JP2005012416A - Terminal network controller - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable terminal call origination communication to be accurately performed on a telephone line to which a VoIP adapter is connected, in a terminal network controller used for automatic metering or the like. <P>SOLUTION: The terminal network controller comprises; a line network control means 4 which is connected to a telephone line 2 and performs line impedance matching in data communication; a communication processing part 5 provided with a VoIP detection means 5a for detecting whether a VoIP adapter 3 connected to the telephone line 2 exists, an answer tone detection means 5b for discriminating a response signal from a center, and a modem means 5c for data modulation or demodulation; a meter interface part 9 for communicating with a meter or the like; and a control part 6 which controls the line network control means 4, the communication processing part 5, and the meter interface part 9 and is provided with a subscriber line call origination selection means 6a for selecting whether call origination on a subscriber line should be instructed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a network control device connected to an analog telephone line, and mainly relates to a terminal network that operates at a low power supply voltage used for communication control between terminals that transmit meter terminal information to a center device by automatic meter reading or the like. The present invention relates to a control device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A conventional terminal network control device has a network control means for matching DC / AC impedance with a telephone line and a modem means for modulating and demodulating data, and receives a call instruction from a connected meter or the like. In this case, a telephone number set in advance is dialed and connected to the center to perform data communication (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
[0003]
FIG. 5 shows a conventional terminal network control apparatus having an off-hook detection function. Reference numeral 1 denotes a terminal network control device, which is connected to a telephone line and performs line network control means 4 for matching line impedance during data communication, answer tone detection means 5b for determining a response signal from the center, data modulation / Controls the communication processing unit 5 having the modem means 5c for performing demodulation, the meter interface unit 9 for communicating with a meter, the line network control unit 4, the communication processing unit 5, and the meter interface unit 9 and makes a call. A calling telephone number storage means 6f that stores the destination telephone number is provided.
[0004]
Here, although not shown in the figure, when performing a so-called terminal call operation in which data is transmitted from the meter connected to the terminals M1 and M2 to the center via the telephone line 2, a message from the meter interface unit 9 is first transmitted to the control unit 6. Is detected. The controller 6 controls the network control means 4 to dial the contents of the calling telephone number storage means 6f. When the center arrives, a response signal is returned, and when the answer tone detecting means 5b detects this, it operates so that data communication with the center is performed via the modem means 5c. In FIG. 4, the VoIP adapter 3 as an IP telephone adapter is connected to the telephone line terminals L1 and L2, but the terminal network control means 1 dials the contents of the calling telephone number storage means 6f regardless of the presence or absence of the VoIP adapter. It was bamboo.
[0005]
A relay unit 8 connects or disconnects the telephone 7 and the line between the VoIP adapter 3 and the line network control means 4.
[0006]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 06-303331
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional terminal network control apparatus 1, data communication may be automatically performed via the Internet when a VoIP adapter is connected. Since IP telephones using the Internet use UDP / IP (User Datagram Protocol / Internet Protocol) protocol, the data communication quality is inferior, and it is not guaranteed whether the data is accurately reported to the center. It may operate to connect the telephone line many times until successful.
[0008]
The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and when a terminal call operation on an IP telephone fails, a terminal network that can perform data communication by switching to a subscriber line and reliably perform a terminal call An object is to provide a control device.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-described conventional problem, the terminal network control apparatus of the present invention is provided with a VoIP detection means for detecting whether a VoIP adapter is connected to a telephone line, and data communication fails with an IP telephone. Are configured to operate so as to use a subscriber line.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a line network control means for matching line impedance during data communication connected to a telephone line, a VoIP detection means for detecting the presence or absence of a VoIP adapter connected to the telephone line, and a center. Answer tone detecting means for discriminating the response signal, communication processing section provided with modem means for data communication, meter interface section for communicating with a meter, etc., said network control means, communication processing section, meter interface It is possible to perform accurate terminal call communication by configuring the control unit with the subscriber line call selection means for selecting whether or not to instruct the call on the subscriber line while Become.
[0011]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, by providing an IP telephone selection means for determining whether to add an IP telephone dedicated number or select a subscriber line, it is possible to send a report to a center corresponding to the IP telephone. As a result, communication costs can be reduced.
[0012]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to shorten the communication time by providing the PB calling means for dialing with the push button signal at the time of outgoing from the IP telephone.
[0013]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a telegram analyzing unit for analyzing a telegram from the meter interface unit, and a subscriber for selecting whether to make a call on a subscriber line or an IP phone according to a result of the telegram analyzing unit. By providing the line selection means, it is possible to reliably make important notifications.
[0014]
【Example】
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[0015]
(Example 1)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a terminal network control apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a terminal network control device, which detects the presence or absence of line network control means 4 connected to a telephone line 2 for matching line impedance during data communication and a VoIP adapter 3 connected to the telephone line 2. VoIP detecting means 5a for performing the processing, answer tone detecting means 5b for discriminating a response signal from a center apparatus connected to a telephone line (not shown), and a modem 5c for modulating / demodulating data. And a meter interface unit 9 for communicating with a meter and the like, and the line network control means 4, the communication processing unit 5 and the meter interface unit 9 and whether or not to instruct a call on the subscriber line is selected. It comprises a control unit 6 having subscriber line call selection means 6a.
