JP3864331B2 - Call control system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to call control that enables an existing telephone network and an IP network to be linked, and a voice call can be made between an IP terminal accommodated in an IP network or a telephone terminal accommodated in an existing telephone network by making a call from an IP terminal. About the system.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A system for making a call using an IP (Internet Protocol) terminal is known as VoIP (Voice over IP) or Internet telephone (IP telephone). For example, as shown in FIG. 7, IP terminals 71 and 76, access servers (Access Servers) 72 and 75, and exchanges 73 and 74 are included. The exchanges 73 and 74 are ISDN exchanges constituting an existing telephone network. A system is known in which a call can be made between an IP terminal 71 and a general telephone terminal accommodated in the IP terminal 76 or the exchange 74 via an I interface.
[0003]
The access servers 72 and 75 are for accommodating the IP terminals 71 and 76 in the exchanges 73 and 74 that accommodate ordinary telephone terminals using the I interface. The IP interface on the IP terminal side and the I interface on the exchange side And a conversion function between an IP packet and audio media. Therefore, a general telephone terminal (not shown) is connected to the exchange through the I interface without going through the access servers 72 and 75. The exchanges 73 and 74 have, for example, an inter-exchange interface configuration for transmitting audio media. The IP terminals 71 and 76 may be accommodated in the same exchange through an access server.
[0004]
In such a conventional system, the exchanges 73 and 74 constituting the existing telephone network only provide the I interface, so that the IP servers 71 and 76 are accessed by the access servers 72 and 75. There was a need to convert to an interface. Accordingly, the accounting process is also based on the I interface, and a conventional system that accommodates digital lines and analog lines and includes the accounting process together with the exchange connection process has the function shown in FIG. 8, for example. In the figure, 81 is an ISDN application unit, 82 is an analog application unit, 83 and 84 are accounting processing units, 85 is an ISDN interface unit, 86 is an analog interface unit, and 87 is an inter-switch connection interface unit.
[0005]
The ISDN interface unit 85 accommodates a general telephone terminal via an ISDN line or an IP terminal via an access server, and the analog interface unit 86 includes an analog general telephone via an analog line. The terminal is accommodated. The inter-exchanger connection interface unit 87 is used to connect a relay line between the exchanges. The billing processing units 83 and 84, for example, perform processing for accumulating the charges determined corresponding to the call distance based on the called party number analysis per unit time according to the unit time system.
[0006]
There are various charging methods applied to the charging processing units 83 and 84. For example, a fixed amount method that does not depend on the call amount, a fixed amount method, a frequency method that charges for each call, the unit time method described above, and distance Then, there are a time difference method by distance for determining a time during which a call can be made with a unit charge, a detailed billing method for calculating a charge by recording time, ground and call time for each call. In general, the caller is charged, but a method of charging the callee is also applied. Since network resources are exclusively used during a call, it is common to charge according to the amount of resources and the amount of time.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Data communication by a general IP terminal is transmitted and received using an IP packet, and this IP packet is route-controlled by a router. In this case, since it only occupies Internet resources in a time division manner, A method of charging based on the amount of transmission data is applied.
[0008]
However, as described above, when a call is made with a partner IP terminal or a general telephone terminal using an IP terminal, the ISDN exchange constituting the existing telephone network needs to be accommodated with an I interface. The IP terminals 71 and 76 are connected to the exchanges 73 and 74 via the access servers 72 and 75. Therefore, as with other telephone terminals accommodated through the I interface, in the case of an ISDN exchange, only the ISDN charging method is applied. Therefore, the advantage of the Internet connection by the IP terminal cannot be enjoyed.
An object of the present invention is to accommodate an IP terminal in an existing exchange with a simple configuration and to enable flexible charging.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
Referring to FIG. 1, the call control system of the present invention connects an existing telephone network switch 3 that accommodates general telephone terminals and a media gateway 2 that converts IP packets and voice media. A call control system for performing a cooperative connection between an IP terminal 1 connected to an IP network and a general telephone terminal connected to an existing telephone network or another IP terminal connected to an IP network, An MG control unit 6 that controls the media gateway 2 and an IP between the media gateway 2 and the IP terminal 1 are connected to the exchange 3 of the existing telephone network to which the media gateway 2 that performs conversion processing with audio media is connected. The IP interface unit that transmits and receives packets, and the call information received by the IP interface unit is analyzed to determine whether to connect to an IP network or an existing telephone network. The analysis unit for judging, the IP charging function unit for charging the caller by the IP packet , and the IP packet returned to the IP network when the analysis result of the call information by the analysis unit indicates the IP network connection Information is transmitted and received between the IP call control unit including the IP loopback function unit , the existing function unit including the charging function unit of the switch 3 of the existing telephone network, and the inter-switch connection interface unit, and the IP call control unit. An adapter function unit is provided. The analysis function unit 5 corresponding to the adapter function unit includes an analysis unit, a billing function unit, a return function unit, and the like.
