JP2001069244A - Information communication system and method for confirming communication path conduction used for the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain an information communication system capable of easily confirming at what degree reception quality is received by the opposite party at any time without providing a network side and a terminal side with a facility for maintenance. SOLUTION: When the down communication path loopback switches 16 and 26 of terminals 1 and 2 receive a signal requesting a communication path conduction confirmation start during a connection procedure in starting the existing communication, the switches 16 and 26 have a function that does not output information caused to flow on a communication path and sent from the terminals 2 and 1 to terminal outputting parts 17 and 27 but turn the information back to the terminals 2 and 1. When the switches 16 and 26 receive a signal requesting a communication path conduction confirmation stop, the switches 16 and 26 output information from the terminals 2 and 1 to the parts 17 and 27.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information communication system and a communication path continuity check method used for the same, and more particularly, to a mobile station and an ISDN (Indian Network) that communicate with a base station via radio signals.
integratedServices Digital
The present invention relates to a method for confirming the continuity of a communication path in a fixed terminal that performs communication via a network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a mobile station that communicates with a base station via a radio signal, a PDC (Personal Diel) has been used.
digital cellular), CDMA (Co
devision multiple accesss
s) method, PHS (Personal Handy p)
(Hone System) type mobile phones, handset units, terminals, and the like.

[0003] In a mobile station or a fixed terminal that performs communication via an ISDN line, even if a communication path is connected, the communication quality changes depending on the state of the communication line in the middle, so that voice, data, images, etc. It is difficult to know how high the quality of communication can be unless the communication is performed.

[0004] CCITT is used to check the continuity of the communication path.
(ITU-T: International Tele
communication Union-Telec
Ommunication Standardizat
Ion Sector) Recommendation I. It is defined for 600 subscriber and network facilities.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho 56-91549 discloses a signal loopback test method.
8947 discloses a two-way automatic answering trunk and a voice continuity checking method.

[0006]

In the above-described conventional method of checking the continuity of a communication path, even if the communication path is connected, the communication quality changes depending on the state of the communication line on the way, so that voice, data, images, etc. The quality of this communication can be determined only when the communication is performed, and the effect on the mobile station communicating with the base station is particularly large.

On the other hand, there is a case where an end user wants to start important voice communication or data communication even after waiting for the communication quality desired by the end user. In addition, in an important TV conference, there is a problem that the connection is checked during the discussion to hinder the progress of the conference.

On the other hand, CCITT Recommendation I. Although the signal is looped back in the regulation of 600, it is necessary to provide maintenance equipment on the network side and the terminal side, and there is no function for the end user to check the continuity at an arbitrary timing.

In the technology disclosed in JP-A-56-91549 and JP-A-11-68947, it is necessary to provide maintenance equipment on the network side and the terminal side. Not a function used by the user.

[0010] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems and to determine the reception quality easily received by the other party without providing maintenance equipment on the network side and the terminal side. It is an object of the present invention to provide an information communication system capable of confirming at any time and a communication path continuity confirmation method used therefor.

[0011]

An information communication system according to the present invention is an information communication system in which first and second terminals are connected via an upstream communication path and a downstream communication path,
Means for transmitting a signal requesting start / stop of communication path continuity check to a destination in a connection procedure for starting existing communication when checking continuity of the communication path, and starting the communication path continuity check from the destination Means for looping back information received via the downlink communication path to the uplink communication path when receiving a signal requesting stoppage is provided in each of the first and second terminals.

[0012] The communication path continuity check method according to the present invention comprises:
And a communication path continuity check method of an information communication system in which the second terminal is connected via an uplink communication path and a downlink communication path, wherein the existing communication is started when confirming the continuity of the communication path. Sending a signal requesting start / stop of communication path continuity check to the other party in the connection procedure; and receiving the signal requesting start / stop of communication path continuity check from the other party via the downlink communication path. Looping back the obtained information to the uplink communication path in each of the first and second terminals.

In other words, the communication path continuity check method of the present invention uses a PDC (Personal Digital Ce).
CDMA (Code division)
ionmultuous access) method, PHS
(Personal Handy phone Sys
mobile stations that communicate with base stations via wireless signals typified by portable telephones / slaves, terminals, etc.
N (Integrated Services Dig)
When a fixed terminal that performs communication via an ital network) communicates voice, data, images, and the like, it easily checks the continuity of the communication path when starting communication by making or receiving a call or during communication. To provide a configuration.

A feature of the configuration of the communication path continuity check method of the present invention is that a connection path check start / stop is required in a connection procedure for starting existing communication without changing a base station or a network. The point is that a signal is added, and when the mobile station or the fixed terminal receives the signal, the downlink communication path is looped back.

