JP2007174191A - Connection control method and apparatus, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a connection control method and an apparatus, and a program capable of surely executing facsimile communication and reducing the communication cost by properly selecting a plurality of communication paths such as a public line network and an IP network. <P>SOLUTION: An address particularizing section 112 particularizes destination information from a connection request received by an information reception section 111, and a path discrimination section 14 selects a communication path in response to a communication apparatus issuing a connection request when a first communication path (e.g. the public line network) whose communication quality is warranted within a prescribed range with respect to a particularized destination and a second communication path (e.g. the IP network) whose communication quality is not warranted within a prescribed range with respect to the particularized destination can be selected. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a connection control method, apparatus, and program, and more particularly, to a connection control method, apparatus, and program for executing facsimile communication using either a public line network or an IP network.

  In recent years, the number of IP telephone users who make calls using an IP network such as the Internet has increased. In addition, the facsimile apparatus performs facsimile communication via a public line network. Since communication is performed by modulating data into voice, facsimile communication using the IP network is performed by a method such as connection to an IP telephone. Is also possible.

  However, in facsimile communication using an IP network, delays and echoes may frequently occur, and it may be difficult to maintain communication quality.

For this reason, there has been proposed a facsimile communication terminal that performs communication by connecting to a public network when connection to the IP network fails (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2003-209657 A

  By the way, in the communication using the public line network, it is easy to maintain the communication quality, but the use of the public line network is generally charged according to the distance and time.

  On the other hand, there are cases where the IP network is not charged when used, and even if charged, it is generally not charged according to the distance. However, in communication using an IP network, it may be difficult to maintain the communication quality.

  Thus, each of the public line network and the IP network has advantages and disadvantages.

  Therefore, the present invention provides a connection control method and apparatus capable of appropriately selecting a plurality of communication paths such as a public line network and an IP network and performing reliable facsimile communication and reducing the communication cost, and The purpose is to provide a program.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 is directed to a connection control method for relaying information exchanged between the communication device and another communication device in response to a connection request issued from the communication device. The extracting means extracts the destination information from the connection request issued from the communication device, and the communication path determining means is guaranteed that the communication quality is within a certain range with respect to the destination specified by the destination information. When the first communication path and the second communication path whose communication quality is not guaranteed to be within a certain range can be selected, the communication path corresponding to the communication device that has issued the connection request is selected. It is characterized by that.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, when the communication device that has issued the connection request is a facsimile apparatus, the communication path determination means selects the first communication path. Features.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the first communication path is a public line network.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the connection control method for relaying information exchanged between the communication device and another communication device in response to a connection request issued from the communication device, the destination information extracting means includes the communication device. Destination information is extracted from the connection request issued from the communication device, and when the communication device that issued the connection request is a facsimile device, the communication path determination means communicates from a plurality of communication paths for the destination specified by the destination information. A communication path that is guaranteed to have a quality within a certain range is selected.

  Further, the invention of claim 5 is characterized in that, in the invention of claim 4, the communication path determination means selects a public line network as a communication path in which communication quality is guaranteed to be within a certain range. To do.

  The invention of claim 6 provides the communication path according to the invention of claim 4, wherein a public line network and an IP network exist as communication paths in which communication quality is guaranteed to be within a certain range. The determining means selects the IP network.

  Further, the invention of claim 7 is a connection request issued from a communication device in a connection control apparatus that relays information exchanged between the communication device and another communication device in response to a connection request issued from the communication device. Destination information extracting means for extracting the destination information from the destination information, and a first communication path in which the communication quality is guaranteed to be within a certain range for the destination specified by the destination information extracted by the destination information extracting means, A communication path determination unit that selects a communication path according to the communication device that has issued the connection request when a second communication path that is not guaranteed to have a communication quality within a certain range can be selected; It is characterized by comprising.

  The invention according to claim 8 is the invention according to claim 7, wherein the communication path determination means selects the first communication path when the communication device that has issued the connection request is a facsimile apparatus. Features.

