KR20030008045A - Billing Processing Apparatus And Method According To Voice Quality Of VoIP Equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A billing process device according to a speech quality of a VoIP(Voice over Internet Protocol) equipment and a method therefor are provided to check a QoS(Quality of Service) level, that is, speech quality as to a transmission delay or loss and perform a differential billing process. CONSTITUTION: A QoS test unit(41) transmits a test tone or a test pattern to an IP network, analyzes a returned tone or pattern, and checks a QoS level as to a transmission delay or jitter. A PCM(Pulse Code Modulation)/frame converting unit(42) converts the test tone or the test pattern transmitted from the QoS test unit(41) into an IP packet frame, transmits the IP packet frame to the IP network, analyzes a returned IP packet frame, and returns the detected test tone or test pattern to the QoS test unit(41). A billing unit(50) differentially bills a call charge about a corresponding call according to the QoS level transmitted from the QoS test unit(41).

Description

Billing Processing Apparatus And Method According To Voice Quality Of VoIP Equipment}

The present invention relates to differential charging processing according to voice quality of VoIP (Voice over IP) equipment, in particular, the QoS (Quality of QoS) for transmission delay or jitter that influences voice quality in IP network during IP-based voice call service. The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for processing a charge according to voice quality of a VoIP device, which enables charge processing for a call charge differentially according to a service grade.

With the recent trend of integrating into various services based on the Internet, the voice call service, which is an existing circuit switching service area, is rapidly evolving due to the integration of voice and data technologies on the Internet based on IP (Internet Protocol). Internet telephony is composed of IP-based circuits through the Internet, and thus the concept of communication distance has been broken, which is causing a great change in the existing telecom rate structure.

However, the PSTN network, which provides the existing circuit-switched service, guarantees the voice call service without fixed delay and loss for the voice, but on the IP-based Internet, the voice packet is processed during the process. The voice quality is inevitably deteriorated, such as voice interruption due to delay or loss caused by distortion, echo, packetization, encoding / decoding, and queuing.

Meanwhile, in order to provide the above-described Internet telephony service, a gateway, that is, an IP-based voice service, which can match IP-based voice services between a PSTN network (or an ISDN network) and the Internet, that is, an IP network, can settle a fee for the VoIP equipment In this VoIP device, the billing method is an initial stage, and simply starts billing after the call setup between heterogeneous networks and ends the billing when the call is released.

Referring to the configuration of the conventional VoIP equipment for this purpose, as shown in the accompanying drawings, Figure 1, MPU (Micro Processing Unit) 11, PSTN interface unit 12, IP interface unit 13 and the charging unit 14 ) Is made.

As the main controller, the MPU 11 controls the operation of the entire equipment for the IP-based voice service, and controls the billing unit 14 according to the call setup and call release report of the IP interface unit 13 to perform the billing. The PSTN interface unit 12 includes an analog interface unit 12-1 and a digital interface unit 12-2 for registration of subscribers connected to the PSTN network.

The IP interface unit 13 provides a matching function between the PSTN network and the IP network connected to the PSTN interface unit 12, but converts the PCM voice data into an IP packet frame or performs reverse conversion thereof, and sets up a call so that charges can be settled. And reporting the call release to the MPU 11, and the charging unit 14 performs charging to settle the call charge from call setup to call release according to the command of the MPU 11.

The charging processing operation of the conventional VoIP equipment configured as described above is as follows.

First, when a subscriber connected to the PSTN network requests an IP-based voice service, when the PSTN interface unit 12 matching the PSTN network requests the call setup with the IP interface unit 13 to the MPU 11, The MPU 11 checks the state of the IP interface unit 13 and, if there is an idle channel, controls the corresponding IP interface unit 13 to perform call setup with the IP network.

At this time, call setup in the IP network by the corresponding IP interface unit 13 is set using a transmission control protocol (TCP) protocol for an error-sensitive signal stream or signal channel, and in case of a voice packet requiring real time transmission. Set to transmit according to UDP (User Data Protocol) protocol.

When the call setup with the IP network is made in the above-described manner, the IP interface unit 13 transmits the corresponding call setup completion message to the MPU 11 to report that the call setup has been made. By ordering the billing start to the billing unit 14 in 11), the billing unit 14 starts to settle the bill for the corresponding call.

