KR20080058659A - Internet protocol system for relaying packet message and method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

An IP system and method for relaying a packet message are provided to reduce a load according to processing of packets of a server, and reliably transmit packets to a remote IP terminal. Relay terminals(311,313,315,317) are connected to IP terminals(321-326). A server(110) transmits a status update message regarding the first IP terminal, among the IP terminals, based on the status of the first IP terminal to one or more of the relay terminals. Each of the relay terminals multicasts the received status update message to one or more second IP terminals associated with the one or more relay terminals. The second IP terminal includes a display unit updated based on the status update message of the first IP terminal. Routers(120,140) receive the status update message of the first IP terminal and transfer it to the relay terminals. The server unicasts the status update message to the one or more relay terminals.

Description

IP system and method for relaying packet message {INTERNET PROTOCOL SYSTEM FOR RELAYING PACKET MESSAGE AND METHOD THEREOF}

1 is a schematic diagram of an Internet Protocol system (IP system) including an IP terminal and a server according to an embodiment.

2 is a diagram illustrating the structure of an IP terminal according to an embodiment;

3 illustrates a method of multi-casting a packet message to an IP terminal through a relay terminal in a server according to an embodiment.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a method for relaying a packet message to an IP terminal through a relay terminal in a server according to an embodiment.

5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a method of multicasting a packet message to an IP terminal in a server of an IP system.

Description of the main parts of the drawing

100: IP system 110: server

121, 122, 123: IP terminal

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an Internet Protocol system (IP system), and more particularly, to an IP system and a method for relaying a packet message relating to updating status information of an IP terminal.

Recently, due to the rapid growth of the information and telecommunications industry, Internet services through Internet phones have been continuously growing. In general, an Internet service refers to a network service that allows a plurality of users to transmit data such as voice and text through an IP system using an Internet protocol. In particular, through this IP system it is possible to provide video conferencing between users having a remote IP terminal, it is possible to continue to expand a variety of applications.

In order to implement such various applications, the IP system should display the status of each IP terminal to provide a user with status information of each IP terminal in the IP system. For example, as an element for expressing such state information, the IP terminal may include a light emitting diode (LED) and the like, and each LED may be implemented in the form of a button corresponding to a different IP terminal. Accordingly, each LED button of the IP terminal can be controlled by the control message and the like from the server. To this end, status information of each IP terminal in the IP system, for example, on / off hook, etc., may be detected by the server, and the server may convert the detected status information to all other IP terminals having a button assigned to the corresponding IP terminal. To pass.

In order to convey the status information of one IP terminal to another IP terminal in the IP system, the server of the conventional IP system identifies all IP terminals including a button corresponding to the IP terminal whose status has changed, and these identified Send a uni-casting packet message to each IP terminal. In this method, the processing load increases as the server of the IP system manages the programmed state of the button of each IP terminal, and the amount of packet messages in the server is increased by transmitting packet messages for each IP terminal. Let's go. In particular, to transmit a packet to an IP terminal connected to another router that is not directly connected to a router, that is, a remote IP terminal, use a public IP or at least an IP that is recognized by the router. There is a problem that should be used. As a result, since a packet must be sent from the server to each IP terminal in a one-to-one manner, packet traffic to be transmitted from the server is concentrated, thereby reducing the packet processing efficiency of the IP system and having a high performance in the central processing unit ( CPU) and the like must be used.

As one method for solving this problem, as shown in FIG. 5, a method of multicasting a packet message indicating a state change of one IP terminal at the same time to all IP terminals in the IP system can be considered. have. 5 is a diagram illustrating a process of multicasting a packet message to a plurality of IP terminals in a server of an IP system. The IP system 500 includes a server 510 and a plurality of IP terminals 511, 512, 513, 521, 522, 523. The server 510 multicasts a packet message indicating a state change of the IP terminal to all the IP terminals 511, 512, 513, 521, 522, and 523 in the IP system 500. In such a configuration, the server 510 can update the state information change of one IP terminal by performing only one multicasting, and can reduce the load on the server 510 due to multiple transmissions. However, if the server 510 wants to send a multicasting packet to a remote IP terminal, the router may not support multicasting, depending on the type of router in the intermediate path. Since it does not receive Ack / Nack, it is not guaranteed that the message is multicast to the destination IP terminal. Accordingly, there is still a problem that the reliability of the multicasted message from the server reaching each IP terminal still exists.

Accordingly, there is a need for a relay method for transmitting packets efficiently and reliably in an IP system.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a system and method for reliably relaying packet messages relating to updating status information of an IP terminal in an Internet Protocol system (IP system).

