CN101433027A - A VOIP communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

An Internet-based system provides substantially instantaneous communication between two devices for exchanging voice and multimedia signals. The system includes ISP gateways with unique IDs that service a plurality of devices with unique telephone numbers. The system further includes a directory which correlates the devices with ISP gateways. More specifically, the directory includes a RELATIVE records/words/cells in a RANDOM ACCESS TABLE (RRAT) with each entry being identified by a record number, which in this case corresponds to the telephone numbers (as they are or in reverse). The entry relates directly or indirectly the telephone number with the respective ISP gateway. Communication is established by having the ISP gateway of the calling device looking up the ISP gateway of the called device in the directory using the telephone number of the called device. The ISP gateway then generates a handle for the called ISP and uses the handle to establish a communication channel between two devices quickly and efficiently.

Description

A kind of VOIP communication system

Relevant application: do not have

Background of the present invention

A. the field under the present invention

The present invention relates to provides VOIP (internet voice transfer protocol) system of telephone communication by the Internet.More particularly, a kind of system and method that describes below can be used to provide high efficiency VOIP communication between a plurality of different ISPs (ISP service provider).

B. prior art

Whole or part provides phone (with video) to communicate by letter by the Internet, and benefit is a lot.Increasing mechanism's (comprising big small enterprise, nonprofit organization, mechanism of governments at all levels) and individual are connected into the Internet, and wherein great majority adopt broadband connection, and its bandwidth ratio dial mode is much bigger.It is also more prevalent to get online without being tethered to a cable, and a kind of effective way is provided Replace or additional at least cellular mobile communication.Another benefit is that at least present, the suffered supervision restriction of internet communication does not have black phone so strict.

At present, provide VOIP internet voice and video transmission to serve, various communication common carriers and the company relevant with the Internet are arranged, comprise and manage the professional traditional telephone company of POTS (ordinary old style telephone), and ISP (ISP service provider).The plunder client's of these companies competition is very fierce.

A big obstacle that hinders VOIP communication to enlarge development is, each user distributes a telephone wire by its telephone operator, and the domain name that has a telephone wire with this user to have nothing to do again in addition is used for inserting the Internet.Because at present neither one concentrates on a place, the directory enquiry storehouse that telephone wire and its Internet connection are connected is so ISP service provider can only provide the internet communication of high speed usually for its user.In other words, high speed internet communication can only be carried out between two users of same ISP service provider.In order to connect other users, ISP service provider need set up the mixed communication circuit, for example existing Internet connection, again ordinary telephone line and the switch circuit of (comprising PSTN public switch telephone network and PBX subscriber exchange) is arranged.The U.S. the 6th, 069, No. 890 patents a kind of system that comes to this.Be appreciated that this way than fully with the Internet lines slowly many, expense is also higher.Another kind of way is successively to a series of intermediate router inquiry, until finding till the device under the called phone number provides that router of service by ISP service provider.Certainly, decide on the actual range between those routers, this query script may be very slow.

Another problem that ISP service provider is faced is, they adopt dissimilar equipment and internal agreement separately, even therefore between the user of two different ISP service providers, connected circuit, if but both sides' system is incompatible, still might can't communicate.

In order to overcome these problems, people have proposed all solutions.These ways need be set up huge database mostly, and telephone number and IP address are connected.The U.S. the 6th, 674, No. 745,6,772, No. 210,6,810, No. 034 patent, and sequence number is 2003/0002476,2003/0095542,2004/0081141 patent application, all is some examples that adopt this way.But, a common issue with of these ways is, if database is all included into all users, find the required time of its corresponding IP address will be oversize according to telephone number, their the usual POTS plain old telephone switching system that uses is difficult to obtain the user and accepts, because often just can be connected circuit immediately.

General introduction of the present invention

In brief, the present invention (60) is that a kind of a plurality of ISP service provider that can allow provides the system of voice communication by the Internet, and wherein each ISP service provider provides a gateway that allows multiple communicator insert the Internet.These devices can comprise telephone set, computer, PDA personal digital assistant, and the user is used for inserting voice channel carries out voice communication with other user other usual means.

Simultaneously, this system comprises a central directory, as its component part.The major function of central directory is according to called telephone number, finds out that ISP gateway into the service of the device under this telephone number.Central directory can also be used to storing other data contents, so that provide required information for the voice communication between the different I SP gateway.

Importantly, each listed telephone number of central directory the inside all is as a record, and each clauses and subclauses has a data number.The data of each clauses and subclauses the inside directly or indirectly provide the IP address of its relevant ISP gateway.Such configuration can guarantee when Any user is called out another user no matter which ISP service provider the other side belongs to, and voice channel can both be connected fast and efficiently.

