KR19990083911A - Private Internet Phone System - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system (tentative e-phone system) and a method for automating Internet phone calls made on the Internet through an H / W device called an e-phone box (tentative name). By embedding all the H / W and S / W devices needed to make a call into a device called an e-phone box, ordinary users can use the Internet to make phone service without using a computer or network and basic knowledge of the internet phone. The present invention relates to a system and a method for processing the same for convenience.

To this end, the present invention encapsulates the H / W and S / W module necessary for the Internet phone in a machine called an e-phone box as a device. In addition, the device can be directly connected to a modem or LAN via a telephone line for Internet connection, and connects with a regular telephone as a user interface for convenient use by users.

This allows the user to connect the e-phone box with an existing phone and a phone terminal or a LAN terminal, and then easily communicate with anyone in the world by simply dialing the phone connected with the e-phone box. All the necessary steps, such as connection and connection setup, and voice and data conversion / demodulation, are made possible by the automation inside the e-phone box.

Accordingly, in order to make a phone call by distinguishing different parties around the world, an identification system for identifying and identifying the other party is required. To this end, the present invention has created an independent number system called an e-phone number. Basically, the e-phone number is given to each e-phone box independently. Even if you are not necessarily the owner of the e-phone box, you can assign the e-phone number directly from the e-system according to a separate application procedure. In the e-phone box system, the call is not only made between the e-phone box system users, but is required for the call between the e-phone box owner and the general PC user.

The e-phone number used in the e-phone system devised in the present invention is an independent number system, which is different from the existing telephone network number. Therefore, people who used the existing telephone network telephone number may have inconvenience in using it, such as having to learn a new telephone number.In order to improve this, the international identification telephone number of the telephone network that is being used (eg country code-region code) If you register and save the only international phone number consisting of a station number and a phone number in the e-phone server or e-phone box, it will automatically find the e-phone number associated with that international identification number and notify the e-phone box. Even if you do not know the e-phone number of the other party, it is compatible with the old phone number system.

In an e-phone system, a telephone call can be made as follows. First, a call can be made between an e-phone box owner and an e-phone box owner. Second, a call can be made between an e-phone box owner and a general PC user. Finally, a call can be made between an e-phone box owner and a general phone user. Can be.

In the case of the e-phone box-to-e-phone box call, when the user first dials the e-phone number or the international identification phone number of the other party in the phone connected with the e-phone box, the corresponding number is interpreted by the e-phone box and stored in the memory. After confirming that the data is stored, if the stored phone number, the e-phone number of the corresponding international identification phone number and the last access IP address of the other party in the memory, and then go through the user verification process with the corresponding IP. The user verification procedure is to check whether the e-phone number of the user connected to the IP address is the same as the e-phone number in the memory after accessing the IP address. If the same, the same user is still using the IP address. It is determined that the phone call is made, and if it is different, it is determined that the IP address of the counterpart to be changed has been changed, and the user has to check the user data again after obtaining the latest data by contacting the e-phone server. By the way, when the first dialed phone number is not stored in the memory of the e-phone box, the e-phone server is inquired and then the user is checked.

Description

Private Internet Phone Call System Using a Phone {Private Internet Phone System}

The present invention relates to an internet phone using a small H / W box, and more particularly to a method for allowing anyone in the world to make a phone call together just by being connected to the Internet without the help of existing large telephone operators.

In general, an internet call refers to a technology in which a voice call is made between users by converting a voice signal into a data signal, transmitting data through an internet line, and converting the data signal into a voice signal on the other side.

So far, internet calls have been made in two ways. The first is a PC-to-PC call, which is connected to a computer that is connected to the Internet and is equipped with devices such as S / W, microphone, and speaker necessary for internet calls. This means that both users must be connected to the Internet at the same time, have a computer, be difficult to talk to an unspecified majority, and have no inconvenience in using computers and networks. On the other hand, the call between phone-to-phone is connected to the Internet phone gateway installed in each region or country through the general telephone network. Connected to the Internet line, and then each one By using a mechanism that uses the general telephone network from the Internet phone gateway to the other party's phone, this has the advantage that general users can talk to anyone at any time, anywhere, while the user connects to the internet phone gateway through the general telephone network. After that, it is inconvenient to input the phone number of the call counterpart again and in that it uses the network of the general telephone network and the gateway provider, and there is a disadvantage in that it does not feel the inexpensiveness of the Internet phone because a separate communication fee is imposed.

Here, each of the PC-to-PC call and the phone-to-phone call have advantages and disadvantages, and the e-phone system devised in the present invention can be used in a familiar way without any inconvenience in real life and how to feel the cheapness of the Internet phone as it is. Devised.

