JPH05260192A - Conference telephone system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To constitute the system so that a conference participant can participate in a conference by dialing a PIN code from an arbitrary place at an arbitrary time point. CONSTITUTION:In an exchange, a conference telephone managing device 1 and a voice answering device 2 are provided. With respect to a conference telephone requested by a conference sponsor, a conference telephone discrimination number (PIN code) managed by the conference telephone managing device 1 is imparted. By the voice answering device 2, the PIN code is reported to subscribers (a)-(c) being conference partipants. The subscribers (a)-(c) who dial the same PIN code are connected to the same conference telephone connecting device 3.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a conference telephone system used to connect a plurality of subscribers to a common device and hold a conference.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional conference call system, a conference organizer accesses an exchange equipped with a conference call connection device to call a conference participant fully or semi-automatically, and a called party who responds is called a conference call connection device. It is a system that realizes a conference call by connecting to.

In the case of the fully automatic conference call system, the conference organizer dials a special code for the conference call service to receive a call at the exchange provided with the conference call connection device.
This exchange seizes the conference call connection device. Then, the conference organizer dials the telephone numbers of the conference participants to call all the conference participants, connect the responding conference participants to the conference call connection device, and make a conference call.

On the other hand, in the case of the semi-automatic conference phone system, the conference organizer calls the operator of the exchange board of the exchange station equipped with the conference call connection device, and the operator of the exchange board organizes the conference of the fully automatic conference phone system. This is a method for making a conference call by performing the same operation as that of the person who made the conference.

[0005]

In the conventional conference telephone system, since the conference organizer or the conference telephone exchange operator who is entrusted to the conference organizer calls the conference participants, It was difficult for a person to join a specific conference call from any place at any time. Further, since there is no guidance function provided by the voice response device, there is a problem that it may hinder the holding and proceeding of conference calls.

[0006]

The conference telephone system of the present invention is a conference telephone system in which a central office switch is provided with a conference telephone connection device for connecting conference telephone participants to each other. A device is provided, to the conference call applied by the conference organizer, a conference call identification number managed by the conference call management device is given, and the conference call identification number is notified to the conference participants by the voice response device, The configuration is such that conference participants who dial the same conference telephone identification number are connected to the same conference telephone connection device.

[0007]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The conference telephone system of the present invention has a function of assigning a conference telephone identification number (PIN code) to a conference host and notifying the conference host, and routing the conference host and the conference participants to an exchange equipped with a conference telephone connection device. However, it has a function of connecting to the same conference telephone connection device, and the above two functions are realized by the following devices, respectively.

The PIN code assignment notifying function identifies the special dial number for PIN code assignment dialed by the conference organizer and routes the conference telephone management device and the conference telephone connection device for routing to the exchange having the conference telephone connection device. The provided exchange is realized by a conference telephone management device that manages the PIN code and a voice response device that notifies the assigned PIN code by voice.

The function of connecting the conference organizer and the conference participant identifies the special dial number for conference participation dialed by the conference participant (including the conference organizer), and the PIN code to be dialed next by the voice guidance. Received this P
The conference telephone management device that routes the conference telephone connection device corresponding to the IN code to the switching center, and the routed switching center uses the conference telephone management device that connects the conference participation call to the same conference telephone connection device by the PIN code. Will be realized.

Next, the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1A is a configuration diagram of a system when a conference telephone identification number is assigned, and FIG. 1B is a configuration diagram of a system when a conference telephone is connected. 2 to 4 are flowcharts showing the flow of processing of the conference call management apparatus shown in FIG. 1, and FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b) are PIN number space management tables used in the conference call management apparatus, respectively. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a PIN number management table.

In FIG. 1A, the conference organizer (subscriber a) has a special dial code (AC) for a conference telephone identification number.
1; Dial the access code 1). The exchange A analyzes the received AC1 by the conference call management device 1 and routes the call to the exchange B having the conference call connection device 3. The exchange B receives the received AC1 from the conference call management device 1
Analyze and select an available PIN code, transfer the selected number to the voice response device 2, connect a call to the device, and activate the device to transmit the selected PIN code to the conference organizer. ..

