JP2004096541A - Voice communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To automatically check a state of a communication path. <P>SOLUTION: In a voice communication system for executing voice communication on a prescribed data communication network, to which a plurality of bases are connected, each base is provided with a communication path check agent means, the agent means comprises a call-setting request part for automatically requesting call-setting among communication path check agent means of other bases; a call-setting responding part for establishing the communication path among agent means of itself and others, in automatic response to the request for the call setting applied from the agent means of the other bases; and a communication path state determining part for automatically determining the state of the communication path. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
[Technical field to which the invention belongs]
The present invention relates to a voice communication system, and is suitably applied to, for example, a case where voice communication is performed by VoIP (Voice over IP) technology.
[0002]
[Prior art]
When an IP telephone service using the VoIP technology is provided, the network configuration is as shown in FIG. 2, for example.
[0003]
In FIG. 2, IP telephones (for example, 25 and 27) installed at a user use place 12 such as a home or an office are directly connected to a LAN (local area network) of the user use place 12. However, general telephones (for example, 26 and 28) that do not support VoIP cannot be directly connected to the LAN, so that VoIP gateway devices (media conversion devices) 23 and 24 and a PBX (private branch exchange not shown) ).
[0004]
A user who uses the IP telephones (IP telephone terminals) 25 and 27 and the general telephones 26 and 28 in the user use place 12 can use the IP network 10 as a backbone and the fixed telephone 29 or the mobile telephone 30 via the VoIP gateway devices 21 and 22. Talk with a user who uses
[0005]
The VoIP gateway devices 21 and 22 for connecting the IP network 10 and the public telephone network 11 make calls under the control of IP telephone exchanges (the IP telephone exchanges are components corresponding to a so-called call agent (CA)) 14 and 15. Perform operations such as setting. It is to be noted that only the control signals necessary for call setting and the like are transmitted and received by the IP telephone exchanges 14 and 15 and processed by the IP telephone exchanges 14 and 15, and the components of the call between the end-end telephones are The IP packet containing the voice data flows through a backbone constituted by the routers 16 to 18, the switches 19 and 20, the gateway devices 21 and 22, and the like.
[0006]
The IP network 10 is a network configured by a large number of network devices such as routers (for example, 16 to 18) and switches (for example, 19 and 20) and corresponding to the IP protocol. Although the Internet can be used as the IP network 10, a dedicated IP network established by a communication carrier to provide a VoIP service is often used.
[0007]
Under such a network configuration, for example, a network management system using SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) or the like can be constructed in a form as shown in FIG.
[0008]
In FIG. 3, an SNMP agent is arranged in peripheral devices such as the VoIP gateway devices 21 and 22, switches 19 and 20, and routers 16 to 18, and an SNMP manager is arranged in the illustrated monitoring system 25. Each SNMP agent manages various types of management information (such as the status of the management target itself and the management target) on the management target in which the SNMP agent is disposed (for example, in the case of the SNMP agent disposed in the gateway device 21). Information indicating the state of the connection interface between the two) is collected and stored in a predetermined database (MIB). Basically, when there is a read request from the SNMP manager, the contents of the MIB are read and sent to the SNMP manager. It is a mechanism to send.
[0009]
Therefore, if the read request is transmitted periodically, the management information can be periodically collected in the SNMP manager.
[0010]
If necessary, the contents of the MIB can be transmitted from the SNMP agent to the SNMP manager from the SNMP agent without a read request.
[0011]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in such a network management system, the range in which the SNMP agent can collect the management information is limited to the device or device to be managed. Therefore, for example, the SNMP agent arranged in the gateway device 21 passes through the gateway device 21 Even obtaining communication traffic as management information is quite difficult and requires the use of RMON or the like.
[0012]
Also, even if RMON is used, for example, a large number of network devices and gateway devices are connected between the telephones (25, 26, etc.) in the user use place 12 and the telephones (eg, 29) on the public telephone network 11 side. It is almost impossible to inspect and manage the state of a long communication path set via a circuit switch or a base station on the public telephone network side.
[0013]
Further, it is also difficult to manage the states of the IP telephone exchanges 14 and 15 that control the setting of such a communication path by a cooperative operation.
[0014]
In addition, various information that causes a setting error to cause an abnormality in call control or a communication path (misconnection, poor connection, one-way communication, etc.), for example, an IP telephone exchange (for example, 14, 15), a gateway device (21) , 23), routing information set in the routers 16-18, etc. can be collected as management information in the SNMP manager. It is usually not easy for an administrator to predict future call control or anomalies in a communication path based on an enormous number of numbers composed of the above information.
[0015]
Deterioration of communication quality such as voice delay is a phenomenon that occurs when communication traffic in any network device or device on the communication path is excessive and congestion occurs. Even if communication traffic is obtained for the device by the RMON, it is not easy to predict the occurrence of voice delay in advance when the number of network devices and devices on the communication path is large.
[0016]
Regarding the IP network, even if any telephone (IP telephone, general telephone) requests a call setup, a long time is required until the call setup is actually performed and a communication path is established (for example, (Approximately 8 seconds) may occur (connection delay). Such a connection delay may occur when the request frequency of call setting required is higher than the processing capability of the IP telephone exchanges 14 and 15 or the like. Is difficult to predict.
[0017]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a voice communication system for executing voice communication on a predetermined data communication network connecting a plurality of locations. Agent means, the call path inspection agent means comprising: (2) a call setting request section for automatically requesting call setting with the call path inspection agent means at another location; and (3) a call setting request section at another location. A call setting response section for automatically responding to a call setting request supplied from the channel inspection agent means to establish a communication path between itself and another channel inspection agent means; And a call path state determination unit for automatically determining the state of the communication path.
