JP2012209785A - Communication control device, communication system, and communication method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a communication control device, a communication control system, and a communication control method that are able to have extension communication easily performed between a first communication terminal and a second communication terminal without providing a SIP server separately outside of a base.SOLUTION: A communication control device 11 is provided with a first virtual terminal 33 and a second virtual terminal 34. The first virtual terminal 33 is assigned a SIP URI effective in an IP network under control of the communication control device 11. The second virtual terminal 34 is assigned a SIP URI effective in an IP network under control of the communication control device 11. A call control device 31 performs call control communication between a communication terminal 13 and the first virtual terminal 33 to establish a session (S59). A communication control device 16 performs call control communication between a communication terminal 20 and the second virtual terminal 34 to establish a session (S77). The first virtual terminal 33 and the second virtual terminal 34 relay transfer telephone call data received via a session at one side to a session at the other side.

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication control device, a communication system, and a communication method for controlling communication between communication terminals.

  A technique for constructing an extension communication system using an IP network by providing a SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) server in a base is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The SIP server performs call control between communication terminals (such as IP telephones) connected to the IP network in the base. Thus, the communication terminal can start extension communication with other communication terminals in the base.

JP 2008-48180 A

  However, in the above-described technology, in order for the first communication terminal in one base to perform extension communication with the second communication terminal in another base, it is necessary to separately provide a SIP server outside the base. There is.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a communication control device, a communication system, and a communication capable of easily performing extension communication between the first communication terminal and the second communication terminal without separately providing a SIP server outside the base. It is to provide a method.

  The communication control device according to the first aspect of the present invention is a communication control device capable of communicating with other communication control devices and performing call control between communication terminals connected to a subordinate first network, Of the address information determined based on the first address format that is the address format that is the target of call control in the communication control device, the first address information that is not used in the first network and the other communication control Of the address information determined based on the second address format, which is the address format targeted for call control in the device, second address information that is not used in the second network under the control of the other communication control device; Is a communication control device provided with storage means stored in association with at least one control unit and at least one command storing instructions to the control unit A first accepting step of accepting a request to start communication from a first communication terminal which is a communication terminal connected to the first network by executing the command; When the request is accepted in one accepting step, a first session is established between the virtual first virtual terminal having the first address information stored in the storage means and the first communication terminal. A first establishment step, a virtual second virtual terminal having the second address information stored in the storage means, and a second communication terminal that is a communication terminal connected to the second network. A request step for requesting establishment of a second session to the other communication control device, and in response to a request in the request step, the second virtual terminal and the second communication terminal The call control is performed in the other communication control device, so that the second session is established, and the first communication terminal and the first virtual terminal are connected via the first session. Relaying data communicated between the second virtual terminal and the second communication terminal via the second session to relay the first communication terminal and the second And a relay step for relaying communication with the communication terminal.

  According to the first aspect, the communication control device can establish a first session between the first communication terminal and the first virtual terminal. Another communication control apparatus can establish a second session between the second virtual terminal and the second communication terminal. The communication control device can relay communication via the first session and communication via the second session by relaying data between the first virtual terminal and the second virtual terminal. The communication control device can execute communication between the first communication terminal and the second communication terminal by relaying communication.

  In the first aspect, the communication control device sends a request for starting communication with the second communication terminal from the first communication terminal via the first session established in the first establishment step. A second receiving step is further executed, and the requesting step establishes the second session to the other communication control device when the request is received in the first receiving step and the second receiving step. May be requested. The communication control apparatus can establish the second session after establishing the first session. Thus, the communication control apparatus can establish a session efficiently by establishing a session in steps. The communication control device can quickly start communication between the first communication terminal and the second communication terminal with fewer communication procedures.

  In the first aspect, the communication control device further executes a notification step of notifying the first communication terminal of the ID of the second communication terminal capable of communication to the first communication terminal via the first session. When executing the step, a request to start communication with the second communication terminal having the ID selected in the first communication terminal among the IDs notified in the notification step may be accepted. . The first communication terminal can recognize the ID of the second communication terminal connected to the second network by receiving a notification from the communication control device. The first communication terminal can select the ID of the second communication terminal that desires communication from the notified ID. The communication control device causes communication between the first communication terminal and the second communication terminal desired by the first communication terminal even when the ID of the second communication terminal is not known in advance in the first communication terminal. be able to.

  In the first aspect, when the communication control device executes the first reception step, the communication control device receives an ID of the second communication terminal that is a request destination of the second session requested in the request step, and the request When executing the step, the establishment of the second session between the second communication terminal having the ID received in the first reception step and the second virtual terminal is made to the other communication control device. You may request it. The communication control device can quickly establish the first session and the second session with fewer communication procedures, and can start communication between the first communication terminal and the second communication terminal.

  The communication system according to the second aspect of the present invention is a communication system including a first communication control device and a second communication control device which are communication control devices, wherein the first communication control device includes at least one control. And a communication terminal that is connected to the first network under the control of the first communication control device when the command is executed. A first receiving step for receiving a request to start communication from the first communication terminal, and an address that is subject to call control in the first communication control device when the request is received in the first receiving step Of the address information determined based on the first address format, the first address information not used in the first network and the second communication control Of the address information determined based on the second address format, which is the address format targeted for call control in the device, second address information that is not used in the second network under the control of the second communication control device A first establishment step for establishing a first session between the virtual first virtual terminal having the first address information stored in the storage means stored in association with the first communication terminal, and Establishing a second session between a virtual second virtual terminal having the second address information stored in the storage means and a second communication terminal that is a communication terminal connected to the second network, A request step for requesting the second communication control device, and call control between the second virtual terminal and the second communication terminal is performed in response to the request in the request step. A second establishment step in which the second session is established by being performed in the control device; data communicated between the first communication terminal and the first virtual terminal via the first session; By relaying data communicated between the second virtual terminal and the second communication terminal via the second session, communication between the first communication terminal and the second communication terminal is performed. The second communication control device includes at least one control unit and at least one memory storing a command to the control unit, and the command is executed. A second receiving step for receiving a request for establishing the second session between the second virtual terminal and the second communication terminal, and the request is received in the second receiving step. If so, a third establishment step of establishing the second session is executed. According to the 2nd aspect, there can exist an effect similar to a 1st aspect.

  A communication method according to a third aspect of the present invention includes a first reception step of receiving a request to start communication from a first communication terminal that is a communication terminal connected to a first network under the control of a communication control device; Of the address information determined based on the first address format, which is the address format that is the target of call control in the communication control device, when the request is received in the first receiving step, within the first network Of the address information determined based on the first address information that is not used and the second address format that is the address format that is the target of call control in the other communication control device, the other communication control device The first address information stored in the storage means in which second address information that is not used in the subordinate second network is stored in association with it A first establishing step for establishing a first session between the virtual first virtual terminal and the first communication terminal, and a virtual second having the second address information stored in the storage means. A request step for requesting the other communication control device to establish a second session between a virtual terminal and a second communication terminal that is a communication terminal connected to the second network, and a request in the request step And a second establishing step in which the second session is established by performing call control between the second virtual terminal and the second communication terminal in the other communication control device, and the first Data communicated between the first communication terminal and the first virtual terminal via a session, and communication between the second virtual terminal and the second communication terminal via the second session. That by relaying the data, and a relay step of relaying the communication between the second communication terminal and the first communication terminal. According to the 3rd aspect, there can exist an effect similar to a 1st aspect.

1 is a schematic diagram showing an outline of a communication system 1. FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the communication performed between the communication terminal 12 and the virtual terminal 32. FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the communication performed between the communication terminal 17 and the virtual terminal 32. FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the communication performed between the communication terminal 12 and the communication terminal 17. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the communication control device 10. FIG. It is a sequence diagram which shows the communication performed between the communication terminal 13 and the communication terminal 20. FIG. It is a sequence diagram which shows the communication performed between the communication terminal 13 and the communication terminal 20. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a registration table 241 stored in the communication control device 11. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a registration table 242 stored in the communication control device 16. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows a 1st main process. It is a flowchart which shows a 1st calling party process. FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a first calling party process, which is a continuation of FIG. 11. It is a flowchart which shows a 1st called party process. FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the first called party processing, which is a continuation of FIG. 13. It is a flowchart which shows a 2nd main process. It is a flowchart which shows a 2nd calling party process. It is a flowchart which shows call control processing. It is a flowchart which shows a 1st virtual process. It is a flowchart which shows a 2nd virtual process. It is a flowchart which shows a 2nd called party process.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. These drawings are used to explain technical features that can be adopted by the present invention. The configuration of the apparatus, the flowcharts of various processes, and the like that are described are not intended to be limited to only that, but are merely illustrative examples.

  The outline of the communication system 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The communication system 1 includes communication control devices 11 and 16 and communication terminals 13, 14, 15, 18, 19, and 20. The communication control devices 11 and 16 are connected via the IP network 2 and the telephone network 5. The IP network 2 is a communication network in which communication is performed based on TCP / IP. The telephone network 5 is a communication network in which telephone lines are connected by an exchange. The telephone network 5 includes a fixed telephone network 3 and a mobile telephone network 4.

  The communication control device 11 and the communication terminals 13, 14, 15 are connected to the IP network 6. The communication control device 11 can communicate with the communication terminals 13, 14, 15 via the IP network 6. The communication control device 16 and the communication terminals 18, 19, 20 are connected to the IP network 7. The communication control device 16 can communicate with the communication terminals 18, 19, and 20 via the IP network 7. Hereinafter, when the communication control devices 11 and 16 are not particularly distinguished or collectively referred to, they are also referred to as the communication control device 10. When the communication terminals 13, 14, 15 are not particularly distinguished or collectively referred to, they are referred to as communication terminals 12. When the communication terminals 18, 19, 20 are not particularly distinguished or collectively referred to, these are also referred to as communication terminals 17.

  The communication control device 11 is also a SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) server that performs call control communication with the communication terminal 12. The communication terminal 12 is a known information terminal device such as a PC or PDA. Extension telephone numbers 1, 2, and 3 are assigned to the communication terminals 13, 14, and 15, respectively. When the communication terminal 12 starts a call with another communication terminal 12, call control communication based on SIP is performed between the communication control device 11 and the communication terminal 12. A session between the communication terminal 12 and another communication terminal 12 is established by call control communication. The communication terminal 12 can make a call with another communication terminal 12 through the established session. Thus, an extension communication system in which the communication control device 11 manages call control is constructed in the IP network 6.

