KR20030010033A - Method and system for telephone call service via internet and PSTN - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A system for servicing a telephone call over the Internet or through a PSTN is provided to make general phone users connected to the PSTN make a call or answer the phone, thereby enabling the general phone users to easily call Internet phone users. CONSTITUTION: Many terminal connection devices(100) are connected to many general phones, and connect Internet phone calls coming through an Internet network with the general phones. A local gateway(400) performs an interface between a PSTN and the Internet network. A gatekeeper(200) connected to the Internet connects a voice call over the Internet between the terminal connection devices(100) or between the terminal connection devices(100) and the local gateway(400). A billing server(300) connected to the gatekeeper(200) includes a subscriber database(350) for storing subscriber-related information and billing-related information, and informs the gatekeeper(200) of an ID and an IP address corresponding to a received telephone number, then charges telephone fees.

Description

Method and system for telephone call service via internet and public telephone network {Method and system for telephone call service via internet and PSTN}

The present invention relates to a telephone call service method and system through the Internet and a public telephone network, and in particular, a general telephone can be used to make or receive a call to the same service subscriber connected to the Internet, as well as to a general telephone user connected to a general telephone network. The present invention relates to a phone call service method and system capable of making or receiving a call.

With the development of the Internet, not only data transmission but also voice calls can be made in real time. Unlike general phone calls, which cost more by distance and time, Internet calls are very popular because they can make calls with people abroad at very low cost.

A typical internet phone is to install an internet phone program on a personal computer and to make a call using a microphone and a speaker or a headset connected to the computer. However, these Internet phones have generally not been able to talk to ordinary telephone users connected to the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).

Therefore, a service for making a phone call from an Internet phone by installing a gateway serving as an interface between the Internet and the PSTN in order to make a call from the Internet phone to a regular phone has emerged.

However, even these services did not allow ordinary telephone users to make calls on Internet phones. In order to solve this problem, Korean Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2000-0072754 assigns a series of numbers corresponding to a telephone number to an Internet phone subscriber. A system diagram of US Patent Publication No. 2000-0072754 is shown for FIG. 1.

In this service, the caller 10A enters the call number of the telephone service system 40 to call the telephone service system 40. Then, the caller 10A inputs the communication number of the counterpart who wishes to make a call according to the answering service provided by the telephone service system. Then, the gateway 41 interworks with the network access subscriber management server 47 based on the communication number to the messenger server 45 through the gatekeeper 42 whether the other party is connected to the telephone service system 40. To check.

If the called party is connected to the telephone service system and is in a call reception state, the gateway 41 performs dialing to call the called party PC 60A through the Internet 50, and the caller 10A and the called party ( The call is connected by establishing a communication channel between 60A).

However, such a conventional system is inconvenient to use because a general telephone user has to go through an automatic answering system to call an Internet phone user.

In addition, there is a disadvantage that the user can receive a call only when the Internet phone user is connected to the telephone service system.

In addition, when an Internet phone user wants to make a call, it is inconvenient to use his or her communication number and password.

In addition, it is inconvenient to make a phone call using a PC, and also has a disadvantage in that it is inconvenient to install a dedicated card or connect a wire to a PC sound card even when using an Internet phone in the form of a general telephone.

The present invention has been made in view of this point, and an object of the present invention is to provide a telephone call service method and system through the Internet and a public telephone network which can easily call an Internet phone user.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a telephone call service method and system through the Internet and a public telephone network, which can easily make Internet calls using a general telephone.

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a telephone call service system through the Internet and a public telephone network using a conventional PC.

2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a telephone call service system through the Internet and a public telephone network of the present invention.

3 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a terminal access apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an operation flow when a telephone is connected to a terminal connected to a general telephone network from a telephone connected to a terminal access apparatus of the present invention.

5 is a view showing an operation flow when a telephone is connected to a general telephone network from a telephone connected to a terminal access device of the present invention. The telephone connected to the general telephone network during a call first shows an on-hook. Giving.

6 is a view illustrating an operation flow when a telephone is connected to a terminal connected to another terminal access apparatus from a telephone connected to the terminal access apparatus of the present invention.

