U.S. patent application number 10/067483 was filed with the patent office on 2002-07-11 for multimedia private branch exchanger and private branch exchange system.
This patent application is currently assigned to Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba. Invention is credited to Asada, Hiroshi, Funato, Yasuo.
Application Number | 20020089970 10/067483 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 11528628 |
Filed Date | 2002-07-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020089970 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Asada, Hiroshi ; et
al. |
July 11, 2002 |
Multimedia private branch exchanger and private branch exchange
system
Abstract
The router unit is built in the main key telephone apparatus,
the office line interface function and the independent power
supplying function are deleted in the router unit, and the office
line interface units and the power supply unit substitute for these
functions. The temperature inside the cabinet, the operated state
of the cooling fan, and the temperature and operating power supply
voltage Vcc of the PC power supply unit, etc. are detected in the
CTI personal computer, and these monitor data are transferred to
the main key telephone apparatus and analyzed in the main key
telephone apparatus, so as to detect abnormality in the CTI
personal computer and take necessary measures against the
abnormality.
Inventors: |
Asada, Hiroshi; (Tokyo,
JP) ; Funato, Yasuo; (Tokyo, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FINNEGAN, HENDERSON, FARABOW, GARRETT &
DUNNER LLP
1300 I STREET, NW
WASHINGTON
DC
20005
US
|
Assignee: |
Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
|
Family ID: |
11528628 |
Appl. No.: |
10/067483 |
Filed: |
February 7, 2002 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10067483 |
Feb 7, 2002 |
|
|
|
09226719 |
Jan 7, 1999 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
370/351 ;
370/401; 370/522 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04M 3/42323
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
370/351 ;
370/401; 370/522 |
International
Class: |
H04J 003/12 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 8, 1998 |
JP |
10-002415 |
Claims
1. A multimedia private branch exchanger, comprising: a line
interface unit for accommodating a plurality of extension lines and
having a function of controlling communication with telephone
terminals to be connected to said extension lines; a router unit
for accommodating a local area network and having a function of
controlling communication with data terminals to be connected to
said local area network; an office line interface unit being
provided commonly to said line interface unit and said router unit,
and having a function of controlling communication with an external
communication network; and a switching unit for selectively
connecting said line interface unit and said router unit to said
office line interface unit, on the basis of a request for setting a
call.
2. A multimedia private branch exchanger according to claim 1,
further comprising a power supply unit provided commonly to said
line interface unit, said router unit, said office line interface
unit and said switching unit, for supplying to each of said units
power necessary for their respective operations.
3. A multimedia private branch exchanger according to any one of
claims 1 and 2, wherein said router unit comprises a protocol
converting unit for connecting said data terminals directly to said
office line interface unit.
4. A multimedia private branch exchanger according to claim 1,
wherein a hub for accommodating a plurality of local area networks
or data terminal devices is built in said router unit.
5. A private branch exchange system, comprising an exchanger for
accommodating a plurality of extension lines and at least one
office line and having various functions concerning exchange
between said extension lines or between said extension liens and
said office line; and a computer for carrying out part of the
functions of said exchanger, wherein said computer comprises means
for monitoring abnormality in its own device, and means for
informing said exchanger of abnormality monitor results obtained by
said abnormality monitoring means; and said exchanger comprises
means for receiving the abnormality monitor results from said
computer, means for discriminating abnormality on the basis of the
abnormality monitor results received by said abnormality receiving
means, and abnormality response means for optionally disconnecting
said computer from its own device on the basis of discrimination
results of said abnormality discriminating means.
6. A private branch exchange system according to claim 5, wherein
said abnormality response means comprises a function of resetting
or stopping said computer.
7. A private branch exchange system according to claim 5, wherein
said abnormality monitoring means monitors at least one of
abnormality in a temperature inside said computer, abnormality in
the power supply, abnormality in operations of a cooling device and
abnormality in operations of said computer.
8. A private branch exchange system according to claim 5, wherein
said computer further comprises means for monitoring recovering
conditions of its own device from the abnormality, and means for
informing said exchanger of the recovery results monitored by said
recovery monitoring means; and said exchanger further comprises
means for receiving recovery monitor results from said computer,
means for discriminating recovering conditions on the basis of the
recovery monitor results received by said recovery receiving means,
and means for restoring the connection with said computer on the
basis of the discrimination results of said recovery discriminating
means.
9. A private branch exchange system, comprising an exchanger for
accommodating a plurality of extension lines and at least one
office line and having various functions concerning exchange
between said extension lines or between said extension liens and
said office line, and a computer for carrying out part of the
functions of said exchanger, wherein said system further comprises:
means for allowing said exchanger to inquire said computer about
operated conditions of said computer; and means for compulsorily
resetting said computer when a predetermined response to said
inquiry is not sent from said computer to said exchanger.
10. A private branch exchange system according to claim 9, wherein
said resetting means compulsorily resets said computer when said
computer makes no response to said inquiry.
11. A private branch exchange system according to claim 9, wherein
said resetting means compulsorily resets said computer when said
computer sends back abnormal data in response to said inquiry.
12. A private branch exchange system according to any one of claims
5, 8 and 9, wherein said exchanger further comprises means, when
abnormality in operations of said computer is detected, for
transmitting information of the abnormality to telephone terminals
to be connected to said extension lines to inform said telephone
terminals of said information.
13. A private branch exchange system according to any one of claims
5, 8 and 9, wherein said exchanger further comprises means, when a
relay station is connected to said exchanger and if abnormality in
operations of said computer is detected, for transmitting
information of the abnormality to said relay station to inform said
relay station of the abnormality.
14. A private branch exchange system, comprising an exchanger for
accommodating a plurality of extension lines and at least one
office line and having various functions concerning exchange
between said extension lines or between said extension liens and
said office line, and a computer for carrying out part of the
functions of said exchanger, wherein said system further comprises:
means for monitoring the abnormality in operations of said
exchanger; means for initializing an operated state of said
exchanger when the abnormality is detected in the operations of
said exchanger by said abnormality monitoring means; and means for
setting said computer to be in a waiting state by the time when the
initialization has been completed by said initializing means,
releasing the waiting state of said computer after said
initialization has been finished and restarting said computer.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a private branch exchange
system such as a key telephone system, and particularly to a
multimedia private branch exchanger capable of handling video
signals, computer data and the like as well as voice signals and a
private branch exchange system employing CTI (Computer Telephony
Integration).
