KR20020011668A - Internet based telecommunication service method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A method for servicing Internet telephone conversation is provided to assign telephone numbers distinguished from general phone numbers to every kind of Internet phones, so as to implement calls between the Internet phones and general phones. CONSTITUTION: An Internet phone periodically transmits status information to a managing server. The managing server updates the status information to store the information, and stores the corresponding Internet phone as a communicable status. The managing server requests the Internet phone to deliver the status information when the status information is not transmitted. If the Internet phone does not respond, the managing server stores the Internet phone as an incommunicable status. If a call request signal is received and an Internet phone of a called party is communicable, the managing server transmits information on the Internet phone of the called party to a call requesting Internet phone. If the Internet phone of the called party is incommunicable, the managing server transmits an incommunicable status to the calling Internet phone. The calling Internet phone forms a speech path through a call signaling with the called Internet phone by using the received information of the called Internet phone.

Description

Internet telephony service method {INTERNET BASED TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICE METHOD}

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an internet telephony service method, comprising: a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a PC) based internet phone and a web phone, a dedicated internet phone for an internet phone call, and a general analog phone (hereinafter referred to as general telephone). And a general mobile phone to allow a mobile telephone to communicate with each other over the Internet.

One of the most important means of communication in everyday life is the telephone. In particular, telephones have the highest status in the communication of business or business activities with family or friends in the distance. However, in recent years, the so-called Internet phone, which is a combination of the existing general phone and the Internet in a telephone, especially an international phone, has replaced the ordinary phone.

The types of internet phones that are currently in practical use are classified into PC-to-PC-based web phones, PC-to-phone PC-based Internet phones, and phone-to-phone Internet phones. It is possible to implement a low usage fee.

Since the Internet phone uses the Internet network, it is possible to provide a service by connecting an Internet dedicated line to a domestic Internet Service Provider (ISP) and installing Internet phone equipment. The service can be provided at a significantly lower investment cost than the telephone network.

The first Internet phone was developed by Vocaltec Co., Ltd. as a PC-based web phone that connects a PC to a PC through an internet network and exchanges voices through a microphone and a speaker (headset). Two people who want to make a phone call are connected to the Internet phone server to make a call. First, the analog voice signal from the microphone is converted into a digital signal from a program on the PC and compressed (64K to 5.3K, 6.3K, 8K). ; G723, G729 method) and send packetized voice signal to other party's PC through packet network using H323, RSVP, RTP / RTCP, etc. The call is made by converting the voice signal into an analog voice signal and restoring the voice through the speaker.

The method of connecting a PC and a general telephone (PC-based Internet phone) is a public telephone network (PSTN) through a device called an Internet Phone Gateway installed in a specific area after installing the corresponding program on the PC and accessing the Internet network. You can connect to a regular phone and call.

In the telephone-to-phone method, both the calling party and the receiving party talk in the form of a telephone. The calling Internet phone is connected to the Internet and talks to another Internet phone, or the calling Internet phone is connected to the general telephone through the Internet and the gateway. It's a way of communicating.

As described above, Internet phones are implemented in different forms, and since each Internet phone service provider provides services in different forms and standards, the called party and the calling party are not subscribed to the same service provider or affiliated service provider. In this case, there is a problem that at least one of them cannot call the other party.

Therefore, there is a demand for the development of an Internet telephony service method capable of integrating different types of Internet phone services.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above problems of the prior art, and provides an internet telephony service method that can freely implement not only telephone calls between all internet phones, but also calls between internet phones and general telephones through the Internet. The purpose is to.

1 is a diagram illustrating the overall concept of a system in which an Internet telephony service method of the present invention is implemented.

2 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of registering an Internet phone with a management server in the method according to the present invention.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure in which an Internet phone transmits status information to a management server in the method according to the present invention.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of checking the status information update of the Internet phone in the management server in the method according to the present invention.

5 is a flowchart illustrating operations of the calling-side Internet phone and the management server when making a call request from an Internet phone to another Internet phone in the method according to the present invention.