7 is a view showing an operation flow when making a call from a telephone connected to a general telephone network to a telephone connected to the terminal access apparatus of the present invention.

<Description of Symbols for Main Parts of Drawings>

100 terminal connection device, 200 gatekeeper,

300 billing server, 350 subscriber database,

400 national gateways, 500 internet,

600 PSTN, 750 Switchboard.

The telephone call service system of the present invention can be connected to a plurality of general telephones, and a plurality of terminal access devices connected to the Internet, which serve to connect Internet phone calls through the Internet network to the plurality of general telephones, and general telephone networks. A gatekeeper for an interface between the Internet network and the Internet network, a gatekeeper connected to the Internet and connecting voice calls through the Internet between terminal access devices or between a terminal access device and a trunk line gateway, and the gatekeeper It is connected to and received from gatekeeper, including subscriber database that stores information such as phone number, ID, IP address of each subscriber and billing related information such as call start time, call end time and calling phone number. Inform the gatekeeper of the ID and IP address corresponding to the telephone number. A billing server for billing according to currency is provided.

In addition, the telephone call service method of the present invention comprises the step of the terminal access device that detects that the subscriber telephone connected to the terminal access device lifts the handset, and transmits the ID and IP address of the telephone to the gatekeeper, the billing in the gatekeeper Transmitting the ID and IP address of the phone to a server to confirm whether the subscriber is a valid subscriber; and if the subscriber phone dials a phone number, detecting the terminal number and transmitting the phone number detected by the gatekeeper; If the received telephone number is a telephone number to a general telephone network, the gatekeeper transmits the telephone number to the trunk line gateway, forms an internet phone call channel between the trunk line gateway and the terminal access device, and the received telephone number is a telephone call. If the phone number is for another subscriber in the system, the subscription to which that phone number is assigned It receives the ID and the IP address from the charging server and a step of forming a VoIP communication channel between the other subscriber and the subscriber.

2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a telephone call service system through the Internet and a public telephone network of the present invention.

Subscribers to the telephone call service according to the present invention should install terminal access devices (100a, ..., 100n) in their office. An extension side of the terminal connection device may be connected to the telephones 700a, ..., 700m through the premises exchange 750, or may directly connect the telephones 711, ..., 714. In addition, a portion of the extension side port of the terminal connection device (100a) may be connected to the branch exchange 750, the other portion to the telephone 710. When the telephone is connected through the premises exchange 750, the trunk line interface of the premises exchange is connected to the extension side of the terminal connection device. When the telephones 700a, ..., 700m are connected through the premises exchange 750, more telephones than the number of extension ports of the terminal connection apparatus can be connected and used. In addition, when the branch exchange 750 is a key phone system, it is also possible to use a key phone as a telephone 700a, ..., 700m.

Each extension port of the terminal access apparatus is assigned a unique telephone number. Terminal connection devices (100a, ..., 100n) is connected to the Internet 500, the telephone connected to the terminal connection device is to make a telephone call over the Internet. When making a call to another telephone connected to the same or another terminal connected to the Internet, use the telephone number assigned to the extension port of each terminal. The internal structure of the terminal connection device will be described later.

The gate 500 is also connected to the Internet 500. The gatekeeper 200 connects voice calls through the Internet between the terminal connection apparatuses 100a, ..., 100n or between the terminal connection apparatuses 100a, ..., 100n and the trunk line gateway 400 described later. Role.

The billing server 400 is connected to the gatekeeper 200. Billing server 400 records the call history of the subscribers subscribed to the telephone call service of the present invention and records the charge accordingly. The billing server 400 is connected to the subscriber database 350, so that the call history and the corresponding fee are stored. In addition, the subscriber database 350 also stores information such as each subscriber's telephone number, ID, IP address, call grade, and the like, so that the gatekeeper 200 has an IP corresponding to the telephone number dialed through the billing server 300. It will get the address and connect the internet phone call.

The trunk line gateway 400 is also connected to the Internet 500. The trunk line gateway 400 is also connected to a public switched telephone network (PSTN) 600 such that the telephones 700a, .., 700m, 711, .., 714 and the general telephone network 600 are connected to the Internet. It serves as an interface for a call with the phone 720 connected to.