[0002] Many key telephone systems have been employed in office
buildings and company offices. Recently, as an extension-type
system thereof, a multimedia-applicable key telephone system has
been proposed, which processes not only voice signals at telephone
terminals, but also video signals and computer data at videophone
terminals and personal computers.
[0003] However, in a conventional system of this kind, for example,
a standalone router is provided separately from a main key
telephone apparatus so that a data terminal connected to a LAN
(Local Area Network) is connected to the main key telephone
apparatus via the standalone router. Therefore, the standalone
router and an interface unit dedicated for the main device need to
be prepared for connection to the LAN, which increases the user's
economic burden.
[0004] On the other hand, employment of a CTI (Computer Telephony
Integration) has been reviewed for constitution of the key
telephone system. The CTI allows the main key telephone apparatus
to be connected to a server computer or personal computers, and the
computers to process the parts of the exchange of the main key
telephone apparatus and storage and working of the voices and data,
etc. The CTI can realize a high-performance system without
enhancing the processing performance of the main key telephone
apparatus.
[0005] Generally, the main key telephone apparatus is designed with
high reliability so as to be operated under the unmanned control
for a long time. However, since a cheap widely used computer such
as a personal computer is used as the CTI computer of the key
telephone system, it can be well expected that the CTI computer may
often lapse into an uncontrollable state such as malfunction, or
abnormality may occur in an air-cooling fan, a hard disc, a power
supply, etc. In these cases, if a maintenance person or an operator
is stationed near the CTI computer, he can immediately finish the
malfunction program and restart the operation of the computer, or
stop the CTI computer to disconnect it from the main key telephone
apparatus. Generally, however, a maintenance person or an operator
is not stationed. If the CTI computer is abnormally operated, the
processing ability of the system is not only lowered, but also the
abnormality in the CTI computer influences the main key telephone
apparatus, which may cause the system down. Therefore, effective
measures against such operational abnormality have been
expected.
[0006] The conventional multimedia-applicable key telephone system
described above has a problem that the router dedicated for
accommodation of the LAN and the interface unit dedicated for the
main device need to be installed and thereby the manufacturing cost
of the system may be increased.
[0007] In addition, in a case where the router is a general dial-up
router, there are problems that (1) a new ISDN line other than the
main key telephone apparatus needs to be drawn or an ISDN extension
line interface unit dedicated for the key telephone need to be
prepared; and (2) when the battery at the power failure is backed
up, an uninterruptible power supply UPS needs to be prepared to
enhance reliability.
[0008] Further, when the CTI is carried out, there is also a
problem that solutions to the operational abnormality of the
computer have not been established.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The present invention has been accomplished by considering
the above-described circumstances, and its first object is to
provide a multimedia private branch exchanger which can accommodate
the LAN while restricting the manufacturing costs of the system as
much as possible.
[0010] The second object of the present invention is to provide a
private branch exchange system which can effectively respond to
abnormality in operations of the CTI computer.
[0011] In order to achieve the first object, there is provided a
multimedia private branch exchanger, comprising: a line interface
unit having a function of controlling communication with extension
line telephone terminals; a router unit having a function of
controlling communication with data terminals to be connected to
the local area network; an office line interface unit provided
commonly to the line interface unit and the router unit, and having
a function of controlling communication with an external
communication network; and a switching unit for selectively
connecting the line interface unit and the router unit to the
office line interface unit, on the basis of a request for setting a
call.
[0012] The present invention has also a characteristic of
comprising a power supply unit provided commonly to the line
interface unit, the router unit, the office line interface unit and
the switching unit, and supplying the power necessary for their
respective operations from the power supply unit to each of the
units.
[0013] That is, in the present invention, the router unit for
connection of the local area network is built in the exchanger,
this router unit has the only interface function with the local
area network, and the office line interface unit and the power
supply unit which have been provided in the exchanger are used as
the office line interface unit and the power supply unit provided
normally in a general dial-up router.
[0014] Therefore, according to the present invention, the
standalone router or the general dial-up router does not need to be
provided separately from the exchanger. In addition, the router
unit of the present invention is not only built in the exchanger,
but also the office line interface function and the power supply
unit which have been provided in the exchanger are commonly used as
the office line interface unit and the power supply unit which are
to be provided in the router unit. As a result, a system which is
of high reliability, a comparatively small size and low
manufacturing costs, can be provided.
[0015] The present invention has also a characteristic of
comprising, in the router unit, a protocol converting unit for
connecting the data terminals directly connected to the LAN, to the
office line interface within the exchanger. In this structure, when
a plurality of data terminals are connected to the local area
network, the entire data transfer between the data terminals and
the respective unit in the exchanger can be subjected to the
interface process in the router unit. As a result, the function of
the interface with the exchanger does not need to be provided at
each of the data terminals and thereby the burden on the data
terminal users can be reduced.
[0016] Further, the present invention has also a characteristic of
comprising a hub in the router unit and connecting a plurality of
local area networks or data terminal devices via the hub.
[0017] On the other hand, in order to achieve the second object
described above, there is provided a private branch exchange
system, comprising an exchanger for accommodating a plurality of
extension lines and at least one office line and having various
functions concerning exchange between the extension lines or
between the extension liens and the office line; and a CTI computer
for carrying out part of the functions of the exchanger, and the
system comprises, in the CTI computer, means for monitoring
abnormality in its own device, and means for informing the
exchanger of abnormality monitor results obtained by the
abnormality monitoring means, and also comprises, in the exchanger,
means for receiving the abnormality monitor results from the CTI
computer, means for discriminating abnormality on the basis of the
abnormality monitor results received by the abnormality receiving
means, and abnormality response means for optionally disconnecting
the CTI computer from its own device on the basis of discrimination
results of the abnormality discriminating means.
[0018] The abnormality monitoring means monitors at least one of
abnormality in a temperature inside the CTI computer, abnormality
in the power supply, abnormality in operations of a cooling device
and abnormality in operations of the computer.
[0019] Therefore, according to the present invention, when abnormal
rise of the temperature, abnormality in the power supply,
operational abnormality in the cooler, or operational abnormality
in operations of the program occurs in the CTI computer, results of
the detection are informed from the CTI computer to the exchanger.
In response to this information, the abnormal state is
discriminated by the exchanger. If there is a danger of malfunction
in the CTI computer, the CTI computer is disconnected. As a result,
the operational abnormality in the CTI computer does not influence
the exchanger and thereby the system down can be preliminarily
prevented.