[0018]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the voice communication system in a site that executes voice communication on a predetermined data communication network, (1) the site is provided with a plurality of communication path inspection agent means, The inspection agent means includes: (2) a call setup request unit for automatically requesting a call setup with another call path inspection agent means; and (3) a call setup request supplied from the other call path inspection agent means. A call setting response unit for automatically responding to a request to establish a communication path between itself and another communication path inspection agent means, and (4) determining a communication path state for automatically determining the state of the communication path And a unit.
[0019]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
(A) Embodiment
Hereinafter, embodiments of the voice communication system according to the present invention will be described.
[0020]
A feature common to the first to fourth embodiments is that a call contact unit having an automatic calling function, an automatic answering function, etc. is arranged at each base, and then the communication units automatically communicate with each other. When a user actually makes a call from an IP telephone or the like, an operation that occurs inside an IP network or the like serving as a backbone is simulated, and call control and a state of a communication path are monitored, so that the user actually sets a call. The problem is to detect in advance failures and quality degradation that may occur in communication and telephone calls.
[0021]
By comprehensively selecting the combinations of the communication contact units that communicate with each other and performing the communication periodically, it is possible to detect failures and quality deterioration in advance regardless of which telephone user calls at any time.
[0022]
(A-1) Configuration of First Embodiment
FIG. 1 shows an example of the overall configuration of the VoIP network 40 of the present embodiment.
[0023]
In FIG. 1, the VoIP network 40 includes an IP network 10, IP telephone exchanges 41 to 44, call contact units 45 to 48, and a monitoring system 49.
[0024]
Of these, the IP network 10 is substantially the same as the IP network 10 in FIG. 2, and the IP telephone exchanges 41 to 44 are also substantially the same as the IP telephone exchanges 14 and 15 in FIG. I do.
[0025]
However, the IP network 10 of FIG. 2 is connected to the public telephone network 11 via the VoIP gateway devices 21 and 22, but the IP network 10 of the present embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is not connected to the public telephone network. .
[0026]
A VoIP network having such a network configuration is called an extension telephone network type VoIP network. At present, the system of telephone numbers assigned to IP telephones is not global, so VoIP networks not connected to the public telephone network are, for example, extension telephones that can be used only within one organization (such as a company). Become a net.
[0027]
If the Internet is used as the IP network 10 for the extension telephone network type VoIP network, a so-called Internet telephone is used. Here, a dedicated IP network is used. Unlike the Internet, whose quality is not guaranteed, a dedicated IP network makes it easier to obtain relatively good communication quality. The IP network 10 as a dedicated IP network may be constructed for use by one company by itself, or may be constructed by a communication carrier and provided to another company. Here, it is assumed that the IP network 10 is constructed by a communication carrier.
[0028]
In many cases, not only one company uses the IP network 10 constructed by the communication carrier, but the IP-VPN is used so that one company can connect the bases while maintaining confidentiality. It is usually used.
[0029]
Accordingly, FIG. 1 shows only components related to one company among a plurality of companies sharing the IP network 10 using an extension telephone network service (extension telephone network type VoIP network) provided by a communication carrier. Things. Routers and switches (not shown in FIG. 1), which are facilities on the IP network 10, are shared by companies using the extension telephone network service.
[0030]
The call contact units 45 to 48 are components applying CTI technology, and are arranged at each of the bases ST1 to ST4 of one company. The bases ST1 to ST4 of one company may be distributed over a wide area, for example, may be distributed over a plurality of countries. Although the illustrated bases are four ST1 to ST4, the number may be less than four or more than four.
[0031]
Each base (for example, ST1) is an aggregate of a large number of information processing apparatuses having a communication function, and the internal configuration may be, for example, as shown in FIG. Although the internal configuration of each base may be substantially the same, the following description will be made assuming that FIG. 11 mainly shows the internal configuration of the base ST1.
[0032]
(A-1-1) Example of internal configuration of base
11, the base ST1 includes a router 60, a VoIP gateway device 61, IP telephones 62 and 63, a personal computer 64, a PBX (private branch exchange) 65, and general telephones 66 and 67.
[0033]
The router 60 is a device that connects the transmission line L1 and the transmission line L2 of the LAN in the base ST1 to the IP network 10. The transmission line L1 is connected to the LAN interface (LAN port) LF of the router 60, and the transmission line L2 is connected to the PBX accommodating interface PF. When the IP-VPN is used, encryption and decryption functions necessary for the IP-VPN may be mounted on the router 60.
[0034]
A gate keeper function or the like can also be mounted on the router 60.
[0035]
A gatekeeper is a type of server that manages the correspondence between a telephone number and an IP address, and has a function of returning an IP address in response to an inquiry from an IP telephone or the like. When making a call, the user of the IP telephone (for example, U3) inputs to the IP telephone (for example, 62) only the telephone number of the communication partner, but on the IP network 10 that performs communication according to the IP protocol. Since the only identifier effective for identifying a communication partner is an IP address, it is necessary to obtain an IP address corresponding to the telephone number by inquiring of the gatekeeper.
[0036]
The IP telephones 62 and 63 are telephones having a function corresponding to VoIP and are directly connected to the transmission line L1.
[0037]
The personal computer 64 can be used as a VoIP telephone equipped with a microphone, a speaker, and the like, but can also be used as a data communication terminal that transmits and receives data other than voice data.
