JP2007043368A - Communication device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a communication device capable of performing notification of call discontinuation to both of an existing telephone device and an IP telephone device during a call session, when call discontinuation occurs because connection by the side of an IP network takes time during system change. <P>SOLUTION: The communication device has a PSTN interface and an IP network interface as well as redundancy. Moreover, the communication device comprises a database indicative of call status between a telephone device and an IP telephone device, a function for notifying the database to an associated system and a sound source server, and a sound source sending out function. Consequently, notification of call discontinuation is given to both sides of the existing telephone device and the IP telephone device when switching system. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication apparatus for connecting a PSTN and an IP network. More specifically, when a call service interruption is unavoidable, the telephone service user is explicitly notified that the service is interrupted. The present invention relates to a communication device having a possible function.

  With the development of IP (Internet Protocol) technology, IP telephone services that convert voice signals into IP packets for communication have become widespread. Along with this widespread use, an interconnection between a conventional public switched telephone network (PSTN) and an IP telephone network has been promoted. Under such circumstances, in the public line telephone network, the exchanges constituting the network have become obsolete and need to be replaced. In addition, conventional telephone terminals are still used, and there is a high demand to continue using various telephone services as they are. Therefore, the public telephone network operator cannot abolish the conventional telephone terminal interface. On the other hand, there is an urgent need to promote the construction of a new telephone network utilizing an IP interface that is becoming the mainstream of telephone network technology. Therefore, what is needed is a switch with a built-in VoIP function that has both a conventional telephone network interface and an IP network interface.

  In this exchange, a redundant configuration is indispensable because it is necessary to inherit the conventional service and ensure the conventional level of quality. One important technique for realizing such a redundant configuration is a system switching method during service operation, and in particular, it is important to consider call interruption. Patent Document 1 describes a non-disruptive switching method in an IP network interface.

JP-A-2005-57461

  According to the method described in Patent Document 1, it is possible to perform control based on the characteristics of the IP voice packet protocol specification. However, in a realistic IP network configuration, no matter how quickly the redundant device itself switches over the system, IP communication is possible, such as an IP address exchange with an opposing device such as a router on the IP network side. Usually, it takes some time depending on the processing time on the opposite apparatus side. Therefore, on the premise that the call is interrupted at the time of system switching, it is a real service that the user is encouraged to continue the call even when the call voice is interrupted, for example, a dial tone or a guidance sound is heard. Is realistic.

  In the communication apparatus having the existing telephone terminal interface and the IP network interface described above, if the switchover of the exchange occurs while the call connection between the existing telephone terminal and the IP telephone is established, the existing telephone terminal Technology has been established on the interface side to switch systems by interrupting calls for a very short time. However, since it takes time to connect on the IP network side, a function of notifying that the call is temporarily interrupted is provided by sending a dial tone or guidance to both the existing telephone terminal and the IP telephone. However, even if notification is made to the IP telephone, this processing is necessary when a new operation system is not connected to the IP network. It is also important how to establish communication for notification in a short time.

  The above-described problem is that the first and second gateway devices that are connected to the telephone network and the IP network, mediate communication between the telephone connected to the telephone network and the IP telephone connected to the IP network, and the IP network. The first gateway device and the second gateway device commonly hold a table of sets of telephones and IP telephones that are in a call, and the sound source server is an IP telephone that is in a call. When the table is held and the operating system is changed from the first gateway device to the second gateway device, the second gateway device sends a call interruption notification to the telephone in communication, and the sound source server is the IP telephone in communication This can be achieved by a communication device that sends a call interruption notice to the user.

  When system switching is performed during a call between a telephone of a telephone network and an IP telephone of an IP network, a call interruption notification can be notified to both the telephone and the IP telephone.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 using examples. Here, FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a connection configuration of a telephone network. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining control information stored in the control unit 14 of the gateway 100. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining information in the database stored in the sound source server 2. FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram of processing of each gateway and the sound source server.

  In FIG. 1, a telephone network 1000 includes a PSTN 400, an IP network 300, two communication devices 100 that connect both the PSTN 400 and the IP network 300, a telephone 3 connected to the PSTN 400, and an IP network 300. The telephone set 4 and the sound source server 200 are connected.

  The communication apparatus 100 includes a TDM (Time Division Multiplex) interface unit 11 for connection to the PSTN, a TDM-IP conversion unit 13 for performing TDM-IP conversion, an IP interface unit 15 for connection to an IP network, and a call interruption. It is composed of a sound source unit 12 for notifying the telephone network to that effect and a control unit 14 for controlling each unit, and is redundant in order to enable system switching when a failure occurs or maintenance work is performed. (100-1, -2). The control units 14 of the communication device 100 are connected to each other and transmit / receive control information. Also, the active / standby system is switched through this confounding line. In the following description, the communication device is expressed as a gateway for convenience.

