JP2003152765A - Gatekeeper, voice speech system, control method of the gatekeeper, control program, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a voice speech system that allows a terminal to make a call request to a gatekeeper so as to relieve the load on the gatekeeper and a network. SOLUTION: The gatekeeper 11 connectable via a LAN 14 to a plurality of terminals including terminals 12-1 to 12-m having a voice speech function using voice packet data is provided with: a service start interface section 11D that receives a call request from any terminal for indicating instruction to start call processing; and scenario description sections 11E-1 to 11E-n that makes instruction of the call processing on the basis of a call processing procedure corresponding to the instruction of the call processing start, and when the service start interface section 11D receives the instruction to start the call processing, service providing sections 11A-1 to 11A-n conduct the call processing on the basis of the instruction from the scenario description sections 11E-1 to 11E-n to set a voice channel not through a protocol stack 11C.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a gatekeeper, a voice call system, a gatekeeper control method, a control program and a recording medium, and more particularly to a network voice capable of performing voice call between terminal devices connected to a LAN. The present invention relates to a gatekeeper used in a call system, a voice call system, a gatekeeper control method, a control program, and a recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, voice over an IP (Internet Protocol) network has been used as a technique for improving the operating rate of communication lines and reducing communication costs by integrating the infrastructure of a telephone network with a data communication network. VoIP (Voice Over Internet)
Protocol) is known. FIG. 5 shows a schematic configuration diagram of a conventional network voice call system having a VoIP-gatekeeper. Network voice call system 90
Is a VoIP-gatekeeper 91 that controls the entire network voice call system 90, and a plurality of IP telephones 92.
-1 to 92-6, VoIP-gatekeeper 91 and each I
LAN (Local Area N) between P telephones 92-1 to 92-6
etwork) 93. The VoIP-gatekeeper 91 includes a service processing unit 91A and a circuit switching unit 9
1B and a protocol stack unit 91C.

The service processing section 91A includes a microprocessor unit (MPU), a RAM, a ROM and the like, which are not shown. The service processing unit 91A uses the VoIP-
The entire gatekeeper 91 is controlled. Further, the voice call processing is controlled using the protocol stack of the protocol stack unit 91C. The circuit switching unit 91B has various application software for realizing the circuit switching function, and these application softwares are linked under the control of the service processing unit 91A to control the actual circuit switching. The protocol stack unit 91C is
It functions as an interface for transmitting and receiving control signals related to VoIP by using the protocol stack under the control of the service processing unit 91A.

Next, a conventional line connection process during a voice call will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. In the following description, the IP telephone 92-1 makes a call and the IP telephone 92
Explain the case of making a call to -2. First, the IP telephone 92-1 issues a call instruction by transmitting a call instruction command (data) to the VoIP-gatekeeper 91 (step S101). Specifically, the IP telephone 9
When the user performs a calling operation corresponding to the IP telephone 92-2 in 2-1, a calling instruction command is transmitted to the service processing unit 91A via the protocol stack unit 91C. VoIP that received the call instruction command
-The service processing unit 91A of the gatekeeper 91 analyzes the call instruction command and becomes the IP telephone on the receiving side.
Protocol stack unit 91C for P telephone 92-2
An incoming call notification command is transmitted via (step S1).
02). IP telephone 9 that has received this incoming notification command
2-2 informs the user of the IP telephone 92-2 of an incoming call by sounding an incoming call tone or lighting an incoming call lamp in response to the incoming call notification command.

As a result, the user of the IP telephone 92-2 is
When the handset of the P telephone 92-2 goes off-hook, I
The P telephone 92-2 sends a call start request command to the VoIP-gatekeeper 91 by using the off-hook state as a trigger (step S103). The service processing unit 91A that has received the call start request command
By controlling the line switching unit 91B, IP telephone 92-1 and IP
A voice channel is set with the telephone 92-2 (step S104). As a result, voice communication becomes possible between the IP telephone 92-1 and the IP telephone 92-2 (step S105).