[0038]
In addition, various servers, groupware, and the like can be connected to the transmission line L1 as needed.
[0039]
The VoIP gateway device 61 connects the general telephones 66 and 67 under the control of the PBX 65 to the transmission line L2. Unlike the IP telephones 62 and 63, the general telephones 66 and 67 do not have a function corresponding to VoIP, and therefore need the VoIP function provided by the VoIP gateway device 61.
[0040]
The function of the VoIP gateway device 61 may be mounted on a router instead of a dedicated device. This router may be the router 60 or a new router provided under the router 60.
[0041]
Various methods are possible for arranging the above-mentioned call contact part 45 in the base ST1 having such a structure. For example, the function of the call contact unit 45 may be mounted on any of the illustrated or unillustrated components connected to the transmission line L1, but is assumed to be mounted on the router 60 here.
[0042]
Since the call contact section 45 periodically communicates with a call contact section (eg, 46) at another base (eg, ST2), it is better not to provide the call contact section on the transmission path L1 due to the periodic communication. Communication between other components is unimpeded and efficient.
[0043]
The function of the call contact unit 45 may be realized by hardware, but in the present embodiment, it is assumed to be realized by software. Generally, when a certain function is implemented by software, the processing speed is slower than when the function is implemented by hardware, but the function is flexible and much lower in price.
[0044]
FIG. 12 shows an example of the internal configuration of the call contact section 45.
[0045]
Although the internal configuration of the communication contact portions 45 to 48 arranged at each of the bases ST1 to ST4 may be substantially the same, the following description will be made assuming that the communication contact portion 45 is mainly shown in FIG. .
[0046]
(A-1-2) Internal configuration example of call contact section
12, the call contact section 45 includes a call control section 50, a PB transmission / reception section 51, a call level analysis section 52, a failure notification section 53, and a contact information section 54.
[0047]
The call control section 50 is a section that performs call control such as automatic calling (call setting), automatic answering section, and automatic disconnection.
[0048]
These call controls are executed by the call control unit 50 exchanging a predetermined call control message (control signal) with the IP telephone exchange 41 or the like.
[0049]
For example, when the call control unit 50 requests a call setting for a call contact unit at any other site (for example, the call contact unit 46 at the site ST2), an identifier (such as a call destination contact unit 46 that is the destination of the call) is specified. For example, a control signal (call setting message) requesting call setting accommodating the telephone number NB2) is transmitted from the call control unit 50 to the IP telephone exchange 41.
[0050]
The IP telephone exchange 41 controls the call control unit (corresponding to 50) of the other party's call contact unit 46 via another IP telephone exchange (for example, 42) (or, if possible, the IP telephone exchange 41 itself). Thus, a call is established between the two call contact sections (here, 45 and 46).
[0051]
When a call is established between the call control unit 50 and a target call contact unit (here, 46) by the call control unit 50 and a call path is set, the PB transmission / reception unit 51 transmits a PB (push button) via the call path. A) A part for transmitting and receiving a signal. Since a number of routers and switches on the IP network 10 exist on the communication path, the PB signal is transmitted or received via these routers and switches.
[0052]
Here, the PB signal is used, but this PB signal is a signal for checking whether or not an actual conversation by a human can be normally performed through the communication path. It can be replaced with another sound signal or a sound signal such as a synthesized sound. Although consideration must be given to the ease of analysis, it is desirable to perform inspection using sound (or voice) having characteristics as close as possible to actual human conversation voice.
[0053]
The call contact unit 45 including the call control unit 50 and the PB transmission / reception unit 51 is a telephone having exactly the same function as a normal IP telephone (for example, 62) when viewed from the IP telephone exchange 41 or the IP network 10 side. , The IP telephone 62 and the like.
[0054]
The call level analysis unit 52 determines whether or not the PB transmission / reception unit 51 has received a PB signal from the other party's call contact unit (here, 46). This part analyzes the degree of delay.
[0055]
In the other party's call contact section 46, similarly to the call contact section 45, the PB transmission / reception section (corresponding to 51) sends and receives the PB signal. It can be inferred that call control such as the above or an abnormality of the communication path has occurred.
[0056]
In addition, when reception is performed, it is possible to determine whether or not the above-described audio delay has occurred by analyzing the received PB signal in detail. For example, as a result of the analysis, when a voice delay of a level exceeding a preset threshold (voice delay threshold) is recognized, it is determined that the communication quality of the communication path is degraded. It may be. Deterioration of communication quality due to voice delay may occur when communication traffic in any network device or device on a communication path is excessive and congestion occurs.
[0057]
Further, the call level analysis unit 52 measures the time from when the call control unit 50 transmits the call setup message to when a call is established, and uses the measurement result as a predetermined threshold (for a connection delay). If the threshold value is exceeded, it may be determined that a large connection delay has occurred. A large connection delay may occur when the request frequency of call setting required is higher than the processing capacity of the IP telephone exchanges 41 and 46 and the like.
[0058]
The call level analysis unit 52 also has a function as a control unit of the entire call contact unit 45.
[0059]
The contact information section 54 is a section that stores the identifier of the other party's call contact section to which the call contact section 45 should request call setting in accordance with a predetermined inspection procedure. The call level analysis unit 52 as the control unit reads out the identifier from the contact information unit 54 according to a predetermined procedure, so that the other party's call contact unit to request the next call setup and the other party's call contact unit are called. It is possible to recognize the timing for requesting the setting.
