U.S. patent application number 11/328127 was filed with the patent office on 2006-06-22 for telephone voice control system, intermediate processing apparatus and exchange.
This patent application is currently assigned to Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Sachiko Kawaguchi, Junichi Morita, Noritoshi Ogasawara, Hiroshi Uranaka.
Application Number | 20060133584 11/328127 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26590987 |
Filed Date | 2006-06-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060133584 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Uranaka; Hiroshi ; et
al. |
June 22, 2006 |
Telephone voice control system, intermediate processing apparatus
and exchange
Abstract
There is disclosed a telephone voice control system capable of
reducing the load on an application program in CTI technology to
enable loading of the application program. This system is furnished
with an intermediate processing unit (middleware) and an
application program. The intermediate processing unit is provided
with a call processing part 104, a voice data processing part 106,
a status management part 105 for maintaining the status of the call
processing part and the voice data processing part, and a control
part 103 for controlling the call processing part and the voice
data processing part. The application program sends a request to
the intermediate processing unit. In operation, the control part
compares a state enough to execute the request from the application
program with the status maintained by the status management part,
and if both disaccord, requests the call processing part and the
voice processing part to perform processing for matching both
states with each other. In this case, the application program has
only to issue the same voice playback or recording request to the
intermediate processing unit anytime without the need to manage the
call connected, the connected state of a voice data path and the
like.
Inventors: |
Uranaka; Hiroshi; (Tokyo,
JP) ; Kawaguchi; Sachiko; (Tokyo, JP) ;
Ogasawara; Noritoshi; (Katsushika-ku, JP) ; Morita;
Junichi; (Hachiouji-shi, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CONNOLLY BOVE LODGE & HUTZ LLP
SUITE 800
1990 M STREET NW
WASHINGTON
DC
20036-3425
US
|
Assignee: |
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co.,
Ltd.
Kadoma-shi
JP
|
Family ID: |
26590987 |
Appl. No.: |
11/328127 |
Filed: |
January 10, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10019054 |
Feb 21, 2002 |
7027583 |
|
|
PCT/JP01/03724 |
Apr 27, 2001 |
|
|
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11328127 |
Jan 10, 2006 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
379/88.01 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04M 3/42323 20130101;
H04M 3/533 20130101; H04M 3/537 20130101; H04M 2203/4536 20130101;
H04M 2201/40 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
379/088.01 |
International
Class: |
H04M 1/64 20060101
H04M001/64 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 27, 2000 |
JP |
2000-127815 |
Jul 4, 2000 |
JP |
2000-202395 |
Claims
1. A telephone voice control system comprising: a public cable
network; a general telephone terminal connected to said public
cable network; a public radio network; a multi-functional terminal
connected to said public radio network; an exchange connected to
said public cable network; and a voice storage apparatus for
storing voice data, wherein when a user of said general telephone
terminal or said multi-functional terminal listens to voice data
stored in said voice storage apparatus, the voice data is output
from said voice storage apparatus to said exchange using TCP/IP
communication protocol.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a Divisional of co-pending Application
Ser. No. 10/019,054, filed on Dec. 27, 2001, and for which priority
is claimed under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 120; and this application claims
priority of Application Nos. 2000-127815 filed in Japan on Apr. 27,
2000 and 2000-202395 filed in Japan on Jul. 7, 2000 under 35 U.S.C.
.sctn. 119; the entire contents of all are hereby incorporated by
reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates to a telephone voice control
system for recording and storing a telephone call as data, while
sending the stored data to a corresponding telephone and playback
the telephone call.
BACKGROUND ART
[0003] Recently, a technology, called CTI (computer telephony
integration), for control of telephone features on a personal
computer has been developed, and voice mail systems for recording
an entire telephone call and storing the same as data have been put
to practical use. One form of the voice mail systems is disclosed
in Japanese patent unexamined publication No. Hei 08-032618.
[0004] FIG. 31 shows a configuration of a conventional telephone
voice control system. This system includes an exchange 108
connected to a telephone terminal 113 through a telephone network
112 and a personal computer connected to the exchange 108 via a
LAN. The personal computer has connections to a call processing
part 104 for monitoring a call connected, a voice data processing
part 106 for processing voice data, a voice data storage part 107,
including an application program 101 for controlling these parts.
The exchange 108 is provided with a circuit switching part 111, a
call control interface part 109 and a voice interface part 110. The
circuit switching part 111 is connected to the telephone network
112 to carry out circuit switching. The call control interface part
109 transmits call connected information to the call processing
part 104. The voice interface part 110 transfers voice data to the
voice data processing part 106.
[0005] In this system, the application program 101 manages, through
the call processing part 104 and the voice data processing part
106, the call connected and the connected state in a voice data
path. Suppose that information on the call connected is sent to the
call processing part 104 from the call control interface part 109
of the exchange 108. In this case, voice data transferred from the
voice interface part 110 is pulled up or fetched through the voice
data processing part 106 and stored in the voice storage unit
107.
[0006] Since the voice data is transferred via the LAN and recorded
in the voice storage unit 107, this system can record reams of data
compared to the conventional systems in which voice is recorded on
a recording medium placed in the exchange 108.
[0007] It is also assumed in this system that when a user of the
telephone terminal 113 calls a user of an extension telephone
housed in the exchange 108 but the user of the extension telephone
is out, another person may answer the telephone for the calling
partner. In this case, the call is processed as follows: first, the
person who answered the telephone records the entire telephone call
or conversation with the caller to register the same in the voice
storage unit 107 as voice data. Next, the user who was out then
connects the extension telephone or the telephone terminal 113 to
the exchange 108 to get and listen to the contents of the telephone
call or conversation from the voice storage unit 107.
[0008] If plural pieces of voice data are stored in the voice
storage unit 107, the user who was out then may use such a method
as to listen to the voice data in order of transmission from the
voice storage unit 107 to the exchange 108. Alternatively, the user
may select and listen to a desired piece or pieces of voice data
through pushbutton dialing operations in accordance with voice
messages from the exchange 108.
[0009] Thus the user concerned (hereinafter called the person in
charge) can get and listen to the voice data stored in the voice
storage unit 107.
[0010] The conventional voice control system, however, makes
processing managed by the application program complicated and
applies heavy load to the system, which makes it difficult to load
the application program.
[0011] For example, the application program has to keep monitoring
a call for managing the call connected, because the call could be
originated at any time. Then the application program has to perform
processing suitable for the call as soon as the call is originated.
The processing for such an asynchronous event makes the application
program complicated, compared to such a case that processing is
triggered by pushing a button or making a selection on the screen
so that the results will be repeated. The complicated structure
makes it difficult to program and load the application program.
[0012] Further, in the voice data processing, the application
program has to pick up and transfer 64-kbps uncompressed voice data
to the voice storage unit 107 constantly as long as the telephone
call continues, which prolongs a heavy loaded state of the
application program.
[0013] Furthermore, the conventional telephone voice control system
does not have a mode for providing information addressed to the
person in charge without delay in response to a request from the
person in charge for providing the voice data stored.
[0014] Suppose that a user uses a telephone terminal or extension
telephone connected to the telephone network, or a multi-functional
terminal connected to a radiotelephone network having data
communication and telephone features. Suppose further that the user
gets a desired piece of voice data from among plural pieces of
voice data stored in the voice storage unit or the like. In this
case, the user has to select the desired piece of voice data
through pushbutton dialing operations or the like in accordance
with voice messages form the exchange, which makes it possible for
the user to get and listen to the desired voice data as soon as the
connection is established.
[0015] Furthermore, while a telephone call is in progress between a
general telephone terminal and an extension telephone terminal, a
user of the general telephone terminal cannot listen to the voice
stored in the voice storage unit.
Disclosure of the Invention
[0016] The present invention has been made to solve the
above-mentioned conventional problems. It is an object of the
preset invention to provide a telephone voice control system,
capable of reducing the load on an application program in CTI
technology to enable loading of the application program while
providing stored voice information to the person in charge without
delay.
[0017] In the first aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a telephone voice control system, which includes an
intermediate processing unit and an application program. The
intermediate processing unit is provided with a call processing
part, a voice data processing part, a status management part for
maintaining the status of the call processing part and the voice
data processing part, and a control part for controlling the call
processing part and the voice data processing part. The application
program sends a request to the intermediate processing unit. In
operation, the control part of the intermediate processing unit
compares a state enough to execute the request from the application
program with the state maintained by the status management part. If
both disaccord, the control part requests the call processing part
and the voice data processing part to perform processing for
matching both states with each other.
[0018] In this case, the application program has only to issue the
same voice playback or recording request to the intermediate
processing unit (middleware) at any time without the need to manage
the call connected, the connected state of a voice data path and
transmission control.
[0019] In the second aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a telephone voice control system, which includes a
multi-functional terminal, an information notification unit, a
circuit switching unit of an exchange, a voice storage unit and an
application program. The multi-functional terminal includes a data
communication terminal part connected to a data network and a
telephone terminal part connected to a telephone network. The
information notification unit notifies information to the data
network. The circuit switching unit obtains a caller number from
the telephone network upon arrival of a call. The voice storage
unit stores therein voice data received via the exchange. The
application program controls storage and reading of the voice data
into and from the voice storage unit. In operation, the information
notification unit notifies the data network of the information
requested by the application program. Then, when the
multi-functional terminal that has obtained the information through
the data network requests voice data from the exchange through the
telephone network, the voice data is selected from among voice data
stored in the voice storage unit according to the caller number
obtained at the circuit switching unit so that the voice data will
be provided to the multi-functional terminal.
[0020] In this case, the voice stored in the voice storage unit can
be played back without delay on the multi-functional terminal that
includes the data communication terminal part connected to the data
network and the telephone terminal part connected to the telephone
network.
[0021] In the third aspect of the present invention, when a new
call starts between a general telephone terminal and an extension
telephone terminal and voice data on the call is registered after
the multi-functional terminal is notified that first voice data has
been stored in the voice storage apparatus and before the
multi-functional terminal is connected to the exchange for getting
and listening to the voice data, a one-to-one correspondence among
the caller number of the multi-functional terminal, the first voice
data stored in the voice storage apparatus, and voice data
registered after registration of the first voice data are
maintained.
[0022] In this case, when a user of the multi-functional terminal
connects the terminal to the exchange for getting the voice data,
the user can listen to all of the first voice data stored in the
voice storage apparatus and the voice data registered after
registration of the first voice data.
[0023] In the fourth aspect of the present invention, the voice
storage apparatus obtains and transmits to the exchange voice data
specified from among plural pieces of voice data stored therein
during such operation that the multi-functional terminal is
connected to the exchange for listening to the voice data.
[0024] Thus the user of the multi-functional terminal can listen to
the voice data specified from among plural pieces of voice data
stored in the voice storage apparatus.
[0025] In the fifth aspect of the present invention, the voice
storage apparatus presents, to the multi-functional terminal, the
display of a list of plural pieces of voice data stored therein,
obtains voice data specified from the display of the list on the
multi-functional terminal in order of specification, and transmits
the obtained voice data to the exchange.
[0026] Thus the user of the multi-functional terminal can refer to
the display of the list of the plural pieces of voice data stored
in the voice storage apparatus to listen to the user's favorite
voice data in order of specification.
[0027] In the sixth aspect of the present invention, the voice
storage unit presents, to the multi-functional terminal, the
display of a list of plural pieces of voice data stored therein, so
that when the number of pieces of voice data specified from the
display of the list on the multi-functional terminal is less than
the number of pieces of voice data stored in the voice storage
apparatus, the voice data storage apparatus obtains the voice data,
specified from the display of the list on the multi-functional
terminal, in order of specification, and then voice data that have
not been specified, and transmits all the obtained voice data to
the exchange.
