JP2012029249A - Router device, call control method and communication system therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a router device capable of notifying either one of two parties of information about an emergency by a third party during a telephone conversation between the two parties, and allowing the party receiving the information to accurately determine whether the ongoing call should be stopped and a telephone call should be made with the third party.SOLUTION: A router device 3 comprises a router function control unit 55 that transmits a communication request signal to the other router 1 via a network 41 when starting a telephone call, and transmits information about an emergency to the other router 1 when the router device 3 receives by return a signal notifying that a telephone call is in progress from the other router 1.

Description

  The present invention relates to a router apparatus, a call control method thereof, and a communication system, and more particularly to a router apparatus having an IP (Internet Protocol) telephone function, a call control method thereof, and a communication system.

  A router device having an IP (Internet Protocol) telephone function related to the present invention is known. In this related technology, even if a call is made to the other party during a call, the call cannot be made. Even if the Call Waiting (registered trademark) function is used, the other party does not know the degree of urgency and may be ignored. For this reason, there is a risk that the voice communication may be lost despite an emergency.

  On the other hand, as another example of this type of related technology, when an IP phone call is made between the first and second telephones, a call is made from the third telephone to the first telephone via the general subscriber telephone network. An IP telephone system is disclosed in which when a call is made, a message is communicated by voice from the first telephone to the third telephone via the general subscriber telephone network that the telephone is in communication with another telephone. (See Patent Document 1).

  As another example of this type of related technology, there is disclosed a router device that confirms an incoming call with a tone when an incoming call is received from a third party during a call (see Patent Document 2).

  As another example of this type of related technology, the sender registers the urgency type and the business summary in advance in the management server, and when an incoming call is received from the sender, the receiver is displayed on the display unit. An IP telephone call reception method for determining whether to receive information by checking the information, that is, the contents of the urgency level registered in the management server and the contents of the business outline is disclosed (see Patent Document 3).

JP 2007-088558 A JP 2005-073085 A JP 2008-205982 A

  However, the invention described in Patent Document 1 is different from the present invention in that a telephone is called from a third telephone via a general subscriber telephone network to one telephone of two parties who are making a telephone call via an IP telephone. The configuration is different. In the present invention, the communication path is only the IP communication network.

  Further, Patent Document 1 does not disclose a configuration in which an emergency notification signal is transmitted from a third telephone to one of the two telephones on the telephone via an IP telephone. Further, Patent Document 1 discloses that a message is transmitted by voice from the first telephone to the third telephone, and the message is transmitted by voice to the router as in the present invention. Is completely different. Further, the voice is transmitted via a general subscriber telephone network, and the configuration is completely different in that respect. Therefore, the invention described in Patent Document 1 cannot solve the problem of the present invention.

  Further, the invention described in Patent Document 2 confirms an incoming call with a tone, and the tone cannot determine the degree of urgency and the other party of the incoming call, and cannot determine whether or not the call should be dealt with until the call is stopped. There is a drawback. Therefore, the invention described in Patent Document 2 cannot solve the problems of the present invention.

  In the invention described in Patent Document 3, an emergency level type and a business summary are registered in advance during a non-call, and the receiver confirms the emergency level during a call. The recipient does not confirm. In addition, the invention described in Patent Document 3 provides a display interface to an IP telephone, and does not have a router function, so that a third party's name, urgency, or requirements are notified simultaneously with a call. I cannot receive it. Therefore, the invention described in Patent Document 3 cannot solve the problems of the present invention.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is that when a call is in progress between two parties, a third party can notify one of the two parties of information relating to the degree of urgency. It is an object of the present invention to provide a router device, a call control method thereof, and a communication system capable of accurately determining whether or not to stop a call and make a call with a third party.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the router device according to the present invention transmits a communication request signal to a partner router via a network when a call is started, and returns a call busy notification signal from the partner router. And a router function control unit for transmitting information on the urgency level to the counterpart router.

