JP2004165818A - Voip adaptor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To eliminate deterioration in speech quality without interrupting a speech in VoIP communication utilizing an IP network to make the speech. <P>SOLUTION: A VoIP communication section 101 converts voice packet data transmitted/received via a broadband line into a voice signal, and a speech is attained with a telephone set connected to the outside of a VoIP adaptor 100. When a speech quality detection section 105 monitors speech quality and detects that the speech quality falls below a criterion stored in a criterion storage section 106 due to occurrence of a delay or missing of the voice packet data caused by increase in traffic or the like in an IP network, a PSTN communication section 102 searches a telephone number of a speech destination through a PSTN line corresponding to an IP address stored in an address information storage section 104 and makes a call, and a speech line switching section 103 automatically selects an ordinary speech via the PSTN line without interrupting the speech. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a VoIP adapter device for realizing VoIP communication for making a call using an IP network.
[0002]
[Prior art]
With the spread of ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line), optical fiber, CATV, and other broadband communications, voice data is divided into packets of a predetermined length and packetized, and VoIP (Voice) for making calls via an IP network such as the Internet. Attention has been paid to a call service based on an over Internet Protocol, and the service is becoming popular as an Internet telephone. This VoIP uses the Internet, etc., where the communication fee does not depend on the distance. Therefore, it is possible to make a call without worrying about the telephone charge even if the distance is long, and the longer the distance, the lower the telephone charge. (For example, see Patent Documents 1 and 2).
[0003]
In order to realize the VoIP call service, there is known a VoIP adapter device which is installed between an IP network and a telephone and converts a transmission / reception voice signal of the telephone and packet data on the IP network between each other. (For example, see Patent Document 3).
[0004]
The VoIP adapter device is used by connecting one to a telephone and the other to an IP network. The voice signal transmitted from the telephone is processed into packet data by the VoIP device, transmitted over the IP network, and transmitted to the telephone of the call destination. On the other hand, voice from the telephone at the other end of the telephone is transmitted as packet data from the IP network, and the VoIP device receives the voice, decomposes it, restores the voice signal, and receives the voice at the telephone. As a result, it is possible for the user to talk with each other.
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2001-197127 A [Patent Document 2]
JP 2001-127902 A [Patent Document 3]
JP-A-11-275256
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, if the traffic flowing through the IP network increases or a failure or congestion occurs in a part of the passage route during a call using VoIP communication, packet data is delayed or lost, the voice quality is deteriorated, and the voice of the other party is lost. There is a problem that the user feels uncomfortable due to troubles such as difficulty in hearing and interruption of the call.
[0007]
As described above, if the call temporarily becomes difficult due to an increase in traffic in the IP network during the call, it is sufficient to wait until the traffic decreases, but there is a problem that the conversation response is not smooth.
[0008]
In addition, a call via another communication means, for example, a conventional PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) or a method of continuing a call using a mobile phone is conceivable. However, in these cases, it is necessary to end the call by the VoIP communication and then resume the call by making a call using another communication means such as a PSTN or a mobile phone. There is such a problem.
[0009]
On the other hand, it is conceivable to apply QoS (Quality of Service) in an IP network to give priority to voice packet data and improve voice quality of VoIP communication. However, in this case, the router (repeater) used in the IP network used for the call must be compatible with QoS. If the existing router does not support QoS, there is a problem that enormous cost and time are required for updating the equipment. Further, when the increase in traffic is large with respect to the network line capacity, even if QoS is applied, packet delay or loss cannot be completely prevented.
[0010]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and has as its object to provide a VoIP adapter device capable of eliminating a temporary problem of a call in a VoIP communication in which a call is made using an IP network. Aim.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A VoIP adapter device according to the present invention is a VoIP adapter device for realizing VoIP communication for making a telephone call using an IP network, wherein the VoIP communication means generates and restores voice packet data in the VoIP communication, and the VoIP communication device. Communication quality determination means for determining communication quality in communication, telephone network communication means for performing communication via the telephone network, and communication line switching means for switching a line between the communication based on the VoIP communication and the communication via the telephone network. And when the call quality of the VoIP communication is less than a predetermined criterion in the call quality determining means, the call line switching means switches the call from the VoIP communication to a call via the telephone network. It is configured in.
