KR100636269B1 - method and apparatus for provide Packetcable service - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus for providing a packet cable service and a method thereof. The present invention implements a function of an MTA, which is a device necessary for a subscriber to receive a packet cable service, in software, so that the subscriber can separate a subscriber By providing a packet cable service without purchasing and replacing a device, a packet cable service is provided through an existing device without incurring additional costs for the purchase and replacement of a device.

Description

Apparatus and method for providing a packet cable service {method and apparatus for provide Packetcable service}             

1 is a block diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a system for providing a general packet cable service.

2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an apparatus for providing a packet cable service according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

3 is an internal block diagram illustrating a configuration of a communication terminal according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a method for receiving a packet cable service at a calling party according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a method for receiving a packet cable service at a called party according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

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

1: IP (Internet Protocol) network 2: HFC (Hybrid Fiber Coax) network

3: Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN)

10, 11, 12: communication computer (personal computer)

20: voice input and output unit 21, 22, 23: telephone terminal

30: MTA (Message Transport Agent)

40: cable modem

50: Embedded Message Transport Agent (E-MTA)

60: PSTN Gateway

70: Cable Modem Termination System (CMTS)

80: Call Agent (CA) 90: MTA Server

100: CM (Cable Modem) server 110: LAN interface unit

120: central control unit 121: packet processing unit

122: message processing unit 123: voice signal processing unit

130: voice interface unit

The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for providing a packet cable service, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for providing a packet cable service to enable a subscriber to receive a packet cable service without purchasing and replacing a separate device. It is about.

The general voice call service uses a public telephone network (PSTN). That is, a subscriber who wants to receive a voice call service makes a voice call through a service provider using a phone number assigned by a service provider through a telephone.

However, due to the development of the Internet service and the increase in the number of subscribers to the Internet today, the interest in VoIP service that provides voice call service over the Internet has been amplified.

The VoIP service converts a subscriber's voice signal into an IP packet and exchanges it through an internet network, thereby providing a voice call service to the subscriber.

The packet cable service is a type of VoIP service that provides a voice call service through an HFC network that is widely established.

In order to provide such a packet cable service to a subscriber, a device called a 'Multi Media Adapter (MTA)' that converts a subscriber's voice signal into a packet is required.

1 is a block diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a system for providing a general packet cable service.

Referring to FIG. 1, a packet cable service network includes an MTA server 90, a cable modem server 100, a call agent 80, a cable modem termination system 70, and a PSTN. Public Switched Telephone Network (GATE) 60, E-MTA (Embedded MTA) 50, cable modem 40, MTA 30, multiple communications terminals 11, 12 and multiple telephone terminals 21- 23).

The MTA server 90, the CM server 100, the CMTS 70 and the CA 80 are connected to the IP network 1, and the PSTN gateway 60, the cable modem 40 and the E-MTA 50 ) Is connected to an HFC (Hybrid Fiber Coax) network 2.

The plurality of telephone terminals 21 to 23 provide a voice call service to subscribers. That is, the call request signal is transmitted according to the subscriber's selection, the voice information transmitted through the HFC network 20 is output so that the subscriber can listen, and the voice signal according to the voice information input by the subscriber is transmitted.

At this time, the third telephone terminal 23 is connected to the PSTN, and provides the subscriber with a voice call service through the PSTN.

The plurality of communication terminals 11 and 12 provide Internet service through the HFC network 2 at the subscriber.

The MTA 30 converts the voice signal transmitted from the second telephone terminal 22 into a voice packet, transmits the voice signal to the cable modem 40, and converts the voice packet transmitted from the cable modem 40 into a voice signal. To the second telephone terminal 22.

At this time, the voice packet converted by the MTA 30 takes the form of an IP packet.

The cable modem 40 converts the voice packet transmitted from the MTA 30 into a cable packet, transmits it to the HFC network 2, converts the cable packet transmitted from the HFC network 2 into an IP packet, and converts the MTA ( 30).

The second communication terminal 12 exchanges an IP packet with the cable modem 40 to provide the subscriber with Internet service through the HFC network 2.

 The E-MTA 50 is an MTA internal cable modem in which the MTA 30 is provided in the cable modem 40. That is, if the cable packet transmitted from the HFC network 2 is a voice packet, it is converted into a voice signal and provided to the first telephone terminal 21, and if it is a data packet, it is provided to the first communication terminal 11.

The PSTN gateway 60 converts the cable packet of the HFC network 2 into a signal that can be transmitted to the PSTN 3, so that the third telephone terminal 23 is connected to the HFC network 2 ( Make a voice call with 21, 22).

