JP5570968B2 - Telephone equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a telephone device having a three-party call function, and in particular, a telephone device that mixes the voices of two telephone devices and transmits them to another telephone device during a three-party call is one of the other telephone devices. The present invention relates to a telephone device that controls to lower the volume of a CPT sound when a hold tone or CPT (call progress tone) is detected.

  In general, a telephone device is used to make a call between two arbitrary parties. However, a function is also provided in which a third party is called during a call between the two parties to make a call between the three parties. For example, in the following Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-222194), a three-party call is performed using a telephone device that can be connected to a plurality of call lines including a digital call line for performing a telephone call by digital data communication. Technology is disclosed.

  The telephone device includes a mixing means, a third call start means, and a three-party call control means. The mixing means receives from a single call line when performing a telephone call over a plurality of call lines. In addition to the voice to be transmitted to another call line, the third call starting means puts the call between the two parties on hold and starts the call with the third party during the call between the two parties. The three-party call control means is configured to resume the call between the two parties who are in the hold state. Further, the three-party call control means receives the voice received from the other party in addition to the voice transmitted to the other party of the call to be resumed, the voice of the third party received in the call started by the third call starting means. The mixing means is controlled so as to be added to the voice transmitted to the three parties, and a mutual call between the three parties is started.

  Also, in the following Patent Document 2 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-210997), a plurality of terminals and two or three of the plurality of terminals are connected to each other to start a two-party call or a three-party call. A three-party call system having a button telephone device to be disclosed is disclosed. This three-party call system indicates a call interruption terminal that causes a three-party call information recording unit to interrupt a two-party call in which the terminal is a source or destination terminal for each of terminals 10A and 10B that are extension telephones. The three-party call control unit is configured to record the party call information, and when one of the terminals 10A and 10B starts the two-party call, the three-party call control unit retrieves the three-party call information of the terminal from the three-party call information recording unit. If the search is successful, the call path generation unit is instructed to call the call interruption terminal based on the searched three-party call information, and the call path generation unit calls the call interruption terminal in response to an instruction from the three-party call control unit. When the call interruption terminal responds to the call, the call source terminal and the call interruption terminal are connected to each other to generate a call path for a three-party call and start a three-party call. It is those that have been in.

  In this way, the three-party call function of the telephone device can be realized on the terminal side as long as it is a terminal connected to a plurality of lines, but the three-party call function provided as an additional service by the telephone network (telephone carrier) Can also be used. For example, the following Patent Document 3 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2007-274544) discloses a three-party call device that makes it possible to use a three-party call service provided by a telephone network by a simplified operation.

This three-party call device is configured to include a line control unit, a tone detection unit, a dial unit, a control unit, and a three-party call switch, and the line control unit) is a telephone network having a three-party call function. The tone detector detects the control sound based on the audio signal transmitted through the connection line, outputs the detection result, and the dial unit connects a preset telephone number. It is sent to the line. Further, the control unit controls the line control unit and the dial unit based on the detection result of the tone detection unit to perform a process for performing a three-party call, and the three-party call switch activates the control unit. A process for making a three-party call is started.

JP 2004-222194 A JP 2006-210997 A JP 2007-274544 A

  For example, when the three-party call procedure of the telephone device disclosed in Patent Document 1 or Patent Document 2 starts a three-party call by interrupting the terminal C in a two-party call between the terminal A and the terminal B, for example, In general, the procedure is as follows. That is, when either one of terminal A or terminal B makes a call to the other, a button telephone device (a base unit to which terminal A or terminal B is wirelessly connected in a cordless telephone system, a call control server in an IP telephone system) Generate a call path for a two-party call between the terminal A and the terminal B, thereby starting a two-party call between the terminal A and the terminal B.

  In this state, the user of terminal A is in a state in which terminal C interrupting the call as a third party terminal can make a three-party call (whether the user of terminal C is not busy or absent) Is confirmed visually. Here, if the terminal C is in a state in which a three-party call can be made, the user of the terminal A uses the terminal A to make a hold request for the terminal B to the button telephone apparatus, and the button telephone apparatus In response to the hold request, terminal B is placed in a hold state.

