays a predetermined voice message, a general purpose message, or keeps indicating that the telephone has an incoming call.

The voice response 400, which is the method of the above embodiment, begins at step 401 by detecting an incoming call at subscriber B. In step 402, the telephone number of the calling party A is identified, and in step 403 it is checked whether the current number is authorized to pass. If the answer is yes, the subscriber B phone continues to display the incoming call at step 404. When subscriber B finishes the meeting and retrieves the call at step 405, a connection is established between A and B. At the end of the call, the subscribers A and B both hang up and the connection is disconnected in step 406, and the method is completed in step 407 as described above.

If it is determined in step 403 that the current number is not authorized to pass, then in step 408 the number is compared with a list of numbers, where each number is associated with a predetermined voice message. If the number is in the list, in step 409 the system plays back a predetermined voice message associated with the current number. Both voice messages played back in steps 409 and 410 include a message to leave a message. Thus, proceeding from step 409 or 410, a check is made to determine whether to leave a response message, if so, the response message is recorded (410 '), and then from subscriber A to a non-responsive state operation. If no message is left at all, the incoming call is placed on hold at step 411. As described, subscriber B retrieves the call at step 405, a connection is established between A and B, disconnects at step 406, and the method is completed at step 407.

The operation in step 402 is performed manually by the subscriber B himself using a "number indicator". In addition to the inspection in step 403, the comparison in step 408 can also be made manually. Therefore, the relevant voice message is reproduced by inputting a predetermined key sequence.

In another alternative embodiment to the embodiment described in Figure 4, a telephone number hierarchy is provided: 1. Pass all subscribers, 2. Pass peers and family, 3. Boss, secretary, and family pass, 4 Provided through family passage.

In a third embodiment of the method according to the invention, subscriber A makes a telephone call to subscriber B and proceeds according to the voice response 500 which is the flowchart of FIG. In step 501, subscriber B finds an incoming call using a ringing signal or a luminous signal on the telephone, and in step 502 a voice message is played, where subscriber A says, "I am on a call. Please wait or enter your identification code ". In step 503, a code input by the subscriber A is detected. In step 504, the code may be compared to an authorized code list, and if the code is allowed, in step 504 'a message may be left and a non-response state action from subscriber A may be performed, or the call This may proceed to step 505. Next, in step 505, a connection is established between subscriber B and subscriber A within the prescribed time adjusted to time out in step 506. Finally, at step 507 the connection is disconnected in the usual manner, and at step 508 the sequence ends. Of course, the message melting function may be integrated in step 502.

If the code is not allowed, the call from subscriber A is put on hold in step 509. The method then continues to steps 506 and 507 and ends at step 508.

Thus, subscriber A is not necessarily placed on hold in any embodiment of the present invention.

In addition, at any time during the method of the present invention, the subscriber may use the non-response state operation to force the method to terminate.

It is clear that the present invention provides a novel method and system for telephone system answering that fully meets the objects and advantages described above. While the present invention has been described in connection with certain embodiments, it is to be understood that this disclosure is intended to illustrate the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiments described above, and the invention will be in various forms. It is also possible in the embodiment of.

In another alternative embodiment of the embodiment described in FIG. 5, the code hierarchy for a preprogrammed telephone number (1. pass all subscribers, 2. pass peers and family, 3. boss, secretary and family pass, and 4. Family Pass) may be provided.

In another alternative embodiment of the present invention, the telephone includes two different telephone numbers with separate hierarchies, for example, the first tier corresponds to both friends, the second tier corresponds to the family and the boss and the secretary, The third tier has a personal number for family only and a work-related phone number as described above.

Accordingly, the present invention is intended to embrace all such options, modifications, and variations that fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (4)

In the automatic answering method in the telephone system, the incoming answering call from the calling party terminal A is detected at the answering subscriber terminal B (401). Detecting 402 a telephone number of the calling party terminal A; Checking whether the current number is authorized to pass (403), If it is authorized to pass, continue displaying the incoming call (404); if not, according to the number (403, 408), playing the predetermined voice message containing information to leave a response message (409, 410); And, Recording a response message (410 ') if left, and if not leaving a response message, placing the incoming call on hold (411). In the automatic answering method in the telephone system, the incoming call from the calling party terminal A is detected at the answering subscriber terminal B (301). Detecting (302) a predetermined key sequence input to the responding subscriber station (B), Reproducing (303) a predetermined voice message including information for leaving a response message according to the key sequence 302; and Recording a response message if left (303 ') and leaving the incoming call on hold (304) if not leaving a response message (FIG. 3). An automatic answering method in a telephone system, the automatic answering method in the case where an incoming call from the calling party terminal A is detected at the answering subscriber terminal B (501), Detecting a code input to the calling party terminal A (503), Playing (502) the voice message at the responding subscriber station (B); Detecting a code (503), Checking whether the code is allowed (504), If not allowed, placing the incoming call on hold (509), If allowed, checking whether to leave a response message (504 '), Recording a response message if left 504 '(FIG. 5), and if not leaving a response message, continuing to display incoming calls (505). The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, Establishing a connection (305; 405; 506), and And (306; 406; 507) to disconnect the connection.