The CMTS 70 converts the cable packet transmitted from the HFC network 2 into an IP packet, transmits it to the IP network 1, and converts the IP packet transmitted from the IP network 1 into a cable packet.

The MTA server 90 authenticates the MTA 30 connected to the HFC network 2, and the CM server 100 authenticates the cable modem 40. That is, the MTA server 90 authenticates the availability of the MTA 30 to be connected, and the CM server 100 authenticates the availability of the cable modem 40 to be connected.

In addition, the MTA server 90 and the CM server 100 authenticate the availability of the E-TMA 50, which is an MTA internal cable modem.

The CA 80 completes the authentication of the cable modem 40, the MTA 30, and the E-TMA 50 to which the CM server 90 and the MTA server 100 are connected to the telephone terminals 21 and 22. Then, when the call request signal is transmitted from the telephone terminals 21 and 22, the incoming telephone terminal is identified, and a call for making a voice call is connected.

At this time, the CA 80 calls the call through the PSTN gateway 60 if the incoming phone terminal identified in the call request signal transmitted from the outgoing phone terminals 21 and 22 is the third phone terminal 23 connected to the PSTN. Will be connected.

However, in the conventional general packet cable service, if the subscriber wants to make a voice call through the packet cable service, a separate device must be provided.

That is, the subscriber is required to purchase an additional MTA 30 for converting the voice signal into a voice packet or replace the cable modem with the E-MTA 50 in which the MTA is built, thereby incurring additional costs to the subscriber.

Due to the additional cost burden and inconvenience of installation due to the additional purchase of the MTA 30 or the replacement of the cable modem 40, the utilization of the widely distributed HFC network 2 and the spread of packet cable services are delayed. .

Accordingly, the present invention was devised to solve the above problems, and the subscriber purchases a separate device by implementing the function of the MTA, which is a device necessary for the subscriber to receive the packet cable service, in the communication terminal as a software function module. And it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for providing a packet cable service to be provided with a packet cable service without replacement.

The apparatus for providing a packet cable service according to an aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object, if the IP packet received from the cable modem is a call request message, generates a response message according to the packet cable standard, the call with the other terminal A message processing unit that sets up a call, and converts voice data contained in an IP packet received through a call call into a voice signal that the subscriber can hear, and converts a voice signal input from the subscriber into voice data ( encoding) the signal processor and the type of information included in the IP packet received from the cable modem, the voice data is transmitted to the signal processor; if the call request message is transmitted to the message processor, the voice data converted by the signal processor; The response message generated by the message processing unit is converted into an IP packet to And a packet processing unit for transmission to the IP network via a cable modem.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for providing a packet cable service, the method comprising: analyzing, by a communication terminal, a header of an IP packet received from a cable modem, determining a type of a request message included in the packet packet; If the information is a call request message, generating a response message (ACK) and establishing a call call with another communication terminal; and if the information included in the IP packet is an information request message transmitted from a CA (call agent), the communication terminal. Generating a response message containing the status information of the transmission to the CA and converting the voice data contained in the IP packet received through the set call call into a voice signal that can be output by the voice input / output means (decoding) And outputting a voice signal for the subscriber to listen to, by the voice input / output means, inputted from the subscriber through the voice input / output means. The method includes converting a voice signal into voice data, and converting the voice data into an IP packet and transmitting the voice signal to another communication terminal.

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In addition, in the method for providing a packet cable service according to the present invention, the step of setting up a call call may include: generating an IP packet including a call request message according to a subscriber's selection and transmitting the IP packet to another communication terminal; If a response message (ACK) is transmitted from the terminal, and establishing a call call with the other communication terminal.

Hereinafter, an apparatus and a method for providing a packet cable service according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an apparatus for providing a packet cable service according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 2, the cable modem 40 is connected to the HFC network 2, and the communication terminal 10 is connected to the cable modem 40 by a LAN.

At this time, the communication terminal 10 refers to a communication terminal using the Internet service, the subscriber is connected to the IP network 1 via the HFC network 2, for example, may be a PC or PDA.

The cable modem 40 converts the cable packet transmitted from the HFC network 2 into an IP packet, provides it to the communication terminal 10, converts the IP packet transmitted from the communication terminal 10 into a cable packet, Transmit to HFC network (2).

The voice input / output unit 20 outputs a voice signal transmitted from the communication terminal 10 so that the subscriber can listen, and provides the voice signal input by the subscriber to the communication terminal 10.

For example, the voice input / output unit 20 may correspond to a headset connected to the communication terminal 10 through a signal line.

