JP2007202003A - Time tone guidance providing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide time tone guidance to a user terminal within an IP network without using a GW device. <P>SOLUTION: A time tone guidance generation system in an IP network 5 comprises an NTP server 2, a LAN 3, a TSS 4, the IP network 5, a public most-significant NTP server 6, one or more user terminals 7, a GPS 9, and a telephone JJY(R) 10. A time synchronizing means uses an NTP protocol for a connection with a standard time providing means, the TSS 4 uses an NTP protocol for access to the NTP server 2, furthermore, the TSS 4 uses an SIP protocol for connection control of the user terminals 7, and a time tone guidance service is provided to the user terminals 7 by an RTP packet. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a time signal guidance providing system for providing time signal guidance to a user terminal in an IP network.

  Conventionally, a time signal guidance providing system is outside the IP network, and obtains standard time data from a telephone JJY (registered trademark) via a subscriber telephone line, and based on the standard time data, a voice fragment necessary for time signal guidance is obtained. Are combined to generate hourly guidance. The generated time signal guidance is provided to the IP telephone user who uses the time signal guidance providing service via the subscriber telephone network and the IP network (see Patent Document 1).

In order to provide such a time signal guidance service, a time signal guidance device in a conventional telephone line network using an analog line or the like is connected to the subscriber telephone line network and the IP network to realize the time signal guidance service. A GW (Gate Way) device is provided for delivery.
JP 2002-335335 A

  In the conventional time signal guidance providing configuration described above, since there is no server for time signal guidance arranged in the IP network, it is necessary to use a time signal guidance service from the conventional subscriber telephone network. It was necessary to provide a GW device for connecting to the telephone network.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide time signal guidance to a user terminal in an IP network without using a GW apparatus.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention as claimed in claim 1 is a time signal guidance providing system for providing time signal guidance to a user terminal connected to an IP network for making a call via the IP network. Time synchronization means for obtaining time information in synchronization with the standard time providing means for generating time information serving as a reference for the time, and time information output from the time synchronization means in response to a request for providing time signal guidance from the user terminal And a time signal guidance providing means for providing the generated time signal guidance to the user terminal that has requested the provision of the time signal guidance.

  Also, in the present invention described in claim 2 according to claim 1, the time synchronization means synchronizes with the standard time providing means using a time synchronization procedure via an IP network.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the time synchronization unit synchronizes with the standard time providing unit using GPS.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the time synchronization means is synchronized with a standard time providing means using a time supply system using a telephone line.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to fourth aspects, the time signal guidance creating means includes a voice fragment storage means for storing a voice fragment stored in advance, and a voice according to time information. Speech synthesizing means for creating a time signal guidance by combining fragments.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to fifth aspects, the time signal guidance creating means uses a time synchronization procedure via an IP network and accesses the time synchronization means to obtain time information. Is synchronized with the time synchronization means by periodically acquiring.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to sixth aspects, the user terminal connects a time signal guidance by using a call setting procedure via an IP network to connect the time signal guidance. Request.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to seventh aspects, the time signal guidance providing means provides the same time signal guidance to the user terminal by using voice data by a voice transmission / reception procedure using an IP network. To do.

  According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to eighth aspects, the time synchronization means includes a leap second adjusting means for adjusting the leap second time, and a summer time for adjusting the summer time. One or both of the adjusting means and the adjusting means are provided.

  As an effect of the present invention, time signal guidance can be provided to a user terminal in an IP network without using a GW apparatus.

  Another advantage of the present invention is that it can enhance the affinity for a network environment such as an existing LAN.

  Another advantage of the present invention is that it can reduce the equipment cost for providing hourly guidance.

  Further, another effect of the present invention can be expected to increase profits with the expansion of provision of a time signal guidance service to IP network users.

  FIG. 1 shows an overall configuration diagram of an embodiment of a time signal guidance providing system. The configuration diagram shown in FIG. 1 includes a time signal guidance generation system 1, an NTP (Network Time Protocol) server 2, a LAN (Local Area Network) 3, a TSS (time signal sound source supply device) 4, and an IP (Internet Protocol). ) Network 5, public top-level NTP (Network Time Protocol) server 6, one or more user terminals 7, GPS (Global Positioning System) 8, telephone network 9, telephone JJY (registered trademark) (Time supply system by telephone line) 10 is shown.

