SE510316C2 - Procedure and apparatus for connecting ordinary telephones to data communication networks - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for allowing ordinary telephones to connect to a data network. An adaptation means (5; 5') is used between the telephone (3; 3') and the data network (1; 1'), said adaptation means (5; 5') comprising means for the buffering, and compressing/decompressing of speech data and conversion of speech data into data packets and vice versa.

Description

15 510 316 2 - answers incoming telephone calls over the data network, - translates "handset off" and dialed numbers into configurable call requests handled by the Internet telephone system, - translates incoming calls from the Internet telephone system into ringtones and handsets on / off to establish a call, - two-way translation of voice data according to the appropriate coding, - reconfiguration of the REG, CH and SH functions from the data network.

The adapter can be realized as a microprocessor and placed inside the telephone cover. The standard telephone jack is then replaced by the data network connector.

The solution according to the invention has the following advantages: A way to, at a reasonable cost, connect an ordinary telephone to a data network, such as a TCP / IP network and to an irritating telephone system is provided.

The adapter is configurable from the data network and can therefore be adapted to changing requirements for speech encoders / decoders, procedures for registering Internet telephony, call requests and calls.

The equipment needed according to the invention is easy to install for the user, since everything can be assembled and configured by the manufacturer before installation.

Brief description of the drawings Figure 1 is a schematic drawing of a data network to which telephones are connected via adapters according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a schematic drawing of a telephone connection to a data network via an adapter according to the invention.

Figure 3 is a fl fate diagram of the activities performed when an outgoing call is set up.

Figure 4 schematically shows the communication in the adapter in the call connection phase.

Figure 5 schematically shows the communication in the adapter while a call is in progress.

Figure 6 shows the connection of a mobile or cellular telephone to a data network according to the invention. 10 15 25 510 316 D.) Detailed description of embodiments Figure 1 shows a data network 1 to which a number of subscribers are connected. In this och gur and in the discussion below, it is assumed that the data network is a TCP / lIP network, as this is the most common network protocol today.

In Figure 1, two telephone subscribers 3 are connected to the network via adapters 5 according to the invention. The adapter can be found in the phone case or anywhere between the phone and the EP network. If the adapter is integrated in the phone, the phone can be connected to the IP network in the same way as a computer. In this case, some of the usual telephone functions can be omitted.

In addition, an arbitrary number of computers is 7, e.g. personal computers or workstations, connected to the IP network either via fixed lines or via modems, or in some other known way.

Through the adapter 5 according to the invention, calls can be established from any subscriber 3 to any other terminal 3, 7 in the network.

Figure 3 shows a telephone 3 'connected to an IP network 1' via an adapter 5 'according to the invention.

The adapter 5 'comprises the following units: an input buffer IB and an output buffer OB, which intermediate store the audio packets to be transmitted on the network resp. received online. a speech encoder / decoder SC which encodes speech so that it can be transmitted on the IP network, which is packet transmitting, and decodes incoming packets containing speech, so that they can be received in the telephone.

A call handler (CH) that translates dialed numbers and hands on / off into a configurable call request handled by the Internet telephone system and translates incoming calls from the Internet telephony system to tones and connects calls, 10 510 316 4 A register block REG that stores A-nurrirner internet telephony. This number can be configured by a user using the phone or from the IP network.

A TCP / IP stack S for communication with the IP network, A central processing unit (Central Processing Unit CPU) that controls the functions of the other blocks.

Figure 3 is a fate diagram of what is performed when a telephone subscriber connected to the IP network with an adapter according to the invention wishes to make a call.

Step S31: The user picks up the handset and a handset off signal is sent to the call handler CH. The signaling takes place in some known way, e.g. Dual Tone Multi Frequency (DTMH signaling or voice control between the phone and the adapter. If the adapter is realized as part of the phone, an input / output slot in the adapter connects the keyboard directly to the adapter's central processor CPU.

Step S32. The call manager CH mimics the A-number fi from the register REG.

Step S33: The call manager CH signals to the TCP / IP stack that a connection through the IP network is requested.

Step S34: Signaling takes place between the TCP / IP stack and the network in a known manner, Lex. in the manner specified in the H.323 Protocol.

Step S35: When an OK signal has been received from the B-subscriber, the connection from the A-subscriber to the B-subscriber is set up through the network.

Figure 4 shows the connection between the devices in the adapter used in the call set-up phase. The adapter is identical to the one shown in Figure 2. The call manager CH registers that the handset is off and requests the A-number 'from the register REG. The call manager requests that the TCP / IP stack set up the connection to the network in the usual way.

Figure 5 shows the path the number takes through the adapter after the connection has been connected. The adapter shown is identical to the one shown in Figure 2.

The output is first stored in the IB buffer. When the input buffer IB is full, the data is forwarded to the signal encoder / decoder SC via the central processor CPU. The signal codem / decoder SC compresses the data and forwards it via the central processor CPU to the TCP / IP stack where the start field is added, before the packet is transmitted to the local network. The data packets are transmitted in a known manner through the lÉP network.

When a call is received, the call manager confirms that the call is intended for the subscriber connected to this adapter and initiates call connection through the TCP / IP stack. The connections are the same as those shown in Figure 5, except that the buffer is used instead of the buffer IB. How this can be realized is known to those skilled in the art.

A call ends when one of the users hangs up again.

Figure 6 shows a possible connection between a mobile, or cellular, telephone 11 and a data network 13 according to the invention. The mobile telephone 11 comprises standard telephony functions 15, an adapter 17 according to the invention, i.e. with similar functions as the adapters 5, 5 ”shown in previous figures, and a radio communication unit 19. The connection to the network is a radio connection and a communication unit 21 is also needed at the connection point to the network.

Claims (10)

10 20 510 316 Patent claims Adapter means (5; 5 ") for enabling the connection of ordinary telephones to data networks, characterized in that it comprises: - means (REG) for registering the adapter means (5; 5 ') and / or the telephone connection in the data network (1; 1 '); means (CH) for handling incoming call requests, based on the adapter (5; 5 ') or the identity of the telephone connection; means (IB, OB) for buffering the incoming and outgoing data packets; means (SC) for compressing and decompressing speech data; means (S) for converting speech data into data packets and vice versa; - body (CH) for translation of hands-on / off and dialed numbers for outgoing call requests. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the address of the adapter and / or the telephone connection can be configured from the telephone connected to the adapter. Device according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the address of the adapter and / or the telephone connection can be configured from another terminal in the data network. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is arranged to select which compression standard to use from the telephone connected to the adapter. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it is arranged to negotiate which compression standard is to be used according to the capacity of the terminals participating in the connection. Telephone, characterized in that it comprises a device according to any one of claims 1-3. 10 15 Ds1o 516 Method for enabling the connection of ordinary telephones to a data network, characterized by the following steps: - the identity of the telephone is stored in a register (REG); - handset status of the phone is registered in a call handler (CH); it is signaled to the data network via a data protocol stack to establish a connection; - outgoing speech data is temporarily stored in an output buffer (OB); - outgoing voice data is converted into data packets; - incoming voice data packets are converted to voice data; - incoming speech data is cached in an input buffer (IB). Method according to claim 7, characterized in that the signaling to the data network comprises the following steps: - a request is sent for communication possibility fi from the protocol stack - the communication possibility is confirmed to the protocol stack; - the connection is established. Method according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the compression standard to be used is selected from the telephone connected to the adapter. Method according to one of Claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the compression standard is selected as a result of negotiations based on the capacity of the terminals participating in the connection.