JP2003274041A - Call control system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a call control system for interlocking an existing telephone network and an IP network so as to attain a voice speech and performing desired charging processing with a simple configuration. <P>SOLUTION: A media gateway 2 for performing conversion processing between an IP packet and a voice medium is connected to an exchange 3 of an existing telephone network, and the exchange 3 is provided with: an MG control section 6 for controlling the media gateway 2; an IP interface section for transmitting/receiving the IP packet; an analysis section for analyzing call information received by the IP interface section; an IP call control section including an IP charging function section and an IP loopback function section; and an adaptor function section for making transmission with information between the IP call control section and an adaptor function section for transmitting/receiving information between the IP call control section and the existing function section. The analysis function section 5 corresponding to the adaptor function section includes an analysis section, a charging function section, and a loopback function section or the like. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an existing telephone network and I
The present invention relates to a call control system that enables a voice call between an IP terminal accommodated in an IP network and a telephone terminal accommodated in an existing telephone network by making a call from an IP terminal in cooperation with a P network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A system for making a call using an IP (Internet Protocol) terminal is VoIP (Voice).
Over IP) or Internet telephone (IP telephone). For example, as shown in FIG.
IP terminals 71 and 76 and an access server (Access)
Server) 72, 75 and exchanges 73, 74, and the exchanges 73, 74 are ISDs that compose the existing telephone network.
There is known a system in which the N exchange can make a call between the IP terminal 71 and a general telephone terminal accommodated in the IP terminal 76 or the exchange 74 via the I interface.

Further, the access servers 72 and 75 are exchanges 73 and 74 for accommodating general telephone terminals with an I interface.
In addition, it accommodates the IP terminals 71 and 76, and has a conversion function between the IP interface on the IP terminal side and the I interface on the exchange side, and a conversion function between the IP packet and the voice medium. Therefore, the general telephone terminal (not shown) is connected to the exchange through the I interface without going through the access servers 72 and 75. Also, between the exchanges 73 and 74, for example, there is an inter-exchange interface configuration for transmitting voice media. The IP terminals 71 and 76 may be housed in the same exchange via the access server.

In the conventional system as described above, the exchanges 73 and 74 constituting the existing telephone network only provide the I interface, and therefore the access terminals 72 and 76 are provided to the IP terminals 71 and 76. It was necessary to convert to I interface by 75. Therefore, the charging process is also performed by the I interface, and the conventional system that accommodates the digital line and the analog line and includes the charging process together with the switching connection process has, for example, the function shown in FIG. In the figure, 81 is IS
DN application section, 82 analog application section, 83, 84 billing processing section, 85 ISDN
Interface section, 86 is an analog interface section,
87 is an inter-switch connection interface unit.

The ISDN interface section 85 is an ISD.
The general telephone terminal is accommodated via the N line, or the IP terminal is accommodated via the access server, and the analog interface unit 86 accommodates the analog general telephone terminal via the analog line. is there. The inter-exchange connection interface unit 87 connects a relay line between exchanges. Also, the charging processing units 83 and 84
For example, according to the unit time method, a process of accumulating a charge determined in correspondence with the call distance by the called party number analysis every unit time is performed.

There are various types of charging methods applied to the charging processing units 83 and 84. For example, a fixed amount method in which a fixed amount is used regardless of the call volume, a frequency method in which charges are made for each call, the above-mentioned unit time method, There are a time difference method for each distance that determines a callable time at a unit charge corresponding to a distance, a detailed charging method that records a time, a ground, and a call time for each call and calculates a charge. Although it is general to charge the calling party, a method of charging the called party is also applied. Since the network resources are exclusively occupied during a call, it is common to charge for the resources according to the amount of resources and the time occupied.

[0007]

Data communication by a general IP terminal is carried out by transmitting and receiving using an IP packet, and this IP packet is routing-controlled by a router. In this case, the resources of the Internet are time-divided. Therefore, a method of charging based on the amount of transmitted data is usually applied.