  In addition, another router device according to the present invention receives a communication request signal transmitted from the other router via the network, and the telephone connected to the own router and the telephone connected to the third router communicate with each other. If it is in the middle, a call notification signal is sent to the other router, and when information on the degree of urgency is received from the other router, the telephone number or user name of the telephone connected to the other router and the name It includes a router function control unit that outputs information on the urgency level from its own router.

  Further, the call control method of the router device according to the present invention transmits a communication request signal to a partner router via a network when a call is started, and returns an emergency call signal from the partner router. A router function control step of transmitting information on the degree to the counterpart router.

  The call control method for another router device according to the present invention receives a communication request signal transmitted from the other router via the network, and is connected to the telephone connected to the own router and the third router. When a telephone call is in progress, a call notification signal is transmitted to the other router, and when information on urgency is received from the other router, the telephone number of the telephone connected to the other router or A router function control step of outputting a user name and information on the urgency level from the own router is included.

  In addition, the communication system according to the present invention transmits a communication request signal to the first router via the network at the start of a call, and when the call notification signal is received from the first router, information on the degree of urgency is returned. A third router device including a router function control unit for transmitting to the first router, a communication request signal transmitted from the third router via a network, and a telephone connected to the own router and the second router A telephone connected to the third router when a telephone call notification signal is transmitted to the third router and information on the degree of urgency is received from the third router. And a first router device including a router function control unit that outputs information on the urgency level from the own router.

  The call control method program according to the present invention transmits a communication request signal to a router on the other side of the router device via a network when a call is started, and returns a call notification signal from the other side router. When received, the router function control step of transmitting information on the urgency level to the counterpart router is executed.

  According to the present invention, when a call is in progress between two parties, a third party can notify one of the two parties of information relating to the degree of urgency. It is possible to accurately determine whether to stop and call with a third party.

It is a block diagram of 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of 4th Embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described. The first embodiment relates to an example of a communication system. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention. Referring to the figure, an example of a communication system according to the present invention includes a line termination device 11, a router device (hereinafter referred to as "router") 1, a telephone set 13, a line termination device 21, a router 2, The telephone 23, the line termination device 31, the router 3, the telephone 33, and the network 41 to which the line termination devices 11, 21, 31 are connected are configured.

  The line terminator 11 is connected to the router 1, the router 1 is connected to the telephone 13, the line terminator 21 is connected to the router 2, the router 2 is connected to the telephone 23, and the line terminator 31 is connected to the router 3 and the router. 3 are connected to the telephone 33, respectively.

  The line terminators 11, 21, 31 include the same configuration, the routers 1, 2, 3 also include the same configuration, and the telephones 13, 23, 33 also include the same configuration. In the following description, description and operation regarding this same configuration will be described. The present invention can also be applied to cases where these line terminators, routers, and telephones include other configurations.

  In addition, the users 14, 24, and 34 are not included in the configuration of an example of the communication system, but are displayed in the figure for convenience. That is, the user 14 is a user of the telephone 13, the user 24 is a user of the telephone 23, and the user 34 is a user of the telephone 33.

  As a precondition, the routers 1, 2, and 3 have an IP telephone function, the routers 1, 2, and 3 are equipped with a speaker or a display described later, and the telephone between the users 14, 24, and 34 uses an IP telephone. It shall be. Since the line termination devices 11, 21, 31 and the telephones 13, 23, 33 are known devices and devices, their description is omitted.

  Next, an example of the operation of this communication system will be described. In the first embodiment, the telephones 33 and 23 are talking via the routers 1 and 2 and the line terminators 11 and 21 and the network 41, while the telephone 33 is connected to the router 3 and the line terminator 31 and the network. A case is assumed where communication with the telephone 13 is attempted via 41.

  When the router 3 transmits a communication request signal to the router 1 via the line termination device 31, the network 41, and the line termination device 11 at the start of the call and receives a busy notification signal from the return router 1, The information regarding is transmitted to the router 1.

