KR100305481B1 - A multifunction communication sever for computer telephony solution - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A multi-functional communication server for a computer telephony solution is provided to enable a transmission and reception of a facsimile document through the Internet as well as a LAN, allow a user to transmit a document from a facsimile to the Internet, and implement a Web server by having various communication server functions such as a facsimile server, a modem server and a Web server. CONSTITUTION: A main controller(41) controls the overall system. The first memory(42) is electrically connected to the main controller(41) and stores an initialization program for booting the system and an operating system of the system and an application program. The second memory(43) is connected to the main controller(41), used to correct an arbitrary program stored in the first memory(42), and stores a voice data for a dial signal for a phone or facsimile reception and documents required when the system is used as a Web server or as a facsimile Web. The third memory(43) is electrically connected to the main controller(41) and stores various general data. The fourth memory(45) is electrically connected to the main controller(41) and stores a network configuration to be used by the system, information for a different system installed on the Internet and information for performing a speed dial function. A modem(46) is electrically connected to the main controller(41), performs a dialing to a designated facsimile machine for a facsimile transmission and data transmitting, plays a voice data stored in the second memory(43), and receives a facsimile document corresponding to a facsimile protocol and transmits it to the main controller(41). A buffer(47) is electrically connected to the main controller(41), and temporarily stores and manages transmission/reception data to and from the facsimile and to and from a computer network. An internal bus(48) electrically connects various elements and allows the elements to exchange information and transmit a signal each other.

Description

A multifunction communication server for computer telephony solution

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multifunctional communication server for a computer telephony solution used to perform data communication in connection with a computer network system. More specifically, the present invention relates to a computer network system. Integrated computer telephony solution that can support various communication server functions such as local area network (LAN) fax, internet fax server, modem (MODEM) server and web server by one server The present invention relates to a multifunctional communication server.

Today, the communication environment in offices is showing a variety of complexities, including telephone, fax, e-mail and computer networks. Therefore, a lot of manpower, time, and costs are involved for the processing of work. Nevertheless, in the case of computer networks, various solutions have been proposed for the integrated management of each environment and the inconvenience of use. However, satisfactory solutions have not been provided for the main communication methods such as telephone and fax. to be. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a solution that can collectively manage a general communication environment.

One solution to this need is computer telephony. Here, computer telephony refers to a system combining a telephone with a computer having data processing capability. In other words, it is a system built to perform a telephone function (dialing, call setup, tone detection, etc.) on a computer, or to access or receive information stored on a computer using a telephone.

The present invention was created based on the problems of the integrated management of the communication environment and the computer telephony system as described above, and provides a computer telephony solution that can manage the general communication environment and perform data communication efficiently. The purpose is to provide a multi-function communication server for.

1 is a perspective view of a multifunctional communication server for a computer telephony solution according to the present invention.

2 is a front view of the multifunction communication server for the computer telephony solution of FIG.

3 is a rear view of the multifunction communication server for the computer telephony solution of FIG.

4 is a schematic internal system diagram of a multifunctional communication server for the computer telephony solution of FIG.

5 and 6 are schematic diagrams each showing an example of an integrated data transmission system in which a multifunctional communication server for the computer telephony solution of FIG. 1 is constructed in conjunction with a computer system.

7A-7D are flow charts illustrating a fax transmission process from one fax machine to another, or from a fax machine to a computer, using the multifunction communication server for the computer telephony solution of FIG.

8A and 8B are flowcharts illustrating a fax transmission process from one PC to another PC or a PC to a fax machine using the multifunctional communication server for the computer telephony solution of FIG.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a fax transmission process from the web to a fax machine using a web server function of a multifunctional communication server for the computer telephony solution of FIG.

<Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

11 ... external housing 12a ... system status display

12b ... modem port indicator 12c ... LAN status indicator

13 ... 1st port 14 ... 2nd port

15 ... 3 port 16 ... 4 port

17 Port 5 18 Power cord outlet

40 System circuit part 41 Main control unit (CPU)

42 First memory (EEPROM) 43 Second memory (Flash ROM)

44 ... 3rd memory (DRAM) 45 ... 4th memory (NVRAM)

46 ... MODEM 47 ... Buffer

48.Internal bus

In order to achieve the above object, a multifunctional communication server for a computer telephony solution according to the present invention, the outer housing; A main control unit installed inside the outer housing and controlling the system as a whole; A first memory electrically connected to the main controller and configured to store an initialization program for booting the system, an operating system, and an application program of the system; Electrically connected to the main control section and used for modification of any program stored in the first memory, while voice data and system for dial signals for telephone or fax reception are used as a web server or web for fax A second memory for storing necessary documents; A third memory electrically connected to the main controller and storing general data as a main memory; A fourth memory electrically connected to the main controller and storing a network configuration for use by a system, information about another system installed on the Internet, and information for performing a speed dial function; It is electrically connected to the main controller and performs dialing and data transmission to a designated fax machine when sending a fax, and plays voice data stored in the second memory when receiving a fax, while corresponding to a fax protocol. A modem to receive a fax and deliver the fax to the main control unit; A buffer electrically connected to the main control unit for temporarily storing and managing the transmission / reception data of the fax and the transmission / reception data to a computer network; An internal bus that electrically connects the components, and which exchanges information and transmits signals between the components; And it is characterized in that it is connected to the internal bus or main controller and a plurality of ports for communication with the outside.

Here, preferably, the front portion of the outer housing is composed of a plurality of LEDs and a system status display unit for indicating the current state of the system, and a plurality of LEDs and a modem port display unit for configuring the current state of the modem and a plurality of LEDs. And LAN status indicators for indicating the current status of the LAN. The first memory is EEPROM (electrically erasable and programmable ROM), the second memory is flash ROM, the third memory is DRAM (dynamic RAM), and the fourth memory is NVRAM. (nonvolatile RAM) are used respectively.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 to 4 show a multi-function communication server for a computer telephony solution according to the present invention, in which FIG. 1 is an overall exterior perspective view, FIG. 2 is a front view, FIG. 3 is a rear view, and FIG. 4 is an internal system. It is a schematic block diagram.

1 to 4, the multifunctional communication server 10 for the computer telephony solution according to the present invention is largely composed of an outer housing 11 and a system circuit part 40 installed inside the outer housing 11. It is composed.

The front panel of the housing 11 is composed of five LEDs, the system status display unit 12a indicating the current state of the system, the modem port display unit 12b consisting of six LEDs, indicating the current state of the modem, and five LAN status indicator 12c, which is composed of LEDs and indicates the current status of the LAN, is provided. The rear part of the housing 11 has a first port 13 for connection with a fax machine or a telephone, and a second port for connection with an analog PBX (private branch exchange) or a central office line. (14) and Bayonet-Neill-Concelman (BNC) connection by a third port 15 and medium attachment unit (MAU) for connection of a twisted pair (TP) line as a connection for an external digital network system. Fourth port 16 for connecting an AUI connector for conversion to an attachment unit interface (AUI) connection, a fifth port 17 for a console, an outlet 18 for connecting a power supply cord, and An on / off switch 19 is provided. Here, the second port 14 is basically provided with a two-channel (LINE # 0, LINE # 1) port option for the public switched telephone network (PSTN) interface of the modem, four or six channels by line extension If necessary, the remaining ports of the second port 14, that is, the ports of LINE # 2 to LINE # 5 are used in turn by two ports.

