KR20020025578A - Method of Using a Internet Phone between Personal Computers - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A method of using an Internet phone between personal computers is provided to perform Internet phone communication between personal computers with general telephone functions, to make a call as calling with a general phone, so as to simply carry out procedures necessary for Internet call accessing as well as reduce telephone bills. CONSTITUTION: A gatekeeper allows PPWorld numbers to each user, and registers information such as user IDs, IP addresses, and extension numbers corresponding to the PPWorld numbers, then stores the information in a database(S1,S2). A calling party confirms an inputted PPWorld number of a called party, and transmits a self PPWorld number and a call request signal to the gatekeeper(S3). The gatekeeper detects a PPWorld number to confirm whether the PPWorld number is registered, and transmits user information messages to the gatekeeper(S4). The calling party confirms IP address of the user information messages to request a call to the called party, and confirms whether the called party responds to the request within a predetermined time(S5). The called party receives the request to check a state, and confirms whether the call is available, then transmits a call start request message to the calling party(S6). The calling party confirms the call start request message to cancel a ringback tone, and sets a speech path to transmit a call start complete message to the called party(S7). The called party confirms the call start complete message to set a speech path, and makes the call with the calling party.

Description

{Method of Using a Internet Phone between Personal Computers}

The present invention relates to a method of using an internet phone between personal computers, and more particularly, to a method of using an internet phone between personal computers, which enables internet phone communication between personal computers using the Internet as a general telephone function.

In general, an Internet phone refers to a service that allows a user to make a phone call with the other party on the Internet by using a personal computer equipped with a microphone and a speaker. Only those Internet phones using the same software can communicate with each other. There are many kinds of things, such as being able to make a call with a regular phone.

Referring to the configuration of a general Internet phone, as shown in FIG. 1, the key input block 10, the memory 11, the CPU 12, the external telephone interface block 13, and the dialing block ( 14), modem 15, ring sensing block 16, and communication path 17.

The key input block 10 includes various function keys and numeric keys to supply the key input by the user to the CPU 12. The memory 11 stores programs and data for performing overall operations of the CPU 12. The CPU 12 controls the building blocks related to the overall operation of the Internet phone. The external telephone interface block 13 serves as an interface to connect and connect an external telephone under the control of the CPU 12. The dialing block 14 transmits a multi-frequency code (MFC) signal according to a dial digit to the telephone lines T and R through the corresponding channel 17 under the control of the CPU 12. give. The modem 15 modulates and demodulates a protocol signal and a voice signal transmitted and received to access the Internet under the control of the CPU 12. The ring detection block 16 detects a ring coming from the telephone line and informs the CPU 12. The call path 17 provides a line to perform a call with the other party.

In order to perform a telephone call using a conventional Internet phone having the above-described configuration, the modem 15 must be driven to complete a connection to a terminal server of an ISP (Internet Service Provider). Only after the connection between the server and the corresponding server modem is completed, data can be exchanged, and under the control of the CPU 12, PPP (Point to Point Protocol) is operated to assign an IP (Internet Protocol) address from the server. Receive.

Accordingly, at the same time, the IP address is allocated and the TCP / Transmission Control Protocol (IP) / IP is ready to be driven, and the same program currently connected on the Internet by driving the Internet phone program stored in the memory 11 is completed. You can connect with the user who is running the call.

In other words, when a user calls the other party using an Internet phone, the user first calls the other party using a regular phone, requests the user to talk on the Internet phone, and then hangs up. After connecting to the ISP's terminal server, the Internet phone program must be running and in standby state.The user who calls the other party can also perform the call by checking and calling the other party on the Internet after executing the Internet phone program. You can do it.

As described above, in the related art, the user and the other party need to access the ISP through a regular phone call before the other party calls to the Internet phone, so that the user and the other party need to access the ISP. . Also, if you want to make a call to another person while you are on the phone, ask the ISP to hold the call and then call the web phonebook site and check the person you want to access. There are some disadvantages that require some steps.

In order to solve the problems as described above, the present invention can perform the Internet phone communication between the personal computer using the Internet as a normal telephone function, it is possible to perform a call as if making a regular phone call to the Internet call connection In order to eliminate the need for a separate phone charge because it is possible to simply perform the necessary procedures in order to make a regular phone call before making an Internet phone call.

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a typical Internet phone.

