JP3770376B2 - On-hold sound transmission system and on-hold sound transmission method in IP network - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a hold sound sending system and a hold sound sending method in an IP network.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In voice communication using an IP network, if the bandwidth is insufficient due to an increase in traffic volume, it is difficult to send and receive voice information packets in real time, and packets to be sent are lost, resulting in voice quality deterioration. For this reason, in order to maintain the voice quality of voice communication, it is necessary to increase the bandwidth or to preferentially send and receive voice communication IP packets. Alternatively, it is conceivable to compress the voice within a range that does not affect the quality and reduce the occupied bandwidth to reduce the total traffic volume and suppress the load on the bandwidth.
[0003]
Here, there are roughly two mechanisms for sending a hold sound of an IP telephone. One is a mechanism in which a holding sound source is provided somewhere on the network, and the holding sound at the time of holding is handled in the same way as voice communication, and is transmitted from the holding sound source to the other party's telephone via the IP network for listening. The other has a holding sound source in the IP telephone in advance, receives a control information packet indicating the holding state from the other party's telephone that has been put on hold, and in accordance with the information, an audible unit such as a handset directly from the holding sound source inside the telephone This is a mechanism to ask the caller through
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The former mechanism is not a suitable mechanism in a situation where the traffic volume is to be reduced as described above, but is effective when a hold sound is output to a telephone under a network other than the IP network. Moreover, since the latter is a mechanism in which a sound source is built in in advance, an increase in the traffic amount of the IP network can be avoided. However, there are a method of using a fixed sound source as the sound source and a method of making it possible to change the holding sound by recording individually, but there is also the trouble that a recording operation has to be performed individually.
[0005]
As described above, there is a problem that the amount of traffic increases or the recording operation is required by any of the holding tone transmission methods.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and its main purpose is an IP that can send a holding tone without increasing the amount of traffic and without individually performing a recording operation. It is an object of the present invention to provide a hold sound sending system and a hold sound sending method in a network.
[0007]
[Means for solving problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a music on hold transmission system in an IP network comprising a plurality of IP telephones and a holding sound source, wherein the IP network includes at least an IP address of the IP telephone and traffic of the IP network. Control means having a means for storing information including a free time and a clock means, and the control means monitors the current time and the free state of the predetermined IP telephone, Is the idle time of traffic, and when the predetermined IP phone is in an empty state, the hold IP recording start instruction including the IP address information of the predetermined IP phone is sent to the predetermined IP phone and the hold sound source. The holding sound source receives the IP address of the IP phone and the hold tone selection information received from the IP phone. A plurality of music-on-hold data stored in association with each other, and a predetermined music-on-hold data selected from the plurality of music-on-hold data based on the IP address information and the music-on-hold selection information of the IP telephone. Means for receiving the music on hold recording start instruction from the control means, and means for transmitting the predetermined music on hold data selected to the predetermined IP telephone according to the music on hold recording start instruction, A means for transmitting the on-hold tone selection information to the on-hold sound source and a predetermined on-hold sound recording start instruction transmitted from the control means and the predetermined on-hold sound data transmitted from the on-hold sound source are received by a predetermined IP telephone. Means for storing the music on hold data received in accordance with the music on hold recording start instruction, and stored in accordance with a music on hold control signal from another IP telephone in conversation. Serial in which and means for reproducing and outputting the holding tone using predetermined holding tone data.
[0009]
The music on hold transmission method of the present invention is a music on hold transmission method in an IP network comprising a plurality of IP telephones and a music on hold sound source , wherein at least the IP address of the IP telephone and the traffic of the IP network are available in the IP network. Control means comprising a means for storing information including the time and a clock means, wherein the control means monitors the current time and the availability of the predetermined IP telephone, and the current time is the traffic When it is idle time and the predetermined IP telephone is in an empty state, a music on hold recording start instruction including IP address information of the predetermined IP telephone is transmitted to the predetermined IP telephone and the hold sound source, When the hold sound source receives the hold sound recording start instruction from the control means, the IP address of the predetermined IP telephone A predetermined music on hold data is selected from a plurality of music on hold data stored in advance in association with the IP address and the music on hold selection information based on the information and the music on hold selection information received from the IP telephone. And transmitting the predetermined music-on-hold data to the predetermined IP telephone, transmitting the music-on-hold selection information to the music on-hold sound source at the predetermined IP telephone, and receiving a music on hold recording start instruction transmitted from the control means. The predetermined hold sound data transmitted from the hold sound source is received and stored in accordance with the hold state control signal from another IP telephone that is interacting with the stored hold sound data. Sound is reproduced and output .
