SE501297C2 - Memory appts. for telephone exchange system - records basic call data in one memory and full conversation data in another, and allows for rapid recovery of basic identification data - Google Patents

Abstract

The telephone exchange system includes memories to record details of calls received. The exchange unit (3) is connected to a telecommunications network (1). The exchange has a switch (4) which directs calls to operators (8) on some basis. All calls are identified (31) either via an identification signal or by keypad entry or by the operators. Two memories (32,33) are provided. One of the memories records the identification data, time stamp and full conversation. The other memory records less data such as identification and time. The memories can be searched to retrieve information.

Description

501 297 _ 2 _ transfer between calling and called, such as a voice connection.

It is well known in the art that an incoming line can be an outgoing line and vice versa, and the following description is intended to, for simplification and clarification purposes, only deal with a coupling case in one direction, from a calling A- subscriber to a called B-subscriber, exemplified as a telephone operator.

Furthermore, a division of initiated and executed signal generation from each call is required in; Call; (including a signal configuration significant for controlling a connection to a selected called extension (B) or subscriber, such as a telephone operator, message transmission; (voice signals) and end signal; (the caller or caller takes an action to end the call, such as hang up).

PREVIOUS STANDARD OF TECHNOLOGY.

Telephone exchanges and in particular subscriber exchanges, of the above-mentioned nature, are previously known in a number of different embodiments.

As an example can be mentioned a subscriber exchange marketed under the name MDll0, by LM Ericsson, Stockholm, Sweden.

There are also previously known different units, intended to register each, to each of a plurality of telephone operators or the like, incoming calls and calls. _ 3 - 5Û1 297 A previously known unit, of a related type, is based on the use of a multi-channel tape recorder, where each telephonist-associated transmission device is assigned a channel.

The tape recorder is so controlled that it is switched on to band signal reception during incoming calls to one of the operators and its switching device. If only one operator is in call mode, only one channel, of all available, will band the signal information and / or voice transmission, while the band of other channels remains empty.

If during this call an additional call is received to a vacant operator, this additional call is taped at the same time as the current one on its assigned call and call.

Only when all telephone operators become available does the tape recorder stop, which is connected again at a subsequent call.

A practical application example may be that a vacant telephone operator employed by a security company is instructed by a calling A-subscriber to disconnect certain selected and previously ordered monitoring functions within certain selected times, in order to thereby prevent false alarms, such as vibration alarms during notified times for blasting, at an adjacent road construction.

Should a burglary or damage subsequently occur, within these selected times, claims for compensation could perhaps be directed at the security company, which must then "prove" that they have received and executed an order unequivocally submitted over the telephone regarding a desired and executed disconnection of the surveillance during an agreed time and within defined time sections.

In the case of a previously known and above-described multi-channel tape recorder, the proof of the order placed will be 501 297 -4- stored on some channel on some tape. It is further uncertain whether the stored message really contains binding information for the order made by the caller.

Without a prior precise identification capability of each call or call, such a search becomes very time consuming, especially if several taped calls have taken place in parallel. This requires a channel-by-channel listening.

The prior art also includes the embodiment of connecting a single-channel tape recorder for each operator, which is adapted to be switched on during calls and switched off at the end signal.

This known technology requires a complete tape recorder per operator.

The invention can be considered to constitute a further development of the unit shown and described in the Swedish patent application no. 93 00453-9. PRESENT INVENTION TECHNICAL PROBLEM Considering the previous state of the art, as described above and considering the content of the above-mentioned Swedish patent application, it should be considered a technical problem to be able to easily find means in a subscriber exchange with simple means. evaluate, identify and easily store each incoming call and subsequent call to one of several available operators or operators.

It would be a technical problem to be able to create a gate or the like in a telephone exchange with simple means, the signal structure of which is accessible outside the exchange and is connectable to an external unit, where signal structures must in any case be able to offer a identification of the current and calling A-subscriber, an identification of the current and called B-subscriber (telephone operator), a storage of exchanged messages, such as calls, and an identification of an executed disconnection of the call in a known manner.