On the other hand, the system circuit portion 40 as shown in Figure 4 is installed in the housing 11 of the above configuration. Here, the system circuit unit 40 is electrically connected to the main control unit (CPU) 41, which controls the system as a whole, and the main control unit 41, and an initialization program for booting the system, an operating system and an application program of the system. A first memory 42 for storing the data and an electrical connection with the main controller 41, used for modifying any program stored in the first memory 42, and for dialing telephone or fax reception A second memory 43 for storing voice data for signals and documents required when the system is used as a web for a web server or a web for faxing, and electrically connected to the main controller 41, and stores various general data as a main memory. The third memory 44 and the main control unit 41 are electrically connected to each other, and are configured for network use by the system and installed on the Internet. A fourth memory 45 which stores information for performing information and speed dial functions, and is electrically connected to the main control unit 41, and performs dialing and data transmission to a designated fax machine during fax transmission, and upon receiving a fax. A modem 46 which plays voice data stored in the second memory 43 and receives a fax according to a fax protocol and transmits the fax to the main controller 41, and is electrically connected to the main controller 41. A buffer 47 for temporarily storing and managing the transmission / reception data of the fax and the transmission / reception data to a computer network, electrically connecting the various components to each other, and information between the components. An internal bus 48 for exchange and signal transmission is provided.

Here, a microprocessor is used as the main control unit (CPU) 41, and the main control unit 41 performs control of the modem chip interfaced with the PSTN and initialization of peripheral devices. EEPROM is used as the first memory 42. When power is supplied to the system (server of the present invention), the CPU 41 first executes the program code stored therein. In addition, a flash ROM is used as the second memory 43, DRAM is used as the third memory 44, and NVRAM is used as the fourth memory 45, respectively. The NVRAM stores the network configuration for use by the server of the present invention, information about a plurality of servers of the present invention when they are installed on the Internet, information for performing a speed dial function, and the like. They will be used when booting. In addition, the flash ROM of the second memory 43 has three functions as follows.

First, it stores an operating system and an application of the server of the present invention. That is, it can be regarded as the same as the contents stored in the EEPROM of the first memory 42. In particular, when a ROM program needs to be modified, the program can be modified by only a software operation, and thus the same effect as that of replacing the ROM can be obtained without the inconvenience of replacing the ROM itself.

Secondly, when the server of the present invention receives a dial signal for telephone or fax reception from a user of the PSTN, a voice for helping the user should be played, which stores voice data for these menus.

Third, when the server of the present invention is used for a web server or a web-to-fax, Html (hipertext mark up language: a format for displaying pictures or characters when implementing a homepage in each company) It needs to be used as a space for storing them.

On the other hand, the multi-function communication server 10 for the computer telephony solution according to the present invention having the configuration as described above, as shown in Figure 5, in conjunction with the computer system to build a single integrated data transmission system. That is, the first multifunction communication server 10 of the present invention is located between the first computer system 51 and the PBX 51p and with the second computer system 52 located in a foreign country such as London, England, via the PSTN and the Internet. Enable data communication. In addition, in connection with the third server 10 '' of the present invention, which is built together with the third computer system 53, data communication and fax transmission with the computer system 53 are possible, or the computer system 53 Fax transmission via a web server (53w). In addition, data communication and fax between the second computer system 52 and the third computer system 53 by linking the third server 10 ″ and the second server 10 ′ of the second computer system 52. The transmission becomes possible, and thus an integrated data transmission system is constructed which can freely perform data communication and fax transmission between the first, second and third computer systems 51, 52, 53. Reference numeral 52w denotes a web server of the second computer system 52, and 53f denotes a fax machine.

In addition, as shown in Fig. 6, the multifunction communication server 10 of the present invention is installed between, for example, a computer network system 61 of a company and a personal computer 62 or a remote fax machine 63 of a home, If the user wants to access the company's computer network system 61 through the modem 62m of the remote personal computer 62, the server (even if there is no dedicated line to access the company's computer network system 61). 10) to access the company's computer network system 61. In addition, even when a fax is to be sent from the computer network system 61 to the fax machine 63 at a remote location, the fax function of the server 10 can be used for fax transmission.

Then, a process of performing data transmission using the multifunctional communication server for the computer telephony solution of the present invention as described above will be described.

7A to 7D are flowcharts illustrating a fax transmission process from one fax machine to another fax machine or from the fax machine to the computer using the multifunctional communication server for the computer telephony solution according to the present invention. Here, although not shown, the multifunction communication server of the present invention is assumed to be installed in connection with a computer system and a fax machine.