[0060]
As the identifier stored in the contact information section 54, either a telephone number or an IP address can be used. The use of an IP address is advantageous in that the time and processing for making an inquiry to the gate keeper can be omitted, but if the telephone number is used as an identifier, the arrangement of the other party's call contact unit is changed in the base. However, there is no need to change the storage contents of the contact information section 54, and management is easy and interoperability (interoperability) is improved. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that telephone numbers are used with emphasis on ease of management and high interoperability.
[0061]
The failure notification unit 53 is a part that transmits a failure notification to the monitoring system 49 in response to an instruction from the call level analysis unit 52.
[0062]
The erroneous connection, poor connection, one-way call, etc. are obvious obstacles, but a large degree of voice delay or connection delay is not necessarily an obstacle. However, if the degree is too great, it may be better to classify the fault and send a fault notification.
[0063]
Various processes can be considered for the process executed when the monitoring system 49 receives this failure notification. For example, when a program such as the SNMP agent is arranged in a router or a switch on the IP network 10, an instruction is given to execute an automatic recovery process which can be performed by the function of the program, and together with the instruction or the automatic When it is confirmed that the restoration cannot be performed by the restoration process alone, a predetermined maintenance person or the like may be notified to request maintenance work.
[0064]
Also, a user such as an IP telephone (for example, U3 or U1) may be made to listen to a busy tone or the like and to inform that a call cannot be made until the call is recovered. It is inconvenient to be unable to make a call, but even if the call is allowed, if the call quality is poor, the user is more likely to feel uncomfortable.
[0065]
In FIG. 1, the IP telephone exchanges 41 to 44 are provided so as to correspond one-to-one with the bases ST1 to ST4, but this is not always necessary. For example, the number of IP telephone exchanges 41 to 44 may be smaller than the number of bases ST1 to ST4.
[0066]
In addition, the IP telephone exchanges 41 to 44 may be components of each of the bases ST1 to ST4, but are usually provided as facilities on the side of a communication carrier that constructs the IP network 10.
[0067]
Further, the IP telephone exchanges 41 to 44 need not necessarily be components of the IP network 10. For example, the IP telephone exchanges 41 to 44 can be regarded as being independent of the IP network 10 in the same sense that the communication network and the common channel signaling network are independent in the ISDN network.
[0068]
Hereinafter, the operation of the present embodiment having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 shows components extracted from FIG. 1 and corresponding to a pair of the originating site and the receiving site necessary for explaining the operation of the call contact unit. It has steps.
[0069]
The originating site refers to a site having a call contact unit that requests a call setup to any other call contact unit using the call control unit 50. Conversely, the terminating site refers to this It refers to a base having a call contact part that receives a call in response to a call setting request.
[0070]
In principle, any of the bases ST1 to ST4 shown in FIG. 1 can be the originating base, and any of the bases can be the destination base. In the following, a case will be described in which the base ST1 having the call contact section 45 is a calling base and the base ST2 having the call contact section 46 is a destination base.
[0071]
In order to distinguish the components of the calling and receiving side call contact portions 45 and 46 from each other, in FIG. The reference numerals assigned to the elements have "B" at the end.
[0072]
That is, the call contact unit 45 includes the components 50A to 54A, and the call contact unit 46 includes the components 50B to 54B.
[0073]
At this time, if the call contact section 46 on the receiving side may also be on the calling side, it is necessary to equip the contact information section 54B corresponding to the contact information section 54 as a component. The contact information section 54B can be omitted as long as the contact information section 54B functions only as the receiving side. Whether or not the call contact section 46 may be the calling side depends on the specific contents of the inspection procedure.
[0074]
(A-2) Operation of the first embodiment
In the call contact section 45 in the originating base ST1, the call level analysis section 52A reads out the contents of the contact information section 54A, and according to the inspection procedure, the telephone number of the call contact section to request a call setting this time. Search for. In this case, assuming that the telephone number for which the call setting is to be performed is the telephone number NB2 indicating the communication contact unit 46 in the destination base ST2, the communication level analysis unit 52A transmits the call setting message containing the telephone number NB2 to The call is transmitted to the call setting unit 50A.
[0075]
The call setting unit 50A transmits the call setting message to the IP telephone exchange 41 (S1), a route is determined in the IP telephone exchange 41, and the call is set to the IP telephone exchange 42 as a result of the route determination. A message (for example, an IAM (Initial Address Message) message) between the requesting exchanges is transmitted (S2). The same route determination is also made in the IP telephone exchange 42 receiving this message, and as a result of the route determination, a call setting message is sent from the IP telephone exchange 42 to the call setting unit 50B in the call contact unit 42 of the destination. The request is transmitted to request a call setup (S3).
[0076]
If the IP telephone exchanges 41 and 42 have a high load on their processing capacity due to call control for a telephone call between the IP telephones, reception, transmission and route determination of these call setup messages are performed. Takes a long time, and a large connection delay may occur. However, since the call setup message is normally received and transmitted in a sufficiently short time, the route determination is performed. Therefore, the start of step S1 and the end of step S3 are performed. The time until is short enough.
[0077]
The call setting unit 50B which has received the call setting request in step S3 automatically responds and reverses the route of steps S1 to S3, that is, the call control unit 50B → the IP telephone exchange 42 → the IP telephone exchange. A response is transmitted in steps S4, S5, and S6 on the path from 41 to the call control unit 50A.
[0078]
The call contact unit 45 of the originating base measures the time from the start of the step S1 to the end of the step S6, and checks whether or not the measurement result exceeds the connection delay threshold value. It can be determined whether or not a delay has occurred.
