CA2304838A1 - System and method for handling a call in different modes according to stored data - Google Patents
System and method for handling a call in different modes according to stored data Download PDFInfo
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- CA2304838A1 CA2304838A1 CA 2304838 CA2304838A CA2304838A1 CA 2304838 A1 CA2304838 A1 CA 2304838A1 CA 2304838 CA2304838 CA 2304838 CA 2304838 A CA2304838 A CA 2304838A CA 2304838 A1 CA2304838 A1 CA 2304838A1
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- user
- user table
- switching network
- calling station
- entries
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Classifications
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
- H04M3/00—Automatic or semi-automatic exchanges
- H04M3/42—Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers
- H04M3/50—Centralised arrangements for answering calls; Centralised arrangements for recording messages for absent or busy subscribers ; Centralised arrangements for recording messages
- H04M3/527—Centralised call answering arrangements not requiring operator intervention
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
- H04M3/00—Automatic or semi-automatic exchanges
- H04M3/42—Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers
- H04M3/42314—Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers in private branch exchanges
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
- H04M3/00—Automatic or semi-automatic exchanges
- H04M3/42—Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers
- H04M3/50—Centralised arrangements for answering calls; Centralised arrangements for recording messages for absent or busy subscribers ; Centralised arrangements for recording messages
- H04M3/53—Centralised arrangements for recording incoming messages, i.e. mailbox systems
- H04M3/533—Voice mail systems
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
- H04M3/00—Automatic or semi-automatic exchanges
- H04M3/42—Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers
- H04M3/54—Arrangements for diverting calls for one subscriber to another predetermined subscriber
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Signal Processing (AREA)
- Telephonic Communication Services (AREA)
- Sub-Exchange Stations And Push- Button Telephones (AREA)
- Telephone Function (AREA)
Abstract
A user table is created in a telephone switching system for users of a group which shares a particular port of a switching network.
The user table has multiple entries respectively associated with users of the group. In response to a command signal from a user of the group, instructions from the user are set in an associated entry of the table, the instructions including a user private number and service information specifying a desired call processing mode. The switching system, upon receipt of a directory number from a calling station, receives a user private number from the calling station and establishes a connection in the switching network according to the service information stored in one of the user table entries in which a coincidence is detected between the received user private number and the stored user private number.
The user table has multiple entries respectively associated with users of the group. In response to a command signal from a user of the group, instructions from the user are set in an associated entry of the table, the instructions including a user private number and service information specifying a desired call processing mode. The switching system, upon receipt of a directory number from a calling station, receives a user private number from the calling station and establishes a connection in the switching network according to the service information stored in one of the user table entries in which a coincidence is detected between the received user private number and the stored user private number.
Description
i TITLE OF THE INVENTION
2 "SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR HANDLING A CALL IN
DIFFERENT MODES ACCORDING TO STORED DATA"
Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to telephone switching 7 systems when operating in response to an incoming call, and more s specifically to a system and method of handling an incoming call in different modes respectively specified by users of a group sharing a same directory number.
Description of the Related Art 12 A conventional method of restricting an incoming call relies on 13 the directory number of a calling station or a password entered by a calling station. Specifically, when calls from a particular source are ~5 denied access to a particular destination, the directory number of the particular source or a password specified by the particular destination are stored in a switching system and compared with a directory number sent from a remote switching office or a password entered by a calling station. If they match, a connection is established. Otherwise, the 2o incoming call is rejected. Such a method is described in a number of 2~ Japanese Laid-Open Patent Applications 58-66455, 4-70046, 5-68097 22 and 6-86352. According to another prior art method, described in 23 Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application 4-27258; when a calling station 24 encounters a busy condition of a called station, the switching system 25 allows the calling station to store a password that specifies a particular call handling service. When the called station becomes idle, the 2 switching system proceeds to perform a switching operation according 3 to the stored mode.
DIFFERENT MODES ACCORDING TO STORED DATA"
Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to telephone switching 7 systems when operating in response to an incoming call, and more s specifically to a system and method of handling an incoming call in different modes respectively specified by users of a group sharing a same directory number.
Description of the Related Art 12 A conventional method of restricting an incoming call relies on 13 the directory number of a calling station or a password entered by a calling station. Specifically, when calls from a particular source are ~5 denied access to a particular destination, the directory number of the particular source or a password specified by the particular destination are stored in a switching system and compared with a directory number sent from a remote switching office or a password entered by a calling station. If they match, a connection is established. Otherwise, the 2o incoming call is rejected. Such a method is described in a number of 2~ Japanese Laid-Open Patent Applications 58-66455, 4-70046, 5-68097 22 and 6-86352. According to another prior art method, described in 23 Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application 4-27258; when a calling station 24 encounters a busy condition of a called station, the switching system 25 allows the calling station to store a password that specifies a particular call handling service. When the called station becomes idle, the 2 switching system proceeds to perform a switching operation according 3 to the stored mode.