[0015]
As described above, the present invention relates to a holding sound transmission system and a holding sound transmission method in an IP network. When the network 8 is described with reference to FIG. A holding sound source 1 and a control device 2 having a holding sound are provided. The control device 2 monitors the time information from the clock 3 and the vacant state of the IP telephone 4, and when the IP telephone 4 is vacant in a desired time zone, a recording start notification is sent to the IP telephone 4 and the hold sound source 1. The packet is transmitted as a packet, and the hold sound data is transmitted from the hold sound source 1 to the IP telephone 4 as a voice packet.
[0016]
On the other hand, upon receiving the recording start notification, the IP telephone 4 extracts the hold sound data from the sound packet of the hold sound data from the hold sound source 1 and stores it in the internal memory 5. Here, the reason for monitoring the time information is to identify a time zone with a small amount of traffic on the network, for example, to designate nighttime or lunch time.
[0017]
Further, in the memory 7, the IP address of the IP telephone group controlled by the control device 2 and the hold sound to be recorded in each IP telephone, that is, which hold sound among a plurality of hold sounds built in the hold sound source 1 is recorded. Information associated with kana is stored. When recording the hold sound to the IP telephone 4, the control device 2 selects the corresponding hold sound from the memory 7 based on the IP address information of the IP telephone 4 from the memory 7, and controls the recording to the IP telephone 4. I do.
[0018]
When the other party's IP telephone 6 performs a hold operation, the IP telephone 6 transmits a hold state start notification to the IP telephone 4 using a control information packet, and stops transmitting / receiving voice packets. Upon receipt of the hold state start notification, the IP telephone 4 stops transmission / reception of voice packets in the same manner as the IP telephone 6, reads out the hold sound data from the memory 5 inside the IP telephone 4, converts it into voice, and converts it directly into a handset, etc. Listen to the caller through the audible part.
[0019]
When the hold is released, a hold state end notification is sent from the IP telephone 6 to the IP telephone 4, and transmission / reception of voice packets is started. Receiving the hold state end information, the IP telephone 4 stops the hold sound, starts transmission / reception of voice packets, and resumes communication with the IP telephone 6.
[0020]
With these features, the amount of packets when sending a hold sound is reduced, and the load on the network can be suppressed. Furthermore, it becomes possible to use a plurality of holding sounds, and it is possible to easily use various holding sounds instead of a fixed holding sound, such as changing the holding sound in a time zone or changing it in groups.
[0021]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In a preferred embodiment of the holding tone transmission method in the IP network according to the present invention, the IP network 8 includes a plurality of IP telephones 4 and 6, a holding sound source 1 and a control device 2. Further includes a memory 7 for storing information including the IP address of the IP telephone and the free time of traffic on the IP network 8 and a clock 3. In the control device 2, the current time is stored in the memory 7 in advance. When the IP telephone 4 is idle, the music-on-hold recording start instruction including the IP address information of the IP telephone 4 is transmitted to the IP telephone 4 and the hold sound source 1 when the IP telephone 4 is idle. When the music on hold recording start instruction is received, the predetermined music on hold data stored in association with the IP address information of the IP telephone 4 is transmitted to the IP telephone 4, and the IP telephone 4 The talker 4 receives predetermined music on hold data, stores it in the memory 5, and increases the amount of traffic by sounding the stored predetermined music on hold data in accordance with the hold state control signal from the IP telephone 6 that is interacting. It is possible to easily make a hold sound without causing the sound to go off.