In addition, this system not only can provide voice channel, and multimedia channel can also be provided, and allows the user carry out multimedia communication.

The schematic illustration of accompanying drawing

Fig. 1 is for adopting a VOIP system of prior art, is only limited to the communicating between users in specific ISP service provider oneself;

Fig. 2 can be at the communicating between users of different I SP service provider for adopting another VOIP system of prior art;

Fig. 3 is a VOIP system that makes up according to the present invention;

Fig. 4 is the used database structure of system shown in Figure 1;

Fig. 5 is the operation workflow figure of system shown in Figure 3.

Detailed description of the present invention

Fig. 1 is the schematic diagram that a width of cloth is simplified a little, shows a VOIP system that adopts prior art, and it can only allow user's mutual communication of same ISP service provider.More particularly, in system 10, device the 12, the 14th, the user of ISP 16, installing 22,24 then is the user of ISP 26. Ip router 16A, 16B will install 12,14 access communications networks respectively by ISP 16 controls, be exactly to insert the Internet 50 usually.Equally, ip router 26A, 26B will be installed 22,24 respectively and be inserted the Internet 50 by ISP 26 controls.Two ISP service providers (ISP 16,26) do not know the other side's voice gateways mutually, handle at own network service request in addition so be at a complete loss as to what to do.Therefore, under this configuration, device 12,14 user can only require directly carrying out VOIP communication each other or with other users of ISP 16, but can't carry out this communication with the user 22,24 of ISP 26.Want to connect and communicate by letter with other user's voice, must by the PBX subscriber exchange of outside and (or) POTS plain old telephone switching system (for the sake of clarity, in Fig. 1, not drawing). Device 12,14 can be computed table, kneetop computer, PDA personal digital assistant, and other can be provided with the polytype service that the is used to provide device of (comprising audio frequency and video communication).

System shown in Figure 2 improves to some extent than the system of Fig. 1.In the 10A of this system, ip router 16A, 16B are connected respectively to a data stocking system, as data server 18A, 18B.Equally, ip router 26A, 26B are connected to data server 28A, 28B.Data server 18A, 18B, 28A, 28B respectively have a general data storehouse, and storing up between ISP of service provider 16 and ISP 26 provides voice communication required information.In the 10A of system, when the customer requirements of operative installations 12 carried out voice communication with the user of ISP 26, ip router 16A will require to the relevant information of server 18A inquiry.There are each user's telephone number and corresponding URL address and communication protocol on the server.Server 18A searches for its all clauses and subclauses, until finding called telephone number, passes back to ip router 16A with the information that is about to how communicate with this user.Ip router 16A with ip router 26A contact, with suitable communication protocol, connects a voice communication line subsequently, carries out voice communication with supplying apparatus 12 and 22.When the user 22 or 24 of ISP 26 phones other people in the time of (comprising user 12,14), also be through similar program.A problem of this way is, receives the conversation requirement at every turn, and server 18A, 18B and 28A, 28B will search called phone one by one.Certainly, also need all users all to register, deposit their information in server, otherwise this system can't play a role.Actual uplink is obstructed because the potential user of this system has several hundred million more than, and access server finds correct information will need the oversize time.

Fig. 3 provides a kind of brand-new system (60) of voice communication.This system has replaced server 18A, 18B, 28A, the 28B among Fig. 2 with a central directory 20.According to the collocation form shown in the figure, any ISP service provider can pass through a distributed communication network (as the Internet), special-purpose WAN/LAN (wide area network or local area network (LAN)), or both combinations, inquires about to directory enquiry storehouse 20.Another kind of possible allocation plan is to provide a directory enquiry storehouse to each ISP service provider, and situation is as shown in Figure 2 arranged.The efficient of this a kind of allocation plan in back may be weaker, because user's clauses and subclauses of each ISP service provider are not upgraded more easily.

New central directory is with a kind of very unique mode store information.The purposes of these information is to make each ISP service provider connect voice communication line with other ISP service providers (or even between its user) apace.Importantly, from installing 12,14,22,24 user, the connection that ISP service provider is seamless for they provide.How each ISP service provider provides this connection conversely speaking,, then with the character and the structure-irrelevant that install 12,14,22,24.

What the present invention was used a bit is that each part communicator (being phone, computer ...) all has a unique number as sign.Shown in the table of Fig. 4, all telephone numbers (containing area code) in North America all are the tens words.Therefore, the database in North America will have 10 at least in theory ¹⁰Arrange from small to large (10,000,000,000) individual address.The database of other countries is then decided on their phone number format, below more detailed discussion will be arranged.