2 is a flowchart illustrating a method of using an internet phone between personal computers according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3A and 3B are flowcharts showing a state checking process in FIG.

4 is a flowchart showing a call hold process in FIG.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

10: Key Input Block 11: Memory

12: central processing unit (CPU)

13: External Telephone Interfacing Block

14: Dialing Block 15: Modem

16: Ring Detecting Block

17: currency

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method of using an Internet phone between personal computers according to an embodiment of the present invention provides a PPWorld number for each user and a user name, an IP address, and an extension number corresponding to the PPWorld number logged into the gatekeeper. Registering the information of the database; Checking the input of the other party's PPWorld number and transmitting its PPWorld number and a call request signal to the gatekeeper; Detecting a PPWorld number and confirming whether the number is a registered number, and then transmitting a user information message to the caller; Checking the IP address in the user information message and confirming the response within a predetermined time after requesting a call from the called party; Receiving a call request, checking a state and confirming that the call is available and transmitting a call initiation request message to the caller; Confirming the call initiation request message, releasing the ring back tone, establishing a call path, and then transmitting a call initiation completion message to the called party; And confirming the call initiation completion message to set up a call path to enable mutual call with the caller. The call initiation request message transmitting step may include: checking whether call forwarding information is present and transmitting the call forwarding information to a caller; And checking the incoming personal computer corresponding to the call forwarding information and retrying the corresponding incoming computer call request. The call initiation request message transmitting step may include: checking whether a call answering state is available when the call forwarding information is absent; Sending a ringing message to the caller if the answering machine function is not set; Confirming reception of a ringing message and transmitting a ring back tone; Sending a ring tone and checking for a call response within a predetermined time to release ringing; And transmitting the call initiation request message to the caller side after the ringing is released or when the answering machine is set up. The call initiation request message transmitting step may include transmitting a busy tone message to a caller when the call is in a state of being unavailable; Confirming receipt of a busy tone message and transmitting or displaying busy tone; Confirming an input of the call reservation request and sending a reserved call request message to the called party; Confirming reception of the reserved call request message and setting up the reserved call and transmitting the reserved call setting completion message to the caller; And confirming reception of the reservation call setup complete message, and displaying that the reservation call is established.

Alternatively, the method of using an internet phone between personal computers according to an embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above object is to confirm whether the auto answer function is set after transmitting the call initiation completion message and transmit the stored greeting to the caller. Process of doing; Receiving and recording a message of a caller and attaching the recorded voice file and storing the message in a preset mail browser mailbox; Detecting a call termination request to release the channel and notifying the other side of the call to release the channel; And after the call is terminated, transmitting the call history to the gatekeeper and recording the call history in the call history table.

In another embodiment, the method of using an internet phone between personal computers according to an embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above object detects an input of a call hold in the mutual call state and sends a hold start notification message to the called party. Stopping the transmission of the reception sound and the microphone sound by transmitting the call and simultaneously holding the call, and transmitting a pending melody; Confirming receipt of the hold start notification message to hold the call to send a reception tone and to stop the transmission of the microphone tone; Detecting a re-entry of the hold and transmitting a hold release message to the called party; The method may further include performing a mutual call by releasing the held call by checking the hold release message.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Many specific details, such as specific process flows, are set forth in the following description and accompanying drawings to provide a more general understanding of the invention. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In addition, detailed description of well-known functions and configurations that may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the present invention will be omitted.

Since the configuration for using an Internet phone between personal computers according to an embodiment of the present invention is similar to the conventional configuration, the drawings are omitted, but the specification of the personal computer used in the present invention is that the hardware is 120 (MHz) Intel Pentium ( Intel Pentium-class, 16 (M) RAM, 10 (M) Free Hard Disk Space, Full Duple Nex-enabled sound card, headset (or microphone, speaker), 32000 If you have a VGA card that supports color and more, and your operating system is Microsoft Windows ME / 98 or higher, and your network is 28.8 (Kbps) or higher modem, ADSL, cable or other Internet-accessible network environment.

In addition, the present invention implements an Internet phone to be used as a function similar to a normal phone between personal computers using the Internet, and the Internet phone is a real-time using RTP (Real Time Protocol) / RTCP (Real Time Control Protocol) specified as a standard Two-way calls are available, and additional features such as call hold, call with a third party on hold, conference call, and scheduled call are possible, and a quick dialing can be performed by forming a list of called party PPWorld numbers.

