WO2000045575A1

WO2000045575A1 - Device and method at telecommunication systems

Info

Publication number: WO2000045575A1
Application number: PCT/SE2000/000174
Authority: WO
Inventors: Erik Mikaelsson
Original assignee: Telia Ab (Publ)
Priority date: 1999-01-28
Filing date: 2000-01-28
Publication date: 2000-08-03
Also published as: SE9900307D0; SE522374C2; SE9900307L

Abstract

The present invention relates to device and method at telecommunications network for handling of voice and code signals at the same time. A Voice and Code Receiver, VCR, identifies incoming signals. When an A-subscriber via his/her subscriber terminal starts a call, the subscriber's identity, subscriber's number, via which the Voice and Code Receiver, VCR, by means of a database decides which voice profile/profiles that belongs to the subscription, is identified. When a voice command is arriving, the voice is compared with the selected voice profiles, and the voice profile that best corresponds to the voice is selected. After that, the voice commands are translated into signals that are handled by the telecommunication system. The solution allows that voice and code signals are subject to mixed utilisation by the subscriber. Further, no specific set-ups towards specific units that handles the voice commands are required, at which extra setup paths in the telecommunication system are not required.

Description

TITLE OF THE INVENTION

Device and method at telecommunication systems.

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to telecommunication systems and especially the possibility to control calls and services in the telecommunications network by the voice.

TECHNICAL PROBLEM In order to utilise voice control in the telecommunication systems of today, connection towards special databases is required. Said databases are located centrally in the telecommunications network. The voice through-connection to the database further entails that the voice control has to be used in the proceeded setup of the call. This results in that the subscriber, after selection of voice control, does not have the choice to utilise the normal setup functions of the telecommunication system, which can be a disadvantage in certain circumstances. Further, the existing technology results in that a plurality of setup paths are established without real existing need. These extra setup paths cause loads in the telecommunications networks without actually being needed. This is caused by the fact that rerouting of established (through-connected) connection cannot be performed in the telecommunications networks of today. Voice control of, for instance, Plus- services seems not to be possible to perform with the central solution of today. Terminals equipped with voice control are further usable only to a limited extent for control of services.

Consequently there is a desire to find solutions where voice controlled services and telephony can be introduced without influencing the traffic control or the services. In this connection, the demands of the users are that voice control, respective the utilisation of the keypad of the telecommunication equipment, shall be possible to utilise alternatingly depending on the wishes of the user. Consequently it is desirable that voice control, multifrequency tone signalling/decadic impulse signalling should have possibility to alternate in one and the same phase of connection.

The present invention is intended to solve above described problems .

PRIOR ART In order to control setup of calls and control of services in the telecommunications network, codes are transmitted from a subscriber terminal. These signals are passing via to the subscriber belonging line interface card, LIC, and Connection Junction, CL, to a Key Code Receiver, KR, which identifies the received signals and forward these in the telecommunications network, which attends to setup of calls/services. The Key Code Receiver is only intended to be utilised for codes that follow certain given standards, such as multifrequency tone signalling and decadic impulse signalling. In certain cases there is possibility to utilise voice control, i.e. that one by means of the voice orders setup of calls and services. In the known technology special voice recognition equipments, which are located centrally in the telecommunication system, are used. To utilise these voice recognition equipments is required that the subscriber connects himself/herself to the voice recognition equipment by means of specific telephone numbers or prefix. This solution results in principle in that a setup first goes to the voice control equipment and after that is "forwarded" to the wanted subscriber, or is connected to wanted service. The procedure results in that switching paths in the telecommunication system are loaded without it actually being necessary. In the European patent document EP 863 678 is described a telecommunication system where the subscriber' s speech or keying is converted to data signals compatible with a data equipment. The aim of the in the document described solution is to facilitate for the customers to change available services and service offerings without it being needed to connect the staff of the telecommunication operator personally. In the shown solution there are no solutions presented or indicated that can be utilised by the subscriber for establishing of or utilising of services in normal telecommunications. The presented solution relates to communication with one, alternatively more, centrally located units which handles the profiling of the subscriber's subscription. In the international document WO 97/12 361, there is described a service to convert speech/voice to DTMF-signals . The conversion between voice and DTMF-signals is made centrally in the system. The aim in this case is to make it possible to control subscriber-located equipment, for instance telephone answering machines, without having available a telecommunication equipment that generates DTMF-signals. The document does not at all deal with the problem of controlling services in the telecommunications network, or avoiding setup of voice through-connection in the telecommunications network at utilisation of voice control. Further, the American document US 522 0595 describes a device for voice recognition and/or DTMF-detection. In this case, the voice recognition equipment is adapted in a receiving telecommunication equipment, for instance a telephone answering machine. To utilise the function is required that a connection is established between a calling party and the receiving party. After that, the intention is that the calling party shall be able to control the telephone answering machine by the own voice. The invention primarily is to avoid the necessity of remembering different command strings in form of combinations of digits, but to make it possible to utilise different words of commands. The in the document indicated solution consequently does not give any directions about how voice control is to be introduced in a telecommunication system for utilisation of in the telecommunication system existing services or functions, without utilising voice through- connection .

