JP2006013869A - Gateway apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an IP telephone system for arbitrarily selecting an incoming destination in response to a prescribed condition. <P>SOLUTION: A gateway apparatus assumes mutual connection between a plurality of terminal apparatuses and a network in a communication system to make a call by using an Internet protocol. The gateway apparatus comprises a storage means for storing set information to select the terminal apparatus to be the incoming destination; a selecting means for selecting the terminal apparatus to be the incoming destination among the plurality of terminal apparatuses in response to the set information stored in the storage means when receiving an incoming request which is transmitted from an emitting source terminal via the network; and a connection processing means for connecting the terminal apparatus selected by the selecting means to the emitting source terminal so as to secure a communication path. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for providing a communication service such as a telephone call using an IP (Internet Protocol) network, and more particularly to an improved technique for a gateway device that performs processing such as incoming call control.

In recent years, a technology for performing a voice call using the Internet protocol (IP) has attracted attention and has begun to spread. Such a call technology is often often referred to as an “IP phone”. In this IP phone, a voice signal corresponding to the voice uttered by a speaker is converted into digital data, subjected to a predetermined compression process, packetized, and transmitted to a callee via a network. Then, at the call destination, an analog audio signal is restored using the received packet, and audio output is performed. A technique for transmitting and receiving audio data using such an Internet protocol is called VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol). Prior art relating to IP telephones is described in documents such as Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-177577 (Patent Document 1).
JP 2001-177777 A

  Here, when an IP phone is used in an office such as a business office, a plurality of telephones are usually installed for each department or person in charge. When an incoming call request (external line) is received from the outside, There is a need to arbitrarily select a destination according to various conditions.

  For example, when the person in charge B responds to the outside line from the caller A and the incoming call is for the person in charge C, the work of connecting the outside line from the person in charge B to the person in charge C is required. . However, for both the caller and the callee, such a brokerage operation is not efficient, and it is preferable that such a brokerage operation can be avoided if a destination can be selected according to the caller. In the case where the person in charge is absent, it is convenient if another terminal can be designated as the incoming terminal or a specific terminal can be designated as the incoming terminal according to business hours.

  That is, it is desirable if the destination can be arbitrarily switched or selected according to the situation or request on the caller side or the callee side.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an IP telephone system that can arbitrarily select a destination (terminal device) according to a predetermined condition.

  In order to achieve the above object, a gateway device of the present invention is a gateway device responsible for connection between a plurality of terminal devices and a network in a communication system for making a call using an Internet protocol, A storage unit that stores setting information for selecting a terminal device, and a plurality of terminal devices when receiving an incoming request sent from a source terminal via the network according to the setting information stored in the storage unit Selecting means for selecting a terminal device to be a destination from the communication terminal, and connection processing means for connecting the terminal device selected by the selecting means to the source terminal to secure a communication path.

  Preferably, the storage unit stores setting information in which a terminal device is associated with a dial-in number, and the selection unit is stored in the storage unit based on a dial-in number included in the received incoming call request. The terminal device that is the destination is selected by referring to the set information.

  The storage means stores setting information in which the terminal device is associated with the caller number, and the selection means is stored in the storage means based on the caller number included in the accepted connection request. You may comprise so that the terminal device used as an incoming call may be selected with reference to setting information.

  Further, the selection means may be configured to select a terminal device as a destination based on an external control command sent from the external control device.

  The storage means stores the input special number information as setting information, and the selection means refers to the special number information stored in the storage means and selects a terminal device as a destination. Also good.

  The storage means stores setting information in which the terminal device is associated with predetermined time information, and the selection means stores the setting information stored in the storage means based on the time when the incoming call request is received. You may make it select the terminal device which becomes a call destination with reference.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an IP telephone system that can arbitrarily select a destination according to a predetermined condition.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an IP telephone system including a gateway device according to an embodiment to which the present invention is applied. The IP telephone system shown in FIG. 1 is for providing a voice call service (so-called IP telephone) using IP network technology, and includes a gateway device 1 and terminal devices 2 (2-1, 2-2, 2- 3), a telephone number management server (gatekeeper) 3, a network (communication network) 4, and a terminal device 5. The terminal device 2 is installed in the business office A.

