JPH03218153A - Proxy system in absence for voice mail system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To cope with an arrived call even from a foreigner by allowing a voice mail system to send a reply message stored in a storage area corresponding to a relevant extension number in a message storage file when a call comes from an external line to an extension telephone set. CONSTITUTION:When a reply message to a succeeding caller is registered in a message storage file 200 of a voice mail system 20 by a user of at least an extension telephone set 16 and a call comes from an external line to the extension telephone set 16, the external line and the voice mail system 20 are connected by a line exchange 10. Then a reply message stored in a storage area corresponding to the extension number in the message storage file 200 is extracted and the reply message is sent to the external line via the line exchange. Thus, the message in voice of the user itself is used for reception and the system is effective to a call from a foreigner not understanding Japanese.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a voice mail system, and in particular works in conjunction with a line exchange that controls call connection between an extension telephone and an outside line.
This paper relates to an absentee substitution method for a voice mail system that sends a response message to the other party in response to an incoming call to an extension telephone when the user of the extension telephone is absent. (Prior art) In the conventional absentee substitution method of this type of voice mail system, when a user using an extension telephone is absent, he or she dials a absentee substitution registration special number from the extension telephone that the user is using, and the line is The exchange was configured to forward incoming calls to the corresponding extension to the voicemail system.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) When considering the application of the above-described conventional voice mail system to a hotel system used in a hotel with many foreign guests, the following problems arise.

In other words, in the conventional system, if the extension phone in the guest room receives a call from an outside line when the user is not present, that outside line is automatically connected to the voicemail system, and the incoming call is sent to the voicemail system. A Japanese voice message prepared in advance by the system will be sent as the opening message. Such automatic connection to the voice mail system is performed even if the user of the extension telephone has not previously registered a response message for the caller to the extension telephone in the message storage file in the voice mail system. be exposed. Therefore, there was a problem in that foreign callers who could not understand Japanese could not utilize the voicemail system. The present invention solves the problems of the prior art, and provides sufficient response to calls received from telephones registered as absentee agents.
The purpose of the present invention is to provide an absentee substitution method for a voice mail system that can handle the call. Here, [absentee registration] means that the user of an extension telephone registers a response message for future callers in a predetermined storage area of the message storage file of the voice mail system, and the user of the extension telephone registers a response message for future callers in a predetermined storage area of the message storage file of the voice mail system. This means requesting that a response message be sent. (Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention works in conjunction with a line exchange that controls call connection between an extension telephone and an outside line, so that when the user of the extension telephone is absent, the extension telephone In the voicemail system's absentee substitution method, which sends a response message to the other party in response to an incoming call, the voicemail system uses the extension number of the above-mentioned telephone extension and the response message that should be registered corresponding to this extension number. It has a message M8l file that has a storage area for storing messages and messages from users of the external telephone, and at least when a response message from the extension telephone is registered in the message storage file, the extension telephone When a call is received from an outside line, the line exchange connects this outside line to the voice mail system, and the voice mail system retrieves the response message stored in the storage area corresponding to the corresponding extension number in the message storage file. , this response message is sent to the outside line via the line exchange.

(Function) In the absentee substitution method of the voice mail system according to the present invention, the user of the extension telephone registers for absentee substitution. That is, the user himself/herself registers a response message for the expected caller in a voice mail system linked to the circuit exchange via the circuit exchange.

In response, the voice mail system notifies the line exchange that a response message for the extension telephone has been registered. As a result, the line exchange performs absentee substitution registration for the extension telephone.

Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to respond to calls received from an extension telephone registered as an absentee telephone, even if the call is made by a foreigner who cannot understand Japanese. (Embodiment) Next, an embodiment of the absentee substitution method of the voice mail system according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a hotel system to which the present invention is applied.

In the figure, a line exchange (PBX) 10 is a public network 12.
A line 100 connected to an outside telephone 14 via an extension telephone 16 installed in a hotel guest room 16.
It accommodates the line 101 connected to the telephone 14 and the extension telephone 180, and controls the call connection between the external telephone 14 and the extension telephone 180, and also controls the connection between the external telephone 14 and the voice mail system 20 under certain conditions. Take control. In addition, for convenience of explanation, only one external telephone and one extension telephone are shown in FIG. 1, but in reality there are many external telephones and extension telephones, and there are also many lines associated with them. , it is natural that it is installed.

The extension telephone +60 installed in the guest room ■6 has numeric keys for dialing (not shown), lamps 1BOA and 180B that indicate various operating states, and buttons 1600 for executing various functions. ~160F are provided.

Of these, 160 menseishi lamps for poismail
A blinks when the guest registers as an absentee person in the voicemail system or when a message is received in the guest's mailbox. Here, the mailbox refers to a storage area provided corresponding to the extension number of the telephone extension in each guest room in the message storage file 200, which will be described later, and in which messages from callers are stored. This message lamp 1BOA for voicemail will be turned off when the guest cancels the absentee proxy registration and listens to all the messages.

The message lamp 1130B is a lamp that is lit when exchanging messages with the front desk 28.