6 is a flowchart illustrating operations of a called-side Internet phone and a management server when there is a call request in the method according to the present invention.

7 is a flowchart illustrating operations of the Internet phone and the gateway when a call is requested from the Internet phone to the general telephone in the method according to the present invention.

8 is a flowchart illustrating operations of a gateway and a management server when a call is requested from a general telephone to an Internet phone in the method according to the present invention.

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

PCIP1_1 ~ PCIP2_2: PC based internet phone PCWP1 ~ PCWP2: PC based web phone

IP1 ~ IP2: Internet Phone TP1 ~ TP2: Analog Phone

MP1 ~ MP2: Mobile Phone MS1 ~ MS2: Management Server

GW1 ~ GW2: Gateway

In order to achieve the above object, the Internet telephone call service method according to the present invention includes a plurality of Internet phones capable of accessing the Internet and talking with the other party, and at least one management server for managing calls over the Internet. A communication system, comprising: periodically transmitting status information to the management server by the Internet phone, the management server updating and storing state information of the Internet phone, and storing the Internet phone in a communicable state; Requesting, by the management server, to transmit the status information to the Internet phone that does not receive the status information on a predetermined time basis, and if there is no response from the Internet phone, storing the state of the Internet phone as a communication impossible state; When the management server receives the call request signal, if the state of the called Internet phone is in a communication enabled state, the management server transmits the information of the other Internet phone to the call requesting Internet phone. Transmitting to the call requesting Internet phone; The call request Internet phone is characterized in that it comprises the step of forming a call path through the call signaling with the other Internet phone using the information of the other Internet phone transmitted from the management server.

In addition, the Internet telephony call service method according to the present invention includes a plurality of Internet phones capable of accessing the Internet and talking with the other party, at least one management server for managing calls over the Internet, and a general telephone through a public telephone network. And a communication system configured to connect to the general telephone and the internet phone, wherein the communication system comprises at least one gateway, wherein the internet phone includes an internet phone identifier for identifying a phone number of the internet phone. Transmitting registration request information for registering a number to the management server, and the management server registering the registered internet phone number through a verification procedure; The management server transmits an IP address corresponding to the other party's Internet phone number to the call requesting Internet phone when the other party's phone number has the Internet phone identifier, and the call requesting Internet phone uses the other party's IP address. Forming a call path through call signaling with an Internet phone; The management server transmits the call request information to a gateway when there is no internet phone identifier in the telephone number, and the gateway calls a call between the Internet phone requesting the call and a general telephone corresponding to the telephone number included in the call request information. It characterized in that it comprises a step of forming a furnace.

In addition, the Internet phone call service method according to the present invention, a plurality of Internet phones that can connect to the Internet and talk to the other party, at least one management server for managing calls over the Internet, and a general telephone through a public telephone network A communication system comprising at least one gateway connectable to and intermediary with a call between the general telephone and the Internet phone, the communication system comprising: identification for a call over the Internet in order to communicate with an Internet phone through a public telephone network; Transmitting a call request signal including the number and the counterpart Internet phone number to the gateway; The gateway sends the counterpart Internet phone number included in the call request signal to the management server to request status information of the Internet phone corresponding to the counterpart Internet phone number, and the management server transmits the status information of the corresponding Internet phone to the gateway. Delivering to; The gateway analyzes the state information of the corresponding Internet phone, and if the corresponding Internet phone is in a communicable state, performs call signaling with the corresponding Internet phone by using an IP address included in the state information of the corresponding Internet phone, and at the same time, the general telephone apparatus requesting the call And outputting a dialing tone to form a call path between the counterpart Internet phone and the call requesting general telephone.

In addition, a telephone call between a plurality of Internet phones connected to the Internet network and a telephone call between the Internet phone and a general telephone connected via the public telephone network can be used. It is characterized by including an identifier in the telephone number of the Internet phone to distinguish between the telephone number of the Internet phone and the telephone number of the general telephone.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in detail a preferred embodiment of the Internet telephone call method according to the present invention.

1 is a diagram illustrating the overall concept of a system to which the Internet telephony service method of the present invention is applied.