4 In business and home environments, a single directory number is often shared by a number of users which form an organisational group.
G Users sharing the same directory number are individual in respect of their availability to answer an incoming call depending on their work s locations and other reasons. Thus, an attempt by a calling party often 9 results in a fruitless effort when a called station is idle but a desired o person is not available. Additionally, users who are currently available ~ to answer an incoming call would feel responsible to respond to an 12 unanswered call and have the trouble of interrupting their work to ~3 answer the call. This represents an inefficient work practice. The 14 number of such unsuccessful and inefficient calls is substantial. As a result, there exists a need to reduce the number of such events.
i ~ SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
n7 It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a I8 system and method of reducing unsuccessful call attempts.
m According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is 2o provided a telephone switching system comprising a switching network 2~ having a plurality of ports for terminating user stations, and a processor 22 for controlling the switching network in response to a call from a calling 23 station for establishing a connection across a pair of ports in the 24 switching network according to a directory number received from the calling station. A user table is provided, which is associated with a ~
particular port of the switching network, the user table having a 2 plurality of entries respectively associated with a plurality of users 3 sharing the particular port, each of the entries storing a user private 4 number identifying each one of the users and service information specifying one of a plurality of call processing modes. The processor is 6 responsive to a user private number received from the calling station for 7 establishing a connection in the switching network according to the s service information stored in one of the user table entries in which a 9 coincidence is detected between the received user private number and ~o the stored user private number.
According to a second aspect, the present invention provides a ~2 method of handling a call from a calling station. The method comprises ~3 the steps of (a) creating a user table associated with a particular one of a 14 plurality of ports of a switching network, the user table having a ~5 plurality of entries respectively associated with users of a group sharing ~ the particular port, (b) receiving a command signal from a user of the 7 group and setting received instructions in one of the plurality of entries, ~s the instructions including a user private number identifying each one of 19 the users and service information specifying one of a plurality of call 2o processing modes, (c) receiving a directory number from a calling 21 station, and (d) receiving a private number from the calling station and 22 establishing a connection in the switching network according to the 23 service information stored in one of the user table entries in which a 24 coincidence is detected between the received user private number and 25 the stored user private number.
i BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
2 The present invention will be described in further detail with 3 reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
4 Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a telephone switching system according to a first embodiment of the present invention, which is G particularly useful for business environment;
Fig. 2 is a flowchart of the operation of the processor of Fig. 1 in s response to an incoming call destined for a group of users whose private 9 information are registered in a user table;
o Fig. 3 is a block diagram of a telephone switching system ~ according to a second embodiment of the present invention which is i2 particularly useful for household applications;
~3 Fig. 4 is a flowchart of the operation of the processor of Fig. 3 in ~4 response to an incoming call destined for a group of family members ~5 whose private information are registered in a user table; and Fig. 5 is a block diagram of the second embodiment which shows 7 user states during a night-time.
is DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring now to Fig. 1, there is shown a telephone switching 2o system according to one embodiment of the present invention, which is 2~ useful for business environment. The switching system, as indicated by 22 numeral 10, generally includes a line interface 11, a switching network 23 12, a processor 13 and a memory 14. To the line interface 11 are 24 terminated a plurality of user stations, or telephone sets, 20 to 22 which 25 represent call originating telephones and user stations 30 to 32 which represent call terminating telephones. All user stations are connected via 2 the interface 11 to corresponding input ports of the switching network 3 12. A signaling message, such as directory number information, from 4 each user station is transmitted via the line interface 11 to the processor 13; where the message is analyzed using information stored in the G memory 14 to determine an output port. Processor 13 establishes a 7 switched connection across the switching network 12 from the input s port of the calling user station to the determined output port.
9 According to the present invention, a plurality of message storage o devices are connected to the output ports of the switching network 12.
~ These message storage devices include a voice command device 15, an ~2 absence message storage device 16, and one or more voice mail boxes 17.
~3 Additionally, a user-associated table 18 is defined in the memory 14 14 for the user station 30, for example, having a directory number "XX-~5 YYYY". The user table 18 for user station 30 is referenced by the G processor 13 when the processor receives an incoming call destined for 17 the user station 30.
is When the processor 13 receives an incoming call for the user 19 station 30, it proceeds to establish a connection to the voice command 2o device 15 after transmitting a short duration of ring-back tone to the 2~ calling station. Then, the voice command device 15 sends a voice 22 command requesting the calling user to dial one of the user private 23 numbers.
24 User table 18 has a plurality of entries (rows) respectively 25 associated with users of a group that share the same directory number, or a particular port of the switching network 12. Each entry is assigned to 2 each user of the group to store particular service information of the user.
3 Each user table entry is divided into a plurality of fields for respectively 4 storing a user private number (UPN), a user state indicating whether the associated user is available for answering a call, a service identifier for G indicating one of a plurality of predetermined services, and a directory number which is used when an incoming call is forwarded. Service s identifiers and directory numbers are referenced only when the corresponding user state field contains a binary "0" which indicates that o the associated user is not available to answer a call. If the user is i ~ available to answer a call, a binary "1 " is stored in the user state field of ~2 the table 18, and the processor 13 sends a ringing signal to the called 13 station as will be described in detail later.
