KR20020089863A - Telephon adapter for providing internetphone function and processing method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A telephone adapter for adding an Internet phone function is provided to simultaneously connect a PSTN with an Internet line, and to convert a voice signal into a digital signal when a digital voice call is performed over the Internet, thereby using a general phone as an Internet phone without having a computer. CONSTITUTION: A telephone adapter(100) comprises as follows. An Internet phone function unit(110) directly connected to the Internet converts an analog voice signal into digital data to transmit the data over the Internet, and receives voice data of the other party over the Internet to convert the data into an analog signal. A signal switch(120) supplies a path to make a voice signal flow into the Internet phone function unit(110), and switches the path in order that the voice signal is transmitted through a PSTN when a call connection fails over the Internet by the Internet phone function unit(110). A telephone connector(130) connected to a general phone(200) detects a state of the telephone(200), and transceives the voice signal.

Description

Telephone adapter for Internet phone function and the operation method {TELEPHON ADAPTER FOR PROVIDING INTERNETPHONE FUNCTION AND PROCESSING METHOD THEREOF}

The present invention relates to a telephone, and more particularly, to a telephone adapter and a method of operating the same, which is attached to a general telephone and enables an internet phone function in a general telephone that enables the general telephone to be used as an internet phone without passing through a computer. will be.

Since Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone more than 120 years ago, voice communication has been mainly carried out through the public telephone network (PSTN) .In recent years, the development of computer communication has led to Internet telephony via the Internet (INTERNET). Since the public telephone network uses a circuit switch network in which a line is occupied between two subscribers during a call, the line usage fee is expensive and various functions like a computer are added because the voice signal is exchanged with an analog signal. It is difficult to do this, and also has the disadvantage that the cost increases in proportion to the distance.

On the contrary, the Internet phone, which is popularized due to the development of digital technology and the increase of the number of Internet users, converts the voice signal into digital data and transmits it to the other party through the Internet, and the received voice data of the other party is analog voice signal. It outputs audible sound by converting it into audible sound, and the cost is constant regardless of the distance of call, and the long-distance call has the advantage of high cost saving effect, and the call quality is inferior to that of PSTN phone. As the situation is improving, the number of users is expected to increase further.

However, in order to use such an inexpensive Internet phone, a personal computer (PC) equipped with a sound card and a modem must be provided. In addition, an Internet phone application is installed on the personal computer (PC) and a headset is connected. Its installation and use is complex, and has the disadvantage that the initial installation cost is higher than the general telephone. In addition, it is inconvenient for the user to be familiar with the computer and the Internet.

Due to the above problems, the majority of ordinary people using a general telephone has a problem that there are many inconveniences of using the Internet phone.

The present invention has been proposed in order to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and its purpose is to attach to an existing general telephone, so that the telephone can be used as an Internet phone without having a separate computer and peripheral devices. To provide a telephone adapter and an operation method for enabling the Internet phone function.

In addition, the present invention provides a telephone adapter and a method of operating the same, which is attached to a general telephone without complicated installation work and enables an Internet telephone function to a general telephone that allows voice calls through the Internet as well as a public telephone network through an existing telephone. .

1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a telephone adapter according to the present invention.

2 is a flowchart showing the operation algorithm of the telephone adapter according to the present invention.

* Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings *

100: telephone adapter

110: Internet phone function

120: signal switching unit

130: telephone connection

200: phone

As a means for achieving the above object of the present invention,

The telephone adapter for adding an Internet phone function of the present invention includes: a telephone connection portion connected to a telephone line connection portion of a general telephone, and for transmitting telephone control signals such as DTMF signals and hook signals and analog voice signals generated from the telephone;

An Internet telephony function connected to the Internet and connected to a call channel through the Internet to convert voice signals of the handset and digital voice data through the connected channel to enable voice calls over the Internet; And,

It is connected to a public telephone network, characterized in that the general telephone is made of a signal switching unit for switching the connection to the Internet or public telephone network through the Internet telephone function unit according to the state through the telephone connection.