In the figure, in region 1, PC-based Internet phones (PCIP1_1 to PCIP1_2), PC-based Web phones (PCWP1) and Internet phones (IP1) are connected to the Internet via a dedicated line such as a LAN, or via a public telephone network using a modem. It is either connected to the Internet, connected to the Internet via a cable network using a cable modem, or connected to the Internet through a subscriber network such as ADSL. In the area 1, the general telephone TP1 and the mobile phone MP1 are connected to the local gateway GW1 via the local public telephone network PSTN, and the local gateway GW1 is connected to the Internet.

Similarly, in Region 2, PC-based Internet phones (PCIP2_1 to PCIP2_2), PC-based Web phones (PCWP2) and Internet phones (IP2) are connected to the Internet, and public telephones (TP2) and mobile phones (MP2) are public telephone networks and gateways. It is connected to the Internet via (GW2).

In addition, the Internet is provided with management servers (MS1 to MS2) for intermediary calls between these Internet phones or calls between ordinary telephones (or mobile phones) and Internet phones. The management servers MS1 to MS2 store and manage subscriber information including the subscriber's IP address, telephone number, and the like in the databases DB1 to DB2.

Next, the Internet telephone call service method configured as described above will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

First, a method of registering an Internet phone with a management server will be described with reference to FIG. The user sets his Internet phone (hereinafter, PC-based Internet phone, PC-based Web phone, and dedicated Internet phone as Internet phone) to the Internet phone number registration mode, and inputs the Internet phone number and password (step 201). Here, the Internet phone number is preferably made of numbers with a specific identifier (number or letter) at the head. For example, the Internet phone number may consist of "@ 3018-0075", "# 3018-0075", or "* 3018-0075", and the like. As an example, the "@" key is installed in the dedicated Internet phones IP1 to IP2 of FIG. 1, and when the "@" key is pressed, the same ASCII code as the @ of the PC is generated. In addition, the password is preferably provided at the time of shipment of the product.

In the case of the PC-based Internet phone, step 201 includes a series of processes in which the user executes the Internet phone driving program, inputs an Internet phone number including @ on the Internet phone number registration screen, and then clicks the registration button. On the other hand, step 201 consists of a series of processes for setting the Internet phone to the Internet phone number registration mode in the case of dedicated Internet phones (IP1 to IP2) and pressing the Internet phone number including @ on the keypad.

Thereafter, the Internet phone attempts to connect to the management server MS1 or MS2 by using the domain code of the management server recorded in the product at the time of shipment, and confirms whether or not it is connected (step 202). At this time, if not connected, the Internet phone waits for a predetermined time (step 203), and then proceeds to step 202 to check whether or not it is connected to the management server MS1 or MS2 again (step 202).

On the other hand, when it is confirmed in step 202 that the Internet phone is connected to the management server MS1 or MS2, an Internet phone number registration request message is transmitted to the management server (step 204). Here, the Internet phone number registration request message includes a product ID (for example, a serial number of the product), the input Internet phone number and password, and its IP address.

Then, upon receiving the Internet phone number registration request message, the management server checks whether the Internet phone number included in the message is valid (for example, whether @ is included at the head of the number or the number of digits is the same as specified). (Step 205). If it is determined that it is not valid, the management server transmits a registration failure message indicating that the registration failed because the Internet phone number is not valid to the corresponding Internet phone. Therefore, a registration failure message is displayed on the display of the Internet phone, and thus the user performs the procedure for registering the Internet phone again.

If it is determined in step 205 that the Internet phone number is valid, the management server checks whether the registered Internet phone number is a number assigned to another Internet phone (step 207). At this time, if it is determined that the other Internet phone is assigned, the management server reads the password corresponding to the Internet phone determined to be assigned the same Internet phone number from the database, and includes in the read password and the registration request message. It is determined whether the passwords matched (step 208).