[0020] Moreover, the present invention has also a characteristic of
further comprising, in the CTI computer, means for monitoring
recovering conditions of its own device from the abnormality, and
means for informing the exchanger of the recovery results monitored
by the recovery monitoring means; and further comprising, in the
exchanger, means for receiving recovery monitor results from the
CTI computer, means for discriminating recovering conditions on the
basis of the recovery monitor results received by the recovery
receiving means, and means for restoring the connection with the
CTI computer on the basis of the discrimination results of the
recovery discriminating means.
[0021] According to the present invention, when the CTI computer is
recovered from the operational abnormality, the connection between
the exchanger and the CTI computer is automatically restored.
Therefore, for example, when the CTI computer, which is abnormally
operated temporarily, returns to the normal condition, or when the
CTI computer returns to the normal condition after the parts of the
CTI computer are exchanged, the connection between the exchanger
and the CTI computer can be restored without waiting for the
restoring operation to be made by a maintenance person.
[0022] Furthermore, the present invention has also a characteristic
of allowing the exchanger to inquire the CTI computer about
operated conditions of the CTI computer; and compulsorily resetting
the CTI computer when a predetermined response to the inquiry is
not sent from the CTI computer to the exchanger, for example when
no response or abnormal command is returned.
[0023] Therefore, even when the CTI computer cannot be restored by
its own self, for example, when there is malfunction in the program
of the CTI computer, the CTI computer can be reset by the exchanger
and the operated state of the CTI computer can be restored to the
normal condition.
[0024] In addition, as described above, when the cooler is broken,
abnormality occurs in the power supply, or there is malfunction in
the program, in the CTI computer, the information indicative of the
abnormal condition may be transferred from the exchanger to the
extension line terminals or a relay station and, for example, the
information may be displayed on a LCD or voice messages may be made
so as to inform the user or a relay station operator of the
information. Thus, the user or the relay station operator can
immediately understand that there has been operational abnormality
or malfunction in the program, in the CTI computer, and can thereby
quickly take measures such as the restoring operations.
[0025] Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be
set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be
obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the
invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be
realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and
combinations particularly pointed out hereinafter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
[0026] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and
constitute a part of the specification, illustrate presently
preferred embodiments of the invention, and together with the
general description given above and the detailed description of the
preferred embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles
of the invention.
[0027] FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram illustrating a first
embodiment of a digital key telephone system according to the
present invention;
[0028] FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram illustrating the router
unit 14A of FIG. 1 in more detail;
[0029] FIGS. 3A and 3B show the conversion from IP data signal to
PPP protocol format;
[0030] FIG. 4 is a circuit block diagram illustrating essential
units of the system shown in FIG. 1;
[0031] FIG. 5 is a circuit block diagram illustrating the structure
of a CTI personal computer shown in FIG. 4;
[0032] FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing a process and contents of
discriminating PC abnormality and controlling the correspondence
thereto by means of a controller of a main key telephone
apparatus;
[0033] FIG. 7 is a circuit block diagram illustrating a second
embodiment of the digital key telephone system according to the
present invention;
[0034] FIG. 8 is a circuit block diagram illustrating a third
embodiment of the digital key telephone system according to the
present invention;
[0035] FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating essential units of a
fourth embodiment of the digital key telephone system according to
the present invention;
[0036] FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating essential units of a
fifth embodiment of the digital key telephone system according to
the present invention; and
[0037] FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating essential units of a
sixth embodiment of the digital key telephone system according to
the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0038] (First Embodiment)
[0039] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a
multimedia key telephone system according to the present invention
in which 1A represents a main key telephone apparatus at the core
of this system.
[0040] The main key telephone apparatus 1A comprises plural kinds
of office line interface units (a basic rate interface: BRI, a
primary rate interface: PRI) 11 and 12, a line interface unit (a
digital key telephone unit/standard telephone unit: DKU/STU) 13, a
time switch unit (TSW) 15, and a central control unit (CTU) 17.
These are mutually connected via a voice bus (pulse code modulation
highway: PCMHW) 19 and a control bus (data highway: DHW) 20.
[0041] The office line interface unit (BRI) 11 is connected to an
ISDN public network NW via a subscriber line ISL corresponding to
the ISDN basic interface, for example to control establishment of a
call with the ISDN public network NW on the basis of the basic
interface. The office line interface unit (PRI) 12 is connected to
the ISDN public network NW via a subscriber line ASL corresponding
to an ISDN primary rate interface, for example to control
establishment of a call with the ISDN public network NW on the
basis of the primary rate interface.
[0042] The line interface unit 13 accommodates a plurality of
extension lines EL1 to ELm, which are connected respectively to
extension line terminals T1 to Tm. Digital key telephones, analog
telephones and facsimile devices are, for example, used as the
extension line terminals T1 to Tm. The digital key telephone is
connected to the DKU, and the analog terminal such as the analog
telephone or facsimile device is connected to the STU. The DKU
processes the transmission and reception with the digital key
telephone and the transfer of a digital signal. The STU processes
the transmission and reception with the analog terminal and the
analog/digital conversion of the signal.
[0043] The time switch unit 15 switches the channels of the digital
signal transmitted between the office line interface units 11 and
12, and the line interface unit 13 via the voice bus 19 in
accordance with instructions of the central control unit 17. 18
denotes a power supply unit, which generates a desired DC power
supply voltage Vcc on the basis of the commercial power supply
output (AC100V) and supplies the DC power supply voltage Vcc to all
the circuit units in the device including a router unit described
later.
[0044] Incidentally, a router unit 14A and a computer-connecting
interface unit (PC I/F) 16A are built in the main key telephone
apparatus 1A of the first embodiment. The router unit 14A is
constituted by a LAN interface unit (LAN I/F) 141, a bus interface
unit (bus I/F) 142 including a protocol converting unit and a
control unit (CONT) 143. That is, in the router unit 14A, ISDN
interface functions and a power supply unit of a generally used
dial-up router are deleted and the bus I/F 142 including the
converting unit having a protocol converting function to connect a
LAN 2 directly to the voice bus 19 and the control bus 20 inside
the main key telephone apparatus 1A is provided.
[0045] FIG. 2 shows the router unit 14A of FIG. 1 in more
detail.
[0046] This router unit 14A is a circuit on a single card board and
can be detached from the main key telephone apparatus 1A. The
router card (i.e. the router unit) is constituted as explained
below. Therefore, if the user does not need the router function of
the main key telephone apparatus 1A, he can detach the router card
from the main key telephone apparatus 1A and, instead, connect an
extension line telephone interface card having an extension line
circuit or a trunk card having a trunk circuit.