[0028] Thus the user of the multi-functional terminal can refer to
the display of the list of the plural pieces of voice data stored
in the voice storage apparatus to specify voice data which the user
wants to listen to earlier.
[0029] In the seventh aspect of the present invention, the exchange
further includes circuit switching control means for connecting the
general telephone terminal with the voice transmission/reception
means while a telephone call between the general telephone terminal
and the extension telephone terminal is in progress.
[0030] Thus the user of the general telephone terminal can listen
to voice data stored in the voice storage apparatus while the
telephone call between the general telephone terminal and the
extension telephone terminal is in progress.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0031] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a
telephone voice control system according to a first embodiment of
the present invention.
[0032] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration of the
telephone voice control system according to the first
embodiment.
[0033] FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing processing for storing calling
or talking voice in the telephone voice control system according to
the first embodiment.
[0034] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing processing for playing back
the voice in the telephone voice control system according to the
first embodiment.
[0035] FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a modification of the
telephone voice control system according to the first
embodiment.
[0036] FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a
telephone voice control system according to a second embodiment of
the present invention.
[0037] FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the telephone
voice control system according to the second embodiment.
[0038] FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a
telephone voice control system according to a third embodiment of
the present invention.
[0039] FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an
exchange according to a third embodiment.
[0040] FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a
voice storage apparatus according to the third embodiment.
[0041] FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the operation of the
telephone voice control system according to the third
embodiment.
[0042] FIG. 12 is a signaling diagram of the telephone voice
control system according to the third embodiment.
[0043] FIG. 13 is a signaling diagram of the telephone voice
control system according to the third embodiment.
[0044] FIG. 14 is a diagram of a format indicative of a call
recording-start request in the telephone voice control system
according to the third embodiment.
[0045] FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a concept of voice storage
notification in the voice control system according to the third
embodiment.
[0046] FIG. 16 is a diagram of a format indicative of a playback
start request in the telephone voice control system according to
the third embodiment.
[0047] FIG. 17 is a diagram of data structure of caller number
storage means in the telephone voice control system according to
the third embodiment.
[0048] FIG. 18 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an
exchange according to a fourth embodiment of the present
invention.
[0049] FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a concept of voice storage
notification in the telephone voice control system according to the
fourth embodiment.
[0050] FIG. 20 is a diagram of a format indicative of a playback
start request in the telephone voice control system according to
the fourth embodiment.
[0051] FIG. 21 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a
voice storage apparatus according to a fifth embodiment of the
present invention.
[0052] FIG. 22 is a diagram showing a concept of voice storage
notification in a telephone voice control system according to the
fifth embodiment.
[0053] FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing the operation of the
telephone voice control system according to the fifth
embodiment.
[0054] FIG. 24 is a signaling diagram of the telephone voice
control system according to the fifth embodiment.
[0055] FIG. 25 is a diagram of data structure of caller number
storage means in the telephone voice control system according to
the fifth embodiment.
[0056] FIG. 26 is a block diagram showing a configuration of
circuit switching means according to a sixth embodiment of the
present invention.
[0057] FIG. 27 is a flowchart showing the operation of a telephone
voice control system according to the sixth embodiment.
[0058] FIG. 28 is a signaling diagram of the telephone voice
control system according to the sixth embodiment.
[0059] FIG. 29 is a block diagram showing a connected state of the
circuit switching means according to the sixth embodiment of the
present invention.
[0060] FIG. 30 is a block diagram showing another connected state
of the circuit switching means according to the sixth embodiment of
the present invention.
[0061] FIG. 31 is a block diagram showing a conventional telephone
voice control system.
BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0062] Hereinbelow, embodiments of the present invention will be
described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be
noted that the present invention is not limited to the following
embodiments and various other modes are possible without departing
the spirit and scope of the present invention.
FIRST EMBODIMENT
[0063] As shown in FIG. 1, a telephone voice control system
according to the first embodiment includes an exchange 108, an
intermediate processing unit (middleware) 102, a voice storage unit
107 for storing voice data and an application program. The exchange
108 is connected to a telephone terminal 113 through a telephone
network 112. The intermediate processing unit 102 prepares various
functions for call processing and voice processing. The voice
storage unit 107 stores voice data therein. The application program
controls the call processing and the voice processing via the
intermediate processing unit 102.
[0064] The circuit switching apparatus (also called the exchange)
108 is provided with a circuit switching part 111, a call control
interface part 109 and a voice interface part 110. The circuit
switching part 111 is connected to the telephone network 112 to
carry out circuit switching. The call control interface part 109
transmits call connected information to the intermediate processing
unit 102. The voice interface part 110 transfers voice data to the
intermediate processing unit 102.
[0065] The intermediate processing unit 102 is provided with a call
processing part 104, a voice data interface part 106, a status
management part 105 and a control part 103. The call processing
part 104 is connected to the call control interface part 109 to
monitor a call connected. The voice data processing part 106 is
connected to the voice interface part 110 to process voice data.
The status management part 105 manages the status of the call
processing part 104 and the voice data processing unit 106. The
control part 103 compares a state requested by the application
program 101 with the state managed by the status management part
105. If both disaccord, the control part requests the call
processing part 104 and the voice data processing part 106 to
perform processing for matching both states with each other.
[0066] The intermediate processing unit (middleware) 102 is
software programmed by a manufacturer so that the application will
be given more sophisticated and specific features than the OS. The
software has features adapted to various states of call processing
and voice processing. The application program 101 outputs, to the
intermediate processing unit (middleware) 102, commands for
requeating processing such as a call recording request and a
playback request. The intermediate pocessing unit 102 assesses a
situation, performs processing according to the situation so that a
request from the application program 101 will be realized. Then the
intermediate processing unit 102 sends the processing results back
to the application program 101.
[0067] FIG. 2 shows a hardware configuration of the telephone voice
control system according to the first embodiment. A private branch
exchange (PBX) 8 is provide with a line connection part 86, a
telephone control part 85, a CTI interface 82 and a central
processing unit 81. The line connection part 86 is connected to a
telephone network 88. The telephone control part 85 is connected to
a telephone 87 to control switching operations. The CTI interface
82 is connected to a personal computer 1 through a LAN (Ethernet)
2. The central processing unit 85 controls the operation of the
entire PBX. The CTI interface 82 includes a call processing
interface 83 and a voice interface 84; it is constructed in the
form of a board having a LAN 2 port and mounted in the PBX 8.
[0068] On the other hand, an exchange control part 11, a call
processing interface 12, a voice interface 13, middleware 14, and
an application program 15 are mounted in the personal computer 1.
The exchange control part 11 controls exchange of call processing
commands with the PBX 8. The call processing interface 12 converts
the commands exchanged with the PBX 8 into a set of commands of the
application. The voice interface 13 exchanges voice processing
commands.
[0069] The commands and voice data from the CTI interface 82 of the
PBX 8 are output to the LAN 2 as IP packets with IP addresses
attached thereto. The call processing data are received at the
exchange control part 11, while the voice related data are received
at the voice interface 13.
[0070] Referring next to FIGS. 1 and 3, description will be made
about processing for recording calling or talking voice from the
telephone terminal 113 and storing the same as data in response to
a request from the application program 101.
[0071] Step 301: The application program 101 sends a call recording
request to the control part 103 of the intermediate processing unit
102.
[0072] Step 302: The control part 103 obtains the state of the
voice data processing part 106 from the status management part
105.
[0073] Step 303: It is determined on the basis of the state
obtained in step 302 whether the voice data processing part 106 and
the voice interface part 110 is currently connected through a
connection path (voice path). If they are currently connected, the
processing procedure goes to step 307, while if they are not
connected, the processing procedure goes to step 304.
[0074] Step 304: The control part 103 instructs the voice data
processing part 106 and the voice interface part 110 of the
exchange 108 to establish a connection therebetween.
[0075] Step 305: The voice interface part 110 notifies the voice
data processing part 106 of the intermediate processing unit 102
that the connection between the voice data processing part 106 and
the voice interface part 110 of the exchange 108 has been
completed.
[0076] Step 306: The voice data processing part 106 notifies the
status management part 105 of the completion of the connection.
Then the status management part 105 notifies the control part 103
of the completion of the connection.
[0077] Step 307: The control part 103 instructs the voice data
processing part 106 to record the call. Then the voice data
processing part 106 requests the circuit switching part 111 to
transmit calling or talking voice data through the voice interface
part 110 of the exchange 108.
[0078] Step 308: The circuit switching part 111 transmits the
calling or talking voice data to the voice data processing part 106
through the voice interface part 110 of the exchange 108.
[0079] Step 309: The voice data processing part 106 stores the
calling or talking voice data in the voice storage unit 107.
[0080] Thus the application program has only to issue a talking
voice recording request so as to perform desired processing without
the need to manage transmission control of the voice data.
[0081] Referring next to FIGS. 1 and 4, description will be made
about processing for reproducing voice data stored in the voice
storage unit 107 in response to a request from the application
program 101.
[0082] Step 201: The application program 101 sends a voice data
reproduction request to the control part 103 of the intermediate
processing part 102.
[0083] Step 202: The control part 103 obtains the state of the call
processing part from the status management part 105.
[0084] Step 203: It is determined on the basis of the state
obtained in step 202 whether the call is in progress. If the call
is in progress, the processing procedure goes to step 207, while if
the call is not in progress, the processing procedure goes to step
204.
[0085] Step 204: The control part 103 instructs the circuit
switching part 111 through the call processing part 104 and the
call interface part 109 of the exchange 108 to establish a
connection with the telephone terminal 113 via the telephone
network 112.
[0086] Step 205: The circuit switching part 111 notifies the call
processing part 104 of the intermediate processing unit 102 through
the call control interface part 109 that the connection with the
telephone terminal 113 has been established via the telephone
network 112.
[0087] Step 206: The call processing part 104 notifies the status
management part 105 of the completion of the connection. Then the
status management part 105 notifies the control part 103 of the
completion of the connection.
[0088] Step 207: The control part 103 obtains the state of the
voice data processing part 106 from the status management part
105.
[0089] Step 208: It is determined on the basis of the state
obtained in step 207 whether the voice data processing part 106 and
the voice interface part 110 are currently connected through the
connection path (voice path). If they are currently connected, the
processing procedure goes to step 212, while if they are not
connected, the processing procedure goes to step 209.
[0090] Step 209: The control part 103 instructs the voice data
processing part 106 and the voice interface part 110 of the
exchange 108 to establish a connection therebetween.
[0091] Step 210: The voice interface part 109 notifies the voice
data processing part 106 of the intermediate processing unit 102
that the connection between the voice data processing part 106 and
the voice interface part 110 of the exchange 108 has been
established.
[0092] Step 211: The voice data processing part 106 notifies the
status management part 105 of the completion of the connection.
Then the status management part 105 notifies the control part 103
of the completion of the connection.
[0093] Step 212: The control part 103 instructs the voice data
processing part 106 to send voice data. Then the voice data
processing part 106 obtains the voice data from the voice storage
unit 107 and sends the same to the circuit switching part 111
through the voice interface part 110 of the exchange 108.
[0094] Step 213: The circuit switching part 111 sends the voice to
the telephone terminal 113 via the telephone network 112 so that
the voice will be played back on the telephone terminal 113.
[0095] Thus the application program has only to issue the same
voice playback terminal to establish a required connection and play
back the voice at any time without the need to manage the call
connected and the connected state of a voice data path.