  The invention according to claim 9 is the invention according to claim 8, wherein the first communication path is a public line network.

  The invention of claim 10 is a connection request issued from a communication device in a connection control device that relays information exchanged between the communication device and another communication device in response to a connection request issued from the communication device. Destination information extracting means for extracting destination information from the communication device, and communication from a plurality of communication paths for the destination specified by the destination information extracted by the destination information extracting means when the communication device that issued the connection request is a facsimile machine Communication path determination means for selecting a communication path whose quality is guaranteed to be within a certain range.

  The invention of claim 11 is characterized in that, in the invention of claim 10, the communication path determination means selects a public line network as a communication path in which the communication quality is guaranteed to be within a certain range. To do.

  The invention according to claim 12 is the invention according to claim 10, wherein the communication path determination means includes a public line network and an IP network as communication paths guaranteed to have a communication quality within a certain range. In this case, the IP network is selected.

  According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a connection control program for causing an information processing apparatus to relay information exchanged between the communication device and another communication device in response to a connection request issued from the communication device. It is guaranteed that the communication quality is within a certain range for the destination information extraction process for extracting the destination information from the connection request issued from the destination information and the destination specified from the destination information extracted by the destination information extraction process. When the first communication path and the second communication path whose communication quality is not guaranteed to be within a certain range can be selected, the communication path corresponding to the communication device that has issued the connection request is selected. The information processing apparatus is caused to execute communication path determination processing.

  The invention according to claim 14 is the invention according to claim 13, wherein the communication path determination process selects the first communication path when the communication device that issued the connection request is a facsimile apparatus. Features.

  According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in the fourteenth aspect, the first communication path is a public line network.

  According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a connection control program for causing an information processing apparatus to relay information exchanged between the communication device and another communication device in response to a connection request issued from the communication device. Destination information extraction processing for extracting destination information from a connection request issued from the server, and for a destination specified from the destination information extracted by the destination information extraction processing when the communication device that issued the connection request is a facsimile machine The information processing apparatus is configured to execute a communication path determination process for selecting a communication path in which communication quality is guaranteed to be within a certain range from a plurality of communication paths.

  The invention of claim 17 is characterized in that, in the invention of claim 16, the communication route determination processing selects a public line network as a communication route in which communication quality is guaranteed to be within a certain range. To do.

  The invention according to claim 18 is the invention according to claim 16, wherein the communication path determination processing includes a public line network and an IP network as communication paths in which communication quality is guaranteed within a certain range. In this case, the IP network is selected.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to perform reliable facsimile communication and reduce the communication cost without selecting whether the user performs communication through the public line network or the IP network. It becomes.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a connection control method, apparatus, and program according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a network system to which the present invention is applied. In the network system shown in the figure, the base 10 and the base 20 are connected by an IP network 30 and a public line network 40.

  At the site 10, a SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) server 11, a gateway 12, a facsimile 13, a facsimile 14, and a telephone 15 are connected to a network 17.

  Similarly, at the site 20, the SIP server 21, the gateway 22, the facsimile 23, the telephone 25, and the telephone 26 are connected to the network 27.

  The SIP server 11, to which the present invention is applied, performs connection control and relay processing for communication performed by the facsimile 13 or the like. Specifically, if a device managed by the SIP server 11 itself is a destination in response to a connection request from the facsimile 13 or the like, the connection request is relayed to the destination, and the SIP server 11 itself manages it. A connection request is relayed to another SIP server such as the SIP server 21 for a destination that is not connected.

  The gateway 12 connects the network 17 to the IP network 30 and the public line network 40, and performs protocol conversion, D / A conversion, A / D conversion, and the like as necessary.

  The facsimile 13 and the facsimile 14 are network compatible facsimiles, and perform facsimile communication using, for example, VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol).

  The telephone 15 is a network-compatible telephone, for example, for making a call using VoIP.

  Further, the SIP server 21 and the gateway 22 at the site 20 correspond to the SIP server 11 and the gateway 12, respectively, the facsimile 23 corresponds to the facsimile 13, and the telephone 25 and the telephone 26 correspond to the telephone 15. It is.