If it is determined in step 208 that the password does not match, the management server transmits a registration failure message indicating that registration failed because the Internet phone number requested for registration is used by another Internet phone (see FIG. Step 209). Accordingly, a registration failure message is displayed on the display of the corresponding Internet phone, and thus the user performs the procedure for registering the Internet phone again.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 208 that the passwords match, the management server indicates that the user of the registered Internet phone number attempts to switch the Internet phone to another IP address (that is, to convert incoming information). Recognizes, updates and records the IP address included in the registration request message as a new IP address of the Internet phone, and also records the state of the Internet phone in the " connected "state; The incoming call change success message indicating that the change is successful is transmitted to the corresponding Internet phone (step 210). Accordingly, the Internet phone receiving the incoming call change success message is set to the transmission / reception standby mode (step 212).

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 207 that the internet phone number requested in step 204 is not a number assigned to another internet phone, the management server stores the internet phone number as an internet phone number corresponding to the product number in the database. Register. At this time, the contents registered in the database include a product number, an IP address, an Internet phone number, a password, and the like. In this case, the state of the Internet phone is recorded in the "connected" state in the database. Thereafter, the management server transmits a registration success message indicating that the registration of the Internet phone number was successful (step 211). Accordingly, the Internet phone receiving the incoming call change success message is set to the transmission / reception standby mode (step 212).

Next, a method of transmitting status information to the management server in the transmission / reception standby mode will be described with reference to FIG. 3.

As described with reference to Fig. 2, the Internet phone is set to the transmission / reception standby mode in the state where the registration of the Internet phone number is performed (step 301). At this time, the Internet phone determines whether a predetermined time has elapsed in the transmission / reception standby mode or if the network setting has been changed by the user (step 302). If the determination result of step 302 becomes negative, the operation of the above-described step 302 is repeated in the transmission / reception standby mode state, whereas if the determination result of step 302 becomes positive, the flow advances to the next step 303.

In step 303, the Internet phone sends a status information message to the management server to inform the management server of its current status. Here, the status information message includes a product number, an IP address, and an Internet phone number of the corresponding Internet phone.

The management server receiving the status information message determines whether the status information included in the status information message is valid (ie, undefined data is included) (step 304). If it is determined that it is not valid, the management server transmits a status information update failure message indicating that the update of the status information has failed (step 305). Therefore, the Internet phone which has received the status information update failure message returns to step 303 and transmits the status information message to the management server again.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 304 that the status information is valid, the management server updates the information on the Internet phone stored in the database according to the status information included in the status information message and stores the updated time in the database. Next, a status information update success message informing that the status information has been updated is transmitted to the corresponding Internet phone (step 306). Accordingly, the Internet phone which has received the status information update success message returns to the transmission / reception standby mode of step 301 described above.

Next, a method of checking the status information update of the Internet phone in the management server will be described with reference to FIG.

As described with reference to FIG. 2, the Internet phone is set to the transmit / receive standby mode in a state where the registration of the Internet phone number is performed, and thus is in a waiting state for transmitting and receiving. At this time, the management server checks the updated state of the status information for each Internet phone with respect to all Internet phones currently registered in a predetermined time unit (steps 401 to 402).

Thereafter, the management server determines whether the status information is updated for each Internet phone within a predetermined time (step 403). As a result of this determination, if the status information of the Internet phone is updated within a certain time, the process returns to step 401 and checks whether the standby mode of the Internet phone has elapsed for a predetermined time.

On the other hand, if there is an Internet phone whose status information is not updated within a certain time, a status information sending request message is sent to send the status information to the corresponding Internet phone (step 404). Subsequently, the management server determines whether there is a status information response from the Internet phone (step 405). If there is a status information response, the management server updates the status information of the Internet phone according to the status information of the response and records it in a database. Return to 401 On the other hand, for the Internet phone not responding to the status information in step 405, the state of the Internet phone is recorded in the database as " not connected " (step 406), and the process returns to the above step 401.

Next, referring to Figure 5 will be described in detail the operation of the calling Internet phone and the management server when making a call request from the Internet phone to another Internet phone.