[0010]
The IP billing function unit has a configuration for transferring billing information to / from the billing function unit of the existing function unit via the adapter function unit.
[0011]
As a result of the analysis of the call information by the analysis unit, the IP network connection is sent back to the IP network by the IP return function unit of the IP call control unit, and the existing telephone network connection is sent the IP packet to the media gateway 2. It has a configuration to transfer.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is an IP terminal, 2 is a media gateway, 3 and 4 are exchanges constituting an existing telephone network, 5 is an analysis processing unit, and 6 is an MG control unit. Show. A media gateway (MG) 2 that performs conversion processing between an IP packet and audio media is connected to the exchange 3. The exchange 3 is provided with an analysis processing unit 5 including an MG control unit 6 having a function of controlling the media gateway 2. The analysis processing unit 5 includes an analysis function of call information, an IP loopback function, an adapter function that enables information transfer between the existing function unit of the exchange, a charging function, and the like. The exchanges 3 and 4 can be connected in the same manner as in the prior art. Note that the existing function units such as the exchange connection function and the control processing function of the exchanges 3 and 4 are not shown.
[0013]
The signaling packet when the IP terminal 1 makes a call is analyzed by the analysis function of the analysis processing unit 5 of the exchange 3, and as a result of the analysis, in the case of a call to a telephone terminal accommodated in an existing telephone network, MG The control unit 6 starts control of the media gateway 2 and sends outgoing call information to the exchange on the called side. Corresponding to the analysis result, the port number of the media gateway 2 is notified as the port number when sending an IP packet to the IP terminal 1.
[0014]
By receiving the response information in response to the call of the called party according to the call information, the IP terminal 1 sends out a voice packet (IP packet) including the port number notified from the exchange 3. The media gateway 2 performs a conversion process between the IP packet and the voice media, and sends the packet to the exchange 4 on the called party side or via the exchange 3 as indicated by a one-dot chain line. The received voice media is converted into an IP packet and sent to the IP terminal 1. As a result of analyzing the signaling packet from the IP terminal 1 by the analysis processing unit 5, when the IP network is connected, the return function unit of the analysis processing unit 5 returns the IP packet to the IP network (not shown).
[0015]
FIG. 2 shows the functions of the above-described analysis processing unit of the present invention. 10 is an existing function unit, 11 is an ISDN application unit, 12 is a charging function unit, 13 is an inter-switch connection interface unit, 21 is an analysis unit, Reference numeral 22 denotes an IP call control unit, 23 denotes an IP billing function unit, 24 denotes an IP interface unit, 25 denotes an IP / existing interwork unit, 26 denotes an MG control unit, and 27 denotes an adapter unit.
[0016]
The ISDN application unit 11, billing function unit 12, and inter-switch connection interface unit 13 are functions provided in the conventional switch, that is, the existing function unit 10, for example, for ISDN in FIG. It corresponds to an application unit 81, a billing processing unit 83, and an inter-switch connection interface unit 87. The other configuration corresponds to the adapter function unit. In this embodiment, the adapter function unit includes an MG control unit 26 (corresponding to the MG control unit 6 in FIG. 1) for controlling the media gateway 2 and an IP interface unit 24 for connecting an IP terminal. The functions of the IP analysis unit 21, the IP call control unit 22, the IP billing function unit 23, and the IP / existing interwork unit 25 for interworking between the existing function part and the IP function part are provided. In addition, it has a configuration including an adapter unit 27 that performs transmission / reception processing including interface conversion processing of information between the ISDN application unit 11 and the IP / existing interworking unit 25.
[0017]
The IP interface unit 24 transfers the call information by the aforementioned signaling packet from the IP terminal to the IP call control unit 22. The IP call control unit 22 transfers the call information including the connection destination to the analysis unit 21. The analysis unit 21 returns to the IP call control unit 22 an analysis result of whether the connection to the IP network or the existing telephone network is a result of analyzing the call information.
[0018]
When the analysis result in the analysis unit 21 indicates IP network connection, the IP call control unit 22 instructs the IP call back function unit to send back an IP packet to the IP network, and indicates an existing telephone network connection. At this time, the MG control unit 26 that controls the media gateway is instructed to be connected to the existing telephone network . In addition, the IP charging function unit 23 of the IP call control unit 22 collects IP charging information from the call information. In addition, a call-corresponding CALL ID is set so that a link can be established with the billing function unit 12 of the ISDN application unit 11.