  On the other hand, the router 1 receives the communication request signal transmitted from the router 3 via the line terminator 31, the network 41 and the line terminator 11, and is connected to the telephone set 13 connected to the router 1 and the router 2. If the telephone 23 is in a call, a call notification signal is transmitted to the router 3 and information on the urgency level is received from the return router 3. If the telephone number of the telephone 33 connected to the router 3 or the user 34 The name and information on the urgency are output from the own router 1.

  That is, in the present invention, even when the telephone 13 is in a call with the telephone 23, the telephone number of the telephone 33 or the information on the name and urgency of the user 34 is output from the router 1 of the telephone 13 so that the user 14 can make a call. It is possible to check the information even during the operation.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, when a call is in progress between two parties, a third party can notify one of the two parties of information on the degree of urgency. It is possible to accurately determine whether or not to stop the current call and make a call with a third party on the information receiving side.

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The second embodiment relates to an example of a router device. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of the second embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 2, the same components of routers 1, 2, and 3 are shown.

  Referring to the figure, routers 1, 2 and 3 include information terminal connection unit 51, Internet network connection unit 52, speaker 53, address book storage unit 54, router function control unit 55, and program storage unit 56. , A voice conversion control unit 57, a data storage unit 58, a voice conversion control unit 59, a tone control unit 60, a call state storage unit 61, and a telephone connection unit 62.

  The information terminal connection unit 51 is connected to an external personal computer or the like (not shown). The Internet network connection unit 52 is connected to the network 41 via any of the line termination devices 11, 21, 31. The speaker 53 outputs sound. The address book storage unit 54 stores a telephone number and a user name. The router function control unit 55 controls each of the information terminal connection unit 51, the Internet network connection unit 52, the address book storage unit 54, the program storage unit 56, the voice conversion control unit 59, the tone control unit 60, and the call state storage unit 61. .

  The program storage unit 56 stores a program for a call control method for a router device, which will be described later. The voice conversion control unit 57 converts the data from the data storage unit 58 into voice and outputs it to the speaker 53. The data storage unit 58 stores an emergency level notification signal.

  The voice conversion control unit 59 converts the data output from the router function control unit 55 into voice and outputs it to the telephone connection unit 62, and converts the voice output from the telephone connection unit 62 into voice data to function as a router. And a function of outputting to the control unit 55. The tone control unit 60 outputs a tone signal to one of the telephones 13, 23, and 33 via the telephone connection unit 62 in accordance with an instruction from the router function control unit 55. The call state storage unit 61 stores call state information. One of the telephones 13, 23, and 33 is connected to the telephone connection unit 62.

  Next, the operation of the second embodiment will be described in detail. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the second embodiment of the present invention. The following operations are executed by the router function control unit 55 (“computer”) (see FIG. 2) controlling the above-described units.

  As in the first embodiment, it is assumed that the user 34 makes a call to the user 14 via the telephone 33 when the user 14 and the user 24 are talking via the telephones 13 and 23.

  When the user 34 makes a call to the user 14, a call request signal is first transmitted from the router 3 on the user 34 side to the router 1 on the user 14 side (step S1). This call request signal is transmitted to the network 41 via the router function control unit 55 of the router 3, the Internet network connection unit 52, and the line terminating device 31 on the router 3 side, and further from the network 41 to the line on the router 1 side. The data is transmitted to the router function control unit 55 of the router 1 via the termination device 11 and the Internet network connection unit 52 of the router 1.

  The router 1 that has received the call request signal first checks the call state storage unit 61 to check whether or not the user 14 is in a call (step S2). If the user 14 is not in a call (“No” in step S2), a call between the user 14 and the user 34 is started (step S3).