Subsequently, when the call is terminated while providing the IP-based voice call service to the PSTN network subscriber in the corresponding VoIP equipment, the IP interface unit 12 releases the call associated with the IP network and sends a corresponding call release completion message to the MPU ( 11) to report that the call has been released, the command to the end of the charge to the charging unit 14 in the MPU (11), the billing unit 14 to end the charge settlement for the corresponding call.

That is, in the conventional VoIP equipment, the billing process starts to settle the charge at the point of call setup between the PSTN network and the IP network, which is a heterogeneous network, and ends the bill settlement when the corresponding call is released.

Therefore, conventionally, in providing IP-based voice call service, although the voice quality is inevitably degraded due to transmission delay or loss during voice packet transmission in the IP network, the actual subscriber's call duration is inevitable. There was a problem in that call charges were charged on the basis of only (time from call setup to call release).

In addition, since the call rate is settled for voice packets with a special condition of real-time processing irrespective of the quality of service such as voice quality deterioration in the VoIP equipment, the communication service provider reasonably sets the call rate. There was a disadvantage that can not.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and its object is to provide an IP-based voice call service, inevitably causing a decrease in voice quality due to transmission delay or loss in an IP network. In order to perform the processing, it is possible to perform differential charging processing by checking the QoS level, that is, voice quality, for a corresponding transmission delay or loss.

In addition, another object of the present invention, by performing the differential charging process according to the voice quality in the IP-based voice call service, so that the service provider can settle the call charge in a different way from other companies, The subscriber is required to charge a call fee appropriate for the voice quality of the call service provided by the subscriber.

1 is a view showing the configuration of a conventional VoIP equipment.

2 is a diagram showing the configuration of VoIP equipment according to the present invention;

3 is a diagram illustrating a detailed configuration for differential charging processing according to voice quality in the VoIP equipment of FIG.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a differential charging processing according to voice quality in the VoIP equipment according to the present invention.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

20: MPU 30: PSTN interface unit

40: IP interface unit 41: QoS test unit

41-1: QoS Control Unit 41-2: Test Tone Transmitter

41-3: test tone metering unit 41-4: highway control unit

41-5: test packet control section 41-6: common memory section

42: PCM / frame converter

A feature of the present invention for achieving the above object is, in the VoIP equipment that provides the IP-based voice call service to subscribers of the PSTN network or ISDN network in accordance with the IP network, the test tone or test pattern to the IP network A QoS tester which checks the QoS level for transmission delay or jitter by analyzing the tones or patterns returned after the transmission to the mobile station; PCM / converting the test tone or test pattern transmitted from the QoS test unit into an IP packet frame and transmitting the detected IP tones to the IP network side and returning the detected test tone or test pattern to the QoS test unit. A frame converter; The billing unit performs charging from call setup to call release according to the command of the MPU, and includes a charging unit that charges a call charge for the corresponding call differentially according to the QoS class delivered from the QoS testing unit. To provide a billing processing device according to the voice quality of the IP equipment.

The QoS test unit may include: a test tone transmitter which periodically generates a test tone and then transmits the test tone to the IP network through the highway and the PCM / frame converter assigned thereto; A test tone metering unit for calculating and reporting a transmission delay time by analyzing a test tone returned from the IP network side through a PCM / frame converter; A highway controller for allocating a highway so that the test tone transmitter and the test tone metering unit transmit or receive a test tone to the IP network; A test packet controller which periodically generates a test pattern and transmits the test pattern to the IP network through the PCM / frame converter, and calculates and reports the jitter time by analyzing the test pattern returned from the IP network through the PCM / frame converter; When the call setup is established with the IP network and the corresponding call duration is counted to reach the QoS test cycle time, the test tone transmitter and the test packet controller are controlled to generate a test tone and a test pattern, and generate the test tone. And a QoS control unit for checking the QoS level according to the transmission delay time reported from the metering unit and the jitter time reported from the test packet control unit, and transmitting the QoS level to the charging unit through the common memory.

The QoS test cycle time may be a cycle time set for periodically checking a QoS grade, which is a differential charging processing standard, when charging the IP-based voice call call.

