KR20030028784A - Multimedia Terminal Gateway - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A VoIP subscriber terminal gateway is provided to provide more convenient phone service, reduce telephone charges and contribute to expansion of a VoIP service by enabling a VoIP phone incoming and outgoing as well as a PSTN phone incoming and outgoing by using one PSTN phone set. CONSTITUTION: A hook sensing unit(210) senses hook-off information in case that a receiver of a PSTN phone set is hooked off or hook-on information in case that the receiver is hooked on, and accordingly transfers to a controller(240). After the receiver is hooked off, a DTMF processor(220) decodes an originating number inputted as dialed in the PSTN phone set and transfers a corresponding key value to the controller(240). A memory unit(230) designates a code discriminating whether the inputted originating number(originating signal) is a PSTN phone originating or a VoIP phone originating and stores it. A ring signal detector(260) detects a destination signal inputted from a public telephone network. If the originating number is judged to be a PSTN phone originating according to the code stored in the memory unit, a relay unit(250) connects the PSTN phone set to the public phone network, whereas if the originating number is judged to be a VoIP phone originating, the relay unit(250) connects the PSTN phone set to an Internet network. The controller generally controls each element and processes the PSTN phone set to be selectively connected to the public phone network or to the Internet network. Also, the controller(240) provides information inputted after being detected through the ring signal detector(260) or the VoIP reception detector(270) to the relay unit(250).

Description

ＰｏＩＰ Subscriber Terminal Gateway {Multimedia Terminal Gateway}

The present invention relates to a VoIP subscriber station gateway, and more particularly, to a gateway capable of selectively connecting a PSTN phone to either the Internet network or a public telephone network so that one PSTN phone can make a call as well as a PSTN call. .

At present, with the development of computer technology, the use of the Internet due to the emergence of a powerful application called the World Wild Web (WWW) has increased the use of Internet telephony (VoIP telephony) services, which are relatively inexpensive. The Internet telephony service converts an analog voice signal into a packet voice signal in order to use a communication infrastructure called an internet network instead of a conventional public telephone network (PSTN).

The public switched telephone network is a circuit-switched network that provides static switching and provides a fixed bandwidth of 64Kbps to ensure call quality. However, the Internet network is a packet-switched network that performs dynamic routing and provides "best-effort" type service, so it is difficult to guarantee call quality. Nevertheless, Internet telephony can be used for long distance calls at low prices, and various types of services can be created.

Meanwhile, according to the advantages of the Internet phone, a VoIP terminal device (MTA) has been developed and used to allow PSTN phones to make and receive VoIP calls. However, such a conventional VoIP terminal device does not support PSTN telephone call origination and PSTN telephone call origination only. Therefore, it is necessary to install two PSTN phones that can be used to access public telephone networks and VoIP phones that can be used to connect to the Internet network. It is an obstacle.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in order to solve the above problems, one PSTN phone to analyze the type of incoming and outgoing signals so that the incoming and outgoing calls as well as the PSTN telephone call, the PSTN phone in accordance with the analysis type It is an object of the present invention to provide a VoIP subscriber station gateway capable of connecting to either a telephone network or an internet network.

In order to achieve the above object, the VoIP subscriber station gateway according to the present invention connects the telephone to either the public telephone network or the internet network so that the PSTN telephone can be called or received through the public telephone network. Control means; And a VoIP signal processing means for converting a voice signal input from the telephone into a packet signal or converting a packet signal input from the internet network into a voice signal when the telephone is connected to the internet network.

In this case, the incoming / outgoing call control means may include: a memory unit for storing a code capable of distinguishing whether an outgoing signal input from the PSTN phone is a PSTN call or a VoIP call; A ring signal detector for detecting an incoming signal input from a public telephone network; A VoIP reception detector which detects an incoming signal input from the Internet network through the VoIP signal processing means; And if the outgoing signal input from the PSTN phone is determined to be a PSTN phone call according to the code stored in the memory unit, connects the phone to a public telephone network, and if it is determined to be a VoIP phone call, connects the phone to the Internet network. It is preferable to include a relay unit for connecting the telephone to the public telephone network when the incoming signal is detected in the, and to connect the telephone to the Internet network when the incoming signal is detected in the VoIP reception detection unit.

On the other hand, the incoming / outgoing call control means outputs a screen or sound indicating that the incoming call is detected from the ring signal detector, indicating that it is a PSTN incoming call, and outputs a screen or sound indicating that the incoming call is received when the incoming call signal is detected from the VoIP receiving detector. It can be preferably implemented by further comprising a display unit and a sound processing unit. In addition, the incoming and outgoing call control means further comprises a quality evaluating unit for evaluating the quality of service (QoS) of the Internet network, wherein the outgoing signal inputted from the telephone is the VoIP telephone call and the Internet network in the evaluation of the quality evaluation unit If the quality of service does not meet the standard, the relay unit may connect the telephone to the public telephone network.