[0047] The router unit 14A is constituted by the LAN interface unit
(LAN I/F) 141, the bus interface unit (bus I/F) 142 and the control
unit 143 as described above.
[0048] The LAN interface unit (LAN I/F) 141 includes a modular 141A
for making connection to an external LAN, transformers 141B for
insulating the interior of the unit, an Ethernet repeater 141C
serving as a hub for splitting one port to four ports, and an
Ethernet interface adapter 141D for processing Manchester code
conversion and a differential output and a differential input of
signals.
[0049] The control unit 143 includes a controller 143A, a flash
memory (a program memory) 143B, and a data memory (DRAM) 143C. The
controller 143A processes various kinds of controls on the basis of
programs stored in the program memory 143B, such as, for example,
analysis of MAC addresses and IP addresses transmitted from the
Ethernet interface adapter 143D.
[0050] In addition, the control unit 143 has a PPP (point to point
protocol) connecting function, which allows data terminals PC1-PCn
connected to the LAN to be connected to the Internet IN and the
intranet ITN via the ISDN public network NW. The control unit 143,
which also has a routing table at the flash memory 143B, carries
out the routing process of packets transmitted between the data
terminals PC1-PCn and the ISDN public network NW, by referring to
the routing table.
[0051] The bus interface unit (bus I/F) 142 includes a TS rate
converting unit 142A, a time switch (TSW) 142B, a CLK circuit 142C
for generating a clock signal for the TS rate converting unit 142A
and the time switch 142B, and a protocol converting unit 142D.
[0052] The time switch 142B is connected to a connector for
connecting it to a PCM highway 19 of the main key telephone
apparatus 1A, and the protocol converting unit 142D is connected to
a connector for connecting it to a data highway 20 of the main key
telephone apparatus 18.
[0053] The time switch 142B and the TS rate converting unit 142A
serve as a time slot assignor, which processes conversion between a
protocol of an ISDN layer 3 to be generated in the control unit 142
and a protocol of an extension line control interface layer 3 of
the main key telephone apparatus 1A, in order to transmit the data
transmitted from the LAN via the ISDN.
[0054] Specifically, a protocol signal of the layer 3 to be
transmitted from the controller 143A of the control unit 143 via
the control serial bus and used for connection of the ISDN line
conversion/I.430 line is converted into the protocol of the
internal control interface layer 3, and then transmitted in
transmission format mode of the data highway 20.
[0055] Next, an operation of the router unit 14A will be
described.
[0056] The IP data having the MAC header transmitted from the LAN
is received by the LAN interface unit 141.
[0057] Specifically, the interior of the LAN interface unit 141 is
insulated by the transformer 141B, and the IP data is input to the
Ethernet repeater LSI 141C and then input to the controller 143A of
the control unit 143 via the Ethernet interface adapter LSI
141D.
[0058] In the controller 143A, after the IP data signal is
converted into the PPP protocol format, it is transmitted to the TS
rate converting unit 142A of the bus I/F 142 with a B channel
signal of the ISDN via the communication serial bus. The conversion
from IP data signal to PPP protocal format is shown in FIGS. 3A and
3B. The IP data signal is also transmitted to the protocol
converting unit 142D of the bus I/F unit 142 with a D channel
signal of the ISDN via the communication address bus corresponding
to the ISDN line conversion I.430 protocol.
[0059] In the bus interface unit 142, the time slot conversion is
carried out by the TS rate converting unit 142A and the time switch
(TSW) 142B, so that the B channel signal transmitted from the
controller 143A is input to a PCM highway's own time slot and the D
channel signal from the protocol converting unit 142D is input to a
data highway's own time slot. The "own time slot" is a time slot
determined on the basis of a position where the router card is
accommodated.
[0060] A CTI personal computer (CTI PC) 3A is connected to the
computer-connecting interface unit 16A. The computer-connecting
interface unit 16A has a function of transferring a digital voice
signal between the CTI personal computer 3A and the voice bus 19,
and a function of transferring a control command and the like
between the central control unit 17 and the CTI personal computer
3A.
[0061] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating the connection
between the CTI personal computer 3A and the main key telephone
apparatus 1A. The CTI personal computer 3A comprises a PC control
unit 31 having a micro-computer as a main controller, a plurality
of PCM processing units 321, 322, . . . , a key telephone
connecting interface unit 33 and a PC power supply unit 34. The PC
control unit 31, PCM processing units 321, 322, . . . , and key
telephone connecting interface unit 33 are connected via a PC voice
bus 35 and a PC control bus 36.
[0062] The PCM processing units 321, 322, . . . execute various
processes necessary for the CTI, such as compression and encoding
or extension and decoding of the digital voice signal transmitted
from the main key telephone apparatus 1A, synthesis of the voice,
detection of a DTMF signal, processing of a facsimile signal,
processing of a modem signal, and the like.
[0063] On the other hand, the PC control unit 31, the key telephone
connecting interface unit 33 and the PC power supply unit 34 are
constituted as follows. FIG. 5 is a circuit block diagram
illustrating their structures. A cabinet interior cooling fan
monitoring unit 37 and a cabinet interior temperature sensor 38 are
provided in the CTI personal computer 3A. The cabinet interior
cooling fan monitoring unit 37 monitors the operated state of a
cooling fan and outputs the monitoring information. The cabinet
interior temperature sensor 38 outputs temperature detection
information representing the temperature inside the cabinet.
[0064] The PC power supply unit 34 comprises a regulation unit 341,
an output monitoring unit 342, a temperature sensor 343 and an
output control unit 344. The regulation unit 341 generates a
desired operating power supply voltage Vcc on the basis of the
commercial power supply output and supplies it to each unit inside
the CTI personal computer 3A. The output monitoring unit 342
monitors the value of the operating power supply voltage Vcc and
outputs the monitoring information. The temperature sensor 343
detects the temperature in the PC power supply unit 34 and outputs
the information about the detection of temperature. The output
control unit 344 controls operations of the regulation unit 341 in
accordance with the instructions from the PC control unit 31
described later.
[0065] The PC control unit 31 comprises a CPU 311, a chip set 312,
a CPU temperature sensor 313 and a CPU cooling fan monitoring unit
314. The CPU 311, which totally controls the operations of the
personal computer 3A, executes transmission and reception of the
control signal via the chip set 312. The CPU temperature sensor 313
monitors the temperature of the CPU and outputs the information
about the detection. The CPU cooling fan monitoring unit 314
monitors the operated state of the CPU cooling fan and outputs the
monitoring information.
