JP2001251441A - Network telephone device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a network telephone device which maintains the instantaneousness of a telephone call by preventing voice communication from being delayed. SOLUTION: This network telephone device (web phone) 100 communicates voice and data via a communication network in two ways and is equipped with a microphone 111 which inputs the voice, a voice CODEC part 112 which decides whether or not the voice is being inputted to the microphone 111, and a controller 140 and a TCP/IP part 124 which communicates the voice preferentially to the data when the voice codec part 112 decides that the voice is being inputted.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a network telephone device for performing both voice communication and data communication via a communication network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There is a network telephone device (webphone) for performing both voice communication and data communication (especially browsing a WWW browser) via a communication network such as the Internet. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional webphone. The webphone 300 shown in the figure includes a voice communication block 310, a data communication block 320,
Hardware interface (HWI / F) unit 33
0 and a buffer 340.

In voice communication, a voice communication block 310 mainly operates. That is, at the time of voice transmission, when a call voice is input to the microphone 311, the call voice is encoded by the voice codec unit 312. The encoded data is marked by the RTP unit 313 at regular intervals, and furthermore, the UDP / IP unit 31
4 adds the source and destination port numbers and addresses. The data packet for voice communication (voice packet for voice communication) generated in this manner is transmitted to the LAN or the Internet by the HWI / F unit 330.

At the time of voice reception, a voice communication packet is input to the UDP / IP unit 314 from the LAN or the Internet via the HWI / F unit 330. UD
The P / IP unit 314 checks the address and port number of the packet for voice communication, and further checks the RTP
The sorting is performed by the unit 313 according to the marking added by the transmission source, and the output time is adjusted.
Then, the audio is reproduced by the audio codec unit 312, and the audio is output through the speaker 315.

On the other hand, in data communication, a data communication block 320 mainly operates. That is, at the time of data transmission, the data communication application 32
3 in the keyboard 321 or the mouse 32
When data is input by the operation of 2, the TCP / IP
The unit 324 determines whether the destination address and port number have already been set, and if not set, sends setting data to the destination and establishes a connection. TCP / I
The data packet for data communication (data communication packet) output from the P unit 324 is transmitted to the LAN or the Internet via the HWI / F unit 330.

At the time of data reception, a data communication packet is input to the TCP / IP unit 324 from the LAN or the Internet via the HWI / F unit 330.
The TCP / IP unit 324 separates the data communication packet into data and application data of the data communication application. The data of the separated data communication application is the data communication application 323.
Sent to The data communication application 323 performs necessary processing, saves data on the disk 325, and displays data on the display 326.

[0007]

By the way, in the above-described conventional web phone 300, voice transmission is not performed prior to data transmission. For example, when voice transmission and data transmission compete with each other, one of the colliding data packets is temporarily stored in the buffer 340 regardless of whether the packet is a voice communication packet or a data communication packet, After a predetermined time has elapsed, the data is read from the buffer 340 and transmitted. Therefore, when the voice communication packet is temporarily stored in the buffer 340,
A delay occurs in voice communication, which hinders a call that requires immediacy. Therefore, it is required to prevent delay in voice communication.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a network telephone device which prevents delay of voice communication and maintains immediacy of a call.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, a network telephone device according to the present invention comprises a voice input means for inputting voice and a voice for determining whether or not voice is input to the voice input means. When the input determination means and the voice input determination means determines that a voice is being input,
Communication control means for performing the voice communication prior to the data communication.

In this case, there is further provided a conflict determining means for determining whether or not the voice communication and the data communication are in conflict with each other, and the communication control means is competing between the two communications by the conflict determining means. When it is determined that the voice communication is further performed, the voice communication is preferably performed prior to the data communication. Further, the communication control means, when it is determined that the voice is being input by the voice input determination means, or,
When it is determined by the contention determination means that the two communications are competing, it is preferable to perform the voice communication by reducing the amount of transmission data in the data communication. Also,
Preferably, said communication network is the Internet.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on one embodiment shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a network telephone device (webphone) 100 according to the present invention. The webphone 100 shown in FIG. 1 performs both voice communication and data communication, and performs voice communication with priority. This webphone 1
00 is a block 110 for voice communication, a block 120 for data communication, and a hardware interface (HWI /
F) It comprises a unit 130, a controller 140, and a buffer 150.

The voice communication block 110 is a functional block that operates at the time of voice communication.
Audio codec unit 112, RTP unit 113, UDP / I
It comprises a P section 114 and a speaker 115.