[0006]

If the processing procedure of the conventional network voice call system 90 is used as it is, it is difficult to execute the calling process from the VoIP-gatekeeper 91. Therefore, using the configuration of the conventional network voice call system 90,
Consider a case where the calling process is executed from the VoIP-gatekeeper 91. Here, the line connection processing in the case of executing the calling processing from the VoIP-gatekeeper 91 will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9. In the following description, the IP telephone 92-1 will be described as in the case of the conventional example.
A case will be described in which the call is originated by the user and is received by the IP telephone 92-2. First, the service processing unit 91A of the VoIP-gatekeeper 91 controls the protocol stack unit 91C to initialize a call between the protocol stack of the protocol stack unit 91C and both the IP telephone 92-1 and the IP telephone 92-2. Processing is performed (step S111). That is, of the ports that can be assigned to the IP telephone 92-1 and the IP telephone 92-2, the port numbers of the ports to be assigned are set.

Subsequently, the service processing section 91A controls the protocol stack section 91C to control the protocol stack section 9C.
The 1C protocol stack performs a call origination process to generate a call with the IP telephone 92-1. Similarly, the protocol stack of the protocol stack unit 91C performs call processing,
A call is generated with the IP telephone 92-2 (step S
112). That is, the port number assigned to each of the IP telephone 92-1 and the IP telephone 92-2 is used to perform the calling process to each of the IP telephone 92-1 and the IP telephone 92-2. Next, the service processing unit 91
A analyzes the call that was actually generated (step S113). That is, the IP telephone 92-1 and the IP
Information such as a port number corresponding to each telephone 92-2 and an IP address corresponding to each IP telephone 92-1 and 92-2 is acquired. Then, based on the acquired information, V
Voice channels are set between the oIP-gatekeeper 91 and the IP telephone 92-1 and between the VoIP-gatekeeper 91 and the IP telephone 92-2 (step S114).

Further, the service processing unit 91A is a VoIP.
-Voice packet data exchanged separately between the gatekeeper 91 and the IP telephone 92-1 or the IP telephone 92-2 is transmitted to the IP telephone 92-1 and the IP telephone 9 respectively.
They are mutually transferred to and from 2-2 (step S115). Specifically, VoIP-gatekeeper 91 and IP telephone 9
The voice packet data between 2-1 and 2-1 is transferred to the IP telephone 92-2. Then, VoIP-Gatekeeper 91 and IP
The voice packet data with the telephone 92-2 is transferred to the IP telephone 92-1. This allows the IP telephone 92-1 and the IP
A voice call can be made with the telephone 92-2. However, the VoIP-gatekeeper 9 using the above-described conventional network voice call system 90 is used.
In the network voice call system having the calling function in No. 1, the user of the IP telephone cannot make a calling request to the VoIP-gatekeeper 91. In addition, there is a problem that a call request cannot be issued to the VoIP-gatekeeper 91 from a terminal other than the IP telephone, for example, a computer connected to the LAN 93.

Further, the network voice call system 90
Must have at least two audio buses, and these audio buses must be managed inside the VoIP-gatekeeper 91, which causes a problem that the load on the VoIP-gatekeeper 91 and the network becomes large. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to enable a call request to a gatekeeper from a terminal device connected to a network such as an IP telephone and a computer, and to reduce the load on the gatekeeper and the network, a network voice communication system. And to provide a control method thereof.

[0010]

In order to solve the above problems, in a gatekeeper capable of connecting via a LAN to a plurality of terminal devices including a terminal device having a voice call function using voice packet data, either terminal A service activation unit that receives a call request from the device and instructs the start of call processing, and a call processing instruction that issues a call processing instruction based on a call processing procedure corresponding to the call processing start instruction. And a service providing unit that performs a calling process based on an instruction. According to the above configuration, the service activation unit receives a call request from any of the terminal devices and gives an instruction to start the call processing. The calling process instruction unit gives a calling process instruction based on a calling process procedure corresponding to the calling process start instruction. The service providing unit performs a calling process based on the instruction.