[0015] In this way, the quality of the communication path to which the end user on the calling side or the receiving side is permitted to connect can be freely determined as desired, and transmission / reception / communication cannot be started unless the quality is higher than the permission. In addition, it is possible to suspend sending / receiving / communication until the quality is equal to or higher than the permission, or to check at any time how much the reception quality the other party is receiving during communication.

The end user may want to start important voice communication or data communication even after waiting for the communication quality desired by the user. In an important TV conference, the end user confirms the connection during the discussion to confirm the connection. Although there is a problem of hindering progress, the convenience of the end user can be improved by the communication path continuity check method of the present invention.

[0017]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an information communication system according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG.
In the information communication system according to one embodiment of the present invention, a terminal (mobile station or fixed terminal) 1 and 2
It is configured to be connected via the ISDN network 3.

Terminals 1 and 2 are CPUs 10 and 20, respectively.
, Terminal input units 11 and 21, modulation units 12 and 22, transmission units 13 and 23, reception units 14 and 24, demodulation units 15,
25 and downlink communication loopback switches 16 and 26
, Terminal output units 17 and 27, and memories 18 and 28.

When the terminal 1 receives information such as uplink voice, data, and image to be transmitted to the terminal 2 from the terminal input unit 11,
The information is modulated by the modulation unit 12 and transmitted from the transmission unit 13 to the base station / ISDN network 3 from the uplink communication path.

The base station / ISDN network 3 transmits the information from the terminal 1 as it is to the receiving unit 24 of the terminal 2 via the downlink communication path. Thereafter, in the terminal 2, the signal is demodulated by the demodulation unit 25, and the terminal output unit 27 is transmitted through the downlink communication loopback switch 26.
Output to

Upon receiving a signal requesting start of communication path continuity check during the connection procedure for starting existing communication, the downlink communication path loopback switch 26 of the terminal 2 receives a signal from the terminal 1 flowing through the communication path. It has a function of returning information to the terminal 1 without outputting the information to the terminal output unit 27. Further, upon receiving the signal requesting the stop of the communication path continuity check, the downlink communication path loopback switch 26 transmits the information from the terminal 1 to the terminal output unit 27.
Output to

The above processing operation is for confirming the communication quality at which the terminal 2 has received the information transmitted by the terminal 1. The terminal 1 transmits a communication path continuity check start request to the terminal 2, and the terminal 2 returns the information received from the terminal 1 in response to the request.

After completion of the continuity check, the terminal 1 transmits a communication path continuity check stop request if the quality allows connection. The terminal 2 outputs the information received from the terminal 1 to the terminal output unit 27 in response to the request.

In order to check the communication quality at which the terminal 1 has received the information transmitted by the terminal 2, the same processing operation as described above is performed so that the information transmitted by the terminal 2 is transmitted to the terminal 1. Check the communication quality of the message.

The above operations are performed by the CPUs 10 and 20 in the memory 1
It is controlled by executing software (program) stored in the storage units 8 and 28. In addition, the terminals 1 and 2 exchange control signals with the base station / ISDN network 3 to connect a communication channel, but the configuration and operation are well known and will not be described.

When the CPU 10 or 20 receives a communication path continuity confirmation start request or a communication path continuity confirmation stop request by a control signal during a connection procedure for starting an existing communication, the CPU 10 or 20 switches the downstream communication path loopback switches 16 and 26. It controls whether to loop back or output normally to the terminal output units 17 and 27. In practice, the CPUs 10 and 20 perform control for cutting off the communication if the communication quality is not desired by the end user or control for confirming the communication quality at a constant cycle.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a connection sequence when a communication path continuity check is performed according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a communication path continuity check start request and a communication path continuity according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the transmission processing of the confirmation stop request, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the reception processing of the communication path continuity confirmation start request and the communication path continuity confirmation stop request according to an embodiment of the present invention.

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, the operation of confirming communication path continuity according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described. still,
The processing operations shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 are realized by the CPUs 10 and 20 executing programs stored in the memories 18 and 28, and the memories 18 and 28 include a ROM (read only memory) and an IC (integrated circuit) memory. Can be used.

When connecting a communication path between the terminal 1 and the terminal 2, the terminal 1 executes a communication path connection procedure between the terminals 1 and 2 and the base station / ISDN network 3 using a control signal. After the communication path connection procedure is performed, the terminal 1 receives information such as image input, uplink data, and uplink voice to be transmitted to the terminal 2 from the terminal input unit 11, modulates the information with the modulator 12, and transmits the information to the transmitter 13. To the base station / ISDN network 3 through the uplink communication path.