[0079]
Regardless of the magnitude of the connection delay, when step S6 ends, the call level analysis unit 52A transmits a PB signal from the calling side PB transmission / reception unit 51A (S7). The voice data corresponding to the PB signal is accommodated in an IP packet and transmitted through a communication path constituted by devices (for example, routers 16A and 16B, switches 19A and 19B, etc.) on the IP network 10, and is usually received. Reaches the PB transmission / reception unit 51B, and is received by the PB transmission / reception unit 51B (S8).
[0080]
Along with this reception, or before and after the reception, the PB transmission / reception unit 51B transmits a PB signal (S9). The voice data corresponding to the PB signal is accommodated in an IP packet, as in step S7, and transmitted through the communication path on the IP network 10 in a direction opposite to that in steps S9 and S10. Normally, this IP packet reaches the PB transmitting / receiving section 51A on the calling side and is received by the PB transmitting / receiving section 51A (S10).
[0081]
In the communication contact unit 46 on the receiving side, the communication level analysis unit 52B determines whether or not the PB signal has arrived (received) in step S8. Check if the threshold has been exceeded.
[0082]
Similarly, also in the calling contact unit 45 on the calling side, the communication level analysis unit 52A determines whether or not the PB signal has been reached (received) in step S10. Check whether the voice delay threshold has been exceeded.
[0083]
If there is an abnormality in the call control or the communication path (misconnection, poor connection, one-way communication, or the like), both or one of the communication level analysis units 52A and 52B determines that the PB signal has not been received.
[0084]
When such an abnormality of the communication path or a large voice delay exceeding the voice delay threshold is detected, the communication level analysis unit 52A and / or 52B sends the failure notification unit 53A and / or 53B to the monitoring system 49. Make a failure notification addressed to it. Naturally, the specific contents of the failure notification may be different from each other, for example, when a large voice delay is detected, when a communication path abnormality is detected, or when a large connection delay is detected.
[0085]
Upon receiving such a failure notification, the monitoring system 49 executes the above-described automatic recovery processing and a corresponding processing such as a maintenance work request in accordance with the specific contents of the failure notification. In addition, a user (for example, U3, U1, etc.) such as an IP telephone that attempts to make a telephone call before recovery cannot listen to the busy tone and make a telephone call if necessary. May be transmitted.
[0086]
In this way, before the user makes a call, if the call control and the state of the communication path are automatically inspected and a corresponding process is performed according to the inspection result, when the user actually makes the call, Since there is a high possibility that the failure has recovered and the communication quality has recovered to a high state, it is possible to provide a high-quality and more comfortable VoIP service.
[0087]
A transmission path for the failure notification units 53A and 53B to notify the monitoring system 49 of a failure may be provided in the IP network 10, but a transmission path separate from the IP network 10 is prepared. You may. When a transmission path for failure notification is provided in the IP network 10, it is desirable to secure a dedicated bandwidth for failure notification in advance. This is to avoid a situation where the failure notification itself cannot be executed due to the congestion of the IP network 10 or the like.
[0088]
Further, here, the base ST1 is selected as the originating base and the base ST2 is selected as the destination base. However, in other combinations, the originating base and the destination base can be regularly and exhaustively selected.
[0089]
For example, it is also possible to request the same call setting from the base ST1 to the call contact units 47 and 48 of the bases ST3 and ST4 to check the call control and the state of the communication path.
[0090]
(A-3) Effects of the first embodiment
As described above, in the present embodiment, it is possible to automatically inspect the call control and the state of the communication path, which were difficult in the past.
[0091]
In addition, if a predetermined corresponding process is executed according to the inspection result, a high-quality and more comfortable VoIP service can be provided to the user (for example, U3).
[0092]
(B) Second embodiment
Hereinafter, only the points of the present embodiment that are different from the first embodiment will be described.
[0093]
In the first embodiment, the communication path is closed inside the IP network 10, but the communication path in the present embodiment can be set to extend from the IP network 10 to the public telephone network 11. Accordingly, transmission / reception of a call control message (control signal) for call control extends to the public telephone network 11 side.
[0094]
(B-1) Configuration and Operation of Second Embodiment
FIG. 5 shows an overall configuration example of the VoIP network 70 of the present embodiment.
[0095]
5, components corresponding to those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals 10, 41 to 44, 45 to 48, 49, and ST1 to ST4 as those in FIG. 1, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.
[0096]
The public telephone network 11 may be a network such as a mobile telephone network, but is assumed to be an ISDN network in the present embodiment. The ISDN network 11 is connected to the IP network 10 via VoIP gateway devices 21 and 22. In contrast to the extension telephone network service, a VoIP service connected to the public telephone network in this way is called a public network service (IP relay telephone service).
[0097]
Although the bases ST1 to ST3 of the present embodiment are housed in the IP network 10 as in the first embodiment, the base ST4 is housed in the ISDN network 11.
[0098]
Therefore, in the case of the present embodiment, the internal configuration of the base ST4 is different from the above-described FIG. 11, and is configured by an ISDN-compatible telephone, an analog telephone, and the like. However, the call contact section 48 is also provided at the base ST4.
[0099]
In the present embodiment, the operation when call control is performed between the call contact units 45 to 47 of the bases ST1 to ST3 accommodated in the IP network 10 is exactly the same as that of the first embodiment. In the case where call control is performed between any one of the communication contact units 45 to 47 of the ISDN network 11 and the communication contact unit 48 of the base station ST4 accommodated in the ISDN network 11, the common line signal of the ISDN network 11 is used to transmit the call control message. They differ in that a net is interposed.