  The IP network 6 is assigned a domain name of brother.com. The communication terminal 12 is assigned a SIP URI having an extension telephone number as a user identifier. For example, since the extension telephone number of the communication terminal 13 is 1, the SIP URI assigned to the communication terminal 13 is 1@brother.com. Since the extension telephone number of the communication terminal 14 is 2, the SIP URI assigned to the communication terminal 14 is 2@brother.com. In the IP network 6, the SIP URI assigned to the communication terminal 12 is used as address information of the communication terminal 12.

  In the communication control device 11, an IP address and an extension telephone number held by the communication terminal 12 capable of performing call control communication are registered. The communication control device 11 specifies the SIP URI of the communication terminal 12 based on the registered extension telephone number, and performs call control communication with the communication terminal 12. In FIG. 1, call control communication can be performed between the communication terminals 13 (extension telephone number: 1), 14 (extension telephone number: 2), and 15 (extension telephone number: 3). In the communication control device 11, extension telephone numbers 1, 2, and 3 and IP addresses of the communication terminals 13, 14, and 15 are registered.

  Similarly, call control communication based on SIP is performed between the communication control device 16 and the communication terminal 17. In the IP network 7, an extension communication system is constructed in which the communication control device 16 manages call control. The IP network 7 is assigned a domain name of sister.com. The communication terminal 17 is assigned a SIP URI having an extension telephone number as a user identifier. For example, since the extension telephone number of the communication terminal 19 is 2, the SIP URI assigned to the communication terminal 19 is 2@sister.com. Since the extension telephone number of the communication terminal 20 is 3, the SIP URI assigned to the communication terminal 20 is 3@sister.com. In the communication control device 16, an IP address and an extension telephone number held by the communication terminal 17 capable of performing call control communication are registered. The communication control device 16 specifies the SIP URI of the communication terminal 17 based on the registered extension telephone number, and performs call control communication with the communication terminal 17. In FIG. 1, call control communication can be performed between the communication terminals 18 (extension telephone number: 1), 19 (extension telephone number: 2), and 20 (extension telephone number: 3). In the communication control device 16, the extension telephone numbers 1, 2, and 3 and the IP addresses of the communication terminals 18, 19, and 20 are registered.

  The communication control apparatus 11 establishes a session between the communication terminals 12 connected to the IP network 6 by performing call control communication with the communication terminal 12 to which the SIP URI having the domain name brother.com is assigned. Can be made. The communication control device 11 does not perform call control communication with the communication terminal 17 to which the SIP URI whose domain name is sister.com is assigned. For this reason, the communication control device 11 does not perform call control communication with the communication terminal 17 connected to the IP network 7. Similarly, the communication control device 16 performs call control communication with the communication terminal 17 to which the SIP URI having the domain name of sister.com is assigned, and therefore, with the communication terminal 12 connected to the IP network 6. Does not perform call control communication. Therefore, when establishing a session between the communication terminals 12 and 17, call control communication is normally performed by another SIP server provided in the IP network 2 or a circuit switch provided in the telephone network 5. However, in such a case, it is necessary to provide another SIP server, and it is inconvenient because the communication terminal of the other party of the call cannot be directly designated by the extension telephone number.

  On the other hand, in the present invention, a virtual communication terminal 32 (see FIG. 2) is set in the communication control device 11. Hereinafter, a virtual communication terminal set in the communication control apparatus 10 is also referred to as a virtual terminal. The set virtual terminal 32 is assigned a SIP URI whose domain name is brother.com and a SIP URI whose domain name is sister.com. For this reason, when the SIP URI having the domain name brother.com is used in the virtual terminal 32, the communication control apparatus 11 can establish a session between the communication terminal 12 and the virtual terminal 32. Further, the SIP URI whose domain name is sister.com is used in the virtual terminal 32, whereby the communication control device 16 can establish a session between the communication terminal 17 and the virtual terminal 32. In this way, the communication control apparatus 11 sets a session with the communication terminal 12 connected to the IP network 6 and a session with the communication terminal 17 connected to the IP network 7 by setting the virtual terminal 32. Can be established. Further, in the present invention, the virtual terminal 32 can relay call data between sessions after both sessions are established. As a result, it is possible to execute a call between the communication terminal 12 and the communication terminal 17.

  With reference to FIG. 2 to FIG. 4, a flow until a call between the communication terminals 12 and 17 is started will be described in detail. First, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the communication control device 11 virtually provides a virtual terminal 32 inside. The call control device 31 is shown as a device that executes a process for realizing a call control function in the communication control device 11, and is always installed regardless of the presence or absence of the virtual terminal 32. The call control device 31 can perform call control communication with the communication terminal 12 to which the SIP URI including the domain name brother.com is assigned. The virtual terminal 32 executes a process for establishing a session with the communication terminal 12 and a session with the communication terminal 17. The virtual terminal 32 also executes a process for relaying call data between both sessions. The virtual terminal 32 is assigned 1000 @ brother and 500@sister.com as SIP URIs. Hereinafter, the SIP URI assigned to the virtual terminal 32 is also referred to as a virtual account. By assigning 1000 @ brother and 500@sister.com as virtual accounts to the virtual terminal 32, a SIP URI valid in the IP network 6 and a SIP URI valid in the IP network 7 are set in the virtual terminal 32. It will be done.

  Note that the call control device 31 and the virtual terminal 32 in FIGS. 2 to 4 are shown in a simulated manner in order to clarify the processing inside the communication control device 11. Actually, a process for realizing the functions of the call control device 31 and the virtual terminal 32 is started and executed in the communication control device 11. The call control device 31 and the virtual terminal 32 are not provided in the communication control device 11 as physical devices.

  The user identifier 1000 is extracted as an extension telephone number from 1000@brother.com valid in the IP network 6 in the SIP URI of the virtual terminal 32. The extension telephone number 1000 is registered in the call control device 31. As a result, the call control device 31 can perform call control communication between the communication terminal 12 and the virtual terminal 32. A user identifier 500 is extracted as an extension telephone number 500 from 500@sister.com valid in the IP network 7 in the SIP URI of the virtual terminal 32. The extension telephone number 500 is registered in the communication control device 16. As a result, the communication control device 16 can perform call control communication between the communication terminal 17 and the virtual terminal 32. As a result, the virtual terminal 32 can establish a session with the communication terminal 12 in the IP network 6 and can establish a session with the communication terminal 17 in the IP network 7.

  A case is assumed where a call is started between the communication terminal 13 and the communication terminal 20. The communication terminal 13 requests the communication control device 11 to start a call with any of the communication terminals 17 connected to the IP network 7. The call control device 31 performs call control communication between the communication terminal 13 and the virtual terminal 32 when the communication terminal 17 connected to the IP network 7 is designated as the other party of the call. As shown in FIG. 2, a session 35 between the communication terminal 13 and the virtual terminal 32 is established.

  Subsequently, in response to a notification request from the virtual terminal 32 by an automatic voice response function (IVR (Interactive Voice Response)), the communication terminal 13 specifically designates the communication terminal 20 of the other party of the call, and sends it to the communication control device 11. Assume that the start of a call is requested. The call control device 31 notifies the virtual terminal 32 that the start of a call with the communication terminal 20 is requested. The virtual terminal 32 requests the communication control device 16 to establish a session with the communication terminal 20 via the IP network 2. The communication control device 16 performs call control communication between the virtual terminal 32 and the communication terminal 20. As shown in FIG. 3, a session 36 between the communication terminal 20 and the virtual terminal 32 is established. The virtual terminal 32 is in a state where a session 35 (see FIG. 1) with the communication terminal 13 is established and a session 36 with the communication terminal 20 is established.

  When the session 35 and the session 36 are established, the virtual terminal 32 performs mediation processing between both sessions. As illustrated in FIG. 4, when the virtual terminal 32 receives call data from the communication terminal 13 via the session 35, the virtual terminal 32 transfers the received call data to the session 36 side. When the virtual terminal 32 receives call data from the communication terminal 20 via the session 36, the virtual terminal 32 transfers the received call data to the session 35 side. The call data is relayed between the sessions 35 and 36 by the virtual terminal 32 (37). As the call data mediation process is executed in the virtual terminal 32, the call data is transmitted and received between the communication terminals 13 and 20 via the sessions 35 and 36. As a result, a call is executed between the communication terminal 13 and the communication terminal 20. As described above, the virtual terminal 32 to which the virtual account is assigned is virtually provided in the communication control apparatus 11, so that a call can be executed between the communication terminals 12 and 17 connected to different IP networks. .

  The electrical configuration of the communication control device 10 will be described with reference to FIG. The communication control device 10 includes a CPU 21 that controls the communication control device 10. The CPU 21 is electrically connected to the ROM 22, RAM 23, HDD 24, first communication I / F 25, second communication I / F 26, third communication I / F 27, and drive device 28. The ROM 22 stores a boot program, BIOS, and the like. The RAM 23 stores a timer, a counter, and temporary data. The HDD 24 stores a control program for the CPU 21 and an OS. The first communication I / F 25 is a controller for performing communication via the IP networks 2, 6, and 7. The second communication I / F 26 is a controller for performing communication via the fixed telephone network 3. The third communication I / F 27 is a controller for performing communication via the mobile telephone network 4. The drive device 28 can read information stored in the storage medium 281. For example, when the communication control device 10 is set up, the control program stored in the storage medium 281 is read by the drive device 28 and stored in the HDD 24.

  With reference to FIG.6 and FIG.7, the communication procedure between the communication control apparatuses 11 and 16 and the communication terminals 13 and 20 is demonstrated. It is assumed that the communication terminal 13 desires a call with the communication terminal 20 connected to the IP network 7. Note that the communication terminal 13 does not recognize the extension telephone number of the communication terminal 20. The communication terminal 20 is connected to an IP network 7 different from the IP network 6. Therefore, the communication terminal 13 must cause the communication control device 11 to set the call control device 31 (see FIG. 2) and the virtual terminal 32 (see FIG. 2) in order to start a call with the communication terminal 20. In addition, since the process executed in the call control device 31 always operates regardless of the presence or absence of the virtual terminal 32, the virtual terminal 32 is newly provided here.