3 is an internal block diagram illustrating a configuration of a communication terminal according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, the communication terminal 10 according to the present invention includes a LAN interface unit 110, a central control unit 120, and a voice interface unit 130.

The LAN interface unit 110 receives the IP packet transmitted through the LAN from the cable modem 40 and transmits the IP packet generated in the communication terminal 10 to the cable modem 40 through the LAN.

In this case, the message included in the IP packet exchanged between the communication terminal 10 and the cable modem 40 may be a call request message, a response message, a busy message, an information request message, an information response message, or the like. The IP packet may include voice information and data information.

The central control unit 120 provides an Internet service to the subscriber. That is, the Internet service is provided to the subscriber according to the programmed program and the data information included in the IP packet.

The central control unit 120 provides the subscriber with data information included in the received IP packet, converts the information input by the subscriber through an input means (not shown) into an IP packet, and transmits the information to the IP network 1. do.

The packet processor 121 of the central controller 120 analyzes the IP packet received through the LAN interface unit 110 to determine the type of the received IP packet.

If the received IP packet is a data packet, the packet processing unit 121 causes the central control unit 120 to provide an Internet service to a subscriber according to data information included in the data packet. Transfer to the processing unit 122.

That is, the packet processor 121 analyzes the information included in the header field of the received IP packet to determine whether the corresponding IP packet is a data packet.

If the received IP packet is not a data packet, the packet processor 121 determines that the packet is a packet for packet cable service, and transmits the packet to the message processor 122.

In addition, the packet processing unit 121 converts the message generated by the communication terminal 10 into an IP packet so as to transmit the message to the cable modem 40. Such a packet processing unit 121 is preferably implemented as a software function module in the central control unit 120.

The message processor 122 identifies a message included in the received IP packet and generates a response message according to the identified message.

That is, when the message included in the received IP packet is a call request message, the message processor 122 determines the voice call state of the current communication terminal 10 and, if not in a call state, generates a call response message (ACK). If the call is in a busy state, a busy message is generated and transmitted to the packet processor 121.

If the message included in the IP packet is an information request message transmitted from the CA 80, the message processing unit 122 generates an information response message including the state information of the communication terminal 10.

In addition, if there is a call termination request, the message processing unit 122 responds to the request and terminates the established call.

At this time, the message generated by the message processing unit 122 is preferably generated to meet the standard defined for providing the packet cable service, the standard is MGCP (Media Gateway Control Protocol).

Meanwhile, if voice information is included in the received IP packet, the message processor 122 provides the voice information to the voice signal processor 123.

In addition, the voice signal processor 123 converts the voice information provided from the message processor 122 into a voice signal and transmits the voice information to the voice interface 130.

The voice signal processor 123 converts the voice signal received through the voice interface unit 130 into voice information to be transmitted to the IP network 1 and transmits the voice signal to the packet processor 121.

The voice interface unit 130 transmits a voice signal transmitted from the voice signal processor 123 to the voice input / output unit 20 and transmits voice information of the subscriber input through the voice input / output unit 20 to the voice signal. Transfer to the processing unit 123.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a method for receiving a packet cable service at an originating side according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, the cable modem 40 receives the usable authentication from the CM server 100, the communication terminal 10 connects to the IP network 1, and receives the usable authentication from the MTA server 90. After that, the subscriber inputs the incoming telephone number through an input means (not shown) of the communication terminal 10 in order to receive the packet cable service (S 1).

Then, the message processing unit 122 of the communication terminal 10 determines whether or not the incoming telephone number input from the subscriber is a correct telephone number that meets the packet cable standard (S 2).

If it is determined that the incoming telephone number entered by the subscriber is not the correct telephone number, the message processing unit 122 outputs a re-order tone to allow the subscriber to input the incoming telephone number again (S 3). ).

At this time, the re-input tone outputs the voice signal stored in the storage means (not shown) of the communication terminal 10 through the voice input / output unit 20 to inform the subscriber that the called telephone number is wrong.

Then, if the incoming telephone number entered by the subscriber is a telephone number conforming to the standard of the packet cable, the message processing unit 122 generates a call request message including the incoming telephone number, transmits it to the packet processing unit 121, and transmits the packet. The processor 121 converts the received call request message into an IP packet and transmits it to the cable modem 40.

The cable modem 40 converts the IP packet transmitted from the communication terminal 10 into a cable packet, transmits the IP packet to the CMTS 70 through the HFC network 2, and the CMTS 70 transmits the received cable packet to the IP packet. After converting the data to the CA 80 through the IP network 1 (S 4).

