JP3923478B2 - Gateway device for performing failure switching, failure switching method, failure switching program, and recording medium recording the program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a VoIP gateway apparatus that provides a voice communication service using VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) technology and interconnects a circuit switched network such as a PSTN (Public Switched Telephony Network) network and an IP network, and more particularly. The present invention relates to a VoIP gateway apparatus that improves the method of switching from a failed module to a spare module when a module that performs VoIP processing provided in the VoIP gateway apparatus fails.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, Internet telephone systems that perform voice communication by telephone via a PSTN network and an IP network have become widespread. This Internet telephone system conforms to the international standard of the recommendation “ITU-T Recommendation H.248” by ITU (International Telecommunication Union) (see, for example, Non-Patent Document 1), and is a VoIP gateway device. And the gateway control device are configured to provide a VoIP service. Specifically, the gateway control device controls the VoIP gateway device according to the call information from the PSTN terminal or the IP terminal, and the VoIP gateway device interconnects voice communication between the PSTN network and the IP network. Under such a configuration, when a failure occurs in the VoIP gateway device, various problems occur. For example, when a failure occurs in the VoIP gateway device, a state in which the user does not answer continues even if a call is made, which causes trouble in service operation. In order to cope with this problem, a technique is disclosed in which a gateway control device automatically detects a failure state of a VoIP gateway device (see Patent Document 1).

  On the other hand, from the user's standpoint, it is desirable that the voice communication service be continuously provided even if a failure occurs in the VoIP gateway device. Therefore, it can be considered that the VoIP gateway device has a redundant configuration. Specifically, the VoIP gateway device is a redundant configuration composed of a normally operating module and a spare module so that a voice communication service can be continuously provided even when a device failure occurs in a module that performs VoIP processing. Adopt the configuration. That is, when detecting a module failure, the VoIP gateway device autonomously switches to a spare module and continues to provide a voice communication service.

  FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of a voice communication system including a conventional VoIP gateway device. This voice communication system includes a telephone 109 that is a PSTN terminal, a VoIP gateway apparatus 101, and a telephone 110 that is an IP terminal. The telephone 109 and the VoIP gateway apparatus 101 are connected via the PSTN network 107, and the VoIP gateway apparatus 101 and the telephone 110 are connected via the IP network 108.

  The VoIP gateway device 101 is a device that provides voice communication services via the PSTN network 107 and the IP network 108 to the user of the telephone 109 and the user of the telephone 110. The VoIP gateway apparatus 101 accommodates a plurality of voice channels, and has the same function as the VoIP processing unit 102 and a VoIP processing unit 102 that mutually converts voice data of the PSTN network 107 and voice packets of the IP network 108. A backup VoIP processing unit 103 that realizes redundancy of VoIP processing, a PSTN interface processing unit 104 that terminates an interface of the PSTN network 107, an IP interface processing unit 105 that terminates an interface of the IP network 108, and VoIP And a device control unit 106 that performs control to switch to the backup VoIP processing unit 103 when the processing unit 102 fails.

  Here, when a failure occurs in the VoIP processing unit 102, the device control unit 106 sets the VoIP processing unit 102 to a failure state, and replaces the VoIP processing unit 102 that has been performing the above-described conversion processing with the backup VoIP processing unit 103. The VoIP processing unit 102 is switched to the backup VoIP processing unit 103 so as to perform conversion processing.

ITU-TH. 248, [online], ITU, [Search February 9, 2004], Internet, <URL: http://www.itu.int/rec/recommendation.asp?type=folders&lang=e&parent=T-REC- H.248> JP 2000-2011149 A (paragraph [0010], FIG. 1)

  In FIG. 3, when a failure occurs in the VoIP processing unit 102, a call during voice communication using the channel of the VoIP processing unit 102 is forcibly disconnected. Therefore, even if the failure that has occurred affects only a part of the channels in the VoIP processing unit 102, calls during voice communication of all channels are disconnected. Thus, in the conventional VoIP gateway device 101 shown in FIG. 3, even when a failure that affects only some channels occurs, calls during voice communication of all channels are disconnected, There has been a problem that voice communication services cannot be continued even for users of channels that are not affected by the failure.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and the purpose of the present invention is when a fault that affects only a part of the channels in VoIP processing occurs and switches autonomously to spare processing. A gateway device, failure switching method, failure switching program, and recording medium on which the program is recorded, which can be repaired without forcibly disconnecting a call during voice communication of a channel that is not affected by the failure It is to provide.