The trunk line gateway 400 may be installed for each major region. For example, it may be installed in major regions such as Seoul, Busan, and Jeju, so that the call to the corresponding city may be handled by the CO line gateway installed in the corresponding city.

Next, an internal configuration of the terminal connection device 100 will be described with reference to FIG. 3. 3 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a terminal access apparatus of the present invention.

The terminal access device 100 is connected to the Internet 500 through the Internet access unit 120. As the Internet access unit 120, various interfaces such as an Ethernet interface, a wireless LAN (LAN) interface, and an ADSL interface may be used, and the present invention is not limited to a specific internet interface.

Terminal connection device 100 is provided with a plurality of telephone driving units (160a, ..., 160n), the trunk line interface of the telephone (711, ..., 714) or the branch exchange 750 is connected thereto. In FIG. 2, the case of four telephone driving units is shown, but the number of telephone driving units can be arbitrarily determined. The telephone drivers 160a, ..., 160n are the same as the subscriber interface circuit of the general switch, and serve as a power supply for the telephone, off-hook and on-hook detection, and ring signal supply.

The ring generator 150 serves to generate a ring signal supplied to the telephone through the telephone drivers 160a, ..., 160n.

The codec 140 converts an analog voice signal from a telephone into a digital signal, or converts a digital voice signal from the Internet into an analog signal. Codec 140 is preferably provided by the number of the phone driving unit so that all the phones connected to the phone driving unit (160a, ..., 160n) can make a call at the same time.

The DTMF decoder 130 decodes and transmits the DTMF signal from the telephone connected to the telephone driver 160a, ..., 160n to the controller 110. The DTMF decoder 130 need not be provided as many as the number of the telephone driver. However, when the number of DTMF decoders is smaller than the number of the telephone driver, the DTMF decoders must be shared. That is, the phone 111, ..., 114 connects the DTMF decoder 130 only when the phone picks up the handset or the hook flash, and disconnects the DTMF decoder 130 when the dial ends. Make it available on your phone.

The tone generating unit 170 serves to generate dial tone, ring back tone, busy tone, error tone and the like provided to the telephone connected to the telephone driving unit. Alternatively, the tone generator 170 may not be provided in the terminal connection device 100, but instead, the gatekeeper 200 may give a tone signal.

The input unit 180 is used to set an IP address, an ID, an IP address, etc. of the gatekeeper of the terminal access apparatus 100. As the input unit 180, a dip switch may be used, or a button may be used.

The controller 110 controls the overall operation of the terminal access device 100. The control unit 110 detects this when the phone 711 picks up the handset and connects the dial tone generated by the tone generating unit 170 to the corresponding phone driving unit 160a. Also, the control unit 110 connects the DTMF decoder 130 to the telephone driving unit ( 160a).

When a phone number is input from the phone 711, the phone number is transferred to the gatekeeper 200 through the Internet connection unit 120. To this end, the controller 110 stores the IP address of the gatekeeper 200. In addition, the input unit 180 may be used to change the IP address of the gatekeeper 200.

In addition, the controller 110 converts the digital voice signal from the codec 140 into a form that can be transmitted through the Internet, and transmits the digital voice signal to the Internet 500 through the Internet access unit 120 or, conversely, through the Internet access unit 120. The voice signal from the incoming Internet 500 is converted into a form usable by the codec 140.

The control unit 110 also serves to connect the ring signal of the ring generator to the corresponding phone driver according to the incoming signal from the gatekeeper 200 through the Internet 50.

In addition, the controller 110 may store the area code of the area where the corresponding terminal access device is installed or the area where the trunk line gateway is installed. In this case, when the user makes a call to a general telephone network and does not enter an area code when the user makes a call to the same area, the control unit 110 inserts the area code before the subscriber's dialed phone number and transmits it to the gateway 200. Done. For example, if the input area code is 02 and the user dials 345-6789, the terminal access device 100n transmits the telephone number 02-345-6789 to the gatekeeper 200. The area code may be input using the input unit 180.

Next, the operation of the telephone call service according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 4 to 7.

Prior to the description, in the telephone call service according to the present invention, a unique telephone number is assigned to each service subscriber. Each service subscriber can also make a phone call to a telephone connected to a general telephone network, and can also make a phone call to a telephone call service subscriber of the present invention.

