JP4397507B2 - Internet phone adapter - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an Internet telephone adapter for making a call via the Internet, and more particularly to an adapter for making an Internet telephone call using a general telephone.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A so-called Internet telephone that performs a voice call via the Internet is a known technique and has already been used in recent years.
[0003]
However, Internet telephones so far have been regarded as a function of a personal computer. That is, it is performed using a computer keyboard while looking at the computer screen, and a telephone ringing tone or the like is also output from a speaker attached to the computer or an external speaker.
[0004]
However, the Internet telephone as one function of such a computer has a different concept and handling from a conventional telephone, so that it is difficult for those who are unfamiliar with the handling of the computer.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to realize an Internet telephone environment that can be handled in the same manner as a conventional telephone.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides an adapter for realizing an Internet telephone that can be used as it is with a conventional telephone and can be handled in the same manner as a conventional telephone.
[0007]
That is, the adapter according to claim 1 of the present invention is an adapter for performing a telephone call via the Internet using a public line telephone, and is connected to a central processing unit, a paging signal generator, and the Internet. A communication means for connecting to a computer, a means for connecting to a telephone for a public line, an off-hook detection section, a DTMF signal detection section, and a tone generation section, and when the telephone call is made via the Internet, An internet telephone adapter that generates a calling signal in a signal generation unit, outputs the calling signal to a telephone for a public line, and makes a call by dialing a number obtained by converting the IP address of the other party It is.
The adapter according to claim 2 is an adapter for performing a telephone call over the Internet using a telephone for a public line, and communicates with a central processing unit, a call signal generator, and a computer connected to the Internet. Means for connecting to a telephone for public line, an off-hook detection unit, a DTMF signal detection unit, and a tone generation unit. When a call is made via the Internet, the call signal generation unit This is an internet telephone adapter that generates a call signal, outputs the call signal to a public line telephone, and makes a call by dialing a number representing the other party's IP address .
[0008]
The adapter of the present invention uses a telephone for a public line (general line) usually used at home and is connected between the telephone and a computer. That is, the computer and the adapter of the present invention are connected by a communication means such as serial communication, and the adapter of the present invention and the telephone are connected via a modular cable or the like.
[0009]
When an Internet phone call is received from the other party, the software on the computer detects the call and outputs a signal to the adapter of the present invention. Then, the central processing unit on the adapter of the present invention receives this, and a ringing tone for the telephone is generated by the calling signal generation unit based on an instruction from the central processing unit. And the said ringing tone is output to a telephone via a modular cable etc., and becomes the bell of a telephone.
The user hears this and picks up the telephone handset to speak.
[0010]
According to these inventions, the user, without using the keyboard of a computer, it is possible to call the Internet phone by turning the dial of a conventional telephone as well as phone. Specifically, the IP address (the processed number) of the other party who wants to talk is dialed.
[0011]
The adapter according to each of the inventions detects an off-hook due to the user lifting the handset, and outputs a dial tone to the user through the telephone. When the user inputs an IP address by pushing the dial of the telephone, the DTMF signal is detected and the data is output to the computer. Converts this data to an IP address to connect to the IP address on the Internet. Until the other party answers, the adapter of the present invention generates a ringback tone indicating that it is ringing and outputs it from the telephone handset.
[0012]
When the other party lifts the handset, the adapter of the present invention switches the speaker output to the output of the telephone handset. Thereby, the conversation between users is attained.
[0013]
As described above, the user can make an Internet phone call by simply operating the telephone in the same manner as a normal telephone without being aware of the operation of the computer.
[0014]
A third aspect of the present invention includes a speaker input unit, a speaker output unit, a speaker output switching unit, and a signal conversion unit, and inputs an audio signal from the computer from the speaker input unit, An internet adapter that inputs to the signal conversion unit during a call and outputs from the speaker output means during a non-call through the speaker output switching unit.
[0015]
The speaker input means is for inputting an audio signal from a speaker output terminal or the like of the computer. The microphone output means is for connecting to a microphone input terminal or the like of the computer and outputting an audio signal.
The signal converter converts the computer audio signal into a telephone audio signal.
[0016]
As a result, sound is output from the telephone handset during a call, and an external speaker connected to the speaker output means can be used as a computer speaker during a non-call.
[0018]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of the adapter (adapter 1) of the present invention and its connection.
The adapter 1 is a means for communicating with the central processing unit 50, off-hook detection unit 51, DTMF signal detection unit 52, paging signal generation unit 53, tone generation unit 54, speaker output switching unit 55, signal conversion unit 56, and a computer. It has a serial port 11, a microphone output terminal 12, a speaker input terminal 13 as a speaker input means, a speaker output terminal 14 as a speaker output means, and a modular jack 15 as a connection means with a telephone.
[0019]
The central processing unit 50 is a microchip (CPU). Off-hook detection unit 51, the phone is on-hook, a circuit section for determining which one of the off-hook. The DTMF signal detector 52 detects and recognizes a DTMF signal generated by dialing the telephone. The call signal generator 53 generates a 75 V, 16 Hz signal that is a telephone call signal. The tone generator 54 generates a dial tone (poo sound), a busy tone (two-tone sound), and a ring back tone (trululu sound). The speaker output switching unit 55 switches the speaker output from the computer 2 to either the signal conversion unit 56 or the speaker output terminal 14. The signal conversion unit 56 is a 2-line-1 line signal conversion unit that converts a speaker output signal of a computer into an audio signal of a telephone.
