DE19639891A1 - Information distribution arrangement for telephone network subscribers - Google Patents

Abstract

The arrangement stores messages, for transmission, in a memory (SP) linked to a selector (SEL) of a particular circle of subscribers, with an associated liquid crystal display (DP). The messages are stored on audio tape and forwarded by a transmitter (SV) at set times (ZS), through a link establishment device (VA), to the exchange interface (AA). Once recorded, the messages can be sent, without further action on the part of the originator, to the selected group of subscribers. The recipients require only access to a simple telephone, without special additional equipment.

Description

The invention relates to an arrangement for distributing In formations, e.g. B. spoken messages, to a distributor group of subscribers in a telephone network.

In a modern society, fast and be Queme distribution of news and information of all kinds a central role. The global telephone network poses mainly because of its high distribution rate one of the most important communication systems.

Usually the telephone network is used to bidi directional speech connection between two participants put. Conference calls are also possible at of more than just two participants at the same time get connected. The possible number of conference participants is usually narrowly limited.

When it comes to information an entire distribution group To report from several participants shows a message transmission over the phone a number of disadvantages. So all recipients have to be selected one after the other for and for each of them the message must come again be fetched. This results in small distributors revolve around a considerable amount of time, which increases even further if one or more recipients at the time of the attempted connection establishment are not reachable, so that call again later becomes.

It would therefore be desirable to have information such distribution group of subscribers in a telephone  network while avoiding the above Disadvantages come automatically allow. For example, a seller could do this its latest in a short time Send offers or a hotel information to its guests provide. Likewise, z. B. broadcasts in egg a conceivable application for a company or association case.

EP 0 529 343 A2 describes a "process for producing a Connection between one to a communication system closed communication terminal with a plurality of other devices ". This is a Ver drive to prepare one from a sending terminal outgoing collective announcement to a group of other end devices, these terminals being ready to receive brings their speakers to be turned on. On the sending Terminal is then a receipt, z. B. in the form of a Beeps when all free devices in the group are in Have been brought ready to receive. With that are collecting announcements possible where the verse the information Ending participants - hereinafter referred to as "senders" - at the same time a message to a plurality of terminals can transmit.

A disadvantage of this method, however, is that the information mation transfer not successful in the absence of the sender and only those at the time of the announcement accessible participants who can receive information.

It is therefore an object of the invention an arrangement for distribution Distribution of information to a distribution group of participants to specify in a telephone network in which the above Disadvantages are avoided.  

The problem is solved by one of the features of the patent Proverb 1 having arrangement for the distribution of informa to a distribution group of participants in a remote location network.

The arrangement has a storage device in who initially saved the information to be transmitted chert, and a device for selecting a distributor circle in the telephone network. It also includes a broadcast Direction for automatically sending the in the memory device stored information on the telephone network the participants belonging to the selected distribution group.

The storage device can, for. B. a digital memory cher or a tape. If the distribution circuit is fixed is the distribution of the stored information automatically and without further involvement of the sender gen. The arrangement according to the invention provides with everyone of the selected subscribers via the telephone network binding and transmits the stored information. It is also an advantage that the receiver only over a normal telephone device, so a simple Te must have telephone. Special accessories are not he conducive.

Advantageous further developments of the invention are Ge subject of the subclaims.

Thus, the arrangement according to the invention - according to claim 2 - in addition to the storage device itself, also a recording device direction to record, d. H. Inclusion of information in the storage device included. So that with the arrangement not just a sending of (e.g. to information on a tape or CD) such information can also be recorded. If the arrangement according to the invention, for example, with a Combined phone, so can acoustic information with  Helped by the handset or possibly a hands-free device be drawn.

It is also advantageous - claim 3 - if the arrangement via a device for outputting data which is connected to the Distribution of information related (e.g. a display device or a printer). At for example, it could indicate which recipients the information already stored in the distribution circuit could be successfully transmitted. Especially if it is the device for outputting data by one display device, it can also be used advantageously be to user input, e.g. B. when determining a Ver divider circles, visual and so the user a Giving control over his inputs.

