KR20030028021A - Video telephone possibility internet phone - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: An Internet phone capable of performing an image communication is provided to use easily anyone a voice and image communication, and character, voice and image chatting without connecting to a web browser. CONSTITUTION: A USB(Universal Serial Bus) port(200) of a computer is connected to an Internet communication network for performing a voice and image communication with other party. A transceiver(114) has a speaker phone and a microphone functions. An amplifying unit(112) amplifies an analog voice signal inputted from a transmitter and received. A voice codec unit(110) codes the analog voice signal into a digital voice signal and decodes the digital voice signal into the analog voice signal. A pulse code modulator/demodulator unit(108) changes a coded voice signal into packet data and demodulates the packet data received from Internet into original data. A keypad(116) inputs data on various function keys and number keys data. A key matrix unit(118) mixes and outputs data on function and number keys. An interface unit(120) interfaces mixed key data. A control logic unit(104) controls a transmission/reception of the mixed key data and packet data and divides a ring signal among data inputted from the USB port(200). A ring generating unit(106) generates a ring by controlling the control logic unit(104). A USB interface unit(102) changes parallel data to the control logic unit(104) into serial data and then outputs changed data to the USB port(200), and changes serial data received from the USB port(200) into parallel data and then provides changed data to the control logic unit(104). A picture camera(150) is connected to the USB port(200) for photographing a subject.

Description

Internet phone which can make video call {VIDEO TELEPHONE POSSIBILITY INTERNET PHONE}

The present invention relates to an internet phone that enables voice call and video call service using the Internet. More particularly, the present invention relates to a universal serial bus (USB) port provided in a computer and is connected online for 24 hours. The present invention relates to an internet phone capable of a video call through which an internet communication network and a global unified communication solution based on the same are provided to service users around the world through voice and video calls and various multimedia communication contents.

Recently, as the number of Internet users is rapidly increasing year by year, and the data transmission speed in the Internet is increasing, interest in Internet telephony, Internet fax, and Internet broadcasting is increasing. In particular, Internet telephony is costly less than a few ten percent compared to the existing telephone bill when making international calls, and thus, PC telecom operators, Internet service providers, and telephone providers provide Internet telephony services.

Examples of the configuration of a system that can use the Internet telephony service include a computer-to-computer connection, a computer-to-phone connection, and a telephone-to-phone connection.

The above-described Internet telephony service between the computer and the computer is to directly call the other party using an IP (Internet Protocol) address. If the other party is using an internet communication network, the call can be made immediately. If there is no other party, it can be delivered in the form of automatic voice e-mail.

In addition, the Internet telephone service method between the computer and the telephone is connected to the gateway server through the Internet communication network when the user makes a phone call on the computer connected to the Internet communication network, and then through the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) of the world, to the general telephone. It is connected. This is the concept of the US's International Discount Telecommunications (IDT) Net2Phone (Internet Phone Service), which is cheap enough to cover some Internet and exchange fees.

1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration that can use a conventional Internet telephony service, the Internet phone service between the telephone and the telephone.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the Internet telephone service method between the telephone 132 and the telephone 144, when a telephone is dialed to a gateway server 136 or 140 from a regular telephone, the corresponding gateway server is connected to the other gateway server through the internet communication network 138. The voice server transmits the voice signal, and the receiving gateway server connects to the called party through the public telephone networks 134 and 142.

It is a preferred form of Internet telephony, as the user has no difference from a regular telephone except by dialing a number to access a gateway server.

2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a conventional Internet phone implemented using a computer 20.

In FIG. 2, the sound card 22 and the network card 23 are connected to the host computer system 21 through an input / output bus for the Internet phone function, and the microphone 25 and the speaker 26 are connected to the sound card 22. Is connected. The host computer system 21 carries a software driver for supporting the Internet phone function to process the voice of the microphone 25 connected through the sound card 22 to the Internet communication network 27 through the network card 23. After transmitting, the voice data received from the Internet communication network 27 is received through the network card 23 and reproduced by the sound card 22 to be heard through the speaker 25.