  Next, the user of the terminal A uses the terminal A to make a call request to the terminal C to the button telephone apparatus, and the button telephone apparatus calls the terminal C in response to the call request from the terminal A. The button telephone device checks whether there is a response from the terminal C to the call, and if there is a response from the terminal C, generates a call path for a two-party call between the terminal A and the terminal C, Thereby, a two-party call between the terminal A and the terminal C is started.

  Next, the user of terminal A makes a hold release request for terminal B to the key telephone device using terminal A, and the button telephone device receives the hold release request from terminal A and releases the hold state of terminal B. After that, the button telephone device generates a call path for a three-party call between the terminal A, the terminal B, and the terminal C, whereby a three-party call between the terminal A, the terminal B, and the terminal C is started.

  When the three-party call is started, the mixing means adds the voice received from one call path (call line) to the voice sent to the other call line, and the other call path (call The voice of the third party received from the line) is added to the voice transmitted to the other party of the call that has been resumed, and the voice received from the other party is added to the voice sent to the third party, and 3 Make mutual calls between parties.

  Here, when one user of a terminal that is making a three-party call leaves the table temporarily, if the terminal is put on hold, the hold sound is mixed with the call voice between the remaining two parties. The problem of disturbing the call arises. That is, when a melody sound to be played at the time of holding is set, the melody sound is mixed in the call between the remaining two parties, which hinders the call between the two parties. This is a common problem not only when a terminal is put on hold but also when a call progress tone (CPT) is transmitted. Call progress stones include, for example, DT (dial tone), RBT tone (ringback tone), and BT (busy tone).

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and a telephone device that mixes the voices of two telephone devices and transmits them to another telephone device during a three-party call is one of the other telephone devices. This is intended to prevent the CPT sound from interfering with the call when the hold sound or the CPT (call progress stone) is detected.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 1 of the present application is a telephone apparatus having a function of performing a three-party call by connecting the own telephone apparatus and another first telephone apparatus and a second telephone apparatus to a line. The telephone device mixes the voice of the own telephone device and the voice of the other first telephone device and transmits it to the other second telephone device during a three-party call. A mixing unit for mixing the voice of the second telephone device and transmitting it to the other first telephone device, and detecting whether or not the voice transmitted from the other two telephone devices is a specific tone A tone detector, and when the tone detection detects a specific tone transmitted from another first or second telephone device, the mixing unit limits the volume of the specific tone and Mixing the voice of the telephone device And butterflies.

  The invention according to claim 2 of the present application is characterized in that, in the telephone device according to claim 1, the volume restriction by the mixing unit is performed by reducing the volume from a predetermined specified volume.

  The invention according to claim 3 of the present application is characterized in that, in the telephone device according to claim 1, the volume limit by the mixing unit is made by muting the sound of the specific tone.

The invention according to claim 4 of the present application is the telephone device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the specific tone is a call progress tone. In the telephone device according to Item 4, the specific tone includes a melody sound transmitted at the time of holding.

  In the invention according to claim 1, in the telephone apparatus having a function of performing a three-party call by connecting the own telephone apparatus with another first telephone apparatus and a second telephone apparatus, the telephone apparatus is a three-party call. Sometimes, the voice of the own telephone device and the voice of the other first telephone device are mixed and transmitted to the other second telephone device, and the voice of the own telephone device and the voice of the other second telephone device are mixed. And a tone detector for detecting whether or not the voice transmitted from the other two telephone devices is a specific tone. When a specific tone transmitted from another first or second telephone device is detected, the mixing unit limits the volume of the specific tone and mixes the voice of the own telephone device.

  According to such a configuration, when a voice of two telephone devices is mixed and transmitted to another telephone device during a three-party call, a holding tone or CPT (call progress stone) from one of the other telephone devices is detected. When this happens, the volume of the CPT sound is limited, so that the call is not hindered.