[0016]
When a terminal call request from the meter occurs, the terminal network control means 1 dials the telephone line 2 to connect to the center device. When the line is connected, a response signal is transmitted from the center apparatus, and the answer tone detecting means 5b receives this, and then uses the modem means 5c to perform data communication with the center apparatus. At this time, when the VoIP adapter operates and is connected to the center apparatus via the Internet, a response signal is generally output from the VoIP adapter. The VoIP detection means 5a detects this response output and determines that the telephone is via the Internet.
[0017]
On the other hand, a telephone over the Internet, a so-called IP telephone, uses a UDP / IP protocol due to line congestion and the like, and thus packets may be lost and normal communication may not be performed. When the subscriber line call selection means 6a confirms that communication via the IP telephone cannot be performed normally, the subscriber line call selection means 6a operates to communicate with the center apparatus by adding an identification number to use the subscriber line and redialing. .
[0018]
As described above, IP phone calls can be made at low cost, but when communication is not normally performed, the call is automatically switched to the subscriber line, so that both cost and communication reliability can be achieved. Become.
[0019]
(Example 2)
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a terminal network control apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The control unit 6 includes IP telephone call selection means for determining whether to add an IP telephone dedicated number to a dialed number or to select a subscriber line. When the center device is compatible with the IP phone, the center device is configured to make an incoming call by adding an IP phone dedicated number to the head of the outgoing dial so that the IP phone can receive an incoming call. In addition, if the data communication is not normally performed even though the center apparatus is called with the above contents, the IP telephone call selecting means 6b is identified so as to automatically make a call on the subscriber line. It operates to communicate with the center device by adding a number and redialing.
[0020]
As described above, IP phone calls and calls can be made at low cost. However, since communication is automatically switched to a subscriber line when communication is not performed normally, both cost and communication reliability can be achieved. It becomes possible.
[0021]
Example 3
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a terminal network control apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention. When the VoIP detecting means 5a detects that the terminal network control device 1 performs a calling operation and the VoIP adapter is connected to the telephone line, a PB calling setting means for dialing a subsequent telephone call with a push button signal 6c. The VoIP adapter is configured to accept dial pulse (DP) and push button (PB) signals and transmit them via the Internet regardless of subscriber line DP or PB contracts. When the PB call setting unit 6c detects that the VoIP adapter is connected to the telephone line, the PB call setting means 6c performs subsequent calls with the PB and shortens the time for transmission.
[0022]
As described above, it is possible to make a report as soon as possible by shortening the dialing time.
[0023]
(Example 4)
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a terminal network control apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. The control unit 6 includes a telegram analyzing unit 6e for analyzing a telegram from the meter interface unit 9, and a subscriber line for selecting whether to make a call on a subscriber line or an IP phone based on the result of the telegram analyzing unit 6e. Selection means 6d is provided.
[0024]
When information related to security such as gas leakage is received from the meter interface unit 9, the message analysis means 6e determines this. When the electronic message analysis means 6e detects security information, or when this information is reported to the center device, the subscriber line selection means 6d changes the outgoing dial so that the call can be made via the subscriber line. Is configured to work.
[0025]
As described above, even when a call is made with an IP telephone at a low cost, since it is automatically switched to a subscriber line in important communication, it is possible to achieve both cost and communication reliability.
[0026]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to perform accurate terminal call communication even when the terminal network control device is connected to a telephone line connected to VoIP.
Become.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a main part block diagram of a terminal network control apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a main part block diagram of a terminal network control apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the main part of a terminal network control apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the main part of a conventional terminal network control apparatus. Block diagram [Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Terminal network control apparatus 2 Telephone line 3 VoIP adapter 4 Line network control apparatus 5 Communication processing part 5a VoIP detection means 5b Answer tone detection means 5c Modem means 6 Control part 6a Subscriber line call selection means 6b IP telephone call selection means 6c PB call setting means 6d Subscriber line selection means 6e Message analysis means 9 Meter interface section

Claims (4)

Line network control means for matching line impedance at the time of data communication connected to a telephone line, VoIP detection means for detecting the presence or absence of a VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) adapter connected to the telephone line, and a response signal from the center Answer tone detecting means for determining data, communication processing section provided with modem means for modulating / demodulating data, meter interface section for communicating with a meter, etc., said network control means, communication processing section, meter interface A terminal network control means comprising a control part provided with a subscriber line call selection means for controlling whether or not to instruct a call on a subscriber line. 2. The terminal network control device according to claim 1, further comprising an IP telephone call selection means for determining whether to add an IP (Internet Protocol) telephone dedicated number or to select a subscriber line. 3. The terminal network control device according to claim 1, further comprising PB (Push Button) call setting means for dialing with a push button signal when making a call with an IP phone. 1-3 is provided with a telegram analyzing means for analyzing a telegram from the meter interface unit, and a subscriber line selecting means for selecting a call on the subscriber line or an IP telephone call based on the result of the telegram analyzing means. The terminal network control apparatus according to any one of the above.

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