In this case, the calling process instruction unit reads the calling process procedure corresponding to the instruction from the external database, and executes the calling process procedure based on the calling process procedure read by the reading unit. A procedure instruction unit for giving an instruction may be provided.

Further, the service providing unit may set one voice channel between two terminal devices having a voice call function corresponding to a call processing procedure without using a protocol stack.

Further, the voice call system includes a plurality of terminal devices including a terminal device having a voice call function using voice packet data, a database in which call processing procedures are stored in advance, and the terminal device is connected via a LAN. A gatekeeper that receives a call request from any one of the terminal devices, reads out the corresponding call processing procedure from the database, and performs the call processing.

In addition, a plurality of terminal devices including a terminal device having a voice call function using voice packet data are connected to the LAN.
A method of controlling a gatekeeper that can be connected via a device includes a process of receiving a call request from any terminal device, a process of instructing the start of the call process based on the call request, and a process of starting the call process. The present invention is characterized by including a process of issuing a call processing instruction based on a call processing procedure corresponding to the instruction and a step of performing a call processing corresponding to the instruction. According to the above configuration, the call request from any one of the terminal devices is received, the start of the call process is instructed based on the call request, and the call process procedure corresponding to the call process start instruction is performed. To issue a call processing instruction.

In this case, there is provided a step of reading out a call processing procedure corresponding to the instruction from an external database and a step of issuing a call processing instruction based on the read call processing procedure. Good.

Further, the service providing unit may include a process of setting one voice channel between two terminal devices having a voice call function corresponding to a call processing procedure without using a protocol stack.

Further, in a control program for causing a computer to function as a gatekeeper capable of connecting to a plurality of terminal devices including a terminal device having a voice call function using voice packet data via a LAN, a call from one of the terminal devices is issued. Receives a call request, instructs the start of call processing based on the call request, causes the call processing instruction to be issued based on the call processing procedure corresponding to the call processing start instruction, and responds to the instruction The feature is that the call processing is performed.

In this case, the calling processing procedure corresponding to the instruction may be read from an external database and the calling processing instruction may be issued based on the read calling processing procedure. Further, the service providing unit may set one voice channel between two terminal devices having a voice call function corresponding to a call processing procedure without using a protocol stack. Further, these control programs may be recorded in a recording medium.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. [1] Configuration of Embodiment FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration diagram of a network voice call system having a VoIP-gatekeeper of the embodiment. The network voice call system 10 is roughly divided into VoIP.
-Gatekeeper 11 and a plurality of IP telephones 12-1 to 12
-6, computers 13-1 to 13-4, LAN 14,
The database 15 is provided. The VoIP-gatekeeper 11 includes service providing units 11A-1 to 11A-n,
A circuit switching unit 11B, a protocol stack unit 11C,
A service activation interface unit 11D, scenario description units 11E-1 to 11E-n, a middleware unit 11F,
Is equipped with. In this case, the service activation interface unit 11D functions as a service activation unit,
The scenario description units 11E-1 to 11E-n function as a call processing instruction unit.

The service providing units 11A-1 to 11A-n are V
oIP-Controls the entire gatekeeper 11. Further, various services such as voice call processing are provided by using the protocol stack of the protocol stack unit 11C. The circuit switching unit 11B has various application software for realizing the circuit switching function, and these application softwares are linked under the control of the service providing unit 11A to control the actual circuit switching. The protocol stack unit 11C controls the protocol stack (ITU-T Recommendation H.32 under the control of the service providing unit 11A).
3) is used to perform an interface operation for transmitting and receiving a control signal related to VoIP. The service activation interface unit 11D functions as a call processing instruction unit, and in response to a service activation request from the outside, the V
The oIP-gatekeeper 11 performs a process of activating a calling process. The scenario description unit 11E instructs the service processing unit 11A about the procedure (scenario) required to realize the calling function.

