JP3498464B2 - Communication method - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication device connected to a digital circuit network having an information channel and a control channel.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, with the development of digital communication technology, for example, ISDN (Integr
The use of the ated service digital network is widespread. Among the supplementary services provided by ISDN, there is a service called a call transfer service. This service is
When the transfer source wants to transfer a call received from the caller to another party, the call can be transferred from the transfer source to the target transfer destination by exchanging information between the transfer source and the network. is there.

However, in the current ISDN call transfer service, the user / user information (hereinafter referred to as UUI) sent from the sender to the transfer source is not transferred from the transfer source to the transfer destination. . This UUI uses the call control protocol of the control channel (D channel),
The data is a maximum of 128 octets (1 octet is 8 bits). UUI enables communication at low cost and can be effectively used when sending a small amount of data frequently.

Therefore, as described above, when a UUI is included in the call, it is highly possible that the UUI contains very important information regarding the communication.
If you use the call transfer service provided by
Will not be delivered to the forwarding destination, and there is a very big problem that very important information is missing.

Further, the sender cannot know the fact that the UUI sent by the sender is not sent to the transfer destination (strictly speaking, there is a high possibility that the call has been transferred). Therefore, it may be misleading that the information sent as UUI has reached the intended recipient.

That is, in some cases, the communication forwarded to the incoming call is substantially insufficient communication, and the communication time and communication cost may be wasted.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In consideration of the above facts, an object of the present invention is to obtain a communication method for reliably transferring a UUI which is not transferred by a call transfer service to a transfer destination.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 uses a communication device connected to a digital circuit network having an information channel and a control channel to perform call transfer. A communication method to be performed , which is a call setup message (SETU
P) is received by the transfer source, it is determined whether or not this SETUP includes user / user information (UUI).
Is included, the presence or absence of the call transfer is determined based on the type of data on the information channel, and when the call transfer is performed, the data including the UUI is once received by the transfer source. After the communication from the transmission source to the transfer source is completed, the transfer source makes another call to a predetermined transfer destination, and the transfer source receives and stores from the transmission source.
The data, including the UUI, add the UUI transfer source is generated
The feature is that it is sent to the transfer destination .

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the transfer source transfers the call received from the transmission source to the transfer destination, whether or not the SETUP received from the transmission source includes UUI is determined. Is determined. When the UUI is included, it is further determined whether the received call is data communication. If the UUI exists in the SETUP and it is determined that the received call is data communication, it is determined that the UUI needs to be transferred to the transfer destination. When it is determined that the UUI needs to be transferred, the transfer source receives the UUI and the data from the transmission source, accumulates the UUI and the data in the transfer source memory, and ends the communication with the transmission source. After the end of communication, the transfer source calls the transfer destination again, and the transfer source stores the data including the UUI stored in the memory.
Add the UUI generated by the transfer source to the transfer destination
It Therefore, since the ISDN call transfer service is not used, the UUI is transferred to the transfer destination even when the call is transferred. Well
And, that is applied UUI transfer source communication device has generated
The transfer-destination communication device
You can get information.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, whether or not the call transfer is performed is determined by whether or not the data of the information channel is non-voice communication (data communication) (voice communication), and this data communication is performed. It is determined whether the received SE
Bearer Capab, which is an information element included in TUP
ility) and High Layer Compatibi
lity) and Low Layer Compatibilit
The feature is that the judgment is made according to at least one of the contents of y).

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the communication device as the transfer source receives SETUP from the transmission source. From the received SETUP, it is determined whether the communication originated by the transmission source is a data communication according to the contents of at least one of the transfer capability, the high layer compatibility and the low layer compatibility. Transfers UUI when it is determined to be data communication. This is because UUI contains important information in data communication, and it is expected that UUI must be transferred to the transfer destination. By determining whether or not UUI transfer is necessary, it is possible to reliably transfer necessary UUI and prevent unnecessary transfer of UUI.

[0012]

[0013]

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a communication device 10 according to this embodiment. This communication device 1
0 is a facsimile machine connected to the ISDN network, ISDN
You can use the call transfer service provided by.
That is, the communication device 10 decides to use the service at three sources, that is, the originator that started the communication, the destination that is the destination specified by the originator, and the destination that has the address set in advance as the source. Become. The transfer device 10 is connected to two information channels provided by ISDN and one control channel.

The CPU 12 controls the entire communication device 10. A ROM 14 and a RAM (1) 16 are connected to the CPU 12. A program executed by the CPU 12 is stored in the ROM 12. Various information used by the program is temporarily stored in the RAM (1) 16.