[0012]
And an address information storage unit for storing an IP address on an IP network in the VoIP communication in association with a telephone number in the telephone network, wherein the telephone network communication unit stores the VoIP stored in the address information storage unit. A call is made to the telephone number corresponding to the IP address of the communication destination, and the call is switched.
[0013]
According to the above configuration, in a call by VoIP communication using an IP network via a broadband line, when it is determined that the call quality is degraded from a predetermined determination criterion, a normal communication via the telephone network is automatically performed. , And the call can be continued without interruption while maintaining the call quality. As a result, it is possible to eliminate a temporary problem of the call in the VoIP communication.
[0014]
Also, the present invention provides the VoIP adapter device, wherein the VoIP adapter device has a transmitting and receiving unit, and a transmitting and receiving unit for transmitting and receiving a voice signal to and from a destination.
[0015]
According to the above configuration, the VoIP adapter device can be used as a telephone terminal in the VoIP communication, and the convenience is improved.
[0016]
Further, the present invention provides any of the above VoIP adapter devices, comprising ADSL modem means for modulating and demodulating an ADSL signal, wherein the VoIP communication means is connected to an ADSL line via the ADSL modem means to perform the VoIP communication. It has a configuration using an ADSL line as a broadband line.
[0017]
According to the above configuration, in a call by VoIP communication using an ADSL line as a broadband line, when it is determined that the call quality is deteriorated based on a predetermined criterion, the call is automatically switched to a normal call via a telephone network. The call can be continued without interruption while maintaining the call quality.
[0018]
The present invention also provides any one of the above VoIP adapter devices, wherein a DTMF tone signal used for a call in the telephone network is a first tone signal for line switching notification and a second tone signal for line switching stop instruction. And a tone signal detecting means for detecting the tone signal. The communication line switching means detects the second tone signal based on a user operation by the tone signal detecting means. In such a case, the switching of the line is stopped when the switching is performed.
[0019]
According to the above configuration, in a call by VoIP communication, when the call quality is degraded during the call and the call line is switched, the user listens to the first tone signal for the line switching notification in the call voice to thereby control the line. It can be recognized that the switching is performed. At this time, by outputting the second tone signal for the line switching stop instruction by the user's operation, the switching from the call by the VoIP communication to the call via the telephone network can be stopped. Therefore, whether or not to switch to a telephone network call can be selected by the user according to whether the user prioritizes the usage fee or the call quality.
[0020]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
(1st Embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the VoIP adapter device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. One of the VoIP adapter devices 100 is connected to a broadband line via an interface 107 such as a connector, and a PSTN line as a telephone network via a modular jack 108, and the other is connected to a telephone (not shown) via a modular jack 109. Have been.
[0021]
The VoIP adapter device 100 is a VoIP communication unit (corresponding to VoIP communication means) 101 for generating (decomposing an audio signal into an IP packet) and decomposing (restoring an IP packet into an audio signal) 101 in the VoIP communication, PSTN. A PSTN communication unit (corresponding to a PSTN communication unit) 102 for transmitting and receiving a normal analog voice signal via a line, a communication line switching unit (corresponding to a communication line switching unit) 103 for switching a line for performing a call, VoIP communication , An address information storage unit (corresponding to address information storage means) 104 in which an IP address on an IP network and a telephone number on a PSTN line are stored in association with each other, and the deterioration of call quality in VoIP communication is compared with a predetermined criterion. Call quality detection unit (corresponding to call quality determination means) 105; Configured with a criterion storage unit 106 for storing a criterion talk quality.