On the other hand, the computer technology has provided a lot of convenience to computer users by applying the plug and play (PLUG & PLAY) method, but recently, USB technology that can be applied to other external peripherals of the computer has been developed and used.

The USB is composed of a host controller and one or more hubs and a plurality of devices connected to the host controller through the hubs. In general, the host controller is installed in a computer and the hub is installed in a monitor. do.

However, such a conventional Internet phone is configured through a web browser to provide voice and video calls and various multimedia communication contents to service users.

As described above, the conventional Internet telephony service method can be provided only through the connection of a web browser in order to provide a user with a voice call and various multimedia communication contents. There is a problem that it takes a lot of time due to the complicated call connection procedure and operation as well as pointed out as a problem that anyone can not easily and conveniently use.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an internet phone capable of making a video call so that anyone can easily and conveniently use voice and video calls and text, voice, and video chat without accessing a web browser. This is accomplished by connecting the video camera to an attached USB port and automatically recognizing and executing a dialer that turns on the computer and registers the call waiting state without any operation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an internet phone capable of a video call that allows users to enjoy various multimedia contents through their own messenger when the messenger function of the dialer displayed on the computer screen is clicked.

Other objects of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.

1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration that can use a conventional Internet telephony service, the Internet phone service between the telephone and the telephone,

2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an Internet phone implemented using a conventional computer,

Figure 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a video call Internet phone that can be used by connecting to the USB port of the computer according to the present invention,

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a voice call service state of the USB call of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a video call service state of the USB call of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a messenger service state through the dialer of the USB call of FIG.

<Explanation of symbols on main part of drawing>

100: Internet phone 102: USB interface unit

104: control logic section 106: ring generating section

108: pulse code modulation and demodulation unit 110: voice codec unit

112: amplifier 114: handset

116: keypad 150: video camera

According to the Internet phone capable of video call according to the present invention for achieving the above object, in a computer system having a universal serial bus (USB) port and connected to the Internet communication network to provide a telephone call service:

(1) a handset for making a call through a computer connected to the Internet communication network; (2) voice codec means for compressing and transmitting the analog voice of the talker input through the handset into digital voice data, and decoding the digital voice data received from the Internet communication network into analog voice and outputting the analog voice to the handset; (3) pulse code modulation and demodulation means for converting the voice data encoded by said voice codec means into packet data for internet communication, and demodulating the packet data received from said internet communication network into original data and providing it to said voice codec means. ; (4) control logic means for controlling the transmission and reception of the key data of the keypad and the packet data, and separating the ring signal from the data input from the computer to generate a ring through the ring generating means; (5) USB interface means for converting the parallel data of the control logic means into serial and outputting to the USB port of the computer, converting the serial data received from the USB port into parallel and providing the control logic means to the control logic means; And (6) an image camera connected to the USB port and photographing a subject to a computer.

Preferably, the method further comprises a dialer for registering a call waiting state in the computer.

Optionally, the dialer is a dialer having a video screen.

Optionally, a messenger service is provided by displaying an image dialer messenger window on a screen of the computer.

In this way, it can be seen that voice and video calls can be made through a dialer that is automatically recognized when a video camera and an Internet phone are connected to a USB port attached to a personal computer and the service user turns on the computer without any manipulation.

As a result, anyone can easily and conveniently use voice and video calls, text, voice, and video chat without accessing a web browser, and click the messenger function of the dialer displayed on the screen of the computer. Is displayed and has the advantage of being serviced.

And, there may be a plurality of embodiments of the present invention, the following most preferred embodiments will be described in detail.

Through this preferred embodiment, the object of the present invention, other objects, features and advantages will become apparent from the following description with an embodiment according to the present invention in connection with the drawings shown for purposes of illustration.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in detail a preferred embodiment of the Internet phone capable of video calls according to the present invention.