However, as described above, when the IP terminal is used to make a call with the partner IP terminal or the general telephone terminal, the ISDN exchange forming the existing telephone network needs to be accommodated by the I interface. So that the IP terminal 7
1, 7 are exchanges 7 via the access servers 72, 75
It will be connected to 3,74. Therefore, as with other telephone terminals accommodated via the I interface, I
In the case of the SDN exchange, only the charging method for ISDN will be applied. Therefore, the advantage of the Internet connection by the IP terminal cannot be enjoyed. It is an object of the present invention to accommodate an IP terminal in an existing exchange with a simple configuration and enable flexible application of billing.

[0009]

A call control system according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1. The call control system is a call control system for performing a cooperative connection between an IP network and an existing telephone network. A media gateway 2 that performs conversion processing with the above is connected to an exchange 3 of an existing telephone network, and an MG control unit 6 that controls the media gateway 2 and an IP interface unit that transmits and receives IP packets are connected to the exchange 3. Between the analysis unit that analyzes the calling information received by the IP interface unit, the IP call control unit that includes the IP charging function unit and the IP return function unit, and between the IP call control unit and the existing function unit. An adapter function unit for transmitting and receiving information is provided. The analysis function unit 5 corresponding to this adapter function unit includes an analysis unit, a charging function unit, a return function unit, and the like.

The IP charging function unit has a structure for transferring charging information between the charging function unit of the existing function unit and the adapter function unit.

As a result of the analysis of the calling information by the analysis unit, I
In the P network connection, the IP return function unit of the IP call control unit returns the IP packet to the IP network, and in the existing telephone network connection, the IP packet is transferred to the media gateway 2.

[0012]

1 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, in which 1 is an IP terminal, 2 is a media gateway, 3 and 4 are exchanges that constitute an existing telephone network, and 5 is an analysis processing unit. , 6 denote MG control units. A media gateway (MG) 2 that performs conversion processing between IP packets and voice media is connected to the exchange 3. And exchange 3
Further, an analysis processing unit 5 including an MG control unit 6 having a function of controlling the media gateway 2 is provided. The analysis processing unit 5 includes an analysis function of calling information, an IP loopback function, an adapter function that enables information transfer between the existing functional units of the exchange, and a charging function. Also exchanges 3, 4
A connection structure similar to the conventional one can be used for the space. It should be noted that existing functional units such as exchange connection functions and control processing functions of the exchanges 3 and 4 are not shown.

Signaling when the IP terminal 1 makes a call
The packet is analyzed by the analysis function of the analysis processing unit 5 of the exchange 3. As a result of the analysis, when a call is made to a telephone terminal accommodated in the existing telephone network, the MG control unit 6 performs media
The control of the gateway 2 is started, and the calling information is sent to the called exchange. In addition, according to the analysis result, IP
The port number of the media gateway 2 is notified to the terminal 1 as the port number when sending the IP packet.

Upon receiving the response information in response to the call of the called party according to the calling information, the IP terminal 1 sends a voice packet (IP packet) including the port number notified from the exchange 3. The media gateway 2 performs a conversion process between the IP packet and the voice media, and sends the IP packet via the exchange 3 or to the exchange 4 on the called side, as indicated by a chain line. It also converts the received voice media into IP packets and sends them to the IP terminal 1. Further, as a result of the analysis processing unit 5 analyzing the signaling packet from the IP terminal 1, in the case of the IP network connection, the return function unit of the analysis processing unit 5 returns the IP packet to the IP network (not shown).

FIG. 2 shows the function of the above-mentioned analysis processing unit of the present invention. 10 is an existing function unit, 11 is an ISDN application unit, 12 is a charging function unit, 13 is an inter-exchange connection interface unit, and 21 is An analysis unit, 22 is an IP call control unit, 23 is an IP charging function unit, 24 is an IP interface unit, 25 is an IP / existing interworking unit, and 26 is an MG.
The control unit 27 indicates an adapter unit.

