JP3882801B2 - IP telephone system, server device and router control method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an IP telephone system, a server apparatus, and a router control method using a VoIP compatible apparatus such as an IP telephone.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, IP telephones that enable voice communication by VoIP (Voice over IP) via the Internet or IP (Internet Protocol) network have been put into practical use. In the near future, TV (telephone) telephones that can exchange not only voice but also moving images are expected to be put into practical use. At that time, both IP phone and TV phone services are mixed.

  Considering the use of telephone-centered mobile phones and analog telephones that are widely used nowadays, even if videophones are put into practical use, calls are generally made, and only calls can be made as needed. It is speculated that switching from calls to calls while viewing the moving image of the other party will increase.

  In the current use of IP telephones, a TA (Terminal Adapter) type IP telephone adapter that makes it possible to use a commonly used analog telephone as an IP telephone instead of using a dedicated IP telephone for voice-only calls. Often used for analog telephones.

  An IP telephone system will be described.

  FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a conventional IP telephone system.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the conventional IP telephone system includes a VoIP-TA 500 serving as an IP telephone adapter connected to a conventional analog telephone (hereinafter simply referred to as a telephone) 600, and a LAN (Local Area Network) in the VoIP-TA 500. And the router 400 connected via The router 400 is connected to the Internet via a modem (media converter) 300. The modem 300 is connected to the Internet via a medium using any one of high-speed transmission technologies such as ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) and FTTH (Fiber to the Home), but the illustration is omitted. is doing.

  The router 400 relays an IP packet that is packetized data when the VoIP-TA 500 transmits / receives data to / from an external terminal via the Internet. In addition, a NAT (Network Address Translation) is provided which is a function for converting a global IP address on the Internet and a local IP address in the LAN and designating a port number as a data transmission destination.

  The VoIP terminal 100 is connected to the outside through a modem 200 connected to the Internet. The VoIP terminal 100 is a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a PC), and includes a headset having a microphone for capturing sound and a speaker for outputting sound. Further, the video camera has a video phone function and a video camera for capturing a video and a video monitor for outputting the video.

  A VoIP server 900 for registering IP addresses such as IP telephones and VoIP terminals is connected to the Internet. It is assumed that the operator X side includes the telephone 600 and the operator Y side includes the VoIP terminal 100.

  The operation of the IP telephone system having the above configuration will be described.

  When the operator X turns on the modem 300, the router 400, and the VoIP-TA 500 connected to the telephone 600, the VoIP-TA 500 registers the telephone number and local IP address B of the telephone 600 in the router 400. The router 400 registers the telephone number of the telephone 600 and the IP address A that is its own global IP address in the VoIP server 900 via the modem 300.

  When the operator Y turns on the power of the VoIP terminal 100, the VoIP terminal 100 registers its own telephone number and global IP address in the VoIP server 900. Subsequently, when the operator operates the VoIP terminal 100 and inputs the telephone number of the telephone 600, the VoIP terminal 100 sends a connection request signal for establishing a connection to the input telephone number via the modem 200 and the Internet. It transmits to the VoIP server 900. When the VoIP server 900 receives a connection request signal including a telephone number from the VoIP terminal 100, the VoIP server 900 checks a global IP address corresponding to the telephone number of the telephone 600, and if the global IP address is A, it sends a connection request signal to the router 400. Send.

  When the router 400 receives the connection request signal, the router 400 transmits the connection request signal to the VoIP-TA 500 having the IP address B from the telephone number included in the connection request signal.

  When VoIP-TA 500 receives the connection request signal from router 400, VoIP-TA 500 sends an incoming call signal indicating that there is an incoming call to telephone 600. When the telephone set 600 receives the incoming call signal, it rings a bell and sends a call signal indicating that the call is being made to the VoIP-TA 500. Then, the VoIP-TA 500 transmits the received call signal to the VoIP terminal 100 via the VoIP server 900.

  When operator X picks up the handset of telephone 600, telephone 600 sends an off-hook signal to VoIP-TA 500. The VoIP-TA 500 transmits the received off-hook signal to the VoIP terminal 100 via the VoIP server 900.

  When receiving the off-hook signal from the VoIP-TA 500, the VoIP terminal 100 transmits an acknowledgment signal to the VoIP-TA 500 via the VoIP server 900. When the VoIP-TA 500 receives the confirmation response signal from the VoIP terminal 100, a connection is established between the VoIP terminal 100 and the telephone 600 connected to the VoIP-TA 500.

