JP2003348121A - Gatekeeper apparatus and end point terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a gatekeeper apparatus capable of making better communication depending on an end point terminal and a communication path and to provide the end point terminal. <P>SOLUTION: A communication system of this invention includes: end points 101 being communication terminals in compliance with the H.323 and to which an IP address is given; and gatekeeper apparatuses 103 for controlling incoming/ outgoing calls to/from the end points 101 on the basis of the H.323 protocol, and each gatekeeper 103 has a processing parameter table 107. The processing parameter table 107 groups IP address whose prescribed high-order bits are in common as one group and sets processing parameters such as input output levels and validity/invalidity of an echo canceller. Each gatekeeper 103 refers to the processing parameter table 107 to discriminate a group to which an IP address of the end point transmitting/receiving a call belongs and sets the processing parameter set to the discriminated group to the end point. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a gatekeeper device and an endpoint terminal capable of changing processing parameters at an endpoint according to a communication path and a destination device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, the H.264 standard has been proposed. Processing parameters indicating settings such as the input / output level of voice and the validity / invalidity of an echo canceller in a communication system conforming to the H.323 Recommendation have been set for each endpoint such as an IP telephone.
For example, if an endpoint is connected to another endpoint or H.264 via a gateway or a network. When performing communication with a telephone or the like that does not comply with H.323, the calling endpoint transmits an audio signal according to a preset processing parameter.

[0003]

However, in an actual communication system, a plurality of types of endpoints are used as communication terminals, and usable communication bands are different depending on communication paths, and transit devices such as gateways are also used. Because of the variety, if the processing parameters set for the endpoints are constant as in the past, communication conditions such as voice level diagrams (level differences between incoming and outgoing voice signals) may vary depending on the other party's endpoint or telephone model and communication path. There will be a difference.

For example, depending on the audio input / output level set at the endpoint or the line in the communication path, the volume of the voice heard by the called user may be too small or too large. There has been a demand for a communication system in which the volume on the called side becomes constant even when communication is performed using various types of endpoints. In addition, settings such as the echo canceller directly affect the sound, and depending on the communication delay time for each communication path, the sound on the called side may seem unnatural. There has been a demand for a communication system capable of setting various processing parameters for voice processing and the like.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional needs, and has as its object to provide a gatekeeper device and an endpoint terminal capable of performing better communication according to an endpoint or a communication path. And

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, a gate keeper device according to the present invention provides an endpoint terminal provided with an IP address capable of making or receiving a call to another communication terminal. A gatekeeper device for managing, comprising a processing parameter table in which processing parameters are set for each IP address, and by referring to the processing parameter table, referring to the processing parameter table, an IP address of an endpoint terminal to be called or a calling source. Endpoint terminal IP
A processing parameter corresponding to the address is set in the endpoint terminal. Therefore, if each processing parameter is optimally set in the processing parameter table based on the performance of the endpoint terminal, the communication path, and the like, the optimal processing parameter for the originating and terminating endpoint terminal is set in the endpoint terminal. Therefore, the endpoint terminal that has made and received a call can perform better communication according to the endpoint terminal and the communication path.

In the gate keeper device according to the present invention, in the processing parameter table, an IP address having common upper predetermined bits is defined as one group, and processing parameters are set for each group. Therefore, IP
Not only does it become unnecessary to set the same processing parameter for each address, but also in the implementation of IP routing, an address group having a predetermined bit in common becomes the same routing path, and the same processing parameter is required. Therefore, as long as the settings are appropriately used so that the same parameters are applied to each group, optimal communication can be performed.

[0008] Further, a gate keeper device according to the present invention is a gate keeper device for managing an endpoint terminal to which an IP address capable of making or receiving a call to or from another communication terminal is provided. Comprises a processing parameter table in which processing parameters are set for each model, with reference to the processing parameter table,
A processing parameter corresponding to the model of the called endpoint terminal or the model of the calling endpoint terminal is set in the endpoint terminal. Therefore, if each processing parameter is optimally set in the processing parameter table based on the type of the endpoint terminal, the communication path, and the like, the optimal processing parameter for the type of the endpoint terminal that made and received the call is set in the endpoint terminal. Therefore, the originating and terminating endpoint can perform better communication with the endpoint terminal depending on the model.

