JP5338621B2 - Telephone control device having peer-to-peer connection request function - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a telephone control apparatus such as a private branch exchange apparatus or a key telephone main apparatus that accommodates an external line and an IP (Internet Protocol) extension.

With the speeding up and cost reduction of IP networks, telephone control devices (for example, IP-PBX and IP button telephone main devices) that accommodate IP extensions are becoming widespread.
Normally, in this type of telephone control apparatus, N (N> M) IP extension terminals are connected via a LAN (Local Area Network) to the number M of call channels that can be controlled by a built-in extension interface unit. . Therefore, when there is no idle channel in the call channel controlled by the IP extension interface unit at the time of outgoing / incoming call of the IP extension terminal, the channel becomes busy.

As a technique for improving this, when a plurality of interface units are prepared, and an incoming call arrives at the first interface unit and there is no empty channel in the first interface unit, the incoming call is sent without going through the central control unit. There is a technique for transferring to an interface unit 2 (Patent Document 1).
However, although the technique of Patent Document 1 has an effect of reducing the processing of the central control unit of the telephone control device, it is not economical because it adds an interface unit.

JP 2007-124037 A

  An object of the present invention is to provide a telephone control device capable of receiving an incoming call from an external line or making a call to an external line even in a situation where a call channel is insufficient due to an extension call.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the first invention is to accommodate an external line and an IP extension, exchange voice data between the external line and the IP extension, and a plurality of IP extension terminals connected to the IP extension In the telephone control apparatus for controlling the telephone, the extension communication means for transmitting / receiving voice data to / from the IP extension terminal via any of a plurality of call channels formed on the IP extension, and the extension communication means for transmitting / receiving voice data Extension call means for relaying voice data of two or more IP extension terminals to each other, channel monitoring means for monitoring whether or not there are empty call channels in the plurality of call channels, and a predetermined IP extension terminal Peer-to-peer transition requesting means for requesting transition to a peer-to-peer connection without going through its own telephone control device, and receiving from the outside line or the When there is an outgoing call and the channel monitoring means detects a shortage of available call channels, the peer-to-peer transition requesting means establishes a peer-to-peer connection to the IP extension terminals that are performing extension calls with each other by the extension call means. It is characterized by requiring the transition to.

  Further, the second invention further includes a return instruction means for instructing the IP extension terminal shifted to the peer-to-peer connection to return to the extension call by the extension call means in the telephone control device of the first invention. When the channel monitoring means detects the presence of two or more idle call channels, the return instruction means instructs the IP extension terminal that has shifted to the peer-to-peer connection to return to the extension call by the extension call means. It is characterized by doing.

  Further, the third invention is the telephone control device of the first or second invention, wherein address information relating to a telephone number of a specific communication partner to be preferentially received or a specific IP extension terminal to be preferentially transmitted If the incoming call from the external line or the outgoing call is not an incoming call or outgoing call related to the address information registered in the specific address registration means, the channel monitoring means is free. Even when a shortage of a call channel is detected, the peer-to-peer transition requesting means does not request a transition to a peer-to-peer connection from the IP extension terminal during the extension call.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a telephone control device capable of receiving an incoming call from an external line or making a call to an external line even when a call channel is insufficient due to an extension call.

... System configuration diagram including telephone control device according to the present invention ... Block configuration diagram of telephone control device according to the present invention ... Sequence diagram according to the present invention

  Hereinafter, embodiments of a telephone control device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram including a telephone control device (hereinafter abbreviated as this device) 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus 1 is a main unit of a private branch exchange (IP-PBX) or a key telephone corresponding to an IP line, and an IP extension in which an IP external line 3 and N IP extension terminals 2 (2a to 2n) are connected. 4 is accommodated, and voice data exchange processing is executed between the IP external line 3 and the IP extension 4 and between the IP extensions 4.