[0100]
Since all telephones in the base ST4, including the telephone contact section 48, are accommodated in one local exchange (not shown) in the ISDN network 11, one of the telephone contact sections 45 to 47 receives the telephone from the base ST4. When a call setting is requested from the call contact unit 48, the call setting message is delivered to the IP telephone exchange 44 via the IP telephone exchange 41 and the like, and further transmitted from the IP telephone exchange 44 to a signal relay station (not shown). (STP) and the like, and are delivered to the local exchange, and reach the call control unit 50 of the telephone contact unit 48 from the local exchange.
[0101]
Then, when the call control unit 50 of the call contact unit 48 responds to the call setting message, the response message is transmitted on the reverse route.
[0102]
The transmission and reception of the PB signal is different in that a communication network of the ISDN network 11 is interposed.
[0103]
That is, when a PB signal is transmitted from any of the call contact units 45 to 47 to the call contact unit 48 of the base ST4, an IP packet containing voice data corresponding to the PB signal is transmitted to a switch or router on the IP network 10. Is transmitted to the VoIP gateway device 21 or 22, and the VoIP gateway device 21 or 22 converts the voice data extracted from the IP packet into a signal corresponding to the ISDN, and transmits the signal to the ISDN network 11, and sends the signal to the ISDN network 11. The data is delivered from the local exchange to the PB transmission / reception unit 51 of the communication contact unit 48 via the communication network of the network 11.
[0104]
When the PB signal is transmitted from the PB transmission / reception unit 51 of the call contact unit 48, the PB signal is transmitted on the opposite path. Of course, the VoIP gateway device 21 or 22 on the way converts the PB signal into voice data and performs processing for accommodating the data in the IP packet.
[0105]
In this case, the communication path set between any of the communication contact units 45 to 47 and the communication contact unit 48 extends from the IP network 10 to the ISDN network 11.
[0106]
However, excluding these points, also in the present embodiment, it is possible to automatically check the call control and the state of the communication path as in the first embodiment.
[0107]
Here, all the telephones at the base ST4 are assumed to be accommodated in the ISDN (public telephone network) 11, but some telephones at the base ST4 are accommodated in the public telephone network 11 and other telephones are connected to the IP network. Needless to say, it is also possible to accommodate them in the apparatus 10.
[0108]
When the operation of the present embodiment as described above is expressed in the same format as in FIG. 4 described above, for example, it is as shown in FIG.
[0109]
However, in FIG. 6, the reference numerals given to the components of the communication contact section 48 are suffixed with “D” instead of “B”.
[0110]
(B-2) Effects of the second embodiment
As described above, in the present embodiment, under the condition that the bases are distributed and arranged on the public telephone network (11) side and the IP network (10) side, an effect equivalent to the effect of the first embodiment is obtained. be able to.
[0111]
(C) Third embodiment
In the following, only differences between the present embodiment and the first and second embodiments will be described.
[0112]
The present embodiment proposes a specific example that is preferable for performing an exhaustive inspection on the above-described inspection procedure that is not always clear in the first and second embodiments.
[0113]
When a plurality of bases that can be the originating bases are prepared and the call contact section of each originating base asynchronously transmits a call setup message, etc., collisions of incoming calls may occur. May not be able to be performed normally.
[0114]
Therefore, in the present embodiment, only one caller site (caller contact portion of the caller) is selected at the same time according to the inspection procedure, and the caller site (caller contact portion of the caller) to be selected is cyclically selected. By changing it, an exhaustive inspection is realized.
[0115]
(C-1) Configuration and Operation of Third Embodiment
As the overall configuration of the VoIP network of the present embodiment, the VoIP network 40 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 can be used, but here, the VoIP network of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 5 is used. It is assumed that the network 70 is used.
[0116]
Further, in the present embodiment, in order to select a caller-side call contact unit, the contact information unit 54 of each of the call contact units 45 to 47 that can be a caller-side call contact unit includes, for example, each of the contacts shown in FIG. A number correspondence table TB1 in which identifiers of the call contact sections 45 to 47 (here, telephone numbers are assumed) and circulation numbers (1 to 3) are stored in association with each other is stored.
[0117]
In FIG. 7, the cyclic number of the telephone contact section 45 of the telephone number NB1 is 1, the cyclic number of the telephone contact section 46 of the telephone number NB2 is 2, and the cyclic number of the telephone contact section 47 of the telephone number NB3 is 3.
[0118]
One outgoing call contact section (e.g., 45) requests all other call contact sections (here, 46 to 48) to set up one call at a time, and so on, thereby making all of the incoming call contact sections (46). ４８48), the call control and the state of the communication path are checked. When this check is completed, the calling party contact section (here, 45) searches the number correspondence table TB1 and finds the telephone number (here, corresponding to the circulation number 2) associated with its own next circulation number. A predetermined circulation notification is transmitted to the call contact part (46) of the attached telephone number NB2).
[0119]
The cyclic notification is a message that notifies the call contact unit that has received the notification that the authority to be the calling call contact unit has been delegated.
[0120]
Therefore, upon receiving the circulation notification, the call contact unit 46, which was one of the called-side call contact units last time, operates as the calling-side call contact unit this time, and requests call setting one by one. As a result, the call control and the state of the call path are performed between all the other call contact portions 45, 47, and 48.
[0121]
When the call contact section 46 finishes this inspection, the same operation is thereafter cyclically repeated as shown in FIG.
[0122]
If such an operation is repeated cyclically, the call control or the abnormality of the communication path may be detected in any of the communication contact portions.