[0009] An endpoint terminal according to the present invention is an endpoint terminal to which an IP address capable of making or receiving a call to another communication terminal is assigned.
A processing parameter table in which processing parameters are set for each address, and a processing corresponding to the IP address of the called endpoint terminal or the IP address of the calling endpoint terminal with reference to the processing parameter table Set the parameters to yourself. Therefore,
If each processing parameter is optimally set in the processing parameter table based on the performance of the endpoint terminal, the communication path, and the like, the optimal processing parameter for the originating and terminating endpoint terminal is set in the endpoint terminal. Therefore, the originating and terminating endpoint terminal can perform better communication according to the endpoint terminal and the communication path.

[0010] In the endpoint terminal according to the present invention, the processing parameter table has an IP address having a common upper predetermined bit as one group, and processing parameters are set for each group. Therefore, IP
It is not necessary to set the same processing parameter for each address.

[0011] The endpoint terminal according to the present invention is an endpoint terminal to which an IP address capable of making or receiving a call to or from another communication terminal is provided. Is set, and by referring to the processing parameter table, the processing parameter corresponding to the model of the called endpoint terminal or the model of the calling endpoint terminal is set in itself. Therefore, if each processing parameter is optimally set in the processing parameter table based on the type of the endpoint terminal, the communication path, and the like, the optimal processing parameter for the type of the endpoint terminal that made and received the call is set in the endpoint terminal. Therefore, the originating and terminating endpoint can perform better communication with the endpoint terminal depending on the model.

Further, a communication system according to the present invention includes a gate keeper device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, and an endpoint terminal according to claim 4, 5 or 6.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of a gatekeeper device and an endpoint terminal according to the present invention will be described with reference to [first embodiment], [second embodiment], [third embodiment].
Embodiment] will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the gatekeeper device and the endpoint terminal of each embodiment constitute a communication system, and in the following embodiments, one form of the gatekeeper device and the endpoint terminal according to the present invention will be described in describing the entire communication system. I do.

[First Embodiment] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention.
1 is a configuration diagram illustrating a communication system according to an exemplary embodiment. In the figure, the communication system according to the present embodiment has an endpoint 1 corresponding to an endpoint terminal described in the claims.
01, a gatekeeper 103 corresponding to a gatekeeper device, and an IP network 105.

Hereinafter, each component of the communication system of the present embodiment will be described. First, endpoint 1
H.01 is an H.01 typified by an IP telephone and a multimedia communication device. This is a communication terminal conforming to the H.323 Recommendation, and each endpoint is assigned an IP address. Also,
The gatekeeper 103 has a It controls outgoing / incoming calls from the endpoint 101 based on the H.323 protocol, and has a function of converting a telephone number into an IP address.

In the present embodiment, the gatekeeper 10
3 has a rewritable processing parameter table 107. FIG. 2 shows an example of the processing parameter table 107. As shown in FIG.
In 7, processing parameters such as an input level, an output level, and the validity / invalidity of an echo canceller are set for each group. Note that an IP address that does not belong to any of the groups set in the processing parameter table 107 belongs to a group represented as “standard setting” in FIG. Standard processing parameters are set for the group.

Each group is provided with mask information such as how many upper bits of the IP address are referred to. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 2, the mask information is set to “16 bits” so that the endpoint having the IP address whose upper 16 bits are “133.184” belongs to group 1. Similarly, the upper 24 bits are "133.185.7
Endpoint with 6 "IP address is group 2
The mask information is set to “24 bits” to belong to

Next, the operation of the communication system according to the present embodiment when an incoming / outgoing call is made from an end point will be described. First, when a call is received from the outside via the IP network 105, the gatekeeper on the called side and the gatekeeper on the calling side communicate with each other. Perform a signaling procedure based on the H.225 protocol. Since the data that can be obtained by the called gatekeeper by the signaling procedure includes the IP address of the called endpoint, the called gatekeeper refers to the processing parameter table 107 with reference to the processing parameter table 107. The group to which the IP address belongs is determined, and the processing parameters set in the determined group are set in the called endpoint.