[0066] The key telephone connecting interface unit 33 has a data
transmitting unit 332, a data receiving unit 333 and a control unit
334, and executes the transfer of a digital voice signal and the
control data with the computer connecting interface unit 16A of the
main key telephone apparatus 1A. In addition, a condition
monitoring unit 331 is provided in the key telephone connecting
interface unit 33. The condition monitoring unit 331 takes and
stores the monitoring information of the cabinet interior cooling
fan monitoring unit 37, the temperature detection information of
the cabinet interior temperature sensor 38, the monitoring
information of the operating power supply voltage Vcc, the
temperate detection information of the temperature sensor 343 in
the PC power supply unit 34, the temperate detection information of
the CPU temperature sensor 313 and the monitoring information of
the CPU cooling fan monitoring unit 314. Every time a request for
transmission of the monitoring data comes from, for example, the
main key telephone apparatus 1A, the latest monitoring information
is transmitted from the data transmitting unit 332 to the main key
telephone apparatus 1A as the condition monitoring data.
[0067] The central control unit 17 of the main key telephone
apparatus 1A has a function of discriminating abnormality in the
CTI personal computer 3A, a function of displaying and controlling
abnormality and a function of responding to and controlling
abnormality.
[0068] The abnormality discriminating function transmits a request
for transmission of the monitoring data to the CTI personal
computer 3A at a constant interval, and receives the condition
monitoring data that is transmitted from the CTI personal computer
3A in response to the request. Then, the function discriminates, on
the basis of the received condition monitoring data, whether there
is abnormality of the power supply voltage value Vcc or abnormality
of the cooling fan, or whether or not the temperature rises
abnormally, in the CTI personal computer 3A. If the various
abnormalities are detected by this function, the abnormality
displaying and controlling function transmits the display data
representing the detected abnormal condition to a specific key
telephone or a relay station and allows the display data to be
displayed.
[0069] If an order to stop the operation or an order to restart is
input from the specified key telephone as a result of detecting any
one of the abnormality in the power supply voltage value Vcc,
abnormality in the cooling fan and the abnormal temperature rise by
the abnormality discriminating function, the abnormality response
and control function executes any one of the following three
operations: (1) to transmit an order to the CTI personal computer
3A to stop its operations; (2) to transmit an order to the CTI
personal computer 3A to restart its operations; and (3) to transmit
an order to the output control unit 344 to stop the output of the
PC power supply unit 34 and stop the operations of the CTI personal
computer 3A.
[0070] The central control unit 17 of the main key telephone
apparatus 1A also has a function of monitoring and responding to
the recover of the CTI personal computer 3A. This function
periodically monitors the operated state of the CTI personal
computer 3A and discriminates whether or not the operated state
thereof is recovered, when the operations of the CTI personal
computer 3A are stopped. If the function detects that the
abnormality is recovered, it restarts the CTI process using the
personal computer 3A.
[0071] Next, the operations of the system having the above
structure will be described.
[0072] First, a case where the data terminal connected to the LAN 2
makes data communication in the Internet will be explained.
[0073] It is assumed now that, for example, a user may operate the
data terminal PC1 to make a data communication with a desired
counterpart in the Internet IN. The data terminal PC1 transmits a
connect message to the main key telephone apparatus 1A on the basis
of the TCP/IP (transmission control protocol/internet protocol).
This connect message is received by the router unit 14A of the main
key telephone apparatus 1A via the LAN 2.
[0074] After receiving the connect message, the router unit 14A
executes the steps to set a communication connection based on the
PPP connection with the counterpart terminal connected in the
Internet IN. As for the connection in the ISDN line, the steps of
setting the communication connection are executed in the ISDN
public network NW via the control bus 20 and office line interface
unit 11 in the main key telephone apparatus 1A. That is, the office
line interface unit 11 is used originally to make connection
between the extension line terminals T1-Tm of key telephones and
the ISDN public network NW, but in the present embodiment it is
also used to make connection between the router unit 14A and the
ISDN public network NW. The connection steps concerning the
Internet are executed with a provider (not shown) via the PCM bus
19 and office line interface unit 11 in the main key telephone
apparatus 1A and the ISDN public network NW.
[0075] In the above steps of setting the communication connection,
the router unit 14A transmits a connect message to the counterpart
terminal in the Internet IN on the basis of the TCP/IP. In response
to the transmission of the connect message, the process of setting
the TCP/IP connection is executed between the originating data
terminal PC1 and the Internet IN. With this process, the
communication connection is set between the originating internal
data terminal and the counterpart terminal in the Internet IN, and
after this, the data communication in the Internet IN can be made
between the data terminal PC1 and the counterpart terminal.
[0076] Next, the operations in the communication using the CTI
personal computer 3A will be explained.
[0077] It is assumed now that, for example, the data communication
may be executed between the extension line terminal T1 and an
office line terminal connected to the ISDN public network NW. In
this case, a digital voice signal transmitted from the extension
line terminal T1 is received by the line interface unit 13,
transferred to the computer connecting interface unit 16A via the
voice bus 19, an transmitted from the computer connecting interface
unit 16A to the CTI personal computer 3A. In this CTI personal
computer 3A, the digital voice signal is compressed and encoded.
This encoded digital voice signal transmitted back from the CTI
personal computer 3A to the computer connecting interface unit 16A,
transferred from the computer connecting interface unit 16A to the
office line interface unit 11 via the voice bus 19, and then
transmitted to the office line terminal of the communication
counterpart in the ISDN public network NW. The voice signal
transmitted from the office line terminal is transferred to the
extension line terminal T1 in the path which is reverse to the
above path.
[0078] Incidentally, in the system of the present embodiment, the
following discrimination of abnormality, and response and control
thereof are executed in CTI personal computer 3A during such
execution of the CTI. FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the steps and
contents of the control.
[0079] That is, in the CTI personal computer 3A, the temperature in
the cabinet and the operated state of the cooling fan, the
temperature of the PC power supply unit 34 and the operating power
supply voltage Vcc, and the CPU temperature in the PC control unit
31 and the operated state of the CPU cooling fan, are detected and
collected in the condition monitoring unit 331 of the key telephone
connecting interface unit 33. The collected monitoring data are
stored in the condition monitoring unit 331.