When the IP packet including the call request message is received, the CA 80 identifies the called telephone number and transmits the call request message to the called telephone terminals 21 to 22 corresponding to the identified called telephone number. .

At this time, the CA 80 transmits a call request message through the PSTN gateway 60 if the terminating telephone terminal is the third telephone terminal 23 connected to the PSTN 3.

In addition, the method in which the CA 80 transmits a call request message to the called phone terminal notifies that the call call connection request is received to the called phone terminal through an IP packet including the call request message.

Then, after transmitting the IP packet including the call request message, the communication terminal 10 determines whether or not a response message (ACK) is transmitted from the CA (80) (S5).

That is, if the packet processor 121 analyzes the received IP packet and the information included in the IP packet is not data information, the packet processor 121 transmits the IP packet to the message processor 122, and the message processor 122 receives the received IP packet. It is determined whether the message included in the response message (ACK).

As a result of the determination, when the message processing unit 122 is not a response message (ACK), that is, when an error message is transmitted from the CA 80, the message processing unit 122 determines the type of the error message (S6).

Then, the message processor 122 determines whether to resend the call request message according to the type of the identified error message (S 7), if retransmission is necessary, resends the call request message (S 4) If no re-transmission is required, the re-input tone is output so that the subscriber enters the incoming telephone number again (S 3).

That is, when the error message that the destination telephone terminal corresponding to the destination telephone number does not exist is transmitted, the message processing unit 122 determines that the subscriber has incorrectly selected the destination telephone number, outputs a re-input tone, and receives the incoming telephone terminal. When the busy message or the error message indicating that an error of the network has occurred is transmitted, it is determined that the call request message needs to be retransmitted, and the call request message is retransmitted.

Here, when the message processing unit 122 receives a busy message, resending the call request message automatically resends the call request message for a predetermined time, eliminating the need for the subscriber to enter the same called telephone number many times. It is to.

On the other hand, when the message processing unit 122 receives the response message (ACK) to the call request message, and establishes a call through the incoming telephone terminals 21 and 22, the HFC network 2 and the IP network 1 ( S 8).

At this time, when the called terminal 23 is connected through the PSTN (3), the call call is established through the HFC network 2 and the PSTN gateway 60.

When the call is established, the voice input / output unit 20 transmits the voice information input by the subscriber to the voice signal processor 123.

The voice signal processor 123 converts the received voice information into a voice signal and transmits the voice signal to the packet processor 121, and the packet processor 121 converts the voice signal into an IP packet, thereby providing a cable modem 40. To send.

Then, the cable modem 40 converts the received IP packet into a cable packet and transmits it to the CMTS 70, and the CMTS 70 converts the cable packet into an IP packet and sends it to the destination telephone terminals 21 to 23. send.

In addition, the packet processor 121 grasps the voice information included in the received IP packet and transmits it to the voice signal processor 123.

The voice signal processor 123 converts the received voice information into a voice signal, transmits the voice information to the voice input / output unit 20 through the voice interface unit 130, and the voice input / output unit 20 The received voice signal is output so that the subscriber can listen.

On the other hand, it is determined whether there is a call termination request from the subscriber or the called terminal (S 9), and if there is a call termination request, the call set up to provide the packet cable service is terminated (S 10).

5 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a method for receiving a packet cable service at a called party according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, the cable modem 40 receives the usable authentication from the CM server 100, the communication terminal 10 connects to the IP network 1, and receives the usable authentication from the MTA server 90. Later, the cable modem 40 receives a cable packet from the HFC network 2.

Then, the cable modem 40 converts the received cable packet into an IP packet and transmits it to the packet processing unit 121 of the communication terminal 10.

The packet processor 121 analyzes the header of the received IP packet, and transmits the received IP packet to the message processor 122 if the information included in the IP packet is not data information.

The message processor 122 determines a message included in the received IP packet (S20), and determines whether the identified message is a call request message conforming to the packet cable standard (S21).

If the message included in the IP packet is not a call request message, the message processor 122 determines whether the message is an information request message transmitted from the CA 80 (S22).

That is, when the message included in the IP packet is an information request message transmitted from the CA 80, the message processing unit 122 generates an information response message including information required by the CA 80, and generates a packet processing unit ( 121, the packet processor 121 converts the information response message generated by the message processor 122 into an IP packet and transmits the information response message to the CA 80 (S 23).

In this case, the CA 80 transmits the information request message, in which the initial communication terminal 10 accesses the IP network 1 or periodically checks the connection state of the communication terminal 10. send.