As described with reference to Fig. 2, the Internet phone is set to the transmission / reception standby mode in the state where the registration of the Internet phone number is performed (step 501). At this time, when the user of the Internet phone attempts to call after inputting the Internet phone number of the other party to be called, the calling party's Internet phone sends a user information request message requesting user information corresponding to the Internet phone number input by the user. Request to the management server (steps 502 to 503). Here, the user information request message includes information of the calling Internet phone and the called Internet phone number. The calling party's Internet phone information includes the IP address of the calling party's Internet phone.

The management server receiving the user information request message checks the database to determine whether the Internet phone number included in the request message is a registered number (step 504). If it is confirmed that the requested Internet phone number is not a registration number in the result of the check, the management server sends an Internet phone number verification failure message indicating that the call requested Internet phone number is not confirmed, the user information request message. The transmission is sent to the corresponding Internet phone having the calling party IP address included in step S505. Therefore, when the Internet phone receives the Internet phone number confirmation failure message, it displays on the display that the transmitted Internet phone number is an unverified number. Accordingly, the user checks the internet phone number of the other party again and proceeds to step 502 to try the call again or terminates the call and the internet phone proceeds to the transmission / reception standby mode as shown in step 501.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 504 that the requested internet phone number is a registration number, the management server searches for status information corresponding to the requested internet phone number in a database and the status of the call requested internet phone is "connected." Check whether it is in the state (step 506).

If it is determined in the step 506 that the state is not "connected", in this case, since the communication requesting Internet phone is in a state in which communication with the management server is lost as described in the above-described step 405 and step 506 of FIG. The management server transmits a disconnection message indicating that the call requesting Internet phone is in an unreachable state to the calling Internet phone having the calling IP address included in the user information request message (step 507). Therefore, when the Internet phone receives the Internet phone number confirmation failure message, it displays on the display that the transmitted Internet phone number is an unverified number. Accordingly, the user checks the internet phone number of the other party again and proceeds to step 502 to try the call again or terminates the call and the internet phone proceeds to the transmission / reception standby mode as shown in step 501.

On the other hand, when it is determined in step 506 that the status is "connected", the management server reads the user information corresponding to the call requested Internet phone number from the database and includes the user information for the call requested Internet phone number. The user information confirmation message is transmitted to the calling party's Internet phone having the calling party's IP address included in the user information request message (step 508). Here, the user information includes an IP address corresponding to the call request Internet phone number.

Upon receiving the user information confirmation message, the calling party's Internet phone detects the IP address of the other party's Internet phone from the user information included in the confirmation message, and performs call signaling with the other party's Internet phone using the IP address of the other party's Internet phone. Try (Step 509).

Thereafter, when the user of the other party's Internet phone receives a call, a CONNECT message indicating that the called party has received the call is transferred to the calling Internet phone, and the calling Internet phone checks whether a connection message is received (step 510). . At this time, if the access message is not received, the calling Internet phone checks whether the user of the calling Internet phone ends the call, and when the call is terminated, proceeds to the transmission / reception standby mode of Step 501 described above, while ending the call. If not, the operation of the above step 510 is continued.

On the other hand, when the access message is received from the other party's Internet phone in step 510, the calling Internet phone proceeds to the call mode so that the call between the calling user and the called user is made (step 512).

Thereafter, the calling Internet phone checks whether the user of the calling Internet phone ends the call (step 513), and when the call is terminated, proceeds to the transmission / reception standby mode of Step 501 described above, but does not end the call. Continues the call operation of step 512 described above.

Next, with reference to Figure 6 will be described in detail the operation of the destination Internet phone and the management server when there is a call request.

As described with reference to Fig. 2, the Internet phone is set to the transmission / reception standby mode in the state of registering the Internet phone number (step 601). In this state, when a call request is received from the calling Internet phone as in Step 509 of FIG. 5, the called Internet phone which is in the transmission / reception standby mode activates its own bell signal generating unit to ring the phone (step 602).

Then, when the user hears the telephone ringing signal and receives the call, the called party's Internet phone simultaneously transmits a connection success message to the management server (step 603). Here, the connection success message includes the Internet phone number of the called Internet phone and the Internet phone number of the calling Internet phone.