In addition, it should be considered a technical problem to realize in the specified application the importance of and the advantages of programming the switching equipment so that each operator call is to be connected to said port or the like and received by a unit connected to the port, which is adapted to be able to identify and register the above criteria, and to forward the call back to the gate, in order to get in touch with a vacant operator via a set of switches made in the exchange equipment.

It then becomes a technical problem to be able to realize the advantages associated with being able to use such subscriber exchanges, with an interface intended for another exchange equipment, whereby necessary information is obtained via said interface regarding all calls to each operator, etc., if the exchange The functions in this respect are adapted to connect each incoming call, initiating a call connection with a free telephone operator, to the interface, to be received in a unit connected to the interface and by this unit the call is fed back to the subscriber exchange, via said interface, for direct voice contact. with a vacant operator.

There is a technical problem in being able to realize that a unit, of the type indicated at the outset, can be easily adapted to mainly handle calls in an assigned manner, intended only for a vacant operator or operator.

There is a technical problem in being able to realize the possibilities that can be offered in this regard with regard to A-subscriber identification or other identification of callers as well as an identification of a selected vacant operator. 501 297 -e- In addition, it is a technical problem to be able to realize the alternative possibilities, which can be built into said unit to obtain an A-subscriber identification satisfactorily, either via the function and structure of the telephone system with an A-number identification accompanying each call, or with a DTMF signaling via a device-associated keypad or by means of a verbal confirmation, identification and storage.

THE SOLUTION The present invention now provides a solution, to one or more of the above-mentioned technical problems, by starting from a unit connected to a telephone exchange, where the unit must be able to register each, to each of a number of telephone operators or the like, incoming calls, with respect to i.a. on A-subscriber identification, B-subscriber identification, exemplified as telephone operator identification, call, call or message transmission, exemplified as call and end signal, where the telephone exchange has a first number, with a telecommunication system or network interoperable, incoming calls assigned to a line or similar, and second number, telephone operator or similar associated transmission apparatus or similar assigned, wires or the like, as well as a control unit and a switching unit or core, through which a signal information, occurring on a, the first number belonging to, line, is interpreted to connect said line, with one, the second number belonging to it, line for establishing a message transmission, exemplified as a voice connection or a call.

In such a telephone exchange, the present invention now utilizes the peculiarity that every incoming call to a telephone operator must be evaluable, as regards its identity, that a line intended for the call and selected to a telephone operator or the like must be evaluable, as regards its identity. and that the complete message transmission in both directions between caller and operator is storable. At each time section, only the message transmissions active during said time sections are sensed and stored, and that each message transmission can be stored within a system with simple search functions.

The invention indicates that the required functions within the exchange, at least with regard to a call forwarding of a call to a free telephone operator, are so coordinated that the connection takes place to a port, to which said unit is connected and further that via the port is A-subscriber identification, B- subscriber identification, current message transmission and required end signal indication evaluable.

As proposed embodiments, falling within the scope of the present invention, it is indicated that said unit should be connected to an interface belonging to a subscriber exchange, intended for a connection to another subscriber exchange or exchange equipment.

As further proposed embodiments, it is indicated that said interface is standardized, in order to be able to transmit to said second subscriber exchange each incoming call for an activation of internal exchange functions, and in a connected unit according to the invention, which does not require all the information available therein, each incoming calls intended for a telephone operator activate unit internal functions and switching means for controlling the call through said unit, and activate unit internal functions for forwarding the call to a selected and available telephone operator and present means for registering, e.g. caller subscriber identity and selected operator and message transmission performed in both directions.

As proposed embodiments, it is further indicated that in a first memory it is storable, e.g. incoming call identity and position as well as the entire message and in another memory a smaller storage amount can be stored, e.g. incoming 501 297 -s- call identity and preferably the time for this and its position.

The invention further provides, as proposed embodiments, that the first memory shall be a tape recorder, for recording and playback of digital signals.

In the second memory is storable an additional specific information, regarding the position of the message within the first memory.