1 is a conceptual diagram of connecting a PSTN telephone to a public telephone network or an Internet network using a VoIP subscriber station gateway according to the present invention;

2 is a block diagram of an incoming / outgoing call control means provided in a VoIP subscriber station gateway according to the present invention;

3 is a flowchart illustrating an incoming process of a PSTN telephone using a VoIP subscriber station gateway according to the present invention;

4 is a flowchart illustrating a call process of a PSTN telephone using a VoIP subscriber station gateway according to the present invention.

* Explanation of symbols for main parts of the drawings

110: public telephone network 120: Internet network

130: Internet access device 140: VoIP subscriber station gateway

142,200: call origination control means 144: VoIP signal processing means

150: PSTN telephone 210: hook detection unit

220: DTMF processing unit 230: memory unit

240 control unit 250 relay unit

260: ring signal detection unit 270: VoIP reception detection unit

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

1 is a conceptual diagram of connecting a PSTN telephone to a public telephone network or an Internet network using a VoIP subscriber station gateway according to the present invention. The VoIP subscriber station gateway 140 connects one PSTN telephone 150 to a public telephone network (PSTN: 110). ) Or through a separate Internet connection device 130 to the Internet network 120. The Internet connection line may be copper, cable, Ethernet, optical cable, etc. according to the connection medium. In order to access the Internet network 120, the Internet such as an xDSL modem, a cable modem, a switching hub (S / H), a photoelectric conversion device, etc. The connection device 130 is required.

The VoIP subscriber station gateway 140 according to the present invention includes an incoming / outgoing call control means 142 and a VoIP signal processing means 144. The call originating control means 142 is a key element of the present invention, and controls the PSTN call making and the VoIP call making according to a user's selection or a predetermined rule. A detailed configuration will be described with reference to FIG. 2.

The VoIP signal processing means 144 is necessary when the PSTN telephone 150 calls and receives the VoIP telephone, and converts the voice signal input from the PSTN telephone 150 into a packet signal or converts the packet signal input through the Internet network 120. Convert to an audio signal. That is, the input voice signal is decomposed into a packet and combined, or the input packet is decomposed and combined into a voice signal. Since the VoIP signal processing means 144 is well known, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Figure 2 is a block diagram of the incoming and outgoing call control means provided in the network switching device for the PSTN telephone according to the present invention, hook detection unit 210, DTMF processing unit 220, memory unit 230, control unit 240, relay unit 250, a ring signal detector 260, a VoIP reception detector 270, and the like. The hook detector 210 detects the hook-off information when the handset of the PSTN telephone 150 is lifted or the hook-on information when the handset is placed, and transmits the hook-on information to the controller 240. The DTMF processing unit 220 decodes an outgoing signal input when dialing in the PSTN phone 150 after the receiver of the PSTN phone 150 is heard, and transmits a corresponding key value to the control unit 240.

The memory unit 230 designates and stores a code for distinguishing whether the calling number (outgoing signal) input from the PSTN phone 150 is a PSTN call or a VoIP call. For example, '0000', '*', '#', etc. may be used as a code for recognizing that the call is PSTN. Therefore, when the user presses '0000', '*', '#', etc. before pressing the calling number, the PSTN call is made. Otherwise, the VoIP call is made.

The ring signal detector 260 detects an incoming signal input from the public telephone network 110. That is, the ring signal input from the outside is detected. The VoIP reception detection unit 270 detects an incoming signal input from the Internet network 120 via the VoIP signal processing means 144.

The relay unit 250 connects the PSTN telephone 150 to the public telephone network 110 when it is determined that the calling number input from the PSTN telephone 150 is a PSTN telephone call according to the code stored in the memory unit 230. If it is determined that the VoIP telephone call is made, the PSTN telephone 150 is connected to the Internet network 120. In addition, when an incoming signal (ring signal) is detected through the ring signal detection unit 260, the PSTN telephone 150 is connected to the public telephone network 110, and the incoming signal is detected through the VoIP reception detection unit 270. If so, the PSTN telephone 150 is connected to the Internet network 120.

The controller 240 processes the PSTN telephone 150 to be selectively connected to the public telephone network 110 or the Internet network 120 while comprehensively controlling the above components. That is, the key value processed by the DTMF processing unit 220 is determined based on the code stored in the memory unit 230 to determine whether to make a PSTN call or a VoIP call and provide the determination information to the relay unit 250. In addition, the ring signal detector 260 or the VoIP reception detector 270 detects and inputs the input information to the relay unit 250.

On the other hand, the incoming and outgoing call control means 200 may be configured to further include a display unit (not shown) or a sound processing unit (not shown). In this case, the display unit may correspond to an LED module for displaying a character or an image, and the sound processing unit may correspond to a sound module capable of outputting a ringtone. Therefore, if an incoming signal is detected from the ring signal detector 260, a screen or sound indicating a PSTN call is output, and if an incoming signal is detected from the VoIP reception detector 270, a screen or sound indicating a VoIP call is received. Can be output for user convenience.

