JP2007036813A - Monitoring system and method for communication signal in ip network and sip server and monitor apparatus used the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technology capable of efficiently monitoring a communication signal whose monitoring is difficult because the communication signal ordinarily passes through an unspecified channel. <P>SOLUTION: Terminals 10, 20 make communication with a SIP server 60 to establish the communication through a communication network (for ordinary use) 40. The communication signal between the terminals is packetized into IP packets and transferred in the network through a path designated by a plurality of routers. The SIP server designated with a monitoring object terminal from a monitor apparatus 70 particularizes an edge router to which the terminal is connected on the basis of information when the communication is established. The SIP server revises routing (path) information of the edge router and related routers so that the communication signal of the terminal passes through a communication network (for monitoring) 50. The monitor apparatus extracts the communication signal (packets) of the terminal designated as the monitor object from a monitoring channel and restores the signal to an original signal and reproduces it. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a system and method for monitoring communication signals between terminals communicating on an IP network, and an SIP server and a monitor device used therefor.

  Telephone communication (IP telephone) is performed through an IP (Internet Protocol) network. A communication signal (call signal) such as a voice signal transmitted and received between terminals (IP telephone terminals) is converted into an IP packet and transmitted through an unspecified transmission path (line) on the IP network. Note that a protocol called SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) has been used to set a session such as establishment or disconnection of communication between terminals.

  When trying to monitor a communication signal (call signal) between specific terminals that flow through the IP network, the transmission path of the communication signal (packet) is unspecified, so monitoring is performed on all paths through which the communication signal may flow. There was a need to do. That is, it is necessary to perform monitoring by arranging dedicated monitor devices at a plurality of points, and communication signals (call signals) gathered at each monitor device are inefficient including a large amount of unnecessary signals. .

  For this reason, only the agent is arranged at a plurality of points, and each agent creates a copy of the packet between the designated terminals among the call signals (packets) between the terminals passing through, and the monitoring client. Technology to transfer to is proposed. Each agent transmits information (call information) related to a call signal (packet) between all IP telephone terminals passing through to the server. The monitoring client receives call information from the server, selects a call to be monitored, and notifies the agent via the server. The agent creates a copy of the notified packet of the call and transfers it to the monitoring client (see Patent Document 1).

JP 2004-40538 A (page 1-3, FIG. 1-2)

  Since communication signals (call signals) such as voice signals of IP telephones pass through unspecified paths, the above-described conventional monitoring technology requires that dedicated monitoring devices be arranged at a plurality of points. It was difficult to efficiently monitor only the call signal. Even using the technique described in Patent Document 1, a plurality of agents must be arranged on all paths through which a call signal can flow, which is also inefficient.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a monitoring system and method for a communication signal in an IP network, and an SIP server used therefor, which enable efficient monitoring by designating the path of the communication signal and having one monitoring point. It is to provide a monitor device.

A monitoring system according to claim 1 of the present invention is a monitoring system that accommodates a plurality of terminals and monitors communication signals of communicating terminals in a network capable of communication between terminals using IP packets. A monitoring device that is provided only at one specific point and monitors a communication signal between terminals passing through the specific point;
Transmission path control means for configuring a transmission path in the network of a communication signal of a terminal designated as a monitoring target including the specific point.

  A monitoring system according to a second aspect of the present invention is the monitoring system according to the first aspect, comprising a plurality of edge routers provided at the end of the network, each accommodating a plurality of terminals communicating with each other, and the transmission The route control means records the identification information on the network of each of the two terminals communicating with each other in association with each other, and records when the two terminals are designated as monitoring targets via the monitor device. Two edge routers corresponding to the two terminals are identified based on the identification information of the terminals, and a transmission path configured between the two edge routers is configured including the specific point. Change as follows.

  A monitoring system according to a third aspect of the present invention is the monitoring system according to the first aspect, comprising a plurality of edge routers provided at the end of the network, each accommodating a plurality of terminals communicating with each other, and the transmission The route control means records the identification information on the network of each of the two terminals communicating with each other in association with each other, and either one of the two terminals is set as a monitoring target via the monitor device. When specified, the other terminal is specified based on the recorded identification information of the terminal, and two edge routers corresponding to the two terminals are specified, and configured between the two edge routers. The transmission path is changed to include the specific point.

  A monitoring system according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the monitoring system according to the first aspect, comprising a plurality of edge routers provided at the end of the network, each accommodating a plurality of terminals communicating with each other, and the transmission A route control means records identification information on a network of each of a plurality of terminals communicating with each other via one terminal in common, and records the plurality of terminals including the common terminal via the monitor device. When any one of the terminals is designated as a monitoring target, the remaining terminals are identified based on the recorded identification information of the terminal, and a plurality of terminals including the common terminal are supported. A plurality of edge routers including a common edge router are identified, and between the edge routers other than the common edge router and the common edge router A plurality of transmission paths each being made, modified to configured to include the specific point.