  Here, the public top NTP server 6 is a specific example of the standard time providing means and provides standard time information. Further, the NTP server 2, the GPS 8, and the telephone JJY (registered trademark) 10 acquire standard time information in synchronization with the standard time providing means, and provide time signal guidance to the user terminal 7 via the IP network 5. This is a specific example of the time synchronization means. Further, the TSS 4 is a specific example of a configuration of a time signal guidance creating unit and a time signal guidance providing unit.

  The configuration shown in FIG. 1 constitutes a time signal guidance generation system in an IP network using standard time providing means and a LAN, and the time synchronization means uses an NTP protocol for connection to the standard time providing means, and provides a time signal guidance sound source. The means (TSS) uses the NTP protocol for access to the time synchronization means, and the TSS uses a call setup procedure via the IP network such as the SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) protocol for the connection control of the user terminal. A case is shown in which a time signal guidance service is provided to a user terminal by voice data using a voice transmission / reception procedure using an IP network such as a Real-time Transport Protocol) packet.

  In such a configuration, the NTP server 2 is connected to the public top NTP server 6 using the NTP protocol via the LAN 3 and the IP network 5 and periodically acquires time information to obtain the public top. Time synchronization with the upper NTP server 6 is performed, and a response to a time inquiry from the TSS 4 using the NTP protocol is also performed via the LAN 3.

  In this inquiry, the TSS 4 accesses the NTP server 2 using the NTP protocol via the LAN 3, obtains time information periodically by making a time inquiry, and performs time synchronization with the NTP server 2.

  The TSS 4 controls the connection with the user terminal 7 and obtains it from the NTP server 2 if there is a request for providing a time signal guidance from one or more user terminals 7 using the SIP protocol via the IP network 5. The time guidance is created by combining the time when the time guidance is requested and the voice fragment necessary for providing the time guidance.

  The created time signal guidance is connected to the user terminal 7 via the LAN 3 and the IP network 5 using the SIP protocol, and is simultaneously provided with the same content by the RTP packet.

  In the configuration of FIG. 1, the NTP server 2 obtains time information from the GPS 8 or the telephone JJY (registered trademark) 10 via the existing subscriber telephone network 9 in addition to acquiring time information from the public highest NTP server 6. Information may be acquired.

  In FIG. 1, a solid line indicates a connection for obtaining time information between the public top server 6 or the GPS 8 and the NTP server 2 and between the NTP server 2 and the TSS 4, and a dotted line indicates a connection between the user terminal 7 and the TSS 4. Shows the connection for providing the time signal guidance service.

  Next, FIG. 2 shows a sequence chart for explaining the flow of processing executed in the configuration of the time signal guidance providing system shown in FIG.

  FIG. 2 shows a user terminal 7, a TSS 4, an NTP server 2, a GPS 8 connected to the NTP server 2, and a telephone JJY (registered trademark) 10.

  First, the NTP server 2 connects to the public top-level NTP server 6 using the NTP protocol via the IP network 5 shown in FIG. By acquiring this time information, time synchronization with the public top NTP server 6 is established (S1). Note that the telephone JJY (registered trademark) 10, GPS 8 or the like may be used as the standard time providing means as the other party to synchronize the time.

  Next, the TSS 4 accesses the NTP server 2 via the LAN 3 and obtains time information by making a time inquiry to synchronize time (S2). At this time, the NTP protocol is used between the TSS 4 and the NTP server 2.

  Next, one or a plurality of user terminals 7 requests time signal guidance from the TSS 4 via the IP network 5 using the SIP protocol. This request is executed when an INVITE is issued from the user terminal 7 to the TSS 4, and in response to this, the TSS 4 issues 200 OK, and an ACK is returned from the user terminal 7 (S3).

  Next, the time signal guidance is generated based on the time information obtained by synchronizing the time in TSS4 (S4). Generation of hourly guidance will be described later.