[0123]
For example, in the test when the call contact part 45 of the circulation number 1 is the calling side call contact part, the call control and the abnormality of the communication path may be detected with respect to the call contact part 46 of the circulation number 2. In this case, even if the circulation notification is simply transmitted to the telephone contact unit 46 according to the number correspondence table TB1, the possibility that the telephone contact unit 46 can normally perform the inspection as the calling telephone contact unit is low, In some cases, the cyclic delegation of the right to be the calling side call contact unit may be stagnated at the call contact unit 46, and therefore, as an example, no call control or call path abnormality is detected. The call contact section corresponding to the circulation number closest to the call contact section 46 (here, the circulation number 3) from the call contact sections. Here, the 47), may be transmitted circulation notification.
[0124]
Further, the transmission line for transmitting the circulation notification may be provided in the IP network 10 like the transmission line for performing the failure notification, but a transmission line separate from the IP network 10 is prepared. You may. When a transmission path for transmitting the circulation notification is provided in the IP network 10, it is also desirable to secure a band dedicated to the circulation notification in advance. This is to avoid a situation where the circulation notification cannot be transmitted due to the congestion of the IP network 10 or the like.
[0125]
In the present embodiment, as described above, the telephone contact section 48 of the base ST4 accommodated in the public telephone network 11 does not become the calling telephone contact section as described above. Since the system of telephone numbers assigned to the contact units (including, for example, 45 to 47) is not global, the telephone on the public telephone network 11 side (here, the call contact unit 48) is connected to the telephone on the IP network 10 side. This is because it is difficult to make a call.
[0126]
Therefore, for example, when the VoIP network 40 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is used, all of the call contact units 45 to 48 can be caller-side call contact units, and the global telephone When the system of numbers is prepared, in the VoIP network 70 shown in FIG. 5, the call contact unit 48 can be a call contact unit on the calling side.
[0127]
(C-2) Effects of the third embodiment
According to the present embodiment, it is possible to obtain the same effects as the effects of the first and second embodiments.
[0128]
In addition, in the present embodiment, it is possible to guarantee efficient and comprehensive execution of the call control and the check of the state of the communication path for the entire VoIP network.
[0129]
(D) Fourth embodiment
Hereinafter, only the points in which the present embodiment is different from the first to third embodiments will be described.
[0130]
In the present embodiment, each of the call contact units 45 to 48 accumulates, as log information, the results of an inspection on the call control and the state of the call path, and in response to a request from the monitoring system 49 (or voluntarily). ), The log information can be transmitted to the monitoring system 49.
[0131]
(D-1) Configuration and Operation of Fourth Embodiment
The overall configuration example of the VoIP network of the present embodiment may be the overall configuration of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 or the overall configuration of the second embodiment shown in FIG.
[0132]
FIG. 9 shows an example of the internal configuration of the communication contact portions 45 to 48 of the present embodiment.
[0133]
9, components corresponding to the communication contact portions 45 to 48 of the first to third embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals 50, 51, 52, 53, and 54 as those in FIG. 12, and detailed description thereof is omitted. .
[0134]
The log information section 55 stores log information in a format such as a log table TB2 shown in FIG. In the log table TB2, a record of communication such as transmission, reception, transmission and reception of a PB signal is stored as log information together with time information (time information) at which the operation was performed.
[0135]
Specifically, in FIG. 10, in the log table TB2, as a log of the outgoing call, each of a destination number (destination telephone number), a transmission time, a PB signal transmission time, a transmission PB signal type, and a disconnection time is stored. Accumulates data items.
[0136]
In addition, as the log of the incoming call, data items such as a source number (source telephone number), a receiving time, a PB signal receiving time, a received PB signal type, and a disconnection time are stored.
[0137]
Upon receiving a log information acquisition request (read request) from the monitoring system 49, the communication interface unit (communication I / F unit) 56 reads a specific value of each data item of the log table TB2 and transmits the read value to the monitoring system 49. It is.
[0138]
Since the value of the log table TB2 stored in each of the communication contact portions 45 to 48 is only a result of the inspection as viewed from each of the communication contact portions, a plurality of communication contact portions are required to accurately capture the entire image of the abnormality. It is highly likely that it is necessary to comprehensively analyze the value of the log table TB2. When the necessity of such comprehensive analysis is recognized, it is preferable that the log information acquisition request be transmitted from the monitoring system 49 to a plurality of corresponding call contact units.
[0139]
The transmission path for transmitting the log information acquisition request and the specific value of the log table TB2 transmitted to the monitoring system 49 in response to the log information acquisition request is the same as the transmission path of the failure notification. It is also desirable to use a separate transmission path or to secure a dedicated band in the IP network 10.
[0140]
If necessary, even if the log information acquisition request is not received, the specific value of the log table TB2 may be spontaneously transmitted to the monitoring system 49 based on the judgment of the call contact unit. .
[0141]
(D-2) Effects of the fourth embodiment
According to the present embodiment, the same effects as those of the first and second embodiments can be obtained.
[0142]
In addition, in the present embodiment, the monitoring system (49) can accurately capture the entire image of the abnormality based on the value of the log table (TB2) supplied from each call contact unit.
[0143]
Thus, for example, it is possible to calculate the delay time in the VoIP network by specifying the corresponding (outgoing / incoming) call log from the destination number and the source number, and comparing the contents of the log information. .
[0144]
In addition, by accurately capturing the entire image of the abnormality, the monitoring system can execute more appropriate response processing.
[0145]
(E) Other embodiments
In the first embodiment, the contact information section 54 stores a telephone number (or an IP address) as an identifier. However, other identifiers can be used as necessary. For example, a domain name (FQDN) can be used.