[0096] Suppose that a call between the telephone terminal 113 and a
telephone terminal housed in the exchange 108 is recorded as voice
data, or the voice data is reproduced on the telephone terminal 113
or the telephone terminal housed in the exchange 108. In this case,
the application program 101 has only to make a call recording or
playback request to the intermediate processing unit 102 without
the need to take into account the state of the entire telephone
voice control system. Therefore, the structure of the application
program 101 can be simplified.
[0097] This is because the intermediate processing unit 102 takes
account of the state of the entire telephone voice control system.
In other words, the intermediate processing unit 102 makes such a
determination that the request from the application program 101 can
be fulfilled, and changes the state to establish a connection or
achieve a playback of voice. In the processing for storing voice
data in the voice storage unit 107, when the telephone terminal 113
makes a connection request to a telephone terminal housed in the
circuit exchange 108, notification of the connection is posted to
the application program 101 via the intermediate processing unit
102. In this case, the application program 101 has only to issue a
call recording request to the intermediate processing unit 102 so
as to perform the processing for storing voice data in the voice
storage unit 107. On the other hand, in the processing for
reproducing voice data, when a call from the telephone terminal 113
has arrived at the exchange 108, notification of the call arrival
is posted to the application program 101 via the intermediate
processing unit 102. In this case, the application program 101 has
only to issue a reproduction request to the intermediate processing
unit 102 so as to perform the processing for reproducing the voice
data stored such as the call recorded. When the voice data is to be
reproduced, the application program 101 has only to request the
intermediate processing unit to reproduce the voice data on a
required telephone terminal so as to perform voice playback
processing after execution of the line connection processing for
the telephone terminal concerned.
[0098] In the embodiment, the description was made mainly about the
recorded call data as voice data to be recorded or reproduced.
However, it is easily thought of by those skilled in the art that
other types of voice data such as voice data used for an IVR
(Interactive Voice Response) apparatus may be recorded or
reproduced instead of the call data.
[0099] As discussed above, the telephone voice control system in
the embodiment includes the intermediate processing unit and the
application program. The intermediate processing unit is provided
with the control part having a point of connection with the
application program, the call processing part, the voice data
processing part, and the status management part for maintaining the
status of the call processing part and the voice data processing
unit. This configuration allows the application program to control
the required processing components to perform required processing
merely by issuing a request without the need to manage the status
of transmission/reception control or connection of the voice
path.
[0100] Further, in the embodiment, the description was made about
the operation of a single application program, but the present
invention is also applicable to a system as shown in FIG. 5. The
system uses two or more application programs 101 and 401 and is
provided with a call processing supervising unit 407 for
supervising call processing requests from the application programs.
In this case, two or more voice data processing parts 106, 406
establish direct connections to the voice interface part 110
without passing through the call processing supervising unit 407,
while the voice interface part 110 receives requests directly from
the data processing units 106, 406.
[0101] This configuration can avoid such a case that the call
processing supervising unit 407 becomes unable to process reams of
voice data, which in turn allows each application program to carry
out the same operation as in the above-mentioned embodiment.
SECOND EMBODIMENT
[0102] In the second embodiment, description will be made about a
configuration in which a telephone voice control system informs the
person in charge over the Internet that voice data have been
stored.
[0103] As shown in FIG. 6, this telephone voice control system is
includes an information notification unit 501 for notifying
information to the Internet 502 in response to a request from the
application program 101. On the other hand, the person in charge
possesses a multi-functional terminal 503 having an Internet
terminal part 504 and a telephone terminal part 505. The Internet
terminal part 504 connects the terminal 503 to the Internet 502,
while the telephone terminal part 505 connects the terminal 503 to
the telephone network 112. Other components are the same as those
in the first embodiment (FIG. 1).
[0104] It should be noted that the Internet 502 is just an example
of the second embodiment, and any other data networks such as a
leased line may be adapted as long as they can transmit data.
[0105] In the system, if a customer makes a phone call through the
exchange 108, the contents are stored in the voice storage unit
107, and notification that voice has been stored is posted to the
multi-functional terminal 503 of the person in charge over the
Internet. After receiving the notification, when the person in
charge calls the exchange 108 through the telephone network 112,
corresponding voice data is specified on the basis of the caller
number and the voice is played back.
[0106] FIG. 7 shows the operation of the system.
[0107] Step 601: The application program 101 requests the
information notification unit 501 to specify the URL of the
multi-functional terminal 503 of the person in charge so as to
notify the Internet 502 of information on voice storage
notification, including telephone number information for connection
with the exchange 108, in the form of an e-mail or Web page.
[0108] Step 602: The information notification unit 501 notifies the
information to the Internet terminal part 504 of the
multi-functional terminal 503 via the Internet 502.
[0109] Step 603: The Internet terminal part 504 notifies the
telephone terminal part 505 of the received telephone number
information for use in establishing a connection with the exchange
108.
[0110] Step 604: The telephone terminal part 505 establishes the
connection with the exchange 108 via the telephone network 112.
[0111] Step 605: The circuit switching part 111 notifies completion
of the connection with the multi-functional terminal 503 and the
caller number of the telephone terminal part 505 of the
multi-functional terminal 503, obtained at arrival of the call, to
the application program 101 through the call control interface part
109, and the call processing part 104 and the control part 103 of
the intermediate processing unit 102.
[0112] Step 606: The application program 101 specifies, on the
basis of the received caller number, the multi-functional terminal
from which the notification has been posted in step 601, and
requests the control part 103 of the intermediate processing unit
102 to reproduce voice data corresponding to the multi-functional
terminal.
[0113] Step 607: The control part 103 instructs the voice data
processing part 106 to send the voice data. Then the voice data
processing part 106 obtains the voice data from the voice storage
unit 107 to send the same to the circuit switching part 111 through
the voice interface part 110 of the exchange 108.
[0114] Step 608: The circuit switching part 111 sends voice to the
telephone terminal part 505 of the multi-functional terminal 503
via the telephone network 112 so that the telephone terminal 505
plays back the voice.
[0115] As discussed above, the telephone voice control system in
the embodiment is such that when voice data is stored in the voice
storage unit, the system informs the multi-functional terminal of
the person in charge that the voice data has been stored. Then the
system obtains a caller number in response to arrival of a call
from the multi-functional terminal, specifies corresponding voice
data on the basis of the caller number obtained, and reproduces the
voice data.
[0116] This configuration makes it unnecessary for the person in
charge to operate the terminal so as to select information, which
makes it possible to play back required voice on the
multi-functional terminal without delay.
THIRD EMBODIMENT
[0117] In the third embodiment, description will be made about a
configuration in which the system of the second embodiment is more
specified. FIGS. 8 through 17 illustrates the third embodiment.
[0118] As shown in FIG. 8, this system includes a public cable
network 1101, a general telephone terminal 1102, a public radio
network 1103, a portable telephone terminal 1104, an exchange 1105,
an extension telephone terminal 1106, a voice storage apparatus
1107 and a router 1108. The public cable network 1101 represents a
public wired-telephone network. The general telephone terminal 1102
is connected to the public cable network 1101. The public radio
network 1103 represents a public radiotelephone network. The
portable telephone terminal 1104 is connected to the public radio
network 1103. The exchange 1105 is connected to the public cable
network 1101. The extension telephone terminal 1106 is connected to
the exchange 1105. The voice storage apparatus 1107 is connected to
the exchange 1105 for storing or playing back voice. The router
1108 is used for data communication with the portable telephone
terminal 1104 through the public radio network 1103.
[0119] The reference numeral 1109 denotes a communication path
between the public cable network 1101 and the general telephone
terminal 1102, while the reference numeral 1110 denotes a
communication path between the public cable network 1101 and the
exchange 1105. The communication paths 1109, 1110 may be an analog
line or ISDN line. The reference numeral 1111 designates a
communication path between the public radio network 1103 and the
portable telephone terminal 1104. The communication path 1111
carries out both voice and data communications using a protocol
such as a communication protocol described in RCR STD-27 (digital
mobile telephone system standard) of ARIB (Association of Radio
Industries and Businesses.
[0120] The reference numeral 1112 designates a communication path
between the public cable network 1101 and the public radio network
1103, while the reference numeral 1113 designates a communication
path between the public radio network 1103 and the router 1108. The
communication path 1113 may be a leased circuit or the Internet. If
the communication path 1113 is the Internet, actual data
communication may be carried out through the public cable network
1101. In either case, the effects of the present invention can be
obtained as long as the communication path can carry out both the
data communication with the portable telephone terminal 1104
through the router 1108 and the voice communication with the
portable telephone terminal 1104 through the exchange 1105.
Therefore, to simplify the description of the present invention, it
is assumed in the embodiment that the data communication between
the portable telephone terminal 1104 and the router 1108 is carried
out through the communication path 1111, the public radio network
1103 and the communication path 1113. On the other hand, the voice
communication between the portable telephone terminal 1104 and the
exchange 1105 is carried out through the communication path 1111,
the public radio network 1103, the communication path 1112, the
public cable network 1101 and the communication path 1110.
[0121] The reference numeral 1114 designates a communication path
between the exchange 1105 and the extension telephone terminal
1106. The communication path 1114 uses a telephone line, but the
Ethernet can be used as well. The reference numeral 1115 designates
a communication path between the exchange 1105 and the voice
storage apparatus 1107. The communication path 1115 may be the
Ethernet. The reference numeral 1116 designates a communication
path between the voice storage apparatus 1107 and the router 1108.
The communication path 1116 may be the Ethernet. In the embodiment,
the communication paths 1115, 1116 are separated, but it is easily
thought of by those skilled in the art that if both paths are built
through the Ethernet, a single path is commonly used therefor.
[0122] It should be noted that the multi-functional terminal 503 in
the second embodiment (FIG. 6) is one form of the portable
telephone terminal 1104 in this embodiment. Further, the voice
storage apparatus 1107 in this embodiment takes the form of a
personal computer including as components the intermediate
processing unit 102, the voice storage unit 107 and the application
program 101 in the second embodiment.
[0123] Referring next to FIG. 9, the exchange 1105 will be
described in detail. As shown in FIG. 9, the exchange 1105 is
provided with circuit switching means 1201, caller number detection
means 1202, exchange communication means 1205, voice
transmission/reception means 1204, voice mixing means 1203 and
total control means 1206. The circuit switching means 1201 performs
circuit switching control of the public cable network 1101 through
the communication path 1110 and the extension telephone terminal
1106 through the communication path 1114. The caller number
detection means 1202 detects a caller number in response to arrival
of a call from the public cable network 1101 or the extension
telephone terminal 1106 to output the same to the outside of the
exchange 1105. The exchange communication means 1205 performs
control of communication between the exchange 1105 and the voice
storage apparatus 1107 through the communication path 1115 in a
communication system such as TCP/IP communication through the
Ethernet or UDP/IP communication. The voice transmission/reception
means 1204 converts a stream of voice after the circuit switching
means 1201 performed circuit switching processing, into packet
voice data for output to the voice storage apparatus 1107 through
the communication path 1115. It also converts the packet voice data
transmitted from the voice storage apparatus 1107 into a format
suitable for output to the circuit switching means 1201. The voice
mixing means 1203 mixes two or more channels of voice data. The
total control means 1206 controls the entire operation of the
exchange 1105. In this case, the voice mixing means 1203 mixes
voices of caller and called person. Further, the total control
means 1206 connects and controls the circuit switching means 1201,
the caller number detection means 1202, the voice mixing means
1203, the voice transmission/reception means 1204 and the exchange
communication means 1205.