  In the invention according to claim 2, in the telephone device according to claim 1, the volume limit by the mixing unit is made by reducing the volume from a predetermined specified volume. When a hold tone or CPT (call progress tone) is detected, the volume of the CPT sound is reduced from a predetermined volume, so that the call is not hindered.

  In the invention according to claim 3, in the telephone device according to claim 1, since the volume limit by the mixing unit is made by muting the sound of the specific tone, the holding tone from one of the other telephone devices Alternatively, when a CPT (call progress stone) is detected, the CPT sound is muted, so that the call is not hindered.

  In the inventions according to claims 4 and 5, the specific tone includes a call progress tone and a melody tone transmitted at the time of holding, and a holding tone or CPT (call progress tone) from one of the other telephone devices is used. When detected, the volume of the CPT sound is limited, so that the call is not hindered.

1 is a system configuration diagram showing a configuration of a telephone system including a telephone device according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the telephone apparatus concerning the Example of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence until a three-party call is started. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence including the process of this invention after a three-party call is started.

  Hereinafter, specific examples of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to examples and drawings. However, the embodiments described below illustrate an IP telephone system as a telephone device for embodying the technical idea of the present invention, and are intended to specify the present invention to this IP telephone system. However, the present invention is equally applicable to a digital cordless telephone system and other telephone devices without departing from the technical idea shown in the claims.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a telephone system including an IP telephone apparatus according to the present invention. This system includes at least an IP telephone device 1, a wired LAN 41, an IP telephone router 51, a broadband router 52, a gateway 53, an IP telephone network 61, the Internet 62, a PSTN network 63 (Public Switched Telephone Network), and a subscription. A person telephone device 71 is included.

  The IP telephone device 1 of the present invention is a telephone device that can be connected to an IP communication network. The IP telephone device 1 is capable of voice communication via the telephone network by being connected to the wired LAN 41. The IP telephone device 1 can also have a function of receiving an emergency earthquake bulletin distributed by the Japan Meteorological Agency via the Internet 62. The details of the internal structure of IP telephone apparatus 1 will be described later.

  The wired LAN 41 is a local network in which the videophone device 1, the IP telephone router 51, the broadband router 52, the gateway 53, and the like are connected by wire. Each of the above devices can communicate with each other by being connected to the wired LAN 41. Examples of physical means constituting the wired LAN 41 include 10BASE-T (standardized as IEEE802.3i) and 100BASE-TX (standardized as IEEE802.3u) using a twisted pair cable.

  The IP telephone router 51 and the broadband router 52 are network relay devices for interconnecting a plurality of IP networks. Specifically, a part of the protocol of the network layer (third layer) and the transport layer (fourth layer) in the OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) reference model is analyzed and transferred.

  In this embodiment, the IP telephone router 51 has a role of connecting two IP networks of the wired LAN 41 and the IP telephone network 61 to each other. The broadband router 52 has a role of connecting two IP networks of the wired LAN 41 and the Internet 62 to each other.

  The gateway 53 is a protocol converter for interconnecting networks having different protocol systems. For example, the gateway 53 connects the wired LAN 41 and the PSTN network 63 and performs signal conversion using a signaling protocol such as SIP, thereby enabling communication between both networks.

  The IP telephone network 61 is a communication network using VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) technology for part or all of the telephone network, and FTTH (Fiber To The Home) and ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) are used as communication lines. A so-called broadband line is used.

  Note that VoIP is a technique in which voice is compressed by various encoding methods, converted into packets, and transmitted in real time over an IP network. As a result, the IP telephone network 61 can provide a videophone service for transmitting and receiving images in addition to a voice call service.

  The Internet 62 is a wide area communication network constructed by interconnecting networks based on communication protocols. An international communication network is constructed by interconnecting large and small computer networks. As a communication protocol, TCP / IP is mainly adopted as a standard protocol.

