JP4774884B2 - Communication terminal with softphone function - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication terminal having an IP telephone function via a VoIP network and a data communication function via the VoIP network.

  Today, CRM (Customer Relationship Mamagement) for customer management and SFA (Sales Force Automation) for sales support are used for communication terminals such as personal computers and PDAs (Personal Data Assistants) with telephone and data communication functions. Various terminal application programs for various business purposes have been provided. For example, as an application for SFA, groupware for managing a sales activity schedule of a salesman can be cited.

  Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a configuration in which two conventional communication terminals 1 and 4 attempt data communication between external APs that are terminal applications via a VoIP network 7. The communication terminals 1 and 4 are provided with softphones 3 and 6 using VoIP technology so that a telephone call can be made. Also, for external APs 1 and 3, a softphone function is provided by API (Application Program Interface) 2 and 5. According to such a configuration, if a call is established by the softphones 3 and 6, data communication between the external APs 1 and 3 should be possible in the same way as communication of a call signal.

  However, the terminal application knows where the communication terminal of the transmission destination is arranged on the IP network as the VoIP network 7 in order to recognize the communication terminal of the opposite transmission destination by “phone number” or “name”. I can't. Therefore, there has been a problem that data communication cannot be performed directly between terminal applications of opposing communication terminals.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a communication terminal that enables data communication with a partner communication terminal even by recognizing the partner communication terminal based on terminal identification information such as a telephone number or a name.

A communication terminal according to the present invention is a communication terminal having an IP telephone function via a VoIP network, and a call control message including the destination telephone number in the VoIP network in response to a data transmission request accompanied by a destination telephone number. Destination IP address determining means for determining an IP address of a response communication terminal that issues a response message to the call control message as a destination IP address corresponding to the destination telephone number, and the destination IP A data transmitting means for transmitting transmission target information corresponding to the data transmission request toward an address; a data receiving means for receiving transmission target information transmitted by a transmission source communication terminal having a transmission source IP address; and the transmission source The transmission source telephone number included in the call control message supplied to the VoIP network by the communication terminal The telephone number storage means for storing the information in correspondence with the transmission source IP address and the recorded transmission source telephone number are output together with the transmission target information transmitted by the transmission source communication terminal having the transmission source IP address corresponding to the telephone number storage means. Transmission target information output means, terminal application means for performing data processing on the data transmission request and / or output of the transmission target information output means, destination IP address determination means and transmission target information for the terminal application means And AP interface means for providing an execution control function of the output means .

  According to the communication terminal of the present invention, when data is transferred between terminal applications installed in the communication terminal, the terminal identification information such as a telephone number is converted into an IP address by cooperating with the softphone function. Is given. Thus, data communication with the partner communication terminal can be performed even by recognizing the partner communication terminal based on the terminal identification information such as a telephone number and a name.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
<First embodiment>
FIG. 2 is a first embodiment of the present invention, and shows the overall configuration including two terminals facing each other via a VoIP network. Here, the two communication terminals 10 and 20 are connected to the VoIP network 30. The VoIP network 30 is a network that provides an IP telephone service using the VoIP technology, and has a call control function such as a soft switch.

  The communication terminal 10 is a communication terminal such as a PDA, for example, a terminal application 11 such as groupware, a softphone function unit 12 that performs an IP telephone function via the VoIP network 31, and a data communication function via the IP network 32. The data transmission / reception unit 16 is provided. The terminal application 11 controls the execution of the softphone function unit 12 via the first AP interface 13 and also controls the execution of the softphone function unit 12 and the data transmission / reception unit 16 via the second AP interface 15.

  The first AP interface 13 provides the terminal application 11 with a function for executing and controlling the softphone function unit 12. Thereby, the terminal application 11 can indirectly use the telephone function of the softphone function unit 12. The second AP interface 15 provides the terminal application 11 with a function of executing and controlling the data transmission / reception unit 16 and the softphone function unit 12. Thereby, the terminal application 11 can indirectly use the telephone number and IP address conversion function and the data transmission / reception function via the VoIP network 30 provided in the softphone function unit 12.