Figure 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a video call Internet phone that can be used by connecting to the USB port of the computer according to the present invention, Figure 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the state of the voice call service of the USB call of Figure 3, FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a video call service state of the USB call of FIG. 3.

As shown in FIG. 3, the Internet phone 100 capable of making a video call according to the present embodiment is connected to a USB port 200 of a computer connected to an Internet communication network and to an Internet communication network for voice and video calls with the other party. A handset 114 having a speakerphone and a microphone for making a call through the computer, and amplifying and outputting an analog voice signal and a received analog voice signal of a talker input through a microphone of the handset 114 to a sufficient magnitude; The amplifier 112 and the analog voice signal of the sender amplified by the amplifier 112 are encoded and transmitted as digital voice data, and the digital voice data received from the Internet communication network is decoded into an analog voice signal. Voice codec 112 and voice data encoded by the voice codec 110 as packet data to enable Internet communication. A pulse code modulation and demodulation unit 108 which converts and outputs the packet data received from the Internet communication network into original data and provides it to the voice codec unit 110, and inputs various function key data and numeric key data. A keypad 116, a key matrix unit 118 for combining and outputting the function key data and numeric key data, an interface unit 120 for interfacing the combined key data, and the combined key data and the packet. The control logic unit 104 and the control logic unit 104 control the transmission and reception of data and separate and output a ring signal from the data input from the USB port 200 of the computer. Ring generation unit 106 for generating a and the parallel data output to the control logic unit 104 converts in series and outputs to the USB port 200 of the computer, the serial received from the USB port 200 It consists of a USB interface unit 102 for converting the data in parallel and providing it to the control logic unit 104, and an image camera 150 connected to the USB port 200 of the computer to capture the subject. Internet phones and video cameras are also connected to computers.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention made as described above will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 3 to 6.

First, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the user turns on the computer only for the voice call with the other party and accesses the Internet communication network through the computer using the Internet phone 100.

After that, using the keypad 116 of the Internet phone 100, the customer information such as a password and an address is input to authenticate the permission for the call request.

When the call request is authenticated as described above, the registered member registers the call waiting state through the dialer 190 which is automatically recognized on the screen of the computer, and the number of the other party through the keypad 116 of the Internet phone 100. Enter the call button. The telephone number and the call button input from the keypad 116 are combined in the key matrix unit 118 and input to the USB interface unit 102 through the interface unit 120 and the control logic unit 104. The USB interface unit 102 converts parallel data input from the control logic unit 104 into serial data and provides the same to the computer through the USB port 200. The computer then makes a call request to the other party's computer through an internet communication network. Then, when the call request is received from the other party, the voice data transmitted through the Internet phone 100, the computer and the Internet communication network in turn is transmitted to the Internet phone connected to the other party's computer through the Internet communication network, and the voice therefrom. The data is transmitted to the Internet phone 100 connected to the USB port 200 of the computer to form a voice call path between the two.

As such, when a voice call path is formed between the two hands, the handset 114 of the Internet phone 100 is connected to the amplification unit 112 to make a voice call, and the amplification unit 112 is received from the microphone of the handset 114. To amplify the analog voice to a sufficient size, the voice codec unit (CODEC) 110 encodes the analog voice input from the amplifying unit 112 into digital voice data, compresses it, sends it to the Internet communication network, and receives the received voice from the Internet communication network. After decoding the voice packet data, it is converted into an analog voice signal and output to the speakerphone of the handset 114 through the amplifier 112.

The pulse code modulation and demodulation unit 108 receives digital voice data from the voice codec unit 110, converts the packet data into packet data for network communication, and transmits the packet data received from the internet communication network to the original digital voice. The data is converted into data and provided to the voice codec unit 110.

The control logic unit 104 detects a ring signal from the data input through the USB port 200 of the computer, rings a ring through the ring generator 106, and also in the pulse code modulation and demodulation unit 108. Controls the transmission and reception of the input voice packet data and the voice packet data received from the Internet communication network.