  The network 4 is connected to a terminal device 5 different from the terminal device 2 installed in the office A. Examples of the network 4 include a public IP telephone network, a public switched telephone network (PSTN), a dedicated IP network prepared by each organization, ISP / CATV, and a data / voice integrated IP network. Any one of them may be used.

  The gateway device 1 is responsible for connection between the network 4 and the terminal device 2. For example, the basic operation of the gateway device 1 when the terminal device 2 is a caller will be briefly described. Using the input unit (not shown) of the terminal device 2, a telephone number (called party number) consisting of a digit string of several digits is input in the format of “050- △△△△-□□□□”. When the telephone number is sent from the terminal device 2 to the gateway device 1, the gateway device 1 sends the telephone number to the telephone number management server 3. When the IP address associated with the telephone number (for example, in the form of “123.456.789.987” or the like) is notified from the telephone number server 3, the gateway device 1 transmits the notified IP address. Is used to identify the gateway device (not shown) of the other party of the call and send a call control signal to the gateway device of the other party. When the gateway device that has received the call control signal performs a process of calling the partner terminal device (for example, an IP telephone), the partner terminal device performs an incoming call operation (for example, a ringing tone). When an operation such as picking up the handset of the terminal device is performed, a call can be made.

  The basic operation of the gateway device 1 when the terminal device 2 is the destination will be briefly described. An incoming call request including a telephone number such as “050-ΔΔΔΔ- □□□□” sent from the terminal device 5 (for example, a fixed telephone installed in the home) via the network 4 is received. Then, the gateway device 1 performs processing for calling each terminal device 2. In response to this, the terminal device 2 performs a calling process such as a ringing sound. When any terminal device 2 (for example, the terminal device 2-2) performs an operation such as picking up a handset, the terminal device 5 and the terminal device 5 serving as a caller are ready to communicate.

  When the gateway device 1 according to the present embodiment receives an incoming request from the network 4, the gateway device 1 selects a terminal device (receiving terminal) as a destination from a plurality of terminal devices 2 according to a predetermined setting condition, and selects the selected terminal. An incoming terminal automatic selection function for performing a calling process on the device 2 is provided. For example, (1) Dial-in information, (2) Caller information (caller number or name), (3) External control command, (4) Special number operation, (5) A time zone can be set. Details of the configuration and operation procedure of the gateway device 1 will be described later.

  Further, the gateway device 1 performs a process for continuing the call after the call becomes ready. For example, the gateway device 1 generates a IP packet by converting a voice signal output from the terminal device 2 in response to a voice uttered by a speaker into digital data (voice data), and sends it to the network 4. For example, the IP packet sent from the destination gateway device or the like is converted into a voice signal and output to the terminal device 2.

  When the terminal device 2 is an IP telephone or the like, when input / output by digital voice data is possible, the gateway device 1 generates an IP packet using the voice data sent from the terminal device 2, or Voice data is extracted from the IP packet sent from the other party, and the voice data is output to the terminal device 2.

  The terminal device 2 is used for making a call (external line call) with a partner terminal device 5 connected to each other via the network 4 and for making a call (extension call) between the terminal devices 2. is there. As such a terminal device 2, various devices such as a general analog telephone, an IP telephone, and an IP telephone virtually realized by executing a predetermined program on a personal computer (PC) are conceivable. Alternatively, the terminal device 2 may be a portable phone or the like. In addition, when installing many terminal devices 2, you may install a private branch exchange (PBX) between those terminal devices 2 and the gateway apparatus 1 suitably.

