JP2004080483A - Adapter for voice over an internet protocol - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a VoIP adapter capable of preventing from falling into a situation where calling is impossible due to a trouble in transmission path on the side of the Internet in spite of a normal power supply. <P>SOLUTION: A monitor supervising unit is provided. The monitor supervising unit detects troubles in a communication line on the side of the Internet at a VoIP processing unit 4 and at a communication processing unit 5, and detects a status of restarting during or after software rewriting. A slector 7 is forcibly switched to a telephone terminal 7A according to detection of the status. A telephone is restored by the switchover from a status where calling is impossible to a status where calling is possible. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a VoIP adapter that includes a telephone network interface connected to a public telephone network and an Internet interface connected to the Internet, and enables a telephone to be connected to both the telephone network and the Internet network to make a call. .
[0002]
[Prior art]
As a recent tendency, a communication method using the Internet (VoIP) is becoming widespread. FIG. 2 shows the configuration of a conventional VoIP adapter. In the figure, 1 is a VoIP adapter, 30 is a splitter, 40 is a telephone line, 50 is a telephone, and 51 is a data terminal such as a personal computer.
The telephone line 40 is connected to a telephone office 60, and the telephone office 60 is connected to a telephone network 70 through an exchange or the like. Further, the telephone station 60 is provided with a connector 61 called a router or the like. Through this connector 61, the telephone line 40 is connected to a server 80 installed by a connection company called a provider. Connected to.
[0003]
The splitter 30 has a telephone network terminal 31 and an Internet terminal 32, and branches and outputs a signal of a telephone network band F1 (see FIG. 3) to the telephone network terminal 31. Further, the signal of the Internet band F2 shown in FIG.
The VoIP adapter 1 has a telephone network interface 2 and an Internet interface 3. The telephone network interface 2 is connected to a telephone network terminal 31 of a splitter 30, and the Internet interface 3 is connected to an Internet terminal 32 of the splitter 30. Connected to.
[0004]
The telephone network interface 2 is connected to a telephone interface 9 through a selector 7, telephone / VoIP and a determination unit 8. A telephone 50 is connected to the telephone interface 9.
On the other hand, the Internet interface 3 is connected to the data interface 11 through the communication processing unit 5. A data terminal 51 is connected to the data interface 11. The selector 7 has a telephone terminal 7A and a VoIP terminal 7B, and the telephone network interface 2 is connected to the telephone terminal 7A. A VoIP processing unit 4 is connected to the VoIP terminal 7B, and the VoIP terminal 7B is connected to the communication processing unit 5 through the VoIP processing unit 4.
[0005]
The telephone / VoIP determination unit 8 monitors the telephone number called by the telephone 50, and determines a telephone number that cannot be connected unless the telephone network 70 is connected, for example, “110”, “119”, “117”. When the telephone number is detected, the detection signal is transmitted to the selector control unit 6, the selector control unit 6 controls the selector 7, and the forced control is performed to select the telephone terminal 7A. For calls with other numbers, the selector 7 is kept in a state of selecting the VoIP terminal 7B, and the VoIP processing unit 4 and the communication processing unit 5 enable a call using VoIP.
When the selector control unit 6 controls the selector 7 to be connected to the telephone terminal 7A, the light-emitting display element 10 is turned on to indicate that the telephone terminal 7A is being selected. In the event of a power outage, the selector 7 is unconditionally switched to a state of selecting the telephone terminal 7A, and the communication path is maintained by power supply from the telephone office 60.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The conventional VoIP adapter forcibly switches the selector 7 to the telephone terminal 7A at the time of a power outage to enable outgoing / incoming calls using the telephone network 70. If a failure occurs in the communication line with the Internet interface 3 or a failure occurs in the VoIP processing unit 4 or the communication processing unit 5 provided in the VoIP adapter 1, there is a drawback that a call is completely disabled. . In addition, the VoIP adapter is mainly configured by a computer, and software may sometimes need to be updated in order to improve the function of the VoIP adapter. In such a case, there is a disadvantage that the call cannot be performed at all even during the rewriting of the software and at the time of the restart after the rewriting.