  The communication terminal 13 transmits a request signal for setting the virtual terminal 32 to the communication control apparatus 11. Hereinafter, the request signal for setting the virtual terminal 32 is also referred to as a setting request signal. The communication control device 11 receives the setting request signal (S11). The communication control apparatus 11 performs the following communication with the communication control apparatus 16 that manages call control of the communication terminal 20 and requests the communication control apparatus 16 to generate a virtual account. The communication control device 11 acquires the virtual account generated by the communication control device 16 in response to the request and assigns it to the virtual terminal 32. The communication control device 11 can assign a SIP URI including an extension telephone number that can be used in the IP network 7 to the virtual terminal 32 as a virtual account by causing the communication control device 16 to generate a virtual account. .

  The communication control device 11 transmits a signal requesting connection of a telephone line with the communication control device 16 to the telephone number of the communication control device 16 via the telephone network 5. Hereinafter, a signal for requesting connection of a telephone line is also referred to as a connection request signal. The communication control device 16 receives the connection request signal (S13). The communication control device 16 responds to the connection request signal by going off-hook (S15). A response signal for permitting connection of the telephone line is transmitted from the communication control device 16 to the communication control device 11. Hereinafter, a response signal for permitting connection of a telephone line is also referred to as a connection response signal. The communication control device 11 receives the connection response signal (S17). As a result, the telephone line between the communication control device 11 and the communication terminal 12 is connected. Communication via the connected telephone line is started.

  First, the communication device controller 16 automatically transmits predetermined voice data to the communication controller 11 using IVR. The predetermined voice is for notifying the communication control device 11 that the communication control device 16 responds to the virtual account generation request. The communication control device 11 receives predetermined voice data (S19). The received predetermined voice is transmitted to the communication terminal 13 (S20). The communication terminal 13 outputs predetermined sound from the speaker.

  The communication control device 11 prepares information to be notified to the communication control device 16. The information notified to the communication control device 16 is an IP address and an extension telephone number that can be assigned to the virtual terminal 32. First, the communication control apparatus 11 acquires an IP address used as address information of a transmission source when performing communication via the IP network 2. Next, the communication control device 11 specifies an extension telephone number that can be assigned to the virtual terminal 32 based on the registration table 241 (see FIG. 8). The registration table 241 will be described with reference to FIG. The registration table 241 is stored in the HDD 24 of the communication control device 11. The registration table 241 stores an extension telephone number 1-1200 that can be managed by the communication control device 11. The extension telephone number is an extension telephone number (for allocation) 1-699 that can be allocated to the communication terminal 12 connected to the IP network 6, and an extension telephone number (for virtual) 700- that can be allocated to the virtual terminal 32. It is distinguished from 1200. The communication control apparatus 11 can acquire 700-1200 as an extension telephone number that can be assigned to the virtual terminal 32. Hereinafter, the extension telephone number that can be assigned to the virtual terminal 32 is also referred to as an allowable number.

  As shown in FIG. 8, in the registration table 241, the extension telephone numbers 1, 2, and 3 of the communication terminals 13, 14, and 15 capable of performing the call control communication are registered. Registration in the registration table 241 is performed by associating the extension telephone numbers 1, 2, and 3 to be registered with an ID, a password (PW), and an IP address. By associating the ID, password, and IP address, the corresponding extension telephone number is registered in the registration table 241. The communication control device 11 can perform call control communication between the communication terminals 12 by using the extension telephone number, ID, password, and IP address registered in the registration table 241. In FIG. 8, an ID, a password, and an IP address are associated with the extension telephone number 1000, but these pieces of information are stored in the registration table 241 by processing (S39) described later. Therefore, at this time, the extension telephone number 1000 is not associated with the ID, password, and IP address information.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the communication control device 11 performs communication control for requesting generation of a virtual account using a DTMF (Dual-Tone Multi-Frequency) signal that notifies the acquired IP address and the allowable number 700-1200. Transmit to device 16. Hereinafter, a DTMF signal that is transmitted to request generation of a virtual account and is used to notify an IP address and an allowable number is also referred to as a generation request signal. The communication control device 16 receives the generation request signal (S21). The communication control device 16 acquires the IP address and the allowable number of the communication control device 11.

  The communication control device 16 determines whether or not to generate a virtual account in response to the generation request signal (S23). The determination as to whether or not to create a virtual account is made based on a permission table that stores the telephone number of the communication control apparatus 10 that permits the generation of a virtual account. The communication control device 16 specifies the telephone number of the transmission source of the received generation request signal. If the identified telephone number is stored in the permission table, the communication control device 16 determines to generate a virtual account. On the other hand, if the specified telephone number is not stored in the permission table, the communication control device 16 determines not to create a virtual account.

  The communication control device 16 transmits to the communication control device 11 a DTMF signal that notifies the determination result of whether or not to generate a virtual account. Hereinafter, the DTMF signal for notifying the determination result is also referred to as a determination result signal. The communication control device 11 receives the determination result signal (S25). The communication control device 11 transmits a DTMF signal notifying that the determination result signal has been received to the communication control device 16. Hereinafter, the DTMF signal notifying that a signal has been received is also referred to as an ACK signal. The communication control device 16 receives the ACK signal (S27).

  When receiving the ACK signal from the communication control device 11, the communication control device 16 disconnects the connected telephone line by on-hooking (S29). A signal to notify the disconnection of the telephone line is transmitted from the communication control device 16 to the communication control device 11. Hereinafter, a signal to notify the disconnection of the telephone line is referred to as a disconnection notification signal. The communication control device 11 receives the disconnection notification signal (S31). The telephone line between the communication control device 11 and the communication control device 16 is disconnected.

  As described above, the communication control apparatus 11 connects the telephone line with the communication control apparatus 16 and transmits a generation request signal via the connected telephone line. Even if the IP address of the communication control device 16 is not known, the communication control device 11 can transmit a generation request signal to the communication control device 16 by using the telephone number of the communication control device 16. When the IP network 2 is used instead of the telephone network 5, the packet may disappear in the IP network 2, or the packet may be filtered by a NAT device interposed in the IP network 2. In contrast, the communication control apparatus 11 can reliably request the communication control apparatus 16 to generate a virtual account by transmitting a generation request signal using the telephone network 5.

  Further, the communication control device 11 can connect a telephone line only when transmitting a generation request signal to the communication control device 16. After transmission of the generation request signal, the telephone line is immediately disconnected. Accordingly, the communication control device 11 can suppress the line usage fee that is generated when the telephone network is used.

  After the disconnection notification signal is transmitted in S31, the communication control device 16 prepares information to be notified to the communication control device 11. Information notified to the communication control apparatus 11 is an IP address and a virtual account. First, the communication control device 16 acquires an IP address used as address information of a transmission source when performing communication via the IP network 2.

  Next, the communication control device 16 specifies the SIP URI including the domain name brother.com assigned to the IP network 6 among the virtual accounts assigned to the virtual terminal 32 as follows. Reference is made to the allowable number 700-1200 acquired when the generation request signal is received in S21. Any one of the allowable numbers 700-1200 is selected. A SIP URI having the selected extension telephone number as a user identifier and having the domain name brother.com assigned to the IP network 6 is specified. In FIG. 6, 1000@brother.com is specified as the SIP URI as a result of selecting the allowable numbers 700 to 1200 from 1000.

  Next, the communication control device 16 specifies the SIP URI including the domain name sister.com assigned to the IP network 7 among the virtual accounts assigned to the virtual terminal 32 as follows. A registration table 242 (see FIG. 9) stored in the HDD 24 of the communication control device 16 is referred to. FIG. 9 shows the registration table 242. The registration table 242 shows extension telephone numbers 1-199 that can be assigned to the communication terminals 17 connected to the IP network 7 and extension telephone numbers 200-800 that can be assigned to the virtual terminals 32. One of the extension telephone numbers 200-800 that can be assigned to the virtual terminal 32 is selected. A SIP URI having the selected extension telephone number as a user identifier and having the domain name sister.com assigned to the IP network 7 is specified. In FIG. 6, as a result of the selection of the extension telephone number 500, 500@sister.com is specified as the SIP URI. 1000@brother.com and 500@sister.com are created as virtual accounts.

  Among the virtual accounts, SIP URI 500@sister.com is registered in the registration table 242 (S32). Registration in the registration table 242 is performed as follows. An ID and a password corresponding to SIP URI 500@sister.com are created. The created ID and password are associated with the extension telephone number specified by the user identifier 500. In FIG. 8, the extension telephone number 500 is associated with ID saitoh and password xxxxxx. In FIG. 9, the IP address is associated with the extension telephone number 500, but this information is associated with the processing (S43) described later. Therefore, at this time, the IP address information is not associated with the extension telephone number 500.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the communication control device 16 uses the acquired IP address and the generated virtual account (1000@brother.com, 500@sister.com (including ID and password)) as a communication control device. 11, communication via the IP network 2 is started. The communication control device 16 transmits a packet including the IP address and the virtual account to the communication control device 11. Hereinafter, a packet including an IP address and a virtual account is referred to as a virtual account packet. The communication control device 16 can set the IP address acquired when the generation request signal is received in S21 as the destination IP address of the virtual account packet. The communication control device 16 can reliably execute communication with the communication control device 11 even when the IP address of the communication control device 11 is not known in advance. The communication control device 11 receives the virtual account packet (S33). The communication control device 11 transmits an ACK packet notifying that the virtual account packet has been received to the communication control device 16. The communication control device 16 receives the ACK packet (S35).

  In the communication control device 11, after receiving the virtual account packet, the virtual terminal 32 is virtually set (S37). The virtual accounts 1000@brother.com and 500@sister.com received in S35 are assigned to the set virtual terminal 32. The user identifiers of the virtual accounts 1000@brother.com and 500@sister.com assigned to the virtual terminal 32 are registered in the registration table 241 (see FIG. 8) as the extension telephone number of the virtual terminal 32 (S39).

  Registration in the registration table 241 is performed as follows. An ID and password corresponding to the SIP URI 1000@brother.com having the domain name brother.com are created. The user identifier 1000 corresponds to the extension telephone number of the virtual terminal 32 used in the IP network 6. The created ID and password are associated with the extension telephone number 1000 in the registration table 241. In FIG. 8, ID suzuki and password xxxxxx are created and associated with the extension telephone number 1000.

  Next, registration of SIP URI 500@sister.com having domain name sister.com is performed. The user identifier 500 corresponds to the extension telephone number of the virtual terminal 32 used in the IP network 7. The ID and password corresponding to 500@sister.com are included in the virtual account packet. The extension telephone number 500, ID, and password are associated with the extension telephone number 1000 in the registration table 241. In FIG. 8, an extension telephone number 500, ID saitoh, and password xxxxxx are associated with the extension telephone number 1000. As a result, the user identifiers of the virtual accounts 1000@brother.com and 500@sister.com assigned to the virtual terminal 32 are registered in the registration table 241 as the extension telephone number of the virtual terminal 32.