It is possible to distinguish whether the telephone is a telephone to a general telephone network or a telephone telephone service subscriber of the present invention in various ways. For example, a telephone call to a general telephone network is the same as dialing a telephone number from a conventional telephone, and a telephone call to a telephone call service subscriber of the present invention is prefixed with a specific code such as '#' or '020'. The next step is to dial the phone number assigned to each service subscriber.

Alternatively, the call to the general telephone network dials a specific code, for example, '#' and then dials the desired telephone number, and the telephone call service subscriber of the present invention dials only the subscriber's telephone number. It is possible.

In the following description, when a telephone call service subscriber of the present invention dials a general telephone network, only the corresponding telephone number is dialed, and a special code such as '#' or '020' is used when dialing the telephone call service subscriber of the present invention. After dialing, the subscriber's unique telephone number is dialed as an example. However, the present invention is not limited thereto.

On the other hand, a telephone user connected to the general telephone network can also call the service subscriber of the present invention. In this case, the code assigned to the service of the present invention, for example, '020', may be dialed first, followed by the telephone number assigned to each service subscriber. This is equivalent to dialing a code assigned to a corresponding communication service such as '011' when dialing a cellular phone subscriber, and then dialing the subscriber's unique telephone number.

Or, add a direct inward dialing (DID) interface to the trunk line gateway 400, for example, if a telephone user connected to a general telephone network dials a phone number called 4321-xxxx, the trunk line gateway 400 dials a telephone number corresponding to xxxx. It is also possible to connect the telephone to the service subscriber who receives from 600 and is assigned the telephone number xxxx.

First, with reference to Figure 4 will be described in detail the operation when the service subscriber of the present invention make a call to a general telephone network. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an operation flow when a telephone is connected to a terminal connected to a general telephone network from a telephone connected to a terminal access apparatus of the present invention.

First, when the telephone 711 connected to the terminal connection device 100n receives the handset (S400), the terminal connection device 100n detects this through the telephone driving unit 160a and gates the ID and the assigned IP address of the corresponding phone. The keeper 200 transmits the data to the keeper 200 (S402). The ID of the telephone may be a telephone number assigned to the telephone, but may also be an ID according to a separate protocol. In addition to the ID and the IP address, data indicating that an off-hook has been transmitted can also be transmitted.

When the gatekeeper 200 receives an ID and an IP address from the terminal access device 100n, the gatekeeper 200 sends a corresponding ID and IP address to the billing server 300 and asks whether the subscriber is a legitimate subscriber (S404). The billing server 300 refers to the subscriber database 350 to check whether the corresponding ID and the IP address is a valid subscriber (S406), and if the valid subscriber is notified to the gatekeeper 200 (S408).

Although not shown in the drawing, when the billing server 300 confirms that the subscriber is not a legitimate subscriber, the billing server 300 notifies the gatekeeper 200 of the fact that the gatekeeper 200 operates for further calls. This prevents unauthorized subscribers from making unauthorized calls. Unjustified subscribers include those who do not subscribe and those who have paid arrears over a certain period.

The gatekeeper 200 notified of the fact that it is a valid subscriber from the charging server 300 sends confirmation data to the terminal access apparatus 100n (S410), and the terminal access apparatus 100n generates a dial tone upon receiving the confirmation data. (S412).

Alternatively, regardless of the presence or absence of the confirmation data from the gatekeeper 200, when the telephone 711 is off-hook, it is possible to have the dial tone be directly heard by the terminal connecting apparatus 100n.

When the user holding the handset dials the telephone number (S414), the terminal access apparatus 100n detects this using the DTMF decoder 130, and then transmits the detected telephone number data to the gatekeeper 200 (S416). ).

If the area code is entered in the terminal access device 100n, the subscriber should enter a phone number that starts with a non-zero number from the phone number on the general telephone network, that is, a phone number other than a phone number such as a long distance call or an international phone code. In the case of dialing, the terminal connection apparatus 100n inserts the input area code before the telephone number dialed by the user and transmits the area code to the gatekeeper 200. For example, if the input area code is 02 and the user dials 345-6789, the terminal access device 100n transmits the telephone number 02-345-6789 to the gatekeeper 200. On the other hand, if the user dials a telephone number starting with 0, for example, 011-234-5678, the terminal access device 100n transmits the telephone number 011-234-5678 to the gatekeeper 200 as it is.