  The telephone number management server 3 stores a correspondence table between telephone numbers and IP addresses, and notifies the gateway apparatus 1 of an IP address corresponding to the designated telephone number in response to an inquiry from the gateway apparatus 1. I do.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of the gateway device 1. Here, the gateway device 1 according to the present embodiment is realized by executing a predetermined program on a computer including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like, and further combining other hardware as necessary. is there. In FIG. 2, attention is paid particularly to functions related to the present invention in the gateway device 1, and these are expressed by function blocks. All of these functional blocks may be virtually realized on a computer, or a part thereof may be realized using hardware such as a dedicated LSI.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the gateway device 1 includes a basic setting acquisition unit 10, an incoming terminal selection unit 11, a connection processing unit 12, and a storage unit (setting information storage unit) 13. The gateway device 1 according to the present embodiment includes these blocks, thereby realizing an automatic selection function that automatically selects an incoming terminal according to a predetermined condition when an incoming request is received from the network 4.

  The storage unit 13 stores setting information to be referred to when selecting a receiving terminal. The setting information includes, for example, basic setting information and one or more incoming conditions.

  The basic setting information defines a basic condition when selecting a receiving terminal. When a plurality of incoming conditions 1 to N are set, information on incoming conditions (number of incoming conditions, priority, combination, etc.) to be adopted among these incoming conditions corresponds. The basic setting may be fixedly set in advance, or may be arbitrarily changed via an input unit (not shown) included in the gateway device 1 or the terminal device 2.

  The incoming condition is for selecting an incoming terminal, and is defined by associating predetermined information with the incoming terminal. As described above, such incoming conditions include (1) dial-in information (incoming condition 1), (2) caller information (caller number and name) (incoming condition 2), (3) external control command ( Incoming call conditions 3), (4) special number information (incoming call condition 4), (5) time zone (incoming call condition 5), and the like are applicable.

  (1) In the case of dial-in information, the storage unit 13 stores the dial-in number (direct communication number) and the IP address of the terminal device in association with each other. For example, the dial-in number “050-1111-2222” and the IP address “123.456.789.987” of the terminal device 2-1 are stored in association with each other. The dial-in number can be given to any terminal device 2.

  (2) In the case of caller information, the storage unit 13 stores the caller number (or the name of the caller specified from the caller number) and the IP address of the terminal device in association with each other. For example, the caller number “03-3333-4444” and the IP address “123.456.789.987” of the terminal device 2-1 are stored in association with each other. The association between the caller information and the terminal device can be arbitrarily set as one-to-one, one-to-N, and N-to-one.

  (3) In the case of an external control command, the storage unit 13 stores information on each parameter included in the external control command. The external control command includes, for example, parameters indicating “caller number”, “destination number”, and “operation content”. Each parameter is separated by “, (comma)”, and the external control command ends. Are separated by "; (semicolon)".

  The “caller number” parameter describes the telephone number of the caller, and the “destination number” parameter describes the telephone number of the callee. The “operation contents” parameter describes the contents to be operated when the conditions match, for example, “incoming to a specified terminal”, “forwarding to a specified outside line”, “rejecting an incoming call”, etc. The contents are described.

  The external control command is transmitted from an external control device (not shown) (for example, a call control server or a CTI application server) and stored. Since the external control device can instruct an optimal destination according to the incoming traffic, effective load distribution can be performed. In addition, it is possible to describe the operation content so that the transfer destination when absent is changed as needed by control from an external control device such as a mobile phone.

  (4) In the case of special number information, the storage unit 13 stores, for example, “caller number”, “destination number”, and “operation number” in association with each other. The “operation number” is used to specify the operation content as described in the external control command with a number when the conditions match. For example, the operation number “# 1” is “arriving at a designated terminal”, the operation number “# 2” is “forwarding to a designated outside line”, and the operation number “# 3” is “rejecting an incoming call”. Are stored in association with each other. Such special number information can be set by operating the receiving terminal, but may be configured to be set by remote operation from the outside.

  (5) In the case of a time zone, the storage unit 13 stores time information and a terminal device in association with each other. For example, the time information “00: 0 to 06:00”, the IP address “123.456.789.987” of the terminal device 2-1, the time information “06: 0 to 12:00” and the terminal device 2-2 The IP address “123.456.789.123” is stored in association with each other.