ADVANTAGES The advantages that can mainly be considered to be associated with a unit connected to a switch, in accordance with the present invention, is that this has created conditions for using simple means and in the unit to find opportunities to evaluate and identify each incoming call to one of several available or available telephone operators, by using an exchange-associated port or such subscriber exchanges with an interface intended for another exchange equipment. to which device the device is connected. The required information for the unit, obtained via the said interface, consists of A-subscriber identification, a B-subscriber (a telephone operator's) identification, the message exchange and a final signal.

It is hereby instructed that the functions of the exchange shall forward each call to said port or interface to which the unit is connected, the unit linking the call back to said port or interface on another channel, which within the exchange is forwarded to a vacant operator. --__ - ___-_____ What can primarily be considered as characteristic of a unit connected to a gear unit, in accordance with the present invention, is stated in the characterizing part of the following claim 1. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A presently proposed embodiment, of a subscriber exchange and a unit connected to the subscriber exchange, will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 shows in block diagram form the basic structure of the invention, utilization they a subscriber exchange with an interface to another subscriber exchange, figure 2 shows an example of a structuring of the contents of a proposed storage method and figure 3 shows in block diagram form a unit according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NOW PROPOSAL u-rnmmcsl- * onn With reference to the attached drawing figure 1, there is in principle a telecommunication system 1, with only one system-associated and calling subscriber A.

The telecommunication system 1 consists of a number of connections 2 in cooperation with a subscriber exchange 3, which schematically has a selector core 4 and a control unit 5, containing a processor or computer unit.

In a known manner, the computer unit 5 controls the interconnection of the incoming core 4 of each incoming call to a desired extension or vacant operator.

The subscriber exchange 3 therefore has a number of outgoing connections, where one is assigned the reference numeral 6 and is shown cooperating with a called extension B. 501 297 - 10 - The subscriber exchange 3 further has a number of connections or connections, where one is assigned the reference numeral 7, each associated to a switching device, such as 8, belonging to a telephone operator or other operator.

The invention comprises or directs an utilization of a special unit 30 and it is shown in figure 1 connected to an interface 3a belonging to a exchange 3, which is actually intended for and connectable to another subscriber exchange.

Said interface 3a is standardized with regard to the orientation of the contacts and the signal protocol in order to be able to transmit to such a second subscriber exchange any internal information which the second exchange unit requires in order to be able to perform its function.

In the present case, it is sufficient to use only a part of the available information, namely that which becomes related to each incoming call intended for a vacant operator.

The information required here is primarily a) a correct and securely verifiable A-subscriber identification, b) a correct and securely verifiable B-subscriber identification (refers to a vacant operator), c) a correct and complete documentation of the exchange exchange in both directions, d) an identification of the message, an ID number, and times of the message, e) a final signal marking.

In said exchange 3, at each incoming call 2 'intended for a telephone operator 8, said switching means 4, is activated by the control unit 5 to direct these calls to said unit 30, (That is to say that the exchange 3 must be switched so that the control unit 5 thinks that the operator (8) is in the unit 30 and connects the call there via the connection 7 'but then receives the call back via the connection 7 "on the interface 3a, as a call or connection to a free operator .) which activates internal function 30a to "divert" the call to a selected operator and registers, via a function, a temporary memory 30b, e.g. called subscriber and selected operator as well as performed communication, which is described in more detail below.

The number of channels between the exchange 3 and the unit 30 can suitably be adapted to double the number of operator locations and one channel has been assigned the reference designation 10.

With the aid of a time circuit 34 connected to the unit 30 or included therein (see figure 3), the current time for each identified call will also be evaluable and determinable and storable in the unit.

When a call occurs on a channel 10, a correct and secure verifiable A-subscriber identification is first required, in a unit 35.

This identification can take place according to Figure 3 via A-number identification in a unit 35a adapted for this purpose, or via an equipment 36 generating an artificial number, the A-subscriber can be instructed to generate a DTMF signal or code associated with it, sensible in a unit 35b, or via the equipment 36, other identification is requested, detectable in a unit 35c, such as a verbal confirmation and identification of the caller.