[0022]
Next, the operation of the VoIP adapter device 100 of the present embodiment will be described. In a state where the telephone is connected to the IP network via a broadband line and a telephone conversation state is established with the destination user by VoIP communication, an analog voice signal spoken by the user is transmitted from the telephone connected to the VoIP adapter device 100. The data is transmitted to the VoIP communication unit 101 via the line switching unit 103. The analog voice signal is converted into a digital voice signal in the VoIP communication unit 101, then encoded, processed as packet data to which a header and other information are added, and transmitted over a broadband line.
[0023]
On the other hand, voice data spoken by the callee is transmitted as packet data from the broadband line, and the VoIP adapter device 100 receives this via the interface 107. The received packet data is decomposed by the VoIP communication unit 101, and the voice code portion is extracted and decoded. The decoded digital voice signal is converted to an analog voice signal and transmitted to the telephone via the communication line switching unit 103. As a result, the telephone can listen to the voice spoken by the call destination user, and can talk with each other.
[0024]
In the above-described call state, the call quality detection unit 105 constantly monitors the analog voice signal and compares the call quality level with a predetermined call quality criterion stored in the criterion storage unit 105. As the criterion, an S / N value that does not hinder the call can be used. In this case, for example, the signal component and the noise component may be determined based on the audio band and other bands. If the packet data is delayed or lost due to an increase in traffic flowing through the IP network, and the call quality falls below the criterion, the line used for the call is switched to the call line switching unit 103 via the broadband line. Sends an instruction to switch to the PSTN line.
[0025]
In response to the instruction, the call line switching unit 103 searches the address information storage unit 104 for the telephone number of the telephone used by the callee on the PSTN line from the IP address in the VoIP communication during the call, and the PSTN communication unit Tell 102.
[0026]
The PSTN communication unit 102 makes a call using the designated telephone number, and establishes a connection with the telephone of the called user. When the connection is completed, the communication line switching unit 103 switches the communication line from the broadband line to the PSTN line. As a result, the call is switched to a normal call via the PSTN line without interruption. Further, when communication quality is improved due to a decrease in traffic in an IP network, the communication quality deteriorated in VoIP communication is recovered. Note that it is also possible to continuously perform VoIP communication via the broadband line during the period in which the call is switched to the call via the PSTN line, and switch back to the VoIP communication when the call quality is restored.
[0027]
As described above, according to the configuration and operation of the present embodiment, when the call quality deteriorates during a call in the VoIP communication via the broadband line, the call is automatically switched to the normal call via the PSTN line. Calls can be continued while maintaining good quality.
[0028]
In the above-described example of the first embodiment, the telephone is connected to the outside of the VoIP device 100 via the modular jack 109. However, for example, as in a modification shown in FIG. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which a transmission / reception unit 210 including transmission means and reception means is provided. Thereby, the VoIP device 200 can be used as a telephone terminal in the VoIP communication, and the convenience is improved.
[0029]
(2nd Embodiment)
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the VoIP adapter device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. One of the VoIP adapter devices 300 is connected to a PSTN line (and an ADSL line) via a modular jack 108, and the other is connected to a telephone (not shown) via a modular jack 109. 3, the same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.
[0030]
The VoIP adapter device 300 includes a splitter 311 for separating an audio signal and an ADSL signal, an ADSL modem (corresponding to ADSL modem means) 312 for modulating packet data into an ADSL signal and demodulating packet data from the ADSL signal, and a VoIP communication unit. 101, a PSTN communication unit 102, a communication line switching unit 103, an address information storage unit 104, a communication quality detection unit 105, and a criterion storage unit 106.