[0124] Referring next to FIG. 10, the voice storage apparatus 1107
will be described in detail. As shown in FIG. 10, the voice storage
apparatus 1107 is provided with voice storage apparatus
communication means 1301, voice storage means 1302, voice
storage/management means 1303, storage notification means 1304,
caller number storage means 1305 and voice playback means 1306. The
voice storage apparatus communication means 1302 controls
communications with the exchange 1105 through the communication
path 1115 and the router 1108 through the communication path 1116.
The voice storage means 1302 controls storage of voice data input
from the exchange 1105 through the communication path 1115. The
voice storage/management means 1303 actually stores therein the
voice data the storage of which is controlled by the voice storage
means 1302. The storage notification means 1304 notifies the
portable telephone terminal 1104 that voice has been stored in the
voice storage/management means 1303 (the notification created by
the storage notification means is called the "voice storage
notification" below). The caller number storage means 1305 manages
a one-to-one correspondence between the voice storage notification
sent to the portable terminal and a caller number to be notified at
the time of call origination from the portable terminal 1104. The
voice playback means 1306 controls processing for outputting to the
exchange 1105 the voice data stored in the voice storage/management
means 1303. In this case, the voice storage/management means 1301
performs control of communication with the exchange 1105 or the
router 1108 through the communication path 1115 or 1116 in a
communication system such as TCP/IP communication through the
Ethernet or UDP/IP communication. The router 1108, and the voice
storage means communication means 1301 and the storage notification
means 1304 of the voice storage apparatus 1107 in this embodiment
correspond to the information notification unit 501 in the second
embodiment.
[0125] Referring next to FIGS. 11 through 17, the operation of the
system in this embodiment will be described. FIG. 11 is a flowchart
illustrating the system operation. FIGS. 12 and 13 are signaling
diagrams illustrating the system operation.
[0126] As shown in step 1401 of FIG. 11, the system first carries
out circuit connection between the general telephone terminal 1102
and the extension telephone terminal 1106. The processing step 1401
corresponds to signaling procedures 1501 and 1502 of FIG. 12. It
should be noted that a broken arrow 503 indicates exchange of voice
data, not of a signal. The reference numeral 1504 to be described
later also indicates the same.
[0127] The arrow 1501 collectively represents signals exchanged
from the time a call from the general telephone terminal 1102 is
originated until the connection with the extension telephone
terminal 1106 is established. In an actual situation, call setting
messages such as call setting and call acknowledgment messages are
exchanged between the general telephone terminal 1102 and the
exchange 1105 through the communication path 1109, the public cable
network 1101 and the communication path 1110. At this time, signals
are also exchanged between the exchange 1105 and the extension
telephone terminal 1106. However, since the effects of the present
invention can be obtained as long as the connection between the
general telephone terminal 1102 and the extension telephone
terminal 1106 is established, the description is simplified in the
embodiment.
[0128] During this operation, the caller number detection means
1202 of the exchange 1105 performs processing for detecting a
caller telephone number contained in the messages received at the
circuit switching means 1201 from the public cable network.
Description of this processing is also omitted because a method of
practically realizing the processing is easily thought of by those
skilled in the art.
[0129] Once the connection between the general telephone terminal
1102 and the extension telephone terminal 1106 has been
established, voices can be exchanged between the general telephone
terminal 1102 and the extension telephone terminal 1106 through the
circuit switching means 1201 of the exchange 1105 as shown by the
arrow 1502 to make the call available.
[0130] Next, as shown in step 1402 of FIG. 11, the system performs
processing for storing in the voice storage apparatus 1107 the
contents of the call between the general telephone terminal 1102
and the extension telephone terminal 1106. The processing step 1402
corresponds signaling procedures 1503 and 1504 in the signaling
diagram of FIG. 12.
[0131] When the connection between the general telephone terminal
1102 and the extension telephone terminal 1106 has been
established, the exchange 1105 transmits a call recording-start
request to the voice storage apparatus 1107 as shown by the arrow
1503. In an actual situation, the total control means 1206
transmits the call recording-start request through the exchange
communication means 1203 after detecting that the connection
between the general telephone terminal 1102 and the extension
telephone terminal 1106 has been established.
[0132] The call recording-start request is information, for
example, which is sent in a format as shown in FIG. 14. The
information is composed of a call recording-start request
identifier 1701 indicating that the information is the call
recording-start request, a caller telephone number 1702 indicative
of a telephone number of the general telephone terminal 1102, a
called telephone number 1703 indicative of a telephone number of
the extension telephone terminal 1106, and additional information
1704. The additional information may include connection start
time.
[0133] The caller number of the general telephone terminal 1102
stored in the field 1702 is detected by the caller number detection
means 1202 and obtained by the total control means 1206, and
thereby stored in this call recording-start request.
[0134] After transmitting the call recording-start request 1503,
the exchange 1105 transmits voice data, indicative of the contents
of the call between the general telephone terminal 1102 and the
extension telephone terminal 1106, to the voice storage apparatus
1107 as shown by the arrow 1504. In an actual situation, a stream
of voice input from the general telephone terminal 1102 to the
circuit switching means 1201 through the communication path 1110
and a stream of voice input from the extension telephone terminal
1106 to the circuit switching means 1201 through the communication
path 1114 are output to the voice mixing means 1205. The voice
mixing means 1205 mixes the two steams of input voices to output a
stream of mixed voice to the voice transmission/reception means
1204. The voice transmission/reception means 1204 converts the
stream of mixed voice to packet voice data to output the packet
voice data to the voice storage apparatus 1107 through the exchange
communication means 1203.
[0135] The following describes the operation of the voice storage
apparatus 1107 in this processing. The call recording-start request
1503 is input to the voice storage means 1302 through the
communication path 1115 and the voice storage apparatus
communication means 1301. The voice data indicative of the contents
of the call between the general telephone terminal 1102 and the
extension telephone terminal 1106 are also input to the voice
storage means 1302 through the same route. In other words, the
voice storage means 1302 performs processing for storing in the
voice storage/management means 1303 the voice data indicative of
the contents of the call between the general telephone terminal
1102 and the extension telephone terminal 1106 together with the
caller number contained in the call recording-start request 1503,
the telephone number of the extension telephone terminal 1106 and
the additional information. The above-mentioned processing is
continuously performed until the next processing step 1403 is
started.
[0136] The transmission of the voice data from the exchange 1105 to
the voice storage apparatus 1107 as shown by the arrow 1504 will be
described later in detail.
[0137] Next, as shown in step 1403 of FIG. 11, the system performs
line disconnection processing between the general telephone
terminal 1102 and the extension telephone terminal 1106. The
processing step 1403 corresponds to signaling procedures 1505 and
1506 in the signaling diagram of FIG. 12.
[0138] When either the general telephone terminal 1102 or the
extension telephone terminal 1106 performs on-hook processing to
disconnect the line, messages such as disconnection or release
messages are exchanged among the general telephone terminal 1102,
the exchange 1105 and the extension telephone terminal 1106 as
shown by an arrow 1505. Since the present invention does not
feature how to disconnect, detailed description of the
disconnection processing is omitted.
[0139] Upon completion of the line disconnection processing between
the general telephone terminal 1102 and the extension telephone
terminal 1106, the exchange 1105 outputs a call recording-stop
request to the voice storage apparatus 1107 as shown by an arrow
1506. In an actual situation, the total control means 1206 detects,
from the circuit switching means 1201, the disconnection between
the general telephone terminal 1102 and the extension telephone
terminal 1106, and transmits the detection results to the voice
storage apparatus 1107 through the exchange communication means
1203. In the voice storage apparatus 1107, the voice storage means
1302 receives the call recording-stop request 1506 to stop the
processing step 1402 of storing the voice data in the voice
storage/management means 1303. Then the voice storage/management
means 1303 transmits a message ID for identifying the voice data
stored. Use of the message D allows fetching of the voice data
stored in step 1402 in the voice storage/management means 1303.
[0140] Next, as shown in step 1404 of FIG. 11, the system performs
processing for transmitting a voice storage notification from the
voice storage apparatus 1107 to the portable telephone terminal
1104. The processing step 1404 corresponds to signaling procedures
1507 and 1508 in the signaling diagram of FIG. 12.
[0141] Upon completion of the processing step 1403 of FIG. 11, the
voice storage apparatus 1107 transmits the voice storage
notification to the router 1108 as shown by the arrow 1507. The
following describes this processing in detail. Upon the completion
of the processing step 1403 of FIG. 11, the voice storage means
1302 of the voice storage apparatus 1107 outputs to the storage
notification means 1304 a voice storage-end notification indicating
that the storage of voice has been completed. The above-mentioned
message ID is stored in the voice storage-end notification. Then
the voice storage notification means 1304 creates a voice storage
notification and transmits the same to the router 1108 through the
voice storage apparatus communication means 1301 and the
communication path 1116. The voice storage notification may be
posted in the form of an e-mail. FIG. 15 is a diagram showing the
contents of information contained in the voice storage notification
sent in the form of an e-mail. Stored in a field 1801 as a
destination address is an e-mail address at which an e-mail is
posted to the portable telephone terminal 1104. Stored in a field
1802 as a text is a destination telephone number via which voice
data is listened to. Stored in a field 1803 is text additional
information. The text additional information may include the caller
telephone number of the general telephone terminal 1102, the
telephone number of the extension telephone terminal 1106 and
recording start time. After completion of the transmission of the
voice storage notification, the storage notification means 1304
notifies the caller number storage means 1305 of information
related to the destination of the voice storage notification, such
as the e-mail address of the portable telephone terminal 1104, and
the message ID.
[0142] Then, as shown by the arrow 1508, the router 1108 transmits
the voice storage notification to the portable telephone terminal
1104 via the communication path 1113, the public radio network 1103
and the communication path 1111. If the voice storage notification
is an e-mail, the e-mail is actually transmitted to the portable
telephone terminal 1104 from the router 1108 through an e-mail
server, for example, placed in the public radio network 1103.
However, since the present invention does not feature the process
to transmit the voice storage notification, detailed description of
how to transmit is omitted.
[0143] Next, as shown in step 1405 of FIG. 11, when the portable
telephone terminal 1104 receives the voice storage notification,
the user of the portable telephone terminal 1104 decides whether he
or she listens to the voice data. In an actual situation, if the
user does not operate the terminal in response to the voice storage
notification, the processing procedure does not advance to step
1406. Then, when the line connection processing between the general
telephone terminal 1102 and the extension telephone terminal 1106
is performed again, the sequence of operations from step 1401 to
step 1404 are performed again.
[0144] If the user of the portable telephone terminal 1104 starts
listening to the voice data, the portable telephone terminal 1104
starts call origination processing as shown in step 1406 of FIG.
11. The following describes, as an example, such a case that after
receiving the voice storage notification three times, the user of
the portable telephone terminal 1104 starts listening to the voice
data. In other words, after the operations from step 1401 to step
1404 have been repeated three times, the processing procedure
advances to step 1406. The processing step 1406 corresponds to a
signaling procedure 1601 in the signaling diagram of FIG. 13.
[0145] When the user starts listening to the voice data, as shown
by the arrow 1601, the portable telephone terminal 1104 performs
processing for transmitting a destination telephone number, as
shown in the field 1802 of FIG. 15, via which the user will listen
to the voice data. The call origination processing may be performed
by the user of the portable telephone terminal 1104 inputting the
destination telephone number contained in the storage notification.