  The IP extension terminal 2 is a telephone terminal such as an IP phone compatible with IP or a personal computer (soft phone) having an IP call function, and transmits / receives voice data digitally encoded by IP packets. The IP extension terminal 2 transmits and receives voice data to and from the apparatus 1 through a call channel of the IP extension 4 to make a call with an external line or another IP extension terminal 2. In addition, the IP extension terminal 2 has a peer-to-peer (hereinafter abbreviated as P2P) connection function that does not pass through the apparatus 1, and can directly talk with other IP extension terminals 2.

  The IP external line 3 is an access line to a WAN (Wide Area Network), and is, for example, a subscriber line such as an optical fiber, ADSL, or ISDN. The external line is not limited to the IP external line, and may be a general telephone line such as an analog line or an ISDN line.

  The IP extension 4 is a wired LAN or wireless LAN such as Ethernet (registered trademark), and a plurality of communication channels through which RTP (Real-time Transport Protocol) packets including voice data pass are formed in the band of the IP extension 4. . The upper limit of the number of call channels is limited by the LAN bandwidth or the data exchange processing capability of the apparatus 1. For example, when all 100 Mbps LAN bands are used as IP extensions, the number of call channels that can be secured is about 200 channels.

  FIG. 2 is an internal block configuration diagram of the apparatus 1, 10 is a main control unit that controls the entire apparatus 1, 11 is a communication control unit that executes control related to communication, and 12 is connected to the IP outside line 3. An IP external line interface unit, 13 is an IP extension interface unit connected to the IP extension 4, 14 is a P2P transition / return control unit, 15 is a specific address registration unit, and 16 is a free call channel monitoring unit.

  The communication control unit 11 executes communication processing and exchange processing related to the exchange of voice data between the IP external line interface unit 12 and the IP extension interface unit 13.

  In accordance with an instruction from the communication control unit 11, the P2P transfer / return control unit 14 uses the call channel to instruct the IP extension terminals in the extension call to shift to P2P connection with each other via the apparatus 1. Alternatively, a transition to the P2P connection is made, and a return to the original extension call using the call channel is instructed to the IP extension terminal that is in a peer-to-peer call.

  The specific address registration unit 15 is means for registering address information related to the telephone number of the communication partner to be preferentially received or the IP extension terminal 2 to be preferentially transmitted. If all incoming calls from the IP external line 3 or all outgoing calls to the IP external line 3 are given priority over the internal call, the specific address registration unit 15 may be omitted.

  The empty call channel monitoring unit 16 monitors the empty call channel of the IP extension interface unit 13 and notifies the main control unit 10 of the presence or absence of the empty or the lack of empty space.

  FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram according to the present invention, showing an example in which an incoming call addressed to the IP extension terminal 2c is received during an extension call between the IP extension terminal 2a and the IP extension terminal 2b. Yes, the operation sequence of the IP extension terminals other than 2a, 2b, and 2c is omitted. Note that the sequence of S340 indicated by a broken line is a case of an external line transmission request from the IP extension terminal 2c, and will be described later.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. While the IP extension terminal 2a and the IP extension terminal 2b are making an extension call that is returned by the apparatus 1 using the call channel a and the call channel b of the IP extension 4 (S301, S302), from the IP outside line 3 When there is an incoming call addressed to the IP extension terminal 2c (S303), the idle call channel monitoring unit 16 of the apparatus 1 checks whether there is an idle call channel in the IP extension interface unit 13, and if there is an idle call channel (S304). , Yes), normal incoming call processing is executed (S305). Description of the sequence related to normal incoming call processing is omitted.

  When there is no free call channel (S304, No), the main control unit 10 is notified that there is no free call channel. The main control unit 10 manages the operating state of each IP extension terminal 2, and when notified that there is no idle call channel, the main control unit 10 searches for the IP extension terminal 2 having an extension call, and calls the call channel a. And the presence of the IP extension terminal 2a and the IP extension terminal 2b that are communicating with each other using the call channel b.

