JPH02100441A - Electronic message broad system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To transmit and receive a message between an arbitrary voice terminal and a character data terminal by coupling a digital exchange and a message device having a voice/character data converting function. CONSTITUTION:To a PBX(provide branch electronic exchange) 100, a terminal 101, a telephone set 102 and a FAX 103 are connected through a subscriber's line, a message device 110 has a data base 120 related to a message board in a disk, and the message device 110 is provided with a voice/character data converter 116. In this state, a message stored temporarily in a memory of the message device 110 is converted from a voice to character data or from character data to a voice in accordance with a kind of a terminal and the message is transmitted. In such a way, the message can be transmitted and received between a voice terminal and a character data terminal irrespective of a kind of the terminal.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a communication network system, and in particular, it is possible to send and receive messages regardless of the type of terminal, and it is possible for a subscriber to request a message device to process a message. The present invention relates to an electronic message board system characterized in that it is possible to make requests.

[Conventional technology] In the conventional technology, depending on the method of inputting and storing messages,
The types of terminals are limited, and
As described in No. 54, when messages are transferred as they are without being stored, a message/speech conversion means is provided in the exchange so that there is no need to consider the distinction between the terminals to which messages are sent.

In addition, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 179650/1983, when setting message waiting, it is possible to automatically connect the calling extension by memorizing the extension numbers of other callers in the setting information. I was doing it. Also, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-94052, if messages addressed to the telephone are stored.

The phone had a visual display to that effect.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

The above-mentioned JP-A-61-201554 and JP-A-62-94
In the prior art of No. 052, there are restrictions on the combinations of terminal types that can input and retrieve messages.

An object of the present invention is to provide a voice/text data conversion device in a message device, and convert messages stored in the memory of the message device from voice to text data or from text data to voice, depending on the type of terminal. The object of the present invention is to enable messages to be sent and received between voice terminals and text data terminals, regardless of the type of terminal, by transmitting messages between voice terminals and character data terminals.

It was. In the prior art disclosed in JP-A No. 62-94052, messages can only be input, referenced, and deleted, and the sender does not have to confirm whether the inputted message has been referenced by the other party or instruct the sender to specify a time for the message. could not.

Another object of the present invention is that the message device provides a message record number and a reference flag for the input message, so that the caller can input the message record number notified by the message device. By doing so, it is possible to confirm whether the message has been referenced by the other party, and to delete the message, and when the caller requests deletion of the message, if the message has never been referred to, the message device can send a warning instruction. Further, by providing the message device with a timer that can be set from the terminal device, the caller can specify message processing such as an erasure request or a contact request request by specifying a time.

Furthermore, in the prior art disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-179650, only the telephone used for message waiting registration can be registered as a telephone for the caller to call back.

Still another object of the present invention is that when a caller specifies input of a message requesting a call back to the other party,
The message device instructs the calling terminal to input the telephone number that the message recipient wants the message recipient to call, and stores the message and the entered phone number, so that when the message recipient reads out the message, The purpose is to automatically connect the terminal having the stored telephone number and the terminal used by the message recipient to read the message.

Moreover, in the prior art of the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-94052.

Subscribers had to access the storage device directly to view messages addressed to them.

Still another object of the present invention is for a subscriber to instruct the message device to automatically send a message addressed to him to the nearest fax machine, and when a message containing a pre-specified keyword is input. only, that you may request notifications or transmissions, and the notification and transmission times set forth above;
The purpose is to enable specification of the destination terminal.

[Means to solve the problem]

The above purpose is to combine a digital exchange that integrates voice and data with a message device that has voice and text conversion functions including speech synthesis and voice recognition, and to assign a message registration number to the input message by the message device. , Notify the caller of the number, set a reference flag in the message, and set the flag when the other party refers to the message, provide a memory to store the callback number along with the message, This can be achieved by providing the device with a timer that can be set from a terminal device, providing the message device with a FAX interface, and providing a keyword search function for stored message contents.