The CPU 12 has an RTC (Real Time Clock)
18, a keyboard 20, and a liquid crystal display 22 are connected. The CPU 12 recognizes the present time from the clock built in the RTC 18. Also, the CPU 12 is the keyboard 20.
The operator's instruction can be recognized by detecting the state of, and various information can be displayed to the operator using the liquid crystal display 22.

The CPU 12 includes a scanner 24 and a RAM (3) 2.
6, printer 28, encoding / decoding device 30, RAM (2) 3
2. The ISDN interface 34 is connected. The encoding / decoding device 30 has an encoding function of encoding image information based on the standard of a facsimile device, and a decoding function of returning encoded image information to its original state. The CPU 12 sends control signals to the scanner 24, the RAM (3) 26, the printer 28, the encoding / decoding device 30, the RAM (2) 32, and the ISDN interface 34, and also indicates the status of each device. Can be detected.

The RAM (3) 26 is connected to the encoding / decoding device 30. The encoding / decoding device 30 is connected to the RAM (2) 32. Coded image information is recorded in the RAM (2) 32. The image information recorded in the RAM (3) 26 is encoded by using the encoding function of the encoding / decoding device 30, and the encoded image information is recorded in the RAM (2) 32. On the contrary, the coded image information recorded in the RAM (2) 32 is decoded using the decoding function of the coding / decoding device 30 and recorded in the RAM (3) 26.

The scanner 24 and printer 28 are RAM (3) 26
It is connected to the. The scanner 24 reads the original document and outputs the read image information of the original document to the RAM (3) 26. The printer 28 prints the image information recorded in the RAM (3) 26. The communication device 10 can be used as a copying machine by directly outputting the image information read by the scanner 24 to the printer 28.

The ISDN interface 34 is connected to the D channel and two B channels of the ISDN network and is connected to the RAM (2) 32. The ISDN interface 34 is controlled by the CPU 12 and sends the encoded image information recorded in the RAM (2) 32 to the ISDN network and records the information sent from the ISDN network in the RAM (2) 32. be able to.

In addition to the image information, the RAM (2) 32 has a call setup message (hereinafter referred to as a call setup message) sent from the sender to the control channel.
Expressed as SETUP. ) Can be recorded. SETUP includes the transmission capability (hereinafter, BC), high layer compatibility (hereinafter, HLC), and low layer compatibility (LLC).
)It is included. The communication device 10 can use these pieces of information to determine whether the communication with the transmission source is data communication. The data communication referred to here is communication that is not voice communication, such as facsimile communication.

Some SETUP includes UUI (user / user information). UUI is a maximum of 1 that can be freely transmitted and received between users (eg, communication devices) using control channels
It is information of 28 octets (1 octet is 8 bits). There is no limit to the content of UUI other than the amount of information, and ISDN
If the call transfer service provided by is not used, the transmitted UUI is sent to the receiving user as is. UUI is also recorded in the RAM (2) 32.

Here, the ROM 12 stores a program for using the call transfer service. In a normal call transfer service, a call from the caller to the communication device 10 (transfer source) is transferred to the transfer destination. This allows the source to communicate with the destination. This program determines whether or not the communication currently being processed when the communication device 10 performs the incoming call transfer as the transfer source is the data communication.
The data communication mentioned here is facsimile communication. If it is determined that the data communication is not a data communication, it is determined that the UUI transfer is not necessary, and the call transfer is performed using the call transfer service provided by ISDN.

In the case of data communication, the communication device 10 does not use the call transfer service provided by ISDN,
Transfer UUI by the following method. The communication device 10 serving as the transfer source connects the line to the transmission source and receives the call. The transmission source transmits UUI and communication data to the communication device 10. The communication device 10 receives the UUI and communication data, and stores the UUI and communication data in the RAM (2) 32 in the communication device 10. When the storage of UUI and communication data is completed, the line used between the sender and the communication device 10 is released. After that, the communication device 10, which is the transfer source, newly connects a line to the transfer destination and transmits the UUI and communication data to the transfer destination. That is, in the normal communication that is not the call transfer, the UUI is transferred without being lost, and the normal communication is performed twice to transfer the UUI to the transfer destination. Make sure that the sender does not have to worry about call forwarding
UUI can be transferred.

Next, the operation of the embodiment of the present invention will be described. The CPU 12 sequentially reads a preset program in the ROM 14 and controls all the devices according to the program. (General Facsimile Communication) In the communication device 10, the user uses the keyboard 20 and the display 22 to specify whether or not to transfer the incoming call.
When transferring a call, the transfer destination is also specified by the user.