[0022]
【Example】
In order to describe the above-described embodiment of the present invention in more detail, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a music on hold transmission system in an IP network of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state in which the control device sends a hold sound to a specific IP phone, and FIG. 3 shows a state in which the other party's IP phone notifies the hold or the end of hold. FIG.
[0023]
As shown in FIG. 1, the hold sound transmission system of the present invention includes a hold sound source 1 and a control device 2 on a network 8, and the hold sound source 1 has a plurality of hold sounds. The control device 2 monitors the time information from the clock 3 and the vacant state of the IP telephone 4 and transmits a hold sound recording start instruction to the IP telephone 4. Further, the IP telephone 4 has a memory 5 for storing music on hold inside, and when the other party's IP telephone 6 performs a hold operation, it reads the music on hold data stored in the memory 5 and converts it into voice. To hear the hold sound to the caller directly through an audible part such as a handset.
[0024]
Next, the operation when the hold function is used during a call with the configuration of FIG. 1 will be described below.
[0025]
First, referring to FIG. 2, a method for storing a hold tone in the memory 5 inside the IP telephone 4 will be described. The control device 2 identifies time information from the clock 3 (a time zone with a small amount of network traffic). Information) and the vacant state of the IP telephone 4, and when the IP telephone 4 is vacant at a desired time, a holding sound recording start instruction is transmitted by a control information packet to the IP telephone 4 and the holding sound source 1, The hold sound source 1 sends the hold sound data as a voice packet to the IP telephone 4 via the IP network.
[0026]
On the other hand, the IP telephone 4 receives the hold sound recording start instruction, and stores the hold sound data transmitted from the hold sound source 1 in the memory 5 inside the IP telephone 4.
[0027]
Note that the hold sound source 1 has a plurality of hold sounds inside, and the control device 2 has an IP address of the IP telephone group controlled by the control device 2 stored in advance in the memory 7 and a hold sound to be recorded on each IP phone, That is, based on the information associated with which one of the plurality of holding sounds to be recorded among the plurality of holding sounds built in the holding sound source 1, one holding sound is selected from the plurality of holding sounds, By controlling the storage in the memory 5, it is possible to select a hold sound and distribute it automatically.
[0028]
Here, the IP address information of the IP telephone 4 and the music on hold selection information are stored in association with each other by recognizing the music on hold selection information by a key operation or the like from the IP telephone 4. It is also possible to record a desired hold tone on each IP phone by using the hold tone selection information and the IP address information of the IP phone, and the information stored in the memory 7 can be arbitrarily set. Selectable within range.
[0029]
As described above, the above-described configuration and control can save troublesome recording operations on individual IP telephones and store on-hold sounds without increasing the traffic volume.
[0030]
The control device 2 has a mechanism in which a time zone with a small amount of traffic can be set in advance by a maintenance console or the like as a time for performing recording control of music on hold, and the method can be arbitrarily set. Can be selected within a known technical range.
[0031]
Next, with reference to FIG. 3, a procedure for accustoming a holding tone in the IP telephone 4 will be described. First, a call is started between the IP telephone 4 and the IP telephone 6, and when the IP telephone 6 performs a hold operation during the call, a hold state start notification is transmitted from the IP telephone 6 to the IP telephone 4 by a control information packet. Then, transmission / reception of voice packets is stopped.
[0032]
Upon receiving the hold state start notification, the IP telephone 4 stops transmission / reception of voice packets, reads the hold sound data from the memory 5 inside the IP telephone 4, converts the read hold sound data into a voice, directly converts the hold sound data, etc. Listen to the caller through the audible part.
[0033]
When the IP telephone 6 ends the hold operation, the IP telephone 6 transmits a hold state end notification to the IP telephone 4 by a control information packet, and starts transmission / reception of voice packets. On the other hand, upon receipt of the hold state end notification, the IP phone 4 finishes sending the hold sound from the IP phone 4 and starts transmitting / receiving voice packets. Then, the telephone call between the IP telephone 4 and the IP telephone 6 is resumed.