The gatekeeper 200 receiving the telephone number from the terminal access device 100n sets a channel with the trunk line gateway 400 when the received telephone number is a telephone number to a general telephone network, and then dials the telephone number to the trunk line gateway ( 400) (S418). The trunk line gateway 400 receiving the telephone number from the gatekeeper 200 makes a call to the corresponding telephone number through the general telephone network 600 (S420). However, when the capacity to make a call to the trunk line gateway 400 is exceeded, the trunk line gateway 400 sends an error message to the gatekeeper 200, and the gatekeeper 200 again uses a terminal access device ( Send an error message to 100n). Then, the terminal access device 100n gives a busy tone or an error tone to the subscriber telephone 711.

When the CO line gateway 400 has a capacity to make a call and dials a phone number, the CO line gateway 400 notifies the gatekeeper 200 that the call is connected (or dialed the phone number) (S422). The trunk line gateway 400 may determine that the call is successful by dividing the busy tone and ringback tone from the trunk line, and then inform the gatekeeper 200 that the call is connected, and immediately before dialing or dialing the telephone number. The keeper 200 may be notified that the call is connected.

The gatekeeper 200 is notified that the call connection is made from the CO line gateway 400, and immediately calls an Internet phone call between the corresponding extension port of the terminal access device 100n to which the subscriber is connected and the CO line gateway 400. The connection is made, and the user himself is exited (S424).

Alternatively, regardless of the data indicating the call connection from the CO line gateway 400, after the step S418 immediately connects the Internet phone call between the corresponding extension port of the terminal connection device 100n and the CO line gateway 400, It is also possible to exit.

By such a process, a call using a VoIP (Voice Over IP) is performed between the subscriber station 711, that is, the corresponding extension port of the terminal access device 100n and the trunk line gateway 400.

If the handset is dropped from the subscriber phone 711 during the call (S428), the terminal access device 100n detects this and cuts off the VoIP channel between the corresponding extension port and the trunk line gateway 400 (S430), and thus the trunk line gateway Channel connection is terminated also at 400 (S434).

The terminal access device 100n terminates the VoIP connection and simultaneously notifies the gatekeeper 200 that the phone 711 is on-hook (S431). The gatekeeper 200 receiving the on-hook data informs the billing server 300 of this (S432).

At this time, the gatekeeper 200 notifies the call start time and the call end time to the billing server 300, and the billing server 300 stores data related to the call charge in the subscriber database 350 accordingly. Alternatively, the gatekeeper 200 may transmit the call start time data to the billing server 300 when the call is started, and may transmit the call end time data to the billing server 300 when the call is terminated. The billing server 300 may bill the subscriber every certain period of time using call rate related data stored in the subscriber database 350.

Instead of informing the billing server 300 of the call start time and the call end time, the gatekeeper 200 notifies the billing server 300 to the billing server 300 only from the gatekeeper 200. In operation 300, the data and the time at which the data is received may be stored in the subscriber database 350 and used as billing information.

5 is a view showing an operation flow when a telephone is connected to a general telephone network from a telephone connected to a terminal access device of the present invention. The telephone connected to the general telephone network during a call first shows an on-hook. Giving.

In FIG. 5, steps S500 to S526 are the same as steps S400 to S426 of FIG. 4, and thus a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

When the telephone 720 connected to the general telephone network 600 is in a state where a call using the VoIP (Voice Over IP) between the subscriber phone 711 and the trunk line gateway 400 is made, the call counterpart You hear a busy tone or dial tone. The trunk line gateway 400 detects this and detects that the phone 720 connected to the general telephone network 600 is on-hook (S540), and informs the gatekeeper 200 of this fact (S541).