It can also be useful - Claim 4 - if the An order has a data store. In it participants can of the telephone network with their phone numbers and / or previously defined groups of participants are stored and if necessary in / as distribution circles for sending assigned information. You can also information that can be sent is stored therein and required for Shipping to a selected distribution group accepted can be. This eliminates the time-consuming manual Entering phone numbers or the like when choosing a distributor circle and more frequently required distribution circles and informa tions can be activated directly for sending.

The scope of the invention is extended if - According to claim 5 - those stored in the storage device Information from several sections of information, e.g. B. from there are mutually independent messages referenced adorned and each with its own distribution circuit can be set.  

It is advantageous if - according to claim 6 - for everyone Information section one or more transmission times te can be determined and the timing of sending the individual sections of information on the respectively selected Distribution circuit triggered at the respective broadcast times becomes. This allows messages such. B. even in the absence of Shipper can be dropped off at the desired time. In one embodiment of the invention - claim 7 - is the arrangement integrated in a telephone terminal. Thereby a compact and space-saving design can be confused chen. The operation and control of the invention In this case, the order will be made accordingly extended user interface of the telephone device, e.g. B. a telephone keypad.

According to another embodiment of the invention - to saying 8 - is the arrangement according to the invention, for. B. via a Interface, combined with a computer through which it is at least partially controlled. Also a direct inte gration of the arrangement according to the invention in a computer, e.g. B. as an additional card in a personal computer is conceivable. In both cases there is a whole range of Advantages. The input mechanism for controlling the arrangement and for the selection of distribution circuits z. B. by graphi and simple user interfaces on the computer screen be designed comfortably. Likewise, a comfortable approach show status information, d. H. from with the distribution of the information related data possible. In addition, he can information or news databases provides and links to existing databases be knotted. It is also possible in terms of electronics The telephone number of subscribers in the distance network and various distribution circles as a whole Organize databases. When sending a message then only the message itself and one already in the Database defined distribution group, possibly also with  With the help of search algorithms. The tedious and there is no need for time-consuming entry of multiple numbers.

Especially when using information or after judicial databases it is useful - Claim 9 -, if the computer's memory is shared, at least Parts of the information and data to be stored are increasing men. An additional storage device outside the Com This means that puters can be small in size and cost will be kept or even dropped.

Details of the invention are described below using a Exemplary embodiment with reference to drawings explained.

It shows

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing schematically the structure and the function of an inventive arrangement of the distribution information to a distribution circuit in a telephone network;

Fig. 2 shows an advantageous embodiment of the arrangement according to the invention, in which a telephone terminal is combined with a computer;

3 shows in a Table an example of the selection of feeder circuits.

Fig. 4 in a table an example of a status report.

The invention is based on the interaction of various functional units, which are shown in Fig. 1 in a block diagram. In the arrangement AVI shown for distributing information to a distribution circuit in a telephony network, a distinction can be made between absolutely necessary core functions (thickly outlined) and optional functional units. At the core of the invention are a storage device SP for storing (acoustic) information (e.g. a tape), a device VA for making connections in the telephone network, an interface (exchange line) AA to the telephone network, a device SEL for selecting one Distribution circuit in the telephone network and a transmission device SV, which sends the information stored in the storage device SP with the aid of the device VA for establishing a connection via the interface AA to the subscribers of the distribution circuit selected by means of the selection device SEL. This basic configuration of the AVI arrangement can be expanded to increase performance and ease of use:

In particular if new information in the form of spoken messages is to be sent frequently, it is expedient to provide a recording device REC for recording acoustic information in the storage device. A display device DP, e.g. B. an LC display, he facilitated by appropriate displays on the one hand the selection and definition of distribution circuits with the help of the SEL selection device and on the other hand enables the output of the distribution of information-related data, for. B. in the form of a status report (see Fig. 4). Optional is also a connection of the selection device SEL to a data memory DB, in which, for. B. repeatedly required messages and subscriber directories are filed and administrated. If necessary, messages can be called up quickly, easily and without lengthy recording or input procedures, new groups of participants can be defined or already defined distribution groups can be adopted. In addition, the arrangement AVI can be equipped with a time control ZS, which enables it to transmit stored messages to the recipient automatically at a freely selectable transmission time, ie even in the absence of the sender. This is e.g. B. useful Lich if the sender and the recipient (s) are in different time zones that have a clear time shift to each other.