In addition, another aspect of the present invention, in the billing processing method of the VoIP equipment that provides IP-based voice call service to the PSTN network or ISDN network subscriber in accordance with the IP network, when the call setup is made with the IP network Starting counting of calls and at the same time starting counting call durations; When the call duration reaches a QoS test cycle time set for checking a QoS level, performing a periodic QoS test on the currently connected call to check the QoS level according to transmission delay time or jitter time; The present invention provides a method for processing charging according to voice quality of a VIP device including differentially charging a call charge for a corresponding call according to a QoS level checked through the QoS test.

Further, the process of checking the QoS class may include generating a test tone having a predetermined frequency, transmitting the IP to the IP network in the form of an IP packet frame, and detecting and analyzing the test tone returned to calculate a corresponding transmission delay time. ; Generating a test pattern and transmitting a test pattern to the IP network in the form of an IP packet frame, and detecting and analyzing a test pattern returned to calculate a corresponding jitter time.

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

In the present invention, in order to provide an IP-based voice call service, the VoIP charge is to be settled differentially according to the voice quality provided to the subscriber. The configuration of the VoIP device for this purpose will be described with reference to FIG. 2. As shown, the MPU 20, which is a main control unit, a PSTN interface unit 30 for matching with the PSTN network, an IP interface unit 40 and a charging unit 50 for matching with the IP network, Here, since the MPU 20 and the PSTN interface unit 30 performs the same functions as in the prior art, a description thereof will be omitted.

In addition to the existing function of providing a matching function with the IP network, the IP interface unit 40 checks the QoS level of the IP network and checks the QoS level of the voice call according to voice quality. And the PCM / frame converter 42, which is returned after transmitting the test tone or test pattern to the IP network through the PCM / frame converter 42. After analyzing the tone or pattern, the QoS grade for transmission delay or jitter is checked and transferred to the charging unit 50. The PCM / frame converter 42 converts PCM voice data into an IP packet frame or performs inverse conversion thereof. After converting the test tone or test pattern transmitted from the QoS testing unit 41 into an IP packet frame and transmitting the IP to the IP network frame, the IP packet frame is analyzed and returned when the test tone is detected. The ay) is transmitted to the QoS test unit 41, and when a test pattern is detected, it is transferred to the QoS test unit 41 through the data bus.

At this time, the charging unit 50 performs the charging to settle the call charge from the call setup to the call release according to the command of the MPU 20, but corresponding to the QoS level delivered from the QoS test unit 41 Carry out the charging to differentially settle the call charge for the call.

Meanwhile, referring to FIG. 3, a detailed configuration of the QoS test unit 41 for differential charging processing according to voice quality in the VoIP server of FIG. 2 is described with the QoS control unit 41-1 serving as a sub-control unit. , Test tone transmitter 41-2, test tone metering unit 41-3, highway controller 41-4, test packet controller 41-5 and common memory unit 41-. 6) is made, including.

The QoS control unit 41-1, when the call setup with the IP network is established, counts the corresponding call duration and reaches the QoS test cycle time, and the test tone transmitter 41-2 and the test packet controller 41-5. ) To generate a test tone and a test pattern, and check the QoS class according to the transmission delay time reported from the test tone metering unit 41-3 and the jitter time reported from the test packet control unit 41-5. The memory unit 41-6 is transferred to the charging unit 50.

The test tone transmitter 41-2 periodically generates a test tone under the control of the QoS controller 41-1, and then the highway and PCM / frame converter 42 assigned to itself by the highway controller 41-4. And transmits the test tone to the IP network side, and the test tone metering unit 41-3 analyzes and returns the test tone returned from the IP network side through the highway assigned by the IP highway controller 41-4. The transmission delay time is reported to the QoS control unit 41-1.

The highway controller 41-4 allocates the highway so that the test tone transmitter 41-2 and the test tone metering unit 41-3 transmit or receive the test tone to the IP network side, and the test packet controller 41 -5) periodically generates a test pattern under the control of the QoS control unit 41-1, and transmits the test pattern to the IP network through the PCM / frame converter 42, and the PCM / frame converter (from the corresponding IP network) The jitter time calculated by analyzing the test pattern returned through 42) is reported to the QoS control unit 41-1.

Referring to Figure 4 attached to the differential charging processing according to voice quality in the VoIP equipment according to the present invention configured as described above are as follows.

First, when a subscriber connected to a PSTN network requests an IP-based voice service, when a PSTN interface unit 30 matching the PSTN network requests a call setup with the IP interface unit 40 to the MPU 20, The MPU 20 checks the state of the IP interface unit 40 and, if there is an idle channel, controls the corresponding IP interface unit 40 to perform call setup with the IP network.