[0019]
The IP interface unit 24 transfers the IP packet from the IP terminal to the media gateway in the case of connection to the existing telephone network. Further, the media gateway is controlled by the MG control unit 26 to start the conversion process between the IP packet and the audio media. The IP / existing interwork unit 25 converts the call information and the like into an interface on the ISDN application unit 11 side, and transfers it to the ISDN application unit 11 or the inter-switch connection interface unit 13 via the adapter unit 27.
[0020]
The ISDN application unit 11 performs the same processing as when receiving the call information by the I interface, and sends the call information through the inter-switch connection interface unit 13, for example. When disconnection information is received when the call ends, the accounting information collected by the accounting function unit 12 is transferred to the IP accounting function unit 23 using the CALL ID as a key. Information and billing information for the existing network are collected, and billing processing is performed according to a predetermined billing rule.
[0021]
FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the embodiment of the present invention. When a call from an IP terminal is accepted by the IP interface unit 24, the call information is transferred to the IP call control unit 22. The IP call control unit 22 requests the analysis unit 21 to analyze call information. The analysis unit 21 returns the IP loopback when the analysis result indicates that the IP network is connected, and returns the existing opposite unit when the existing telephone network is connected. The case shown in the figure is an existing telephone network connection, and the IP call control unit 22 generates a function unit according to the returned existing opposing unit and notifies the IP / existing interwork unit 25 of the function unit.
[0022]
In addition, the IP billing function unit 23 collects IP billing information, sets a CALL ID in the call information, and transfers the call information to the IP / existing interwork unit 25. The IP / existing interwork unit 25 converts the interface to the existing ISDN application unit 11 side and transfers the call information with the CALL ID added to the ISDN application unit 11 via the adapter unit 27.
[0023]
The ISDN application unit 11 collects charging information by the charging function unit 12 in the same manner as in the case of a call by the I interface of the existing network. In this case, the billing information is processed based on the CALL ID added to the call information. Then, the call information is transferred from the ISDN application unit 11 to the inter-switch connection interface unit 13, and via the adapter unit 27, the IP / existing interwork unit 25, the IP call control unit 22, and the IP interface unit 24. An acceptance response is sent to the calling IP terminal. In addition, the call information is sent from the inter-switch connection interface unit 13 to the switch in the existing network.
[0024]
The called party accommodated in the existing network is called by the operation not shown in the figure, and when the call is answered, the call is started. The MG control unit 26 controls the media gateway to control the IP terminal. Is transferred from the IP interface unit 24 to the media gateway, the IP packet is converted into voice media, and is sent to the existing network via the inter-switch connection interface unit 13. The voice media from the called party is transferred from the inter-switch connection interface unit 13 to the media gateway, converted into an IP packet, and sent to the IP terminal via the IP interface unit 24. As a result, a call is performed between the two.
[0025]
When this call is finished and the IP terminal sends disconnect information, the IP interface unit 24 transfers the disconnect information to the IP call control unit 22. The IP call control unit 22 collects IP charging information in the IP charging function unit 23 and forwards the disconnection information to the IP / existing interwork unit 25. This disconnection information is transferred to the ISDN application unit 11 via the adapter unit 27. The ISDN application unit 11 collects charging information in the charging function unit 12 and transmits disconnection information via the inter-switch connection interface unit 13. The charging information collected by the charging function unit 12 is transferred to the IP charging function unit 23, and the IP charging function unit 23 collects the IP charging information and the existing charging information.
[0026]
FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the operation in the case of the SIP interface, and calls are made to the existing telephone network using SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) standardized as a protocol for realizing the IP telephone call setting on the IP network. Shows the case. The IP interface unit 24 that has received the text-format INVITE from the IP terminal transfers the call information to the IP call control unit 22.
[0027]
The processing in the analysis unit 21, the IP / existing interwork unit 25, the adapter unit 27, the ISDN application unit 11, and the inter-switch connection interface unit 13 based on the call information is the same as that shown in FIG. Description is omitted. Then, 100 OK as an INVIE acceptance response is sent from the IP interface unit 24 to the IP terminal, and shows the case of connection to the existing telephone network. Therefore, the media gateway is controlled by the MG control unit 26, and the IP packet, voice media, It is possible to make a call between each other by the conversion process.
[0028]
FIG. 3 is an operation explanatory diagram for the H.323 interface. H.323 is a protocol that controls outgoing calls on TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) / UDP (User Datagram Protocol) or establishes a connection to transmit and receive voice and the like in real time. When the IP interface unit 24 receives SETUP (call setting) in the data format from the IP terminal according to this protocol, the IP interface unit 24 transfers the call information to the IP call control unit 22.