A method of using an internet phone between personal computers according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 2.

In the first steps (S1, S2), each user starts a user program in his or her personal computer to perform a user login (Login), and then log in the user information and send it to the gatekeeper, the gatekeeper The side checks the information authorized from each user side and registers it in the user information database.

That is, the gatekeeper assigns a PPWorld number to each user in advance, and registers user information corresponding to each PPWorld number previously assigned, that is, a user name, an IP address, an extension number, etc., to construct a user information database. give. Here, the PPWorld number is assigned to each user's personal computer like the telephone number of a normal phone so that it can be used in any Internet phone regardless of the type of the Internet phone.

After that, the CPU of each personal computer retransmits its own login information to the gatekeeper at a predetermined time (for example, 10 minutes). The gatekeeper receives user information from each user and updates the user information database. In this case, the user information update time (for example, 20 minutes) is set in advance, and the current user information list is updated for each user information update time. Delete it.

Accordingly, the second step (S3) is to perform a number input process, a certain user (hereinafter referred to as the caller) the PPWorld number of the other party (hereinafter referred to as the caller) to call the Internet phone key input block ( For example, if you press a call after typing through the keyboard, or by creating a list of called party PPWorld numbers, you can select a PPWorld number from one of the list of numbers via a keystroke block (e.g. a mouse) and double-click it. If the caller's personal computer detects the caller's call request, the caller's personal computer checks its PPWorld number and the called party's PPWorld number and modulates it so that it can be transmitted to the gatekeeper. Send it out.

Alternatively, when the caller enters or clicks a key corresponding to the call request through the key input block, the caller's personal computer detects the caller's call request and emits a dial tone like a regular telephone, and the caller may avoid the call within a predetermined time. When a caller input or a double click of the PPWorld number is detected, the PPWorld number and the called party's PPWorld number are transmitted to the gatekeeper side together with the call request signal.

Then, the user authentication process, which is the third process (S4), is performed. The gatekeeper detects two PPWorld numbers that are applied from the caller side, and then checks whether the user has a PPWorld number registered in the user information database, that is, a valid user. .

In this case, if the PPWorld number is not registered in the user information database, an error message is sent to the caller. On the other hand, if the PPWorld number is registered in the user information database, the user information message, that is, the IP address and the user, is sent. Send the command to the caller.

Accordingly, a call request process, which is a fourth process (S5), is performed, and the caller-side personal computer detects a message applied from the gatekeeper side and checks whether it is a user information message. If the detected message is an error message, it indicates that the PPWorld number is not registered in the user information database or sends an error tone, and inputs an end by the caller. In this case, it detects this and performs the internet phone shutdown operation. On the other hand, if the detected message is a user information message, it is determined whether there is a response from the called party (ie, a call initiation request message) within a predetermined time after requesting a call from the called party using an IP address through the ISP. If there is no response, display no response or send an error tone.

Then, the fifth step (S6) performs a state check process, the personal computer of the called party checks its own state and checks whether the call is available and sends a call initiation request message to the caller.

Then, a call initiation completion notification process, which is a sixth process (S7), is performed, and the caller confirms a call initiation request message authorized from the called party, performs a ring back tone release operation, and sets a call path. A call initiation completion message is sent while making it possible.

Therefore, the call process, which is a seventh process (S8), is performed, and the called party checks the call initiation completion message authorized by the caller and sets up a call path, thereby enabling mutual call between the caller and the called party. If the answering machine is set on the caller side or if the answering machine is set to no answer, the greeting stored in the memory is sent to the caller side. Here, the called party's personal computer can receive and record the caller's message, and can also attach the recorded voice file and store it in a mailbox of a preset mail browser.

Then, the call termination process, which is the eighth process (S9), is performed. When the caller or the called party inputs the termination, the call termination is detected and the call control is performed to control the call and terminate the call to the other side. Notify and allow it to shut down automatically.

In addition, a call history recording process, which is a ninth process (S10), is performed, and the caller sends a call history to the gatekeeper after the call ends, and the gatekeeper implements a call history table from the caller. Record the authorized call history in the corresponding call history table.

Meanwhile, the fifth process S6 will be described in more detail with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 3A and 3B. Here, FIG. 3A shows the operation of the called party and FIG. 3B shows the operation of the caller.