4 Assume that there are six users in a group that share the user ~ 5 station 30, respectively identified by user private numbers "01 " through G "06". Assume that the telephone sets 31 and 32 are located in separate 7 rooms of the same premises of the user station 30 and respectively 8 assigned directory numbers "XX-WWWW" and "XX-ZZZZ" to which 9 incoming calls may be forwarded.
2o A service identifier "11" indicates that the associated user is in a 2~ separate room and that incoming calls be forwarded to the station 22 indicated in the corresponding directory number field.
23 A service identifier "12" indicates that the associated user is 24 absent and that the user desires that the absence message storage device 25 16 be operated to send a prerecorded announcement to the calling _7_ 1 station.
2 A service identifier "13" is one that indicates that the user leaves a 3 message as a voice mail which is stored in one of the voice mail boxes 17.
4 The directory number field of each entry not only stores a directory number of other telephone, but also a mail box number to specify one of G the mail boxes.
7 All users of the group are requested to enter desired data into the s corresponding entries of the user table 18 and update the stored data 9 whenever there is a change in their user state.
o When the processor 13 receives an incoming call destined for the ~ user station 30, it proceeds to operate according to a flowchart shown in ~2 Fig. 2 by establishing a connection in the switching system 12 from the ~3 input port of the calling station to the voice command device 15 (step t4 201). Processor 13 checks to see if a user private number is entered ~5 within a specified period of time (step 202). If the decision is ~ affirmative at step 202, the processor 13 searches through the user table 17 18 and determines if the same user private number is stored in the user I8 table 18 (step 203). If this is the case, the decision at step 204 is 9 affirmative and the routine proceeds to step 205 to check to see if the 2o user state of the current entry is "1" or "0".
2i If the user state is "1 ", the routine proceeds from step 205 to step 22 206 to connect the calling station to the user station of the dialled 23 directory number and sends a ringing signal to the called station, while 24 returning a ring-back tone to the calling station. Processor 13 then 25 checks to see if the called station goes off-hook (step 207). When an off-_g_ hook condition is detected (step 207), the processor 13 starts charging the 2 calling station (step 208) and terminates the routine.
3 If the user state is "0", indicating that the associated user is not 4 available to answer the incoming call, the routine proceeds from step 205 to step 209 to read a corresponding service identifier from the user G table 18 and proceeds to one of steps 210, 211 and 212 according to the read service identifier.
s If the service identifier is "11 ", indicating that an incoming call be forwarded to a specified station, the routine proceeds to step 210 to ~o connect the calling station to the user station specified in the directory ~ number field of the table 18 and sends a ringing signal to the specified 12 station, while returning a ring-back tone to the calling station. Then, ~ 3 the routine proceeds to steps 207 and 208 to start charging the calling 4 station when it goes off-hook.
~ 5 If the service identifier is " 12 ", indicating that an absence G announcement be returned to the calling station, the routine proceeds to 7 step 211 to connect the calling station to the absence message storage 1s device 16 and proceeds from step 212 to step 208 to start charging the 19 calling station.
2o If the service identifier is "13", indicating that there is a voice 2~ mail for the calling station, the routine proceeds to step 212 to connect 22 the calling station to a voice mail box identified by the mail box number 23 given in the directory number field of the user's entry. The routine 24 proceeds from step 212 to step 208 to start charging the calling station.
25 If the decision at step 202 or 204 is negative, it is determined that the request for connection to the dialled user station be rejected and the 2 processor 13 sends back a busy tone to the calling station and terminates 3 the routine.
4 If the user at station 20 places a call by dialling digits "XX-YYYY", the processor 13 connects it to the voice command device 15 G prompting the calling user to enter a user private number. If UPN = 02 is entered, the processor 13 looks up the user state field corresponding to s UPN = 02. Since the user state is "1 ", a connection 33 is established in 9 the switching network 12 between the stations 20 and 30 and a ringing o signal is sent to the called station 30, while returning a ring-back tone to ~ 1 the calling station 20, and starts a charging operation when the called 12 station answers the call.
~3 If the user at station 21 places a call to the same user station, the ~4 calling user is also prompted to enter a user private number. If UPN =
O1 is entered, the processor 13 looks up the user state field corresponding G to UPN = 01. Since the user state is "0" and the service identifier is 17 "12", the processor establishes a connection 34 in the switching network ~s 12 between the station 21 and the absence message storage device 16, and 9 starts a charging operation.