  The virtual terminal 32 performs REGSITER processing on the call control device 31 (S40). An IP address is notified from the virtual terminal 32 to the call control device 31. As the IP address to be notified, the IP address of the communication control device 11 effective in the IP network 6 is used as it is. The notified IP address is stored in the registration table 241. In FIG. 8, the IP address aa.aa.aa.aa is stored. As a result, the communication control apparatus 11 can perform call control communication between the communication terminal 12 connected to the IP network 6 and the virtual terminal 32.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the communication control device 11 next performs REGISTER processing for the communication control device 16. Of the virtual accounts assigned to the virtual terminal 32, an IP address corresponding to the virtual account 500@sister.com valid in the IP network 7 is created. As the IP address to be created, the IP address of the communication control device 11 effective in the IP network 6 is used as it is. The created IP address is stored in association with the extension telephone number 500 in the registration table 241 (see FIG. 8). A REGSITER packet including the extension telephone number 500 and the IP address aa.aa.aa.aa is transmitted to the communication control device 16. The communication control device 16 receives the REGISTER packet (S41).

  The communication control device 16 acquires the extension telephone number 500 and the IP address aa.aa.aa.aa included in the registration request packet. As shown in FIG. 9, the IP address aa.aa.aa.aa is stored in association with the acquired extension telephone number 500 in the registration table 242 (S43). The registration table 242 stores the extension telephone number 500, ID saitoh, password xxxxxx, and IP address aa.aa.aa.aa. As a result, the communication control device 16 can perform call control communication between the communication terminal 17 connected to the IP network 7 and the virtual terminal 32.

  The communication control device 11 notifies the communication terminal 12 connected to the IP network 6 that it is possible to make a call with the communication terminal 17 connected to the IP network 7 (S45). The communication terminal 12 displays on the display that it is possible to make a call with the communication terminal 17 connected to the IP network 7, and notifies the user. The communication control device 16 notifies the communication terminal 17 connected to the IP network 7 that it is possible to make a call with the communication terminal 12 connected to the IP network 6 (S47). The communication terminal 17 displays on the display that it is possible to make a call with the communication terminal 12 connected to the IP network 6 and notifies the user.

  As described above, the communication control apparatus 11 can virtually provide the virtual terminal 32 necessary for enabling extension communication between the communication terminals 12 and 17 in the communication control apparatus 11. A virtual account that allows the communication control devices 11 and 16 to perform call control communication is assigned to the virtual terminal 32. Therefore, the communication control device 11 can perform call control communication between the communication terminals 12 and 17 without using another server or a circuit switch.

  The virtual account set for the virtual terminal 32 is generated in the communication control device 16 and notified to the communication control device 11. The communication control device 11 can cause the communication control device 16 to select a virtual account. The communication control device 16 can generate a SIP URI having an extension telephone number that is not used in the IP network 7 as a user identifier, and can notify the communication control device 11 as a virtual account. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the extension telephone number assigned to the virtual terminal 32 and the extension telephone number already used in the IP network 7 from overlapping. Therefore, the communication control device 16 can reliably perform call control communication with the virtual terminal 32.

  The communication control device 11 notifies the communication control device 16 of the allowable number, and allows the communication control device 16 to select a user identifier from the allowable number. A SIP URI with the selected user identifier is generated as a virtual account. As a result, the communication control apparatus 11 can prevent the extension telephone number assigned to the virtual terminal 32 and the extension telephone number already used in the IP network 6 from overlapping. For this reason, the communication control device 11 can reliably perform call control communication with the virtual terminal 32.

  A communication procedure after the virtual terminal 32 is set in the communication control device 11 until a call can be made between the communication terminal 13 and the communication terminal 20 will be described. In the following, the virtual terminal 32 has a first virtual terminal 33 to which a virtual account 1000@brother.com is assigned and a second virtual terminal 34 to which a virtual account 500@sister.com is assigned. To do. The first virtual terminal 33 executes a process for establishing a session with the communication terminal 12 connected to the IP network 6. The second virtual terminal 34 executes a process for establishing a session with the communication terminal 17 connected to the IP network 7.

  In the following, by expressing that packet communication is performed between the call control device 31 that is permanently installed in the communication control device 11, and the first virtual terminal 33 and the second virtual terminal 34 that are virtually provided. A state in which messages and data are exchanged between processes corresponding to the call control device 31, the first virtual terminal 33, and the second virtual terminal 34 is schematically described. Actually, all processes executed by the call control device 31, the first virtual terminal 33, and the second virtual terminal 34 are executed by the communication control device 11. Therefore, the call control device 31, the first virtual terminal 33, and the second virtual terminal 34 do not physically exist, and the packet is actually transmitted between the call control device 31, the first virtual terminal 33, and the second virtual terminal 34. Is not sent or received.

  Since the user of the communication terminal 13 is notified that the setting of the virtual terminal 32 has been completed (S45, see FIG. 6), the user of the communication terminal 13 requests to start a call with any of the communication terminals 17 connected to the IP network 7. Then, a predetermined input operation is performed. As the predetermined input operation, for example, there is an operation of inputting a “#” button three times in succession. The communication terminal 13 determines that an input operation different from the call operation for starting a call with the communication terminal 12 connected to the IP network 6 is performed by the user. When it is determined that an input operation different from the call operation is performed by the user, the communication terminal 17 connected to the IP network 7 via the call control device 31, the first virtual terminal 33, and the second virtual terminal 34. It is determined that the start of a call with is requested.

  The communication terminal 13 requests the communication control device 11 to start a call with the communication terminal 17 connected to the IP network 7. Hereinafter, a packet for requesting the start of a call with the communication terminal 17 connected to the IP network 7 is also referred to as a call request (external) packet. A call request (external) packet is transmitted from the communication terminal 13 to the communication control apparatus 11 and received by the communication control apparatus 11 (S51). The received call request (external) packet is processed in the call control device 31.

  The call control device 31 starts call control communication based on SIP. In the registration table 241 (see FIG. 8), the user identifier 1000 of the virtual account 1000@brother.com of the first virtual terminal 33 is registered as an extension telephone number (S39, see FIG. 6), and REGISTER The processing is complete (S40, see FIG. 6). Therefore, the call control device 31 is in a state in which call control communication can be performed between the communication terminal 13 and the first virtual terminal 33. When receiving a call request (external) packet from the communication terminal 13, the call control device 31 transmits an establishment request packet requesting establishment of a session to the first virtual terminal 33 (S53).

  The first virtual terminal 33 receives the establishment request packet (S53). The first virtual terminal 33 transmits a response packet corresponding to the establishment request packet to the call control device 31. The call control device 31 receives the response packet (S55). The call control device 31 transmits the received response packet to the communication terminal 13. The communication terminal 13 receives the response packet (S57). A series of call control communication for establishing a session is completed between the communication terminal 13 and the first virtual terminal 33 (S51, 53, 55, 57). A session between the communication terminal 13 and the first virtual terminal 33 is established (S59). Communication between the communication terminal 13 and the first virtual terminal 33 is possible through the established session.

  Communication via the established session is started between the communication terminal 13 and the first virtual terminal 33. The first virtual terminal 33 transmits, to the communication terminal 13 by IVR, voice data that inquires the user of the communication terminal 13 about the extension telephone number of the communication partner. For example, “Please enter the extension telephone number” is transmitted as the voice for inquiring about the extension telephone number. The voice includes a voice for notifying the extension telephone numbers 1, 2, and 3 of the communication terminals 18, 19, and 20 connected to the IP network 7. As the voice for notifying the extension telephone number, for example, “extension telephone numbers that can be called are 1, 2, and 3” are transmitted.

  The communication terminal 13 receives audio data (S61). The communication terminal 13 outputs sound from the speaker based on the received data. The user is inquired about the extension telephone number. The user is also notified of selectable extension telephone numbers. The user of the communication terminal 13 can easily recognize an extension telephone number that can be selected as a call partner by listening to the voice. Even if the user of the communication terminal 13 does not know in advance the extension telephone number that can be selected as the call partner, the user can reliably select the communication terminal 17 of the call partner and start a call. .

  The user of the communication terminal 13 inputs the extension telephone number of the other party to the communication terminal 13 in accordance with the voice output from the communication terminal 13. It is assumed that the extension telephone number 3 assigned to the communication terminal 20 is input as the extension telephone number of the communication partner. The communication terminal 13 transmits a packet for requesting the start of a call with the communication terminal 20 assigned the extension telephone number 3 among the communication terminals 17 connected to the IP network 7 through the established session. Transmit to the terminal 33. Hereinafter, a packet for requesting the start of a call with the communication terminal 17 having the extension telephone number n is referred to as a call request (n) packet. The first virtual terminal 33 receives the call request (3) packet transmitted from the communication terminal 13 via the session being established (S63). The first virtual terminal 33 determines that the start of a call with the communication terminal 20 to which the extension telephone number 3 is assigned is requested among the communication terminals 17 connected to the IP network 7. The first virtual terminal 33 transmits audio data for notifying the user of the communication terminal 13 that the call is on hold to the communication terminal 13 by IVR. For example, “Please wait for a while because it is connected” or the like is transmitted as a voice to notify that the call is on hold. The communication terminal 13 receives audio data (S67). The communication terminal 13 outputs sound from the speaker based on the received data. The user of the communication terminal 13 can recognize that the call is on hold.

  The first virtual terminal 33 requests the second virtual terminal 34 to which a virtual account 500@sister.com valid in the IP network 7 is assigned to establish a session with the communication terminal 20. The second virtual terminal 34 receives a session establishment request from the first virtual terminal 33 (S65). The second virtual terminal 34 transmits an establishment request packet for requesting establishment of a session with the communication terminal 20 to the communication control device 16 (S69). The establishment request packet is transmitted from the virtual account 500@sister.com of the second virtual terminal 34. The establishment request packet stores the SIP URI 3@sister.com of the communication terminal 20 that is the request destination.