To this end, this e-phone system enhances the user-friendliness by using an existing phone that is familiar to the e-phone system. This is because an e-phone box connected to a regular phone operates as a gateway. Since it does not use a network, there is no extra cost, so any member of an e-phone system connected to the Internet has the advantage of being able to easily and conveniently talk with each other at any time.

Therefore, the present invention has been proposed to solve all the problems of the conventional Internet phone call mentioned above, and an object of the present invention is to enable a user to easily and inexpensively make a call with anyone in the world.

In order to achieve the object of the present invention, the present invention devised an e-phone system by devising an e-phone box and a device called an e-phone server to handle registration and management of users having the e-phone box.

1 is a configuration diagram showing a call connection between the initial registration process, including the user telephone number registration and the user confirmation process and the user

2 is a view showing the components and the overall appearance of the e-phone system;

Figure 3 is a detailed internal structure of the e-phone box used in the e-phone system

Figure 4 is a configuration diagram showing in detail the operation of making a call in the e-phone system

The e-phone system allows users to make calls regardless of their location by simply dialing the phone number of the person they want to talk to, regardless of local, international or international calls, using a regular phone familiar to existing users. The components of the system are an e-phone box, an e-phone server, and a regular telephone.

First, the e-phone box is basically given a unique number called an e-phone number, which is a unique independent number given to all participants of the e-phone system, which is assigned to the e-phone box or one who wants to have an e-phone number. Used to distinguish all participants in the phone system.

Normally, an e-phone number is given as a unique number, one per e-phone box, but may be given to a person who wishes to make an internet call between an e-phone box owner and an Internet phone user using a general PC that does not own the e-phone box. As a result, the calls made in the e-phone system are largely classified into the following three cases: e-phone box vs. e-phone box, e-phone box to general PC, and e-phone box to general phone.

Therefore, in the e-phone system, the call can be made not only between each person who owns the e-phone box but also with an Internet phone participant who does not own the e-phone box. Do.

The e-phone box may have a phone number set by the user in addition to the e-phone number which is basically provided. This phone number is an international identification phone number generally used by users in the telephone network (this is a system code of country code-area code-station code-phone number. As an easy example, 82-2- Phone number such as 500-5000). This is because the e-phone number system is new and unfamiliar to users and incompatible with the existing telephone network, so that users can register and use the international identification telephone number used in the existing telephone network and use it as an alias. Users do not use their own e-phone number that is not very familiar, but can make a call between users by using a familiar international identification phone number in use.

The registered phone number is stored in the e-phone server to inform the e-phone number corresponding to the international identification phone number according to the user's inquiries. In this way, the user can select an existing phone number or a new e-phone number that is familiar to them. You can select and talk with the other party on the e-phone system. If you register and use the international identification phone number, you do not need to find out the other party's e-phone number. By simply pressing on the phone in the order of 'phone number', the e-phone number of the other person can be automatically found on the e-phone system and the call can be made. In addition, the registration of the international identification phone number is used as a way of notifying the other party that they are registered as a member of the e-phone system. You do not need to tell that you have subscribed, just by looking for your international identification number on the e-system, the other party can easily find out whether you are a member of your e-phone system.

Hereinafter, described in detail by the accompanying drawings as follows.

1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a method of registering a user's international identification phone number in an e-phone box and an initial registration system of the e-phone box, and may register and use one or more telephone numbers in an e-phone box. have. As shown in the drawing, the user places the select button of the e-phone box on 'register user's phone number' and presses his / her international identification number on the general telephone connected to the e-phone box, and then displays a finish mark (e.g., automatic timeout or *). Press twice). The phone number entered in this way is interpreted by the e-phone box and stored in the memory of the e-phone box, and is used during the initial registration of the e-phone system of the e-phone box, even if the user does not register and use the international identification phone number. An initial registration process is necessary.

In the above, the initial registration of the e-phone box is performed when the e-phone box is connected to the e-phone system for the first time or when the user selects the "initial registration" button of the e-phone box. This refers to the process of registering and saving your information (e phone number, current connection IP address and entered international identification phone number) stored in the e-phone server. As a result, the e-phone system knows that the e-phone box has become available, and when inquiring of the other e-phone box can inform whether the corresponding e-phone number or international identification number is a member of the e-phone system. Thereafter, the e-phone box updates the information of the e-phone server when there is a change of stored information (change of connected IP address, user international identification phone number, e-phone number change) or at regular intervals. Can obtain information on the currently used e-phone boxes, and can allow the specific e-phone box to participate in the e-phone system.