First, the called party checks whether there is a call forwarding information that is already set (step T1), and if there is call forwarding information in the first step (T1), the call forwarding information is sent to the caller (step T1). T2), and the caller checks whether there is call forwarding information authorized from the called party (step T3), and checks the called personal computer (or general telephone) corresponding to the call forwarding information and proceeds to the second step (S3). The mobile terminal retransmits its PPWorld number and the PPWorld number of the corresponding personal computer (or general telephone) to the gatekeeper with the call request signal and retries the call request (step T4).

If there is no call forwarding information in the first step (T1), it is checked whether the call is in a possible state, that is, a state in which the call has not been made with another place (step T5). If the call is unavailable in the state, the busy tone message is sent to the caller side (step T6), and the caller side checks whether there is a busy tone message authorized from the called party (step T7) and displays that the call is impossible. Or transmit Busy Tone (step T8). The caller also checks if a call reservation request has been entered by the caller (step T9) and sends a reserved call request message to the callee side (step T10), whereby the caller side has a reserved call request message authorized from the caller side. After confirming (step T11), the reserved call setup completion message is sent to the caller side after setting the reserved call (step T12). Then, the caller side checks whether there is a reserved call setup completion message authorized from the called party (step T13), and displays that the reserved call is established (step T14).

On the other hand, if the call is available in the fifth step (T5) is checked whether the answering machine is set (step T15), if the answering machine is not set in the fifteenth step (T15) If a ringing message is sent to the caller (step T16), the caller checks whether there is a ringing message authorized from the called party (step T17) and sends a ring back tone. (Step T18).

In addition, the called party informs the CPU of the ringing state so that the ring tone is sent (step T19), and then, within a predetermined time, it is checked whether the called party pressed the call to answer the call (step T20). If the call response is performed within a predetermined time in the twentieth step T20, the ringing release operation is performed (step T21) and a call start request message is sent to the caller side (step T22). On the other hand, if the call response is not performed within a predetermined time in the 20th step T20, it is checked whether the auto answer is set at the non-response (step T23) and the call start request message is sent to the caller. The call initiation request message includes a signal indicating that the auto answer function is to be performed.

On the other hand, in the seventh process (S8), a call holding process, which is an operation of temporarily suspending a call in order to make another call or other work, will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG. same.

First, when a caller or callee enters or clicks a call hold while performing a call between the caller and the called party, each personal computer detects an input of the call hold (step S8-1), and detects an input of the call hold. The personal computer (hereinafter referred to as call park) transmits a hold initiation notification message to another personal computer (hereinafter referred to as call park) and simultaneously controls the channel to hold the call. (Step S8-3) The transmission of the reception sound and the microphone sound is stopped, and the predetermined reserved melody is sent out (step S8-4).

In addition, the called party checks the hold start notification message authorized from the call holder (step S8-5) to control the call path and suspends the call (step S8-6). The transmission of the microphone sound is stopped (step S8-7).

Then, the call holder detects the re-entry of the hold (step S8-8), transmits a hold release message to the called party (step S8-9), and simultaneously controls the call path to hold the call. The call is canceled and returned to the previous state (step S8-10).

Then, the called party checks the held release message authorized from the called party (S8-11) and releases the held call from the called party (step S8-11) to make a mutual call between the called party and the called party. (Step S8-12).

Alternatively, the personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a call diver) that is on hold in the call hold state of steps 8-3 and 8-6 (S8-6) is another personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a caller). If you want to make a call with the other side, the operation is as follows. Hereinafter, the drawings are omitted to exclude the possibility of unnecessarily obscuring the subject matter of the present invention.

First, the call divert side moves to the second process (S3) and performs a number input process of transmitting its PPWorld number and the PPWorld number of the call divert to the gatekeeper together with a call request signal.

Thereafter, a third process (S4) user authentication process, a fourth process (S5) call request process and a fifth process (S6) state check process is performed, wherein the state of the call divert check When the call is in a disabled state, the call diverter is notified of the inability to talk as described above, and the call diverter side displays that the call is in a disabled state and proceeds to step 8-8. It detects the re-entry of the hold and performs the operation as described above to allow the call to be transferred to the first called party.

On the other hand, when the call is in a possible state, the call start completion notification process of step 6 (S7) and the call process of step 7 (S8) are performed so that the call between the call diver and the call diver can be made. In step 8-8, the process detects a re-entry of the hold and performs an operation as described above to transfer the call to the first callee.