  The communication control device 16 receives the establishment request packet transmitted from the second virtual terminal 34 (S69). In the communication control device 16, the user identifier 500 of the virtual account 500@sister.com of the second virtual terminal 34 is registered as an extension telephone number in the registration table 242 (see FIG. 9) (S32, see FIG. 6). ) And the REGISTER process is complete (see S43, FIG. 6). The communication control device 16 is in a state capable of performing call control communication with the second virtual terminal 34 having the virtual account 500@sister.com. This is because the communication control device 16 recognizes the second virtual terminal 34 as if it is located in the IP network 7. The communication control device 16 transfers the received establishment request packet to the communication terminal 20 to which SIP URI 3@sister.com is assigned. The communication terminal 20 receives the establishment request packet (S71). The communication terminal 20 notifies the user that the establishment of the session is requested by outputting a ringtone or displaying an incoming call notification on the display.

  Assume that the user of the communication terminal 20 performs an incoming call operation (such as off-hook) (S73). The communication terminal 20 transmits a response packet corresponding to the establishment request packet to the communication control device 16. The communication control device 16 receives the response packet (S74). The communication control device 16 transfers the received response packet to the second virtual terminal 34. The second virtual terminal 34 receives the response packet (S75). A series of call control communication for establishing a session is completed between the communication terminal 20 and the second virtual terminal 34 (S69, 71, 74, 75). A session between the communication terminal 13 and the second virtual terminal 34 is established (S77). Communication between the communication terminal 20 and the second virtual terminal 34 is possible via the established session. The second virtual terminal 34 notifies the first virtual terminal 33 that a session with the communication terminal 20 has been established (S79).

  The first virtual terminal 33 receives a notification from the second virtual terminal 34 that a session with the communication terminal 20 has been established. The first virtual terminal 33 transmits a notification packet notifying that a session with the communication terminal 20 has been established to the communication terminal 13 via the established session. The communication terminal 13 receives the notification packet transmitted from the first virtual terminal 33 (S83). The communication terminal 13 that has received the notification packet notifies the user of the communication terminal 13 that a call has become possible between the communication terminal 13 and the communication terminal 20.

  Since the session between the communication terminal 13 and the first virtual terminal 33 has been established (S59), the communication terminal 13 transmits the call data to the SIP URI of the first virtual terminal 33 via the established session. You can do it. The destination of the call data transmitted from the communication terminal 13 is the virtual account 1000@brother.com assigned to the first virtual terminal 33. Further, since the session between the communication terminal 20 and the second virtual terminal 34 has been established (S77), the communication terminal 20 transmits the call data to the second virtual terminal 34 via the established session. Is in a state where it can. The destination of the call data transmitted from the communication terminal 20 is the virtual account 500@sister.com assigned to the second virtual terminal 34. Therefore, in this state, the call data transmitted from the communication terminal 13 does not reach the communication terminal 20, and the call data transmitted from the communication terminal 20 does not reach the communication terminal 13.

  Therefore, by relaying the call data received from the communication terminal 13 by the first virtual terminal 33 and the call data received from the communication terminal 20 by the second virtual terminal 34, the communication between the communication terminal 13 and the communication terminal 20 is performed. A call is realized. When the first virtual terminal 33 receives the call data transmitted from the communication terminal 13 to the first virtual terminal 33 (1000@brother.com), the first virtual terminal 33 transmits the received call data to the second virtual terminal 34 (500 @ sister. com). The correspondence between the first virtual terminal 33 (1000@brother.com) and the second virtual terminal 34 (500@sister.com) when the call data is transferred is determined based on the registration table 241 (see FIG. 8). Is done. The first virtual terminal 33 can recognize the correspondence between 1000@brother.com and 500@sister.com because the extension telephone numbers 1000 and 500 are associated with each other in the registration table 241. The second virtual terminal 34 transmits the call data received from the first virtual terminal 33 to the communication terminal 20 via the established session. Call data to be transmitted is transmitted from 500@sister.com.

  On the other hand, when the second virtual terminal 34 receives the call data transmitted from the communication terminal 20 to the second virtual terminal 34 (500@sister.com), the second virtual terminal 34 transmits the received call data to the first virtual terminal 33 (1000 @ brother.com). The correspondence between the second virtual terminal 34 (500@sister.com) and the first virtual terminal 33 (1000@brother.com) when the call data is transferred is determined based on the registration table 241 (see FIG. 8). Is done. The first virtual terminal 33 transmits the call data received from the second virtual terminal 34 to the communication terminal 13 via the established session. The call data to be transmitted is transmitted from the virtual account 1000@brother.com.

  In this way, the virtual terminal 32 relays the call data received via one session to the other session side (S89). Thereby, transmission / reception of call data is executed between the communication terminals 13 and 20, and a call is executed between the users of the communication terminals 13 and 20 (S85).

  As described above, the session between the communication terminal 12 connected to the IP network 6 and the first virtual terminal 33 is established by the call control device 31. A session between the communication terminal 17 connected to the IP network 7 and the second virtual terminal 34 is established by the communication control device 16. The call data is relayed between the first virtual terminal 33 and the second virtual terminal 34, whereby the call between the communication terminals 12 and 17 is executed. For this reason, the communication control device 11 can execute a call between the communication terminals 12 and 17 without using another server or a circuit switch.

  In addition, the communication control device 11 can establish a session between the communication terminal 12 and the first virtual terminal 33, and then establish a session between the communication terminal 20 and the second virtual terminal 34. In this way, the communication control apparatus 11 can establish a session in stages while using the established session. As a result, the communication control apparatus 11 can efficiently establish a session between the communication terminals 12 and 17. The communication control device 11 can quickly start a call between the communication terminals 12 and 17 with fewer communication procedures.

  The first main process (FIGS. 10 to 14) and the second main process (FIGS. 15 to 20) executed by the CPU 21 of the communication control device 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 to 20. When the communication control device 10 is powered on, the first main process and the second main process are activated and executed. In the first main process, processes until the virtual terminal 32 is set in the communication control device 10 are executed. In the second main process, a process for starting a call between the communication terminal 12 and the communication terminal 17 is executed by causing the call control device 31 and the virtual terminal 32 to function.

  The first main process will be described with reference to FIGS. It is determined whether a setting request signal (S11, see FIG. 6) has been received from the communication terminal 12 connected to the subordinate IP network (S111). When the setting request signal is received (S111: YES), setting of the virtual terminal 32 is requested to start a call with a communication terminal connected to another IP network. First caller processing (see FIGS. 11 and 12) is executed (S113). In the first calling side process, the call control device 31 and the virtual terminal 32 are set. Details of the first calling party processing will be described later. After the end of the first calling party process, the process returns to S111.

  When the setting request signal has not been received (S111: NO), it is determined whether a connection request signal (S13, see FIG. 6) has been received from another communication control apparatus 10 via the telephone network 5 (S115). When the connection request signal is received (S115: YES), the generation of a virtual account is requested from another communication control apparatus 10. First called party processing (see FIGS. 13 and 14) is executed (S117). In the first called party processing, a virtual account assigned to the virtual terminal 32 is generated. Details of the first called party processing will be described later. After the end of the first called party process, the process returns to S111. When the connection request signal has not been received (S115: NO), the process returns to S111.

  The first calling party process will be described with reference to FIG. Below, it demonstrates supposing that a 1st calling party process is performed in CPU21 of the communication control apparatus 11 shown in FIG. This means that a setting request signal has been received from the communication terminal 13 connected to the IP network 6. The telephone number of the communication control device 16 is acquired (S121). The telephone number of the communication control device 16 may be stored in the HDD 24 in advance. Further, the user of the communication terminal 13 may input the telephone number of the communication control device 16 into the communication terminal 13. The communication terminal 13 may transmit the input telephone number of the communication control device 16 to the communication control device 11 simultaneously with the setting request signal. The communication control device 11 may acquire the telephone number received from the communication terminal 13 as the telephone number of the communication control device 16. A plurality of telephone numbers may be acquired. For example, a telephone number for the fixed telephone network 3 and a telephone number for the mobile telephone network 4 may be acquired.

  A connection request signal (S13, see FIG. 6) is transmitted to the communication control device 16 via the telephone network 5 (S123). In response to the connection request signal transmitted in S123, it is determined whether a connection response signal (S17, see FIG. 6) transmitted from the communication control device 16 has been received (S125). If the connection response signal cannot be received even after a predetermined time has elapsed since the connection request signal was transmitted (S125: NO), a plurality of telephone numbers have been acquired in S121 and are used as destinations for the connection request signal. It is determined whether there are any remaining telephone numbers (S149). If the corresponding telephone number remains (S149: YES), the process returns to S123 in order to transmit a connection request signal to the remaining telephone number. In this way, the communication control device 11 can connect a telephone line using another telephone number even if the connection of the telephone line using one telephone number fails. For example, when a telephone line connection is attempted using the telephone number of the fixed telephone network 3 and fails, the telephone line can be connected using the telephone number of the mobile telephone network 4.

  On the other hand, if the connection response signal cannot be received even if the connection request signal is transmitted to all the acquired telephone numbers (S149: NO), the connection of the telephone line is rejected in the communication control device 16. . In this case, the first calling party process is terminated, and the process returns to the first main process (see FIG. 10).

  When the connection response signal (S17, see FIG. 6) transmitted from the communication control device 16 is received within a predetermined time after transmitting the connection request signal (S125: YES), the communication with the communication control device 16 is performed. A telephone line is connected (S127). Predetermined voice data (S19, see FIG. 6) transmitted from the communication control device 16 is received via the connected telephone line (S129). The predetermined sound is for notifying that a request for generating a virtual account is satisfied. The data of the predetermined voice is transmitted to the communication terminal 13. A predetermined sound is output from the speaker of the communication terminal 13.

  In the above description, when the data of the predetermined voice cannot be received, it may be determined that the normal incoming operation has been performed in the communication control device 16. In this case, the call processing may be executed via the connected telephone line.

  An IP address used as address information of the transmission source when performing communication via the IP network 2 is acquired (S131). Note that the IP address may be acquired by reading an IP address stored in advance in the HDD 24. Alternatively, an IP address assigned to the communication control apparatus 11 by the DHCP server may be acquired.

  The registration table 241 (see FIG. 8) is referred to. Extension telephone numbers 700-1200 that can be assigned to the virtual terminal 32 are acquired as allowed numbers (S135). A generation request signal including a DTMF signal is generated (S137). The IP address acquired in S131 and the allowable number 700-1200 acquired in S135 are included in the generation request signal. The generated generation request signal is transmitted to the communication control device 16 via the connected telephone line (S139) (S21 (see FIG. 6)).