An object of the present invention is to provide a case where a trouble occurs in a communication line on the Internet side or a trouble occurs in a VoIP processing unit 4 or a communication processing unit 5 even when a power supply is normal, and when updating software and further after updating software. It is an object of the present invention to provide a VoIP adapter that can make and receive a call even at the time of restart.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to claim 1 of the present invention, a telephone network interface for inputting / outputting a signal for a telephone network, an Internet interface for inputting / outputting an Internet signal, a telephone interface for connecting a telephone, and a data terminal are connected. A data interface, a selector for selecting one of a telephone network interface and an Internet interface as a connection destination of the telephone, and a telephone number called by the telephone are collated to determine whether or not the telephone network is a dedicated telephone network number. A telephone / VoIP judging unit, a selector control unit for controlling the selector to select a telephone interface when the telephone / VoIP judging unit detects that it is a telephone network dedicated number and when a power failure is detected, Sends an audio signal from the telephone with the Internet interface selected. A VoIP processing unit that converts a VoIP signal input from an Internet interface into a telephone signal and converts the VoIP signal into a telephone signal, and a communication processing unit that controls these communications. In the adapter, a monitor monitoring unit that monitors the operation status of the Internet interface, the VoIP processing unit, and the communication processing unit and detects a failure of the communication path on the Internet side, and the monitor monitoring unit detects a failure of the communication path on the Internet side. A VoIP adapter provided with a selector control unit that switches a selector to a state where transmission and reception using a telephone network is possible when a power failure is detected, as in the case of a power failure.
[0008]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the VoIP adapter according to the first aspect, when the communication line on the Internet side is cut off, the VoIP adapter automatically enables only a calling / receiving function using a telephone network as in the case of a power failure. Suggest.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in any of the VoIP adapters according to the first or second aspect, when an interface failure occurs on the Internet communication path side, only the transmission / reception function using the telephone network is automatically enabled as in the case of a power failure. We propose a VoIP adapter.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the VoIP adapters according to the first to third aspects, when one or both of the VoIP processing unit and the communication processing unit in the VoIP adapter are inoperable, a power failure is automatically performed. In the same manner as above, a VoIP adapter that enables only a calling / receiving function using a telephone network is proposed.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the VoIP adapters according to the first to fourth aspects, when the software for operating the VoIP adapter is restarted after rewriting, the telephone network is automatically set in the same manner as at the time of a power failure. We propose a VoIP adapter that enables only the outgoing / incoming call function.
[0009]
Action <br/> VoIP processing unit in the failure and VoIP adapter communication line Internet side according to the VoIP adapter according to the present invention, the communication processing unit failure, in rewriting software, or write restart after replacement The monitor / monitoring unit detects a situation in which a call using VoIP cannot be made or received by the monitor, and forcibly switches the selector 7 to the telephone terminal side in the same manner as at the time of a power failure by using the detection signal, and makes and receives a call using the telephone network. Can be made possible.
Therefore, according to the present invention, any trouble in the communication line on the Internet side is detected, and the state is switched to a state in which a call can be made and received using the telephone network. Obtainable.
[0010]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a VoIP adapter according to the present invention. Components corresponding to those in FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted. However, in the present invention, a monitor monitoring unit 12 is provided. This monitor monitoring unit 12
1. a function of determining whether or not the communication processing unit 5 is operating normally based on information from the communication processing unit 5 and whether or not a line from the Internet interface 3 to the server 80 is normally connected; ,
2. a function of detecting whether or not the VoIP processing unit 4 is operating normally;
3. a function of detecting whether or not a call using VoIP is in progress;
4. Based on the information from the rewriting permission means 14, it is detected whether the data terminal 51 is rewriting the software of the VoIP adapter 1 and whether the restart after rewriting is being executed. Function.
[0011]
According to the information from the communication processing unit 5, the monitor monitoring unit determines that the communication processing unit 5 itself is not normally operating or the communication line to the server 80 including the Internet interface 3 is not normally connected. In the case where the signal is detected by the selector 12, the selector control unit 13 forcibly switches the selector 7 to the telephone terminal 7A side in the same manner as in the case of a power failure, and the telephone 50 can make and receive calls using the telephone network 70. Switch to At this time, the selector control unit 13 turns on the light emitting display element 10 to indicate that a telephone call is possible using the telephone network 70.
On the other hand, the monitor monitoring unit 12 monitors the operation status of the VoIP processing unit 4 and, when it detects that the operation is not normal, causes the selector control unit 13 to switch the selector 7 to the telephone terminal 7A side in the same manner as in the case of a power outage. And the telephone 50 is maintained using the telephone network 70 so that it can make and receive calls. Also in this case, the light emitting display element 10 is turned on to indicate that a telephone call is possible using the telephone network 70.
[0012]
By the way, the VoIP adapter 1 is generally constituted by a microcomputer, and the whole is operated by software. This software is sometimes upgraded to improve the function of the VoIP adapter 1. In such a case, the VoIP operating company issues a notification urging the user to download software to each data terminal 51 using, for example, a mail function.
Each user downloads the upgraded software to the data terminal 51 according to the instruction of the mail, and writes the downloaded software to the VoIP adapter 1. During the rewriting of the software and at the time of the restart after the rewriting, the communication using the VoIP and the communication using the telephone network 70 cannot be performed.