  Thereafter, the voice of the call between the operator X and the operator Y is transmitted and received between the VoIP terminal 100 and the telephone set 600 by an IP packet converted by RTP (Real-time Transport Protocol).

  As described above, a call can be made between the operator X and the operator Y. However, when using a TV phone, a VoIP terminal having the same configuration as the VoIP terminal 100 is previously set on the operator X side. If the VoIP terminal is connected to the router 400 and activated, the operator X and the operator Y can use the TV phone from the beginning.

On the other hand, when exchanging a moving image and sound with a communication destination, an apparatus is disclosed in which a terminal for communicating with a terminal for viewing a moving image is configured differently (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The packet communication terminal device disclosed in this gazette enables a telephone call in a voice terminal unit having a configuration different from that of the main unit after receiving an incoming call in the main unit.
JP 2002-290938 A

  When a voice call is started as described above and an attempt is made to switch to a TV phone, if the device having the TV phone function is not turned on, the device is activated so that the TV phone can be used. It will make the other party wait until it becomes. In addition, when an attempt is made to exchange voice with a device having a TV phone function from a telephone used for a call, the microphone and speaker of the device having a TV phone function must be used. In this case, there has been a problem in that it takes time and effort to make a new call after disconnecting the connection between the telephone and the external terminal.

  Further, in the packet communication terminal device disclosed in the above-mentioned publication, even if a plurality of voice terminal units are provided at home, if one person uses the voice terminal unit, other people cannot use it, and a plurality of people There was a problem that could not be used at the same time.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems of the prior art, and eliminates call interruption that occurs at the time of device switching in switching from voice call to videophone. It is an object of the present invention to provide an IP telephone system, a server device, and a router control method that can be switched to a TV phone while maintaining the above.

In order to achieve the above object, the IP telephone system of the present invention provides:
A router device;
A plurality of functional units connected to the router device;
A server device that controls routing by the router device for the plurality of functional units ;
In the routing, for data including audio and image types, at least one type of data is transmitted to any one of the plurality of functional units, and a functional unit that receives the one type of data is excluded. The other type of data is sent to one of the functional units,
A function unit that communicates the one type of data with the outside instructs the server device as a function unit that is a transmission destination of the other type of data .

In the present invention, the routing for a plurality of functional units is controlled by the server device, so that the routing of the router device can be reset, and the data received from the outside is distributed to the plurality of functional units according to the type of data. be able to.
Also, the audio data is transmitted to a functional unit capable of transmitting and receiving audio data, and the image data is transmitted to a functional unit capable of transmitting and receiving image data. For this reason, even if audio data and image data are transmitted to separate functional units, a communication mode similar to that of a TV phone can be realized by communicating using these two functional units.
In addition, if one type of data is audio data and the other type of data is image data, the operator starts a call using a functional unit capable of transmitting and receiving audio data, and then operates the functional unit. Then, by inputting the transfer destination of the image data, information indicating the functional unit that is the transfer destination of the image data is input to the server device. Therefore, it can be switched to a videophone while maintaining a voice call.

The IP telephone system of the present invention
A first terminal, a second terminal, and a router device;
The first terminal performs voice communication with a third terminal connected to the router via a network, and the second terminal communicates with the third terminal via the network. An IP telephone system that performs voice and image communication,
When the first terminal is communicating with the third terminal by the voice and receives a signal requesting image data from the second terminal, the first terminal transmits the signal. The server device includes a server device that controls the router device to transfer the audio and image data to the second terminal.

On the other hand, a server device of the present invention for achieving the above object is a server device that controls routing by a router device to which a plurality of functional units are connected,
Identifying the type of data that can be received for each functional unit for the plurality of functional units, causing the router device to perform routing for the plurality of functional units corresponding to the type of data that can be received for each functional unit ,
In the routing, for data including audio and image types, at least one type of data is transmitted to any one of the plurality of functional units, and a functional unit that receives the one type of data is excluded. The other type of data is sent to one of the functional units,
Before the routing, information on a functional unit that is a transmission destination of the other type of data is received from a functional unit that communicates the one type of data with the outside .