  In response to the generation request signal transmitted in S133, a determination result signal (S25, see FIG. 6) transmitted from the communication control device 16 is received (S141). An ACK signal including a DTMF signal is created (S143). The created ACK signal is transmitted to the communication control device 16 via the connected telephone line (S145) (S27, see FIG. 6). The disconnection notification signal (S31, see FIG. 6) transmitted from the communication control device 16 is received via the connected telephone line (S147). The connected telephone line is disconnected (S147). In this way, the connected telephone line is immediately disconnected after the minimum communication is performed. Thereby, the line usage fee of the telephone line can be suppressed.

  In the above description, the disconnection notification signal is transmitted from the communication control device 16, but the disconnection notification signal may be transmitted to the communication control device 16 when the communication control device 11 is on-hook.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the content of the determination result signal received in S141 (see FIG. 11) is determined (S151). When it is determined that the virtual account is not generated in the communication control device 16 (S151: NO), the virtual terminal 32 cannot be set because the virtual account is not notified. The first calling party process is terminated, and the process returns to the first main process (see FIG. 10).

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the communication control device 16 generates a virtual account (S151: YES), communication with the communication control device 16 via the IP network 2 is started. The virtual account packet (S33, see FIG. 6) transmitted from the communication control device 16 via the IP network 2 is received (S153). The IP address of the communication control device 16 and the virtual account included in the virtual account packet are acquired. An ACK packet notifying that the virtual account packet has been received is transmitted to the communication control device 16 via the IP network 2 (S155) (S35, see FIG. 6).

  In the above description, the IP address included in the virtual account packet is acquired as the IP address of the communication control device 16. The communication control device 11 may acquire the IP address of the transmission source of the virtual account packet as the IP address of the communication control device 16.

  The virtual terminal 32 is virtually set (S37, see FIG. 6). Virtual accounts 1000@brother.com and 500@sister.com (including ID and password) acquired from the virtual account packet received in S153 are allocated to the set virtual terminal 32. Of the acquired virtual account 1000@brother.com, a portion 1000 corresponding to the user identifier is extracted as an extension telephone number. An ID and a password corresponding to the extracted extension telephone number are created. The extracted extension telephone number, the created ID, and the password are stored in the registration table 241 (see FIG. 8). Further, a portion 500 corresponding to the user identifier in the acquired virtual account 500@sister.com is extracted as an extension telephone number. The extracted extension telephone number and the corresponding ID and password are stored in the registration table 241. As a result, information on the virtual account assigned to the virtual terminal 32 is registered in the registration table 241. (S157) (S39, refer to FIG. 6).

  The REGISTER process of the virtual terminal 32 for the call control device 31 is executed (S158) (S40, see FIG. 6). As a result, the IP address corresponding to the extension telephone number 1000 in the registration table 241 is stored. The call control device 31 can perform call control communication between the communication terminal 12 and the virtual terminal 32.

  Note that the ID and password created above may be input via the communication terminal 13 by the user of the communication terminal 13. Such information may be specified by receiving the input ID and password from the communication terminal 13. The ID and password may be directly input to the communication control device 11.

  The REGISTER process for the communication control device 16 is executed as follows. An IP address corresponding to 500@sister.com is created. The created IP address aa.aa.aa.aa is stored in association with the extension telephone number 500 in the registration table 241 (see FIG. 8). A REGSITER packet including the extension telephone number 500 and the created IP address aa.aa.aa.aa is transmitted to the communication control device 16 (S159) (S41, see FIG. 6). The communication terminal 13 is notified that it is possible to make a call with the communication terminal 17 connected to the IP network 7 (S161) (S45, see FIG. 6). The first calling party process is terminated, and the process returns to the first main process (see FIG. 10).

  The first called party process will be described with reference to FIG. Below, it demonstrates supposing that a 1st called party process is performed in CPU21 of the communication control apparatus 16 shown in FIG. This means that a connection request signal is received from the communication control device 11 via the telephone network 5. The telephone number of the communication control apparatus 11 that is the transmission source of the connection request signal received in S115 (see FIG. 10) is specified (S171). It is off-hooked according to the received connection request signal (S15, see FIG. 6). A connection response signal (S17, see FIG. 6) is transmitted to the communication control apparatus 11 that has transmitted the connection request signal (S175). As a result, the telephone line to the communication control device 11 is connected. Using the automatic voice response function, data of a predetermined voice for notifying that a request for generating a virtual account is met is automatically transmitted via the connected telephone line (S177, see FIG. 6).

  After the data of the predetermined voice is transmitted, the generation request signal (S21, see FIG. 6) transmitted from the communication control device 11 is received (S179). The generation request signal includes the IP address of the communication control device 11 and an allowable number. The permission table stored in the HDD 24 is referred to. It is determined whether the telephone number specified in S171 is stored in the permission table (S181). If the identified telephone number is stored in the permission table, it is determined to generate a virtual account. On the other hand, when the specified telephone number is not stored in the permission table, it is determined not to generate a virtual account. A determination result signal including a DTMF signal is created (S183). The determination result signal is transmitted to the communication control device 11 (S185) (S25, see FIG. 6). In response to the transmitted determination result signal, an ACK signal (S27, see FIG. 6) transmitted from the communication control device 11 is received (S187). On-hook (S29, see FIG. 6), a disconnection notification signal is transmitted to the communication control device 11 (S189) (S31, see FIG. 6). As a result, the connected telephone line is disconnected.

  Note that the method for determining whether or not to create a virtual account is not limited to the method described above. For example, the communication control device 16 may determine whether to create a virtual account by inquiring of the authentication server using the telephone number specified in S171 as a key. Whether or not a virtual account can be generated may be determined based on information other than the telephone number of the communication control device 11 (for example, an ID or a password). The communication control device 11 may include predetermined authentication information in the generation request signal. The communication control device 16 may determine to generate a virtual account when the authentication information included in the generation request signal satisfies a predetermined condition.

  The communication control device 16 may determine whether to generate a virtual account before transmitting a connection response signal to the communication control device 11 (S175). The communication control device 16 may transmit a connection response signal to the communication control device 11 only when it is determined to generate a virtual account. As a result, it is possible to prevent an unnecessary telephone line from being connected, so that the line usage fee of the telephone line can be further suppressed.

  As shown in FIG. 14, when it is determined in S181 (see FIG. 13) that a virtual account is not generated (S193: NO), the virtual account is not notified to the communication control device 11 and the first called party is called. The side processing ends. The process returns to the first main process (see FIG. 10). On the other hand, when it is determined to generate a virtual account (S193: YES), an IP address used as address information of a transmission source when communicating via the IP network 2 is acquired (S195). The IP address may be acquired by reading an IP address stored in advance in the HDD 24, or an IP address assigned to the communication control device 16 by the DHCP server may be acquired.

  A virtual account to be assigned to the virtual terminal 32 is generated (S197). The virtual account is generated as follows. Reference is made to permissible numbers 700-1200 included in the generation request signal received in S179 (see FIG. 13). Of the allowed numbers, 1000 is selected. The SIP URI 1000@brother.com having the selected number as a user identifier and having the domain name brother.com assigned to the IP network 6 is valid in the IP network 6 among the virtual accounts assigned to the virtual terminal 32. It is generated as a simple SIP URI.

  Next, a registration table 242 (see FIG. 9) stored in the HDD 24 is referred to. 500 of the extension telephone numbers 200-800 that can be assigned to the virtual terminal 32 is selected. The SIP URI 500@sister.com having the selected extension telephone number as a user identifier and having the domain name sister.com assigned to the IP network 7 is an IP network among virtual accounts assigned to the virtual terminal 32. 7 is generated as a valid SIP URI.

  An ID saitoh corresponding to the generated virtual account 500@sister.com and a password xxxxxx are created and stored in association with the extension telephone number specified by the user identifier 500. Thus, 500@sister.com is registered in the registration table 242 (S198) (S32, see FIG. 6).

  Communication via the IP network 2 is started. A virtual account packet including the IP address acquired in S195 and the virtual accounts 1000@brother.com and 500@sister.com generated in S197 is transmitted to the communication control apparatus 11 (S199) (S33, (See FIG. 6). The IP address included in the generation request signal received in S179 (see FIG. 13) is set as the destination IP address of the virtual account packet. As a result, the virtual account packet is reliably transmitted to the communication control device 11. An ACK packet (S35, see FIG. 6) transmitted from the communication control apparatus 11 in response to the virtual account packet is received (S201).

  After receiving the ACK packet, the REGISTER packet (S41, see FIG. 6) transmitted from the communication control device 11 is received (S203). The REGISTER packet includes the extension telephone number 500 and the IP address aa.aa.aa.aa (see FIG. 8). In the registration table 242 (see FIG. 9), the received IP address is stored in association with the acquired extension telephone number 500 (S205) (S47, see FIG. 6). As a result, the communication control device 16 can perform call control communication between the communication terminal 17 and the virtual terminal 32. The communication terminal 17 is notified that it is possible to make a call with the communication terminal 12 connected to the IP network 6 (S207) (S47, see FIG. 6). The first called party process ends, and the process returns to the first main process (see FIG. 10).

  As described above, the communication control apparatus 11 can assign a SIP URI effective in the IP networks 6 and 7 to the virtual terminal 32 as a virtual account. Thereby, it is possible to execute a call between communication terminals connected to different IP networks (second main process, which will be described later). The communication control device 10 can execute a call between the communication terminals 12 and 17 without using another server or a circuit switch.

  In the above description, the SIP URI that is valid in the IP network 6 among the virtual accounts is generated in the communication control device 16, but the present invention is not limited to this. The communication control device 16 may generate only a SIP URI that is valid in the IP network 7 as a virtual account. A SIP URI that is valid in the IP network 6 among the virtual accounts may be generated in the communication control device 11. As a result, the communication control device 11 can reliably prevent the user identifier of the generated SIP URI from being selected from the extension telephone numbers that are prohibited from being used in the IP network 6.

  In the above description, in the registration table 241, the extension telephone number distinguished for assignment to the virtual account is used, and the virtual account is generated. The communication control apparatus 11 may use an extension telephone number that is not set for the communication terminal 12 in the registration table 241, that is, an extension telephone number that is not currently used, and generate a virtual account. As a result, the number of extension telephone numbers that can be used as the user identifier of the virtual account can be increased.