In Fig. 2, a special embodiment of the invention is shown, in which a telephone device (telephone) TE egg nes telephone network is combined with a computer PC. The telephone device TE is connected to the telephone network via an outside line AA. A connection between the telephony terminal TE and the computer PC for the exchange of data and control signals takes place via an interface IF. The selection of distribution circuits for the transmission of information or messages is done via a convenient, for. B. mouse-controlled, graphical user interface BO on the computer PC. Recording acoustic information, e.g. B. spoken chener messages takes place via the handset HA of the telephone. Alternatively, an external microphone can also be used, which can be connected to the computer or telephone via a corresponding interface. Depending on the configuration of the arrangement, the message is stored either in a memory device belonging to the telephone or in the memory of the computer or in a storage medium connected to it (e.g. hard disk, floppy disk, etc.). After a message has been recorded and a distribution group has been defined for this, the message is sent automatically at the specified time of transmission, the computer PC both controlling the dialing of the telephone number and transmitting the message to the recipient by appropriately controlling the telephone via the interface IF takes over.

In Fig. 3 an example of the selection of a distribution circle is shown in a table. A corresponding table could be part of the user interface BO on the computer PC, for example. Each row in the table corresponds to a send job. In the successive columns, a counting index, the phone number and the name of the recipient, a sending time including the sending date and a reference to the message to be sent are entered. In the last column WW (redial), you can also specify whether a message should be sent again at a later time if the recipient cannot be reached at the specified sending time.

In the example, the participants Mueller and Huber are supposed to same message - No. 1 - received, but different Times. Participants Johnson and Maier are each said to other messages - No. 5 or No. 2 - each with its own Broadcast times. The message is sent to the Participant Maier is a permanent message, i.e. H. an after that remains active after the transfer. The year is not specified as the time of transmission, so that this message is sent again every year. It could a memory of a Ge, for example act birthday or similar. Analog messages can be analog e.g. B. can also be sent daily or monthly.

In FIG. 4, a status report is shown that the user can access via the user interface BO. The status report represents, for example, an extension of the table shown in FIG. 3 for selecting a distribution group. In additional columns, a send status and, if appropriate, the date and time of the processing actually carried out, ie the sending of the message, are output for each send order. In the example, orders 1 and 3 have already been successfully processed. Order no. 2 could not be processed successfully despite the expiry of the send date, as the recipient could not be reached by phone at this time. However, redial WW is activated so that the message is sent to the recipient at a later time. This time is either set automatically (e.g. sending every hour) or can be defined by the user. For the fourth order in the table (to the participant Maier), the sending time in the current year has not yet expired (the current date is, for example, January 20, 1996) and the order is therefore still on hold.

Claims (9)

1. Arrangement (AVI) for distributing information to a distribution group of subscribers in a telephone network

• - a storage device (SP)
• - a device (VA) for establishing connections in the telephone network,
• - an interface (AA) to the telephone network,
• - A device (SEL) for selecting a distribution circuit in the telephone network, and
• - A sending device (SV) for sending the stored in the storage device (SP) information on the telephony network to the selected distribution group belong to the participants.

2. Arrangement according to claim 1, marked by a recording device (REC) for recording informa tion in the storage device (SP). 3. Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, marked by a device (DP) for issuing with the distribution of Information related data.   4. Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by an additional data memory (DB), in which

• - Phone numbers of subscribers in the telephone network can be entered and, if necessary, can be used to determine a distribution group for sending assigned information; and or
• - Already defined subscriber groups can be saved and, if necessary, can be adopted as distribution groups for sending assigned information.

5. Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized, that in the storage device (SP) is set up that the information stored in it from several informa tion sections exist, which can be sent individually and for which a separate distribution group can be defined. 6. Arrangement according to claim 5, characterized, that a time control (ZS) is provided so that for everyone Information section one or more transmission times te can be determined and sending with the time control (ZS) of the individual sections of information on each chose distribution group at the respective broadcast times is triggered. 7. Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized, that the arrangement (AVI) in a subscriber terminal one Telephone network is integrated.   8. Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized, that the arrangement (AVI) combined with a computer (PC) over which it is controlled at least in part. 9. Arrangement according to claim 8, characterized, that the memory of the computer (PC) is used to at least least parts of the information and data to be stored increase.