2 is a view showing in more detail the stated e-phone system.

As shown, the e-phone system includes a telephone A10, an e-phone box A20 connected to the telephone by a telephone line, and an e-phone server connected to the e-phone box by the Internet.

In the above, the telephone A10 is a very commonly used device used to send or hear voice to the telephone receiver / receiver and uses the telephone button as one of the input interfaces of the e-phone box. The e-phone box (A20) is a device that collects H / W and S / W necessary to make a call over the Internet, so that the user can make an internet call without knowledge of the Internet and a computer and connect with a phone. On the other hand, it is connected by telephone line or LAN to the Internet. The e-phone server (A30) is a server that helps the phone connection of the e-phone boxes all over the world. It is a device that communicates with the e-phone boxes through the Internet. It performs the role of converting international phone numbers into e-phone numbers.

In the above description, the information stored in the e-phone server at the time of initial registration is an e-phone number, an IP address and an international identification telephone number set by the user. After the initial registration is completed, the e-phone system can know that the registered international identification number (eg 82-2-555-5555) is part of the e-phone system, and other e-phone system participants can When attempting to make a call to an international identification number instead of a number, the phone number registered in the e-phone system will be informed of the e-phone number. If the number is not registered, the user will be informed that the number is not registered.

Looking at the subsequent process from the above as follows, if the phone number that another user (A50) is the international identification phone number (A23), the corresponding IP address (A21) and e-phone number (A22) e-phone If the phone number inquired by another user (A50) is the e-phone number, the server finds out the IP address corresponding to the e-phone server. Next, another user (A50) goes through the user verification process after connecting to the corresponding IP address (A21), which is the phone number that the e-phone box of the e-phone box using the IP address (A21) knows. As a procedure for checking whether it is the same or different, if it is the same, it is determined that the registered user A10 continues to use it, and after establishing a connection between the registrant A10 and the other user A50, a connection beep is sent and a call between both sides is transmitted. If it is different, it is determined that the other person is using the corresponding IP address (A21), and informs the other user (A50) of the reason with the failure signal and the call is not possible.

If the phone number inquired by the other user A50 is not a phone number registered as a member of the e-phone system, or fails in the user identification procedure, the call on the e-phone system becomes impossible. If A50) has already designated other communication means (general international telephone service provider or Internet phone gateway service provider line) to use, the e-phone box automatically connects the call to other communication means, so that the user can talk to the other party by just one phone dial. You can do it. The benefit of doing so is that the user who uses the e-phone box can make the call without having to worry about whether or not the other party is part of the e-phone system. Even if connected only, telephone calls can be made by connecting to the general telephone network of the other country through the Internet phone gateway provider connected by LAN.

When accessing the Internet through a modem through a telephone line, the ISP phone number, account and password to be accessed are stored in the e-phone box memory so that the user can be connected to the Internet without user's special operation. Required settings such as settings and input of ID and password are set in advance so that an internet connection can be made without user's special operation. For this purpose, a modem or LAN card is basically installed inside the e-phone box, and an interface that can be mounted later for a third medium is also left.

3 is a detailed structural diagram of an e-phone box according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 3, the e-phone box A10 stores software for operating the e-phone box, and modulates / demodulates the voice signal and the data signal to transfer the voice signal input from the phone through a data line. A pyrom (A11) including a modulation / demodulation module for performing demodulation and an IP finder for finding an Internet address currently connected, and for performing modulation / demodulation and IP address searching according to an operating program stored in the easy pyrom. It comprises a central processing unit (A12), a RAM (A13) to temporarily store the data obtained from the central processing unit and withdraw the stored data, and a communication module (A14) having a modem and a LAN card for communicating with the outside. This e-phone box is connected to the Internet to make Internet calls.

In the above, the Y pyrom is a data storage area A11a for storing data necessary for modulation / demodulation, IP address search, e-phone number, etc., a program storage area A11b for storing the modulation / demodulation algorithm, and modulation / demodulation. It consists of a modulation / demodulation module (A11c) for performing a, and an IP address search module (A11d) that can know the currently connected Internet address.

Figure 4 illustrates in detail the operation of the e-phone system configured as described above.

First, when pressing a phone number in the phone (A10) connected to the e-phone box, it interprets the phone number input from the e-phone box connected to the phone, and then checks whether the record is stored in the memory inside the e-phone box. If the call was made once, find out the other party's IP address and e-phone number from the memory in the e-phone box so that the call can be made immediately through the user verification process, and reduce the time taken for the entire call. It means the process of checking whether the e-phone number in use in the stored IP address matches the e-phone number stored in the memory) or if the call record is not stored in the memory of the e-phone box, contact the e-phone server. Update the memory contents of the phone box. After that, if the user confirmation procedure succeeds, a call connection tone is generated to allow each other to make a call. If the call is not made even though a predetermined number of rings occurs, the call fails.