By the above given documents it is in itself known to utilise voice control in different connections for different purposes in the telecommunications network. The documents, however, do not deal with the problems regarding voice control of telecommunication functions, and/or the utilisation of services without utilising central units in the telecommunication network, or how the voice recognition shall be executed without utilising setup to specifial administrators in the telecommunications network.

THE SOLUTION The present invention relates to a device at telecommunication system for voice control of services and/or setup of connections in the telecommunication system. A voice/code identification equipment is adapted to receive voice and/or code signals, which signals are transmitted from a subscriber terminal. The voice/code identification equipment is installed at the telecommunications exchange to which the subscriber equipment is connected. In the voice/code identification equipment, the received signals are converted to signals which can be handled by the telecommunications network for setup of connections, respective utilisation of services in the telecommunications network. A Voice and Code Receiver, VCR, appoints the identity of the subscriber terminal, and communicates said identity to the voice identification equipment, which decides which voice profile/profiles that is/are of current interest to be selected. The voice profiles are stored in a database in, or in connection to, the telecommunication exchange, alternatively that the voice profile is stored in central databases to which the voice/code identification equipment has access. The voice/code identification equipment further is adapted to transfer received information as signals that can be handled in the telecommunication system, at which the functionality in the telecommunications exchange is unchanged in relation to telecommunication exchanges that have not been equipped with voice/code identification equipment, at which analysis and routing functions in the telecommunication system are unchanged, and need for modifications and changes in the telecommunication system is eliminated, or at least minimised.

The invention further relates to a method for handling of voice signals and code signals at the same time. Voice/code signals are received by a voice/code identification equipment at the telecommunication exchange, at which received signals are converted to signals utilised for control of services and/or setup of connections in the telecommunications network. The voice/code identification equipment is integrated in a local telecommunications exchange to which one by the subscriber utilised subscriber equipment is connected. The voice and code signals are allowed to be subject to mixed utilisation. This means that the subscriber uses the keyset of the telecommunication equipment, respective voice, for the control in such a way that either way of signalling can be utilised whenever the subscriber wishes during setup in progress. The subscriber identity, the subscriber's number, is identified and communicated to a Voice and Code Receiver, VCR. The subscriber' s number further appoints which voice profile/profiles that normally exist, and selects these for analysis against the voice that the subscriber represents. The identified voice profile/profiles then is/are utilised in the pursued analysis. The information that is obtained from the analysed voice is further converted to signals that are utilised by the telecommunication system for setup of connections and/or services in the telecommunication system. The voice profile belonging to a person is transferred to another subscriber's number in the case the subscriber changes subscriber^'s number. Alternatively the voice profile is transferred to another database when the subscriber's number is kept up, but the network number is kept up. I.e. so called number portability is utilised in the telecommunication system. The voice profile for the person is stored in a central database and is transmitted to the telecommunication exchange, alternatively to a plurality of telecommunication exchanges, at request from respective telecommunications exchange, and that the voice profile is stored in one to the telecommunication exchange/telecommunication exchanges local database. At call to the voice/coding equipment, the subscriber has possibility to change and/or add information regarding person/persons who shall have possibility to use the voice identification equipment, and to add new voice profiles and to delete voice profiles that are of no interest any longer .

ADVANTAGES

The present invention shows the advantage of that voice control signals are allowed to be utilised without setting up a connection to a specific function in the telecommunications network. This means that the load in the network is reduced, at which the telecommunication system is utilised in a more efficient way, which results in that the costs for the telecommunications operator can be reduced and be beneficial to the subscribers. The invention further makes it possible that the subscribers are allowed to alternate between voice control and common keying in one and the same setup sequence. The advantages for customers and telecommunication operators consequently are apparent.