  A monitoring system according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the monitoring system according to the second, third, or fourth aspect, wherein the transmission path control means is not communicating with a terminal designated as a monitoring target via the monitoring device. In this case, whether or not the terminal is in communication is periodically monitored, and when the terminal is in communication, the transmission path is changed.

  A monitoring method according to claim 6 of the present invention is a monitoring method for monitoring a communication signal of a communicating terminal in a network that accommodates a plurality of terminals and can communicate between the terminals using IP packets. A transmission path of the communication signal of the received terminal in the network including a specific point provided with only one monitor device in the network, and the terminal passing through the specific point by the monitor device Monitor the communication signal between them.

  A monitoring method according to a seventh aspect of the present invention is the monitoring method according to the sixth aspect, wherein each of the two terminals accommodated in two edge routers provided at the end of the network and communicating with each other is connected to the network. Identification information is recorded in association with each other, and when the two terminals are designated as monitoring targets via the monitor device, the two terminals are supported based on the recorded identification information of the terminals. The two edge routers are identified, and the transmission path configured between the two edge routers is changed to include the specific point.

  The monitoring method according to an eighth aspect of the present invention is the monitoring method according to the sixth aspect, in which each of the two terminals that are accommodated in two edge routers provided at the ends of the network and are communicating with each other are connected to each other. Are recorded in association with each other, and when any one of the two terminals is designated as a monitoring target via the monitor device, the identification information of the terminal is recorded. The other terminal is specified, two edge routers corresponding to the two terminals are specified, and a transmission path configured between the two edge routers is configured to include the specific point. change.

  A monitoring method according to claim 9 of the present invention is the monitoring method according to claim 6, wherein the monitoring method is accommodated in each of a plurality of edge routers provided at the end of the network and is communicating with each other via one terminal in common. The identification information on the network of each of the plurality of terminals is recorded in association with each other, and any one of the plurality of terminals including the common terminal is designated as a monitoring target via the monitor device. And specifying the remaining terminals based on the recorded identification information of the terminals, specifying a plurality of edge routers including a common edge router corresponding to a plurality of terminals including the common terminal, and the common Each of a plurality of transmission paths configured between edge routers other than the common edge router and the common edge router includes the specific point. It is modified to.

  The monitoring method according to claim 10 of the present invention is the monitoring method according to claim 7, 8, or 9, wherein the terminal designated as a monitoring target via the monitor device is not communicating. The transmission path is changed when the terminal is in communication.

  An SIP server according to an eleventh aspect of the present invention is used as a transmission path control means according to the second, third, or fourth aspect, and controls communication start and end of communication between a plurality of terminals using the SIP protocol and is communicating with each other The identification information on the network of each of the plurality of terminals is recorded in association with each other, and is recorded when at least one of the plurality of terminals is designated as a monitoring target via the monitor device. Based on the identification information of the terminal that has been specified, if there is a terminal that has not been specified, the terminal is specified, and if there is a specified terminal and a terminal that has been specified by itself, each of the networks corresponding to the terminal A plurality of edge routers provided at the end are specified, and each transmission path configured between the plurality of edge routers is designated as the specific point. Comprise modified to configuration.

  In the SIP server according to claim 12 of the present invention, the SIP server according to claim 11 periodically determines whether the terminal is in communication when the terminal designated as the monitoring target via the monitor device is not in communication. The transmission path is changed when the terminal is in communication.

  A monitoring apparatus according to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention is used in the monitoring system according to the first aspect, and notifies the transmission path control means of designation information of a terminal to be monitored.

  According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the monitor device according to the thirteenth aspect, a communication signal between terminals including a video signal is monitored.

  According to the present invention, routing is specified so that a communication signal that is normally difficult to monitor by passing through an unspecified transmission path (line) passes through a line including a single specific point provided with a monitoring device. By changing, it can be monitored efficiently.

  First, an outline of an embodiment of the present invention will be described. According to the embodiment of the present invention, the status and contents of a communication signal of a terminal (IP telephone terminal) that communicates a communication signal (call signal) such as a voice signal on an IP network using a SIP server are necessary. It is possible to monitor efficiently according to the situation.

  More specifically, the monitoring system according to the embodiment of the present invention changes the routing information of the specified edge router by changing the means for specifying the edge router of the IP network used for the call from the terminal information. And means for allowing a signal (packet) to flow through a specific transmission path (line). These means are realized by a SIP server. The monitoring system also has means (monitor device) for restoring and reproducing a call signal (packet) flowing in a specific line and performing monitoring.

  The originating terminal and the terminating terminal communicate with the SIP server using the SIP protocol to establish a call through the IP network. Communication signals between terminals are converted into IP packets and transferred through the network through paths designated by a plurality of routers. The monitor device designates a terminal to be monitored with respect to the SIP server.

