JP3752794B2 - Telephone switching system that allows service control information to be set from the user side - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an interconnection system between an IN (Intelligent Network) in a telephone exchange system and telephone equipment having a CTI (Computer Telephony Integration) on the user side.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, each telephone exchange provides various communication services. Recently, however, a telephone exchange system has been constructed as IN in order to flexibly and quickly cope with advanced and diverse network services. IN refers to Q. of ITU-T. This is a network connection architecture recommended in the 1200 series. FIG. 4 is a model diagram conceptually comparing the network of a conventional telephone exchange system and IN. FIG. 4 shows a telephone set 4, a call connection unit 11, and a service control unit 12. The service control unit 12 controls a plurality of call connection units 11 which are digital exchanges, so that the service can be flexibly and quickly handled. The conventional network and the IN are different from each other in that the service control function is independent from the exchange and is integrated.
[0003]
The conventional network telephone switching system is intended to efficiently provide a one-to-one communication service. In order to provide a service call control function for each switching system, it is complicated to add and change functions. There was a limit to sophistication. IN solved this problem by making a hierarchical configuration by leaving the basic call connection function of communication to the exchange and leaving the function of providing complicated services to a dedicated information processing device. . Service control functions necessary for the realization and maintenance / operation of network services can be centralized to control, monitor / test, and manage call connections, and flexibly support the introduction of advanced network services. The call connection unit and the service control unit are connected via a common line signal network that transfers only control data. For this reason, only a minimum amount of control data is exchanged when necessary, and the independence of each functional unit is maintained, and the degree of freedom for addition / change of the functional unit is increased.
[0004]
FIG. 5 shows a configuration diagram of a conventional IN. FIG. 5 shows a call connection unit 11 for performing only basic connection of a line, called SSF (Service Switching Function) or CCF (Call Control Function), and indicates a service to the call connection unit 11 A service control unit SCF (Service Control Function) 12 that performs maintenance, a database SDF (Service Database Function) 13 that stores service control information, and the like, and maintenance of a service control program executed by the SCF and data maintenance management of the SDF SMF (Service Management Function) 14 is represented. Normally, setting of service control information, which is an exchange condition for each user of the service control unit 12, is performed from a specific terminal in the communication carrier side equipment.
[0005]
The effect of configuring the telephone exchange system as an IN is that users can freely update a wide variety of advanced networks as needed, and network operators can use advanced network services that meet their needs. Can be realized flexibly and quickly.
[0006]
On the other hand, with regard to user equipment, higher functionality is being promoted through the fusion of high-performance information processing devices, such as CTI technology, and telephone equipment. The CTI is a system that integrates a computer and a telephone. As an interface between PBX and CTI, CSTA (Computer Supported Telecommunications Applications) defined by ECMA (European Computer Manufacturers Association) is the only industry standard. is there. At present, there are TSAPI (Telephony Services Application Programming Interface) which is an API for telephone service of Novell's NetWare compliant with CSTA, and TAPI (Telephony Application Programming Interface) of Microsoft and Intel. The user can easily obtain such a CTI, and can independently construct a complicated telephone exchange system using a private branch exchange or the like.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the telephone exchange system using IN as described above, there are some disadvantageous problems. For a telecommunications carrier, a database having service control information must be provided in the data management facility. Also, if the service control information is frequently updated, the user side must update the service control information of the communication carrier each time, which is troublesome. Furthermore, when the service control information uses highly confidential customer information or the like, there is a security problem for the user about storing such information in the equipment in the communication carrier.
[0008]
On the other hand, in the telephone equipment using the information terminal device on the user side, complicated call connection control has been realized easily and at low cost by making full use of the CTI technology as described above. As described above, the complicated service of the conventional telephone exchange system has been individually constructed by the telecommunications carrier side and the user side.
[0009]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a new telephone exchange system that allows a user to freely update service control information related to a telephone exchange system and that simplifies the equipment configuration of a telecommunications carrier. To do.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the telephone exchange system of the present invention, the call control unit has a service control unit that can communicate with the call connection unit and the user's information terminal device, and the service control unit connects the line between the user's telephone facilities. If control information specifying a new connection destination is received from the information terminal device attached to the telephone equipment of the user connected to the line during the setting, the line is connected to the line at the call connection unit. Then, in order to set a new line connecting the new connection destination and the line, a call is made to the new connection destination.
[0011]
In addition, when the setting of the new line is completed, the service control unit may transmit control information for notifying completion of connection to the information terminal device that has transmitted control information designating a new connection destination. preferable.
[0012]
Furthermore, it is also preferable that a server is connected to each of the service control unit and the telephone equipment, and the control information is transmitted and received between the two servers via a communication network having an Internet protocol.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0014]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows an IN facility 1, an IW (interworking) server 5 connected to the IN facility, and a public telephone network 3 connected to a call connection unit 11 of the IN facility as a telecommunications carrier side facility. And are represented. On the other hand, as user-side equipment, a PBX (private branch exchange) 2, a telephone 4 connected to the PBX 2, an IW server 6 connected to the PBX 2, and an information terminal device connected to the IW server 6 via a LAN 8 and a service control information database 9 are shown. Both IW servers 5 and 6 communicate with each other via the Internet 7 in order to realize low cost. Hereinafter, in the other drawings, the same object is represented by the same reference number.
[0015]
As for the facilities on the telecommunications carrier side, the IN facility 1 includes a call connection unit SSF11, a service control unit SCF12, and a service database SDF13. The IW server 5 includes a connection processing unit 51 with the IN facility, an IN -AP (Intelligent Network-Access Protocol) and CTI-AP (Computer Telephony Interface-Access Protocol) protocol conversion processing unit 52, security management unit 53, connection information log database 54, and Internet connection processing unit 55 Including. It can be said that the security management unit 53 that realizes security in a network in which a large number of unspecified information such as the Internet is exchanged, and the connection information log database 54 provided for system down are essential functions. Furthermore, it is a service control information database that can correspond to each user to construct an IW server that performs a protocol conversion process between an access protocol IN-AP for IN equipment and a user's CTI link protocol. It is very easy compared to building.