The middleware section 11F is executed by a service providing section such as log acquisition, actual control based on the scenario instructed by the scenario description section 11E, address resolution processing such as association between an IP address and a telephone number, and user management. Executes and provides commonly used functions regardless of application software. In this case, since the middleware unit 11F has high independence from the service providing unit 11A, it can be executed without considering the content of the service provided by the service providing unit. . Next, the configuration of the IP telephone will be described. Since the IP telephones 12-1 and 12-2 have the same configuration, the IP telephone 12-1 will be described with reference to FIG. The IP telephone 12-1 includes a VoIP processing circuit 21,
The multifunctional CODEC 22, the operation unit 23, the LED display unit 24, the liquid crystal display (LCD) 25, the call circuit 26, and the handset 27 are configured.

The VoIP processing circuit 21 has a network interface for connecting to the LAN 14, and a voice packet for performing mutual conversion processing of voice packet data and PCM voice data between the network side and the multifunction codec 22. This circuit performs voice packet processing such as data disassembly and assembly. The data format of the audio data is not limited to PCM, and data of any format can be used. Multi-function CODEC22
Is a PC that encodes the audio signal from the communication circuit 26
The M voice data is output to the VoIP processing circuit 21, or the PCM voice data is decoded and output to the call circuit 26 as a voice signal. The operation unit 23 is provided with various buttons and the like, and the user performs a dial operation and the like. The LED display unit 24 notifies the user of the operating state of the IP telephone 12-1 by turning on / blinking / turning off the LED or the lighting color. The LCD 25 displays various information such as the telephone number of the other party.

The call circuit 26 amplifies the voice signal and drives the speaker of the handset 27 to reproduce the voice, or amplifies the input signal from the microphone of the handset 27 and outputs it as a voice signal to the multi-function CODEC 22. Computer 1
Reference numeral 3 denotes a computer main body including an input device such as a keyboard and a mouse, a MPU, a ROM, a RAM, an external storage device and a network interface for connecting to the LAN 14, a display for displaying various information, and a printing of various information. It is configured to include a printer for printing out. The database 15 stores user information such as an IP address and various kinds of information such as service scenarios.

[2] Operation of Embodiment Next, the line connection processing during a voice call will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. In the following description, a case will be described in which the computer 13 issues a call request to the VoIP-gatekeeper 11 to bring the IP telephone 12-1 and the IP telephone 12-2 into a voice call-enabled state. First, the user of the computer 13-1 operates the computer 13 to send the VoIP-gatekeeper 1 via the LAN 14.
The service activation interface unit 11D of No. 1 is accessed and a service activation request corresponding to the call is issued (step S11). When the service activation request corresponding to this call is made, the service activation interface unit 11D notifies the middleware unit 11F that the service activation request corresponding to the call has been made (step S12).

Upon receiving the notification, the middleware unit 11F requests the database 15 for user information, a calling scenario, states of the calling terminal and the called terminal, etc. (step S13). Specifically, as the user information, the IP address of the calling terminal (in this case, the computer 13-1), the IP address of the receiving terminal (in this case, the IP telephone 12-1 and the IP telephone 12-2), and the like are requested. Further, as a calling scenario, a scenario (procedure) for enabling the IP telephone 12-1 and the IP telephone 12-2 to make a voice call based on a calling request from the computer 13 is requested. Further, each of the IP telephones 12-1 and 12-2 requests state information indicating which state, such as an on-hook state, an off-hook state, or a telephone call state. As a result, the database 15 notifies the middleware unit 11F of the requested information (step S14).

Next, the middleware section 11F requests the scenario description section 11E to instruct the service providing section 11A-1 of the procedure necessary to realize the calling function based on the scenario acquired from the database 15. Yes (step S15). As a result, the scenario description section 11E-1
Requests the service providing unit 11A-1 to execute the scenario based on the scenario transferred from the middleware unit 11F (step S16). As a result, the service providing unit 11A-1 controls the protocol stack unit 11C and performs call initialization processing between the protocol stack of the protocol stack unit 11C and both the IP telephone 12-1 and the IP telephone 12-2. (Step S17). That is, the port numbers of the ports to be allocated among the ports that can be allocated in correspondence with the IP phones 12-1 and 12-2 are set. Subsequently, the service processing unit 11A-1 controls the protocol stack unit 11C, the protocol stack of the protocol stack unit 11C performs a calling process, and generates a call with the IP telephone 12-1. Similarly, the protocol stack of the protocol stack unit 11C performs a calling process to generate a call with the IP telephone 12-2. That is, IP telephones 12-1 and I
Using the port number assigned to each P telephone 12-2, the calling process is performed to each of the IP telephones 12-1 and 12-2.