The ISDN application unit 11, the charging function unit 12, and the inter-switch connection interface unit 13 indicate the functions provided in the conventional switch, that is, the existing function unit 10, for example, in FIG. It corresponds to the ISDN application section 81, the charging processing section 83, and the inter-switch connection interface section 87. Then, the other configuration corresponds to the adapter function unit. In this embodiment, the adapter function unit is the MG control unit 26 (MG control unit 6 in FIG. 1) that controls the media gateway 2 described above.
, An IP interface unit 24 for connecting an IP terminal, an IP analysis unit 21, and an IP call control unit 22.
And the IP charging function unit 23 and the IP / existing interworking unit 25 for interworking between the existing functioning part and the IP functioning part, and the ISDN application part 11 and the IP / existing interworking part. 25 has a configuration including an adapter unit 27 that performs a transmission / reception process including an interface conversion process of information with the S.

Further, when the IP interface section 24 receives the calling information by the above-mentioned signaling packet from the IP terminal, it transfers it to the IP call control section 22. This IP
The call control unit 22 analyzes the calling information including the connection destination by the analysis unit 21.
Transfer to. The analysis unit 21 returns to the IP call control unit 22 the analysis result of the result of analyzing the calling information, which is the connection between the IP network and the existing telephone network.

In the case of IP network connection, the IP call control unit 22 creates an IP return function unit 28 and transfers information to the IP return function unit 28. In the case of the existing telephone network connection, it instructs the MG control unit 26 to control the media gateway. The IP charging function unit 23 of the IP call control unit 22 collects the IP charging information from the calling information. Also, the charging function unit 1 of the ISDN application unit 11
A CALL ID corresponding to the call is set so that the link between the two can be established.

The IP interface unit 24 transfers the IP packet from the IP terminal to the media gateway when the existing telephone network is connected. In addition, the MG control unit 26 controls the media gateway to start the conversion process between the IP packet and the voice media. Further, the IP / existing interworking unit 25 converts the calling information and the like into an interface on the ISDN application unit 11 side, and the adapter unit 2
7 to the ISDN application unit 11 or the inter-switch connection interface unit 13.

The ISDN application unit 11 performs the same processing as when the call information is received by the I interface, and sends the call information through the inter-switch connection interface unit 13, for example. When the disconnection information due to the end of the call is received, the CALL ID described above is used as a key.
The charging information collected by the charging function unit 12 is used as the IP charging function unit 2
3, the IP billing function unit 23 collects the IP billing information and the existing network billing information, and performs billing processing according to a predetermined billing rule.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the embodiment of the present invention, in which an IP interface unit 24 is used to make a call from an IP terminal.
When the call is accepted at step S1, the call information is transferred to the IP call controller 22. The IP call control unit 22 requests the analysis unit 21 to analyze call information. The analysis unit 21 analyzes the analysis result, IP
In case of network connection, IP return is returned, and in case of existing telephone network connection, existing counter part is returned. In the case shown in the figure, the connection is with an existing telephone network, and the IP call control unit 22 creates a functional unit according to the returned existing opposite unit and notifies the IP / existing interworking unit 25.

Further, the IP charging function unit 23 collects the IP charging information, sets the CALL ID in the calling information, and sets the IP address.
Transfer to the existing interwork unit 25. In the IP / existing interworking section 25, the interface is converted into an interface on the side of the existing ISDN application section 11 and CALL is performed.
The calling information to which the ID has been added is transmitted via the adapter unit 27 to the I
Transfer to the SDN application unit 11.