The server device of the present invention transfers voice data communicated between the first terminal and the third terminal connected via a network, and the second terminal and the A server device for controlling a router device for transferring voice and image data communicated with a third terminal,
  When the first terminal is communicating with the third terminal by the voice and receives a signal requesting image data from the second terminal, the first terminal transmits the signal. The router has a remote control unit that controls the router to transfer the voice and image data to the second terminal.

The router control method of the present invention for achieving the above object is a router control method for controlling routing by a router device to which a plurality of functional units are connected,
Identify the type of data that can be received for each functional unit for the plurality of functional units,
In response to the type of data that can be received for each functional unit, the router device performs routing for the plurality of functional units ,
In the routing, for data including audio and image types, at least one type of data is transmitted to any one of the plurality of functional units, and a functional unit that receives the one type of data is excluded. The other type of data is sent to one of the functional units,
After identifying the types of data that can be received for each of the plurality of functional units, information on the functional unit that is the transmission destination of the other type of data from the functional unit that communicates the one type of data with the outside by receiving a shall not execute the routing.

Furthermore, the router control method of the present invention transfers voice data communicated between a first terminal and a third terminal connected via a network, and communicates with the second terminal via the network. A method for controlling a router for transferring voice and image data communicated with the third terminal,
  When the first terminal is communicating with the third terminal by the voice and receives a signal requesting image data from the second terminal, the first terminal transmits the signal. Control for transferring the audio and image data to the second terminal is performed on the router.

  In the present invention, it is possible to eliminate a call interruption that occurs at the time of device switching in switching from a voice call to a videophone, and to switch to a videophone while maintaining the voice call. For this reason, when a PC having a TV phone function is activated during a call, it may take one minute or longer until the TV phone can be used, but during that time, it is possible to prevent the call with the other party from being interrupted.

  Also, if the voice terminal such as the telephone that first started the voice call is wireless, move to the room with the voice telephone while holding the voice terminal and keep the voice call on the TV telephone in that room. Can exchange videos.

  Further, when a plurality of TV telephones are provided, each TV telephone can use the TV telephone with the outside.

  The IP telephone system of the present invention includes a server that controls routing to a plurality of VoIP terminals by a router to which a plurality of VoIP terminals including IP telephones are connected.

  The IP telephone system of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an IP telephone system according to the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the IP telephone system is connected to a VoIP terminal 800 capable of videophone calls, an IP telephone including VoIP-TA 500 and a telephone 600, and functional units such as the VoIP terminal 800 and the IP telephone via a LAN. The router 400 and the local VoIP server 700 that manages the communication of the functional unit. The router 400 is connected to the local VoIP server 700 and the modem 300 via the LAN, and the modem 300 is connected to the Internet.

  As in the prior art, the VoIP terminal 100 is connected to the outside via a modem 200 connected to the Internet. A VoIP server 900 for registering IP addresses of IP telephones and VoIP terminals is connected to the Internet. It is assumed that the operator X side includes the telephone 600 and the operator Y side includes the VoIP terminal 100.

  Next, each configuration will be described in detail.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the local VoIP server 700.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the local VoIP server 700 includes a LAN interface 710 for transmitting / receiving data via a LAN, a local terminal information unit 740 for storing an IP address and a port number, a data transmission destination, A router remote control unit 720 for creating router control information that is routing information for designating an IP address and a port number, a call control unit 730 for establishing a connection with an external device, a VoIP control unit 750, An operation input UI (User Interface) display unit 760 for inputting an instruction by the operator and outputting to the operator is provided.

  The call control unit 730, the VoIP control unit 750, and the router remote control unit 720 include a CPU (Central Processing Unit) (not shown) that executes predetermined processing according to a program, and a memory (not shown) that stores the program. Have

  When the VoIP control unit 750 becomes accessible to the router 400 and the function unit connected to the LAN by UPnP (Universal Plug and Play), the VoIP control unit 750 receives an IP address and a port number from the router 400 and the function unit. Subsequently, the local IP address and the port number are stored in the local terminal information 740 corresponding to the router 400 and the function unit. At this time, if the functional unit is an IP telephone, the local IP address, port number, and telephone number are stored in the local terminal information 740 corresponding to the functional unit. Then, it registers its own global IP address and the telephone number of the function unit in the VoIP server 900.