In the above, the telephone connection unit is connected to the telephone line connection unit of the general telephone and the telephone connection module for transmitting and receiving telephone control signals and analog voice signals; A telephone control signal detection module for detecting a control signal of a telephone through the telephone connection module; And a voltage generation module generating an operating voltage of the telephone and applying the voltage to the telephone connected through the telephone connection module.

In addition, the Internet phone function unit is a communication function module that is connected to the Internet to enable the transmission and reception of digital data through the Internet, and the digital telephone to recognize the DTMF signal received from the general telephone, or to send and receive from the general telephone when connecting to the Internet phone Performs coding and decoding functions of voice signals, and converts analog / digital signals by being provided between a voice signal and DTMF processing module for generating a DTMF signal when a public communication network is connected, and between the voice signal and DTMF processing module and the signal switching unit. AD conversion module in charge of the function, and control the signal switching unit so that the general telephone can be connected to the Internet or public telephone network through the Internet telephone function unit, and attempts to make an Internet telephone connection according to the telephone number entered at the time of dialing, Controlling the telephone connection through the public telephone network when there is no internet phone access It consists of a control module.

In the operation method of the telephone adapter for adding the Internet phone function configured as described above,

(A) enabling a general telephone reception by connecting the general telephone to a public telephone network when the general telephone is in a hook-on state;

(B) connecting the general telephone to the Internet when the general telephone is in a hook-off state and attempting to access the Internet phone to the other party in response to the telephone number input by the user;

(C) storing the telephone number input by the user;

(D) if the internet phone is successfully connected, making a voice call through a call channel of the connected internet;

(E) if the internet telephone connection fails, making a landline available to the public telephone network (PSTN);

(F) generating a telephone number stored in step (c) as a DTMF tone and transmitting it to a public telephone network to attempt a telephone connection; And

(G) If the telephone connection through the public telephone network is successful in the above, the telephone call is made through the public telephone network.

The telephone adapter according to the present invention configured as described above does not require a separate operating system for performing a communication function or an internet telephony application through the Internet, and by downloading only a control function for an internet telephony to the Internet telephone adapter device. Characterized in that it performs the Internet phone and PSTN phone functions.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in detail the configuration and operation of the telephone adapter for adding the Internet phone function according to the present invention.

1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the telephone adapter according to the present invention, the telephone adapter 100 according to the present invention is directly connected to the Internet without a PC to convert the analog voice signal of the caller to digital data to the Internet Internet telephone function unit 110 for transmitting and receiving the voice data of the other party received through the Internet to convert the analog signal and output the voice signal from the general telephone 200 to the Internet telephone function unit 110 The signal switching unit 120 and the general telephone 120 to switch the path so that the voice signal is transmitted through the public telephone network (PSTN) when the telephone connection through the Internet fails by the Internet telephone function unit 110 while providing a route. Is connected to the phone 120 and the phone connection unit 130 for detecting the state of the phone 120 and transmitting and receiving a voice signal.

More specifically, the telephone connection unit 130 is connected to the general telephone 200, the telephone connection module 131 for transmitting and receiving voice signals, and the operation of the general telephone 200 connected through the telephone connection module 131. A voltage generation module 132 for generating a required voltage (-60V) and a telephone control signal detection module 133 for detecting a status signal for controlling the telephone from the signal transmitted and received by the telephone connection module 131.

In addition, the Internet telephone function unit 110 is connected to the Internet to transmit and receive data through the Internet and the communication function module 111, the AD conversion module 114 and the communication function module 111 through the transmission and reception The audio signal and DTMF processing module 113, and the voice signal and DTMF processing module 113, and the signal switching unit for compressing and restoring the digital voice signal to be generated and generating a DTMF signal through a public telephone network (PSTN) under control. The AD conversion module 114 performs an analog / digital signal conversion function of a signal inputted and outputted by connecting the 120 and the voice connection via the Internet when attempting to make a call from the general telephone 200 through the telephone connection unit 130. Attempts to connect the call, and if the phone is not connected through the Internet is made of a control module 112 for controlling the call to connect to the call channel through the public telephone network (PSTN).

In addition, the signal switching unit 120 is connected to the public telephone network (PSTN) and the AD conversion module 114 of the Internet telephone function unit 110, and the voice signal input and output to the handset of the general telephone 200 through the Internet telephone At the time of transmission to the Internet telephone function unit 110 through the AD conversion module 114, and during the PSTN telephone call is to perform a signal switching function to be delivered to the public telephone network.

The function of each constituent means will be described in more detail.

Although not shown in the drawing, the telephone connection module 130 has a connector that can be connected to a telephone line connection of an existing telephone, and uses the voltage generated by the voltage generation module 132 to generate -60V. By performing the function of generating a virtual PSTN environment for the operation of the general telephone 200, the telephone control signal detection module 133 detects a telephone control signal such as DTMF signal, hook signal, etc. of the general telephone 200 To the control module 112.

Although not shown in the drawing, the communication function module 111 of the Internet phone function unit 110 includes a connector and a physical layer interface that can be directly connected to the Internet, and are used on the Internet without a separate operating system. It performs TCP / IP and UDP functions, which are standard communication protocols, and transmits and receives information including voice data through the Internet.

In addition, the voice signal and the DTMF processing module 113 input a DTMF signal corresponding to the telephone number input to the phone 200 through the telephone connection unit 130, the signal switching unit 120, and the AD conversion module 114. Receives the digital information and passes it to the control module 112. In addition, when the caller wants to make a telephone call, the voice data inputted and outputted to the handset of the telephone 200 is standardized as G.723.1. Code or decode using a coding method. In addition, when the Internet telephone call is impossible, the caller receives the telephone number input by the caller from the control module 112, generates a DTMF signal, and transmits it to the public telephone network (PSTN).

In addition, the AD change module 114 samples the voice signal of the talker input through the signal switching unit 120, and converts the digital voice data into digital data by sampling each fixed period (125 ms). Is transmitted to the voice signal and DTMF processing module 113. In addition, the voice signal and the voice data input from the DTMF processing module 113 are converted into an analog signal and outputted to the signal switching unit 120.

At this time, the control module 112 is to control the overall operation of the telephone adapter 100 according to the present invention, first hook on / off (Hook On / Off) to notify that the handset of the telephone 200 is lifted or placed The detection signal is input through the telephone control signal detection module 133 of the telephone connection unit 130 to determine that an interrupt is received from the outside. At this time, the control module 112 transitions to the initialization state capable of making a call if the interrupt is due to the hook-off, and transitions to the hangup state if the interrupt is caused by the hook-on.

And, the control module 112 is in the initialization state that can receive the interrupt by the hook-off, the phone 200, telephone connection unit 130 → signal switching unit 120 → AD conversion module 114 → The user inputs a phone number selected by the user through the voice signal and the path of the DTMF processing module 113, and reads the phone number of the other party to be connected. The phone number read in this way is stored in the internal memory in case it is not possible to make a call through the Internet phone. If the Internet phone is not connected, the phone number stored as described above is input to the voice signal and the DTMF processing module 113 by the control of the control module 112 and converted into a DTMF signal, which is converted into an AD conversion module ( 114) and is transmitted through the public telephone network (PSTN) via the signal switching unit 120.

Referring to the control of the control module 112 according to the operation procedure, first, when the user picks up the handset of the telephone 200, when the hook-off signal is recognized, the control unit 120 to control the signal switching unit 120 The signal of the phone 200 input through the) is applied to the AD change module 114 side.