Alternatively, the destination telephone number may be
automatically transmitted by selecting the destination telephone
number displayed on a display screen of the portable telephone
terminal 1104 through a key operation on the portable telephone
terminal 1104. Either method can display the effects of the present
invention as long as the portable telephone terminal 1104 can
originate a call at the destination telephone number. In the
exchange 1105, the circuit switching means 1201 takes in a signal
indicated by the arrow 1601, and the caller number detection means
1202 detects the caller number of the portable telephone terminal
1104.
[0146] Then, as shown in step 1407 of FIG. 11, the system performs
connection processing between the exchange 1105 and the portable
telephone terminal 1104 in response to arrival of a call at the
destination telephone number via which the user of the portable
telephone terminal 1104 can listen to the voice data. The
processing step 1407 corresponds to a signaling procedure 1602 in
the signaling diagram of FIG. 13.
[0147] When receiving the signal 1601 generated in the call
origination processing of the portable telephone terminal 1104, the
connection between the portable telephone terminal 1104 and the
exchange 1105 is so established that the exchange 1105 sends and
receives signals to and from the portable telephone terminal 1104
through the communication path 1111 to form a vocal call path.
Since the effects of the present invention can be obtained as long
as the signal 1602 can establish the connection between the
portable telephone terminal 1104 and the exchange 1105, the
operation of the signal 1602 is not restricted.
[0148] Then, as shown in step 1408 of FIG. 11, when the connection
between the portable telephone terminal 1104 and the exchange 1105
has been established, the system performs voice playback processing
from the voice storage apparatus 1107 to the portable telephone
terminal 1104. The processing step 1408 corresponds to signaling
procedures 1603 through 1606 in the signaling diagram of FIG. 13.
In FIG. 13, the broken arrows 1604 to 1606 indicate exchange of
voice data, not of signals.
[0149] Upon establishing the connection between the portable
telephone terminal 1104 and the exchange 1105, the exchange 1105
transmits a playback start request to the voice storage apparatus
1107 as indicated by the arrow 1603. In an actual situation, the
total control means 1206 detects, from the circuit switching means
1201, that the connection between the portable telephone terminal
1104 and the exchange 1105 has been established, and outputs the
playback start request to the voice storage apparatus 1107 through
the exchange communication means 1205.
[0150] The playback start request is information, for example,
which is sent in a format as shown in FIG. 16. The information is
composed of a playback start request identifier 1901 indicating
that the information is the playback start request, a caller
telephone number 1902 indicative of a telephone number of the
portable telephone terminal 1104, and additional information 1903.
The additional information 1903 may include start time. The caller
number of the portable telephone terminal 1104 stored in the field
1902 is detected by the caller number detection means 1202 in step
1407 of FIG. 11 and obtained by the total control means 1206, and
thereby stored in this playback start request.
[0151] In the voice storage apparatus 1107, the voice playback
means 1306 takes in the playback start request through the
communication path 1115 and the voice storage apparatus 1301. The
voice playback means 1306 outputs to the caller number storage
means 1305 the caller telephone number of the portable telephone
terminal contained in the playback start request 1902 to obtain a
message ID of voice data to be reproduced. Referring to FIG. 17,
the operation of this processing will be described below in detail.
FIG. 17 shows an example of information managed by the caller
number storage means 1305. As shown, the telephone number of the
portable telephone terminal 1104 is managed in a field 2001.
Managed in a field 2002 is information related to the destination
of the voice storage notification to be transmitted to the portable
telephone terminal 1104, such as an e-mail address for sending an
e-mail to the portable telephone terminal 1104. Managed in a field
2003 are message IDs. As discussed above, after completion of the
processing in step 1404 for transmitting the voice storage
notification, the storage notification means 1304 notifies the
caller number storage means 1305 of the information related to the
destination of the voice storage notification, such as the e-mail
address of the portable telephone terminal 1104, and message IDs.
At this time, the message IDs to be stored in the field 2003 are
notified. In the embodiment, since the description is made about
such a case that the voice storage notification has been
transmitted three times before the user starts listening, three
message IDs are stored in the field 2003. The three message IDs are
represented below as message ID 1, message ID 2 and message ID 3,
respectively.
[0152] Upon receipt of the playback start request 1603, the voice
storage apparatus 1107 obtains, from the voice storage/management
means 1303, voice data of the message ID 1 stored in the field 2003
and obtained from the caller number storage means 1305, and outputs
the obtained voice data to the exchange 1105 through the voice
storage apparatus communication means 1301 and the communication
path 1115. Upon receipt of the voice data through the exchange
communication means 1203, the exchange 1105 outputs the received
voice data to the public cable network 1101 through the voice
transmission/reception means 1204, the circuit switching apparatus
means 1110 and the communication path 1110. Then the voice data is
transmitted from the public cable network 1101 to the portable
telephone terminal 1104 through the communication path 1112, the
public radio network 1103 and the communication path 1111. Thus the
user of the portable telephone terminal 1104 can listen to the
contents of the call between the general telephone terminal 1102
and the extension telephone terminal 1106 recorded in the
processing step 1402 of FIG. 11.
[0153] Upon completion of playback of the message ID 1, the voice
storage apparatus 1107 starts playback of the message ID 2 as shown
by the arrow 1605. Then, upon completion of playback of the message
ID 2, the voice storage apparatus 1107 starts playback of the
message ID 3. The message ID 2 and the message ID 3 are played back
in the same manner as the message ID 1.
[0154] The following describes in more detail the process to
transmit voice data in the signaling procedure 1604 of FIG. 13.
According to the present invention, the exchange communication
means 1203 of the exchange 1105 and the voice storage apparatus
communication means 1301 of the voice storage apparatus 1107 are
adapted to a transmittable rate of the communication path 1115.
Further, both communication means have a function for enabling
communication between the exchange 1105 and the voice storage
apparatus 1107 using a communication protocol with retransmission
control capability. The following describes, as an example, such a
case that the communication path 1115 is the 10 Mbps Ethernet, and
a stream of voice is output from the exchange 1105 to the public
cable network 1101 through the communication path 1110 at a
transmission rate of 64 Kbps using TCP/IP as the protocol of
communication of voice data between the exchange 1105 an the voice
storage apparatus 1107.
[0155] The message ID 1 obtained by the voice playback means 1306
from the voice storage/management means 1303 is input from the
voice playback 1306 to the exchange communication means 1115
through the voice storage apparatus communication means 1301 and
the communication path 1115. Since the transmission processing from
the voice storage apparatus 1107 to the exchange 1105 depends on
the communication path 1115, that is, the 10 Mbps Ethernet, the
transmission is performed at a transmission rate over 64 kbps at
the beginning of the transmission. However, since the stream of
voice is output at a transmission rate of 64 kbps from the exchange
1105 to the public cable network 1101 through the communication
path 1110, the communication through the communication path 1115
moves to the optimum transmission rate under the control of the
TCP/IP communication protocol.
[0156] As discussed above and according to the present invention,
even if the communication path uses TCP/IP as the communication
protocol, since the voice data stored in the voice
storage/management means 1303 is transmitted from the voice
playback means 1306 in the transmission processing of the voice
data as indicated by the arrow 1604 of FIG. 13, the voice playback
means 1306 can always prepare the voice data for transmission.
Therefore, if the transmission rate of the communication path 1115
is faster than the transmission rate for the transmission from the
exchange 11 05 to the public cable network 1101, no loss of voice
data will occur between the voice storage apparatus 1107 and the
exchange 1105, which ensures the quality of voice data stored in
the voice storage apparatus 1107.
[0157] Further, since the transmission rate of the communication
path 1115 is faster than the transmission rate for the transmission
from the exchange 1105 to the public cable network 1101, even if
the transmission rate of communication path 1115 suddenly drops
because of a burst or the like, or control of retransmission
between the exchange communication means 1115 and the voice storage
apparatus communication means 1301 is required, data previously
received at and stored in the exchange communication means 1115 of
the exchange 1105 can be used to keep the transmission rate of the
voice stream at 64 kbps so that the voice stream will be constantly
output at the transmission rate of 64 kbps from the exchange 1105
to the public cable network 1101 without any loss of the voice
data.
[0158] Like in the above-mentioned processing, the voice data 1504
stored in the processing for storing the contents of the call shown
in step 1402 of FIG. 11 can also be transmitted from the exchange
1105 to the voice storage apparatus 1107 using the TCP/IP
communication protocol, so that retransmission control against a
sudden drop of the transmission rate of the communication path 1115
because of a burst or the like, or losses of the voice data can be
performed. This makes it possible to store the contents of the call
between the general telephone terminal 1102 and the extension
telephone terminal 1106 without any degradation in voice
quality.
[0159] In the embodiment, the system configured such above can
display the following effects. First, the caller number storage
means 1305 maintains a one-to-one correspondence between the caller
number of the portable telephone terminal 1104 and the voice data
created during the call between the general telephone terminal 1102
and the extension telephone terminal 1106 and stored in the voice
storage/management means 1303. Therefore, when the connection
between the portable telephone terminal 1104 and the exchange 1105
is established, the user of the portable telephone terminal 1104
can listen to the voice data created during the call between the
general telephone terminal 1102 and the extension telephone
terminal 1106 without the need to do any special specification on
the portable telephone terminal 1104.
[0160] Second, even if the voice data created when two or more
calls between the general telephone terminal 1102 and the extension
telephone terminal 1106 have occurred and been stored in the voice
storage/management means 1303 before the connection between the
portable telephone terminal 1104 and the exchange 1105 is
established, since the caller number storage means 1305 maintains a
one-to-one correspondence between the caller number and each of the
plural voice data stored in the voice storage/management means
1303, the user of the portable telephone terminal 1104 can
continuously listen to all the voice data, which the use has not
listen to yet, upon establishing the connection with the exchange
1105.
[0161] Third, since the exchange and the voice storage apparatus
communicate with each other using the TCP/IP protocol, and the
voice data is sent and received at a transmission rate adapted to
the transmission rate of the communication path 1115,
retransmission control can be performed when losses of voice data
occur in the communication path 1115. Further, even if the
transmission rate of the communication path 1115 suddenly drops
because of a burst or the like, previously sent data can be used
for playback of voice, which prevents any degradation in voice
quality.
[0162] In the embodiment, the voice data which the user listens to
on the portable telephone terminal 1104 were always the contents of
the call between the general telephone terminal 1102 and the
extension telephone terminal 1106, but it is easily thought of by
those skilled in the art that the concept of the call may be
extended over any call between telephone terminals as long as the
call can be made through the exchange 1105.
[0163] Further, in the embodiment, the call recording-start request
was output in the processing step 1402 of FIG. 11 from the exchange
1105 to the voice storage apparatus 1107, but the same operation as
the processing step 1402 for outputting the voice storage-start
request from the exchange 1105 to the voice storage apparatus 1107
can be carried out as follows. When a call from the general
telephone terminal 1102 is arrived at the exchange 1105, the
exchange 1105 outputs, to the voice storage apparatus 1107, a
notification indicating that the call from the general telephone
terminal 1102 has arrived at the exchange 1105. Then, when the
connection between the general telephone terminal 1102 and the
extension telephone terminal 1106 is established, the exchange 1105
outputs, to the voice storage apparatus 1107, a connection
notification indicating that the connection between the general
telephone terminal 1102 and the extension telephone terminal 1106
has been established. Upon receipt of the connection notification,
the voice storage apparatus 1107 requests the exchange 1105 to
transmit the contents of the call as a request for outputting voice
data indicative of the contents of the call between the general
telephone terminal 1102 and the extension telephone terminal 1106.