[0013]
For this reason, in the present invention, the selector 7 is switched to the telephone terminal 7A side during the software rewriting and during the restart after the rewriting as well as at the time of the power outage, so as to maintain the state in which the outgoing and incoming calls can be made using the telephone network 70. .
In rewriting software, if software rewriting is executed during a call using VoIP, the call using VoIP is disconnected. In the present invention, the monitor monitoring unit 12 determines whether or not a call using VoIP is in progress. A rewriting permission unit 14 is provided in association with the determination function and the data interface 11, and the rewriting to the data terminal 51 is performed in a state where the monitor monitoring unit 12 detects that the telephone call is in use when using VoIP. Prohibit. In a state where the monitor monitoring unit 12 detects that the telephone call is not being performed using VoIP, the data terminal 51 is permitted to rewrite the software, and a control signal is given from the monitor monitoring unit 12 to the selector 13 during the software rewriting. Control is performed so that the selector 7 is connected to the telephone terminal 7A as in the case of a power failure.
Further, also in the case where it is detected that the telephone call is not in use by using the VoIP and the restart after rewriting the software is permitted, the monitor monitoring unit 12 sends a control signal to the selector control unit 13 according to the information from the rewriting permission unit 14. Then, the selector 7 is controlled so as to be connected to the telephone terminal 7A in the same manner as in the case of a power failure, and is maintained in a state in which a call can be made and received using the telephone network 70.
Although the present invention has been described above as a VoIP adapter alone, it can be easily understood that the present invention is also applicable to an ADSL modem-integrated VoIP adapter or a telephone-integrated VoIP adapter.
[0015]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, when connection to the Internet 90 is not possible, the selector 7 is switched to the telephone terminal 7A as in the case of a power outage, and the telephone 50 can make and receive calls using the telephone network 70. Therefore, even if the communication path on the Internet side is defective, or if there is a defect in the Internet interface 3, the communication control unit 5, the VoIP processing unit 4, or the like, the call must be made through the telephone network 70. It can be performed.
Also, during rewriting of software or during restart after rewriting, it is possible to make and receive calls using the telephone network 70 in the same manner as during a power failure.
Therefore, a communication path can be always ensured even in any situation, and an advantage that a highly reliable VoIP adapter can be provided is obtained.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining a conventional technique.
FIG. 3 is a graph for explaining a frequency band of a telephone network signal and a frequency band of an Internet signal.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 VoIP adapter 32 Internet terminal 2 Telephone network interface 40 Telephone line 3 Internet interface 50 Telephone 4 VoIP processing unit 51 Data terminal 5 Communication processing unit 60 Telephone office 6, 13 Selector control unit 61 Connector 7 Selector 70 Telephone Network 30 splitter 80 server 31 telephone network terminal 90 internet

Claims (5)

A telephone network interface for inputting / outputting a signal for a telephone network, an Internet interface for inputting / outputting an Internet signal, a telephone interface for connecting a telephone, a data interface for connecting a data terminal, A selector for selecting one of a telephone network interface and an Internet interface as a connection destination; and a telephone / VoIP determining unit for collating a telephone number called by the telephone and determining whether or not the telephone number is a telephone network dedicated number. A selector control unit for controlling the selector to select a telephone interface when the telephone / VoIP determination unit detects that the telephone network is a dedicated number and a power failure; The voice signal transmitted by the above-mentioned telephone with Vo selected is Vo A VoIP processing unit for converting the VoIP signal inputted from the Internet interface into the telephone signal, and a communication processing unit for controlling these communications. In the VoIP adapter,
A monitor monitoring unit that monitors the operation status of the Internet interface and the VoIP processing unit and the communication processing unit, and detects a failure of a communication path on the Internet side, and the monitor monitoring unit detects a failure of the communication path on the Internet side. In the case, as in the case of a power outage, a selector control unit that switches the selector to a state in which it can make and receive calls using the telephone network,
A VoIP adapter characterized by comprising: 2. The VoIP adapter according to claim 1, wherein when a communication line on the Internet side is cut off, only a calling / receiving function using a telephone network is automatically enabled as in the case of a power failure. 3. The VoIP adapter according to claim 1, wherein only an outgoing / incoming call function using a telephone network is automatically enabled when an interface failure occurs on the Internet communication path side, as in the case of a power outage. adapter. 4. The VoIP adapter according to claim 1, wherein when one or both of the VoIP processing unit and the communication processing unit in the VoIP adapter are inoperable, the telephone network is automatically used as in the case of a power failure. A VoIP adapter characterized in that only the calling function is enabled. 5. The VoIP adapter according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein when the software for operating the VoIP adapter is restarted after rewriting, only the outgoing / incoming call function using the telephone network is automatically enabled as in the case of a power failure. A VoIP adapter, characterized in that:

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