  When the router remote control unit 720 receives information indicating that voice can be received from the VoIP-TA 500 via the LAN interface 710, the router remote control unit 720 refers to the local terminal information 740, and sends the IP address and port number of the destination of voice data. Is generated and transmitted to the VoIP server 900 as a voice permission signal including information on the IP address A and the port number N1. Also, router control information is transmitted to the router 400 indicating that the data reaching the port number N1 of the router 400 is transferred to the port number N2 of the local IP address B.

  When the router remote control unit 720 receives information indicating that the moving image data can be received from the VoIP terminal 800 via the LAN interface 710, the IP address A and the port number N3 are used as the IP address and port number of the moving image data destination. Is sent to the VoIP server 900. Also, router control information is transmitted to the router 400 indicating that the data reaching the port number N3 of the router 400 is transferred to the port number N4 of the local IP address C.

  The IP address A is the global IP address of the router 400, the IP address B is the local IP address of the VoIP-TA 500, and the IP address C is the local IP address of the VoIP terminal 800.

  Next, the configuration of the router 400 will be described.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the router 400.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the router 400 includes a WAN interface 410 for transmitting / receiving data to / from an external network such as the Internet, an address / port conversion unit 420, and a conversion table 430 in which information on addresses and port numbers is stored. A router control unit 440 for controlling each unit, a LAN interface 450 for transmitting and receiving data via the LAN, and another router function unit 460. The router control unit 440 includes a CPU (not shown) that executes predetermined processing according to a program, and a memory (not shown) for storing the program.

  When the router control unit 440 receives the router control information from the local VoIP server 700 via the LAN, the local IP address on the functional unit side and the functional unit side correspond to the router port number that is the port number on the router 400 side. Are stored in the conversion table 430.

  The conversion table 430 stores the local IP address and local port number of the function unit corresponding to the router port number for each function unit such as the VoIP-TA 500 and the VoIP terminal 800 connected to the LAN.

  Upon receiving the IP packet from the WAN interface 410, the address / port conversion unit 420 reads out the router port number attached to the IP packet by the NAT function, and reads the local IP address and local port corresponding to the router port number from the conversion table 430. The local IP address and the local port number are attached to the IP packet as the transmission destination IP address and sent to the LAN interface 450.

  When an IP packet is received from the LAN interface 450, the global IP address of the router 400 is attached to the WAN interface 410 instead of the local IP address as the source IP address attached to the IP packet.

  Next, the configuration of VoIP-TA 500 will be described.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of VoIP-TA500.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the VoIP-TA 500 is a call for establishing a connection with an audio data conversion unit 510 that converts audio data to be transmitted and received, a system control unit 560 that controls the audio data conversion unit 510, and an external device. A control unit 570 and an operation input UI display unit 580 for inputting an instruction by the operator and outputting to the operator are provided. The voice data conversion unit 510 includes a LAN interface 520, a telephone interface 530, a reception data conversion unit 540 that converts received data and transmits the data to the telephone interface 530, and converts data from the telephone interface 530 to convert the LAN interface 520. And a transmission data conversion unit 550 for transmitting to the network. The call control unit 570 and the system control unit 560 include a CPU (not shown) that executes predetermined processing according to a program, and a memory (not shown) for storing the program.

  The reception data conversion unit 540 includes a packet reception unit 542 that receives an IP packet from the LAN interface 520, a depacketization unit 544 that returns the IP packet to the original voice data, and a voice decoder 546 that decodes the voice data. The transmission data converter 550 includes a voice encoder 556 that encodes voice data received from the telephone interface 530, a packetizer 554 that packetizes voice data, and an IP packet in which the voice data is packetized to the LAN interface 520. A packet transmission unit 552 for transmission.

  When the system control unit 560 transmits an off-hook signal to the communication destination terminal, the system control unit 560 notifies the communication destination terminal of information indicating that the data can be received. Transmit to the local IP server 700.

  Next, the configuration of the VoIP terminal 800 will be described.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the VoIP terminal 800 serving as a functional unit. Since the VoIP terminal 100 has the same configuration as the VoIP terminal 800, a detailed description of the VoIP terminal 100 is omitted.