In addition, the control module 112 attempts to access a call through the Internet using the phone number while storing the input phone number. At this time, when the call channel through the Internet is connected, the control module 112 is no need to connect through the public telephone network (PSTN), so the signal switching unit 120 passes the signal path to the Internet telephone function unit 110 side. Internet telephone call is made in the general telephone 200, and when the call channel connection fails, the signal switching unit 120 is controlled for the telephone connection through the public telephone network, and through the telephone connection unit 130. The path is configured so that the input signal of the general telephone 200 is applied to the public telephone network.

In more detail, when a call through the Internet fails, the signal switching unit 120 causes the AD conversion module 114 and the voice signal and DTMF signal processing module 113 to be connected to the public telephone network (PSTN). After that, the voice signal and DTMF signal processing module 113 first generates a hook-off signal so that the voice signal and the DTMF signal processing module 113 can make a call with the public telephone network PSTN, and then through the voice signal and DTMF signal processing module 113. Generates a DTMF signal corresponding to the stored telephone number to make a call through the public telephone network (PSTN). Then, when the telephone is connected, the path of the signal switching unit 120 is switched to be connected to the public telephone network (PSTN) and the telephone connection unit 130, so that the user of the general telephone 200 through the public communication network (PSTN) You can make a call.

As described above, the signal switching unit 120 configures a pass between the public telephone network PSTN and the telephone 200 to receive a call from the initial public telephone network PSTN. When the phone control signal detection module 133 recognizes a hook-off signal for lifting a phone to make a phone call, the phone 200 controls the control module through the AD change module 114, the voice signal, and the DTMF processing module 113. 112). The phone number of the user input through this pass is transmitted to the control module 112, and the control module 112 attempts to talk with the other party through the Internet using the phone number input by the user. At this time, if the call through the Internet is successfully performed, the pass is maintained as it is, the voice for the internet call is also transmitted and received through this pass. However, when a call over the Internet fails, switching of signal paths required for a telephone connection through a public telephone network is necessary. In more detail, when a call through the Internet fails, the signal switching unit 120 connects the AD conversion module, the voice signal, and the DTMF signal processing module 113 to the public telephone network (PSTN) from the phone 200. The path is switched as much as possible, so that the voice signal and the DTMF signal processing module 113 generate a DTMF signal corresponding to the hook-off signal and the telephone number to make a call to the public telephone network (PSTN). Thereafter, the phone 200 switches to a path connected to the public telephone network (PSTN) and the telephone 200 so that the telephone 200 can make a voice call through the public communications network (PSTN).

2 is a flowchart showing a process of performing a call using a telephone adapter configured as described above in order.

That is, in the state where the telephone adapter 100 according to the present invention is attached to the telephone 200 and the telephone adapter 100 is connected to the Internet and a public telephone network (PSTN) again to complete installation, the following operation is performed. Is done.

When the user enters the hook-off state with the handset of the telephone 200 (S401), it is detected by the control signal detection module 133 and transmitted to the control module 112, and the control module 112 recognizes the hook-off state. By the control of the user, when the user enters the phone number in the phone 200 (s402), the input phone number is transferred to the control module 112 and stored (S403).

Then, the control module 112 recognizes the call partner with the stored phone number, and attempts to access the Internet through the communication function module 111 (S404). This process is performed in the same manner as in a general Internet phone such as searching for an IP address of a counterpart corresponding to an input telephone number and sending a connection request signal to the corresponding IP address.

If the Internet phone is successfully connected by the connection attempt, the control module 112 allows the voice call to be made through the open Internet call channel (S409).

At this time, before the start of the telephone call through the Internet, the delay time of the Internet and the packet error occurrence rate are measured, and if the predetermined limit is not exceeded, the Internet telephone connection is attempted. Otherwise, it is determined that the telephone connection through the Internet has failed (S405). . Then, the control module 112 is activated by making the hook-off state through the signal switching unit 120 (S406), and outputs the stored telephone number to the voice signal and DTMF processing module 113, DTMF tone It generates and transmits it to the public telephone network (PSTN) and attempts to dial in (S407). In the above, when the telephone connection is made, the telephone call is made through the public telephone network (PSTN) (S408).