  It is assumed that the virtual terminal 32 is set by the communication control device 11 communicating with the communication control device 16 as described above. In this state, it is assumed that the user of the communication terminal 14 desires a call with another communication terminal connected to the IP network under the control of another communication control device different from the communication control device 16. In this case, another virtual terminal corresponding to another communication control apparatus is set by the same method as described above. Therefore, another virtual account different from the virtual account set in the virtual terminal 32 is set in another virtual terminal. Thereby, even when a call is simultaneously executed with communication terminals connected to a plurality of different other networks, the call is reliably performed with a desired partner.

  Among the above-described communications, a virtual account may be included in the determination result signal transmitted from the communication control device 16. Thereby, the frequency of communication performed between the communication control apparatuses 11 and 16 can be suppressed. The communication control device 11 can quickly set the virtual terminal 32.

  The communication via the IP network 2 in the above may be executed via, for example, a VPN (Virtual Private Network).

  The second main process will be described with reference to FIGS. 15 to 20. It is determined whether a call request (external) packet (S51, see FIG. 7) has been received from the communication terminal 12 connected to the subordinate IP network (S211). When a call request (external) packet is received (S211: YES), the start of a call with a communication terminal connected to another IP network is requested. A second calling side process (see FIG. 16) is executed (S213). In the second calling side process, processes for realizing the functions of the call control device 31, the first virtual terminal 33, and the second virtual terminal 34 are started and executed. A process for realizing the function of the call control device 31 corresponds to a call control device (see FIG. 17). The process for realizing the function of the first virtual terminal 33 corresponds to the first virtual process (see FIG. 18). The process for realizing the function of the second virtual terminal 34 corresponds to the second virtual process (see FIG. 19). Details of the second calling side processing will be described later. After the end of the second calling side process, the process returns to S211.

  If a call request (external) packet has not been received (S211: NO), it is determined whether an establishment request packet (S69, see FIG. 7) has been received from another communication control apparatus 10 via the IP network 2 (see FIG. 7). S215). When the establishment request packet is received (S215: YES), the establishment of a session is requested from another communication control apparatus 10. Second called party processing (see FIG. 20) is executed (S217). In the second called party processing, processing for establishing a session with the second virtual terminal 34 is executed. Details of the second called party processing will be described later. After the second called party process is completed, the process returns to S211. If the establishment request signal has not been received (S215: NO), the process returns to S211.

  The second calling side process will be described with reference to FIG. Below, it demonstrates supposing that a 2nd calling party process is performed in CPU21 of the communication control apparatus 11 shown in FIG. This means that a call request (external) packet is received from the communication terminal 13 connected to the IP network 6.

  Call control processing (see FIG. 17) is started (S221). The process executed in the call control device 31 virtually set in the first caller process (see FIG. 11) corresponds to the call control process. In the call control process, a call control function in the communication control device 11 is realized. Details of the call control processing will be described later. The first virtual process (see FIG. 18) is activated (S223). The process executed in the first virtual terminal 33 (virtual account: 1000@brother.com) virtually set in the first calling party process (see FIG. 11) corresponds to the first virtual process. In the first virtual process, call control communication within the IP network 6 is executed. Details of the first virtual process will be described later. The second virtual process (see FIG. 19) is activated (S225). The process executed in the second virtual terminal 34 (virtual account: 500@sister.com) virtually set in the first calling party process (see FIG. 11) corresponds to the second virtual process. In the second virtual process, call control communication within the IP network 7 is executed. Details of the second virtual processing will be described later. The activated call control process, first virtual process, and second virtual process are executed in parallel.

  It is determined whether the call between the communication terminals 13 and 20 has been completed (S227). If the call between the communication terminals 13 and 20 has not ended (S227: NO), the process returns to S227. When the communication terminal 13 or 20 call is finished (S227: YES), the call control process started in S221 is finished (S229). The first virtual process started in S223 is terminated (S231). The second virtual process started in S225 is terminated (S233). The second calling side process ends, and the process returns to the second main process (see FIG. 15).

  In the following, the process is executed in the call control device 31 that executes the call control process, the first virtual terminal 33 that executes the first virtual process, and the second virtual terminal 34 that executes the second virtual process. It is expressed as a simulation. Further, it is represented in a simulated manner so that packets are transmitted and received between the call control device 31, the first virtual terminal 33, and the second virtual terminal. However, the call control device 31, the first virtual terminal 33, and the second virtual terminal 34 are virtually set in the communication control device 11, and do not actually exist. Actually, the call control process, the first virtual process, and the second virtual process are executed by the CPU 21 of the communication control device 11. In addition, the expression that packets are transmitted and received actually means that data and messages included in the packets are exchanged between processes. A physically existing packet is not actually transmitted or received.

  The call control process will be described with reference to FIG. Since a call request (external) packet is received from the communication terminal 13 in S211 (see FIG. 15), call control communication based on SIP is started. The user identifier 1000 of the virtual account 1000@brother.com of the first virtual terminal 33 is already registered in the registration table 241 (see FIG. 8) (S158, see FIG. 12). Call control communication can be performed between the communication terminal 13 and the first virtual terminal 33. An establishment request packet is transmitted to the first virtual terminal 33 (S237) (S53, see FIG. 7).

  After the establishment request packet is transmitted to the first virtual terminal 33, a response packet transmitted from the first virtual terminal 33 is received (S239) (S55, see FIG. 7). The received response packet is transferred to the communication terminal 13 (S241). A series of call control communications for establishing a session is completed between the communication terminal 13 and the first virtual terminal 33. A session between the communication terminal 13 and the first virtual terminal 33 is established (S243) (S59, see FIG. 7). Communication between the communication terminal 13 and the first virtual terminal 33 is possible through the established session. The call control process ends.

  The first virtual process will be described with reference to FIG. It is determined whether the establishment request packet (S53, see FIG. 7) transmitted from the call control device 31 has been received (S251). When the establishment request packet has not been received (S251: NO), the process returns to S251. When the establishment request packet transmitted from the call control device 31 is received (S251: YES), a response packet is transmitted to the call control device 31 in order to establish a session with the communication terminal 13 ( S253) (S55, see FIG. 7). A series of call control communications for establishing a session with the communication terminal 13 is completed. A session with the communication terminal 13 is established (S255) (S59, see FIG. 7). Communication with the communication terminal 13 via the established session is possible.

  Communication with the communication terminal 13 via the established session is started. Voice data that inquires the user of the communication terminal 13 about the extension telephone number of the communication partner is transmitted to the communication terminal 13 by IVR (S257). The voice includes a voice for notifying the extension telephone numbers 1, 2, and 3 of the communication terminals 18, 19, and 20 connected to the IP network 7. The communication terminal 13 receives audio data and outputs the audio from a speaker. The user can recognize the extension telephone numbers 1, 2, and 3 of the communication terminal 17 that can make a call. Reception of the call request (n) packet transmitted from the communication terminal 13 is monitored (S259). When the call request (n) packet is not received (S259: NO), the process returns to S259.

  The user of the communication terminal 13 inputs the extension telephone number 3 of the call partner. The call request (3) packet is transmitted from the communication terminal 13 to the first virtual terminal 33, and the call request (3) packet is received (S259: YES). It is determined that the start of a call with the communication terminal 20 assigned the extension telephone number 3 among the communication terminals 17 connected to the IP network 7 is requested. The second virtual terminal 34 to which the virtual account 500@sister.com valid in the IP network 7 is assigned is specified based on the registration table 241. The second virtual terminal 34 is requested to establish a session with the communication terminal 20 (S261) (S65, see FIG. 7).

  Voice data notifying the user of the communication terminal 13 that the call is on hold is transmitted to the communication terminal 13 by the IVR via the session established in S255 (S263) ( S67 (see FIG. 7)). The communication terminal 13 receives audio data and outputs it from a speaker. The user of the communication terminal 13 can recognize that the call is on hold.

  A notification from the second virtual terminal 34 that indicates that a session between the communication terminal 20 and the second virtual terminal 34 has been established is monitored (S265). When the notification is not received (S265: NO), the process returns to S265. When a notification that the session between the communication terminal 20 and the second virtual terminal 34 has been established (S79, see FIG. 7) is received from the second virtual terminal 34 (S265: YES), between the communication terminal 13 A notification packet is transmitted to the communication terminal 13 via the session established in (S267) (S83 (see FIG. 7)). The communication terminal 13 that has received the notification packet notifies the user of the communication terminal 13 that a call has become possible between the communication terminal 13 and the communication terminal 20. The user can recognize that a call with the communication terminal 20 is possible.

  It is assumed that call data addressed to the first virtual terminal 33 is received from the communication terminal 13 through a session with the communication terminal 13. The call data is transmitted to the virtual account 1000@brother.com of the first virtual terminal 33. The received call data is delivered to the second virtual terminal 34. When the second virtual terminal 34 receives the call data from the first virtual terminal 33, the second virtual terminal 34 transmits the call data to the communication terminal 20 through a session with the communication terminal 20. Also assume that call data is received from the second virtual terminal 34. The received call data is transmitted to the communication terminal 13 via a session with the communication terminal 13. The call data is transmitted from the virtual account 1000@brother.com of the first virtual terminal 33. In this way, the call data relay process is executed (S269) (S89, see FIG. 7). As a result, the call data is transmitted and received between the communication terminals 13 and 20, and the call is executed. The first virtual process ends.

  The second virtual process will be described with reference to FIG. It is determined whether a request for establishing a session with the communication terminal 20 has been received from the first virtual terminal 33 (S65, see FIG. 7) (S271). If there is no request from the first virtual terminal 33 (S271: NO), the process returns to S271. If there is a request for establishment of the session with the communication terminal 20 from the first virtual terminal 33 (S65, see FIG. 7) (S271: YES), an establishment request packet is transmitted to the communication control device 16. (S273) (S69, refer to FIG. 7). In the establishment request packet, SIP URI 3@sister.com of the communication terminal 20 is stored.

  In response to the transmitted establishment request packet, a response packet transmitted from the communication control device 16 is received (S275) (S75 (see FIG. 7)). A series of call control communications for establishing a session with the communication terminal 20 is completed. A session with the communication terminal 20 is established (S277) (S77 (see FIG. 7)). Communication with the communication terminal 20 via the established session is possible. The first virtual terminal 33 is notified that the session with the communication terminal 20 has been established (S279) (S79 (see FIG. 7)).