Referring to Fig. 7A, when a fax machine A (designated as a fax machine A for convenience) is ready for fax transmission (step 701), the user can use the fax machine A to operate the multifunction communication server 10 (server A for convenience). Dialing) (step 702). That is, the user presses the telephone number (for example, 2104) of the server A using the telephone number button of the fax machine A. Then, Server A's main control unit (CPU) 41 receives the call and presses a pre-programmed voice message, for example, "Thank you 1 for document faxing and 2 for voice faxing. "Will be sent out. When the user hears this message and presses the desired button, the CPU 41 discriminates whether it is a fax menu or a voice menu (step 703). If it is the voice menu in this determination, the CPU 41 performs subsequent functions corresponding to the preprogrammed voice menu (step 704). Then, if the fax menu in step 703, the CPU 41 again, for example, "If you want to send a fax to another fax machine, press the telephone number, then press the star (*) button, fax transmission to the computer If you want to press the phone number, then press the Sharp (#) button. " Then, the user presses a telephone number followed by an asterisk (*) or sharp (#) button in accordance with a desired fax transmission form (step 705). For example, if you want to send a fax from fax machine A to another fax machine B, you will need to enter "country code (for overseas faxes)" + "area code" + "fax number" + "*". If you want to send a fax from fax machine A to a computer, enter "country code (for overseas faxes)" + "area code" + "relative ID" + "#".

In this way, when the telephone number is input, the CPU 41 determines whether the input telephone number exceeds two digits (step 706). If the telephone number exceeds two digits in this determination, the CPU 41 executes a server list search for determination of an Internet fax or a local fax (step 707) to determine whether the telephone number exists in the server list (step 708). If the corresponding telephone number is present in this determination, the CPU 41 sends a beeping fax tone while switching to the fax reception mode (step 709). The user thus presses the send button (step 710). Fax machine A then sends the fax data to server A (step 711).

On the other hand, if the telephone number does not exceed two digits in step 706, the CPU 41 executes speed dial search (step 712) to determine whether a speed dial exists (step 713). If there is no speed dial in this determination, the CPU 41 advances the program to step 702, and if there is a speed dial, sends a beeping fax tone while switching to the fax reception mode (step 709). Thereafter, the above-described steps 710 and 711 are performed in the same manner.

When the fax data is transmitted from the fax machine A to the server A in step 711, the server A stores the fax data in a G3 format file. Server A then checks once again the telephone number entered by the user sending the fax, and determines whether the display of the digit after the telephone number is "*" or "#" (step 714). If the display of the last digit is "# " in this determination, as shown in Fig. 7B, the server A determines whether the Internet is local or local based on the telephone number checked in the server list or the dial checked on the speed dial (715). . If it is local in this determination, server A transmits the stored fax data to the administrator's PC or the corresponding PC (step 716) using the " local FAX to PC &quot; function (step 716). 717). Here, the transmission to the manager PC is a case where the extension telephone number of the corresponding PC at the destination is not completely known, and the fax data is transmitted to the manager PC of the higher concept. This completes the fax transmission from fax machine A to the local PC.

Then, in the determination of step 715, if it is the Internet, the server A uses the " internet FAX to PC " function (step 718), and the other server B of the present invention installed at the destination. The stored fax data is transmitted (step 719). In this case, transmission control protocol (TCP) / internet protocol (IP) is used for data transmission. In this way, when server B of the destination receives the fax data (step 720), server B once transmits the received fax data to the manager's PC (not shown) of the destination (step 717). This completes the fax transmission from fax machine A to a PC on the Internet.

Further, if the display of the number after the telephone number is " * " in the determination of step 714, as shown in Fig. 7C, the server A uses the " internet FAX to FAX " function (step 721) The stored fax data is transmitted to another server B of the present invention installed at the destination (step 722). At this time, TCP / IP is similarly used for data transmission. In this way, when server B of the destination receives the fax data (step 723), server B transmits the received fax data to another fax machine B of the destination (step 723). This completes the fax transmission from fax machine A to another fax machine B on the Internet. Here, in further detail, when the indication after the telephone number is " * ", i.e., when the fax is transmitted from the fax machine to the fax machine, the multifunctional communication server of the present invention is immediately available without discriminating whether it is local or the Internet. It is designed to work with Internet fax transmission.