Next, the procedure for connecting the conference telephone will be described with reference to FIG. Conference organizer a and conference participants b and c
(The subscribers a, b, and c, respectively) dial the special dial code AC2 for participation in the conference call. Each of the exchanges (exchanges A, B, and C) receives AC2, analyzes AC2 by the conference call management device 1, and uses the guidance of the voice response device 2 to perform P
Prompt to dial the IN number (code). PIN received
The code is again analyzed by the conference call management device 1, and according to the PIN number management table, FIG. 5 (b), if the PIN code is the own station (R = 0 in the PIN number management table), the conference phone connection device 3 within the own station. Capture and connect the call. However, after the second participation call, the connection is made to the empty connection terminal (any of T2 to Tn) of the connection device number set in the PIN number management table.

If the PIN code is for another station, the route shown in the routing information of the PIN number management table is selected for routing. At this time, the transmitted numbers are the special number AC3 and the PIN code indicating that the PIN code has been received. Upon receiving the AC3 + PIN code, the exchange B equipped with the conference phone connection device (issuing the PIN code) analyzes the AC3 and the PIN code with the conference phone management device 1 and performs the same processing as in the case of the own station. To do.

When all the conference participation calls are released, the conference telephone connection device 3 is released, and the corresponding PIN in the PIN number management table and PIN number management table shown in FIG.
Initialize the area corresponding to the code.

Details of the processing of the conference call management apparatus will be described below.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing the flow of PIN code assignment processing in the conference call management apparatus. PI
When AC1 for N-code allocation request is received, first, it is judged whether it is the own station / other station (step 1: S
1). Then, search the PIN number blank block management table (S2),
After selecting a vacant space, the PIN number vacancy management table and the corresponding PIN code in the PIN number management table are closed (S3). Then, the voice response device is activated (S4).

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the flow of the conference telephone connection process in the conference management device. When AC2 for the conference call connection request is received, the PIN receiving process is first activated (S10), and the PIN number management table is indexed by the received PIN code (S11). Next, the own station / other station is determined (S12), and in the case of the own station, it is determined whether this PIN code is valid (S13). When it is valid, it is determined whether or not it is the first conference participant (S14), and if so, the conference telephone connection device is captured and activated (S15), and whether or not the conference can be captured is determined (S16). If captured, PI
The capture device number is set in the N number management table (S17), and the conference participation call connection process is activated in the capture device (S18). On the other hand, if it is the participant or the second call or later in S14, it is checked whether or not the connection device has an empty terminal (S19), and P
A call connection process is started for an empty terminal of the connection device of the IN number management table (S20).

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the flow of the conference call ending process of the processes of the conference telephone management apparatus. It is determined whether or not all conference participation calls have been released (S30), and if all the calls have been released, the relevant PIN code in the PIN number management table is initialized (S31). Next, set the corresponding PIN code in the PIN number blank block management table to the empty state (S3
2) Start the conference telephone connection device release process (S3)
3).

[0019]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to manage the conference telephone identification number and connect the conference telephone at the exchange that issued the identification number. It is possible to participate in the conference by dialing the conference telephone identification number from.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1A is a configuration diagram of a system when a conference telephone identification number is assigned. (B) is a block diagram of the system at the time of conference telephone connection.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the flow of PIN code allocation processing of the processing of the conference phone management device.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a flow of a conference call connection process of processes of the conference call management device.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of a conference call ending process of the processes of the conference telephone management device.

FIG. 5A is a PIN used in the conference phone management device.
It is a figure which shows a number empty block management table. (B) is a diagram showing a PIN number management table used in the conference telephone management apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Conference Telephone Management Device 2 Voice Response Device 3 Conference Telephone Connection Device A, B, C Switching Office a, b, c Subscriber

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A conference call system provided with a conference call connecting device for connecting conference call participants to each other in a central office switch, wherein a conference call management device and a voice response device are provided, and a conference call applied by a conference organizer. , The conference telephone identification number managed by the conference telephone management device is given, the conference telephone identification number is notified to the conference participants by the voice response device, and the conference participants who dial the same conference telephone identification number are A conference telephone system characterized by connecting to the same conference telephone connection device.