  The VoIP terminal 800 is a PC having a TV phone function. As shown in FIG. 5, a VoIP terminal 800 is connected to an external device, a TV phone unit 810 for converting image and audio data and transmitting / receiving it to / from the outside, a system control unit 860 for controlling the TV phone unit 810, and the like. It has a call control unit 870 for establishing, and an operation input UI display unit 880 for instruction input by the operator and output to the operator. The call control unit 870 and the system control unit 860 include a CPU that executes predetermined processing according to a program and a memory for storing the program. In the memory of the system control unit 860, TV phone application software (hereinafter referred to as TV phone AP) is stored, and by executing the TV phone AP, the TV phone unit 810 is operated and the TV phone can be used.

  The video phone unit 810 includes a LAN interface 812, an image data conversion unit 814 connected to the video monitor 892 and the video camera 894, and an audio data conversion unit 816 connected to a speaker 896 and a microphone 898.

  The image data converting unit 814 includes an image data receiving unit 820 connected to the video monitor 892 and an image data transmitting unit 830 connected to the video camera 894.

  The image data receiving unit 820 includes a packet receiving unit 822 that receives an IP packet from the LAN interface 812, a depacketizing unit 824 that returns the IP packet to the original image data, and image data for outputting the image data to the video monitor 892. And a video decoder 826 for decoding. The image data transmission unit 830 transmits a video encoder 832 that encodes image data from the video camera 894, a packetization unit 834 that packetizes the image data, and an IP packet in which the image data is packetized to the LAN interface 812. A packet transmission unit 836.

  The audio data converting unit 816 includes an audio data receiving unit 840 connected to the speaker 896 and an audio data transmitting unit 850 connected to the microphone 898.

  The voice data receiving unit 840 receives the IP packet from the LAN interface 812, the packet receiving unit 842 that returns the IP packet to the original voice data, and decodes the voice data for output to the speaker 896. And a voice decoder 846. The voice data transmission unit 850 includes a voice encoder 852 that encodes the voice data captured by the microphone 898, a packetization unit 854 that packetizes the voice data, and an IP packet in which the voice data is packetized to the LAN interface 812. A packet transmission unit 856 for transmission. As a result, the voice data conversion unit 816 digitizes and encodes the voice input via the microphone 898, and then transmits it as an IP packet by RTP. In addition, the IP packet received from the outside is decoded and returned to voice, and output from the speaker 896.

  Note that the video monitor 892 is a display unit, and is, for example, a CRT (Cathode-ray Tube) or an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display).

  When the video data can be transmitted / received by the operator's input, the system control unit 860 notifies the communication destination terminal of what data can be received, and information indicating that the video can be received. Is transmitted to the local IP server 700.

  Next, the operation procedure of the IP telephone system configured as described above will be described.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a transmission / reception route of audio data and image data. In FIG. 6, some of the signals for the session such as an acknowledgment signal are not shown in the figure. Further, in FIG. 7, in order to easily understand the data transmission / reception route, a part of the configuration illustrated in FIG. 1 is not illustrated.

  When the operator X turns on the power of the router 400, the local VoIP server 700, and the VoIP-TA 500, the router 400 registers its own global IP address A and router port numbers N1 and N3 in the local VoIP server 700, and the VoIP-TA 500 Registers the telephone number of the telephone 600, the local IP address B, and the local port number N2 in the local VoIP server 700.

  The local VoIP server 700 stores the router port numbers N1 and N3 in the local terminal information unit 740 corresponding to the IP address A, and the local port number N2 and the telephone number of the telephone 600 corresponding to the IP address B in the local terminal. It is stored in the information part 740. The local VoIP server 700 registers its own global IP address D and the telephone number of the telephone 600 in the VoIP server 900.

  On the other hand, when the operator Y turns on the power of the VoIP terminal 100, the VoIP terminal 100 registers its own global IP address in the VoIP server 900. Subsequently, when the operator Y operates the VoIP terminal 100 and inputs the telephone number of the telephone 600, the VoIP terminal 100 sends a connection request signal including information on the telephone number to the VoIP server 900 indicating that the video and voice are to be transmitted. Send. When receiving the connection request signal, the VoIP server 900 searches for a telephone number that matches the telephone number included in the connection request signal. If there is a matching telephone number by the search, the global IP address registered together with the telephone number is read, and if the global IP address is known as D, a connection request signal is transmitted to the local VoIP server 700.

  When receiving the connection request signal from the VoIP terminal 100 via the VoIP server 900, the local VoIP server 700 transmits the connection request signal to the VoIP-TA 500 specified by the telephone number included in the connection request signal.

