Program controlled communication system with access to a speech memory

0001Communication systems are used to connect terminals with each other and to connect these devices with other communication networks, such. B. public communication networks connected terminals. For such communication systems, in particular for private communication systems, a plethora of different features are known, which in many ways increase the possibilities of use and increase operator comfort. There are in addition to the one connection or Further procedure procedures are necessary for a procedure connection to be disconnected between the communication system and a communication terminal. These are usually controlled using a specific signaling procedure. Such features also offer possibilities that go beyond the basic function of pure mediation. One such possible additional functionality is, for example, the use of voice information services. In the context of such a speech memory, which can be realized as a so-called "voice-mail" system, it is possible for connection attempts to a busy or a free, but not operated subscriber terminal a spoken message for each associated subscriber in a memory area assigned to its subscriber terminal to deposit. Such a "voice-mail" system thus basically serves to receive, store, distribute, retrieve and send voice messages. A participant can receive information at any time without being directly addressed. Depending on the complexity of such a system, the individual functions can be activated within the scope of an acoustic and / or visual user guidance.

0002In the context of voice mail storage, it is also known that a subscriber sets up a voice mailbox for private messaging. In such a solution, one or more external connection partners are assigned a so-called access number valid for all in the same way. By submitting this access number, a message left by the owner of this mailbox can then be retrieved by this group of persons. This access number must be configured in the system to which the speech store is coupled or in which it is integrated, and it does not provide a way to give a message intended as a response to a message to any predeterminable link partner. Your message content is intended for all those connection partners who know this access number.

0003It is the object of the invention in connection with a possible utilization of the speech memory by a subscriber of a communication system to extend the functionality.

0004The solution of this object is achieved on the basis of the aforementioned prior art according to the invention by the features contained in the characterizing part of claim 1. Advantageous developments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

0005The essence of the invention is that with the established connection when depositing a spoken message in the speech memory available identification information of each calling party this message is clearly assigned and stored accordingly. When retrieving this message by the addressed subscriber this identification information is read and kept available for subsequent functional steps. In the cases in which the subscriber querying the respective message then stores a reply to this message which has been recorded in a correspondingly provided area of ​​the speech memory, both the identification information of the originally calling subscriber and the corresponding storage are assigned. Due to this assignment, a selective transmission of this response to the original calling subscriber is automatically performed by a program-technically specified retrieval and transmission procedure. The mentioned identification information can the connection layer or represent the number of an internal subscriber of the communication system. For an external subscriber, this identification information, z. B. the complete telephone number information transmitted in the course of setting up an ISDN connection to the destination communication system.

0006As a result of the automatic transmission of the stored response of the subscriber, who therefore has no further action to take for this, the transmission is ensured in the case of an existing reply to a message. Thus, more freedom is offered both for the subscriber submitting the original message and for the respondent responding. The latter does not necessarily have to be reached from the former via a direct connection. It is not necessary to call repeatedly until the transmission of a reply can be transmitted through a direct link between the two partners. The intended automation ensures that for possibly. specific needs of the participant addressed in the message will be given a targeted response. This solution thus achieves technical and customer-friendly advantages.

0007In principle, two options can be provided for themselves or in combination for the transmission of the stored response. The stored in association with the response phone number of the original message left internal or external participant can be used on the system side to automatically establish a connection to this subscriber. The time for this can be determined programmatically. One possibility is timed connection establishment according to predetermined time criteria. It can z. B. fixed intervals between the individual connection attempts. Another possibility is to control the connection setup for the total of available replies based on a stored priority list. In a successful connection, the stored response is read from the memory as spoken text information and transmitted to the terminal of the relevant subscriber.

0008Another possibility according to the invention is, with each connection attempt of an internal or external subscriber, any identification information (call number) stored in connection with a reply to a match with the current identification information available in each case, as a rule the call number information of the respective calling subscriber check. If a match is found, a connection is placed to the speech store. The existing for this calling party response, which is clearly defined by the existing assignment to the phone number is read as spoken text information and transmitted to the terminal of the relevant subscriber.