  A conventional SIP server can be used in place of the SIP server 21. In this case, the effect of applying the present invention to facsimile communication from the base 10 to the base 20 can be obtained.

  Next, details of the SIP server 11 will be described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the SIP server 11. The SIP server 11 is a computer that can operate as a server, and is realized by executing a program that realizes each functional unit shown in FIG.

  As shown in the figure, the SIP server 11 includes an information receiving unit 111, a destination specifying unit 112, a destination information storing unit 113, a route determining unit 114, an information processing unit 115, and an information sending unit 116. .

  The information receiving unit 111 receives various signals and information including connection requests (INVITE signals) from the facsimile 13, the facsimile 14, the telephone 15, the SIP server 21, and the like. The information receiving unit 111 passes the request to the destination specifying unit 112 when receiving a connection request, and passes the information to the information processing unit 115 when receiving other information.

  The destination specifying unit 112 extracts a telephone number as destination information from the connection request received by the information receiving unit 111, and based on the extracted telephone number, the destination of the communication is extracted from the information stored in the destination information storage unit 113. Specify the address of the communication device (facsimile, telephone, etc.). However, if the address of a device that is a communication destination cannot be specified, an address of another SIP server or the like is specified as a relay destination.

  The destination information storage unit 113 manages the correspondence between telephone numbers and addresses assigned to each communication device. When the facsimile 13, the facsimile 14, or the telephone 15 connected to the network 17 uses a fixed address, the correspondence between the address and the telephone number is registered in the destination information storage unit 113 in advance, and the facsimile 13 or the facsimile is registered. 14. When the telephone 15 uses a dynamic address, each communication device registers the correspondence between the address and the telephone number in the destination information storage unit 113 when the address is assigned. Further, for the facsimile 23, the telephone 25, and the telephone 26 connected to a network 27 different from the network 17 to which the SIP server 11 is connected, addresses assigned to the respective communication devices can be used only within the network 27 (private Address), or when the address is dynamically assigned, the correspondence between the telephone number and the address is unknown. Register the address as destination information. For unknown telephone numbers, the address of another SIP server (SIP server 21 or SIP server not shown) is registered as destination information as default.

  The route determination unit 114 determines a communication route for the destination specified by the destination specification unit 112. In the determination of the communication path, in principle, when a destination other than the communication device connected to the network 17 is set as the destination, when the communication content is facsimile communication, the public line network 40 is selected, and when the communication is performed by the telephone set 15. Selects the IP network 30.

  The information processing unit 115 processes the connection request received by the information receiving unit 111 and other information so that communication is performed on the communication path determined by the path determining unit 114 to the destination specified by the destination specifying unit 112. Apply. Specifically, the destination information and route information attached to the information are rewritten.

  The information sending unit 116 sends the connection request processed by the information processing unit 115 and other information to the network 17.

  Here, the operation of the SIP server 11 will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation flow of the SIP server 11.

  When the information receiving unit 11 receives information via the network 17, if the information receiving unit 11 receives the connection request (YES in step 201), the SIP server 11 specifies the destination of the connection request (step 201). 202).

  Subsequently, the route determination unit 114 determines the route based on the destination specified by the destination specification unit 112, but connects to the specified destination via the IP network (through the IP network 30 and only through the network 17). If the connection request is a request for facsimile communication, that is, the source communication device is any one of the facsimile 13, the facsimile 14, and the facsimile 23 (YES in step 204). When the destination is outside the intranet, that is, other than the network 17 (YES in step 205), the route determination unit 14 determines that the route is the public line network 40, and the information processing unit 115 sets the route to the public. The information transmission unit 116 transmits the connection request processed as the line network 40 (step 206).

  On the other hand, if it is possible to connect to the specified destination via the IP network (YES in step 203), and the destination is a communication device connected to the intranet, that is, the network 17 (step 205). NO), of course, the route determination unit 14 determines that only the network 17 is a route, and the connection request processed by the information processing unit 115 with the route as the network 17 or without specifying the route is information The sending unit 116 sends (step 207).