The ISDN application section 11 collects the charging information by the charging function section 12 as in the case of making a call by the I interface of the existing network. In this case, the billing information is processed based on the CALL ID added to the calling information. Then, the calling information is transferred from the ISDN application unit 11 to the inter-switch connection interface unit 13, and the adapter unit 27 and IP / existing interworking unit 25 and IP are also transferred.
An acceptance response is sent to the calling IP terminal via the call control unit 22 and the IP interface unit 24. Also, the inter-switch connection interface unit 13 sends the calling information to the switch of the existing network.

The called party accommodated in the existing network is called by an operation (not shown), and when the call is answered, a call is started, and the MG control unit 26 controls the media gateway. , The voice information by the IP packet from the IP terminal is transferred from the IP interface unit 24 to the media gateway, the IP packet is converted into the voice media, and the inter-switch connection interface unit 13
To the existing network via. In addition, the voice media from the called party is transmitted from the inter-switch connection interface unit 13 to the media
Transfer to gateway, convert to IP packet, IP
It is sent to the IP terminal via the interface unit 24. As a result, a call is made between them.

When this call ends and the IP terminal sends disconnection information, the IP interface unit 24 transfers the disconnection information to the IP call control unit 22. IP call control unit 22
Causes the IP charging function unit 23 to collect the IP charging information and transfers the disconnection information to the IP / existing interworking unit 25. This disconnection information is transferred to the ISDN application unit 11 via the adapter unit 27. This I
The SDN application unit 11 causes the billing function unit 12 to collect billing information, and sends disconnection information via the inter-switch connection interface unit 13. The charging information collected by the charging function unit 12 is transferred to the IP charging function unit 23, and the IP charging information and the existing charging information are collected by the IP charging function unit 23.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the operation in the case of the SIP interface. The SIP standardized as a protocol for realizing the call setting of the IP telephone on the IP network.
(Session Initiation Proto
col) is used to make a call to the existing telephone network.
Upon receiving the INVITE in text format from the IP terminal, the IP interface unit 24 transfers the calling information to the IP call control unit 22.

This calling information analysis unit 21, IP / existing interworking unit 25, adapter unit 27, ISDN application unit 11, inter-switch connection interface unit 1
The processing in 3 is the same as that in the case shown in FIG. Then, 100 OK as an INVIE acceptance response is sent from the IP interface unit 24 to the IP terminal to show the case of the existing telephone network connection.
The MG control unit 26 controls the media gateway, and the IP packet and the voice media can be converted to communicate with each other.

FIG. 32 is an operation explanatory diagram in the case of the H.323 interface. 323 is based on the ITU-T recommendation and is based on TCP (Transmission Conion).
control Protocol) / UDP (User D)
This is a protocol for controlling outgoing calls on the atagram Protocol) or establishing a connection and transmitting and receiving voice and the like in real time. I according to this protocol
Data format SETUP (call setup) from P terminal is IP
When received by the interface unit 24, the IP interface unit 24 transfers the calling information to the IP call control unit 22.

This calling information analysis unit 21, IP / existing interworking unit 25, adapter unit 27, ISDN application unit 11, inter-switch connection interface unit 1
The process in 3 is the same as in the case shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, and a duplicate description will be omitted. And CALL PR
An OC (call setting acceptance) is sent to the IP terminal, and a call is started in response to the call from the called party. At that time,
The MG control unit 26 controls the media gateway to start the conversion process between the IP packet and the voice media, and talk with each other.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the IP network connection. In the configuration shown in FIG. 2, the IP call control unit 22 has respective IP loopback function units on the calling side and the called side. If the terminal is the H. SE with 323 interface
When the TUP (call setting) is received by the IP interface unit 24, the IP interface unit 24 determines that the calling IP
The call information is transferred to the call control unit 22, that is, the IP call control unit (call origination).