[0016]
In the user side equipment, IW server 6, the connection processing unit 61 of the CTI equipment, a security management unit 63, a connection information log database 64, and a connection processing unit 65 to the Internet. The IW server 6 may be a server for the Internet that has already been independently constructed. Further, if the user is already in an environment where telephone facilities and LAN facilities are integrated by CTI technology, it is sufficient to construct only a database for storing service control information. The security management unit 63 and the connection information log database 64 are relatively equipped in recent servers connected to the Internet, and do not become a trouble for system construction on the user side.
[0017]
Next, examples of services that can be provided by the present invention will be described. In this case, a third-party call conference call service, for the two of call center functions provide services described.
[0018]
First, a third party call conference call service will be described as a first embodiment of the service of the present invention. The third party calling conference call service automatically notifies the third party connection request from the information terminal device 8 to the user side IW server 6 while the telephone 4 is making a call via the public telephone network. It is a service that allows you to call a third party and participate in a call.
[0019]
FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram for explaining the third party calling conference call service. In FIG. 2, a solid horizontal arrow indicates a call information route via the public telephone network, and a broken horizontal arrow indicates a control information route via the Internet. The same applies to FIG.
[0020]
In FIG. 2, initially, the telephone A and the telephone B are in a talking state (201). A connection request for calling third parties C and D is notified from the information terminal device attached to the telephone A to the user-side IW server (202). The user side IW server notifies the request to the telecommunications carrier side IW server, and the telecommunications carrier side IW server notifies the IN facility. The IN equipment calls the third parties C and D via the public telephone network using the call connection unit SSF (203), and calls the third parties C and D responding to the calls to the lines of the telephone A and the telephone B. Connect (204). When the third party call is completed, the IN equipment responds to the information terminal device attached to the telephone A via the IW server (205).
[0021]
Next, a call center function providing service will be described as a second embodiment of the service according to the present invention. The call center function providing service is a service provided by a telecommunications carrier to a carrier who performs call center operations such as mail order, ticket reservation / sales, and various information provision. By preparing a service control information database on the call center side, the IN facility on the telecommunications carrier side automatically accesses the database on the call center side to acquire service control information, and connects a call to a predetermined telephone number. be able to. The call center does not need to have sophisticated call center facilities such as PBX and incoming call automatic distribution device.
[0022]
FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram for explaining a call center function providing service. Initially, a customer calls (301) through a public telephone network to a specific telephone number indicating a call center. The IN equipment that has detected that a call has been made to the telephone number can obtain the customer's user ID and password using the caller number of the customer's call or an automatic voice response device. The customer can input with a dial signal if the customer terminal is a telephone, and text information if the terminal is an information terminal. The customer's call and the customer information are accessed to the service control information database on the call center via both IW servers (302). The service control information database retrieves information such as the current incoming call volume necessary for distributing calls to the operator and the presence / absence of the operator, and returns the telephone number of the operator's location to the IN facility on the telecommunications carrier side. (303). Based on the acquired telephone number, the call from the customer is connected to the appropriate operator A (304).
[0023]
One embodiment of the service of the present invention than by the foregoing description, the two services has been described taking as an example, in the application of various services, various modifications of the technical scope and the scope of the present invention, modifications and omissions may This can be done easily by those skilled in the art. Therefore, the above description is merely an example, and is not intended to be limited. The present invention is limited only as limited by the following claims and their equivalents.
[0024]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention described in detail, the user can freely update the service control information, and it is not necessary for the communication carrier to have a facility for managing the service control information for each user. . Further, by transmitting and receiving service control information via the Internet, it is possible to construct a system at a low cost, and a server connected to the existing Internet can be used for the user side. In addition, utilizing the CTI technology has already become the industry standard of, not the name is also necessary to provide a special device on the user side.
[0025]
The telephone exchange system capable of setting service control information from the user side according to the present invention has a special configuration as described above, and provides a special effect to the telecommunications carrier and the user.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a telephone exchange system according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram of a third party calling conference call service according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram of a call center providing function service according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a conceptual model diagram showing the difference between a conventional network and IN.
FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a conventional IN.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 IN facility 11 a call connection unit 12 service controller 13 SDF
2 PBX, private branch exchange 3 public telephone network 4 telephone 5 telecommunications carrier side IW server 51 IN equipment connection processing section 52 IN-AP and CTI-AP protocol conversion processing section 53, 63 security management section 54, 64 connection Information log database
55, 65 Connection processing unit with data network 6 User side IW server 7 Internet, dedicated line, data network 8 Information terminal device 9 Service control information database

Claims (3)

In the carrier side telephone exchange system having a service control unit capable of communicating with the call connection unit and the user's information terminal device,
The service control unit sets a new connection destination from the information terminal device attached to the user's telephone facility connected to the line while the call connection unit sets the line between the user's telephone facilities. When control information to be specified is received,
A telephone exchange system for making a call to the new connection destination in order to establish a new line connecting the line and the new connection destination with the line at a call connection unit. When the setting of the new line is completed, the service control unit transmits control information for notifying completion of connection to the information terminal device that has transmitted control information designating a new connection destination. The telephone exchange system according to claim 1. The service control section and telephone equipment, respectively, the server is connected,
The telephone exchange system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control information is transmitted and received between the two servers via a communication network having an Internet protocol.

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