The USB interface unit 102 converts the parallel voice data inputted from the control logic unit 104 into serial voice data and outputs the serial voice data to the USB port 200 according to a predetermined clock and outputs the serial voice data received therefrom in parallel. By changing and providing it to the control logic unit 104, a call is made between both parties.

3 and 5, the user first turns on the computer and registers the call waiting state through the video dialer 202 which is automatically recognized for the voice and video call with the other party.

Thereafter, after pressing the image window button of the image dialer 202 displayed on the computer screen, the image window shown on the screen is checked as shown in FIG. 5. Then, by entering the number and the call button of the other party through the Internet phone 100 and makes a call request to the computer of the other party through the Internet communication network.

When the call is approved by the other party's computer, the voice and video data captured by the Internet phone 100 and the video camera 150 are transmitted to the screen and the Internet phone of the other computer through the USB port 200 of the computer and the Internet communication network. Then, audio data and video data therefrom are received by the Internet phone 100 and the computer, and outputted and displayed on the screen of the handset 114 and the computer so that both voice and video calls are made.

Meanwhile, when a messenger function is added to the dialer 190 or the video dialer 202 and the messenger function is clicked, a messenger window as shown in FIG. 6 is displayed on the screen of the computer. If you send a URL address that you want to introduce during chat and other functions, such as file transmission and reception, the corresponding homepage is displayed on the screen of the other computer, and performs a messenger service with various functions added.

On the other hand, as a comparative example, unlike the prior art, that is, the provision of voice and video call and service of various multimedia communication contents to the service user through the connection of a web browser, the present invention is applied to a personal computer without access to a web browser. If you connect internet phone and video camera to the attached USB port and the service user turns on the computer without any operation, voice and video call can be made through the automatically recognized dialer.

As a result, according to the present invention, anyone can easily and conveniently use voice and video calls, text, voice, and video chat without accessing a web browser, and can enjoy various multimedia contents by clicking the messenger function of the dialer. There is an advantage.

In addition, although specific embodiments of the present invention have been described and illustrated above, it is obvious that the present invention may be variously modified and implemented by those skilled in the art.

Such modified embodiments should not be individually understood from the technical spirit or the prospect of the present invention, and such modified embodiments should fall within the appended claims of the present invention.

According to the Internet phone capable of a video call of the present invention, which is clear from the above description, it is automatically recognized when the service user turns on the computer without any operation by connecting the video camera to a USB port attached to a personal computer without accessing a web browser. Through the dialer, voice and video calls, text, voice, and video chat can be conveniently used. Also, by clicking on the dialer's messenger function, various multimedia contents can be displayed and serviced on a computer screen.

Claims (4)

A computer system having a universal serial bus (USB) port and connected to an internet communication network to provide a telephone call service: (1) a handset for making a call through a computer connected to the Internet communication network; (2) voice codec means for compressing and transmitting the analog voice of the talker input through the handset into digital voice data, and decoding the digital voice data received from the Internet communication network into analog voice and outputting the analog voice to the handset; (3) pulse code modulation and demodulation means for converting the voice data encoded by said voice codec means into packet data for internet communication, and demodulating the packet data received from said internet communication network into original data and providing it to said voice codec means. ; (4) control logic means for controlling the transmission and reception of key data of the keypad and the packet data, and for separating a ring signal from data input from the computer to generate a ring through a ring generating means; (5) USB interface means for converting the parallel data of the control logic means into serial and outputting it to the USB port of the computer, and converting the serial data received therefrom in parallel to the control logic means; And (6) An Internet phone capable of video communication, comprising an image camera connected to the USB port and photographing a subject to a computer. The method according to claim 1, And a dialer for registering a call waiting state in the computer. The method according to claim 2, And the dialer is a dialer having a video screen. The method according to claim 1, And displaying a dialer messenger window on a screen of the computer to provide a messenger service by clicking on the messenger window.