Upon receipt of the request for the transmission of the contents of
the call, the exchange 11-5 transmits the voice data indicative of
the contents of the call between the general telephone terminal
1102 and the extension telephone terminal 1106 on the basis of the
request received.
[0164] Furthermore, in the embodiment, the playback start request
was output in the processing step 1408 of FIG. 11 from the exchange
1105 to the voice control apparatus 1107, but the same operation as
the processing step 1408 for outputting the playback start request
from the exchange 1105 to the voice storage apparatus 1107 can be
carried out as follows. When a call from the potable telephone
terminal 1104 is arrived at the exchange 1105 in step 1406, the
exchange 1105 outputs, to the voice storage apparatus 1107, an
arrival notification indicating that the call from the portable
telephone terminal 1104 has arrived at the exchange 1105. Upon
receipt of the arrival notification, the voice storage apparatus
1107 outputs a connection request to the exchange 1105, that is,
the voice storage apparatus 1107 requests the exchange 1105 to
establish line connection between the portable telephone terminal
1104 and the exchange 1105. Upon receipt of the connection request,
the exchange 1105 establishes the connection with the portable
telephone terminal 1104. When the connection between the portable
telephone terminal 1104 and the exchange 1105 is established, the
exchange 1105 outputs, to the voice storage apparatus 1107, a
connection notification indicating that the connection between the
portable telephone terminal 1104 and the exchange 1105 has been
established. Upon receipt of the connection notification, the voice
storage apparatus 1107 outputs a voice data transmission request to
the exchange 1105, that is, the voice storage apparatus 1107
requests the exchange 1105 to transmit voice data from the voice
storage apparatus 1107 to the portable telephone terminal 1104 so
that the voice data will be transmitted.
[0165] Use of the above-mentioned scheme instead of the operations
from step 1402 to step 1408 makes it easy to obtain the effects of
the present invention merely. In other words, the exchange 1105 has
only to notify the voice storage apparatus 1107 of changes in line
status and respond to the connection control request from the voice
storage apparatus 1107.
[0166] Furthermore, it is easily thought of by those skilled in the
art that the destination address deciding method and the one-to-one
correspondence between the destination address of the portable
telephone terminal 1104 and the caller telephone number of the
portable telephone terminal 1104 as discussed in the embodiment can
be carried out in various manners such as to provide a user
interface function in the storage notification means 1304 so that
they will be input by the user of the voice storage apparatus 1107
using the user interface function or managed by the storage
notification means 1304 in response to the voice storage-end
notification from the voice storage means 1302.
[0167] Furthermore, in the embodiment, the voice data stored in the
voice storage apparatus 1107 were continuously reproduced as shown
from step 1606 to step 1608. Instead of the operations, PB signal
detection means may be provided in the exchange 1105 or the voice
storage apparatus 1107 so that the sequence of messages to be
played back can be changed or a message or messages can be skipped
in response to the transmission of a PB signal from the portable
telephone terminal 1104.
[0168] Furthermore, in the embodiment, the storage notification was
posted in the form of an e-mail, it can also be realized as
follows. A packet communication path is formed between the portable
telephone terminal 1104 and the voice storage apparatus 1107
through the communication path 1111, the public radio network 1103,
the communication path 1113, the router 1108 and the communication
path 1116. In this case, a packet is transmitted from the voice
storage apparatus 1107 to the portable telephone terminal 1104
through the packet communication path.
FOURTH EMBODIMENT
[0169] In the fourth embodiment, the system can select voice data
which the user of the portable telephone terminal listens to.
[0170] The general structure of the system in the fourth embodiment
is the same as that in the third embodiment (FIG. 8).
[0171] Referring next to FIG. 18, a configuration of the exchange
1105 will be described in detail. The fourth embodiment differs
from the third embodiment (FIG. 9) in that the exchange 1105 is
further provided with user specified information detection means
2101, and total control means 2102 controls the user specified
information detection means 2101 in addition to the other means.
Suppose that the caller number detection means 1202 detects a
caller number in response to arrival of a call from the public
cable network 1101 or the extension telephone terminal 1106. In
this case, if the caller number detection means 1202 detects
information other than the caller number, the caller number
detection means 1202 will activate the user specified information
detection means 2101 to detect the information.
[0172] The detailed configuration of the voice storage apparatus
1107 is the same as that in the third embodiment (FIG. 10).
[0173] Like in the third embodiment, FIGS. 11 to 13 shows the basic
operation of the system in the fourth embodiment.
[0174] In other words, the operations from step 1401 to 1403 are
the same as in the third embodiment.
[0175] FIG. 19 is a diagram showing the contents of information to
be stored in such a case that the voice storage notification to be
output in step 1404 of FIG. 11 from the voice storage apparatus
1107 to the portable telephone terminal 1104 in step 1404 of FIG.
11 in order to notify the portable telephone terminal 1104 that the
completion of the storage operation is posted in the form of an
e-mail. Stored in a field 2201 is an e-mail address at which an
email is sent to the portable telephone terminal 1104. Stored in a
field 2202 is a destination telephone number via which the user of
the portable telephone terminal 1104 listens to voice data. Stored
in a field 2203 is a message ID which specifies the voice data.
Stored in a field 2204 is information added to the text. The text
additional information may include the caller telephone number of
the general telephone terminal 1102, the telephone number of the
extension telephone terminal 1106 and recording start time.
[0176] The storage notification means 1304 of the voice storage
apparatus 1107 creates the voice storage notification shown in FIG.
19 in step 1404 to transmit the same to the router 1108. The
storage notification means 1304 also notifies the caller number
storage means 1305 of information related to the destination of the
voice storage notification, such as the e-mail address of the
portable telephone terminal 1104, and the message ID.
[0177] The router 1108 transmits the voice storage notification to
the portable telephone terminal 1104 (1508 in FIG. 12).
[0178] Upon receipt of the voice storage notification, the user of
the portable telephone terminal 1104 determines whether he or she
listens to voice data (step 1104 in FIG. 11). In an actual
situation, if the user does not operate the terminal in response to
the voice storage notification, the processing procedure does not
advance to step 1406. Then, when the line connection processing
between the general telephone terminal 1102 and the extension
telephone terminal 1106 is preformed again, the operations from
step 1401 to step 1404 are performed again.
[0179] If the user of the portable telephone terminal 1104 starts
listening to the voice data, the portable telephone terminal 1104
starts call origination processing as shown in step 1406 of FIG.
11. The following describes, as an example, such a case that after
receiving the voice storage notification three times, the user of
the portable telephone terminal 1104 starts listening to the voice
data. The processing step 1406 corresponds to the signaling
procedure 1601 in the signaling diagram of FIG. 13.
[0180] When the user starts listening to the voice data, as shown
by the arrow 1601, the destination telephone number 2202 for
listening and the message ID 2203 are manually specified from the
portable telephone terminal 1104 and the e-mail, respectively, to
originate the call.
[0181] For example, if the public cable network 1101 is an ISDN
line, the portable telephone terminal 1104 can use UUI
(user-to-user information) to notify the message ID to the
switching system concerned.
[0182] UUI provides an area available in the communication between
users, defining 128-bit free space for call setting messages
passing through a D channel (control channel) of the IDSN line. The
portable telephone terminal 1104 specifies a message ID in the UUI
area, and originates a call while sending the message ID to the
exchange 1105 as a call setting message, which allows the exchange
1105 to receive the message ID set in the UUI area at arrival of
the call.
[0183] Instead of the UUI area, a sub-address of the call setting
message can be used in a user-specific mode to specify the message
in the area.
[0184] Either the method using the UUI or the method using the
sub-address can obtain the effects of the present invention as long
as the portable telephone terminal 1104 has a mechanism for
enabling the user to input information other than the destination
telephone number, the message ID in the embodiment, to the UUI or
the sub-address as the call setting message upon originating a
call, and the exchange 1105 has a mechanism for receiving and
analyzing the information. The sequence using the UUL or
sub-address is known to those skilled in the art, and detailed
description thereof is omitted.
[0185] Any technique other than the UUI or sub-address may be used
as long as the portable telephone terminal 1104 has a mechanism for
enabling the user to input information such as the message ID and
transmit the same to the exchange 1105, while the exchange 1105 has
a mechanism for receiving and analyzing the information.
[0186] In the exchange 1105, circuit switching means 1201 takes in
the incoming signal indicated by the arrow 1601 and the caller
number detection means 1202 detects the caller number. In this
case, since the message ID is further added, the user specified
information detection means 2101 is used to detect the message
ID.
[0187] The processing step 1407 of FIG. 11 is the same as in the
third embodiment.
[0188] Then, as shown in step 1408 of FIG. 11, the system performs
processing for playing back voice, which matches the message ID
specified from the portable telephone terminal 1104, from the voice
storage apparatus 1107 to the portable telephone terminal 1104 upon
establishing the connection between the portable telephone terminal
1104 and the exchange 1105. The processing step 1408 corresponds to
the signaling procedures 1603 and 1606 in the signaling diagram of
FIG. 13. In FIG. 13, the broken arrows 1604 to 1606 indicate
exchange of voice data, not of signals.
[0189] Upon establishing the connection between the portable
telephone terminal 1104 and the exchange 1105 as indicated by the
arrow 1603, the exchange 1105 determines the connection through the
total control means 2102 and transmits a playback start request to
the voice storage apparatus 1107. The playback start request is
information, for example, which is sent in a format as shown in
FIG. 20. The information is composed of a playback start request
identifier 2301, a caller telephone number 2302 indicative of the
telephone number of the portable telephone terminal 1104, a message
ID 2303 and additional information 2304. The additional information
may include start time.
[0190] In the voice storage apparatus 1107, the voice playback
means 1306 takes in the playback start request to output, to the
caller number storage means 1305, the caller telephone number of
the portable telephone terminal and the message ID, respectively
stored in the field 2302 and 2303 of the playback start request, so
as to obtain voice data to be reproduced.
[0191] Referring next to FIG. 17, the operation will be described
below in detail. FIG. 17 shows an example of information managed by
the caller number storage means 1305. In the embodiment, since the
description is made about such a case that the voice storage
notification has been transmitted three times before the user
starts listening, three message IDs are stored in the field 2003.
The three message IDs are represented below as message ID 1,
message ID 2 and message ID 3, respectively.
[0192] Upon receipt of the playback start request 1603, the voice
storage apparatus 1107 compares the message IDs 1, 2 and 3 stored
in the field 2003 obtained from the caller number storage means
1305 with the message ID contained in the playback start request to
obtain a message ID of voice data, which matches that in the
playback start request, from the voice storage/management means
1303. Then the voice storage apparatus 1107 outputs the obtained
message ID to the exchange 1105 through the voice storage apparatus
communication means 1301 and the communication path 1115. The
exchange 1105 receives and outputs the voice data to the public
cable network 1101. The voice data is transmitted from the public
cable network 1101 to the portable telephone terminal 1104 through
the communication path 112, the public radio network 1103 and the
communication path 1111. Thus the user of the portable telephone
terminal 1104 can listen to the contents of the call between the
general telephone terminal 1102 and the extension telephone
terminal 1106 recorded in the processing step 1402 of FIG. 11.
[0193] The sequence of voice data to be reproduced may be so
decided that two or more messages can be played back in order of
input on condition that two or more message IDs can be manually
input from the portable telephone terminal 1104 in the same manner
as in the embodiment. For example, if the message ID 1, the message
ID 2, and the message ID 3 are input in this order, the user can
listen to the voice data in that order. Alternatively, playback may
be started from specified voice data, then the remaining voice data
that have not been specified. For example, if the message ID 2 is
specified, the user will listen to voice data corresponding to the
message ID 2 first, and then voice data corresponding to the
remaining message IDs 1 and 3.