At the time of voice transmission, the microphone 111
Collects the call voice of the user. Voice codec unit 1
Reference numeral 12 denotes a call voice (analog signal) collected by the microphone 111, for example, a PCM (Pulse Coding M).
odulation) to generate encoded data. Further, the voice codec unit 112 determines whether or not the call voice is being collected by the microphone 111, that is, whether or not the call is being performed. Send to
The RTP unit 113 marks the encoded data generated by the audio codec unit 112 at regular intervals. This marking is referred to when the data packets are rearranged on the receiving side. UDP /
The IP unit 114 adds the source and destination port numbers and addresses to the encoded data after the marking. The voice communication packet generated in this way is output to HWI / F section 130. HWI / F130 is UDP / I
The voice communication packet output from the P unit 114 is transmitted to the LAN
Or send it out on the Internet.

On the other hand, during voice reception, the HWI / F1
When the 30 outputs the voice communication packet input from the LAN or the Internet to the UDP / IP unit 114, the UDP / IP unit 114 checks the address and the port number of the voice communication packet. R
The TP unit 113 rearranges the voice communication packets according to the marking added by the transmission source and adjusts the output time. The audio codec unit 112 includes an RTP unit 113
And decodes the voice communication packet output from the device to reproduce the voice. This sound is output through the speaker 115.

The data communication block 120 is a functional block that operates during data communication, and
1, mouse 122, data communication application 12
3. It comprises a TCP / IP 124, a disk 125, and a display 126.

At the time of data transmission, when data is input by operating the keyboard 121 or the mouse 122 during processing of the data communication application 123, T
The CP / IP unit 124 exchanges connection information, controls the amount of transmitted data (window size), and the like, in synchronization with the TCP / IP unit of the other party. Specifically, TCP / I
The P unit 124 determines whether or not the destination address and port number have already been set, and if not set, sends setting data to the destination and establishes a TCP / IP connection. At this time, the data communication packet includes control data for establishing a TCP / IP connection together with data of the data communication application. This data communication packet is transmitted to the HWI / F unit 13.
Output to 0. The HWI / F 130 transmits the data communication packet output from the TCP / IP unit 124 to a LAN or the Internet.

On the other hand, at the time of data reception, the HWI / F
When 130 outputs a data communication packet input from the LAN or the Internet to TCP / IP section 124, TCP / IP section 124 separates the data communication packet into data and control data of a data communication application. . The data of the separated data communication application is sent to the data communication application 123, and the control data is transmitted to the TC of the transmission source.
Returned to P / IP section. The data communication application 123 performs necessary processing on the data of the data communication application output from the TCP / IP unit 124, saves data on the disk 125, and displays data on the display 126.

In the present invention, the HWI / F 130 determines whether transmission of a voice communication packet and transmission of a data communication packet are in conflict with each other. For example, UDP / I
Output of a voice communication packet from the P unit 114 and TCP
When the output of the data communication packet from the / IP unit 124 is performed at the same time and the transmission of both data packets competes and a packet collision occurs, the HWI / F unit 130
A collision detection signal is generated and sent to the controller 140. Also, the HWI / F unit 130 temporarily stores the data communication packet, which is one of the collision packets, in the buffer 150.
And the voice communication packet which is the other collision packet is preferentially transmitted to the LAN or the Internet. If the transmission of both data packets does not conflict, the HWI / F 130 outputs the voice communication packet output from the UDP / IP unit 114 or the TCP / IP unit 1.
The packet for data communication output from 24 is transmitted to the LAN or the Internet.

The HWI / F 130 is a data packet input from a LAN or the Internet.
Outputs the voice communication packet to the UDP / IP unit 114,
The data communication packet is output to the TCP / IP unit 124.

The controller 140 controls transmission of data communication packets. Specifically, when a sound detection signal is transmitted from the audio codec unit 112, the controller 140 instructs the TCP / IP unit 124 to reduce the amount of transmission data (window size). . In addition, the controller 140
When the collision detection signal is transmitted from the I / F unit 130, the TCP / IP unit 124 is instructed to further reduce the window size.

The TCP / IP unit 124 includes the controller 1
According to the instruction of 40, reduce the window size,
It outputs the data communication packet to HWI / F section 130. As a result, the transmission data amount of the data communication packet transmitted from the HWI / F unit 130 to the LAN or the Internet decreases, that is, the transmission speed of the data communication packet decreases. Will be sent.

For example, when the controller 140 issues an instruction to set the window size to “0”, the TC
Since the P / IP unit 124 sets the window size to “0” in response to this instruction, the output of the data communication packet from the TCP / IP unit 124 to the HWI / F unit 130 is interrupted. Only packets are HWI / F
The data is transmitted from the unit 130 to the LAN or the Internet.

