JP4003815B2 - International calling system and international calling system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a call system and a call method, and more particularly to an international call system and an international call method using an IP network.

Although the cost of international calls is lower than in the past, it is still expensive compared to the call charges for domestic calls, and it is troublesome to enter the phone number of an unfamiliar overseas partner. . Moreover, recently, a plurality of business operators provide international call services, and it is necessary to select and enter a desired identification number before the international identification number, country code, and destination telephone number. To make an international call at a lower price, you may need to register for MyLine.

On the other hand, an IP telephone using the Internet has been attracting attention as a system that enables a telephone call at a low communication cost. An IP telephone call method will be briefly described. First, when the other party's telephone number is input from the telephone according to a predetermined format, the VoIP gateway that has received the calling signal confirms the IP address of the gateway corresponding to the other party's telephone number with the gatekeeper, and connects based on the IP address and the telephone number. The request and the call signal are transmitted to the other party's VoIP gateway, and the other party's VoIP gateway calls the other party's telephone to complete the incoming call. During a call, one gateway digitizes an analog signal to convert it into an IP packet, adds information such as the IP address of the other gateway, and transmits it to the other gateway via the Internet. The other gateway that has received the IP packet from one gateway converts the IP packet into a voice signal and transmits it to the telephone.

Although IP telephones are also used for international calls, the features of the international telephone service using the conventional dedicated IP telephone network are as follows: (1) destination telephone number (country code + area code + telephone number) ) Must be dialed with a number of specific access numbers, ID numbers, passwords, etc. (2) Although some access numbers can be pre-registered in the phone, it is a setting for each phone.・ When there are multiple telephones, it is difficult for the user side to make it known well. (3) When receiving the current service, the telephone number of the calling party should be given in advance to the service company, mainly to prevent “completed”. There are problems such as the need to apply for registration, (4) restrictions on the telephone environment on the user side, and the line environment of the Internet connection.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-228561 describes a call system that aims to allow a user of an Internet telephone to make a call smoothly with the same feeling as a normal telephone. In Patent Document 1, an Internet special number is added in front of a telephone number, and in the case of an international call, it is necessary to dial the Internet special number in front of a country code, and forget to dial the Internet special number. If this happens, it will be an international call using the general international telephone network. In the first place, in the case of international calls, the destination telephone number is different from the telephone number of the home country in terms of the number of digits and the numbering system, so dialing is more complicated and error-prone than normal domestic telephones.
JP 2000-22814

An object of the present invention is to enable an international call using an IP network by using a domestic telephone number familiar to a caller.

In order to solve this problem, the international call system adopted by the present invention includes a first call network connected to a caller's telephone in the first country and a second call network connected to a caller's telephone in the second country. A first gateway connecting the first telephone network and the IP network, a second gateway connecting the second telephone network and the IP network, and an IP of the second gateway corresponding to one or more telephone numbers of the recipients It has an access control server that manages addresses, and a database server that associates a temporary telephone number, which is a telephone number in the first country, with one or more telephone numbers of the recipient, and inputs the temporary telephone number from the sender's telephone By doing so, it is possible to make a call with the receiver's telephone.

In the international call system, the access control server searches the database server for the telephone number of the recipient based on the temporary telephone number received from the first gateway in response to a request from the first gateway, and the received reception The IP address of the second gateway corresponding to the telephone number of the subscriber is searched, and the telephone number of the recipient and the IP address corresponding to the telephone number are transmitted to the first gateway.

The international call system adopted by the present invention includes a first call network connected to a first domestic caller telephone, a second call network connected to a second domestic caller telephone, Managing the IP address of the first gateway that connects the telephone network and the IP network, the second gateway that connects the second telephone network and the IP network, and the second gateway corresponding to one or more telephone numbers of the recipients It uses an access control server and a database server that associates a temporary telephone number, which is a first domestic telephone number, with one or more telephone numbers of the recipient. The first gateway that called and received the temporary telephone number receives the telephone number of the recipient telephone associated with the temporary telephone number and the IP of the second gateway corresponding to the telephone number of the recipient telephone. The access control server queries the access control server, the access control server queries the database server for the telephone number of the recipient's telephone associated with the temporary telephone number, and the access control server receives the corresponding temporary telephone number from the database server. Obtains the telephone number of the recipient's telephone and sends the telephone number of the recipient's telephone and the IP address of the second gateway corresponding to the telephone number of the recipient's telephone to the first gateway, According to the IP address of the gateway, the telephone number of the recipient's telephone is transmitted to the second gateway, the second gateway calls the telephone number of the recipient's telephone, and during the call, the first gateway and the second gateway are Conversion from an audio signal to an IP packet and conversion from an IP packet to an audio signal are performed.