  Further, the main control unit 10 refers to the specific address registration unit 15 and determines whether or not the incoming call source or destination in S303 is an address related to a specific telephone number (S306). If it is not a specific address (S306, No), a busy signal is returned to the caller of the incoming call (S303) (S307). The specific address registration unit 15 is a means for registering the address of a communication partner such as an important customer with high priority or the address of a specific IP extension terminal such as a specific person in charge or an emergency call. If all incoming calls from IP or all outgoing calls to IP external line 3 are prioritized over extension calls, this specific address registration unit 15 may be omitted. In this case, step S306 can be omitted.

  In the case of Yes in S306, the main control unit 10 receives the IP extension terminal 2a and the IP extension terminal 2b via the communication control unit 11 and the P2P transition / return control unit 14 in order to secure a call channel with the IP extension terminal 2c. Is instructed to shift to the P2P connection (S310, S311), and the call channel a and the call channel b used for the extension call are released. The IP extension terminal 2a and the IP extension terminal 2b instructed to shift to the P2P connection execute the process of shifting to the P2P connection (S312 and S313). The IP extension terminal 2a and the IP extension terminal 2b that have completed the transition to the P2P connection start a mutual call by the P2P connection not via the apparatus 1 (S314), and notify the apparatus 1 that the transition to the P2P connection has been completed. (S315, S316).

  Here, the transition process to the P2P connection (S312 and S313) will be described. For example, in the case of SIP (Session Initiation Protocol), the P2P transition / return control unit 14 instructs the IP extension terminal 2a to switch from the IP extension 4 that is the current connection partner to the IP extension terminal 2b (IP extension terminal 2b). At the same time, the P2P transition / return control unit 14 switches the IP extension terminal 2b from the IP extension 4 which is the current connection partner to the IP extension terminal 2a. An instruction (IP address and voice port number of the IP extension terminal 2a) is transmitted by the INVITE method. The IP extension terminal 2a and the IP extension terminal 2b shift to the P2P connection by transmitting and receiving voice packets to and from each other using the IP address and voice port number specified by the INVITE method.

  Even after the transition to the P2P connection, the control channel for exchanging the state monitoring and control commands remains established, and the main control 10 determines the operation state of the IP extension terminal 2a and the IP extension terminal 2b that have shifted to the P2P connection. Can manage.

  The communication control unit 11 notified of the completion of the transition to the P2P connection vacates the call channel a and the call channel b, calls the IP extension terminal 2c (S320), and when the IP extension terminal 2c responds (S321), it becomes empty. A call channel is established with the IP extension terminal 2c using a call channel (for example, call channel a), and the IP extension terminal 2c starts an outside line call via the apparatus 1 and the IP outside line 3 (S322, S323).

  When the call between the IP extension terminal 2c and the outside line ends (S324), the main control unit 10 determines whether or not the P2P call between the IP extension terminal 2a and the IP extension terminal 2b that has shifted to the P2P connection is continued, and two or more. It is determined whether there is a free call channel (S330). If No, this sequence ends (S331).

  When the P2P call continues and there are two or more idle call channels (S330, Yes), the extension call using the call channel is made to the IP extension terminal 2a and the IP extension terminal 2b during the P2P call. A return is instructed (S332, S333). Then, the IP extension terminal 2a and the IP extension terminal 2b cancel the P2P connection and perform the transition process to the extension call state using the designated call channel (S334, S335).

  As a result, the IP extension terminal 2a and the IP extension terminal 2b return to the extension call via the apparatus 1 (S336, S337) and can enjoy telephone services such as hold and hold transfer that the apparatus 1 has. It becomes.

  Here, the return processing (S334, S335) to the extension call will be described. For example, in the case of SIP, the P2P transition / return control unit 14 instructs the IP extension terminal 2a to switch from the IP extension terminal 2b that is the current connection partner to the IP extension 4 (the IP address of the IP extension 4). (Voice port number) is transmitted by the INVITE method. Similarly, the P2P transition / return control unit 14 instructs the IP extension terminal 2b to switch from the IP extension terminal 2a that is the current connection partner to the IP extension 4 (IP address and voice port number of the IP extension 4). ) Is transmitted by the INVITE method. Then, the IP extension terminal 2a and the IP extension terminal 2b are connected to the IP extension 4 with the IP address and voice port number specified by the INVITE method, and return to the extension call using the call channel a and the call channel b of the call control unit 11. To do.