[Effect]

According to the method of the present invention, messages are sent and received between arbitrary voice terminals and character data terminals connected to a digital exchange using the voice/text data conversion function. Therefore, subscribers can freely access the message device at any time and from any terminal, regardless of the type of terminal.

Further, according to the method of the present invention, by providing a reference flag for each message that is set when the message is referenced,
The caller can enter the message registration number notified by the message device and check whether the message has been referenced by the person receiving the message, and will receive a warning signal if the message is not referenced by the person receiving the message when deleting the message. Can be done.

Further, the caller can request the message device to process the message by specifying a time, such as contacting the caller if the message is not referenced by the other party within the time specified when inputting the message. Therefore, the caller can more reliably have the message recipient refer to the message when necessary, and
If the message is not referred to, appropriate measures can be taken.

In addition, according to the method of the present invention, when sending a message requesting a call back, it is possible to specify a telephone number to call back, so that when the message is read, the telephone number specified and input by the caller The terminal can be automatically connected to the terminal used to read the message. Therefore, when a subscriber reads out a message asking for a call, there is no need to hang up the phone and then dial the phone number to make a call, and there is no need to dial the wrong number.

Furthermore, according to the method of the present invention, the subscriber can instruct the message device to automatically send a message addressed to him/her to the nearest FAX using the FAX interface that outputs character data to the FAX. Furthermore, by using the keyword search function, if there is a desired message by specifying a keyword, it is possible to request notification or transmission. Therefore, when a subscriber wants to check whether there is a message addressed to him or to refer to a necessary message, he can directly access the message board and refer to the message without having to search for it.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an example of the configuration of a network system to which the present invention is applied.

100 is a PBX (Private Branch Exchange), PB
X Ni is @ end 101. mi machine 102, FAX10
3 are connected via subscriber line 104. The subscriber line 104 has an l5ND (integrated service digital network) basic interface, and has two information transfer channels (B channel) and one control signal transfer channel (D channel).
The books are multiplexed.

In addition, 110 indicates a message device, )) B
The message devices are also connected by an I5DN interface having an information transfer channel 106 and a control signal transfer channel 105. CPLIII is control signal transfer channel 10
Uke 4 through 5? , by controlling the communication path switch 115 and setting the information transfer channel 106 based on the signal to connect the PBX to either the l'' A 116 is a voice/text conversion device, 117 is a timer, and 118 is a memory.The message bag [110 has a database 120 related to message boards in the disk, and includes a message management information database 121, a voice file 1222, a character data file Consists of 123.

Figures 2 and 3 show the structure of databases related to message boards. Figure 2 is for message processing by CPLI 111;
The figure is for displaying a menu output to a subscriber terminal. Second
Message board management table 200 in the figure. Subscriber management table 2
03. Message processing table 204. Message type table 300 in FIG. 3(a). The message processing type table 301 in FIG. 3(b) is based on the message management information database 3.2 in FIG.
1, the audio message board 201 in FIG. 2 is included in the audio file 122 in FIG. 1, and the text data message board 202 is included in the text data file 123 in FIG. The configuration of each table is as follows.

(1) Message board management table 200 Message registration number and message destination subscriber number (ID number) designated by the message device 110 for each manually entered message.

The calling terminal number, the message reference flag that checks whether the corresponding message has been referred to by the other party, the message input means type that indicates whether the input message is voice or text data, from the message type table 300 in FIG. It has a message type number to be selected, a pointer to the message boards 201 and 202, and a pointer to the message processing table 204. The message reference flag is set when the message is referenced. As for the message input means type, 01 indicates voice and 02 indicates character data. This table 200 is searched using the message registration number as a key.

(2) Subscriber management table 203 This is a table for managing subscribers on the destination side of messages, and displays the subscriber number (ID number) and message presence/absence indicating whether there is a message addressed to the corresponding subscriber. It has a pointer to the message processing table 204. The value "absent" is set as an initial value for the message presence/absence display.

(3) Message processing table 204 For specifying the processing type number selected from the message processing type table 301 in FIG. 3, the time specified according to the processing content, the destination terminal number for notification or contact, and the message. This is a table that is stored when each keyword is specified, and is a message board management table 200. It is referenced from the processing table pointer of the subscriber management table 203.