As shown in Figure 4, central directory has three tables (A, B, C).Table A is main conversion table.Clauses and subclauses in the Table A are that the telephone system with North America is an example.In fact the telephone number of tens is exactly the recording mechanism/font size in the Table A.In actual applications, Table A preferably as one " arbitrary access correlation table ", deposits the directory enquiry storehouse in document form, and is resolved in inside by the certain number of bytes (promptly 4 bytes are a word, in other words long 4 bytes of each record) of each word or record.This table is owing to its architectural characteristic, and access speed is very fast.Recording mechanism/font size of being found is exactly its relative position in table.Recording mechanism/font size in the table need not to be used as numerical value and preserves.In the allocation plan of first-selection, each clauses and subclauses of Table A are corresponding to a specific record or word (telephone number).Each ISP service provider obtains to distribute a gateway numbers.Table A for example in, 1001,2005,3017 or the like is exactly gateway numbers.For the sake of clarity, the recording mechanism/font size in the table is arranged all neighbouringly, but in fact they are not adjacent to each other, because also have many other recording mechanism/font sizes between them.

Table B is an ISP gateway conversion table, is used for finding according to each gateway numbers the real ip address of this gateway.For example, the ISP gateway numbers is 2005, and its IP address is 102.111.222.121.Since each ISP service commercial city is many devices (for several from several thousand to millions of) Internet service is provided, so the number of ISP gateway numbers is just shown the number of entries of B, than the number of entries much less of Table A.

Table B also makes up as one " arbitrary access correlation table ".Recording mechanism/font size in this table is exactly those ISP gateway numbers.The data set of each ISP gateway, it is the IP address of this gateway to the effect that.The data set of each gateway can also comprise other additional informations, for example agreement of the title of ISP service provider, the required employing of voice communication channel, and any additional information in order to need for this gateway setting connection handle.(each ISP service provider may adopt with a kind of agreement its all users.And the variety of protocol of Shi Yonging is limited for number on the internet.In general, several often ISP service provider adopts with a kind of agreement.)

Table C is a nonessential table, and it is the part of a bigger database, is used for storing additional information about each telephone number (for example Zhuan Zhi type---mobile phone, the VOIP networking telephone, visual telephone, PDA personal digital assistant or the like; And language, communication protocol, device performance, telephone book entries ... or the like).

It no doubt is the critical function of system 60 that voice communication is provided, but it also can be used for transmitting the signal of other types, comprises literal (as AIM news in brief and so on), voice and sound clip, video segment or the like.And, if used device is furnished with camera, can also hold the instant video meeting.In addition, this system can also be used to the communication of the form of having a meeting, and participating in each side can speech mutually on the same line.

Certainly, the data set the inside can also comprise various other information.

Now come illustrative system 60 how to operate with the flow chart of Fig. 5 and three tables of Fig. 4.As described above, each can insert the device of internet speech communication channel, all obtains to distribute a unique telephone number.For example, device 12 telephone numbers of assigning to are 212-999-8000.The Internet connection of device 12 is provided by ISP 16A.In central directory 20 the insides, the code name of this ISP is ISP 2005.(certainly, the code name of ISP gateway is arbitrarily given, is for example purely with 2005 here.)

Fig. 4 list central directory the inside other addresses and with the ISP code name of its coupling.For example, telephone number 213-342-7623 provides service by ISP 16B, and 317-733-4567 provides service by ISP18A, and 657-232-4329 provides service by 18B, or the like.Each ISP provides Internet service to the device that number does not wait.In the example of Fig. 4, be 657-232-4329 if install 24 telephone number, the code name of the ISP 18B of its service provider is exactly 3017.

Below describe each operation steps (Fig. 5) in detail.Step 100: user's starting drive 12 requires to converse with another part device (for example 24), so " dialing " the other side's telephone number 657-232-4329.Step 102:ISP 16A receives the voice channel requirement that device 12 proposes.Step 104:ISP 16A requires central directory 20 to search the ISP of called device 24.

Step 106: after requirement was received in directory enquiry storehouse 20, the telephone number of using device 24 was searched in the database shown in the Table A as address or recording mechanism/font size.The ISP gateway numbers of ISP 18B is 5056.

Step 107: if can not find the recording mechanism/font size identical with this telephone number, the directory enquiry storehouse just replies to the ISP that claims with this result.

If find this recording mechanism/font size, central directory is then found out the ISP address of ISP gateway 5056 from table B.Step 108 directory enquiry storehouse 20 replies to ISP 16A with the IP address of this ISP gateway.Central directory 30 can also select to provide simultaneously any additional information in the table B, for example the ISP18B communication protocol that requires to adopt, operator's informaiton, routing iinformation or the like.