2o If the user at station 22 places a call to the same user station 30, 21 the calling user is also prompted to enter a user private number. If UPN
22 = 03 is entered, the processor 13 looks up the user state field 23 corresponding to UPN = 03. Since the user state is "0" and the service 24 identifier is "11 ", the processor establishes a connection 35 in the switching network 12 between the station 22 and the station 31 identified by the directory number "XX-WW\X1VU" and sends a ringing 2 signal to the called station, returns a ring-back to the calling station and 3 starts a charging operation when the called station goes off-hook.
4 Accordingly, the processor 13 references the user table 18 in response to the arrival of an incoming call for the user station 30 and G connects the call according to a user private number entered by the 7 calling party. The incoming call is thus answered in a specific manner s according to the contents of the entry of the user private number. When any user of the telephone 30 changes his or her work location, the user io updates the corresponding entry of the user table 18.
If the telephone switching system 10 is an ISDN switching office ~2 and user telephones are privately assigned ISDN sub-addresses, the ~3 processor 13 can provide individual call-handling services to family ~4 members, as shown in Fig. 3. In this modification, the memory 14 defines a user table 19 having entries for members (father, mother, son 1~ and daughter) of a family, for example. Each entry of the user table 19 m additionally includes a sub-address/directory-number field in which the 8 sub-address of a nearby telephone or a mail box number is stored.
19 User private numbers "O1", "02", "03" and "04" are assigned 2o respectively to father, mother, son and daughter and stored in the 2~ respective entries of the table 19. A three-bed room house is illustrated.
22 Telephone sets 41 and 42 with respective sub-addresses SA=11 and 23 SA=12 are installed in the living room 51 and the kitchen, respectively, 24 and other telephones 43, 44 and 45 (with SA=21, SA22 and SA=23) are in the bed rooms 53, 54 and 55, respectively. All telephone stations are 1 connected to an ISDN terminal adapter 50.
2 Assume that, in the daytime, the father and daughter are in the 3 living room 51 and the mother in the kitchen 52, as shown in Fig. 3, and 4 the son is out, leaving his voice message in a voice mail box 17.
Therefore, user state "1" is registered in the entries of the father, the 6 mother and the daughter and user state "0" in the entry of the son, and 7 sub-address "11" is stored in the entries of USP = 01 and USP = 04, sub-s address "12" in the entry of USP = 02, and a mail box number in the 9 entry of USP = 03.
o The operation of the processor 13 proceeds according to a 1 ~ flowchart shown in Fig. 4. This flowchart differs from that of Fig. 2 by 12 the inclusion of steps 401 and 402 between steps 205 and 207.
G Users sharing the same directory number are individual in respect of their availability to answer an incoming call depending on their work s locations and other reasons. Thus, an attempt by a calling party often 9 results in a fruitless effort when a called station is idle but a desired o person is not available. Additionally, users who are currently available ~ to answer an incoming call would feel responsible to respond to an 12 unanswered call and have the trouble of interrupting their work to ~3 answer the call. This represents an inefficient work practice. The 14 number of such unsuccessful and inefficient calls is substantial. As a result, there exists a need to reduce the number of such events.
i ~ SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
n7 It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a I8 system and method of reducing unsuccessful call attempts.
m According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is 2o provided a telephone switching system comprising a switching network 2~ having a plurality of ports for terminating user stations, and a processor 22 for controlling the switching network in response to a call from a calling 23 station for establishing a connection across a pair of ports in the 24 switching network according to a directory number received from the calling station. A user table is provided, which is associated with a ~
particular port of the switching network, the user table having a 2 plurality of entries respectively associated with a plurality of users 3 sharing the particular port, each of the entries storing a user private 4 number identifying each one of the users and service information specifying one of a plurality of call processing modes. The processor is 6 responsive to a user private number received from the calling station for 7 establishing a connection in the switching network according to the s service information stored in one of the user table entries in which a 9 coincidence is detected between the received user private number and ~o the stored user private number.
According to a second aspect, the present invention provides a ~2 method of handling a call from a calling station. The method comprises ~3 the steps of (a) creating a user table associated with a particular one of a 14 plurality of ports of a switching network, the user table having a ~5 plurality of entries respectively associated with users of a group sharing ~ the particular port, (b) receiving a command signal from a user of the 7 group and setting received instructions in one of the plurality of entries, ~s the instructions including a user private number identifying each one of 19 the users and service information specifying one of a plurality of call 2o processing modes, (c) receiving a directory number from a calling 21 station, and (d) receiving a private number from the calling station and 22 establishing a connection in the switching network according to the 23 service information stored in one of the user table entries in which a 24 coincidence is detected between the received user private number and 25 the stored user private number.
i BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
2 The present invention will be described in further detail with 3 reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
4 Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a telephone switching system according to a first embodiment of the present invention, which is G particularly useful for business environment;
Fig. 2 is a flowchart of the operation of the processor of Fig. 1 in s response to an incoming call destined for a group of users whose private 9 information are registered in a user table;
o Fig. 3 is a block diagram of a telephone switching system ~ according to a second embodiment of the present invention which is i2 particularly useful for household applications;
~3 Fig. 4 is a flowchart of the operation of the processor of Fig. 3 in ~4 response to an incoming call destined for a group of family members ~5 whose private information are registered in a user table; and Fig. 5 is a block diagram of the second embodiment which shows 7 user states during a night-time.
is DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring now to Fig. 1, there is shown a telephone switching 2o system according to one embodiment of the present invention, which is 2~ useful for business environment. The switching system, as indicated by 22 numeral 10, generally includes a line interface 11, a switching network 23 12, a processor 13 and a memory 14. To the line interface 11 are 24 terminated a plurality of user stations, or telephone sets, 20 to 22 which 25 represent call originating telephones and user stations 30 to 32 which represent call terminating telephones. All user stations are connected via 2 the interface 11 to corresponding input ports of the switching network 3 12. A signaling message, such as directory number information, from 4 each user station is transmitted via the line interface 11 to the processor 13; where the message is analyzed using information stored in the G memory 14 to determine an output port. Processor 13 establishes a 7 switched connection across the switching network 12 from the input s port of the calling user station to the determined output port.
9 According to the present invention, a plurality of message storage o devices are connected to the output ports of the switching network 12.
~ These message storage devices include a voice command device 15, an ~2 absence message storage device 16, and one or more voice mail boxes 17.
~3 Additionally, a user-associated table 18 is defined in the memory 14 14 for the user station 30, for example, having a directory number "XX-~5 YYYY". The user table 18 for user station 30 is referenced by the G processor 13 when the processor receives an incoming call destined for 17 the user station 30.
is When the processor 13 receives an incoming call for the user 19 station 30, it proceeds to establish a connection to the voice command 2o device 15 after transmitting a short duration of ring-back tone to the 2~ calling station. Then, the voice command device 15 sends a voice 22 command requesting the calling user to dial one of the user private 23 numbers.
24 User table 18 has a plurality of entries (rows) respectively 25 associated with users of a group that share the same directory number, or a particular port of the switching network 12. Each entry is assigned to 2 each user of the group to store particular service information of the user.
3 Each user table entry is divided into a plurality of fields for respectively 4 storing a user private number (UPN), a user state indicating whether the associated user is available for answering a call, a service identifier for G indicating one of a plurality of predetermined services, and a directory number which is used when an incoming call is forwarded. Service s identifiers and directory numbers are referenced only when the corresponding user state field contains a binary "0" which indicates that o the associated user is not available to answer a call. If the user is i ~ available to answer a call, a binary "1 " is stored in the user state field of ~2 the table 18, and the processor 13 sends a ringing signal to the called 13 station as will be described in detail later.
4 Assume that there are six users in a group that share the user ~ 5 station 30, respectively identified by user private numbers "01 " through G "06". Assume that the telephone sets 31 and 32 are located in separate 7 rooms of the same premises of the user station 30 and respectively 8 assigned directory numbers "XX-WWWW" and "XX-ZZZZ" to which 9 incoming calls may be forwarded.
2o A service identifier "11" indicates that the associated user is in a 2~ separate room and that incoming calls be forwarded to the station 22 indicated in the corresponding directory number field.
23 A service identifier "12" indicates that the associated user is 24 absent and that the user desires that the absence message storage device 25 16 be operated to send a prerecorded announcement to the calling _7_ 1 station.
2 A service identifier "13" is one that indicates that the user leaves a 3 message as a voice mail which is stored in one of the voice mail boxes 17.
4 The directory number field of each entry not only stores a directory number of other telephone, but also a mail box number to specify one of G the mail boxes.
7 All users of the group are requested to enter desired data into the s corresponding entries of the user table 18 and update the stored data 9 whenever there is a change in their user state.
o When the processor 13 receives an incoming call destined for the ~ user station 30, it proceeds to operate according to a flowchart shown in ~2 Fig. 2 by establishing a connection in the switching system 12 from the ~3 input port of the calling station to the voice command device 15 (step t4 201). Processor 13 checks to see if a user private number is entered ~5 within a specified period of time (step 202). If the decision is ~ affirmative at step 202, the processor 13 searches through the user table 17 18 and determines if the same user private number is stored in the user I8 table 18 (step 203). If this is the case, the decision at step 204 is 9 affirmative and the routine proceeds to step 205 to check to see if the 2o user state of the current entry is "1" or "0".
2i If the user state is "1 ", the routine proceeds from step 205 to step 22 206 to connect the calling station to the user station of the dialled 23 directory number and sends a ringing signal to the called station, while 24 returning a ring-back tone to the calling station. Processor 13 then 25 checks to see if the called station goes off-hook (step 207). When an off-_g_ hook condition is detected (step 207), the processor 13 starts charging the 2 calling station (step 208) and terminates the routine.