Therefore, when the IP interface unit 40 transmits the corresponding call setup completion message to the MPU 20 after the call setup is established with the IP network (step S41), the corresponding MPU 20 In order to start billing to the billing unit 50, the billing unit 50 starts to settle charges for the corresponding call, in which case there is a QoS level for the call that was set before the currently set call. The billing may be performed according to the QoS level of the previous call.

At this time, the IP interface unit 40 reports that the call setup with the IP network has been made to the MPU 20, and simultaneously reports that the call setup has been made to the QoS test unit 41. The QoS control unit 41-1 of 41 starts the counting of the call duration for the corresponding call (step S42).

Thereafter, the QoS control unit 41-1 checks whether the counted call duration reaches the QoS test cycle time set for checking the QoS class, which is the basis for the differential charging process (step S43). If the call duration does not reach the QoS test cycle time, the call duration is continuously counted while checking whether the corresponding call is released.

However, if the call duration reaches the QoS test cycle time in step S43, the corresponding QoS control unit 41-1 performs a QoS test for the currently connected call and checks the QoS level according to the transmission delay time or jitter time. .

Here, the process of checking the QoS level in more detail, the QoS control unit 41-1 controls the test tone transmitter 41-2 to have a test tone having a predetermined frequency (for example, 1Khz, 2Khz, 3Khz, 4Khz, etc.), while controlling the test packet controller 41-5 to generate a test pattern, the transmission delay time and jitter time required for the QoS class check are reported. In the case of the corresponding transmission delay time, When the test tone transmitter 41-2 transmits the test tone generated under the control of the controller 41-1 to the PCM / frame converter 42 via the highway, the PCM / frame converter 42 sends the test tone. Is converted into an IP packet frame and transmitted to the IP network side (step S44), the test tone is detected from the returned IP packet frame and transmitted to the test tone metering unit 41-3 of the QoS test unit 41 through the highway. By the test, The tone metering unit 41-3 analyzes the test tone returned from the IP network side, calculates and reports the corresponding transmission delay time (steps S45 and S46), and in the case of the jitter time, the QoS control unit 41-. When the test packet generated by the control of 1) is transmitted to the PCM / frame converter 42 by the test packet controller 41-5, the PCM / frame converter 42 converts the test pattern into an IP packet frame. After transmitting to the IP network side (step S44), the test pattern is detected from the returned IP packet frame and transmitted to the test packet control unit 41-5 of the QoS test unit 41, thereby providing the test packet control unit 41-5. Analyze the test pattern returned from the IP network side to calculate and report the corresponding jitter time (steps S45, S46).

On the other hand, the QoS control unit 41-1 checks the QoS class according to the transmission delay time reported from the test tone metering unit 41-3 and the jitter time reported from the test packet control unit 41-5. When it is delivered to the charging unit 50 through 41-6 (step S47), the charging unit 50 corresponds to the QoS level delivered from the QoS testing unit 41, that is, the voice quality in the IP network. The charging is performed to differentially set the call charge for the call to be made (step S48).

Thereafter, the QoS control unit 41-2 checks whether the corresponding call is released (step S49). If the call is not released, the QoS control unit 41-2 returns to step S43 and periodically checks the QoS class until the corresponding call is released. By transmitting to 50, the charging unit 50 performs the charging to differentially set the call charges according to the QoS level periodically updated in the charging unit 50.

However, if the corresponding call is released in step S49, that is, as the IP-based voice call service provided to the PSTN network subscriber in the VoIP equipment is terminated, the IP interface unit 40 releases the call established with the IP network. When the corresponding call release completion is reported to the MPU 20 and simultaneously reported to the QoS control unit 41-1 of the QoS test unit 41, the corresponding QoS control unit 41-1 initializes the call duration currently being counted. At the same time, the corresponding QoS test is terminated. At this time, the MPU 20 commands the charging end to the charging unit 50 to terminate the charging for the corresponding call (step S50).

For example, if the QoS test cycle time is 30 seconds, the QoS test unit 41 performs call setup with the IP network, counts the call duration, and transmits the test tone and test pattern to the IP network every 30 seconds. After analyzing the tones or patterns returned later to check the QoS class, and transfer it to the charging unit 50 to update the existing QoS class, the charging unit 50 updates the QoS level, that is, the current voice of the IP network. Depending on the quality, you will be able to charge the differentially settled call charges for the call.