  The SIP server identifies the edge router to which the designated terminal is connected based on information at the time of establishing communication. The SIP server changes the routing (route) information of the edge router and the related router so that the communication signal of the designated terminal goes to the specific line to which the monitor device is connected.

  The monitor device extracts a communication signal (packet) of a terminal designated as a monitoring target from a specific line, and restores and reproduces the original signal. The monitor device can also record the recovered signal.

  Note that the communication signal is normally only an audio signal, but the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to this, and can include a video signal such as a facsimile or a television.

  Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the monitoring system of the present embodiment (embodiment 1) includes terminals 10 and 20, edge routers 31 and 32, a normal communication network 40, a monitor communication network 50, a SIP server 60, And a monitor device 70.

  The terminal 10 and the edge router 31 and the terminal 20 and the edge router 32 are connected by an access network, respectively.

  The edge router 31 and the edge router 32 are routers placed at the end of an IP network (network) that transmits IP packets. The edge router 31 and the edge router 32 are connected to each other via a network such as a communication network (for normal use) 40 or a communication network (for monitoring) 50. Similarly, packet communication is possible between the edge router 31 and the SIP server 60, between the edge router 32 and the SIP server 60, between the communication network (for monitoring) 50 and the monitor device 70, and between the SIP server 60 and the monitor device 70. They are connected to each other by a network.

  The terminal 10 and the terminal 20 are terminals (IP telephone terminals) for making an IP phone call, and are communicated with the SIP server 60 by the SIP protocol through the edge routers 31 and 32, respectively. You can make a voice call. Communication signals such as voice are packetized and transmitted / received.

  The communication network (for monitoring) 50 is a communication line prepared for monitoring. However, since this is defined as a line that can be monitored from the monitor device 70, it is not necessary to be a line physically separated from the communication network (for normal use) 40. The communication network (for normal use) 40 is a communication line used for normal communication of communication signals such as audio information, video information, and data information.

  The SIP server 60 is a device that has subscriber data of a terminal (IP telephone terminal) as a built-in database, and establishes a communication session such as voice using the SIP protocol when the IP telephone starts communication. The subscriber data includes IP phone user information such as a phone number, authentication parameters (user ID, password), and IP address. Furthermore, the SIP server 60 has a function for specifying the edge routers 31 and 32 used by the terminals 10 and 20 for communication such as voice. Further, the SIP server 60 has a function of issuing an instruction to change the transmission route (routing change) of the communication network such as voice to the edge routers 31 and 32 in accordance with the monitoring instruction information from the monitor device 70. That is, the communication network such as voice between the terminals 10 and 20 is changed from the communication network (for normal use) 40 to the communication network (for monitoring) 50.

  The monitor device 70 is a device that issues a monitoring instruction and reproduces the monitored voice and the like. The monitoring device 70 has a communication function for issuing an instruction for monitoring communication such as voice to the SIP server 60, and a function for restoring and reproducing information (communication signal packet) such as voice passing through the communication network (for monitoring) 50. With.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a network routing change between the edge routers 31 and 32 by the SIP server 60.

  In FIG. 2, the communication network 30 includes a plurality of small networks and a plurality of routers that connect the small networks. First, an edge router 31 connected to the terminal 10 and an edge router 32 connected to the terminal 20 are provided at both ends of the communication network 30. The SIP server 60 can communicate with all routers via a route by an appropriate router and an appropriate small network. The monitor device 70 belongs to the small network 53.

  There are several possible routes for connecting the edge router 31 and the edge router 32. For example, a route composed of a small network 41, a router 42, a small network 43, a router 44, and a small network 45 can be cited as one corresponding to the communication network (normal use) 40 shown in FIG. Further, as a communication network (for monitoring) 50, a route including a small network 51, a router 52, a small network 53, a router 54, and a small network 55 can be cited.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the SIP server 60. The SIP server 60 can be composed of only one unit or a plurality of units that cooperate with each other according to the configuration and scale of the network.

  In FIG. 3, the SIP server 60 includes three SIP servers 60-1, 60-2 and 60-3 connected to each other via a network, and is connected to a common location server 65 via the network. Has been.

  Each of the SIP servers 60-1, 60-2, 60-3 has the same configuration, and includes a proxy server 61, a redirect server 62, and a registration server 63.

  The proxy server 61 has a function of relaying various requests (responses) and responses (responses) as a proxy for a terminal (user agent).

  The redirect server 62 has a function of making an inquiry about the destination of the request to the location server 65.

  The registration server 63 has a function of accepting registration of location information on the IP network of the user agent and causing the location server 65 to register it.

  The location server 65 stores the location information of the user / agent in response to an instruction from the registration server 63, and responds to the inquiry from the proxy server 61 or the redirect server 62 with the corresponding location information.

  One location server 65 may not be provided in common for the plurality of SIP servers 60 (60-1 to 60-3). That is, a plurality of location servers 65 may be provided so as to be in one-to-one correspondence with the respective SIP servers 60 (60-1 to 60-3). In this case, each SIP server 60 (6-1 to 60-3) can have the function of the location server 65.