  It is assumed that call data is received from the communication terminal 20 through a session with the communication terminal 20. The call data is transmitted to the virtual account 500@sister.com of the second virtual terminal 34. The received call data is delivered to the first virtual terminal 33. When the first virtual terminal 33 receives call data from the second virtual terminal 34, the first virtual terminal 33 transmits the call data to the communication terminal 13 through a session with the communication terminal 13. Also assume that call data is received from the first virtual terminal 33. The received call data is transmitted to the communication terminal 20 via a session with the communication terminal 20. The call data is transmitted from the virtual account 500@sister.com of the second virtual terminal 34. In this way, call data relay processing is executed (S281) (S89, see FIG. 7). As a result, call data is transmitted and received between the communication terminals 13 and 20, and the call is executed. The second virtual process ends.

  The second called party processing will be described with reference to FIG. In S215 (see FIG. 15), the establishment request packet is received from the second virtual terminal 34. Of the virtual account 500@sister.com of the second virtual terminal 34, the user identifier 500 is registered in the registration table 242 (see FIG. 9) (see S205 and FIG. 14). The call control communication can be performed with the second virtual terminal 34 having the virtual account 500@sister.com. In the establishment request packet, SIP URI 3@sister.com is stored. The establishment request packet is transferred to the communication terminal 20 to which SIP URI 3@sister.com is assigned (S293). After the establishment request packet is transmitted, reception of a response packet transmitted from the communication terminal 20 is monitored (S295). If no response packet is received (S295: NO), the process returns to S295.

  When an incoming operation (such as off-hook) is performed by the user of the communication terminal 20 (S73, see FIG. 7), a response packet is transmitted from the communication terminal 20 to the communication control device 16 (S74, see FIG. 7). A response packet transmitted from the communication terminal 20 is received (S295: YES). The received response packet is transferred to the second virtual terminal 34 (S297) (S75 (see FIG. 7)). A series of call control communication for establishing a session is completed between the communication terminal 20 and the second virtual terminal 34. A session between the communication terminal 13 and the second virtual terminal 34 is established (S299) (S77 (see FIG. 7)). Communication between the communication terminal 20 and the second virtual terminal 34 is possible via the established session. The second called party processing ends.

  As described above, a session between the communication terminal 12 connected to the IP network 6 and the first virtual terminal 33 is established by the call control device 31. A session between the communication terminal 17 connected to the IP network 7 and the second virtual terminal 34 is established by the communication control device 16. The call data is relayed between the first virtual terminal 33 and the second virtual terminal 34, whereby the call between the communication terminals 12 and 17 is executed. For this reason, the communication control device 11 can execute a call between the communication terminals 12 and 17 without using another server or a circuit switch.

  Moreover, the communication control apparatus 11 can finally start the telephone call between the communication terminal 13 and the communication terminal 20 using the session established in order. As a result, the communication control apparatus 11 can efficiently establish a session between the communication terminals 13 and 20, so that a call can be started quickly in a short time.

  In the above description, the communication terminal 13 has finally received a call between the communication terminals 13 and 20 by receiving the call request (external) packet and the call request (3) packet. When the communication terminal 13 recognizes in advance the extension telephone number of the other party of the call, the call request (3) packet may be transmitted from the beginning without transmitting the call request (external) packet. When the communication control device 11 receives a call request (3) packet without receiving a call request (external) packet, the communication control device 11 and the communication terminal 20 and the first virtual terminal 33 You may establish the session between the two virtual terminals 34 in order. Accordingly, the communication control device 11 can quickly establish a plurality of sessions with fewer communication procedures, and can start a call between the communication terminal 13 and the communication terminal 20.

  In the above description, when requesting the start of a call with the communication terminal 17 connected to the IP network 7, a call request (external) packet is transmitted from the communication terminal 13 to the communication control device 11. For example, the communication terminal 13 may make a call to the extension telephone number 1000 assigned to the first virtual terminal 33. From the communication terminal 13, an establishment request packet for requesting establishment of a session with the first virtual terminal 33 may be transmitted instead of the call request (external) packet. Thereby, a session between the communication terminal 13 and the first virtual terminal 33 may be established. The extension telephone number 1000 assigned to the first virtual terminal 33 may be notified to the communication terminal 13 when the first virtual terminal 33 is set.

  In the registration table 241 (see FIG. 8) and the registration table 242 (see FIG. 9), IP addresses are stored in association with each other, but IP addresses and port numbers may be stored in association with each other. Thus, communication can be performed by designating an IP address and a port number during call control communication and data communication after session establishment. This can prevent data from being filtered by a router, a gateway, or the like.

  In the above description, after the virtual terminal 32 is set in the communication terminal 11, a plurality of sessions are established. For example, the virtual terminal 32 may be set in advance in the communication control device 11. The communication control device 11 may have a registration table 241 in the state shown in FIG. The communication control device 16 may have a registration table 242 in the state shown in FIG. 9 in advance. As a result, the communication control apparatus 11 can start a call between communication terminals connected to different IP networks without performing communication for acquiring a virtual account.

  The IP network 6 corresponds to the “first network” of the present invention. The IP network 7 corresponds to the “second network” of the present invention. The process of S211 corresponds to the “first reception step” of the present invention. The processes of S243 and S255 correspond to the “first establishment step” of the present invention. The process of S273 corresponds to the “request step” of the present invention. The process of S277 corresponds to the “second establishment step” of the present invention. The processing of S269 and S281 corresponds to the “relay step” of the present invention. The process of S259 corresponds to the “second reception step” of the present invention. The process of S257 corresponds to the “notification step” of the present invention. The process of S215 corresponds to the “second reception step” of the present invention. The process of S299 corresponds to the “second establishment step” of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Communication system 2 IP network 5 Telephone network 10, 11, 16 Communication control apparatus 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20 Communication terminal 31 Call control apparatus 32 Virtual terminal 33 First virtual terminal 34 Second virtual Terminal 35, 36 Session 241, 242 Registration table

Claims (6)

A communication control apparatus capable of communicating with other communication control apparatuses and performing call control between communication terminals connected to a subordinate first network, wherein the communication control apparatus uses an address format as a target of call control. Among the address information determined based on a certain first address format, the first address information that is not used in the first network and the address format that is the target of call control in the other communication control device. Communication provided with storage means in which address information determined based on a two-address format is stored in association with second address information that is not used in the second network under the control of the other communication control device A control device,
Comprising at least one control unit and at least one memory storing instructions to the control unit, and executing the instructions,
A first receiving step of receiving a request to start communication from a first communication terminal which is a communication terminal connected to the first network;
When the request is accepted in the first accepting step, a first session between the virtual first virtual terminal having the first address information stored in the storage means and the first communication terminal is performed. A first establishment step to be established;
Establishing a second session between a virtual second virtual terminal having the second address information stored in the storage means and the second communication terminal being a communication terminal connected to the second network; A requesting step for requesting the other communication control device;
In response to the request in the request step, a second establishment step in which the second session is established by performing call control between the second virtual terminal and the second communication terminal in the other communication control device. When,
Data communicated between the first communication terminal and the first virtual terminal via the first session, and between the second virtual terminal and the second communication terminal via the second session A communication control apparatus that executes a relay step of relaying communication between the first communication terminal and the second communication terminal by relaying data to be communicated. The communication control device includes:
Via the first session established in the first establishment step, further executing a second reception step of accepting a request to start communication with the second communication terminal from the first communication terminal;
The request step includes
2. The communication according to claim 1, wherein when the request is received in the first reception step and the second reception step, the second communication control device is requested to establish the second session. Control device. The communication control device includes:
Further executing a notification step of notifying the first communication terminal of the ID of the second communication terminal capable of communication via the first session;
In executing the second reception step,
The request for starting communication with the second communication terminal having the ID selected by the first communication terminal among the IDs notified in the notification step is accepted. Communication control device. In the case where the communication control device executes the first reception step,
Receiving the ID of the second communication terminal that is the request destination of the second session requested in the requesting step;
In performing the request step,
Requesting the other communication control device to establish the second session between the second communication terminal having the ID received in the first reception step and the second virtual terminal. The communication control device according to claim 1. A communication system including a first communication control device and a second communication control device which are communication control devices,
The first communication control device
Comprising at least one control unit and at least one memory storing instructions to the control unit, and executing the instructions,
A first receiving step of receiving a request to start communication from a first communication terminal that is a communication terminal connected to a first network under the control of the first communication control device;
Of the address information determined based on the first address format that is the address format that is the target of call control in the first communication control device when the request is received in the first receiving step, the first information Of the first address information that is not used in the network and the second address format that is determined based on the second address format that is the address format that is subject to call control in the second communication control device, the second address information A virtual first virtual terminal having the first address information stored in the storage means stored in association with the second address information not used in the second network under the control of the communication control device; A first establishing step for establishing a first session with the first communication terminal;
Establishing a second session between a virtual second virtual terminal having the second address information stored in the storage means and a second communication terminal which is a communication terminal connected to the second network, A requesting step for requesting the second communication control device;
In response to the request in the request step, a second establishment step in which the second session is established by performing call control between the second virtual terminal and the second communication terminal in the other communication control device. When,
Data communicated between the first communication terminal and the first virtual terminal via the first session, and between the second virtual terminal and the second communication terminal via the second session Performing a relay step of relaying communication between the first communication terminal and the second communication terminal by relaying data to be communicated;
The second communication control device is
Comprising at least one control unit and at least one memory storing instructions to the control unit, and executing the instructions,
A second accepting step for accepting a request for establishment of the second session between the second virtual terminal and the second communication terminal;
And a third establishing step for establishing the second session when the request is accepted in the second accepting step. A first receiving step for receiving a request to start communication from a first communication terminal that is a communication terminal connected to a first network under the communication control device;
Of the address information determined based on the first address format that is the address format that is the target of call control in the communication control device when the request is received in the first receiving step, The other communication control device among the first address information which is not used in the address information and the address information which is determined based on the second address format which is the address format targeted for call control in the other communication control device A virtual first virtual terminal having the first address information stored in a storage means in which second address information not used in the second network under the control is stored in association with the first communication, and the first communication A first establishment step for establishing a first session with the terminal;
Establishing a second session between a virtual second virtual terminal having the second address information stored in the storage means and a second communication terminal which is a communication terminal connected to the second network, A requesting step for requesting another communication control device;
In response to the request in the request step, a second establishment step in which the second session is established by performing call control between the second virtual terminal and the second communication terminal in the other communication control device. When,
Data communicated between the first communication terminal and the first virtual terminal via the first session, and between the second virtual terminal and the second communication terminal via the second session A communication method comprising: a relay step of relaying communication between the first communication terminal and the second communication terminal by relaying data to be communicated.

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