TELEPHONE LINE SWITCHING APPARATUS, TELEPHONE LINE SWITCHING SYSTEM, TELPHONE RELAY SYSTEM, TELEPHONE RELAY METHOD, TELEPHONE RELAY PROGRAM

• US 20070121605A1
• Filed: 10/31/2006
• Published: 05/31/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Mizukoshi, Yasuhiro
• Granted Patent: US 8,630,254 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/356
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42255 with the subscriber having a personal network-independent number
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13034 A/D conversion, code compression/expansion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13097 Numbering, addressing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13098 Mobile subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13141 Hunting for free outlet, circuit or channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13176 Common channel signaling, CCS7
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13196 Connection circuit/link/trunk/junction, bridge, router, gateway
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13204 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13348 Channel/line reservation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 LAN, internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/76 Translation from the called subscriber's number to the outgoing or incoming control information

Abstract

A telephone relay system enabling a terminal having multiple telephone numbers to originate and receive calls same as a terminal having only one telephone number is provided. When a connection management unit of an agent device receives a call request from a terminal device, it activates a terminal calling unit while designating a current telephone number and also activates a counterpart calling unit to establish a terminal-side connection between the current telephone number of the terminal device and the agent device and a counterpart-side connection between the agent device and the counterpart terminal. When an incoming call from the counterpart terminal arrives, the connection management unit establishes a counterpart-side connection corresponding to the incoming call, and activates the terminal calling unit while designating the current telephone number to establish a terminal-side connection. A communication relay unit relays the call by using the two connections established by the connection management unit.

Claims

1. A telephone line switching apparatus incorporated in a telephone relay system performing a relay between a terminal device, to which terminal telephone numbers are allocated corresponding to a plurality of telephone lines, and a counterpart terminal, the device comprising:

an agent device for switching a telephone line, wherein

the terminal device, to be line-connected with the counterpart terminal by using a different telephone number, includes a management block which transmits a control instruction of a line connection to the agent device, and

the agent device establishes a line connection between the terminal device and the counterpart terminal by using a telephone number common to telephone numbers allocated corresponding to the plurality of telephone lines, based on the control instruction transmitted from the management block.

2. The telephone line switching apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein when the agent device receives a control instruction of a line connection transmitted from the management block, the agent device controls a call origination of the terminal device by using a telephone number currently used by the terminal device, and also controls a call origination of the counterpart terminal by using the common telephone number.

3. The telephone line switching apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein when the agent device receives a call with the common telephone number from the counterpart terminal, the agent device controls the call of the terminal device by using a telephone number currently used by the terminal device instead of the common telephone number.

4. The telephone line switching apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein when a control instruction to change a telephone line to which the terminal device is line-connected is transmitted from the management block, the agent device controls a call of the terminal device by using another telephone number.

5. The telephone line switching apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the agent device has a function of transferring a connection destination to a line to which the terminal device is able to connect.

6. The telephone line switching apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the agent device comprises:

a telephone number obtainment unit for obtaining a current telephone number, which is a telephone number currently used by the terminal device, among the terminal telephone numbers;

a terminal calling unit for calling the terminal device with one of the terminal telephone numbers as a call destination to thereby establish a terminal-side connection between the agent device and the terminal device;

a call counterpart calling unit for calling the counterpart terminal with a counterpart telephone number which is a telephone number allocated to the counterpart terminal being set as a destination and a common telephone number allocated to the terminal device being set as an originator to thereby establish a counterpart-side connection between the agent device and the counterpart terminal;

a call origination unit which operates when receiving a connection request from the terminal device to thereby activate the terminal calling unit while designating the current telephone number, and activate the call counterpart calling unit;

an incoming call handling unit which operates when an incoming call arrives at the common telephone number to thereby establish the counterpart-side connection responding to the incoming call, and activate the terminal calling unit while designating the current telephone number; and

a relay unit for relaying a call between the terminal device and the counterpart terminal by transmitting data, received via one of the terminal-side connection and the counterpart-side connection, via the other connection.