The gatekeeper 200 which receives the on-hook data informs the billing server 300 of this (S542). In this case, the gatekeeper 200 notifies the call start time and the call end time to the billing server 300, and the billing server 300 stores the data related to the call charge in the subscriber database 350 accordingly. Alternatively, the gatekeeper 200 may transmit the call start time data to the billing server 300 when the call is started, and may transmit the call end time data to the billing server 300 when the call is terminated. Alternatively, instead of informing the billing server 300 of the call start time and the call end time, the gatekeeper 200 notifies the billing server 300 of the gatekeeper 200 to the billing server 300. The billing server 300 may store the data and the time at which the data is received in the subscriber database 350 and use the billing information as billing information.

The trunk line gateway 400, which detects that the telephone 720 connected to the general telephone network 600 is on-hook, disconnects the VoIP channel between the corresponding extension port and the trunk line gateway 400 (S544), and thus the terminal access device ( Channel connection is terminated in step 100n) (S546).

Next, the operation in the case where the service subscriber of the present invention calls another service subscriber will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 6 is a view illustrating an operation flow when a telephone is connected to a terminal connected to another terminal access apparatus from a telephone connected to the terminal access apparatus of the present invention.

First, since step S600 to step S612 are the same as step S400 to step S412 in FIG. 4, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

When the user dials the telephone number of the other service subscriber 710 (S414), the terminal access apparatus 100n detects this using the DTMF decoder 130 and then transfers the detected telephone number data to the gatekeeper 200. It transmits (S616). When a telephone call service subscriber of the present invention dials another telephone call service subscriber of the present invention, the telephone number assigned to each service subscriber is dialed after dialing a specific code, for example, '#' or '020'. Dial. Then, the terminal access apparatus 100n knows that the telephone number is a call to another subscriber, and transmits the telephone number to the gatekeeper 200 as it is.

The gatekeeper 200 receiving the telephone number from the terminal access apparatus 100n transmits the telephone number to the billing server 300 when the received telephone number is the telephone number to the service subscriber (S618). The billing server 300 obtains an IP address and an ID assigned to the corresponding phone number from the subscriber database 350 and transmits it to the gatekeeper 200 (S620).

If the callee 710 is using the telephone, the billing server 300 notifies the gatekeeper 200 of the fact, and the gatekeeper 200 notifies the fact of the caller 711 to the terminal access device 100n. Informed by. Then, the terminal access device 100n transmits the busy sound to the corresponding port so that the caller 711 hears the busy sound.

The gatekeeper 200 receiving the ID and the IP address of the called party 710 indicates that there is a telephone call to the corresponding IP address, that is, the corresponding port of the terminal access device 100a to which the called party 710 is connected. Data is transmitted (S626). In addition, the gatekeeper 200 transmits data indicating that the callee is not using the phone to the corresponding port of the terminal access device 100n to which the caller 711 is connected (S622).

The terminal access device 100a receiving the data indicating that there is a telephone call connects the ring signal from the ring generator 150 to the corresponding port (S628). Then, the callee 710 receives a ring signal.

Upon receiving data indicating that the callee is not in use, the terminal access device 100n connects the ringback tone from the tone generator 170 to the corresponding port (S624). The caller 711 then hears a ringback tone.

The called party 710 receiving the ring signal picks up the handset to answer the call (S630). Then, the terminal connection device 100a detects this and notifies the gatekeeper 200 of the off-hook fact (S632).

The gatekeeper 200 notified that the callee 710 is off-hook is connected to the corresponding port of the terminal connection device 100n to which the caller 711 is connected and the terminal connection device 100a to which the callee 710 is connected. Connect the Internet phone call between the corresponding port, he will exit (S634).

As described above, the procedure from S636 to S642 after the call is made between the callee 711 as the service subscriber is the same as the operation from S428 to S434 in FIG. 4, and thus a detailed description thereof will be omitted. .

Next, with reference to Figure 7 will be described in detail the operation when a general telephone user connected to a general telephone network to the telephone call service subscriber of the present invention. 7 is a view showing an operation flow when making a call from a telephone connected to a general telephone network to a telephone connected to the terminal access apparatus of the present invention.