The management server receiving the connection success message records the current call related information (call start time information) in a database (step 604). Here, the call related information records the number of the calling party and the called party's Internet phone and the call start time.

Thereafter, the management server records the status information of the Internet phone corresponding to the called party and the calling party Internet phone numbers in the database in a " calling " state, respectively.

On the other hand, the called Internet phone enters the call mode after sending the connection message to the calling Internet phone (step 606). Accordingly, the call between the calling Internet phone and the called Internet phone is started.

Subsequently, when the call is terminated by the user of the called Internet phone, the called Internet phone sends a call termination message to the management server (step 607). Accordingly, the management server receiving the call termination message further records the call termination time in the call related information recorded in the database in step 604. Thereafter, the called party's Internet phone returns to the transmit / receive standby mode.

Next, with reference to Fig. 7, the operation of the Internet phone and the gateway at the time of a call request from the Internet phone to a general telephone (or mobile phone) will be described.

As described with reference to FIG. 2, the Internet phone is set to the transmission / reception standby mode in the state where the registration of the Internet phone number is performed (step 700). In this state, when a user makes a call request by inputting a general phone number without an Internet phone identifier (for example, @), a call request message including the general phone number and the IP address of the calling Internet phone is transmitted to the management server. (Step 701). The management server receiving the call request message recognizes that it is a call request with a general telephone because there is no Internet phone identifier (for example, @) in the phone number included in the call request message, and analyzes the corresponding phone number to impersonate the corresponding phone number. The call request message is transmitted to a gateway in close proximity (step 702).

The gateway receiving the call request message requests a call to the public telephone network (PSTN) using the telephone number included in the message (step 703).

The gateway then analyzes the signal coming from the public switched telephone network (PSTN) (step 704), when the busy tone is returned, the gateway sends a busy signal to the calling Internet phone (step 704). 705). Accordingly, when the user of the calling Internet phone receiving the busy tone signal ends the call (step 710), the calling Internet phone proceeds to the transmission / reception standby mode of step 700 described above.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 704 that a signal indicating that the telephone number requested for the call is an unregistered telephone number is received from the public telephone network (PSTN), the gateway sends a voice message indicating that the telephone number does not exist to the calling party's Internet phone. It outputs (step 706). Accordingly, when the user of the calling Internet phone receiving the voice message ends the call (step 710), the calling Internet phone proceeds to the transmission / reception standby mode of step 700 described above.

On the other hand, when it is analyzed in step 704 that the dialing tone signal is received from the public telephone network PSTN, the gateway outputs the dialing tone signal to the calling Internet phone and waits for the other party's response (step 707). At this time, confirm that the called party's telephone (or mobile) receives the call (step 708). Upon receiving the call, the gateway sends a connection message to the calling Internet phone and forms a call path between the calling party and the called party. (Step 709). Thereafter, when the user of the calling Internet phone terminates the call (step 710), the calling Internet phone proceeds to the transmission / reception standby mode of step 700 described above.

On the other hand, in step 708, when the call is not answered by the called party's general telephone, the calling Internet phone checks whether the call is terminated by the user, and if the call is not terminated, the checking operation of step 708 is continued. If the call is terminated, the flow proceeds to step 710 described above.

Next, referring to Fig. 8, the operation of the gateway and the management server at the time of a call request from the general telephone (or mobile telephone) to the Internet phone will be described.

When a user wants to talk to an Internet phone using a general telephone or a mobile phone, a specific identification number (a specific number assigned to a communication service provider serving a telephone call from a public telephone network to the Internet) and an Internet phone number (here When an Internet phone identifier, i.e., a number other than @, is keyed in, the identification number is recognized by an exchange in the public telephone network (PSTN), and the entered Internet phone number is transmitted to the gateway (step 801).

The gateway, which has received the Internet phone number, requests management server information of the received Internet phone number (step 802). Accordingly, the management server reads the information of the Internet phone requested by the gateway from the database and transmits the information to the gateway (step 803). Here, the information of the Internet phone includes the IP address of the Internet phone and the status of the Internet phone (ie, "connected", "not connected", "calling"), and the number of the requested Internet phone is an unregistered number. In this case, the information includes information indicating that it is an unregistered number.