[0031]
Next, the operation of the VoIP adapter device 300 will be described. An ADSL signal is superimposed on a voice signal in a PSTN communication line, and is connected to an IP network via the ADSL line. In a state in which a call state has been established with a call destination user by VoIP communication on the IP network via the ADSL line, an analog voice signal spoken by the user is transmitted from the telephone connected to the VoIP adapter device 300 to the call line. The data is transmitted to the VoIP communication unit 101 via the switching unit 103. The analog voice signal is converted into a digital voice signal by the VoIP communication unit 101, encoded, and further processed as packet data. The packet data is modulated by the ADSL modem 312, converted into an ADSL signal, superimposed on the audio signal via the splitter 311 and transmitted on the ADSL line.
[0032]
On the other hand, voice data spoken by the callee arrives as an ADSL signal from the ADSL line, is received by the splitter 311, separated, and transmitted to the ADSL modem 312. After the ADSL signal is demodulated into packet data in the ADSL modem 312, the VoIP adapter device 100 performs a decomposition process, extracts a voice code part, and performs decoding. The decoded digital voice signal is converted to an analog voice signal and transmitted to the telephone via the communication line switching unit 103. This allows the user's telephone to listen to the voice spoken by the called user, and the call is established.
[0033]
Further, the call quality detection unit 105 constantly monitors the analog voice signal and compares the call quality level with a predetermined call quality determination criterion stored in the criterion storage unit 105. Then, packet data was delayed or lost due to an increase in traffic flowing through the IP network during a call or a failure or congestion occurred in a part of the data passage route, and the call quality fell below the criterion. In this case, an instruction is sent to the communication line switching unit 103 to switch to a normal communication via the PSTN line.
[0034]
At this time, the address information storage unit 104 searches for the telephone number of the telephone set used by the callee on the PSTN line based on the IP address in the VoIP communication during the call, and notifies the PSTN communication unit 103 of the telephone number.
[0035]
The PSTN communication unit 103 makes a call using the retrieved telephone number, and establishes a connection with the telephone of the called user. When the connection is completed, the communication line switching unit 103 switches the communication of the VoIP communication using the ADSL signal via the ADSL line to the communication using the analog voice signal via the normal PSTN line. As a result, the call is switched to a normal call via the PSTN line without interrupting the call. Further, when communication quality is improved due to a decrease in traffic in an IP network, the communication quality deteriorated in VoIP communication is recovered. It should be noted that VoIP communication via the ADSL line is also continuously performed during the period in which the call is switched to the call via the PSTN line, and it is also possible to switch back to the VoIP communication when the call quality is restored.
[0036]
As described above, according to the configuration and operation of the second embodiment, in the VoIP communication via the ADSL line, when the call quality is deteriorated during the call, the call is automatically switched to the normal call over the PSTN line. Calls can be continued while maintaining good call quality.
[0037]
(Third embodiment)
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the VoIP adapter device according to the third embodiment of the present invention. As in the first embodiment, one of the VoIP adapter devices 400 is connected to a broadband line constituting an IP network via an interface 107 such as a connector, and another to a PSTN line via a modular jack 108, and the other is a modular jack It is connected to a telephone (not shown) via 109. 4, the same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.
[0038]
The VoIP adapter device 400 includes a VoIP communication unit 101, a PSTN communication unit 102, a call line switching unit 103, an address information storage unit 104, a call quality detection unit 105, a criterion storage unit 106, and a call originating from a PSTN line. A tone reproducing unit (corresponding to a tone signal reproducing unit) 413 for generating a DTMF (Dial Tone Multi Frequency) tone signal used for a call or the like, and a DTMF detecting unit (tone) for detecting a DTMF tone signal from an analog voice signal 414).
[0039]
Next, the operation of the VoIP adapter device 400 will be described. If the call quality falls below the reference level in a state where the call state is established with the call destination user by the VoIP communication via the broadband line, as in the first embodiment, the call line switching unit 103 sets the broadband. In order to switch from VoIP communication via a line to a normal telephone call over a PSTN line, a telephone number of a telephone of a call destination user connected to the PSTN line is searched, and a call dialing operation is performed.