[0080] The main key telephone apparatus 1A periodically generates a
request for transmission of the monitoring data at the central
control unit 17 and transmits the request from the computer
connecting interface unit 16A to CTI personal computer 3A (step
4a). When the request reaches the CTI personal computer 3A of the
key telephone connecting interface unit 33, the CTI personal
computer 3A reads and encodes the latest one of the stored
monitoring data, and transmits it to the main key telephone
apparatus 1A.
[0081] After transmitting the request for transmission of the
monitoring data, the central control unit 17 of the main key
telephone apparatus 1A monitors the arrival of the monitoring data
from the CTI personal computer 3A at step 4b while monitoring the
procedure of the time at step 4c. If the monitoring data reaches
within a certain time after transmitting the request, the received
monitoring data is analyzed at step 4d, and it is discriminated on
the basis of the results of analysis whether or not abnormality
occurs in the CTI personal computer 3A, at step 4e. If no
abnormality occurs, the control is finished and returns to step 4a,
and the above control of the discrimination of abnormality is
repeated.
[0082] On the other hand, it is assumed now that any abnormality
may occur in the CTI personal computer 3A. In this case, the
central control unit 17 of the main key telephone apparatus 1A
transmits abnormality display data to a specific extension line
terminal (for example, Tm) which is a key telephone at step 4f and
allows the data to be displayed. The abnormality display data,
which is edited on the basis of the monitoring data transmitted
from the CTI personal computer 3A so that the user can easily
recognize the contents of the abnormality, is constituted by, for
example, a mark representing the kind of the abnormality and a
brief explanation.
[0083] The abnormality display data may be displayed visually or
occurrence of the abnormality may be announced with a voice message
by taking advantage of a voice synthesizing means. The extension
line terminal Tm displaying the data may be a key telephone or a
relay station.
[0084] After transmitting the abnormality display data, the central
control unit 17 of the main key telephone apparatus 1A transfers to
step 4g and transmits an order to stop the operation to the CTI
personal computer 3A so that the CTI process can be stopped.
[0085] On the other hand, for example, if the operating system or
the program runs away in the CTI personal computer 3A, the CTI
personal computer 3A does not transmit the monitoring data even
when the main key telephone apparatus 1A transmits the request for
transmission of the monitoring data to the CTI personal computer
3A. In this case, after transmitting the request, the central
control unit 17 of the main key telephone apparatus 1A transfers
from step 4c to step 4d after a certain time has passed, then
discriminates that the malfunction of the operating system or
program has occurred from the fact that the monitoring data does
not reach, and transmits the display data representing the
discrimination result to a specific extension line terminal Tm and
allows the data to be displayed.
[0086] When a certain time has passed after the display data to
display the occurrence of abnormality is transmitted, the central
control unit 17 transmits an order of restart to the CTI personal
computer 3A and allows the computer to be restarted. Thus, the CTI
personal computer 3A returns to the normal condition.
[0087] As described above, in the first embodiment, the router unit
14A is built in the main key telephone apparatus 1A, the ISDN
office line interface function and the independent power supply
function are removed from the router unit 14A, and these functions
are implemented by the office line interface units 11 and 12 and
the power supply unit 18 that are already provided in the main key
telephone apparatus 1A. That is, the router unit 14A employs the
existing office line interface units 11 and 12 and the existing
power supply unit 18.
[0088] Therefore, the LAN can be included in the key telephone
system without preparing the router separately. In addition, the
main key telephone apparatus 1A serving as a highly reliable
multimedia information communication system can be constituted with
a comparatively simple and small structure, not by simply providing
the router inside the main key telephone apparatus 1A, but by
realizing the office line interface function and the power supply
function of the functions necessary for the router by taking
advantage of the office line interface units 11 and 12 and the
power supply unit 18 that are already provided in the main key
telephone apparatus 1A.
[0089] In addition, since the interface functions including the
protocol converting function to connect the router unit 14A
directly to the voice bus 19 and the control bus 20 in the main key
telephone apparatus 1A are provided in the bus I/F unit 142 of the
router unit 14A, the interface functions between the main key
telephone apparatus and the router device, which have been required
in the prior art, do not need to be provided.
[0090] Moreover, in the first embodiment, abnormality in the CTI
personal computer 3A is detected and necessary measures responding
to the abnormality are taken by detecting the temperature in the
cabinet and the operated state of the cooling fan, the temperature
of the PC power supply unit 34 and the operating power supply
voltage Vcc, and the CPU temperature in the PC control unit 31 and
the operated state of the CPU cooling fan, in the CTI personal
computer 3A, transferring these monitor data to the main key
telephone apparatus 1A and analyzing them.
[0091] Therefore, as the CTI personal computer 3A, an expensive
computer such as a server or a factor computer which is designed
with high reliability to prevent abnormality from influencing the
entire branch exchange system is not required, and a cheap and
generally used personal computer can be used.
[0092] In addition, the transfer of the monitor data from the CTI
personal computer 3A to the main key telephone apparatus 1A is
executed in response to the request for transmission from the main
key telephone apparatus 1A. If the main key telephone apparatus 1A
cannot receive the monitor data even after a certain time has
passed, the main key telephone apparatus 1A discriminates that the
malfunction of the program or the OS has occurred in the CTI
personal computer 3A and causes the CTI personal computer 3A to be
restarted. For this reason, the presence of the malfunction in the
CTI personal computer 3A can be discriminated in the main key
telephone apparatus 1A when the received monitor data is analyzed,
and therefore, the main key telephone apparatus 1A can immediately
respond to the malfunction in the CTI personal computer 3A.
[0093] Furthermore, when abnormality in the CTI personal computer
3A is detected on the basis of the analysis of the monitor data,
the main key telephone apparatus 1A generates the display data
representing the contents of the abnormality, transmits it to a
specific extension line terminal Tm and allows the data to be
displayed. As a result, for example, the condition of the
operational abnormality in the CTI personal computer 3A can be
informed to a person who maintains and uses the system and,
therefore, a quick and certain response to the abnormality in the
operations of the CTI personal computer 3A, such as a maintenance
call and the like, can be made.
[0094] (Second Embodiment)
[0095] In the second embodiment of the present invention, the CTI
personal computer is also connected to the router unit via the LAN
which is connected to the router unit, in the main key telephone
apparatus, so that the data transmitted from the CTI personal
computer can be communicated in the Internet.
[0096] FIG. 7 is a circuit block diagram illustrating a structure
of the digital key telephone system according to the second
embodiment. In this figure, the same portions as those shown in
FIG. 1 are indicated by the same reference numerals and their
detailed explanations are omitted.