Next, the service providing section 11A-1 analyzes the call actually generated. That is, information such as port numbers corresponding to the IP telephones 12-1 and 12-2 and IP addresses corresponding to the IP telephones 12-1 and 12-2 is acquired. Then, a voice channel is set between the IP telephone 12-1 and the IP telephone 12-2 based on the acquired information (step S17). This enables voice communication between the IP telephone 12-1 and the IP telephone 12-2 (step S1).
8). Here, the operation of the IP telephone during a voice call will be described by taking the IP telephone 12-1 as an example. When the voice packet data is input from the LAN 14 side, the IP telephone 12-1 VoIP processing circuit 21 decomposes the voice packet data, converts it into PCM voice data, and multi-function COD.
Output to EC22. The multi-function CODEC 22 decodes the input PCM voice data and outputs it as a voice signal to the call circuit 26.

As a result, the communication circuit 26 amplifies the voice signal and drives the speaker of the handset 27 to reproduce the voice. On the other hand, when a signal is input from the microphone of the handset 27, the input signal is amplified and output as an audio signal to the multi-function CODEC 22. Multi-function CODEC22
Is a PC that encodes the audio signal from the communication circuit 26
It is output to the VoIP processing circuit 21 as M audio data.
The VoIP processing circuit 21 assembles the input PCM voice data as voice packet data and sends it to the IP telephone 12-2 side via the LAN 14.

[3] Effects of the Embodiments According to the above embodiments, a call request can be easily made to a VoIP-gatekeeper from a terminal device connected to a LAN such as an IP telephone or a computer via a service activation interface unit. It can be carried out. In addition, VoIP-
In response to a call request from the terminal device, the gatekeeper can perform a call process to the terminal device corresponding to the call request to realize a voice call. Furthermore, since only one voice channel needs to be used for the terminal device for making a voice call, it is possible to reduce the load on the VoIP-gatekeeper and the network.

[4] Modification of Embodiment [4.1] First Modification Although the details of the LAN mode have not been described in the above description, the LAN mode is a wired LAN,
It is possible to use any form of LAN such as a wireless LAN.

[4.2] Second Modification In the above description, the case where the control program for the gatekeeper is stored in advance in the built-in memory or the like has been described, but the control program may be connected to any network. You may make it memorize | store in a computer, distribute this control program through a telecommunication line, and it is comprised so that it may be installed and run with respect to a desired computer. Further, the control program may be recorded in a computer-readable recording medium (semiconductor memory, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, magnetic disk) and distributed. In these cases, as an interface for storing (installing) the control program in the actual information processing device, in addition to connection by a normal connector, optical communication using light such as infrared rays, electromagnetic communication using electromagnetic coupling, etc. Can be used. Then, the control program may be stored in the memory of the computer and the microprocessor may perform the operation based on the control program.

[4.3] Third Modification In the above description, the case where IP (Internet Protocol) is used as the network protocol has been described. However, even in networks using other network protocols, the data transmission network is used. The same can be applied to any network capable of performing voice communication.

[0033]

According to the present invention, a voice call can be realized by performing a calling process from a gatekeeper. Further, since the calling process can be performed in response to the calling request from the terminal device connected to the LAN, it is possible to start the calling process from the terminal device connected to the network which does not have the voice call function. Become. Furthermore, it becomes possible to connect the terminal devices that make a voice call with one voice channel, and it is possible to reduce the load on the network and the gatekeeper.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration block diagram of a network voice call system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration block diagram of an IP telephone.