Thereafter, when the gateway receives the Internet phone information, the gateway analyzes it (step 804). In this case, if the Internet phone information indicates that the call requesting Internet phone number is not registered, the gateway calls the general telephone (mobile phone) that requested the call. ), A voice message notifying that the Internet phone number does not exist is outputted (step 806). Thus, the user of the general telephone (mobile phone) ends the call (step 810).

On the other hand, when it is analyzed in step 804 that the information on the phone is "in a call" state information, the gateway outputs a busy signal to the general telephone (mobile phone) that requested the call (step 805). Thus, the user of the general telephone (mobile phone) ends the call (step 810).

On the other hand, if it is analyzed in step 804 that the Internet phone information includes the "connected" status information (that is, if it is analyzed that the Internet phone is set to the normal transmission and reception standby mode), the gateway calls the general phone requesting a call. A dialing tone signal is output to the (mobile phone), and at the same time, a call signaling signal is output to an IP address included in the Internet phone information, and a call connection is attempted (step 807). Then, check whether the call is received by the called party's Internet phone (step 808). If the call is not answered by the user of the general telephone (mobile phone), the process proceeds to step 810; Proceed to step 808.

On the other hand, if it is confirmed in step 808 that the called Internet phone receives the call, a call path is formed between the calling general telephone (mobile phone) and the called Internet phone by the gateway (step 809). Thereafter, when the call is terminated by either the calling party or the called party, the call path is disconnected by the gateway (step 810).

On the other hand, the present invention is not limited to the above-described specific embodiments, but can be modified and modified in various ways without departing from the gist of the present invention. It should be noted that such variations or modifications are included in the scope of the present invention as long as the features of the present invention are used.

As described above, according to the present invention, not only telephone calls between all Internet phones but also calls between Internet phones and general telephones can be freely implemented through the Internet.

In addition, according to the present invention, for all types of Internet phones including PC-based Internet phones, PC-based Web phones, and dedicated Internet phones, phone numbers in the form that can be distinguished from telephone numbers of ordinary telephones (ie, Internet phone numbers). By assigning a phone number including an identifier for identifying a caller's identity), the caller can easily distinguish the caller by inputting the caller's phone number even if he / she wants to talk to another Internet phone or a general phone call. As a result, it is possible to implement a telephone call service integrating an Internet phone environment and a general phone environment.

Claims (20)