  In order to achieve the above-described object, the present invention provides a processing unit that performs voice information conversion after a call is set up. An autonomous switching from the processing unit to the preliminary processing unit is performed after the disconnection of the call during the voice communication is completed.

The gateway device according to claim 1 receives an instruction from a gateway control device that controls setting and disconnection of a call for voice communication, and connects the IP network and the circuit switched network to each other to provide a voice communication service to the user. Conversion means for accommodating a plurality of channels in which the call is set, and converting voice information received from one network into voice information to be sent to the other network for each channel; A processing unit having detection means for detecting a failure of the conversion unit, a redundant processing configuration with the processing unit, and a standby processing unit in a standby state for switching when the processing unit is operating, and the processing unit Transmitting to the gateway control device a first information indicating that the pre-blocking state is present, and a second information indicating that the preliminary processing unit is in an operable state; A switching unit that switches the operation by the processing unit to the operation by the preliminary processing unit, and when the detection unit of the processing unit detects a failure of some of the plurality of channels in the conversion unit, the transmission unit The first information is transmitted to the gateway control device, and voice communication is being performed on the channel that is not affected by the failure in response to an instruction from the gateway control device that does not perform a new call setting after receiving the first information. When all calls are disconnected after the completion of voice communication by the user, the switching unit sets the processing unit to a failure state and makes a transition from the pre-blocking state to the blocking state, and the pre-processing unit can be used. The operation state is set to a proper operation state, the operation by the processing unit is switched to the operation by the preliminary processing unit, and the transmission unit transmits the second information to the gateway control device .

The failure switching method according to claim 2 includes a gateway control device that controls setting and disconnection of a call for voice communication, and a plurality of channels in which the call is set, and an instruction from the gateway control device. A processing unit that interconnects an IP network and a circuit switching network for each channel, converts voice information received from one network into voice information for transmission to the other network, and a redundant configuration with the processing unit. In the gateway device when a failure occurs in the processing unit under a voice communication system including a gateway device having a standby processing unit in a standby state for switching when the processing unit is operating In the failure switching method, a failure of a part of a plurality of channels in the processing unit is detected, and first information indicating that the processing unit is in a pre-blocking state All calls during voice communication on the channel that are not affected by the failure, according to an instruction from the gateway controller that does not perform a new setting of the call after receiving the first information. When the user is disconnected after the completion of voice communication, the processing unit is set to a failure state to make a transition from the pre-blocking state to the blocking state, and the preliminary processing unit is set to a usable operating state. The operation is switched to an operation by a preliminary processing unit, and second information indicating that the preliminary processing unit is in an operational state that can be used is transmitted to the gateway control device .

The failure switching program according to claim 3 accommodates a gateway control device that controls setting and disconnection of a call for voice communication, and a plurality of channels to which the call is set, respectively, and the channel according to an instruction from the gateway control device. A processing unit that connects the IP network and the circuit switching network to each other, converts voice information received from one network into voice information to be sent to the other network, and has a redundant configuration with the processing unit. A fault switching program to be executed by a computer constituting the gateway device in a voice communication system including a gateway device having a standby processing unit in a standby state for switching when the processing unit is operating, The processing unit detects a failure of some of the plurality of channels, and the processing unit is pre-blocked by detecting the failure. The first information indicating the presence of the first information is transmitted to the gateway control device, and an instruction from the gateway control device that does not perform a new call setting after the reception of the first information is affected by the failure. When all calls during voice communication on a non-channel are disconnected after the voice communication by the user is completed, the processing unit is set to a failure state and the pre-blocking state is changed to the blocking state, and the preprocessing unit is used. The operation state is set to a possible operation state, the processing by the processing unit is switched to the operation by the preliminary processing unit, and the second information indicating that the preliminary processing unit is in the usable operating state is transmitted to the gateway control device. characterized in that it is executed and processing.

The invention according to claim 4 is a recording medium on which the failure switching program according to claim 3 is recorded.