The absence #record button 180G is a button that is pressed by the guest when registering as an absentee agent in the voice mail system 20 from the guest room l6 or canceling the registration. When this button 180C1 is pressed once, absentee proxy registration becomes possible, and when pressed once again, it is canceled.

The end button 1600 is a button that the guest presses when he/she finishes recording a message for replying to the caller when registering as an absentee agent from the guest room 16. By performing this operation, the absentee agent registration is completed. do.

The message playback button 1flOE is a button that the guest presses to listen to a message addressed to him/her from the guest room 16.

The message deletion button 1130F is a button that the guest presses to delete all messages after hearing the message addressed to him from the guest room l6.

The line exchange (PBX) 10 is connected to the intermediate stand]81 installed in the relay stand room l8, and the operator
By operating 1, it is possible to instruct the line exchange 10 to control connection of lines, etc. Note that connection control of lines, etc. by line switching 4llIO is performed automatically without instructions from the relay console 181, but due to the peculiarity that the place where the voice mail system is used is a hotel, that is, the problem of service 7. In this embodiment, the transmission is also performed via the relay stand 181.

Further, an out-of-service display device 182 is installed in the relay stand room l8. The out-of-home display device 182 is provided with an out-of-home indicator lamp 182A that indicates whether or not the guest is out of the hotel, corresponding to each guest room number within the hotel. Going out display device 1i
182 further includes an answering machine lamp 182B. A message lamp 182G for voicemail is provided. The answering machine lamp 182B turns on when the guest completes the absentee proxy registration in the voice mail system 20, and turns off when the guest cancels the absentee proxy registration. The voice mail message lamp 182C lights up when a message is received in the guest's mailbox in the message storage file 200 provided in the voice mail system (VM) 20, and turns off when the guest has listened to all the messages.

The voice mail system 20 has a storage area in which a response message to be registered corresponding to the extension number of the extension telephone @ 180 of each guest room 16 in the hotel and a caller's message to the extension telephone 160 are stored. It has a message storage file 200. The voice mail system 20 actually has a message storage file 200 as well as a CPU. Although it has various functional parts such as an i-voice memory, their explanation will be omitted since they are not directly related to the present invention. A voice mail system console 22 is connected to the voice mail system 20 for inputting and outputting various data to and from the voice mail system 20.

The interface device (IFE) 24 provides an interface between the host computer 26 and the line exchange IO or the voice mail system 20, and also controls the on/off of a message lamp of a room indicator 282 provided in the front desk 28.

The host computer 2B stores various information regarding guests,
For example, it constantly updates customer information such as guest check-in and check-out dates and times, national address, address, name, billing, etc., and the interface device δ 24 and voice mail system 20 are under the control of the host computer 26. It is in.

A front terminal device 281 and a room indicator 282 are installed at the front desk on the second day. The front terminal device 281 is a device that inputs and outputs various customer information of guests to the host computer 26, and is operated by an operator who is present at the front desk within two days.

The room indicator (Rl) 282 is provided with various display lamps 282A to 282D. Answering machine lamp 2
82A and the message lamp 282B for voice mail perform the same display as the answering machine lamp 182B and the message lamp 182C for voice mail in the outing display device 182 in the middle table 1B, respectively.

Also, the check-in/check-out lamp 282C is a lamp that displays the guest's check-in/check-out status, and the message lamp 282D has the same display as the message lamp 180B installed on the extension telephone 411160 in the guest room 16. conduct.

Furthermore, the room indicator 28 shows the door key 2 of the guest room l6.
A key rack 284 for storing 83 is provided. It is determined whether the guest is out or not based on whether the door key 283 is stored in the key rack 284, and the operator sends a message from the front terminal device 281 to the host computer 2B that the guest is out. is input. This information is input from the host computer 26 via the interface device 24 to the out-of-home display device 1B2 in the relay room 18, and the out-of-home display lamp 182A is turned on.

In the hotel system having the above configuration, operations related to the absentee proxy registration method of the voice mail system 20 will be explained according to the control sequence shown in FIG. 2. First, Fig. 2 shows the absentee proxy registration in the voice mail system 20 that is performed when the user (guest) B of guest room 16 goes out, and the absentee proxy service when user B goes out after the absentee proxy registration. I will explain based on this.

When user B, who is a guest in guest room 16, goes out, he registers as an absentee substitute in the voice mail system 20.
That is, user B presses the answering machine button 1 on the extension telephone 16.
After pressing 80G, the special number of the voice mail system 20 is operated with the numeric keys to call the voice mail system 20 via the line exchange @10.

Next, after a response is received from the voice mail system 20 to the extension telephone 160 in the guest room 1B, user B sends a response message for the subsequent caller to the voice mail system 20 and registers it.

This response message is stored in the storage area corresponding to the user's own extension number in the message M file 200 in the voice mail system 20.

When user B finishes speaking the response message using the extension telephone 180, the registration of the response message is completed by pressing the end button 160. Here, it is desirable that the response message be registered in a language that the expected caller can understand.