[0194] Thus the system in the embodiment allows the user of the
portable telephone terminal to select voice data to which the user
listens or specify the listening sequence on the basis of the
message IDs and the text additional information of the voice
storage notification (FIG. 19).
[0195] The contents of the text additional information of the voice
storage notification or assignment of the message ID may be so
altered that the user of the portable telephone terminal can select
voice data more easily.
FIFTH EMBODIMENT
[0196] In the fifth embodiment, the system presents a list of two
or more pieces of stored voice data to the user of the portable
telephone terminal so that the user can select form the list voice
data to which the user listens.
[0197] The general structure of the system in the fifth embodiment
is the same as that in the third embodiment (FIG. 8), except that a
browse function is mounted in the portable telephone terminal 1104.
The structure of the exchange 1105 is also the same as that in the
third embodiment (FIG. 9).
[0198] Referring next to FIG. 21, a configuration of the voice
storage apparatus 1107 will be described in detail. The fifth
embodiment differs from the third embodiment (FIG. 10) in that the
voice storage apparatus 1107 is further provided with input/output
means 2401 and screen storage means 2402.
[0199] The input/output means 2401 analyzes information input from
the portable telephone terminal 1104 through the communication path
1116 via the voice storage communication means 1301 to perform
processing specified through input operations. Then the
input/output means 2401 returns the processing results to the
portable telephone terminal 1104. On the other hand, the screen
storage means 2402 stores screen template information to be output
to the portable telephone terminal 1104.
[0200] For example, FIG. 21 indicates that the voice storage
apparatus 1107 has a WWW (World Wide Web) server function. In other
words, functions for selecting a screen template from the
information input from the portable telephone terminal 1104 via the
communication path 1116, that is, over the Internet, obtaining
information to be embedded in the screen template, and outputting
the display of the information together with the selected screen
template to the portable telephone terminal 1104 are added to the
voice storage apparatus.
[0201] FIG. 23 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the
system according to the embodiment. FIGS. 12 and 24 are signaling
diagrams illustrating the operation of the system according to the
embodiment. A sequence of operations from step 2601 to 2604 in FIG.
23 are the same as those from step 1401 to step 1404 in the third
embodiment (FIG. 11).
[0202] FIG. 22 is a diagram showing the contents of information to
be stored in such a case that the voice storage notification to be
output in step 2604 from the voice storage apparatus 1107 to the
portable telephone terminal 1104 in order to notify the portable
telephone terminal 1104 of the completion of the storage operation
is posted in the form of an e-mail. Stored in a field 2501 is an
e-mail address at which an email is sent to the portable telephone
terminal 1104. Stored in a field 2502 is a destination telephone
number via which the user of the portable telephone terminal 1104
listens to voice data. Stored in a field 2503 is an address, for
example, a URL, for displaying a list of voice data information
stored in the voice storage apparatus 1107. Stored in a field 2504
is information added to the text. The text additional information
may include the caller telephone number of the general telephone
terminal 1102, the telephone number of the extension telephone
terminal 1106 and recording start time and an outline of voice
data.
[0203] The storage notification means 1304 creates the voice
storage notification shown in FIG. 22 in step 2604 to transmit the
same to the router 1108 through the voice storage apparatus
communication means 1301 and the communication path 1116. The
storage notification means 1304 also notifies the caller number
storage means 1305 of the message ID corresponding to the voice
data concerned.
[0204] Then the router 1108 transmits the voice storage
notification to the portable telephone terminal 1104 through the
communication path 1113, the public radio network 1103 and the
communication path 1111 as indicated by the arrow 1508 in FIG. 12.
In an actual situation, if the voice storage notification is posted
in the form of an e-mail, the e-mail is transmitted to the portable
telephone terminal 1104 through an e-mail server, for example,
furnished in the public radio network 1103. However, since the
present invention does not feature the process to transmit the
voice storage notification, detailed description of how to transmit
is omitted.
[0205] Next, as shown in step 2605 of FIG. 23, when the portable
telephone terminal 1104 receives the voice storage notification,
the user of the portable telephone terminal 1104 decides whether he
or she listens to the voice data. In an actual situation, if the
user does not operate the terminal in response to the voice storage
notification, the processing procedure does not advance to step
2606. Then, when the line connection processing between the general
telephone terminal 1102 and the extension telephone terminal 1106
is performed again, the sequence of operations from step 2601 to
step 2604 are performed again.
[0206] If the user of the portable telephone terminal 1104 starts
listening to the voice data, the user uses the browse function of
the portable telephone terminal 1104 in step 2606 of FIG. 23 to
obtain a list of voice data stored in the voice storage apparatus
1107 so as to select voice data to be reproduced. In the next step
2607, the portable telephone terminal 1104 performs call
origination processing.
[0207] The following describes, as an example, such a case that
after receiving the voice storage notification three times, the
user of the portable telephone terminal 1104 starts listening to
the voice data. In other words, after the operations from step 2601
to step 2604 have been repeated three times, the processing
procedure advances to step 2606. The processing step 2606
corresponds to signaling procedures 2701 to 2703 in the signaling
diagram of FIG. 24.
[0208] When the user starts listening to the voice data, as shown
by the arrow 2701, the user uses the browse function of the
portable telephone terminal 1104 to specify a URL in the field 2503
of the voice storage notification so as to display the list of
voice data. In the voice storage apparatus 1107, the input/output
means 2401 receives the URL from the communication path 1116
through the voice storage apparatus communication means 1301. Then
the input/output means 2401 obtains a screen template, display of
the voice data list in the embodiment, from the screen storage
means 2402 to embed, in the display of the voice data list,
information stored in the caller number storage means 1305.
Further, the input/output means 2402 reversely routes the
transmission from the voice storage apparatus communication means
1301 to the potable telephone terminal 1401 through the
communication path 1116. This operation corresponds to the signal
2702 in FIG. 24.
[0209] Next, as shown by the arrow 2703, the user of the potable
telephone terminal 1401 selects voice data from the display of the
voice data list obtained in the signaling procedure 2702
sequentially from the voice data to which the user wants to listen
most. The selected voice data are entered from the communication
line 1116 to the input/output means 2401 of the voice storage
apparatus 1107 through the voice storage apparatus communication
means 1301, and registered in the caller number storage means
1305.
[0210] FIG. 25 shows an example of information managed by the
caller number storage means 1305. The reference numerals 2801 to
2803 designate information to be notified from the storage
notification means 1304 after the transmission of the voice storage
notification. The information 2801 is the telephone number of the
portable telephone terminal 1104. The information 2802 is
information related to the destination of the voice storage
notification to be transmitted to the portable telephone terminal
1104, for example, an e-main address at which an e-mail is sent to
the portable telephone terminal 1104. The information 2803 is to
manage a message ID. The reference numeral 2804 designates
information for managing the sequence of voice data input
sequentially in the above-mentioned step 2606 of FIG. 23 from the
voice data to which the user wants to listen most.
[0211] Since the method of realizing the operations from step 2701
to step 2703 is known in the WWW field and easily thought of by
those skilled in the art, no mention is made of the details.
[0212] Next, as shown in step 2607, a call from the portable
telephone terminal 1104 is originated at the caller telephone
number so that the user of the portable telephone terminal 1104 can
listen to the voice data. The processing step 2607 corresponds to a
signal 2704.
[0213] The call origination processing is performed in the same
manner as described for the signal 1601 of FIG. 13. In other words,
the call origination processing may be performed by the user of the
portable telephone terminal 1104 inputting the destination
telephone number contained in the storage notification.
Alternatively, the destination telephone number may be transmitted
by selecting the destination telephone number displayed on a
display screen of the portable telephone terminal 1104 through a
key operation on the portable telephone terminal 1104. Either
method can display the effects of the present invention.
[0214] In the exchange 1105, the circuit switching means 1201
receives the signal as indicated by the arrow 2704, and the caller
number detection means 1202 detects the caller number of the
portable telephone terminal 1104.
[0215] The processing step 2608 corresponds to a signal 2705 in
FIG. 24, indicating the same processing as step 1407 of FIG. 11 in
the third embodiment.
[0216] Then, as shown in step 2609 of FIG. 23, when the connection
between the portable telephone terminal 1104 and the exchange 1105
has been established, the system performs processing for
reproducing the voice data from the voice storage apparatus 1107 to
the portable telephone terminal 1104 in order of specification made
using the browse function of the portable telephone terminal 1104.
The processing step 2609 corresponds to signaling procedures 2706
to 2709 in the signaling diagram of FIG. 24. In FIG. 24, the broken
arrows 2707 to 2709 indicates exchange of voice data, not of
signals.
[0217] Upon establishing the connection between the portable
telephone terminal 1104 and the exchange 1105, the exchange 1105
transmits the playback start request to the voice storage apparatus
1107 as indicated by the arrow 2706. In an actual situation, the
total control means 1206 detects, from the circuit switching means
1201, that the connection between the portable telephone terminal
1104 and the exchange 1105 has been established, and outputs the
playback start request to the voice storage apparatus 1107 through
the exchange communication means 1205. The playback start request
is information, for example, which is sent in the same format as in
the third embodiment shown in FIG. 16. The information is composed
of a playback start request identifier 1901 indicating that the
information is the playback start request, a caller telephone
number 1902 representing a telephone number of the portable
telephone terminal 1104, and additional information 1903. The
additional information 1903 may include start time.
[0218] The caller number of the portable telephone terminal 1104
set in the field 1902 is detected by the caller number detection
means 1202 in step 2608 of FIG. 23 and stored in this playback
start request.
[0219] In the voice storage apparatus 1107, the voice playback
means 1306 receives the playback start request from the exchange
1105 through the communication path 1115 and the voice storage
apparatus communication means 1301. The voice playback means 1306
outputs to the caller number storage means 1305 the caller
telephone number of the portable telephone terminal stored in the
field 2302 of the playback start request to obtain voice data to be
reproduced.
[0220] In the embodiment, since the description is made about such
a case that the voice storage notification has been transmitted
three times before the user starts listening, three message IDs are
stored in the field 2003. The three message IDS are represented
below as message ID 1, message ID 2 and message ID 3,
respectively.
[0221] Upon receipt of the playback start request 1603, the voice
playback means 1306 of the voice storage apparatus 1107 obtains,
from the voice storage/management means 1303, voice data of the
message IDs 1 to 3 stored in the field 2804 obtained from caller
number storage means 1305 in order of listening to output the same
to the exchange 1105 through the voice storage apparatus
communication means 1301 and the communication path 1105.
[0222] In the exchange 1105, the exchange communication means 1203
receives the voice data to output the same to the public cable
network 1101 through the voice transmission/reception means 1204,
the circuit switching means 1110 and the communication path 1110.
Then the voice data is transmitted from the public cable network
1101 to the portable telephone terminal 1104 through the
communication path 1112, the public radio network 1103 and the
communication path 1111. Thus user of the portable telephone
terminal 1104 can listen to the contents of the call between the
general telephone terminal 1102 and the extension telephone
terminal 1106 recorded in the processing step 2602 of FIG. 23.
[0223] If the message IDs 2, 3 and 1 are specified in step 2804 of
FIG. 25 to be listened to in this order, the user of the portable
telephone terminal 1104 can listen to the voice data in that
order.