  Further, when the connection to the specified destination is possible via the IP network (YES in step 203), the connection request is a connection request such as a call other than the facsimile communication, that is, the source communication device is a telephone 15, the telephone 25, or the telephone 26 (NO in step 204), the route determination unit 14 determines that the IP network 30 is a route, and the information processing unit 115 processes the route as the IP network 30. The information transmission unit 116 transmits a connection request (step 207).

  If connection to the specified destination is impossible via the IP network (NO in step 203), the route determination unit 14 determines that the public network 40 is a route, and the information processing unit 115 makes the route public. The information transmission unit 116 transmits the connection request processed as the line network 40 (step 206).

  If the information received by the information receiving unit 11 is not a connection request (NO in step 201), the information processed by the information processing unit 115 so as to pass through the same route as that determined by the connection request received earlier is The information sending unit 116 sends it (step 208).

  Next, a specific example of a communication path when communication is performed in the network system shown in FIG. 1 will be described. 4 to 6 are diagrams showing specific examples of communication paths in the network system shown in FIG.

  The route for communication from the facsimile machine 13 to the facsimile machine 23 is as shown in FIG. In this communication, first, the facsimile 13 transmits a connection request to the SIP server 11.

  The SIP server 11 accepts the connection request sent by the facsimile machine 13 and specifies the destination. However, since the address of the facsimile machine 23 is unknown, the SIP server 21 is relayed and the SIP server 23 is connected to the network 17. Since it is not, the public line network 40 is determined as a route. As a result, the connection request is transmitted from the SIP server 11 to the SIP server 21 via the gateway 12, the public line network 40, and the gateway 22.

  The SIP server 21 receives the connection request relayed by the SIP server 11 and specifies the destination. Since the specified destination facsimile 23 is connected to the network 27, the SIP server 21 determines that the route is via the IP network. As a result, the connection request is transmitted from the SIP server 21 to the facsimile 23.

  The facsimile machine 23 that has received the connection request returns a response to the facsimile machine 13. The route is the reverse of the route through which the connection request is transmitted, and is relayed by the SIP server 21. The SIP server 11 is further relayed via the gateway 12 to reach the facsimile 13. Then, the communication between the two is performed via the same route.

  Further, the route for communication from the facsimile machine 13 to the facsimile machine 14 is as shown in FIG. In this communication, first, the facsimile 13 transmits a connection request to the SIP server 11.

  The SIP server 11 receives the connection request sent by the facsimile machine 13 and specifies the destination. Since the facsimile machine 14 that is the specified destination is connected to the network 17, the SIP server 11 is routed through the IP network. Is determined. As a result, the connection request is transmitted from the SIP server 11 to the facsimile 14.

  The facsimile machine 14 that has received the connection request returns a response to the facsimile machine 13. The route is the reverse of the route through which the connection request is transmitted, and is relayed by the SIP server 11 and reaches the facsimile machine 13. Then, the communication between the two is performed via the same route.

  Further, the path for communication (call) from the telephone 15 to the telephone 26 is as shown in FIG. In this communication, first, the telephone set 15 transmits a connection request to the SIP server 11.

  The SIP server 11 accepts the connection request sent by the telephone set 15 and specifies the destination. However, since the address of the telephone set 26 is unknown, the SIP server 21 is relayed and the SIP server 23 is connected to the network 17. Since it is not a thing but not facsimile communication, the IP network 30 is determined as a route. As a result, the connection request is transmitted from the SIP server 11 to the SIP server 21 via the gateway 12, the IP network 30, and the gateway 22.

  The SIP server 21 receives the connection request relayed by the SIP server 11 and specifies the destination. Since the telephone 26 that is the specified destination is connected to the network 27, the SIP server 21 determines that the route is via the IP network. As a result, the connection request is transmitted from the SIP server 21 to the telephone 26.