[0097] In a computer connecting interface unit (PC I/F) 16B
provided in a main key telephone apparatus 1B, an internal
interface function of transferring the data with other circuit
units in the main key telephone apparatus 1B, and a computer
interface function of transmitting the data with a CTI personal
computer (CTI PC) 3B, are provided.
[0098] In this structure, for example, if a voice packet for the
extension line terminal T1 reaches via the Internet IN and the ISDN
public network NW, the voice packet is received by the office line
interface unit 11, input to a router unit 14B via the voice bus 19,
transmitted from the router unit 14B to the CTI personal computer
3B via the LAN 2 and a cable 25, and stored in the CTI personal
computer 3B as, for example, a voice mail.
[0099] When the voice packet is transmitted to the extension line
terminal T1, it is decoded at the CTI personal computer 3B, and
transmitted to the computer connecting interface unit 16B of the
main key telephone apparatus 1B via a computer connecting interface
24. The voice packet is transmitted from the computer connecting
interface unit 16B to the line interface unit 13 via the voice bus
19 and the time switch 15, and then transmitted from this line
interface unit 13 to the destination extension line terminal
T1.
[0100] In addition, when the voice data is transmitted from the
extension line terminals T1-Tm to the Internet IN as an IP packet,
it is transmitted to Internet IN in a course reverse to the
above-described one. That is, the voice data transmitted from the
extension line terminals is transferred from the computer
connecting interface unit 16B to the CTI personal computer 3B in
which the voice data is encoded. The voice data is converted to a
packet in the CTI personal computer 3B on the basis of the TCP/IP,
then transferred to the router unit 14B, and transmitted from this
router unit 14B to the ISDN public network NW via the office line
interface unit 11.
[0101] As described above, according to the second embodiment, the
CTI personal computer 3B can be connected to the router unit 14B
via the LAN2 and the LAN cable 25 and, as a result, an internet
telephone or a facsimile communication via the Internet can be
executed by using the extension line terminals T1-Tm. In addition,
if any problem occurs in one of the courses, the CTI process can be
continued by using another course.
[0102] (Third Embodiment)
[0103] According to a third embodiment of the present invention, in
a digital key telephone system which does not use the CTI personal
computer, the PCM processing unit is provided in the main key
telephone apparatus 1C, the voice encoding and decoding are
executed in the PCM processing unit instead of the CTI personal
computer, and the LAN interface function is provided in the PCM
processing unit, so that the PCM processing unit can be connected
to a router unit 14C via an internal LAN cable 21 by this
function.
[0104] FIG. 8 is a circuit block diagram illustrating a digital key
telephone system according to the third embodiment of the present
invention. In this figure, the same portions as those of FIGS. 1
and 4 are indicated by the same reference numerals, and their
detailed explanations are omitted.
[0105] A hub 141C is built in a router unit 14C.
[0106] A PCM processing unit 22 is formed of, for example, a DSP
(digital signal processor) board and has a telephony gateway
function including a PCM encoding function and a connection
protocol function (H.322) to the LAN, and a facsimile service
function including a facsimile modem function, a file converting
function and a file management function. The PCM processing unit 22
is connected to a router unit 14C via an internal LAN cable 21 for
10BASE-T.
[0107] With this structure, the data, which is to be transmitted
between the extension line terminals T1 to Tm and the Internet IN
is subjected to the process relating to the working of the IP
packet as well as the encoding and decoding processes in the PCM
processing unit 22, is transmitted to the Internet IN via the
router unit 14C and the office line interface units 11 and 12.
[0108] Therefore, the internet telephones of the extension line
terminals T1 to Tm and the facsimile communication using the
Internet IN can be made in the completely similar manner to that of
the second embodiment, without connection to the CTI personal
computer.
[0109] (Fourth Embodiment)
[0110] In the CTI personal computer, according to a fourth
embodiment of the present invention, the condition monitoring unit
which is provided in the key telephone connecting interface of
aforementioned embodiments is provided independently as an RAS
(reliability, availability and serviceability) function unit, so
that the temperature inside the CTI personal computer and the
operated condition of the cooling fan are monitored by the RAS
function unit and the monitor data is transferred from the key
telephone connecting interface to the main key telephone apparatus
1A.
[0111] FIG. 9 is a circuit block diagram illustrating the structure
of the digital key telephone system according to the fourth
embodiment of the present invention. In this figure, the same
portions as those of FIG. 4 are indicated by the same reference
numerals, and their detailed explanations are omitted.
[0112] An RAS function unit 39 is provided in a CTI personal
computer 3E, separately from a key telephone connecting interface
unit 33E. The RAS function unit 39, which corresponds to the
condition monitoring unit 331 in FIG. 5, takes and stores the
monitoring information of the cabinet interior cooling fan
monitoring unit 37, the temperature detection information of the
cabinet interior temperature sensor 38, the monitoring information
of the operating power supply voltage Vcc, the temperate detection
information of the temperature sensor 343 in the PC power supply
unit 34, the temperate detection information of the CPU temperature
sensor 313 and the monitoring information of the CPU cooling fan
monitoring unit 314. The latest monitoring information is read just
when a request for transmission of the monitoring data reaches from
the main key telephone apparatus 1A, and is transferred to a key
telephone connecting interface unit 33E as the condition monitoring
data. The key telephone connecting interface unit 33E transfers the
condition monitoring data from the data transmitting unit 332 to
the main key telephone apparatus 1A.
[0113] With this structure, the physical data can be converted to
the logical data in the RAS designing unit, so that the amount of
the transmitting data can be reduced and burden on a transmission
path and the central control unit 17 can be reduced.
[0114] (Fifth Embodiment)
[0115] According to a fifth embodiment of the present invention, in
a main key telephone apparatus 1E, the monitoring data analyzing
and discriminating function which is provided in the central
control unit of aforementioned embodiments is provided
independently as a PC condition monitoring unit 23, and the
condition monitoring data reaching from the CTI personal computer
3A is analyzed by the PC condition monitoring unit 23 so as to
discriminate the presence of the operational abnormality.
[0116] FIG. 10 is a circuit block diagram illustrating a structure
of the main key telephone apparatus 1E according to the fifth
embodiment of the present invention. In this figure, the same
portions as those of FIG. 4 are indicated by the same reference
numerals, and their detailed explanations are omitted.
