JP2005311741A - Terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a terminal capable of avoiding a disadvantage of a disabled speech and ensuring stable communication even when a load is concentrated on a particular gateway apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: Each of the terminals (30, 31 or the like) connected to a network (10) by way of a gateway apparatus and making a speech with an opposite terminal by using the Internet protocol includes: a connection destination setting means for setting one gateway apparatus selected for a connection destination among a plurality of connectable gateway apparatuses (20, 21 or the like); a connection processing means for making connection to the one gateway apparatus set by the connection destination setting means to carry out prescribed communication processing; and a connection propriety discrimination means for discriminating whether or not the connection processing means is connectable to the one gateway apparatus, and when the connection propriety discrimination means discriminates that the connection to the one gateway apparatus is disabled, the connection destination setting means sets another gateway apparatus as a connection destination of a succeeding object. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for providing a communication service such as a telephone call using an IP (Internet Protocol) network.

  In recent years, a technology for performing a voice call using the Internet protocol (IP) has attracted attention and has begun to spread. Such a call technology is often often referred to as an “IP phone”. In this IP phone, a voice signal corresponding to the voice uttered by a speaker is converted into digital data, subjected to a predetermined compression process, packetized, and transmitted to a callee via a network. Then, at the call destination, an analog audio signal is restored using the received packet, and audio output is performed. A technique for transmitting and receiving audio data using such an Internet protocol is called VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol). Prior art relating to IP telephones is described in documents such as Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-177577 (Patent Document 1).

JP 2001-177777 A

  In a usage environment in which a relatively large number of IP phones are installed in a LAN (Local Area Network) environment in a company or the like, a gateway device that mediates connection processing when a terminal device such as an IP phone is connected to the network is installed on the LAN. There may be multiple installations. Thereby, it is possible to distribute the load applied to each gateway device by dividing the terminal devices to which the gateway devices should mediate connection processing. However, depending on the usage status of each terminal device, a load may be concentrated on a specific gateway device, and there may be a problem that a part of the terminal device associated with the gateway device cannot temporarily make a call.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a terminal device that can avoid the inconvenience that a call cannot be made even when a load is concentrated on a specific gateway device, and can ensure stable communication.

  The present invention is a terminal device that is mediated by a gateway device to connect to a network and makes a call with a counterpart device using the Internet protocol, and is a connection destination among a plurality of connectable gateway devices. A connection destination setting means for setting one gateway device, a connection processing means for connecting to the one gateway device set by the connection destination setting means and performing a predetermined communication process, and for the one gateway device Connection determination unit for determining whether or not the connection processing unit is connectable. When the connection determination unit determines that one gateway device cannot be connected, the connection destination setting unit Another gateway device is set as the connection destination of the next candidate.

  With such a configuration, when the load is concentrated on a specific gateway device and connection is temporarily impossible, the next candidate connection destination gateway device is set and connection is attempted, so it is temporarily impossible to make a call. Inconvenience can be avoided as much as possible. Therefore, stable communication can be ensured.

  In addition, it is preferable to further include storage means for storing a list of unique identification numbers corresponding to each of the plurality of connectable gateway devices.

  By referring to the list, the processing when changing and setting the gateway device of the connection destination becomes easy. Further, when a change occurs in the connectable gateway device, it is possible to cope with it by rewriting this list.

  When setting one gateway device as the connection destination described above, it is preferable to adopt the following method, for example. That is, a unique identification number is assigned to each of a plurality of gateway devices and terminal devices, and the connection destination setting means uses the identification number assigned to the terminal device (own device) as one gateway device to be connected. It is preferable to obtain the number of remainders when dividing by the number of the plurality of gateway devices and to set the number having an identification number that matches the number of the remainders.

  As a result, the number of terminal devices to be shared by each gateway device is equalized, and the load can be distributed.

  Further, when setting another gateway device as the connection destination of the next candidate, it is preferable to adopt the following method, for example. That is, a unique identification number is assigned to each of the plurality of gateway devices and terminal devices, and the connection destination setting unit determines whether the next candidate connection destination is connected when one gateway device set as the connection destination is not connectable. As another gateway device to be performed, a device having an identification number obtained by adding 1 to the identification number of the one gateway device may be set.

  As a result, the gateway device as the connection destination of the next candidate can be easily set.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to avoid the inconvenience that a call cannot be made even when a load is concentrated on a specific gateway device, and to ensure stable communication.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an IP telephone system including a terminal device according to an embodiment to which the present invention is applied. The IP telephone system shown in FIG. 1 is for providing a voice call service using IP network technology, and includes a network 10, a plurality of gateway devices (GW) 20, 21, 22, 23, a plurality of terminal devices ( (TE) 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36,... As illustrated, each gateway device 20 and the like are connected to the network 10. The gateway devices 20 and the like and the terminal devices 30 and the like are connected to each other via a LAN (Local Area Network) or the like.