  On the other hand, when the user 14 is busy ("Yes" in step S2), a busy notification signal is transmitted from the router 1 to the router 3 (step S4). Note that the transmission path of the call notification signal is the reverse of the path of the call request signal.

  Next, the router 3 that has received the in-call notification signal from the router 1 makes an announcement prompting the user 34 to set the urgency level via the telephone 33 (step S5). That is, an announcement that prompts the telephone set 33 to set the urgency level is transmitted via the router function control unit 55, the voice conversion control unit 59, and the telephone connection unit 62 of the router 3.

  In accordance with this announcement, the user 34 presses a dial button (not shown) of the telephone 33 to set the urgency level (step S6). For example, the urgency level is set to three levels, and the urgency level is set by pressing the dial buttons 1 to 3.

  Next, when the user 34 sets the urgency level using the telephone 33, an urgency notification signal is transmitted from the telephone 33 to the router function control unit 55 via the telephone connection unit 62 and the voice conversion control unit 57 of the router 3, The urgency notification signal is transmitted from the router function control unit 55 of the router 3 to the router 1 via the network 41 or the like (step S7).

  Next, the router 1 that has received the urgency notification signal first collates the telephone number with the name in the address book storage unit 54 (step S8). The router 1 converts the telephone number into a registrant name if the telephone number is registered in the address book storage unit 54, and leaves the telephone number as it is if it is not registered. Then, the registrant name or telephone number is stored in the data storage unit 58 (step S9).

  Next, the urgency data and registrant name or telephone number data stored in the data storage unit 58 are converted into voice via the voice conversion control unit 57 and notified to the user 14 from the speaker 53 (step S10). . The reason for storing the registrant name or telephone number in the data storage unit 58 is to notify the user again when he / she misses them.

  With the above operation, it is possible to notify the user 14 of the urgency level and the name or telephone number of the user 34 in real time even when the user 14 is talking.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the following effects can be obtained. The first effect is that it is possible to recognize that the user 14 has received an incoming call in real time even during a call. The second effect is that the name or the telephone number of the user 34 who is the receiving party can be recognized in real time even while the user 14 is talking. The third effect is that the user 14 can recognize the urgency level of the user 34 who is the receiving party in real time even when the user 14 is talking.

  Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. The third embodiment relates to another example of the router device. Since the configuration of the router device in the third embodiment is the same as the configuration in the second embodiment (see FIG. 2), the illustration is omitted.

  In the second embodiment, the user 34 sets the degree of urgency by pressing the dial button of the telephone 33. However, in the third embodiment, the voice of the user 34 is directly transmitted to the router 1 as voice data, and the router 1 transmits the voice data. Is converted into voice and notified from the speaker.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the third embodiment of the present invention. Note that the same steps as those in the operation of the second embodiment (see FIG. 3) are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted. Referring to the figure, the steps different from the operation of the second embodiment (see FIG. 3) are only steps S21 to S23 and S31. The following operation is executed by the router function control unit 55 (“computer”) controlling the above-described units.

  Referring to FIG. 4, the router 3 that has received the call notification signal from the router 1 (step S <b> 4) does not notify the user 34 via the telephone 33 of the announcement prompting the user to set the urgency level. Announcement prompting message message is notified (step S21). That is, the router function control unit 55 of the router 3 notifies the user 33 of the telephone 33 via the voice conversion control unit 59 and the telephone connection unit 62 of an announcement that prompts a message message to be transmitted to the user 14.

  The user 34 who has received the announcement notification transmits a message message via the telephone 33. This message message is converted into voice data by the voice conversion control unit 59 via the telephone connection unit 62 of the router 3 and input to the router function control unit 55 (step S22).

  Then, a telephone number and a voice data signal of a message message (hereinafter referred to as “message voice data signal”) are transmitted from the router function control unit 55 of the router 3 to the router 1 (step S23).