The largest use might be as completion of existing telecommunication exchanges (for instance AXE) and new nodes for telephony; but the function can also be applicable for IP-nodes, but then with other interfaces. The function also can be combined with database for number portability, if this is a technical advantage. This means that the by the subscriber requested number is translated into the network number in question. This implies that the personal voice profile in the extension is made mobile in time to, for instance, the number portability in the telecommunications network, and becomes a part of the personal telephony.

DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

Figure 1 shows the principle of the invention.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the following the invention is described on basis of the figures and the terms in them.

Terms

CJ Connection Junction DTMF Dual Tone Multi Frequency

ETC Extension Terminal

ETUP E-Telephony User Part

INAP Intelligent Network User Part

IP Internet Protocol KR Key Code Receiver

KRD Hardware for KR

LIC Line Interface Circuit

MTP Message Transfer Part

PCM Pulse Code Modulation VCR Voice and Code Receiver

The present invention relates to a device and method at telecommunications network for handling of voice and code signals at the same time. A Voice and Code Receiver, VCR, identifies incoming signals and finds out whether these are voice signals or not. When an A-subscriber, via his/her subscriber terminal, starts a call, the subscriber's identity, the subscriber's number, is identified, via which the Voice and Code receiver, VCR, by means of a database finds out which voice profile/profiles that belong to the subscription. When a voice command is arriving, the voice is compared with the selected voice profiles, and the voice profile that best corresponds to the voice is selected. After that, the voice commands are translated into signals that are handled by the telecommunication system. Code signals, tone code (multifrequency tone) and/or pulse selection (loop-disconnect) signals are identified by the voice and code receiver, which decides whether these shall be handled in the Voice and Code Receiver, or in the normal Key Code Receivers, KR. The solution allows that voice and code signals are subject to mixed utilisation by the subscriber. Further, no specific setups towards specific units that handle the voice commands, are required, so extra transmission paths in the telecommunication system are not required.

A subscriber utilises his/her subscriber terminal and establishes contact with the telecommunication exchange in usual way. At the telecommunication exchange, setup is made to a Voice and Code Receiver, VCR, which replaces the normal Key Code Receiver, KR. The Voice and Code Receiver, VCR, receives information about the identity of the subscriber terminal, telephone number, the identity of which is forwarded to a voice/code identification equipment. The identification of the subscriber's terminal is made in a customary way, which is well known to the professional. The voic/code identification equipment searches in databases, arranged in, or in connection to, the telecommunication exchange, at which from the database is drawn voice profiles for persons who normally belong to said subscriber's numbers. The databases are also allowed to be centrally located in the telecommunication system, alternatively dispersed on the for the purpose most suitable places. After identification and selection of the voice profiles, a go ahead-signal is given to the Voice and Code Receiver, which gives OK-information that the system is ready to receive information. The subscriber after that in a first scenario uses his/her voice for the setup. The voice control in this case can be represented by digits which are pronounced, or words of command. In the latter case the "words of command" consist of phrases like "please, call Charlie", "automatic call- back", "forwarding of call" etc. At "keying by voice", is pronounced for instance "one, three, seven", alternatively "one hundred and thirty-seven", other to the user natural combinations of digits which can be pronounced in a natural way. The system further allows that voice respective keying via the subscriber's keyset are mixed. This is possible due to the fact that the Voice and Code Receiver detects whether voice commands are coming in, or if the signals emanate from the keyset of the subscriber terminal. At voice control, the system compares the different voice profiles that are in the database and utilises that one of the different voice profiles that best corresponds to the voice in question. The solution consequently results in that a limited choice of voices are utilised, which considerably simplifies the voice analysis. In the cases the system finds that a voice does not correspond to the for the subscription known voices, a more general voice recognition is utilised. The latter alternative, however, results in that the voice analysis may take longer time than when known voices are utilised. Depending on the complexity of the voice, the system in this case may succeed, or fail, with the code identification. In case that the system fails at identifying the commands of the voice, the system requests that the coding be made via the keyset of the telecommunication equipment. Even if the system identifies the voice codes without problems, the user/subscriber, in certain cases, may prefer, for certain codes, to utilise the keyset, and for other codes to utilise voice coding. The Voice and Code Receiver in this case identifies whether voice coding or other coding shall be utilised.

At other coding there exist at present multifrequency tone coding and decadic impulse coding ("loop disconnect"). Both these systems have been utilised in the telecommunications networks since a long time, at which different standards exist in different parts of the world. Both multifrequency tone coding and decadic impulse coding are utilised parallel, at which the Key Code Receiver, KR, is adapted to receive both types of signalling mixed. It is in itself possible to adapt the Voice and Code Receiver for reception of multifrequency tone signals and decadic impulse signals. It may, however, be to advantage that it only can handle multifrequency tone signals with regard to the fact that fewer and fewer equipment utilises impulse signalling. To bridge the problem of impulse signalling, in the cases where the Voice and Code Receiver only is adapted to identify multifrequency tone signals, the system is adapted to connect itself towards the Key Code Receiver, KR, in the cases where impulse signals are arriving. In this case, the Voice and Code Receiver is disconnected, at which the voice control is disconnected. It is of course also possible to allow the Voice and Code Receiver to receive impulse signals, but not multifrequency tone signals, at which the function will be the same as in the previously described, with the exception that, at multifrequency tone signalling, the voice control cannot be utilised. Which case that is preferred depends^' of course on to which extent impulse respective multifrequency tone code is utilised by the subscribers in respective telecommunicatons exchange, area, country etc.

Any technical obstacles to provide the Voice and Code Receiver with functionalities that handle both multifrequency tone code and impulse code, however, do not exist. It is in the first place a question that is decided by respective operator, at which the impulse signalling normally is not of great interest since this is an older system which are utilised to a smaller and smaller extent. The invention is a device and method for handling of the subscriber' s speech equally with multifrequency tone code/impulse code from the keyset of the terminal. In principle this means that the function is connected to the telecommunications exchange as just any code receiver. The access form, analogue or digital, group switch access or IP-access, are not influenced. The code receiver delivers received information as digits as before, so no influence on analysis or routing functions is required. The function is located to the place of the code receiver, and can alternatively receive voice or multifrequency tone code signals, or impulse coding. The voice identification is completed with possibility to recognise multifrequency tone code alternatively impulse code, and differentiate these from speech/voice. The VCR-functions collects the calling subscriber's number and transfers this to the voice identification equipment, which means that the subscriber's voice profile is easily accessed. Establishing and changing the personal voice control profile can be made directly towards the function via call towards the telecommunication exchange. The voice/code identification equipment is allowed to be located centrally, or distributed to a single node, or common to a number of closely located nodes. Redundancy is achieved by allocating each node at least two VCR-units, which VCR-units handle a number of individuals, which reach the voice identification equipment via different paths. Further, the ordinary redundancy of the signal network (for instance CCITT No 7) is accessible. The speech/voice is connected to the voice/code identification equipment via (for instance 64 kbit/s) ETC and standard PCM-connection. The signalling between the in the station included VCR-function and the identification equipment is executed by for instance CCITT protocol No 7 based on an ETUP#E-telephony User Part (corresponding to the light weight INAP that is utilised for number portability, but consequently is connection oriented) .

The functions for VCR are

KR-functions, such as; Receive calls from different connection junction functions, select free channel towards the voice equipment, set up transport path from the subscriber connection to VCR, give acknowledgement when connection of code receiving equipment is connected, transmit received digit information to connected "junction", ready, and disconnection, error messages, administration of individuals and vias, traffic measuring functions, restart functions, handling of procedures etc. Handling of setups inclusive link supervision, signalling with simple GK (Common channel signalling) -protocol and interface towards MTP.

The possibility to receive dial telephone impulses (impulse code) which exists in the systems of today is not influenced. The principle that is used today means that if dialling impulses are received, the Key Code Receiver is disconnected, and this can also be the case between the voice and multifrequency tone code. The solution, however, does not exclude that at least voice and multifrequency tone code are mixed, but that pure solutions may be of advantage. Voice and impulse code also can be conceived, but seems to be of less importance since equipment utilising impulse code are manufactured to an ever decreasing extent. It consequently seems to be more reasonable that if impulse code signals arrive, the VCR- function is disconnected when the first impulse is registered.

From the voice identification equipment is required that it can handle the signal interface (No 7) according to developed ETUP, and being completed with DTMF- interpretation and for the rest develops the applications that are required.

The invention is not limited to the in the above described example of embodiment, or to the following patent claims, but may be subject to modifications within the frame of the idea of invention.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1. Device at telecommunication system, for voice control of services and/or setup of connections in said telecommunication system, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in, that a voice/code identification equipment is adapted to receive voice and/or code signals, where a signal from a subscriber terminal is received and identified by the voice/code identification equipment, at which the voice/code identification equipment is adapted at a telecommunications exchange to which the subscriber equipment is connected, and that voice and/or code signals received in the voice/code identification equipment are converted to signals that can be utilised for establishing of services and/or setup of connections in the telecommunications network.

2. Device at telecommunication system, as claimed in patent claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in, that the identity of the subscriber terminal is appointed by a Voice and Code Receiver (VCR) .

3. Device at telecommunication system, as claimed in patent claim 2, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in, that the Voice and Code Receiver is adapted to communicate the identity of the subscriber terminal to the voice identification equipment.

4. Device at telecommunication system, as claimed in patent claim 3, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in, that a voice profile, related to person/persons who utilise the subscriber terminal, can be selected.

5. Device at telecommunication system, as claimed in patent claim 4, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in, that the voice profile is stored in a database in, or in connection to, the telecommunications exchange.

6. Device at telecommunication system, as claimed in patent claim 4, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in, that the voice profile is stored in a central database to which the voice/code identification equipment can be connected.

7. Device at telecommunication system, as claimed in any of the patents claim 1-6, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in, that the voice/code identification equipment is adapted to communicate received information such as signals, for instance multifrequency tone code (DTMF - - Dual Tone Multi Frequency) to the telecommunication exchange, at which the functionality in the telecommunication exchange is unchanged in relation to telecommunication exchanges that have not been equipped with the voice/code identification equipment.

8. Device at telecommunication system, as claimed in any of the patents claims 1-7, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in, that analysis and routing functions in the telecommunication system are unchanged, at which need for modifications and changes in the telecommunication system is eliminated.

9. Method at telecommunication system, for handling of voice signals and code signals at the same time, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in, that voice/code signals are received by a voice/code identification equipment at the telecommunication exchange, which voice/code identification equipment converts received signals to signals that can be utilised for control of services and/or setup of connections in the telecommunications network, at which both voice signals and code signals are allowed to be utilised.

10. Method at telecommunication system, as claimed in patent claim 9, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the voice/code equipment is integrated in a local telecommunications exchange to which a subscriber terminal is connected, and/or that the voice/code equipment is connected in connection to the local telecommunications exchange.

11. Method at telecommunication system, as claimed in patent claim 9 or 10, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the voice signals and the code signals are allowed mixed utilisation.

12. Method at telecommunication system, as claimed in patent claim 9, 10 or 11, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in, that the identity of the subscriber terminal, subscriber's number, is identified and communicated to a Voice and Code Receiver (VCR) , and that from the subscriber's number is selected which voice profile/profiles that normally exist.

13. Method at telecommunication system, as claimed in patent claim 12, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in, that at reception of voice signals, the to the voice corresponding voice profile is selected and is utilised in the continued voice analysis.

14. Method at telecommunication system, as claimed in any of the patent claims 9-13, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in, that information given by the voice is analysed and converted to in the telecommunication system usable signals, which control setup of connections and/or services in the telecommunication system.

15. Method at telecommunication system, as claimed in any of the patent claims 9-14, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in, that the voice profile of a person is changed to another subscriber's number in the case the person changes subscriber's number.

16. Method at telecommunication system, as claimed in patent claim 15, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in, that the voice profile is transferred from one database to another database serving the subscriber' s new subscriber's number.

17. Method at telecommunication system, as claimed in patent claim 16, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in, that the voice profile of the person is stored in a central database, and that said voice profile is transmitted to the telecommunications exchange, alternatively a plurality of telecommunications exchanges, at request from respective telecommunications exchange, and that the voice profile is stored in one to the telecommunications exchange/telecommunications exchanges belonging local database.

Method at telecommunication system, as claimed in any of the patent claims 9-17, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in, that the person at call to the voice/code identification equipment will have possibility to change and/or add information regarding person/persons who shall have possibility to use the voice identification function.