[0117] The PC condition monitoring unit 23 is provided
independently of a central control unit 17E, in the main key
telephone apparatus 1E. The condition monitoring data transferred
from the CTI personal computer 3A is received by a computer
connecting interface unit 16E and then input to the PC condition
monitoring unit 23. The PC condition monitoring unit 23 analyzes
the condition monitoring data and discriminates whether or not the
cooling fan of the CTI personal computer 3A is stopped, the
temperature rises abnormality, or abnormality occurs in the
operational power supply voltage Vcc. The results of the
discrimination are input to the central control unit 17E.
[0118] If the PC condition monitoring unit 23 detects the
abnormality, the central control unit 17E generates data
representing the contents of the abnormality, transmits it to the
specific extension line terminal Tm and allows it to be displayed.
When a stop ordering command reaches from the specific extension
line terminal Tm, the computer connecting interface unit 16E
transmits an operation stopping order to the CTI personal computer
3A in accordance with the command so that the operations of the CTI
personal computer 3A are stopped. If the command of the operation
stopping order does not reach in a certain time after the
transmission of the display data, the central control unit 17E
voluntarily generates the operation stopping order, transmits it to
the CTI personal computer 3A and allows the operation to be
stopped.
[0119] With this structure, the PC condition monitoring unit 23 is
provided in the main key telephone apparatus 1E so that the
monitoring data can be analyzed and abnormality can be
discriminated in the monitoring unit 23 and, therefore, the burden
on the central control unit 17E can be reduced.
[0120] (Sixth Embodiment)
[0121] According to the sixth embodiment, in a main key telephone
apparatus 1F, the monitor data analyzing and discriminating
function which is provided in the central control unit of
aforementioned embodiments is provided independently as the PC
condition monitoring unit 23, and the condition monitoring data
reaching from the CTI personal computer 3A is analyzed by the PC
condition monitoring unit 23 to discriminate the presence of the
operational abnormality. Further, if the abnormality in the
operation of the branch exchanger is detected, the computer is set
in a waiting state until the initialization of the exchanger has
been completed and the operated state of the exchanger is
initialized, and after the initialization has been finished, the
waiting state of the computer is released to restart the
computer.
[0122] FIG. 11 is a circuit block diagram illustrating the
structure of the main key telephone apparatus 1F according to the
sixth embodiment of the digital key telephone system. In this
figure, the same portions as those of FIG. 10 are indicated by the
same reference numerals, and their detailed explanations are
omitted.
[0123] In the main key telephone apparatus 1F, a PC condition
monitoring unit 23F is provided independently of a central control
unit 17F. The condition monitor data transferred from the CTI
personal computer 3A is received by a computer connecting interface
unit 16F and then input to the PC condition monitoring unit 23F.
The PC condition monitoring unit 23F analyzes the condition monitor
data and discriminates whether or not the cooling fan of the CTI
personal computer 3A is stopped, the temperature rises abnormality,
or abnormality occurs in the operational power supply voltage Vcc.
The results of the discrimination are input to the central control
unit 17F.
[0124] When the abnormality in the CTI personal computer 3A is
detected by the PC condition monitoring unit 23F, the central
control unit 17F generates the data representing the contents of
the abnormality, transmits it to a specific extension line terminal
Tm and allows it to be displayed. When the stop order command
reaches from the specific extension line terminal Tm, the computer
connecting interface unit 16F transmits an order to stop the
operation to the CTI personal computer 3A in accordance with the
command, so as to stop the operation of the CTI personal computer
3A. If the order command to stop the operation does not reach
within a certain period after transmission of the display data, the
central control unit 17F voluntarily generates the operation stop
order, and transmits it to the CTI personal computer 3A to stop the
operation of the CTI personal computer 3A.
[0125] In addition, If the abnormality in the main key telephone
apparatus 1F is detected, the central control unit 17F generates
the data representing the contents of the abnormality, transmits it
to a specific extension line terminal Tm and allows it to be
displayed. Then, the central control unit 17F inputs the reset
condition information to the PC condition monitoring unit 23F. In
response to the reset condition information, the PC condition
monitoring unit 23F transmits a wait order to the CTI personal
computer 3A via the computer connecting interface unit 16F, and
thereby sets the CTI personal computer 3A in a waiting state. After
this, the central control unit 17F initializes the operated state
of the main key telephone apparatus 1F, and inputs the reset
release information to the PC condition monitoring unit 23F after
the initialization has been finished. In response to the reset
release information, the PC condition monitoring unit 23F transmits
a release order to the CTI personal computer 3A via the computer
connecting interface unit 16F, and thereby releases the waiting
state of the CTI personal computer 3A. The central control unit 17F
generates data of erasing the display of abnormality in the main
key telephone apparatus 1F, transmits it to a specific extension
line terminal Tm, and thereby erases the display of
abnormality.
[0126] With this structure, the burden on the central control unit
17F can be reduced, similarly to the fifth embodiment. In addition,
even when abnormality occurs in the main key telephone apparatus
1F, the operation of the main key telephone apparatus 1F can be
recovered without giving bad influence to the operation of the CTI
personal computer 3A.
[0127] (Other Embodiments)
[0128] The present invention is not limited to the above-described
embodiments. For example, the digital key telephone system has been
explained in the embodiments. However, the present invention can be
applied to the digital private branch exchange system. In addition,
the kind of the extension terminals, the structure of the main key
telephone apparatus, the structure of the router unit, the
functions of the central control unit, the structure and connection
of the CTI personal computer, and the like can be variously
modified within a range which does not exceed the inventive scope
of the present invention.
[0129] As described above, in the present invention, the router
unit for connection of the local area network is built in the
exchanger, this router unit has the only interface function with
the local area network, and the office line interface and the power
supply unit which have been provided in the exchanger are used as
the office line interface and the power supply unit which are to be
generally provided in the router.
[0130] Therefore, according to the present invention, the router
unit does not need to be provided separately from the exchanger. In
addition, the route unit of the present invention is not only built
in the exchanger, but also the office line interface and the power
supply unit which have been provided in the exchanger are used as
the office line interface and the power supply unit which are to be
provided in the router unit. As a result, a system which is of high
reliability, a comparatively small size and low manufacturing
costs, can be provided.
[0131] According to the present invention of the other embodiments,
when there is abnormality in the operations of the computer or
malfunction in the program, the conditions are discriminated by the
exchanger to disconnect or reset the computer.
[0132] Therefore, the abnormality in the operations of the computer
does not influence the exchanger and, as a result, the system down
can be preliminarily prevented and thereby the reliability of the
system can be enhanced.
[0133] Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur
to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its
broader aspects is not limited to the specific details and
representative embodiments shown and described herein. Accordingly,
various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit
or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the
appended claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *