KR20020084847A - Apparatus and method for conneting telephone call in internet network - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system and method for relaying a telephone service through an internet network, the present invention comprising: a server connectable to an Internet subscriber of a service subscriber through an internet network; An answering machine connected through a telephone network with a caller and providing a guide voice message to the caller and inputting a calling number from the caller; It stores the call number in correspondence with the service subscriber, and if the call number is provided from the answering machine, retrieves the service subscriber corresponding to the call number, and when the retrieved service subscriber's Internet telephone is connected to the Internet network, the service subscriber's Internet telephone. And an IP status register which connects to the service subscriber's Internet telephone through the server and relays the call between the caller and the service subscriber using the IP address assigned to the service subscriber.

Therefore, the present invention has the effect of enabling a telephone call between a telephone and an internet telephone.

Description

Internet telephone relay system and method {APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONNETING TELEPHONE CALL IN INTERNET NETWORK}

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for arbitrating a telephone call over the Internet, and more particularly, to an arbitration system and an arbitration method for providing a call provided from a telephone to a corresponding internet telephone.

Internet phones threaten the 120-year-old phone market since it was first introduced by Israeli company Vocaltech in 1995. This is a result of the internet phone service using the internet network is provided free of charge or cheaper than the general telephone network.

Internet telephone service is the most basic personal computer (hereinafter referred to as PC: Internet telephone can be used for any device capable of two-way communication through the Internet network, but usually a personal computer is used. As an example, it should be noted that any device capable of internet communication, as described above, can be used.) A personal computer (PC to PC) method, a PC to phone, and a phone to phone method are provided.

1 shows a schematic diagram of a general telephone network. In a general telephone network, a caller picks up the handset of the telephone 1 and presses a numeric key button to call a predetermined called telephone 2, and the calling telephone station 3 and the called telephone station 4 interpret the telephone button of the calling telephone 1; To form a communication path between the calling party phone 1 and the called party phone 2.

The Internet telephony service is performed on the same principle, and FIG. 2 illustrates a PC-to-PC Internet telephony service network, which is the most basic form.

After the user executes a software called an Internet phone on the PC 5 and provides the IP address of the other party's Internet phone (called PC) 6, the Internet server 7 interprets the IP address of the called PC 6 to access the Internet. The calling party PC 6 and the calling party PC 5 in the network are connected. When the caller and the called party's PC 5 and 6 are connected, the voice signal of the caller and the called party is compressed and converted into an Internet standard signal and transmitted to the other party's PCs 5 and 6 through the Internet server 7 in the Internet network. The speech signal in the form of a standard signal is converted back to the original speech at the PCs 5 and 6. Here, the Internet phone IP address is similar to a phone number and must be registered in the Internet server 7.

The PC-to-PC method, which uses a pure Internet network, is free. However, only the fee for connecting to the Internet using the Internet access fee, that is, the Internet server 7 is charged to the user.

The PC-to-phone method is a step further than the PC-to-PC method, which allows the Internet network and the general telephone network to communicate with each other.

3 is a conceptual diagram of a PC-to-phone system. It is the development of the gateway 8 that conforms to the H.323 standard that enables the PC-to-phone approach. The gateway 8 connects between the telephone network (PSTN) 9 and the internet network 10 as shown as a kind of server program. The gateway 8 generates a DTMF signal corresponding to the IP address of the caller PC 11 provided from the Internet network 10 and provides it to the switchboard of the general telephone network 9 so that the switching device can receive a caller telephone (corresponding to the DTMF signal). 12) control to call, a function of converting a voice signal provided from the Internet network 10 into a voice signal suitable for the telephone network 9, and a voice signal from the telephone network 9 suitable for the Internet network 10. It converts into a signal and provides it to the Internet network 10, detects a signal during a call, and checks a phone state to confirm that the other party hangs up.

The gateway 8 is installed all over the world which can be connected with an internet phone, so that the gateway 8 can also be connected (call) with foreign parties. The charge at this time applies to a telephone network connection fee that is generally used by the called telephone 12 to connect to the telephone network 9.

The telephone-to-telephone method is currently widely used when calling overseas and a conceptual diagram of the telephone-to-telephone method is shown in FIG.

The telephone-to-phone system has a configuration in which the telephone networks 15 and 16 of the sender telephone 13 and the caller telephone 14 are connected to the Internet network 19 through the gateways 17 and 18. In the telephone-to-phone system, the PC-to-phone system described above can be regarded as a system configured on both the calling and called sides.

The gateways 17 and 18 used in the phone-to-phone method require more functions than the PC-to-phone method described above. Additional features include answering calls, prompting, DTMF tone detection, call status, call routing by phone number, call log, and network management. need.

As described above, the telephone call method from the PC to the general telephone network has already been put into practice, but the complete configuration of the Internet telephone can be said to be made by receiving a call from the PC. However, there is no telephone-to-PC Internet telephone service developed for the following reasons. .

One of the reasons why the telephone-to-PC system is not developed is that the PC's Internet address (IP address) uses a common symbol such as 123.456.654.321, but the current telephone has a number key of 0-9 and a few symbol keys (*. Only #) is configured so that you cannot specify the common symbol in the PC's Internet address.

In addition, when a PC is designated as a called party, the following problem occurs. The problem does not occur when the PC communicates with the Internet via a separate leased line. However, when a PC communicates with the Internet using a cable modem (ie using a telephone line), the telephone line is occupied by the PC. Therefore, even if a predetermined caller requests a call to the PC user's telephone through the telephone network, the telephone line is not available because the user's telephone line is already occupied and used by the PC.

ISDN is rapidly gaining popularity, using both data and telephone line lines simultaneously. With the PC and the phone connected to the ISDN network, the PC can be connected to the data network and the phone can be connected to the telephone line. Therefore, by expanding the spread of ISDN, a called party can receive a call while using a PC, but there is an economic problem that the ISDN network needs to be expanded.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide an internet telephony service relay system that can make a telephone call with an internet telephone using a normal telephone.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an internet telephony service relay method that can make a telephone call with an internet telephone using a normal telephone.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a relay system for relaying an Internet telephone service using an Internet network, comprising: a server connectable to a personal computer of a service subscriber through an Internet network; An ARS connected to a caller through a telephone network and providing a guide voice message to the caller and inputting a calling number from the caller; The call number is stored in correspondence with the service subscriber.If the call number is provided from the ARS, the call number is searched for the service subscriber corresponding to the call number, and when the retrieved service subscriber PC is connected to the Internet network, it is assigned to the service subscriber's PC. And an ISR which connects to the service subscriber's PC through the server using an IP address and relays a call between the caller and the service subscriber.

The present invention also provides a method for relaying an Internet telephone service, comprising the steps of: determining whether a call number is provided by a call from an originator; Determining whether there is a service subscriber corresponding to the provided call number, and if the service subscriber exists, determining whether the service subscriber is accessing the Internet network; If the service subscriber is connected to the Internet network, it is determined whether the service subscriber is on the Internet telephone call. If the service subscriber is not on the Internet telephone call, the caller communicates with the service subscriber through the telephone network through the Internet network. Relaying a telephone call between the service subscribers.

1 is a schematic diagram of a general telephone network;

2 is a schematic diagram of an internet telephone network;

3 is a schematic diagram of a network for relaying telephone calls between a personal computer and a telephone;

4 is a schematic diagram of a network for relaying telephone calls between a personal computer and a telephone;

5 is a schematic diagram of a network for performing an incoming call method of an Internet telephone according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of information stored in an IP status register configured in the network of FIG. 5; FIG.

7 is a detailed block diagram of a relay system according to the present invention;

8 is a flowchart illustrating a process of placing a call of a calling party subscriber telephone to an Internet telephone of a service subscriber according to the present invention;

9 is a flowchart illustrating a process in which a service subscriber applies for call forwarding and is set and released according to the present invention;

Fig. 10 is a flowchart showing an operation process performed by the answering machine when the caller accesses the answering machine of the present invention by using a telephone according to the present invention;

11 is a flowchart illustrating a process of confirming a message recorded in a voice message storage device according to the present invention;

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

130: relay system 131: automatic response system

132: IP status register 133: voice message storage device

134: call forwarding on / off device

135: server

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

5 is a conceptual diagram of an Internet telephone service of a telephone-to-PC according to the present invention. As shown, the caller telephone 21 is connected to the general telephone network 22, and the telephone network 22 is connected to the Internet network 42 through the relay system 30 of the present invention. The called party PC 41 is connected to the Internet network 42.

The relay system 30 of the present invention includes an auto response system (hereinafter referred to as ARS) 31 and an IP status register (hereinafter referred to as ISR) 32 as shown.

The ARS 31 generally refers to a device that answers voice data stored in advance or information desired by a user by receiving an incoming call from a telephone line. However, the ARS 31 of the present invention refers to the called party's calling number from the caller (the calling number means a predetermined number assigned to the called party's PC, and may use a conventional telephone number or, if necessary, a separate numbering system). .) Or by receiving a telephone number, providing the inputted information to the ISR 32 so that the ISR 32 can detect the IP address of the called party corresponding to the entered number and connect to the called party's PC via the Internet network 42. Play a role.

The ISR 32 is connected to the Internet network 42 and assigns a predetermined call number to a person who has applied to receive phone-to-PC service (a person who has applied for a call to a PC, hereinafter referred to as a service subscriber). Store the call number and the service subscriber in correspondence. As described later, the ISR 32 searches for the service subscriber corresponding to the call number provided from the ARS 31, and when the retrieved service subscriber's PC 41 is connected to the Internet network 42, the service subscriber's PC ( A process of requesting an incoming call of a telephone call to the PC 41 is performed using the IP address assigned to 41).

The service subscriber uses the call number assigned through the relay system 30 in place of the telephone number. That is, when the service subscriber wants to inform the other party of his / her telephone number, the service subscriber informs the call number assigned from the relay system 30 instead of the telephone number. Here, when the other party calls the service subscriber using the telephone 21, this call request must first be connected to the ARS 31. Therefore, in addition to the call number, the call number delivered by the service subscriber to the other party should be further added with the ARS phone number for connecting the call to the ARS.

As described above, in the relay system 30 of the present invention, the caller's telephone 21 and the service subscriber's PC 41 are connected through the telephone network 22 and the Internet network 42, respectively. The call between the phones (phone 21 and PC 41) is relayed. That is, the ISR 32 in the relay system 30 converts the signal of the telephone network 22 and the signal of the Internet network 42 into a signal suitable for each network, thereby enabling a call between the telephone network 22 and the Internet network 42. do.

In addition, since the call number from the caller's telephone 21 is transmitted as DTMF tones, the ISR 32 has a function of detecting the DTMF tones of the caller's telephone 21. In addition, the service subscriber should be called to the PC 41 corresponding to the call number from the caller via the Internet network, and for this purpose, the service subscriber should be provided with a function of generating and transmitting a ring message indicating that the call is made.

In addition, the ISR 32 needs to periodically check the connection status and the telephone status of the service subscriber by using a timer, and in addition, it is necessary to have a function of providing a service to other service subscribers by interworking with other Internet telephone service providers. .

In order for the ISR 32 to perform the above functions, it is necessary to store data as shown in FIG.

In FIG. 6, the call number means a series of numbers assigned to the service subscriber as described above, and in fact is a number representing the service subscriber (the call number may use a telephone number as described above). The calling number is used when the caller requests connection establishment with the service subscriber instead of the IP address, when the service subscriber confirms the voice message to him using the ARS 31 (or VMR described later) or other additional service. It is used at the time of use.

The IP address is fluidly assigned from the server when the Internet service subscriber connects to the Internet and is used to establish a path on the Internet. Similarly in the present invention, when the service subscriber accesses the relay system 30 of the present invention through the PC 41, the server in the relay system 30 (not shown in FIG. 5) gives the service subscriber PC an IP address, The ISR 32 registers an IP address, a route, connection information, and the like given to the service subscriber. The IP address is initialized when the service subscriber releases the connection with the server in the relay system 30.

The subscriber information is general information of the service subscriber, and means the ID, password, etc. used by the service subscriber to access the relay system 30 of the present invention.

The connection state indicates the active state of the current subscriber, the voice call state, the data communication state, and the like. Even when there is no data transmission or reception, the timer is used to identify and update the user's state with a predetermined period.

Whether or not call forwarding is used means that when a service subscriber's PC 41 communicates using a modem (when connected to an Internet network through a telephone network), a call to a service subscriber is dialed to a telephone number of a general telephone network. It indicates whether the service subscriber has applied for the call forwarding mode. As described below, when a predetermined caller calls a service subscriber's telephone network number while the service subscriber has applied for call forwarding mode, the relay system 30 of the present invention sends the caller's outgoing call to the service subscriber's PC 41. Mode will be connected. Whether call forwarding is used indicates whether the service subscriber applied for this call forwarding mode.

In addition, whether or not call forwarding is used is a PC-to-PC, an Internet-telephone service. Indicates whether the call should be forwarded to a regular telephone network or other communication network (e.g., mobile communication network).

The subscribing telephone station information stores information such as the telephone company to which the service subscriber subscribes, the call forwarding setup / release code, and the telephone number of the telephone company for setup / release when the subscriber subscribes to call forwarding.

The subscriber's telephone number is set up / released to forward the service subscriber's telephone telephone number to ARS or to the telephone or other network using the call forwarding service provided by the Internet phone system for calls made to the Internet telephone (PC). Used to connect (PC to phone, phone to phone). ARS representative number means a telephone number for requesting a call from ARS. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the information stored in the ISR 32 may include various other data as necessary in addition to the above-described information.

7 shows an example of a concrete block diagram and network of a relay system 130 including an ARS 131 and an ISR 132. The configuration of the network according to the present invention is configured to avoid reinvestment of the facility when given the access number in the general telephone network. The network of the present invention is also constructed in accordance with the data communication protocol and H.323 set forth in the international standard.

In the relay system 130, a voice message recorder (hereinafter referred to as a VMR) 133, a call forwarding on / off device 134, and an Internet telephone server, in addition to the ARS 131 and the ISR 132 described above. And (135).

The VMR 133 is a device for storing and outputting voice messages, and functions as an Internet answering machine provided to a service user on the Internet, and operates in conjunction with the ISR 132.

The call forwarding on / off device 134 sends a call to the service subscriber's telephone number when the service subscriber is subscribed to a general telephone network or other communication network, for example, when the subscriber has a telephone 153 subscribed to the telephone network. A function that allows incoming calls through a telephone (for example, PC 151 or 152) is performed in conjunction with ISR 132. In the figure, an example of an Internet phone of a service subscriber is given as a PC (151, 52), the PC 151 is a case of connecting to the server 135 in the relay system 130 of the present invention through the Internet network as an example. 152 is an example of connecting to the server 135 in the relay system 130 through a dedicated line. In addition, the PC 152 may be connected to the Internet network through the subscriber's telephone station 154 using a modem in some cases.

The Internet phone server 135 performs the connection status and subscription and termination of the user's relay system 130, a mail service, a search service, and a connection function with other Internet networks, and is used in conjunction with the ISR 132 and all connected devices. Control them. In addition, it provides a voice call service and various services in conjunction with the gateway 161 according to the H.323 standard.

8 shows a flowchart of the entire process of a caller using a general telephone network calling a PC 151 or 152 of a service subscriber.

The caller first presses the ARS representative phone number assigned to the ARS 131 of the relay system 130 using the phone 141. The telephone station switch in the telephone network connected to the calling party telephone 141 interprets the telephone number from the calling party telephone 141 and connects the ARS 131 and the calling party telephone 141 (S11).

When connected to the caller's phone 141, the ARS 131 provides the caller's phone 141 with a pre-stored voice message, for example, 'press the call number of the person to be called' (S13).

The caller who receives the voice message from the ARS 131 presses the key button of the telephone 141 corresponding to the calling number according to the voice message, and the DTMF tone of the pressed key button is provided to the ARS 131. The ARS 131 provides a DTMF tone, that is, a call number, to the ISR 132. The ISR 132 detects the service subscriber having the call number / telephone number, and determines whether the service subscriber is connected to the relay system 130 of the present invention and is given an IP address (S17). As a result of the determination, when the IP address is assigned to the service subscriber, the ARS 131 determines whether the PC 151/152 of the service subscriber is in a phone call (S19).

As a result of the determination in step S19, if the service subscriber's PC 151/152 is busy, the ARS 131 proceeds to step S27, but if the service subscriber's PC 151/152 is not busy, step Proceeding to step S21, a call message is provided to the PC 151/152 of the corresponding service subscriber. The call subscriber will respond to the call message by recognizing that the telephone call has been called.

When the service subscriber's PC 151/152 responds to the call message, the ISR 132 arbitrates the voice signal between the caller's telephone 141 and the service subscriber's PC 151/152, that is, mediates the telephone call (S25). .

However, as a result of the determination of steps S17, S19, and S23, when the IP address is not given to the service subscriber's PC 151/152 or is busy or does not answer the call signal, the ISR 132 performs step S27. Proceed to). In step S27, the ISR 132 determines whether the corresponding service subscriber has applied for call forwarding (switching a call request for the PC to a call of a general telephone). If the service subscriber has applied for call forwarding, the ISR 132 proceeds to step S29 to detect the telephone number assigned to the service subscriber telephone 153, and provides the telephone number information to the telephone network through the gateway 151. (S131). The telephone station 154 to which the switchboard (subscriber telephone) 153 in the telephone network belongs interprets the telephone number from the gateway 161 and provides a call signal (ring tone) to the telephone subscriber's telephone, and the telephone subscriber's telephone 153 If the phone 153 responds to the ring tone, that is, when the phone 153 is hooked off (S33), it proceeds to step S25 to arbitrate a telephone call by transmitting and receiving a voice signal between the caller's phone 141 and the service subscriber's phone 153. do.

As a result of the determination in step S27, when the service subscriber does not apply for call forwarding, the ISR 132 proceeds to step S35. In step S35, ISR 132 uses VMR 133 to provide a predetermined voice message to caller's telephone 141. Voice messages provided at this time, for example, can't talk to service subscribers. Tell me your message to leave. '

When the caller speaks the words he / she wants to leave according to the voice message of the VMR 133, the caller's voice is stored in the VMR 133 by the relaying of the ISR 132. The caller's voice stored in the VMR 133 may be listened to by the service subscriber at the request of the service subscriber, and this process will be described in detail later.

Next, referring to Figure 9 will be described in detail the process of the service subscriber to apply for the call forward and set up and release.

In the call forwarding in Fig. 9, as described above, when the service subscriber is subscribed to the general telephone network, a call to be received by the service subscriber's telephone 153 through the telephone network is received by the service subscriber's Internet telephone PC (152, 153). Means service to let

In the initial state of the ISR 132 to request such call forwarding (S41), when the service subscriber requests access by inputting an ID and password (S43), the server 136 in the relay system 130 requests the service subscriber's information. To the ISR 132 to request user authentication (S45).

If the authentication is successful (S47), that is, if the information corresponding to the input user ID and password is stored in the ISR 132, the IP address and connection status information, etc. assigned when the service subscriber connects are recorded and stored in the ISR 132. If authentication fails (S49), an authentication failure cause message is provided to the accessor (S51).

The ISR 132 searches for the user's call number with the input (authenticated) service subscriber ID (S53), and if the user is a subscriber of the general telephone network (that is, if the telephone number information of the telephone network is previously input and stored) (S55) It is determined whether the service subscriber is requesting a call forward (S57). As a result of the determination in step S57, when the service subscriber requests call forwarding, the process proceeds to step S59 to activate the call forwarding setting / release device 134 and provides information required for call forwarding setting such as the telephone number of the service subscriber's telephone network. It transmits as required by the incoming call setting / release device 134 so that call forwarding setting can be performed.

If the call forwarding setup process (S59) ends (S61), or if the service subscriber is not a telephone network subscriber (S55) or if call forwarding is not requested (S57), the ISR 132 proceeds to step S63. It searches for whether a voice message to be delivered to the subscriber is stored in the VMR 133 and transmits the search result to the service subscriber. Thereafter, the internal timer is operated to periodically record and store the current connection state information of the user in the ISR 132 (S65 and S67).

In step S69, when the service subscriber requests connection release, the ISR 132 searches whether the subscriber is a subscriber of the general telephone network (S71), and if the user is a general telephone network user, asks whether to release the call forwarding (S73), and releases the call forwarding. Only when desired, information on the call forwarding cancellation is transmitted to cancel the call forwarding set by the ARS 132 (S75) and the ISR 132 is initialized (S77).

However, if the ARS 132 does not release the call forwarding, or if the subscriber is not a telephone network subscriber (assigned call number user) (S71, S73), the call forwarding process is not performed in the Internet telephone according to the user's service request. Call forwarding can be set to a phone number (when the service subscriber is a telephone network subscriber), or a connection is set to a location of the VMR 133 assigned to the service subscriber so that voice messages from the caller's location can be stored and received.

Fig. 10 shows the operation performed by the ARS 131 when the caller accesses the ARS 131 of the present invention using a telephone.

10A is a process in which a caller accesses the ARS 131 and calls a user through a general telephone network.

The ARS 131 is typically used as a device for responding to a voice set in advance by the user, but the ARS 131 of the present invention further performs the following functions.

First, when a predetermined caller accesses the ARS 131 through a telephone network (S81), the ARS 131 sends a predetermined voice message (for example, press 1 for the person who wants to connect to the phone and 2 for the confirmation of the VMR message). ) To the caller.

If a predetermined DTMF signal is provided after performing step S83, the ARS 131 determines whether the DTMF signal corresponds to the number 1 key of the phone (S85). That is, it is determined whether the caller wants to make a telephone call with a predetermined service subscriber, and when the key signal 1 is provided, the flow proceeds to step S87. However, if the DTMF signal is not the number 1 key, that is, when the number 2 key of the phone is pressed, it is determined that the caller requests the confirmation of the VMR message and the VMR message checking process of FIG. do. The VMR message checking process will be described later in detail.

In step S87, the ARS 131 provides the caller with a voice message for inputting the call number of the service subscriber to be called, and inputs the call number provided from the caller to the ISR 132 (S89). The ISR 132 determines whether the call number provided from the ARS 131 is a stored call number (that is, whether there is a corresponding service subscriber) (S91). It is determined whether the telephone subscriber can have a telephone call with the service subscriber (S93), and the result is provided to the ARS (131). The ARS 131 proceeds to step S95 if a signal is provided from the ISR 132 confirming that there is a service subscriber with a call number, but if a signal indicating that there is no service subscriber with a call number is provided, the operation proceeds to step S97. If it is in a state where the telephone call is impossible, the flow advances to step S99.

In step S95, S97, and S99, the ARS 131 transmits to the caller a voice message whether the service subscriber is connected from the ISR 132, that is, whether the call is available. Voice messages provided to the caller may be classified as follows. If no service subscriber corresponds to the calling number provided by the caller, 'There is no subscriber for that number. Check the number and press the number again '(S97). If the caller provides the call number again in step S97 (S101), the flow returns to step S89, but all processes are terminated if the call number is not provided.

When the call is available to the service subscriber, the call can be made. 'I will connect with the service subscriber soon' (S95). Is sent out. For example, if the subscriber subscribes to the general telephone network, the message may be 'I will connect with the subscriber through the telephone network.' If the subscriber subscribes to the VMR recording mode, the call with the subscriber It is impossible. I'll record the message to VMR. Speak ”(S99).

After performing step S95, the ARS 131 proceeds to step S103 to relay a call between the caller and the service subscriber, and after performing step S99, proceeds to step S105 to pre-apply the service subscriber. In response to the call request of the caller to the telephone subscriber of the service subscriber via the general telephone network, or connects to the VMR (133) (S100).

When the telephone call between the caller and the service subscriber initiated in step S103 ends, the ARS 131 determines whether the caller applies for another service such as a telephone call with another service subscriber (S105) and applies for another service. If it returns to step S81 but does not apply for other services, the process ends.

10B illustrates a process of confirming a VMR message performed by the ARS 131.

The VMR message acknowledgment process refers to a process in which the service subscriber accesses the ARS 131 and checks a voice message sent to the service subscriber recorded in the VMR 133.

The ARS 131 provides the call number and password provided from the service subscriber to the ISR 132 to perform an authentication process for the corresponding service subscriber (S111) and (S113). If there is no user with the corresponding call number and password as a result of the authentication in step S113, an authentication failure is notified (S115), and this process is repeated n times to receive the user call number and password again (S117). ). If n times, it exits the VMR check and returns to the initial state of ARS connection.