  The softphone function unit 12 has an IP telephone function that operates in accordance with designation of a destination telephone number, and a destination IP address corresponding to the destination telephone number by exchanging a call control message and a response message with the VoIP network 30. And a function of recording the correspondence relationship between the call destination telephone number and the call destination IP address obtained in the telephone number-IP address conversion register 14 (see FIG. 3). The data transmission / reception unit 16 has a data transmission / reception function for transmitting / receiving data via the VoIP network 30, and particularly has a transmission function for transmitting transmission target information requested for data transmission to a communication terminal having a transmission destination IP address.

  The communication terminal 20 has the same configuration as the communication terminal 10 and is a communication terminal such as a PDA. Accordingly, the communication terminal 20 includes a terminal application 21 such as groupware, a softphone function unit 22 that performs a telephone function via the VoIP network 31, and a data transmission / reception unit 26 that performs a data communication function via the IP network 32. Contains. The softphone function unit 22 includes a telephone number-IP address conversion register 24 as in the first embodiment. Similarly, the terminal application 21 controls the execution of the softphone function unit 22 via the first AP interface 23 and also controls the execution of the softphone function unit 22 and the data transmission / reception unit 16 via the second AP interface 25. .

  FIG. 3 shows a configuration example of a telephone number-IP address conversion register included in the softphone function unit shown in FIG. Each of the telephone number-IP address conversion registers 14 and 24 is provided in each communication terminal, and when a telephone call is started or when a data communication request is generated, a call corresponding to the call destination telephone number of the other communication terminal. The destination IP address is recorded.

  FIG. 4 shows a processing procedure in the first embodiment. This processing procedure is premised on an operation in which the communication terminal 10 that is a transmitting terminal performs data communication with the communication terminal 20 that is a receiving terminal.

  First, the terminal application 11 of the communication terminal 10 makes a telephone call request (step S101). The terminal application 11 makes a call request using the first AP interface 13 (see FIG. 2) in order to make a call using the telephone function of the softphone. The call request is a call control message supplied to the VoIP network, and a call destination telephone number that specifies the other party, that is, the communication terminal 20 is specified.

  In response to the call request, the softphone function unit 12 of the communication terminal 10 performs a phone call request and an IP address exchange (step S102). At the same time, the softphone function unit 22 of the communication terminal 20 performs a telephone call request and an IP address exchange (step S103). That is, response messages are exchanged by the call control by the VoIP network 31 in response to the call request. By extracting the IP address of the opposing communication terminal from the response message, the IP address is exchanged between the softphone function unit 12 and the receiving-side softphone function unit 22. As a result, the correspondence between the call destination telephone number and the call destination IP address is associated with each other.

  Next, the softphone function unit 12 of the communication terminal 10 records the correspondence between the call destination telephone number that specifies the communication terminal 20 and the call destination IP address in the phone number-IP address conversion register provided in the communication terminal 10 (step). S104). Similarly, the softphone function unit 22 of the communication terminal 20 records the correspondence relationship between the call destination telephone number specifying the communication terminal 10 and the call destination IP address in the phone number-IP address conversion register included in the communication terminal 20 ( Step S105).

  Here, it is assumed that the terminal application 11 of the communication terminal 10 makes a data transmission request (step S106). That is, when the terminal application 11 wants to exchange information with the terminal application 21 of the communication terminal 20 that is currently talking, the terminal application 11 sends a data transmission request to the second AP interface 15. At this time, the terminal application 11 designates the destination telephone number for designating the other party as the destination telephone number, and designates transmission target information to be transmitted.