  According to the present invention, in a gateway device in which a processing unit that converts a voice information after a call is set up has a redundant configuration, a failure that affects only a part of the channels occurs, and autonomous switching to the preliminary processing unit is performed. In this case, the call during voice communication of the channel not affected by the failure is not forcibly disconnected, and the call during voice communication of the channel not affected by the failure is controlled by the pre-blocking control of the processing unit. Relief can be made without forcible disconnection.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a voice communication system including a VoIP gateway device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this figure, the voice communication system includes a telephone 11 that is a PSTN terminal, a VoIP gateway apparatus 1, a telephone 12 that is an IP terminal, and a gateway control apparatus 8. The telephone 11 and the VoIP gateway device 1 are connected via the PSTN network 9, and the VoIP gateway device 1 and the telephone 12 are connected via the IP network 10. The VoIP gateway device 1 and the gateway control device 8 are connected by a predetermined communication line. In this case, it may be connected via the IP network 10.

The VoIP gateway device 1 is a device that provides a user of the telephone 11 and a user of the telephone 12 with a voice communication service that realizes continuous voice communication that is not easily disconnected via the PSTN network 9 and the IP network 10. It is. The VoIP gateway device 1 accommodates a plurality of voice channels, and has the same function as the VoIP processing unit 2 and the VoIP processing unit 2 that mutually converts voice data of the PSTN network 9 and voice packets of the IP network 10. The standby VoIP processing unit 3 which is a redundant side of the redundant configuration for realizing redundancy of the VoIP processing, the PSTN interface processing unit 4 for terminating the interface of the PSTN network 9, and the IP for terminating the interface of the IP network 10 An interface processing unit 5, a device control unit 6 that performs control to switch to the backup VoIP processing unit 3 when the VoIP processing unit 2 fails, and a signaling processing unit 7 that transmits and receives control signals to and from the gateway control device 8. Yes. The gateway control device 8 transmits and receives control signals to and from the signaling processing unit 7 of the VoIP gateway device 1 and controls call setting and disconnection by the VoIP gateway device 1.

  The VoIP processing unit 2 of the VoIP gateway device 1 detects this failure when a device failure that affects only some of the channels occurs, and performs pre-blocking control described later. The device control unit 6 then performs automatic switching from the VoIP processing unit 2 to the backup VoIP processing unit 3 after all calls during voice communication are completed by the user. As a result, a call during voice communication of a user who uses a channel that is not affected by the failure is relieved without being forcibly disconnected.

  The operation of the VoIP gateway device shown in FIG. 1 will be described below with reference to FIG. When there is a voice call request from the telephone set 11 or the telephone set 12 by the user, the gateway control device 8 receives information such as a telephone number and an authentication number via the VoIP gateway device 1 and can use this voice communication service. It is determined whether or not the user is a user. When the gateway control device 8 determines that the user can use this voice communication service, the gateway control device 8 transmits a call setting control signal to the VoIP processing unit 2 via the signaling processing unit 7 of the VoIP gateway device 1, and the VoIP processing unit 2 Selects one of a plurality of channels to set up a call, and establishes a connection between the telephone set 11 and the telephone set 12.

  The VoIP processing unit 2 converts voice data received from the telephone 11 by the PSTN interface processing unit 4 via the PSTN network 9 into voice packets encoded according to the voice encoding method, and converts the voice packets into the IP interface processing unit 5. Output to. The VoIP processing unit 2 converts the voice packet received from the telephone set 12 by the IP interface processing unit 5 via the IP network 10 into voice data according to a predetermined method, and outputs the voice data to the PSTN interface processing unit 4. To do. In this way, voice communication is performed between the telephone set 11 and the telephone set 12, and the VoIP processing unit 2 enters a call-in-progress state (step S1). In this case, the backup VoIP processing unit 3 normally does not perform conversion processing of voice data and voice packets, and is in a standby state in preparation for autonomous switching from the VoIP processing unit 2 when a failure occurs. (Step S2).

  Here, the VoIP processing unit 2 is equipped with a plurality of digital signal processors (Digital Signal Processor / hereinafter referred to as “DSP”) that accommodate voice channels, and performs these conversion processes for each voice channel. The gateway control device 8 performs call setting and disconnection control for each channel, and manages the state for each channel.