However, if the authentication result in step S113, the user with the corresponding call number and password is confirmed, the ARS 131 notifies the message reception status stored in the VMR 133 (S119), and received to the VMR 133 If there is no message (S121) or the user does not want to listen (S123), the flow proceeds to step S131. However, if the service user wants to listen to the message received by the user (S123), the process of outputting the first stored message (or the message selected by the user) is performed (S125). When the transmission of the message is finished, the number of remaining messages is notified (S127). ). If the user wants to listen to the residual message (S129), the ARS 131 returns to step S125 to repeat the process of outputting the message. However, if the service subscriber does not want to listen to the remaining message, the ARS 131 asks for the use of another service (S131), and terminates all processes if it does not want to use the other service.

Next, the operation of the call forward / release device 134 will be described.

FIG. 11A shows a flowchart of a process for forwarding a call request of a service subscriber's general telephone network to a subscriber's PC.

As described above, when the service subscriber is subscribed to the general telephone network, the call forwarding / release device 134 sends a call to the ARS 131 of the present invention to the telephone number subscribed to the general telephone network according to the selection of the service subscriber. Call forwarding is a device that allows an Internet phone (PC) to receive a call that should be forwarded to a service subscriber's phone.

The call forwarding / release device 134 operates when the ISR 132 requests call forwarding setting in an initial state (S141), and the ISR 132 transmits a phone number for a telephone company of a general telephone network or other communication network to which a service subscriber is subscribed. (S143) and connect to the telephone station using the telephone number provided from the ISR (132) (S145). Of course, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that it is possible to connect to the telephone station by using a communication network other than the telephone network.

When connected to the corresponding telephone station (S146), the call forwarding / release device 134 returns to the ISR 132 a setup code necessary for call forwarding, other subscriber information required for call forwarding setting, and a representative of the ARS 131 to which call forwarding is to be set. Call forwarding is established by requesting the number and transmitting the information provided from ISR 132 to the telephone station (S147). As a result of performing step S147, if the call forwarding setting process is successful (S149), the call forwarding / release device 144 releases the connection with the telephone company (S151) and transmits a message indicating that call forwarding is set to the service subscriber. It is initialized to S153 (S154). However, if the service subscriber is not connected to the competent telephone station (S146), the predetermined number of times (n times) is repeated with the telephone station (S117). In step S149, a failure message of call forwarding setting is transmitted to the service subscriber, and a message asking whether to perform call forwarding setting process again is transmitted (S157). As a result of performing step S159, if the service subscriber wants to redo, the call forwarding setup process is repeated again, and if not, it is initialized and ends all processes (S155).

Fig. 11B shows a call forward release procedure of the call forward setting / release device.

If the service subscriber wants to release the call forwarding set in the initialization state of the call forward setting / release device 134, the ISR 132 requests the call forward setting / release device 134 to cancel the call forwarding. The / release device 134 is activated by receiving a call forwarding release request (S171). The activated call forwarding setting / release device 134 requests and receives the subscriber telephone subscriber's telephone number of the service subscriber from the ISR 132 (S172), and attempts to connect to the subscriber telephone station using the received subscriber telephone number (S173). ). As a result of performing step S173, when connected with the subscribing telephone station (S174), the call forwarding setting / release device 134 requests the ISR 132 for a code and other information necessary for call forwarding cancellation, for the phone number for which call forwarding is set. Data for releasing the call forward is transmitted to the subscriber's subscriber station (S175). As a result of the execution of step S175, if the call forwarding release is successful (S177), the call forwarding / release setting device 134 releases the connection with the subscriber telephone station (S179) and is initialized (S181).

However, if the connection between the call forwarding setting / release device 134 and the service subscriber's telephone station fails, or the call forwarding cancellation fails during the call forwarding cancellation process (S177), the call forwarding setting / release device 134 proceeds to step S172. Proceeds to the ISR 132 again requesting the subscriber's subscriber phone number of the service subscriber to repeat the call forward release process.

Meanwhile, although illustrated and described as an example of using a general wired telephone network in the above description, a general wireless telephone network may be used in addition to the telephone network, and wired / wireless telephone networks may be used together at the same time. Those who have this will easily know.

As described above, according to the present invention, wherever the Internet network is configured, the user can receive a call through the Internet telephone, and even if the Internet telephone is not received, the call is transferred to the telephone of the general telephone network or other communication network according to the service subscriber's choice. Can be received. In other words, when the PC to be called by the PC-to-PC and the phone-to-PC cannot answer the call, the service subscriber can use the telephone of the service subscriber to make a phone call instead of the PC.