[0146]
Further, in the first to fourth embodiments, after the call is established, the test is performed until the quality of the communication path, such as the voice delay, is checked. May be ended.
[0147]
Furthermore, in the above-described first to fourth embodiments, one call contact unit is disposed at each site to check the call control and the state of the communication path between the sites. It is possible to inspect the call control and the state of the communication path. However, in this case, it is naturally necessary to arrange a plurality of call contact sections in one base. When the size of the base is large, it is effective to arrange a plurality of call contact sections in one base.
[0148]
In the call contact units of the first to fourth embodiments, as shown in FIG. 12 and the like, a call control unit (50), a PB transmission / reception unit (51), a call level analysis unit (52), a failure notification unit (53) Although these are shown separately, they show logical functions and do not limit the hardware / software configuration in implementation.
[0149]
Similarly, in the third embodiment, as the data items of the number correspondence table TB1 stored in the contact information section 54, two items, a circulation number and a telephone number, are provided, but this is an example of a schema. Yes, it does not limit the software configuration on implementation. It is also possible to use a database other than the relational database for the contact information section 54.
[0150]
The network configuration according to the second embodiment shown in FIG. 5 can be easily extended to a public-private network configuration.
[0151]
Further, the IP networks according to the first to fourth embodiments can be replaced with other data communication networks. As an example, it can be replaced with a frame relay network or the like.
[0152]
Further, since the characteristic parts of the third embodiment and the characteristic parts of the fourth embodiment do not have a trade-off relationship, it is possible to make both coexist in the same VoIP network.
[0153]
In the above description, the present invention is mainly realized by hardware, but the present invention can also be realized by software.
[0154]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to automatically determine the state of the communication channel, which has been difficult in the past.
[0155]
This facilitates, for example, providing a high-quality VoIP service.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the overall configuration of a VoIP network according to a first embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of a conventional VoIP network.
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration example of a network management system in a conventional VoIP network.
FIG. 4 is an operation explanatory diagram of the first embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of a VoIP network according to the second and third embodiments.
FIG. 6 is an operation explanatory diagram of the second embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of an overall configuration of a VoIP network according to a third embodiment.
FIG. 8 is an operation explanatory diagram of the third embodiment.
FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration example of a main part of a call contact unit used in a fourth embodiment.
FIG. 10 is an operation explanatory diagram of the fourth embodiment.
FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an internal configuration of a base used in the first to fourth embodiments.
FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration example of a main part of a call contact unit used in the first to third embodiments.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... IP network, 11 ... Public telephone network, 14, 25, 41-44 ... IP telephone exchange, 45-48 ... Call contact part, 21, 22, 61 ... VoIP gateway device, 40, 70 ... VoIP network, 49 ... Monitoring system, 25, 27, 62, 63: IP telephone, 50, 50A, 50B: Call control unit, 51, 51A, 51B: PB transmission / reception unit, 52, 52A, 52B: Call level analysis unit, 53, 53A, 53B ... Failure notification unit, 54, 54A, 54B... Contact information unit, 60... Router, ST1 to ST4.

Claims (6)

In a voice communication system that performs voice communication on a predetermined data communication network connecting a plurality of bases,
Each of the bases is provided with a communication path inspection agent means,
The channel check agent means,
A call setup requesting unit for automatically requesting a call setup between the call path inspection agent means of another base,
A call setting response unit that automatically responds to a call setting request supplied from the call path inspection agent means at another base and establishes a call path between itself and another call path inspection agent means;
A voice communication system comprising: a communication channel state determination unit that automatically determines a state of the communication channel. The voice communication system according to claim 1,
The communication path state determination unit,
By monitoring the operation of the call setting request unit and the call setting response unit, determine the normality of the establishment of the communication path, or,
Monitoring the quality of the sound signal received by the sound signal transmitting and receiving unit of the own channel inspection agent means, or whether the sound signal was received, to determine the state of the channel,
When the channel state determination unit determines the quality of the sound signal or the presence or absence of reception, each of the channel inspection agent means,
An audio communication system comprising the sound signal transmitting / receiving unit for transmitting a predetermined sound signal bidirectionally through the established communication path. The voice communication system according to claim 1,
Providing a gateway device for connecting the data communication network to an existing public telephone network,
The voice communication system, wherein the communication path is set so as to cover the data communication network and the public telephone network with the gateway device interposed. The voice communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
One call path inspection agent means selected from an agent set having each call path inspection agent means provided at each of the bases as request agent means for requesting the call setting,
Requesting call setup from the requesting agent means, regarding the communication path established with the response agent means, which is another element in the agent set, regarding the normality of the establishment of the communication path and / or the A voice communication system wherein a state is determined, and when this determination is completed between all response agent means, selection of the request agent means is changed to another call path inspection agent means of the agent set. The voice communication system according to claim 1 or 2,
Each said communication path inspection agent means,
A log information storage unit that stores log information related to the determination result of the communication path state determination unit,
And a log information providing unit for transmitting log information stored in the log information storage unit in response to a request from a predetermined monitoring center device. In a voice communication system in a base that performs voice communication on a predetermined data communication network,
The base is provided with a plurality of call path inspection agent means,
The channel check agent means,
A call setup requesting unit for automatically requesting a call setup with another channel check agent means;
A call setting response unit that automatically responds to a call setting request supplied from another channel inspection agent means and establishes a communication path between itself and the other channel inspection agent means;
A voice communication system comprising: a communication channel state determination unit that automatically determines a state of the communication channel.

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