  The network 10 is for performing communication using the Internet protocol, and is managed and operated by an operator (so-called carrier) of the IP telephone service. Examples of such a network 10 include various types such as a dedicated IP network prepared by each organization such as a company, a public IP telephone network, an ISP / CATV, a general subscriber telephone network, and a data / voice integrated IP network. Any one of them can be considered.

  Each gateway device 20 or the like mediates a connection between the network 10 and the terminal device 30 and the like, and performs call control and call disconnect processing when establishing communication, creation of an IP packet during a call, etc. Process that includes. Each gateway device 20 and the like share several terminal devices 30 and the like.

  The operation of the gateway device will be described by taking as an example a case where the gateway device 20 and the terminal device 30 are associated with each other. For example, by using an input unit (not shown) of the terminal device 30, a telephone number consisting of a number string of several digits is input in a format such as “050-ΔΔΔΔ- □□□□”. When sent from the terminal device 30 to the gateway device 20, the gateway device 20 sends the telephone number to a telephone number management server (not shown). Here, the “telephone number management server” stores a correspondence table between telephone numbers and IP addresses, and notifies the gateway device of an IP address corresponding to the designated telephone number in response to an inquiry from the gateway device. The one that bears the function. When an IP address (for example, “123.456.789.987” or the like) associated with the telephone number is notified from the telephone number management server, the gateway device 20 performs communication according to the notified IP address. A partner device (not shown) is specified, and a call control signal is sent to the partner device. Further, the gateway device 20 performs a process for continuing this communication after becoming communicable. For example, the gateway device 20 generates an IP packet corresponding to the voice signal output from the terminal device 30 in response to the voice uttered by the speaker, and transmits the IP packet to the network 10 or the IP sent from the partner device. A process of converting the packet into an audio signal or the like and outputting it to the terminal device 30 is performed.

  When the terminal device 30 or the like can input / output digital voice data, the gateway device 20 or the like generates an IP packet using the voice data sent from the terminal device 30 or the like, or sends it from the other party. Voice data is extracted from the received IP packet, and the voice data is output to the terminal device 30 or the like.

  Each terminal device 30 or the like is for communicating with a counterpart device (not shown) connected to each other via the network 10. Examples of the terminal device 30 include various types such as a general analog telephone, an IP telephone, an IP telephone virtually implemented by executing a predetermined program on a personal computer (PC), a portable telephone, and the like. Can be considered.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of each terminal device 30 and the like. In FIG. 2, attention is paid to functions related to the present invention in the terminal device 30, and they are expressed by function blocks. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the terminal device 30 includes a voice input / output unit 130, an operation unit 131, a display unit 132, a connection processing unit 133, and a control unit 134. The other terminal devices 31 and the like have the same configuration as the terminal device 30 shown in FIG.

  The voice input / output unit 130 converts the voice of the user (speaker) into a voice signal during a call and sends the voice signal to the control unit 134 or a voice signal sent from the control unit 134 (voice signal corresponding to the voice of the other party) It carries out the function to perform audio output based on the above. As the voice input / output unit 130, for example, a handset (handset), a combination of a microphone and a headset, or other various types can be considered.

  The operation unit 131 is used for a user to input various operation instructions necessary for a call, and includes, for example, a numeric keypad and other various operation keys.

  The display unit 132 is for displaying an operation state of the terminal device 30 (for example, a telephone number input using the operation unit 131).

  The connection processing unit 133 connects to any one of the gateway devices 20 and the like, cooperates with the gateway device 20 to connect the terminal devices 30 and the like to the network 10, and performs predetermined communication processing. The processing includes call connection processing, call disconnection processing, and transfer control processing.

  The control unit 134 controls the overall operation of the terminal device 30, and includes a connection gateway (GW) setting unit 135, a connection availability determination unit 136, and a gateway (GW) list storage unit 137. Here, the control unit 133 according to the present embodiment is realized by executing a predetermined program on a computer including, for example, a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like, and combining other hardware as necessary.