  Next, the router 1 that has received the message voice data signal collates the telephone number with the name in the address book storage unit 54 (step S8). And if it is a telephone number registered in the address book memory | storage part 54, it will convert into a registrant name, and if it is not registered, a telephone number will be left as it is. Then, the registrant name or telephone number is stored in the data storage unit 58 (step S9).

  Next, the message voice data signal and registrant name or telephone number data stored in the data storage unit 58 are converted into voice by the voice conversion control unit 57 and notified to the user 14 from the speaker 53 (step S31).

  As described above, according to the third embodiment of the present invention, a message message from the user 34 of the router 3 can be notified to the user 14 of the router 1 by voice.

  Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. The fourth embodiment relates to another example of the router device. FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the fourth embodiment of the present invention. This figure shows the configuration of the routers 1a, 2a, 3a. The routers 1a, 2a, 3a differ from the routers 1, 2, 3 shown in FIG. 2 in that the speaker 53 and the voice conversion control unit 57 shown in FIG. 2 are deleted and a display 71 is provided instead. . Other configurations are the same as those of the routers 1, 2, and 3 shown in FIG.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the fourth embodiment of the present invention. The operation of the fourth embodiment differs from the operation of the second embodiment (see FIG. 3) in that step S10 described in FIG. 3 is deleted and step S81 is added instead. Since other steps are the same as those in FIG. 3, the description of the same parts is omitted.

  Unlike the routers 1, 2, and 3 of the second and third embodiments, the routers 1 a, 2 a, and 3 a of the fourth embodiment are equipped with a display 71 instead of the speaker 53 and the voice conversion control unit 57. The urgency level and the name or telephone number of the user 34 are displayed on the display 71 (see step S81 in FIG. 6).

  As described above, according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, the urgency level and the name or telephone number of the user 34 can be displayed on the display 71 of the router device 1 of the user 14 in real time.

  Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described. The fifth embodiment relates to a program for a call control method in a router device. As described above, the router device according to the present invention includes the router function control unit 55 and the program storage unit 56 (see FIGS. 2 and 5).

  The router function control unit 55 (“computer”) controls each of the information terminal connection unit 51, the Internet network connection unit 52, the address book storage unit 54, the voice conversion control unit 59, the tone control unit 60, and the call state storage unit 61. . The program storage unit 56 stores a call control method program in the router apparatus shown in the flowcharts of FIGS.

  The router function control unit 55 reads the program from the program storage unit 56 and controls each unit according to the program. Since the contents of the control have already been described, description thereof is omitted here.

  As described above, according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention, when a call is in progress between two parties, a third party can notify one of the two parties of information on the degree of urgency. It is possible to obtain a program for a call control method capable of accurately determining whether or not to stop a telephone call during a call and make a call with a third party on the information receiving side.

  A part or all of the above-described embodiment can be described as in the following supplementary notes, but is not limited thereto.

(Supplementary note 1) A call control method for a router device, wherein the telephone number or user name of the telephone connected to the other router and information on the urgency level are converted into voice by the own router and output.

(Additional remark 2) The telephone number of the telephone connected to the other party router or the information regarding the user name and the urgency is displayed on the display by the own router, the call control method of the router device,

(Supplementary note 3) The call control method for a router device according to supplementary note 1 or 2, wherein the information on the urgency level is information for displaying a level of the urgency level.

(Supplementary note 4) The router device call control method according to supplementary note 1 or 2, wherein the information on the urgency level is user's message voice data on the urgency level.

(Supplementary Note 5) A communication system characterized in that the telephone number or user name of the telephone connected to the third router or information on the urgency is converted into voice by the first router and output.

(Additional remark 6) The information regarding the telephone number or user name of the telephone connected to a 3rd router, and an emergency is displayed on a display in a 1st router, The communication system characterized by the above-mentioned.

(Supplementary note 7) The communication system according to supplementary note 5 or 6, wherein the information on the urgency level is information indicating a level of the urgency level.