On the other hand, if the telephone number does not exist in the server list in step 708, the CPU 41 switches to the data transmission mode via the PSTN and not the Internet, and sounds a fax tone as if the telephone number exists in the server list. (Step 725). Accordingly, when the user presses the send button (step 726), the fax data is sent from the fax machine A to the server A (step 727). Server A then sends the fax data to server B on the other side of the destination (step 728). Server A then executes the fax transmission status checking and automatic retry routines as shown in FIG. 7D. That is, the server A first checks whether the destination fax machine B of the destination is dialed (step 729). If dialing was made in this confirmation, server A determines whether the fax data has been sent (step 730). If no fax data was transmitted in this determination, the CPU 41 returns the program progress to step 729 above. If the fax data is transmitted in step 730, the transmission result is stored in the memory (step 731).

In addition, if the dialing machine B has not been dialed in step 729, after 3 minutes have elapsed, a redialing is attempted automatically (step 732). In this manner, redialing is repeatedly performed at intervals of 3 minutes, and it is determined whether the number of times has exceeded three times (step 733). If this determination is less than three times, the CPU 41 returns the program progress to the step 729. . If the number of times exceeds 3 times in step 733, the process is treated as an error and the result is stored in the memory (step 731).

Up to now, the process of performing a fax transmission from one fax machine to the other fax machine or a PC using the multifunctional communication server of the present invention has been described. Then, a process of performing a fax transmission from one PC to another PC or from a PC to a fax machine using the multifunctional communication server of the present invention will be described.

8A and 8B are flowcharts illustrating a fax transmission process from one PC to another PC or a PC to a fax machine using a multifunctional communication server for a computer telephony solution according to the present invention.

8A, the user first selects "Send Fax" in the PC window (step 801). Then, select the file to be transferred (step 802). Then, the address book database is accessed (step 803). Then, it is determined whether to select a broadcast (step 804). That is, select whether to send the same file to several places at the same time. If the broadcast is selected in step 804, it is determined whether the broadcast group is selected (step 805). If the selection of the broadcast group is determined, the group is selected (step 806).

On the other hand, if the broadcast is not selected in step 804 or the broadcast group is not selected in step 805, it is immediately determined whether the fax is transmitted from the PC to the fax machine or the PC to the PC (step 807). In this step, if the fax is sent from the PC to the fax machine, the user enters the "country code (for overseas faxes)" + "area code" where the fax is to be sent (step 808). Then, in step 807, in case of fax transmission from PC to PC, "country code (for overseas fax)" + "area code" + "fax extension number" are input (step 809). At this time, it is checked whether there is an additional input item (step 810), and if there is an additional input item, the program proceeds back to the step 803. If there is no additional entry, it is determined whether to use the cover (step 811). In this step, if a cover is to be used, a cover type is selected and its contents are entered (steps 812 and 813). If the use of the cover is unnecessary in the step 811 and the content input in the step 813 is completed, it is determined whether or not the time is reserved (step 814). In this step, if time reservation is required, the transmission time is selected (step 815), and then the send to multifunction communication server of the present invention button is selected (step 816). If the time reservation is not necessary in step 814, the send button is immediately selected to the multifunction communication server A of the present invention (step 816). Then, server A checks the result of the tag image file format (TIFF) conversion operation of the selected file (step 817). If the TIFF conversion operation is not performed at this stage, an error message is notified (step 818), and the operation ends. When the TIFF is converted in step 817, the converted file is added to the reservation database (step 819). Then, it is determined whether the scheduled time for fax transmission has been reached (step 820). In this determination, if the scheduled time for fax transmission has not been reached, the arrival of the scheduled time is continued. If the scheduled time for fax transmission has been reached, the TIFF converted file is stored as a G3 format file (step 821). The stored fax data is then sent to server B at the destination (step 822). Then, it is checked whether transmission is completed (step 823). If the transmission is completed in this step, the program proceeds to step 820 to proceed with other work. If the transmission is not completed in step 823, that is, if a fax transmission cannot be performed due to a problem in the other party's reception of the fax, an error message is notified (step 824), and the operation ends.