0009According to the invention, it is provided that the subscriber receiving the reply can transmit a message spoken directly after the transmission by means of the connection established automatically by him to the system or established by himself to the destination system if required. This is stored in association with the message originally written by him in the speech memory.

0010Further advantageous embodiments of the invention can be found in the remaining subclaims.

0011The invention will be explained below with reference to a figuratively illustrated embodiment. In the figure, the structure of a program-controlled private communication system KS is shown schematically as a block diagram. Only the components necessary for understanding the invention are shown.

0012A central component of the private communication system KS is a central header field KF via the terminals - of which telephone terminals F1-Fx are indicated schematically - with each other or are connected to a public communication system ON leading lines AL. The central switching network is under the control of a central system control ST, which in addition to the central processor CPU includes a storage device SPE and a clock unit TG. The central processor controls all switching operations and provides a preparation and allocation of the control data. These tasks can also be split among multiple processors. Access to a trunk AL is via the interface LS. This interface includes, for example, an ISDN part, the example can be designed as a standardized SO interface. The periphery of the communication system is supplemented by a signaling unit SE, which is present for character supply of the communication system.

0013In the communication system KS line connection devices, symbolized by the line connection device LT available. These each contain subscriber line modules SLM. The subscriber line modules are connected via subscriber lines ASL in each case with one of the communication terminals F1 ... Fx. They are basically intended either for the connection of analog or for the connection of digital communication terminals. The message transmission takes place in the case of digital communication terminals via message channels N and the signaling is transmitted via an additional channel S. The digital voice information supplied by the respective communication terminal is relayed via a multiplexing device MUX to the switching network KF. The line connection devices LT are mediated by the system controller ST. Each line connection device is connected to the system control via a signaling channel SK. About this signaling channel information such exchanged using the well-known HDLC transmission procedure. The clock signals offered by the system controller are distributed to the line terminal devices via a clock line TL. The unit TG symbolizes that the clock signals are made available by it.

0014The system processor CPU of the system controller ST has access to the information stored in the memory device SPE. This memory device is basically divided into the program memory PS and the data memory DS. The program memory PS stores, among other things, the operating system BS and the programs relating to it with regard to the peripheral technology, the operating technology, the safety technology and the switching technology. The operating system BS coordinates the typical for the communication system KS variety of quasi simultaneously incurred and also to be done individual tasks. Its essential task is to assign processing instructions to the system processor CPU, which is the actual executive unit of the system controller, depending on the incentives that have arrived or are being formed within the system controller. These include a response to the incentives concerned. Therefore, for each possible incentive, an incentive-individual processing instruction is available in the system control, which is stored as the respective program module in the program memory PS. In the figure, the call processing program module VT is representative of the other modules indicated. LM refers to a module assigned to the switching technology, which stands symbolically for the program modules present for realizing the individual features. Additionally highlighted is a program module VM, which in the use of a <img file="EP0897239A2_D0001.tif" />Voice Mail "system is called by a calling party and allows the initiation of the procedure provided in this regard procedural sequences.

0015In the memory part DS, the area KD is indicated as a subunit of the database. In this memory area are the customer data, such as the permissions assigned to the individual terminals F1 ... Fx and the system configuration are stored. Among other things, the data memory DS serves to record temporary data for the program sequence control. It is also taken over data that during a connection initiated by a terminal or in the use of a service or of a feature. In a terminal-specific memory section all related to the respective terminal data is stored. It is therefore both the current call processing state - for example, whether the participant in question has lifted the handset, whether he is called, etc. - Removable as memory information for the controller. Likewise, in predetermined memory locations, the respectively used services or Features stored. These memory sections are to be regarded as a dynamic database for the individual terminals.

0016For each of these terminals, a line program module adapted to the respective terminal is present for its control, which is symbolized in association with the program memory PS by the module DH. Each of these existing modules DH provides a system-uniform interface to the call processing structure level represented by the switching procedure program module VT. The exchange of information between the two mentioned structural or Control levels take place by means of defined messages, which are transmitted, for example, via the indicated software bus structure SB. This can be considered as an integral part of the operating system.