If the phone number inquired on the e-phone system is not registered initially or if the call fails, the user is notified and the call is automatically connected to another communication means (general international telephone service provider or Internet phone gateway service provider line). If present, the call is connected using the selected communication means. If not, the call is terminated.

In spite of the advantage that the existing internet phone call can talk to anyone in the world without any additional communication fee because of the internet, PC-to-PC method has many uses due to the necessity of network and PC knowledge and inconvenience in using. In the case of the phone-to-phone method, the convenience of use is very high, but there is a disadvantage in terms of economical efficiency because a separate operator to perform the gateway role is required for each country.

On the other hand, the e-phone system proposed in the present invention has the advantage that each e-phone box acts as an independent gateway, so that the convenience of the phone-to-phone and the economics of the PC-to-PC can be simultaneously enjoyed. In addition, when making a phone call, the user can use the existing phone number as it is, even if the person does not know the Internet phone, to make an Internet call without any objection. This is the first method of using the existing phone system and the e-phone system. The difference is very small in terms of user friendliness, and the installation is easy with the installation of the e-phone box between the existing phone and the phone terminal twice, and the third time when the other party is not a phone number subscribed to the e-phone system. , A telephone number entered through a telephone company of a general telecommunications company, not an Internet call, or a designated gateway company connected to a LAN (i.e., a 'country code-area code-station-number' number system such as 82-2-555-5555). Is automatically connected to the other party, so the call is available regardless of whether the other party is part of the e-phone system. The need to know in advance whether to join the e-phone system is eliminated, and it has a very good advantage in terms of ease of use.

Claims (1)

1. In internet phone call over network, each user has modularized S / W and H / w necessary for internet phone call into device called e-phone box. 2. By connecting it with a regular telephone, users pick up the telephone receiver of the telephone connected with the e-phone box and call the user by pressing the dial of the telephone as if they are calling. Had been done. 3. For this purpose, we have created a phone number system called e-phone number for use in internet calls using e-phone box. This means not only those who own the e-phone box, but also want to have the e-phone number through the e-phone system. Since it is also issued to general users, it is given to people who want to make Internet calls using a general PC. Accordingly, the person making the call on the e-phone system is not limited to the owner of the e-phone box, but can be applied to all those who want to make an internet phone call through the Internet with appropriate S / W and H / W. Not only e-phone box owners but also users who make Internet phone calls using a regular PC are considered members of the e-phone system. 4. When you want to make a phone call on the e-phone system, the basic phone number system for recognizing the other party follows the e-phone number, but by registering and using the international identification phone number used in the existing telephone network, users are actually separated. Without changing the phone number system, it was possible to move from the general telephone network to the e-phone system, and accordingly, it was possible to determine whether the other party was a member of the e-phone system using the general phone number of the other party. Accordingly, by registering the international identification phone number used in the existing international telephone network with the corresponding e-phone number in the e-phone system, the user can replace the existing e-phone number instead of notifying or memorizing the new e-phone number. You can use the same international identification number used in your telephone network. 5. Even if the other party is not a member of the e-phone system, it is possible to connect to the general telephone network through the general phone network or the internet phone gateway provider linked with the e-phone system according to the user's setting. By simply dialing the international identification phone number of the party to be called on the phone associated with the phone box once, the call is automatically made without knowing whether the other party is a member of the e-phone system or not. 6. When the e-phone box attempts to connect a call in the e-phone system, each case emits a different tone so that the user can hear the tone and know the current progress. Or send a signal from the e-phone box to be sent from the regular phone connected to the e-phone box. As such, in each case, the LCD of the e-phone box shows the text, and the e-phone box or the phone connected to the e-phone box sends a distinctive tone to each situation, and the current progress and situation of the user using the e-phone box. Make it easy to see. For example, if you pick up the handset of the phone associated with the e-phone box, it sends a "call waiting tone" signal, and when you dial the phone number of the call counterpart, it sends a "dialing signal" and establishes the connection between the e-phone box and the e-phone box. During the waiting period, send a "ready call" signal, send a "call alert" after the connection between the e-phone box and the e-phone box is established, and "call" when the other e-phone box is busy. Sends a beep, if the other party's phone number is not a member of the e-phone system, sends a "not member" beep, and connects to another communication network (regular phone network, gateway line network connected to the e-phone system) Send a beep.