For example, if there is a call to the endpoint having the IP address "133.184.1.1", the gatekeeper managing the called destination endpoint determines that this endpoint belongs to group 1, and 1
Is set to the destination endpoint of the called party. That is, the called end point processes the audio signal with the input level being 0 dB, the output level being +12 dB, and the echo canceller being effective.

On the other hand, when a call is made to an external endpoint via the IP network 105, the gatekeeper on the calling side communicates with the calling endpoint and the H.264 endpoint. 225
Perform signaling procedures based on the protocol. The data that can be obtained by the calling gatekeeper by the signaling procedure includes the I of the calling source endpoint.
Since the P address is included, the gatekeeper on the calling side refers to the processing parameter table 107 to
The group to which the P address belongs is determined, and the processing parameter set in the determined group is set in the calling end point.

For example, if there is a call from the endpoint having the IP address "133.185.76.1", the gatekeeper that manages the endpoint of the caller determines that this endpoint belongs to group 2, The processing parameters set in group 2 are set to the calling end point. That is, the calling endpoint is
The audio signal is processed with the input level at +4 dB, the output level at +12 dB, and the echo canceller disabled.

As described above, according to the communication system of this embodiment, the gatekeeper 103 has the processing parameter table 107, and the processing parameter table 107 is grouped according to the IP address of the endpoint 101. , Processing parameters are set for each group. In the processing parameter table 107 set in each gatekeeper 103, it is assumed that each processing parameter is optimally set based on the performance of each endpoint, the communication path, and the like.
3 sets a processing parameter corresponding to the IP address of the endpoint 101 that has made and received a call to the endpoint 101, so that the endpoint that has made and made a call can perform better communication. For example, if the input / output level is optimal, a call can be made with an optimal volume, and if the echo canceller setting is optimal, a call with a natural feeling can be made.

The communication system according to the present embodiment employs a conventional H.264 communication system. A telephone or exchange which does not conform to H.323 may be provided. In this case, when a call is made from the conventional telephone to the endpoint, the called gatekeeper sets processing parameters for the called endpoint, and the endpoint calls the conventional telephone. When there is a call, the calling gatekeeper sets the processing parameters for the calling endpoint. As described above, the setting of the processing parameter is performed only for one of the communication terminals, but even in such a case,
The above effects can be obtained.

In the above description, the processing parameter table 107 is described as being included in the gatekeeper 103, but may be provided separately. In this case, the processing parameter table 107 is stored in a storage medium, and the gatekeeper 103 can read / write the storage medium.

[Second Embodiment] FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the present invention.
1 is a configuration diagram illustrating a communication system according to an exemplary embodiment. In the figure, the communication system according to the present embodiment has an endpoint 2 corresponding to an endpoint terminal described in the claims.
01, a gatekeeper 203 corresponding to a gatekeeper device, and an IP network 105.

Hereinafter, each component of the communication system of the present embodiment will be described. First, endpoint 2
H.01 is an H.01 typified by an IP telephone and a multimedia communication device. This is a communication terminal conforming to the H.323 Recommendation, and each endpoint is assigned an IP address. Also,
The gatekeeper 203 has a It controls outgoing and incoming calls from the endpoint 201 based on the H.323 protocol, and has a function of converting a telephone number into an IP address.

In this embodiment, the processing parameter table 107 shown in FIG. 2 is provided not for the gatekeeper 203 but for each end point 201. In the first embodiment, when there is an outgoing / incoming call from the endpoint, the gate keeper sets the processing parameter for the endpoint according to the IP address. By referring to the table 107, the processing parameters are set for itself.

As described above, in the processing parameter table 107 set for each end point 201, it is assumed that each processing parameter is set optimally based on the performance of each end point, the communication path, and the like. The point 201 is the I of the called endpoint 201
Since the processing parameter corresponding to the P address is set for itself, the calling and called endpoints can perform better communication. Note that the signaling procedure in the gatekeeper 203 is the same as in the first embodiment.
Also, as in the first embodiment, the communication system is H.264. 3
Telephones and exchanges that do not conform to H.23 may be provided.