7. The telephone line switching apparatus, as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a line switching unit which operates when receiving a line switch request, from the terminal device making a call with the counterpart terminal, for switching a line used for the call to a line corresponding to a switching telephone number which is one of the terminal telephone numbers other than the current telephone number, to thereby activate the terminal calling unit while designating the switching telephone number, and disconnect a connection using the line corresponding to the current telephone number.

8. The telephone line switching apparatus, as claimed in claim 6, wherein the telephone number obtainment unit obtains the current telephone number from a call arrival notification from the terminal device arrived at the agent device.

9. The telephone line switching apparatus, as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a database access unit for accessing a telephone number database storing the common telephone number and the current telephone number by associating them with each other, wherein

the telephone number obtainment unit obtains the current telephone number associated with the common telephone number by searching the telephone number database by using the common telephone number included in the connection request or the line switch request as a key.

10. The telephone line switching apparatus, as claimed in claim 6, wherein the common telephone number is a telephone number previously selected from the terminal telephone numbers.

11. The telephone switching apparatus, as claimed in claim 6, wherein in the telephone number database, a transfer destination telephone number allocated to a telephone device other than the terminal device is registered previously while being associated with the common telephone number, and

if the current telephone number is different from the common telephone number, the terminal-side calling unit performs calling such that the transfer destination telephone number is a call destination.

12. A telephone relay system comprising:

a terminal device, capable of connecting to a plurality of communication lines, to which a terminal telephone number is allocated for each of the communication lines;

a counterpart terminal making a call with the terminal device over one of the plurality of communication lines; and

an agent device, capable of connecting to one of the plurality of communication lines, for mediating the call between the terminal device and the counterpart terminal, wherein

a common telephone number is allocated to the terminal device, and

the agent device includes;

a telephone number obtainment unit for obtaining a current telephone number, which is a telephone number currently used by the terminal device, among the terminal telephone numbers;

a terminal calling unit for calling the terminal device with one of the terminal telephone numbers as a call destination to establish a terminal-side connection between the agent device and the terminal device;

a call counterpart calling unit for calling the counterpart terminal with a counterpart telephone number which is a telephone number allocated to the counterpart terminal being set as a destination and a common telephone number allocated to the terminal device being set as an originator to thereby establish a counterpart-side connection between the agent device and the counterpart terminal;

a call origination unit which operates when receiving a connection request from the terminal device to thereby activate the terminal calling unit while designating the current telephone number, and activate the call counterpart calling unit;

an incoming call handling unit which operates when an incoming call arrives at the common telephone number to thereby establish the counterpart-side connection responding to the incoming call, and activate the terminal calling unit while designating the current telephone number; and

a relay unit for relaying a call between the terminal device and the counterpart terminal by transmitting data, received via one of the terminal-side connection and the counterpart-side connection, via the other connection.

13. The telephone relay system, as claimed in claim 12, wherein the terminal device includes a line switching request transmission unit for transmitting a line switch request, to the agent device during a call with the counterpart terminal, for switching a line used for the call to a line corresponding to a switching telephone number which is one of the terminal telephone numbers other than the current telephone number, and

the agent device includes a line switching unit which operates when receiving the line switch request to activate the terminal calling unit while designating the switching telephone number and also disconnect a connection using the line corresponding to the current telephone number.

14. The telephone relay system, as claimed in claim 12, wherein the telephone number obtainment unit obtains the current telephone number from a call arrival notification from the terminal device arrived at the agent device.

15. The telephone relay system, as claimed in claim 12, wherein the line switching request transmission unit transmits the current telephone number by a tone signal of a line switching network used for the terminal-side connection.

16. The telephone relay system, as claimed in claim 12, further comprising a telephone number database for storing the common telephone number and the current telephone number while associating them with each other, wherein

the agent device includes a database access unit for accessing the telephone number database, and

the telephone number obtainment unit obtains the current telephone number associated with the common telephone number by searching the telephone number database by using the common telephone number included in the connection request or the line switch request as a key.