3 If the user state is "0", indicating that the associated user is not 4 available to answer the incoming call, the routine proceeds from step 205 to step 209 to read a corresponding service identifier from the user G table 18 and proceeds to one of steps 210, 211 and 212 according to the read service identifier.
s If the service identifier is "11 ", indicating that an incoming call be forwarded to a specified station, the routine proceeds to step 210 to ~o connect the calling station to the user station specified in the directory ~ number field of the table 18 and sends a ringing signal to the specified 12 station, while returning a ring-back tone to the calling station. Then, ~ 3 the routine proceeds to steps 207 and 208 to start charging the calling 4 station when it goes off-hook.
~ 5 If the service identifier is " 12 ", indicating that an absence G announcement be returned to the calling station, the routine proceeds to 7 step 211 to connect the calling station to the absence message storage 1s device 16 and proceeds from step 212 to step 208 to start charging the 19 calling station.
2o If the service identifier is "13", indicating that there is a voice 2~ mail for the calling station, the routine proceeds to step 212 to connect 22 the calling station to a voice mail box identified by the mail box number 23 given in the directory number field of the user's entry. The routine 24 proceeds from step 212 to step 208 to start charging the calling station.
25 If the decision at step 202 or 204 is negative, it is determined that the request for connection to the dialled user station be rejected and the 2 processor 13 sends back a busy tone to the calling station and terminates 3 the routine.
4 If the user at station 20 places a call by dialling digits "XX-YYYY", the processor 13 connects it to the voice command device 15 G prompting the calling user to enter a user private number. If UPN = 02 is entered, the processor 13 looks up the user state field corresponding to s UPN = 02. Since the user state is "1 ", a connection 33 is established in 9 the switching network 12 between the stations 20 and 30 and a ringing o signal is sent to the called station 30, while returning a ring-back tone to ~ 1 the calling station 20, and starts a charging operation when the called 12 station answers the call.
~3 If the user at station 21 places a call to the same user station, the ~4 calling user is also prompted to enter a user private number. If UPN =
O1 is entered, the processor 13 looks up the user state field corresponding G to UPN = 01. Since the user state is "0" and the service identifier is 17 "12", the processor establishes a connection 34 in the switching network ~s 12 between the station 21 and the absence message storage device 16, and 9 starts a charging operation.
2o If the user at station 22 places a call to the same user station 30, 21 the calling user is also prompted to enter a user private number. If UPN
22 = 03 is entered, the processor 13 looks up the user state field 23 corresponding to UPN = 03. Since the user state is "0" and the service 24 identifier is "11 ", the processor establishes a connection 35 in the switching network 12 between the station 22 and the station 31 identified by the directory number "XX-WW\X1VU" and sends a ringing 2 signal to the called station, returns a ring-back to the calling station and 3 starts a charging operation when the called station goes off-hook.
4 Accordingly, the processor 13 references the user table 18 in response to the arrival of an incoming call for the user station 30 and G connects the call according to a user private number entered by the 7 calling party. The incoming call is thus answered in a specific manner s according to the contents of the entry of the user private number. When any user of the telephone 30 changes his or her work location, the user io updates the corresponding entry of the user table 18.
If the telephone switching system 10 is an ISDN switching office ~2 and user telephones are privately assigned ISDN sub-addresses, the ~3 processor 13 can provide individual call-handling services to family ~4 members, as shown in Fig. 3. In this modification, the memory 14 defines a user table 19 having entries for members (father, mother, son 1~ and daughter) of a family, for example. Each entry of the user table 19 m additionally includes a sub-address/directory-number field in which the 8 sub-address of a nearby telephone or a mail box number is stored.
19 User private numbers "O1", "02", "03" and "04" are assigned 2o respectively to father, mother, son and daughter and stored in the 2~ respective entries of the table 19. A three-bed room house is illustrated.
22 Telephone sets 41 and 42 with respective sub-addresses SA=11 and 23 SA=12 are installed in the living room 51 and the kitchen, respectively, 24 and other telephones 43, 44 and 45 (with SA=21, SA22 and SA=23) are in the bed rooms 53, 54 and 55, respectively. All telephone stations are 1 connected to an ISDN terminal adapter 50.
2 Assume that, in the daytime, the father and daughter are in the 3 living room 51 and the mother in the kitchen 52, as shown in Fig. 3, and 4 the son is out, leaving his voice message in a voice mail box 17.
Therefore, user state "1" is registered in the entries of the father, the 6 mother and the daughter and user state "0" in the entry of the son, and 7 sub-address "11" is stored in the entries of USP = 01 and USP = 04, sub-s address "12" in the entry of USP = 02, and a mail box number in the 9 entry of USP = 03.
o The operation of the processor 13 proceeds according to a 1 ~ flowchart shown in Fig. 4. This flowchart differs from that of Fig. 2 by 12 the inclusion of steps 401 and 402 between steps 205 and 207.