  The telephone 26 that has received the connection request returns a response to the telephone 15, and the route is the reverse of the route from which the connection request was transmitted, and is relayed by the SIP server 21, and the gateway 22, the IP network 30, It is further relayed by the SIP server 11 via the gateway 12 and reaches the telephone set 15. Then, the communication between the two is performed via the same route.

  Next, a specific example of a communication path when communication is performed in a network system different from the network system shown in FIG. 1 will be described. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a specific example of communication paths in a network system different from the network system shown in FIG.

  The network system shown in the figure is obtained by adding a base 50 to the network system shown in FIG. The base 50 can be connected to the base 10 and the base 20 via the public network 40 and is connected to the base 10 via the IP network 60. Note that the IP network 60 is a network in which communication quality is guaranteed, and an intranet is configured between the base 10 and the base 50.

  At the site 50, a SIP server 51, a gateway 52, a facsimile 53, and a facsimile 54 are connected to a network 57. The SIP server 51 and the gateway 52 correspond to the SIP server 11 and the gateway 12, respectively. The facsimile 53 and the facsimile 54 correspond to the facsimile 13.

  In this network system, the path for communication from the facsimile machine 13 to the facsimile machine 53 is as shown in FIG. In this communication, first, the facsimile 13 transmits a connection request to the SIP server 11.

  The SIP server 11 accepts the connection request sent by the facsimile machine 13 and identifies the destination. However, since the address of the facsimile machine 53 is unknown, the SIP server 51 is relayed and the SIP server 53 is connected to the network 17. Although it is not a thing in the intranet, the IP network 60 is determined as a route. As a result, the connection request is transmitted from the SIP server 11 to the SIP server 51 via the gateway 12, the IP network 60, and the gateway 52.

  The SIP server 51 receives the connection request relayed by the SIP server 11 and specifies the destination. Since the specified destination facsimile 53 is connected to the network 57, the SIP server 51 determines that the route is via the IP network. As a result, the connection request is transmitted from the SIP server 51 to the facsimile 53.

  The facsimile machine 53 that has received the connection request returns a response to the facsimile machine 13. The route is the reverse of the route through which the connection request is transmitted, and is relayed by the SIP server 51, and the gateway 52, the IP network 60, It is further relayed by the SIP server 11 via the gateway 12 and reaches the facsimile machine 13. Then, the communication between the two is performed via the same route.

  In the present embodiment, when communication is performed between facsimiles, the IP network passes through the IP network when the IP network forms an intranet. However, the intranet does not necessarily have to be configured, and the communication quality is low. If the IP network is guaranteed, facsimile communication is performed via the IP network. On the other hand, even if the IP network constitutes an intranet, if the communication quality is not guaranteed, facsimile communication is performed via the public network. Therefore, the IP network used for facsimile communication is registered in advance in the SIP server 11 or the like.

It is the figure which showed the structural example of the network system to which this invention is applied. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a SIP server 11. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation flow of the SIP server 11. It is the figure which showed the specific example of the communication path | route in the network system shown in FIG. It is the figure which showed the specific example of the communication path | route in the network system shown in FIG. It is the figure which showed the specific example of the communication path | route in the network system shown in FIG. It is the figure which showed the specific example of the communication path | route in the network system different from the network system shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

10 bases 11 SIP server 12 gateway 13 facsimile 14 facsimile 15 telephone 17 network 20 base 21 SIP server 22 gateway 23 facsimile 25 telephone 26 telephone 27 network 30 IP network 40 public line network 50 base 51 SIP server 52 gateway 53 facsimile 54 facsimile 57 network 60 IP network 111 Information reception unit 112 Destination specifying unit 113 Destination information storage unit 114 Route determination unit 115 Information processing unit 116 Information transmission unit

Claims (18)