According to the present invention, it is possible to make a call with a foreign country simply by dialing a familiar temporary telephone number.

FIG. 1 shows a call system according to the present invention. The call system includes a PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) connected to a telephone (terminal A) of a caller A in Japan, and a PSTN ( A VoIP gateway (GW-A) in Japan that connects a public switched telephone network) and a dedicated IP network, and a foreign VoIP gateway (GW-B) that connects a foreign public switched telephone network (PSTN) and a dedicated IP network And a telephone (terminal B) of an overseas recipient B connected to an overseas public switched telephone network (PSTN). The call system further manages an IP address of an overseas VoIP gateway (GW-B) corresponding to the telephone number of the receiver B and controls access between the caller's telephone and the receiver's telephone. It has a control server (GKSI-1) and a telephone number management database server. Note that the telephone network employed by the present invention is not limited to PSTN.

The caller telephone (terminal-A) of caller A in Japan is a fixed telephone or a mobile phone. In order to make an international call from a telephone using this system, the caller needs to obtain a temporary telephone number in advance. The temporary telephone number is a fixed telephone number (0ABJ system) used in Japan and is a domestic telephone number such as 03-1234-5678. The temporary phone number may be a “0X0 series” number (IP phone number starting with 050). A temporary telephone number is obtained for each overseas recipient. Specifically, for example, when there are three overseas recipients B-1, B-2, and B-3 that the caller A wants to call, the caller A is the recipient B-1. It is necessary to acquire three temporary telephone numbers for the receiver, the receiver B-2, and the receiver B-3. The telephone (terminal-B) of the overseas recipient B is a fixed telephone or a mobile phone. When the receiver B uses a plurality of telephones, the telephone numbers of the plurality of receivers B can be associated with one temporary telephone number assigned between the caller A and the receiver B. .

A temporary telephone number, which is a telephone number in Japan, is associated with the telephone number of a recipient's telephone located overseas. As shown in FIG. 2, the telephone number management database server placed in the dedicated IP network stores a table associating the temporary telephone number with the telephone number of the recipient's telephone. When the receiver uses a plurality of telephones, a plurality of destination numbers may be associated with one temporary telephone number.

A VoIP gateway (GW-A) in Japan is arranged at a contact point between a PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) in Japan and a dedicated IP network. The VoIP gateway (GW-A) in Japan performs outgoing / incoming signaling based on the temporary telephone number dialed from the caller's telephone, digitizes the voice signal and converts it into an IP packet, Convert to audio signal. The overseas VoIP gateway (GW-B) is located at the contact point between the overseas public switched telephone network (PSTN) and the dedicated IP network, and performs outgoing / incoming signaling based on the telephone number of the recipient associated with the temporary telephone number. Go to make a call to the recipient's telephone, convert the digitized IP packet into a voice signal, and digitize the voice signal into an IP packet.

The access control server (GKSI-1) controls a call between a caller's telephone and a receiver's telephone, and is configured by a gatekeeper or a SIP server. When the access control server (GKSI-1) receives the temporary telephone number from the VoIP gateway (GW-A) in Japan, it searches the telephone number management database server for the destination telephone number associated with the temporary telephone number. Request and obtain the destination telephone number from the telephone number management database server. Further, the access control server (GKSI-1) searches the IP address of the overseas VoIP gateway (GW-B) corresponding to the destination telephone number corresponding to the destination telephone number, and the destination corresponding to the temporary telephone number. The IP address of the overseas VoIP gateway (GW-B) corresponding to the telephone number and the destination telephone number is transmitted to the VoIP gateway (GW-A) in Japan. In one aspect, the access control server (GKSI-1) stores a correspondence database of the destination telephone number and the IP address. Although the access control server and the telephone number database server are shown separately in the figure, the access control server may also serve as the telephone number database server (part of the access control server). Further, a telephone number management device may be included including an access control server and a telephone number database server.

A call method using the call system according to the present invention will be described. First, as advance preparation, the caller (A) determines the telephone number (s) of the telephone (terminal-B) of the receiver of the specific receiver (B). The temporary telephone number determined for each caller (A) and the telephone number of terminal-B are registered in association with the “telephone number management database server”. In the call system according to the present invention, the caller (A) does not request a specific ID and password.