  In SIP, the terminals (terminals 10 and 20) used by the user are called user agents (UA), and the calling side serves as a client (UAC) and the called side serves as a server (UAS).

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the monitor device 70.

  In FIG. 4, the monitor device 70 includes an input unit 71, a control unit 72, a communication unit 73, an extraction unit 74, a restoration / playback unit 75, and an audio output unit 76.

  The monitor device 70 can also include a video output unit 77. If the terminal to be monitored can only transmit and receive audio signals, the video output unit 77 is not required. However, if the terminal to be monitored can also transmit and receive video signals and other data signals, such as a facsimile or a videophone, the video output unit 77 can be used. Is needed.

  The monitor device 70 can further include a print output unit 78. Thereby, the monitoring result can be confirmed by the print medium.

  The monitor device 70 can further include a recording unit 79. This eliminates the need for real-time monitoring.

  The input unit 71 inputs various instruction information from a monitor (operator) such as designation of a monitor target terminal.

  The control unit 72 controls each unit in the monitor device 70 based on information from the input unit 71.

  The communication unit 73 communicates with the SIP server 60.

  The extraction unit 74 monitors the communication network (for monitoring) 50 [small network 53] and extracts communication packets of the designated terminals (terminals 10 and 20).

  The restoration / reproduction unit 75 restores the original communication signal (audio signal or video signal) from the communication packet extracted by the extraction unit 74, and generates audio (and video) from the audio output unit 76 (and video output unit 77). Output. When there is a recording unit 79, the restoration / playback unit 75 causes the recording unit 79 to record the restored communication signal, reads the recorded communication signal from the recording unit 79, and outputs the communication signal to the audio output unit 76 (and the video output unit 77). Can be.

  The audio output unit 76 has a speaker and audibly outputs an audio signal.

  The video output unit 77 has a display, and visually outputs video signals and data signals.

  The print output unit 78 has a printer and prints out a video signal and a data signal.

  The recording unit 79 includes a memory circuit and records the original communication signal restored by the restoration / reproduction unit 75 in the memory circuit. The recording unit 79 also reads out a communication signal recorded in the memory circuit in response to a read request from the restoration / reproduction unit 75 and outputs the communication signal to the restoration / reproduction unit 75.

  The recording unit 79 can use a removable storage medium 80 as a communication signal recording destination and reading destination.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 5 to 8 showing an operation sequence and signal configuration examples together with FIGS.

  First, an operation at the time of a registration request and a connection request according to the SIP protocol will be described.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a sequence when a terminal which is a user agent (UA) makes a location information registration request to the SIP server. Each terminal 10 and 20 that is an IP telephone terminal registers information indicating its current position with respect to the SIP server 60 through the associated edge routers 31 and 32 and other network elements (small network or router). Send a request. The various request messages are called methods, and the registration request is called a REGISTER method.

  The SIP server 60 registers the location information requested for registration corresponding to the terminal in the location server 65. When the registration to the location server 65 is successful, the SIP server 60 returns OK (successful request) to the terminal 10 and the terminal 20 as a response message to the registration request.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a sequence from when a terminal (calling side) calls another terminal (calling side) until connection is completed. Here, the case where the terminal 10 is a transmission side terminal and the terminal 20 is a reception side terminal will be described as an example. Each of the terminals 10 and 20 is connected to the SIP server 60 through the associated edge routers 31 and 32 and other network elements.

  The terminal 10 on the transmission side transmits a connection request (INVITE method) with the terminal 20 as a destination to the SIP server 60. When the SIP server 60 inquires of the location server 65 about the location of the terminal 20 and obtains a response, the SIP server 60 transfers the connection request to the location.

  Upon receiving the connection request, the terminal 20 rings a bell to call the user and returns a calling temporary response (RINGING) to the terminal 10 via the SIP server 60. When the terminal 20 recognizes that the user has responded, such as off-hooking the handset, the terminal 20 returns a final response (OK) indicating a successful request to the terminal 10 via the SIP server 60.

  When receiving the OK, the terminal 10 transmits information (ACK) indicating reception confirmation of the final response to the connection request to the terminal 20 via the SIP server 60.

  Thereafter, the terminal 10 and the terminal 20 can communicate directly without passing through the SIP server 60. The SIP server 60 holds information indicating that communication is being performed between the terminal 10 and the terminal 20 until a call end (BYE) message is received.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a configuration example of a connection request (INVITE) and a final response (OK). A case where the calling terminal is user A and the receiving terminal is user B is described as an example.

  The information specifying each user usually uses the format of “user name @ domain name”. That is, the information specifying the user A is “USER-A@●●●.com”, and the information specifying the user B is “USER-B@▲▲▲.com”. These pieces of information are referred to as SIP URI (Uniform Resource Identifier) or SIP URL (Uniform Resource Locator).