17. The telephone relay system, as claimed in claim 12, wherein the common telephone number is a telephone number previously selected from the terminal telephone numbers.

18. The telephone relay system, as claimed in claim 16, wherein in the telephone number database, a transfer destination telephone number allocated to a telephone device other than the terminal device is registered previously while being associated with the common telephone number, and

if the current telephone number is different from the common telephone number, the terminal-side calling unit originates a call while setting the transfer destination telephone number as a call destination.

19. A telephone relay method for relaying a call by an agent device between a terminal device capable of connecting to a plurality of communication lines, to which a plurality of terminal telephone numbers are allocated for the communication lines respectively, and a counterpart terminal making a call with the terminal device over one of the communication lines, comprising the steps of:

obtaining a current telephone number, which is a telephone number currently used by the terminal device, among a common telephone number and the terminal telephone numbers allocated to the terminal device;

calling the terminal device with the current telephone number being set as a call destination, operated when the agent device receives a connection request from the terminal device, to establish a terminal-side connection between the agent device and the terminal device, and also calling the counterpart terminal with a counterpart telephone number which is a telephone number allocated to the counterpart terminal being set as a call destination and the common telephone number being set as an originator to establish a counterpart-side connection between the agent device and the counterpart terminal;

handling an incoming call, operated when an incoming call arrivals at the common telephone number from the counterpart terminal, to establish the counterpart-side connection by responding to the incoming call, and calling the terminal device with the current number being set as a call destination to establish a terminal-side connection between the agent device and the terminal device; and

relaying a call between the terminal device and the counterpart terminal by transmitting data, received via one of the terminal-side connection and the counterpart-side connection, via another connection by the agent device.

20. The telephone relay method, as claimed in claim 19, further comprising a step of switching a line, operated when the agent device receives a request, from the terminal device during a call with the counterpart terminal, for switching a line used for the call to a line corresponding to a switching telephone number which is one of the terminal telephone numbers other than the current telephone number after performing the step of relaying, to activate the terminal calling unit while designating the switching telephone number and disconnect a connection using the line corresponding to the current telephone number.

21. A telephone relay program for relaying, by an agent device, a call between a terminal device capable of connecting to a plurality of communication lines, to which a plurality of terminal telephone numbers are allocated for the communication lines respectively, and a counterpart terminal making a call with the terminal device over one of the plurality of communication lines, the program causing a computer to execute the functions of:

obtaining a current telephone number, which is a telephone number currently used by the terminal device, among a common telephone number and the terminal telephone numbers allocated to the terminal device;

calling the terminal device with the current telephone number being set as a call destination, operated when the agent device receives a connection request from the terminal device, to establish a terminal-side connection between the agent device and the terminal device, and also calling the counterpart terminal with a counterpart telephone number which is a telephone number allocated to the counterpart terminal being set as a call destination and the common telephone number being set as an originator to establish a counterpart-side connection between the agent device and the counterpart terminal;

handling an incoming call, operated when an incoming call arrivals at the common telephone number from the counterpart terminal, to establish the counterpart-side connection responding to the incoming call, and calling the terminal device with the current telephone number being a call destination to establish a terminal-side connection between the agent device and the terminal device; and

relaying a call between the terminal device and the counterpart terminal by transmitting data, received via one of the terminal-side connection and the counterpart-side connection, via another connection by the agent device.

22. The telephone relay program, as claimed in claim 21, the program further causing the computer to execute a function of switching a line, operated when the agent device receives a request from the terminal device during a call with the counterpart terminal for switching a line used for the call to a line corresponding to a switching telephone number which is one of the terminal telephone numbers other than the current telephone number after performing the step of relaying, to activate the terminal calling unit while designating the switching telephone number, and disconnect a connection using the line corresponding to the current telephone number.