  When VoIP-TA 500 receives a connection request signal from local VoIP server 700, VoIP-TA 500 sends an incoming signal indicating that there is an incoming call to telephone 600. When the telephone set 600 receives the incoming call signal, it rings a bell and sends a call signal indicating that the call is being made to the VoIP-TA 500. Then, the VoIP-TA 500 transmits the received call signal to the local VoIP server 700.

  The local VoIP server 700 transmits the call signal received from the VoIP-TA 500 to the VoIP terminal 100 via the VoIP server 900.

  When operator X picks up the handset of telephone 600, telephone 600 sends an off-hook signal to VoIP-TA 500. The VoIP-TA 500 transmits the received off-hook signal and information indicating that the voice can be received to the local VoIP server 700. When the local VoIP server 700 receives the off-hook signal and the information indicating that the voice can be received from the VoIP-TA 500, the local VoIP server 700 refers to the local terminal information 740, and sends the IP address as the IP address and port number of the voice data destination. A voice permission signal including information on A and the router port number N1 is created, and an off-hook signal and a voice permission signal are transmitted to the VoIP terminal 100 via the VoIP server 900.

  In addition, the local VoIP server 700 transmits to the router 400 router control information indicating that data reaching the router port number N1 is transferred to the local port number N2 of the local IP address B. The router 400 stores the router control information received from the local VoIP server 700 in the conversion table 430.

  When the VoIP terminal 100 receives the off-hook signal and the voice permission signal from the local VoIP server 700, the VoIP terminal 100 stores the destination IP address and router port number of the voice data in the memory of the system control unit. Subsequently, an acknowledgment signal is transmitted to the VoIP-TA 500 via the VoIP server 900 and the local VoIP server 700. When the VoIP-TA 500 receives the confirmation response signal from the VoIP terminal 100, a connection is established between the VoIP terminal 100 and the telephone 600 connected to the VoIP-TA 500.

  When the operator Y inputs voice from the handset of the VoIP terminal 100 after the connection is established, the VoIP terminal 100 transmits an IP packet of voice data to the router port number N1 of the global IP address A of the router 400. In the router 400, since the local port number N2 of the IP address B is stored in the conversion table 430 corresponding to the router port number N1, the voice data that has reached the router port number N1 is transferred to the local port number N2 of the VoIP-TA 500. Send.

  On the other hand, when operator X inputs voice from the handset of telephone 600, telephone 600 transmits voice data to VoIP-TA 500. When receiving the voice data from the telephone set 600, the VoIP-TA 500 attaches the global IP address of the VoIP terminal 100 as a transmission destination to the IP packet of the voice data, and transmits it to the router 400. When the router 400 receives the IP packet from the VoIP-TA 500, the router 400 attaches its own global IP address A to the VoIP terminal 100 instead of the local IP address B as the source IP address.

  As described above, operators can talk with each other between the telephone set 600 and the VoIP terminal 100.

  Next, a case will be described in which video exchange is added using a TV phone while the above-described voice call is continued.

  When the operator X turns on the power of the VoIP terminal 800 while continuing the call with the operator Y on the telephone 600, the VoIP terminal 800 registers its own local IP address C and local port number N4 in the local VoIP server 700. The operator X operates the VoIP terminal 800 to activate the TV phone AP stored in the VoIP terminal 800. When the video phone AP of the VoIP terminal 800 can be operated, the operator X inputs a request for a moving image so that the VoIP terminal 800 can exchange the moving image. The VoIP terminal 800 transmits, to the local VoIP server 700, a moving image request signal that is a signal for requesting a moving image in response to an input from the operator X.

When the local VoIP server 700 receives the video request signal from the VoIP terminal 800, the local VoIP server 700 refers to the local terminal information 740 and includes information on the IP address A and the router port number N3 as the destination IP address and port number of the moving image data. A moving image permission signal is generated, and the moving image request signal and the moving image permission signal are transmitted to the VoIP terminal 100 via the VoIP server 900. Subsequently, a signal for starting transmission / reception of moving image data is transmitted to the VoIP terminal 800.

  In addition, router control information for instructing the router 400 to transfer data reaching the router port number N3 to the local port number N4 of the local IP address C is transmitted. The router 400 stores the router control information received from the local VoIP server 700 in the conversion table 430.