[0020]
The adapter 1 is connected to the computer 2 through a serial port, a microphone input / output terminal, and a speaker input / output terminal, and is connected to the telephone 3 through a modular cable connected to the modular jack 15.
[0021]
In the computer 2, communication software such as NetMeeting for exchanging voice and the like via the Internet is executed, and add-on software of the communication software is added to mediate the communication software with the adapter of the present invention. Has been. The add-on software is created using an API prepared by the communication software. These softwares are hereinafter referred to as “control software 60”.
[0022]
Next, the operation of the adapter 1 when the user receives an Internet phone will be described with reference to FIG.
When the control software 60 operating on the computer 2 detects a call from the Internet (S201), the software outputs a signal to the serial port 11, and the adapter 1 receives it (S202, S203). The central processing unit 50 on the adapter 1 receives this signal (S204) and causes the call signal generator 53 to generate a call signal (S205). Then, this calling signal is sent to the telephone 3 via the modular cable (S206).
[0023]
The telephone 3 receives the calling signal and rings the telephone 3 bell (S207). Thereby, unlike the conventional Internet telephone, the telephone's own bell rings.
[0024]
When the user lifts the handset for a call (S208), the telephone goes off-hook (S209), and it is detected that the off-hook detector 51 of the adapter 1 is off-hook, that is, the user picks up the handset (S210). The call signal is stopped (S211). Then, the speaker output switching unit 55 switches the speaker output to the telephone 3 (S212). The switched output is output to the telephone set 3 via the signal converter 56 via a modular cable. As a result, the telephone 3 becomes ready for a call (S213), and the user can make a call.
[0025]
As described above, when the adapter 1 of the present invention is used, even when an Internet phone call is received, the bell of the telephone itself rings and subsequent operations can be performed using only the telephone. Internet phone can be used without being conscious of
Next, the operation of the adapter 1 when the user makes an Internet phone call will be described with reference to FIG.
First, the user who wants to make an Internet call lifts the handset of the telephone 3 (S301). Then, the telephone 3 enters an off-hook state (S302), and this is detected by the off-hook detector 51 of the adapter 1 (S303).
[0027]
When the off-hook detection unit 51 detects the off-hook state, the adapter 1 generates a dial tone by the tone generation unit 54 (S304) and transmits it to the telephone 3 via the modular cable, and the telephone 3 outputs the dial tone from the handset. (S305).
[0028]
The user listens to the dial tone and dials the other party's number (S306). At this time, the other party's number is obtained by converting the dot part of the IP address into “#”. For example, if the IP address of the other party is “192. 1 68.1.2”, the other party's number is “192 # 168 # 1 # 2 #”.
[0029]
The DTMF signal generated when the user dials the number on the telephone 3 is detected by the DTMF signal detection unit of the adapter 1 (S307), and the adapter 1 sends the number to the computer 2 (control software 60). Is transmitted (S308).
[0030]
The computer 2 (control software 60) receives the number (S309) and converts it into an IP address (S310). That is, the number of the "192 # 168 # 1 # 2 #", is converted to an IP address of "192. 1 68.1.2". Then, connection (call) is made to the IP address via the Internet (S311).
[0031]
As a result, the adapter 1 generates a ringback tone by the tone generator 54 (S312), transmits it to the telephone 3, and the telephone 3 outputs it from the handset (S313).
Then, when the other party picks up the other party's handset (S314) and the reception is recognized by the computer 2 (control software 60) via the Internet (S315), the adapter 1 sends the speaker output to the telephone 3 at the speaker output switching section 55. (S316).
[0032]
As a result, the telephone 3 becomes ready for a call (S317), and the user can make a call (S318).
[0033]
Since the audio output is connected to the speaker output terminal 14 in the speaker output switching unit 55 except during a call, audio output by the computer is performed from the external speaker connected to the speaker output terminal 14.
[0034]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, by using the adapter of the present invention, as with a general telephone, the telephone rings itself when receiving an incoming call. Also, in making a call, the user can perform only the same operation as a normal telephone. You can make internet calls. For this reason, the user can use the Internet telephone without being aware of the computer.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing an adapter of the present invention and how it is connected.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation during reception.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation in making a call.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Adapter 2 Computer 3 Telephone 11 Serial port 12 Microphone output terminal 13 Speaker input terminal 14 Speaker output terminal 15 Modular jack 50 Central processing unit 51 Off-hook detection part 52 DTMF signal detection part 53 Call signal generation part 54 Tone generation part 55 Speaker output switching 56 Signal converter 60 Control software

Claims (3)

An adapter for making calls over the Internet using public telephones,
A central processing unit;
A call signal generator;
A means of communication with a computer connected to the Internet;
Means for connecting to a public telephone,
An off-hook detector;
A DTMF signal detector;
A tone generator ,
When a call is made via the Internet, a call signal is generated in the call signal generator, and the call signal is output to a public line telephone .
It is possible to make a call by dialing the number converted from the other party's IP address.
An adapter for internet telephones. An adapter for making calls over the Internet using public telephones,
A central processing unit;
A call signal generator;
A means of communication with a computer connected to the Internet;
Means for connecting to a public telephone,
An off-hook detector;
A DTMF signal detector;
A tone generator ,
When a call is made via the Internet, a call signal is generated in the call signal generator, and the call signal is output to a public line telephone .
It is possible to make a call by dialing a number that means the other party's IP address.
An adapter for internet telephones. Speaker input means;
Speaker output means;
A speaker output switching unit;
A signal converter,
An audio signal from the computer is input from a speaker input unit, and the audio signal is input to the signal conversion unit during a call via the speaker output switching unit, and is output from the speaker output unit during a non-call.
The Internet adapter according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the adapter for Internet is used.

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