Claims (10)

In a relay system for relaying an Internet telephone service using an internet network, A server connectable to the service subscriber's Internet telephone through the Internet network; An automatic answering system connected to the caller via a wired / wireless telephone network, providing a guide voice message to the caller and inputting a call number from the caller; Store the call number in correspondence with the service subscriber, and if the call number is provided from the answering machine, retrieve the service subscriber corresponding to the call number, and when the retrieved service subscriber's Internet telephone is connected to the Internet network, And an IP status register which connects to the service subscriber's Internet telephone through the server and relays a call between the caller and the service subscriber using the IP address assigned to the telephone. The method of claim 1, And a voice message storage device connected to the IP status register and storing a voice message provided from the caller to a service subscriber on the Internet, and selectively providing the stored voice message to the service subscriber. The method according to claim 1 or 2, And the call number is a telephone number of a service subscriber. In the Internet telephone service relay method, Determining whether a call is received from a caller and a call number is provided; Determining whether there is a service subscriber corresponding to the provided call number, and if the service subscriber exists, determining whether the service subscriber is accessing the Internet network; If the service subscriber is connected to the Internet network, it is determined whether the service subscriber is on the Internet telephone call. If the service subscriber is not on the Internet phone call, the caller is connected through a wired / wireless telephone network, and the service subscriber is connected to the Internet network. Connecting to the caller and relaying a telephone call therebetween. The method of claim 4, wherein Determining whether the service subscriber applied for call forwarding when the service subscriber is not connected to the Internet network or the service subscriber is on the Internet telephone call; If the service subscriber has applied for call forwarding, detecting a telephone number of a wired / wireless telephone network assigned to the service subscriber telephone, and forwarding a call to the service subscriber telephone through a gateway; Relaying a call between the service subscriber and the caller when the service subscriber answers the call. The method of claim 5, Notifying the caller that recording of a voice message is possible if the service subscriber has not applied for call forwarding; And storing the voice message provided from the caller. The method of claim 6, wherein the setting up call forwarding comprises: Authenticating when the service subscriber is connected; If the authenticated service subscriber is a wired / wireless telephone network subscriber, determining whether the service subscriber is requesting call forwarding; Setting up call forwarding when the service subscriber requests call forwarding; Searching for and providing to the service subscriber whether a voice message to be delivered to the service subscriber is stored if the call forwarding is established, the service subscriber is not a telephone network subscriber, or the call forwarding is not requested; Canceling call forwarding if the service subscriber requests to release call forwarding to a general wired / wireless telephone network subscriber after providing whether to store the voice message; After providing the storage of the voice message, if the service subscriber is not a wired / wireless telephone network subscriber, an Internet phone sets up a call forwarding to the telephone number of the wired / wireless telephone network at the request of the service subscriber or the voice message of the service subscriber. Internet service relay method comprising the step of storing. The method of claim 7, wherein Determining whether a call is received from the caller and the call number is provided, Providing the caller with a voice message guiding selection of a desired service when the caller connects through a telephone network; And providing the caller with a voice message for inputting a call number of a service subscriber to be called when the caller requests an Internet telephone service according to the voice guidance message. The method of claim 8, wherein the setting up call forwarding comprises: Connecting to a subscriber station of the service subscriber; Communicating with the subscribing telephone station to transmit the service subscriber information necessary for the call forwarding to the telephone station to set up call forwarding; Releasing the connection with the subscribing telephone station if the call forwarding setting process is successful, and transmitting a message indicating that call forwarding is established to the service subscriber; If not connected to the subscribing telephone station, attempting a predetermined number of times of connection with the subscribing telephone station, and if the call forwarding of the telephone station is not established or transmitting a message indicating a call forwarding failure to the service subscriber; Way. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of canceling the call forwarding, Connecting to a subscriber station of the service subscriber; When the user is connected to a subscriber telephone station of the service subscriber, transmitting information necessary to cancel call forwarding to the subscriber telephone station to release the call forwarding; Releasing the connection with the subscribed telephone station if the call forwarding release is successful; And repeating the call forwarding release process if the connection between the service subscribers of the service subscriber fails or the call forwarding release fails in the call forwarding cancellation process.