  In the VoIP processing unit 2, it is assumed that a device failure has occurred in some DSPs among the plurality of DSPs installed in the VoIP processing unit 2 in a state where there are a plurality of calls during voice communication. In this case, the call during voice communication of the channel affected by the failure is disconnected. In the VoIP processing unit 2, a failure detection unit (not shown) detects a failure of the DSP (step S3) and outputs a failure notification to the signaling processing unit 7 (step S4). When the failure notification is input, the signaling processing unit 7 transmits information that the VoIP processing unit 2 is in the pre-blocking state (hereinafter referred to as “pre-blocking state information”) to the gateway control device 8 (step S5). . When receiving the pre-blocking state information, the gateway control device 8 does not set a new voice communication call thereafter. That is, a call setting control signal for setting a voice communication call is not transmitted to the VoIP processing unit 2 via the signaling processing unit 7, and a new communication connection is not established in the VoIP processing unit 2. In other words, the gateway control device 8 waits until the voice communication by the user is completed for the call during the voice communication of the channel not affected by the failure of the DSP, and a new connection request is made for the channel of the call that is not in the voice communication. Even if it exists, call setting is not controlled. The state of the VoIP processing unit 2 in this case is referred to as a pre-blocking state, and the control performed by the gateway control device 8 is referred to as pre-blocking control.

  When the voice communication is completed by the user, the gateway control device 8 transmits a call disconnection control signal to the VoIP processing unit 2 via the signaling processing unit 7 of the VoIP gateway device 1, and the VoIP processing unit 2 performs the voice communication. The call inside is disconnected (steps S6 and S7). In this way, the call in the voice communication is gradually disconnected by the user who has finished the voice communication, and finally the call in the voice communication in the VoIP processing unit 2 disappears (step S8). This state of the VoIP processing unit 2 is referred to as a blocked state. Then, the VoIP processing unit 2 outputs a failure notification to the device control unit 6 (step S9). Upon receiving the failure notification, the device control unit 6 outputs a failure state control signal to the VoIP processing unit 2 (step S10). When receiving the failure state control signal, the VoIP processing unit 2 enters a failure state (step S11). Then, the device control unit 6 outputs a switching control signal to the backup VoIP processing unit 3 (step S12). The backup VoIP processing unit 3 enters the operation state when the switching control signal is input (step S13). At this time, the backup VoIP processing unit 3 outputs an operation state notification to the signaling processing unit 7 (step S14), and the signaling processing unit 7 provides information that the backup VoIP processing unit 3 is in an available state (hereinafter “usage” Is transmitted to the gateway control device 8 (step S15). When the gateway control device 8 receives the usable state information, the gateway control device 8 thereafter sets the voice communication call to the backup VoIP processing unit 3. That is, a call setting control signal for setting a voice communication call is transmitted to the backup VoIP processing unit 3 via the signaling processing unit 7 to cause the backup VoIP processing unit 3 to establish voice communication. Here, similarly to the VoIP processing unit 2, the backup VoIP processing unit 3 includes a plurality of DSPs that accommodate voice channels, and performs these conversion processes for each voice channel. The gateway control device 8 performs call setting control for each channel with respect to the backup VoIP processing unit 3, and manages the state for each channel.

  As described above, according to the VoIP gateway device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, when a failure occurs in some DSPs mounted in the VoIP processing unit 2, the voice communication of the channel affected by the failure is being performed. The call is disconnected, but the call during voice communication on the channel that is not affected by the failure is not disconnected. Then, the VoIP gateway device 1 assumes that the state of the VoIP processing unit 2 is the pre-blocking state, continues the voice communication of the channel not affected by the failure, and waits for the voice communication to be completed by the user. Switching to the backup VoIP processing unit 3 autonomously. As a result, since a call during voice communication of a channel that is not affected by the failure can be continued without forcibly disconnecting until the voice communication is completed, the channel can be relieved.

  The VoIP gateway device 1 includes a central processing unit (hereinafter referred to as “CPU”), a volatile storage medium such as a RAM, a nonvolatile storage medium such as a ROM (Read Only Memory), a keyboard, You may make it comprise the computer device provided with input devices, such as a pointing device, the monitor apparatus which displays an image and data, and the interface for communicating with an external apparatus. In this case, each function of the VoIP processing unit 2, the backup VoIP processing unit 3, the PSTN interface processing unit 4, the IP interface processing unit 5, the device control unit 6 and the signaling processing unit 7 provided in the VoIP gateway device 1 This is realized by causing the CPU to execute a program describing the above. These programs can also be stored and distributed in a storage medium such as a magnetic disk (floppy disk, hard disk, etc.), optical disk (CD-ROM, DVD, etc.), semiconductor memory, or the like.

  While the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiment, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and intention of the present invention. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the present invention is applied when a device failure occurs in some DSPs in the VoIP processing unit 2, but the failure affecting only some channels is other than the DSP. It also applies when it occurs.