[Third Embodiment] The configuration of the communication system of the third embodiment is the same as the configuration of the communication system of the first embodiment or the communication system of the second embodiment.
However, in the processing parameter table of the present embodiment, processing parameters are set for each model of the endpoint.
FIG. 4 shows an example of a processing parameter table according to the third embodiment. As shown in the figure, in the processing parameter table 307 of the present embodiment, the processing parameters such as the input level, the output level, and the validity / invalidity of the echo canceller are set for each group as a group including the models of different colors. Is set. Note that a model that does not belong to any of the groups set in the processing parameter table 307 belongs to a group represented as “standard setting” in FIG. Standard processing parameters are set for the group.

In the communication system according to the present embodiment, when there is an outgoing / incoming call from the end point, the gatekeeper uses the H.264 protocol as in the first and second embodiments. 225
A signaling procedure based on a protocol is executed, and data that can be obtained by the gatekeeper by the signaling procedure includes model information of a called destination or a calling end point. Therefore, the gatekeeper refers to the processing parameter table 307 and sets a processing parameter corresponding to the model information in the endpoint.

Therefore, based on the assumption that the processing parameters are optimally set based on the model of the endpoint, the processing parameters corresponding to the model of the called / received endpoint are set for the endpoint. The endpoint that has performed can perform better communication. For example, if the input / output level is optimal, a call can be made with an optimal volume, and if the echo canceller setting is optimal, a call with a natural feeling can be made.

[0032]

As described above, according to the gatekeeper device and the endpoint terminal of the present invention, each processing parameter is optimally set in the processing parameter table based on the performance of the endpoint terminal, the communication path, and the like. If this is the case, the processing parameters that are optimal for the originating and terminating endpoint terminal will be set in the endpoint terminal, and the originating and terminating endpoint terminal will perform better communication according to the endpoint terminal and the communication path. It can be carried out. Also, if each processing parameter is optimally set in the processing parameter table based on the type of the endpoint terminal, the communication route, etc., the optimal processing parameter for the type of the endpoint terminal that made and received the call is set in the relevant endpoint terminal. Therefore, the originating and terminating endpoint can perform better communication with the endpoint terminal depending on the model.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a communication system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a processing parameter table according to the first embodiment or the second embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing a communication system according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a processing parameter table according to a third embodiment;

[Explanation of symbols]

101, 201 Endpoint 103,203 Gatekeeper 105 IP Network 107,307 Processing parameter table

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A gatekeeper device for managing an endpoint terminal to which an IP address capable of making or receiving a call to another communication terminal is provided, wherein a processing parameter is set for each IP address. A parameter table, and referring to the processing parameter table, setting processing parameters corresponding to the IP address of the called endpoint terminal or the IP address of the calling endpoint terminal to the endpoint terminal. A gatekeeper device characterized by: 2. The processing parameter table includes a group of IP addresses having a common upper predetermined bit,
2. The gate keeper according to claim 1, wherein processing parameters are set for each group. 3. A gatekeeper device for managing an endpoint terminal to which an IP address capable of making or receiving a call to another communication terminal is provided, wherein processing parameters are set for each model of the endpoint terminal. Setting a processing parameter corresponding to a model of a called endpoint terminal or a model of a calling endpoint terminal with reference to the processing parameter table. A gate keeper device. 4. An endpoint terminal provided with an IP address capable of making or receiving a call to another communication terminal, comprising: a processing parameter table in which processing parameters are set for each IP address; An endpoint terminal, which refers to a processing parameter table and sets a processing parameter corresponding to the IP address of the called endpoint terminal or the IP address of the calling endpoint terminal to itself. 5. The processing parameter table includes an IP address having a common upper predetermined bit as one group,
The endpoint terminal according to claim 4, wherein a processing parameter is set for each group. 6. An endpoint terminal to which an IP address capable of making or receiving a call to another communication terminal is provided, and a processing parameter table in which processing parameters are set for each model of the endpoint terminal. An endpoint terminal, comprising referring to the processing parameter table and setting a processing parameter corresponding to a model of a called endpoint terminal or a model of a calling endpoint terminal to itself. 7. A communication system comprising the gatekeeper device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, and the endpoint terminal according to claim 4, 5 or 6.