  Next, the TSS 4 provides the same time signal guidance by one RTP packet to one or a plurality of user terminals 7 via the LAN 3 and the IP network 5 (S5). After listening to the time signal guidance, BYE is transmitted from the user terminal 7, and in response to this, the TSS 4 returns 200 OK when the calling side is disconnected. Similarly, when BYE is issued from the TSS 4, a process of issuing 200 OK from the user terminal 7 is executed at the time of termination on the called side (S 6).

  In the above embodiment, the standard time providing unit and the time synchronizing unit are connected using the NTP protocol, but the SNTP protocol may be used instead. Furthermore, the time signal guidance providing system in the IP network according to the present embodiment can be put to practical use for the time signal guidance service in the IP network 5.

  FIG. 3 shows an example in which a plurality of TSSs 4 and NTP servers 2 are configured.

  In the configuration of FIG. 3, the user terminal 7 is connected to the IP network 5, and a SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) server 12 is also connected. Then, TSSs 4 ′ and 4 ″ and NTP servers 2 ′ and 2 ″ connected to each other via the LAN 11 are arranged. Standard time providing means such as a telephone JJY (registered trademark) 10 is connected to the NTP servers 2 ′ and 2 ″ via a subscriber telephone network 9. The TSSs 4 ′ and 4 ″ can be combined with N units, and the time signal sound source supply server can also be configured with N NTP servers.

  In such a configuration, when there are multiple standard time providing means or other upper time synchronization means connected by the NTP protocol, it is based on the existing RFC 1305 Network Time Protocol (Version 3) Specification, Implementation and Analysis method. Control may be performed.

  Alternatively, when there are multiple standard time providing means or other upper time synchronization means connected by the SNTP protocol, it is based on the existing RFC 2030 Simple Network Time Protocol (SNTP) Version 4 for IPv4, IPv6 and OSI methods. May be controlled.

  Next, FIG. 4 to FIG. 6 are explanatory diagrams for explaining the process for generating the audio of the hourly guidance generated by the TSS 4.

  The TSS 4 includes both a time signal guidance creating unit and a time signal guidance providing unit (not shown), and the time signal guidance is generated by voice synthesis as voice data. A method of saving in a predetermined directory can be applied to a voice file used for voice synthesis. For example, a voice file and a sound source shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 are saved.

  In FIG. 4, for example, audio files such as “gozen”, “gogo”, “shogo” are stored as audio files representing “AM / PM”. Similarly, audio files for “hour”, “number”, “minute”, “second”, and “last word” are stored.

  When daylight saving guidance is provided for daylight saving time, special audio files such as “Sama Taimujikan” and “Hyojujinkan” are also saved as daylight saving sound pieces.

  FIG. 5 shows an explanatory view for explaining a dial tone of a time signal other than the audio file. As a sound source used for the time signal, “second sound”, “forecast sound”, and “time signal sound” are stored. For example, the “second sound” is a sound per second, a sound “beep...”, A frequency is set to 2000 (2K) Hz, and a duration is set to 25 ms in advance.

  In FIG. 5, there are three types of “representation in the drawing”: “slashed line”, “outlined”, and “dot-filled”, which are the same “slashed line” shown in FIG. 6 to be described later. And “white” and “dot fill” are supported.

  Next, FIG. 6 shows an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of synthesizing the audio file shown in FIG. 4 and the time signal shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 6, numerals 0 to 9 shown from the left to the right in the drawing indicate “seconds”. The time signal “Poon” starts from 0 seconds and continues for 1800 ms (“dotted fill” portion in FIG. 6). The second sound overlaps with “beep” every second over the time signal sound (“hatched” portion in FIG. 6). The duration of the second sound is 25 ms. For example, the predicted sound starts to sound 3 seconds before the reference second (10 seconds in FIG. 6) (the “outlined” portion in FIG. 6). From the 7th second, it overlaps with the second sound like “Puppu” and lasts 200 ms each.

  On the other hand, the audio file is composed of time-sound guidance voices, such as “I'll give you the best information” by combining each sound piece, superimposed on the sound source, and generated as time-speech guidance. Provide to the terminal 7.

  As shown in FIG. 7, hourly time guidance corresponding to daylight saving time can be generated. The types of guidance include “summer time start guidance” and “summer time end guidance”, and the contents of the guidance are “summer time” and “standard time”. Insert these audio files immediately before the hourly guidance. As an example, a voice synthesis such as “We will inform you about the daylight saving time at 9am (we will tell you about the time and time)” is performed.

  FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of the speech synthesis of the time signal guidance in the leap second adjustment. Note that leap second refers to 1 second that is inserted or deleted when the difference between international atomic time and universal time becomes 0.9 seconds or more in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). As a correction method for this leap second, a guidance of “poon” (00 seconds) is given twice when correcting to “+”. Similarly, at the time of “−” correction, correction is performed by omitting “Put” (59 seconds).

  As described above, in this embodiment, it is possible to provide time signal guidance to the user terminal 7 only in the IP network without using a configuration for connecting to another communication network such as a GW apparatus.

  In addition, the affinity of the time signal guidance providing system for the existing network environment such as the LAN 3 can be enhanced.

  Moreover, since it is not necessary to use a GW apparatus etc., the installation cost concerning provision of hourly guidance can be reduced.

  Further, with the provision of the hourly guidance service to the user terminal 7 of the IP network 5, it can be expected to increase the profit as the price.

The whole block diagram of embodiment of a time signal guidance provision system is shown. The sequence diagram for demonstrating the information processing of the time signal guidance provision of embodiment of a time signal guidance provision system is shown. An example of the structure of the NTP server and TSS of an embodiment is shown. An example of the audio | voice fragment | piece information table of an audio | voice fragment | piece storage means is shown. An explanatory view for explaining a dial tone of a time signal other than an audio file is shown. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of synthesizing the audio file shown in FIG. 4 and the time signal shown in FIG. 5. An example of an audio file of hourly guidance corresponding to daylight saving time is shown. An explanatory view for explaining an example of speech synthesis of a time signal guidance in leap second adjustment is shown.

Explanation of symbols

1 Time signal guidance generation system 2 NTP server (time synchronization means)
3 LAN
4 TSS (Time signal guidance creating means, Time signal guidance providing means)
5 IP network 6 Public top-level NTP server (standard time provision means)
7 User terminal 8 GPS (Time synchronization means)
9 Telephone network (subscriber telephone network)
10 Telephone JJY (registered trademark) (time synchronization means)

Claims (9)

A time signal guidance providing system for providing time signal guidance to a user terminal connected to an IP network for making a call via an IP network,
Time synchronization means for acquiring time information in synchronization with the standard time providing means in order to generate time information serving as a reference for time signal guidance;
A time signal guidance creating means for creating a time signal guidance by voice based on the time information output from the time synchronization means in response to a request for providing the time signal guidance from the user terminal;
A time signal guidance providing means for providing the created time signal guidance to the user terminal that requested the provision of the time signal guidance;
A time signal guidance providing system characterized by comprising: The time synchronization means includes
2. The time signal guidance providing system according to claim 1, wherein a time synchronization procedure via an IP network is used to connect and synchronize with a standard time providing means. The time synchronization means includes
2. The time signal guidance providing system according to claim 1, wherein the time signal guidance providing system is synchronized by connecting to a standard time providing means using GPS. The time synchronization means includes
2. The time signal guidance providing system according to claim 1, wherein a time supply system using a telephone line is used to synchronize with a standard time providing means. The time signal guidance creating means includes:
Audio fragment storage means for storing pre-stored audio fragments;
A voice synthesis means for creating a time signal guidance by combining voice fragments according to time information;
The time signal guidance providing system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising: The time signal guidance creating means includes:
The time synchronization procedure via the IP network is used to synchronize with the time synchronization means by accessing the time synchronization means and periodically acquiring time information. Time signal guidance providing system described. The user terminal is
The time signal guidance providing system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the time signal guidance is requested by connecting to a time signal guidance providing means using a call setting procedure via an IP network. The time signal guidance providing means is:
The time signal guidance providing system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the same time signal guidance is provided to a user terminal by voice data by a voice transmission / reception procedure using an IP network. The time synchronization means includes
A leap second adjusting means for adjusting the leap second time,
Daylight saving time adjusting means for adjusting the daylight saving time,
Any one or both of these are provided, The time signal guidance provision system in any one of Claims 1-8 characterized by the above-mentioned.

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