The base station / ISDN network 3 transmits the information from the terminal 1 to the receiving unit 24 of the terminal 2 as it is via the downlink communication path. Thereafter, in the terminal 2, the information is demodulated by the demodulation unit 25 and output to the terminal output unit 27 through the downlink communication loopback switch 26. The downlink communication loopback switch 26 is connected to the terminal output unit 27 in the initial state.

The terminal 1 transmits information to the terminal 2 to the terminal 2
(Step S1 in FIG. 3), the terminal 1 transmits a communication path continuity check start request to the terminal 2 via a control signal (step S1 in FIG. 3). FIG. 3 step S3). If the communication path continuity is not confirmed (step S1 in FIG. 3), the terminal 1 executes another processing operation (step S2 in FIG. 3).

When the terminal 2 receives the communication path continuity check start request via the control signal (step S11 in FIG. 4), the downlink communication loop back switch 26 is connected back to the terminal 1 (step S13 in FIG. 4). As a result, information from the terminal 1 flowing on the communication path is not output to the terminal output unit 27, but is returned to the terminal 1. In contrast,
Since the downlink communication loopback switch 26 is connected to the terminal output unit 27 in the initial state, if the communication channel continuity check start request is not received (step S11 in FIG. 4),
Downlink communication path loopback switch 26 to terminal output unit 27
(Step S12 in FIG. 4), and the process directly proceeds to the receiving process.

The terminal 1 ends the continuity check (step S in FIG. 3).
4, S5), if the quality is acceptable for connection (step S6 in FIG. 3), a communication channel continuity check stop request is transmitted to the terminal 2 via a control signal (step S7 in FIG. 3). The terminal 2 receives the communication path continuity check stop request (step S1 in FIG. 4).
4) Connect the downlink communication path loopback switch 26 to the terminal output unit 27 (step S14 in FIG. 4). As a result, information from the terminal 1 flowing on the communication path is output to the terminal output unit 27 (reception processing).

The terminal 1 ends the continuity check (step S in FIG. 3).
4, S5), when the quality is not acceptable for connection (step S6 in FIG. 3), that is, when the terminal 2 does not have the communication quality desired by the end user, the communication is disconnected (step S8 in FIG. 3). In addition to this control, the terminal 1 has a function of checking communication quality at a fixed cycle and performing control to restart communication if the communication quality is desired by the end user, or control to check communication quality at an arbitrary timing. .

The above-described operation is for confirming the communication quality of the information transmitted from the terminal 1 at the terminal 2. When confirming the communication quality of the information transmitted from the terminal 2 at the terminal 1, the same processing as described above is performed.

According to the above-described method, a request for starting and stopping a communication path continuity check is added to an existing communication path connection procedure without changing a base station or a network, and control for a downlink communication path loopback switch on the terminal side is added. By doing so, it is possible to easily check at any time how much the reception quality that the other party is receiving is.

In this way, the end user on the calling side or the called side can freely determine the quality of the communication path to which the connection is permitted as desired, and do not start transmission / reception / communication unless the quality exceeds the permission. In addition, it is possible to suspend sending / receiving / communication until the quality becomes higher than the permission, or to confirm at any time how much the reception quality is being received by the other party during communication.

The end user may want to start important voice communication or data communication even after waiting for the communication quality desired by the user. In an important TV conference, the end user confirms the connection during the discussion to confirm the connection. Although there is a problem of hindering progress, the convenience of the end user can be improved by the communication path continuity check method of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a transmission process of a communication path continuity check start request and a communication path continuity check stop request according to another embodiment of the present invention. In another embodiment of the present invention, in the transmission processing of the communication path continuity check start request and the communication path continuity check stop request according to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, the communication quality is checked at a fixed cycle and the communication desired by the end user is performed. If the quality is good, a step of restarting communication (step 28 in FIG. 5) is added.

The terminal 1 sends information to the terminal 2 to the terminal 2
When the user wants to check the quality of the received signal (at the time of confirming the communication path continuity) (step S21 in FIG. 5), the terminal 1
Transmits a communication path continuity check start request to the terminal 2 via the control signal (step S23 in FIG. 5). If the communication path continuity is not confirmed (step S21 in FIG. 5), the terminal 1 executes another processing operation (step S22 in FIG. 5).

The terminal 1 completes the continuity check (step S5 in FIG. 5).
24, S25), if the quality is acceptable for connection (Step S26 in FIG. 5), a communication path continuity check stop request is transmitted to the terminal 2 via a control signal (Step S29 in FIG. 5). Also, the terminal 1 disconnects the communication if the quality is not acceptable for connection (step S26 in FIG. 5), that is, if the terminal 2 does not have the communication quality desired by the end user (step S2 in FIG. 5).
7).