(4) Message type table 300 When a message asking for a call is read out, the message device 110 makes a call in advance in order to automatically connect the terminal used to read the message with the terminal with the desired telephone number. This is a message content menu that a person specifies when inputting a message, and is selected when type number 1 is ``please call me,'' and type number 2 is selected when the content is other than 1.

(5) Message processing type table 301 This is a message processing type menu in which the subscriber specifies the process to be performed when a message addressed to him/herself is received or the process for an input message to the message device 110.

Type numbers 01 to 04 are the processing details for the input message, and the message registrant should enter 01 if he or she wants to be contacted when the message has not been referred to by the message recipient by the specified time, or 02 if he or she wants the message to be deleted. Select 03 if you want to be contacted when the message is referred to by the message recipient by the specified time, and select 04 if you want it to be deleted. Specified time and contact terminal number.

It is stored in the message processing table 204 in FIG.

Type numbers 11 and 12 are the processing contents when there is a message addressed to you. If you want to be notified by lighting a lamp or making an announcement when a message arrives, select 11, and if you want it to be sent automatically, select 12. A keyword for specifying a keyword search for the content of a message addressed to the user, a desired time for notification or transmission, and the terminal number of the terminal are stored in the message processing table 204 in FIG. 2.

4, 7, and 8 are processing sequence diagrams of the present invention, and FIG. 5 and 6 are CPU III in the message device 110.
This represents a flowchart of the processing performed in .

However, in the sequence diagrams of FIGS. 4, 6, and 7, the message sequence of the calling procedure between the terminal, PBX, and message device is omitted.

FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram for a caller to register a message and register processing related to the registered message in the message device 110. In Figure 4, the caller sends a special number indicating a "message registration request" and the destination subscriber number (ID number).
When input from the originating terminal, the originating terminal uses the inputted destination subscriber number as a parameter and sends a message registration request message to the control signal transfer channel on the subscriber line 104 in FIG. 1 to the PBXloo. When PBXloo receives the above message, it adds the terminal number of the originating terminal to the parameter, sends the same message to the control signal transfer channel 105, and sends the same message to the CPU 1 in the message device 110.
Send to 11. However, when making a call, even though the caller directly calls the destination subscriber, the call is transferred to the message device 110 because the other party is absent or the other party is busy, and the message device 110
received instructions to register a message.

When transmitting a message registration request message, the destination subscriber number is not required as a parameter of the message registration request message because the destination subscriber number has already been input.

In order to determine the message type number from the message type table 300 in FIG. 3, the CPU III sends an instruction message to select the message type number from the message menu to the terminal via PBXloo. CPUIII is.

When the message type number is received from the terminal, the number is judged and if it is "1 (message asking for a call)", after inputting the message, enter the message and enter the number you want to call. If the message is other than the message), the terminal is instructed to input only the message via PBXloo.

From the terminal, message device i! When inputting a message to 110, the CPU III inputs the message management table 20 in FIG.
0, and in the case of voice, connect the communication path switch 115 to the voice interface 113 and connect it to the voice message board 201, and in the case of text data, connect the communication path switch 115 to the text data interface 114. A message is registered on the character data message board 202. In the case of a message asking you to call me again, compare the telephone number entered manually with the terminal number of the calling terminal in the message management table 200, and only if there is a discrepancy, enter the terminal number of the calling terminal in the message management table 200 using the key. Rewrite to a human-generated phone number.

When the message registration is completed, the CPLI 111 sends the message registration number to the terminal via PBXloo, and selects the message processing type from the message processing type menu in order to determine the message processing type number from the message processing type table in FIG. PBXloo an instruction message to select the message processing type number.
and send it to the relevant terminal via . When the CPU III receives the message processing type number from the terminal, it instructs the message processing table 204 to input parameters necessary for message processing. When the CPU III receives a message processing request message from the terminal, it registers it in the message processing table 204 of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the processing performed by the CPU III in the message device 110 after the message registration and message processing registration described above are completed.