0017Such a communication system KS is basically known in its structure. In that regard, a description of the individual processes in a connection setup and the connection termination is unnecessary.

0018A voice mail system VMS (voice mail system) is connected to the private communication system KS shown in the exemplary embodiment. In the exemplary embodiment, it is represented symbolically as an independent unit. However, such a voice mail system could also be designed directly as an integral part of the communication system. Such a voice mail system can be realized in different complexity. Depending on the organization of the speech memory, for example, individual subscribers can be assigned specific memory areas into which a calling subscriber who does not reach the requested destination subscriber can store a message. In such a centralized storage system, the messages from internal devices and external devices can be entered. These messages can be called up by the addressed internal subscribers. There are different operating functions for this, which can also be supported by an operator prompt known. These operating functions include, for example, the initiation, interruption and completion of message formation and message retrieval. The connection of the voice mail system VMS can be caused automatically, for example, in the busy case of the desired subscriber. It could also have been activated by the desired participants advance redirection to this voice mail system. There is thus the possibility in principle that a calling subscriber stores a message for a desired but unavailable subscriber.

0019According to the invention, a speech storage system connected to or integrated into the communication system is expanded in such a way that a subscriber can speak into the storage system in response to a message in his memory. Without further action of this participant this response is then transmitted to the original calling party.

0020Prerequisite for this is the presence of an identity mark for this participant. In the case of an internal subscriber, this is the case through the identification which basically takes place during a connection attempt. In a call of an external subscriber is under the condition of an ISDN connection (integrated service system) upon delivery of the respective dialing information, the full number of the respective terminal or Participant to the destination communication system. Thus, for example, if the public communication system ON represents such an ISDN communication system and the subscriber of the terminal En shown in the exemplary embodiment selects the call number of the internal terminal Fx, then his complete call number is transmitted via the signaling channel of the ISDN connection. This can be used for subsequent evaluations, eg. B. be stored in the buffer ZS.

0021It is assumed by way of example that the subscriber of the terminal En was switched to the voice mail system in a connection attempt to the subscriber of the terminal Fx. Due to the processing or distribution provided for this mailbox system Operator prompt is a message from this participant and stored in the terminal Fx associated memory section EFx stored. This message is characterized by the entry NEn. This entry is made in association with its transmitted to the system complete phone number, symbolized by the entry RN-En. In the same way, it is indicated that a further message NEm was left by the subscriber of the external terminal Em in the memory section assigned to the subscriber Fx. Furthermore, a message symbolized by the entry NF1 should be stored in the memory section EF2 assigned to the terminal F2 by the internal subscriber of the terminal F1. This takes place in association with the telephone number RN-F1 of this internal subscriber.

0022At least in the storage of a message by the subscriber of an external device, eg. B. the message NEn the subscriber of the terminal En by an appropriate announcement, the example is stored in the symbolically indicated language block A, it should be noted that his phone number for the transmission of a possibly. from the destination subscriber Fx later written response is stored. It may be provided that, before or immediately after the leaving of his message, the intended calling party has to provide information intended for this purpose as confirmation of his consent. This could be done, for example, by the input of a predetermined multi-frequency code string. The voice mail system is designed so that when storing the message spoken also a start and an end flag is assigned.

0023By way of example, it is assumed that the subscriber Fx would like to give a reply after hearing the message NEn stored by the user of the terminal En. For this purpose, he has the opportunity to deposit this answer in a designated memory area SB2 as spoken text information. He then uses the procedure provided for the voice mail system VMS. Depending on the organization of this memory area, this reply REn can be stored in a section assigned to this subscriber Fx. At the same time, an identifier KREn that adressively defines this response REn is stored in a list L provided for this purpose. In the exemplary embodiment, this list L is created in the data memory DS of the system. However, it can in principle also be provided in the voice mail system VMS itself. Depending on the distribution of intelligence required for this purpose, the management of this list is performed by the system control itself or by the control unit of the voice mail system VMS. To every address or Identification of a response is immediately stored the number of the subscriber in this list L, which has the original message has been spoken. In the embodiment, therefore, the identifier KREn for the response REn, the phone number RN-En for the terminal En is assigned.