  The PSTN network 63 is a general subscriber telephone line network. It is used to make a voice call by connecting a telephone device to the end and connecting to a communication partner by a circuit switching method. The subscriber telephone device 71 is a telephone device that allows a telephone subscriber to make a voice call with another subscriber telephone device or a videophone device using the PSTN network 63.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the inside of IP telephone apparatus 1 shown in FIG. The IP telephone device 1 includes at least a control unit 11, a memory 12, a display unit 13, an operation unit 14, a communication control unit 15 (= communication unit), a flash memory 16 (= recording unit), an audio signal processing unit 17, a speaker 18, A microphone 19 is included.

  The control unit 11 controls the respective units of the IP telephone device 1 to centrally control communication control processing (sending / receiving voice data, making a call, detecting incoming calls, three-party calls). It is. In addition, the control unit 11 includes a call control unit 11a to a transmission control unit 11c as functional units realized by executing a program on the arithmetic processing device provided in the control unit 11.

  The accepting unit 11b accepts an operation (hereinafter referred to as “information sending operation”) for designating character information that the user wants to send by the operating unit 14. Specifically, for example, the reception unit 11b displays the telephone directory data recorded in the flash memory 16 on the display unit 13, thereby shifting to a standby state for an information transmission operation. In this state, when information included in the displayed phone book data, such as an e-mail address or URL, is selected, the selected content is notified to the next image generation unit (not shown).

  The transmission control unit 11c instructs the call control unit 11a to transmit an image generated by an image generation unit (not shown) to the connection destination of the call line.

  The call control unit 11a includes a tone detection unit 11a1 and a mixing unit 11a2. The tone detection unit 11a1 calls call progress stones (CPT sound) from other telephone devices that are performing a three-party call during a three-party call. ) Is detected. Call progress stones include, for example, DT (dial tone), RBT tone (ringback tone), and BT (busy tone). In addition, when a melody sound at the time of holding is set in another telephone device, the melody sound also hinders a call like the CPT sound. Detect sound. Therefore, in this specification, the tone detected by the tone detector 11a1 is referred to as a specific tone.

  The mixing unit 11a2 inputs the voice received from the other telephone device (the other first telephone device or the second telephone device) making the three-party call and the microphone of the own telephone device during the three-party call. The mixed sound is mixed. The voice mixed by the mixing unit 11a2 is transmitted via the communication control unit 15 to another telephone device (another second telephone device or first telephone device) that performs a three-party call. .

  The memory 12 is a medium for temporarily recording various data held by the IP telephone device 1 and is configured by, for example, a writable RAM (Random Access Memory).

  The memory 12 serves as a buffer memory for temporarily recording processing data when various control processes are performed by the control unit 11, instruction commands received from the user, and the like.

  The display unit 13 displays various information held by the IP telephone device 1, for example, a captured image received from another IP telephone device, to the user. The display unit 13 uses, for example, a small display device that consumes less power, such as a liquid crystal panel.

  The operation unit 14 is used for a user to perform various operations for performing communication using the IP telephone device 1, for example, input of a telephone number of a partner with whom a call is made. The operation unit 14 is generally composed of a plurality of operation buttons such as numeric buttons and redial buttons.

  The operation unit 14 has a three-party call function selection function button. When the three-party call function is selected, a hold process or a call process for a three-party call, which will be described later, and a three-party call start process are performed. It can be carried out. When the display unit 13 has a touch panel function, the display unit 13 can function as the operation unit 14, and the selection of the three-party call function can be assigned to the soft key displayed on the display unit 13. it can.

  The communication control unit 15 is a communication interface for connecting the IP telephone device 1 to the wired LAN 41. The communication control unit 15 can perform incoming call processing, outgoing call processing, and the like in the IP telephone system by communicating with a call control server (not shown) connected to the wired LAN 41.

  The flash memory 16 is a recording device that temporarily records various data held by the videophone device 1. The flash memory 16 has a role of recording, for example, telephone directory data in which information related to the other party is recorded, and processing data generated by various controls, for example, a captured image captured by a camera (not shown).