The call flow will be described.
Step (1): The caller (A) dials a temporary telephone number determined for each caller (A) from the caller telephone (terminal-A). In this system, caller authentication is not performed. Therefore, by inputting the temporary telephone number, even a caller other than the caller (A) can make an international call to the receiver (B) using the present system. In this system, since it is not necessary to manage the telephone number of the caller's telephone (terminal-A), the caller (A) can dial the temporary telephone number to receive the recipient (from the office or from home) You can call B). Even if there is “spoofing”, there is no problem because the other party will make a wrong call. Therefore, this system can reduce the cost of maintaining security (particularly, “spoofing” measures).

Step (2): When the VoIP gateway (GW-A) in Japan receives the temporary telephone number from the caller (A), it makes an approval request to the access control server (GKSI-1) and receives the recipient (B). The IP address of the overseas VoIP gateway (GW-B) corresponding to the other party's telephone number is inquired.

Step (3): The access control server (GKSI-1) accesses the telephone number management DB server in response to a request from the VoIP gateway (GW-A) in Japan, and the temporary telephone number registered in advance The destination telephone number 1 (terminal-B telephone number) associated with is searched.

Step (4): The telephone number management DB server transmits the retrieved destination telephone number 1 (terminal-B telephone number) to the access control server (GKSI-1).

Step (5): The access control server (GKSI-1) receives the IP of the overseas VoIP gateway (GW-B) corresponding to the destination telephone number 1 (terminal-B telephone number) acquired from the telephone number management DB server. Search the address, add the destination telephone number 1 (terminal-B telephone number) and the IP address of the gateway (GW-B) corresponding to the telephone number, and confirm the approval in the VoIP gateway (GW-A in Japan) ).

Step (6): The VoIP gateway (GW-A) in Japan receives a destination telephone number 1 (terminal-B telephone number) and a gateway (GW) corresponding to the telephone number from the access control server (GKSI-1). -B) When receiving the IP address, the gateway (GW-B) is connected to the other party's telephone (terminal-B) with the other party's telephone number 1 (terminal-B's telephone number) prior to communication. Send a paging signal to establish.

Step (7): The gateway (GW-B) calls the destination telephone (terminal-B) via the local PSTN network and rings the destination telephone (terminal-B).

Step (8): When the destination telephone (terminal-B) starts calling, the gateway (GW-B) calls to establish a connection with terminal-B to the VoIP gateway (GW-A) in Japan. Send a signal.

Step (9): After establishing the connection between the overseas VoIP gateway (GW-B) and the domestic VoIP gateway (GW-A), the domestic VoIP gateway (GW-A) and the overseas VoIP gateway (GW) -B) sends active call information to the access control server (GKSI-1).

Step (10): The other party's handset is picked up and the call is started. A voice signal transmitted from a telephone of a domestic caller via a telephone network is digitized by a VoIP gateway (GW-A) in Japan and converted into an IP packet, and then the VoIP gateway abroad via a dedicated IP network. The foreign VoIP gateway (GW-B) converts the received IP packet into a voice signal and transmits it to the receiver's telephone via the telephone network. Similarly, the voice signal transmitted from the other party's telephone through the telephone network is digitized by an overseas VoIP gateway (GW-B) and converted into an IP packet, and the domestic VoIP gateway is transmitted via a dedicated IP network. The domestic VoIP gateway (GW-A) converts the received IP packet into a voice signal and transmits it to a domestic telephone via the telephone network.

After the step (9), if the call with the destination does not start, the destination phone number 2 is acquired in the step (3), and the destination is similarly called in the flow after the step (4). If the destination telephone number 2 is not registered, or if the destination telephone number 2 is called and the other party's response or call does not start, the overseas VoIP gateway (GW-B) will be able to use VoIP in Japan. The call signal to the gateway (GW-A) is disconnected and a call termination cancellation request is transmitted to the access control server (GKSI-1).

The call release flow will be described. When the call is terminated at terminal-A (or terminal-B), GW-A (or GW-B) transmits a call termination cancellation request to GKSI-1. GKSI-1 responds and sends a release confirmation to the VoIP gateway (GW-A) (or GW-B) in Japan. GW-A (or GW-B) disconnects the call signal to GW-B (or GW-A). GW-B (or GW-A) transmits a call termination cancellation request to GKSI-1. The call ends.

As described above, the caller dials a temporary telephone number in Japan, and the input information (call signal + voice signal) is IP packetized by a domestic gateway and pre-registered by a gatekeeper or SIP server. The foreign telephone number information (the other party's telephone number + IP address) is added, and it can pass through the gateway of the corresponding partner country via the IP network and enter the domestic public line network of the partner country. Therefore, a temporary phone number in Japan, which is the most familiar in Japan (for example, users in Tokyo are NTT subscriber numbers (03-XXXXXX). It is possible to make a call directly over the IP network by simply dialing XX-XXXXX. In addition, since a plurality of destination telephone numbers can be registered in advance, if the first number cannot be connected, the connection can be made by automatically switching to the next number.