0024The list therefore includes all phone numbers of subscribers for whom a reply has been stored. By way of example, the response of the internal subscriber of the terminal F2 for the internal subscriber of the terminal F1 is shown symbolically. The call number RN-F1 of the terminal F1 is the identifier KRF1 assigned directly as the address of the response in the memory area SB2 of the voice mail system.

0025The possibility of formulating and storing a response to a message creates more freedom for the participants involved. It is no longer necessary to achieve a direct connection between them. A requesting participant receives a targeted response for their specific current needs. This will be transmitted automatically without further use of the participant formulating this reply. For example, employees in a service department can receive a quick response to questions. Also for so-called customer hotlines this results in a significant improvement. When a customer leaves a message for a specific employee, he can expect and receive a response in a short time without repeated calls. This also applies to subscribers of the mobile radio system on the condition that their phone number was transmitted during their original call.

0026One way to obtain such a response is to be at a renewed connection of the z. B. external subscriber at least in those cases where no connection to the again desired by him subscriber is possible to forward him directly to the voice mail system. For this purpose, the list L is checked in response to such a call, whether the full number transmitted in this list is included. If this is true, then the identifier assigned to the stored telephone number or Address information is read out and the memory area containing the relevant response is controlled. The spoken text information contained therein is transmitted automatically over the existing connection. For example, in the case of a renewed call of the subscriber of the external terminal En whose call number RN-En is already stored in the list L, the reply F Rn input by the subscriber Fx is transmitted to him. For calls of other external participants whose phone number is stored in the list L, the respective response to a message is then stored and transmitted in a corresponding manner. As can be seen from the figure, such a transmission can also take place when a call is made by an internal subscriber. This is indicated for the response RF1 of the internal subscriber F2 for the internal subscriber F1.

0027In principle, at least the external subscriber could also be connected to the speech system if he does not re-dial the desired original internal subscriber, but any other internal subscriber. If every incoming connection is checked to see whether the transferred number is contained in the list L, then the connection to the voice mail system can first be made in the event of a positive test result. The relevant external subscriber then receives the reply stored for him. Thereafter, the connection then takes place to the terminal device desired by him.

0028Another possibility of transmitting a stored response is that the system itself automatically establishes a connection to the subscriber for whom this reply is contained in the voice mail system. This is determined programmatically by the corresponding configuration parameters. The call number stored in connection with such a reply is going to be selected. If the relevant subscriber then announces himself, he can be informed by an appropriate announcement that it is a reply to a message which he has previously stored. Then, this stored response is read in accordance with the procedures prescribed for the voice mail system and transmitted via this established connection to the relevant participants. The decision as to when such a connection is made automatically by the system is controlled by the system itself. For example, this could be based on certain time criteria. This means that such a connection is established on the basis of, for example, stored in the list L phone numbers and is repeated after certain timings, if a connection is initially unsuccessful. If a connection z made, at least the relevant entry in the list could be deleted. The deletion of the actual response, which is stored in the speech memory system in the memory area SB2 in each case, could be carried out by the participant who has created this response itself. This can be done by a given procedure. By the time this occurs, the participant concerned has the opportunity to prove a given response in case of doubt.

0029The automatic connection establishment made by the system to subscribers for whom there is a reply in the voice mail system could also be made on the basis of a priority list PL stored according to certain aspects. This list could, for example, be created on the basis of the additional numbers transmitted with the individual messages on the basis of the chronological order of the calls. The automatic connection setup for the transmission of the stored response would then according to the principle <img file="EP0897239A2_D0002.tif" />In principle, incoming calls that result in a message being stored in the voice mail system could also be sorted according to their underlying meaning with regard to their transmitted numbers and stored according to the list be treated as a priority for the transmission of a stored response.