  The connection GW setting unit 135 performs processing for setting one gateway device as a connection destination from among a plurality of connectable gateway devices 20 and the like. In the present embodiment, the gateway devices that are the default (initial setting) connection destinations of the terminal devices 30 and the like are set in a distributed manner so that the load is not biased among the gateway devices 20 and the like. . During normal operation, the connection GW setting unit 135 sets the default gateway device as a connection destination. In addition, the connection GW setting unit 135 performs processing for setting the next candidate gateway device as a connection destination when the connection to the default gateway device is not possible. If the next candidate gateway device is also unable to be connected, the connection GW setting unit 135 further sets the next candidate gateway device. Whether to connect to the gateway device is determined by the connection determination unit 136. The method for selecting the next candidate gateway will be described later.

  The connection availability determination unit 136 monitors the operation status of the connection processing unit 133, and determines whether the connection processing unit 133 is connectable to one gateway device set as a connection destination by the connection GW setting unit 135. judge. The determination result is notified to the connection GW setting unit 135.

  The GW list storage unit 137 stores a list related to identification numbers of a plurality of connectable gateway devices 20 and the like. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining an example of a list stored in the GW list storage unit 137. As in the example illustrated in FIG. 3, each gateway device is assigned a unique identification number (GWID). For example, the gateway device 20 has a GWID “0”. The connection GW setting unit 135 described above refers to the list stored in the GW list storage unit 137 and sets a gateway device to be a connection destination.

  Here, the combination of each terminal device 30 and the like and the gateway device each of which is the default connection destination can be arbitrarily determined as long as the load is not concentrated on a specific gateway device. As an example, a default gateway device setting method in this embodiment will be described below.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram for describing a default gateway device setting method. As in the example shown in FIG. 4, each terminal device is assigned a unique identification number (terminal ID). For example, the terminal ID of the terminal device 30 is “0”, and the terminal ID of the terminal device 31 is “1”. At this time, in this embodiment, if the number of gateway devices that can be connected (in this example, 4) is N, each of the terminal devices 30 and the like is the remaining number when its terminal ID is divided by N. A gateway device having a GWID that matches (modulo N) is set as a default connection destination. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the modulo N for the terminal device 32 is 2 (2 ÷ 4 = 0, remainder 2), and therefore the connection GW setting unit 135 of the terminal device 32 determines the identification number corresponding to the modulo N. Is set as a default connection destination. Similarly, as shown in FIG. 4, the modulo N for the terminal device 35 is 1 (5 ÷ 4 = 1, remainder 1), so the connection GW setting unit 135 of the terminal device 35 identifies the modulo N. The gateway device 21 having the number is set as a default connection destination. By such a method, the number of terminal devices that each gateway device should share is equalized and the load is distributed. Each terminal device 30 or the like basically connects to a default gateway device, and when the connection is impossible, sets the next candidate connection destination and tries to connect to the next candidate gateway device. With such a technique, the load on each gateway device is distributed.

  The connection GW setting unit 135 described above corresponds to the connection destination setting unit, the connection processing unit 133 corresponds to the connection processing unit, the connection availability determination unit 136 corresponds to the connection availability determination unit, and the GW list storage unit 137 corresponds to the storage unit. .

  The IP telephone system and the terminal device of the present embodiment have such a configuration, and the operation contents of the terminal device will be described in more detail next. For example, the terminal device 30 will be described as an example, but the same applies to the other terminal devices 31 and the like.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart (flow chart) for explaining the operation procedure of the terminal device 30. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a specific example of a change status of a gateway device as a connection destination.

  When a predetermined outgoing operation is performed via the operation unit 131, the connection GW setting unit 135 in the control unit 134 refers to the list stored in the GW list storage unit 137, and serves as a default connection destination gateway. A device is set (step S100). As described above, in the present embodiment, the default gateway device corresponding to the terminal device 30 is the gateway device 20 (see FIG. 6A).

  When the default gateway device of the connection destination is set, the connection processing unit 133 tries to connect to the gateway device. At this time, the connection possibility determination unit 136 in the control unit 134 determines whether or not the connection processing unit 133 is connectable to the default gateway device (step S101). If the connection is not possible, a negative determination (NO) is made in step S101, and the connection availability determination unit 136 notifies the connection GW setting unit 135 to that effect.

  The connection GW setting unit 135 that has received the notification from the connection possibility determination unit 136 sets a gateway device as a connection destination of the next candidate (step S102). Here, as a method for selecting the next candidate gateway device, various methods can be adopted as long as a device other than the default gateway device is set. For example, in this embodiment, a gateway device having an identification number obtained by adding 1 to the identification number of the default gateway device is selected as the next candidate. In this example, since the identification number of the default gateway device 20 is “0”, the gateway device 21 having the identification number “1” increased by 1 is set as the next candidate (see FIG. 6B). ).