The present invention relates to an international call system, and is based on overseas bases, companies that have business with foreign countries, business owners, and offices in Japan. Japan for callers from overseas and overseas companies and business owners who are based in Japan, overseas students, international students for overseas calls, overseas travelers, overseas travelers Japan It can be used for domestic calls.

1 is an overall view of an international call system according to the present invention. It is a table which shows a telephone number management database.

Claims (6)

A first call network connected to the caller phones in Japan is the first country,
A second telephone network connected to a telephone of a second domestic recipient;
A first gateway connecting the first telephone network and the IP network;
A second gateway connecting the second telephone network and the IP network;
An access control server that manages the IP address of the second gateway corresponding to the recipient's one or more telephone numbers;
A database server that associates a temporary telephone number, which is a first domestic 0ABJ system or 0X0 system telephone number acquired for each receiver by a sender, and one or more second domestic telephone numbers of the receiver;
An international call system in which a call can be made to a recipient's telephone in the second country by inputting a temporary telephone number that is a 0ABJ or 0X0 series telephone number in the first country from the sender's telephone.   In response to a request from the first gateway, the access control server searches the telephone number of the recipient from the database server based on the temporary phone number received from the first gateway, and corresponds to the retrieved recipient's phone number. 2. The international gateway according to claim 1, wherein the IP address of the second gateway is searched, and the telephone number of the recipient and the IP address corresponding to the telephone number are transmitted to the first gateway. Call system. A first call network connected to the caller phones in Japan is the first country,
A second telephone network connected to a telephone of a second domestic recipient;
A first gateway connecting the first telephone network and the IP network;
A second gateway connecting the second telephone network and the IP network;
An access control server that manages the IP address of the second gateway corresponding to the recipient's one or more telephone numbers;
International using a database server that associates a temporary telephone number, which is a first domestic 0ABJ system or 0X0 system telephone number acquired by the sender for each receiver, and one or more second domestic telephone numbers of the receiver A call system,
Enter the temporary phone number that is the 0ABJ or 0X0 phone number in the first country from the caller's phone,
The first gateway that received the temporary telephone number that is the 0ABJ system or 0X0 system telephone number in the first country is the second domestic recipient associated with the temporary telephone number that is the 0ABJ system or 0X0 system telephone number in the first country. Querying the access control server for the IP address of the second gateway corresponding to the telephone number of the telephone and the telephone number of the recipient's telephone;
The access control server queries the database server for the telephone number of the second domestic recipient's telephone associated with the temporary telephone number which is the 0ABJ system or 0X0 system telephone number in the first country,
The access control server obtains the telephone number of the recipient's telephone in the second country corresponding to the temporary telephone number that is the 0ABJ series or 0X0 series telephone number in the first country from the database server, Sending the IP address of the second gateway corresponding to the telephone number of the recipient's telephone to the first gateway;
The first gateway sends the telephone number of the recipient's telephone to the second gateway according to the IP address of the second gateway,
The second gateway calls the telephone number of the recipient's phone,
An international call system in which the first gateway and the second gateway convert voice signals to IP packets and IP packets to voice signals during a call. Placed in the IP network, there is provided an apparatus for managing a telephone number to be used for international calls, the device temporary telephone number and a second country which is a 0ABJ system or 0X0 system phone number in Japan is the first country If a temporary phone number that is a 0ABJ or 0X0 phone number in the first country is input from a caller in the first country, a database that associates one or more phone numbers of recipients of In response to a request from the first gateway, the telephone number of the second domestic recipient corresponding to the temporary telephone number which is the 0ABJ system or 0X0 system telephone number in the first country is provided to the first domestic gateway. Telephone number management device. 5. The telephone number management server according to claim 4, wherein the telephone number management server has a database of one or more telephone numbers of recipients in the second country and a second country gateway IP address corresponding to the telephone number, A telephone number management apparatus configured to provide an IP address of a gateway in a second country corresponding to the telephone number in two countries to the gateway in the first country. 6. The telephone number management device according to claim 5, wherein the telephone number management apparatus manages an IP address of a second gateway corresponding to one or more telephone numbers of the recipient, a temporary telephone number that is a first domestic telephone number, A telephone number management apparatus comprising a database server that associates one or more telephone numbers of recipients.

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