  The connection request (INVITE) from the user A to the user B and the success response (OK) from the user B to the user A have the same configuration, and include a start line, a header part, and a body part. The URIs of user A and user B are written in the FROM of the header part, the start line of the connection request, and the TO of the header part, respectively.

  As another form of URI, a telephone number can be used instead of a user name, or an IP address can be used instead of a domain name. For example, “+10-234-567@▲▲▲.com; user = phone”, “USER-B@10.11.12.13”, and the like.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an operation sequence during monitoring.

  First, an operation when starting monitoring will be described. Here, the terminal 10 and the terminal 20, which are IP telephone terminals, complete a registration request and a connection (session start) request, and communicate with each other (packet transmission / reception of voice signals) through the communication network (for normal use) 40 in the communication network 30. ).

  When monitoring is started, the monitor inputs information (terminal specifying information) for specifying the terminal 10 and the terminal 20 to be monitored from the input unit 71 (FIG. 4) of the monitor device 70. Thereby, the control unit 72 (FIG. 4) controls the communication unit 73 to send an instruction to start monitoring to the SIP server 60 (step A1). As the terminal identification information, SIP URL / IP address / user name (registrant name) is used.

  In response to the instruction from the monitor device 70, the SIP server 60 analyzes the IP address information and the like of the terminal 10 and the terminal 20 from the subscriber data held by the SIP server 60 (and the location server 65). The SIP server 60 identifies the edge routers (edge router 31 and edge router 32) corresponding to the terminals 10 and 20 based on the analysis result (step A2).

  The SIP server 60 identifies network elements constituting the communication network (for normal use) 40 between the specified edge router 31 and edge router 32. In the case of the example shown in FIG. 2, these network elements are small networks 41, 43, 45 and routers 42, 44. The SIP server 60 also identifies network elements constituting the communication network (for monitoring) 50 between the identified edge router 31 and edge router 32. In the case of the example shown in FIG. 2, these network elements are small networks 51, 53, 55 and routers 52, 54. The SIP server 60 uses a routing protocol such as IGP (OSPF therein) or EGP in order to identify these network elements and change the routing. Note that IGP stands for Interior Gateway Protocol, OSPF stands for Open Shortest Path First, and EGP stands for Expert Gateway Protocol.

  The SIP server 60 changes the routing of the audio signal between the terminal 10 and the terminal 20 from the communication network (for normal use) 40 to the communication network (for monitoring) 50 to the specified edge routers 31 and 32 and other routers. (Step A3).

  Upon receiving the instruction, the edge routers 31 and 32 and the other routers change the routing of the audio signal between the terminal 10 and the terminal 20 from the communication network (for normal use) 40 to the communication network (for monitoring) 50 (step A4). ).

  The monitor device 70 restores and reproduces the voice signal packet that is transmitted from the terminal 10 and the terminal 20 through the communication network (for monitoring) 50, that is, the small network 53 shown in FIG. A5).

  Next, an operation when monitoring is ended will be described.

  When ending the monitoring, information on the terminal 10 and the terminal 20 ending the monitoring is input to the monitor device 70, and an instruction to end the monitoring is sent to the SIP server 60 (step B1).

  The SIP server 60 that has received the instruction to end the monitoring instructs the edge routers 31 and 32 and other routers to restore the routing change in the process of step A3 (step B2).

  As described above, the SIP server 60 holds information indicating which terminal is currently communicating with which terminal. In the process of step A2, the SIP server 60 refers to this information and determines whether the two terminals 10 and 20 designated as monitoring targets from the monitoring device 70 are communicating. The SIP server 60 specifies the corresponding edge routers 31 and 32 immediately if the determination result is during communication.

  If the determination result is not in communication, the SIP server 60 transmits information indicating that to the monitor device 70. When the SIP server 60 receives information indicating that monitoring is to be stopped from the monitor device 70, the SIP server 60 stops the subsequent processing.

  If the SIP server 60 does not receive information indicating suspension of monitoring (or receives information indicating continuation), the SIP server 60 periodically monitors whether the two designated terminals 10 and 20 are in communication. When the terminals 10 and 20 are in communication, the SIP server 60 identifies the corresponding edge routers 31 and 32 and continues the above-described processing. As described above, if the monitoring target terminal is not communicating, the monitoring after waiting until the communication is started can be similarly performed in other embodiments described later.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, the SIP server 60 records the identification information (terminal identification information) on each of the two terminals in communication with each other in the location server 65 in association with each other. . Furthermore, when the two terminals 10 and 20 are designated as monitoring targets by the monitor device 70, the SIP server 60 specifies two edge routers corresponding to the two terminals based on the recorded terminal identification information. The transmission path configured between these two edge routers is changed to include a specific point monitored by the monitor device 70. Therefore, it is efficient by changing the routing so that the voice signal (IP packet), which is normally difficult to monitor by passing through an unspecified line (transmission path), passes through the specified line provided with the monitor device. Can be monitored.