  In FIG. 2, the control information is composed of a database 150 indicating a call state between an existing telephone and an IP telephone, IP address information 160, and other information 170 to be taken over by the standby system. Further, the database 150 indicating a call state between an existing telephone and an IP telephone is composed of TDM side channel number information 151 that accommodates a telephone in communication and IP telephone IP address information 152 in communication with the telephone. The IP address information 160 is composed of its own IP address 161, the IP address 162 of the opposite gateway, and the IP address 163 of the sound source server.

  The control information is created by the active gateway 100-1, and if there is any change, it is notified to the standby gateway 100-2. Accordingly, the gateway 100 holds the same information except that the own IP address 161 and the opposite IP address 162 are switched. If the control information is changed, the active gateway 100-1 transmits a part of the control information to the sound source server 200 connected to the IP network 300.

  In FIG. 3, the database of the sound source server includes gateway IP address information 180 and IP telephone IP address information 190 during a call. The IP address information 180 includes an active gateway IP address 181 and a standby gateway IP address 182. Here, the IP address 181 of the active gateway matches the IP address 161 of the gateway itself notified from the active gateway 100-1. Similarly, the IP phone IP address information 190 during a call is identical to the IP phone IP address information 152 notified from the active gateway 100-1.

  Here, the IP address information 180 of the gateway is used to confirm the transmission source of various notifications. Further, the IP telephone IP address information 190 during a call is a transmission destination of the sound source data transmitted by the sound source server 200 at the time of system switching.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the processing flow of the gateway and the sound source server according to the present invention, and the processing outline will be described along the flow. Whenever a telephone call occurs between the telephone and the IP telephone (S200), the active gateway 100-1 stores the TDM side channel number 151 and the IP network side telephone in the database 150 indicating the telephone conversation state in its own control unit 14. The IP address 152 is stored (S201). The active gateway 100-1 notifies the standby gateway 100-2 of the same information and also notifies the tone generator server 200 of the IP network side telephone IP address 152 (S202).

  The standby gateway 100-2 confirms the received message transmission source, and then updates the database 150 (S401). Similarly, the sound source server 200 confirms the received message transmission source and then stores it as the IP telephone IP address 190 (S301). Hereinafter, the confirmation of the received message transmission source is omitted.

  Assume that the gateway system is switched over while one or more pairs of subscribers are busy. The gateway 100-2 that detected the switching from the confounding line first notifies the sound source server 200 that the initial setting process after the system switching has started (S402). Upon receiving the initial setting process start notification, the sound source server 200 sends sound source data (call interruption notification) indicating that the call is suspended to the IP address recorded in the IP telephone IP address information 190 (S302). The hourly sound source server transmits sound source data using the active gateway IP address 181. Therefore, each IP telephone receives data as if it is data from the gateway 100-1, and sends the sound source to the subscriber who is talking. Can hear data.

  The gateway 100-2 connects the sound source unit 12 to all channels stored in the TDM side channel number 151, and sends out sound source data (call interruption notification) indicating that the call is being interrupted (S403). The gateway 100-2 performs initial setting on the IP network side (S404). After completing the initial setting, the gateway 100-2 notifies the sound source server 200 of the completion of the system switching process (S405). Upon receiving the system switching completion notification, the sound source server 200 updates the IP address information 180 of the gateway (S303) and stops sending sound source data (S304).

  The gateway 100-2 disconnects the sound source unit 12 from the TDM channel of the calling subscriber who was transmitting the sound source data, and stops the sound source data transmission (S406). The gateway 100-2 sets the TDM-IP conversion unit 13 in accordance with the database information 150 indicating the call state between the phone and the IP phone, and resumes the call (S407).

  According to the embodiment described above, when the gateway system is switched, a call interruption notice can be sent to both the telephone network subscriber and the IP telephone subscriber.

It is a block diagram explaining the connection structure of a telephone network. It is a figure explaining the control information stored in the control part 14 of the gateway 100. FIG. It is a figure explaining the information of the database stored in the sound source server. It is a sequence diagram of processing of each gateway and a sound source server.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 3 ... Telephone, 4 ... IP telephone, 11 ... TDM interface part, 12 ... Sound source part, 13 ... TDM-IP conversion part, 14 ... Control part, 15 ... IP interface part, 100 ... Communication apparatus (gateway), 200 ... Sound source Server, 300 ... IP network, 400 ... Public line telephone network (PSTN), 1000 ... Telephone network.

Claims (1)

First and second gateway devices that are connected to a telephone network and an IP network and mediate communication between a telephone connected to the telephone network and an IP telephone connected to the IP network, and connected to the IP network A communication device comprising a sound source server,
The first gateway device and the second gateway device hold a common table of a set of a telephone and an IP telephone in a call,
The sound source server maintains a table of IP telephones that are in a call,
When the active system is changed from the first gateway device to the second gateway device, the second gateway device sends a call interruption notification to the telephone that is making a call, and the sound source server is the IP that is making the call A communication apparatus for sending a call interruption notification to a telephone.

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