  Next, a brief description will be given of a case where there is an external line transmission request via the IP external line 3 from the IP internal terminal 2c. If there is an external line transmission request from the IP extension terminal 2c to the IP external line 3 instead of S303 (S340), the same sequence as in S304 and after is executed, and if there is no available call channel, the IP extension terminal during the extension call Is shifted to the P2P connection (S312 and S313), and outgoing calls and telephone calls can be made. However, the portions of S320 and S321 relating to incoming calls are executed in place of exchange of commands relating to outgoing line transmission (not shown).

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a telephone control device capable of receiving a call from an external line or making a call to an external line even when a call channel is insufficient due to an internal call.

  In addition, since a normal extension call is an extension call via the apparatus 1, the IP extension terminal during the extension call can also enjoy various service functions of the apparatus 1.

  By the way, as an embodiment of the present invention, it has been described that IP extension terminals in an extension call are shifted to P2P connection when there is no available call channel. However, even if there is an available call channel, there is insufficient bandwidth. Even in the case where it is assumed, the IP extension terminals during the extension call may be shifted to the P2P connection. For example, when there is an incoming call or outgoing call requesting a wideband voice call (for example, a loud voice conference) that requires a band for a plurality of call channels, the bandwidth is insufficient even if there is an empty call channel for one normal voice call. . In this case, a necessary number of call channels may be opened.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Telephone control apparatus 2 ... IP extension terminal 3 ... IP outside line 4 ... IP extension 10 ... Main control part 11 ... Communication control part 12 ... IP outside line interface part 13 ..IP extension interface unit 14... P2P transition / recovery control unit 15... Specific address registration unit 16.

Claims (3)

In a telephone control apparatus that accommodates an external line and an IP extension, exchanges voice data between the external line and the IP extension, and controls a plurality of IP extension terminals connected to the IP extension.
Extension communication means for transmitting and receiving voice data to and from the IP extension terminal via any of a plurality of call channels formed on the IP extension, and voices of two or more IP extension terminals for transmitting and receiving voice data by the extension communication means Extension call means for relaying data to each other to make an extension call, channel monitoring means for monitoring whether or not there are empty call channels in the plurality of call channels, and a self-phone control device for a predetermined IP extension terminal Peer-to-peer transition requesting means for requesting transition to a peer-to-peer connection that does not pass through,
When there is an incoming call from the external line or an outgoing call to the external line, and the channel monitoring means detects a shortage of available call channels, the peer-to-peer transition requesting means A telephone control apparatus having a peer-to-peer connection request function, wherein an extension terminal is requested to shift to a peer-to-peer connection. The telephone control device according to claim 1, wherein
A return instruction means for instructing the IP extension terminal that has shifted to the peer-to-peer connection to return to the extension call by the extension call means;
When the channel monitoring means detects the presence of two or more idle call channels, the return instruction means instructs the IP extension terminal that has shifted to the peer-to-peer connection to return to the extension call by the extension call means. A telephone control apparatus having a peer-to-peer connection request function. The telephone control device according to claim 1 or 2,
Specific address registration means for registering address information related to the telephone number of a specific communication partner to be preferentially received or a specific IP extension terminal to be preferentially transmitted;
If the incoming call from the external line or the outgoing call to the external line is not an incoming call or outgoing call related to the address information registered in the specific address registration means, even if the channel monitoring means detects a shortage of available call channels The peer control apparatus having a peer-to-peer connection request function, wherein the peer-to-peer transition request means does not request a transition to a peer-to-peer connection for an IP extension terminal in the extension call.

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