Thereafter, the voice mail system 20 notifies the line exchange 10 that the absentee proxy registration has been completed. From this point on, the line exchange 10 performs an absentee service for incoming calls to the extension telephone l60 in the guest room l6.

Next, when another user A calls the hotel from outside the country, for example from overseas, using the outside telephone 14, the line exchange 1
It is connected to the relay stand 181 of the relay stand room 18 via O.

User A requests the operator to connect to user B in guest room l6.

In this case, the operator can tell the user B
The user confirms that the person is absent from the guest room 16 and calls the voice mail system 20. In response, the voice mail system 20 sends a response to the line exchange 10, and then the mail center of the voice mail system 20 sends a voice message such as "This is the mail center..." to the relay console 181 through the line exchange IO. be done.

Next, the line exchange IO notifies the voice mail system 20 of the extension number of the extension telephone 180 in the guest room 16. Thereafter, the line exchange $110 connects the voice mail system 20 to the line 100 to which the outside line telephone 14 used by user A is connected. As a result, the outside line telephone l4 and the voice mail system 20 are connected, and the message storage file 200 in the voice mail system 20 is
The response message of user B stored in the storage area corresponding to the extension number of the extension telephone 160 is read out, and the response message (for example,
``This is the mailbox (of user B's extension number). After a beep...'') is sent to the outside line telephone l4 used by user A.

On the other hand, user A who received the response message sends the message to the voicemail system 20 using the outside line telephone l4, and the message is stored in the message storage file 200. The data is stored and registered in the storage area where the data is stored. In addition,
Completion of this message registration occurs either when the line is disconnected by user A or when the registration time specified on the voice mail system 20 side elapses (timeout). After the message registration by user A is completed, the voice mail system 20 sends a message to the line exchange 10 in the guest room l6.
A request is made to blink the voicemail message (Ilnl) lamp 1BOA provided on the extension telephone 180 of . As a result, line exchange lO is connected to extension telephone IEIO.
Decrease the message lamp I BOA for post mail.

In addition, the line exchange 1O has a room indicator 2 installed at the front 28 with respect to the interface device 24.
The message lamp 282D of 82 is requested to be turned on. In response to this request, the interface device 24 turns on the message lamp 282D. Next, user B of guest room 16
The case where the extension telephone IEiO is busy when the user B is in the room, or the case where the user B has registered the extension telephone 160 as an absentee service will be explained. User A calls the hotel using an outside line telephone @14 and requests connection to the extension telephone 160 of the guest room 16 where user B is staying from the operator in the relay room 18 via the line exchange 110.

The operator of the relay stand room 18 confirms that the out-of-office indicator lamp 182A of the out-of-home display device 182' is off, learns that user B is in the room, and operates the relay stand 181 to call the outside line 100. Connect to line lot of extension telephone 160. However, if the extension telephone 160 of the guest room l6 is busy or if absentee substitution registration has been made, the voice mail system 20 is called, and the line 100 of the external telephone l4 used by user A and the voice mail system 20 are called. Connect. The subsequent control sequence is exactly the same as the control sequence when user B goes out after the absentee proxy registration described above, so the explanation will be omitted.

In this embodiment, in the above-described control sequence, if user B goes out without registering as an absentee proxy, or if user B does not register as an absentee proxy and the extension telephone 16
0 is busy, the outside line telephone l4 and the voice mail system 20 are connected by instructions from the operator in the relay desk room l8, but in these cases, the voice mail system 20 predetermines the For example, a message in Japanese (not a response message registered by the user of the extension telephone) is sent to the outside telephone 14.

(Effects of the Invention) According to the present invention, at least when the user of the extension telephone registers a response message for a subsequent caller in the message storage file of the voice mail system, the extension telephone receives an incoming call from an outside line. When an external line is connected to the voicemail system by a line exchange, the voicemail system retrieves the response message stored in the storage area corresponding to the extension number in the message storage file, and this response message is sent to the voicemail system. It is sent to an outside line via a circuit exchange. Therefore, calls that arrive at an extension telephone that is registered as an absentee service can be answered by the user's own voice message.
This is especially effective when receiving calls from foreigners who cannot understand Japanese.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of a hotel system to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a control sequence of the absence agency service in the hotel system shown in FIG. 10. 14. 20. 24. 26. 180 181 182 200 Explanation of symbols of main parts Line exchange External line telephone Voicemail system Interface device Host computer Extension telephone Attendant out-of-home display device Message storage file 281 Front terminal device 282 . room indicator

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] Interacting with a line exchange that controls call connection between an extension telephone and an outside line, a response message is sent to the other party in response to an incoming call to the extension telephone when the user of the extension telephone is absent. In the absentee substitution method of the voice mail system, the voice mail system stores the extension number of the extension telephone, a response message to be registered corresponding to the extension number, and a message from the user of the external telephone. If at least a response message is registered in the message storage file from the extension telephone, when the extension telephone receives a call from an outside line, the line exchange and a voice mail system, and the voice mail system retrieves the response message stored in the storage area corresponding to the corresponding extension number in the message storage file, and sends the response message to the outside line via the line switch. An absentee substitution method for a voicemail system characterized by sending a message to a person.