  Next, another embodiment (embodiment 2) of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  In the first embodiment described above, a case has been described in which the SIP server performs communication between IP telephone terminals having subscriber data as terminals. However, some of the terminals are IP telephone terminals in which subscriber data has not been registered, or terminals in which the SIP server does not have subscriber data, such as mobile phone terminals and fixed telephone terminals using a PSTN network (public switched telephone network). (Voice communication equipment). The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment described above in that the SIP server monitors communication between a terminal having subscriber data (IP telephone terminal) and a terminal having no subscriber data (voice communication device). .

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

  The terminal 20 is a voice communication terminal in which subscriber data is not registered in the SIP server 60, but is a device having a function of communicating with a SIP server by the SIP protocol to make a voice call with another voice call device. The terminal 10 is an IP telephone terminal. Here, it is assumed that the terminal 10 and the terminal 20 complete a connection (session start) request and communicate with each other (packet transmission / reception of audio signals) through the communication network (for normal use) 40 in the communication network 30.

  First, the operation when starting monitoring will be described with reference to FIG. When starting monitoring, information (terminal identification information) of the terminal 10 that starts monitoring is input from the input unit 71 (FIG. 4) of the monitor device 70. Thereby, the control unit 72 (FIG. 4) controls the communication unit 73 and sends an instruction to start monitoring to the SIP server 60 (step A1). As the terminal identification information, SIP URL / IP address / user name (registrant name) is used.

  In response to an instruction from the monitor device 70, the SIP server 60 receives information such as the IP address information of the terminal 10 from the registrant data held by the SIP server and information on the terminal 20 registered at the start of the session using the SIP protocol. analyse. The SIP server 60 identifies the edge routers (edge router 31 and edge router 32) corresponding to the terminals 10 and 20 based on the analysis result (step A2).

  The SIP server 60 identifies the network elements (the small networks 41, 43, 45 and the routers 42, 44) constituting the communication network (for normal use) 40 between the specified edge router 31 and the edge router 32. The SIP server 60 also identifies network elements (small networks 51, 53, 55 and routers 52, 54) constituting the communication network (for monitoring) 50 between the specified edge router 31 and edge router 32. The SIP server 60 uses a routing protocol such as IGP (OSPF therein) or EGP in order to identify these network elements and change the routing.

  The SIP server 60 changes the routing of the audio signal between the terminal 10 and the terminal 20 from the communication network (for normal use) 40 to the communication network (for monitoring) 50 to the specified edge routers 31 and 32 and other routers. (Step A3).

  Upon receiving the instruction, the edge routers 31 and 32 and the other routers change the routing of the audio signal between the terminal 10 and the terminal 20 from the communication network (for normal use) 40 to the communication network (for monitoring) 50 (step A4). ).

  The monitor device 70 restores and reproduces a packet of an audio signal that passes through the communication network (for monitoring) 50 (the small network 53 therein) and has the terminal 10 as a transmission source or destination (step A5).

  Next, an operation when monitoring is ended will be described.

  When ending the monitoring, information on the terminal 10 that ends the monitoring is input to the monitor device 70, and an instruction to end the monitoring is sent to the SIP server 60 (step B1).

  The SIP server 60 that has received the instruction to end the monitoring instructs the edge routers 31 and 32 and other routers to restore the routing change in the process of step A3 (step B2).

  According to the second embodiment, the SIP server 60 records the identification information (terminal identification information) on each of the two terminals that are communicating with each other in the location server 65 in association with each other. Further, when one of the two terminals 10 is designated as a monitoring target by the monitor device 70, the SIP server 60 specifies the other terminal 20 based on the recorded identification information of the terminal 10. At the same time, two edge routers corresponding to the two terminals are specified, and the transmission path configured between the two edge routers is changed to include a specific point monitored by the monitor device 70. Therefore, an IP telephone terminal in which the SIP server has subscriber data, an IP telephone terminal in which subscriber data is not registered, a voice communication that does not have subscriber data, such as a mobile telephone terminal or a fixed telephone terminal using the PSTN network. Monitoring is also possible during communication with the terminal.

  In the case of the second embodiment, since one terminal (terminal 20) is a terminal for which the SIP server does not have subscriber data, the terminal for which the terminal identification information is input is the other terminal (terminal 10). It was only. This technique can be applied to a system in which both terminals (terminals 10 and 20) are configured by IP telephone terminals having SIP data in the SIP server as in the first embodiment. That is, a communication signal when a specific terminal is communicating with an unspecified partner can be monitored.

  When starting monitoring, information (terminal identification information) of a terminal to be monitored, for example, terminal 10, is input to the monitor device 70, and an instruction to start monitoring is sent to the SIP server 60 (step A1). As the terminal identification information, SIP URL / IP address / user name (registrant name) is used.