When the facsimile function of the communication device 10 is used as a transmission source, the document is read by the scanner 24 according to an instruction from the user of the communication device 10. The scanner 24 stores the image information of the read document in the RAM (3) 26. The accumulated image information is encoded / decoded by the encoding / decoding device 30.
Are encoded (compressed). The encoded image information is stored in the RAM (2) 32. The encoded image information stored in the RAM (2) 32 is transmitted to the ISDN network through the ISDN interface 34.

When the facsimile function of the communication device 10 is used as a receiver, the coded image information sent from the ISDN network passes through the ISDN interface 34.
It is stored in the RAM (2) 32. Next, the image information encoded by the encoding / decoding device 30 is decoded. The decoded image information is stored in the RAM (3) 26. The printer 28 reads out the image information stored in the RAM (3) 26,
Record on paper. (Communication Utilizing Call Forwarding) Next, call forwarding of the communication device 10 will be described.

FIG. 2 shows a flowchart showing a part of the program recorded in the ROM 14 provided in the communication device 10. The CPU 12 of the communication device 10 starts the program shown in this flowchart when it receives a call setup message (SETUP) from the sender.

In step 100, the SETUP received by the communication device 10 is recorded in the RAM (2) 32.

In step 102, communication feasibility is confirmed based on the information included in SETUP. The communication possibility confirmation is confirmation of whether or not the communication device 10 that has received the SETUP can accept the communication. In the communication possibility confirmation,
First, the called party number information element included in SETUP and the communication device 10
A comparison is made with the calling number recorded in the ROM 14 of the. If both numbers are different, step 102
No, the communication is not accepted. If they match, the called sub-address information element included in SETUP and the calling sub-address recorded in the ROM 14 of the communication device 10 are compared. If the two numbers are different, the determination in step 102 is denied and communication is not accepted.

When the called party number information element and the called party subaddress information element included in SETUP match the calling party number and calling party subaddress recorded in the ROM 14 of the communication apparatus 10, it is determined that the communication is addressed to the communication apparatus 10. . When it is determined that the communication is addressed to the communication device 10, it is determined based on BC and HLC included in SETUP whether or not the communication device 10 has the communication capability for communication. If it is determined that there is no communication capability, the determination in step 102 is denied and communication is not accepted.

When it is determined that the communication is addressed to the communication device 10 and the communication capability is determined, the determination in step 102 is affirmative and the process proceeds to step 104. Step 10
At 4, it is determined whether or not call forwarding is performed. Communication device 10
The user of the communication device 10 sets in advance whether or not the call transfer is performed. CPU 12 is a RAM that records the settings
(1) The setting contents are read from 16 and it is judged whether or not the incoming call is transferred. If the communication device 10 is set not to transfer the incoming call, the determination in step 104 is denied, and the communication device 10 proceeds to a process for accepting the current call.

If the communication device 10 is set to forward the call, the determination at step 104 is affirmative, and the process proceeds to step 106. The communication device 10 is
Receive SETUP and perform call transfer as the transfer source. Less than,
The communication device 10 is referred to as a transfer source.

In step 106, it is judged whether SETUP includes UUI. If it is determined that the UUI is not included, the determination in step 106 is denied. In this case, it is not necessary to transfer the UUI, so the process moves to the call transfer process using the call transfer service provided by ISDN. If UUI is included, the determination in step 106 is affirmative, and the process proceeds to step 108.

At step 108, it is determined whether the current call is a data communication. The subroutine shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3 described later determines whether the current call is data communication. If it is determined that the communication is not data communication, the determination at step 108 is denied and the current call is ignored. If it is determined to be data communication, the determination at step 108 is affirmative and the process proceeds to step 110.

In step 110, the current call is accepted by the transfer source, and communication between the communication device 10 and the source is started. All of the UUI and communication data are recorded in RAM (2) 32. When the data recording is completed, the communication between the transfer source and the transmission source is completed and the line is opened. That is, the transmission source sends the UUI and communication data to the transfer source, and the communication is completed. Since the call transfer service provided by ISDN is not used, UUI is transferred to the transfer source without being lost.

In step 112, the UUI depends on the transfer source.
Is added. The information to be added can be designated by the user in advance using the keyboard 20 and the display 22. The specified contents are the address information of the transfer source, the address information of the transmission source, the text stored in the transfer source by the user,
And so on. However, since the maximum amount of UUI information is 128 octets, if the information exceeds 128 octets when UUI is added, the UUI is not added by the transfer source.