Further, the controller 140 receives the sound detection signal from the audio codec 112 and the HWI / F 13
If a predetermined time has elapsed since the collision detection signal from 0 is no longer transmitted, the TCP / IP unit 124
An instruction is issued to restore the transmission data amount (window size). The TCP / IP unit 124 restores the window size according to this instruction.

The webphone 100 has the above-described configuration, and its operation will be described next. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure in webphone 100 of the present invention.

The voice codec unit 112 determines whether or not the voice is being collected by the microphone 111, that is, whether or not the voice is being communicated (step 201). If a call is in progress, the voice codec 112 generates a sound detection signal and sends it to the controller 140 (step 202).

When a sound detection signal is transmitted from the audio codec section 112, the controller 140 sets the TCP / IP
An instruction is issued to the unit 124 to reduce the window size. The TCP / IP unit 124 reduces the window size of the data communication packet according to the instruction (Step 203).

Next, the HWI / F 130 determines whether or not transmission of the voice communication packet and transmission of the data communication packet are in conflict (step 204). If the transmission of both data packets is in conflict, the HWI / F unit 130 generates a collision detection signal and
(Step 205).

When the collision detection signal is transmitted from the HWI / F unit 130, the controller 140 sends the TCP / IP unit 1
24 is instructed to further reduce the window size. In response to this instruction, the TCP / IP unit 124 further reduces the window size of the data communication packet (step 206).

The HWI / F 130 sends out a voice communication packet and a data communication packet with a reduced window size to a LAN or the Internet. As a result, the voice communication packet is transmitted preferentially (step 207).

Next, the controller 140 determines whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the sound detection signal and the collision detection signal are no longer transmitted (step 208). If the predetermined time has elapsed, the controller 140 sets the TCP /
It instructs the IP unit 124 to restore the window size. In response to this instruction, the TCP / IP unit 124 restores the window size of the data communication packet (step 209). Thereafter, a normal transmission operation is performed, and a voice communication packet or a data communication packet whose window size is not reduced is transmitted to the LAN or the Internet (step 210).

If the predetermined time has not elapsed after the sound detection signal and the collision detection signal are no longer transmitted (when a negative determination is made in step 208), the voice communication packet is transmitted preferentially. (Step 207) and the subsequent steps are repeated.

Also, when the voice codec section 112 determines that no call is in progress (when a negative determination is made in step 201), a normal transmission operation is performed (step 210).

As described above, in the webphone 100, the window size of the data communication packet is reduced during a call, and when the transmission of the voice communication packet and the transmission of the data communication packet are in conflict with each other. Further, the window size of the data communication packet is reduced. Therefore, the transmission speed of the data communication packet is reduced, and the voice communication packet can be transmitted with priority.

The embodiment of the present invention has been described with reference to the drawings. However, it is apparent that the present invention is not limited to the matters described in the above embodiments, and that changes, improvements, and the like can be made based on the description in the claims.

[0035]

As described above, according to the present invention, when voice is being input, voice communication is performed prior to data communication, so that delay in voice communication is prevented, and voice communication is prevented. Immediateness can be maintained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a network telephone device (webphone) according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure in the webphone of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional web phone.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 Network telephone device (webphone) 110 Audio communication block 111 Microphone 112 Audio codec unit 113 RTP unit 114 UDP / IP unit 115 Speaker 120 Data communication block 121 Keyboard 122 Mouse 123 Data communication application 124 TCP / IP unit 125 Disk 126 Display 130 HWI / F section 140 Controller 150 Buffer

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F-term (reference)

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A network telephone device for performing both voice communication and data communication via a communication network, comprising: voice input means for inputting voice; voice for determining whether voice is input to the voice input means. A network telephone device comprising: an input determination unit; and a communication control unit that performs the voice communication prior to the data communication when the voice input determination unit determines that a voice is being input. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: conflict determination means for determining whether said voice communication and said data communication are in conflict with each other, wherein said communication control means determines that said two communications are in conflict by said conflict determination means. 2. The network telephone device according to claim 1, wherein when the communication is performed, the voice communication is further performed prior to the data communication. 3. The communication control unit, when the voice input determination unit determines that a voice is being input, or when the competition determination unit determines that both communications are in conflict, 2. The voice communication according to claim 1, wherein said voice communication is performed by reducing a transmission data amount in the communication.
Or the network telephone device according to 2. 4. The network telephone device according to claim 1, wherein said communication network is the Internet.