Private branch exchange (PBX) system, private branch exchange, and method of communication using the same PBX system

• US 6,788,778 B2
• Filed: 11/20/2001
• Issued: 09/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Tatsumi, Yukichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Matar, Ahmad F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Quynh H.
• Application Number:
  US09/988,599
• Publication Number:
  US 20020064275A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,022 Days
• Field of Search: 379/142.06, 379/231, 379/232, 379/233, 379/234
• US Class Current: 379/234
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/46 Arrangements for calling a number of substations in a predetermined sequence until an answer is obtained
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/465 Arrangements for simultaneously calling a number of substations until an answer is obtained
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5166 in combination with interactive voice response systems or voice portals, e.g. as front-ends
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13072 Sequence circuits for call signaling, ACD systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13091 CLI, identification of calling line
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13096 Digital apparatus individually associated with a subscriber line, digital line circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13106 Microprocessor, CPU
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13109 Initializing, personal profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13141 Hunting for free outlet, circuit or channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1322 PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1328 Call transfer, e.g. in PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13299 Bus
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1334 Configuration within the switch
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13377 Recorded announcement
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13405 Dual frequency signaling, DTMF
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/625 Arrangements in the private branch exchange

Abstract

A private branch exchange (PBX) system includes plural extension telephones divided into extension groups, and a PBX which sends information about one of the extension group to a caller. Plural extension interfaces (I/Fs) coupling the extension telephones to the PBX are divided into groups. The PBX calls each of the extension telephones coupled to all the extension I/Fs of the extension groups corresponding to a call-in signal. In the PBX, a memory stores text data about the extension groups. A controller sends the text data about the extension group to a caller'"'"'s telephone responsive to the call-in signal. The information can be thus displayed on an extension telephone or an outside-line telephone of the caller.

Claims

1. A private branch exchange (PBX) system comprising:

(a) an extension telephone; and

(b) a PBX including;

(b-1) a group number memory for storing an extension number of said extension telephone and a group number corresponding to the extension number;

(b-2) a group number detector for detecting the group number corresponding to a call-in signal;

(b-3) a request-signal generator for sending an arrival-request signal to an extension telephone having an extension number corresponding to the group number detected,

(c) a memory for storing text data corresponding to the group member; and

(d) a transmitter for transmitting information saved in said group number memory to a telephone, which has sent the call signal, when said group number detector detects the group number,

wherein when said extension telephone receives the request signal, said extension telephone indicates the receipt of the request signal.

2. The PBX system of claim 1, wherein the text data includes at least one of a telephone number and a group name.

7. The PBX system of claim 1, wherein when a caller is on an outside-line telephone, said PBX sends the text data to the outside-line telephone.

8. The PBX system of claim 7, wherein text data, for an outside-line, stored in said memory is sent to the outside-line telephone as the text data as defined in claim 7.

9. The PBX system of claim 7 or 8, wherein the text data includes at least one of a telephone number and a group name.

10. The PBX system of claim 1, further comprising:

a second memory for storing voice information;

wherein said PBX sends a voice signal from said second memory to a caller when no answer comes from the extension telephone within a given time after said PBX receives the call-in signal.

3. A private branch exchange (PBX) comprising:

(a) a group number memory for storing an extension number and a group number of a group, to which the extension number belongs, associated with the extension number;

(b) a group number detector for detecting the group number corresponding to a call-in signal;

(c) a first memory for storing text data regarding the extension group; and

(d) a controller for controlling said PBX, so that the text data is sent to a caller when the call-in signal to the extension group is received.

4. The PBX of claim 3 further comprising:

(e) a determiner for determining whether or not the call-in signal comes through an outside-line,

wherein said first memory stores text data for an outside-line, and transmits the text data for the outside-line to the outside-line when said determiner determines that the call-in signal comes through the outside-line.

5. The PBX of claim 3 or 4, wherein the text data saved in said first memory includes at least one of a telephone number and a group name.

6. The PBX of claim 3 further comprising:

(f) a second memory for storing voice information,

wherein said PBX sends the voice information to the caller when no answer comes from the extension telephone within a given time after the extension telephone receives the call-in signal.