In a connection control method for relaying information exchanged between the communication device and another communication device in response to a connection request issued from the communication device,
The destination information extraction unit extracts the destination information from the connection request issued from the communication device, and the communication path determination unit guarantees that the communication quality is within a certain range for the destination specified by the destination information. A communication path corresponding to the communication device that has issued the connection request when the selected first communication path and the second communication path whose communication quality is not guaranteed to be within a certain range can be selected. A connection control method characterized by selecting.   2. The connection control method according to claim 1, wherein when the communication device that has issued the connection request is a facsimile apparatus, the communication path determination unit selects the first communication path.   The connection control method according to claim 2, wherein the first communication path is a public network. In a connection control method for relaying information exchanged between the communication device and another communication device in response to a connection request issued from the communication device,
The destination information extraction unit extracts the destination information from the connection request issued from the communication device. When the communication device that has issued the connection request is a facsimile apparatus, the communication path determination unit is specified by the destination information. A connection control method comprising: selecting a communication path in which communication quality is guaranteed within a certain range from a plurality of communication paths for a destination.   5. The connection control method according to claim 4, wherein the communication path determination unit selects a public line network as a communication path guaranteed to have a communication quality within a certain range.   The communication path determination unit selects the IP network when a public line network and an IP network exist as communication paths guaranteed to have communication quality within a certain range. Item 5. The connection control method according to Item 4. In a connection control device that relays information exchanged between the communication device and another communication device in response to a connection request issued from the communication device,
Destination information extraction means for extracting destination information from a connection request issued from a communication device;
For the destination specified by the destination information extracted by the destination information extracting means, the first communication path in which the communication quality is guaranteed to be within a certain range and the communication quality are guaranteed to be within the certain range. And a communication path determination unit that selects a communication path according to the communication device that has issued the connection request when a second communication path that is not connected can be selected.   8. The connection control apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the communication path determination unit selects the first communication path when the communication device that has issued the connection request is a facsimile apparatus.   9. The connection control apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the first communication path is a public line network. In a connection control device that relays information exchanged between the communication device and another communication device in response to a connection request issued from the communication device,
Destination information extraction means for extracting destination information from a connection request issued from a communication device;
When the communication device that issued the connection request is a facsimile machine, it is ensured that the communication quality is within a certain range from a plurality of communication paths for the destination specified by the destination information extracted by the destination information extracting means. And a communication path determination means for selecting the communication path.   11. The connection control apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the communication path determination unit selects a public line network as a communication path guaranteed to have a communication quality within a certain range.   The communication path determination unit selects the IP network when a public line network and an IP network exist as a communication path whose communication quality is guaranteed to be within a certain range. Item 11. The connection control device according to Item 10. In a connection control program for causing an information processing device to relay information exchanged between the communication device and another communication device in response to a connection request issued from the communication device.
Destination information extraction processing for extracting destination information from a connection request issued from a communication device;
For the destination specified from the destination information extracted by the destination information extraction process, it is guaranteed that the communication quality is within a certain range and the first communication path whose communication quality is guaranteed to be within a certain range. A communication path determination process for selecting a communication path according to a communication device that has issued the connection request when a second communication path that has not been selected can be selected. Control program.   14. The connection control program according to claim 13, wherein the communication path determination process selects the first communication path when the communication device that has issued the connection request is a facsimile apparatus.   15. The connection control program according to claim 14, wherein the first communication path is a public line network. In a connection control program for causing an information processing device to relay information exchanged between the communication device and another communication device in response to a connection request issued from the communication device.
Destination information extraction processing for extracting destination information from a connection request issued from a communication device;
When the communication device that issued the connection request is a facsimile machine, it is guaranteed that the communication quality is within a certain range from a plurality of communication paths for the destination specified from the destination information extracted by the destination information extraction process. A connection control program that causes an information processing apparatus to execute communication path determination processing for selecting a communication path.   The connection control program according to claim 16, wherein the communication path determination process selects a public line network as a communication path in which communication quality is guaranteed to be within a certain range.   The communication path determination process selects the IP network when a public line network and an IP network exist as a communication path whose communication quality is guaranteed to be within a certain range. Item 17. The connection control program according to Item 16.

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