Telephone exchange system, telephone exchanger, and incoming call switching method

A telephone exchange, comprising:

• a proxy response unit to allow a predetermined number to be set as a proxy response destination based on information set in advance, and to forwarding an incoming telephone call to the predetermined number to a telephone terminal or a number associated with the proxy response destination as a proxy response source;
• a sliding-forwarding unit to forward, based on information set in advance, a call corresponding to the incoming telephone call to different telephone terminals or numbers in a predetermined order with a lapse of time;
• a forwarding unit to automatically forward the call corresponding to the incoming telephone call to the telephone terminal or the telephone number serving as the proxy response source to the telephone terminal or the telephone number based on a forwarding setting set by a proxy responder;
• and
• a switching unit, operable in a set environment wherein a proxy response function and a sliding forwarding function are operated for each incoming telephone call to process an incoming telephone call directed to a predetermined proxy response destination,
• wherein said control unit is operable to respond to a proxy response for said predetermined proxy response destination, to refer to a forwarding setting set up to a top-priority telephone terminal or a top-priority telephone number within the sliding-forwarding function in response to the above-mentioned proxy response, and to conduct exchange control of an incoming telephone call by directly connecting the incoming telephone call to the proxy response destination without carrying out the sliding-forwarding function, when a call source of the incoming telephone call is matched with the top-priority telephone terminal or the top-priority telephone number.

An incoming call switching method, comprising a control unit which is used in a telephone exchange system for an incoming telephone call and in which both a proxy response function and a sliding-forwarding function are in operation,

• comprising:
• identifying an incoming call;
• determining whether or not a forwarding setting is made to a terminal or telephone number which receives a proxy response concerned with the incoming call;
• identifying whether or not the terminal or the telephone number is directed to a proxy response destination when the incoming call is from the top-priority telephone terminal or the top-priority telephone number set up for the forwarding setting;
• and
• performing exchange control for directly connecting the incoming call to the proxy response destination without carrying out any sliding-forwarding, when the top-priority telephone terminal or the top-priority telephone number call is identified as being directed to the proxy response destination.