FIG. 3 is an operation explanatory diagram of the network voice call system according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a sequence of the network voice call system according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of a conventional network voice call system.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a calling operation in a conventional network voice call system.

FIG. 7 is a sequence of a calling operation in a conventional network voice call system.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a calling operation when a gatekeeper performs a calling process using a conventional network voice call system.

FIG. 9 is a sequence when a gatekeeper performs a calling process using a conventional network voice call system.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... Network voice call system 11 ... Gatekeeper 11A-1 to 11A-n ... Service providing department 11B: Line management unit 11C ... Protocol stack section 11D ... Service activation interface section 11E-1 to 11E-n ... Scenario description section 11G ... Application (AP) adapter 12-1 to 12-m ... IP telephone 13-1 to 13-m ... Computer (PC) 14 ... LAN 15 ... Database 16 ... Application server

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Yasuyuki Kajiura             1-9-1, Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo             IT Comware Co., Ltd. F term (reference) 5K030 HA08 HB01 HD03 KA07 LB02                 5K101 LL00 LL05 MM06 NN15 NN18                       NN21 PP03 SS08

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A gatekeeper capable of connecting to a plurality of terminal devices including a terminal device having a voice call function using voice packet data via a LAN, receiving a call request from any one of the terminal devices, and issuing a call request. A service activation unit for instructing the start of call processing, a call processing instruction unit for instructing call processing based on a call processing procedure corresponding to the call processing start instruction, and a call based on the instruction. A gatekeeper, comprising: a service providing unit that performs processing. 2. The gatekeeper according to claim 1, wherein the calling processing instruction unit reads a calling processing procedure corresponding to the instruction from an external database, and the calling unit read by the reading unit. A gatekeeper, comprising: a procedure instruction unit for instructing the call processing based on a call processing procedure. 3. The gatekeeper according to claim 1, wherein the service providing unit does not use a protocol stack between the two terminal devices having a voice call function corresponding to the call processing procedure. Gatekeeper characterized by setting one voice channel. 4. A plurality of terminal devices including a terminal device having a voice call function using voice packet data, a database for storing call processing procedures in advance, and the terminal device connected via a LAN, whichever is provided. A voice call system, which receives a call request from the terminal device, reads the corresponding call processing procedure from the database, and performs a call process. 5. A method of controlling a gatekeeper capable of connecting to a plurality of terminal devices including a terminal device having a voice call function using voice packet data via a LAN, wherein a call request from any of the terminal devices is received. And a step of instructing to start a calling process based on the calling request, a step of instructing a calling process based on a calling process procedure corresponding to the instruction to start the calling process, A method of controlling a gatekeeper, comprising: a step of performing a calling process corresponding to an instruction; 6. The method of controlling a gatekeeper according to claim 5, wherein a step of reading a call processing procedure corresponding to the instruction from an external database, and the call based on the read call processing procedure. A method of controlling a gatekeeper, comprising: a process of instructing processing. 7. The method of controlling a gatekeeper according to claim 5, wherein the service providing unit includes a protocol stack between two terminal devices having a voice call function corresponding to the call processing procedure. A method of controlling a gatekeeper, comprising the step of setting one voice channel without having to do so. 8. A control program for causing a computer to function as a gatekeeper connectable to a plurality of terminal devices including a terminal device having a voice call function using voice packet data via a LAN. Receiving a call request, instructing to start a calling process based on the calling request, and instructing a calling process based on a calling process procedure corresponding to the calling process start instruction, A control program characterized by causing a call processing corresponding to. 9. The control program according to claim 8, wherein a calling processing procedure corresponding to the instruction is read from an external database, and the calling processing procedure based on the read calling processing procedure is read. A control program characterized in that it gives instructions. 10. The control program according to claim 8, wherein the service providing unit does not use a protocol stack between the two terminal devices having a voice call function corresponding to the call processing procedure. A control program characterized by setting one voice channel. 11. A recording medium on which the control program according to any one of claims 8 to 10 is recorded.