Furthermore, a B-number identification is required, an identification of the designated operator 8 and this takes place in a unit 37.

A unit 38 assigned to each call and an identification code is also present, as well as a final signal sensing unit 39, which could also be obtained from the exchange. Furthermore, a correct and complete documentation of the message exchange is required and for this purpose a unit 30b is used, which is connected to at least two memories, which are illustrated in figure 2 with the reference numerals 32 and 33.

For both memories, a call assigned identification code, an "ID" number, is entered via the unit 38, and so on.

The first memory 32 requires a high storage capacity and in it the identification code "ID" and the actual communication between the calling A-subscriber and the designated operator is stored, possibly with end signal 39, for each call. As the calls end, they are placed sequentially in the memory 32.

The second memory requires less storage capacity and is a "search memory". The identification code "ID" selected for each call, the current date with the time indication via unit 34, selected operator or operator via unit 37, customer number, A-number or generating DTMF signals, corresponding to the current A-number, must also be entered here. , valid for the caller.

As the calls end, they can be placed sequentially in the memory 33.

There is nothing to prevent all or part of the contents of the second memory 33 from also being stored in the first memory 32. Although a sequential storage of consecutive calls has been described here, a different order and distribution can be selected. Thus, calls could be coordinated by customer.

The memory 33 may consist of a hard disk while the memory 32 may consist of a DAT tape recorder. Although a connection method is described here when a caller wishes to get in touch with a vacant operator, it is obvious that a corresponding registration can take place when a operator calls a subscriber, whereby the subscriber's number does not have to be entered from the subscriber but takes place within the exchange.

The invention is of course not limited to the embodiment given above as an example, but may undergo modifications within the scope of the inventive concept illustrated in the following claims.

Claims (9)

501 297 - 14 - PATENT REQUIREMENTS A, connected to a switch (3), each, to each of a plurality of operators, such as telephone operators or the like, incoming or outgoing calls and call recording, unit (30), wherein the switch in a first-mentioned application has a first number, with telecommunication system or network (1) interoperable, incoming calls assigned lines (2) or the like, and a second number, operators, such as telephonists or the like, associated, transmission devices or similarly assigned lines or the like (7), a control unit (5) and a switching unit (4), through which a signal information appearing on a line (2 ') belonging to the first number belonging to it is interpreted to connect said, the first number line, line (2 ') with one, the second number of lines, line (7) for voice communication, each incoming call being evaluable in terms of its identity, that a selected line (7 ") intended for the call to the operator (8) or the like is evaluable in terms of its identity, for each time section only the message transmissions operating during said time section are detected and stored and with each message transmission can be stored within a system with simple search functions, characterized by the required functions within the exchange, in any case with respect to a call forwarding of a call to a vacant operator, is so coordinated that the connection takes place to a port, to which said unit is connected and further that via the port is A-subscriber identification, B-subscriber identification, current message transmission and required end signal indication evaluable. Unit according to claim 1, characterized in that said unit (30) is connected to an interface belonging to a switch (3), intended for a connection to another subscriber exchange. 3. A device according to claim 2, characterized in that said interface is standardized to be able to transfer to each other subscriber exchange every incoming call to an operator. 4. A device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that in said exchange activated on incoming calls intended for the operator switching means to control the call to said unit (30), which activates internal functions for forwarding the call to selected operator and register i.a. selected operator and performed communication. Unit according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first memory (32) belonging to a unit (30) can be stored in at least the identity of the incoming call and the current message and in a second memory can be stored in at least incoming call identity and A-number. 6. A device according to claim 5, characterized in that the first memory (32) is constituted by a tape recorder, for recording and playback of digital signals. 7. A device according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that an additional information can be stored in the second memory (33), regarding identification of the complete message within the first memory. 8. A device according to claim 5, characterized in that each call is with identification storable in a temporary memory (30b) and after selected sorting storable in two memories. 9. A device according to claim 5, characterized in that the A-number identification takes place by means of a voice answering system and DTMF signaling.