Alternatively, in the case where an input or a click of the end is detected during the mutual call between the call diverter and the call diverter as described above, the call termination process and the ninth process (S10) which are the eighth process (S9). The call history recording process is performed. In this case, if the caller or the callee is in the process of performing a hold re-input detection operation, the process proceeds to step 8-8 (S8-8). It moves to perform the operation as described above to transfer the call state to the original caller or called party.

When the input or click of the conference call is detected during the mutual call between the call diverter and the call diverter as described above, a personal computer that detects the input of the conference call (hereinafter referred to as the conference call supervisor). ) Requests a multicast address from the ISP's server side to enable the conference call, receives the corresponding multicast address, and sends a conference call notification message to the personal computers that will conduct the conference call. The call is sent to the conference call side and the conference call is controlled so that the conference call can be made. Here, the conference call notification message includes a multicast address.

Accordingly, each conference caller confirms a conference call notification message authorized by the conference call organizer and controls each channel so that a conference call is possible, thereby making a conference call between the conference call organizer and the conference callers. Is done.

As described above, by implementing the Internet phone between the personal computer using the Internet as a function similar to a regular phone according to the present invention, it is possible to perform a call as if making a regular phone, so that the procedures necessary for accessing the Internet can be easily performed. You don't have to make a regular phone call before you can make a phone call, eliminating the extra charge.

Claims (6)

Assigning a PPWorld number for each user and registering information of a user name, an IP address, and an extension number corresponding to the PPWorld number logged into the gatekeeper to make a database; Checking the input of the other party's PPWorld number and transmitting its PPWorld number and a call request signal to the gatekeeper; Detecting a PPWorld number and confirming whether the number is a registered number, and then transmitting a user information message to the caller; Checking the IP address in the user information message and confirming the response within a predetermined time after requesting a call from the called party; Receiving a call request, checking a state and confirming that the call is available and transmitting a call initiation request message to the caller; Confirming the call initiation request message, releasing the ring back tone, establishing a call path, and then transmitting a call initiation completion message to the called party; The method of using an internet phone between personal computers, comprising the step of establishing a call path by checking a call initiation completion message to enable a mutual call with the caller. The method of claim 1, Checking whether the auto answer function is set after transmitting the call initiation completion message and transmitting the stored greeting to the caller; Receiving and recording a message of a caller and attaching the recorded voice file and storing the message in a preset mail browser mailbox; Detecting a call termination request to release the channel and notifying the other side of the call to release the channel; The method of using a personal computer between the personal computer, characterized in that further comprising the step of transmitting the call history to the gatekeeper after the call is recorded in the call history table. The method of claim 1, The call initiation request message transmitting step may include: checking whether call forwarding information is present and transmitting the call forwarding information to a caller; Checking the incoming personal computer corresponding to the call forwarding information and retrying the incoming personal computer call request. The method of claim 3, The call initiation request message transmitting step may include: checking whether a call answering state is available in the absence of the call forwarding information and checking whether an answering machine function is set; Sending a ringing message to the caller if the answering machine function is not set; Confirming reception of a ringing message and transmitting a ring back tone; Sending a ring tone and checking for a call response within a predetermined time to release ringing; And transmitting the call initiation request message to the caller side after the ringing is released or when the answering machine is set up. The method of claim 4, wherein The call initiation request message transmitting step may include: transmitting a busy tone message to a caller when the call is in an impossible state; Confirming receipt of a busy tone message and transmitting or displaying busy tone; Confirming an input of the call reservation request and sending a reserved call request message to the called party; Confirming reception of the reserved call request message and setting up the reserved call and transmitting the reserved call setting completion message to the caller; And confirming receipt of the reservation call setup completion message and displaying that the reservation call is set. The method of claim 1, Detecting a call hold input in the mutual call state and sending a hold start notification message to the called party, and holding a call to stop transmission of a reception tone and a microphone tone and transmitting a hold melody; Confirming receipt of the hold start notification message to hold the call to send a reception tone and to stop the transmission of the microphone tone; Detecting a re-entry of the hold and transmitting a hold release message to the called party; The method of using a personal computer between the personal computer, characterized in that further comprising the step of releasing the held call by checking the hold release message to perform a mutual call.