In order for a general telephone user connected to a general telephone network to make a call to a telephone call service subscriber of the present invention, the general telephone user 720 first dials a code assigned to the service of the present invention, for example, '020'. Next, dial the telephone number assigned to each service subscriber. For example, if a service subscriber is assigned a phone number of 2345-6789, the general telephone user 720 may dial 020-2345-6789 to call the service subscriber. On the other hand, when a direct inward dialing (DID) interface is added to the trunk line gateway 400 and a telephone number of 4321-xxxx is assigned, if a service subscriber is assigned a telephone number of 6789, the general telephone user 720 By dialing 4321-6789, you will be able to call the service subscriber.

When the general telephone user dials the telephone number calling the service subscriber as described above, the trunk line gateway 400 receives the telephone number of the corresponding service subscriber from the general telephone network 600 (700).

The trunk line gateway 400 receiving the telephone number transmits it to the gatekeeper 200. Then, the gatekeeper 200 transmits it to the billing server 300 (S702), and the billing server 300 reads the subscriber's ID and IP address to which the corresponding phone number is allocated from the subscriber database 350, and then gates it. The keeper 200 is notified (S704).

The gatekeeper 200 receiving the ID and the IP address of the called party 711 transmits a telephone call signal to the corresponding address (S706). The terminal access device 100n receiving the telephone call signal connects the ring generator 150 to the telephone driving unit 160a to which the called party 711 is connected, and thus receives a ring signal informing the called party 711 of the call. It is given (S708).

When the called party 711 receiving the ring signal picks up the receiver (S710), the terminal connection device 100n detects this and notifies the gatekeeper 200 of the off-hook fact (S712).

The gatekeeper 200 is notified of the off-hook fact by the terminal connection device 100n and the Internet phone call between the corresponding extension port of the terminal connection device 100n to which the called party 711 is connected and the trunk line gateway 400. Directly connected to it, you will get out (S714).

By such a process, a call using a VoIP (Voice Over IP) is performed between the subscriber station 711, that is, the corresponding extension port of the terminal access device 100n and the trunk line gateway 400.

Since the operation from S718 to S724 after the call connection is made in the same manner as the operation from S428 to S434 in FIG. 4, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

While the invention has been described using some preferred embodiments, these embodiments are illustrative and not restrictive. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the rights set forth in the appended claims.

As described above, according to the present invention, when the general telephone user calls the Internet phone user, the user needs to dial the telephone number in the same manner as when making a general telephone call.

In addition, since the terminal access apparatus is always connected to the Internet and the subscriber uses a general telephone, there is an effect that the user can always receive a call as in the normal telephone use without having to turn on the computer and access the Internet phone service.

In addition, even if the Internet phone user wants to make a phone call, since the user only needs to dial the phone number as if using a regular phone, there is an effect that it is convenient to use.

In addition, since only the terminal access device is connected to the Internet, general users have an effect that the installation is easy because the general telephone needs only be connected to the terminal access device.

Claims (11)