In the communication system comprising a plurality of Internet phones that can connect to the Internet and talk to the other party, and at least one management server for managing calls over the Internet, Periodically transmitting status information to the management server by the Internet phone, and updating and storing state information of the Internet phone, and storing the Internet phone in a communicable state; Requesting, by the management server, to transmit the status information to the Internet phone that does not receive the status information on a predetermined time basis, and if there is no response from the Internet phone, storing the state of the Internet phone as a communication impossible state; When the management server receives the call request signal, if the state of the called Internet phone is in a communication enabled state, the management server transmits the information of the other Internet phone to the call requesting Internet phone. Transmitting to the call requesting Internet phone; The Internet phone call service method comprising the step of forming a call path through the call signaling with the other Internet phone using the information of the other Internet phone transmitted from the management server. The method of claim 1, further comprising: transmitting, by the Internet phone, registration request information for registering the Internet phone number to the management server, and registering the Internet phone number through the verification procedure with respect to the registered Internet phone number. Internet telephony service method, characterized in that configured. The method of claim 2, wherein the registration request information includes a product number, an IP address, a password, and an Internet phone number of the Internet phone. The method of claim 2, wherein the Internet phone number comprises an Internet phone identifier for identifying the phone number of the Internet phone and a phone number. According to claim 3, When the registration request of the Internet phone number from the Internet phone, the Internet phone number is a pre-registered Internet phone number, the password corresponding to the pre-registered Internet phone number and included in the registration request information If the password is the same, the management server updates and stores the previously registered IP address of the Internet phone with the IP address included in the registration request information. 6. The method of any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the number of the Internet phone includes an Internet phone identifier and a phone number. The method of claim 1, wherein the information of the other party's Internet phone transmitted from the management server at the time of the call request is configured to include the IP address of the other party's Internet phone. The method of claim 1, wherein the state information periodically transmitted by the Internet phone to the management server includes a product number, an IP address, and an Internet phone number of the Internet phone. The Internet phone of claim 1, wherein the Internet phone transmits state information to the management server when the network environment is changed, and the management server updates and stores state information of the Internet phone and stores the Internet phone in a communicable state. Internet telephony service method characterized in that it further comprises the step of. A plurality of Internet phones capable of accessing the Internet and talking to the other party, at least one management server for managing calls over the Internet, and accessible by a general telephone through a public telephone network; In a communication system comprising at least one gateway to mediate, The Internet phone transmits registration request information for registering the Internet phone number including the Internet phone identifier for identifying the telephone number of the Internet phone to the management server, and the management server verifies the registered phone number. Registering through a procedure; The management server determines whether it is a call request with an internet phone or a call with a general telephone through the gateway according to whether the internet phone identifier is included in the phone number of the counterpart included in the call request information from the internet phone. Internet telephony service method comprising the step of performing. The method of claim 10, wherein the management server transmits an IP address corresponding to the internet phone number of the other party to the call requesting Internet phone when the phone number of the other party has the Internet phone identifier. The call requesting Internet phone forms a call path through call signaling with the other party's Internet phone using the IP address of the other party. 12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the management server transmits the call request information to a gateway when there is no internet phone identifier in the phone number, and the gateway corresponds to the call request information and the phone number included in the call request information. Internet telephone call service method characterized by forming a communication path with a general telephone. The method of claim 12, wherein the call request information comprises an IP address and a counterpart phone number of the call requesting Internet phone. 15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the gateway performs call signaling with the call requesting Internet phone using the IP address included in the call request information, and simultaneously outputs a counterpart phone number included in the call request information to the public telephone network. Internet phone call service method, characterized in that to form a call path between the general telephone and the call request Internet phone. A plurality of Internet phones capable of accessing the Internet and talking to the other party, at least one management server for managing calls over the Internet, and accessible by a general telephone through a public telephone network; In a communication system comprising at least one gateway to mediate, Transmitting, by the general telephone, a call request signal including a call identification number and a counterpart Internet phone number through the Internet to the gateway to make a call with the Internet phone through a public telephone network; The gateway sends the counterpart Internet phone number included in the call request signal to the management server to request status information of the Internet phone corresponding to the counterpart Internet phone number, and the management server transmits the status information of the corresponding Internet phone to the gateway. Delivering to; The gateway analyzes the state information of the corresponding Internet phone, and if the corresponding Internet phone is in a communicable state, performs call signaling with the corresponding Internet phone by using an IP address included in the state information of the corresponding Internet phone, and at the same time, the general telephone apparatus requesting the call And outputting a dialing tone to form a call path between the counterpart Internet phone and the call requesting general telephone. The Internet telephone call of claim 15, wherein the gateway further comprises analyzing the state information of the corresponding Internet phone and outputting a busy tone to the call requesting general telephone when the corresponding Internet phone is busy. Service method. The voice message of claim 15, wherein the gateway analyzes the state information of the corresponding Internet phone and determines that the corresponding Internet phone number is not a registered number. Internet telephony service method comprising the further step of outputting. A method of enabling a telephone call between a plurality of Internet phones connected to an Internet network, and a telephone call between the Internet phone and a general telephone connected through a public telephone network. An Internet phone call service method characterized by including a unique identifier for identifying an Internet phone in an Internet phone telephone number so as to distinguish between a phone number of an Internet phone and a phone number of a general telephone. 19. The method of any one of claims 1 to 5 and 7 to 18, wherein the Internet phone includes a PC-based Internet phone, a PC-based Web phone, and a dedicated Internet phone. The method of claim 6, wherein the Internet phone includes a PC-based Internet phone, a PC-based Web phone, and a dedicated Internet phone.