  When receiving the moving image request signal and the moving image permission signal from the local VoIP server 700, the VoIP terminal 100 stores the IP address and router port number of the moving image data destination in the memory of the system control unit. Subsequently, the video camera is operated to transmit an IP packet of moving image data captured by the video camera to the router port number N3 of the IP address A of the router 400.

  In the router 400, the local port number N4 of the IP address C corresponding to the router port number N3 is stored in the conversion table 430. Therefore, the IP packet that reaches the router port number N3 is transferred to the local port number N4 of the VoIP terminal 800. Send. When the VoIP terminal 800 receives the IP packet of moving image data at the local port number N4, the image data receiving unit 820 returns the IP packet to the original moving image data, decodes it, and outputs the moving image to the video monitor 892.

  On the other hand, the VoIP terminal 800 attaches the global IP address of the VoIP terminal 100 as the transmission destination to the IP packet of the moving image data captured by the video camera 894, and transmits it to the router 400. When the router 400 receives the IP packet from the VoIP terminal 800, the router 400 attaches its own global IP address A to the VoIP terminal 100 instead of the local IP address B as the transmission source IP address.

  As described above, moving image data can be exchanged between the VoIP terminal 800 and the VoIP terminal 100 while voice communication is continued between the telephone set 600 and the VoIP terminal 100.

  Thereafter, when the use of the video phone by the operator X and the operator Y ends and the operator X operates the VoIP terminal 800 and inputs a request for disconnection, the VoIP terminal 800 sends a disconnection signal to the local VoIP server. To 700. When receiving a disconnection signal from the VoIP terminal 800, the local VoIP server 700 transmits a disconnection signal to the VoIP-TA 500 and transmits a disconnection signal to the VoIP terminal 100 via the VoIP server 900. When receiving a disconnection signal from the local VoIP server 700, the VoIP-TA 500 disconnects from the VoIP terminal 100. In addition, when the VoIP terminal 100 receives a disconnection signal from the VoIP server 900, the VoIP terminal 100 disconnects from the VoIP terminal 800 and the VoIP-TA 500.

  In the present invention, as described above, the voice data transmitted from the VoIP terminal 100 is transferred to the VoIP-TA 500 by the IP address and port number conversion function in the router 400, and the voice is transmitted between the telephone set 600 and the VoIP terminal 100. Are sent and received. After that, by starting up the VoIP terminal 800, the moving image data from the VoIP terminal 100 is transferred to the VoIP terminal 800 by the IP address and port number conversion function in the router 400, and moving image transmission / reception with the VoIP terminal 800 is performed. Be started. At this time, since the voice communication between the VoIP terminal 100 and the telephone 600 is not interrupted, the operator can switch to the TV phone while maintaining the voice call.

  In the present invention, it is possible to eliminate a call interruption that occurs at the time of device switching in switching from a voice call to a videophone, and to switch to a videophone while maintaining the voice call. For this reason, when a PC having a TV phone function is activated during a call, it may take one minute or longer until the TV phone can be used, but during that time, it is possible to prevent the call with the other party from being interrupted.

  Also, if the voice terminal such as the telephone that first started the voice call is wireless, move to the room with the voice telephone while holding the voice terminal and keep the voice call on the TV telephone in that room. Can exchange videos.

  In addition, since the IP telephone system of the present invention includes a router in the LAN, it is possible to provide terminals compatible with VoIP in parallel. Therefore, when a plurality of TV telephones are provided, the TV telephone can be used externally with each TV telephone. For example, if there are TV telephones connected to the router in the home LAN for the number of family members, each person can use the TV telephone at the same time, and resources can be used effectively.

  In this case, it is possible to operate the telephone 600 connected to the VoIP-TA 500 to instruct the local VoIP server 700 as to which TV telephone among a plurality of TV telephones the moving picture is to be transferred. When operator X tries to transfer a video to a TV phone after starting a call with phone 600, if someone in the family uses one of a plurality of TV phones, the TV phone that is not used It is possible to transfer a moving image. A specific example will be described below.

  If the extension number of the TV phone is registered in the local VoIP server 700 in advance, the transfer button or the “#” button is pressed during a voice call on the phone 600, and then the extension number of the TV phone to be transferred is input, the local VoIP Server 700 senses that the transfer button or “#” button has been pressed, and controls the router to distribute the moving image to the TV phone corresponding to the extension telephone.