Step 110:ISP 16A uses the information that obtains from central directory 30 subsequently, sets suitable connection handle.(connecting handle is that ISP uses the agreement that decides the conversation route each other, may comprise calling party phone number and IP address, the route that is connected to called number, CII call identify index ... or the like.) ISP 16A sends message to ISP 18B subsequently, will connect handle and inform the other side with device 24 requirements of setting up voice channel.Step 112:ISP 18B responds ISP 16A, confirms that device 24 is its user.ISP 18B can also provide other information to ISP 16A, comprises about installing the status report of whether online, situation such as can converse 24 now.Step 114: by ISP 16A and (or) ISP 18B determines that ISP 18B and device 24 use any agreement, and whether needs to carry out protocol conversion (unless before having transmitted this information).This information can obtain from central directory 30 or other sources.Step 116: carry out protocol conversion if desired, will obtain required conversion parameter, allow ISP 16A and (or) ISP 18B is used for translating the signal that transmits between two devices, makes it meet relevant agreement.Step 118: desired voice channel has been connected (preferably full-duplex mode), and two devices can begin mutual voice signal.Possess suitable function if install 16 and 24, except voice signal, can also pass other information mutually so, comprise vision signal, multi-channel audio signal or the like.

In a kind of allocation plan of the present invention, as previously described, Table A, B, C are stored in the central directory the inside.In another kind of allocation plan, ISP 16A, 16B...... etc. are storing Table A, B, C respectively.

In Fig. 4, table B also is used for storing the additional information relevant with each ISP, and table C then stores the additional information about each part device.Another kind of allocation plan has then been cancelled table B, and in Table A, each telephone number or recording mechanism are directly pointed to the IP address of relevant ISP gateway.

In various allocation plans discussed above, central directory all only provides the IP address of the ISP in North America.The present invention can pass through several different modes, expands the scope of application to any other telephone number.A kind of simple mode is to enlarge Table A, B, C, and the ISP in other countries or area is also included.Another kind of mode is the central directory that the country that is respectively different is provided with them.For example, the 001334153815th, the telephone number of Britain.When Table A is inquired about this number, can obtain a special ISP code name, for example 9999, show that it belongs to the central directory of a foreign country.Central directory is after Table A obtains this ISP code name, will analyze this telephone number, find out the country code (being 33 in this example) that wherein comprises, definite again which central directory of this state family members is managed (may need to use another look-up table) for this reason.In Fig. 3, the central directory of Britain's telephone number is central directory 30A.So central directory 30 is made answer to ISP 16A, indicate its IP address to the relevant ISP of central directory 30A inquiry.

Can make many modifications to the present invention (60), and not surmount the range of application that is defined in the appended in the back claim.

Claims (9)

1. at one many dresses are arranged

Connect by ISP

In the system of the Internet, allow two dresses

A kind of method that communicates on the internet, comprising:

First dress

Require first ISP to provide and second dress

The channel that communicates;

Send requirement to a directory enquiry storehouse, please it provide to this second dress

The IP address of the ISP of service is provided, and this requirement contains second dress Telephone number;

The IP address of second ISP is determined in this directory enquiry storehouse with this telephone number;

This IP address replies to this first ISP;

With this IP address, this first and second ISP between set up communication channel on the Internet.

2. the process of claim 1 wherein that described communication channel is a voice channel.

3. the process of claim 1 wherein described communication channel support voice signal and multi-media signal.

4. the process of claim 1 wherein this first and second dress

Adopt different internet communication protocols, and be included between these two kinds of agreements and change.

5. the central directory that the process of claim 1 wherein comprises a table, and its clauses and subclauses are by the recording mechanism layout, and each recording mechanism is equal to a dress

Telephone number, each clauses and subclauses provides to this part dress

The IP address of the ISP gateway of service is provided.

6. allow many dresses

On a distributed computer network, carry out a kind of system of instant messaging basically mutually, each part dress

The long number telephone number of oneself is arranged, and this system comprises:

A plurality of ISP gateways, each ISP gateway are at least one described dress Provide network to connect, each ISP gateway obtains to distribute a unique identifier;

One

Every dress

With the directory enquiry storehouse that its ISP gateway connects, this directory enquiry storehouse comprises one a plurality of database of items, and each clauses and subclauses comprises an above-mentioned unique identifier, and the recording mechanism of clauses and subclauses is corresponding long number telephone number.

7. the system of claim 6, wherein this directory enquiry storehouse links to each other with network, and each above-mentioned ISP gateway is inquired about to this directory enquiry storehouse by this network.

8. the system of claim 6, at least one described dress of directory enquiry storehouse bag wherein

With an additional information that described ISP is relevant.

9. the system of claim 8, wherein said additional information comprises that respectively this ISP gateway is used for connecing

The agreement of network.

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