  In the above embodiment, the present invention is applied to the case where the telephone 11 and the VoIP gateway apparatus 1 are connected via the PSTN network 9, but the telephone 11 and the VoIP gateway apparatus 1 are integrated with ISDN (Integrated Service). The present invention is also applied to a case where connection is made via another circuit switching network such as a digital network.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the voice communication system containing the VoIP gateway apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart explaining operation | movement of the VoIP gateway apparatus shown in FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the audio | voice communication system containing the conventional VoIP gateway apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,101 VoIP gateway apparatus 2,102 VoIP processing unit 3,103 Preliminary VoIP processing unit 4,104 PSTN interface processing unit 5,105 IP interface processing unit 6,106 Device control unit 7 Signaling processing unit 8 Gateway control devices 9, 107 PSTN network 10, 108 IP network 11, 12, 109, 110 Telephone

Claims (4)

In a gateway device that receives an instruction from a gateway control device that controls setting and disconnection of a call for voice communication, connects an IP network and a circuit switching network, and provides a voice communication service to a user.
A conversion means for accommodating a plurality of channels to which the call is set, and converting voice information received from one network into voice information for sending to the other network for each channel, and failure of the conversion means A processing unit having detection means for detecting;
A redundant configuration with the processing unit, and a standby processing unit in a standby state for switching when the processing unit is operating, and
A transmission unit wherein the processing unit transmits first information indicating that the pre-occlusion condition, and the second information indicating that the pre-processing unit is in the available operational state to the gateway control device,
A switching unit that switches the operation by the processing unit to the operation by the preliminary processing unit,
When the detection unit of the processing unit detects a failure of some of the plurality of channels in the conversion unit,
The transmitting unit transmits the first information to the gateway control device;
After the completion of the voice communication by the user, all calls in the voice communication in the channel not affected by the failure are instructed by an instruction from the gateway control apparatus that does not perform a new call setting after the reception of the first information. If disconnected
The switching unit sets the processing unit to a failure state and makes a transition from the pre-blocking state to the blocking state, sets the spare processing unit to a usable operating state, and switches the operation by the processing unit to the operation by the preliminary processing unit. ,
The gateway device, wherein the transmission unit transmits second information to a gateway control device. A gateway control device that controls setting and disconnection of a call for voice communication; and a plurality of channels in which the call is set, and an IP network and a circuit switching network for each channel according to an instruction from the gateway control device Are connected to each other, the voice information received from one network is converted into voice information to be sent to the other network, and the processor is in a redundant configuration, and the processor is in operation. In a failure switching method in a gateway device when a failure occurs in the processing unit under a voice communication system including a gateway device having a standby processing unit in a standby state for switching,
Detecting a failure of some of the plurality of channels in the processing unit;
Transmitting the first information indicating that the processing unit is in a pre-blocking state to the gateway control device;
After the completion of the voice communication by the user, all calls in the voice communication in the channel not affected by the failure are instructed by an instruction from the gateway control apparatus that does not perform a new call setting after the reception of the first information. When disconnected, set the processing unit to the failure state and transition from the pre-blocking state to the blocking state, and set the preliminary processing unit to an operational state that can be used,
Switching the operation by the processing unit to the operation by the preliminary processing unit,
Failure switching method characterized by transmitting a second information indicating that the pre-processing unit is in operating state available to the gateway controller. A gateway control device that controls setting and disconnection of a call for voice communication; and a plurality of channels in which the call is set, and an IP network and a circuit switching network for each channel according to an instruction from the gateway control device Are connected to each other, the voice information received from one network is converted into voice information to be sent to the other network, and the processor is in a redundant configuration, and the processor is in operation. A failure switching program to be executed by a computer constituting the gateway device in a voice communication system including a gateway device having a standby processing unit in a standby state for switching,
A process of detecting a failure of some of the plurality of channels in the processing unit;
A process of transmitting, to the gateway control device, first information indicating that the processing unit is in a pre-blocking state upon detection of the failure ;
After the completion of the voice communication by the user, all calls in the voice communication in the channel not affected by the failure are instructed by an instruction from the gateway control apparatus that does not perform a new call setting after the reception of the first information. In the case of disconnection, the processing unit is set to a failure state to make a transition from the pre-blocking state to the blocking state, and the preliminary processing unit is set to an operational state that can be used. and the process of switching to,
A failure switching program for executing a process of transmitting second information indicating that the preliminary processing unit is usable to the gateway control apparatus . A recording medium on which the failure switching program according to claim 3 is recorded.

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