(Supplementary note 8) The communication system according to supplementary note 5 or 6, wherein the information related to the urgency level is message voice data of the user related to the urgency level.

(Supplementary note 9) In the router computer,
When a communication request signal transmitted from the other router is received via the network, and the telephone connected to the own router and the telephone connected to the third router are busy, a call is made to the other router. When a medium notification signal is transmitted and information on urgency is received from the other router, the telephone number or user name of the telephone connected to the other router and information on the urgency are output from the own router. A call control method program for executing a router function control step.

(Additional remark 10) The telephone number or user name of the telephone connected to the said other party router, and the information regarding the said urgency level are converted into a voice | voice by the local router, and are output, The telephone call of Additional remark 9 characterized by the above-mentioned Control method program.

(Additional remark 11) The telephone number or user name of the telephone connected to the said other party router, and the information regarding the said urgency level are displayed on a display in an own router, The call control method of Additional remark 9 characterized by the above-mentioned program.

(Supplementary note 12) The program for a call control method according to any one of Supplementary notes 9 to 11, wherein the information on the urgency level is information for displaying a level of the urgency level.

(Additional remark 13) The program of the call control method in any one of Additional remarks 9 to 11 characterized by the information regarding the said urgency being the message voice data of the user regarding the said urgency.

  The present invention can be mainly applied to the information communication field.

1, 2, 3 Router device 13, 23, 33 Telephone 11, 21, 31 Line termination device
41 network
51 Information terminal connection
52 Internet network connection
53 Speaker
54 Address book storage
55 Router function controller
56 Program storage
57 Voice conversion control unit
58 Data storage
59 Voice conversion controller
60 Tone controller
61 Call state storage
62 Telephone connection
71 display

Claims (10)

  A router function for transmitting a communication request signal to the other router via the network when starting a call, and returning information on the degree of urgency to the other router when the call notification signal is received from the other router. A router apparatus comprising a control unit.   When a communication request signal transmitted from the other router is received via the network, and the telephone connected to the own router and the telephone connected to the third router are busy, a call is made to the other router. When a medium notification signal is transmitted and information on urgency is received from the other router, the telephone number or user name of the telephone connected to the other router and information on the urgency are output from the own router. A router device comprising a router function control unit.   3. The router device according to claim 2, wherein the telephone number or user name of the telephone connected to the other router and the information on the urgency level are converted into voice by the own router and output.   3. The router device according to claim 2, wherein the telephone number or user name of the telephone connected to the other router and information on the urgency level are displayed on a display by the own router.   The router device according to claim 1, wherein the information on the urgency level is information that displays a level of urgency level.   The router device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the information about the urgency level is message voice data of the user regarding the urgency level.   A router function for transmitting a communication request signal to the other router via the network when starting a call, and returning information on the degree of urgency to the other router when the call notification signal is received from the other router. A call control method for a router apparatus, comprising a control step.   When a communication request signal transmitted from the other router is received via the network, and the telephone connected to the own router and the telephone connected to the third router are busy, a call is made to the other router. When a medium notification signal is transmitted and information on urgency is received from the other router, the telephone number or user name of the telephone connected to the other router and information on the urgency are output from the own router. A router call control method comprising a router function control step. A router function for transmitting a communication request signal to the first router via the network when starting a call, and transmitting information on the degree of urgency to the first router when the call notification signal is received from the first router. A third router device including a control unit;
When a communication request signal transmitted from the third router is received via a network, and the telephone connected to the own router and the telephone connected to the second router are busy, a call is made to the third router. When a medium notification signal is transmitted and information on urgency is received from the third router, the telephone number or user name of the telephone connected to the third router and information on the urgency are output from the own router. A first router device including a router function control unit;
A communication system comprising: To the router computer,
A router function for transmitting a communication request signal to the other router via the network when starting a call, and returning information on the degree of urgency to the other router when the call notification signal is received from the other router. A program of a call control method for executing a control step.

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