In step 114, the transfer source RAM (2) 32
All of the UUI and communication data recorded in is transmitted to the transfer destination. Since the call transfer service provided by ISDN is not used in this communication, UUI is transferred to the transfer destination without being lost. Therefore, the UUI and communication data sent by the sender are transferred to the transfer destination without omission.

FIG. 3 shows a flowchart of a subroutine for determining whether or not the data communication is being performed. The flowchart of FIG. 3 is called from step 108 of the flowchart of FIG.

At step 120, BC is read from SETUP. Also, the existence of HLC is judged. BC is a mandatory parameter and is always present in every SETUP. HLC
Is an optional parameter and there may be calls for which there is no HLC.

In step 122, the process branches depending on the presence / absence of HLC. Step 12 if HLC is present
Go to 4. At step 124, a judgment is made based on the contents of HLC. When the content of HLC is not "telephone" (non-voice communication, data communication such as facsimile communication)
Is denied in step 124, step 12
Go to 6. At step 126, it is determined that the current call is a data communication.

If the content of the HLC is "telephone", the determination at step 124 is affirmative, and the routine proceeds to step 128. At step 128, it is determined that the current call is not a data communication.

If it is determined in step 122 that the HLC does not exist, the process proceeds to step 130. Step 130
Then, the judgment is made based on the contents of BC. When the content of BC is not “voice” (3.1 kHz audio, unrestricted digital, etc.), the determination at step 130 is denied and the routine proceeds to step 126. At step 126, it is determined that the current call is a data communication.

If the content of BC is "voice", the determination at step 130 is affirmative, and the process proceeds to step 128. At step 128, it is determined that the current call is not a data communication. When it is determined in step 126 and step 128 whether or not the data communication is performed, the process returns to the main routine (flowchart in FIG. 2).

In the communication device according to the embodiment of the present invention, a facsimile device is described.
The present invention can be applied to all communication terminals connected to a network and capable of communication.

In the communication device according to the embodiment of the present invention,
Although it is determined that communication in which the content of HLC is voice is not data communication, there are also telephones with voice coding function and voice recording function.Therefore, use these functions to transfer voice to the transfer source memory. It is also possible to store it as data and transfer it to the transfer destination. That is, it is possible to determine that voice is also data communication.

In the flowchart shown in FIG. 2, the communication device 10 transfers the UUI and communication data, but in actuality, communication is performed in which only the UUI is transmitted from the transmission source. In order to support such communication, the communication device 10 can store only UUI and send it to the transfer destination.

In the present embodiment, the determination using HLC and BC is used to determine whether or not it is a data communication. However, in addition to this, the determination including LLC and the determination using only BC are performed. It is also possible to use other determination methods such as.

[0049]

As described above, the communication device according to the present invention can reliably transfer the UUI, which is lost when the call transfer service provided by ISDN is used , to the transfer destination and the communication of the transfer destination. The device is the source communication device
It has an excellent effect of being able to obtain information regarding .

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a communication device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart mainly showing processing of call transfer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a method of determining whether a current call is data communication according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Communication device 12 CPU 14 ROM 16 RAM (1) 20 keyboard 22 LCD display 24 scanner 26 RAM (3) 28 Printer 30 Encoding / decoding device 32 RAM (2) 34 ISDN interface

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04M 11/00-11/10 H04N 1/00 H04N 1/32-1/36 H04N 1/42-1 / 44

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A call transfer using a communication device connected to a digital circuit network having an information channel and a control channel.
A communication method of performing, when a call setup message on the outgoing control channel from source to (SETUP) is the transfer source received, whether or not the user-user information (UUI) is included in this SETUP If the UUI is included, it is determined whether or not the call transfer is performed based on the type of data on the information channel. When the call transfer is performed, the data including the UUI is determined. Is temporarily received and stored by the transfer source, and after the communication from the source to the transfer source is completed, the transfer source makes a call again to a predetermined transfer destination, and the transfer source receives from the source. Includes accumulated UUI
Add the UUI generated by the transfer source to the data and send it to the transfer destination.
Out to a communication method, wherein a. 2. The determination as to whether or not the incoming call transfer is performed is made based on whether the data of the information channel is non-voice communication (data communication) or not (voice communication), and whether or not the data communication is performed. Is characterized by at least one of the contents of the information elements included in the received SETUP, that is, the bearer capability, the high layer compatibility, and the low layer compatibility. The communication method according to claim 1.