After registering the message processing, the CPll, 11 determines whether there is a time specification in the processing of the message in the message processing table 204 indicated by the message processing table pointer in the message board management table 200, and if there is a time specification, the Set timer 119.

Next, the subscriber management table 203 is read out, the subscriber number is searched, and the corresponding record is displayed as having a message, and it is determined whether or not a processing request is requested when a message arrives, and if there is a processing request, The specified location of the message processing table 204 indicated by the message processing table pointer is read.

In the message processing, it is determined whether there is a specified keyword, and if there is, a search is performed to see if the keyword specified in the message processing in the message processing table 204 is present in the registered message, and the keyword as a result of the search is searched. If yes, it is determined whether there is a designated time for notifying the message arrival in the message processing. If there is a designated time, message device 110
The timer 119 is set, and an instruction from the timer 119 is waited for. If there is no designated time, the next process is immediately performed.

When the timer 119 notifies the arrival of the specified time, the CPU
111 determines the process based on the message process type number in the message process table 204 and the message process type table 301 in FIG.

If the type number is “11 (request for notification of message)”, PB
A notification instruction message such as turning on the lamp of the terminal is sent to Xl and OO using the terminal number specified in the message processing table 204 as a parameter.

If the type number is "12 (message transmission request)", read the message according to FIG. 6, and use the terminal number specified in the message processing table 204 as a parameter to PBXloo to connect the terminal and the message device. After giving instructions, send a message to the terminal.

Figure 6 shows that after receiving the message read request message, C
It is a flowchart of the process which PUIII performs.

In Fig. 6, when the 1-4t4 party inputs his own subscriber number (ID number) from the terminal along with the special number indicating [message read request], the terminal uses the input own subscriber number and message transmission method type as parameters. , a message requesting continuous message transmission is sent to the control signal transfer channel on the subscriber line 104 in FIG. 1, and via the PBX 100.

It is transmitted to the CPU 111 in the message device 110.

The CPU III reads the subscriber management table 203, determines whether there is a message for the subscriber based on the input subscriber number, and if there is no message, sends a negative response message to the PBX.
Send to the terminal via loo. If there is a message, search for the message using the destination subscriber number in the message management table 200 and read the message from the message board indicated by the message board pointer. The message input means type and the message transmission means type in the message management table 200 are compared, and if they do not match, the voice/character data conversion function 116 in the message device 110 performs conversion according to the message transmission means type.

Next, the message management table 200 is searched for the message type number, and if it is 1 (message asking for a call), the call path switch 115 is switched according to the type of the message destination terminal, and the message on the message board is Send to the terminal via the PBX. At the same time, the person entering the message informs the relevant terminal via PBXloo whether or not to automatically connect to the telephone number they wish to call, and if a message requesting automatic connection is received from the terminal, the person entering the message will make a call to PBXl, OO. A call setting instruction message having the number as a parameter is transmitted, and a message reference flag in the message management table 200 is set.

When the PBXl, OO receives the call setup instruction message,
A call setting message is sent to the terminal based on the calling VB and call number included in the message parameters.

When receiving a message from a terminal that does not request automatic connection, the CPU], 1] determines whether or not to request notification of the designated phone number to the terminal via 3 Send the telephone number and set the message reference flag in the message management table 200. In this case, compare the message input means type and the message transmission means type in the message management table 200, and if they do not match,
Message bag! ! Voice/text data conversion function 1 within ¥11.0
16, the telephone number is converted according to the type of message transmitting means, and the telephone number is transmitted.

FIG. 7 is a processing sequence diagram for confirming whether the message of the person inputting the message has been referred to by the other party.

In FIG. 7, when the caller inputs the message registration number notified from the message device 110 at the time of inputting the message into the calling terminal along with a special number indicating a "message reference confirmation request," the terminal uses the input message registration number as a parameter. , a message reference confirmation request message is sent to the control signal transfer channel on the subscriber line 104 in FIG.
(7) Send to CPU I, 1.