  In response to the data transmission request, the second AP interface 15 requests the destination IP address by designating the destination telephone number to the softphone function unit 12 (step S107). On the other hand, the softphone function unit 12 obtains an IP address from a telephone number designated with reference to a telephone number-IP address conversion register. In the telephone number-IP address conversion register, the IP address of the communication destination, that is, the communication terminal 20 recorded in step S104 is set. Thus, it is determined that the transmission destination telephone number matches the call destination telephone number. The softphone function unit 12 notifies the second AP interface 15 of the IP address as a destination IP address (step S108). In response to this notification, the second AP interface 15 transmits the transmission target information requested to be transmitted from the terminal application 11 to the transmission destination IP address, that is, the communication terminal 20 via the data transmission / reception unit 16 (step S1). S109).

  In response to the transmission of the transmission target information, the second AP interface 25 of the communication terminal 20 receives the transmission target information via the data transmission / reception unit 26 (step S110). At this time, the second AP interface 25 recognizes the transmission destination, that is, the IP address of the communication terminal 10, and requests the telephone number corresponding to the IP address from the softphone function unit 22 (step S111). The softphone function unit 22 obtains a telephone number from the IP address designated with reference to the telephone number-IP address conversion register. In the telephone number-IP address conversion register, the telephone number recorded in step S105, that is, the telephone number of the communication terminal 10 is set. Next, the softphone function unit 22 notifies the second AP interface 25 of the telephone number (step S112). The second AP interface 25 outputs the transmission target information received together with the telephone number to the terminal application 21 (step S113). The terminal application 21 performs necessary information processing on the transmission target information (step S114).

  In the first embodiment described above, when the communication terminal according to the present invention is used and each terminal application tries to exchange data during a telephone call using the softphone function, each terminal application sets the destination IP address. Data communication can be performed only by being aware of only the destination telephone number without being conscious of it.

In the first embodiment, the transmission destination is specified using a telephone number as a parameter to be passed to the second AP interface 15, but the softphone function unit 12 may be any parameter that can identify the communication destination, and the telephone number It is also possible to use terminal identification information such as a name instead.
<Second embodiment>
FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram showing a processing procedure in the second embodiment. The configuration of the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. The processing procedure is based on the premise that data communication is performed between terminal applications with the communication terminal 10 as a transmission side and the communication terminal 20 as a reception side when the communication terminal 10 and the communication terminal 20 are not in a telephone call. .

  First, the terminal application 11 of the communication terminal 10 makes a data transmission request (step S201). At this time, the terminal application 11 makes a data transmission request to the second AP interface 15 by designating a destination number, that is, a telephone number for designating the communication terminal 20 and transmission target information to be transmitted.

  In response to the data transmission request, the second AP interface 15 requests the IP address by specifying the destination telephone number to the softphone function unit 12 (step S202). On the other hand, the softphone function unit 12 tries to obtain the IP address from the telephone number designated by using the telephone number-IP address conversion register. Unlike the first embodiment, however, the softphone function unit 12 makes a call with the other party. Because it is before, the telephone number-IP address conversion register does not record the destination telephone number, and the IP address cannot be obtained from the telephone number. Therefore, the softphone function unit 12 executes the SIPMEAASAGE method specifying the destination telephone number for the VoIP network (step S203). The MESSAGE is added with a unique option parameter indicating that it is based on a method triggered by a conversion request between a telephone number and an IP address, and functions as a call control message for the VoIP network.

  In response to the execution of the MESSAGE method via the VoIP network, the softphone function unit 22 of the communication terminal 20 returns a response (response message) to the MESSAGE method to the softphone function unit 12 of the communication terminal 10 (step) S204). Here, if an optional parameter is given when the MESSAGE method is received, the softphone function unit 22 does not notify the user of reception of the MESSAGE method, and does not notify the user of the softphone function unit 12 that is the transmission source. A response is returned.