  The audio signal processing unit 17 performs a decoding process on the audio data input by the communication control unit 15 and provides the audio signal to the speaker 18. Further, the audio signal processing unit 17 gives audio information generated by performing a predetermined encoding process on the audio signal input from the microphone 19 and audio information recorded in advance in the flash memory 16 to the communication control unit 15. . As a result, the voice information is transmitted to another telephone device connected through the wired LAN 41, the wireless communication network 42, the IP telephone network 61, or the like.

  Here, processing during a three-party call using the IP telephone device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure until the three-party call is started, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure including the processing of the present invention after the three-party call is started. In the following description, when the IP telephone apparatus A is making a two-party call with another telephone apparatus B (which may be an IP telephone apparatus connected outside the line or a general subscriber telephone apparatus or a mobile telephone apparatus). Further, an example will be described in which another telephone device C (IP telephone device connected to the IP telephone device A by extension) is added to make a three-party call. The other telephone apparatus B is simply referred to as terminal B, and the other telephone apparatus C is simply referred to as terminal C.

  First, a procedure for starting a three-party call by adding the terminal C during an external line call between the IP telephone apparatus A and the terminal B will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. This procedure is a general procedure for a three-party call. Here, a case will be described as an example where terminal B is externally connected to IP telephone apparatus A and terminal C is a terminal connected to IP telephone apparatus A by extension.

  When IP telephone apparatus A makes an external line call to terminal B, IP telephone apparatus A generates a call path (external line connection path) for a two-party call with terminal B, whereby IP telephone apparatus A and terminal B Is started (step S101).

  In this state, when the user of IP telephone apparatus A causes terminal C to interrupt the call as a third party telephone apparatus, the user of IP telephone apparatus A makes a hold request for terminal B, and IP telephone apparatus A holds In response to the request, terminal B is put on hold (step 102).

  Here, if the terminal C to be added to the three-party call is, for example, a colleague or boss terminal of the user of the IP telephone device A, is the terminal C that can interrupt the call ready to make a three-party call? The terminal B may be put on hold as long as the terminal C can make a three-party call after visually confirming (whether the user of the terminal C is not busy or absent).

  Next, the user of IP telephone apparatus A makes a call to terminal C using IP telephone apparatus A, calls terminal C (step S103), and confirms a response from terminal C (step S104). When the response from the terminal C is confirmed, a call path for a two-party call with the terminal C is generated, whereby a call between the IP telephone apparatus A and the terminal C is started (step S105).

  Next, when the user of IP telephone apparatus A releases the hold on terminal B (step S106), IP telephone apparatus A generates a call path for a three-party call between terminal B and terminal C (step S107). As a result, a three-party call between the IP telephone device A, the terminal B, and the terminal C is started.

  The procedure of the flowchart of FIG. 3 described above can be configured to guide the user operation in which the operation procedure is sequentially displayed on the display unit when the user of the IP telephone apparatus 1 enables the three-party call function. .

  In addition, when there is a call connection control server that performs connection control for outgoing calls and incoming calls from IP telephone apparatus A, connection control of terminal B (generation of a two-party call path), hold and release of hold of terminal B The call connection server performs connection control of the terminal C and generation of a three-party call path including the terminal C in response to a request from the IP telephone apparatus A. As the call connection control server, a SIP server based on SIP (Session Initiation Protocol), which is a typical call control protocol of a VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) system, can be used.

  When the three-party call is started in this manner, the procedure shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4 is started. In the description of FIG. 4, the user of the terminal B who has made an external call with the IP telephone apparatus A is temporarily connected to the terminal for some reason (for example, for temporarily leaving to take out materials related to the contents of the call). A case where B is suspended will be described as an example.

  First, the call control unit 11a determines whether the IP telephone device A is in a three-party call (step S201). If the three-party call is not being performed, the determination processing in step S201 is repeated, and if the three-party call is being performed, the tone detector 11a1 receives the voices from the other terminals B and C during the three-party call, and the terminal B A specific tone (CPT sound or melody sound on hold) is detected (step S202).