  The incoming condition may be fixedly set in advance, or may be set via an input unit (not shown) included in the gateway device 1 or the terminal device 2. The incoming conditions are not limited to those described above, and can be arbitrarily changed, added, or deleted according to the specifications.

  Next, when receiving an incoming request sent from the terminal device 5 via the network 4, the basic setting acquisition unit 10 acquires setting information for selecting a receiving terminal from the storage unit 13. Specifically, the basic setting is read, and the read basic setting and the incoming call request are notified to the receiving terminal selection unit 11.

  The receiving terminal selection unit 11 selects a receiving terminal from the terminal device 2 in accordance with the basic setting and the incoming request notified from the basic setting acquisition unit 10. As described above, in this embodiment, a plurality of incoming conditions are set. Therefore, the incoming terminal is selected according to the incoming conditions set in the basic settings. For example, when “incoming condition 5 (time zone)” is set in the basic setting, the time when the incoming request is received is acquired from a timer (not shown) that measures the current time, and corresponds to the acquired time information Select the attached terminal device. The receiving terminal selection unit 11 notifies the connection processing unit 12 of the IP address of the selected terminal device 2.

  When the connection processing unit 16 receives the IP address of the terminal device 2 selected by the receiving terminal selection unit 11, the connection processing unit 16 performs processing for connecting the terminal device 2 to the source terminal 3. The connection processing by the connection processing unit 12 includes call connection processing, call disconnection processing, and transfer control processing.

  The gateway device 1 according to the present embodiment has such a configuration, and the operation content will be described in more detail next.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart (flow chart) for explaining the operation procedure of the gateway device 1. This figure shows the processing contents mainly focusing on the operation procedure at the time of incoming call.

  When the gateway device 1 receives the incoming call request transmitted from the terminal device 5 that is the counterpart through the network 4 (YES in STEP 301), the gateway device 1 starts a destination selection process. Specifically, the basic setting acquisition unit 10 is notified of the incoming call request.

  When receiving the incoming call request, the basic setting acquisition unit 10 acquires the basic setting for selecting the receiving terminal from the storage unit 13 (STEP 302), and delivers it to the receiving terminal selection unit 11.

  The receiving terminal selection unit 11 selects a receiving terminal based on the basic setting delivered from the basic setting acquisition unit 10 (STEP 303). Here, it is assumed that priority is given to the incoming condition as a basic setting, and specifically, priority is given to each incoming condition so that the priority becomes lower in the order of incoming conditions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. A case where the degree is set will be described.

  First, since “incoming condition 1 (dial-in information)” has the highest priority, the receiving terminal selection unit 11 extracts connection destination information (dial-in information) from the incoming call request, By referring to the setting information, the terminal device 2 associated with the extracted connection destination information (dial-in information) is specified. Then, the specified IP address of the terminal device 2 is delivered to the connection processing unit 12. On the other hand, when the incoming call request does not include dial-in information (such as when a representative number is included) or when the terminal device 2 associated with the dial-in information cannot be specified, the priority is the next. Execute high incoming conditions.

  Second, since “call condition 2 (sender information)” has the highest priority, the receiving terminal selection unit 11 extracts the caller information (sender's telephone number) from the incoming call request, and stores it in the storage unit. By referring to the setting information of 2, the terminal device 2 associated with the extracted caller information is specified. Then, the specified IP address of the terminal device 2 is delivered to the connection processing unit 12. On the other hand, when the terminal device 2 associated with the caller information cannot be specified, the incoming call condition with the next highest priority is executed.

  Third, since the priority is set for “incoming call condition 3 (external control command)”, the incoming terminal selection unit 11 receives the caller information and the incoming call destination from the incoming call request. Information is extracted, the setting information (external control command information) in the storage unit 2 is referred to, and whether the extracted caller information and destination information match the conditions of the external control command stored in the storage unit 13 or not. Determine. If the conditions match, the operation described in the “operation content” parameter corresponding to the condition (for example, the designated terminal is called) is executed.