When the information request message is received from the CA 80, the communication terminal 10 generates an information response message including connection status information, assigned address information, and the like, and transmits the information response message to the CA 80.

Meanwhile, if the message included in the received IP packet is a call request message, the message processing unit 122 generates a response message (ACK) to be transmitted to the calling telephone terminals 21 to 23 and transmits it to the packet processing unit 121. . The packet processing unit 121 converts the response message into an IP packet and transmits it to the CA 80.

Then, the message processing unit 122 sets up a call for the outgoing telephone terminal (21 ~ 23) and packet cable service (S 24).

At this time, when the outgoing telephone terminal 23 is connected via the PSTN (3), the call call is established through the HFC network 2 and the PSTN gateway 70.

When the call is established, the packet processor 121 grasps the voice information included in the received IP packet and transmits the voice information to the voice signal processor 123.

The voice signal processor 123 converts the received voice information into a voice signal, transmits the voice information to the voice input / output unit 20 through the voice interface unit 130, and the voice input / output unit 20 The received voice signal is output so that the subscriber can listen.

In addition, the voice input / output unit 20 transmits a voice signal input by the subscriber to the voice signal processor 123 through the voice interface unit 130.

The voice signal processor 123 converts the voice signal transmitted from the voice input / output unit 20 into voice information and transmits the voice signal to the packet processor 121, and the packet processor 121 transmits the voice information to the IP packet. Is converted to the cable modem 40.

The cable modem 40 converts the IP packet transmitted from the communication terminal 10 into a cable packet, and transmits the packet packet to the cable modem 40 connected to the terminating telephone terminal through the HFC network 2, to the subscriber. Make a voice call through the service.

On the other hand, it is determined whether there is a call termination request from the subscriber or the called telephone terminal (S 25), and if there is a call termination request, the call set to provide the packet cable service is terminated (S 26).

Although the present invention has been described in detail only with respect to the described embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and changes are possible within the technical spirit of the present invention, and such modifications and modifications belong to the appended claims.

As described above, according to the present invention, the subscriber who wants to use the packet cable service can receive the packet cable service by adding a software function module to the existing communication terminal or the cable modem. It is effective to receive packet cable service without additional purchase or replacement of cable modem or MTA.

Accordingly, the subscriber can be provided with the packet cable service through the existing device at no additional cost, and also the distribution of the packet cable service through the widely spread HFC network can be activated.

Claims (6)

In a communication terminal connected to an IP network through a cable modem to provide a packet cable service, If the IP packet received from the cable modem is a call request message, a message processing unit for generating a response message according to a packet cable standard and establishing a call call with a counterpart terminal; A signal processor for converting voice data included in the IP packet received through the call into a voice signal that can be heard by a subscriber, and encoding a voice signal input from the subscriber into voice data; If the type of information included in the IP packet received from the cable modem is voice data, the information is transmitted to the signal processor, and if the call request message is transmitted to the message processor, the voice data converted by the signal processor and the And a packet processing unit converting the response message generated by the message processing unit into an IP packet and transmitting the IP message to the IP network through the cable modem. The method of claim 1, wherein the message processing unit, And receiving the call request message, generating a response message conforming to MGCP (Media Gateway Control Protocol), which is a packet cable standard, and establishing the call. In the packet cable service providing method of a communication terminal connected to an IP network through a cable modem, Analyzing, by the communication terminal, a header of an IP packet received from the cable modem to determine a type of the request message included; If the information included in the IP packet is a call request message, generating a response message (ACK) and establishing a call call with another communication terminal; If the information included in the IP packet is an information request message transmitted from a call agent (CA), generating a response message including the state information of the communication terminal and transmitting the response message to the CA; The voice data contained in the IP packet received through the set call is decoded into a voice signal which can be output by the voice input / output means, and the voice input / output means can listen to the voice signal by the subscriber. Outputting to enable; Encoding a voice signal input from the subscriber through voice input / output means into voice data; And converting the voice data into an IP packet and transmitting the converted voice data to the other communication terminal. delete 4. The method of claim 3, wherein setting up the call call comprises: Generating an IP packet including a call request message according to the subscriber's selection and transmitting the IP packet to another communication terminal; When the response message (ACK) is transmitted from the other communication terminal, the method for providing a packet cable service comprising the step of establishing a call with the other communication terminal. The method of claim 3, wherein the generation of the response message, Method for providing a packet cable service, characterized in that for generating a response message conforming to the MGCP (Media Gateway Control Protocol), a packet cable standard.

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