In the CPU III, the subscriber management table 203 in FIG.
is read out, the message reference flag of the message is searched based on the received message registration number, and it is checked whether the message has been referenced. If the message is referenced, the referenced message is sent to the terminal, and if the message is not referenced, the unreferenced message is sent to the terminal via PBXloo. In case the person entering the message forgets the message registration number notified by the message device 110 when inputting the message, the message device], 10 adds the ID number of the person entering the message in the subscriber management table 203 and registers the message. If the user forgets the number, the user can also enter the user's own ID number to know the message registration number of the message that the user entered.

FIG. 8 is a processing sequence diagram for a person entering a message to delete his or her own message. In FIG. 8, when the caller inputs the message registration number notified from the message device 110 at the time of inputting the message into the calling terminal along with the special number indicating "message deletion request," the terminal uses the inputted message registration number as a parameter. Send the message reference confirmation request message to subscriber line 1 in Figure 1.
04 on the control signal transfer channel, PBXl, 0
0 to the CPU 111 in the message bag vi 110.

In the CPU III, the subscriber management table 203 in FIG.
, and checks the message reference flag of the message based on the received message registration number to check whether the message has been referenced. If the message is being referenced, the message is deleted and a response message is sent to the terminal via PBXloo. If the message has never been referenced, an unreferenced warning message is sent to the terminal via PBXloo.

〔effect〕

According to the present invention, messages can be sent and received between any voice terminal and text data terminal, regardless of the type of terminal. In addition, it is possible to check whether the input message has been referenced by the message recipient, and to specify the processing of the message by specifying a time, allowing the caller to more reliably have the message recipient refer to the message when necessary. can. Further, when receiving a message requesting a call to a designated telephone, an automatic connection to the designated telephone can be established. Furthermore, it is possible to issue a notification or request for transmission only when there is a desired message by instructing the user to automatically send the message to the nearest FAX (i?) or by specifying a keyword.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram for implementing the present invention, FIGS. 2 and 3 are format diagrams showing the structure of a database related to message boards, and FIGS. - Processing Sequence Diagram of Embodiment FIGS. 5 and 6 are flowcharts of processing performed by the message device in the above embodiment. 100...PBX (Private branch exchange), 101゜1
02...Terminal, 103...FAX, 1. , 04...
- Subscriber line, 105...control signal transfer channel (D channel).

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. By combining a digital exchange that integrates voice and data with a message device that has voice and text data conversion functions including speech synthesis and voice recognition, any device connected to the digital exchange Between voice terminal and text data terminal,
An electronic message board system that allows messages to be sent and received. 2. When the caller inputs a message, the message device adds a message registration number to the message, notifies the caller of the number, and also sets a reference flag on the message so that the other party can refer to the message. If the message registration number is input by the caller, the caller will be notified whether the message has been referenced by the caller by searching the reference flag for the message. The electronic message board system according to claim 1, characterized in that: 3. When erasing a message input by a caller, the message device searches for the reference flag and issues a warning instruction to the caller if the message has never been read. The electronic message board method described in Section 2. 4. The message device is equipped with a timer that can be set from the terminal device, and the message device monitors the time.
The electronic device according to claim 1, characterized in that the sender is able to process the message by specifying a time, such as contacting the sender if the message is not referenced by the other party within a time set at the time of inputting the message. Message board method. 5. If the caller specifies that the caller should input a message asking the other party to call you, the message device instructs the calling terminal to input the telephone number that the other party wants the message recipient to call, and inputs the message. By memorizing the phone number that was sent, when the message recipient reads out the message, the terminal with the memorized phone number can be automatically connected to the terminal that the message recipient used to read the message. The electronic message board system according to claim 1, wherein the electronic message board system is possible. 6. By equipping the message device with a FAX interface, the subscriber can instruct the message device to automatically send messages addressed to him to the nearest FAX. An electronic message board system according to claim 1. 7. By equipping the message device with a message search function, when a message containing a pre-specified keyword is input, it can be notified or requested to be sent, and the above-mentioned notification/sending time and destination terminal 2. The electronic message board system according to claim 1, wherein designation is possible.