  Fourth, since the priority is set for “incoming call condition 4 (special number)”, the receiving terminal selection unit 11 extracts the caller information and the destination information from the incoming call request, and stores them in the storage unit 2. With reference to the setting information (special number information), it is determined whether or not the extracted caller information and destination information match the conditions of the special number information stored in the storage unit 13. If the conditions match, “operation content” (for example, transfer to a designated outside line) associated with the operation number of the special number information is executed.

  Fifth, since the priority is set for “incoming condition 5 (time zone)”, the receiving terminal selection unit 11 determines the time when the incoming call request is received from a timer (not shown) that measures the current time. Acquire and identify the terminal device 2 associated with the acquired time information. Then, the specified IP address of the terminal device 2 is delivered to the connection processing unit 12. On the other hand, if the terminal device 2 associated with the incoming call time cannot be specified, the incoming call condition having a lower priority than the incoming call condition 5 is not set, and the incoming call destination selection process is terminated.

  When the connection processing unit 16 receives the IP address of the terminal device 2 selected by the receiving terminal selection unit 11, the connection processing unit 16 performs processing for connecting the terminal device 2 to the caller terminal 3. Specifically, a call request is sent to the terminal device 2 that is the destination. In response to this, the terminal device 2 outputs a ringing tone or the like, and sends out a response signal when an operation of picking up the handset is performed. When the connection processing unit 16 receives this response signal, it sends it to the terminal device 5 via the network 4. Thereby, the terminal device 5 and the terminal device 2 are connected, and a speech path is secured. After the communication path is secured, communication processing including transmission / reception of IP packets is performed.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to arbitrarily select a destination according to various conditions such as dial-in, caller number, external command, special number, and time zone. In addition, since the destination can be selected according to the attributes and circumstances of the caller and the callee, the IP telephone system can be operated according to the use environment of the user.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the content of embodiment mentioned above, A various deformation | transformation implementation is possible within the scope of the summary of this invention.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the IP telephone system containing the gateway apparatus of one Embodiment to which this invention is applied. It is a figure which shows the detailed structure of a gateway apparatus. It is a flowchart (flow diagram) explaining the operation | movement procedure of a gateway apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

1: Gateway device 2: Terminal device (destination)
3: Telephone number management server 4: Network 5: Terminal device (caller)
10: Basic setting acquisition unit 12: Incoming terminal selection unit 14: Connection processing unit 13: Storage unit

Claims (6)

In a communication system for making a call using an Internet protocol, a gateway device responsible for connection between a plurality of terminal devices and a network,
Storage means for storing setting information for selecting a terminal device as a destination;
When receiving an incoming call request sent from a source terminal via the network, according to the setting information stored in the storage unit, a selection unit that selects a terminal device as a destination from the plurality of terminal devices;
Connection processing means for connecting the terminal device selected by the selection means to the source terminal to secure a communication path;
A gateway device comprising: The storage means
Stores setting information in which a terminal device is associated with a dial-in number,
The selection means includes
The gateway device according to claim 1, wherein a terminal device as a destination is selected by referring to setting information stored in the storage unit based on a dial-in number included in the received incoming request. The storage means
Stores setting information in which a terminal device and a caller number are associated,
The selection means includes
The gateway device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a terminal device as a destination is selected by referring to setting information stored in the storage unit based on a caller number included in the accepted connection request. The selection means includes
The gateway device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a terminal device as a destination is selected based on an external control command sent from the external control device. The storage means
Store the entered special number information as setting information,
The selection means includes
5. The gateway device according to claim 1, wherein a terminal device that is a destination is selected by referring to the special number information stored in the storage unit. The storage means
Stores setting information in which a terminal device is associated with predetermined time information,
The selection means includes
The gateway device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a terminal device as a destination is selected by referring to setting information stored in the storage unit based on a time when the incoming request is received.

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