A plurality of terminal telephone apparatuses which can be connected to a plurality of general telephones, and which are connected to the Internet to connect Internet phone calls through the Internet network to the plurality of general telephones; A trunk line gateway for the interface between the public telephone network and the Internet; A gatekeeper connected to the Internet and connecting voice calls over the Internet between terminal access devices or between a terminal access device and a trunk line gateway; The gatekeeper is connected to the gatekeeper, and includes a subscriber database that stores information such as phone number, ID, IP address of each subscriber, and billing related information such as call start time, call end time, and calling phone number. Billing server that notifies the gatekeeper of ID and IP address corresponding to telephone number received from Telephone call service system having a. The method of claim 1, wherein the terminal connection device A plurality of telephone driving units for supplying power to the telephone, off-hook and on-hook detection, and ring signal supply; A ring generator for generating ring signals for supplying the plurality of telephone driving units; A DTMF decoder for decoding DTMF signals from the plurality of telephone drivers; A codec for converting between analog voice signals and digital voice signals from the plurality of telephone driving units; An internet connection for exchanging data by connecting to the internet, An input unit for setting data required for the terminal connection device, Detects an on-hook and an off-hook of a telephone connected to a telephone driver and notifies the gatekeeper through the Internet connection unit, and connects a ring signal of a ring generator to the telephone driver according to an incoming signal from the gatekeeper through the Internet, Control unit to control the Internet phone call according to the command from the gatekeeper Telephone call service system comprising a. The telephone call system according to claim 2, wherein the terminal connection device further comprises a tone generating unit for generating ring back tone, busy tone, dial tone, error tone, and the like. The telephone call service system of claim 2, wherein the input unit is a dip switch. The telephone call service system of claim 1, wherein the trunk line gateway includes a direct inward dialing (DID) interface. A plurality of general telephones can be connected, and a plurality of terminal access devices which are connected to the Internet and connect internet phone calls through the internet network to the plurality of general telephones, and interfaces between the general telephone network and the internet network A gatekeeper connected to the trunk line gateway and the Internet, which connects voice calls over the Internet between terminal connection devices or between the terminal connection device and the trunk line gateway, and is connected to the gatekeeper, and is connected to each subscriber's telephone. ID and IP address corresponding to the telephone number received from the gatekeeper, including subscriber database that stores information such as number, ID, IP address, and billing-related information such as call start time, call end time, calling phone number, etc. Billing server to notify the gatekeeper, and billing for each subscriber's call Gokcen in the way of telephone calls in a telephone system, Transmitting, by the terminal accessing device, that the subscriber telephone connected to the terminal accessing device picks up the handset, the ID and IP address of the telephone to the gatekeeper; Confirming whether the subscriber is a valid subscriber by transmitting an ID and an IP address of the phone from the gatekeeper to the billing server; When the subscriber telephone dials the telephone number, the terminal accessing device detects the dialed number and transmits the detected telephone number to the gatekeeper; If the received telephone number is a telephone number to a general telephone network, the gatekeeper transmits a telephone number to a trunk line gateway, forms an internet phone call channel between the trunk line gateway and the terminal access device, and the received telephone number is a telephone call. In the case of a phone number for another subscriber in the system, receiving the ID and IP address of the subscriber to which the corresponding telephone number is assigned from the billing server to form an internet phone call channel between the subscriber and the other subscriber. Telephone call service method characterized in that it comprises a. The method according to claim 6, wherein the distinction between whether the received telephone number is a telephone number to a general telephone network or a telephone number for another subscriber is different from the telephone number in front of the telephone number. And a telephone number for the subscriber, and if the special code is not in front of the telephone number, the telephone number to the general telephone network. 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the special code is '#' of a telephone dial. [8] The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the terminal accessing apparatus inserts a predetermined area code before the received telephone number and transmits it to the gateway when the dialed telephone number does not start with 0 or the special code. How to service a phone call. The method of claim 6, wherein the method If the subscriber telephone is on-hook during the call, the terminal accessing device notifies the gatekeeper of the call and terminates the call channel; If the caller connected to the general telephone network detects that the caller is on-hook during the call, the trunk line gateway notifies the gatekeeper to terminate the call channel; The gatekeeper transmits the information related to the call to the billing server when receiving the on-hook data during the call, The charging server storing information related to the call in the subscriber database, and charging based on the information related to the stored call every predetermined period of time; Telephone call service method comprising the more. A plurality of general telephones can be connected, and a plurality of terminal access devices which are connected to the Internet and connect internet phone calls through the internet network to the plurality of general telephones, and interfaces between the general telephone network and the internet network A gatekeeper connected to the trunk line gateway and the Internet, which connects voice calls over the Internet between terminal connection devices or between the terminal connection device and the trunk line gateway, and is connected to the gatekeeper, and is connected to each subscriber's telephone. ID and IP address corresponding to the telephone number received from the gatekeeper, including subscriber database that stores information such as number, ID, IP address, and billing-related information such as call start time, call end time, calling phone number, etc. Billing server to notify the gatekeeper, and billing for each subscriber's call Gokcen in the way of telephone calls in a telephone system, Receiving a telephone number and transmitting the received telephone number to a gatekeeper when the telephone line comes from a general telephone network; The gatekeeper receives the ID and IP address of the subscriber assigned to the telephone number from the billing server when receiving the telephone number from the CO line gateway; The gatekeeper transmitting a telephone call signal to a corresponding port of a terminal access device to which the subscriber is connected; When the subscriber is off-hook in response to the telephone call signal, the terminal access device notifies the gatekeeper, and the gatekeeper forms an internet phone call channel between the subscriber and the trunk line gateway. Telephone call service method comprising the more.