  In response to an instruction from the monitor device 70, the SIP server 60 receives information such as the IP address information of the terminal 10 from the registrant data held by the SIP server, and a counterpart terminal registered at the start of the session using the SIP protocol, such as the terminal 20 Analyzing the information. The SIP server 60 identifies the edge routers (edge router 31 and edge router 32) corresponding to the terminals 10 and 20 based on the analysis result (step A2).

  Since the processing after specifying the edge router is the same as the processing in the first embodiment or the second embodiment, the description thereof is omitted.

  Even when the counterpart terminal of the terminal 10 is a terminal other than the terminal 20, the corresponding edge router is correctly identified. Therefore, the routing change of the communication network (for normal use) and the communication network (for monitor use) between the edge routers is correctly processed.

  As described above, according to the third embodiment, it is possible to monitor a communication signal when a specific terminal is communicating with an unspecified partner terminal.

  In the first to third embodiments, the transmission side terminal and the reception side terminal are in a one-to-one relationship, but in the fourth embodiment, the number is one-to-many.

  For example, suppose that the terminal 10 wants to hold a meeting with a third terminal (not shown) while communicating with the terminal 20. In this case, the terminal 10 adds “X-Conference: adhoc” to the header of the session participation request (INVITE) of the SIP protocol and transmits it to another terminal. In the following, although detailed description is omitted, a conference by three parties of the terminal 10, the terminal 20, and the third terminal becomes possible via the terminal 10 in accordance with the procedure of the SIP protocol.

  When monitoring communication in this conference, for example, information on the terminal 10 (terminal identification information) is input to the monitor device 70 and an instruction to start monitoring is sent to the SIP server 60.

  The SIP server 60 identifies the terminal 20 and the third terminal communicating with the terminal 10 from the registration data at the start of the session, and the corresponding first edge router 31, second edge router 32, and third terminal An edge router (not shown) is identified.

  The SIP server 60 also changes the routing of the first communication network (for normal use) 40 between the edge router 31 and the edge router 32 to the first communication network (for monitoring) 50. Further, the SIP server 60 changes the routing of the second communication network (not shown) between the edge router 31 and the third edge router to the second communication network (for monitoring) not shown.

  A monitor device 70 is connected to a common part (small network 53) of the first and second communication networks (for monitoring). Therefore, the monitor device 70 restores and reproduces a packet of an audio signal that passes through the communication network (for monitoring) and has the terminal 10 as a transmission source or destination.

  As described above, according to the fourth embodiment, it is possible to monitor a communication signal when a conference communication is performed between a plurality of terminals.

  Next, still another embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  In the fifth embodiment, communication signals to be monitored are expanded to signals other than audio signals. The communication signals to be expanded are video signals such as videophone video information and facsimile image information, and other data signals. If the communication signal passes through the session established by the SIP protocol, it can be monitored by the monitoring device 70 by changing the routing between the edge routers by the same mechanism as in the first to fourth embodiments.

  The terminals 10 and 20 are IP telephone terminals having a videophone function. The monitor device 70 has a video output unit 77 shown in FIG.

  By changing the routing between the edge routers 31 and 32 from the communication network (for normal use) 40 to the communication network (for monitor use) 50, a communication signal including moving picture information transmitted and received between the terminals 10 and 20 by the monitor device 70 Can be monitored.

  As described above, according to the fifth embodiment, communication signals such as video signals other than audio signals can be monitored.

  Next, still another embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  In the sixth embodiment, the monitor device 70 has a function of recording and recording / reproducing the restored communication signal. That is, the monitor device 70 has a recording unit 79 shown in FIG.

  The recording unit 79 has a function of recording at least one of an audio signal, a video signal, and a data signal, and reproducing the recorded signal. The recording unit 79 can also record on an appropriate type of removable storage medium 80 according to the type of signal to be recorded.

  As described above, according to the sixth embodiment, it is not necessary to monitor in real time because a communication signal is recorded and then can be freely reproduced at an arbitrary time. In addition, a plurality of communication signals can be monitored simultaneously, and then freely reproduced one by one. Further, by recording in a removable storage medium, it can be played back by a playback device placed elsewhere.

1 is a system configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the routing change of the network by a SIP server. It is a figure which shows the structural example of a SIP server. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the monitor apparatus of this invention. It is a figure which shows the operation | movement sequence at the time of monitoring of this invention. It is a figure which shows a sequence when performing the registration request of the positional information to a SIP server. It is a figure which shows the sequence of the connection between the terminals by a SIP server. It is a figure for demonstrating the example of a structure of the connection request | requirement and final response message in a SIP protocol.