11. A private branch exchange (PBX) system comprising:

(a) a PBX, including an outside-line interface (I/F) and a plurality of extension I/Fs, for setting a call-in group which includes a plurality of extensions; and

(b) an extension telephone coupled to the plurality of extension I/Fs and including;

(b-1) a plurality of function buttons where functions can be assigned;

(b-2) indicators corresponding to respective said plurality of function buttons, wherein the call-in group is set to one of said function buttons,

when a call-in arrives at the call-in group, the extension telephone belonging to the call-in group indicates the call-in arrival at one of said indicators of one of said function buttons, the one button (group button) being associated with the call-in group,

at least one of a telephone number and a name of the call-in group is sent to a caller,

when a call is placed to one of said extension and an outside-line by depressing the group button, at least one of the telephone number and the name of the call-in group is sent to the caller.

12. The PBX system of claim 11, wherein said PBX further includes

(a-1) a call-in group memory for storing extensions assigned to respective said extension I/Fs, the extensions being divided into groups for storage; and

(a-2) a call destination memory for storing a destination corresponding to the call-in to each of said outside-line I/Fs,

wherein when the call-in arrives at the call-in group, said PBX processes the call-in addressed to an extension stored in said call-in group memory.

13. The PBX system of claim 11, wherein said call-in group memory stores extensions, a direct-dialing number and a name of a group for each of the call-in groups with those data correlated with each other.

14. The PBX system of claim 11, wherein when a call-in arrives at the call-in group, (i) the indicator corresponding to the group button turns on in a first color, and (ii) when an extension telephone belonging to the call-in group catches the call-in, the indicator of the group button turns on in a second color, and other indicators corresponding to the group buttons of the extension telephones other than the extension telephone catching the call-in are turned off.

15. The PBX system of claim 11, wherein when a call is placed from said extension telephone, said indicator of said extension telephone is turned on by operating the group button, and extension telephones belonging to the call-in group and other than said extension telephone turn off indicators corresponding to group buttons of these other extension telephones, and these other extension telephones can be used as an extension telephone.

18. The PBX system of claim 12, wherein

said extension telephone includes indicating means for informing a user of a usage status of the function buttons.

19. The PBX system of claim 18, wherein

when the call-in arrives at the call-in group, each of extension numbers assigned to group numbers of the call-in group, a direct-dialing number and a name of the call-in group are retrieved from said call destination memory, and a call-in arrival is indicated on each of the extensions, then at least one of the direct-dialing number and the name of the call-in group is sent to a caller.

20. The PBX system of claim 11, wherein said extension telephone further includes indicating means corresponding to said function buttons, and

said PBX further includes numbers of said plurality of function buttons of said extension telephone and an extension-function-button memory for storing the numbers associated with the functions of said function buttons.

21. The PBX system of claim 20, wherein a group call-in processor activates said indicating means to indicate the call-in arrival only when the call-in arrives at the call-in group, and when said extension telephone belonging to the call-in group catches the call-in, the processor controls said indicating means to finish the indication of the call-in arrival.

22. The PBX system of claim 20 or 21, wherein said extension function button memory can be set to respective said plurality of extension I/Fs.

16. A method of communication using a private branch exchange (PBX) system which comprises (i) a PBX in which a plurality of call-in groups having a plurality of extension telephones can be set, (ii) a plurality of function buttons in which functions can be registered, and (iii) an extension telephone having indicators corresponding to said plurality of function buttons, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) in the extension telephone, sending an instruction of placing a call from a group in response to a detection of depressing a function button (group button) associated with the call-in group;

(b) in the PBX, receiving the instruction of placing the call from the group;

(c) in the PBX, detecting a destination telephone number which is input from the extension telephone;

(d) investigating whether or not the destination belongs to an extension line or an outside-line; and

(e) sending information including a direct-dialing number of the call-in group as a caller'"'"'s information to the destination on the outside-line when the destination belongs to the outside-line, and sending information including a group name to the destination on the extension line when the destination belongs to the extension line.

17. The method of communication of claim 16, wherein

when the group buttons for one call-in group are set to one of said plurality of extension telephones, the group buttons work in an interrelated manner only when a call-in arrives at the one call-in group, and when one of the group buttons is depressed at the call-in arrival, information including the telephone number and the name of the group is sent to the caller.