[0040]
At this time, tone reproduction section 412 generates a predetermined tone signal (first tone signal serving as a line switching notification signal) indicating line switching, superimposes this on the analog voice signal during a call, and transmits the signal via a broadband line. The user is notified that the user is about to switch from VoIP communication to a normal telephone call using the PSTN line.
[0041]
At this time, when the user who has listened to the line switching notification signal (first tone signal) in the call voice signal gives priority to the call charge over the call quality and desires to continue the VoIP communication, for example, a predetermined button on the telephone is used. Perform the operation. As a result, a predetermined tone signal (a second tone signal serving as a line switching stop instruction signal) for instructing the line switching stop is generated and output by the tone reproducing unit 412, and the DTMF detection unit 414 uses the line switching The stop instruction signal (second tone signal) is detected and transmitted to the communication line switching unit 103. The communication line switching unit 103 stops switching from VoIP communication to PSTN communication based on the detection of the line switching stop instruction signal by the DTMF detection unit 414.
[0042]
As described above, according to the configuration and operation of the third embodiment, in VoIP communication via a broadband line, if the call quality is deteriorated during a call, the communication by the VoIP communication is continued or the normal communication via the PSTN line is performed. Since it is possible for the user to select whether to switch to the call or not, it is possible to continue a call appropriate for the user.
[0043]
According to each of the above-described embodiments of the present invention, in VoIP communication in which a call is made using an IP network, when the call quality is degraded, the call is automatically switched to a normal call over the PSTN line, thereby achieving good call quality. The call can be continued without interruption while maintaining the condition, and a temporary trouble of the call can be eliminated.
[0044]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a VoIP adapter device capable of eliminating a temporary problem of a call in VoIP communication in which a call is made using an IP network.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a VoIP device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a VoIP device according to a modification of the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a VoIP device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a VoIP device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
100, 200, 300, 400 VoIP adapter device 101 VoIP communication unit 102 PSTN communication unit 103 Call line switching unit 104 Address information storage unit 105 Call quality detection unit 106 Judgment standard storage unit 107 Broadband line interface 108 PSTN interface 109 Telephone interface 210 Transmission Receiver 311 Splitter 312 ADSL modem 413 Tone reproducer 414 DTMF detector

Claims (5)

A VoIP adapter device for implementing VoIP communication for making a call using an IP network,
VoIP communication means for generating and restoring voice packet data in the VoIP communication;
Call quality determining means for determining the call quality in the VoIP communication;
A telephone network communication means for making a call via the telephone network;
A call line switching means for switching a line between a call by the VoIP communication and a call through the telephone network;
When the call quality of the VoIP communication is less than a predetermined criterion in the call quality determination means, the communication line switching means is configured to switch from the VoIP communication to the communication via the telephone network. A VoIP adapter device. Address information storage means for storing an IP address on an IP network in the VoIP communication and a telephone number in the telephone network in association with each other;
2. The VoIP adapter device according to claim 1, wherein the telephone network communication unit calls and switches to the telephone number corresponding to an IP address of a call destination of the VoIP communication stored in the address information storage unit. . The VoIP adapter device according to claim 1, further comprising a transmission / reception unit that includes a transmission unit and a reception unit, and that transmits and receives a voice signal to and from a communication destination. An ADSL modem means for modulating and demodulating an ADSL signal, wherein the VoIP communication means is connected to an ADSL line via the ADSL modem means, and uses an ADSL line as a broadband line for performing the VoIP communication. The VoIP adapter device according to any one of claims 1 to 3. Tone signal reproducing means for reproducing a first tone signal for line switching notification and a second tone signal for line switching stop instruction as DTMF tone signals used for a telephone call in the telephone network; and detecting the tone signal. Tone signal detection means, wherein the communication line switching means stops the line switching when the tone signal detection means detects the second tone signal based on a user operation. The VoIP adapter device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

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