  Conventionally, the number of VoIP services using a PC as a VoIP terminal has not been increased due to the fact that the power of the PC is not always ON and that it takes time to start the PC. In the present invention, as described above, since the bottleneck can be solved, the PC-based VoIP service is more easily used.

  In the above-described embodiment, the VoIP terminals 100 and 800 have been described as PCs having a TV phone function. However, the VoIP terminals 100 and 800 may be dedicated TV phones. If the VoIP terminals 100 and 800 are PCs as described above, IM (Instant Messaging) and file transfer may be performed between the PCs while maintaining a call. In addition to the above-described exchange of voice data and image data, text data may be transmitted and received by chat. The image data is not limited to the moving image described above and may be a still image.

  Further, the network is not limited to the Internet but may be an IP network.

  Furthermore, the router 400 and the local VoIP server 700 may be integrated.

It is a block diagram which shows the example of 1 structure of the IP telephone system of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the example of 1 structure of a local VoIP server. It is a block diagram which shows one structural example of a router. It is a block diagram which shows the example of 1 structure of VoIP-TA. It is a block diagram which shows the example of 1 structure of a VoIP terminal. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement procedure of the IP telephone system of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the transmission / reception path | route of the audio | voice data and image data in the IP telephone system of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the example of 1 structure of the conventional IP telephone system.

Explanation of symbols

100, 800 VoIP terminal 200, 300 Modem 400 Router 500 VoIP-TA
600 Telephone 700 Local VoIP server 900 VoIP server

Claims (6)

A router device;
A plurality of functional units connected to the router device;
A server device that controls routing by the router device for the plurality of functional units ;
In the routing, for data including audio and image types, at least one type of data is transmitted to any one of the plurality of functional units, and a functional unit that receives the one type of data is excluded. The other type of data is sent to one of the functional units,
An IP telephone system , wherein a functional unit that communicates the one type of data with the outside instructs the server device as a functional unit that is a transmission destination of the other type of data . A server device that controls routing by a router device to which a plurality of functional units are connected,
Identifying the type of data that can be received for each functional unit for the plurality of functional units, causing the router device to perform routing for the plurality of functional units corresponding to the type of data that can be received for each functional unit ,
In the routing, for data including audio and image types, at least one type of data is transmitted to any one of the plurality of functional units, and a functional unit that receives the one type of data is excluded. The other type of data is sent to one of the functional units,
Before the routing, the server device receives information of a functional unit that is a transmission destination of the other type of data from a functional unit that communicates the one type of data with the outside . A router control method for controlling routing by a router device to which a plurality of functional units are connected,
Identify the type of data that can be received for each functional unit for the plurality of functional units,
In response to the type of data that can be received for each functional unit, the router device performs routing for the plurality of functional units ,
In the routing, for data including audio and image types, at least one type of data is transmitted to any one of the plurality of functional units, and a functional unit that receives the one type of data is excluded. The other type of data is sent to one of the functional units,
After identifying the types of data that can be received for each of the plurality of functional units, information on the functional unit that is the transmission destination of the other type of data from the functional unit that communicates the one type of data with the outside A router control method for executing the routing by receiving A first terminal, a second terminal, and a router device;
  The first terminal performs voice communication with a third terminal connected to the router via a network, and the second terminal communicates with the third terminal via the network. An IP telephone system that performs voice and image communication,
  When the first terminal is communicating with the third terminal by the voice and receives a signal requesting image data from the second terminal, the first terminal transmits the signal. An IP telephone system having a server device that controls the router device to transfer the voice and image data to the second terminal.   Transfers voice data communicated between the first terminal and the third terminal connected via the network, and communicates between the second terminal and the third terminal via the network A server device for controlling a router device for transferring voice and image data to be transmitted,
  When the first terminal is communicating with the third terminal by the voice and receives a signal requesting image data from the second terminal, the first terminal transmits the signal. A server apparatus comprising a router remote control unit that controls the router to transfer the voice and image data to the second terminal.   Transfers voice data communicated between the first terminal and the third terminal connected via the network, and communicates between the second terminal and the third terminal via the network A method for controlling a router for transferring voice and image data,
  When the first terminal is communicating with the third terminal by the voice and receives a signal requesting image data from the second terminal, the first terminal transmits the signal. A router control method, wherein the router is controlled to transfer the voice and image data to the second terminal.

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