13 If it is determined, at step 205, that the user state of an entry 4 corresponding to the entered user private number is "1 ", the processor 13 ~5 reads a sub-address from that entry at step 401. The read sub-address is m then transmitted, at step 402, to the terminal adapter 50 of the dialed m directory number and a connection is established in the switching Is network between the calling station and the port identified by the 9 directory number received from the calling station. Terminal adapter 20 50 decodes the received address and sends a ringing signal to the 2~ telephone of the sub-address. When the called telephone goes off-hook 22 (step 207), the processor 13 starts charging the called telephone (step 23 208).
24 If a calling telephone 40 places a call to the father, the calling 25 party sends dialing information DN = XX-YYYY and then enters a UPN = O1 when the calling party is prompted by the voice command 2 device 15 (step 202). Since user state "1" is stored in the entry of UPN =
3 O1, the processor 13 proceeds through steps 203, 204 and 205 to step 401.
4 Thus, sub-address SA = 11 is detected (step 401) and sent to the terminal adapter 50 (step 402) to alert the telephone 41 in the living room 51.
6 If all the family members go to bed in the night-time as illustrated in Fig. 5, the user table 19 is updated to reflect their current locations.
s The user state fields of all entries are set equal to "1" and the sub-address 9 fields of the parents are set to SA = 21 and those of the son and daughter o are set to SA = 22 and SA = 23, respectively.
Under this condition, if the telephone 40 places a call to the ~2 father, the calling party uses the same dialing information and the same ~3 user private number as those used in the daytime call. Processor 13 14 detects the sub-address SA = 21 in the UPN = 01 entry and sends it to the ~ 5 terminal adapter 50 to alert the telephone 43 in the bed room 53.
24 If a calling telephone 40 places a call to the father, the calling 25 party sends dialing information DN = XX-YYYY and then enters a UPN = O1 when the calling party is prompted by the voice command 2 device 15 (step 202). Since user state "1" is stored in the entry of UPN =
3 O1, the processor 13 proceeds through steps 203, 204 and 205 to step 401.
4 Thus, sub-address SA = 11 is detected (step 401) and sent to the terminal adapter 50 (step 402) to alert the telephone 41 in the living room 51.
6 If all the family members go to bed in the night-time as illustrated in Fig. 5, the user table 19 is updated to reflect their current locations.
s The user state fields of all entries are set equal to "1" and the sub-address 9 fields of the parents are set to SA = 21 and those of the son and daughter o are set to SA = 22 and SA = 23, respectively.
Under this condition, if the telephone 40 places a call to the ~2 father, the calling party uses the same dialing information and the same ~3 user private number as those used in the daytime call. Processor 13 14 detects the sub-address SA = 21 in the UPN = 01 entry and sends it to the ~ 5 terminal adapter 50 to alert the telephone 43 in the bed room 53.
Claims (22)
1. A telephone switching system comprising:
a switching network having a plurality of ports for terminating user stations;
a processor for controlling the switching network for establishing a connection across a pair of ports in said switching network according to a directory number received from a calling station; and a user table associated with a particular port of said switching network, the user table having a plurality of entries respectively associated with a plurality of users sharing said particular port, each of said entries storing a user private number identifying each one of said users and service information specifying one of a plurality of call processing modes, said processor being responsive to a user private number received from said calling station for establishing a connection in said switching network according to the service information stored in one of the user table entries in which a coincidence is detected between the received user private number and the stored user private number.
a switching network having a plurality of ports for terminating user stations;
a processor for controlling the switching network for establishing a connection across a pair of ports in said switching network according to a directory number received from a calling station; and a user table associated with a particular port of said switching network, the user table having a plurality of entries respectively associated with a plurality of users sharing said particular port, each of said entries storing a user private number identifying each one of said users and service information specifying one of a plurality of call processing modes, said processor being responsive to a user private number received from said calling station for establishing a connection in said switching network according to the service information stored in one of the user table entries in which a coincidence is detected between the received user private number and the stored user private number.
2. A telephone switching system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said processor is configured to send a busy-back tone to said calling station if said coincidence is not detected in any of said entries of the user table.
3. A telephone switching system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the service information stored in each of said user table entries contains a user state indicating presence or absence of the user of the entry.
4. A telephone switching system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said processor is configured to establish a connection in said switching network between said calling station and a port identified by the directory number received from the calling station if said coincidence is detected in one of the user table entries and if the user state stored in said one user table entry indicates presence of the user.
5. A telephone switching system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a voice storage apparatus connected to a port of said switching network for recording a signal of one or more users of said user table, and wherein said processor is configured to reproduce the recorded signal according to the service information stored in one of said user table entries in which said coincidence is detected.
6. A telephone switching system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the service information stored in each of said user table entries contains an identifier identifying the port of said switching network to which said voice storage apparatus is connected.
7. A telephone switching system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the service information stored in each of said user table entries contains a directory number for specifying one of the ports of the switching network.
8. A telephone switching system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said processor is configured to establish a connection between said calling station and a port of said switching network which is specified by the directory number stored in one of the entries of said user table in which said coincidence is detected.