  When the next candidate gateway device is set, the connection processing unit 133 tries to connect to the gateway device. At this time, the connection determination unit 136 determines whether or not the connection processing unit 133 can connect to the next candidate gateway device (step S103). If the connection is not possible, a negative determination (NO) is made in step S103, and the connection availability determination unit 136 notifies the connection GW setting unit 135 to that effect.

  In this case, the process returns to step S102 described above, and the connection GW setting unit 135 sets the gateway device that is the connection destination of the next candidate again. In the example described above, since the identification number of the next candidate gateway apparatus 21 set in advance is “1” (see FIG. 3), the gateway apparatus 22 having the identification number “2” obtained by incrementing this by 1 is further added. Set as the next candidate. Thereafter, the determination process (step S103) by the connectability determination unit 136 is performed in the same manner as described above.

  In the process of step S102, if the identification number of the gateway device at the connection destination at that time has reached the upper limit and setting of the next candidate cannot be performed by increasing the identification number, the lower limit of the identification number is reached. Returning, the gateway device corresponding to the identification number is set as the next candidate. For example, in this example, when connection to the gateway device corresponding to the upper limit identification number “3” is impossible, the gateway device corresponding to the lower limit identification number “0” is set as the next candidate as the next candidate. The

  Further, in step S103 described above, when the connection determination unit 136 makes a positive determination (YES) that the connection to the next candidate gateway device is possible, the connection processing unit 133 determines that the next candidate gateway device is connected. A connection process is performed on (step S104). Thereafter, the connection processing unit 133 and the control unit 134 cooperate to connect to the network 10 via any gateway device set as a connection destination, and a predetermined communication process is performed (step S105).

  If the connection to the default gateway device is possible (in the case of an affirmative determination) in step 101 described above, connection processing to the default gateway device is performed (step S106). Thereafter, the process proceeds to step 105, and a predetermined communication process is performed.

  As described above, in this embodiment, when the load is concentrated on a specific gateway device and connection is temporarily impossible, the gateway device of the next candidate connection destination is set and connection is attempted. Therefore, it is possible to avoid the inconvenience that the telephone call cannot be made. Therefore, stable communication can be ensured.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the content of embodiment mentioned above, A various deformation | transformation implementation is possible within the scope of the summary of this invention.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the gateway device having the GWID that matches the number of remainders (modulo N) when the terminal ID is divided by N is set as the default connection destination. This is an example, and the default gateway device setting method is not limited to this.

  Further, the setting method of the next candidate gateway device is not limited to the example in which the above-described identification number is increased by 1. For example, it may be increased by 2, may be decreased by 1, or other various types. Techniques can be adopted.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the IP telephone system containing the terminal device of one Embodiment to which this invention is applied. It is a figure which shows the detailed structure of a terminal device. It is a figure explaining an example of the list memorized by a GW list storage part. It is a figure for demonstrating the setting method of a default gateway apparatus. It is a flowchart (flow diagram) explaining the operation | movement procedure of a terminal device. It is a figure explaining the specific example about the change condition of the gateway apparatus made into a connection destination.

Explanation of symbols

10: Network 20, 21, 22, 23: Gateway device 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36: Terminal device 130: Voice input / output unit 131: Operation unit 132: Display unit 133: Connection processing unit 134: Control unit 135: Connection gateway (GW) setting unit 136: Connection availability determination unit 137: Gateway (GW) list storage unit

Claims (4)

A terminal device for connecting to a network mediated by a gateway device and performing a call with a partner device using an Internet protocol,
Connection destination setting means for setting one gateway device as a connection destination from a plurality of connectable gateway devices;
Connection processing means for connecting to the one gateway device set by the connection destination setting means and performing a predetermined communication process;
Connection determination unit for determining whether or not the connection processing unit is connectable to the one gateway device,
The connection destination setting unit is a terminal device configured to set another gateway device as a next candidate connection destination when the connection possibility determination unit determines that the one gateway device is not connectable.   The terminal device according to claim 1, further comprising storage means for storing a list of identification numbers unique to each of the plurality of connectable gateway devices. Each of the plurality of gateway devices and the terminal device has a unique identification number,
The connection destination setting means obtains the number of remainders when the identification number assigned to the terminal device is divided by the number of the plurality of gateway devices as the one gateway device as a connection destination, and the number of the remainders The terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the terminal device having an identification number that coincides with the terminal is set. Each of the plurality of gateway devices and the terminal device has a unique identification number,
The connection destination setting means, when the one gateway device cannot be connected, identifies the other gateway device as the next candidate connection destination by adding 1 to the identification number of the one gateway device. The terminal device according to claim 1, wherein a terminal having a number is set.

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