  If the specific tone is not detected, the detection process in step S202 is repeated. When the specific tone is detected, the mixing unit 11a2 sets the mixing volume setting value (the volume setting value of the audio signal from the terminal B that has transmitted the specific tone). ) Is saved (step S203), the volume of the specific tone is reduced to a predetermined volume value, and the voice of terminal B is mixed (step S204) and transmitted to terminal C.

  As a result, the melody sound from the terminal B is mixed with the volume of the melody sound from the terminal B being reduced in the call with the terminal C that is in communication with the IP telephone apparatus A.

  Then, the call control unit 11a determines whether or not the tone detection unit 11a1 has detected a specific tone from the terminal B (step S205). If the specific tone is detected, the determination process of step S205 is repeated. If the specific tone is not detected, the mixing unit 11a2 sets the volume setting value of the audio mixing from the terminal B that has been saved in the process of step S203. Is restored (step S206), and mixing is performed with a specified volume value.

  The procedure from step S201 to step S206 is repeated while the three-party call is being performed, and is terminated when the three-party call is completed.

  When the terminal that puts the line on hold during a three-party call is a terminal that is connected to an extension call like terminal C, that is, whether or not the user of IP telephone apparatus 1 has returned to the seat of the user of terminal C. If it can be confirmed, the specific tone (holding melody sound) from the terminal C is muted (muted), and it is confirmed that the hold of the terminal C is released, and the user of the IP telephone apparatus 1 releases the mute. It can also be configured to.

  On the other hand, when the terminal that puts the line on hold during a three-party call is a terminal connected to an outside line like terminal B, the specific tone (holding melody sound) from terminal B is muted (silenced) in the same manner as above. If the control is performed, it becomes impossible to determine whether or not the terminal B has canceled the hold state, and it becomes impossible to mix the voice from the terminal B and return to the three-party call. Therefore, in such a case, it is preferable to control to reduce the volume of mixing as in the present invention.

  Therefore, depending on whether the terminal in which the tone detection unit 11a1 detects the specific tone is in a three-party call is a terminal connected to the outside line or a terminal connected to the extension line, whether to reduce the mixing volume or mute (mute) The control of the mixing unit 11a2 may be separated so as to be separated.

  In the above embodiment, the case where a three-party call is made using an IP telephone apparatus has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to an IP telephone apparatus, and may be applied to a general subscriber telephone apparatus or a cordless telephone apparatus. Is also possible.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 IP telephone apparatus 11 Control part 11a Call control part 11a1 Tone detection part 11a2 Mixing part 11b Reception part 11c Image generation part 11d Transmission control part 12 Memory 13 Display part 14 Operation part 15 Communication control part (communication part)
16 Flash memory (recording unit)

Claims (5)

In a telephone device having a function of performing a three-party call by connecting the own telephone device with another first telephone device and a second telephone device,
The telephone device mixes the voice of the own telephone device and the voice of the other first telephone device and transmits to the other second telephone device during the three-party call, and the voice of the own telephone device and the other second telephone device. A mixing unit for mixing the voice of the telephone device and transmitting to the other first telephone device;
A tone detector for detecting whether or not the voice transmitted from the other two telephone devices is a specific tone;
When the tone detection detects a specific tone transmitted from another first or second telephone device, the mixing unit limits the volume of the specific tone and mixes the sound of the own telephone device. A telephone device characterized by that.   The telephone device according to claim 1, wherein the volume restriction by the mixing unit is performed by reducing the volume from a predetermined specified volume.   The telephone device according to claim 1, wherein the volume restriction by the mixing unit is performed by muting the sound of the specific tone.   The telephone device according to claim 1, wherein the specific tone is a call progress tone.   The telephone device according to claim 4, wherein the specific tone includes a melody sound transmitted at the time of holding.

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