At this time, in case of QoS class, if the transmission delay time for the test tone is 100ms or less and the jitter time for the test pattern is 3ms to 4ms, the class A, if the transmission delay time is 100ms to 200ms and the jitter time is 4ms to 5ms, the class B, the transmission If the delay time is 200 to 400ms and the jitter time is 5ms to 8ms, it can be defined as class C, if the transmission delay time is 400ms or more and the jitter time is 8ms or more, it can be defined as class D, etc. As a result, it is possible to perform the charging to differentially set the call charge for the call.

Therefore, call charges can be inexpensively charged for calls that are judged to be low in QoS due to transmission delay or loss in the IP network. By charging reasonable call rates, it is possible to provide IP-based voice call services differentiated from others.

In addition, the embodiments according to the present invention are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various alternatives, modifications, and changes can be made within the scope apparent to those skilled in the art.

As described above, the present invention performs a differential charging process by checking the QoS level, that is, the voice quality corresponding to the transmission delay or loss generated in the IP network in providing an IP-based voice call service. In this case, call charges can be settled differently from other companies according to the voice quality, and if the voice quality is degraded due to transmission delay or loss in the IP network, the subscriber will be charged a reasonable call charge. You can do it.

Claims (5)

In VoIP equipment that matches IP network and provides IP-based voice call service to PSTN network or ISDN network subscriber, A QoS test unit which checks the QoS level for transmission delay or jitter by analyzing the returned tone or pattern after transmitting the test tone or test pattern to the IP network; PCM / converting the test tone or test pattern transmitted from the QoS test unit into an IP packet frame and transmitting the detected IP tones to the IP network side and returning the detected test tone or test pattern to the QoS test unit. A frame converter; According to the command of the MPU to perform the charge from the call setup to the call release, characterized in that it comprises a charging unit for charging the call charge for the corresponding call differentially according to the QoS class delivered from the QoS test unit. Charge processing device according to the voice quality of VIO equipment. The method of claim 1, The QoS test unit comprises: a test tone transmitter which periodically generates a test tone and transmits the test tone to the IP network through the highway and the PCM / frame conversion unit assigned thereto; A test tone metering unit for calculating and reporting a transmission delay time by analyzing a test tone returned from the IP network side through a PCM / frame converter; A highway controller for allocating a highway so that the test tone transmitter and the test tone metering unit transmit or receive a test tone to the IP network; A test packet controller which periodically generates a test pattern and transmits the test pattern to the IP network through the PCM / frame converter, and calculates and reports the jitter time by analyzing the test pattern returned from the IP network through the PCM / frame converter; When the call setup is established with the IP network and the corresponding call duration is counted to reach the QoS test cycle time, the test tone transmitter and the test packet controller are controlled to generate a test tone and a test pattern, and generate the test tone. According to the voice quality of the VIP device comprising a QoS control unit for checking the QoS class according to the transmission delay time reported from the metering unit and the jitter time reported from the test packet control unit to pass through the common memory to the charging unit. According to the charging processing device. The method of claim 2, The QoS test cycle time is a period of time set for periodically checking a QoS grade that is a differential charging process standard when charging IP-based voice call calls. According to the charging processing device. In the billing processing method of VoIP equipment that matches IP network and provides IP-based voice call service to PSTN network or ISDN network subscriber, When the call setup is made with the IP network, starting to settle charges for the corresponding call and at the same time starting the counting of the call duration; When the call duration reaches a QoS test cycle time set for periodically checking the QoS level, a process of checking the QoS level according to transmission delay time or jitter time by performing periodic QoS test on the currently connected call; ; And charging the call charge for the corresponding call according to the QoS level checked through the QoS test. The method of claim 4, wherein The checking of the QoS class may include: generating a test tone having a predetermined frequency, transmitting the test tone to an IP network in the form of an IP packet frame, and detecting and analyzing a test tone returned to calculate a corresponding transmission delay time; Billing according to the voice quality of the VIP device, comprising generating a test pattern and transmitting a jitter time by detecting and analyzing a test pattern returned after transmitting to the IP network in the form of an IP packet frame. Treatment method.