9. A telephone switching system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the service information stored in each of said user table entries contains an ISDN sub-address, and wherein said processor is configured to read a sub-address from one of said user table entries in which said coincidence is detected, send the sub-address to an ISDN
user station and establish a connection in said switching network between the calling station and the port identified by the directory number received from the calling station.
user station and establish a connection in said switching network between the calling station and the port identified by the directory number received from the calling station.
10. A telephone switching system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said processor is configured to respond to a command signal from said users for updating said user table.
11. A telephone switching system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a voice command storage apparatus connected to said switching network for prompting said calling station to enter said user private number.
12. A method of handling a call from a calling station, comprising the steps of:
a) creating a user table associated with a particular one of a plurality of ports of a switching network, said user table having a plurality of entries respectively associated with users of a group sharing said particular port;
b) receiving a command signal from a user of said group and setting received instructions in one of said plurality of entries, said instructions including a user private number identifying each one of said users and service information specifying one of a plurality of call processing modes;
c) receiving a directory number from a calling station; and d) receiving a private number from said calling station and establishing a connection in said switching network according to the service information stored in one of the user table entries in which a coincidence is detected between the received user private number and the stored user private number.
a) creating a user table associated with a particular one of a plurality of ports of a switching network, said user table having a plurality of entries respectively associated with users of a group sharing said particular port;
b) receiving a command signal from a user of said group and setting received instructions in one of said plurality of entries, said instructions including a user private number identifying each one of said users and service information specifying one of a plurality of call processing modes;
c) receiving a directory number from a calling station; and d) receiving a private number from said calling station and establishing a connection in said switching network according to the service information stored in one of the user table entries in which a coincidence is detected between the received user private number and the stored user private number.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step (d) comprises the step of sending a busy-back tone to said calling station if said coincidence is not detected in any of said entries of the user table.
14. The method of claim 12, wherein the service information stored in each of said user table entries contains a user state indicating presence or absence of the user of the entry.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the step (d) comprises the step of establishing a connection in said switching network between said calling station and a port identified by the directory number received from the calling station if said coincidence is detected in one of the user table entries and if the user state stored in said one user table entry indicates presence of the user.
16. The method of claim 13, wherein the step (b) comprises the step of recording a signal of one of said users in a voice storage apparatus connected to said switching network, and wherein the step (d) comprises the step of reproducing the recorded signal according to the service information stored in one of said user table entries in which said coincidence is detected.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the service information stored in each of said user table entries contains an identifier identifying the port of said switching network to which said voice storage apparatus is connected.
18. The method of claim 12, wherein the service information stored in each of said user table entries contains a directory number for specifying one of the ports of the switching network.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein the step (d) comprises the step of establishing a connection between said calling station and a port of said switching network which is specified by the directory number stored in one of the entries of said user table in which said coincidence is detected.
20. The method of claim 12, wherein the service information stored in each of said user table entries contains an ISDN sub-address, and wherein the step (d) comprises the steps of:
reading a sub-address from one of said user table entries in which said coincidence is detected; and transmitting the sub-address to an ISDN user station and establishing a connection in said switching network between the calling station and the port identified by the directory number received from the calling station.
reading a sub-address from one of said user table entries in which said coincidence is detected; and transmitting the sub-address to an ISDN user station and establishing a connection in said switching network between the calling station and the port identified by the directory number received from the calling station.
21. The method of claim 12, wherein the step (b) comprises the step of updating said user table is response to a command signal from said users.
22. The method of claim 12, wherein the step (c) comprises the step of prompting said calling station to enter said user private number.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP11-107103 | 1999-04-14 | ||
| JP10710399A JP3269487B2 (en) | 1999-04-14 | 1999-04-14 | Incoming connection control device and incoming connection control method |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2304838A1 true CA2304838A1 (en) | 2000-10-14 |
Family
ID=14450544
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2304838 Abandoned CA2304838A1 (en) | 1999-04-14 | 2000-04-11 | System and method for handling a call in different modes according to stored data |
Country Status (3)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JP3269487B2 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2304838A1 (en) |
| FR (1) | FR2792489A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US7756112B2 (en) | 2004-08-04 | 2010-07-13 | Panasonic Corporation | IP telephone system, IP telephone apparatus and method for recording message |
Families Citing this family (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US7970107B2 (en) * | 2005-08-08 | 2011-06-28 | On-Q Telecom Systems Co., Inc. | Method and system for automated and selective determination of call completion services |
-
1999
- 1999-04-14 JP JP10710399A patent/JP3269487B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
2000
- 2000-04-11 CA CA 2304838 patent/CA2304838A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2000-04-13 FR FR0004770A patent/FR2792489A1/en not_active Withdrawn
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US7756112B2 (en) | 2004-08-04 | 2010-07-13 | Panasonic Corporation | IP telephone system, IP telephone apparatus and method for recording message |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| JP3269487B2 (en) | 2002-03-25 |
| FR2792489A1 (en) | 2000-10-20 |
| JP2000299734A (en) | 2000-10-24 |
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