The IP call control unit (originator) is the analysis unit 21.
When the analysis result is determined to be the IP network connection, the analysis unit 21 returns the IP call back to the IP call control unit (call origination). Although not shown, the IP billing function unit 23 collects billing information. The IP call control unit (call originator) generates an IP return function unit corresponding to the analysis result of the analysis unit 21, and transfers the call information to the calling side IP return function unit. The originating IP return function unit transfers the IP packet to the destination IP return function unit. The destination IP return function unit determines that the transferred IP packet is an incoming call, and notifies the destination IP call control unit, that is, the IP call control unit (end) of the incoming call.

The IP call control unit (callee) sends an acceptance response to the IP interface unit 24. IP
The interface unit 24 uses the CALL PRO on the IP terminal.
Send C (call setting acceptance). In this case, since it is not an existing telephone network connection, call information and the like are not transferred to the IP / existing interworking unit 25 side. Then, the IP loopback function unit transmits the IP packet loopback, and I
A call is made between the P terminals.

[0033]

As described above, according to the present invention, the media gateway 2 for converting the IP packet and the voice media is connected to the exchange 3 of the existing telephone network. MG control unit 6 for controlling the IP address, an IP interface unit for connecting the IP terminal 1 to send and receive IP packets, an analysis unit for analyzing calling information received by the IP interface unit, and an IP
An IP call control unit including a charging function unit and an IP return function unit, and an adapter function unit (corresponding to the analysis function unit 5) for transmitting and receiving information between the IP call control unit and the existing function unit. By providing a small function to the exchange 3 of the existing telephone network, various service functions of the existing telephone network can be provided from the IP interface.

Regarding charging, there is an advantage that flexible charging processing can be easily performed by linking the charging function of the existing telephone network and the IP charging function, and the IP charging can be processed independently.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of an analysis processing unit according to the embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 3 is an operation explanatory diagram of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an operation explanatory diagram in the case of a SIP interface.

5: H. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing in case of 323 interface.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the operation of IP network connection.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional system.

FIG. 8 is a functional explanatory diagram of a conventional system.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 IP terminal 2 media gateway 3,4 exchange 5 Analysis processing unit 6 MG control unit

Continued front page    (71) Applicant 000004226             Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation             2-3-1, Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo (72) Inventor Kazuo Oshima             4-1, Kamiodanaka, Nakahara-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa             No. 1 within Fujitsu Limited (72) Inventor Katsuhiko Yamashina             2-53, Jomi, Chuo-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture             Inside Fujitsu Kansai Chubu Nettech Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Tsutomu Hirao             216 Totsuka Town, Totsuka Ward, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture             Ceremony Company Hitachi Ltd. Communication Division (72) Inventor Hiroshi Fujikane             1-9-1, Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo             IT Comware Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hiroyuki Nakamura             2-3-1, Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo             Inside Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Inventor Makoto Kondo             2-3-1, Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo             Inside Telegraph and Telephone Corporation F term (reference) 5K025 EE03 EE15 GG16                 5K030 GA20 HB01 HB08 HD05 JT01                       KA05 LB02                 5K051 AA05 BB01 CC01 CC02 FF07                       GG03 HH27 JJ07                 5K101 LL01 LL02 NN48 RR05 SS08

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. In a call control system for linking connection between an IP network and an existing telephone network, a media gateway for converting between IP packets and voice media is connected to a switch of the existing telephone network, An MG control unit for controlling the media gateway, an IP interface unit for transmitting and receiving IP packets, an analysis unit for analyzing calling information received by the IP interface unit, an IP charging function unit, and an IP return function. A call control system comprising: an IP call control unit including a function unit; and an adapter function unit that transmits and receives information between the IP call control unit and the existing function unit. 2. The IP charging function unit is configured to transfer charging information between the charging function unit of the existing function unit and the charging function unit via the adapter function unit.
The described call control system. 3. As a result of the analysis of the calling information by the analysis unit, the IP network connection sends back an IP packet to the IP network by the IP return function unit of the IP call control unit,
The call control system according to claim 1, wherein the existing telephone network connection has a configuration for transferring the IP packet to the media gateway.