In addition, the incoming and outgoing call control means 200 may be configured to further include a quality evaluation unit (not shown) to evaluate the quality of service (QoS) of the Internet network. If the outgoing signal input from the PSTN telephone 150 is determined to be a VoIP telephone call through such a configuration, and the quality of service of the Internet network 120 does not meet the criteria in the evaluation of the quality evaluator, the relay unit 250 uses the PSTN. The telephone 150 may be operated to connect to the public telephone network 110. The quality evaluation unit may evaluate the quality of the Internet network using a network quality evaluation program such as Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP).

The memory unit 230 may further classify and store emergency telephone numbers such as 112 and 119. Then, when the outgoing signal input from the PSTN phone 150 in the relay unit 250 is determined to be an emergency phone number, the PSTN phone 150 is automatically prepared in case of an internet connection failure due to a power failure or a communication failure. It may be operated to connect to the public telephone network (110).

3 is a flowchart illustrating an incoming process of a PSTN telephone using a VoIP subscriber station gateway according to the present invention. When the VoIP subscriber station gateway detects a ring signal, the VoIP subscriber station gateway determines that the PSTN call is received and connects the PSTN phone of the called party to the public telephone network to make an incoming call by the public telephone network (S310, S320, and S330). However, when the VoIP subscriber station gateway detects the VoIP reception, the VoIP subscriber station gateway determines that the VoIP call is received and connects the PSTN phone of the called party to the Internet network, thereby making an incoming call by the Internet network (S340, S350, S360).

4 is a flowchart illustrating a call process of a PSTN telephone using a VoIP subscriber station gateway according to the present invention. The VoIP subscriber station gateway determines the calling type of the calling number input from the PSTN telephone (S410). If it is determined that the PSTN telephone call is made, an outgoing call is made by the public telephone network through a dialing process by connecting the PSTN telephone to the public telephone network (S420, S430, S440). However, when the VoIP subscriber station gateway determines that the VoIP call is made, the VoIP subscriber station gateway checks the quality of service (QoS) of the Internet network to ensure that the network quality capable of using VoIP is guaranteed (S450). If the quality of service is satisfied, the PSTN telephone is connected to the Internet network and the outgoing call is made through the Internet network through the dialing process of the other party's telephone number (S460, S470, S480). If the quality of service is not satisfied, an outgoing call is made by the public telephone network by dialing the other party's telephone number by accessing the public telephone network (S420, S430, S440).

As described above, the VoIP subscriber station gateway can not only make and receive PSTN phone calls using a single PSTN phone, but also provide more convenient phone service while reducing phone costs and contributing to expanding VoIP services. .

Claims (5)

An incoming / outgoing control means for connecting the telephone to either the public telephone network or the internet network so that the PSTN telephone can make incoming / outgoing calls through the public telephone network or through the Internet network; And VoIP subscriber terminal comprising a VoIP signal processing means for converting a voice signal input from the telephone into a packet signal or converting a packet signal input from the internet network into a voice signal when the telephone is connected to the internet network. Gateway. The method of claim 1, wherein the incoming / outgoing call control means, A memory unit for storing a code for distinguishing whether an outgoing signal input from the PSTN phone is a PSTN call or a VoIP call; A ring signal detector for detecting an incoming signal input from a public telephone network; A VoIP reception detector which detects an incoming signal input from the Internet network through the VoIP signal processing means; And If the outgoing signal input from the PSTN phone is determined to be a PSTN phone call according to the code stored in the memory unit, the phone is connected to a public telephone network, and if it is determined to be a VoIP phone call, the phone is connected to the Internet network. And a relay unit for connecting the telephone to a public telephone network when an incoming signal is detected and for connecting the telephone to the Internet network when the incoming signal is detected by the VoIP reception detecting unit. The method of claim 2, wherein the incoming / outgoing call control means, When the incoming signal is detected from the ring signal detector, a screen or sound indicating a PSTN incoming call is output, and when the incoming signal is detected from the VoIP receiver, the display unit or sound processing unit outputs a screen or sound indicating a VoIP incoming call. VoIP subscriber station gateway, characterized in that further comprises. The method of claim 2, wherein the incoming / outgoing call control means, It further comprises a quality evaluation unit for evaluating the quality of service (QoS) of the Internet network, And if the outgoing signal inputted from the telephone is a VoIP telephone call and the service quality of the Internet network does not meet the criteria, the relay unit connects the telephone to the public telephone network. The VoIP subscriber station gateway according to any one of claims 2 to 4, In addition to the emergency number stored in the memory unit, And the relay unit connects the telephone to the public telephone network when the outgoing signal input from the telephone is determined to be an emergency telephone number.