[0029]
Processing in the analysis unit 21, IP / existing interwork unit 25, adapter unit 27, ISDN application unit 11, and inter-switch connection interface unit 13 based on the call information is the same as that shown in FIGS. The overlapping description is omitted. Then, CALL PROC (call setting acceptance) is sent to the IP terminal, and the call is started by a response to the call of the called party. At that time, the media gateway is controlled by the MG control unit 26, and the conversion process between the IP packet and the voice media is started, and a call is made between them.
[0030]
FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the operation of IP network connection. In the configuration shown in FIG. 2, the IP call control unit 22 has IP return function units on the calling side and the called side, respectively. H. In the case of having the H.323 interface, when the SETUP (call setting) is received by the IP interface unit 24, the IP interface unit 24 calls the originating IP control unit 22, that is, the IP call control unit (originating). Transfer information.
[0031]
The IP call control unit (calling unit) issues a call information analysis request to the analysis unit 21. When the analysis unit 21 determines that the IP network is connected as a result of the analysis, the IP call control unit (calling unit) Return to Although not shown, charging information is collected in the IP charging function unit 23. The IP call control unit (caller) generates an IP loopback function unit corresponding to the analysis result of the analysis unit 21, and transfers the call information to the caller IP loopback function unit. The originating IP return function unit transfers the IP packet to the called IP return function unit. The called-side IP loopback function unit determines that the transferred IP packet is an incoming call, and notifies the called-side IP call control unit, that is, the IP call control unit (destination) of the incoming call.
[0032]
This IP call control unit (incoming) sends an acceptance response to the IP interface unit 24. The IP interface unit 24 sends CALL PROC (call setting acceptance) to the IP terminal. In this case, since it is not an existing telephone network connection, call information or the like is not transferred to the IP / existing interwork unit 25 side. Then, the IP return function unit sends back an IP packet, and a call is made between the IP terminals.
[0033]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the present invention connects the media gateway 2 that performs conversion processing between IP packets and voice media to the switch 3 of the existing telephone network, and controls the media gateway 2 to this switch 3. Unit 6, an IP interface unit that connects IP terminal 1 and transmits / receives IP packets, an analysis unit that analyzes call information received by the IP interface unit, an IP charging function unit, and an IP return function unit Including an IP call control unit, and an adapter function unit (equivalent to the analysis function unit 5) for transmitting and receiving information between the IP call control unit and the existing function unit. By adding a few functions to the exchange 3, various service functions of the existing telephone network can be provided from the IP interface.
[0034]
Regarding charging, there is an advantage that flexible charging processing by cooperation between the charging function of the existing telephone network and the IP charging function is easy, and that IP charging can be processed independently.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of an analysis processing unit according to the embodiment of this invention.
FIG. 3 is an operation explanatory diagram of the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is an operation explanatory diagram in the case of a SIP interface.
FIG. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing in the case of a H.323 interface.
FIG. 6 is an operation explanatory diagram of IP network connection.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional system.
FIG. 8 is a functional explanatory diagram of a conventional system.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 IP terminal 2 Media gateway 3, 4 Switch 5 Analysis processing part 6 MG control part

Claims (3)

An exchange of an existing telephone network that accommodates general telephone terminals and a media gateway that performs conversion processing between IP packets and voice media are connected, and an IP terminal connected to the IP network and the general telephone network connected to the existing telephone network In a call control system for performing a cooperative connection with a telephone terminal or another IP terminal connected to the IP network ,
In the exchange of the existing telephone network to which the media gateway that performs the conversion process between the IP packet and the voice media is connected,
An MG control unit for controlling the media gateway;
An IP interface unit for transmitting and receiving IP packets between the media gateway and the IP terminal ;
An analysis unit that analyzes call information received by the IP interface unit to determine whether it is connected to the IP network or the existing telephone network ;
An IP billing function unit that performs billing processing for a caller using the IP packet, and an IP loopback function that loops back and sends an IP packet to the IP network when an analysis result of the call information by the analysis unit indicates an IP network connection An IP call control unit including a unit;
An existing function unit including an accounting function unit and an inter-switch connection interface unit of the switch in the existing telephone network and an adapter function unit for transmitting and receiving information between the IP call control unit are provided. Call control system. The IP billing function of the IP for call control unit, according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises an arrangement for transferring the billing information through the adapter function unit between the charging function of the existing functional unit The call control system described.   As a result of analysis of the call information by the analysis unit, when an IP network connection is indicated, the IP call back function unit of the IP call control unit sends back an IP packet to the IP network to indicate an existing telephone network connection. 2. The call control system according to claim 1, further comprising a configuration for transferring the IP packet to the media gateway.

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