[0224] The user may use the above-mentioned browser to specify any
reproduction sequence of voice data from the screen displayed at
the URL contained in the voice storage notification. In this case,
the voice storage apparatus 1107 may reproduce only the voice data
specified by the user, or the specified voice data in order of
specification and the other voice data as required.
[0225] It is easily thought of by those skilled in the art that
additional information 2504 may be input in various manners such as
to provide a user interface function in the storage notification
means 1304 as shown in the third embodiment. As an example, the
user of the voice storage apparatus may be notified of the
reception of the voice storage-end notification in simultaneous
response to the reception of the voice storage-end notification, so
that the user will manually input an outline of the call or the
like using the interface function in response to the
notification.
[0226] In the embodiment, the user used the browser of the portable
telephone terminal 1104 to specify the reproduction sequence of
voice data before the call origination processing. However, the
specification of the reproduction sequence of voice data made in
step 2606 may trigger the call origination processing from the
voice storage apparatus 1107 to the portable telephone terminal
1104 so that the voice data will be sent to the user through the
voice playback means 1306.
SIXTH EMBODIMENT
[0227] The system in the sixth embodiment allows the user of the
general telephone terminal to listen to voice data stored in the
voice storage apparatus while the call between the general
telephone terminal and the extension telephone terminal is in
progress.
[0228] The general structure of the system is the same as that in
the third embodiment (FIG. 8). The configuration of the exchange
1105 is also the same as that in the third embodiment (FIG. 9). As
shown in FIG. 26, the circuit switching means 1201 of the exchange
1105 is provided with general telephone terminal voice input means
2901, general telephone terminal voice output means 2902, extension
telephone terminal voice input means 2903, extension telephone
terminal voice output means 2904, voice transmission/reception
input means 2905, voice transmission/reception output means 2906,
and circuit switching control means 2701. The general telephone
terminal voice input means 2901 is to input voice from other
components to the general telephone terminal. The general telephone
terminal voice output means 2902 is to output voice from the
general telephone terminal to other components. The extension
telephone terminal voice input means 2903 is to input voice from
other components to the extension telephone terminal. The extension
telephone terminal voice output means 2904 is to output from other
components to the extension telephone terminal. The voice
transmission/reception input means 2905 is to input voice from
other components to the voice transmission/reception means 1204.
The voice transmission/reception output means 2906 is to output
voice from the voice transmission/reception means 1204 to other
components. The circuit switching control means 2701 is to
interconnects means for input and output operations from step 2901
to step 2906.
[0229] Referring next to FIGS. 27 to 30, the operation of the
system according to the sixth embodiment will be described. FIG. 27
is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the system. FIG. 28 is
a signaling diagram illustrating the operation of the system. FIGS.
29 and 30 are diagrams showing states of the system under the
control of the circuit switching control means 2907.
[0230] As shown in step 3001 of FIG. 27, the system first performs
line connection processing between the general telephone terminal
1102 and the extension telephone terminal 1106. The processing step
3001 corresponds to a signaling procedure 3101 in the signaling
diagram of FIG. 28.
[0231] The arrow 3101 collectively represents signals exchanged
from the time a call from the general telephone terminal 1102 is
originated until the connection with the extension telephone
terminal 1106 is established. In an actual situation, call setting
messages such as call setting and call acknowledgment messages are
exchanged between the general telephone terminal 1102 and the
exchange 1105 through the communication path 1109, the public cable
network 1101 and the communication path 1110. At this time, signals
are also exchanged between the exchange 1105 and the extension
telephone terminal 1106. However, since the effects of the present
invention can be obtained as long as the connection between the
general telephone terminal 1102 and the extension telephone
terminal 1106 is established, the description is simplified in the
embodiment. During this operation, the caller number detection
means 1202 of the exchange 1105 to perform processing for detecting
a caller telephone number contained in the messages received at the
circuit switching means 1201 from the public cable network.
Description of this processing is also omitted because a method of
practically realizing the processing is easily thought of by those
skilled in the art.
[0232] FIG. 29 shows a state under the control of the circuit
switching control means upon completion of the processing. In the
state, the general telephone terminal input means 2901 and the
extension telephone terminal output means 2904 are connected
through a connection path as indicated by the reference numeral
3201. On the other hand, the general telephone terminal output
means 2902 and the extension telephone terminal input means 2903
are connected through a connection path as indicated by the
reference numeral 3202.
[0233] Next, as shown in step 3002 of FIG. 27, the switching system
operates the exchange 1105 to switch voice transmission lines so as
to establish a connection of a voice transmission line between the
general telephone terminal 1102 to the voice storage apparatus
1107. The processing step 3002 corresponds to a signaling procedure
3102 in the signaling diagram of FIG. 28. In an actual situation,
control messages are exchanged between the voice storage apparatus
1107 and the exchange 1105 during the processing. However, since
the effects of the present invention can be obtained as long as the
connection of the transmission line between the general telephone
terminal 1102 and the voice storage apparatus 1107 is established,
the description is simplified in the embodiment.
[0234] FIG. 30 shows another state under the control of the circuit
switching control means upon completion of the processing. In the
state, the general telephone terminal input means 2901 and the
voice transmission/reception output means 2906 are connected
through a connection path as indicated by the reference numeral
3301. On the other hand, the general telephone terminal output
means 2902 and the voice transmission/reception input means 2905
are connected through a connection path as indicated by the
reference numeral 3302.
[0235] Next, as shown in step 3003 of FIG. 27, the switching system
performs voice playback processing from the voice storage apparatus
1107 to the general telephone terminal 1104. The processing step
3003 corresponds to a signaling procedure in the signaling diagram
of FIG. 28. In FIG. 28, the broken arrow 3103 indicated exchange of
voice data, not of signals.
[0236] Next, as shown in step 3004 of FIG. 27, the switching system
operates the exchange 1105 to switch voice transmission lines so as
to establish the transmission line between the general telephone
terminal 1102 and the extension telephone terminal 1106 again. The
processing step 3004 corresponds to a signaling procedure 3104 in
the signaling diagram of FIG. 28. In an actual situation, control
messages are exchanged between the voice storage apparatus 1107 and
the exchange 1105 during the processing. However, since the effects
of the present invention can be obtained as long as the connection
of the transmission line between the general telephone terminal
1102 and the extension telephone terminal 1106 is established, the
description is simplified in the embodiment.
[0237] The state under the control of the circuit switching control
means upon completion of the processing returns to the state
described above in FIG. 29.
[0238] As discussed above, the system in the embodiment allows the
user of the general telephone terminal 1102 to listen to the voice
data stored in the voice storage apparatus 1107 while the call
between the general telephone terminal 1102 and the extension
telephone terminal 1106 is in progress.
[0239] In the embodiment, the system allowed the user of the
general telephone terminal 1102 to listen to the voice data stored
in the voice storage apparatus 1107 while the call between the
general telephone terminal 1102 and the extension telephone
terminal 1106 is in progress, but it is easily thought of by those
skilled in the art that the concept of the call may be extended
over any call between telephone terminals as long as the call can
be made through the exchange 1105.
[0240] In the specification, the term "telephone voice control
system" contains the "switching system." Further, the system called
the "voice mail system" or "voice log system" is also contained in
the "telephone voice control system." The present invention is
applicable to various CTI systems.
[0241] As described above and according to the first aspect of the
present invention, the telephone voice control system is furnished
with an intermediate processing unit and an application program.
The intermediate processing unit is provided with a call processing
part, a voice data processing part, a status management part for
maintaining the status of the call processing part and the voice
data processing unit, and a control part for controlling the call
processing part and the voice data processing part. The application
program sends a request to the intermediate processing unit. In
operation, the control part of the intermediate processing unit
compares a state enough to execute the request from the application
program with the state maintained by the status management part. If
both disaccord, the control part controls the call processing part
and the voice data processing part to perform processing for
matching both states with each other.
[0242] In this case, the application program has only to issue the
same voice playback or recording request to the intermediate
processing unit (middleware) anytime without the need to manage the
call connected, the connected state of a voice data path and
transmission control.
[0243] According to the second aspect of the present invention, the
telephone voice control system is furnished with a multi-functional
terminal, an information notification unit, a circuit switching
unit of an exchange, a voice storage unit and an application
program. The multi-functional terminal includes a data
communication terminal part connected to a data network and a
telephone terminal part connection to a telephone network. The
information notification unit notifies information to the data
network. The circuit switching unit of an exchange obtains a caller
number from the telephone network at arrival of a call. The voice
storage unit stores voice data received through the exchange. The
application program controls storage and reading of the voice data
into and from the voice storage unit. In operation, the information
notification unit notifies the data network of the information
requested by the application program. Then, when the
multi-functional terminal that has obtained the information through
the data network makes a request to the exchange through the
telephone network for the transmission of voice data, the voice
data is selected from among voice data stored in the voice storage
unit according to the caller number obtained at the circuit
switching unit so that the voice data will be provided to the
multi-functional terminal.
[0244] In this case, the voice stored in the voice storage unit can
be played back without delay on the multi-functional terminal
including the data communication terminal part connected to the
data network and the telephone terminal part connected to the
telephone network.
[0245] According to the third aspect of the present invention, when
a new call occurs between a general telephone terminal and an
extension telephone terminal, and voice data on the call is
registered after the multi-functional terminal is notified through
the data network that first voice data is stored in the voice
storage unit and before the multi-functional terminal is connected
to the exchange for getting and listening to the voice data, a
one-to-one correspondence among the caller number of the
multi-functional terminal, the first voice data stored in the voice
storage unit, and voice data registered after registration of the
first voice data are maintained.
[0246] In this case, when the multi-functional terminal is
connected to the exchange for getting the voice data, a user of the
multi-functional terminal can listen to all of the first voice data
stored in the voice storage unit and the voice data registered
after registration of the first voice data.
[0247] According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the
voice storage unit may obtain and transmit to the exchange voice
data specified from among two or more pieces of voice data stored
therein during such an operation that the multi-functional terminal
is connected to the exchange for getting and listening to the voice
data on the multi-functional terminal.
[0248] Thus the user of the multi-functional terminal can listen to
the voice data specified from among two or more pieces of voice
data stored in the voice storage unit.
[0249] According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the
voice storage unit presents, to the multi-functional terminal, the
display of a list of two or more pieces of voice data stored
therein, obtains voice data specified from the display of the list
on the multi-functional terminal in order of specification, and
transmits the obtained voice data to the exchange.
[0250] Thus the user of the multi-functional terminal can refer to
the display of the list of the plural pieces of voice data stored
in the voice storage apparatus to listen to the voice data to which
the user wants to listen in order of specification.
[0251] According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the
voice storage unit presents, to the multi-functional terminal, the
display of a list of two or more pieces of voice data stored
therein so that when the number of pieces of voice data specified
from the display of the list on the multi-functional terminal is
less than the number of pieces of voice data stored in the voice
storage unit, the voice data storage unit will obtain the voice
data, specified from the display of the list on the
multi-functional terminal in order of specification, and then voice
data that have not been specified, to transmit all the obtained
voice data to the exchange.
[0252] Thus the user of the multi-functional terminal can refer to
the display of the list of the plural pieces of voice data stored
in the voice storage unit to specify voice data to which the user
wants to listen earlier.
[0253] According to the seventh aspect of the present invention,
the exchange further includes circuit switching control means for
connecting the general telephone terminal with the voice
transmission/reception means while a telephone call between the
general telephone terminal and the extension telephone terminal is
in progress.
[0254] Thus the user of the general telephone terminal can listen
to voice data stored in the voice storage unit while the telephone
call between the general telephone terminal and the extension
telephone terminal is in progress.
* * * * *