  In response to the response, the softphone function unit 12 recognizes that the source IP address of the response is the IP address of the communication terminal 20, that is, the destination IP address, and the destination phone number and the destination IP. The correspondence with the address is recorded in the telephone number-IP address conversion register built in the terminal itself (step S205). On the other hand, the softphone function unit 22 also records the correspondence between the telephone number of the communication terminal 10 and its IP address in the telephone number-IP address conversion register built in the terminal itself (step S206). Next, the softphone function unit 12 notifies the second AP interface 15 of the IP address recorded in the telephone number-IP address conversion register (step S207).

  In response to this notification, the second AP interface 15 transmits the transmission target information requested to be transmitted from the terminal application 11 to the IP address, that is, the communication terminal 20 via the data transmitter / receiver 16 (step S208). . In response to the transmission of the information, the second AP interface 25 of the communication terminal 20 receives the transmission target information via the data transmission / reception unit 26 (step S209). The subsequent processing is the same as steps S112 to S114 in the first embodiment.

  In the second embodiment described above, when data exchange between terminal applications is necessary before a call, a unique option can be used between softphone functions without notifying the user in response to a data transmission request. Communication using the SIP MESSAGE method with the parameter added is performed, and the correspondence between the telephone number and the IP address is resolved. Thus, the terminal application can perform data communication with the partner terminal application using only the destination telephone number without being aware of the partner IP address.

  In the second embodiment, the correspondence between the telephone number and the IP address is solved using the SIP MESSAGE method, but communication between the softphone functions is performed end-to-end, such as the SIP OPTIONS method. A similar function can be realized using a possible non-INVITE method.

  In the above embodiments, each communication terminal is identified by a telephone number. Instead, it can be identified by a terminal user name or other terminal identification information.

  The communication terminal according to the present invention can be applied not only to a personal computer having a softphone function but also to a communication terminal such as a handheld computer such as a PDA (Personal Data Assistant) having a telephone function and a mobile phone.

It is explanatory drawing explaining the problem in the two conventional communication terminals which oppose via a VoIP network. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration including two communication terminals facing each other via a VoIP network according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the telephone number-IP address conversion register contained in the softphone function part shown by FIG. It is a sequence diagram which shows the process sequence in a 1st Example. It is a sequence diagram which shows the process sequence in a 2nd Example.

Explanation of symbols

10, 20 Communication terminal 11, 21 Terminal application 12, 22 Softphone function unit 13, 23 First AP interface 14, 24 Telephone number-IP address conversion register 15, 25 Second AP interface 16, 26 Data transmission / reception unit 30 VoIP network

Claims (3)

A communication terminal having an IP telephone function via a VoIP network,
In response to a data transmission request with a destination telephone number, a call control message including the destination telephone number is supplied to the VoIP network, and an IP address of a response communication terminal that issues a response message in response to the call control message, Destination IP address determining means for determining as a destination IP address corresponding to the destination telephone number;
Data transmission means for transmitting transmission target information corresponding to the data transmission request toward the transmission destination IP address;
Data receiving means for receiving transmission target information transmitted by a transmission source communication terminal having a transmission source IP address;
Telephone number storage means for storing a transmission source telephone number included in a call control message supplied to the VoIP network by the transmission source communication terminal in association with the transmission source IP address;
Transmission target information output means for outputting the recorded transmission source telephone number together with transmission target information transmitted by a transmission source communication terminal having a transmission source IP address corresponding thereto;
Terminal application means for performing data processing on the data transmission request and / or output of the transmission target information output means;
AP interface means for providing execution control functions of the transmission destination IP address determination means and the transmission target information output means to the terminal application means;
A communication terminal comprising:   The destination IP address determining means determines whether or not the destination telephone number matches the destination telephone number that is currently in a call, and if it matches the destination telephone number, the transmission destination IP number is transmitted to the VoIP network. 2. The communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein the call destination IP address is determined as a destination IP address corresponding to the destination telephone number without supplying a call control message including the destination telephone number. The communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein the communication terminal is identified by a terminal user name or other terminal identification information instead of the telephone number.

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