Explanation of symbols

10, 20 Terminal 31, 32 Edge router 40 Communication network (for normal use)
42, 44, 52, 54 Router 50 Communication network (for monitoring)
60 SIP server 70 Monitor device

Claims (14)

In a monitoring system that accommodates a plurality of terminals and monitors communication signals of terminals in communication in a network capable of communication between terminals by IP packet,
A monitoring device that is provided only at one specific point in the network and monitors a communication signal between terminals passing through the specific point;
A monitoring system comprising: a transmission path control unit configured to configure a transmission path in the network of a communication signal of a terminal designated as a monitoring target including the specific point. Provided at the end of the network, comprising a plurality of edge routers respectively accommodating a plurality of terminals communicating with each other,
When the transmission path control means records the identification information on the network of each of the two terminals in communication with each other in association with each other, and the two terminals are designated as monitoring targets via the monitor device, Two edge routers corresponding to the two terminals are specified based on the recorded identification information of the terminal, and a transmission path configured between the two edge routers includes the specific point The monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring system is changed to perform. Provided at the end of the network, comprising a plurality of edge routers respectively accommodating a plurality of terminals communicating with each other,
The transmission path control means records the identification information on the network of each of the two terminals communicating with each other in association with each other, and either one of the two terminals is monitored via the monitor device. When designated as a target, the other terminal is specified based on the recorded identification information of the terminal, and two edge routers corresponding to the two terminals are specified, and the two edge routers are configured. The monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the transmission path is changed to include the specific point. Provided at the end of the network, comprising a plurality of edge routers respectively accommodating a plurality of terminals communicating with each other,
The transmission path control means records identification information on a network of each of a plurality of terminals communicating with each other through one terminal in common, and records the common terminal through the monitor device. When any one of the plurality of terminals is designated as a monitoring target, the remaining terminals are identified based on the recorded identification information of the terminal, and the plurality of terminals including the common terminal are specified. A plurality of edge routers including a corresponding common edge router are identified, and each of a plurality of transmission paths configured between the edge routers other than the common edge router and the common edge router includes the specific point. The monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring system is changed to be configured as follows.   When the terminal specified as a monitoring target via the monitor device is not in communication, the transmission path control means periodically monitors whether the terminal is in communication. 5. The monitoring system according to claim 2, wherein the route is changed. In a monitoring method for monitoring a communication signal of a communicating terminal in a network that accommodates a plurality of terminals and can communicate between the terminals by IP packet,
A transmission path in the network of a communication signal of a terminal designated as a monitoring target includes a specific point provided with only one monitoring device in the network, and the specific point is set by the monitoring device. A monitoring method characterized by monitoring a communication signal between terminals passing through the terminal. The identification information on the network of each of the two terminals accommodated in the two edge routers provided at the end of the network and communicating with each other is recorded in association with each other,
When the two terminals are designated as monitoring targets via the monitor device, two edge routers corresponding to the two terminals are identified based on the recorded identification information of the terminals, and the two edges The monitoring method according to claim 6, wherein a transmission path configured between routers is changed to include the specific point. The identification information on the network of each of the two terminals accommodated in the two edge routers provided at the end of the network and communicating with each other is recorded in association with each other,
When one of the two terminals is designated as a monitoring target via the monitor device, the other terminal is specified based on the recorded identification information of the terminal, and the two terminals 7. The monitoring according to claim 6, wherein two edge routers corresponding to the two are specified, and a transmission path configured between the two edge routers is changed to include the specific point. Method. The identification information on the network of each of a plurality of terminals communicating with each other via a single terminal commonly stored in a plurality of edge routers provided at the end of the network is recorded in association with each other,
When any one of a plurality of terminals including the common terminal is designated as a monitoring target via the monitor device, the remaining terminals are specified based on the recorded identification information of the terminal A plurality of edge routers including a common edge router corresponding to a plurality of terminals including the common terminal, and a plurality of edge routers configured between the edge routers other than the common edge router and the common edge router The monitoring method according to claim 6, wherein each transmission path is changed to include the specific point.   When a terminal designated as a monitoring target via the monitor device is not in communication, whether or not the terminal is in communication is periodically monitored, and when the terminal is in communication, the transmission path is changed. The monitoring method according to claim 7, 8, or 9.   5. The transmission path control means according to claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein the start and end of communication between a plurality of terminals are controlled by the SIP protocol, and identification information on a network of each of the plurality of terminals communicating with each other is obtained. Recorded in association with each other, and when at least one of the plurality of terminals is designated as a monitoring target via the monitor device, the designation is made based on the recorded identification information of the terminal If there is a terminal that has not been specified, the terminal is specified, and if there is a specified terminal and a terminal that is specified by itself, a plurality of edge routers provided at the end of the network corresponding to the terminal are specified. And changing each transmission path configured between the plurality of edge routers to include the specific point. SIP server that.   When a terminal designated as a monitoring target via the monitor device is not in communication, whether or not the terminal is in communication is periodically monitored, and when the terminal is in communication, the transmission path is changed. The SIP server according to claim 11, characterized in that:   A monitoring apparatus used in the monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the transmission path control means is notified of designation information of a terminal to be monitored. 14. The monitor apparatus according to claim 13, wherein a communication signal between terminals including a video signal is monitored.

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