Thereafter, every time the terminal 1 elapses a predetermined time (step S28 in FIG. 5), the terminal 1 executes step S2.
3 and repeats the process of transmitting a communication path continuity check start request to the terminal 2 via the control signal. If the communication quality is desired by the end user, the communication is restarted (step S5 in FIG. 5).
22-S29).

[0043]

As described above, according to the present invention, in an information communication system in which a first terminal and a second terminal are connected via an uplink communication channel and a downlink communication channel, the first and second terminals are connected.
Each terminal sends a signal requesting start / stop of communication path continuity check to the other party in the connection procedure when starting existing communication when checking the continuity of the communication path to the other party, and the continuity of the communication path from the other party. By looping back the information received via the downstream communication path to the upstream communication path when receiving the signal requesting confirmation start / stop, it is possible to easily establish the partner without maintenance equipment on the network side / terminal side. It is possible to check at any time what the reception quality is.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an information communication system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a connection sequence when a communication path continuity check is performed according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing transmission processing of a communication path continuity check start request and a communication path continuity check stop request according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a process of receiving a communication path continuity check start request and a communication path continuity check stop request according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing transmission processing of a communication path continuity check start request and a communication path continuity check stop request according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 2 terminal 3 base station / ISDN network 10, 20 CPU 11, 21 terminal input unit 12, 22 modulation unit 13, 23 transmission unit 14, 24 reception unit 15, 25 demodulation unit 16, 26 downlink communication loopback switch 17 , 27 Terminal output unit 18, 28 Memory

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. An information communication system in which a first terminal and a second terminal are connected via an upstream communication path and a downstream communication path, and the existing communication is started when confirming the continuity of the communication path. Means for transmitting a signal requesting communication path continuity check start / stop to the other party in the connection procedure, and receiving the signal requesting the communication path continuity check start / stop from the other party via the downlink communication path. An information communication system comprising, in each of the first and second terminals, means for looping back the received information to the uplink communication path. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first and second terminals are one of a mobile station that communicates with a base station via a radio signal and a fixed terminal that communicates via a wired line. The information communication system according to claim 1, wherein 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the means for looping back the downlink communication path is configured to loop back information from the other party via the downlink communication path when receiving the signal requesting the start of the communication path continuity check. The information communication system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: 4. A means for sending a signal requesting start / stop of communication path continuity check, the communication path continuity check stop being performed when communication quality confirmed by information looped back from a partner is a desired quality. 4. The information communication system according to claim 1, wherein the information communication system is configured to transmit a signal requesting the request to a destination. 5. A means for sending a signal requesting start / stop of communication path continuity check is configured to send a signal requesting start of communication path continuity check to a counterpart at a preset constant cycle. The information communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: 6. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the means for transmitting a signal requesting start / stop of communication path continuity check is configured to send the signal requesting start of communication path continuity check to a destination in response to an external instruction. The information communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein: 7. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the first and second terminals are configured to disconnect the communication with the destination when the communication quality confirmed by the information looped back from the destination is not the desired quality. The information communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein 8. A communication path continuity check method of an information communication system in which a first terminal and a second terminal are connected via an uplink communication path and a downlink communication path. Sending a signal requesting communication path continuity check start / stop to the other party in the connection procedure when starting communication, and receiving the signal requesting the communication path continuity check start / stop from the other party. Looping back information received via a downstream communication path to the upstream communication path in each of the first and second terminals. 9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first and second terminals are one of a mobile station that communicates with a base station via a radio signal and a fixed terminal that communicates via a wired line. The communication path continuity check method according to claim 8, wherein 10. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein information from the other party is looped back via the downlink communication path when the signal requesting the start of the communication path continuity check is received. Communication path continuity check method. 11. A communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the communication quality confirmed by the information looped back from the other party is a desired quality, the communication path continuity confirmation stop request signal is transmitted to the other party. The communication path continuity check method according to claim 8. 12. The communication according to claim 8, wherein the signal requesting the start of the communication path continuity check is transmitted to the other party at a preset constant cycle. Road continuity check method. 13. The communication path continuity according to claim 8, wherein a signal requesting the start of communication path continuity check is transmitted to the other party in response to an external instruction. Confirmation method. 14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first and second terminals disconnect communication with the other party when the communication quality confirmed by the information looped back from the other party is not the desired quality. The communication path continuity check method according to any one of claims 8 to 13.