[0034]
As described above, according to the IP phone hold tone sending method of the present embodiment, the IP network 8 has the hold sound source 1 and the control device 2, and the control device 2 includes the clock 3 and at least the IP phone. A memory 7 that stores an IP address and a holding tone to be recorded in each IP phone, and the control device 2 monitors a traffic congestion state and a call state of the IP phone, and is a desired time when the traffic is free, and When the IP phone is in an idle state, the hold sound source 1 sends the hold sound to the IP phone, so that the traffic volume does not increase and the hold sound recording operation is not required. A hold tone can be played on the telephone.
[0035]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the holding tone transmission method for an IP telephone of the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.
[0036]
The first effect of the present invention is that the amount of traffic on the network can be reduced by storing the on-hold sound in the IP telephone so that no voice packet is transmitted when the on-hold sound is transmitted.
[0037]
The second effect of the present invention is that by storing music on hold data in an IP telephone in a time zone with a small amount of traffic on the network, it is possible to eliminate problems (sound skipping) of music on hold due to packet loss. is there.
[0038]
According to the third effect of the present invention, it is possible to easily select a holding tone by a key operation from an IP telephone and select a desired holding tone from a plurality of holding tones prepared by IP address information. It will be possible.
[0039]
The fourth effect of the present invention is that it is possible to use different holding tones for different time zones or IP telephone group units.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a holding tone sending system according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a signal flow diagram showing a procedure of music on hold memory control according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a signal flow diagram showing a procedure of hold state start / end control according to one embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Hold sound source 2 Control apparatus 3 Clock 4 IP telephone 5 Memory 6 IP telephone 7 Memory 8 IP network

Claims (2)

In an on-hold sound transmission system in an IP network having a plurality of IP telephones and a hold sound source,
The IP network has a control means comprising at least means for storing information including an IP address of the IP telephone and an idle time of traffic of the IP network, and a clock means,
Further, the control means monitors the current time and the availability of the predetermined IP telephone, and when the current time is the traffic idle time and the predetermined IP telephone is idle, the predetermined Means for transmitting a hold sound recording start instruction including IP address information of the predetermined IP phone to the IP phone and the hold sound source;
Means for storing a plurality of music on hold data in association with the IP address of the IP telephone and the music on hold selection information received from the IP telephone, and the IP address information of the IP telephone and the hold Means for selecting predetermined hold sound data from the plurality of hold sound data based on the sound selection information, means for receiving the hold sound recording start instruction from the control means, and the hold sound recording start instruction Means for transmitting the predetermined music on hold data selected to the predetermined IP telephone according to
A means for transmitting the hold tone selection information to the hold sound source to the predetermined IP telephone, a hold sound recording start instruction transmitted from the control means, and the predetermined hold sound data transmitted from the hold sound source are received. Means for storing the music on hold data received in accordance with the music on hold recording start instruction, and using the stored predetermined music on hold data in accordance with a music on hold control signal from another IP telephone in conversation. A holding tone transmission system in an IP network, comprising: means for reproducing and outputting sound. In a holding sound transmission method in an IP network including a plurality of IP telephones and a holding sound source
The IP network has a control means comprising at least means for storing information including an IP address of the IP telephone and an idle time of traffic of the IP network, and a clock means,
In the control means, the current time and the availability of the predetermined IP telephone are monitored, and when the current time is the traffic idle time and the predetermined IP telephone is idle, the predetermined IP telephone And a hold sound recording start instruction including the IP address information of the predetermined IP phone to the hold sound source,
In the holding sound source, when the hold sound recording start instruction is received from the control means, the IP address in advance based on the IP address information of the predetermined IP phone and the hold tone selection information received from the IP phone. And the predetermined music on hold data is selected from a plurality of music on hold data stored in association with the music on hold selection information, and the predetermined music on hold data is transmitted to the predetermined IP telephone,
In the predetermined IP telephone, the hold sound selection information is transmitted to the hold sound source, and the predetermined hold sound data transmitted from the hold sound source is received in accordance with the hold sound recording start instruction transmitted from the control means. A holding tone transmission method in an IP network, wherein the holding tone is reproduced and output using the stored predetermined holding tone data in accordance with a holding state control signal from another IP telephone that is storing and interacting.

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