On the other hand, when the user of the multi-function communication server of the present invention is located in another IP node (node) of the Internet, sending a fax from the PC is not easy due to the IP problem. In this case, when the multifunctional communication server of the present invention is connected to a web browser, it is possible to simply send a fax from the web to a fax machine. This will be described with reference to FIG. 9.

9 is a flowchart illustrating a fax transmission process from the web to a fax machine using a web server function of a multifunctional communication server for a computer telephony solution according to the present invention.

Referring to Fig. 9, first, a user enters user information and a fax number of a destination (step 901). At this time, the user checks whether a web-to-fax plug-in is installed in the user's PC. Here, of course, the user accesses the multifunctional communication server of the present invention from a PC to a web browser prior to the above operation, and inputs the sender's ID and password.

When step 901 is completed, it is checked whether a file to be faxed is selected (step 902). If there is a file to be faxed at this stage, press the file selection button (step 903). The selected file is converted into a TIFF (step 904), and the file converted into the TIFF is stored as a G3 format file (905). The user data and G3 file are then transferred from the PC to the multifunction communication server of the present invention (step 906). On the other hand, if there is no file to be faxed in step 902, the send button is immediately selected (step 907), and the user information and fax number are transmitted (step 908).

When the transmission from the PC to the multifunction communication server of the present invention is completed in this way, the multifunction communication server of the present invention checks whether the input ID and password are correct (step 909). If the ID and password are incorrect in this confirmation, the program proceeds back to step 902 above. If the ID and password are correct in step 909, the data input for the cover is stringed into a G3 format file (step 910). Then, cover is added (step 911). Then, the multifunction communication server checks whether dialing is made by the destination fax machine (step 912), if dialing is done, checks whether fax data has been sent (step 913), and if so, stores the transmission result (step 913). Step 914). If the destination fax machine is not dialed in step 912, dialing is attempted every three minutes to determine whether the number of repetitions has been exceeded three times (step 916). If this determination is not exceeded three times, the program proceeds to step 912, and if it is exceeded three times, it is treated as an error and the result is stored (step 914). In addition, in step 913, if the fax data has not been transmitted, after 3 minutes have elapsed, the fax transmission is retried. Then, the same process as described above is performed. This completes the fax transmission from the web to the fax machine using the web server function of the multifunctional communication server for the computer telephony solution according to the present invention.

As described above, the multi-function communication server for the computer telephony solution according to the present invention has a variety of communication server functions, such as fax server, modem server and Web server, so that the transmission and reception of fax documents over the Internet as well as LAN. It is possible to send a fax from the general fax machine to the Internet, and there is an advantage of implementing a web server. In addition, it is possible to access the company's network through a modem from a remote location, and in a LAN environment where a dedicated line is not installed, there is an advantage of accessing the Internet even without installing a modem for each PC. Therefore, work efficiency can be further improved, and communication costs can be significantly reduced.

Claims (1)

Modem for dialing and data transmission to designated fax machine during fax transmission, buffer for temporarily storing and managing the fax transmission / reception data and transmission / reception data to computer network, exchange of information between components and In the communication server having an internal bus for signal transmission and a plurality of ports for communication with the outside, A main control unit for controlling the system as a whole; A first memory comprising an initialization program for booting the system, an EEPROM storing an operating system and an application program of the system; It is used for modifying any program stored in the first memory, and consists of a flash ROM storing voice data for dial signals for telephone or fax reception and documents required when the system is used as a web server or web for fax. Second memory; A third memory which stores various general data as a main memory device; And And a fourth memory configured to store network configuration for use by the system, information about other systems installed on the Internet, and information for performing speed dial functions. Multifunctional communication server.