According to one embodiment, an internet protocol system for relaying a packet message is provided, wherein the system is based on a state of at least one first IP terminal among a plurality of IP terminals, one or more relay terminals, and a plurality of IP terminals. And a server for transmitting a status update message of the first IP terminal to one or more relay terminals. The relay terminal is configured to multi-cast the received status update message to one or more second IP terminals associated with it.

According to another embodiment, a method for relaying a packet in an IP system is provided, the method comprising: detecting a state change of a first IP terminal among a plurality of IP terminals at a server, and in response to detecting the state change, Multi-casting a status update message to one or more second IP terminals belonging to the same zone as the server, relaying associated with one or more third IP terminals not belonging to the same zone as the server Unicasting the status update message to a terminal, and multicasting the unicasted status update message to the third IP terminal.

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

1 schematically illustrates an Internet Protocol system (IP system) 100 including an IP terminal and a server according to an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the IP system 100 includes a plurality of IP terminals 121, 122, connected to a server 110, routers 120, 140, 160, and respective routers 120, 140, 160. 123, 141, 142, 143, 161, 162, 163. Referring to FIG. 1, the server 110 includes a plurality of IP terminals 121, 122, 123, 141, and 142 through routers 120, 140, and 160 connected to a LAN port 103 of the server 110. 143, 161, 162, and 163, respectively. Here, the server 110 includes a memory unit 102 and a central processing unit 101.

The server 110 is connected to the IP network and is configured to include a central processing unit 101 and a memory unit 102 therein, for example, to transmit and receive a voice packet or a text packet and store the same. Routers 120, 140, and 160 are connected to the LAN port 103 of the server 110, and a plurality of IP terminals 121, 122, 123; 141, 142, and 143 are connected to each of the routers 120, 140, and 160. 161, 162 and 163 are configured to exchange packets with the server. In one embodiment, IP terminals 121, 122, 123 may be connected to router 120 that is directly connected to server 110, and other IP terminals 141, 142, 143; 161, 162, 163. May be connected to the routers 140 and 160 connected to the router 120. Typically, IP terminals 121, 122, and 123 may be called home IP terminals, and other IP terminals 141, 142, 143; 161, 162, and 163 may be called remote IP terminals.

In the configuration of the IP system 100, each IP terminal can send and receive voice packets and the like, and for this purpose, the status (eg, ON / OFF HOOK) of each IP terminal may be changed through a control packet message or the like. It is configured to deliver to the terminal. Each IP terminal includes a display unit for displaying the status of other IP terminals in accordance with the setting of the control packet message. Hereinafter, the structure of an IP terminal according to an embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 2.

2 illustrates an exemplary structure of an IP terminal according to an embodiment. The IP terminal 121 receives the user's voice through the microphone 236, and has a codec 232 to compress the voice signal transmitted / received to the handset 231 into an RTP packet and vice versa. Elongate. The controller 233 may detect the presence or absence of a voice signal and generate a certain level of noise when the voice signal is not present, and transmit the noise to a counterpart IP terminal. In addition, the controller 233 receives voice signals transmitted from other IP terminals through the LAN connector 235 and the physical layer unit (PHY) 234, synthesizes the received signals, and controls its own control data among the synthesized signals. And transmits the voice data except for the handset / speaker 237.

When a change occurs in its own state or the like, the IP terminal 121 may transmit a control packet message indicating the updated state to the server 110. The IP terminal 121 may receive a control packet message indicating whether or not the state of the other IP terminal is changed from the server 110 and display, for example, that the state of the other IP terminal is changed on the keypad 238. In one embodiment, the keypad 238 may include a plurality of floating buttons, and each floating button may indicate whether a state of a different IP terminal is changed. For example, when the extension number 1001 is assigned to the button 1 of the IP terminal 121, whether or not the state of the IP terminal of the extension number 1001 is changed may be displayed by the button 1. These floating buttons can be implemented with LEDs. The IP terminal 121 having such a configuration may exchange voice packets and control packets with other IP terminals in the IP system 100.

A method of delivering a packet in the IP system 100 will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 3 as follows. 3 is a diagram illustrating multicasting a packet message to an IP terminal through a router 120 and 140 and a relay terminal (or signal agent) 311, 313, 315, and 317 in the server 110 according to an exemplary embodiment. The scheme is schematically shown. IP system 100 includes server 110, multiple routers 120, 140, multiple IP terminals 321, 322, 323; 324, 325, 326, and one or more relay terminals 311, 313; 315, 317). The server 110 may transmit text or voice packets and various control packet messages to the relay terminals 311, 313, 315, and 317 through the routers 120 and 140. The relay terminal 311, 313; 315, 317 may deliver the received packet to an IP terminal associated with the received packet.

Each IP terminal may be divided into belonging to one of several zones, for example, zone 1 330 includes IP terminals 321, 322, and 323, and zone 2 332 is an IP terminal. 324, 325, 326. The zones 330 and 331 may be divided into home or remote zones, for example, according to a local distance from the server 110, a connection structure, and a linkable level. For example, the zone 332 serviced by the router 120 such as the server 110 may correspond to the home zone, and the zone 330 serviced by the router 140 indirectly connected to the server may correspond to a remote zone. have. Each zone may be assigned one or more relay terminals 311, 313, 315, and 317, and IP terminals and relay terminals included in the same zone may be identified by the same group identifier.

The server 110 of the IP system 100 detects whether the state of one of the IP terminals in the IP system 100 has been updated. For example, the server 110 may periodically request whether or not to update the status of each IP terminal, or each IP terminal may transmit an update message to the server 110 when the status is updated. The server 110, which detects the status update of one of the IP terminals, transmits a control message including an identifier for identifying the updated IP terminal, for example, an extension number, to the IP system 100 through the routers 120 and 140. Transmission to the relay terminals 311 and 313 (315 and 317). The packet message transmission from the server 110 to each relay terminal 311, 313; 315, 317 may be performed through unicasting using the IP address of the corresponding relay terminal 311, 313; 315, 317. Such unicasting can ensure reliable transmission by transmitting the message to a terminal having a specific address.

Each of the relay terminals 311, 313; 315, 317 receiving the unicast packet message may return an Ack indicating that the message has been received to the server 110, and receive a group identifier indicating the zone to which it belongs. In addition to one message, packet messages can be multicasted to all IP terminals in the zone. Such multicasting is a method of transmitting a corresponding message to all IP terminals in a zone regardless of a specific address, which can be simultaneously transmitted to multiple IP terminals. Since the packet message to be multicast includes a group identifier indicating a zone, each IP terminal may selectively receive a message transmitted by a relay terminal associated with the zone including the zone. In one embodiment, for more reliable multicasting, the number of relay terminals assigned to one zone may be determined, and each relay terminal 311, 313; 315, 317 may multiply packet messages several times to the corresponding zone. It is also possible to cast.

Each IP terminal (321, 322, 323; 324, 325, 326) receiving the multicast packet message checks whether or not the state of the IP terminal assigned to its floating button is changed, and is determined to have changed. In addition, a flow button corresponding to the changed IP terminal, for example, an LED button displays a state change of the corresponding IP terminal. In one embodiment, another IP terminal corresponding to each floating button of one IP terminal may be previously assigned from the server 110. That is, when the IP terminal registers with the server for the first time, the server transmits a control message including the extension number of another IP terminal corresponding to each button to the corresponding IP terminal, and the IP terminal receiving the IP terminal according to the control message receives the control message. You can set the floating button. In this manner, when a control packet message indicating that the state of the IP terminal having a specific extension number is changed, the corresponding IP terminal may display whether or not the IP terminal corresponding to the preset button is updated.

Referring to FIG. 4, a method of transmitting a packet message from a server to an IP terminal will be described. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method for relaying a packet message to an IP terminal through a relay terminal in a server according to an embodiment of the present invention. In step 401, each IP terminal in the IP system 100 obtains its own button program status information. To this end, the server 110 may transmit a control message including button assignment program information to the corresponding IP terminal when the IP terminal is registered. Such button assignment program information may include, for example, information including an extension number of another IP terminal assigned to each floating button when the IP terminal having the extension number 1000 has eight floating buttons.

In step 403, server 110 detects state change information of any IP terminal in IP system 100. The state change information of the IP terminal may include, for example, on / off hook information of the corresponding IP terminal. In order to detect the status change information of the IP terminal, the server 110 may periodically request whether or not to update the status of each IP terminal, or each IP terminal may transmit an update message to the server 110 when the status is updated. In step 405, the server 110 transmits the state change information detected by the relay terminal in the IP terminal zone in a unicast message. The unicast message may include the extension number of the corresponding IP terminal whose status information is changed and information indicating the changed status. In one embodiment, instead of the server sending a unicast message to all relay terminals 110, the IP terminal belonging to a zone close to the server 11 or a zone having a high distance interworking level, for example, a home zone. Can send status information changes in far-cast messages. In this case, the server 110 transmits a unicast message only to a relay terminal belonging to a remote zone, not a home zone. The IP terminals belonging to the home zone of the server 110 may be IP terminals connected to the same router as the server 110.

In step 407, the relay terminal receiving the unicast message transmits the state change information as a far casting message to all IP terminals in its included IP terminal zone. In one embodiment, the packet message to be multicast includes a group identifier indicating a zone, so that each IP terminal can receive a message sent by a relay terminal associated with the zone in which it is included. For more reliable multicasting, it is also possible for the relay terminal to multicast a packet message multiple times into the zone. The relay terminal receiving the unicast message may transmit Ack / Nak to the server side.

Each IP terminal receiving the multicast packet message in step 409 checks whether the state of the IP terminal assigned to its own flow button has changed, and if it is determined that the IP terminal has changed, the flow corresponding to the changed IP terminal A button, for example, an LED button, indicates a change of state of the IP terminal. Each IP terminal is displayed on a button corresponding to the IP terminal which has changed state according to its button program information assigned at the time of registration. In step 411, the IP terminal receiving the unicast message may transmit an acknowledgment message including Ack / Nak to the relay terminal transmitting the corresponding message to indicate whether the unicast message is received. The relay terminal may receive an Ack / Nak from each IP terminal belonging to the same zone, collect the Ack / Nak, and transmit the Ack / Nak to the server according to the result.

In a series of processes according to this embodiment, for example, when the IP terminal having the extension number 1001 is on hook, the server 110 prompts the user to turn on the button in which the extension number 1001 is input. To the relay terminal, the relay terminal sends a casting message to the IP terminal belonging to the same zone as its own, and if there is a button corresponding to the extension number 1001 in the IP terminal receiving the multi-casting message, the button is turned on. This can be done by.

While the invention and its various functional components have been described in particular embodiments, the invention may be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, middleware, or a combination thereof, and the system, subsystem, components or sub-configurations thereof. It should be understood that they can be used as elements. If implemented in software, the elements of the invention are instructions / code segments for performing the necessary tasks. The program or code segments may be stored in a machine readable medium, such as a processor readable medium, a computer program product, or via a transmission medium or communication link by a computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave or a signal modulated by a carrier. Can be sent. Machine readable media or processor readable media may include any medium that can store or transmit information in a form readable and executable by a machine (eg, processor, computer, etc.).

In addition, the above-described embodiments are a part of various embodiments to which the principles of the present invention are applied. It should be understood that this is only what is shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

According to the embodiments as described above, the server detects the state change information of the IP terminal of the IP system and unicasts it to the repeater and multicasts from the repeater to the IP terminal belonging to the same zone, thereby making the packet more efficient and reliable. It is possible to transmit. By registering in advance the button program information of the IP terminal at the time of registration of the IP terminal, it is possible to reduce the load due to the packet processing of the server and to reliably transmit the packet to the IP terminal located remotely.

Claims (18)

In the Internet Protocol (IP) system, Multiple IP terminals, One or more relay terminals connected to the plurality of IP terminals, and A server for transmitting a status update message relating to the first IP terminal to the at least one relay terminal based on a state of at least one first IP terminal among the plurality of IP terminals, Each of the one or more relay terminals multi-casts the received status update message to one or more second IP terminals associated with each of the one or more relay terminals. The method of claim 1, And the second IP terminal includes display means updated based on a status update message of the first IP terminal. The method of claim 1, And a router which receives the status update message of the first IP terminal and transmits the status update message to the relay terminal. The method of claim 1, And the server unicasts the status update message to the one or more relay terminals. The method of claim 1, And the server transmits the button program detailed information of the corresponding IP terminal to each of the plurality of IP terminals. The method of claim 1, The one or more relay terminals share a multi-cast group number with the associated one or more second IP terminals. The method of claim 6, The multicast group number is zone based allocation. The method of claim 1, The second IP terminal receiving the status update message transmits an Ack message to the relay terminal. The method of claim 8, The relay terminal that receives the Ack message transmits the Ack message to the server. In the method for relaying packets in an IP system, Detecting a state change of the first IP terminal among the plurality of IP terminals in the server; In response to detecting the state change, uni-casting the status update message to a relay terminal associated with at least one second IP terminal; And Multicasting the unicasted state update message to the second IP terminal by the relay terminal How to include. The method of claim 10, In response to detecting the state change, multicasting a status update message to one or more third IP terminals belonging to the same zone as the server. The method of claim 10, Based on the multicasted state update message, displaying the state of the state changed first IP terminal to a second IP terminal. The method of claim 10, And sending, by the server, button program detailed information of the corresponding IP terminal to each of the plurality of IP terminals. The method of claim 10, The relay terminal sharing a multicast group number with the associated one or more second IP terminals. The method of claim 14, Wherein the multicast group number is zone based. The method of claim 10, And sending, by the second IP terminal receiving the status update message, an Ack message to the relay terminal. The method of claim 16, Transmitting the Ack message to the server by the relay terminal receiving the Ack message. A computer readable storage medium storing computer executable instructions for performing the method of any one of claims 10-17.

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