As described above, the telephone adapter according to the present invention connects a general telephone to a public telephone network (PSTN) and the Internet at the same time, so that not only telephone calls through the public telephone network through the existing telephone, but also voice calls through the Internet. In addition, if you make a call, try to make a call over the Internet, and if it is not connected at this time, it automatically switches to the public telephone network (PSTN) and attempts to make a phone call. All of them have a convenient effect of trying to connect. Therefore, there is an excellent effect that even a user who cannot use a computer can use a cheap internet phone service with a simple operation.

In addition, the telephone adapter according to the present invention enables to use the Internet phone service through a general telephone without a computer, and in addition, there is no need for a separate operating system or software for performing the communication protocol at the time of installation, low price and user There is an excellent effect to facilitate the convenience of.

In addition, the telephone adapter according to the present invention attempts to connect to the public telephone network when the telephone connection is difficult due to a problem of poor call quality or a problem such as using a firewall or a virtual IP address. It is possible to overcome the shortcomings of the existing Internet phone by reducing the use case.

Claims (4)

In telephone adapter for Internet phone function addition, A telephone connection portion connected to a telephone line connection portion of a general telephone, for detecting telephone control signals such as DTMF signals and hook signals, and transmitting analog voice signals; An Internet telephone function unit connected to the Internet to convert a voice caller's analog voice signal and a digital voice data through a connection channel and a connected channel through the Internet to enable a voice call through the Internet; And The telephone adapter is connected to a public telephone network, the telephone adapter for the Internet phone function, characterized in that consisting of a signal switching unit for switching the connection through the telephone connection to the Internet or public telephone network through the Internet telephone function. The method of claim 1, wherein the telephone connection portion A telephone connection module connected to a telephone line connection unit of a general telephone to transmit and receive a signal; A telephone control signal detection module for detecting a control signal of a telephone through the telephone connection module; And And a voltage generating module for generating an operating voltage of the telephone and applying it to the telephone connected through the telephone connection module. According to claim 1, wherein the Internet telephone function unit A communication function module connected to the Internet to enable transmission and reception of digital data through the Internet; A voice signal and a DTMF processing module for recognizing a DTMF signal input from the general telephone or generating a DTMF tone under control, and coding and decoding a digital voice signal transmitted and received through the communication function module when an Internet phone is connected; An AD conversion module provided between the voice signal and the DTMF processing module and the signal switching unit to perform an analog / digital conversion function of signals exchanged with each other; By controlling the signal switching unit so that the general telephone can be connected to the Internet or public communication network through the Internet telephone function unit, try to access the Internet according to the telephone number entered at the time of dialing, and when the Internet telephone connection is not available, Internet phone function addition telephone adapter, characterized in that consisting of a control module for controlling so that the telephone connection through. In the operation method of the telephone adapter for attaching the Internet phone function, which is attached to a general telephone and enables voice calls over the Internet as well as a public telephone network, (A) enabling a general telephone reception by connecting the general telephone to a public telephone network when the general telephone is in a hook-on state; (B) connecting the general telephone to the Internet when the general telephone is in a hook-off state and attempting to access the Internet phone to the other party in response to the telephone number input by the user; (C) storing the telephone number input by the user; (D) if the internet phone is successfully connected, making a voice call through a call channel of the connected internet; (E) if the internet telephone connection fails, making a landline available to the public telephone network (PSTN); (F) generating a telephone number stored in step (c) as a DTMF tone and transmitting it to a public telephone network to attempt a telephone connection; And (G) If the telephone connection through the public telephone network is successful in the above, the method of operation of the telephone adapter for the Internet phone function, characterized in that the telephone call is made through the public telephone network.